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

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Hip 269: Indelible, who is pregnant to 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, was just sold for $1,600,000.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Getting close to the end of the sale (Hip 288 is the final number and this is Authentic's mother Flawless). More than $74 million spent on 133 horses sold.

Last year: 128 sold for $68.0 million.

Hip 272 is the latest sold for more than a million dollars. He is an unnamed son to Into Mischief and Miss Besilu.

Hip 273 is Miss Besilu who is currently pregnant again to Into Mischief. The mother is now being sold. The boys are bidding big time. SOLD: Miss Besilu for $2.2 million.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Hip 286:

​

Hip 288: Flawless, who is pregnant to Into Mischief and is Authentic's mother, is the final horse up for bids. She should bring millions. Here we go....

SOLD: $4.1 million!

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Final tally on today's Fasig-Tipton sale in Lexington, Ky.

The total of $80 million+ was the second highest mark dating to 2010. Twenty-two heads sold for $1,000,000 or more.

From Boyd Browning, Jr., the president of F-T:

"A remarkable evening....If someone would have told me or you all six months ago when our world kind of changed, or six weeks ago, six days ago, or yesterday that we were going to sell $80 million of horses tonight and 22 for $1 million or more, they probably would have taken me out of here in a straitjacket and said he is now delusional. There's no magic. The success of this sale was built upon having a tremendous catalog of quality horses. It was a spectacular catalog...There's an awful lot of people who work hard on a year-round basis to recruit and to build the relationships with the people because we care about them and we care about their horses."​

2020:

11/08/2020

142 sold

$80,237,000

$565,049 (avg.)

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

2019:

11/05/2019

128 sold

$68,011,000

$531,336 (avg.)

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Spendthrift Farm (Kentucky) spent $25 million for 12 horses, averaging $2,085,833. They were the biggest spenders on Sunday.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Bob Baffert's 2020 Breeders' Cup Classic trio have all been retired.

• Maximum Security -- retired to Ashford Stud. Will begin to cover mares in 2021.
• Improbable -- retired to WinStar Farm. Will begin to cover mares in 2021.
• Authentic -- retired to Spendthrift Farm. Will begin to cover mares in 2021 for the high sum of $75,000. That means Authentic will be available to stud next to his sire (father) Into Mischief.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Monday was the start of the Keeneland Breeding Stock Sale that continues until November 18. There were eight horses purchased for $1,000,000 or more.

I mentioned (post #917) during the F-T sale on Sunday that Larry Best was quiet until he made a $1.3 million purchase. That could be because he concentrated his finances more so on this sale. On Monday, he made the two largest purchases of the day:

• Concrete Rose, a 4-year-old filly, for $1.95 million who was 7-6-0-0 lifetime. "I have admired Concrete Rose for a long time. I have a multiple Grade 1 winner, Cambier Parc, and Concrete Rose beat her and I said, ‘Wow, what a horse,’ ” said Best.
• Indian Miss, an 11-year-old mare, for $1.9 million. She was sold in 2018 for $240,000. Best said he plans to breed her to Instagrand, a son of Into Mischief .

In total, 128 horses grossed $49,775,000 which was down from 2019.

Book #	Session #	# Hips	Date	Start Time
1	1	244	Monday, Nov. 9	12:00 p.m.
2	1	374	Tuesday, Nov. 10	10:00 a.m.
2	2	375	Wednesday, Nov. 11	10:00 a.m.
3	1	399	Tuesday, Nov. 12	10:00 a.m.
3	2	401	Friday, Nov. 13	10:00 a.m.
4	1	410	Saturday, Nov. 14	10:00 a.m.
4	2	410	Sunday, Nov. 15	10:00 a.m.
5	1	404	Monday, Nov. 16	10:00 a.m.
5	2	405	Tuesday, Nov. 17	10:00 a.m.
5	3	355	Wednesday, Nov. 18	10:00 a.m.

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Latest stars to be retired:

Starship Jubilee, the 2019 Canadian Horse of the Year who won nine graded stakes. The 7-year-old Florida-bred mare was 39 19-5-3 and earned over $2 million. She was purchased for $425,000 at the Keeneland November 2018 sale (same annual sale ongoing this week). She lost her jockey in her finale during Breeders' Cup weekend but won five of her previous six races in 2020 including the $1,000,000 Woodbine Mile.



