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THIS WEEK ON WATCHANDWAGER.COM
SOLID GROUP SET FOR LUCRATIVE UNITED NATIONS
A talented and well-matched field of nine will go 1 ½ miles over the turf at Monmouth in the traditional July 4 feature, the $750,000 United Nations H. (G1). Old warrior Better Talk Now was an excellent third in the Manhattan H. (G1) last out and will look to win this event for the third time for Graham Motion. The ten-year-old son of Talkin Man will break from the widest post under Jeremy Rose.
Presious Passion has bullied his way near the top of this division for conditioner Mary Hartman and is the defending champ in this event. Strike A Deal, second by a neck in this in 2008, loves a route of ground and should not be overlooked against this cast. Spice Route is among the most consistent stayers in the states and rates a long look. Court Vision is of Grade 1 quality, and while he’s no sure thing at this distance, he’s as talented as anything in this field.
On the U. N. undercard, multiple Grade 2 king Smooth Air will lead a smart cast postward in the Salvator Mile H. (G3). Trained by Bennie Stutts, Jr., the bay four-year-old just missed in the Met Mile H. (G1) last out and would be no surprise against these. Awaiting the likely favorite is a stellar bunch, including Solar Flare, The Roundhouse, Two Step Salsa and Kiss the Kid.
INTERNATIONAL BUNCH SET FOR AMERICAN OAKS
A dynamite cast featuring runners from across the globe will contest Sunday’s $700,000 American Invitational Oaks (G1) over the turf at Hollywood Park. Honeymoon H. (G2) heroine Well Monied has rapidly improved for Howard Zucker and might be the best local hope in this wide-open affair.
Senorita S. (G3) queen Mrs. Kipling has impressed since arriving in the U. S. for Neil Drysdale and should be in the mix with her best for owner Bobby Flay. English import Apple Charlotte is a nose shy from being unbeaten in four starts and will make her stateside debut in this spot. The daughter of Royal Applause looks more than capable of handling the 10 furlongs in here. The Dermot Weld-trained Dance Pass has been running at longer distances than this in her native Ireland and could be the one. New Zealand import Puttanesca is a Group 3 vixen who has competed against some of the better animals in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Bob Baffert-trained Zensational is brilliantly fast and will receive a weight break from his elders in the $300,000 Triple Bend H. (G1). The son of Unbridled’s Song had a decent allowance win to ready for this start and sizzled a bullet six panels in advance of this. East Coast invader Street Magician has returned from a lengthy layoff to win two in succession for Michael Trombetta, and the four-year-old could be destined for greatness with further improvement. Noble Court was extremely impressive from a visual standpoint last out and wouldn’t surprise for John Sadler.
The Saturday feature at Hollywood is the $150,000 American H. (G2), while the Friday evening centerpiece is the $100,000 Flawlessly S. for three-year-old fillies on the lawn.
NIGHT ACTION SHIFTS TO THURSDAY AT CHURCHILL
The first ever Thursday night racing card will be held under the lights beneath the Twin Spires this week. An eleven-race card is slated for the evening extravaganza, which kicks off at 6 p.m. EST. This is the third and final evening racing day at Churchill this spring.
The grassy, $150,000 Firecracker H. (G2) is the Saturday feature, while the $100,000 Locust Grove H. (G3) is the closing-day centerpiece.
UPCOMING STAKES
Friday, July 3
- Assiniboia Downs, Frank Arnason Sire S, $30,000, 3yo, 6f.
- Belmont Park, Caress S, $65,000, 3&up, f/m, 6f T.
- Canterbury Park, Blair's Cove S, $50,000, 3&up, c/g, 8.5f T.
- Canterbury Park, Dean Kutz S, $50,000, 3yo, 8f T.
- Churchill Downs, Bashford Manor S (G3), $100,000, 2yo, 6f.
- Hollywood Park, Flawlessly S, $100,000, 3yo f, 8f T.
- Monmouth Park, Mr. Prospector S, $75,000, 3&up, 6f.
- Monmouth Park, Miss Liberty S, $70,000, 3&up, f/m, 8.5f T.
Saturday, July 4
- Arapahoe Park, CTBA Derby, $25,000, 3To, 8.5f.
- Arlington Park, Chicago Breeders' Cup H (G3), $150,000, 3&up, f/m, 7f.
- Assiniboia Downs, North Dakota Derby, $15,000, 3To, 8f.
- Belmont Park, Suburban H (G2), $400,000, 3&up, 10f.
- Belmont Park, Prioress S (G1), $300,000, 3yo f, 6f.
- Belmont Park, Dwyer S (G2), $200,000, 3yo, 8.5f.
- Calder Race Course, Mecke S, $50,000, 3&up, 9f T.
- Canterbury Park, Norytbound Pride S, $50,000, 3To f, 8f T.
- Churchill Downs, Firecracker H (G2), $150,000, 3&up, 8f T.
- Colonial Downs, Brookmeade S, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, 8f T.
- Emerald Downs, King County H, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, 8f.
- Evangeline Downs, Attaway Darbonne Memorial S, $100,000, 3&up, 8.5f T.
- Evangeline Downs, "Shine" Toung Memorial Futurity, $100,000, 2yo, c/g, 5f.
- Evangeline Downs, "Shine" Toung Memorial Futurity, $100,000, 2yo f, 5f.
- Evangeline Downs, J. Archie Sebastien S, $100,000, 4&up, f/m, 8.32f.
