Racing! Nice race meeting at Del Mar

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we look at changes in the grading of stakes.

Last week the stakes committee came up with its changes for next year. Southern California racing, specifically Santa Anita, didn’t do so well.

So, how are races graded? Think of it this way, it’s like if the College of Cardinals were to use analytics to elect a new Pope. There is some discretion, but there are lots of stats to look at.

It’s done by an 11-member board of six folks from the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Assn. and five industry professionals. Those are:

--Rick Hammerle, up until last week the vice president of racing at Santa Anita.

--Tom Robbins, executive vice president of racing at Del Mar.

--Georganne Hale, vice president of racing development at the Maryland Jockey Club.

--Ben Huffman, racing secretary at Keeneland.

--Martin Panza, senior vice president of racing at NYRA.

Now some things to consider.

The race has to have a purse of $75,000 to be considered for ungraded, listed or eligible status. A Grade 3 has to have a purse of $100,000, a Grade 2 needs to be at least $200,000 and a Grade 1 has to be at least $300,000.

Then the committee looks at the quality of the past fields, extenuating circumstances such as field sizes, if the race was changed from the turf to the dirt, future and past success of runners, strength of the division and pretty much anything else you could think about that would help evaluate how good the race might be.

For example, I thought the Santa Anita Handicap could be on the cusp of going from a Grade 1 to a Grade 2 as its purse kept getting smaller. The Big ‘Cap is a victim of the very best horses going for the big money in Dubai and not shipping west anymore. But, this year’s winner was Accelerate, who, as you know, also won the Breeders’ Cup Classic. That elevates the Big ‘Cap.

There was no puff of white smoke with the group’s announcement, just the smell of the racetrack we’ve grown so accustomed to.

Here are the local winners and losers.

Promotions

--Sweet Life Stakes at Santa Anita for 3yo fillies on the turf goes from listed to Grade 3.

--Beverly J. Lewis Stakes at Los Alamitos for 3yo fillies goes from non-listed Black Type to listed.

--Black Pearl Stakes at Santa Anita for 3yo fillies on the turf goes from non-listed Black Type to listed.

--Astra Stakes at Santa Anita for older fillies and mares on the turf goes from listed to Grade 3.

--Osunitas Stakes at Del Mar for older fillies and mares on the turf goes from non-listed Black Type to listed.

--Eddie D Stakes at Santa Anita for older horses on the turf goes from Grade 3 to Grade 2.

--Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar for older horses on the turf goes from listed to Grade 3.

--Joe Hernandez Stakes at Santa Anita for older horses on the turf goes from listed to Grade 3.

--Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar for older horses on the turf goes from non-listed Black Type to listed.

Demotions

--Honeymoon Stakes at Santa Anita for 3yo fillies on the turf goes from Grade 2 to Grade 3.

--Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita for older fillies and mares goes from Grade 1 to Grade 2.

--Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita for older fillies and mares goes from Grade 1 to Grade 2.

--Bayakoa Stakes at Los Alamitos for older fillies and mares goes from Grade 2 to Grade 3.

--La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita for older fillies and mares goes from Grade 2 to Grade 3.

--Santa Ana Stakes at Santa Anita for older fillies and mares goes from Grade 2 to Grade 3.

--Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity at Los Alamitos for 2yos goes from Grade 1 to Grade 2.

--Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita for older horses goes from Grade 1 to Grade 2.

--Precisionist Stakes at Santa Anita for older horses goes to not eligible.

So, to recap, Santa Anita lost three Grade 1 races and had three other graded stakes downgraded. It did have four stakes upgraded in graded status but none to Grade 1.

I was disappointed to see the Los Alamitos Futurity downgraded to a 2. Let’s look at the past five winners: McKinzie, Mastery, Mor Spirit, Dortmund and Shared Belief. Yeah, guess it just doesn’t attract the top 2-year-olds. Huh?

Del Mar remains the darling with three (mostly minor) promotions and no demotions.

One other note, the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs, a win and you’re in Breeders’ Cup Classic race, was downgraded from a 1 to a 2. There were six races downgraded, the Beldame Stakes at Belmont being the only one we haven’t mentioned. Again, four of the six Grade 1s that went down were here.

