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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The 2018 nominees to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame are:
Horses: Blind Luck, Gio Ponti , Havre de Grace, and Heavenly Prize
Jockeys: Robby Albarado, Corey Nakatani, and Craig Perret
Trainers: Mark Casse, John Shirreffs, and David Whiteley

Another year Unbridled is not on the Hall ballot. Craig Perret, who rode the colt to the Kentucky Derby in 1990, could be the best eligible rider currently not in the Hall. The trainer is in the Hall. The jockey could be in after this vote. Now....how 'bout that horse!

Perret won 4,415 races, with purse earnings of more than $113 million in a career that spanned from 1967 through 2005. The Eclipse Award winner for outstanding jockey in 1990 and the leading apprentice by earnings in 1967 (prior to the Eclipse Awards), Perret won the Belmont Stakes (G1) in 1987 with Bet Twice, denying Alysheba the Triple Crown. Three years later, Perret won the Kentucky Derby (G1) with Unbridled. Perret won four Breeders' Cup races and totaled 208 graded stakes wins.

Blind Luck, Havre de Grace Among Hall of Fame Finalists - BloodHorse
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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February 23, 2018

Aqueduct (New York):
  • Ran for the first time since Monday.
  • Race 8: The $2 Pick 4 paid over $50,000. The $2 Pick 6 paid out to those who won four legs. The $2 Pick 3 returned close to $4,000.
Tampa Bay (Florida):
  • Race 5: The $2 Pick 5 paid over $15,000. The $2 Pick 4 paid more than $7,200.
  • Race 5: Serjeant at Arms exited the race with a lifetime mark of 15 12-3-0 after a second place finish in his U.S. debut. The 5-year-old was bred in India and ran all his races there including wins in his last five starts. I do not recall other India breds running in the U.S. Trainer Graham Motion finished first and second.
Gulfstream (Florida):
  • The $.20 Rainbow 6 will began at $1,463,984. More than $430,000 was bet into the pool today which eventually exceeded $1.7 million. Tomorrow is not a sensational racing day for a Saturday in the Championship Meet with the $100,000 Hal's Hope the feature; however, it is a 13-race card and the Rainbow Six is guaranteed to reach $2,000,000.
  • Races 8 and 9: Veteran trained Ronald Gaffney of more than 40 years experience made exotic players delirious today. He had a 90-to-1 finish fourth in race 8 and an 80-to-1 finish third in the following race.
  • Race 5: The $2 Pick 5 paid over $7,000. The race finished 1-2-3-4-5-6. Been a while since I have seen a field as deep as six finish in numerical order.
  • Race 3: The $2 Pick 3 paid over $2,700.
  • Race 1: The day began with a $35.40 winner.
Santa Anita (California):
  • Race 5: The $2 Pick 5 paid over $16,000.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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February 24, 2018

Aqueduct (New York):
  • Manny Franco and Dylan Davis finished 1-2 in three races. Franco and Davis each won twice.
  • There must be a Led Zeppelin out there. The winner in race 6 is named Battle of Evermore.
  • The top three riders at the meet continue to be Dylan Davis, Manny Franco and Junior Alvarado. Davis leads the meet by four victories over Franco 36 to 32. Davis is 12-5-3 in his last 30 rides. Alvarado (23 wins) has the best percentage of the three at 26% and a remarkable 66% in the money, Paco Lopez, who rides at other tracks with more frequency than the three mentioned, is at 25% with 19 wins.
  • Trevor McCarthy finished second three times in seven starts.
Tampa Bay Downs (Florida):
  • Daniel Centeno, second in the standings in victories, was 7 3-3-0 today. He is 12 behind leader Antonio Gallardo.
  • Todd Pletcher is 7-4-2 in 13 starts. 100% in the money though he was inactive at the track today.
Gulfstream Park (Florida):
  • Irad Ortiz, Jr. won four consecutive races -- 9 through 12 -- an extraordinary accomplishment. He was on 7-to-2, 5-to-1, 13-1 and even money winners. A very impressive streak. He began the day out of the money with his first four starters. Quite the rebound.
  • Trainer Lilli Kurtinecz, based mainly out of Maryland, was very enthusiastic winning race 11 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. on board. She had the even money favorite. Reactions like that aren't always common with trainers but good to see.
  • In the feature race, #12 on the card, the $100,000 Hal's Hope, Economic Model (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Chad Brown) was the victor.

