Horse Racing: 2020 conclusion: $323,000 (Santa Anita) and $106,000 (Aqueduct) Pick 6 hit on New Year's Eve

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Bob Baffert is not known for being anything special on turf. He is 14% lifetime on turf also just 9-for-64 lifetime (also 14%) with 1st-time starters of turf. He is 24% lifetime on dirt by comparison.

That said, on Friday's opening day card at Del Mar, he debuts Du Jour, a 2-year-old colt by Temple City to be ridden by Mike Smith from the 12 post in a mile race with a 6-to-1 morning line in a field of 14. The colt has had some noteworthy workouts in prepping for this race. He was a $280,000 purchase earlier this year owned in part by Baffert's wife Natalie (Jill).

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Friday, October 30, 2020

• Todd Pletcher is one win away from 5,000 lifetime victories following wins and Belmont at GPW today. Only seven trainers have more victories in North America. If he gets the 5,000th win tomorrow -- it will come at Belmont (he has nothing entered at other tracks) in one of three races. Of those, the middle is with John Velazquez riding. That would seem most appropriate.

​

• Steve Asmussen has 9,062 wins the second most among all trainers in North America history. He won twice today at both Remington and Churchill (4 wins total). It is likely he will break the mark in 2021.
• Joel Rosario is 8 eight wins away from riding 3,000 winners. Rosario could -- should in my book -- be a finalist for the Eclipse Award as Jockey of the year. He won't win but he could be a top three (number nominated) in many eyes.
• Mark Casse is 10 wins shy of 3,000.
• Robby Albarado has just that one win with his past 41 mounts and that may be the ride of the year in the Preakness Stakes.

Belmont (New York):

• Race 4: The only first time starter won at 12-to-1. It works not all the time but when it does, my theory generally pays off.
• Race 6: Wasp (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Todd Pletcher) won in her second outing at 1-to-5. She was a robust filly in this victory. Perhaps one to follow.
• Race 7: Jose Ortiz nosed Junior Alvarado in what was the closest finish of the day. It was a skillful finish with a perfectly timed bob.
• Jose Lezcano had a 3-win day including a perfectly time finish on the 16 -- a number that isn't entered often -- in the finale. He is second at the meet with 27 wins.
• Joel Rosario hit the board with each mount but had no winners. Since his last victory, he is 14 0-8-3. Talk about seconditis.
• Mike Luzzi has just one win in 2020 with 100 mounts. He has lost 75 straight. It is a tough stat to consume for a once solid rider but it is difficult to get mounts with such a powerful jockey colony. When the higher profile riders head for Gulfstream, Luzzi will likely get better mounts at Aqueduct.
• Handle: $8,000,000.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Angel Cruz had a natural hat trick after the third race.

​

• Johan Rosado-Jeremiah O'Dwyer went a perfect 3 3-0-0 as a tandem. A difficult task any day at any track. Rosado attended high school in Bensalem, PA a town where he rode his first career winner at Parx (Philadelphia). O'Dwyer is Irish-born and has 90 lifetime wins in his young career in the U.S.

​

• Sheldon Russell-Brittany Russell teamed once and placed. The jockey-trainer husband-wife team is 31% this year. The jockey is tied this meet for most wins with Jevian Toledo and Trevor McCarthy with 12 wins each. The trainer is a remarkable 11 5-2-4 (45%/100%) this meet.
• Handle: $2.3 million without turf racing.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Race 9: Three horses involved in a lengthy review in which no change was determined.
• Race 4: Calvin Borel rode a winner for the first time since August 23. He snapped a losing streak of 34.
• Turf: No turf racing today.

Hawthorne (Illinois):

• Simulcast: One of the cleanest, easist-to-read simulcast productions out there. Good color combos combined with traditional fonts. Well done!
• Trainers: Michael Reavis (56%), Hugh Robertson (43%)and Karl Broberg (23%) each have nine wins to top the meet. Reavis has hit the board 88% at 16 9-3-2.