Three races were upgraded to a Grade 1: Jaipur Invitational Stakes and Woody Stephens Stakes at Belmont and the Churchill Downs Stakes at, well, figure it out.

Updating Baffert’s 2-year-olds

A couple of days ago, we tapped into the research of veteran horse-racing journalist Ron Flatter, who plies his trade at VSiN and hosts the Ron Flatter Racing Pod, which you can access here. And, as any respectable journalist, he wanted to revise and update his chart on Bob Baffert’s 2-year-old starters. Ron, what say you?

“Thanks to @Equibets and @TVG, I found two missing wins and a clarification on Baffert's 2-year-old first-time starters.

“I had completely missed Rayana transferring from my original search of Equibase, and I screwed up on Der Lu.

“But, I also noted that Honeyfromthesouth's debut was not for Baffert, but her subsequent races were.

“Anyhow, here are the updates and corrections, complete with Kingly's win (and Green Fleet's loss) on Saturday. Baffert's 2-year-olds on debut are 29-19-1-2 and overall are 51-29-4-5.

“Thanks in advance for any further fixes that you or others may find on the list.”

(Note: I’m using an ever so slightly different format because we really can’t do charts well, other than pre-formatted results and entries, in the newsletter.)

Date, Track, Horse, First race, Record, Top win

12/1, DMR-8, Kingly, 1st, 1-1-0-0, MSW

12/1, DMR-8, Green Fleet, 10th, 1-0-0-0

11/25, DMR-7, Qahira (f), 1st, 1-1-0-0, MSW

11/24, DMR-2, Highlight Reel, 6th, 1-0-0-0

11/17, DMR-2, Figure Eight, 2nd, 1-0-1-0

11/17, DMR-1, Coliseum, 1st, 1-1-0-0, MSW

11/9, DMR-4, Trojan Magic, MCL, 6th, 1-0-0-0

11/3, SA-7, Count Di Luna, 1st, 1-1-0-0, MSW

10/13, SA-4, Cruel Intention, 1st, 2-2-0-0, Golden St Juv

10/8, SA-2, Metropol, 1st, 1–1-0-0, MSW

9/29, SA-4, Power Player, 3rd, 1-0-0-1

9/29, SA-1, Improbable, 1st, 2-2-0-0, Street Sense

9/20, LRC-3, Mucho Gusto, 1st, 2-2-0-0, G3 Bob Hope

9/8, LRC-7, Raneem (f), 8th, 1-0-0-0

9/7, LRC-4, Midnight Mystery, 3rd, 2-0-0-1

9/3, DMR-8, Rayana (f), 1st, 1-1-0-0, MSW (turf)

9/2, DMR-5, Message (f), 5th, 1-0-0-0

9/1, DMR-9, Magic On Tap, 1st, 1-1-0-0 MSW

9/1, DMR-9, Admiral Brown, 7th, 1-0-0-0

9/1, DMR-5, Much Better, 1st, 3-1-1-0, MSW

8/26, DMR-4, Tale Of The Union, 1st, 1-1-0-0, MSW

8/25, DMR-1, Fighting Mad (f), 1st,1–1-0-0, MSW

8/18, DMR-9, Game Winner, 1st, 4-4-0-0, BC Juv (3 G1s)

8/11, DMR-6, The Aurelia Factor (f), 1st, 1-1-0-0, MSW

8/5, DMR-2, Der Lu (f), 1st, 2-1-0-0, MSW

7/29, DMR-6, Roadster, 1st, 2-1-0-1, MSW

7/28, DMR-1, Chasing Yesterday (f), 1st, 4-3-0-0, Desi Arnaz

*7/28, DMR-1, Honeyfromthesouth (f), MSW, *2–0-1-1

7/22, DMR-7, Mother Mother (f), 1st, 3–2-1-0, Rags To Riches

6/29, LRC-3, Dark Prince, 5th, 5–1-0-1, MSW (turf)

Baffert 2-year-olds on debut: 29–19-1-2

Baffert 2-year-olds in 2018: 51–29-4-5

Source: Equibase

*Honeyfromthesouth was trained to a 2nd-place finish in her debut for David Hofmans before her transfer to Bob Baffert. Her overall record is 3–0-2-1. Her record shown on the list is for Baffert.

