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

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

2017 leaders:

1. Jockey Wins: Irad Ortiz, Jr. 317, Tyler Gaffalione 294.
   
2. Jockey purse money: Jose Ortiz $27,000,000+, Javier Castellano $25m, Irad Ortiz, Jr. $22m, John Velazquez $20m, Mike Smith $20m.
   
3. Trainer wins: Karl Broberg 412, Steve Asmussen 380
   
4. Trainer purse money: Chad Brown $26,200,000+, Todd Pletcher $22.2m, Bob Baffert $21.1m.

If the Eclipse Award finalists are limited to three nominees for each category, large names and/or deserving selectees will be omitted.

Jockeys
First draft is a list of six. Two great riders at different stages of their professional lives miss the first cut, how I see it. Tyler Gaffalione doesn't have the purse money. Smith, despite the money earned and attention, lacks the volume to be in the final three. The final three will then be between Castellano, who has won the last four years, the Ortiz brothers and Johnny V. Who gets omitted is going to be interesting. A note about mounts: Irad Ortiz, Jr. had 1,493, Jose Ortiz had 1,408 while Mike Smith had 275. That said, perhaps the comparatively minimal total of mounts for Smith works in his favor to some when purse money is evaluated, per start.

Trainers
Todd Pletcher was on the outside looking in at the Awards last year and as I mentioned from that point: he will have an outstanding 2017 and he did. Steve Asmussen, mostly because of Gun Runner, should get a nomination. He did a fantastic job with that horse. Chad Brown will likely get a bid. Bob Baffert certainly has the appeal, fame, success and most importantly purse money to qualify.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

January 1, 2018

Aqueduct (New York), Parx (Pennsylvania), Laurel (Maryland), Turfway (Kentucky)

• Canceled.

Gulfstream Park (Florida):

• Tyler Gaffalione had four victories and finished 4-2-0 in 9 starts. He began 2018 the way he rode most of 2017, with much success. One win paid over $18 and the other more than $27. The kid can ride. This is the $27 winner followed by a win in the $75,000 feature:

​

• Luis Saez, the meet's leading rider, had three victories. He had mounts in each of the 11 races and finished 11 3-0-2.
• Trainer Elizabeth Dobles snapped an 0-for-19 start to the meet with a victory. She is in her mid-20s and a former assistant to Jeremiah Englehart. Though cold at the meet, she had some decent numbers for much of 2017.
• Going into the finale, three horses were singled for the Rainbow Six. None won, one was scratched at the gate. Those who picked 6 out of 6 correct received $29,000+ but since there were multiple winners, there will be a carryover which will begin at $828,000+.

Santa Anita (California):

• Bob Baffert had one starter and snapped his 0-for-13 mark at the meet. Ax Man, ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, is a 3-year-old colt who broke his maiden in his debut run in race 6.
• Doug O'Neill snapped his 0-for-15 start to the meet with a 9-to-1 winner.
• Bob Baffert and Doug O'Neill are now a combined 30 2-2-4 at the meet.
• The feature race had a good list of entries won stlylishly by 5-year-old Pee Wee Reese (Joe Talamo/Phil D'Amato) who has won 6 of his last 8. Between Pee Wee Reese and the 1-2 bombs at Gulfstream a few days ago with Durocher and Mr. Cub, old time baseball fans are salivating.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

January 2, 2018

Parx (Pennsylvania):

• Scheduled to run but after an incident in the opener, the remainder of the card was postponed.
• Track handicapper Vince Reed passed away a few days ago. He was a legend at the facility.

Mahoning Valley (Ohio):

• One of the few tracks operating on a Tuesday in winter but some nice payouts.
• Race 4: $.50 Pick 3 paid $3,121.90.
• Race 7: $2 exacta paid $1,090.40. I never tire of $1,000+ exactas. $.50 tri paid $1,441,70.
• Race 8: $.50 Pick 3 paid $2,475.30.
• Race 10: The $.50 Pick 4 paid $11,484.80.
• With the exception of the first race, the other nine races each had $14+ winners. That is something scarce. Five races had $20+ winners.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

January 3, 2018

The terrible weather on the east coast has altered racing for many major tracks and some have canceled for tomorrow with the possibility of additional cards being postponed. The canceled cards of recent days have impacted not only that day but also future racing. I wouldn't be surprised if some tracks have to re-schedule with open Mondays to fill any necessary obligations.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. is moving his tack to Gulfstream when the original plan was to stay in New York. Apparently, the uncertainty with New York racing due to the cold weather is the motivating factor. That will make for some interesting decisions for trainers/owners who had other riders selected for certain mounts. As an aside, one wonders if Martin Garcia is second-guessing his decision to relocate from southern Cal to New York..

