News Racing Dudes Three Stars of the Week: Collected Steals the Show August 21, 2017 News Racing Dudes Three Stars of the Week: Collected Steals the Show August 21, 2017 By: Aaron Halterman twitterfacebooklinkedinemail Share: share on facebook share on twitter share on linkedin email this article Saturday’s Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar was supposed to be all about redemption for Arrogate, the world’s number one-ranked horse, but it was his stablemate, Collected, stealing the show. Bob Baffert had the one-two finishers of the Pacific Classic, but judging by his reaction, I don’t think that he liked the order in which they finished. His “big horse” once again didn’t look like himself, while his “other horse” cruised to victory in wire-to-wire fashion. Was it enough for Collected to earn our number one star? Well, yeah, of course it was! Let’s check out Collected and our other stars of the week. 1. Collected Anytime a heavy favorite goes down, the winner of the race doesn’t get talked about nearly enough. That’s the case with Collected, who ran a career-best race in the Pacific Classic to defeat Arrogate. Trainer Bob Baffert wanted to experiment with Collected in this spot as a way to decide whether to run him in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile or the Breeders’ Cup Classic. I think Baffert got his answer! Collected loves Del Mar and is Breeders’ Cup Classic-bound. If he can hold his current form, he will be a considerable factor in that race. 2. Elate There’s little doubt in my mind that this horse is currently the best 3-year-old filly in the country. I wouldn’t rank her ahead of Abel Tasman in the rankings, but if we’re talking about current form, then I think that she is doing the best. Two races back, she probably would have beaten Abel Tasman if not for a great ride by Mike Smith, and this past Saturday, she dominated a very tough field in the Grade 1 Alabama. This filly has finally gotten into solid form and is living up to the hype. 3. Hunt He’s gotten hot at the right time and is making every race count! Hunt now has two Grade 2 victories in a row, and his win in the Del Mar Mile on Saturday punched his ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at the end of the year. His two wins have been similar: he was able to stalk the pace and kick into gear just enough down the stretch to hold off his competition and pick up the win. You’d think that he’ll have one more prep race before taking on the top horses at the Breeders’ Cup.
2024 Kentucky Derby Championship Series Look Ahead | Blinkers Off 657 The Racing Dudes take a look ahead at the upcoming… Read More
March Madness BRACKET Breakdown | Dudes Who Bet Sports 185 Aaron and Papa Dude give their break down of each… Read More
College Basketball Picks & Betting Psychology | Dudes Who Bet Sports 184 Aaron and Papa Dude give their best college basketball picks… Read More
Oaklawn Park Pick 5 [Whitmore Stakes Day] | The Magic Mike Show 534 The Magic Mike Show guys preview & give their tickets… Read More
College Basketball Picks & MORE | Dudes Who Bet Sports 183 Aaron and Papa Dude give their best college basketball picks… Read More
Aaron’s Latest Win Picks | Racing Dudes Best Bets Recap Aaron recaps the recent Racing Dudes’ Best Bets and explains… Read More
Kentucky Derby 2024 Latest News & Top 20 | Louisiana Derby, Jeff Ruby Steaks Up Next With no Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races held last week,… Read More
Louisiana Derby 2024 | Fair Grounds Picks [Kentucky Derby] Aaron previews the 2024 Louisiana Derby (G2) from Fair Grounds,… Read More
Jeff Ruby Steaks 2024 | Turfway Park Picks [Kentucky Derby] Aaron previews the 2024 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) from Turfway… Read More
Bourbonette Oaks 2024 | Turfway Park Picks [Kentucky Oaks] Maxisuperfly, the recent 23-1 upset winner of the Cincinnati Trophy… Read More