Bragging on a handicapper

Just a little plug for one of our resident handicappers. Rob Henie, author of the West Coast (and East Coast) Handicapping Report had his first or second pick win in 16 of the 26 races over the last three days at Del Mar. That’s hot. Of course, he rests up during Los Alamitos, but still picks Gulfstream. So, we’ll continue with his weekly lessons soon, if not this week from Gulfstream.

News from New York

Sunday’s Aqueduct card was cancelled because of fog, making Del Mar’s Thursday rain debacle look like pretty good day. Also, it was announced that Mendelssohn, who finished fourth in the Cigar Mile on Saturday is being retired. He will stand at Coolmore America for a stud fee of $35,000.

Mendelssohn has really been a hot topic for backstretchers since he won the UAE Derby by 18 ½ lengths. I remember being at the Derby and basically feeling you are all in or all out on this colt. No horse from Dubai has ever done won the Kentucky Derby. He finished last.

Then, I remember being at the Breeders’ Cup, where he was running in the Classic, where some of my wise-guy acquaintances assured me he was a lock (which as we know, means he may win, he may lose). He finished fifth.

Still, when he was good he was very, very good. Let’s wish him that luck in the breeding shed.

Del Mar review

It seemed to be a smart move for Joel Rosario to come west for the weekend and ride Chad Brown’s shippers. He won the Hollywood Derby on Saturday and the Matriarch on Sunday, both Grade 1s.

The meeting closed with those two big wins for the East Coast contingent, even though Rosario will be moving his tack out west for the Santa Anita meeting.

On Sunday, he guided Uni to a late running win in the $300,000 Matriarch for fillies and mares going a mile on the turf. He won on the outside by a length over Daddy Is a Legend. Quidura was third with the favorite Vasilika finishing fourth. It broke her eight-race winning streak.

Uni paid $13.20, $6.40 and $5.00.

“I could tell they were going a little quick up front, because my filly has some speed and we were far back,” Rosario said. “But she was comfortable, so I was too. I just wanted to make one move with her. About the three furlong [pole] I could feel she was good under me. So, we went outside and she went on with it. She’s a nice one.”

Brown was not at Del Mar but assistant Jose Hernandez was there.

“It was not the plan [to be so far back], Hernandez said. “We told Joel to break with the field and see what happens. [Uni] can come from behind or be up close. I was a little nervous being so far behind, but she was really, really strong in the stretch. It’s a really great experience for me and it’s really nice for my boss.”

Big races review

A look at graded stakes or races worth more $100,000 or more on Sunday.

Woodbine (8): $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes, Ont-breds 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles. Winner: Kingsport ($5.20)

Del Mar (7): Grade 1 $300,000 Matriarch Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 mile on turf. Winner: Uni ($13.20)

Final thought

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Any thoughts, you can reach me at johnacherwa@gmail.com. You can also feed my ego by following me on Twitter @jcherwa

Now, here is the star of the show, Sunday’s results. Back on Thursday.

ONE UPPER had good early speed and dueled off the rail, angled in and took a short lead on the turn, inched away and drifted out into the stretch, continued to drift out some in the final furlong and held gamely under urging. CRACKLING BREAD stalked four wide then off the rail on the turn and four wide into the stretch, angled in some in deep stretch and continued willingly but could not catch the winner. ENCOUNTRESS broke a bit slowly, stalked between horses then just off the rail leaving the backstretch, angled in on the turn, swung three deep into the stretch and edged a rival for the show. SPACERIKA dropped back off the rail, came four wide into the stretch and just missed third. TOKEN VOW broke a bit slowly, stalked between horses then outside a rival on the turn, drifted in some late and lacked a rally. LUCKY HAND saved ground stalking the pace, cut the corner into the stretch, remained inside in the drive, was in a bit tight late and weakened. CHEYENNE DANCER dueled outside the winner, dropped back and drifted three wide into the stretch, drifted to the inside in midstretch and had little left for the drive.

