On tap: Weekend action

by | Feb 4, 2017 | Breaking, Featured Races, National news, Racing, Regionwide, Top Stories

Staff reports

Here are the Midlantic-breds running in graded stakes this weekend:

  • Three-year-old Maryland-bred Bonus Points is 12-1 on the morning line in the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct (post time: 4:20 EST).  The Todd Pletcher-trained son of Majestic Warrior, bred by Country Life Farm, has placed in three consecutive stakes but has not been close to the winner in any of them.  Most recently, he was second — beaten 11 lengths by El Areeb, who is 6-5 here — in the Grade 3 Jerome.  Manny Franco has the mount in a race which awards points towards the Kentucky Derby to the top finishers.
  • New Jersey-bred Irish War Cry tackles juvenile champion Classic Empire in the Grade 2 Holy Bull this afternoon at Gulfstream Park (post time: 5:35 EST).  The son of Curlin, bred and owned by Isabelle de Tomaso, is 15-1 on the morning line and will have Joel Rosario in the irons.  The Graham Motion trainee most recently won a head-bobber in the Marylander Stakes at Laurel Park and is perfect in two career starts.  Like the Withers, this race awards Derby points to top finishers.
  • Maryland-bred A Great Time is 20-1 on the morning line in the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant at Gulfstream Park (post time: 5:05 EST). The three-year-old Street Magician filly has a win and a third from three career starts and most recently finished fourth in the Ginger Brew Stakes over the strip.  The Mike Trombetta trainee, owned by breeder Larry Johnson, will have Emisael Jaramillo in the irons.
  • Pennsylvania-bred Mor Spirit is the 3-1 morning line third choice in the Grade 2 San Antonio at Santa Anita (post time: 7:02 EST). An Eskendereya ridgling, Mor Spirit won graded stakes to end his two-year-old season and kick off his three-year-old season, en route to a 10th place finish in the Kentucky Derby. Last out, in his first start since the Derby, he was a credible fourth in the Grade 1 Malibu.  The Bob Baffert trainee was bred by Elkstone Group LLC and is owned by Michael Lund Petersen. Mike Smith will ride.