  • John Velazquez won gate-to-wire for the young and up-and-coming Elizabeth Dobles with a 9-to-1 shot in race 4. He doubled his win total in race 6 with a 5-to-1 for the very accomplished Todd Pletcher. In the penultimate race, Johnny V. avoided major injury when dismounted. He was removed from riding in the finale.


  • Race 7: Luca Panici won with a 10-to-1 shot. It was one of his two rides.
  • Race 8: The Maragh family was well-represented with a trainer-jockey combo that won at 21-to-1. The $2 Pick 3 paid over $8,500.
  • Race 9: The $2 Pick 4 paid over $35,000. The $2 Pick 3 paid over $6,198.
  • The track handled $18,000,000 with the 13-race card.
  • More than $732,000 was added to the $.20 Rainbow Six and there was one horse singled in the finale; however, the "8" bet didn't materialize. All winners today earned $34,000+. The Jackpot exceeded $2,100,000 with the money wagered. The carryover for Sunday's card with be over $1.6 million. I would imagine the Jackpot will exceed $2.2 million tomorrow.
Oaklawn (Arkansas):
  • In the $125,000 Gazebo Stakes, Mitole, a 1-to-2 morning line favorite was beaten in the slop by Bourne in Nixa (Ramon Vazquez/Steve Margolis).
Santa Anita (California):
  • Race 10: The finale finished with a $43 winner. The $2.00 Pick 6 paid over $52,000.
  • In the $150,000 Grade III Daytona Stakes, Conquest Tsunami (Victor Espinoza/Peter Miller) won. Miller ended the day with the unlikely feat of finishing 1-2-3 in a race. With his last 13 starters, he is 6-4-1 and more impressively won 6 of the 10 races he has entered (three of his losses were to himself).
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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February 25, 2018

Aqueduct (New York):
  • Dylan Davis and Kendrick Carmouche were multiple winners today. Davis opened a 5-win lead over Manny Franco atop the meet standings. Davis is 14-5-6 in his last 35 rides (40% winning).
Gulfstream Park (Florida):
  • Irad Ortiz, Jr. won four more times. The last two days he was 18 8-1-0. Though out of the money half his rides, he won at a 44% clip.
  • Javier Castellano rode for his brother Abel Castellano, a former rider now turned trainer as of last year, and won. It was the rider's 4,849th win and the first n team with his brother.
  • The carryover for the $.20 Rainbow Six will be $1,778,601 when racing resumes Wednesday.
  • All winners with today's $.20 Rainbow Six earned $1,600+. Over $578,000 was added to the pool. Today's 'pot surpassed $2,200,000.
  • The track handled a hair under $12,000,000.
Fair Grounds (Louisiana):
  • Favorites won six times and finished second twice. The exception among the nine races was a 31-to-1 winner in race 8.
Santa Anita (California):
  • Miss Sunset (Mike Smith/Bob Baffert) improved to 14 8-1-2 lifetime in winning the $100,000 feature race.
  • The Single Ticket Pick Six Jackpot was hit as one ticket was worth $342,006.40. The ticket was purchased through a Twinspires.com account for $15,840.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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Question.

If a horse finishes first and two horses dead heat for second, if one of the 2DH horses places an objection against the first place horse and the objection is ruled valid, do both of the 2ndDH horses get placed first or just the one which placed the objection?

A steward confirmed that both horses originally called in the dead heat would be elevated to first place. Exactas would then be split w/the DQ'd horse placing behind both winners. Thus if the finish was 1-2 for win in a dead heat and #3 in third, the exactas would pay out 1 over the 3 and also 2 over the 3.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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Early-to-midweek days are generally low key in horse racing but with Gulfstream's pot growing after two dark days, the eyes of the sport will be concentrated heavily on the track as the main option. We may see the pot, which starts at $1,778,601.01, approach $2.2 million again.
 

Cyclones Rock

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A steward confirmed that both horses originally called in the dead heat would be elevated to first place. Exactas would then be split w/the DQ'd horse placing behind both winners. Thus if the finish was 1-2 for win in a dead heat and #3 in third, the exactas would pay out 1 over the 3 and also 2 over the 3.

Appreciate your efforts in getting the correct answer. If I were the dictator of racing, then only the horse which suffered the interference would be elevated. Alas, I am not and will not complain next time I benefit from the rule.

