Horse Racing: Sat. Belmont's card (post #1134), NBC coverage begins at 4:30 pm ET

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MiamiScreamingEagles

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Jan 17, 2004
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March 4, 2017

Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Today's card is filled with excellent racing. Should offer handicappers the opportunity to display skills. Deep fields, stakes races with talented runners and connections. I would assume $15,000,000 handle is not out of the question.

Aqueduct (New York):
  • Meanwhile, the NYRA has decided to reduce racing to three days a week for the month of March. It has been a subpar meet for the track. When the riders move north and certainly when Belmont and eventually Saratoga kick in, New York will be elevated.

http://www.drf.com/news/aqueduct-will-race-three-days-week-during-march

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association has tinkered with its schedule for the month of March the last several winters trying to deal with what it says is a “brutal” month when it comes to field size.
This year, NYRA has scheduled just three days of racing per week at Aqueduct for the balance of March. The three-day schedule was supposed to start next week, but it actually began this week when high winds forced the cancellation of Thursday’s card.

Average field size at Aqueduct has dipped below seven horses per race in March in two of the last three years – it was 6.89 in 2016. In 2015, average field size was 7.92 in March, but there had been 13 full-card cancellations in January and February.
“It’s too early to bring in 2-year-olds, and no one’s come back from Florida,” said Martin Panza, NYRA’s senior vice president of racing operations. “Everybody’s worn out. We’ve been running the same horses for the last four months. We have the stats; the last 10 years, the month of March is brutal.”
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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Jan 17, 2004
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March 4, 2017

Gulfstream (Florida):
  • A very entertaining day. A 13-race card with 9 graded stakes races. The track handle was in excess of $26,600,000 for all sources which is a track-record for this annual card.
  • Julien Leparoux won four times. Doing that any day is incredible but at this meet with such a significant card is astonishing. Javier Castellano and Jose Ortiz each won three times. Trainer Chad Brown won three times.
  • Gunnevera (Javier Castellano/Antonio Sano) was the victor in the Fountain of Youth, the Kentucky Derby prep race. He was sent off at 7-to-2, came off-the-pace and opened it up quite impressively. He received a 97 Beyer figure and will undoubtedly be propelled into the top two or three Kentucky Derby contenders on many lists. Three Rules, who led much of the race but faded to third, was my pick despite conventional wisdom which said he wants shorter distances; however, I took a shot because Luis Saez was riding and the odds at 11-to-1 were tempting. Irish War Cry, the choice of many, was a bust.

  • So you want to play the horses? In race 12, I sat on Jose Lezcano (my go-to turf rider) at 20-to-1. The odds went down to about 12-to-1 at post time. He came out 9-to-1. He was buried in the back of the pack and eventually mid-pack. Nothing here to see as I think he was 9th in the stretch for a moment or two. That is the risk of playing bombs. But then it happened, he adjusted and began to move and roll. And out of nowhere he got nosed out of the win and finished second. Just one of those races that can frustrate and entertain at the same time. Just watch the 12 the entire race...
  • The Penta in race 9 paid $11,333,60.
  • Among the terrific racing today was a victory by Celestine (3-to-5) over Catch a Glimpse (7-to-5). Both last ran in Breeders' Cup races. The $2 exacta returned $6.
  • John Velazquez/Todd Pletcher won the opener at 1-to-5. I took a stab with Unbridled Holiday (by the way, Unbridled would have been 30 years old tomorrow) at 22-to-1 for second but he got nipped by an 80-to-1 for that position.


Aqueduct (New York):
  • Mike Luzzi had two wins and one second place finish among his three rides. He had the swagger as if payback from last week's foolish DQ was the issue. In the 9th and final race, Luzzi opened what appeared to be an 8-length lead and repelled all challengers. He can still ride especially when on the lead.
  • J Boys Echo (Robby Albarado/Dale Romans) won the Gotham, the Kentucky Derby prep race and received a 102 Beyer figure. He was my pick on top at 6-1. I was intrigued at his 8-to-1 morning line but then when I saw both track handicappers pick him to win and there were three scratches which reduced the field to seven, I thought the odds would be minimized. 6-to-1 was a gift. I also used him with the overwhelming favorite El Areeb (sent off 2-to-5) but that colt finished third. $14.80 for the win, the exacta returned $114.50 with Manny Franco/Chad Brown coming in second.

  • In race 7, the entry of 1 and 1A finished first and second at 2-to-5. The #5 finished third at 5-to-1 but the 1-5 exacta paid a decent $12.00...considering.
  • The fourth race was highly entertaining. The second highest price on the board won at 10-to-1.
  • Hector Diaz, a 7-pound bug, won the first two races of the day. Mike Luzzi finished second at 16-to-1 in race 2.
  • Handle exceeded $8,000,000.


Laurel (Maryland):
  • Lane Luzzi had just two mounts, one at 30-to-1 came in second to a 2-to-5 shot and buoyed an exacta that paid $47.50. Good performance for Mike Luzzi's son.
  • Katie Davis had three wins. Great performance for Robbie Davis's daughter.
  • Carlos Carrasco, a 10-pound bug, won his debut race and on an Alberta-bred at 15-to-1. Another Alberta-bred finished second. I am not sure the last Alberta bred to win at Laurel in addition to first and second.
  • Carlos Carrasco, that same 10-pound bug, won his second career race to start his racing life at 2-for-2. His wins came in consecutive races.
  • In race 5, the Pick 5 returned $13,990.

