McCraken Returns

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TJ
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McCraken Returns

Postby TJ » Wed Jun 14, 2017 2:45 pm

Great card at Churchill Downs this Saturday night. McCraken will make his first start back since the Derby in the Matt Winn. Next is a win and you're in (to the BC Distaff) GR II event for fillies and mares, the Fleur de Lis Handicap. Gun Runner makes his return to action in the prestigious GR I Stephen Foster Handicap (A win and you're in event to the BC Classic). Here's the entries and pp's. TJ

5th RACE. Post 8:03PM
The 20th Running of THE MATT WINN (Grade III)
PURSE $100,000 1 1/16 Miles FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.

1 EXCITATIONS (L) '14 C E0 118 Mena, M Fair Grounds Racing Club, Inc. Stall, Jr., A
2 MCCRAKEN (L) '14 C E0 123 Hernandez, Jr, B Whitham Thoroughbreds LLC Wilkes, I
3 COLONELSDARKTEMPER (L) '14 C R19 118 Court, J Foyt, Jr., A Fires, W
4 MO'S MOJO (L) '14 C R14 118 Leparoux, J DD Stables, LLC Morse, R
5 AQUAMARINE (L) '14 C E15 118 Geroux, F Zayat Stables, LLC Lukas, D
6 SOCIETY BEAU (L) '14 C R26 118 Albarado, R B.C.W.T. Ltd. Howard, N

Click on Aquamarine: http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/briswatc ... ummary.htm

7th RACE. (C8) Post 9:09PM
The 42nd Running of THE FLEUR DE LIS HANDICAP (Grade II) $200,000
"Win & You're In Distaff Division" PURSE $200,000 1 1/8 Miles
A HANDICAP FOR FILLIES AND MARES, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.

1 FOREVER UNBRIDLED (L) '12 M E0 123 Rosario, J Fipke, C Stewart, D
2 WALKABOUT (L) '13 F E0 120 Hernandez, Jr, B Whitham Thoroughbreds LLC Wilkes, I
3 CARRUMBA (L) '12 M 117 Velazquez, J Phipps Stable McGaughey III, C
4 CROOKED STICK (L) '13 F R2 115 Doyle, S Allor, F Colebrook, B
5 BIG WORLD (L) '13 F E0 121 Geroux, F Moss, M Amoss, T
6 ROMANTIC VISION (L) '12 M E0 118 Leparoux, J Humphrey, Jr., G Arnold, II, G
7 APOLOGYNOTACCEPTED (L) '11 M R2 117 Saez, L Barber, Gary, Happy Alter Racing Stable and Wachtel Stable Mott, W
8 TIGER MOTH (L) '12 M E0 114 Castellano, J Gunther, J Cox, B
9 WEEP NO MORE (L) '13 F E0 116 Lanerie, C Ashbrook Farm Arnold, II, G

Click on Carrumba: http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/briswatc ... mmary.html

8th RACE. Post 9:43PM
The 36th Running of THE STEPHEN FOSTER HANDICAP (Grade I) $500,000
"Win & You're In Classic Division" PURSE $500,000 1 1/8 Miles
FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.

1 BIRD SONG (L) '13 C E0 119 Leparoux, J Marylou Whitney Stables LLC Wilkes, I
2 BREAKING LUCKY (L) '12 H 117 Contreras, L Gunpowder Farms LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds et al.Baker, R
3 GUN RUNNER (L) '13 C E0 124 Geroux, F Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm Asmussen, S
4 HONORABLE DUTY (L) '12 G E0 119 Castellano, J DARRS, Inc. Walsh, B
5 MO TOM (L) '13 C R6 115 Lanerie, C G M B Racing Amoss, T
6 HAWAAKOM (L) '10 G E0 115 Mena, M Smoot, Stephan H. and Hawley, Wesley E. Hawley, W
7 TEXAS CHROME (L) '13 C 117 McMahon, C Keene Thoroughbreds LLC Milligan, A
8 STANFORD (L) '12 H 117 Velazquez, J Stonestreet Stables LLC, Magnier, Susan., Tabor,
Michael B. and Smith, Derrick Pletcher, T

Click on Stanford: http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/briswatc ... ummary.htm

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Re: McCraken Returns

Postby Cree » Wed Jun 14, 2017 6:23 pm

Looking forward to his return! Hard to not lean towards him here.

It's also nice to see Forever Unbridled back at it. I will be rooting for her as well.

My money is on Gun Runner in the Stephen Foster.

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Re: McCraken Returns

Postby TJ » Thu Jun 15, 2017 8:47 am

Cree wrote:Looking forward to his return! Hard to not lean towards him here.

It's also nice to see Forever Unbridled back at it. I will be rooting for her as well.

My money is on Gun Runner in the Stephen Foster.

Hi Cree,
Yes, it does look like a good spot for McCraken's return...for some reason this race comes up a bit light on talent as last years addition also was when Gun Runner won easily. What happens after that will be most telling. I'd expect to see him point for the Travers due to his running style and of course, if he stays sound.
I have an idea they might enter Timeline in the GR III Pegasus at Monmouth on tap for Sunday. If he does show up in the entries I will post it later. His only other option would be the Dwyer at Belmont Park ....but it would be beneficial to Timeline to get a race over the Monmouth track since the Haskell is his main goal?
Looks like in each of these races...we'll need to find a price (or two) to hit the board in the triple to make a few bucks? Or just watch the race...but I sometimes find that hard to do:>)TJ

