Racing! Less than a week until the Kentucky Derby

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as Derby week is upon us.

OK, here we are, it’s Derby week. I get to Louisville today.

Coverage online and in the print edition started on Sunday. First up was five story lines, which you can read here.

And today, there is a story about the China Horse Club, which has both Justify and Audible in the race. You can read that story here.

Before the newsletter returns on Thursday, we’ll have stories on the ADW wars and, certainly, the draw, which is on Tuesday this year. Plus, there will be some other stuff. So, check in at www.latimes.com/sports or even buy the print edition. How’s that for a novel idea?

More Derby with XBTV

This is your place for Derby information. Jeff Siegel and Aaron Vercruysse of XBTV.com are doing a series of exclusive video reports on the horses in the Kentucky Derby. Jeff isn’t shy with his opinions and I can’t think of a better primer to start thinking about who to bet on the first Saturday in May.

They are doing four horses a day and today completes the field. When the newsletter returns on Thursday, we’ll have more reports from our friends at XBTV.

Today, Part five: Noble Indy, Promises Fulfilled, Solomini, Vino Rosso. (Just click here.)

Part four: Lone Sailor, Magnum Moon, Mendelssohn, My Boy Jack. (Just click here.)

Part three: Free Drop Billy, Hofburg, Instilled Regard, Justify. (Just click here.)

Part two: Enticed, Good Magic, Firenze Fire, Flameaway. (Just click here.)

Part one: Audible, Bolt d’Oro, Bravazo, Combatant. (Just click here.)

Even more Derby

We’ve got even more on the Derby, this time courtesy of veteran turf journalist Jennie Rees¸the head honcho at JR Communications (@tracksidejennie)

She’s got an interview with Bill Mott, who has Hofburg in the Derby. You can watch it here. And if you haven’t had enough, click here for part two.

And, she’s also got Chad Brown talking about Good Magic. Just click here.

Santa Anita review

Before we get to the feature, Eric (Manny Mota) Sondheimer, the best pinch-hitter in newsletter history, filed this report from a 3-year-old race.

“If you are looking for a promising California-bred 3-year-old sprinter, Smiling Angelo might be the horse. The son of Smiling Tiger made his debut on Sunday for trainer Phil D'Amato at Santa Anita and won a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.67 under jockey Joe Talamo while being heavily favored.

“Running out of the No. 1 post, Smiling Angelo immediately broke on top and was never challenged while winning by 4 1/2 lengths.

“D'Amato has been high on the horse for a while. An April 23 workout in 58 4/5 was No. 1 for the day. That's a Bob Baffert-like workout, something that D'Amato rarely asks for in his horses.

“’This horse has shown a lot in the morning,’ he said. ‘He's still learning but seems to be push button. Joe has been working with him and that paid off today. He's got the physique more of a sprinter but you never know. I think there's a lot of upside.’�

And, here’s a video report on the horse. (Just click here.)

Thanks, Eric.

OK, on to the feature. Belvoir Bay won for the third time down the 6 ½ furlong downhill turf course by taking the Grade 3 $100,000 San Simeon Stakes. The winning margin was two lengths for the Peter Miller trained mare. Belvoir Bay paid $7.60, $3.00 and $2.10. Coniah was second and Isotherm was third.

“When Coniah stumbled, I just kind of let the reins dangle and she took me up inside [Mongolian Saturday] and she was real comfortable,� said winning jockey Tyler Baze. “I found out last time, you can’t take too much hold of her, because she’ll throw her head. The way it worked today, she was free running and when we hit the dirt she was really running.�

Big races review

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

Woodbine: $125,000 Fury Stakes, Can-bred, fillies 3 years old, 7 furlongs. Winner: Summer Sunday ($4.20)

Belmont: $125,000 License Fee Stakes, fillies and mares 4 and up, 6 furlongs on the turf. Winner: Lady Alexandria ($18.80)

Golden Gate: $100,000 Campanile Stakes, Cal-bred, fillies 3 years old, 1 mile on turf. Winner: Pulpit Rider ($2.80)

Santa Anita: Grade 3 $100,000 San Simeon Stakes, 3 and up, 6 ½ furlongs on the turf. Winner: Belvoir Bay ($7.60)

Golden Gate: $100,000 Silky Sullivan Stakes, Cal-breds, 3 years old, 1 mile on turf. Winner: Hardboot ($22.80)

Final thought

Still looking to jump the circulation of this newsletter. Can’t beat the price. If you like it, tell someone. If you don’t like it, then you’re probably not reading this. Either way, send to a friend and just have them click here and sign up. Remember, it’s free, and all we need is your email, nothing more.

