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

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunland Derby (Grade II)

What: Kentucky Derby prep race with a 50-20-10-5 point scale.
History: A relatively young race that began in 2003. Bob Baffert is the only jockey/trainer/owner to have won the race more than twice.
Where: Sunland Park Racetrack, Sunland Park, New Mexico
When: Sunday, March 25, 2018
Post Time: 5:15 pm Mountain Time [7:15 pm Eastern Time]
Purse: $800,000.
Age: Limited to three-year-olds.
Surface: Dirt
Distance: 1 1/8 miles

This race is wide open and a surprise could top the ticket. I am looking for Hollywood Star to make a splash.

P#	PP	Horse	Age/Sex	Jockey	Weight	Trainer	Odds
1	1	All Out Blitz (KY)	3/Colt	Martin Garcia	122	Simon Callaghan	4/1
2	2	Dark Vader (OH)	3/Colt	Stewart Elliott	122	Peter Eurton	15/1
3	3	New York Central (KY)	3/Colt	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	122	Steve Asmussen	9/2
4	4	Hollywood Star (KY)	3/Colt	Robby Albarado	122	Dale Romans	6/1
5	5	Peace (KY)	3/Colt	Drayden Van Dyke	122	Richard Mandella	12/1
6	6	Shane Zain (KY)	3/Colt	Terry Thompson	122	Doug O'Neill	15/1
7	7	Prince Lucky (PA)	3/Colt	John Velazquez	122	Todd Pletcher	6/1
8	8	Seven Trumpets (KY)	3/Colt	Luis Contreras	122	Dale Romans	6/1
9	9	Choo Choo (KY)	3/Colt	Mario Gutierrez	122	Jerry Hollendorfer	8/1
10	10	Dream Baby Dream (KY)	3/Colt	Alfredo Juarez, Jr.	122	Steve Asmussen	10/1
11	11	Runaway Ghost (KY)	3/Colt	Tracy Hebert	122	Todd Fincher	8/1
12	12	Fortified Effort (AZ)	3/Gelding	Ry Eikleberry	122	Kevin Eikleberry	20/1

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

March 25, 2018

Aqueduct (New York):

• This was a very subpar card.
• The $.50 Pick 5 following race 5 paid over $24,000.
• The $.50 Pick 4 following race 9 paid over $3,500.
• Today was a day Abel Lezcano, he of less than 300 wins, will never forget. He was 4 3-0-0.
• One day is not like the next. In the opener, Junior Alvarado was sent off at 1-to-5 and cleared the field in what appeared to be a pedestrian victory; however, he was caught in the stretch by the longest shot of the board. It was Abel Lezcano's first win of the day.
• A fantastic race with an appropriate photo finish in race 6:

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• A very good card with six $100,000 races.
• Javier Castellano made up for a dismal day yesterday in New Orleans with a remarkable afternoon at Tampa Bay. He won 5 times in 8 starts, won four stakes races and finished 8 5-1-0 in total. Castellano also had a natural hat trick beginning with race 6.
• Julien Leparoux won consecutive races, both for Mark Casse, following Castellano's triple-in-a-row.
• Mark Casse was 4 2-1-1 today. He had horses at four tracks today.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• This was a weak weekend of racing for what is billed as a Championship Meet. Next weekend will be exceptional with the Florida Derby.
• Over $729,000 was added to today's Rainbow Six. The carryover will begin at $4.46 million for Thursday's card (the track is dark this week Mon.-Wed.). All winners today received about $350 for each successful $.20 wager.
• Tyler Gaffalione was removed from his remaining rides after suffering a left ankle injury just prior to race 9 which resulted in a late scratch. One replacement was on board a 53-to-1 in race 10 which came in second place. In that same race, Luis Saez followed in third on board a 20-1.
• There is a reason why Irad Ortiz, Jr. is one of the best riders in America. This was one of his three wins today:

​

Sunland Park Racetrack (New Mexico):

• There were five purses of $100,000, one at $200,000 and the feature race, the $800,000 Sunland Derby, a Kentucky Derby prep race.
• Runaway Ghost (Tracy Hebert/Todd Fincher) drew clear in the stretch and pulled a mild surprise in a race that was wide open. Runaway Ghost is 7 4-2-0 and has won 2 out of 3 at this track after racing in California. Dream Baby Dream (Alfredo Juarez, Jr./Steve Asmussen) finished second at 16-to-1. The #7 (John Velazquez/Todd Pletcher) colt acted up in the gate and was obviously not comfortable. Hollywood Star never fired, a dreadful performance.

​

• Tracy Hebert also won race 10, which preceded the Derby, with a $24.60 winner. Hebert has over 27,000 starts and more than 4,000 wins but this Derby win could be the biggest of his career which dates to the late 1970s. For trainer Fincher, this is probably his biggest win as well. He was 10 5-1-0 the last two days at the track including three wins today. It would be compelling if Hebert was named the Jockey's Guild Rider of the Week. Why not?! My guess is Tyler Baze will be the primary competition.
• Martin Garcia/Bob Baffert reunited and won the $100,000 race 8.

Santa Anita (California):

• Tyler Conner was on board the favorite in three consecutive races and delivered twice.
• Tyler Baze was 12 5-1-1 the last two days. He won twice today.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

This weekend's Kentucky Derby prep races. Full list in the opening post of this thread.

DATE	RACE	DISTANCE	LOCATION/TIME	1st PLACE	2nd PLACE	3rd PLACE	4th PLACE
3/30/18	Burradon	1 mile (synthetic)	Newcastle Racecourse (England) 10:55 a.m. ET	30	12	6	3
3/31/18	UAE Derby	1 3/16 mile	Meydan Racecourse (Dubai, UAE) 1:00 p.m. ET (TV)	100	40	20	10
3/31/18	Florida Derby	1 1/8 mile	Gulfstream Park (Florida) 6:00 p.m. ET (TV)	100	40	20	10

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

The much anticipated Florida Derby card will have multiple interesting angles and not to be overlooked is the possibility of a massive $.20 Rainbow 6 that could reach a historic high.

The racing itself should be phenomenal with seven stakes, five of which are graded. The field for the Derby could include:

Holy Bull (G2) winner Audible (Todd Pletcher)
Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Promises Fulfilled (Dale Romans)
Remsen (G2) and With Anticipation (G3) winner Catholic Boy (Jonathan Thomas)
Swale (G3) winner Strike Power (Mark Hennig)
Fire When Ready (Robert B. Hess, Jr.)
Hofburg (Bill Mott)
Machismo (Anthony Quartarolo)
Millionaire Runner (Jaime Mejia)
Mississippi (Mark Casse)
Storm Runner (Dale Romans)
Tip Sheet (Stanley Gold)
​

Full fields will be announced later this week. Audible is lightly raced and is almost in dire need of finishing first or second in the FL Derby to qualify for the KY Derby.

