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

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

He was young. His death was sudden, must have been something freakish -- not health or age. He was going to Japan to stud. He is Monomoy Girl's father.

no less than 20 minutes ago, that was confirmed to Blood Horse, he retired in 2013, it is not expected to impact the future career of Monomoy Girl

Stall accident, that explains it. It isn't common but it happens. War Emblem, who won known as a feisty horse and won the Kentucky Derby for Bob Baffert, died that way earlier this year.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

likely will be a new announcer for 2021 at Parx (PA) Keith Jones expected to vacate duties after 12/30/20.

Parx also cancels card for 12/16 (weather)

He said this was his favorite -- or among them -- race. Smarty Jones when Parx was known as Philadelphia Park. Few knew how great Smarty would become but this is as much an indication any race... and as Jones mentioned "wrapped up.... under a hand ride." Otherwise, we are talking a 20-25 length win.

Keith Jones subbed on PA for Lou Nolan at Flyers' home games periodically. His tone was very reminiscent of Gene Hart. All three men and one equine athlete are local luminaries and no one would argue.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

• Emisael Jaramillo was named Jockey of the Week. Interesting selection as he did not win 27 of 30 rides but he won two stakes at his home track of Gulfstream. Timothy Thornton had the most wins with 11 but at Delta Downs the limelight is lesser. The competition was lighter than normal this week.

Parx (Pennsylvania):

• Canceled: weather.

Charles Town (West Virginia):

• Canceled: weather.

Mountaineer (West Virginia):

• Canceled: weather.

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Antonio Gallardo won four times and now is tied with Samy Camacho as the meet's top rider with 16 victories. Camacho hit the board with each mount but finished 5 0-3-2.
• Handle: $3,3 million.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Luis Saez won four times and is now within two wins of first place in the riders' standings at the meet. He is one of three riders with 250+ wins in North America this year.
• Danny Gargan is 9 5-0-1 (58%/67%) after a win today. Almost anything he enters at Gulf deserves a second look.
• Todd Pletcher won today. He now has a meet-tying lead (with Michael Maker) of seven wins. That cold start is forgotten.
• Race 9: -- Highlight of the day -- Social Paranoia (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Todd Pletcher) has bigger things in the future as the Grade 3 winner won for the 5th time in 16 starts. Social Paranoia, nearing $1 million in earnings following a low $75,000 purchase, has earned more money than any other horse for the Elkstone Group who have over 700 victories. Headed by an attorney in Delaware, their horses train at their group's facilities in South Carolina and Maryland often.

​

• Handle: $6.9 million.
• Replay show:

​

Fair Grounds (Louisiana):

• Race 8: Canihaveitlikethat (Francisco Arrieta/Eduaro Rodriguez) won a 3-horse race by more than 20 lengths. The last place horse, third of three, finished 33 lengths behind. How often does a 3rd place finisher get buried to that degree? No place or show wagering.
• Mitchell Murrill rode three winners. He is now the lelading rider at the meet with 15 victories. The meet runs into late March.
• Leading trainers: Eight trainers have won 5, 6 or 7 times. It is close atop the standings at the meet.

Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki Racecourse (Japan)

• Alain Barows (Seiji Sakai/Masato Hayashi) won the Kentucky Derby prep in a field of 14. The win was worth 20 points towards entry into the Derby. No connections from the race guaranteed they will make a trip to Kentucky. This is one of four races held in Japan for entry into the Derby.

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

New York canceled racing today due to snow. As is often the case in New York, winds are a cause whether singularly (bitter cold) or in addition to snow as is the case today.



Others follow:

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Gulfstream will be the primary track to play early in the day for additional handicappers with AQU canceled.

A guaranteed jackpot of $1.1 million for the Rainbow 6. If it is not hit by a singular ticket, the jackpot will be paid in its entirety on Saturday. The jackpot should zoom by then if it is not hit today or Friday -- especially with both stakes part of the Pick 6 sequence.

Free live stream can be found here once it is up: World-Class Horse Thoroughbred Racing | Gulfstream Park

Here is today's card:

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post EASTERN TIME
Race 1	$29,000	Maiden Claiming	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	8	12:35 PM
Race 2	$24,000	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	6	1:04 PM
Race 3	$32,000	Maiden Claiming	5 Furlongs	Turf	8	1:33 PM
Race 4	$39,000	Maiden Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	6	2:03 PM
Race 5	$32,000	Maiden Claiming	About 7 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	9	2:36 PM
Race 6	$40,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 Mile	Dirt	7	3:06 PM
Race 7	$47,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 Furlongs	Dirt	6	3:37 PM
Race 8	$31,000	Claiming	5 Furlongs	Turf	9	4:08 PM
Race 9	$28,000	Starter Optional Claiming	1 1/2 Miles	Turf	10	4:39 PM
Race 10	$17,000	Claiming	1 Mile	Dirt	11	5:10 PM

