HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, May 22, 2019)

Loves Only You won her graded stakes debut in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse.

Ridden by Mirco Demuro, Loves Only You, the 3-1 favorite, set a stakes record of 2:22.80 in the race at 2,400 meters, or about 1 1/2 miles. Loves Only You closed from the middle of the field of 18 3-year-old fillies to take the lead over 93-1 Curren Bouquetd’or in the final sixteenth, winning by a neck over that rival.

“She has a heart of steel and can’t stand to lose,” Demuro told Japan Racing Association publicity.

Chrono Genesis, third in the Japanese 1000 Guineas on April 7, and Contra Check, the winner of the Grade 3 Flower Cup in March, are the leading contenders in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse, a classic race that lacks a standout in a field of 18.

Chrono Genesis and Contra Check have each won 3 of 5 starts in their careers. Chrono Genesis was a Grade 3 winner at a mile at Tokyo on Feb. 11 in her first start of the year.

Champion’s Way is unbeaten through five starts, and the manner of his latest wins suggests the streak may continue in Saturday’s $248,417 Sports For All Handicap at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong.

Trained by John Size, who leads the standings this season, Champion’s Way began his career in January and has won his four most recent starts by at least 1 1/4 lengths, racing at distances of six to seven furlongs. The Sports For All Handicap is run at a mile, which is a one-turn race at Sha Tin.

Stradivarius began his 5-year-old campaign Friday at York doing the same thing he did every trip to the post as a 4-year-old: Win a long-distance group stakes.

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Saturday, May 18)

:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis

Andrew Le Jeune

R1: 5-11-7-8

R2: 2-1-6-7

R3: 2-3-12-6

R4: 6-10-3-9

R5: 4-8-2-14

R6: 1-7-3-4

R7: 7-10-2-1

R8: 3-1-6-5

R9: 5-4-2-11

R10: 2-13-6-3

Best Bet - R6: #1 Duke Wai

Longshot - R10: #3 Red Warrior

Best Play - R6: Q/QP 1-3-7

Paul Lally

R1: 7-5-11-4

R2: 7-3-1-2

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Saturday, May 18, 2019)

Race 1: #2 My Dear, #1 Liverbird Star, #7 Richcity Fortune, #11 Sunny Orient

Race 2: #7 Marvelous World, #1 Valiant Dream, #3 Casa Glory, #6 Kanbeki Molly

Race 3: #3 Diamond Brilliant, #6 Promise Kept, #2 All You Need, #12 Royal Chocolate

Race 4: #1 Hello Beauty, #10 Mr Croissant, #6 Big Party, #3 Key Witness

Race 5: #12 Management Star, #14 Savvy Seven, #4 You Have My Word, #2 Ho Ho Feel

Six-year-old Lord Glitters stands a decent chance of winning his first Group 1 race Saturday at Newbury in England when he starts in the Lockinge Stakes.

Lord Glitters late Thursday still was priced at 8-1 in overseas antepost markets, odds that would be easy to take in the Lockinge, a straight-course mile.

Unheralded Telecaster was too darn good Thursday at York Racecourse, sending 2-year-old champion Too Darn Hot to his first defeat by beating him one length in the Group 2 Dante Stakes.

The Group 2 Dante Stakes on Thursday at York Racecourse in England serves as a prep for the Epsom Derby. For Too Darn Hot, the favorite, the race serves as a crossroads.

A strong showing in his 3-year-old debut could send Too Darn Hot on to the Derby, but if the John Gosden-trained colt fails to comfortably see out the Dante’s one mile, two furlongs, and 56 yards – more than a quarter-mile farther than he’s yet run – his summer campaign could be focused on races at or about one mile.