Gronkowski is slated to run in the Burradon (Newcastle, England, March 30).

Mendelssohn is slated to run in the UAE Derby (Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, UAE, March 31).

Good Magic is headed to the Blue Grass (Keeneland, Kentucky, April 7). He was under consideration for the Wood Memorial (Aqueduct, New York, April 7). Quip, Flameaway and Free Drop Billy could be among the competition.

Enticed, Solomini, Quip and others could entered in the Wood.

Bolt d’Oro and McKinzie will both be entered in the Santa Anita Derby (Santa Anita, California, April 7) barring any unforeseen changes.

Justify, Magnum Moon and Sporting Chance could be headed to the Arkansas Derby (Oaklawn, Arkansas, April 14).

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

JOCKEY OF THE WEEK
Tyler Baze being named Jockey of the Week isn't a surprise. And it was warranted. However, considering the age of Tracy Hebert and his resume, it would have been a sentimental pick to name him as top rider with the Sunland Derby documented. (Related comments two posts above).

GAFFALIONE GETS GOOD NEWS
Tyler Gaffalione apparently suffered no serious injury after being removed from his mounts on Sunday. Initial reports said his foot was stepped on by his mount.

THE PLAYER UNDERGOES SURGERY
The Player, ridden by Calvin Borel, underwent surgery Monday after being injured in the Grade II New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds on Saturday. The prognosis seems to be positive with a long recovery anticipated. That is at least on first glance good news.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

March 29, 2018

Gulfstream Park (Florida):

• Luis Saez tied a track record with seven victories today, the second time he has achieved the mark this Championship Meet. The feat was also done by Jerry Bailey (1995), Tyler Gaffalione (2017) . Saez was 8 7-1-0 today. Saez came incredibly close to going a perfect 8 8-0-0.

​

• Luis Saez also won his 132nd race this meet which tied Javier Castellano's (2013-14) all-time mark.
• More than $568,000 was added to the $.20 Rainbow Six Jackpot which passed the $5,000,000 mark today. Each winner won $486. The 'pot will begin at $4.599 million for Friday's card. One day away from the Florida Derby. This 'pot could be astronomical.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• Race 8: Smart Spree is now a perfect 3-for-3 at the track. He shipped in from Woodbine and is under the direction of that track's top trainer Norman McKnight. He has won his last four races, is 5-0-3 in the last 8 and has won 9 of 33 lifetime.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, March 31 preview of three significant races.

1. UAE Derby (Kentucky Derby prep)
2. Dubai World Cup
3. Florida Derby (Kentucky Derby prep)

The full card can be found here for Saturday's day of racing: [/SIZE]Entries - Horse Racing | Daily Racing Form - DRF Pro - DRF.com | Aqueduct, Belmont Park, Calder Race Course, Churchill Downs, Del Mar, Golden Gate Fields, Gulfstream Park, Hawthorne, Keeneland, Monmouth Park, Oaklawn Park, Pimlico, Santa Anita, Saratoga, Tampa Bay Downs, Woodbine​

• Among the notable North America riders are Mike Smith, Javier Castellano, Joel Rosario, Kent Desormeaux, Mario Gutierrez and Victor Espinoza. Emisael Jaramillo, a veteran rider now based at Gulfstream, went to Dubai to ride X Y Jet.

UAE Derby Sponsored By Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group

WHAT: A 100-40-20-10 point system towards the Kentucky Derby.
WHERE: Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
WHEN: Saturday, March 31, 2018, Race 4 of 9.
TIME: About 9:30 A.M. Eastern Time.
TELEVISION: Updates throughout the day on TVG (24/7).
SURFACE: Dirt
DISTANCE: 9.5 furlongs (1 3/16 miles)
PURSE: $2,000,000
THE 9-RACE DUBAI WORLD CUP CARD: Racecard | Emirates Racing Authority​

1(1)

RAYYA (USA) (USA)3 yrs. Ch F 4 (2-2-0)

Owner:Sh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi
Trainer:D Watson
Jockey:Patrick Dobbs
Weight 55.0 Kgs
Official Rating 105

2(2)

RUGGERO (JPN) (JPN)3 yrs. DkB C 5 (2-0-2)

Owner:Takashi Muraki
Trainer:Y Shikato
Jockey:Christophe Lemaire
Weight 57.0 Kgs
Official Rating 107

3(3)

RERIDE (USA) (USA)3 yrs. Bay C 5 (4-0-0)

Owner:Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC
Trainer:S Asmussen
Jockey:Javier Castellano
Weight 57.0 Kgs
Official Rating 104

4(4)

MENDELSSOHN (USA) (USA)3 yrs. Bay C 6 (3-1-0)

Owner:D Smith, Mrs J Magnier & M Tabor
Trainer:A O'Brien
Jockey:Ryan Moore
Weight 57.0 Kgs
Official Rating 117

5(5)

GOLD TOWN (GB) (GB)3 yrs. Bay G 8 (4-0-1)

Owner:Godolphin
Trainer:C Appleby
Jockey:William Buick
Weight 57.0 Kgs
Official Rating 113

6(6)

SEAHENGE (USA) (USA)3 yrs. Bay C 6 (2-0-2)

Owner:M Tabor, D Smith, Mrs J Magnier
Trainer:A O'Brien
Jockey:Donnacha O'Brien
Weight 57.0 Kgs
Official Rating 112

7(7)

YULONG WARRIOR (USA) (USA)3 yrs. Bay C 7 (2-3-1)

Owner:Yu Long
Trainer:S Seemar
Jockey:Richard Mullen
Weight 57.0 Kgs
Official Rating 101

8(8)

TAIKI FERVEUR (JPN) (JPN)3 yrs. Ch C 7 (2-2-0)

Owner:U Taiki Farm
Trainer:M Makiura
Jockey:Joao Moreira
Weight 57.0 Kgs
Official Rating 110

9(9)

THREEANDFOURPENCE (USA) (USA)3 yrs. Bay C 4 (1-2-0)

Owner:Mrs E M Stockwell
Trainer:A O'Brien
Jockey:Seamie Heffernan
Weight 57.0 Kgs
Official Rating 111​

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline

WHAT: $10,000,000 race, the world's second largest purse
WHERE: Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
WHEN: Saturday, March 31, 2018, Race 9 of 9.
TELEVISION: Updates throughout the day on TVG (24/7). Live racing on NBCSN at 12:30 P.M. Eastern Time (one hour coverage).
SURFACE: Dirt
DISTANCE: 10 furlongs (1 1/4 miles).
THE 9-RACE DUBAI WORLD CUP CARD: Racecard | Emirates Racing Authority​

