Sports

twogunsid

(1,611 posts) Sat Jun 16, 2012, 12:28 PM Jun 2012

Wise Dan is Stephen Foster Handicap favorite at Churchill Downs

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20120615/SPORTS08/306150115/Wise-Dan-Stephen-Foster-Handicap-favorite-Churchill-Downs?nclick_check=1

Alternation is the nation’s top-ranked horse heading into the first Stephen Foster Handicap held under Churchill Downs’ lights Saturday night.

But the strong favorite in the $400,000 Foster’s stellar field of older horses is the versatile 5-year-old gelding Wise Dan, who won Churchill’s Grade I Clark Handicap last fall and in his only prior start this year set a Keeneland track record in taking the Ben Ali by 10½ lengths with no urging from jockey John Velazquez. Wise Dan’s 117 Beyer speed figure that day is the highest by any horse this year and the highest ever on a synthetic surface.

“I don’t see anything I could do any differently,” said trainer Charlie Lopresti. “We didn’t run him back real quick. He’s had time to freshen. It’s just up to him. ... I think this race is going to tell us how good our horse really is, but it’s still a long year.”

Wise Dan is coupled in the betting with his equally talented stablemate and half brother Successful Dan, winner of Churchill’s Alysheba over Foster contender Fort Larned. But the Keeneland-based Lopresti said Successful Dan was only entered in the Grade I race as a precaution in case something were to happen to Wise Dan.

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6 replies

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Highlight:

Wise Dan is Stephen Foster Handicap favorite at Churchill Downs (Original Post) twogunsid Jun 2012 OP

Is Royal Delta ready to regain form in Fleur de Lis? twogunsid Jun 2012 #1

2012 Fleur de Lis Handicap twogunsid Jun 2012 #4

Vanity can enhance Include Me Out's already strong reputation twogunsid Jun 2012 #2

Vanity video. (opens in a new tab) twogunsid Jun 2012 #6

2012 Hill Prince (G3) twogunsid Jun 2012 #3

2012 Stephen Foster Handicap twogunsid Jun 2012 #5

twogunsid

(1,611 posts)

1. Is Royal Delta ready to regain form in Fleur de Lis?

Reply to twogunsid (Original post)

Sat Jun 16, 2012, 03:06 PM

Jun 2012

http://www.drf.com/news/churchill-downs-royal-delta-ready-regain-form-fleur-de-lis

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The last time Royal Delta raced at Churchill Downs in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic on Nov. 4, no one could contend with her, and she romped by 2 1/2 lengths, defeating such standout mares as It’s Tricky, Pachattack, and Plum Pretty.

Matched against a lesser field Saturday evening in the Grade 2, $150,000 Fleur De Lis Handicap on the Stephen Foster undercard at Churchill, an effort even remotely close to her Breeders’ Cup performance should result in an easy, short-priced victory.

If she is upset against short field comprised of St. John’s River, Sterling Madame, Distorted Love, and It’s Tea Time – it will likely be the result of Royal Delta running less than her best. She has lost half of her 10 starts, and returns after being out of action since a ninth-place finish in the Dubai World Cup March 31.

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twogunsid

(1,611 posts)

4. 2012 Fleur de Lis Handicap

Reply to twogunsid (Reply #1)

Sat Jun 16, 2012, 10:09 PM

Jun 2012

5 Royal Delta $3.20 $2.60 $2.10
3 Afleeting Lady $3.80 $2.60
1 St. John's River $2.20

twogunsid

(1,611 posts)

2. Vanity can enhance Include Me Out's already strong reputation

Reply to twogunsid (Original post)

Sat Jun 16, 2012, 03:16 PM

Jun 2012

http://www.drf.com/news/hollywood-park-vanity-can-enhance-include-me-outs-already-strong-reputation

NGLEWOOD, Calif. – With three consecutive graded stakes wins this year, Include Me Out has a rightful position on the short list of leading older females in the nation.

A 4-year-old filly, Include Me Out can climb even higher in the rankings with a win in Saturday’s $250,000 Vanity Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Include Me Out is the 122-pound highweight in a field of eight, which includes another major stakes winner in recent months in Ellafitz. Zazu, a three-time graded stakes winner, was entered for the Vanity, but trainer John Sadler said Thursday that the filly would miss the race because she was "off behind." Include Me Out, trained by Ron Ellis for Samantha Siegel, will be favored in the Grade 1 race over 1 1/8 miles.

Ellis said on Thursday that the Vanity is an important test for Include Me Out, and will determine how extensively she is campaigned in coming months. The long-range goal is the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.

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***EllaFitz was scratched due to illness - tgs

twogunsid

(1,611 posts)

6. Vanity video. (opens in a new tab)

Reply to twogunsid (Reply #2)

Sun Jun 17, 2012, 08:50 PM

Jun 2012

http://replays.robertsstream.com/racereplays/playf_llnw.php?customer=HollywoodPark&t=1339980420&h=6777fce8b3fd540c8451975f399519b3&url=201206162014HOD9

twogunsid

(1,611 posts)

3. 2012 Hill Prince (G3)

Reply to twogunsid (Original post)

Sat Jun 16, 2012, 07:32 PM

Jun 2012

Last edited Sat Jun 16, 2012, 10:32 PM - Edit history (1)

Patiently and confidently handled by Ramon Dominguez, Summer Front found room in midstretch and claimed the lead in the final strides to beat Howe Great in Belmont Park's Grade 3, $150,000 Hill Prince for 3-year-olds on Saturday and remain undefeated in four starts on turf.

Summer Front left from the rail post and found himself pinned along the hedge as he settled in fourth. Forced to wait behind horses as Howe Great made his bid, Summer Front was angled outside by Dominguez nearing the sixteenth marker and hand ridden to the wire after finding room to get up by a half-length.

The final time for one mile on ground was 1:33.74.

1 Summer Front Ramon A. Dominguez 4.70 2.90 2.70
9 Howe Great Alan Garcia 3.30 2.80
4 Film Shot Edgar S. Prado 6.50
Also ran: 2 - Margano , 5 - Spring to the Sky , 8 - Our Entourage , 10 - Star Channel , 6 - Mr. Handsome , 3 - Big Screen , 7 - Shkspeare Shaliyah
Scratched horses: Monarchic (Trainer)

twogunsid

(1,611 posts)

5. 2012 Stephen Foster Handicap

Reply to twogunsid (Original post)

Sat Jun 16, 2012, 10:10 PM

Jun 2012

5 Ron The Greek $20.80 $6.40 $5.40
1 Wise Dan $3.00 $2.80
2 Nates Mineshaft $8.00

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