Fair Grounds (Louisiana):
  • Race 4 had a $79.00 winner and a $980 double.
  • I'm a Chatterbox made her turf debut at imposing odds and failed.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):
  • The place looked pack today. Absolutely crowded along the rail. Great stuff. Attendance reported at 17,000. There is so much value at this track but difficult to handicap consistently.
  • In race 1, the winner paid $141.60 and $40.40 for place, the $2 exacta $1,198, the $2 tri $5,726.40 and the $1 superfecta $51,585.50.
  • After race 2, the double returned $847.20.
  • The Pick 4 after race 5 returned $10,801.40.

Santa Anita (California):
  • What an insane early day with payouts. Track attendance was 11,000+ and the handle surpassed $13,000,000.
  • Race 2 had an $85.80 winner.
  • Race 3 had a $93.20 winner, a $2 Pick 3 paid $30,000. The daily double was a remarkable $1,911.20.
  • After race 4, the $2 Pick 3 returned a stunning $42,469.80. The double paid $693.60.
  • After race 5, the $2 Pick 4 returned a spectacular $118,572 or $29,000+ for a $.50 investment.. No one hit the Pick 5. No one!
  • And then came race 6. Get used to the name Unique Bella. She already looks like her granddaddy Unbridled's Song. Wow. What a sweet girl, she recovered from a bad start, did her thing and then held off a late challenge after separating from the pack. She got a 97 Beyer figure. Mike Smith has another impressive runner. The $1 exacta paid $1.70 which should tell you the expectations for her not only in this race. She could be the top pick in the Kentucky Oaks.


Santa Anita's Pick 5 could reach $2,000,000 Sunday according to at least one estimate.

This is a very confusing year for the Kentucky Derby. Typically, I can read two-year-olds and gauge some progress. Not this year. Mastery is due to run later this month and could pose as the horse to beat. However, between minor setbacks (injuries) and subpar performances of prior-elevated runners, this year is tough to navigate. One week seems to change what we learned the prior week.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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March 5, 2017

Aqueduct (New York):
  • Linda Rice had three wins including two ridden by bug Hector Diaz and the other with her regular rider Cornelio Velasquez. She was 3-1-1 in 6 starts (worst position was fourth).
  • Linda Rice had a 2-to-5 favorite, ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. fall short when Mike Luzzi, in his lone ride of the day, went to the lead and held off the challenger. Luzzi won the closing race yesterday and the opener today and went 3-1-0 in his last four starts. He was scheduled to ride later in the day but was replaced.


Laurel (Maryland):
  • Trainer Linda Rice continues to be hot when she ships to Laurel. She is over 40% and won the opener and finale today in her only starts. She was a combined 5-1-1 in 8 starts at Laurel and Aqueduct today. Overall, she went 7-1-2 in her last 13 starts (10 out of 13 in the money).
  • Lane Luzzi had one mount and finished third on a 39-to-1 shot. Fantastic return for exotic players especially with the favorite running off the board. $1 tri paid $309.


Gulfstream (Florida):
  • The track handled $12 million, over $38,000,000 in two days.
  • Luis Saez brought home a $43.40 winner for a trainer previously 0-for-22 at the meet.
  • It took the 11th race on the 13-race card to have a repeat winner in either the jockey or trainer category.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):
  • In race 9, the Pick 5 paid $21,588.60.
  • In race 6, a $1 super returned $24,468.10. The $2 tri paid $6,356. The $2 Pick 3 paid $3,337.80.

Turf Paradise (Arizona):
  • An $86.00 winner topped an exacta that returned $798.20.

Santa Anita (California):
  • Twos and threes combined to win eight of the nine races. Two (2) won fives times and the three (3) was victorious three times.
  • The Pick Five pool exceeded $2,500,000. A winning $.50 Pick 5 paid out over $11,000.
  • Race 9 was moved from turf to dirt, announced late in the day, because of safety issues due to an earlier rain storm. Because of this and the fact that bettors made picks prior to the announcement, all wagers in such gimmick bets were considered wins. The winning combo for the Pick 6 (the final six races on the card) is officially 2-3-3-2-2-all.
 
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CHRDANHUTCH

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Mar 4, 2002
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TV:

Dubai World Cup/Epsom Derby ink deal w/ NBC Sports Group....

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/t...ge-dubai-world-cup-epsom-derby-2017-schedule/

Following is a look at the events NBC Sports Group has added to its 2017 horse racing calendar:

Dubai World Cup – LIVE on NBCSN; Sat., March 25 (9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET)
The Dubai World Cup will be run at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Annually held on the last Saturday in March, the Dubai World Cup is part of the Dubai World Cup Night of races. Since 2010, the race has carried a purse of $10 million, which prior to January's $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational, was the world's richest horse race.

Epsom Derby – LIVE on NBCSN; Sat., June 3 (10 a.m.-Noon ET)
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in England open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is held annually on the first Saturday of June at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey over a distance of one mile, four furlongs and 10 yards (2,423 meters).
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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A chip off the old block...

http://www.drf.com/news/sparkman-unbridleds-song-hunt-pair-sire-titles

If Arrogate continues his dominant parade through his principal remaining targets of 2017 he could easily earn $18 million to $20 million this year. With $7 million already in the bank and the $6 million first prize for the Dubai World Cup and about $3.5 million for another Breeders’ Cup Classic likely at his mercy, only a few more $1 million prep races would be required for him to earn more in one year than any horse in Thoroughbred history has earned in a career.