1(1)

AWARDEE (USA) (USA)8 yrs. Bay H 40 (10-6-8)

Owner:Koji Maeda
Trainer:M Matsunaga
Jockey:Yutaka Take
Weight 57.0 Kgs
Official Rating 112

2(2)

NORTH AMERICA (GB) (GB)6 yrs. Bay G 14 (5-3-2)

Owner:Ramzan Kadyrov
Trainer:S Seemar
Jockey:Richard Mullen
Weight 57.0 Kgs
Official Rating 116

3(3)

GUNNEVERA (USA) (USA)4 yrs. Ch C 15 (5-3-2)

Owner:Salomon Del Valle
Trainer:A Sano
Jockey:Joel Rosario
Weight 57.0 Kgs
Official Rating 117

4(4)

FURIA CRUZADA (CHI) (CHI)6 yrs. Bay M 33 (7-5-6)

Owner:Avaz Ismoilov
Trainer:E Charpy
Jockey:Antonio Fresu
Weight 55.0 Kgs
Official Rating 108

5(5)

MUBTAAHIJ (IRE) (IRE)6 yrs. Bay H 22 (5-5-3)

Owner:Sh Mohd bin Khalifa Al Maktoum
Trainer:B Baffert
Jockey:Victor Espinoza
Weight 57.0 Kgs
Official Rating 115

6(6)

FOREVER UNBRIDLED (USA) (USA)6 yrs. Bay M 17 (8-3-4)

Owner:Charles E Fipke
Trainer:D Stewart
Jockey:Mike Smith
Weight 55.0 Kgs
Official Rating 119

7(7)

TALISMANIC (GB) (GB)5 yrs. Bay H 18 (7-6-1)

Owner:Godolphin
Trainer:A Fabre
Jockey:Mickael Barzalona
Weight 57.0 Kgs
Official Rating 122

8(8)

PAVEL (USA) (USA)4 yrs. Gr/Ro C 7 (2-0-1)

Owner:Reddam Racing LLC
Trainer:D O'Neill
Jockey:Mario Gutierrez
Weight 57.0 Kgs
Official Rating 116

9(9)

WEST COAST (USA) (USA)4 yrs. Bay C 10 (6-3-1)

Owner:Gary and Mary West
Trainer:B Baffert
Jockey:Javier Castellano
Weight 57.0 Kgs
Official Rating 124

10(10)

THUNDER SNOW (IRE) (IRE)4 yrs. Bay C 17 (6-5-2)

Owner:Godolphin
Trainer:S bin Suroor
Jockey:Christophe Soumillon
Weight 57.0 Kgs
Official Rating 115​

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

XPRESSBET FLORIDA DERBY (Grade I)

WHAT: Arguably the most important Kentucky Derby prep race on the calendar, certainly on the East Coast.
WHERE: Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida
WHEN: Saturday, March 31, 2018, Race 14 of 14, approximately 6:30 pm ET
TELEVISION: NBCSN coverage begins at 6:00 P.M. Eastern Time.
DISTANCE: 1 1/8 mile
SURFACE: Dirt
WHO: 3-year-olds
PURSE: $1,100,000
HISTORY: First run in 1952. In recent years, the winners have included Always Dreaming, Nyquist, Orb, Big Brown, Barbaro, Empire Maker and Monarchos. All-time greats such as Unbridled, Spectacular Bid, Needles, Tim Tam, Carry Back and Nashua found the winner's circle.
​

[TR][TH]PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Strike Power (KY)	Luis Saez	122	Mark A. Hennig	4-1
2	Millionaire Runner (KY)	Jose A. Batista	122	Jaime Mejia	50-1
3	Tip Sheet (FL)	Edgard J. Zayas	122	Stanley I. Gold	30-1
4	Promises Fulfilled (KY)	Robby Albarado	122	Dale L. Romans	3-1
5	Storm Runner (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	122	Dale L. Romans	20-1
6	Catholic Boy (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	122	Jonathan Thomas	7-2
7	Hofburg (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	122	William I. Mott	20-1
8	Audible (NY)	John R. Velazquez	122	Todd A. Pletcher	9-5
9	Mississippi (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	122	Mark E. Casse	12-1

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

[TBODY][TR][TH]
Odds based on the info in the prior post.There is much talent in this race.

There was much attention to Dale Romans' 2-year-olds. Promises Fulfilled may be his top runner.

Catholic Boy is among the top picks for many handicappers but I am not as sold at this stage.

Hofburg could be a value pick.

Audible, as the favorite, has to overcome the history of winning the Kentucky Derby while not running as a 2-year-old. He has been magnificent in his previous races. Much of the horse racing world will be looking at him.

Strike Power has arguably the best rider at the meet in Luis Saez.

This is a fantastic race. The card is exceptional. Gulfstream was dark on Wednesday probably in trying to mimimize any potential track condition issues. The $.20 Rainbow 6 could pass the all-time highs if it is not hit today (Friday).[/TH][/TR][/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Night racing at Belmont appears to be shelved for the time being.

A provision in the New York state budget that would have allowed the New York Racing Association to run at night at Belmont Park in Elmont on Long Island has been taken off the table due to objections from the Standardbred industry, according to sources.

The provision, which was advanced in the budget proposal submitted to the legislature earlier this year by the administration of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, was being sought by NYRA as part of the association’s long-term plans to reinvigorate racing at Belmont and capitalize on the construction of an NHL arena at the track. The budget provision would have allowed night racing at Belmont on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, provided the last race concluded prior to 10:30 p.m.

The provision was removed from consideration during the budget negotiations due to opposition from Standardbred interests who were concerned that competition from Belmont at night would reduce wagering on their own race cards, according to the sources. Standardbred tracks in New York hold the vast majority of their race cards at night, though the tracks have the freedom to run at any time, unlike NYRA, which has been barred from running at night for decades.​

Belmont Park night racing provision scrapped in budget talks | Daily Racing Form

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

A recap of the television coverage for key races for March 30 and March 31.

TVG = horse racing channel.
NBCSN's separate broadcasts includes pre-race discussions.

