Winning Cause's big Beyer stands out in President's Cup
Winning Cause will be a solid favorite in the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association President’s Cup, a $200,000 turf race at Parx on Saturday.
A 4-year-old trained by Todd Pletcher, Winning Cause enters the 1 1/8-mile President’s Cup off a win over two-time Grade 1 winner Big Blue Kitten in the Grade 3 Cliff Hanger at Monmouth Park.
Two of the seven entrants in the President’s Cup are entered for the main track only. If the race is taken off the turf, He’s So Fine, a winner of consecutive $25,000 starter-allowance races for trainer Ramon Preciado, would become a major player. There is a 40 percent chance of showers in the Philadelphia area Saturday.
Parx Racing Hall of Fame inductions will take place between the races. The nine new members are trainer Philip Aristone; jockey Victor Molina; owners Steven Appel and Jack Armstrong; the horses Broad Brush, Roamin Rachel, and Whistle Pig; and, for special achievement, Michael Ballezzi and Bruce Casella. The PTHA’s Man of the Year also will be named Saturday.
PTHA President’s Cup (Race 9)
KEY CONTENDERS
Winning Cause (Last 3 Beyers: 104-91-98)
◗ The 104 Beyer Speed Figure he earned in the Cliff Hanger is the highest ever run by a member of this field and towers over the recent figures of all entrants. It should be noted that Winning Cause broke an 11-race losing streak in the Cliff Hanger and that he has had more seconds than wins this year and last year. For his career, Winning Cause has 5 wins and 7 seconds.
◗ Big Blue Kitten, whom he defeated in the Cliff Hanger, was making only his second start of the year and rallied from last to be beaten only a half-length.
Holiday Star (Last 3 Beyers: 93-91-81)
◗ Is 1 for 3 at the distance but will be shortening up from two marathon efforts, a nose defeat in the 1 5/8-mile John’s Call at Saratoga and the 1 1/2-mile Cape Henlopen at Delaware Park, in which he finished third, beaten 3 1/4 lengths by eventual Arlington Million winner Hardest Core.
Margano (Last 3 Beyers: 83-80-75)
◗ Trainer Arnaud Delacour put blinkers back on Margano after taking them off for his 2014 debut, a fourth-place effort in an optional-claiming race at Delaware Park on Aug. 21.
Sailor’s Revenge (Last 3 Beyers: 88-76-87)
◗ Sailor’s Revenge will be making his third start in 12 days for trainer Preciado. He finished seventh in the 1 1/2-mile Greenwood Cup on Sept. 1 and third in the 1 1/16-mile Roanoke for Pennsylvania-breds on Sept. 6.