That would probably be enough to earn his sire, Unbridled’s Song, a well-deserved North American sire championship, especially if some of the 3-year-olds in his final crop – like Kentucky Derby prospect Battalion Runner – fulfill their promise and older horses like Grade 3 Fred W. Hooper winner Bird Song continue to rack up graded wins. That would end Tapit’s three-year-run as leading sire, but Gainesway’s gray stalwart will not go down easily, as he reminded everyone last weekend when the undefeated Unique Bella romped in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel, Ticonderoga captured the Grade 3 Palm Beach, and Dream Dancing won the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride.

And his daddy passed on the right genes...

Unique Bella is one of 136 stakes winners produced to date by daughters of Unbridled’s Song, who has steadily moved up the broodmare sire list over the last few years and ranked fourth among North American-based sires last year. That list includes 2017 stars Farrell, Flatlined, Made You Look, and Nomorerichblondes, as well as Unique Bella.

Tapit will not go quietly. His progeny’s three stakes wins over the weekend moved him into fourth place on the current general sire list, within easy striking distance of second-place Ghostzapper. Unique Bella is one of 96 stakes winners from 1,012 foals age 3 and up sired by the 2004 Grade 1 Wood Memorial Stakes winner who has dominated the sport for the last three years through the quantity of his high-quality offspring rather than the achievements of one or two superstars.

Tapit sired 21 black-type winners, including 15 graded winners last year, and although that number included his second Belmont Stakes winner in Creator (out of Morena, by Privately Held), his extraordinary quality as a sire is more accurately defined by the achievements of Frosted (Fast Cookie, by Deputy Minister), who won the Grade 1 Metropolitan and Whitney; Lani (Heavenly Romance, by Sunday Silence), winner of the Grade 2 UAE Derby; and Ring Weekend (Free the Magic, by Cryptoclearance), all of whose best form is at about eight or nine furlongs, the sweet spot of American racing.

Most of Unbridled’s Song’s 119 career stakes winners to date also have excelled at those distances, and it is fitting that Arrogate may finally reward him with a leading sire title. A leading broodmare sire title may not be far behind.

And yet we still have doubters. Hello Hall of Fame.
 

MiamiScreamingEagles

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Javier Castellano was named Jockey of the Week and put up these numbers despite a brutal Friday in which he finished no better than sixth in four rides. It is not atypical when he and select top riders have bad Fridays, they will rebound and pounce on the big purses generally offered on Saturdays.

In his 19 starts of the week, Castellano picked up seven wins and one third-place finish. He was the leading rider by stakes earnings with $359,615 and led all North America jockeys by total earnings for the week, adding $449,265 to his total. He rode at 42% in the money and won on 37% of his mounts.

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/people/castellanos-37-percent-win-rate-nets-jockey-week-title/
===========================================================================================

March 7, 2017

Mahoning Valley (Ohio):
  • Not much action on Mondays and Tuesdays but one result that did catch my eye was when the trainer Richard Zielinski finished 1-2 in a race. The exacta paid $610.50, the winner returned $21.20 fand the runner-up paid$40.60 for place.
 

MiamiScreamingEagles

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Jan 17, 2004
71,037
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March 7, 2017

Mahoning Valley (Ohio):
  • Not much action on Mondays and Tuesdays but one result that did catch my eye was when the trainer Richard Zielinski finished 1-2 in a race. The exacta paid $610.50, the winner returned $21.20 fand the runner-up paid$40.60 for place.

March 8, 2017

Major tracks in New York, which reopens Friday, and California, which reopens tomorrow, both were dark.

Tampa Bay (Florida):
  • In the fourth race, a trainer 98 2-2-8 since the start of 2016 won. According to Equibase, trainer Luis Dominguez was 0-for-73 in 2016.
  • In the ninth and final race, a 25-1 withstood an objection by the fourth place finisher to top an exacta which returned $432.00.

Turf Paradise (Arizona):
  • She's a Hit won for the first time since 2013. She was a combined 0-for-36 since the start of 2014 and is now 5-for-68 lifetime.

Penn National (Pennsylvania):
  • In one race tonight, two Alabama-breds are listed in a field of seven. According to the Jockeys Club, there were 41 starters from Alabama among the 51,961 starters in North America in 2016.

Meadows (Pennsylvania):
  • In the trotters, a 15-1 and 70-1, the latter elevated after an inquiry, topped an exacta which returned only $268. Possibly not unexpected due to a small pool but when a 70-1 gets raised, the mind can wander with guesses. The trifecta paid over $7,000.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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The Jockeys Club released fascinating data pertaining to races in 2016.

There were 37,614 races run in the U.S. in 2016 about half the amount run in 1989. Of the 50 U.S. states, 36 conducted at least one live race with the exceptions being Alaska, Hawaii, Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri, Kansas, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Utah.

There were 51,961 starters last year in North America bred in 43 states and seven Canadian provinces (Ontario 2,439; British Columbia 531; Alberta 528; Manitoba 145; Saskatchewan 53; Quebec 3; Nova Scotia 1). The only states which did not breed a runner were: Alaska, Hawaii, Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Single digits came from Georgia 9; Utah 7; Missouri 6; Wyoming 5; Mississippi 5; Delaware 4; Nevada 3, Wisconsin 1.

The most: Kentucky 16,024; Florida 5,125; Louisiana 3,712; California 3,700; New York 3,351; Pennsylvania 2,277.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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Two Kentucky Derby prep races this weekend. Hopefully the tracks can coordinate the post times so they don't overlap.