Serengeti Empress, multiple graded stakes winner including two grade I's. The 4-year-old finished her career 19 7-5-1 with over $2.1 million earned. She will be bred to Into Mischief. She was bought at the Keeneland September 2017 Yearling Sale for $70,000 by Joel Politi, an orthopedic surgeon from Ohio, who hit a resounding home run. She broke her maiden at Indiana Grand in 2018 and famously won the Pocahontas the same year by 19 1/2 lengths.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Through three days of the current Keeneland sale, $106 million has been spent on 540 horses. A brisk pace though down slightly from last year not unexpectedly. Good numbers overall.

The one-day F-T sale on Sunday netted $80 million which was the the second highest total dating to 2010.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Thursday, November 12, 2020

• Keeneland Breeding Stock Sale, Day 4: 227 horses sold for gross receipts of $13,153,000, an average price of $57,943.
  • F-T one day sale (Nov. 8): $80,237,000
  • Keeneland Breeding Stock (through 4 days; ends Nov. 18): $120,262,000. Nine horses have sold for $1 million or more.
• Tiz the Law: John Velazquez will replace Manny Franco on board Tiz the Law for the Pegasus World Cup January 23 at Gulfstream. Barclay Tagg, trainer, mixed no words concerning Franco's ride following the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Velazquez is a Hall of Famer who has reached god-like status in New York. Franco has had two questionable rides in major races and though not as established as Velazquez has become a favorite of many handicappers. Franco may be staying in New York this winter while Johnny V. bolts the cold as is the norm and that could be a factor but the timing suggests trainer/owner unhappiness and I would imagine Franco heads south.

If you lose Andy Serling in New York.... well, he IS a huge booster of Franco.



Hey! Lookee here. Some Jeremy Rose appreciation.

​

Aqueduct (New York):

• Race 1: Jose Ortiz, 0-for-18 in two days in Kentucky, won the opener once he returned to his home base.
• Race 2: Joel Rosario won for the 2,999th time.
• Race 4: Dylan Davis rode the winner for his brother Edmund. The trainer won for the fifth time in his career (104 starts), the second time with the brother riding.
• Race 6: Nice finish involving the Ortiz brothers.
• Track conditions: sloppy.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Russells Doing Things: Sheldon Russell and his wife Brittany finished 2 1-0-1 today to add to their awesomeness this meet. Sheldon is 68 20-7-10 (29%/54%) at the meet. Brittany is 118 32-18-21 (27%/60%) on the year and 19 11-2-5 (58%/95%) at the meet. She is tied for the meet lead in victories with Claudio Gonzalez who has had 35 more starters and has been on a strong run in Maryland. Russeldoingthings, believe it or not is named not for the power couple, won and paid $7.00. The other time they teamed, they finished third and paid $5.60 with a 6-to-1 shot. They are nearly 40% this year when teaming.

​

• Track conditions: sloppy.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Race 1: Trainer James Kelley won for the first time lifetime with his 26th start.
• Race 2: Premier Wish (Adam Beschizza/Joe Sharp) won as the lone first-time starter and at 6-to-1. The betting angle works again. Track handicapper Scott Hazelton picked up on it, too, as he put the selection on top despite a 2-for-5 in the race. More than $19,000 of the $24,000 was bet on the favorite in the show pool. Off the board! Bridge jumpers bit the bullet.
• Adam Beschizza rode three winners on board five mounts. One of his best days since coming to the U.S. from England five years ago.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Welder runs tonight at Remington (Oklahoma) at 11:23 pm ET (10:23 pm Central Time) and will try to win for a 25th time. The 7-year-old is in race 8 tonight and has 2-to-5 morning line odds.

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post (CT)
Race 1	$29,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 Mile	Dirt	9	7:07 PM
Race 2	$12,800	Claiming	5 Furlongs	Turf	10	7:35 PM
Race 3	$36,975	Maiden Special Weight	5 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	12	8:03 PM
Race 4	$9,680	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	9	8:31 PM
Race 5	$15,840	Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Turf	11	8:59 PM
Race 6	$75,000	Slide Show S.	1 Mile	Dirt	7	9:27 PM
Race 7	$75,000	Don C. McNeill S.	1 Mile	Dirt	7	9:55 PM
Race 8	$70,000	Silver Goblin S.	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	6	10:23 PM
Race 9	$8,000	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	12	10:51 PM

