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

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

June 6, 2018

Delaware Park (Delaware):

• Race 9: Mo Shopping (Mario Pino/Todd Pletcher) held off a challenger to win the $50,000 feature race. Pletcher doesn't ship to Delaware too much but that was a gift to pay $5.40. Pino, the winning rider, is 56-years-old, was born in Delaware and is 29 7-2-6 in 2018 (24%/52%).
• Race 8: Silver Silvers (Augusto Marin/Michael Gorham) topped a $1 exacta that paid $237. Weston Hamilton, who rides in Maryland (off day) and could be the 2017 Apprentice of the Year, finished second at 15-to-1. The winner was sent off at 16-to-1 and had not been out since August, just once since the Suffolk Downs (Massachusetts) boutique meet of 2017.
• Race 6: Senor Louie (Jacqueline Davis/Ronald Abrams) was the second longest shot in a field of nine and produced a 35-to-1 victory. The winner was one of two 10-year-olds in the race, the other finished third, and was out for the 86th time.

Presque Isle (Pennsylvania):

• Race 6: A 10-year-old was entered with just 23 lifetime races. The track is under the lights.

Mountaineer (West Virginia):

• Race 3: Bull Bailey (Keivan Serrano/Adam Ingram) recorded a 74-to-1 bomb under the lights that paid $151.40/$53.40/$11.60. The $2 exacta was a stunning $1,185.60. The horse was 2-for-44 lifetime.
• Race 5: The $2 Pick 3 was over $4,300. The $.50 Pick 4 was a massive $18,000+.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Tyler Gaffalione won three times, for different trainers, his final three starts on the race day. He has won seven of his last 14 starts covering the last two race days. What was most recently a tight bunch atop the jockey leader board at the meet, is now a 6-win lead for the highly skilled rider. The top five riders are now separated by ten wins and Gaffalione has a 6-percent lead over the second best among that group (less rides yet more wins).
• Race 8: In a thriller, Florida Fuego (Tyler Gaffalione/David Fawkes) got the benefit of a close photo finish. The filly is 6 3-0-1 lifetime and is owned by eFive Racing Thoroughbreds, the same outfit that owns Good Magic.

​

• A weird moment in the opener. The winner was DQ'd. The trainer on record was Ronald Gaffney who passed away last weekend at the age of 77. Rest in peace.

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Race 1: Green Doctor was scratched, one of seven entered. What is noteworthy is that the sire is The Green Monkey, as infamous a purchased horse in racing annals. I have not seen too many offspring of The Green Monkey racing recently. Dublin Diva (Eurico da Silva/Norman McKnight) won the race, the third straight victory covering the last two race cards for the trainer. The jockey also won the second race tonight.
• Eurico da Silva has won seven times covering the last two race days after a 3-win night. The rider is 12 7-1-0 the last two race days.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

TELEVISION INFORMATION FOR SATURDAY:
NBCSN: 2:00 - 4:00 pm Eastern Time
NBC: 4:00 - 7:00 pm Eastern Time (coverage could exceed 7 pm)​

JUST A GAME STAKES

What: Grade I
Where: Belmont Park, Elmont, New York
When: Saturday, June 9, 2018, Race 8
Post time: 4:02 pm Eastern Time
Distance: 1 mile (8 furlongs)
Age/Sex: 4-year-olds. Fillies and mares.
Surface: Turf
Purse: $700,000
History: Inaugurated in 1994, a relatively young entry on the scene..
Full card: Equibase | North American Entries​

[TR][TH]PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	On Leave (KY)	Manuel Franco	117	Claude R. McGaughey III	9/2
2	Dream Dancing (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	121	Mark E. Casse	20/1
3	Off Limits (IRE)	Javier Castellano	121	Chad C. Brown	7/2
4	Lull (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	117	Christophe Clement	5/1
5	Proctor's Ledge (KY)	John R. Velazquez	123	Brendan P. Walsh	4/1
6	Cambodia (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	119	Thomas F. Proctor	10/1
7	A Raving Beauty (GER)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	117	Chad C. Brown	5/2
8	La Coronel (KY)	Jose Lezcano	121	Mark E. Casse	10/1

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[TBODY][TR][TH]RUNHAPPY METROPOLITAN HANDICAP

What: Grade I
Where: Belmont Park, Elmont, New York
When: Saturday, June 9, 2018, Race 9
Post time: 4:45 pm Eastern Time
Distance: 1 mile (8 furlongs)
Age/Sex: 3-year-olds and up. Open.
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $1,200,000
History: Inaugurated in 1891. Known as "The Met Mile," one of the most anticipated races annually.
Full card: Equibase | North American Entries
Notes:

• The connection between the Met Mile and future stallions is immense. This is a showcase for the horses to show potential progeny.

