It took Up the Hill Farm’s So Long George until the middle of his three-year-old campaign to start showing he could be a consistent contender in the middle claiming ranks. […]
It took Up the Hill Farm’s So Long George until the middle of his three-year-old campaign to start showing he could be a consistent contender in the middle claiming ranks. Now in his four-year-old season he’s starting to show that he could be a good middle stakes horse, as well. Coming off a just-missed fourth place showing in the Grade II TVG King Edward Stakes at Woodbine in late June, the Kentucky-bred son of Arch made it to the graded-stakes winners’ circle by wining the $200,000 Grade II Nijinsky on Sunday.
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With Emma Jayne-Wilson up, So Long George tracked the dueling pacesetter Arctic Fern, and race favorite Grand Arch, in fourth, just a length off the lead through a quick 47.67 half-mile. Driven up the rail, he poked his head in front coming to the top of the stretch, and held on for a ¾ length win over 23-1 longshot Hampstead Heath in the 1 1/8 miles turf event. The winning 4-6 exacta paid $423.40, and with 40-1 Classic Bryce getting up for fourth, the $1 Superfecta returned $10,465.65. So Long George is now two-for-three in 2013.
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Another horse claiming her a first career lifetime stakes win on Sunday was Leigh Court, who took the $125,000 Duchess Stakes, for three-year-old fillies over seven furlongs on the Polytrack. Racing in the lead throughout, Leigh Court pulled away convincingly to win by 5 ½ lengths over Captivating Dancer, with race favorite Sky Treasure third. The race was significant for popular veteran jockey Gary Boulanger, as it was his first stakes win at Woodbine in eight years, following a lengthy time away from riding as he recovered from serious injury suffered in a spill in 2005.
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Saturday, January 29 at Gulfstream Park is one of the biggest races of the year: the Pegasus World Cup (G1)! This $3 million race, covering a mile and an eighth on the Gulfstream dirt track, drew a field of nine handicap horses. The eyes of the racing world will be on Gulfstream on Saturday, and you can bet it from the comfort of your own home here in Canada!
The Kentucky Derby trail makes its way to Oklahoma on Friday, December 17 for the Remington Springboard Mile! The race drew a field of nine up-and-coming two-year-olds to go a mile on the main track. The prizes are rich: a $400,000 purse, as well as Road to the Kentucky Derby points (10-4-2-1) for the first four horses across the wire.
The Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), California’s most important Kentucky Derby Prep in December, is coming up on Saturday, December 11! The race features the most promising two-year-olds in California, set to go a mile and a sixteenth over the dirt at Los Alamitos Racecourse. The race offers a purse of $300,000, as well as Road to the Kentucky Derby points, apportioned 10-4-2-1 to the top four finishers.
Let's have a look at the 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf betting picks and predictions.
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