On a different note. Am I the only one who is extremely irritated by Gulfstream Park's approximate post times? I don't mind the Rainbow 6 or some other big betting circumstance delaying the start of a race, but the 6250 NW2 third race of the day starting up to 10 minutes late for no reason gets my goat. When one is betting multiple tracks, it can really mess up the rhythm of bet making. As a result, I don't bet GP as much as I would if their race starting times were predictable. Anyone else alter their betting venues due to this?

Dylan Davis really is on a roll. Another jockey who is bringing home a lot of winners and who probably flies under the radar of most bettors is Samy Camacho who is riding at Tampa. Don't discount his mount-especially if it's his first time on it.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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Appreciate your efforts in getting the correct answer. If I were the dictator of racing, then only the horse which suffered the interference would be elevated. Alas, I am not and will not complain next time I benefit from the rule.

On a different note. Am I the only one who is extremely irritated by Gulfstream Park's approximate post times? I don't mind the Rainbow 6 or some other big betting circumstance delaying the start of a race, but the 6250 NW2 third race of the day starting up to 10 minutes late for no reason gets my goat. When one is betting multiple tracks, it can really mess up the rhythm of bet making. As a result, I don't bet GP as much as I would if their race starting times were predictable. Anyone else alter their betting venues due to this?

Dylan Davis really is on a roll. Another jockey who is bringing home a lot of winners and who probably flies under the radar of most bettors is Samy Camacho who is riding at Tampa. Don't discount his mount-especially if it's his first time on it.

You are welcome and it wasn't much of an effort. I could tell the ferocity in tone that the 2-3 would be elevated but still wanted a steward to confirm. It made for some good debate.

The longtime bane of Gulfstream's handicappers is post-time. I think most people, even those frustrated, have come to accept Gulfstream's delay. It can be annoying when the post creeps upon other tracks which run on time.

Gulf milks those last few dollars. Look at the counter for the Rainbow 6 and how much is generated with 0 (zero) MTP. Especially this time of year, Gulf buries New York and California doesn't have the depth. That said, New York is generally as punctual as any track. Also, the odds don't change as dramatically at Gulf as they do in say Laurel (another Stronach owned track) due to amount of money bet.

And Tampa Bay isn't much better but its popularity isn't nearly as large as Gulf.
 

MiamiScreamingEagles

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Gulfstream has a 14-race card Saturday highlighted by the Fountain of Youth which is a Kentucky Derby prep race. The entries will be posted in full later in the week. Imagine if the Rainbow Six bet is sizeable entering Saturday. No telling how much will be added to the pool. It wouldn't shock me to see $1,000,000 added.

Gulfstream has nine races with purses $100,000 or more including the $400,000 Fountain of Youth which is the 14th and final race of the day.

For the time being, here are the entries (trainer, jockey morning line) for the Fountain of Youth. As much as I have touted Good Magic, I think he can be beaten here.
  • 1. He Takes Charge, Mark Casse, Tyler Gaffalione, 20-1
  • 2. Free Drop Billy, Dale Romans, Robby Albarado, 9-2
  • 3. Peppered, Reade Baker, Nik Juarez, 30-1
  • 4. Strike Power, Mark Hennig, Luis Saez, 4-1
  • 5. Storm Runner, Dale Romans, Joel Rosario, 15-1
  • 6. Good Magic, Chad Brown, Jose Ortiz, 7-5
  • 7. Gotta Go, Ian Wilkes, Chris Landeros, 10-1
  • 8. Marconi, Todd Pletcher, Javier Castellano, 8-1
  • 9. Machismo, Anthony Quartarolo, Albin Jimenez, 15-1
  • 10. Promises Fulfilled, Dale Romans, Irad Ortiz Jr., 20-1
==================

And since that post was made....comes this:

Rainbow 6 To Carry Guaranteed Pool Of $3 Million For Fountain Of Youth Card - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report

Gulfstream Park's Saturday program, highlighted by nine stakes including the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, will also feature guaranteed pools in the Late Pick 4 and Late Pick 5 and a guaranteed pool in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 of $3 million.

Post time for Saturday's first race is 11:30 a.m.

The Late Pick 4 will have a guaranteed pool of $750,000 and the Late Pick 5 will have a guaranteed pool of $500,000.

