Racing Dudes Three Stars of the Week: Three in a Row for Itsinthepost

We watched widespread racing action over the weekend. Fair Grounds and Sunland Park took center stage, while the bigger tracks like Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park continued on with great action, as usual. Two horses punched tickets to the Kentucky Derby over the weekend, while two more punched theirs to the Kentucky Oaks. We have an honorable mention category this week because there were too many great performances to have to select just three horses worthy of recognition. Check out who made the list this week:

Honorable Mention: Mia Mischief, Synchrony, Good Samaritan, Chocolate Martini, Imperial Hint, Madison’s Luna, Blamed, and Runaway Ghost.

1. Itsinthepost

Say hello to racing’s newest millionaire! Itsinthepost made it a perfect three-for-three for 2018 on Saturday in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes and is quickly becoming a dominant west coast turf horse. After patiently stalking the early pace, he pounced at the top of the stretch to pull away for a 3/4-length victory over rival Hayabusa One. This horse loves Santa Anita Park, having not lost there since May of 2017, so you’d think that they would point him to as many races as possible over that course.

2. Noble Indy

The Grade 2 Louisiana Derby might have been one of the strangest Kentucky Derby prep races of all time. At the top of the stretch, Noble Indy looked to be completely finished after sitting just off of a hot pace, but somehow, he re-rallied up the rail and passed Lone Sailor late to win by a head. The son of Take Charge Indy showed a ton of heart to come back like he did, and jockey John Velazquez said that the horse didn’t see Lone Sailor pass him at first, but when he realized that he had, he re-engaged and went after him. The win cements his place in the Kentucky Derby starting gate, but the horse still has some growing up to do. Trainer Todd Pletcher believes that he “is a work in progress.”

3. Selcourt

Itsinthepost wasn’t the only horse to stretch his winning streak to three at Santa Anita on Saturday. The sensational sprinting filly Selcourt made short work of her rivals in the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes. Paradise Woods was all the rage coming into the race, but Selcourt jumped out to the early lead and simply ran Paradise Woods (and the rest of the field) right into the ground. The final margin of victory was 4 1/2 lengths, but it easily could have been more, as she was geared down at the end. It’s still very early, but at this point, Selcourt looks to be a favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.