Emerald Downs (Washington):

• Record handle: The track celebrated its 25th year of operation in style with a record daily handle of $1.8 million (est.) which is a 61 percent increase from 2019. The meet lasted 38 racing days and ended last night.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Turf racing can be dicey this time of year. As of now,

• Belmont: races 2,4 and 10 are OFF the turf. Races 6, 8 remain ON (per David Grening).
• Gulfstream Park West: Off turf today for mandatory Rainbow 6 card (per Mike Welsch)
• Churchill Downs: Turf racing is ON today after 2 off days (per Marty McGee)

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, October 31, 2020:

HAPPY HALLOWEEN Edition​

• Todd Pletcher has three horses entered Sunday (tomorrow) including the opening race at GPW which could conceivably be his 5,000th lifetime winner. Not exactly the big stage of Breeders' Cup or a stakes. His other two starters are later in the day at Belmont. He is 8th all-time in wins and his $395 million earned is the all-time high.
• Steve Asmussen has 9,064 wins the second most among all trainers in North America history and 381 behind leader Dale Baird.
• Joel Rosario is six wins away from riding 3,000 winners.
• Mark Casse is seven wins shy of 3,000.
• Robby Albarado has just that one win with his past 43 mounts and that may be the ride of the year in the Preakness Stakes.
• Mike Smith will be without any mounts for Breeders' Cup weekend and ride at Del Mar instead of Keeneland.
• Swiss Skydiver will run in the Distaff rather than the Classic on Breeders' Cup Saturday.

Belmont (New York):

• Closing day: Tomorrow is the closing day of the meet. The mandatory payout of the Pick 6 begins at more than $400,000. It appears Jose Ortiz (jockey) and Chad Brown (trainer) will win meet titles.
• Aqueduct: Get used to Aqueduct. That is New York's track from 11/6/2020-12/6/2020 and then 12/10/2020-3/28/2021 for the next two meets.
• Todd Pletcher was 0-for-3 today in his quest to become the 8th trainer in North America history to win 5,000 times.
• Race 9: Majestic Dunhill (Joel Rosario/George Weaver) won the $100,000 Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap. The 5-year-old gelding had lost 10 straight races with his last win coming in November 2018.

​

• Race 10: Joel Rosario got up in the finale edging... trainer George Weaver's horse. The duo teamed in the race 9 feature. That is horse racing.
• Joel Rosario ended his losing streak at 18 (0-8-5).
  
• Double Up: Joel Rosario, Javier Castellano and Dylan Davis each rode two winners. Rudy Rodriguez and Timmy Hills both trained two winners, the latter who entered today with 8 wins in 2020 and though he has over 2,000 lifetime victories and has been training since the 1970s I am not sure the last time he won twice at Belmont since New York is not his regular home base.
• Irad Ortiz. Jr. + Jose Ortiz were a combined 0-for-15 today. That is almost unthinkable.
• Handle: Over $11 million bet today.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Jockeys: Jevian Toledo (14), Sheldon Russell (13) and Trevor McCarthy (12) are 1-2-3 among all riders. Russell won the finale at 19-to-1.
• Meet: Closes December 31, 2020. Laurel is expected to resume in January upon completion of the racing schedule for next year which could come at a meeting on December 1.

Gulfstream Park West (Florida):

• Miguel Vasquez rode four winners on six mounts and had a natural hat trick.
  
• Pick 6: The mandatory payout today passed $1,000,000 in the pool as $890,000+ was added to the existing pool of $111,000+. All winners collected $13,000+.
• Closing day: The meet concludes November 28 in what is likely the track's final year of hosting T-bred racing.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Race 8: Minute Waltz (Rafael Bejarano/Phil Bauer) won her debut from the far outside 11 post at 4-to-1 and by more than three lengths. She was a $425,000 purchase. The 35-year-old trainer has only 68 lifetime wins but he may have a good one here. Little Blaze (Chris Landeros/Carlo Vaccarezza), a $15,000 purchase, placed at 47-to-1. The trainer is now based in Kentucky having opened a second restaurant that similarly also exists in south Florida.

​

• Jockeys: Tyler Gaffalione, Florent Geroux and Corey Lanerie each have six wins to lead all riders.
• Trainers: Eight trainers have three wins apiece to top that category.