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 will be guaranteed at $3 million only if no one hits the popular multi-race wager Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.

Gulfstream's Saturday program begins with Breakfast at Gulfstream from 8-10:30 a.m.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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February 28, 2018

Mahoning Valley (Ohio):
  • Race 8: Entries were bred in seven states plus Ontario. Eight different places in one race.
Gulfstream (Florida):
  • The Rainbow 6 began at $1.778 million and more than $376,000 was added. The height of total's pool was in excess of $2.15 million. The carryover for Thursday's card will be $1,868,834.88.
  • Edgar Perez, who rides in Illinois for the most part, won twice and both were romps. Not often a rider wins twice by such large margins on the same card. The shorter win was 9 3/4 lengths.
  • Tyler Gaffalione and Luis Saez outrode the field by a significant amount and set up a good duel in the stretch in which Gaffalione prevailed.
  • Race 6: That had to be a misprint in the guides. A 30-to-1 morning line ridden by Tyler Gaffalione opened at 9-to-5. I assume it was meant to be 3-to-1. The horse didn't factor either way.
  • Nice interview on TVG with trainer and restauranteur Carlo Vaccarezza.
  • The track handled over $7,000,000. Not too shabby for a Wednesday.
Delta Downs (Louisiana):
  • Timothy Thornton won three times under the lights and became the third jockey in North America to win 50+ races in 2018. Luis Saez 68 and Irad Ortiz, Jr. 62 are the top two winners through two months.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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While Presque Isle isn't a major player, hopefully Churchill doesn't put racing in a distant second to the casino.

Churchill will pay $229.5 million in cash to buy Presque Isle and a casino in Vicksburg, Miss., from El Dorado Resorts, the company said. Presque Isle, which opened in 2007 and is one of only a handful of tracks that still use an artificial main-track surface, races approximately 100 days a year, but its main business is casino gambling, with 1,600 slots and 32 tables games.

The acquisition is Churchill’s first foray into Pennsylvania, where lucrative subsidies from casino gambling go to racing purses. Churchill also owns its namesake track in Louisville, Arlington Park outside Chicago, Fair Grounds in New Orleans, and it leases the racing operations of the former Calder Race Course in Miami to a competitor, The Stronach Group, while still operating the facility’s casino.​

Churchill Downs Inc. to buy Presque Isle Downs | Daily Racing Form
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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March 1, 2018

Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Tyler Gaffalione won three times, one more victory than Luis Saez and Jose Ortiz.
  • The track handled a hair under $10,000,000.
  • The $.20 Rainbow Six jackpot will begin at $1,989,050 for Friday's card. If the main portion of the pot isn't hit Friday, there is a $3,000,000 guarantee set for Saturday's extensive card. More than $500,000 was added today. I imagine we will see a larger figure for Friday and maybe close to double that on Saturday provided we have multiple winners tomorrow.
Laurel (Maryland):
  • Has canceled their card for Friday due to the weather forecasted.
Aqueduct (New York):
  • Has canceled their card for Friday due to the weather forecasted.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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Breeders’ Cup a $96.8 Million Impact on San Diego - BloodHorse

The Breeders' Cup World Championships, which were contested at Del Mar racetrack for the first time in 2017, generated $96.8 million in direct and indirect economic benefits for San Diego County, according to a recent economic impact study by Sports Management Research Institute.

The results are the highest recorded for any prior Breeders' Cup event and further emphasize Breeders' Cup as a major economic force with the power to stimulate the Del Mar and San Diego economies through tourism, local investments and activities.​
 

MiamiScreamingEagles

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Due to cold and snow in Europe, two Kentucky Derby prep races have been postponed for next weekend. The first post in this thread has been updated.

The postponed Kempton race was rescheduled to March 7. Phoenix Thoroughbred's Kentucky-bred Gronkowski was expected to be favored in Thursday's race at Kempton. The previous day's European Derby points event, the Patton Stakes at Dundalk in Ireland, also was abandoned because of the storm. It was rescheduled for March 9.
Second Euro Road to Derby Race Postponed Due to Weather - BloodHorse
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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This is a big shock if Free Drop Billy is scratched. It also will require alterations to race prognostications.