Any thoughts, drop me an email at [email protected] or feed my ego by following me on Twitter @jcherwa.

Now, here is the star of the show, Sunday’s results. We’ll be back on Thursday from Louisville.

WAR HEROINE had good early speed and dueled inside then inched away on the hill, set the pace along the rail, kicked clear under urging in the stretch and held. CLASSY TUNE chased a bit off the rail then inside down the hill and into the stretch, came out a bit in midstretch and finished willingly but could not catch the winner. QUEBEC saved ground chasing the pace, also came out a bit in midstretch and edged a rival for the show. TOOREEN DANCER (IRE) angled in and chased inside, came out into the stretch and again in upper stretch and was edged for third. INDIA MANTUANA pulled early, chased outside a rival, came three deep into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. MS WAKAYA had speed between horses then pressed the pace outside the winner, stalked just off the rail on the hill and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. CAUSEWAY CAROLYN settled outside a rival chasing the pace, came three wide into the stretch and could not offer the necessary response. Rail on hill at 7 feet.

WILD LANDO stalked inside then bid along the rail to put a head in front on the turn, fought back when headed in the stretch to regain the advantage a sixteenth out and inched away late under urging. BABY GRONK sped to the early lead, angled in and dueled a bit off the rail then outside the winner on the turn, put a head back in front in the stretch, could not match that one late while clearly second best. OLD INDIAN TRICK stalked outside then off the rail on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and picked up the show. SOUL OWNER pressed the pace outside on the backstretch, stalked off the inside on the turn, came three deep into the stretch and weakened. OLDER BROTHER chased between horses early then outside a rival on the turn and into the stretch and also weakened. SON OF SMALLS stalked between foes early then a bit off the rail, angled to the inside leaving the turn and had little left for the stretch. GOING AWAY PARTY saved ground chasing the pace, came out some in the stretch and lacked a further response.

FOXTAIL had speed between horses then angled in and dueled inside, drifted out despite right handed urging while inching away in midstretch and held on gamely. TANDA'S JOY pulled her way along inside and was in a bit tight into the first turn, saved ground chasing the pace throughout and finished with interest inside. SUNDAY PROPHET angled in on the first turn and saved ground chasing the pace, came out into the stretch, was bumped and forced out between foes in midstretch and continued willingly. SWEET CONGRATS saved ground stalking the pace, came out leaving the second turn and three deep into the stretch, was bumped lightly when four wide in midstretch and was outfinished. DOUBELIEVENMAGIC a step slow to begin, angled in and saved ground off the pace, came out into the stretch, then angled in late and lacked the needed rally. IT'S ALEXUS had speed three deep then dueled outside a rival, was bumped and forced out in midstretch and weakened. INTERNATIONAL DIVA (IRE) angled in and chased outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch and also weakened. CEE SAM'S GIRL settled outside a rival, went up three deep on the second turn, drifted four wide into the stretch, gave way and was eased in the final furlong. Following a stewards' inquiry, FOXTAIL was disqualified and placed sixth for interference in midstretch.

STURDY ONE broke a bit slowly, angled in and stalked inside, was in a bit tight off heels into the turn, came out on the turn, bid three deep into the stretch to gain the lead, inched away in midstretch under left handed urging and won clear. BE A LADY stalked outside, bid three deep on the turn, battled between foes into the stretch and was clearly second best. UTANA broke a bit slowly, chased off the rail then outside a rival, continued off the inside on the turn and four wide into the stretch and gained the show. DIS SMART CAT stalked a bit off the rail, bid between horses on the turn to gain the lead, fought back inside into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. AUTUMN TWILIGHT chased a bit off the rail, came out into the stretch and also weakened. CIOPPINO PASADINO sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, dueled on the turn, dropped back leaving the turn and had little left for the stretch.

SMILING ANGELO had good early speed and dueled inside, inched away on the turn, was shaken up with the reins to widen in the stretch and won clear under a late left handed crack of the whip and steady handling. CAYATE chased three deep on the backstretch and outside on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and bested the others. JONAS saved ground stalking the pace, came out leaving the turn and three deep into the stretch, angled back to the inside in midstretch and gained the show. FLYNN pressed the pace three deep then angled in some and stalked off the rail on the turn and into the stretch and weakened. FOR THE HUSTLE pulled his way along to force the pace between horses, stalked a bit off the rail on the turn and also weakened. RIGHTEOUS WAVE a step slow to begin, chased off the rail then between foes, continued just off the inside on the turn, came out into the stretch and had little left for the drive.