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

UPDATED LINK:

It is 81 and sunny. Here is the Gulfstream live stream: Live Stream | World-Class Thoroughbred Horse Racing | Gulfstream Park

Track is fast and firm.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Keep an eye on: Two days out but Saturday at Aqueduct, Todd Pletcher debuts Inspiration Point, a 2-year-old son to California Chrome who was purchased for $750,000 by big-time owners Mike Repole (Vitamin Water) and Vinny Viola (Florida Panthers). And out of an Unbridled's Song mare.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Tickets for the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream are selling as high as $1,150.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Bob Neumeier was a good handicapper and analyst.

The pre-race show at Gulfstream today ended with a tribute to Awesome Again. Here is the 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic.



The top eight finishers by jockey in this race. All eligible are in the U.S. Hall of Fame (Dettori exception). What a race.
1. Pat Day
2. Gary Stevens
3. Frankie Dettori (rides overseas; among the best ever)
4. Alex Solis
5. Kent Desormeaux
6. Jerry Bailey
7. John Velazquez
8. Chris McCarron

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Aqueduct (New York):

• Canceled: weather. Scheduled to re-open Friday.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Canceled: weather. Scheduled to re-open Friday.

Charles Town (West Virginia):

• Canceled: weather. Scheduled to re-open Friday night.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Full replay show:

​

• Race 1: Over $900,000 in the opening race pool.
• Race 7: Arham (Luis Saez/Todd Pletcher), owned by Shadwell Stable (which in turn is owned by the Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE), debuted to victory. Based on the connections and the initial performance, keep an eye on this puppy.

​

• Rainbow Six carryover: $757,752.50. Mandatory payout on Saturday.

Turfway (Kentucky):

• Race 7: Joshua Morales won for the third time on the card. He is from Puerto Rico and rode earlier this year, his first in the States, at Indiana where he will resume his career in 2021.
• Race 4: Joshua Morales, who rides with a 7-pound bug, won back-to-back.
• Race 3: The $.50 tri paid over $2,900. The $.10 super paid over $14,000.

Fair Grounds (Louisiana):

• James Graham won twice today and elevated himself into a first-place tie with Mitchell Murrill among riders at the meet.

Los Alamitos (California):

• Closing day: Sunday, December 20.
• Riders' title: Juan Hernandez won twice today and leads all riders with 10 victories. Abel Cedillo (8 wins) and Jessica Pyfer (7 wins), the latter who rides with a bug, are in close range.
• Trainers' title: Jonathan Wong, Steven Miyadi and Isidro Tamayo all have four wins. Bob Baffert has three wins.
• Race 9: The $1 tri paid over $2,300.
• Race 6: Billy K (Emily Ellingwood/Ryan Hanson) won by 4 lengths at 15-to-1. The jockey,braiding with a 10-pound allowance, broke her maiden in her seventh try. She breaks horses and gallops for Hanson.
• Friday's Pick 6 jackpot: The $2 bet will have at least $423,178 for Friday's card.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

MR. PROSPECTOR STAKES

• What: Grade 3. A loaded field. One of three graded stakes in North America on Saturday [also Camarero (PR) and Los Alamitos (CA)]. Diamond Oops looks to repeat.
• Where: Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, FL
• When: Saturday, December 19, 2020, Race 10
• Time: 4:43 pm ET
• Who: 3-year-olds and up
• Distance: 1 1/16 mile
• Surface: Dirt
• Purse: $100,000
• TV: TVG (all-day coverage of racing)
• History: Inaugurated in 1946.

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Lasting Legacy (KY)	Paco Lopez	122	Robert B. Hess, Jr.	15/1
2	Cool Arrow (KY)	Edgard J. Zayas	126	Teresa M. Pompay	12/1
3	Wind of Change (BRZ)	Leonel Reyes	122	Amador Merei Sanchez	30/1
4	Haikal (KY)	Luis Saez	120	Todd A. Pletcher	6/1
5	Majestic Dunhill (KY)	Joe Bravo	126	George Weaver	10/1
6	Last Judgment (FL)	Miguel Angel Vasquez	120	Michael J. Maker	20/1
7	Diamond Oops (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	126	Patrick L. Biancone	3/1
8	Sleepy Eyes Todd (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	126	Miguel Angel Silva	5/1
9	Firenze Fire (FL)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	126	Kelly J. Breen	5/2
10	Ebben (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	122	Steve Margolis	20/1
11	Zenden (KY)	Robby Albarado	122	Carlos A. David	30/1
12	Mind Control (KY)	John R. Velazquez	124	Gregory D. Sacco	15/1

