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
- Rydilluc
- Noble Tune
- Jack Milton
Longshot: Areyoukiddingme
BetPTC.com Selections for the Mountainview Handicap
- Pants on Fire
- Rattlesnake Bridge
- Easter Gift
Longshot: Norman Asbjornson
BetPTC.com Selections for the Penn. Governor’s Cup
- Tightend Touchdown
- Icon Ike
- 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
- Foiled Again
- State Treasurer
- 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
- This Candy Says Bye
- Wagon Tales
- Hes Relentless
Longshot: Bp Wagon Train
BetPTC.com Selections for the Heritage Place Derby
- Buster 123
- Brace For Bernal
- 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
- Kettle Corn
- Clubhouse Ride
- 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