Weekend Preview

It's back! I felt that now was a good time to bring back the Weekend Previews that have been going on here on Thorough Chat for 2 years now. This weekend will be an all Grade 1 affair on the East Coast and West Coast (there are other races as well, but I won't be previewing those this weekend).

Lets start off in Florida with the first G1's of the year for Older Males.

Gulfstream Park - February 5, 2011

Race 9 - 4:51 PM Daily Double / Exacta / Trifecta / $.10 Superfecta / Bet 3 (Races 9-10-11)
STAKES Gulfstream Park Turf H. (Grade I)

Purse $300,000. For Four Year Olds And Upward. By subscription of $300 each by Saturday, January 22, 2011 , which shall accompany the nomination, $3,000 to pass the entry box and $1,500 additional to start, with $300,000 Guaranteed. All fees shall be paid before the start of the race. The owner of the winner to receive $180,000, $60,000 to second, $30,000 to third, $15,000 to fourth, $9,000 to fifth and $6,000 to sixth. Weights: Saturday, January 29, 2011. This race will be limited to 14 Starters, with Also Eligibles. High Weights Preferred with second preference to horses with the highest lifetime earnings. Starters to be named through the entry box by the usual time of closing. In the event this stakes is taken off the turf, it may be subject to downgrading upon review by the Graded Stakes Committee. Trophy to the winning owner. Closed Saturday, January 22, 2011 with 25 nominations. (If deemed inadvisable to run this race over the turf course, it will be run on the main track at One Mile and One Eighth) . One And One Eighth Miles. (Turf) (Rail at 60 Feet)
P# PP Horse Virtual
Stable A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1 Get Stormy (KY) 5/H L J Castellano 119 T M Bush 5/1
2 2 Smart Bid (PA) 5/H L E S Prado 115 H G Motion 6/1
3 3 Justaroundmidnight (IRE) 4/F L F Geroux 112 P L Biancone 10/1
4 4 Sal the Barber (KY) 5/H L C H Velasquez 116 C Clement 8/1
5 5 Teaks North (FL) 4/G L J Valdivia, Jr. 114 J Sallusto 12/1
6 6 Little Mike (FL) 4/G L J Bravo 116 D L Romans 5/1
7 7 Twilight Meteor (ON) 7/H L A O Solis 117 M D Wolfson 3/1
8 8 Battle of Hastings (GB) 5/G L J R Leparoux 120 G Fox 5/2

This should be a good race between Get Stormy, Twilight Meteor and Battle of Hastings. Keep an eye on Smart Bid and Little Mike as well. Especially Little Mike as he upset BOF, Blues Street, and Souper Spectacler in the Ft. Lorderdale with Smart Bid finishing third. However he has a new trainer who could be a downfall even though Dale Romans trained Kitten's Joy. I do think he will lose this race however, as I expect Battle of Hastings to turn the tables on Little Mike and win this race.

Gulfstream Park - February 5, 2011

Race 10 - 5:26 PM Daily Double / Exacta / Trifecta / $.10 Superfecta
STAKES Donn H. (Grade I)

Purse $500,000. For Four Year Olds And Upward. By subscription of $500 each by Saturday, January 22, 2011 , which shall accompany the nomination, $2,500 to pass the entry box and $2,500 additional to start. Supplementary nomination by Noon Friday January 28, at a fee of$25,000 which includes entry and starting fee. $500,000 Guaranteed. All fees shall be paid prior to the start of the race. Monies to be divided 60% to the winner, 20% to second, 10% to third, 5% to fourth, 3% to fifth and 2% to sixth. Weights: Saturday, January 29, 2011. Starters to be named through the entry box by the usual time of closing. This race will be limited to 14 Starters, with Also Eligibles. High Weights Preferred with second preference to horses with the highest lifetime earnings. Trophy to the winning owner. Closed Saaturday, January 22, 2011 with 16 nominations. One And One Eighth Miles.
P# PP Horse Virtual
Stable A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1 I Want Revenge (KY) 5/H L R A Dominguez 117 R E Dutrow, Jr. 6/1
2 2 Hear Ye Hear Ye (FL) 4/C L J Sanchez 113 S I Gold 30/1
3 3 Morning Line (KY) 4/C L J R Velazquez 119 N P Zito 3/1
4 4 Giant Oak (IL) 5/H L* S Bridgmohan 118 C M Block 6/1
5 5 Eldaafer (KY) 6/G L* E S Prado 118 D Alvarado 8/1
6 6 Fly Down (KY) 4/C L* J R Leparoux 122 N P Zito 5/2
7 7 Square Eddie (ON) 5/H L* C S Nakatani 116 D F O'Neill 20/1
8 8 Rule (KY) 4/C L J Castellano 119 T A Pletcher 4/1
9 9 Ron the Greek (FL) 4/C L J Lezcano 116 T Albertrani 15/1