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

From his most recent race on October 13:

Race 7: Welder (David Cabrera/Theresa Luneack) continued his awesomeness in his home state of Oklahoma by winning the $130,000 Oklahoma Classic Sprint Stakes. The 7-year-old gelding, who is a 2-time Horse of the Year in Oklahoma, has earned over $1.1 million. He is 36 24-5-4 lifetime including 29 23-3-1 in OK and won a 10th straight stakes. The trainer has 70 lifetime wins and conditions for a local farm. Welder's record by track:​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Friday, November 13, 2020

• Javier Casetellano, former Eclipse Award winner as Jockey of the Year in North America, is having hip surgery and will be sidelined until some time in January, perhaps returning in time for the Pegasus World Cup on the 23rd. The surgery is considered minor. However, he will ride Saturday.

Keeneland Breeding Stock Sale

• F-T one day sale (Nov. 8): $80,237,000
• Keeneland Breeding Stock (through 5 days; ends Nov. 18): $134,078,000. Nine horses have sold for $1 million or more.

Aqueduct (New York):

• Race day: New York was ugly today. There were 38 scratches in 9 races. In race 5, 1 through 12 were scratched except the 4 horse. In the 8th, 1 through 12 were out except 4, 9 and 10. Others drew in.
• Handle: Over $6,000,000 bet.
• Race 1: Joel Rosario won for the 2,999th time. Hit the Woah, sired by the Australian-bred Vancouver and trained by Christophe Clement, looked beat early but rebounded gallantly. There is a disagreement regarding win totals -- not uncommon -- since some venues outside of the U.S. and Canada have incomplete data. By NYRA standards, Rosario has 2,999 wins although no one disputes his total is 3,000+.
• Race 5: It is strange to see a final result of 14-16-13-4-15. Scratches galore.
• Race 7: Full Impact (Javier Castellano/Kelly Breen) won for the second time in two starts. He debuted to a win at the trainer's home base of Monmouth (New Jersey). The 3-year-old colt could be one to follow and is owned by Gary and Mary West.

​

• Race 9: Eric Cancel won the finale yet again. An odd tendency.
• Kendrick Carmouche added two wins to his meet lead of 11.
• Bruce Levine trained two winners. He has just 14 wins this year but over 2,100 lifetime.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Race 7: Hello Hot Rod (Sheldon Russell/Brittany Russell) opened at 1-to-9 -- the shortest odds possible -- and won by 4 lengths at 2-to-5 to give the husband-wife yet another win. Near 40% when teaming this year. Sheldon is 74 21-7-11 (28%/53%) at the meet. Brittany is 20 12-2-5 (60%/95%). She is the winningest trainer at the meet with one more win than Claudio Gonzalez who has sent out 36 more starters. The meet closes at the end of December.

Gulfstream Park West (Florida):

• Closing day: November 28. Most likely the last year the former Calder operates as a horse race track.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Jockeys: Florent Geroux (16 wins; 1 today), Tyler Gaffalione (15 wins; 2 today) and Ricardo Santana., Jr. (15 wins; 2 today) are in a three-way battle for meet supremacy. The meet runs through November 29.
• Trainer: Michael Maker sent out six horses and won three times. He leads the meet with 10 victories.

Hawthorne (Illinois):

• All in the Family: Leonard Slager, a trainer with a small stock, won races 3 and 4. He has been training since the 1970s and has 201 lifetime wins. His son Michael followed by winning race 5 and is on a 2-race win streak after beginning the year with 11 losses.

Remington (Oklahoma):

• Race 8: Welder (David Cabrera/Theresa Luneack) continued his awesomeness in his home state of Oklahoma by winning the $75,000 Silver Goblin Stakes for the fourth straight year. The 7-year-old gelding, who is a 2-time Horse of the Year in Oklahoma, has earned approximately $1.2 million and is the all-time stakes winner in Remington Park history with 11. He is 37 25-5-4 lifetime including 30 24-3-1 in OK and won an 11th straight stakes. The trainer has 72 lifetime wins. She conditions for a local farm.