SAN FELIPE STAKES (Grade II)
  • What: Can Mastery live up to expectations after a long layoff? He is 3-for-3 lifetime and has won at the three major southern California tracks. He last ran in December.
  • When: Saturday, March 11, 2017, Race 5 of 11, 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time (5:30 p.m. Eastern Time)
  • Where: Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California
  • Distance: 1 1/16 mile
  • Surface: Dirt
  • Purse: $400,000
  • Runners (age, sex): Three-years-old, open
  • Preview article: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-rac...ndefeated-mastery-faces-tough-san-felipe-test

PP​
| Horse (location bred) |
Age/Sex​
|
Jockey​
|
Weight​
|
Trainer​
|
Morning Line​
1| Term of Art (KY)| 3/colt| Tyler Baze| 122| Doug F. O'Neill| 20-1
2| Vending Machine (KY)| 3/colt| Norberto Arroyo, Jr.| 120| Peter Miller| 20-1
3| Ann Arbor Eddie (CA)| 3/gelding| Mario Gutierrez| 120| Doug F. O'Neill| 8-1
4| Mastery (KY)| 3/colt| Mike E. Smith| 124| Bob Baffert| 6-5
5| Gormley (KY)| 3/colt| Victor Espinoza| 122| John A. Shirreffs| 9-5
6| Iliad (KY)| 3/ridgling|Flavien Prat| 120| Doug F. O'Neill| 5-2
7| Bluegrass Envy (KY)| 3/gelding| Jacob Radosevich| 120| Rasharn Creque| 50-1

TAMPA BAY DERBY (Grade II)

PP​
| Horse (location bred) |
Age/Sex​
|
Jockey​
|
Weight​
|
Trainer​
|
Morning Line​
1| Tale of Silence (KY) | 3/colt| Paco Lopez| 116| Barclay Tagg| 15-1
2| The Money Monster (KY) | 3/colt| Joel Rosario| 116| William I. Mott|15-1
3| Basha (KY)| 3/colt| Emisael Jaramillo| 116| Gilberto Zerpa| 12-1
4| No Dozing (KY)| 3/colt |Daniel Centeno| 116| Arnaud Delacour| 6-1
5| Tapwrit (KY)| 3/colt| Jose L. Ortiz| 116| Todd A. Pletcher|3-1
6| Beasley (KY)| 3/colt| Irad Ortiz, Jr.| 116| Mark A. Hennig| 9-2
7| Sonic Mule (KY)| 3/colt| John R. Velazquez| 118| Todd A. Pletcher| 6-1
8| State of Honor (ON)| 3/colt| Julien R. Leparoux| 116| Mark E. Casse| 4-1
9| Wild Shot (KY)|3/colt| Robby Albarado| 116| George R. Arnold, II| 5-1
10| Zion Valley (NY)|3/gelding | Huber Villa-Gomez| 116| Kevin Rice| 50-1

Graded stakes races for Saturday (listed by Grade):
  • Santa Anita 1-1-1-2....Santa Anita has an outstanding card.
  • Tampa Bay 2-2-3
  • Oaklawn 3
  • Aqueduct 3
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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March 9, 2017

Gulfstream (Florida):
  • After the final race, the $.20 Pick 6 paid out in excess of $32,000. The $.50 Pick 5 returned more than $13,100. The $.50 Pick 4 paid over $2.500. Of the 10 runners. half were claimed and will have new trainers.
  • Race 1 was won by a 1-to-5 shot which topped a $1 superfecta for $11.
  • Race 2 was won by an even-money shot which produced a $2 double for $6.80. An obvious slow start to the day unless the preference is chalk and using them in exotics.
  • Luis Saez won three of the first five races and finished the 11-race card 3-2-0 in 6 starts.
  • Race 5, Luis Saez won on a 14-1 shot which ran previously at Parx (finished 4th in October) and Monmouth (finished 5th in July). Well-done by rider and trainer Mark Casse. Jose Lezcano, often mentioned here and elsewhere as a capable turf rider, came in second with a 19-1 shot. The exacta returned $451 and the tri over $2,200 for $2 bets.
  • Race 6 had a $41.40 winner and was part of a double that returned $954 for a $2 wager. The $2 Pick 3 paid $4,840.
  • Race 7, the Pick 3 paid $4,654.60.
  • Trainer Elizabeth Dobles (once the assistant to trainer Jeremiah Englehart) doubled her career win total when her runners won the last two races (10 and 11) on the card. She is 4-for-32 lifetime according to Equibase and her double returned $312. Owner Imaginary Stables, I believe, has Philadelphia-ties...and fit right in at the winner's circle.
  • Jockey Michael Ritvo, riding for his mother Kathy who is best known as the trainer of Mucho Macho Man, was sent off the favorite in race 10 but finished second in his first ride since 2015. Winning rider Nicky Figueroa won for the first time in the U.S.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):
  • Trainer John Cox, who was 0-for-17 this year, won consecutive races.
  • In race 2, the finish was 12-11-10 in a 12-horse field. Very rare. The winning horse returned $97.20.

Santa Anita (California):
  • Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens returned today after a lengthy layoff due to hip surgery.
  • Flavien Prat has won three times including on Battle of Midway (trained by Jerry Hollendorfer). The colt could be pointed to the Santa Anita Derby and if performs admirably then it isn't a stretch to be considered for the Kentucky Derby. The colt was purchased as a yearling for $410,000. Could be a late bloomer.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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2017 National Museum of Racing's 2017 Hall of Fame ballot nominees have been announced. A maximum of four candidates with the highest vote totals will be elected provided they receive majority approval (50.1 percent) of the voting panel.