Gulfstream (Florida):

• The Rainbow Six will open at more than $900,000 for tomorrow's card. It exceeded $1,100,000 today. Multiple winners of all six races cashed $3,000+. To win the big jackpot, there can only be one winner not multiple winners.
• The combo of Tyler Gaffalione/Jonathan Thomas won the finale. Thomas has been mentioned a few times in this thread, a former Todd Pletcher assistant who is on his own and just starting out mainly in Florida. This was the first starter of 2018, he was around 30% last year. He is in the infancy of what could be a budding career.
• Not a good day for Javier Castellano. A 2-to-5 favorite for Chad Brown was beaten by Luis Saez. Later in the day, an even-money favorite for Todd Pletcher was defeated by a 9-to-1 ridden by Jose Ortiz who has won just 2 of his last 16 mounts.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

SHAM STAKES (Kentucky Derby prep race; full list in post #1 of this thread).

• Santa Anita Park
• Saturday, January 6, 2018
• Race 5
• Grade III
• 1 mile
• Dirt
• $100,000 purse
• 3 year olds
• 2:30 PM Pacific Time

[TR][TH]PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	My Boy Jack (KY)	Kent J. Desormeaux	120	J. Keith Desormeaux	-
2	Here Is Happy (OH)	Joseph Talamo	120	Craig Anthony Lewis	-
3	All Out Blitz (KY)	Tyler Baze	120	Simon Callaghan	-
4	Mourinho (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	120	Bob Baffert	-
5	Shivermetimbers (KY)	Flavien Prat	120	Jerry Hollendorfer	-
6	McKinzie (KY)	Mike E. Smith	124	Bob Baffert	-
7	City Plan (KY)	Tyler Conner	122	Eoin G. Harty	-

[TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY][/TH][/TR][/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

January 4, 2018

Gulfstream Park (Florida):

• The $.50 Pick 5 following race 5 paid over $6,600.
• Considering the lack of competition and the publicity of the bet, I would expect the Rainbow 6 to exceed the $1.1 million jackpot we saw yesterday. EDIT: It exceeded $1,300,000 at last check.
• The Rainbow Six jackpot will start at $1,004,785 for Friday's card. Expect it to grow significantly.

Fair Grounds (Louisiana):

• Jersey Joe Bravo had two mounts and won both. Bravo is just 6th at the meet with 16 wins but of the 14 riders with 10+ victories his 28% is by far the best. Joe Bravo: Have Whip, Will Travel!

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

This includes yesterday (Thursday) but with other updates...

Updates from New York:

• Aqueduct racing canceled until at least January 11.
• The Jerome, which is a Kentucky Derby prep race, will be rescheduled for January 13.
• Other rescheduled stakes dates: Bay Ridge (Jan. 11), La Verdad (Jan. 12), East View & Alex Robb (Jan. 14) and Damon Runyon (Jan. 15).

Updates from Pennsylvania:

• Penn National racing canceled Thursday.
• Parx is scheduled to be dark today. Friday's card has been canceled.

Updates from Maryland:

• The Friday card has been transferred to Monday (Jan. 8). which was an off day.
• The Saturday card has been canceled. No re-scheduled date was immediately seen.

Updates from Kentucky:

• Turfway Park live racing has been canceled for Thursday.
• Turfway Park live racing is canceled for Friday.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Nominated for jockeys of the year are Jose Ortiz, Javier Castellano and Mike Smith. Smith had a good first half of the year but not so much on the second and didn't have the volume of winners that Irad Ortiz, Jr. did. Smith was not one of the three best jockeys of 2107. Castellano should not win the award this year which is why I thought Irad or Johnny V. could supplanted him among the nominees. Jose Ortiz, despite the other two nominees, should win the award this year. The others are all fantastic but Ortiz's 2017 is the best.

Todd Pletcher deserved to be among he top three. Bob Baffert has a more appealing persona and probably that didn't hurt. Could be regional choices as well with a desire to have both coasts represented.

All in all, great talent among the finalists but my choices would have been different.

Eclipse list: 2017 Eclipse Awards Finalists | Daily Racing Form

The 2017 Eclipse Awards finalists (in alphabetical order) are:

• Horse of the Year: Arrogate, Gun Runner, World Approval
• Two-Year-Old Male: Bolt d'Oro, Good Magic, Solomini
• Two-Year-Old Filly: Caledonia Road, Moonshine Memories, Rushing Fall
• Three-Year-Old Male: Always Dreaming, Battle of Midway, West Coast
• Three-Year-Old Filly: Abel Tasman, Elate, Unique Bella
• Older Dirt Male: Arrogate, Collected, Gun Runner
• Older Dirt Female: Forever Unbridled, Songbird, Stellar Wind
• Male Sprinter: Imperial Hint, Mind Your Biscuits, Roy H
• Female Sprinter: Bar of Gold, Paulassilverlining, Unique Bella
• Male Turf Horse: Beach Patrol, Talismanic (GB), World Approval
• Female Turf Horse: Lady Eli, Off Limits (IRE), Wuheida (GB)
• Steeplechase Horse: All the Way Jose, Mr. Hot Stuff, Scorpiancer (IRE)
• Owner: Godolphin Racing LLC, Juddmonte Farms, Winchell Thoroughbreds & Three Chimneys Farm
• Breeder: Besilu Stables LLC, Clearsky Farms, WinStar Farm, LLC
• Trainer: Steve Asmussen, Bob Baffert, Chad Brown
• Jockey: Javier Castellano, Jose Ortiz, Mike Smith
• Apprentice Jockey: Katie Clawson, Hector Rafael Diaz Jr., Evin A. Roman