​

• Welder's record by track:

Track	Starts	1st	2nd	3rd
Remington (Oklahoma)	19	14	3	1
Will Rogers (Oklahoma)	11	10	0	0
Prairie Meadows (Iowa)	6	1	2	2
Oaklawn (Arkansas)	1	0	0	1
Totals	37	25	5	4

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Golden Gate (California):

• Canceled: No racing held today due to positive tests of C-virus. The track will remain closed through November 20. The meet is scheduled to close December 13

Del Mar (California):

• Handle: $9,000,000. I believe that is the high of the day, at least from those tracks that report handles.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, November 14, 2020
Bloodhorse Sales:

• F-T one day sale (Nov. 8): $80,237,000
• Keeneland Breeding Stock (through 6 days; ends Nov. 18): $140.7 million.

Aqueduct (New York):

• Race 1: Halpert (Joel Rosario/Jeremiah Englehart) won the opener which gave the jockey his 3,000th lifetime win in North America. A dispute surfaced since Camerero in Puerto Rico has incomplete data and to be consistent none of the wins count towards totalsl otherwise, he won more than 3,000 in North America prior to this race. Rosario won three times today. He is on my list as one of the three finalists for Eclipse Award Jockey of the Year. Right about now, I may toss Tyler Gaffalione along with the obvious pick of Irad Ortiz, Jr. in my final three. Luis Saez and Jose Ortiz will garner much support, too. It will in all probability be the Ortiz brothers and someone else among the final three when the official selections are announced.

​

• Race 7: A false start caused much confusion. Multiple horses broke through the gate but the race eventually went off without any issues.
• Race 9: Therapist (Javier Castellano/Christophe Clement) finished with a tenacious drive to win the $100,000 Artie Schiller Stakes.
• Javier Castellano, who is scheduled to have hip surgery, rode two winners. Figure that one out and let us know!
• Manny Franco woke from his slumber with two wins for Rudy Rodriguez. He had just two wins with 23 rides this month.
• Turf racing: two races off, two races on the inner course and two races on the outer course. New York had terrible weather yesterday.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Race 7: Street Lute (Xavier Perez/John Robb) was sent off the favorite and won the $100,000 Smart Halo. Out of Sorts (Sheldon Russell/Brittany Russell) placed after a tough start. It was a rare non-win for the trainer at the meet who is now 21 12-3-5 (57%/95%). Teaming with her husband as the rider, they are around 37% in 2020.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Leading Jockeys: Florent Geroux (17 wins; 1 today), Ricardo Santana, Jr. (17 wins; 2 today) and Tyler Gaffalione (16 wins; 1 today) are in a three-way battle for meet supremacy. The meet runs through November 29.
• Race 10: Princess Grace (Florent Geroux/Michael Stidham) won the Grade 3 $200,000 Mrs. Revere Stakes. It was the only graded stakes in the U.S. this day. The race was moved from turf to dirt due to concerns over track conditions. Turf racing at the facility will be removed until at least Nov. 22.

​

Del Mar (California):

• Race 2: Causeididitmyway (Eswan Flores/Sal Gonzalez) pulled the stunner of the day winning at 52-to-1. The longest shot in the race paid $106.60 and entered off four races at Sunland in New Mexico including three non-placed finishes.
• Race 3: The $2 daily double paid an astonishing $1,504.20.
• Race 4: The $.50 Pick 3 paid over $1,100.
• Race 5: The $.50 Pick 4 paid over $21,000. The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $29,000.
• Race 8: Astute (Mike Smith/Richard Mandella) won the $100,000 Desi Arnez Stakes by over 7 lengths. The 2-year-old filly is 2-for-2 lifetime and received an 87 Beyer, the highest issued for any 2-year-old filly in the state this year, for her performance. She was a $425,000 purchase. Bob Baffert had three entered, one was scratched while the others finished 3rd and 4th. Private Mischief, a $750,000 Into Mischief (ridden by Drayden Van Dyke) sired purchase who was sent off the 1-to-2 favorite flattened near the stretch.

​

• Race 9: The $.50 Pick 6 paid over $41,000.

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Race 3: Mark Casse, a trainer who is a member of both the Canadian and U.S. Halls of Fame, won for the 2,999th time.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Finally some resolve on the surgery to Javier Castellano which will performed on Monday by the team physician of the NY Rangers/Giants. It was a bit awkward to announce such a surgery prior to a race day. Many handicappers being inquisitive and skeptical by nature to start. He will also ride tomorrow (Sunday).

He said the surgery -- arthroscopic on the right side -- was something he put off in the past but with the racing schedule light between the Breeders' Cup and the start of the new year, the timing was ideal.