The two I would like to see:

Jockeys:
  • Robby Albarado
  • Javier Castellano
  • Victor Espinoza
  • Garret Gomez -- Chris Antley, Part II. Posthumously.
  • Craig Perret -- Sentimental pick.

Trainers:
  • Mark Casse
  • John Shirreffs
  • David Whiteley

Horses:
  • Gio Ponti
  • Goldikova
  • Kona Gold
 

Valrico Gold

Registered User
Jan 28, 2009
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Two Kentucky Derby prep races this weekend. Hopefully the tracks can coordinate the post times so they don't overlap.

SAN FELIPE STAKES (Grade II)
  • What: Can Mastery live up to expectations after a long layoff? He is 3-for-3 lifetime and has won at the three major southern California tracks. He last ran in December.
  • When: Saturday, March 11, 2017, Race 5 of 11, 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time (5:30 p.m. Eastern Time)
  • Where: Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California
  • Distance: 1 1/16 mile
  • Surface: Dirt
  • Purse: $400,000
  • Runners (age, sex): Three-years-old, open
  • Preview article: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-rac...ndefeated-mastery-faces-tough-san-felipe-test

PP​
| Horse (location bred) |
Age/Sex​
|
Jockey​
|
Weight​
|
Trainer​
|
Morning Line​
1| Term of Art (KY)| 3/colt| Tyler Baze| 122| Doug F. O'Neill| 20-1
2| Vending Machine (KY)| 3/colt| Norberto Arroyo, Jr.| 120| Peter Miller| 20-1
3| Ann Arbor Eddie (CA)| 3/gelding| Mario Gutierrez| 120| Doug F. O'Neill| 8-1
4| Mastery (KY)| 3/colt| Mike E. Smith| 124| Bob Baffert| 6-5
5| Gormley (KY)| 3/colt| Victor Espinoza| 122| John A. Shirreffs| 9-5
6| Iliad (KY)| 3/ridgling|Flavien Prat| 120| Doug F. O'Neill| 5-2
7| Bluegrass Envy (KY)| 3/gelding| Jacob Radosevich| 120| Rasharn Creque| 50-1

TAMPA BAY DERBY (Grade II)

PP​
| Horse (location bred) |
Age/Sex​
|
Jockey​
|
Weight​
|
Trainer​
|
Morning Line​
1| Tale of Silence (KY) | 3/colt| Paco Lopez| 116| Barclay Tagg| 15-1
2| The Money Monster (KY) | 3/colt| Joel Rosario| 116| William I. Mott|15-1
3| Basha (KY)| 3/colt| Emisael Jaramillo| 116| Gilberto Zerpa| 12-1
4| No Dozing (KY)| 3/colt |Daniel Centeno| 116| Arnaud Delacour| 6-1
5| Tapwrit (KY)| 3/colt| Jose L. Ortiz| 116| Todd A. Pletcher|3-1
6| Beasley (KY)| 3/colt| Irad Ortiz, Jr.| 116| Mark A. Hennig| 9-2
7| Sonic Mule (KY)| 3/colt| John R. Velazquez| 118| Todd A. Pletcher| 6-1
8| State of Honor (ON)| 3/colt| Julien R. Leparoux| 116| Mark E. Casse| 4-1
9| Wild Shot (KY)|3/colt| Robby Albarado| 116| George R. Arnold, II| 5-1
10| Zion Valley (NY)|3/gelding | Huber Villa-Gomez| 116| Kevin Rice| 50-1

Graded stakes races for Saturday (listed by Grade):
  • Santa Anita 1-1-1-2....Santa Anita has an outstanding card.
  • Tampa Bay 2-2-3
  • Oaklawn 3
  • Aqueduct 3


Hey man.
Good stuff as usual.
Not a lot of free time these days.
But must comment on my (current) home track race, the Tampa Derby.

Wild Shot seems to pull up when in front. He may last if very patiently handled.
Off course Tapwrit is moving towards a victory.
I think No Dozing will step up off last.
Sonic Mule is first time around 2 turns. Could be a Pletcher speed freak.
The Money Monster is trying the route for the first time. He'll be saving ground.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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Jan 17, 2004
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^^ Hi Val. Welcome back even if temporary. Your input has been noticeably absent. Tapwrit is my pick but I don't like those odds, I hoped to get something longer. As of today, Gunnevera may be my top Derby pick although it is tepid at best.

Thanks to both for the contributions above.

=================

March 10, 2017

Aqueduct (New York):

  • Snow arrived just as the first race was getting in gear. Linda Rice claimed a horse from Lacey Gaudet and under her care for the first time won in a romp at 4-to-5. Rice was 2-for-2 today.
  • Irad Ortiz, Jr. won three times including the opener.
  • Race 3: What a fun finish filled with a terrific stretch battle in which Rajiv Maragh edged Irad Ortiz, Jr., the latter rode a 3-to-5 favorite.
  • One 9-year-old ran for the 101st time. Not often New York runners get to that number but the circuit reduced racing days this month due to a shortage of horses. In that race, Irad Ortiz, Jr's. mount was a late scratch.


Laurel (Maryland):
  • The last race of the day, the Pick 5 returned $18,517.80.
  • Linda Rice won with an entry today and finished second in her other race. Quick math tells us she is at 50% this meet, 8-for-16 though those numbers may be off.