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[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

former Jockey Luis Garcia, who ran notably in the New England circuit (Rockingham/Suffolk) passed at 51 on 12/16/20

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Friday, December 18, 2020

Aqueduct (New York):

• Race 9: Nicky the Vest (Kendrick Carmouche/Jonathan Thomas) was the lone first time starter in a deep field and prevailed at 9-to-1. He is a 2-year-old son to Runhappy.
• Kendrick Carmouche, fresh off his first meet championship at a NYRA track, won three times. He is bidding to win another title though it is in the very early stages. He leads with 11 wins.
• Eric Cancel also had a riding hat trick.
• Trainers: No one is breaking away from the pack in the early days of the meet. There are 13 trainers with either 2 or 3 wins, no one has more.
• Handle: $6 million.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Race 1: Sheldon Russell won for the 42nd time this meet. He is the runaway leader among all jocks.
• Race 9: Itgot Grandma (Carol Cedeno/Kieron Magee) wired the field. Payback for Grandma as she ran over the reindeer!

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• No repeat winners: Nine jockeys and nine trainers won the nine races today.
• Handle: Approximately $3.3 million.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Handle: $7.3 million.
• Full replay show:

​

​

• Race 9: Dead heat for victory between the 1 and 4. Riders Paco Lopez, the second leading rider at the meet, and Corey Lanerie.
• Race 8: Honorable (Edgard Zayas/Todd Pletcher), who broke his maiden in his most recent race in his fourth try, was the victor. Owned in part by Erik Johnson of the Colorado Avalanche.
• Race 6: A photo finish between a 9-to-5 shot and a charging 30-to-1. When bettors were on hand, it was always easy to identify who played chalk and who hit the "all" button in moments such as this. Corey Lanerie nearly pulled off a shocker but paid $26.60 in the middle.
• Race 1: My Miss Miracle (Luis Saez/Todd Pletcher) won the opener in her debut performance at 6-to-1. To get those connections at 6-to-1 is a seasonal gift! The 2-year-old daughter to Kantharos, who won two graded takes among a perfect 3-for-3 lifetime record before a leg injury was cause for early retirement, was purchased for $190,000. Kantharos horses tend to do well at Gulfstream in sprints.
• Luis Saez is making a strong push for an Eclipse Award nominee as Jockey of the Year. He won't win but he is in discussion as a finalist. He added two wins to his resume today and leads the meet with 21 victories which is one more than Paco Lopez's 20.
• Todd Pletcher added two wins to his trainers' meet lead now at 10. He is 16 8-1-2 (50%/69%) since December 12 at this meet. Pletcher is approximately $2.3 million away from becoming the first trainer in North America history to record $400,000,000 in a career.
• Danny Gargan is 11 6-0-1 at the meet. As said, his horses should never be overlooked at this meet. Sneaky good.
• Chad Brown is just 10 1-1-3 at the meet.
• Julien Leparoux is currently 29 0-0-5. The attraction of south Florida this time of the year is understandable but the competition is mighty and records can take a beating even for capable riders.
• Rainbow 6: Mandatory payout on Saturday. The 'pot will be enormous especially as it includes to stakes. I wouldn't be surprised if Gulf's Pick 6 reaches $7 million tomorrow (Saturday). That may be a stretch as one estimate from the source track mentioned $4 million. It will begin at $839,000+.

Fair Grounds (Louisiana):

• Florent Geroux-Brad Cox teamed twice for victories as did Mitchell Murrill-Joe Foster.
• Race 7: Divine Comedy (Florent Geroux/Brad Cox), a homebred by Godolphin, wired the field and obliterated the competition by more than six lengths at 3-to-1. The 2-year-old filly broke her maiden today in her second try.
• Race 8: Sun Path (Florent Geroux/Brad Cox) demolished three competitors by more than 12 lengths at 1-to-5.
• Leading jockey: Mitchell Murrill won twice today and leads with 17 victories.
• Leading trainer: Brad Cox's nine wins in a close battle.
• Ricardo Santana, Jr. has just four winning rides among 38 mounts.