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

January 5, 2017

Gulfstream (Florida):

• The Rainbow Six was hit by multiple people and as such share a percentage of the pool. Today's payout was $9,200+
• The Rainbow Six jackpot will start at $1.1m for Saturday's card.
• Emisael Jarmillo rode for the first time since being injured in the "bad beat" of the century which cost one handicapper over $500,000. Of course, Jaramillo rode a winner.
• Javier Castellano had one ride and won in race 3.

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• A nice payout after race 6. The $2 Pick 4 returned $6,970.
• Ashley Castrenze won one of three races, the finale in which she used every ounce of energy in a Grade A performance. She had just 15 starts in December. Since losing her bug, she hasn't ridden much.

Fair Grounds (Louisiana):

• Joe Bravo won two of his three rides. The lone defeat was on Mo Town who fizzled in his debut on turf. That horse was on the Kentucky Derby trail a couple of years ago. He could be retired after this performance. Bravo has won four of his last five starts and five of the most recent eight. Joe Bravo: Have Whip, Will Travel!
• Calvin Borel had two mounts and though he didn't win he paid $13.40 for second and $8.20 for third in races 5 and 9, respectively.

Santa Anita (California):

• Tiago Pereira rode two winners which paid $34.60 and $26.60, respectively.
• Rajiv Maragh is now 1-for-22 after finally winning following a relocation from New York.
• The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $18,000 following the finale.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

January 6, 2018

Gulfstream (Florida):

• In the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man, Mask (Javier Castellano/Chad Brown) absolutely stole the show today in Florida if not nationally. Dak Attack, from the Dale Romans' stable, underachieved and paled comparatively speaking to the winner. Potential Kentucky Derby runner here as Mask is now 2-for-2 lifetime. Mask has Tapit, Pulpit, A.P. Indy and Unbridled in the male DNA. Again!

​

• Jose Ortiz (3), Irad Ortiz, Jr. (2) and Julien Leparoux (2) combined to win 7 of the 11 races. Eleven different trainers won.
• Flameaway (Julien Leparoux/Mark Casse), an Ontario-bred, won a thrilling $100,000. "All seven across the course." Video:

Gulfstream Park Race 7 | January 6, 2018​

• The $1 Super High Five (top five horses in correct order) after race 6 paid over $79,000.
• $747,118 was added to the Rainbow Six 'pot today, multiple winners received $6,639.66.
• Tomorrow's Rainbow Six carryover will be $1,287,926.
• The handle today was $16,000,000+.

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• After the finale, the $1 Pick 4 paid $5,592. The $.50 Pick 5 was more than $8,900.

Turfway Park (Kentucky):

• Canceled the remainder of the card after the second race.

Santa Anita (California):

• In the Sham Stakes, the 1-to-5 McKinzie (Mike Smith/Bob Baffert) won comfortably and secured his status among the top runners for the Kentucky Derby. One thing I didn't like was how his tail reacted to the stick but Baffert probably saw that, too. In the post-race interview, Smith mentioned an unrelated equipment change leading up to the race and an aggressiveness of the horse who may have some personality quirks but that is where Baffert's smarts will come into play. The colt is sired by Derby winner Street Sense.

​

• In the Grade II San Gabriel, two French-bred topped the ticket which was won by Itsinthepost (Tyler Baze/Jeff Mullins).

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

• January 7, 2018

Laurel (Maryland):

• Had a full card for the first time since January 1. Weather and track conditions weren't a concern.
• A $36.40 winner opened the day.
• A $67.60 winner in race 3. The $2 Pick 3 to open the day paid $2,858.
• The $2 Pick 5 following the fifth race paid $2,000+ but to those who hit four races. No one hit all five.
• An 0-for-28 maiden finally won.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• The Rainbow Six carryover for the next day of racing will start at $1,464,550. It exceeded $2,023,000 today after approximately $736,000 was added. Seeing the ticker surpass $1.9 million as the field entered the gate, everyone must have wondered the same thing: this race won't go off until the pot hits $2 million and as such that happened. Those who did hit received $38,000+ apiece. The rule stipulates there must be exactly one winner to receive the full designated total.
• The opener rocked south Florida with a $107.60 winner. The tri exceeded $2,800. The $1 super paid out $20k+. The $2 Penta (top 5) was a remarkable $107,874.80.
• Chris Landeros outrode Irad Ortiz, Jr., who had two wins today, in a good race. Landeros rode for his father-in-law Ian Wilkes who won a few minutes later at Tampa Bay.