TELL ME MORE chased outside a rival then between foes on the backstretch, continued inside on the second turn and into the stretch, came out past the eighth pole, rallied under urging to gain the lead three deep in late stretch and proved best. TEMPLE PRINCESS a bit slow to begin, angled in and settled off the pace inside, split horses on the second turn, came three deep into the stretch, bid outside the pacesetter to gain the lead past midstretch, was between foes in deep stretch and was second best. ARROWSPHERE pulled along the inside to press the pace, took the lead on the backstretch, inched away on the second turn, fought back along the rail in the stretch and bested the others. SEE THE WORLD pulled three deep to press the early pace, angled in and stalked a bit off the rail to the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. MAJESTIC DESIGN saved ground chasing the pace throughout and lacked the needed rally. EURASIA angled in and chased inside then off the rail, went three deep leaving the backstretch and on the second turn, angled in outside a rival into the stretch and weakened. IZZYS EXPRESS chased off the rail then three deep on the backstretch, continued off the inside on the second turn and four wide into the stretch and also weakened. FEELING THE HEAT dueled between horses early then outside a rival, dropped back between foes on the second turn and gave way.

KING CAUSE stalked outside then four wide on the turn and into the stretch, rallied under urging to gain the lead a sixteenth out and held gamely. VICTORY ELEMENT chased outside then four wide on the turn, came five wide into the stretch and finished well. BOCEPHUS wide early, angled in and chased off the rail, split horses into the turn, came three wide into the stretch, angled in some in the drive and edged a rival late for third. LONTANI went up inside to duel for the lead, inched away in midstretch, fought back in deep stretch and was edged for the show on the line. WICKEN FEN unhurried outside then three deep on the backstretch, continued outside on the turn and four wide into the stretch and bested the others. CAUSEIDIDITMYWAY had speed between horses then pressed the pace four wide, fell back and angled in on the turn, found the rail into the stretch and weakened. EVISCERATOR a bit slow to begin, saved ground off the pace, came out into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. BOBBY AXELROD was sent between horses early, dueled between rivals on the backstretch and turn, found the rail in the stretch and also weakened. AURORA D'ORO also had speed to duel between horses then three deep on the turn, continued three wide between foes into the stretch and also weakened. SEVENTH WAVE settled between horses off the pace, went three deep on the turn and into the stretch and lacked a further response. UPO bobbled some at the start, was between horses early then chased a bit off the rail, angled in for the turn and had little left for the stretch. PIONEEROFTHESTORM a bit slow into stride, chased off the rail then between horses leaving the backstretch, dropped back on the turn and gave way.

BELVOIR BAY (GB) had speed off the rail then angled in, dueled inside, inched away into the stretch, kicked clear under left handed urging and proved best. CONIAH bobbled some at the start, stalked outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch, drifted inward in the drive and was second best. ISOTHERM bobbled at the break to drop back off the rail, angled in on the hill and saved ground chasing the pace, slipped through along the rail in the drive and picked up the show. ANATOLIAN HEAT settled off the rail then chased outside a rival, came three deep into the stretch, was four wide in midstretch and lacked the needed rally. MISS JULIA STAR (FR) saved ground stalking the pace, came a bit off the rail in the stretch, was between foes in midstretch and weakened. MONGOLIAN SATURDAY sped to the early lead off the rail, dueled outside the winner, fell back between horses in midstretch and also weakened. Rail on hill at 7 feet.

EAGLE SCREAMS saved ground chasing the pace, came out leaving the second turn and three deep into the stretch, rallied under urging to the front outside foes nearing the sixteenth pole and held. SANAVI five wide early and four wide on the first turn, chased outside then three deep on the second turn, came four wide into the stretch and finished with interest. MUCHOS BESOS had good early speed and angled in, dueled outside a rival, put a head in front on the second turn, fought back between foes past midstretch and held third. ROARING RULE broke in and tossed his head in a bit of an awkward start, was four wide early then stalked outside, came three wide into the stretch and was edged for the show. TRUE VALOR sped to the early lead and angled in, dueled inside, fought back on the second turn and in the stretch and weakened late. GENTRIFIED saved ground chasing the pace, continued inside in the stretch and could not quite summon the needed late kick. GROUND RULES settled between horses then a bit off the rail, angled in on the second turn, cut the corner into the stretch and also lacked the needed late response. SHACKLEFORD BANKS unhurried outside a rival then a bit off the rail, went three deep leaving the second turn and into the stretch and did not rally. SAINT DERMOT pulled some and was in a bit tight into the first turn, chased off the rail, dropped back on the second turn and gave way. HOWDY three deep between horses on the first turn, chased between rivals then a bit off the rail on the second turn, found the inside in the stretch and had little left for the drive.