Racing! Congratulations to Preakness winner War of Will

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we offer you another free Santa Anita card of handicapping from Ciaran Thornton. (And we should have the bugs worked out this week.)

War of Will got what his trainer Mark Casse wanted most, a fair shot. After being interfered with in the Kentucky Derby by Maximum Security he had an uneventful race to win by 1 ¼ lengths. It looks as if he is now headed to the Belmont in three weeks.

If you want to read about the race, here is the game story that appeared in the Times. Just click here.

And, if you haven’t had enough, here are some notes from Saturday’s Preakness Day. Just click here.

In order to give you an insider’s look into the race, let’s get comments from all the trainers with a big assist to the Preakness notes team.

--Mark Casse (War of Will, first): “It was so important to win it. I just wanted him to get his chance to show everybody how good he is because he’s a super horse. We thought we were going to win it [with Classic Empire] and we got beat at the wire so I kept trying to figure out where the wire was.”

--Dale Romans (Everfast, second): “Second in any classic is great. I thought the whole race he looked comfortable. When he wanted him to start picking up horses, he did. You could see the momentum. I thought we were going to win for a minute.”

--Brad Cox (Owendale, third; Warrior’s Charge, fourth): Very pleased with both of them. Warrior’s Charge fought incredibly hard. He’s a nice horse. Other horse (Owendale) ran great. I need to watch a replay, but it looks like he maybe got stuck in behind some horses. He’s a big horse, probably needs to be more out in the open, clear running where he can keep his motor rolling.”

--Darren Fleming (assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen on Laughing Fox, fifth): “I thought he ran well. He got a little farther back than I expected. He made up a ton of ground. But he showed he belonged.”

--Bob Baffert (Improbable, sixth) “When he [acted up] in the gate, I knew that was it. His only weakness is he gets a little bit fired up. He was acting pretty well but then he got fired up. When horses do that it takes a lot of energy out.”

--Michael Trombetta (Win Win Win, seventh): “I thought he ran OK. We would have all loved to have done a little better but he was in it for a fight and I can’t get mad at him. He gave it a good effort.”

--Mark Hennig (Bourbon War, eighth): “He looked like he was in the bridle early and I was really happy. When he went outside into the clear, he dropped the bridle and then picked it up again.”

--Kenny McPeek (Signalman, ninth): There were eight horses faster than him. Brian [Hernandez Jr.] rode him good. He said he put him in position. He was only about four or five off of them when he was in the middle of the turn, and then they ran away from him. I don’t have a major excuse but right now we are planning to go on to the Belmont.”

--Blaine Wright (Anothertwistafate, 10^th): “[Jockey Jose Ortiz] put him in the race and we were happy about that. He said he last eighth of a mile caught up to him. He said everything else went according to plan. I’m glad we came and had an opportunity. Obviously, I’m a little disappointed with the result but we’ll regroup and go from here.”

--Kelly Rubley (Alwaysmining, 11^th) “He appears to be fine. We’re waiting to scope and we’ll evaluate him. He appeared to stop and I don’t know what the reason for that is.”

--Wayne Lukas (Market King, 12^{th) “}I think my horse wants to run a mile. I don’t think he wants this distance. We need to find that out, though. He ran well for a mile.”

--Gustavo Delgado (Bodexpress, did not finish, lost jockey): “I don’t have the words to talk about that now.”

Weekly handicapping lesson

It’s time for our weekly handicapping lesson from Rob Henie of the WCHR (West Coast Handicapping Report) and the ECHR (East Coast Handicapping Report). The thinking is if you can know and understand the strategies, it will make you a better handicapper.

Today’s lesson is from third race at Santa Anita. Take it away, Rob.