​

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Trainer Ian Wilkes, who got his experience through the brilliant Carl Nafzger, won at Tampa Bay and Gulfstream today in about 10 minutes of actual time.

Santa Anita (California):

• Midnight Bisou (Mike Smith/Bill Spawr) broke her maiden in the Grade II $200,000 Santa Ynez, Third lifetime race, third rider, two second place finishes. Tyler Gaffalione had a lone mount this race in a rare California appearance and finished third. It is races like this that would boost Gaffalione into an even upper echelon of riders nationally if he won with some consistency

===============​

Hawthorne (Illinois):

• A rare triple dead heat at the trotters.

On a snowy Sunday evening at Hawthorne Race Course, one of the rarest events in harness racing occurred as a triple dead heat for victory took place.

In the tenth race on the card, Picky Picky Valor, Keep The Cash, and Skyway Jaylo all hit the wire together in the Open trot. The oddity was actually the second dead heat in the course of the late pick four sequence on Sunday. Mighty Hot Shot and Bestnotlie Hanover were together at the line in the eighth race on the Sunday card.

Rare Triple Dead-Heat To Win Sunday | Standardbred Canada

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

January 10, 2018

Mahoning Valley (Ohio):

• The finale produced a $116.40 winner, the exacta returned $870 and the $1 tri was $3,954.45,

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• The opener produced a 19-to-1 winner.
• Antonio Gallardo won three times. He has a history of success at the track.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• The Rainbow Six will start at $1,553,690 with Thursday's card.
• The Rainbow Six saw about $371,000 added to today's jackpot.
• The #1 was the lone single in the 10th (finale) race. If that horse won the bettor would have taken the entire pot which was well over $1,000,000. However, those who did win received $41,000+ for their effort after a 13-to-1 found the winner's circle.
• Race 9 produced a $43.60 winner. The victorious rider ended the day 1-for-32 at the meet.
• The daily double for races 9 and 10 was $549.80.
• The winner in race 5 paid $109.80.
• It was an excellent day for the year-round south Florida riders led by Emisael Jaramillo's three wins. The New York contingent achieved little success today.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

January 27, 2018 at Gulfstream Park

​

2018 Pegasus World Cup Contenders, Post Positions & Betting Odds

COLLECTED (Early Odds 9/2)
Owner: Speedway Stable LLC. | Trainer: Bob Baffert

GIANT EXPECTATIONS (Early Odds 20/1)
Owner: Exline-Border Racing LLC, Gatto Racing LLC and Garrett Zubok | Trainer: Peter Eurton

GUNNEVERA (Early Odds 12/1)
Owner: William C. Gallo | Trainer: Antonio Sano

GUN RUNNER (Early Odds 3/1)
Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC/Three Chimneys Farm | Trainer: Steve Asmussen

SEEKING THE SOUL (Early Odds 15/1)
Owner: Charles E. Fipke | Trainer: Dallas Stewart

SHARP AZTECA (Early Odds 8/1)
Owner: Ivan Rodriguez | Trainer: Jorge Navarro

STELLAR WIND (Early Odds 25/1)
Owner: Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith (Coolmore) | Trainer: Chad Brown

TOAST OF NEW YORK (Early Odds 22/1)
Owner: Al Shaqab, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, R.A. Hill, Eric Young | Trainer: James A. Osborne

TO BE ANNOUNCED (Early Odds #/#)
Owner: Adena Springs (Frank Stronach) | Trainer: TBA

WAR STORY (Early Odds 45/1)
Owner: Ron Paolucci, Glenn Ellis and Imaginary Stables | Trainer: Jorge Navarro

WEST COAST (Early Odds 5/1)
Owner: Gary and Mary West | Trainer: Bob Baffert

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Pegasus is a unique race in which 12 of the starting horse's connections pony up $1 million each. The Stronach Group, a privately-held company that owns Gulfstream Park, will put up another $4 million. Each starter will receive at least $650,000, no matter where the horse finishes.

The Stronach Group bumped up the purse from last year's $12 million, because most of the slot holders lost hundreds of thousands of dollars, on their million-dollar investment.

The money alone should make it an interesting affair. Add in Gun Runner's swan song and a bunch of X-factors, and you have the recipe for great race.

Source: OffTrackBetting
==========================================================
Expected riders (an incomplete list):

Florent Geroux on Gun Runner
Luis Saez on Gunnevera
Irad Ortiz Jr. on Sharp Azteca
Frankie Dettori on Toast of New York
Javier Castellano on West Coast
.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

January 11, 2018

Aqueduct (New York):