Dale Romans just told us on @Xpressbet Radio on @HRRN that Free Drop BIlly may scratch from the Fountain of Youth tomorrow for the Gotham at Aqueduct next Saturday. Will "sleep on it" and decide in the morning,​

Source: Anthony Stabile (Twitter)
 

MiamiScreamingEagles

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March 2, 2018

Tampa Bay (Florida):
  • Race 9: The $2 Pick 5 paid over $13,000. The $2 exacta was $1,032.20. There is something magical about $1,000+ exactas.
Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Tyler Gaffalione, Javier Castellano, John Velazquez and Edgar Perez each won twice among riders. Perez won the finale for Elizabeth Dobles with her lone starter and though she doesn't have the numbers at the meet she is an up-and-comer in my eyes.
  • Todd Pletcher was the lone trainer with multiple wins, both times with Johnny V. on board.
  • More than $500,000 was added to the $.20 Rainbow Six Jackpot. The carryover for Satuday will start at $2.1 million+. There is a guarantee of $3,000,000 tomorrow. Gulf has 14 races tomorrow and a rare late morning post time. It should be an electrifying afternoon.
  • Race 5: $101.80 winner. $722.60 exacta. $2 Pick 5 was a remarkable $177,902. The $2 Pick 4 was over $12,000. The $2 Pick 3 was more than $3,300.
  • Gulfstream handled over $10,000,000.
Oaklawn (Arkansas):
  • Race 5: There is an old horse racing adage that when a trainer has two entered in a race, always use the one with the higher odds. That thought seems to have been met with much success the last few days as was in this race with Robertino Diodoro.
  • Race 7: The $.50 Pick 3 paid $2,686.75.
    Race 9: It can be instrumental to follow the money. A 15-to-1 morning line went off the 5-to-2 favorite and from the outside #10 post won with precision.
Santa Anita (California):
  • The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $14,000 after the finale.
 
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Winx Cruises To 16th Group 1 Victory, 23rd Straight Win In Season Debut - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report

Australian superstar Winx did not disappoint in her first start of 2018, blowing by the field to win her 23rd straight race, her 16th Group 1 event and her third consecutive Chipping Norton Stakes at Sydney's Randwick Racecourse Saturday.

The victory pushed her into a world record tie with the great John Henry for most Grade/Group 1 wins. It was Winx's 27th victory from 33 starts. During her career, Winx has defeated more than 50 Group 1 winners, including Breeders' Cup Turf victor Highland Reel; Hartnell, third-place finisher in the prestigious Melbourne Cup and Chatauqua, a G1 winner in Australia and Hong Kong.

In her usual fashion, Winx, off at 1-9, broke slow from the gate but recovered to sit eighth of nine down the backstretch in the one-mile race. Jockey Hugh Bowman kept her to the outside heading into the turn and she once again turned on the jets in the stretch, leaving her rivals in the dust late with a devastating turn of foot.

Trainer Chris Waller has mapped out a potential path for the daughter of Street Cry this year, possibly including a trip to Royal Ascot in June.

Winx is two wins short of fellow Australian Black Caviar's 25-race win streak. Black Caviar's renowned, undefeated career included a victory at Royal Ascot in the G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

March 3, 2018

Aqueduct (New York):
  • Kendrick Carmouche (3), Trevor McCarthy (2) and Junior Alvarado (2) won multiple times on the 9-race card. McCarthy won consecutive races late in the day. Trainers Linda Rice and Bruce Levine also won twice.
  • Race 8: Midnight Disguise (Trevor McCarthy/Bruce Levine) won the $200,000 Busher Stakes for New York breds.
Parx (Pennyslvania):
  • Canceled.
Gulfstream (Florida):
  • The track handled $28,000,000+. The 14-race card, which included eight graded stakes races, was stellar. The feature race was the $400,000 72nd running of the Grade II Fountain of Youth, a Kentucky Derby prep race.
  • The $.20 Pick 6 Jackpot paid out $52,000+ to all winners. However, since there were multiple winners, there will be a carryover which will start at approximately $2.33 million for Sunday. Over $982,000 was added. The total pool exceeded the $3,000,000 guarantee.
  • Irad Ortiz. Jr. had a sensational day with five wins. He finished 12 5-0-3.
  • In addition to Irad Ortiz (5), other riders with multiple wins included Jose Ortiz (3) and John Velazquez (2). The trio accounted for 10 of the 14 wins.
  • Race 14 (The Fountain of Youth): I mentioned above how Good Magic (Jose Ortiz/Chad Brown) who sent off at 4-to-5 could be beaten and how Dale Romans was considering scratching Free Drop Billy who was the primary competition. However, I didn't put those two thoughts together. My picks were 4-6-9 and they finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th; my expected pace setter, did not, and was set off at 37-to-1. Promises Fulfilled (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Dale Romans) shocked the field at 22-to-1 going gate-to-wire. The win paid $38.40. Romans had two horses entered after the scratch and another recent example of a trainer with multiple runners who won with the higher of the priced horses. Promises Fulfilled is now 3-for-4 lifetime and has won at three tracks including Churchill Downs. The $2 pick 5 was an astronomical $82,400. The $2 Pick 4 was more than $12,000.