Date	Track	Race	Time	TV	Significance
Fri.	Newcastle (Eng.)	Burradon	10:55 am ET	TVG	Kentucky Derby prep race
Sat.	Meydan (UAE)	UAE Derby	9:30 am ET	TVG	Kentucky Derby prep race
Sat.	Meydan (UAE)	UAE World Cup	12:30 pm ET	NBCSN	World's second largest purse at $10,000,000
Sat.	Gulfstream (USA)	Florida Derby	6:00 pm ET	NBCSN	Kentucky Derby prep race

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY][/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Less than 24 hours to go... Florida Derby time... Can the Rainbow Six hit $20,000,000?

March 30, 2018

Newcastle (England):

• Gronkowski stayed perfect in three starts on synthetic surfaces with a victory today in the Burradon Stakes. He will be Kentucky Derby bound.

​

Aqueduct (New York):

• Junior Alvarado continues his torrid pace with two victories and Paco Lopez also won twice. Alvarado is third in wins but leads riders with 27% wins and 62% in the money.
• Trainer Rudy Rodriguez won for the 1,000th time in a race in which he also finished second, the finale on the card.
• Certainly appropriate for the time of the year but Holy Week was victorious in race 5.
• Joe Bravo returned to New York. He was put up to victory after an inquiry/objection. He was at Fair Grounds in New Orleans but that meet is concluding this weekend. Joe Bravo: Have Whip, Will Travel!
• The $2 Pick 6 was hit for over $61,000.
• How close was race 7?

• How would you like to lose this photo finish? It happened in race 6:

​

Laurel (Maryland):

• 26-year-old Tais Lyapustina won as a pro for the first time after 49 consecutive losses. A native of Maryland, she is 2-for-61 lifetime including a win as an amateur.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• MANDATORY PAYOUT DAY FOR THE RAINBOW SIX: The $.20 Rainbow Six paid out over $13,000 to all winners. The 'pot will begin with a carryover of $4.75 million for Saturday's extensive and elaborate Florida Derby card. First-race post time is set for 11:30 a.m. I have a sneaking suspicion we will see $20,000,000 total because of the card and since the payout is mandatory. Today, the 'pot surpassed $5.2 million after close to $650,000 was added.
• Nik Juarez and Irad Oritz, Jr. both won three times.
• Twocubanbrothersru won for the 22nd time in his 52nd start. Trained by John Rigattieri who is 2-for-3 at the meet. He is settled at Tampa Bay now and was an extraordinary trainer in the northeast going back to the early 1970s.
• There was a dead heat for win in race 3.
• Oftentimes I look for trainers with smaller stables. Two of my favorites today performed admirably with their only starters of the day. Carlo Vaccarrezza won the opener and paid $19. Lilli Kurtinecz finished second and paid $9 in the middle in race 6 as part of a $2 exacta that paid $110. She got her roots in Maryland.

 

[Vasilevskiy]

Beat nothing there, just don't see the quality to be anything significant in the Kentucky (or other) races.

Mendelssohn just destroyed, obliteraed and massacred everything in the UAE Derby. This is the one to look out for

 

[Vasilevskiy]

Thunder Snow wins. I wasn't expecting that.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

March 31, 2018
The only criticism is how the first three races at Gulfstream went off during races in Dubai. Late scratches in two races impeded the schedule but the viewers and handicappers should be considered in having near simultaneous starts and especially at that time of day when there was little or no competition other than those two tracks. It is not often I criticize Gulf but it could have balked in those instances in favor of the fan and bettor.

Meydan (Dubai, UAE):

• Mendelssohn romped in the UAE Derby and is now Kentucky Derby bound. He received a 106 Beyer for the race which is the highest awarded to any horse in the Kentucky Derby preps this season. The win was set in track record time and the 18 1/2 length of victory is also a track all-time best. Mendelssohn, who was purchased for $3,000,000, is now 2-for-2 lifetime on dirt.

​

• Thunder Snow improved to 6 4-2-0 at Meydan after an impressive win in the $10,000,000 World Cup which is the second largest purse in the world. Thunder Snow reigned from the far post and was the only horse to the outside of heavily bet West Coast (Javier Castellano/Bob Baffert). One note about my girl, she was game: Forever Unbridled finished fifth in perhaps what is the last race of her outstanding career. I wasn't a big fan of putting her on this stage but she had a dynamic record of 18 8-3-4 and earned more than $3.1 million. Maybe my favorite female horse ever. All the best. And a great training job by Dallas Stewart.

​

• Mind Your Biscuits has now earned over $3.7 million after a victory in race 6 and surpassed Funny Cide as the all-time leading money earner bred in New York state. A good, solid ride by Joel Rosario. The 5-year-old is now 21 7-8-3 and has won 7 of his last 17 after going winless as a 2-year-old. In the money 17 times in 21 starts is remarkable considering his racing history which includes 12 graded stakes races.
• A summary of the 9 races based on countries where winners were bred: the USA won 3, Ireland and England 2 each, France and Ukraine one each.

Aqueduct (New York):

• There were incredible bombs and payouts covering the last two races.
• Race 10: A $43.40 winner. A tri that paid over $4,700. A $1 super that paid over $19,000. A $2 pick 4 that returned a seismic $260,000+ or over $65,000 for $.50. A $2 pick 3 that paid over $10,000. A double that paid over $900. A $2 Pick 6 that was so difficult it paid out to those who won four legs.
• Race 9: $123 for the win, $1,075 for the exacta, a startling $21,804 for the tri, $60K for the $1 super. The Pick 3 was a stunning $10,000+.
• Race 4 provided entertainment and aggressive rides by Dylan Davis and Manny Franco, two of the top jocks at the met, looked like old-school horseback ridin'.
• Manny Franco ended up winning the winter/spring meet riding title with 61 victors. Dylan Davis was second with 47. Junior Alvarado was third in wins but had the best winning percentage (27%) among the 50 riders who rode at least once. Alvarado's 62% in the money was best among riders with 2 or more starts.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• FLORIDA DERBY: I mentioned above in the Florida Derby preview that Audible (John Velazquez/Todd Pletcher) had the eyes of the world on him and Hofburg offered nice value at 20-to-1 though was bet down to 8-to-1. The potential of Audible was probably the reason John Velazquez did not travel to Dubai. He has a potent Kentucky Derby horse and he knows/knew it. The Audible/Hofburg exacta paid a handsome exacta of $50. Audible passed this audition. Catholic Boy was bet heavily but I felt comfortable enough with my pre-race evaluation of preferring the other runners; however, he bled during the race and will be sidelined for a period of time. Dale Romans, also mentioned in the preview, finished with two of the last three spots and Promises Fulfilled tired after a quick start. Luis Saez gunned Strike Power out of the gate and that set the bait which was nibbled by Robby Albarado on board Promises Fulfilled. The combination of Johnny V./Todd Pletcher won this race for the third time in the last four years.