Remington (Oklahoma):

• Handle: Roughly $3.2 million. Slightly under the all-time record handle of $3.3 record set in 2019 for the comparable card.
• Card: Six of the 13 races held purses $60,000 or more.
• Race 12: Senor Buscador (Luis Quinonez/Todd Fincher) went last-to-first to win the $200,000 Remington Springboard Mile Stakes. The 2-year-old son to Mineshaft was the lightest raced horse in the race having broken his maiden in his debut in November also at Remington Park. Tonight was his second lifetime start. The top four finishers were scheduled to be awarded 10-4-2-1 points towards the Kentucky Derby as this was a prep; however, due to a new rule placed by Churchill Downs any horse on Lasix (medication) is ineligible to receive points. Only two horses in this race ran without Lasix (medication) and one was runner up Cowan (Stewart Elliott/Steve Asmussen) who was awarded four points and the other raced off-the-board. Senor Buscador does not receive points towards entry into the Derby.

• Race 10: Dipping In (David Cabrera/Ray Ashford) won the $70,000 Useeit Stakes. The Oklahoma bred began her career with 11 straight losses, all at tracks in California and New York. The 3-year-old filly is 3-for-16 lifetime after winning for the third time in her past five starts including 2-for-3 in OK. The jockey has three wins tonight and has the fifth most victories in North America in 2020.
• Re-scheduled closing date: December 22.

Los Alamitos (California):

• Handle: $6.6 million.
• Closing day: Sunday.
• Leading jockeys: Juan Hernandez and Abel Cedillo each with 10 victories.
• Leading trainers: Jonathan Wong with 5 victories, one more than Steven Miyadi and Isidro Tamayo.
• Race 9: Six $2 Pick 6 tickets received over $228,000 from a pool which accumulated over $1.8 million in new money. Total money in the jackpot pool was $2,232,663 which established a track record ($1,558,329 was set December 17, 2016) and the payout was the highest for the track with the prior mark decimated ($110,732.80 December 4, 2014.).

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

I wouldn't be surprised if Gulf's Pick 6 reaches $7 million tomorrow (Saturday). That may be a stretch as one estimate from the source track mentioned $4 million.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Your TVG and TVG2 racing schedules for today (Saturday):

TVG
TRACKS	RACES	1ST POST IN EST
FR – Deauville	1-10	5:15 AM
ZA – Turffontein	1-3	5:30 AM
ZA – Kenilworth	1-9	6:20 AM
GB – Lingfield	1-8	6:45 AM
GB - Haydock Park	1-2	6:50 AM
GB – Ascot	1-6	7:40 AM
FR – Vincennes	6	11:00 AM
GB – Wolverhampton	1-3	11:00 AM
Aqueduct	1-10	11:50 AM
Los Alamitos TBred	1-10	12:00 PM
Fair Grounds	1-13	12:00 PM
Gulfstream Park	1-11	12:05 PM
Tampa Bay Downs	1-6	12:12 PM
Laurel Park	1-5	12:25 PM
Hawthorne	8-9	4:25 PM
Los Alamitos	1-8	6:00 PM
Turfway Park	1-8	6:15 PM
Charles Town	1-4,7-10	7:00 PM
Remington Park	1-9	7:07 PM
Meadowlands	1-13	7:15 PM
Woodbine Mohawk Park	11	10:30 PM
Cal Expo	11-12	11:30 PM
Hong Kong Sha Tin	1-10	12:00 AM
AUD - Sunshine Coast	6-8	12:38 AM
AUA – Taree	7-8	12:50 AM
Japan - Hanshin RC	8-12	1:00 AM
AUC – Moruya	7	1:10 AM
TVG2
TRACKS	RACES	1ST POST IN EST
Fair Grounds	1-11	12:00 PM
Mahoning Valley	2	12:42 PM
Tampa Bay Downs	2-10	12:42 PM
Laurel Park	2-9	12:54 PM
Hawthorne	6-8	3:25 PM

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

$1.1 million bet into the Gulfstream opener today, half a million wagered into the Pick 5.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Keep an eye on: Two days out but Saturday at Aqueduct, Todd Pletcher debuts Inspiration Point, a 2-year-old son to California Chrome who was purchased for $750,000 by big-time owners Mike Repole (Vitamin Water) and Vinny Viola (Florida Panthers). And out of an Unbridled's Song mare.

That was an ugly and disappointing first race. Much work to do.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

I wouldn't be surprised if Gulf's Pick 6 reaches $7 million tomorrow (Saturday). That may be a stretch as one estimate from the source track mentioned $4 million.

It passed $6.1 million at last check. Money is pouring into Gulf today

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

2019 Harness Horse of the Year Shartin N Retired/sold for breeding purposes

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, December 19, 2020

• Todd Pletcher is $2,266,000+ away from $400,000,000 earned in a lifetime. He is the winningest trainer in terms of money earned in North America history.

