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Horse Betting » Horse Betting Articles » “Paddy” a Serious Turfer, Spa and Del Mar Set to Open

“Paddy” a Serious Turfer, Spa and Del Mar Set to Open

By Michael Dempsey

He could not cut it on the Triple Crown Trail, fading to finish sixth in the Preakness Stakes (G1) after a third in the Kentucky Derby (G1), but Paddy O’Prado showed on Saturday at Colonial Downs that he is a serious racehorse on turf.

The Dale Romans trainee won the $600,000 Virginia Derby (G2) in impressive fashion despite not having a clean trip, making it back-to-back Grade 2 victories on the lawn.

The colt took the Colonial Turf Cup (G2) over the Colonial Downs turf course on June 19.

Jockey Kent Desormeaux came up the inside on the far turn of the expansive turf course at the New Kent, Va. track, eased out and split rivals at the 3/8’s pole, was sent back down along the inside in upper stretch, took command in mid stretch and drew clear to win by 1 ½ lengths as the heavy favorite.

The colt returned $3.20 to win and earned $352,800 for the win, bringing his career record to 10-3-2-3 for earnings of $1,111,297.

Interactif, coming off a seventh place finish in the Belmont Stakes (G1) came with a three wide bid around the far turn and rallied to finish in the runner up spot, completing a $9.00 exacta.

Paddy O’Prado earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure for his win, which stacks up nicely with recent turf winners Gio Ponti, who earned a 100 Beyer for his win in the Man O’War (G1) at Belmont Park on July 10, and Rahystrada, who earned a 98 Beyer winning the Arlington Handicap (G3) on Saturday.

The colt likely will make one more start against three-year-olds before taking on older. The next logical spot for him would be the Secretariat (G1) at Arlington Park on Aug. 21.

On Tap: This is a huge week for race fans, with two of the premier meets of the year set to open.

Del Mar kicks off its summer meet on Wednesday, and will run until Wednesday, Sept. 8.

The opening day feature is the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes for three year olds going a mile on the turf.

The Del Mar stakes schedule will showcase eight Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” races, starting with the $125,000 Cougar Handicap (G3) on July 30.

The winner of the race earns an automatic berth in the $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon (G3).

The undefeated Zenyatta will likely make her next start “where the turf meets the surf” in the $300,000 Clement Hirsch Stakes (G1), a race she won the past two years.

Del Mar will race five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday with a 2:00 PT post time, with either a 3:30 or 4:00 post time on Friday.

Opening day at Saratoga is Friday, July 25, the 142nd year of racing at the historic track.

The meet has been expanded to 40 days, with racing six days a week, with the track dark on Tuesdays.

The opening day feature on Friday is the $100,000 Schuylerville (G3) for two-year-old fillies going six furlongs on the main track.

The marquee event of the meet is the $1 million Travers (G1) on Saturday, Aug. 28. The race appears likely to draw the winners of all three Triple Crown races this year.

There are 35 graded stakes over the 40-day meeting, with 17 Grade 1 races, meaning many of the top horses in training will use Saratoga as a springboard to getting to the Breeders’ Cup later this fall at Churchill Downs.

As if that will not be enough to get you out to the track this weekend, 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra will be in action on Saturday.

The Steve Asmussen trainee will make her next start at Monmouth Park in the $400,000 Lady’s Secret at nine furlongs.

The filly beat the boys over the surface last summer in the Haskell Invitational (G1).

A field of five or six are likely to challenge the champion, including Hark, Queen Martha, Stage Trick, Starship Angel, and Yes She’s a Lady.

Look for Michael Dempsey’s Horse Betting videos analysis of Saturday’s stakes action on Friday afternoon right here at HorseBettingWorld.com.

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