Big Names for the Big Cap
 

5th (2:00) San Felipe S. (G2)

1 1/16 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $300,000

1 Home Run Kitten Quinonez A 118 L
2 Unstoppable Colby Saez L 118 L
3 Rprettyboyfloyd Nakatani C S 118 L
4 California Chrome Espinoza V 118 L
5 Sawyer's Hill Garcia M 118 L
6 Bayern Stevens G L 118 L
7 Kristo Rosario J 118 L
8 Schoolofhardrocks Talamo J 118 FTL
9 Midnight Hawk Smith M E 120 L
10 Recanted Gutierrez Mario 118 L



6th (2:30) China Doll S.

1 Mile (Turf) | Fillies | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $75,000

1 Anniversary Kitty Nakatani C S 117 L
2 Loan Savant Gutierrez Mario 117 L
3 Sushi Empire Espinoza V 122 L
4 Soresca (IRE) SutherlandKruse C 117 L
5 Screen Goddess Rosario J 117 L
6 Tiz Kissable Baze T C 117 L
7 Nashoba's Gold Talamo J 117 L
8 Diversy Harbor Stevens G L 117 L
9 Uzziel Blanc B 117 L
10 Sheza Smoke Show Saez L 117 L
11 On the Backstreets Bejarano R 117 L
12 Savings Account Smith M E 117 L
13 Full Ransom Desormeaux K J 122 L



7th (3:00) San Carlos S. (G2)

7 Furlongs | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $250,000

1 Sahara Sky Rosario J 120 L
2 Clubhouse Ride Baze T C 120 L
3 Zeewat Nakatani C S 118 L
4 Big Macher Saez L 118 L
5 Cyclometer Talamo J 118 L
6 Wild Dude Bejarano R 123 L
7 Ready for More Garcia M 118 L
8 Let's Get Crackin Delgadillo A 118 L
9 Midnight Transfer Espinoza V 118 L
10 Shakin It Up Smith M E 123 L



8th (3:30) Frank E. Kilroe Mile S. (G1)

1 Mile (Turf) | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $350,000

1 Lochte Bocachica O 123 L
2 Regally Ready Smith M E 118 L
3 Optimizer Saez L 118 L
4 Suggestive Boy (ARG) Talamo J 118 L
5 Za Approval Rosario J 118 L
6 Winning Prize (ARG) Nakatani C S 118 L
7 Horizontalyspeakin Maldonado E 118 L
8 Tom's Tribute Stevens G L 118 L
9 Silentio Bejarano R 118 L
10 Lakerville Desormeaux K J 118 L



9th (4:00) Santa Anita H. (G1)

1 1/4 Miles | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $750,000

1 Will Take Charge Saez (2-1) L 123
2 Mucho Macho Man Stevens G L (9-5) 124 L
3 Blingo Gryder A T (8-1) 117 L
4 Imperative Desormeaux K J (12-1) 114 L
5 Rousing Sermon Bejarano R 114 (12-1) L
6 American Blend Talamo J 114 (20-1) L
7 Game On Dude Smith M E 122 (5-2) L
8 Hear the Ghost Rosario J 114 (20-1) L

Will Take Charge, Lea, Game on Dude, and MMM. Thats going to be a monster race. Glad these A-list horses opted to stay in the US rather than go to Dubai.
Serves them right for installing a poly-track in a land surrounded by sand.

I'm skeptical about Lea running.

Seriously? I thought they'd all duck each other until November (if they all stay in training that long). This is awesome news.

But... I still don't understand why MMM isn't going to Dubai. 4th place money in that race is worth more than a Big Cap win. If he wins over the Dubai surface, it adds to his stud value. And he can rest until Saratoga and campaign upto the BC after. I just don't think he had much to lose by going to Dubai.

But is they really all show up at SA, this is pretty cool

Only one missing is Wise Dan.

Wise Dan is not in serious training yet.

to hell with dubai.

I have heard/read nothing about Lea running. He would be better off going Carter and Met Mile.

dont see why he cant win at 10 F.

Lea? If so, Im not saying he cant. But he had proven to be plenty sharp enough for 1 turn 7f-8f races. The Carter and Met are perfect for him. Grade 1's. Total purse for both races I believe is 1.75million. With the Met being bumped up this year.

Once again, I highly doubt Lea is running....and don't believe anyone reliable ever said he was.

Would be exciting to see Lea vs Falling Sky in The Carter.

Thread jack alert !!

I'm excited for the 6th at Gulfstream on FOY day.

Eager to see a few run back in there, most namely Constitution & Tonalist.

Thats a crazy allowance race. 5 horses can win it. Im most eager to see Matterhorn and Mexikoma. Also hoping Wicked Strong can regroup.

please... expand on this lol.

Don't get me wrong. This is awesome they're all running in the big 'Cap. When is the last time this early in the year all the big dogs showed up in the same race?

I mean the routine.... what? At least the last decade? Has been avoid each other until Breeders Cup... unless stud deal comes before November (which it usually does), so then there's an early retirement and the best horses never face off.

I'm just saying for the eventual stud deal awaiting MMM (and WTC for that matter), a big Group 1 win over a Synthetic track for wayyyy more $$$ than SA can offer... just makes no sense why they wouldn't go.