​

• Todd Pletcher was an incredible 8 4-1-2 today. He and his staff are outstanding as are the horses they generally train. John Velazquez won three times in six starts for Pletcher.
• Race 13: In the 1 1/2 mile Grade II Pan American, Hi Happy (Luis Saez/Todd Pletcher) won for the 7th time in 12 lifetime starts. The Argentinian-bred is now 6-for-9 lifetime on turf.
• Race 8: A short field but the Grade II Hardacre Mile was loaded with talent including 2017 Kentucky Derby victor Always Dreaming, coming off a 7-month layoff, million dollar earner Irish War Cry and 8-year-old 21-race winner Page McKenney who was possibly overmatched in a Grade II. However, it was 12-to-1 shot Conquest Big E who basically went gate-to-wire under the direction of trainer Donna Green who is 3-for-6 at the meet and won a graded stakes race for the first time. She is married to the horse's owner Daniel Hurtak who has been training in south Florida since the 1970s. "It's the local horse...it's the Hurtak horse..." Good call.

Gulfstream Park Race 8 | March 31, 2018​

• Race 2: The tri paid over $12,000 with a $92 winner. A 45-to-1 topped a 15-to-1.
• MANDATORY PAYOUT DAY FOR THE RAINBOW SIX: The $.20 Rainbow Six began with the 9th race. The total jackpot exceeded $21.3 million to set an all-time high after more than $16,000,000, also a record, was added. Gulf played with the post times more than once it seemed, 20 minutes behind the scheduled start of race 9. Today was mandatory payout day which added to the interest. Each winner received over $9,000. The total set a record established earlier this year.
• The handle for this magnificent day was close to $50,000,000. A non-Breeders Cup record $49,909,070 was wagered on the 14 race card including 7 races with purses $100,000 or more.
• By my count, there were 145 horses entered to run in these 14 races.

Golden Gate Fields (California):

• In the signature race at the track, the Grade III $200,000 San Francisco Mile was won by Flamboyant who was bred in France.

Santa Anita (California):

• Race 5: A 30-1 and a 30-1 topped the ticket which resulted in a $1300+ exacta, a $9,000+ tri, a $1 super for $33,000+ and an absolutely, positively shocking $143,000+ $2 Pick 3.

April 1, 2018

Gulfstream (Florida):

• John Velazquez/Todd Pletcher went 2-for-2 and have won 6 of their last 9 as a team.
• The Championship Meet closed today. Luis Saez and Todd Pletcher were the leaders in the jockey and trainer standings, respectively. Saez set the record for most victories at the Championship Meet with his 133rd win. Saez also won the latest Jockey of the Week title in North America.

Santa Anita (California):

• The $2 Pick 5 paid over $63,000.

April 2, 2018

Mahoning Valley (Ohio):

• The double following the last race on the card paid $1,568.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Fairly significant news. I wouldn't be surprised if Bob Baffert remains upset from the DQ in McKinzie's prior race but now he has another reason for dismay.

McKinzie to Miss Santa Anita Derby - BloodHorse

There was an issue, and then he was fine the next day—he was sound. ... He's not going to make the Santa Anita Derby. He's definitely out," the Hall of Fame trainer said.

Entering the weekend, McKinzie ranked 10th on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 40 points for owners Karl Watson, Michael Pegram, and Paul Weitman. He won the Dec. 9 Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity (G1) off an October maiden win at first asking, then doubled back to take the Jan. 6 Sham Stakes (G3) before his San Felipe run.​

On deck for Bab Baffert is Justify who will run in the Santa Anita. More than likely, Justify will have to finish first or second to qualify with enough points to make the Kentucky Derby.

Solomini, another Bob Baffert 3-year old, is pointed towards the April 14 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The latest NTRA poll of 3-year-olds...

Current	HORSE (1st place votes)	Age-sex	2018 record (starts 1st-2nd-3rd)	Votes	Previous
1	BOLT D'ORO (28)	3-C	1-1-0-0	429	1
2	AUDIBLE (6)	3-C	2-2-0-0	381	4
3	MENDELSSOHN (9)	3-C	1-1-0-0	285	12
4	MAGNUM MOON	3-C	3-3-0-0	259	3
5	MCKINZIE (3)	3-C	2-1-1-0	237	2
6	GOOD MAGIC	3-C	1-0-0-1	200	5
7	JUSTIFY	3-C	2-2-0-0	172	6
8	NOBLE INDY	3-C	3-2-0-1	170	7
9	ENTICED	3-C	2-1-0-0	128	10
10	SOLOMINI	3-C	1-0-1-0	84	9

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Other horses receiving votes: QUIP (33), FLAMEAWAY (27), MY BOY JACK (24), HOFBURG (22), INSTILLED REGARD (16), RUNAWAY GHOST (14), LONE SAILOR (11), MIDNIGHT BISOU (9), PROMISES FULFILLED (6), BRAVAZO (6), MONOMOY GIRL (4), BLENDED CITIZEN (4), AVERY ISLAND (3), COACH ROCKS (2), MASK (2), CATHOLIC BOY (1), MISSISSIPPI (1)

========================
My Kentucky Derby summary heading into this important weekend...

While not a ranking, the five that have entertained me and as an offshoot interested me since the beginning: Enticed, Audible, Justify and Magnum Moon while Good Magic caught my eye early and certainly during the B.C. weekend. Mendelssohn was phenomenal in Dubai. I wasn't sold on either McKinzie or Catholic Boy and still am not entirely bonded to the notion of many that Bolt d'Oro tops polls.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The Blue Grass was drawn today. Keeneland reopens. A sure sign of that time of the year.

A deep field. This is arguably the biggest weekend for Kentucky Derby preps with Santa Anita (Santa Anita Derby) and Aqueduct (Wood Memorial) joining the party.

Onto this race, and a very early evaluation. Good Magic will be bet heavily but can be defeated. Free Drop Billy has the pedigree to achieve it and could be Irad Ortiz, Jr.'s ticket to the Kentucky Derby if successful here. Flameaway is a battler and needs to be considered. Don't overlook the old man with Luis Saez riding #2; Wayne Lukas still finds ways to win.

Ryan Moore is riding for Todd Pletcher? Perhaps that is the jockey's own prep work for the Kentucky Derby and Mendelssohn.

UPDATE: Quip will scratch and be pointed to the Arkansas Derby (Oakland) on April 14.

Source: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner heads field for Blue Grass Stakes. Here’s the full field with odds.

