Legends of the Track: Golden Gate Fields ends its 83-year run on the Californian Racing Scrap Heap, Ambiente Friendly favourite for Irish Derby + Wesley Ward’s 'Amazing Filly', Lady Aurelia!
Tuesday Edition - June 11th, 2024 (Edition 113)
Good Morning!
Next week, Royal Ascot takes center stage from Tuesday, June 18th to Saturday, June 22nd. Today, we celebrate Wesley Ward’s 'Amazing Filly', Lady Aurelia who dazzled with back-to-back wins at Royal Ascot in the Queen Mary and the King’s Stand.
Meanwhile, back in the States, it's a somber note as Golden Gate Fields racetrack ends its 83-year run, joining Bay Meadows and Hollywood Park on the scrap heap of California horse racing history. As Jessica Paquette noted on Twitter/X - “A reminder to support your local racetrack while you still have one.”
In summer racing news, Jeff Bessa from Charting Horse Value examines a wide-open race for Champion 3-Year Old. One thing is certain: there isn't a dominant 3-year-old this season.
Overseas, Ambiente Friendly has become the new favorite for the Irish Derby after City of Troy chose Sandown’s Eclipse over the Curragh.
What I am listening to? Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast
And finally, our trivia question of the day: Can you name the British racecourse built in 1907?
Riders up!
Steve
Legends of the Track:
Two-Time Royal Ascot Winner, 'Amazing Filly' Lady Aurelia
“She’s very special,” said Ward. “To achieve what she’s achieved, being trained in America and crowned champion 2-year-old filly in Europe, winning the Cartier Award, it’s just unbelievable that she could do something like that.”
Check out Lady Aurelia’s two stunning victories at Royal Ascot!
Lady Aurelia obliterates the 2016 Queen Mary
If you ever need to define the phrase “turn-of-foot,” just check out Lady Aurelia’s stunning victory in the 2016 Queen Mary S. (G2). Making only her second start, the Wesley Ward-trained filly clearly relished the soft ground she encountered at Ascot, carving out the pace before blowing the race apart with a stunning burst of acceleration. She won by seven lengths in one of the most jaw-dropping Royal Ascot performances in recent memory.
Re-live the incredible performance of Lady Aurelia at Royal Ascot in 2016 when she won the Queen Mary Stakes by seven lengths. Our Aussie Commentator Luke Humphreys will get you excited all over again!
Lady Aurelia wins again in the 2017 King’s Stand
As impressive as Lady Aurelia was in the Queen Mary, she scored an even bigger triumph as a 3-year-old in the 2017 King’s Stand S. (G1). Facing older males in a five-furlong turf dash, Lady Aurelia was content to track the early tempo before taking command with a flash of speed inside the final furlong. Under a vigorous hand ride, the sensational sprinter surged clear to beat defending King’s Stand winner Profitable by three lengths.
Watch Lady Aurelia streak clear to win the 2017 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot for John Velazquez and Wesley Ward, her second successive victory at the meeting following her demolition job in the Queen Mary Stakes 12 months prior.
Golden Gate Fields:
Another One Bites The Dust: Golden Gate Fields Ends 83-Year Run
The East Bay track joins San Francisco area Bay Meadows and Hollywood Park in Inglewood on the scrap heap of California horse racing history
Bay Meadows in the San Francisco suburb of San Mateo ran its last race in 2008. Hollywood Park in Inglewood in Southern California closed for good in 2013, the same year horses raced around the bullring for the last time at the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona.
On Sunday, June 9, Golden Gate Fields in the East Bay city of Albany, staged its final card, ending an 83-year run. A total of 5,936 people came to say farewell, with $3,057,912 wagered on the eight races by on-track patrons and simulcast/advance-deposit wagering players.
