Although Triple Crown winner American Pharoah’s next start is not yet etched in stone, East Coast race fans seem convinced he will be Monmouth Park-bound for the Grade 1 Haskell on Sunday, Aug. 2. Reserved seating for Haskell Day is completely sold out, according to track officials.
Joint Return and Fortune Pearl have been following similar career paths. On Saturday, the pair will meet for the fifth time in the last 13 months in the Grade 3 Obeah at Delaware Park. If they run well, it would be not be surprising to see them both in the Grade 1, $750,000 Delaware Handicap on July 18.
Stallwalkin’ Dude had a four-race winning streak snapped last out when he closed belatedly to finish second in the Grade 2 True North at Belmont Park. To avoid a similar scenario in the $100,000 Donald Levine Memorial Handicap at Parx Racing on Saturday, he will have to keep A. P. Indian within reach early.
The Ohio Derby lost its Grade 3 status in 2014, but its $500,000 purse is certainly far better than the prize money connected with most listed stakes. The chance for a huge payday without having to face American Pharoah has lured nine 3-year-olds to suburban Cleveland, including six who ran in at least one leg of the Triple Crown series.
Tencendur has trained well since the Kentucky Derby, and I’m looking for him to rebound to his Wood Memorial form in Saturday’s Ohio Derby at ThistleDown.
Trainer Jon Arnett saddles Jafmils Persuader (#7, ML 3-1) in Thursday’s eighth race at Prairie Meadows, a 1 1/16-mile allowance. Since Jan. 1, 2014, Arnett is winning at a 27 percent clip in allowances, for a return on investment of $3.21.
Woodbine, Get’erdonebud, Beliveau, Conquest City Girl, Iluvbeefstew, Mykonos, Dragon Bay
There seems little doubt that G. G. Ryder, winner of the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile and Grade 3 All American in his past two starts, is Northern California’s best runner. But the winner of 10 of 19 starts and $375,114 gets a new test Saturday when he races on dirt for the first time in the $50,000-added Oak Tree Handicap at the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meet.
Blue Dancer will try to keep his perfect record in western Canada intact when he runs in the $50,000 Ky Alta on Saturday at Northlands Park.
It has been nearly two years since two-time stakes winner Ganbei has won a race. There is a good chance he will end the long losing streak when he runs in a $12,500 claiming race on Saturday at Hastings.