• Canceled after attempting to re-open the track. It appeared on first glance that the track was a mess. To err on the side of caution is to be lauded. The track had the look of imminent chaos had it opened today, at least from the eyes of an outsider's perspective. That late cancellation can frustrate prepared handicappers, however. Tomorrow will be another day and another attempt. Aqueduct has not operated since January 4.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• The $.20 Rainbow 6 exceeded $2,000,000 again. The bulk of the jackpot pays out only if exactly one person hits. There were multiple winning tickets and each winner received $1.363.
• Friday's Rainbow 6 will begin at $1.682 million. I would expect close to a half million dollars added to the jackpot.
• Two more Woodbine (Toronto) shippers won races.
• Miguel Vasquez won three times, all within the first four races of the day.
• A better day for the New York riders than yesterday as Luis Saez (2), Irad Ortiz, Jr. (2), John Velazquez (1) and Jose Lezcano (1) combined to win 7 of the 10 races. Lezcano won with a New Jersey-bred for longtime New Jersey legend John Mazza who had three wins in 2017.
• John Velazquez had one ride and in the penultimate race (9 of 10) he won stylishly on Noble Indy, now 2-for-2 lifetime, for Todd Pletcher. I would imagine some sort of stakes race is on deck. A good race with Mississippi (Julien Leparoux/Mark Casse) racing second.

Fair Grounds (Louisiana):

• Race 3: A 56-to-1 , by far the longest shot on the board in a field of 8, paid $114.80 in a dominating win of 11 1/2 lengths. Incredibly bizarre but it was a sloppy track.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• One of the most anticipated meets annually. Less than 24 hours away.

Santa Anita (California):

• Each winner of the Pick 6 received $44,169.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

January 12, 2018

Aqueduct (New York):

• Canceled yet again, this time after two races. New York is in absolute chaos currently with the dilemma of having to reschedule many dates. The track was an eyesore. The second race was barely viewable with the combined elements not playing so nice. Fog was the primary contributing factor. The exotics played and the refunds involved were likely a schooling.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Race 3: $59.00 winner.
• Race 5: $85.60 winner. The $2 Pick 5 paid out to those who won 4 of the 5 legs and that was $17,519. The $2 Pick 4 paid out to those who hit three legs and that was $2,209. The $2 Pick 3 was $18,189.80
• Race 7: The $2 Pick 4 was $24,304.80. The $2 Pick 3 paid $2,487.60.
• Race 9: The $2 Pick 5 paid over $28,000.

Charles Town (West Virginia):

• Canceled its night card early in the day.

Turfway (Kentucky):

• Canceled its night card early in the day.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• As in the past, Oaklawn can be as unpredictable as any track especially in the opening few cards. This can be profitable and frustrating. Strap on the seat belts, the ride will be bumpy. Oaklawn has day #1 in the books.
• Announced attendance was 13,500.
• Race 5: The $2 Pick 4 paid over $5,000.
• Race 8: Many horses that were on prior Kentucky Derby radars including the winner Sonneteer (C.J. McMahon/Keith Desormeaux) who was 1-for-17 entering today but exited with a $61.60 win. The $2 Pick 3 paid $3,382.80. The exacta was a shocking $1,123.20. The tri was simply remarkable at $13,349.60. The $1 super paid over $35,000. Sonneteer finished second in last year's Rebel Stakes at 112-to-1.
• Race 9: The $2 Pick 5 was an astounding $171,794.20. The $2 Pick 4 was $29,584. The $2 Pick 3 was a fantastic $14,170.80. The $2 double -- make that the $2 C.J. McMahon daily double -- paid $1,1713.80.
• No trainer repeated wins. Only rider C.J. McMahon won twice, the last two races.
• Two favorites won in nine races.

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Race 7: The $2 Pick 3 paid $3,034.
• Race 8: The $1 super paid over $22,000. The $2 Pick 3 paid $6,869.40.
• Race 9: The $2 Pick 4 was an incredible $72,738.60.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• It's on! The $.20 Rainbow 6 began at $1.6m and ended at approximately $2.2 million. As I mentioned above, I expected a half million added today and the final tally was $496,895.
• All winners of the $.20 Pick 6 collected over $6,000 but since the pot didn't have exactly one winner, it will grow substantially with a Saturday card tomorrow. The pot will start at more than $1,800,000.
• Luis Saez, the leading rider at the meet by 12 victories over Tyler Gaffalione, was a spectacular 8 4-2-0. His four wins came on consecutive mounts.
• Todd Pletcher had three wins with four starters. All three winners were in maiden claiming races. He is the leading trainer at the meet with 22 wins and a fantastic 30% winning percentage.

Santa Anita (California):

• Race 5: the runner up paid $70.60... to show! The exacta was $707.60. The tri was $7,397. The $1 super paid more than $18,000.
• Race 8: The $2 Pick 6 paid out $44,000. The carryover will start at $275,000+.
• Doug O'Neill is 26 1-1-3 at the meet. John Sadler isn't much better at 22 1-3-3. Both are top trainers.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The original date was January 1 but rescheduled to Saturday due to weather conditions in New York.