Del Mar (California):

• Opening day: The meet runs into November 29.
• Race 7: Never Be Enough (Tiago Periera/Manuel Badilla) won the $75,000 Kathyrn Crosby Stakes at 6-to-1. The horse had raced four times at Golden Gate, home base of the trainer, and just once at Del Mar since coming to the U.S. He was bred in Great Britain and raced his first 20 starts in Europe.

​

• Bob Baffert: Both of his horses were scratched. Interesting development especially considering the turf debut mentioned in a post above.
• Handle: Roughly $8.5 million.

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Race 9: Dreaming of Drew (Patrick Husbands/Barbara Minshall) wired the field and won the $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes.
• Rafael Hernandez-Mark Casse combined to win three times with five opportunities.
• Justin Stein has a 5-win lead (113-to-108) over Rafael Hernandez for meet leader among all riders.
• Handle: More than $6.8 million bet.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, November 1, 2020

From my recap on Friday: Mike Luzzi has just one win in 2020 with 100 mounts. He has lost 75 straight. It is a tough stat to consume for a once solid rider but it is difficult to get mounts with such a powerful jockey colony. When the higher profile riders head for Gulfstream, Luzzi will likely get better mounts at Aqueduct.​

Belmont (New York):

• Race 9: Miss Jimmy (Mke Luzzi/Bruce Anderson) won the finale. The story of the day had to be Luzzi winning the finale of one of the most important meets on the horse racing calendar. The scenario was set. Luzzi was finally given a chance to win and ride like a champ he did. The 4-year-old filly is 15 8-6-0 but more importantly 8 4-2-0 on a wet track and 6 5-0-0 at the distance. Luzzi ended a 77-race losing streak since last winning on June 25 and is now 103 2-5-3 in 2020. The trainer is based at Finger lakes and won for the 10th time in 2020. Obviously many people happy to see Luzzi finally win -- he of over 3,500 career victories.

​

• Race 8: Ingrassia (Jose Ortiz/Chad Brown) won the $80,000 Chelsey Flower Stakes. Brown finished 1-2. The brothers Ortiz, Irad on board Fluffy Socks, put on an epic battle in the stretch as they fought to the end in an appreciation of skill for both jockey and equine athlete in less than ideal conditions. Fun race to watch.

​

• Race 7: Honor Way (Jose Ortiz/Charlie Baker) won the $80,000 Pumpkin Pie Stakes.
• Race 6: Barleewon (John Velazquez/Michael Stidham) nipped Super Wicked Charm (Luis Cardenas/Eduardo Jones), the latter sent off at 56-to-1. The $1 exacta paid $411.
• Race 5: The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $22,000. The winner had an 8 length win and 20 lengths in front of third place. That qualified as a romp.
• Race 4: The $1 Pick 3 paid over $2,700.
• Race 3: Island Treasure (Jose Lezcano/Shug McGaughey) won at 33-to-1 in her second race. Lezcano is -- in my eyes -- among the top turf riders in the country and McGaughey needs no selling points. A remarkable set of odds for excellent connections. The $1 Pick 3 paid over $2,100.
• Races 1 and 2: Won by Luis Saez.
• Jose Ortiz rode three successive mounts to victory and captured his first Belmont fall meet riding crown. Irad Ortiz Jr. had won or shared five straight titles prior to Manny Franco winning last year.
• Todd Pletcher started two horses and neither provided the Hall of Fame trainer with his 5,000th career win. His horse at GPW was scratched. Pletcher sits on 4,999 career wins. He has a horse entered on Thursday at GPW and another at Aqueduct on Friday in addition to the yet to be announced entries for Breeders' Cup weekend. Maybe he will get that monumental victory on the big stage after all.
  