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Re: McCraken Returns

Postby TJ » Thu Jun 15, 2017 7:22 pm

Timeline did enter in the GR III Pegasus this Sunday at Monmouth. It's another small field without top class runners...but I'm very interested in finding out just how good he is? Not that this race will give any real clues...but Talk Logistics did earn a couple 4ths in GR II events and ran against good 3YO's in Florida...so hopefully he will make Timeline break out of a gallop? TJ

10th RACE. Post 5:20PM PURSE $100,000
36th Running of THE PEGASUS STAKES (Grade III)
For 3 YO's, 1 1/16 MILES
1 GREEK PRINCE (L) Andreadakis, G Juarez, N 116
2 TIMELINE (L) Brown, C Castellano, J 123
3 GLORY STARS (L) Moore, M Sanchez, M 116
4 HONOR THE FLEET Albertrani, L Bravo, J 116
5 TALK LOGISTICS (L) Plesa, Jr., E Lopez, P 116

Click on Timeline: http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/briswatc ... mmary.html

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Re: McCraken Returns

Postby TJ » Fri Jun 16, 2017 7:37 am

THE MATT WINN
McCraken
Society Beau

THE FLEUR DE LIS HANDICAP
Big World
Forever Unbridled
Walkabout
Carrumba

THE STEPHEN FOSTER HANDICAP
Honorable Duty
Gun Runner
Breaking Lucky
Bird Song

To be run Sunday:
THE PEGASUS STAKES
Timeline
Talk Logistics

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Re: McCraken Returns

Postby TJ » Sat Jun 17, 2017 5:08 pm

Here's the finish for THE MATT WINN:

McCraken...off poorly and 10 back early, drew clear to win by open lengths at the wire.
Colonelsdarktemper...2nd by 3/4's over,
Society Beau 3rd
Mo's Mojo 4th

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Re: McCraken Returns

Postby Cree » Sat Jun 17, 2017 5:43 pm

He was certainly the class of the field. Don't want him off poorly like that against the big boys, but he recovered nicely and did what needed to be done. Have they said they are pointing to the Haskell now?

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Re: McCraken Returns

Postby TJ » Sat Jun 17, 2017 6:06 pm

Cree wrote:He was certainly the class of the field. Don't want him off poorly like that against the big boys, but he recovered nicely and did what needed to be done. Have they said they are pointing to the Haskell now?

Hi Cree,
He kind of took a stutter step out of there....but it could have been he was crowded as well...I'll check the chart and see what it says. Wilkes said he will talk it over with the owner before deciding where to go next. TJ

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Re: McCraken Returns

Postby TJ » Sat Jun 17, 2017 6:15 pm

Here's the finish of THE FLEUR DE LIS HANDICAP:

Forever Unbridled...came from way back and drew clear...powerful race off the layoff.
Apologynotaccepted...took early command but failed to stop the winner.
Carrumba was 3rd
Big World 4th

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Re: McCraken Returns

Postby TJ » Sat Jun 17, 2017 6:49 pm

Here's the finish of THE STEPHEN FOSTER HANDICAP:

Gun Runner...right to the lead, never looked back with an easy win off his layoff.
Honorable Duty was a clear 2nd
Breaking Lucky was 3rd
Hawaakom ran 4th

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Re: McCraken Returns

Postby Cree » Sat Jun 17, 2017 10:12 pm

Forever Unbridled sure looked like a horse with a purpose out there. She ran great off that layoff.

Gun Runner continues to make me a fan. He was flipping leads in the stretch, and still blew them off their feet.

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Re: McCraken Returns

Postby TJ » Sun Jun 18, 2017 2:39 pm

Here's the results of THE PEGASUS STAKES at Monmouth Park:

Timeline...went to the lead out of the gate and increased that advantage...won very handily.
Talk Logistic...ran well to be a clear 2nd, but never threatened the winner.
Honor The Fleet...a distant 3rd.
Glory Stars...a nose back in 4th

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Re: McCraken Returns

Postby Cree » Sun Jun 18, 2017 5:25 pm

Timeline sure is a nice horse, I can't wait to see him in a G1.

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Re: McCraken Returns

Postby TJ » Sun Jun 18, 2017 6:31 pm

Cree wrote:Timeline sure is a nice horse, I can't wait to see him in a G1.

Hi Cree,
Timeline will run in the GR I Haskell Invitational July 30th. As of now, Irish War Cry (the Jersey bred) is almost a guarantee...the owners Dad was Armory Haskell, founder of Monmouth Park. Classic Empire is also expected...IF that foot holds up? Though not confirmed, I'd expect Baffert to run American Anthem in the Haskell, since he holds the most Haskell wins of any trainer with 8 victories!
The Saturday before the Haskell is the GR II mile and one eighth Jim Dandy and Cloud Computing, Always Dreaming, Tapwrit and Gunnevera are looking in that direction. I'm enjoying the way this 3YO season is going....they shared the wealth and we have some good races ahead to see if we can get one of them to rise to the top of the heap:>) Don't forget about McCraken...I wonder which one he'll go for?
Get ready for next Saturday's 3YO's...the 1 1/16th GR III Affirmed Stakes at SA with Battle of Midway the main attraction. Also the GR III Ohio Derby at a mile and an eighth where the troubled Belmont Stakes starter, Hollywood Handsome, is expected to wheel back as well as Irap, Girvin and Souper Tapit. Looking forward to see if any of these make a run to remember:>) TJ

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Re: McCraken Returns

Postby Cree » Sun Jun 18, 2017 7:31 pm

Timeline has a cut, let's hope it's nothing too serious.
http://www.drf.com/news/timeline-suffer ... us-triumph

Battle of Midway is a horse I am looking forward to. He's shown he's got a lot of talent and is still developing.

The next half of the 3-year-old season should be interesting to see if one of them rises to the top.