JEROME STAKES
What: Kentucky Derby prep
Where: Aqueduct Ractrack, Queens, New York
When: Saturday, January 13, 2018, Race 7
Grade: Ungraded stakes
Distance: One mile
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $150,000
Age: 3 year olds
Sex: Open. All entered are colts
Time: 3:50 pm Eastern Time

LECOMTE STAKES
What: Kentucky Derby prep race
Where: Fair Grounds, New Orleans, Louisiana
When: Saturday, January 13, 2018, Race 9
Grade: III
Distance: 1 mile, 70 yards
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $200,000
Age: 3 year olds
Sex: Open. Exception to colts are 3 (filly), 5, 9, 11, and 14 (geldings)
Time: 5:03 PM Central Time (6:03 Eastern Time)

[TR][TH]PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Lone Sailor (KY)	Miguel Mena	116	Thomas M. Amoss	15/1
2	2Snapper Sinclair (KY)	Adam Beschizza	122	Steven M. Asmussen	20/1
3	3Wonder Gadot (ON) (filly)	John R. Velazquez	117	Mark E. Casse	6/1
4	4Analyze This Jet (KY)	Sasha Risenhoover	122	Terry Eoff	30/1
5	5Kowboy Karma (KY) (gelding)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	120	J. Larry Jones	6/1
6	6Believe in Royalty (KY)	Robby Albarado	118	J. Larry Jones	15/1
7	7Night Strike (OK)	Calvin H. Borel	122	W. Bret Calhoun	30/1
8	8Zing Zang (KY)	Shaun Bridgmohan	116	Steven M. Asmussen	15/1
9	9Zeke (KY)	Joe Bravo	118	Michael Stidham	15/1
10	10Instilled Regard (KY)	Javier Castellano	116	Jerry Hollendorfer	4/1
11	11Ciaran (KY) (gelding)	Martin Garcia	116	Thomas Morley	30/1
12	12Principe Guilherme (KY)	Florent Geroux	120	Steven M. Asmussen	5/2
13	13Prince Lucky (PA)	Julien R. Leparoux	122	J. Larry Jones	8/1
14	14Ebben (KY) (gelding)	Corey J. Lanerie	122	Steve Margolis	20/1
15	15Trigger Warning (KY)	Sophie Doyle	116	Joe Lejzerowicz	20/1

[TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY][/TH][/TR][/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

January 13. 2018

Aqueduct (New York):

• Ran a full card for the first time since December 29. Welcome back!
• An inauspicious start to the day when there were two late scratches in race 2 reducing the field to just three runners. The reason is the trainers were incorrectly listed, could have been an error with same last names (Engleharts). A brutal blunder. Junior Alvarado on board the winner.
• In the $150,000 Grade III Jerome Stakes, Firenze Fire (Manny Franco/Jason Servis) won as expected but in a more difficult race than anticipated. Strong ride from Franco who broke bad but obviously recovered. This was a Kentucky Derby prep race.

​

Parx (Pennsylvania):

• Canceled.

Penn National (Pennsylvania):

• Canceled.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Race 7: The $1 super paid over $17,000.

Mahoning Valley (Ohio):

• Canceled.

Charles Town (West Virginia):

• Canceled.

Turfway (Kentucky):

• Race 8: The $2 super paid over $34k. The exacta paid $946.20. The tri was over $10,600.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• Race 6: The $1 super was worth more than $40,000.
• Race 9: The $2 Pick 5 was over $15,000.
• David Cohen won consecutive races. He had taken a very lengthy leave of absence after suffering an injury at Aqueduct and then the deaths of hos father and sister. He last rode in 2014 but came back in December of last year. Cohen rode successfully in both Philly and Delaware in past years.
• By my count, favorites won twice in nine races for the second straight day. That would be 14 of 18 races in which favorites were defeated.

Fair Grounds (Louisiana):

• A terrific card that was damaged slightly due to the many scratches resulting from an off track at times.
• Race 2: The finish was a rare 16-15-14-10.
• Race 4: The $1 super was over $10,000.
• Race 7: Wonder Gadot (John Velazquez/Mark Casse), a three-year-old filly was cross-entered including in race 9 against the boys in a Kentucky Derby prep. It was one of those hunches in which she was the overwhelming favorite but the hope was she could be beaten by one other filly in this race perhaps because on an off track. And it happened....by a 33-1 bomb. $279 for the exacta. Stronger Than Ever (Florent Geroux/Kenneth McPeek) was the victor in a fantastic stretch duel.

• Race 8: Tower of Texas (Florent Geroux/Roger Attfield) won the $125,000 purse. A Woodbine runner who raced at Laurel and Gulfstream but yet another horse from north of the border that performed well. Florent Geroux had three wins in nine starts.
• Race 9: Instilled Regard (Javier Castellano/Jerry Hollendorfer) beat the even money favorite ridden by Florent Geroux in the $200,000 Grade III LeComte. This was a Kentucky Derby prep race.