• Closing day: Onto Aqueduct through March 2021.
• Handle: Over $12 million bet.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Race 2: Out of Sorts (Sheldon Russell/Brittany Russell) trounced the field by more than 10 lengths. The husband-wife do it again. They are 31% as team. How about Brittany? She is 12 6-2-4 (50%/100%) at the meet.
• Race 3: Trevor McCarthy was listed to ride the 3 and 8. Assuming it was his choice, he rode the 3 which was nipped by replacement rider Victor Carrasco who rode the 8.
• Race 6: Xtreme Mayhem (Cecily Evans/McLean Robertson) roared from back of the back and debuted to a victory at 7-to-1. The jockey is a Maryland native but has ridden in other parts of the country. Robertson, a top trainer at Canterbury in Minnesota, has a nice colt on his hands. He was purchased for $80,000 at the mid-Atlantic sale earlier this year.

Mountaineer (West Virginia):

• Race 4: A near-16 length victory.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Race 6: Briefcase Bully (Brian Hernandez, Jr./Cherie DeVaux), a $45,000 purchase, defeated all challengers including first-time starter Brazillionaire (Tyler Gaffalione/Chad Brown) who was bought for $875,000. DeVaux was once an assistant to Brown. Student bests the teacher.
• Imagery: There was a shot of CD shown late in the day that is as majestic as any sports image I have seen. Just a beautiful piece of architecture as the race track was represented through the grandstands and historic spires. The only thing missing is a packed house.

Hawthorne (Illinois):

• Francisco Arrieta rode two winners and his 28 wins are 15 better than his closest challenger at the meet.
• Hugh Robertson, father to McLean, won twice. His tremendous mark meet is 27 11-5-4 (41%/74%).
• Michael Reavis, who had staggering figures entering this weekend, has cooled slightly. He is now 21 9-3-2 (43%/62%). Cooled for him, five straight not hitting the board in two days.

Del Mar (California):

• Abel Cedillo was the star of the day winning five times. He rode the entire card and finished 9 5-0-1. It was his second career 5-win day ( also once at GG)
• Race 1: Spielberg (Abel Cedillo/Bob Baffert) finally broke his maiden in his fourth try. He was purchased for $1,000,000 and is bred by G. Watts Humphrey and owned by a conglomerate. The 2-year-old colt could get some buzz for Kentucky Derby preps.
• Race 2: War Path (Abel Cedillo/Bob Baffert) won giving the jockey-trainer two wins in two races. The 3-year-old colt broke his maiden in his seventh attempt.
• Race 4: Abel Cedillo chalked up his third winner.
• Race 5: Abel Cedillo chalked up his fourth winner.
• Race 6: Pizzazz (Mike Smith/Richard Mandella) broke her maiden in her fourth try. The 2-year-old filly is owned by the Bass Family, prominent Texas-based owners.
• Race 7: The $1 exacta was $370.60.
• Race 8: Strongconstitution (Abel Cedillo/Doug O'Neill) is now 2-for-3 on turf (0-for-4 on dirt) after winning the $75,000 Let It Ride Stakes. Cedillo rode his fifth winner on the card
• Race 9: Bombs away in the finale. The $1 exacta paid $595.00. The $.50 Pick 6 paid over $52,000.

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Justin Stein was just immense today winning five times while riding the entire 11-race card. He finished 11 5-2-0. He retired in 2016 but returned last year. He has now opened a 9-win lead at the meet. This has to be one of the top feel-good sports stories in Canada in 2020. Stein rode six times for members of the Attard family (brothers Sid and Tino, and Kevin who is the latter's son). Members of the family are originally from Malta.
• Race 8: Stephen (Justin Stein/Kevin Attard) won the $250,000 Coronation Futurity for 2-year-olds foaled in Canada.
• Race 7: Haddassah (Justin Stein/Kevin Attard) debuted to a victory in a $126,000 MSW race.
• Race 4: Mark Casse had two entered and finished 1-2 in a field of 12.
• Handle: $5.8 million.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

And to continue the Luzzi theme, I expected nothing short of his self-depracating humor. Good stuff!

​

Belmont's closing day leads into Aqueduct's fall and then winter meets. Many top riders head elsewhere mostly to south Florida. The Gulfstream (FL) Championship meet is typically the top meet of the winter months for east coast racing. Aqueduct can be a difficult place to ride when the weather is less than cooperative.