[TR][TH]PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Mind Your Biscuits (NY)	Joel Rosario	122	Chad Summers	5/2
2	Bolt d'Oro (KY)	Florent Geroux	114	Mick Ruis	4/1
3	Limousine Liberal (KY)	Javier Castellano	117	Ben Colebrook	10/1
4	McCraken (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	118	Ian R. Wilkes	12/1
5	Good Samaritan (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	William I. Mott	10/1
6	One Liner (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	116	Todd A. Pletcher	12/1
7	Discreet Lover (FL)	Manuel Franco	115	Uriah St. Lewis	50/1
8	Ransom the Moon (ON)	Flavien Prat	117	Philip D'Amato	10/1
9	Warrior's Club (KY)	Luis Saez	116	D. Wayne Lukas	20/1
10	Bee Jersey (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	118	Steven M. Asmussen	5/1
11	Awesome Slew (FL)	John R. Velazquez	117	Mark E. Casse	6/1

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[TBODY][TR][TH]WOODFORD RESERVE MANHATTAN STAKES[/TH][/TR][/TBODY]
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What: Grade I
Where: Belmont Park, Elmont, New York
When: Saturday, June 9, 2018, Race 10
Post time: 5:40 pm Eastern Time
Distance: 1 1/4 mile (9 furlongs)
Age/Sex: 4-year-olds and up. Open.
Surface: Turf
Purse: $1,000,000
History: Chad Brown has won this race four times in the last six years. He will attempt to be the second trainer in history to win the race five times. It was inaugurated in 1887.
Full card: Equibase | North American Entries
Notes:

• This is the race that precedes the Belmont Stakes. It is loaded in talent. Breeding comes from six nations (USA, Canada, Ireland, Great Britain, Chile and Argentina).
• Joel Rosario has morning line favorites in consecutive races.

[TR][TH]PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Robert Bruce (CHI)	Tyler Gaffalione	118	Chad C. Brown	3/1
2	One Go All Go (VA)	Chris Landeros	118	Charles L. Dickey	12/1
3	Hi Happy (ARG)	Luis Saez	122	Todd A. Pletcher	7/2
4	Alexios Komnenos (IRE)	Florent Geroux	116	James A. Stack	20/1
5	Catcho En Die (ARG)	Junior Alvarado	114	Naipaul Chatterpaul	50/1
6	Hello Don Julio (KY)	Kendrick Carmouche	114	Michael Dilger	30/1
7	Fashion Business (GB)	Flavien Prat	114	Philip D'Amato	30/1
8	Sadler's Joy (KY)	Javier Castellano	124	Thomas Albertrani	8/1
9	Channel Maker (ON)	Jose L. Ortiz	122	William I. Mott	20/1
10	Beach Patrol (KY)	Joel Rosario	124	Chad C. Brown	5/2
11	Manitoulin (KY)	Mike E. Smith	118	James J. Toner	20/1
12	Multiplier (KY)	Victor Espinoza	118	Peter Miller	30/1
13	Spring Quality (PA)	Edgar S. Prado	118	H. Graham Motion	12/1

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[TBODY][TR][TH]BELMONT STAKES Presented by NYRA Bets

• What: Justify will attempt to become the 13th horse to win the Triple Crown.
• Where: Belmont Park, Elmont, New York
• When: Saturday, June 9, 2018, Race 11
• Post Time:6:46 PM Eastern Time
• Distance: 1 1/2 miles (12 furlongs)
• Age/Sex: Three-year-olds. Open.
• Surface: Dirt
• Purse: $1,500,000
• Full card: Equibase | North American Entries
• History: This is the 150th edition of the race.

[TR][TH]PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Justify (KY)	Mike E. Smith	126	Bob Baffert	4/5
2	Free Drop Billy (KY)	Robby Albarado	126	Dale L. Romans	30/1
3	Bravazo (KY)	Luis Saez	126	D. Wayne Lukas	8/1
4	Hofburg (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	126	William I. Mott	9/2
5	Restoring Hope (KY)	Florent Geroux	126	Bob Baffert	30/1
6	Gronkowski (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	126	Chad C. Brown	12/1
7	Tenfold (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	126	Steven M. Asmussen	12/1
8	Vino Rosso (KY)	John R. Velazquez	126	Todd A. Pletcher	8/1
9	Noble Indy (KY)	Javier Castellano	126	Todd A. Pletcher	30/1
10	Blended Citizen (KY)	Kyle Frey	126	Doug F. O'Neill	15/1

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[spintheblackcircle]

 

[GKJ]

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

well...if the Preakness was about 50 yards longer he was going to get pipped, and this one is longer

it wouldn't have mattered unless Audible hadn't been ruled out when he was...

