BetPTC.com Weekend Stakes Preview 5/30

Penn Mile keys huge night at Penn National on Saturday

Penn National Race Course in Pennsylvania is generally known for mid-level claiming racing.  However on Saturday, the track will be loaded with stakes runners, with the debut of the $500,000 Penn Mile for three year olds on the grass.  A field of 8 has been drawn for the Penn Mile, which will be race 4 on the evening program.  Noble Tune is the 2/1 morning line favorite and has been nearly perfect in his career so far.  The only blemish is a second place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, but other than that, he’s always been in front at the wire in his other four starts.  Last time out, he won the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill with Javier Castellano aboard, who will be back on Saturday.  Rydilluc is the second choice on the line at 5/2 and he is coming off a fourth place finish in the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass.  He was dominant winning the Palm Beach over the Gulfstream Park turf two starts back and his connections gave him a try for the Kentucky Derby trail in his last start, and he didn’t run badly, as he was only beaten a length and three quarters.  Jack Milton is the newest shooter of the bunch, as he’s only raced three times in his young career.  But he took home the Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland last time out, so his world class connections of trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez show up in this spot.  Charming Kitten will also join the cast and drew the outside post, and he’ll be making his first start since finishing ninth place in the Kentucky Derby.  Much of his career has been on the turf thus far, as being by Kitten’s Joy, there is no doubt he’s bred to enjoy the green.

The Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup and the Mountainview Handicap are the other two primary races on the card.  The Governor’s Cup is at five furlongs on the grass and features some good sprinters like Ben’s Cat who won this race a few years ago and was fourth last year.  He’s made over a million bucks turf sprinting, but drew the tough 11 hole for the five furlong dash.  Kyma is back to defend his crown in this event and just won a race at Presque Isle Downs.  Both Bridgetown and Chamberlain Bridge, who is another past winner of this race, will be dangerous as well.  The Mountainview Handicap drew some good handicap horses, including Pants on Fire and Rattlesnake Bridge.  Pants on Fire is a multiple graded stakes winner and comes into this race off a third place finish in the Skip Away behind the talented Cigar Street.  Rattlesnake Bridge was third in the Westchester last time out, but is Grade 1 placed and could be competitive on his best day.

BetPTC.com Selections for the Penn Mile

  1. Rydilluc
  2. Noble Tune
  3. Jack Milton

    Longshot: Areyoukiddingme

BetPTC.com Selections for the Mountainview Handicap

  1. Pants on Fire
  2. Rattlesnake Bridge
  3. Easter Gift

Longshot: Norman Asbjornson

BetPTC.com Selections for the Penn. Governor’s Cup

  1. Tightend Touchdown
  2. Icon Ike
  3. Ben’s Cat

Longshot: Kyma

Molson Pace headlines big night at Western Fair Raceway on Friday night

The $150,000 Molson Pace is the premier event on the schedule at Western Fair Raceway in Ontario.  Foiled Again, the two time defending older pacer of the year and is the 7/5 morning line favorite.  The 9 year old gelding has amassed over $4,800,000 in his amazing career and his regular driver Yannick Gingras will be back in the bike on Friday night.  Foiled Again has won this race the last two years in a row, and will be tough to beat on Friday when he takes on seven rivals.  George Brennan and Betterthancheddar drew the far outside and were made the second choice on the morning line at 8/5 coming off a qualifying win at Mohawk.  Betterthancheddar had a huge year last year, winning nine of eleven starts for over $800,000 in earnings.  Millionaire Aracache Hanover drew post two and he likes to get out to the lead, so don’t be surprised if he rushes out and gets command early.

The Molson Pace from Western Fair is race 12 on the card and features a mandatory payout Super High Five and post time is 10:39pm EST.  The card will get underway at 7:05pm EST and there are two guaranteed Pick 4’s, starting in races 4 ($5k) and race 9 ($10k).  The Super High 5 in race 7 is a $7,500 guarantee.