​

• Ferrin Peterson, who was mentioned often this summer for her success riding at Monmouth under the guidance of Hall of Fame jockey turned agent Julie Krone, will try Aqueduct. Peterson is a native Californian who graduated college in her home state and later worked at the veterinary school at the University of California-Davis. She was riding in California prior to relocating in 2020.
• Sebastian Saez, who is the younger brother to Luis Saez, will ride in New York this Aqueduct meet. He is only 21 years of age and had been in his home country of Panama following time away from riding.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

14 races

Purse level at $31,000,000.

201 horses pre-entered.

80 cameras to be used by NBC

Fans to have 17 options to view races at BreedersCup.com

There is a limit of three posts per page...


FRIDAY'S BREEDERS' CUP RACES BEGINS HERE (5 total):

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

SATURDAY'S BREEDERS' CUP RACES BEGINS HERE (9 total):

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Update: VEKOMA will not run due to an illness. A huge loss.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The $4 million turf...



The $6 million Classic....

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

How pitiful of that intro not to show Blame beating Zenyatta among the great Classics. Doesn't fit the agenda. Get over it! Garrett Gomez deserved better, too. Shame on those who decided that on the intro.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Nov. 6	America's Day at the Races	11 a.m.-4:30 p.m.	FS2
Nov. 6	Future Stars Friday broadcast of Breeders' Cup races	2 p.m.-6 p.m.	NBCSN
Nov. 6	America's Day at the Races Breeders' Cup Preview Show	7 p.m.-8 p.m.	FS2
Nov. 7	Breeders' Cup Players Show	9:30 a.m.-5:45 p.m.	TVG
Nov. 7	America's Day at the Races	10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.	FS2
Nov. 7	Championship Saturday broadcast of four Breeders' Cup races	12 p.m.-2:30 p.m.	NBCSN
Nov. 7	Championship Saturday broadcast of five Breeders' Cup races	2:30 p.m.-6 p.m.	NBC

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Friday:

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
Race 1	$125,000	Nyquist S.	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	9	11:30 AM
Race 2	$125,000	Songbird S.	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	15	12:05 PM
Race 3	$150,000	Bryan Station S.	1 1/8 Miles	Turf	18	12:40 PM
Race 4	$150,000	McConnell Springs S.	6 Furlongs	Dirt	9	1:15 PM
Race 5	$200,000	Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance S.	1 5/8 Miles	Dirt	14	1:50 PM
Race 6	$1,000,000	Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint	5 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	17	2:30 PM
Race 7	$1,000,000	Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf presented by Coolmore America	1 Mile	Turf	16	3:10 PM
Race 8	$2,000,000	Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	7	3:50 PM
Race 9	$1,000,000	Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf	1 Mile	Turf	16	4:30 PM
Race 10	$2,000,000	TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	14	5:15 PM

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

Saturday:

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
Race 1	$125,000	Perryville S.	6 Furlongs	Dirt	7	10:15 AM
Race 2	$150,000	Lafayette S. presented by Keeneland Select	7 Furlongs	Dirt	12	10:45 AM
Race 3	$125,000	Qatar Fort Springs S.	6 Furlongs	Dirt	11	11:20 AM
Race 4	$1,000,000	Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint	7 Furlongs	Dirt	9	12:02 PM
Race 5	$1,000,000	Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint	5 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	18	12:39 PM
Race 6	$1,000,000	Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile	1 Mile	Dirt	13	1:18 PM
Race 7	$2,000,000	Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf	1 3/16 Miles	Turf	14	1:57 PM
Race 8	$2,000,000	Breeders' Cup Sprint	6 Furlongs	Dirt	15	2:36 PM
Race 9	$2,000,000	FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF	1 Mile	Turf	15	3:15 PM
Race 10	$2,000,000	Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff	1 1/8 Miles	Dirt	10	3:54 PM
Race 11	$4,000,000	Longines Breeders' Cup Turf	1 1/2 Miles	Turf	10	4:33 PM
Race 12	$6,000,000	Longines Breeders' Cup Classic	1 1/4 Miles	Dirt	10	5:18 PM

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

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

NYRA released its post-meet totals today. $267,942,961 was bet at the 27-day meet. The total handle was near equal to 2019 when 10 more days were run. The average daily handle of $9.9 million was 33% better than 2019. All-in-all a very triumphant meet at Belmont.