Tampa Bay (Florida):
  • Maybe Tampa Bay is getting ready for its signature event tomorrow but today there were some prices to be had and of course one major headline...
  • Rider Edwin Gonzalez, whom I do not know much other than he rode at Penn National until this year, became the second jockey (also Richard DePass in 1980) in track history to win six times on one card. Gonzalez won the last three races and finished 6-0-1 in 7 rides. He rode the wins for five different trainers including two for Mandy Ness who is currently the trainer-in-name of her husband's (Jamie) stable while he is suspended for past violations.
  • In race 1, the Penta returned $12,695.60 for a $2 wager.
  • The Pick 5 after race 5 paid an enormous $169,041. The Pick 3 paid $4,021.40.
  • In the finale, the Pick 5 paid $100 less than the Pick 4 due to a dead heat earlier in the card.

Gulfstream (Florida):
  • John Velazquez was a perfect 3-for-3 including two wins for Todd Pletcher. All three wins were favorites.
  • Jose Lezcano has the reputation as a fine turf rider and certainly something in which I support. Today he won consecutive races, both on turf.
  • According to Gabby Gaudet's twitter: "Pick 6 lives to see another day with Rediscover winning the last. Look for a $600k guarantee pool in tomorrow's Pick 6 which starts race 8."

Sunland (New Mexico):
  • In race 1, the winner returned $51.20.
  • After race 2, the double paid $785.80.

Santa Anita (California):
  • While there is no such thing as a lock especially on long layoffs, Illuminant, coming out of a Grade I victory, won the $75,000 Wishing Well comfortably and paid $4.20. She is now 5-for-12 lifetime.
  • The Pick 5 after race 5 returned $12,071.40.

Golden Gate (California):
  • In race 1, the winner paid $41.80.
  • In race 2, the winner paid $47.40. The double returned an even $500.
  • After race 3, the Pick 4 paid $6,753.40.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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March 11, 2017

Santa Anita (California):
  • Terrific card and the gate neared 30,000 patrons. All-source track betting appeared to exceed $18,000,000.
  • Mastery was injured following his victory today in the San Felipe Stakes, a Kentucky Derby prep, and is undergoing surgery Monday to his left front ankle. Never a good sign. Hopefully the colt pulls through. Bob Baffert has a colt with strong potential again, one who filled all expectations as a top 3-year-old with his performance today emphasized by a 105 Beyer figure; however, the injury leaves the door open for the 2017 Kentucky Derby. Iliad was my pick due to the long layoff with Mastery and that runner got a 95 Beyer for his second place finish.
  • Three Grade I races on the card and Javier Castellano, who made a rare appearance in the state, won twice. One of Castellano's wins came on board a 9-to-1 in the Frank E. Kilroe and the other was in the Santa Anita Handicap on Shaman Ghost who received a massive 108 Beyer figure for the run.
  • Dortmund tried turf for the first time in 15 starts and did not like! He may have been rusty, sidelined since last November, but he was a major disappointment. This was one of the two Grade I races won by Castellano.
  • In the first of the three Grade I races, Tyler Baze, on board a 16-to-1 shot, defeated Mike Smith on 1-to-2 favorite Masochistic in the Triple Bend,





Tampa Bay (Florida):
  • Signature meet day and the handle was the second-highest in track history at $12,123,021.60. The crowd was listed at slightly over 10,000.
  • Todd Pletcher had three more wins and finished 3-0-2 in 6 starts. At the meet, he is unofficially 10-7-4 in 27 starts (37% wins, 78& in the money).
  • John Velazquez sizzled today. Of course, it helps to get the cream-of-the crop but skill was utilized today. He was 3-0-2 in 6 rides and upped his meet mark to 7-1-2 in 14 rides.
  • As I mentioned in an above post, I really hoped to get some decent odds on Tapwrit. While that didn't materialize, he won the Tampa Bay Derby going away and convincingly. Still, without McCracken running, that is a win with an asterisk until further evaluation.


Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Tyler Gaffalione won three times. He went 3-1-5 in 10 rides Saturday, in the $$$ nine out of ten times.
  • The $.20 Pick 6 returned over $18,000. The carryover for tomorrow will start at $436,000+. The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $29,000.
  • Luca Panici! When you simply watch a horse (#3) from start to finish and seemingly no one else did.
  • Mongolian Holiday, led, fell back and appeared wasted, but rallied in a terrific manner to open this card in an exhilarating fashion:


Aqueduct (New York):
  • Trainer Leon Blusiewicz, 86 years old and with just two horses in his stable, won the $200,000 Grade III Tom Fool. It was the trainer's first graded stakes win since 1998 at Laurel.

Parx (Pennsylvania):
  • Racing was canceled due to cold and windy conditions.

Laurel (Maryland):
  • Lacey Gaudet rules! Her only starter of the day anywhere and it won in a $41.20 payout. She is now well over 20% at the meet. There was an unfortunate spill with two horses on the lead that contributed to the result.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):
  • The $2 superfecta in race 2 was $24,501.
  • Corey Nakatani won the feature race. Visiting rider Jose Lezcano had his only ride of the day in the same race and went off the favorite but it was a dirt race and other opportunities presented themselves.
  • I like trainer McLean Robertson, Canterbury (Minnesota) based when he ships to Delaware in the summer or occasionally to places such as Oaklawn. He won today with an 11-to-1 shot, his only starter of the day.

Turf Paradise (Arizona):
  • The $2 superfecta after race 3 paid over $18,000. The double was a whopping $1,481.20.
 