BetPTC.com Selections for the Molson Pace

  1. Foiled Again
  2. State Treasurer
  3. Aracache Hanover

Longshot: Keystone Velocity

Saturday is Heritage Place night at Remington Park

The $1,000,000 Heritage Place Juvenile headlines a big night of Quarter Horse Racing action from Oklahoma City as Remington Park will showcase one of the biggest nights in the sport.  Ten juvenile runners will compete at the 350 yard distance, led by fastest qualifier Hes Relentless.  Hes Relentless dominated his trial, winning off by over four lengths and stopping the clock in 17.23 seconds for jockey Cody Smith.  Wagon Tales was the second fastest qualifier, and was just a hundredth of a second slower, when he won his trial by three quarters of a length.  That turned out to be a good heat, because both the runner up This Candy Says Bye and the third place finisher Sheza Lady James also got into the field.

The Heritage Place Derby is the undercard feature with a $285,000 purse and some top three year olds.  Big Boi is three for three at Remington Park this season and took home the Oklahoma Futurity last time out.  He’s drawn the rail post for the Derby and will have to beat Brace For Bernal who was the fastest qualifier of the bunch.

The action from Remington Park gets underway Saturday evening, with first post at 7:00pm EST.

BetPTC.com Selections for the Heritage Place Futurity

  1. This Candy Says Bye
  2. Wagon Tales
  3. Hes Relentless

Longshot: Bp Wagon Train

 

BetPTC.com Selections for the Heritage Place Derby

  1. Buster 123
  2. Brace For Bernal
  3. Big Boi

Longshot: Glory Rider

Grade 2 Californian is a big prep for the final Hollywood Gold Cup

With the announcement that Hollywood Park will close at the end of 2013, the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup will take on extra special meaning this season.  The Grade 2 Californian is the final big local prep for that race, and seven runners are after their share of the $150,000 purse.  With Game on Dude likely training up to the Gold Cup, Clubhouse Ride might just inherit the top spot, as he’s finished second in five straight races, with the last three being behind Game on Dude.  Garrett Gomez was on board last time and they were getting close to Game on Dude at the end, just missing by half a length in the Charles Town Classic.  Numerous horses are coming out of the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap, including the winner Liaison who was dominating that day and has now won two races in a row.  Blueskiesnrainbows drew the outside post position and very well could be the speed of the speed under jockey Rafael Bejarano.  He’s done some good work at Hollywood Park over the synthetic surface as well, as he’s 2 for 4 career at the Inglewood oval.

BetPTC.com Selections for the Californian

  1. Kettle Corn
  2. Clubhouse Ride
  3. Blueskiesnrainbows

Longshot: Oilisblackgold

 

Saturday Stakes Action at BetPTC.com

Arlington Park

Race 5                  Meafera Stakes                                 4:08pm EST

Race 7                  Purple Violet Stakes                          5:10pm EST

Race 9                  Springfield Stakes                              6:12pm EST

Betfair Hollywood

Race 8        Californian Stakes                             7:35pm EST

Churchill Downs

Race 5        Aristides Stakes                                 2:51pm EST

Race 10      Opening Verse Stakes                        5:30pm EST

Delaware Park

Race 7        Joseph French Stakes                        4:14pm EST

Evangeline Downs

Race 2         Ragin Cajun Stakes                            7:04pm EST

Golden Gate Fields

Race 8         Campanile Stakes                               7:45pm EST

Louisiana Downs

Race 5         Honeymoon Stakes                            4:05pm EST

Race 9        John Franks Memorial                         6:00pm EST

Monmouth Park

Race 11       John Reilly Handicap                           6:00pm EST

Penn National

Race 1         Silver Train HBPA Stakes                     6:00pm EST

Race 2         Penn. Governor’s Cup                        6:30pm EST

Race 3         Mountainview Handicap                      6:56pm EST

Race 4          Penn Mile Stakes                               7:26pm EST

Race 6          Penn Dash                                        8:22pm EST

Race 7           E Dubai HBPA Stakes                         8:50pm EST

Race 8          Penn Dash Stakes                              9:17pm EST

Pimlico

Race 9          Canonero II Stakes                            5:21pm EST

Remington Park

Race 7            Heritage Place Juvenile                       9:35pm EST

Race 8            Paint and Appaloosa Futurity               10:02pm EST

Race 9             Heritage Place Derby                          10:28pm EST

Race 10           Heritage Place Futurity                       10:54pm EST

Race 11           Remington Invitational Championship    11:20pm EST

Race 12          Juno’s Request Stakes                       10:46pm EST

Ruidoso Downs

Race 9         Free Spirit Handicap                               6:28pm EST

 

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