  • Race 13: In this Grade II $250,000 race, Sadler's Joy (Julien Leparoux/Tom Albertrani) won for the first time since finishing fourth on Breeders Cup weekend.
  • Race 12: Classic Rock (Luis Saez/Kathy Ritvo) won this Grade III race. Ritvo, who is forever linked to Mucho Macho Man, is now 4-for-9 at the meet. A 95-to-1 came in second and paid $60.40 to place. The $1 trifecta returned over $3,300.
  • Race 11: The three far outside horses finished 1-2-3 in reveres order of 11-10-9. The winner was an 11-to-1 morning line bet down to 7-to-1.
  • Race 10: Hogy (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Michael Maker) won for the 19th time in his 50th start in the Grade III Canadian Turf. He is 3-or-more years old than all the competition and for that reason he wasn't played. Otherwise, he is a lively 9-year-old and the product of a tremendous training job in preparation for this race.

  • Grade 8: If there was a pick of the day, it was Fly So High (Jose Ortiz/Shug McGaughey) who is now 4 3-0-1 after winning the Grade II $200,000 Davona Dale. The 3-year-old filly was purchased for $675,000 and the expectations are in the early stages of being met. The trainer who won for the 2,000th time.

  • Race 7: Thewayjam (Jose Ortiz/Graham Motion), bred in France, is now 8 5-0-1 lifetime after winning this Grade III race.
  • Race 6: The John Velazquez daily double paid $113.60 after winning the Grade III Palm Beach Stakes.
  • Race 5: Beware bridge jumpers. Celestine (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Christophe Clement) missed the board at 2-to-5 in this $100,000 non graded stakes race. Show prices were $14.80, $7.80 and $15.40. Team of Teams (John Velazquez/James Jerkens) won at 11-to-1. Jerkens won both ends of the daily double which paid $137.80 for $2. The $.50 Pick 5 to begin the day paid over $13,000.
  • Race 4: In the first of eight graded stakes races, Holy Helena (Irad Ortiz, Jr. /James Jerkens) improved to 8 5-2-0 lifetime after winning this Grade III. She is 2-for-2 on grass. She could be a player on grass in the future.
Mahoning Valley (Ohio):
  • Trainer Jay Bernardini has won with three of his last five starters after winning the finale with his only runner of the day. He has improved to 26 11-12-6 at the meet which is third in wins (22%) and 57% in the money. At one point, he was falling to seconditits.
Turfway (Kentucky):
  • Perry Ouzts, at the age of 63, rode the 50,000th race of his career.
Oaklawn (Arkansas):
  • The duo of Ricardo Santana, Jr./Steve Asmussen won four times in five tries. I don't recall the last pairing that won four on a card at any track.
  • Steve Asmussen had starters at four tracks. His record today was 13 6-1-1.
  • The three leading trainers in wins are separated by two victories. Steve Asmussen 19, Brad Cox 18 (31%), and Robertino Diodoro 17 head the list.
Fair Grounds (Louisiana):
  • Race 8: The exacta was $1,013.40. The tri was over $14,000. The $1 super paid over $18,000. Veterans James Graham and Calvin Borel finished 1-2.
Santa Anita (California):
  • In the Grade III feature, Midnight Bisou (Mike Smith/Bill Spawr) won at 4-to-5. The 3-year old filly had questions regarding the distance but is now 4 2-2-0 lifetime. Both losses were by nostrils to Dream Tree (Drayden Van Dyke/Bob Baffert) who was scratched by the trainer in this race which reduced the field to five runners.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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This upcoming weekend should provide good insight into some high profiled runners for the Kentucky Derby preps.