Wood Memorial Stakes (Grade II)

Where: Aqueduct Racetrack, Queens, New York
When: Saturday, April 07, 2018, Race 10
Post Time: 5:55 PM (Eastern Time)
Television: NBC Sports Network 5:30 - 7:30 pm ET
Distance: 1 1/8 miles
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $750,000
Age: 3-year-olds
History: Inaugurated in 1925, some incredible horses have won this race including recent years but since Seattle Slew's win in 1977 only Pleasant Colony (1981) and Fusiachi Pegasus (2000) have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby. Familiar horses such as Easy Goer, Slew o' Gold, Unbridled's Song, Broad Brush, Empire Maker and Tapit have won this race but could not repeat in Kentucky.​

[TR][TH]PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Heartfullofstars (KY)	Dylan Davis	123	Philip D'Amato	20/1
2	Firenze Fire (FL)	Manuel Franco	123	Jason Servis	6/1
3	Evaluator (NY)	Kendrick Carmouche	123	Michael Dilger	20/1
4	Old Time Revival (FL)	Jeremy Rose	123	Kenneth Decker	6/1
5	Enticed (KY)	Junior Alvarado	123	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	6/5
6	Catch Twenty Two (KY)	Luis R. Reyes	123	Naipaul Chatterpaul	50/1
7	King Zachary (KY)	Robby Albarado	123	Dale L. Romans	20/1
8	Restoring Hope (KY)	Flavien Prat	123	Bob Baffert	4/1
9	Vino Rosso (KY)	John R. Velazquez	123	Todd A. Pletcher	9/2

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

[TBODY][TR][TH]
Santa Anita Derby (Grade I)

Where: Santa Anita Park (Arcadia, California)
When: Saturday, April 7, 2018, Race 9
Post Time: 3:30 pm Pacific Time (6:30 pm Eastern Time)
Television: NBC Sports Network 5:30 - 7:30 pm ET
Distance: 1 1/8 miles
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $1,000,000
Age: 3-year-olds
History: Inaugurated in 1935, 17 horses have run this race and gone on to win the Kentucky Derby. Ten won both races including California Chrome, I'll Have Another, Sunday Silence, Winning Colors and triple crown winner Affirmed. This race is considered by many to be among the most important Kentucky Derby preps.

[TR][TH]PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Instilled Regard (KY)	Joel Rosario	124	Jerry Hollendorfer	5-1
2	Orbit Rain (KY)	Brice Blanc	124	Mick Ruis	50-1
3	Bolt d'Oro (KY)	Javier Castellano	124	Mick Ruis	6-5
4	Jimmy Chila (KY)	Mario Gutierrez	124	Doug F. O'Neill	30-1
5	Pepe Tono (KY)	Victor Espinoza	124	Victor L. Garcia	20-1
6	Justify (KY)	Mike E. Smith	124	Bob Baffert	4-5
7	Core Beliefs (KY)	Tyler Baze	124	Peter Eurton	20-1

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

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

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

April 3, 2018

Parx (Pennsylvania):

• Todd Pletcher shipped Driven To Compete, 2-for-2 at Gulfstream, and won race 8. No surprise there. However, astute and fortuitous handicappers managed to achieve much delight when a 61-to-1 bomb won the finale. The daily double paid $165.40. Pletcher-all doubles rarely reach that total. Unto Thou was the longest shot on the board in a field of 10 and entered with a 15-race losing streak including 0-for-14 at Parx. Unto thou, all you winners shall reap thy profits!

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

April 4, 2018

Not many tracks operated today. This is a week in transition for some tracks including Gulfstream where the winter/spring meet ended this past weekend. Tracks running included Turf Paradise (Arizona), Mahoning Valley (Ohio), Tampa Bay (Florida) and Oaklawn (Arkansas).

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Two of three former connections to Suffolk Downs (Massachusetts), who have struggled in 2018, won today.
  • In race 3, Trainer Leon McKanas, who has 28 lifetime wins and was 1-for-20 this year, recorded a victory with a 24-to-1 shot who was the longest price on the board.
  • In race 7, jockey Gary Wales, who was 1-for-41 this year, brought home an 8-to-1 shot. His 2018 record now stands at 42 2-0-6.
  • In race 10, in a field of 10, trainer M.C. Reardon, with the second high price on the board at 43-to-1, finished fourth but at least picked up some change as the fourth place finisher. It was her highest finish in 13 starts this year.
• Trainers Gerald Bennett and Kathleen O'Connell lead the meet with 39 victories. Both trainers had success in their early days at now shuttered race tracks in the state of Michigan.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• Ministry is now 8 5-1-2 lifetime after a steady win. Making the board in all 8 starts is impressive. She has been victorious in 5 of her last 6 starts and all five wins have come under Thomas Pompell; he did not ride the lone loss in that stretch.
• Race 5: There were 14 horses entered, bred in seven states and two countries. The winner hailed from California. The runner up was from Kansas, a 15-to-1 bet down to 3-to-1. Tennessee and Kansas, two states with few T-breds, were represented.
• As of now, Ricardo Santana, Jr. and Steve Asmussen appear to have comfortable leads in the jockey and trainer standings, respectively. The pair often team. The meet closes in the middle of this month.

 

[Preds Partisan]

Keeneland weather forecast is heavy rain Friday night, followed by 3-5 inches of snow, high in the 30s breezy and cold for Saturday.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The 4th and final Kentucky Derby futures pool was released.

Free past performances can be found here: http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/kdfw4.pdf

Pool 4 field:

#	Horse	M/L
1.	Audible	6-1
2.	Bolt d’Oro	5-1
3.	Bravazo	50-1
4.	Combatant	30-1
5.	Enticed	20-1
6.	Flameaway	30-1
7.	Free Drop Billy	30-1
8.	Good Magic	8-1
9.	Gronkowski	30-1
10.	Hofburg	30-1
11.	Instilled Regard	50-1
12.	Justify	6-1
13.	Lone Sailor	50-1
14.	Magnum Moon	10-1
15.	Mendelssohn	10-1
16.	Mississippi	50-1
17.	My Boy Jack	30-1
18.	Noble Indy	20-1
19.	Promises Fulfilled	30-1
20.	Quip	50-1
21.	Runaway Ghost	50-1
22.	Solomini	20-1
23.	Title Ready	50-1
24.	All Other 3YOs	10-1

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

April 6, 2018

Aqueduct (New York):

• Today was the opening day of the spring meet and fireworks were on display.
• The $50 Pick 4 paid over $18,000 following the finale.
• The $2 Pick 6 paid out $17,000+.
• The $1 Pick 3 following race 8 paid over $2,800. The $1 double paid over $400.
• The $1 Pick 3 following race 7 paid over $5,500.
• The $1 Pick 3 following race 6 paid over $5,900.
• This was the first day New York ran on turf since late last year. The two turf races today resulted in $61.80 and $41.00 winners.
• Kendrick Carmouche had the natural hat trick with wins in races 2, 3 and 4 which resulted in a $1 pick 3 for $260.50. Michael Maker, one of the most successful trainers in North America, trained a $61.00 winner in the final leg of Carmouche's three-in-a-row.
• Junior Alvarado won twice including the finale; however, he was DQ'd in the feature race (#8 on the card) and dropped to fourth. Has Junior Alvarado ever received the benefit of the doubt in an inquiry at New York? Tomorrow he likely rides the favorite in the $750,000 Wood Memorial. In today's feature, Linda Rice initially finished 1st and 2nd. She won the $150,000 Grade III Stakes with Irad Ortiz, Jr. on board.
• Joe Bravo won race 7 and paid $40.80. Joe Bravo: Have Whip, Will Travel!