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leaflover

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Delete, just wanted to tell everyone about the 5th at Gulfstream but saw it posted.
What a race, never has the term "please hold all mutual tickets" been less necessary.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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Jan 17, 2004
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March 12, 2017

Aqueduct (New York):
  • Mike Luzzi had one ride and was victorious in a rail-hugging method. Luzzi is having a fairly decent meet.
  • In the feature race, the longest shot on the board rallied for second place at 35-to-1 to aid an exacta for $240. Manny Franco/Jason Servis was the winning rider/trainer combo. Servis was 2-for-2 today, winning also at Gulfstream.
  • The $2 Pick 6 following the finale paid $74,177.
  • Junior Alvarado, who has been sidelined since December due to shoulder surgery, is scheduled to ride later this week.
  • Chris DeCarlo is also due back but has nothing immediately scheduled. He was injured in mid-November from a spill during a race.

Laurel (Maryland):
  • In the finale, the $2 Pick 5 paid $44,482.60. The $2 Pick 4 returned $6,224.
  • Lane Luzzi had a 35-to-1 shot that was tempting for a show bet but he got nosed for that spot. Every so often, one of those pays out. Small investment and possible decent return.
  • Apprentice Sarah Shaffer returned to the saddle after a bad injury in mid-November. She broke her maiden the prior month. She is listed at 6-for-53 lifetime which I believe means she retains her 10-pound bug. Speaking of bugs, Ashley Castrenze, who was injured late 2016, had the following twitter comment on her account: "Coming off an injury, going to start back again around the 1st of April. Still have 7 1/2 months with the bug." She began her career 4-for-4. That is Al-Hillesque.

Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Tyler Gaffalione continued his strong weekend with two wins. He went 5-1-5 in 17 rides Saturday and Sunday combined.
  • The $2 Penta in the final race (#13) paid $17,847. The $,20 Pick 6 returned over $4,200. Not bad for two dimes.
  • Race 9, another runner that caught my eye was Refer who was 0-for-10 lifetime until a switch to Jason Servis but is now 4-for-4 with the current trainer.
  • $1.4 million was bet into the pool in race 8 which began the Rainbow Six. Total handle exceeded $11,000,000.
  • Race 6, though Jose Lezcano had multiple rides, he won with his first turf mount at 13-to-1.
  • Race 5, the $2 Pick 4 paid $31,317, the $2 pick 5 paid $73,384.60.
  • The Rainbow 6 carryover for the next day of racing, Wednesday, will begin at $494,569.65.

Tampa Bay (Florida):
  • Race 3, Pacific Image caught my eye since he was 3-for-3 under new trainer Justin Johns (who I think is a Midwesterner, not sure...Illinois?) and also because the trainer is near 38% at the meet and 7-6-0 in 18 starts in 2017. Make that 4-for-4 after this win and 10-for-23 lifetime.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):
  • If there is a track that is universally applauded and criticized more so that Oaklawn, please come forward. The payouts can be enormous but the handicapping challenging to say the least. Keep it going! Related or perhaps unrelated, the track announced purse increases for the remainder of the meet. And this upcoming weekend is the Rebel Stakes which is a Kentucky Derby prep.
  • Race 9, the $2 Pick 3 paid $2,896.80 and the $2 Pick 4 returned $28,186. No one hit the Pick 5 (5 out of 5).
  • Race 8, $40.80 win, $.50 trifecta $746.20, $1 super paid $49,000+.
  • Race 7, $2 tri paid $3,273 and the $1 super paid $16,833.90.
  • Race 4, the $2 Pick 3 returned $2,624.60, the $1 super paid $11,343.30. The winner paid $61.20 and the hot Linda Rice finished third which helped the inflated prices. Rice, a very successful trainer, hit a bit of a bump this weekend going 1-1-3 in 11 starts covering three tracks (Laurel Aqueduct, Gulfstream).
  • Trainer Paul Holthus was 2-for-2 today. Entering today, he was 0-for-46 this year.

Turf Paradise (Arizona):
  • The daily double to start the day paid $800.60.
  • Race 3, the $2 Pick 3 paid $8,062.80. No one hit the Pick 4. No one!

Santa Anita (California):
  • Corey Nakatani, who won yesterday's feature at Oaklawn, return to Cali and won this card's feature race. The winning 5-year-old mare, Goodyearforroses, is an Irish-bred who is now 3-for-3 at Santa Anita after running six previous races at Woodbine (Toronto).
  • Race 4, the $1 super paid $10,109.40.
  • Payoffs of $3,035 went to 186 winning Pick 6 tickets and helped take the carryover to $255,341.88 to start Thursday's card. Santa Anita is dark until then.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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Monday evening update to Mastery:

Trainer Bob Baffert reports that surgery on Mastery performed this afternoon at Santa Anita "went very well" and that the 3-year-old colt is back in his stall at Baffert's barn at Santa Anita.

Mastery suffered a condylar fracture to his left front leg on Saturday. He was pulled up immediately after winning the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes, his fourth straight victory without a defeat.

Mastery won all three of his starts at age 2, including the Grade 1 Cash Call Futurity at Los Alamitos. The San Felipe was his first start at 3.

http://live.drf.com/nuggets/35618
 

MiamiScreamingEagles

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Jan 17, 2004
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Some advanced info pertaining to TV. Saratoga is either first or second on my list of favorite meets, up there with the current Gulfstream party.

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/nyra-fox-sports-expand-live-racing-coverage-2017/

The New York Racing Association, Inc. announced today an expanded partnership with FOX Sports, which will result in additional live shows broadcast across all three NYRA-operated tracks.