Aqueduct (New York):

• Handle: Approximately $9,000,000 bet
• Jose Lezcano (3), Eric Cancel (3) and Manny Franco (2; the opener and finale) won eight of the ten races. Franco turned 26 years of age today.
• Trainers: Unlike the riders, no one repeated a win.
• Race 10: The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $35,000.
• Race 9: Backsideofthemoon (Jose Lezcano/Rudy Rodriguez) -- the oldest horse in the race at 8 years of age -- romped by 6 lengths in the $100,000 Queens County Stakes.
• Race 7: Even Santa Claus made it to the winner's circle.
• Race 1: Back Channel (Jose Lezcano/Linda Rice) was sent off at 1-to-5 but finished third. He is 5 0-3-2 lifetime. Though he has hit the board in every effort, the $400,000 purchase may have acquired that ability to not want to win. Risk Model (Manny Franco/Chad Brown/Klaravich Stables), a $390,000 purchase, did find glory for the first time in six career starts.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Xavier Perez-John Robb teamed to go a perfect 3 3-0-0. They are often paired and form a good duo.

Charles Town (West Virginia):

• Closing day: Today was the final day of the meet. The track is dark until January 8, 2021.
• Handle: $231,518 was bet per race who broke the record set in 2019 by 48%.
• Leading jockey: Arnaldo Bocachica with 160 wins, his third riders' title at the track.
• Leading trainer: Jeff Runco won 93 times and gave his the track's trainers' title for the 15th straight year.

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Handle: Well over $4 million.
• Samy Camacho rode a natural hat trick. He now leads the meet by two wins with a total of 19.
• Jon Arnett was 2-for-2. The trainer is based at Prairie Meadows (Iowa) and trying Florida for the first time. He has over 2,000 lifetime wins.
• Race 4: Holy Diver (Chad Lindsay/Cody Axmaker) won at 59-to-1 won and paid an exorbitant $120.20. The horse is 4-for-54 lifetime. I mentioned him in his prior start since he ran at Arapahoe in Colorado. I didn't recall the last horse to run there and then a Florida a track. I certainly don't recall the last winner at a Florida track who raced the same year in Colorado. The jockey, from Texas, won his first lifetime race on New Years' Day 2016 at Tampa Bay Downs.
• Replay show: Race Replays/Track Video (tampabaydowns.com)

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Handle: The final tally for Gulfstream was $17.5 million. There was a sense throughout the day that the money was going to exceed expectations. The Rainbow 6 had over $5.3 million pumped into the existing $800k+. I thought the track's guess yesterday that $4 million was the target was a little low.
• Tyler Gaffalione had another terrific day by producing four winners. He is second only to Irad Ortiz, Jr. in victories this year in North America.
• Tyler Gaffalione and Irad Ortiz, Jr. combined to win six straight races.
  
• Irad Ortiz, Jr., the winningest rider in North America this year, added three victories. His 17 wins at the meet is third best and he is riding at a 28% winning clip which is, needless to say, exceptional. He is the lone rider in North America to exceed $20 million in earnings this year.
• Luis Saez and Paco Lopez are tied atop the riders' standings with 21 wins.
• Race 11: Kentucky Pharoah (Julien Leparoux/Jack Sisterson) won at 5-to-1, bet down from a 20-to-1 morning line. The win was the jockey's first since November 28. He was 0-for-34 at the meet prior to the victory. The $.20 Pick 6 paid over $7,000 to all winners. The pool exceeded $6.1 million.
• Race 10: Sleepy Eyes Todd (Tyler Gaffalione/Miguel Silva) won the Grade 3 $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes in his first race at Gulfstream, This year alone he has raced at tracks in Kentucky, California, West Virginia, Texas (two) and Nebraska. He won for the 8th time in 15 lifetime starts. The 4-year-old colt was purchased for only $9,000 and yet has earned over $740,000.
• Race 9: The original 1-2-3 finish was of titanic trainers Todd Pletcher-Chad Brown-Pletcher but then after an objection overturned the place finisher, Pletcher was 1-2.
• Race 8: Greyes Creek (Tyler Gaffalione/Chad Brown), a $850,000 purchase by former Boston Scientific CFO Larry Best, won for the third time in seven starts.
• Race 4: Cowardly Act (Angel Arroyo/Anthony Quartarolo) won at 51-to-1 and paid $105.80. The 2-year-old gelding failed to hit the board in his other six starts including his past two runs which were at Mahoning Valley in Ohio. Both bombs at the two Florida tracks were within a few minutes of each other.
• Replay show:

​

Hawthorne (Illinois):

• Julio Felix rode four times for Hugh Robertson and won three.
• Hugh Robertson has a 5-win lead atop the trainers' standings.
• Race 2: The favorite wired the field by more than 11 lengths.
• Race 1: Brittany Vanden Berg, a former jockey who is in her second year of training, won with her lone starter on the card. She is a solid 32% at the meet 38 12-7-3.
• Closing day of the meet: December 27.