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Antonio Gallardo, the winningest rider at the meet, picked up three more victories in a natural hat trick for three different trainers.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Race 8: This was a very interesting post-race. There was an inquiry/objection amid a dead heat posted. Both horse took pictures in the winner's circle while the inquiry was underway. It had to make for an awkward moment for at least one party. The DQ was then announced and instead of two winners there was a traditional 1st and 2nd.
  
  

Keeneland (Kentucky):

• One of the nation's most popular tracks opened today. There were some attractive payouts for place and show bettors in the latter half of the card.
• The Keeneland simulcast graphic is hideous. Putting white numbers on a color background similar to the track's dirt surface is difficult on the eyes. Plus, green and light brown do not work well either. It is important for handicappers to see such numbers without the slightest uneasiness. And another thing: show the odds during the race, that is not so much imperative as it is consumer-friendly.
• In the finale, the $2 trifecta paid over $6,800.
• Gabriel Saez had the natural hat trick beginning with race 3 and the latter two for Larry Jones.
• Jose Ortiz won three times.
• Analyze It (Jose Ortiz/Chad Brown) won the $150,000 Grade III feature race in a powerful romp. The 3-year-old colt is a perfect 3-for-3 lifetime including two Grade III victories. This horse should not be overlooked as the year progresses and could be the top 3-year-old turf performer heading into the summer.

​

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• I mentioned in the early days of this meet which began in January to follow McLean Robertson as a trainer. His home base is in Minnesota and he does fairly well shipping and/or when he sets up in places such as Oaklawn. After wins yesterday and today with his lone starters, Robertson is 20%/53% (winning percentage/in the money). He has won 10 times with 51 starters. Considering the winningest trainer at the meet is nationally renowned Steve Asmussen (21%/51%), Robertson has had a very good meet again and usually not always with chalk or expected favorites.
• Oaklawn's 114th annual meet concludes next weekend following its signature card highlighted by the Arkansas Derby on April 14.

Charles Town (West Virginia):

• In race 4, Mr. Ping and Mr. Pong, twins, ran against each other. According to those in the know, the survival rate of such births are small. It is far less common to see a pair of twins in the same race. They are both winners even though they didn't hit the board in this race, their maiden performances.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Among the good races on undercards today is the Grade I Carter. Green Gratto won this race last year at 54-to-1. If he repeats, this will be a seismic upset.

CARTER HANDICAP (Grade I)

Where: Aqueduct,Racetrack (Queens, New York)
When: Saturday, April 07, 2018, Race 8
Distance: 7 furlongs
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $400,000
Age: 4-year-old and up
Time: 4:44 pm ET
TV: TVG and MSG+
History: First run in 1895. ​

[TR][TH]PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Spartiatis (KY)	Robby Albarado	113	Rudy R. Rodriguez	30/1
2	Army Mule (PA)	Joe Bravo	116	Todd A. Pletcher	5/2
3	Favorable Outcome (KY)	Kendrick Carmouche	118	Chad C. Brown	8/1
4	Do Share (KY)	Junior Alvarado	118	Linda Rice	5/1
5	Great Stuff (KY)	Dylan Davis	116	David Jacobson	8/1
6	Petrov (KY)	Manuel Franco	116	Ron Moquett	20/1
7	Red Dragon Tattoo (KY)	Paco Lopez	113	Juan Carlos Guerrero	30/1
8	Green Gratto (NJ)	Christopher P. DeCarlo	114	Gaston Grant	30/1
9	Skyler's Scramjet (KY)	Trevor McCarthy	116	Michelle Nevin	3/1
10	Fellowship (FL)	Jeremy Rose	115	Kenneth Decker	20/1
11	Awesome Slew (FL)	John R. Velazquez	121	Mark E. Casse	4/1

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

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

April 7, 2018

Aqueduct (New York):

• Race 10: The $750,000 Grade II Wood Memorial (KY Derby prep race): Well, see my comment above in yesterday's review for authenticity. Once again, Junior Alvarado did not get the benefit of a call. It appeared there was rough riding in the stretch but at no point did I expect Johnny Velazquez to be removed from such a win. A very long objection/inquiry between the top two finishers. Anyway, Enticed is spent. He used every bit of energy. Vino Rosso (John Velazquez/Todd Pletcher) got the win while Enticed (Junior Alvarado/Kiaran McLaughlin) suffered a heartbreaking defeat.

From Andy Serling (NYRA analyst) who is not among those normally in Alvarado's camp: "I hope I bet a horse that wins and fouls a horse as badly as Vino Rosso did and doesn't come down. Won't ever happen but one can dream."

From Alvarado: "I got bumped three times right here, I got pinched in the rail. I mean, it needs to be just fair. this was way too much. Three bump, and I didn’t even bump it once. So I mean, I don’t even know what to say after that. It’s a completely B.S. "You know like, this is just like, I’m upset, but you know what I mean? Then if somebody else rides that way, it would’ve been taken down. It’s just ...not the right thing. I got bumped three times. I got fouled. What else do I need to get?" (Source: Leif Skodnick (@LeifSkodnick) | Twitter )


​

• Race 8: The $400,000 Grade I Carter. Army Mule (Joe Bravo/Todd Pletcher) is sensational, the real deal. He decimated the field in 1:20.94. He is now 3-for-3 with wins at three tracks under three jockeys. I was wowed. Owned by Vinny Viola (Florida Panthers) and a Pennsylvania-bred. Army Mule received a stunning 114 Beyer for the race.
  
• Over $16,000,000 wagered on the exciting card today.
• Joe Bravo won twice. Joe Bravo: Have Whip, Will Travel!
• Todd Pletcher had the extremely rare natural hat trick -- for a trainer -- beginning in race 8. Pletcher was 11 5-0-3 today across three tracks.
• The total handle of $16,404,541 was about $500,000 more than 2017.