Saturday, March 10
In California, Solomini, Bolt d'Oro, McKinzie and Kanthaka among others could be entered in the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita. This race could be the most significant of those run this weekend.

In New York, Free Drop Billy, Enticed and Firenze Fire could be among those entered in the Gotham Stakes in New York.

In Florida, Flameaway, Vino Rosso and Tiz Mischief among others are possibilities in the Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs.

March 7 and March 9
Overseas, with the cold weather responsible for the cancellation of races in England and Ireland, runners such as Mendelssohn and Gronkowski had their schedules altered. The races have been postponed to March 7 in England and March 9 in Ireland but entries have yet to be drawn.
 

GKJ

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Going to be coming up on 3 years since Winx last lost a race. Pretty incredible.
 

MiamiScreamingEagles

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March 4, 2018

Aqueduct (New York):
  • Two of the top three riders at the meet, Junior Alvarado (4) and Manny Franco (3) combined to win 7 of the 9 races. Alvarado was 8 4-0-2 in one of his best days in recent memory. Dylan Davis also won. Through Sunday, the three winningest riders are Davis (39, 22%), Franco (36, 22%) and Alvarado 29 (28%). Alvarado is a stunning 65% in the money at the meet. A number which could be dismissed due to some of the sizes of fields but he is doing something most other riders have yet to approach. Junior can ride as I have preached for eons, or so it seems, but he also needed time to recover from two shoulder injuries and surgery. He has been getting some talented horses but he has delivered. He is at his best on the outside and stalking the pack. Today he navigated each of his wins with precision in different styles including gunning a 2-to-5.
  • Trainer David Donk's five-race win streak ended when his 23-to-1 with Manny Franco riding finished fourth. The win streak covered a few days.
Tampa Bay (Florida):
  • Daniel Centeno was 7 3-1-1 today. He is 11 wins behind Antonio Gallardo at the meet.
Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Tyler Gaffalione won three times and pulled into a tie with Irad Ortiz, Jr. for the second most wins (72) at the meet behind Luis Saez's runaway total of 105. Saez had an uncommonly subpar weekend winning just 1 of 14 mounts.
    • LUIS SAEZ SUSPENDED: He will serve a suspension of three days this week for a riding infraction. I assume Wednesday through Friday will be the dates.
  • Tyler Gaffalione on a 16-to-1 shot edged Irad Ortiz, Jr. in a classic stretch duel between two of the best riders in North America.

  • Each person who hit 6 out of 6 in the $.20 Rainbow 6 collected over $15,000. More than $619,000 was added to today's pool which exceeded $2.9 million. The carryover for Wednesday's card will be $2.48 million. Being a Wednesday, I would imagine we see around $400,000 added to the pool.
  • The track handled over $12,000,000.
  • 13 different trainers won today, no one repeated.
Santa Anita (California):
  • Evin Roman celebrated his 20th birthday in style with four victories. He was the Apprentice Jockey of the Year for 2017. He maintains his bug through March 11 and then becomes a journeyman on March 15. Roman won four of his five rides and has won five of his last six rides. He has had an exceptional beginning to his career but now comes the true measure when he graduates to the next level.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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Jan 17, 2004
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After the much ballyhooed change from Joel Rosario to John Velazquez on board Forever Unbridled in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, it appears that Johnny V. will maintain commitments in Florida while the mare is likely entered in the $10,000,000 Dubai World Cup on March 31. Rosario has been cold at Gulfstream's championship meet but he had much success with Forever Unbridled in the past before the change. Do the connections return to him or go elsewhere?

March 5, 2018

Laurel (Maryland):
  • Favorites won five of the nine races.
  • Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. is having an exceptional meet. He added four wins to his total and now has a 13-win lead over bug Weston Hamilton for most rider victories. Vargas won for four trainers.
Mahoning Valley (Ohio):
  • One of the few tracks racing on Monday, trainer Jay Bernardini won with his only starter. He is now 12-12-6 in 52 starts. His winning percentage of 23% is best among trainers with 9+ wins.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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Jan 17, 2004
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The re-scheduled Kentucky Derby prep race in England goes off at 2:10 pm ET today (Wednesday, March 7). That is under the lights in England. A preview:

Talking Horses: Gronkowski ready to take first steps to Kentucky Derby

The race was originally scheduled for last Thursday’s meeting, which was lost to the weather, but has been saved because it carries precious qualification points for the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs in early May. Along with the Patton Stakes at Dundalk on Friday, points will be awarded on a 20-8-4-2 basis to the first four home, while a third qualifying race at Kempton on 30 March, with 30 points to the winner, will decide which European-trained horse will get a guaranteed spot in the field in Kentucky.