And yeah, I get that the trip saps the horse for months. We probably wouldn't see MMM again until Toga after. But He'd have more than enough time to prep and get fit for a run at the BC after.

Also... I know the chances of it happening are pretty much zero, but if you're the connections of Lea- your horse came out of the Donn in good shape. Call an audible and send him to Dubai. More money, a running style that can work over that crazy surface, and you duck the buzzsaw at SA

the only mention i saw on lea, is after his win bill mott said they'd aim for the whitney.

ever since dubai changed surfaces, it hasn't been a good surface for the u.s. horses for the most part.

it's hard on horses to ship, quite often they don't do well. so, you put them thru all that for nothing, they are laid up both before and after...

as for me saying to hell with dubai-i'd rather horses avoid that place and stay over here, even if it is for less money. i don't like the way they do things over there, and i don't like seeing good horses go there and give them any attention. their human and equal rights records speak for themselves.
the purse money may be higher, but a horse can get a really good looking resume and stud deal without going there.

This is kinda untrue. The Whitney was mentioned, but he also mentioned a mile race. The Met Mile is to obvious to not be the goal.

This is the key. I doubt that after shipping Royal Delta there twice to run up the track over synthetic, Mott will be interested in sending any other good dirt horses to Dubai. Animal Kingdom was the rare exception who excelled on all surfaces; shipping quality American dirt horses across the world on the off chance they'll handle the synthetic (not to mention all the other hurdles that Dubai presented pre-synth) is a losing proposition long-term.

any idea when and where they are pointing him? I'll be at the makers mark and would love to see him again

no, it's not 'kinda untrue'

this is the same quote i saw in several articles after the donn:

"I saw when (Will Take Charge) broke free and I knew he'd be running at us," Mott said. "We were good enough to scoot away from him. It's a long year and the big races are at the end of the year and there's a lot of good racing in between. Right now I'd love to point him for the Whitney at Saratoga."

i look forward to his next races, regardless of distance.

The Whitney is in August. If the horse is healthy he will likely run 2x before then. I dont see any possible situation where Lea does not run in the Met Mile. Especially with the purse boost it just got.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...ucho-macho-man

I wonder how much this had to do with Mucho Macho Man not going to Dubai? I'll set the over/under at 2.5 more races before he's retired. Definitely think regardless of what they say in the article, that some Smarty Jones "hoof bruising" will get him retired before the Breeders Cup

Didn't they buy into Point of Entry also? Still can't believe they retired him. He would have dominated the turf devision.

Didn't he suffer a condylar fracture behind in the Manhattan, then came back to run 4th in the Breeder's Cup? Maybe they didn't think he'd make it back to being the same horse he was before the injury.

Can I have over for $5K?

Steve can hold our money. He'll let me know when he gets the cash from you.

I really really really really really want you to be right. It's surreal to me that all the big timers are meeting for this race. What happened to every major horse ducking each other for the most part until November? I'm cheering for him to get back to the BC(and for Will Take Charge, Dude, etc), but I'm just really skeptical. Especially after an announced stud deal.

Let me know when you get the money to Steve. After all, you "made the line."

since he needs it hard and fast, and already won the moolah in the Classic last year, you made the perfect line. All the mook money will bet over, and he'll run twice and that's it. Stick by your opinion Jr. and take his $5 grand. This isn't handicapping races in New York, This is common sense. He's more likely to get 5 to go, than winning this 5 grand. Think of it, $5 grand in the Black Peter > Lovelight. E. it's all over now baby blue

a bunch of skeptics seeing how it's gone with most major racehorses that aren't gelded (or tied up in a lawsuit like Curlin) still think he won't make it to November (or even close).

But an expert tells me what I wanna hear, but still hard to believe. So torn...

Why wouldn't Stronach race the horse? Breeding season started last week so there are 51 weeks till he can cover mares and there isnt exactly a murders row of older dirt horses out there to be scared of. Stronach has a lot of stallions already and what does he have to lose by racing this season? It isnt like the horse is undefeated or has some rep as a super horse not to mention he has plenty of mares of his own to breed to him.

If he gets hurt, well it happens. However unless his form tails off dramatically I can't see why the horse wouldnt run 4-5 more times.

as I said... I want you to be right. It's interesting that you say 4-5 more times if healthy. I think he could've hit that number easily if he went to Dubai and had the long break after.

Is this field even gonna have 6 horses?

Could this be the last dance for Game On Dude if he runs up the track again?

Mucho Macho Man
Will Take Charge
Game On Dude
Blingo
Imperative
Appealing Tale
Rousing Sermon
American Blend
Majestic Harbor

that's awesome news... I was asking because the size of field I think has been lost in all the hubbub the big names showing up. Good that s a solid # is showing up for it.

This is exciting stuff.

The Big Cap
 

Does anyone know if Long River is running next Saturday? He is nominated and would be getting 7-9 pounds from the big 3.
Also Governor Charlie, is Baffert running him? He was very impressive stretching out last time.

BIG CAP LIKELY (PP'S):

Mucho Macho Man
Will Take Charge
Game On Dude
American Blend
Appealing Tale
Blingo
Imperative
Majestic Harbor
Rousing Sermon

Finally, a really great card Saturday.