- Evangeline Downs, Junius Delahoussaye Memorial S, $100,000, 3&up, 5.5f.
- Evangeline Downs, Ladies Sprint S, $100,000, 3&up, f/m, 5.5f.
- Evangeline Downs, Pola Benoit Memorial S, $100,000, 4&up, 8.5f.
- Evangeline Downs, B.B. "Sixty" Rayburn S, $75,000, 3yo, 8f.
- Evangeline Downs, Frank A. "Buddy" Abadie Memorial S, $75,000, 3yo f, 8f.
- Evangeline Downs, Starter S, $50,000, 3&up, 7.5f T.
- Finger Lakes, Niagara S, $50,000, 3yo f, 6f.
- Finger Lakes, Wadsworyh Memorial H, $50,000, 3&up, 9f.
- Hollywood Park, American H (G2), $150,000, 3&up, 9f T.
- Lincoln, State Fair Board, $17,500, 3&up, 8.32f.
- Monmouth Park, United Nations S (G1), $750,000, 3&up, 11f T.
- Monmouth Park, Salvator Mile S (G3), $250,000, 3&up, 8f.
- Mountaineer, Dale Baird Memorial S, $75,000, 3&up, 5.5f.
- Mountaineer, Firecracker S, $75,000, 3&up, f/m, 8f T.
- Mountaineer, Independence Day S, $75,000, 3&up, 8f T.
- Northlands Park, Spangled Jimmy H, $50,000, 3&up, 8f.
- Pinnacle Race Course, Wolverine S, $50,000, 3&up, 6f.
- Pleasanton, Everett Nevin Alameda County S, $50,000, 2yo, 5.5f.
- Suffolk Downs, Isadorable S, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, 6f.
- Thistledown, Cleveland Gold Cup H, $100,000, 3yo, 9f.
- Woodbine, Clarendon S, $150,000, 2yo, 5.5f.
- Wyoming Downs, Evanston Speed H, $2,500, 3&up, 4.5f.
- Wyoming Downs, Joe Joyce Independence Day H, $2,500, 3&up, 7.5f.
Sunday, July 5
- Arapahoe Park, Front Range, $20,000, 3&up, 7f.
- Belmont Park, Tom Fool Breeders' Cup H (G2), $200,000, 3&up, 7f.
- Belmont Park, Do It Fast S, $65,000, 3&up, 9f T.
- Calder Race Course, Connie Ann S, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, 5f T.
- Churchill Downs, Locust Grove H (G3), $100,000, 3&up, f/m, 8f T.
- Emerald Downs, Governor's H, $50,000, 3&up, 6.5f.
- Hollywood Park, American Oaks Invitational (G1), $700,000, 3yo f, 10f T.
- Hollywood Park, Triple Bend Breeders' Cup H (G1), $300,000, 3&up, 7f.
- Monmouth Park, Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup S (G3), $200,000, 3yo, 6f.
- Monmouth Park, Choice S, $65,000, 3yo, 9f T.
- Pleasanton, Alamedan H, $50,000, 3&up, 8.5f.
- Woodbine, Ontario Damsel S, $150,000, 3yo f, 6.5f T.
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TODAY'S PICK 6 CARRYOVERS
| Pleasanton | $8,826 |
| Churchill Downs | $7,663 |
| Los Alamitos | $6,278 |
| Louisiana Downs | $3,266 |
| Canterbury Park | $2,558 |
TODAY'S RACING SCHEDULE (Eastern Time USA)
Thursday - Jul 02 2009
| 12:40 PM |
Calder
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| 12:50 PM |
Monmouth Park
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| 1:00 PM |
Belmont Park
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| 1:00 PM |
Ruidoso Downs
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| 1:00 PM |
Woodbine
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| 1:10 PM |
Monticello (H)
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| 1:20 PM |
River/Thistledown
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| 2:00 PM |
Arlington Park
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| 2:25 PM |
Louisiana Downs
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| 2:30 PM |
Laurel Simulcast
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| 3:45 PM |
Pleasanton
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| 4:00 PM |
Hollywood Park
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| 4:30 PM |
Scarborough (H)
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| 4:45 PM |
Hoosier Park (H)
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| 5:00 PM |
Chester (H)
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| 5:15 PM |
Harrington (H)
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| 5:30 PM |
Presque Isle
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| 6:00 PM |
Churchill Downs
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| 6:20 PM |
The Meadows (H)
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| 6:30 PM |
Scioto Downs (H)
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| 6:45 PM |
Penn National
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| 6:55 PM |
Vernon Downs (H)
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| 7:00 PM |
Fair Meadows
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| 7:00 PM |
Meadowlands (H)
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| 7:05 PM |
Saratoga Raceway (H)
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| 7:10 PM |
Yonkers (H)
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| 7:15 PM |
Charles Town
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| 7:20 PM |
Evangeline
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| 7:30 PM |
Delta Downs
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| 7:30 PM |
Mohawk (H)
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| 7:35 PM |
Lone Star Park
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| 7:35 PM |
Ocean Downs (H)
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| 8:00 PM |
Canterbury Park
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| 8:00 PM |
Sam Houston
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| 8:20 PM |
Maywood (H)
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| 8:30 PM |
Cal Expo (H)
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| 8:45 PM |
Los Alamitos
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| 9:00 PM |
Emerald Downs
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| 10:20 PM |
Australia
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Key
- Track Cancelled
- (H) - Harness
- (PC) - Partial Card
- (TO) - Telephone Only
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