“This is a baby race, 2-year-olds going 4 ½ furlongs in May, and we’re just not wild about these offerings. To be clear about our stance: horses who’re barely 2 (or not even 2, see below), should not be running. Once we get toward mid-July, a good majority of them are ready to run as 2 ½-year-olds, a notable difference than those who were running two and even three months earlier. Let’s explain a bit more. The No. 3 horse is RAGING WHISKEY, bred in May, and since we don’t know the exact date he was born, it’s quite possible he’s technically not even 2-years-old yet here on May 19th, despite his Jan. 1st birthday. Remember, in racing, on Jan. 1, all horses move up a year in age, which is why breeding closest to January 1 is key, as a horse bred in January compared to let’s say April, is in actuality three months older which can be huge from a development standpoint, and furthermore, the percentage of runners who are racing here in May, and still racing this same time next year, isn’t strong. Think about it, how often do we ever say, “but if he returns to his form last year when going 4 ½ furlongs, he can be tough?” Which brings us to the purpose of baby races. If you ever hear a trainer mutter the words or basic message, “we’re preparing him/her for races in the summer,” feel free to laugh. These 4 ½ furlong races are ‘money grabs,’ that’s it. They’re not using these as a springboard for longer, or as a prep for future races, these are--open the gates and let’s see who can outrun the others, running for $65,000 purses, going barely over a half mile. OK, as for this event here Sunday, top selection is the runner we mentioned earlier, the May bred, RAGING WHISKEY (#3). He’s already at the track, meaning, he’s been super precocious, showing a ton of speed while back at Dixie Downs (Utah), for trainer Luis Mendez, former assistant to John Brocklebank, who was suspended a couple years ago, until he compensates a former owner to the tune of $365,000. In the meantime, the program obviously continues, with the Utah connections in place, and the Santa Anita debut now upon ‘em. Again, money grabs. D K’s CROWN (#7) is also from the Mendez barn, working super, and no question Agapito Delgadillo is a good fit in these baby races, very good from the gate and who seemingly has been riding forever. How long? I remember him riding down at Aqua Caliente when I was still a teenager. Anyway, this is an ideal seven hole to pop the gate quickly off the short load, and a win is easy to find.

“Hot / Cold Race Trends: none

“Win Contenders (order of preference): 3-7-6

“X Out Runners (eliminating on the win end): 1,8

“First Timers:

“1 Bobs Blues Man - Gonna get shuffled back early on, not good.

“5 Restoring Dreams - We’ll look for better when the summer months arrive the distance gets a bit longer.

“6 Phantom Boss - Periban is best with sprints, and the fact Bejarano rides here is encouraging.

“TOP PICK: RAGING WHISKEY (#3 3-1 Fuentes)

“SECOND CHOICE: D K’s CROWN (#7 6-1 Delgadillo)”

^{The West Coast Handicapping Report can be found at https://www.westcoasthorseracing.com It has been endorsed by leading trainers, handicappers and industry sources.}

Santa Anita review

Baffert may not have won the Preakness Stakes on Saturday but he did take the Grade 3 $100,000 Lazaro Barrera Stakes for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs when Mucho Gusto won by 3 ¼ lengths. It really shouldn’t have been a surprise as Baffert had the colt on the Derby trail, but he just couldn’t get enough points.

“He’s drawn the rail a lot and he’s still able to relax after he gets serious pressure,” said jockey Joe Talamo. “[Saturday], he took two or three breathers around the turn and then he took off. … After he broke his maiden [at Los Alamitos on Sept. 20], I started working him a lot at Del Mar. He never acted like a 2-year-old, he acted like an older horse.”

Mucho Gusto paid $3.00, $2.20 and $2.10. Manhattan Up was second and Vantastic was third.

Santa Anita preview

It’s a nine-race card starting at 1 p.m. Five of the races will finish with a horse winning their first race. Four of the races are on the turf and there is one stakes race. The feature is the $100,000 Desert Stormer Stakes, for fillies and mares going six furlongs.

The favorite, at 7-5, is Selcourt, a lightly raced 5-year-old mare. She was in the Breeders’ Cup Fillies and Mares Sprint but finished a disappointing 12^th. She has won four of her 10 races, nine of them being stakes. She is trained by John Sadler and will be ridden by Talamo. It looks like she might be more suited to six furlongs than some of the seven-furlong races she’s been running.