​

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Race 7: The show prices for the top three finishers were $12.40, $18.60 and $25.40
• Race 10: The $2 Pick 5 was over $43,000. The $2 Pick 4 paid more than $12,000.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• The track handled over $13,000,000!
• How did I know that the start of the Rainbow Six would not go off until that total exceeded $2,500,000 as it slowly inched upward on the tally board. Close to $750,000 was added today. Half a million yesterday, quarter of a million today.
• Track officials said there will be a mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 on Sunday, Jan. 28, the day after the Pegasus World Cup card (source: Mike Welsch, DRF).
• Race 12: The $.20 Rainbow 6 had one horse singled in the finale (#8, trained by the sizzling Todd Pletcher) but alas it continues to grow after that bettor lost. Those who did win received $104,447.62 (for a $.20 bet). The $2 Pick 5 was $129,000+. The $2 Pick 4 was more than $15,000. The Rainbow Six starts at slightly more than $1,900,000 tomorrow. The winning trainer? Todd Pletcher with his other horse entered in the race.
• Race 11: In the $200,000 Grade II Fort Lauderdale Stakes, Shining Copper (Jose Ortiz/Michael Maker) won at 5-1 with a 30-1 bomb finishing second.
  
• ​
• Race 10: A nine-year-old gelding who ran for the 78th time paid $132.00 in victory. Francois (Edgar Perez/Cheryl Winebaugh), with Illinois connections, won for the 15th time. The $2 Pick 3 paid $11,243.40. The exacta was $1,248.80. The trifecta was $9,882.80. The $1 super paid $25,716.70.
• Todd Pletcher is 11 6-1-3 covering the last four cards. In the money 91% of the time.

Golden Gate (California):

• Race 5: The $2 Pick 5 paid $19,869.80.

Santa Anita (California):

• Race 5: The $2 pick 5 paid over $36,000. The $2 Pick 4 was more than $6,800.
• Race 6: The $2 Pick 3 was $5,300+. The $1 super was $28,000+. The $2 tri was $9,400+. The $2 exacta was $822. The $2 double was $1,292.40.
• Race 7: The $2 Pick 3 paid an incredible $24,659.40.
• Race 8: A three-way photo finish in the $200,000 Grade II La Canada with Mopotism (Mario Gutierrez/Doug O'Neill) topped the thriller. The winner went off at 5-to-2. Mended, who won 10 of 11 races last year, finished second and had a 10-race win streak snapped. The favorite was Majestic Heat who showed little under Mike Smith.
  
  ​
• Race 9: The $.20 Pick 6 paid over $26,000.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

January 14, 2018

Aqueduct (New York):

• Trevor McCarthy, who missed a good deal of time in 2017 due to injury, had a 3-win day. He was 7 3-2-0 today (1st or 2nd 5 times on seven mounts). Dylan Davis also won three times. The two rides combined to win 6 of the 9 races.
• Race 7: The winner entered 2-for-52 lifetime.

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Ashley Castrenze doesn't get many mounts since she lost her bug but she won her lone ride today. She seemed especially excited approaching the winner's circle. A rare Massachusetts-bred came in second place.
• Antonio Gallardo and Daniel Centeno are top riders at the track and this meet is no different Gallardo currently boasts a 7-win lead among riders.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Over $685,000 was added to the $.20 Rainbow Six jackpot which put the total above $2.6 million. There was so much interest in this pot that after the first of the six races over 1.8 million live tickets existed.
• The carryover for Monday's card will start at more than $2.1 million. With the holiday card, I would imagine we see something surpassing $2.8 million.
• Winners of the Pick 6 each received over $6,900.
• Jose Ortiz had three winners.
• Luis Saez has a 15-win lead over Tyler Gaffalione for top rider at the meet.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• Five riders have three wins to top the meet through three days.
• Four trainers have three wins to top the meet through three days. William Fires is a perfect 3-for-3. Hall of Famer Wayne Lukas is 3-for-8.

Santa Anita (California):

• Riders Rafael Bejarano (races 6 and 7) and Tyler Baze (races 8 and 9) combined to win the last four races.
• The combo of Jon Court-William Fires won twice.
• The finale was won by a $56.20 winner. The last of four straight races in which the $.50 Pick 4 paid $4,577.50.

Many tracks will operate on Monday (tomorrow).

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

SMARTY JONES STAKES
Where: Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas
When: Monday, January 15, 2018, Race 8
Time: 4:42 PM Central Time, 5:42 Eastern Time
Grade: Ungraded stakes race
Distance: 1 mile
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $150,000
Age: 3 year olds
Sex: All entered are colts.
Television: TVG
Preview: Smarty Jones down to five; Pletcher colt out
Note: A major shift in tactics due to the scratch of the Johnny V./Todd Pletcher runner. Pletcher doesn't have too many scratches in these races. The #2 was previously scratched.