COCO KISSES sped to the early lead outside, inched away and angled in, set the pace a bit off the rail, dueled leaving the turn and into the stretch, fought back to a short lead past the eighth pole and gamely prevailed under urging. POWDER hopped slightly in a bit of a slow start, went up four wide to stalk the pace then three deep early on the turn, bid outside the winner, put a head in front in the stretch but was outgamed. VENUE stalked three deep then between horses, steadied in tight a half mile out, continued three wide on the turn, came out four wide into the stretch and gained the show. SMITTEN KITTEN broke a bit slowly, saved ground chasing the pace, fell back on the turn, swung out into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. TWISTED ROSIE close up stalking the pace between horses, continued between foes on the turn, came out into the stretch and weakened. SUNRISE ROYALE bobbled at the start, saved ground tracking the winner, continued inside on the turn and in the stretch and also weakened.

SHAKY ALIBI sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, responded when challenged on the second turn, inched away a bit off the rail into the stretch and drew clear under some urging. SOLAR WARMING saved ground stalking the pace, came out into the stretch and edged a rival for the place. POINTED settled outside a rival then off the rail, angled in on the second turn, came out in midstretch and was edged for second. ARCH ANTHEM between horses early, chased outside a rival or a bit off the rail and was edged for the show. RAGING TIGER stalked a bit off the rail then inside, bid outside the winner on the second turn and weakened in the final furlong. DIMKAR (FR) close up stalking the pace outside a rival then between foes on the backstretch and second turn, came out into the stretch, drifted inward in the drive and weakened. IRISH SPIRIT pulled between horses then chased a bit off the rail, continued inside on the backstretch and second turn and did not rally. ENGLANDER chased three deep, came four wide into the stretch and weakened.

GO GHETTO had speed outside a rival then stalked off the rail, bid three deep leaving the backstretch, took the lead on the second turn, kicked away off the rail into the stretch and won clear under some left handed urging. HARD ARCH broke a bit slowly, settled off the rail then outside, went four wide into and out of the second turn and bested the others. FREDDIES DREAM saved ground chasing the pace throughout and edged a rival for the show. VENDING MACHINE stalked the pace inside, bid along the rail leaving the backstretch and on the second turn, came out some in the stretch and was edged for third. MONTEREY SHALE had good early speed and angled in, inched away on the first turn, dueled between horses leaving the backstretch and on most of the second turn, continued just off the rail into the stretch and weakened. BANZE NO OESTE (BRZ) chased outside a rival then between foes leaving the backstretch and into the second turn, was between horses again into the stretch and did not rally. SHIRL'S READY chased three deep, split horses into the second turn, came three wide into the stretch and lacked a rally. PREACHER ROE stalked three deep, dropped back on the second turn and gave way. HOT PARIS NIGHT unseated the rider when fractious in the gate, stalked between foes then a bit off the rail, dropped back between horses into the second turn, gave way and was eased in the stretch.

SNAZZY DRESSER sped to the early lead, angled in and set the pace inside, came a bit off the rail in the stretch and held gamely under urging. FOXTAIL three deep early, stalked outside a rival, came out into the stretch and finished willingly. OFFSHORE chased outside a rival then three deep into and on the second turn and into the stretch, continued between foes in the drive and edged rivals for the show. BLITZKRIEG off a bit slowly, settled alongside a rival then three deep on the second turn and four wide into the stretch and was edged for third. EAST RAND broke a bit slowly, saved ground off the pace, swung three deep into the stretch and was edged for a minor award four wide on the line. KRIS' WILD KAT angled in and stalked just off the rail then inside, came out a bit into the stretch and lacked a rally. WORTHY TURK saved ground off the pace, waited off heels into the stretch and in upper stretch, came out for room and could not summon the needed late kick. LUCKY KNICKERS angled in on the first turn and saved ground chasing the pace, came out a bit into the stretch then angled back in and lacked a rally. FORTUNE OF WAR (GB) chased inside then between foes into and on the second turn and lacked a response in the stretch. BAHAMIAN broke a step slowly, angled in and stalked a bit off the rail then inside, went between foes on the second turn, came out into the stretch and weakened.