The second favorite, at 8-5, is Danuska’s My Girl for Jerry Hollendorfer and Geovanni Franco. She has won three in a row including the Grade 3 Las Flores in her last start. She is four-of-13 lifetime. It’s a short five-horse field with post at around 4:30 p.m.

Here are the field sizes, in order: 10 (1 also eligible), 6, 8 (1 ae), 6, 9, 9, 9, 5, 11.

Big Races review

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

Pimlico (3): $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes, Mar-bred 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles. Winner: King for a Day ($2.80)

Pimlico (5): $100,000 James W. Murphy Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 mile on turf. Winner: English Bee ($11.40)

Pimlico (6): Grade 3 $150,000 Maryland Sprint Stakes, 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Winner: New York Central ($6.60)

Pimlico (7): $100,000 Searching Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 ½ miles on turf. Winner: Ickymasho ($3.00)

Woodbine (3): Grade 3 $125,000 Selene Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 1 1/16 miles. Winner: Power Gal ($8.40)

Pimlico (9): $100,000 The Very One Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 5 furlongs on turf. Winner: Wild About Star ($13.00)

Pimlico (10): Grade 3 Gallorette Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Winner: Mitchell Road ($6.20)

Pimlico (11): Grade 3 $200,000 Chick Lang Stakes, 3-year-olds, 6 furlongs. Winner: Lexitonian ($36.00)

Churchill (9): Grade 3 $100,000 Louisville Stakes, 3 and up, 1 ½ miles on turf. Winner: Tiz a Slam ($7.00)

Gulfstream (10): $100,000 Musical Romance Stakes, Fla-bred fillies and mares 3 and up, 7 furlongs. Winner: Stormy Embrace ($3.80)

Belmont (11): $100,000 Soaring Softly Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 7 furlongs on turf. Winner:: Seek and Destroy ($22.20)

Pimlico (12): Grade 2 $250,000 Dixie Stakes, 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Winner: Catholic Boy ($4.80)

Pimlico (13): Grade 1 $1.5 million Preakness Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 3/16 miles. Winner: War of Will ($14.20)

Santa Anita (8): Grade 3 $100,000 Lazaro Barrera Stakes, 3-year-olds, 7 furlongs. Winner: Mucho Gusto ($3.00)

Big races preview

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

2:00 Woodbine (8): $125,000 Queenston Stakes, Ont-bred 3-year-olds, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Souper Success (9-5)

4:33 Santa Anita (7): Grade 3 $100,000 Desert Stormer Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Selcourt (7-5)

Ciaran Thornton’s SA pick of the day

(And another free picks day)

RACE FOUR: No. 5 Watch Me Burn (6/1)

Watch Me Burn is fast and gate-to-wire jockey Edwin Maldonado takes the call. The post position is ideal with all the other speed on the inside so Edwin can press the inside speed all the way and blast for home on the turn. The race is listed for turf but dirt is even better. First start since last November this stakes race horse has also competed in a Grade 2. We have a series of bullet workouts including a best-of-the-day work last week. This is an allowance race so the fast works are not claim bait. The 6-1 morning line is a fantastic price and if we have no weather scratches should creep higher as the favorites take money. We also get a five-pound weight break. They picked this spot and this jockey for a reason. These are the types of longshots we have been winning with a lot recently! Today's card is free for everyone so come on over to www.californiapick4.com and click on the LA TIMES FREE PLAY link.

Saturday’s result: Well so much for using a favorite at Santa Anita as the top three choices including our selection (Left Alone) lost to a 9-2 horse. Back to hunting for value we go.

Ciaran Thornton is the handicapper for Californiapick4.com, which offers daily full card picks, longshots of the day, best bets of the day.