Fair Grounds (Louisiana):

• Card: 13 races, 7 purses were $50,000 and the remainder were $75,000.
• Race 13: Maxfield (Florent Geroux/Brendan Walsh), who was getting some buzz as a top Kentucky Derby horse earlier this year before injury sidelined his efforts, improved to a perfect 4 4-0-0. The 2-time graded stakes winner was out for the first time since May 23. He should create additional attention as a 4-year-old next year.
• Race 12: Prate (Florent Geroux/Brad Cox) debuted to a 4+ length win. A 6-to-1 morning line, he was bet down to 1-1 favorite. The 2-year-old son to Into Mischief ran 6 furlongs in 1:09.81. Another potential star in the Cox barn, there has been much post-race chatter regarding his effort. The 2-year-old colt is owned by Juddmonte Farms (Prince Khalid bin Abdullah of Saudi Arabia). That outfit has owned many graded stakes winners with Arrogate being the most famous.

​

• Florent Geroux added four wins to his strong 2020 season. He likely will finish the year with his third best money earned total at well over $14 million. He is 49 13-13-6 (27%/65%) this meet.
• Thomas Amoss sent out five horses and won three times. He has over 3,800 wins in his illustrious career. Only 15 trainers have more victories in North America history.
• James Graham's two wins put him in first place at the meet with 18 victories.

Remington (Oklahoma):

• Race 8: Local legend Welder (David Cabrera/Theresa Luneack) tied the track record for wins at 15. The 7-year-old gelding, who is a 2-time Horse of the Year in Oklahoma, has earned over $1.2 million and is the all-time stakes winner in Remington Park history with 11. He is 38 26-5-4 lifetime including 31 25-3-1 in Oklahoma and won 11 straight stakes. The trainer has 73 lifetime wins. She conditions for a local farm.

Track	Starts	1st	2nd	3rd
Remington (Oklahoma)	20	15	3	1
Will Rogers (Oklahoma)	11	10	0	0
Prairie Meadows (Iowa)	6	1	2	2
Oaklawn (Arkansas)	1	0	0	1
Totals	38	26	5	4

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Los Alamitos (California):

• Race 4: Spielberg (Flavien Prat/Bob Baffert) finally produced as he won the Grade 2 $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity. The $1,000,000 colt won for the second time in six starts and earned 10 points towards entry in the Ky. Derby. This was the final Ky. Derby prep of 2020 for the 2021 running. The Great One (Abel Cedillo/Doug O'Neill) was nosed out for victory at 33-to-1. That colt, a Louisiana bred, was named after Wayne Gretzky, is sired by Nyquist (named after Gustav Nyquist) and owned by Erik Johnson of the Colorado Avalanche. He received 4 points towards entry into the Kentucky Derby. Baffert has won this race a record 13 times and that includes a current stretch of seven (1997, 1999, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020).

​

• Leading jockeys: Juan Hernandez, 11; Abel Cedillo, 10; Jessica Pyfer, 9.
• Leading trainers: Jonathan Wong, 5; Bob Baffert, 4; Doug O'Neill, 4; Steven Miyadi, 4; Isidro Tamayo, 4.
• Closing day: Today.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The photo finish between Spielberg and The Great One for the Kentucky Derby prep run today in California.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

TVG and TVG2 schedules for Sunday are below. In addition free live streams to simulcast feeds from each track are not available but those that do stream online:

LAUREL (MD): Streaming Video | Laurel Park
GULFSTREAM (FL): Live Stream | World-Class Thoroughbred Horse Racing | Gulfstream Park​

Broadcast schedule for Sunday, December 20, 2020. All posted time is subject to change.

TVG
TRACKS	RACES	1ST POST IN EST
ZA – Scottsville	1-8	5:25 AM
FR – Pau	1-9	5:40 AM
DK – Aalborg	1-2	6:45 AM
FR – Vincennes	5-7	7:25 AM
IR – Thurles	1-7	7:30 AM
GB – Fakenham	1-3	7:45 AM
GB – Southwell	1-5	9:15 AM
FR - Lyon La Soie	1-2	10:42 AM
Aqueduct	1-10	11:50 AM
Gulfstream Park	1-11	12:05 PM
Laurel Park	1-5	12:25 PM
Tampa Bay Downs	1-5	12:42 PM
Hawthorne	8-9	1:55 PM
Fair Grounds	1-10	2:00 PM
Los Alamitos TBred	1-10	3:00 PM
Mountaineer	1-9	7:00 PM
Pompano Park	2,9-13	7:20 PM
Remington Park	1-10	8:00 PM
Los Alamitos	1-8	8:30 PM
AUA – Scone	5	9:30 PM
TVG2
TRACKS	RACES	1ST POST IN EST
Laurel Park	3-9	12:25 PM
Tampa Bay Downs	3-9	12:42 PM
Hawthorne	7-8	1:55 PM
Fair Grounds	1-9	2:00 PM