 

[GKJ]

Only 7 going in the Juvenile Fillies?

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Only 7 going in the Juvenile Fillies?

Eight were pre-entered but one trained by Daniel Pita (Princess Secret), a lesser-known trainer in Florida, tested positive for a steroid specifically not permitted by the Breeders' Cup. He also owns the horse but denied any wrongdoing. Ultimately, it is his responsibility as trainer even more so than as owner. There is a time frame involved. If the substance was administered more than six months prior, all would be allowed but within half a year is cause for banishment by the B.C.

Despite the size, this race has plenty of talented runners. The pace should be interesting, too.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

There was a total of 340 race days (cards) in the U.S. run in October covering 2,852 races. The total handle was $929,063,211 which is a 19.71% increase from 2019.

Indicator	October 2020	October 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races (including int'l betting)	$929,063,211	$776,071,164	+19.71%
U.S. Purses	$90,845,317	$91,981,753	-1.24%
U.S. Race Days	340	334	+1.80%
U.S. Races	2,852	2,754	+3.56%
U.S. Starts	22,410	22,176	+1.06%
Average Field Size	7.86	8.05	-2.42%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,732,539	$2,323,566	+17.60%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$267,192	$275,394	-2.98%

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[Orr Fourever]

Good luck Breeders Cup Days everyone. May the force be with you. Or whatever angle you're playing...

 

[GKJ]

That probably is not the race you wanted to see from Jackie’s Warrior

huge trifecta coming

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Thursday, November 5, 2020

Gulfstream Park West (Florida):

• Race 4: The $.50 Pick 4 paid over $45,000. Two first-time starters in a deep field and the winner was one of those at 36-to-1.

Friday, November 6, 2020 (part 1 of 2)

Aqueduct (New York):

• Opening day: Aqueduct operates consecutive meets from 11/6/2020-12/6/2020 and then 12/10/2020-3/28/2021.
• Handle: Over $8 million
• First post: 11:18 a.m. ET
• Kendrick Carmouche won four times including a natural hat trick.
• Riders: With the Breeders' Cup front and center, many of the stars were at Keeneland. It was an odd assortment of jockeys in New York today including Pablo Morales who won the fifth race. The last time he rode at the Big A was 2016 and the last time he won was 2014. He is a star at Tampa Bay.
• Todd Pletcher became the 8th trainer in North America history to record 5,000 wins when Microsecond, ridden by Kendrick Carmouche, won.

​

Laurel (Maryland):

Brittany Russell is a goddess. No ifs, and or buts. She was 2 2-0-0 today and after husband Sheldon rode her yet again in victory, she is now 14 8-2-4 (57%/100%). She is the hottest thing alive!

​

Del Mar (California):

• Handle: Over $11 million bet.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Friday, November 6, 2020 (part 2 of 2)
BREEDERS' CUP FRIDAY

Keeneland (Kentucky):

• Handle: $50,285,986

Breeders' Cup Friday attendance and handle:
2020, Keeneland – no attendance reported; $50,285,986
2019, Santa Anita – 41,243; $56,517,228
2018, Churchill Downs – 42,249; $53,636,272
2017, Del Mar — 32,728; $52,273,883
2016, Santa Anita — 45,673; $49,651,600
2015, Keeneland – 44,497; $44,949,165
2014, Santa Anita – 37,205; $47,666,982
2013, Santa Anita – 35,633; $52,594,370
2012, Santa Anita – 34,619; $48,997,009
2011, Churchill Downs – 40,677; $52,095,202
2010, Churchill Downs – 41,614; $54,889,388
2009, Santa Anita – 37,651; $50,662,945
2008, Santa Anita – 31,257; $49,473,304
2007, Monmouth Park – 27,803; $31,499,007​