Ed Burgart’s LA pick of the day

FOURTH RACE: No. 5 Favorable Separation (7-2)

Ledecky will be a short-priced favorite and the obvious horse to beat. But Favorable Separation has more room to improve while only making second career start after a much-troubled debut in which he was bumped steadily off stride about 50 yards after the start. The sophomore gelding was loaded with run crossing the wire when better-than-looked fifth and now draws comfortable number five post in six horse field. I suggest a win bet and a 5-2 exacta box with Ledecky, beaten only a nose at the same in her last start.

Final thoughts

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And now the stars of the show, Saturday’s results and Sunday’s entries.

MONGOLIAN GREYWOLF angled in and pulled his way along to stalk the pace a bit off the rail, bid outside the pacesetter on the second turn to put a head in front a quarter mile out, inched away into the stretch, kicked clear under urging and proved best. SOUL BEAM chased outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch, drifted in some past midstretch and held second. FAST AS CASS pulled along the inside chasing the pace and was in tight off heels nearing the half mile pole, came out approaching the second turn, continued outside a rival on that turn and three wide into the stretch, drifted in past midstretch and was edged for the place. TARTINI allowed to settled outside a rival, split horses in midstretch, was in tight off heels a sixteenth out and went three deep on the line. DR. TROUTMAN had speed wide out then angled in, set the pace inside then a bit off the rail, fought back on the second turn, continued just off the inside into the stretch and between foes through much of the drive and weakened some in the final furlong. COMBAT ZONE angled in and saved ground chasing the pace, got through inside into the stretch and in midstretch and could not summon the necessary late kick. TASTE'S LEGEND settled inside chasing the pace, came out into the stretch, split rivals in midstretch and lacked the needed rally. BIG SKY LOGAN saved ground off the pace, cut the corner into the stretch, was blocked off heels in midstretch and did not rally. KING CAYMUS broke a step slowly, chased outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch and could not offer the necessary response. BROKE AWAY GREY also off a bit slowly, saved ground well back throughout and was outrun.

MESO had speed between foes then dueled outside a rival, inched away into the second turn, kicked clear, was pushed along some under a hand ride to widen in the stretch and was under a long hold late. HILLTOP HARMONY saved ground chasing the pace, came out into the stretch and was clearly second best. THANKS four wide on the first turn, stalked three deep to the stretch and gained the show. REDS SACRED APPEAL three deep early, settled a bit off the rail then inside, cut the corner into the stretch, went around a rival in deep stretch and improved position. SWEETEST CAROLINE stalked the pace between horses, was in a bit tight into the second turn, came out leaving that turn and four wide into the stretch and lacked a rally. LUCKY BRITE EYE had good early speed and dueled inside, stalked the winner on the second turn and weakened in the drive. INFO'S TREASURE broke out and a bit slowly, went five wide on the first turn then chased four wide, came out five wide into the stretch and lacked a response in the lane. WITCHES BREW stalked between horses then bid three deep on the backstretch, dropped back between rivals on the second turn and gave way.

KENTAN ROAD quickly sprinted to a clear lead, set the pace along the rail and held on gamely under urging. G Q COVERGIRL stalked three deep then off the rail, continued a bit off the fence on the turn and into the stretch and went on willingly late. NICE ICE close up stalking the pace inside, continued along the rail on the turn and in the stretch and just held third. POINT HOPE (IRE) was in a good position stalking the winner between foes on the backstretch and turn, continued just off the inside in the stretch then was edged for third between horses late. SWIRLING well placed stalking the pace three deep between foes, fell back on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and also was edged for a minor award three wide on the line. LEFT ALONE (GB) tossed her head some and was away a bit slowly, went up four wide on the backstretch to stalk the winner then three deep on the turn and into the stretch and weakened.