[TR][TH]PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Combatant (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	115	Steven M. Asmussen	2-1
2	Lone Rock (KY)	Gary L. Stevens	115	William B. Van Meter	12-1
3	Tap Daddy (KY)	Luis Contreras	117	Steven M. Asmussen	8-1
4	Mourinho (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	115	Bob Baffert	3-2
5	Arched Feather (KY)	Jon Kenton Court	115	Edward Harrison Frederick	30-1
6	Navistar (KY)	John R. Velazquez	115	Todd A. Pletcher	5-2
7	Bode's Maker (KY)	Floyd Wethey, Jr.	115	Allen Milligan	30-1

[TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY][/TH][/TR][/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

January 15, 2018

Aqueduct (New York):

• Irad Ortiz, Jr. won the first two races and appeared headed for a fantastic day with two $100,000 purses awaiting; however, he finished with the two wins.
• Dylan Davis also won twice. He is the leading rider at meet with 6 wins, twice as many as the runners up.
• Jeremy Rose won race 7. It was the first time he won a race since September 5, 2017. He had been absent for much of the last four months riding just 10 times in between wins.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• And so it grows... The $.20 Rainbow Six had $616,000+ added to the pool which surpassed $2.7 million. No unique bettor won; however, those winners who shared each received over $2,000 which was a far sum from their goal.
• Tyler Gaffalione won four times to trim Luis Saez's meet (two wins) lead to 13 victories. Still a sizeable gap.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• In the Smarty Jones, the Kentucky Derby prep race, Mourinho (Drayden Van Dyke/Bob Baffert) faced a small and mostly overwhelmed field in a victory at 3-to-5. Van Dyke is from Hot Springs, Arkansas and won for the first time at his hometown track. Baffert is 18-for-36 (50%) in stakes races at Oaklawn. The winning horse was purchased for $625,000 in early 2017 March. The Todd Pletcher scratch raised eyebrows initially but the eventual reason given is something related to flight issues. And look who saddled Baffert's horse: none other than Wayne Lukas.

​

• David Cohen is one of four riders at the top of the leaders board with 4 wins. Comeback story of the year at this stage.

Fair Grounds (Louisiana):

• Joe Bravo had three mounts and won on the first two. He had a 5-race win streak covering three racing dates entering the eventual loss. Bravo is 24 11-0-5 in 2018 (46% wins). Joe Bravo: Have Whip, Will Travel!

Santa Anita (California):

• The $2 Pick 6 was nailed by someone who will collect $466,919. The winning bettor invested $2,880.
• Trainer Hector Palma was a perfect 3-for-3.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Interesting match in that the Lady and her sire both preferred turf. Any offspring will beheaded for the grass or so it seems.

» Lady Eli Officially Retired, To Visit War Front

Lady Eli retired with a record of 10 wins from 14 starts and nine stakes victories. She won five Grade I races, which includes a streak of Grade I wins in each of the four years that she campaigned, and bankrolled $2,959,800. But she may be best known for how she overcame a bout with laminitis, which is often fatal, that hit her after her win in the 2015 GI Belmont Oaks Invitational. At the time, she was undefeated.

-------------------------------------​

Hanley said that the decision to breed to War Front was a reflection not only of his quality as a sire but because he is, the owner says, a good physical fit for Lady Eli. He added that since Lady Eli did her running on the grass it only made sense to breed to a sire who is considered among the best turf sires in North America.
​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Night racing at Belmont is being proposed. Any changes makes me wonder how this will affect New York as a potential Breeders' Cup host. The weather is always a concern at that time of year. this could be one reason why the 2019 host site has been delayed.

In Budget Plan, Cuomo Backs Nighttime Racing at Belmont - BloodHorse

It would permit post-sunset racing only if races are conducted on the main track in its current configuration and if all races conclude by 10:30 p.m. In addition, nighttime racing would be limited to Thursday through Saturday evenings.

Under the legislation, NYRA would have to coordinate starting times with Yonkers Raceway in nearby Westchester County to "ensure that starting times of all such races are staggered.''

NYRA presidnet and CEO Chris Kay recently told BloodHorse that when development of the planned 18,000-seat new home of the New York Islanders begins next year, NYRA hopes to begin its own upgrades that would include lighting for night racing, renovated racing surfaces, new luxury boxes, a renovated clubhouse, and renovated grounds—including dining and entertainment options centered on the paddock area.

As fans get used to visiting the new entertainment area and new arena for concerts and hockey games, he believes there will be an opportunity to have them return for night racing.

"I think the whole development that the Islanders have envisioned works well for Belmont and the horse racing industry as well," Kay said. "This is going to be a destination where people of all ages will be coming to this site. Some of them have never been exposed to the excitement and enjoyment of horse racing. We will now have an opportunity to go after generations who don't know much about us. This is going to be a great, cool place to come. We're very much an important part of this very cool place."​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

January 17, 2018

With one of the few tracks operating today, Gulfstream's jackpot could go over $2.5 million today which it exceeded in the last couple of days. It will begin at $2,292,790.26.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

January 17, 2018

With one of the few tracks operating today, Gulfstream's jackpot could go over $2.5 million today which it exceeded in the last couple of days. It will begin at $2,292,790.26.

Trivia question for you:

At which track did the 'Jackpot 6' wagering start?

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Trivia question for you:

At which track did the 'Jackpot 6' wagering start?

I am taking a stab based on your screen name. Are you a Cincinnati Cyclones fan? If so, I will say the track formerly known as River Downs.