• Race 1: Highly Motivated (Javier Castellano/Chad Brown, for powerhouse owners Klaravich Stables, won as the favorite. The Into Mischief colt was purchased for $240,000. Brown specializes on turf but this colt could be in the mix of chatter for 2021 Kentucky Derby chatter.
• Race 2: Joy's Rocket (Ricardo Santana Jr./Steve Asmussen) should not have been sent off at 8-to-1. That was an early Christmas gift. The 2-year-old filly was coming out of a 4th place finish in a Grade 1 at Belmont.
• Race 3: Ever Dangerous (Javier Castellano/George Weaver), in the 16 post, set the racing world ablaze with a 74-to-1 shot victory. The payouts included $150.60 to win, $1,304.20 for a $2 exacta, $3,800+ for the $.50 tri and $6,900+ for a $.10 super. Castellano at the price is almost inconceivable. MOAB! The mother of all bombs.
• Race 4: Amy's Challenge (Jose Lezcano/McLean Robertson) finished her career in splendid form by wiring the field as the 5-to-2 favorite. She ended 19 8-4-2 and earned over $647,000 after being purchased for $20,000. Amy's Challenge began her career at Robertson's home base of Canterbury Downs in Minnesota. She will now start breeding in 2021.
• Race 5: Rocketry (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Jimmy Jerkens) had an awkward start but rallied from dead last in a field of 13 to win the Grade 2 $150,000 1 5/8 mile race at 11-to-1. The top three finished at odds of 11-to-1, 33-to-1 and 53-to-1. The $2 exacta was $860.00. The $.50 tri was a staggering $7,000+. The $.10 super paid over $19,000. The $.50 Pick 4 over $34,000. The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $109,000.
• Race 6: Golden Pal (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Wesley Ward) wired the field as the 4-to-5 favorite to win the $1,000,000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. The 2-year-old Uncle Mo colt was the lock of the day for many handicappers. He has earned more than half a million dollars already through four lifetime races. He was a $325,000 purchase.

​

• Race 7: Free At Will (Ricardo Santana, Jr./Michael Maker) improved to 4 3-0-0 lifetime after winning the $1,000,000 Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at 30-to-1. The winner paid $62.40. The $.50 tri paid over $1,100.

​

• Race 8: Vequist (Joel Rosario/Butch Reid) won the Grade 1 $2,000,000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. She is a 2-year-old daughter to 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist. This is Reid's second career Grade I winner. Princess Noor (Victor Espinoza/Bob Baffert), the pre-race favorite who was a perfect 3 3-0-0 entering,tired and was steadied to a disappointing fifth place finish. She had two camps, one that wasn't impressed due to low Beyer figures and weak competition but I was in the other camp that liked her chances here. She lost. Baffert needs to reboot. We shall see what happens next.

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• Race 9: Aunt Pearl (Florent Geroux/Brad Cox) improved to a perfect 3 3-0-0 after winning the $1,000,000 Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. The top four finishers in the field of 14 were all Irish bred. She was purchased in Europe for $358,000.

https://twitter.com/BreedersCup/status/1324829186587054086​

• Race 10: Essential Quality (Luis Saez/Florent Geroux) won the $2,000,000 Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He is a 2-year-old son to Tapit. Owned by Godolphin and as is their norm through a private sale. The 2-year-old colt has earned $1.3 million and sports a mark of 3 3-0-0. This is an early Kentucky Derby prep but as mentioned only two horses have won this race and also the Derby: Street Sense and Nyquist. The pre-race favorite was Jackie's Warrior (Joel Rosario/Steve Asmussen) at 4-to-5 and settled for fourth in an underwhelming effort. He suffered his first lost in five career starts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdKDnnERwnM​

• Irad Ortiz, Jr., Ricardo Santana, Jr. and Javier Castellano each rode two winners and all came within the first seven races. The average payout was more than $24.
• Brad Cox won the final two races. He was the lone trainer to win multiple times.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

That probably is not the race you wanted to see from Jackie’s Warrior

huge trifecta coming

I boxed 5-6-7 in my trifecta. I have a 30-to-1 shot finish third with a 7-to-2 shot winning and don't collect due to a 94-to-1 shot placing and with my guy Tyler Gaffalione riding. Horse racing at its finest!