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[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, December 20, 2020

• Trevor McCarthy and Katie Davis wed during the past week. The jockeys are usually based at Laurel though they plan to ride at Aqueduct during the winter.

Aqueduct (New York):

• Handle: Just under $9 million.
• Race 7: Zoomer (Luis Cardenas/Bobby Klesaris) won and paid $44.60. The jockey rides with a 7-pound bug. He has shown skill that could be advantageous during this meet. I also noticed that he isn't intimidated by the rail.
• Race 6: R Working Girl (Kendrick Carmouche/Wesley Ward) won. The trainer is a brilliant 31% in 2020 with 1st-time starters. The $1 Pick 3 paid an enormous $6,228.
• Race 5: Jackie Milton (Angel Rodriguez/Wayne Potts) paid $77.50.
• Race 4: Overtook (Dylan Davis/Todd Pletcher) broke his maiden in his third try. The $1,000,000 horse is owned by Mike Repole (Vitamin Water), Vinny Viola (Florida Panthers) and Ireland-based heavyweights Tabor, Magnier & Smith.
• Vacationing: The track is closed until New Years' Eve. The $150,000 Jerome highlights the January 1, 2021 card.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Jevian Toledo was extraordinary today going 7 4-0-2. The only time he was off the board was when he rode for Brittany Russell.

​

• Sheldon Russell was off his mounts today.

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Open for business: Tampa Bay ran a Sunday card for the first time this meet. They will run the next 20 Sundays except Easter on April 4. Closing day is May 2, though they will run their annual June 30-July 1 fiscal policy days.
• Handle: Over $3 million.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Tyler Gaffalione won three times. At one stretch the past two days, he had a remarkable 11 7-0-4 mark. Come on voters, do the right thing! Nominate him for an Eclipse Award as Jockey of the Year.
• Race 4: Comp'd (Tyler Gaffalione/Fernando Abreu) was the only first-time starter and galloped to a victory at 11-to-1. Unbridled d'Oro (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Todd Pletcher) placed.
• Race 7: Zaajel (Luis Saez/Todd Pletcher) broke her maiden in fine form winning her debut by more than 7 lengths and at somewhat gaudy odds of 3-to-1. The 2-year-old filly is a daughter to Street Sense. Owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum (Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE) of Shadwell Stable. After the skillful debut, Pletcher said she will be pointed towards longer distances. She did 7 furlongs in 1:23.81 today.

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• Race 11: For the second straight day, the tandem of Julien Leparoux-Jack Sisterson won the finale. Leparoux is now 2-for-38 at the meet.
• Junior Alvarado is 1-for-34 this meet. I didn't expect him to be an immediate hit but that figure is dreadful.
• Handle: $8.9 million.
• Replay show:

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Hawthorne (Illinois):

• Brittany Vanden Berg, a former jockey who is in her second year of training, won and finished third with her two starters. She is a solid 40 13-7-4 (33%/60%) at the meet.
• Hugh Robertson, father to Canterbury-based trainer McLean Robertson, is 68 21-13-9 (31%/63%) at the meet. The Nebraska-native has been training since 1971.

Fair Grounds (Louisiana):

• Race 10: Bombs away in the finale as a 41-1 shot helped produce astronomical payouts of $2,789 for a $.50 Pick 3, $11,000+ for a $.50 Pick 4 and $84,000+ for a $.50 Pick 5.
• Race 8: A 31-to-1 shot won as a first-time starter and paved the way for high exotic payouts to come.
• Race 5: Lady Kaza (Aubrie Green/Glenn Delahoussaye) romped by more than 10 lengths.
• Trainers: Seven trainers have either 8, 9 or 10 wins. It has been a steady battle atop the standings.

Golden Gate Fields (California):

• Re-opening date: December 26 is the scheduled opening date for the Winter meet and it appears as of now that date remains the target. The track has not held live races since November 12 due to county and regional concerns with the C-virus. The past meet was supposed to end December 13.