This could be the deepest Donn since 2004 when Medaglia d' Oro, Funny Cide, and Bowman's Band faced off with MDO winning and Funny finishing third. I Want Revenge is not the same horse he was at 3, Hear Ye Hear Ye is a long shot who is owned by the former connections of Jackson Bend and Awesome Feather. Morning Line was just sold and this will be his last race in the US before going to Dubai. Giant Oak is coming off a win (via DQ) in the Clark. This is Eldaafer's first race since his win in the Marathon (which was followed by well the fight). Fly Down like his stablemate is more then likely Dubai bound. Square Eddie set a track record last time out at Santa Anita, the big question is can he stay healthy. Speaking of Funny, his nephew Rule showed a new side to him in the Hal's Hope, coming off the pace. Ron the Greek made some noise on the Derby trail last year before getting injured and transfered.

If there is a speed duel that will happen I expect that between Eddie and either Morning Line or Rule (although with his new running style that might not happen). Eldaafer and Rule (if he doesn't go for the lead) will be in that second pack with Fly Down towards the back. In the end I think the son of Roman Ruler will give his sire his second G1 winner and a bit of revenge for his uncle who is in Gulfstream's Garden of Champions. Eldaafer for second and Fly Down in third.

At Santa Anita

Santa Anita Park - February 5, 2011

Race 4 - 2:04 PM $1 Exacta / $1 Trifecta $2 Rolling Double / $1 Pick Three (Races 4-5-6) $1 Superfecta (.10 Min.)
STAKES Las Virgenes S. (Grade I)

Purse $250,000. For Fillies, Three Years Old. By subscription of $375 each to accompany the nomination. Closed January 27, 2011 with 12. $3,750 additional to start, with $250,000 guaranteed, of which $150,000 to first, $50,000 to second, $30,000 to third, $15,000 to fourth and $5,000 to fifth 122 Lbs. Non-winners of a Grade I race at One Mile of Over, allowed 3 lbs,: Non-winners of a Grade II OR Grade III race at One Mile or Over, 5 Lbs. This race is part of the "Black-Eyed Susan 2.2" A trophy will be presented to the owner of the winner. . One Mile.
P# PP Horse Virtual
Stable A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1 Plum Pretty (PA) 3/F L* M Garcia 117 B Baffert 8/1
3 2 Tiz the Route (KY) 3/F L* B Blanc 117 J Herrick 20/1
4 3 California Nectar (CA) 3/F L* P A Valenzuela 117 D F O'Neill 4/1
5 4 May Day Rose (FL) 3/F L* R Bejarano 119 B Baffert 9/2
6 5 Turbulent Descent (FL) 3/F L* D R Flores 122 M Puype 4/5
7 6 Zazu (KY) 3/F L* J Rosario 117 J W Sadler 9/2

Round 2 of Turbulent Descent vs May Day Rose vs Zazu. TD has yet to have a race over dirt which might cost her in this race. However, Rose only faced 2 horses in her last start, while Zazu lost to California Nectar. This also marks the return to stakes action for Martin Garcia who was knocked out of competition for a few months due to immigration status. I think dispite all this including the return of TD, Rose gives Rockport Harbor his first G1 winner. Turbulent Descent for second and Plum Pretty for third.

I had hoped to preview the Essex, but due to weather conditions at Oaklawn, they have canceled this weekends cards. That's okay since Win Willy would have smoked the field, but my guess is he may either a. Not go and wait for the Razorback, b. go and skip the Razorback. We'll see what happens.

Recap will be coming on Monday!