I thought the $299.90 $1 exacta was short however. I would have delighted in cashing but a 7-to-2 and 94-to-1 on a day like today was low in my estimation.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Race 10 at Keeneland: The Breeders' Cup Juvenile...a 2021 Kentucky Derby prep

Tapit's mark on the sport is booming even as a 19-year-old. The son of Pulpit has A.P. Indy and Unbridled in his immediate male ancestry. It doesn't get much better than that.

Tapit has sired 138 black-type winners that include 86 graded/group winners.

Tapit:

Essential Quality has won at Churchill Downs and now twice at Keeneland. The 2-year-old son to Tapit became the sixth Breeders' Cup winner for the now 19-year-old sire

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

LONGINES BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC

What: Grade 1.
Where: Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky
When: Saturday, November 7, 2020, Race 12
Time: 5:18 pm ET
Who: 3-year-olds and up
Distance: 1 1/4 miles
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $6,000,000
TV: TVG beginning at 9:30 a.m. ET; NBCSN beginning at 12:00 pm ET; NBC beginning at 2:30 pm ET. [The full card is listed in an earlier post]
History: Inaugurated in 1984.

• Until American Pharoah won in 2015, the most recent prior winner of the Kentucky Derby to win this race was Unbridled in 1990.
• Arcangues famously won in 1993 at 133-to-1 and paid $269.20 under the direction of Jerry Bailey.
• Bob Baffert is the only trainer with a minimum of three winners and those came in succession beginning in 2014.

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Tacitus (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	126	William I. Mott	20/1
2	Tiz the Law (NY)	Manuel Franco	122	Barclay Tagg	3/1
3	By My Standards (KY)	Gabriel Saez	126	W. Bret Calhoun	10/1
4	Tom's d'Etat (KY)	Joel Rosario	126	Albert M. Stall, Jr.	6/1
5	Title Ready (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	126	Dallas Stewart	30/1
6	Higher Power (KY)	Flavien Prat	126	John W. Sadler	20/1
7	Global Campaign (KY)	Javier Castellano	126	Stanley M. Hough	20/1
8	Improbable (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	126	Bob Baffert	5/2
9	Authentic (KY)	John R. Velazquez	122	Bob Baffert	6/1
10	Maximum Security (KY)	Luis Saez	126	Bob Baffert	7/2

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

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

A look at at the 1993 Breeders' Cup Classic





133 to 1! Classic is a shocker French 5-year-old Arcangues wins in late stretch

133 to 1! Classic is a shocker French 5-year-old Arcangues wins in late stretch

ARCADIA, Calif. -- The 10th Breeders' Cup looked like a rout for the California horses until the shocker.

Arcangues, a 133-to-1 long shot from France, ridden by American jockey Jerry Bailey, saved ground on the rail and then stormed past front-running favorite Bertrando in the deep stretch to win the $3 million Breeders' Cup Classic.

The 5-year-old horse paid $269.20 for a $2 win bet yesterday at the host track, Santa Anita Park, and produced the highest winning payoff in Breeders' Cup history.

In addition, the victory by the obscure horse, who had never run on the dirt or in this country, provided stunning payoffs in the Breeders' Cup national Pick Seven wagering. There were only two winning tickets -- one purchased at Remington Park in Oklahoma City and the other at Santa Anita. Each paid $1,598,310.80. The consolation for picking six out of seven paid $510.80.

For Bailey, the win capped his most memorable year of riding.

In May, Bailey said "the Red Sea parted" at Churchill Downs and the 33-year-old jockey from Dallas won the Kentucky Derby aboard Sea Hero, a horse now sidelined with a knee injury.

Yesterday, Bailey said he looked at the tote board, saw he was listed at 99-to-1 odds and remarked: "The squeaky wheel gets the grease."

He added: "I couldn't understand the instructions the trainer [Andre Fabre] gave me in the paddock. I don't even know how to pronounce the horse's name. But sometimes a horse runs best when he is ridden by someone who has never been on him before.

"Since I didn't know the horse -- I had never laid eyes on him until I saw him in the paddock -- I just let him run along the rail. I got more confidence in him as we went along because he started to pick up horses and I still had a lot of horse under me."