Los Alamitos (California):

• Handle: Over $6 million.
• Race 9: Play Chicken (Mario Gutierrez/Doug O'Neill) won the $100,000 King Glorious Stakes and paid $29.00. The horse is 3 2-0-0 lifetime and owned by longtime supporter of the sport and Detroit Red Wings' fan Paul Reddam.

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• Closing day: Today ended the 11-day meet. The track has three meets scheduled for 2021 with the first held June 24 to July 4.
• Leading rider: Abel Cedillo with 13 wins.
• Leading trainers: Bob Baffert, Doug O'Neill and Jonathan Wong each with five winners.
• Totals: With Golden Gate shutting its doors for many racing days, Los Al amassed a sizeable handle. Trainers from the north entered here, too, which made for deeper fields.

Santa Anita (California):

• Opening day December 26: The only track in southern Cal that will operate for the next few months. Its highly anticipated and popular 6-month winter/spring meet begins December 26 and runs until June 20.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Road to the Kentucky Derby - After 9 races in the U.S.

Date	Race	Track	Distance	1st-4th (points)
9/5	Iroquois	CD	1 mile	Sittin On Go (10), Midnight Bourbon (4), Super Stock (2), Therideofalifetime (1)
9/26	American Pharoah	SA	1 1/16 miles	Get Her Number (10), Rombauer (4), Spielberg (2), Waspirant (1)
10/3	Breeders' Futurity	Kee	1 1/16 miles	Essential Quality (10), Keepmeinmind (4), Super Stock (2), Upstriker (1)
10/10	Champagne	Bel	1 mile	Jackie's Warrior (10), Reinvestment Risk (4), Midnight Bourbon (2), Civil War (1)
11/6	Breeders' Cup Juvenile	Kee	1 1/16 miles	Essential Quality (20), Hot Rod Charlie (8), Keepmeinmind (4), Jackie's Warrior (2)
11/28	Kentucky Jockey Club	CD	1 1/16 miles	Keepmeinmind (10), Smiley Sobotka (4), Arabian Prince (2), Swill (1)
12/5	Remsen	AQU	1 1/8 miles	Brooklyn Strong (10), Ten for Ten (4), Known Agenda (2), Pickin' Time (1)
12/18	Springboard Mile	RP	1 mile	Senor Buscador (0), Cowan (4), Red N Wild (0), Saffa's Day (0) -- Due to LASIX, the point system is accurate as shown.
12/19	Los Alamitos Futurity	LRC	1 1/16 miles	Spielberg (10), The Great One (4), Petruchio (2), Red Flag (1)

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Road to the Kentucky Derby - Points leaders. Based on races held. This does not include horses who were in non-Derby preps.

Rank	Horse	Pts	Trainer	Stakes earnings*
1	Essential Quality	30	Brad Cox	$1,280,000
2	Keepmeinmind	18	Robertino Diodoro	$379,040
3	Jackie's Warrior	12	Steve Asmussen	$457,500
4	Spielberg	12	Bob Baffert	$206,000
5	Get Her Number	10	Peter Miller	$186,000
6	Sittin On Go	10	Dale Romans	$139,800
7	Brooklyn Strong	10	Daniel Velazquez	$82,500
8	Hot Rod Charlie	8	Doug O'Neill	$340,000
9	Midnight Bourbon	6	Steve Asmussen	$68,000
10	Cowan	4	Steve Asmussen	$290,477
11	Rombauer	4	Michael McCarthy	$120,500
12	Reinvestment Risk	4	Chad Brown	$120,000
13	Super Stock	4	Steve Asmussen	$59,000
14	Ten for Ten	4	Shug McGaughey III	$50,000
15	The Great One	4	Doug O'Neill	$40,500
16	Smiley Sobotka	4	Dale Romans	$38,400
17	Arabian Prince	2	Dallas Stewart	$24,063
18	Petruchio	2	Richard Mandella	$24,000
19	Known Agenda	2	Todd Pletcher	$18,000
20	Pickin' Time	1	Kelly Breen	$153,125
21	Red Flag	1	John Shirreffs	$72,000
22	Therideofalifetime	1	Ignacio Correas IV	$39,500
23	Upstriker	1	Ron Moquett	$20,000
24	Waspirant	1	John Shirreffs	$18,000
25	Civil War	1	Tom Albertrani	$15,000
26	Swill	1	Brad Cox	$9,600

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[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Charles Town in West Virginia is the latest track to have an all-time annual high handle in 2020. The meet ended on Saturday. Charles Town opened in 1933. The next meet opens January 8, 2021.

The official numbers: $25.6 million bet. The $231,518 bet per race established a track record and is a 48% increase from 2019 when $156,311 set the now broken mark. In 2009, $80,000+ per race was wagered.