TRUE VALIDITY stalked three deep then bid outside the runner-up on the turn, took a short lead leaving that turn, battled alongside that one under an energetic hand ride in the stretch then inched away late under steady handling. INTERESTING TIMES sped to the early lead, set the pace a bit off the rail, dueled inside on the turn and into the stretch, fought back along the rail in the drive but could not quite match the winner late. HOT ON THE TRAIL stalked between horses then outside a rival on the turn, was between foes again into the stretch and edged a rival for third. SMILING ROSE a step slow to begin, stalked inside then off the rail on the turn, came three wide into the stretch and was edged for the show. TIME FOR SUZZIE saved ground stalking the pace, came a bit off the rail in the stretch and weakened. ALL TEA ALL SHADE dropped back and angled in on the backstretch and saved ground thereafter to no avail. BOOLICIOUS broke out slightly and a bit slowly, settled off the rail then outside a rival on the turn and into the stretch and did not rally.

VIA EGNATIA sped to the early lead, kicked clear and set all the pace along the inside and held on gamely under urging. OVERDUE three deep early, stalked outside a rival, was in tight into the second turn, continued between horses then a bit off the rail leaving that turn and outside a foe into the stretch and edged that one for the place. CAJUN TREASURE saved ground stalking the pace throughout and was edged for second. JIMMY CHILA settled off the pace outside a rival, came three deep into the stretch and had a late bid. COLOSI stalked outside a rival then off the rail or outside a foe on the second turn, came three wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. THE STREET FIGHTER squeezed a bit at the start, settled just off the rail then outside a rival, went up three deep on the second turn and four wide into the stretch and improved position. HARDBOOT fanned four wide into the first turn, stalked three deep, came four wide into the stretch and could not offer the necessary response. ALIVE AND WELL stalked the pace inside then a bit off the rail leaving the backstretch and on the second turn and weakened in the drive. MAJOR CABBIE angled in and pulled along the inside, came out into the first turn then chased inside, came off the rail leaving the backstretch and on the second turn, entered the stretch three deep then angled to the inside in the lane and lacked a rally. LIFELINE three wide into the first turn, settled outside a rival then inside on the backstretch and second turn and lacked the necessary response. JUNGLE WARFARE a bit crowded at the start, saved ground off the pace to the stretch and was not a threat. LOMU chased between horses then outside a rival leaving the backstretch, went between foes again leaving the second turn and weakened.

POSTERIZE had good early speed and angled in, dueled inside, kicked clear on the turn, came off the inside into the stretch and drew off under some urging. SATCHEL PAIGE broke a bit slowly, went up four wide to stalk the pace, continued outside on the turn and four wide into the stretch and gained the place. SIDEPOCKET ACTION stalked between horses then angled to the inside on the turn, continued along the rail in the stretch and edged a rival for the show. BIG BARREL between horses early, stalked three deep then outside on the turn and three wide into the stretch, drifted in some in the drive and was edged for the show. PLAY MONEY chased four wide then outside on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. TWISTED PLOT angled in and prompted the pace outside the winner then stalked just off the rail on the turn, was between foes into the stretch and weakened. MELBO broke a bit slowly, moved up between horses to chase the pace, split rivals again on the turn, continued a bit off the rail into the stretch and did not rally. DYNAMIC DUO settled a bit off the rail then inside, continued along the fence on the turn and was not a threat. DIXIE DOO RUN RUN chased between horses then outside on the turn and three wide into the stretch and weakened. TIGER ON YOUR SIX also chased between horses then inside leaving the backstretch, came out on the turn and three wide into the stretch and also weakened. LOVE AND HOLD broke a bit slowly, went up inside to stalk the pace, was in tight along the rail into the turn then dropped back, was between rivals a quarter mile out then angled in and gave way.

DON'T BLAME JUDY pulled between horses then along the inside, went outside a rival on the second turn and four wide into the stretch and rallied under urging to be along in time. AN EDDIE SURPRISE stalked outside a rival then just off the rail, came three wide into the stretch to gain the lead, inched away in midstretch and held on well but was caught late. PETER'S KITTEN saved ground stalking the pace, came out into the stretch, split rivals in midstretch and was edged for the place between foes late. SPACE TALK (GB) chased outside a rival then inside, came out into the stretch, went between foes in midstretch then angled in and was edged for third inside. AUNT LUBIE broke a bit slowly, settled inside then just off the rail, swung three wide into the stretch and was outfinished. QAFILAH (IRE) chased outside a rival, came out three deep into the stretch and lacked the needed late kick. A WALK IN THE PARK three deep early, dueled outside a rival, inched away leaving the second turn and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. SILKEN SPY had speed between horses then angled in and pressed the pace inside, stalked leaving the second turn and weakened in the drive.