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

June 7, 2018

Belmont (New York):

• Joel Rosario won three times. He began with a victory in the third race. What does it usually mean when he wins early? He will probably repeat. Rosario is 77 17-17-17-7 at the meet, to be first or second with 44% of his starters should not be overlooked.
• Races 8 and 9: The combination of Joel Rosario and Brian Lynch won both.
• Race 8: In a $200,000 Grade III, La Signare (Joel Rosario/Brian Lynch) was the second consecutive French-bred to win on the card. Her first two races were run in France prior to making her second States appearance today.
• Race 7: In a $200,000 Grade III, a 20-to-1 morning-line was bet down to 4-to-1 and won. Likely a bad morning line. La Sardane, a French-bred, was racing in the U.S. for the third time after seven races in France. Flavien Prat, the winningest rider at the current Santa Anita meet and who was born in France, rode the victor who was trained by Hall-of-Famer Neil Drysdale.
• Race 6: In the $150,000 Astoria Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, Athens Queen (Albin Jimenez/Wesley Ward) was the second highest price on the board at 11-to-1 and won by a neck. Ward, a hot trainer at the meet who is exceptional with 2-year-olds, had two in the race with John Velazquez riding the other. Jimenez made a rare visit to New York. He has won his last three starts covering three different tracks (Monmouth, Delaware, Belmont).
• Race 5: Jose Lezcano, at 26-to-1, nipped Junior Alvarado in a photo finish.
• Handled about $10,000,000 today.
• Chad Brown (20), Wesley Ward (12), Todd Pletcher (11) and Linda Rice (11) lead the trainer's standings at the meet. Ward is particularly impressive with a winning mark of 39% and in-the-money a remarkable 65% of the time.

Delaware Park (Delaware):

• Race 1: An old-fashioned whoopin'. The winner prevailed by 11 lengths.
• Race 4: Check that from the opener. THIS was an old-fashioned whoopin'. A 20-length victory. It has been a while since I saw a 20-length victory.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Race 1: We'll see how the colt develops but Dream Maker (Julien Leparoux/Mark Casse), a 2-year-old son of Tapit, performed admirably.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• A bland day with favorites winning five times and finishing second twice in the nine races.

Santa Anita (California):

• Kent Desormeaux won his first three mounts.
• Race 7: The anticipated second race of Amada Rafaela (Martin Garcia/Bob Baffert) ended with tragic results when she was euthanized following an injury. She was much hyped following her maiden performance, an 8-length win on Kentucky Derby day at Santa Anita.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

As New York gears for a weekend purse distribution in excess of $9,000,000, the handle could be explosive. More than $10m for a Thursday card was good but should be dwarfed by today and certainly Saturday's expectations.

UPDATED The 2018 Triple Crown:

Race	Race Handle	Record?	Card Handle	Record?
Kentucky Derby	$149.9 million	Yes	$225.7 million	Yes
Preakness	$61.9 million	Yes	$93.6 million	No ($97.1 million in 2017)
Belmont	$79.7 million	No ($92.2 million in 2014)	$137.4 million	No ($150.4 million in 2014)

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[MiamiScreamingEagles]

June 8, 2018

Belmont (New York):

• The handle exceeded $20,000,000.
• All 11 races had purses of $72,000 or more including six of $100,000+. There were four Grade II races.
• Chad Brown, leading trainer at the meet and reigning national champ, was a successful 8 4-2-0.
• Jeremiah Englehart won twice including finishing 1st and 2nd in race 6 for a $121.75 $1 exacta. For a trainer to finish first and second in a race at Belmont and pay that much for an exacta is very rare.
• Javier Castellano (3), Irad Ortiz, Jr. (2), Jose Ortiz (2) and Joel Rosario (2) combined to win nine times. Rosario won the opener which meant he was going to win again. It just happens that way, or so it seems.
• Race 11: Following the finale, the $2 Pick 6 was hit for $116,619. Tomorrow's pool will begin at more than a half million dollars.
• Race 10: In the $400,000 Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup, Call to Mind (Javier Castellano/William Haggas) was sent off as the 8-to-5 favorite then ran 2 miles in a course record 3:16.78. The winner ran in the U.S. for the first time. The trainer is based in England. Her Majesty the Queen is the owner of Great Britain-bred.