In total, 46 live shows are scheduled to be shown on FS2, covering exciting racing action across Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. The partnership will build on the successful debut of Saratoga Live in 2016, which was recognized for Extraordinary Achievement in Daily Racing Presentation at the 24th annual International Simulcast Conference last September.

FS2 will broadcast three live Saturday shows in April from Aqueduct Racetrack, Aqueduct Live, starting on Wood Memorial Day, April 8 from 3-5:30 p.m ET., along with shows on April 15 and 22. Belmont Park Live will debut on Saturday, April 29, with additional shows scheduled for May 27, Memorial Day on May 29, June 3 and June 24.Saratoga Live is slated to feature 36 shows in 2017, expanding on its well-received 2016 campaign that saw NYRA produce an unprecedented 80 hours of live racing telecasts that aired nationally on FOX Sports. Over the course of the seven-week meet, the programs covered 40 stakes races, setting a strong foundation heading into 2017.
 

MiamiScreamingEagles

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Steve Haskin released his weekly Derby Dozen ranking (Horse [sire/grandsire/trainer]).

  • 1. Gunnevera (Dialed In/Unbridled/Antonio Sano)
  • 2. McCracken (Ghostzapper/Seeking the Gold/Ian Wilkes)
  • 3. Tapwrit (Tapit/Successful Appeal/Todd Pletcher)
  • 4. Girvin (Tale of Ekati/Malibu Moon/Joe Sharp)
  • 5. J Boys Echo (Mineshaft/Menifee/Dale Romans)
  • 6. Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile/Cat Thief/Mark Casse)
  • 7. Practical Joke (Into Mischief/Distorted Humor/Chad Brown)
  • 8. American Anthem (Bodemeister/A.P. Indy/Bob Baffert)
  • 9. One Liner (Into Mischief/Cherokee Run/Todd Pletcher)
  • 10. Iliad (Ghostzapper/You and I/Doug O'Neill)
  • 11. Uncontested (Tiz Wonderful/Lil E. Tee/Wayne Catalano)
  • 12. Petrov (Flatter/Bertrando/Ron Moquett)

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/kent...march-14-2017-presented-by-shadwell-farm.aspx

I am looking at American Anthem as my early Belmont Stakes candidate depending on how he handles any future Derby preps.
 

MiamiScreamingEagles

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Jan 17, 2004
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REBEL STAKES (Grade II)

PP​
| Horse (location bred) |
Age/Sex​
|
Jockey​
|
Weight​
|
Trainer​
|
Morning Line​
1| Silver Bullion (KY) | 3/colt | Ramon A. Vazquez| 115| D. Wayne Lukas|30-1-
2| Uncontested (KY)| 3/colt |Channing Hill| 122| Wayne M. Catalano| 10-1
3| Sonneteer (KY)| 3/colt| Richard E. Eramia| 115| J. Keith Desormeaux|30-1
4| Petrov (KY)| 3/colt| Jose L. Ortiz| 115| Ron Moquett|9-2
5| Untrapped (KY)| 3/colt| Irad Ortiz, Jr.| 115| Steven M. Asmussen| 8-1
6| Malagacy (KY)|3/colt| Javier Castellano| 115| Todd A. Pletcher| 4-1
7| American Anthem (KY)|3/colt| Mike E. Smith| 115| Bob Baffert| 2-1
8| Silver Dust (KY)|3/colt| Corey J. Lanerie| 115| Randy L. Morse| 15-1
9| Appalachian Gem (KY)| 3/colt|Gary L. Stevens| 115|Jack C. Van Berg| 30-1
10| Royal Mo (KY)| 3/colt| Victor Espinoza| 122| John A. Shirreffs| 9-2
11| Lookin At Lee (KY)| 3/colt| Ricardo Santana, Jr.| 117| Steven M. Asmussen| 15-1

Should be an interesting race.
  • Petrov could be one of those horses that finishes in the money but not the winner's circle.
  • Malagacy has caught the attention of many in his brief career but the question remains can he handle this distance. Could be better suited for the Preakness but that is far away.
  • Certainly a deep field with Untrapped, Lookin At Lee, Royal Mo and Uncontested among the contenders. Any Mike Smith/Bob Baffert runner will be near or at the top of everyone's list and no exception here with American Anthem.
Morning lines have now been posted.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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71,037
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March 15, 2017

Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Random notes from one of the few tracks operating Wednesday:
  • In the opener, an-Eddie Olczyk owned horse was victorious.
  • In race 3, a 1-to-5 was chased down by Johnny Velazquez (riding for Todd Pletcher) on a 7-to-1 shot.
  • Johnny V. had five rides (1-2-0) for four trainers and interestingly in one race in which Pletcher had Luis Saez on board. Velazquez went off the favorite and his runner never fired. The Saez/Pletcher runner came in second with the second shortest price.
 

MiamiScreamingEagles

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Jan 17, 2004
71,037
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March 16, 2017

Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Allen Maragh, who rode for the first time this meet, was not only the victorious jockey but also the winning trainer. A player-coach in a sense. Somewhat rare. It was his first win as a jockey since 2015. He is 1-for-14 this year as a trainer.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):
  • In race 2, Patrick Canchari, in his first start of 2017, topped a ticket that included 7-1, 28-1, 41-1 and 7-1 in the top four positions. The $,50 tri paid $1270+
  • In race 9, the $.50 Pick 4 paid over $6,000.
 
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