MUCHO GUSTO had good early speed and set a pressured pace inside, inched away midway on the turn, shook off the bid of VANTASTIC in upper stretch to edge away again in midstretch and won clear under some left handed urging. MANHATTAN UP stalked between horses then off the rail leaving the turn, came three wide into the stretch, drifted in some and edged a rival late for the place. VANTASTIC pressed the pace three deep, then stalked leaving the turn, re-bid outside the winner into the stretch, drifted in from the whip in the drive then had the rider lose the stick inside the sixteenth pole and was edged for second. SPARKY VILLE between horses early, stalked the pace inside on the backstretch and turn, awaited room along the rail in upper stretch, came out nearing midstretch and lacked the needed late kick. SYNTHESIS stalked the pace three deep, continued off the rail into the stretch and weakened. PRINCIPE CARLO had speed between horses to duel for the lead, continued alongside a rival leaving the turn and into the stretch and also weakened.

NEXT GEN had speed four wide then angled in and dueled outside the runner-up, inched away in the stretch and won clear under some urging. CALL YOU TOMORROW between horses early, angled in and dueled inside, fought back on the turn and into the stretch and was clearly second best. GOLDEN IMAGE saved ground chasing the pace throughout and edged foes for the show. GO SAMMY GO chased outside then alongside a rival, came out in the stretch and was edged for third three deep on the line. DON'TTEASETHETIGER was in a good position stalking the pace outside a rival then just off the rail into the stretch and was edged for a minor award between foes late. MAD AT MONEY broke a bit slowly, settled off the rail then outside a rival, came out in the stretch and improved position. DIECI chased outside then four wide, came five wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. KING CHARLIE between horses early and in a bit tight midway on the backstretch, chased outside, came four wide into the stretch and also lacked a rally. FORT DODGE a bit slow into stride, saved ground off the pace, continued inside in the stretch and was not a threat. ROYAL BLUE GRASS a bit slow to begin, chased between horses or off the rail, came out leaving the turn and four wide into the stretch and weakened. CARRIBEAN COLOURS broke a bit slowly, saved ground off the pace, continued inside on the turn and lacked a response in the drive. DEEP THINKER (IRE) had speed between horses then stalked a bit off the rail, came out three wide into the stretch and weakened. FORTNITE DANCE chased inside then a bit off the rail, came out on the turn and four wide into the stretch and also weakened. MUSCLE HEAD stalked three deep then outside a rival, dropped back between horses leaving the turn and gave way.

KIANA'S LOVE had good early speed and angled in, dueled inside then inched away on the turn, kicked clear and proved best under a crack of the whip inside the eighth pole and good handling. MISS HOT LEGS chased a bit off the rail, came out into the stretch and just held second. LUCKY PERIDOT saved ground chasing the pace, came out leaving the turn and into the stretch and again in upper stretch and was edged for the place. BARBADOLLA stalked early then bid outside the winner to press the pace, tracked that one a bit off the fence on the turn and weakened in the final furlong. BUSY PAYNTER stalked outside then alongside a rival, continued a bit off the rail into the stretch and lacked a rally. GIRONA a bit slow to begin, chased between horses then outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch and could not offer the necessary response. PINK SCATILLAC wide between horses early, angled in and settled inside, came out some into the stretch and did not rally. MO ME MO MY stalked four wide then outside a rival, came three deep into the stretch and weakened. SAVING SOPHIE broke a bit slowly, settled off the rail then angled in, came out on the turn, angled back to the inside in the stretch and was not a threat. SUPER BUNNY saved ground chasing the pace, continued inside on the turn and into the stretch and weakened.