​

• Race 9: In the 75th running of the $600,000 Grade 2 New York Stakes, Fourstar Crook (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Chad Brown) was the victor. The 7 and 1 separated themselves from the pack and set an incredible pace, before being devoured. The mare is 17 11-3-1 lifetime and surpassed the $1,000,000 earnings mark (now at $1.2 million+).
• Race 8: Imperial Hint (Javier Castellano/Luis Carvajal) won the $250,000 Grade 2 True North. The trainer won for the 90th time lifetime. The rider has 4,904 wins through today.
• Race 5: In the $150,000 Tremont Stakes, Our Braintrust (Javier Castellano/Cathal Lynch), was the second longest shot on the board in a field of seven but rallied in the stretch for victory.
• Race 3: In the $250,000 Grade 2 Bed of Roses Invitational, Lewis Bay (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Chad Brown) was the victor. American Gal (Jose Ortiz/Simon Callaghan), who entered 8 5-1-1, was a surprsing flop at 4-to-5. She was cross-entered in tomorrow's Ogden Phipps.
• Manny Franco suffered an arm injury today and it is unknown whether he will ride on Saturday.
• Junior Alvarado was having a sensational 2018 but has wins in just 3 of his last 47 starts.
• Mike Smith hit the board just once in three starts, Since winning the Preakness with Justify, he is 10 1-1-2 with his lone win on board Unique Bella. History awaits him tomorrow.
• John Velazquez has lost his last 14 starts. I think Vino Rosso poses as big a risk as any to Justify in the Belmont Stakes though my belief remains that the horse should have been DQ'd in the Wood Memorial especially after the New York stewards fined the rider following the race.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Race 3: Derecho (Tais Lyapustina/Alphonso Griffin) paid $123 after the 60-to-1 bomb won. Lyapustina earned her first win in March and 6th win in 121 starts. Russian born, Maryland raised.

Indiana Grand (Indiana):

• In the finale, a quarter horse race, the winner paid $130.20. The rider entered 0-for-36 in 2018.

Arlington Park (Illinois):

• Race 3: A $71.60 winner.
• Race 5: A $50.60 winner. The $.50 Pick 3 paid over $2,100.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Race 8: A $76.80 winner. The $.10 super paid over $6,400. The $.20 Pick 6 paid over $43,000.
• Brian Hernandez, Jr. was 9 4-0-3. His four wins came through the first six races on the card.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Nik Juarez won three times.
• Tyler Gaffalione hit the board in all of his races (6 1-3-2). His lone win came after a DQ to Emisael Jaramillo.

Santa Anita (California):

• Bob Baffert failed to win with three starters. He is 9 1-2-2 in the month of June combined at three tracks. Like Mike Smith, he has a dinner date with destiny awaiting.

 

[GKJ]

Still Having Fun mowing them down in the stretch. Just walks into a G2 at Belmont from Maryland and breaks his maiden.

 

[GKJ]

Watching the replay from American Pharaoh, it's pretty impressive that Victor Espinoza was able to get that Monster plug in considering the emotions he was probably feeling

 

[bukwas]

Might throw a few bucks on Channel Maker in the Woodford.
Winless in 18 but has raced well and if not for traffic last time out likely would have hit the board. Still will need a perfect trip to take it though and i'll want better than the 20-1 ML.

 

[Taro Tsujimoto]

Triple Crown!

 

[GKJ]

Change the Triple Crown format, it’s too easy

 

[Jack Straw]

Wire to wire. Impressive.

 

[SJSharksfan39]

Justify made that look really easy.

 

[SJSharksfan39]

Change the Triple Crown format, it’s too easy

I think they should take two laps around each track.

 

[Canes]

Crazy. Weird how the Triple Crown winners are clustered in decades (3 in the 30s, 4 in the 40s, 3 in the 70s, and now 2 in the 2010s) except the first winner.

 

[GKJ]

Good for Mike Smith, the best jockey ever to get on a horse, has achieved the sport’s greatest honor, deservedly so.

 

[TNT87]

Pretty cool to see history like that.

 

[Soliloquy of a Dogge]

Marvelous performance from Justify. And a great ride from the legendary Mike Smith. Bob Baffert cements himself as the greatest horse trainer of all time as well IMO.

Speechless & so happy!

 

[GKJ]

Crazy. Weird how the Triple Crown winners are clustered in decades (3 in the 30s, 4 in the 40s, 3 in the 70s, and now 2 in the 2010s) except the first winner.

It wasn’t even a Triple Crown yet when Sir Barton. The Preakness was only 4 days after the Derby, and won another race before the Belmont. 4 races in 32 days. In 1930, the Preakness was run first.

 

[SJSharksfan39]

So the humans get a trophy. What does the horse get? Probably a Shower.

 

[Jack Straw]

So the humans get a trophy. What does the horse get? Probably a Shower.

Eventually, lots of girl horses.

 

[SJSharksfan39]

Eventually, lots of girl horses.

Lucky devil.

 

[GKJ]

Don’t worry, he’ll be treated like a god