KATE'S PRINCESS sped to the early lead, inched away and angled in, set the pace along the inside, opened up on the turn and into the stretch and held gamely under some left handed urging. DON'TBEBOISTEROUS broke a bit slowly, chased inside, came out into the stretch and gained the place. DR WYSONG unhurried off the rail early, angled in on the turn, came out in upper stretch and finished well. SIERRA SUNRISE chased outside a rival then inside on the turn, came out some into the stretch and lacked a rally. TWIRLING DIAMOND saved ground chasing the pace, came a bit off the rail on the turn, angled out into the stretch and weakened. COMEGOWITHME stalked a bit off the rail, angled in on the turn and also weakened. SHE'S A BREWER settled outside then off the rail to the stretch and lacked a further response. ADORABLY SWEET chased three deep then off the rail to the stretch and weakened, then did not return to be unsaddled and was vanned off. LUCKY LATELY stalked between foes early then outside a rival to the stretch and had little left for the drive.

UNI (GB) angled in and settled outside a rival then a bit off the rail, came out leaving the second turn and five wide into the stretch and rallied under some urging to get up outside the runner-up late. DADDY IS A LEGEND angled in and chased inside, came out on the second turn and five wide into the stretch, bid outside foes to gain the lead past midstretch and held on gamely but was caught late. QUIDURA (GB) stalked inside then just off the rail, continued outside a rival on the second turn, bid four wide into the stretch, put a head in front between foes past the eighth pole, fought back in deep stretch and held third. VASILIKA stalked three deep then outside a rival, bid between horses in midstretch then along the inside in deep stretch and was edged for the show. DONA BRUJA (ARG) chased three deep, came out five wide into the stretch and was outfinished for a minor award. RYMSKA (FR) angled in and settled outside a rival then just off the rail, came three deep into the stretch and also was outfinished. MISSION IMPASSIBLE (IRE) stalked outside a rival then a bit off the inside, bid three deep into the stretch, gained a slim advantage between horses in midstretch and weakened some late. EXCELLENT SUNSET (IRE) broke behind the field, settled off the pace inside, came out into the stretch and improved position. INSTA ERMA stalked three deep, came four wide into the stretch and lacked the needed late kick. VALADORNA saved ground off the pace, came out on the second turn and three wide into the stretch and could not summon the necessary response. LUMINOSO angled in and saved ground chasing the pace, came under urging in the stretch then had the rider lose the whip nearing the sixteenth pole and did not rally. FAHAN MURA sped to the early lead, angled in and set the pace inside, opened up on the backstretch, fought back in midstretch and weakened in the final furlong. MOPOTISM saved ground stalking the pace, continued inside in the drive and also weakened.

CALEXMAN sped to the early lead a bit off the rail, dueled outside the runner-up, fought back under left handed urging in the final furlong and gamely came back on. CAPTAIN SCOTTY went up inside to duel for the lead, took the advantage in midstretch and was outgamed late. APALACHEE BAY saved ground stalking the pace throughout and edged a rival for the show. LORD SIMBA chased outside then three deep on the turn and into the stretch and was edged for third. GREYVITOS three wide early, settled off the rail then a bit off the fence on the turn, came three deep into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. STREET VISION stalked between horses, fell back a bit off the rail on the turn and weakened. RED LIGHTNING pulled his way between horses to stalk the pace, continued a bit off the rail, was between foes again into the stretch and also weakened.

LOOMIS had speed inside then staved ground stalking the pace, came out leaving the second turn and three deep into the stretch and rallied under left handed urging to get up outside foes nearing the wire. MOBOU three deep early, dueled outside a rival then between foes leaving the second turn, regained a slim advantage in the stretch and held on well but was edged between foes late. MYSTICAL MOON had speed between rivals then dueled inside, fought back along the rail in the stretch and held third. LEADER OF MEN chased outside a rival then a bit off the rail, continued outside a foe on the second turn and into the stretch and was edged for the show. SPEAKEROFTHEHOUSE saved ground stalking the pace, continued inside in the stretch and was outfinished for a minor award. NOBLE NEBRASKAN angled in and stalked outside a rival, bid three deep on the second turn and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. FELIX LEITER broke slowly, settled inside, came out a bit into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. AUTUMN ISABELLA chased inside then outside a rival on the backstretch and second turn, came three wide into the stretch and gave way. JEFE angled in and settled outside a rival, drifted out into the stretch and had little left for the drive.