Read the full article at paulickreport.com
The 3-Year Old’s:
Wide Open Race for Champion 3-Year Old
Dornoch (front left, maroon and white jockey silks) moves up to take the lead over Seize the Grey (front right, white and black jockey silks) en route to winning the Belmont Stakes June 8 over Mindframe (far left, blue and orange jockey silks). (Eclipse Sportswire)
What have we learned in the 2024 Triple Crown
I’ve really enjoyed this crop of three year old thoroughbreds. Many of them have a lot of fight in them and they’ve created some competitive races to gamble on. But this Triple Crown has not separated the top contenders for champion three year old. The Haskell, Travers and Pennsylvania Derbies will decide who the champion is.
Who are the top 10 contenders right now? I base this ranking off performance in races as a 3yo and not on how good or fast I think they are. Let’s look at them.
#10. Resilience - This is a weak choice but couldn’t come up with anyone stronger. Won the Wood Memorial, made a threatening move but ended up 6th in Kentucky Derby. Was dead last in Belmont.
#9. Muth - Won Arkansas Derby impressively, wasn’t allowed to participate in Kentucky Derby and then scratched out of Preakness.
#8. Fierceness - Won Florida Derby impressively, ran poorly in Kentucky Derby.
#7. Mindframe - 2nd in Belmont Stakes in 3rd lifetime start and might have won if he had stayed straight in the stretch. Very talented colt
#6. Seize the Grey - Won Pat Day Mile as prep for muddy Preakness win when he ran unchallenged up front. Faltered in the stretch of Belmont.
#5. Catching Freedom - Won Louisiana Derby before finishing a solid 4th in Kentucky Derby. Ran unthreatening 3rd in Preakness.
#4. Dornoch - Won Fountain of Youth Stakes. Disappointed in Bluegrass and didn’t fire in Kentucky Derby. Rebounded in Belmont Stakes with aggressive ride on speed favoring track. Boy was I wrong! But he ends up here with a definite shot at champion three year old.
#3. Forever Young - Likely won’t see this one again until Breeders Cup Classic. Won UAE Derby and then lost Kentucky Derby by 2 noses while traveling farther than both and arguably being fouled by 2nd place horse repeatedly in stretch.
#2. Mystik Dan - Many will argue this one is still on top. Won a muddy Southwest Stakes, 3rd in Arkansas Derby, won Kentucky Derby saving ground by a nose. Solid 2nd in muddy Preakness and up the track in Belmont.
#1. Sierra Leone - Won Risen Star and BlueGrass Stakes. Denied Kentucky Derby by a nose and likely would have won if ran straight. Was solid 3rd in Belmont on speed favoring track while being covered in kick back.
Bottom Line - It’s wide open and theoretically any one of these could still win the title. Going to be a fun summer!
Read the full article at chv23.substack.com
Racing Overseas
Ambiente Friendly new favourite for Irish Derby after English team opt for Curragh over Sandown’s Eclipse
Ambiente Friendly connections plan to avail of free entry into the Irish Derby. Photograph: PA
It’s without the hoped-for headline act but the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby’s support cast could yet deliver sufficient star quality to Ireland’s richest classic.
Coolmore’s decision to bypass the Curragh’s €1.25 million highlight later this month by switching their outstanding Epsom hero City Of Troy to Sandown’s Eclipse a week later was a blow to the Irish Derby’s cachet that might yet be compensated for in terms of competition.
Connections of the Epsom runner-up Ambiente Friendly have reverse-switched their attentions from Sandown to the Curragh and plan to avail of free entry into the Irish Derby.
A decision could also be taken later this week to allow a different Epsom classic winner — Dermot Weld’s Oaks heroine Ezeliya — to take on colts in her own backyard. The Aga Khan’s filly is another that gets free entry into the Irish Derby under the Curragh’s Win & You’re In scheme.
Read the full article at irishtimes.com
What to listen to?
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast
Jason opens the show discussing some racing news. Then he welcomes in Harlan Malter to talk about Bucchero getting his first Grade 1 winner over the weekend, his time in the game as an owner, and much more!
Read the full article at Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast
Where on Earth?
Can you name the British Racecourse which was built in 1907?
To find the answer visit Steve’s Twitter/X page and scroll through the comments
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Riders Up!
Best, Steve