Aidan O’Brien’s Mendelssohn, who has a dirt pedigree, is among the entries at Dundalk and is seen as a contender for the Kentucky Derby despite having won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar in November. The name in Wednesday night’s field that is guaranteed to ring a bell with American fans, however, is Jeremy Noseda’s Gronkowski, who is named after 28-year-old Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski, a tight end with the New England Patriots.

The three-year-old Gronk is likely to start favourite this evening, having taken well to all-weather surfaces with two wins from as many starts including a six-length success in a three-runner race at Newcastle last time out.

He is no better than 6-5 this morning, but this is a race with more depth than the betting might suggest and there are several dangers in the field. Fortune’s Pearl, fifth home in a Group Three at Newmarket in September, is a contender, but John Gosden’s Court House (7.10) looks like the value bet at the early odds. He missed the kick at Lingfield last time but still recovered to record an easy win in a decent time, and 6-1 is a fair price about the son of Dawn Approach getting at least one hoof on the plane to Kentucky.
This week, upcoming Kentucky Derby preps:
The entries for the March 7 race in England:

RACE 4 - 'ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY' CONDITIONS STAKES (PLUS 10) - POST TIME - 2:10 PM ET.

Win, Place, Exacta, Trifecta, Swinger
Kempton CONDITIONS (Class 2)
Purse $67,500. TB For three yrs old only. Weights: Colts and geldings, 131 lbs; fillies 126 lbs. 1M
[TR][TH]P#PPHorseA/SJockeyWgtTrainerM/L
12Ambient (IRE)3/GDavid Egan131Jane Chapple-Hyam20/1
27Bobby Biscuit (USA)3/CT Marquand131Simon Dow15/1
33Court House (IRE)3/CR Havlin131John Gosden4/1
44Fortune's Pearl (IRE)3/CO Murphy131Andrew Balding5/2
55Gronkowski (USA)3/CJ P Spencer131Jeremy Noseda5/2
61Three Weeks (USA)3/CR L Moore131William Haggas5/1
76Ventura Knight (IRE)3/CP J McDonald131Mark Johnston7/1
[TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY][/TH][/TR][/TBODY]
[TBODY][TR][TH]Owners: 1 - Mrs Jane Chapple-Hyam ; 2 - Robert Moss And Damien Brennan ; 3 - H R H Princess Haya of Jordan ; 4 - Qatar Racing Limited ; 5 - Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited ; 6 - Apple Tree Stud ; 7 - Middleham Park Racing XXXVIIPreview: TwinSpires.com | How to bet the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes at Kempton Park | Bet Online With The Leader In Online Horse Racing[/TH][/TR][/TBODY]
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

Global Moderator
Jan 17, 2004
71,039
48,011
March 7, 2018

Tampa Bay (Florida):
  • Race 5: The $2 Pick 5 returned over $10,000.
  • Race 4: The $1 super paid close to $4,000. Nothing exceptional but the ticket was topped by a 3-to-5 shot which made the payout extraordinary
Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Another day the $.20 Rainbow Six didn't go to a unique ticket. Multiple winners received over $1,200. This bet is challenging for a single bettor to hit but winners who receive a percentage of a pool can be rewarding. More than $390,000 was added today.
  • Race 6: Trainer Mary Eppler won for the 4th time at the meet and finished 1-2 in this race.
  • Race 5: It is not often Jose Ortiz, Tyler Gaffalione and Javier Castellano finish 1-2-3 with trifectas returning over $400 for a $.50 bet.
  • Gulfstream is the only major east coast track in operation Thursday. The $.20 Rainbow Six will begin at $2.577 million. Expect it to surpass the $3,000,000 tomorrow.
Kempton (England):
  • Gronkowski won the latest Kentucky Derby prep race, as expected. The horse appeared a little rank initially but settled into a groove. He gets 20 points needed for entry into the Kentucky Derby (full list in post #1). The Europeans receive one slot in the final Kentucky Derby entries. A review of the race: Gronkowski Wins European Road to the Derby Points Race - BloodHorse


 
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