Keeneland (Kentucky):

• Race 10: The $1,000,000 Blue Grass Stakes. Good Magic (Jose Ortiz/Chad Brown), the colt I touted early on as a strong Kentucky Derby contender, won stylishly. I paired him with the 2 who was a 10-to-1 morning line but he bolted awkwardly in the stretch and was properly removed from a third place finish. The initial race finished 11-12-2-10 but was altered to 11-12-10-2. The four horses I mentioned in the preview finished top four. I had the right perspective but the wrong order.

​

• Race 11: Chad Brown had the Ortiz brothers ride his two mounts. And well, the kids are good. And the race, the finale on the card, was fantastic.
• Race 9: Monomoy Girl (Florent Geroux/Brad Cox), as expected, won the Grade I Ashland. Another impressive outing. she is now 6 5-1-0. She was sent off as the prohibitive favorite.
• Race 8: In a $300,000 Grade I, Finley'sluckycharm (Brian Hernandez, Jr./Bret Calhoun) is an incredible 15 10-3-0 after this win. Her two flops were on major stages, including Breeders' Cup weekend but she is among the top older female horses at age 5. This was her first Grade I victory. What note is most outstanding perhaps is her record in the commonwealth of Kentucky: 8 8-0-0. Can't do much better than that. Her only two wins outside of Kentucky came in her first two tries.
• Race 7: In a $200,000 Grade II, Bound for Nowhere (Julio Garcia/Wesley Ward) pulled a mild stunner at 8-to-1. Garcia is 56 years old and generally rides only for Ward for whom he is an exercise rider.
• Race 6: In a $250,000 Grade III, the "old man" as I affectionately labeled Wayne Lukas a preview in an earlier post for the Blue Grass Stakes as someone who can still factor in major races, won here with the third highest price on the board at 23-to-1.
• Florent Geroux won the opening two races and ended with wins in three of seven rides.
• After two days of racing at one of the most anticipated meets on the calendar, Jose Ortiz (6), Florent Geroux (5) and Gabriel Saez (3) lead the jockey standings.
• The total handle of $22,634,861 set an all-time record for the track (non-Breeders' Cup).

Tampa Bay Downs (Florida):

• Samy Camaho won 5 times in 10 mounts. He finished 10 5-1-1 in a terrific afternoon. He is third in wins at the meet only behind perennial stalwarts Antonio Gallardo and Daniel Centeno.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• McLean Robertson (20%/55%) hit the board in three of four starts and won once. Move over Steve Asmussen (21%/52%) there is a new sheriff in town.

Santa Anita (California):

• Race 9: The $1,000,000 Grade I Santa Anita Derby, the 81st running. The chalky exacta prevailed. Justify (Mike Smith/Bob Baffert) was the better horse than Bolt d'Oro in my eyes and was proven today with a 3-length victory. The $2 exacta paid $5.40.
  
• Race 11: Midnight Bisou (Mike Smith/Bill Spawr), sent off at 3-to-5, won the $400,000 Grade I Santa Anita Oaks. The 3-year-old filly is 5 3-2-0 and has won her last three starts. She has won Grade I, Grade II and Grade III races.
• Race 10: In a $300,000 Grade II, Beau Recall (Joel Rosario/Simon Callaghan), an Irish-bred, won by less than a length at 4-to-1.
  
• Race 5: a $150,000Grade III, French-bred Fatale Bere (Joel Rosario/Leonard Powell) rallied for victory at 7-to-1. The trainer has no more than 14 starters on his resume.
• Multiple winners included Mike Smith (3), Javier Castellano (2), Joe Talamo (2) and Joel Rosario (2). As I often say, if Rosario wins early on a card he will repeat later. It is fascinating how often that occurs. Today he won Grade 2 and Grade 3 races. Bob Baffert also won twice including the Santa Anita Derby for the 9th time.
• In the four graded stakes races, Mike Smith won twice (two Grade I) and Joel Rosario won the other two (Grade II and Grade III). Four different trainers won these graded stakes races.
• Bob Baffert is 5-1-1 in his last 9 starts at Santa Anita.
• Over $24,000,000 was bet on the track's card which was an increase of $24.1 million. Attendance exceeded 39,000.

Due to space restrictions, this is continued below...

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

...a continuation to the above post...

ARMY MULE'S WIN AT AQUEDUCT

​

"I think this horse can be special for the sport," said Viola, who races under the banner of St. Elias Stable and also owns the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League.

Army Mule, an $825,000 purchase as a 2-year-old, surely looked "special" in the Carter, as he scooted through a hole along the rail on the turn under jockey Joe Bravo and overpowered 10 seasoned rivals to increase his combined winning margin to 22 1/4 lengths.

In second behind the 2-1 shot was Awesome Slew, the 9-5 favorite who finished third in the Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Great Stuff was another 3 1/4 lengths back in third.​

Army Mule Rolls in Carter Handicap - BloodHorse

-----------------------------------------------------------

MONOMOY GIRL'S WIN AT KEENELAND



-----------------------------------------------------------

THE SANTA ANITA OAKS

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

This is a race with aspirations attached to the Kentucky Oaks. However, it is run at only 7 furlongs. It is key for some runners to get enough points to qualify for the Oaks.

BEAUMONT STAKES (Grade III)

When: Sunday, April 8, 2018, Race 7
Where: Keeneland Racecourse, Lexington, KY
Distance: 7 furlongs
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $150,000
Age and sex: 3-year-old fillies
Time: 4:24 pm ET
​

[TR][TH]PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Happy Like a Fool (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	118	Wesley A. Ward	7/2
2	Kelly's Humor (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	Brad H. Cox	10/1
3	Dream It Is (KY)	Luis Saez	118	Barbara J. Minshall	3/1
4	Uppercut (KY)	Mike E. Smith	118	Peter Eurton	4/1
5	Gas Station Sushi (KY)	Corey S. Nakatani	118	Richard Baltas	4/1
6	Upset Brewing (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	118	William B. Bradley	15/1
7	Summer Sunday (ON)	Julien R. Leparoux	120	Stuart C. Simon	6/1
8	Sunny Skies (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	118	Kenneth G. McPeek	15/1
9	In the Mood (KY)	John McKee	118	Stephen S. Sandy	15/1

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

 

[cutchemist42]

Im not sure what to think of the SA Derby. 7 horse field with no real front runners meant Justify was going to get to run its race with ease. Derby field is different and Im sure he faces more pressure there.

I was surprised by Vino in the Wood, as I thought he had no real excuses in the Tampa races.