Castellano is expected out 6-to-8 weeks. He is the 25th winningest rider in history by wins and his $354.6 million earned is second all-time.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, November 15, 2020

• Cancellations: Mountaineer (West Virginia), Hawthorne (Illinois), Golden Gate (California) and Woodbine (Ontario) all canceled for different reasons including a power outage in Illinois and weather in Toronto.
• Mark Casse, idle until Thursday, will try to get his 3,000th lifetime winner. The trainer is in both the U.S. and Canadian Hall of Fame.
• Bloodhorse Sales:
  • F-T one day sale (Nov. 8): $80,237,000
  • Keeneland Breeding Stock (through 7 days; ends Nov. 18): $146.4 million.

Aqueduct (New York):

• Handle: $9.5 million.
• Race 10: Prospect Mountain (Benjamin Hernandez/James Ferraro) debuted to a 62-to-1 shot victory and paid $126.00 The $1 exacta was $596.50. The $.50 tri was over $7,100. The $.10 supers (plural) were over $6,000 and $8,300 due to a dead-heat for fourth. The $.50 Pick 5 was over $34,000. The $.20 Pick 6 was over $21,000. Another life lesson about first-time starters though there were four in this race; however, two completed the trifecta at 62-to-1 and 57-to-1. A rarity indeed but they can do wonders.
• Race 9: Duopoly (Irad Ortiz. Jr./Chad Brown -- Klaravich Stables) won the $100,000 Winter Memories Stakes. There was a test of champions in this race as the winner wired the field but overcame stiff challenges. The 3-year-old filly is 5 3-0-0 with her two losses in Kentucky. The jockey, trainer and owner are all defending Eclipse Award winners of their respective categories.

​

• Race 7: Charlie Marquez, 17 years of age, won in a ride worthy of someone older . He could be a finalist for Apprentice of the Year. He rode in Maryland for much of the year.
• Race 2: Vacay (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Todd Pletcher) won the $100,000 Key Cents Stakes. The 2-year-old filly is 2 2-0-0.
• Kendrick Carmouche leads the meet with 11 wins but Joel Rosario (18 7-4-0, 39%/61%) and Irad Ortiz, Jr. (28 6-2-6, 21%/50%) are closing the gap. Ortiz had three winners today including 2-for-2 in stakes.
• Todd Pletcher, Christophe Clement and Rudy Rodriguez are with hot barns this meet which goes one month from Nov. 6 - Dec. 6.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Race 5: Princess Corey (Sheldon Russell/Brittany Russell) won after a 53-week layoff and the victory gave the husband-wife duo yet another win. They are nearly 40% when teaming this year. Sheldon is the leading rider at the meet with 22 wins. Brittany is 22 13-3-5 (59%/95%) and is the winningest trainer at the meet with one more win than Claudio Gonzalez who has sent out 38 more starters. The 3-year-old filly ran twice previously and was trained by Jason Servis and Todd Pletcher.

​

• Chalk: Favorites finished first (4 times) or second (twice) in six of the eight races.

Gulfstream Park West (Florida):

• Race 6: Sagamore Mischief (Edgar Prado/Timmy Hills) broke his maiden in his 13th try which included six second place finishes (five times this year). Prado is the 8th winningest jockey all-time in North America. Another Into Mischief winner. The gelding was bred in Maryland at Sagamore Farms which earlier this month stated intentions to be rid of horse racing and enter the "spirits" business of harvesting grains for their signature brand of whiskey.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Race 8: Caddo River (Florent Geroux/Brad Cox) wired the field and won by more than 9 lengths in a trouncing that may have the 2-year-old colt among early 2021 Kentucky Derby talk. The colt broke his maiden after two second place finishes.
• Jockeys: The big three all won today and current standings are Florent Geroux (19 wins), Ricardo Santana, Jr. (19 wins) and Tyler Gaffalione (17 wins).

Del Mar (California):

• Handle: Approximately $10.5 million bet today.
• Race 8: Red Flag (Victor Espinoza/John Shirreffs) trounced the field in the $100,000 Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes by more than seven lengths. The winner paid $23.40 and was the second largest odds at 10-to-1. Among the losers was Spielberg (Abel Cedillo/Bob Baffert), who does not seem to be worth his $1,000,000 purchase price now through five races.

​

• Richard Mandella is 12 6-2-3 (50%/92%) this meet. The Hall of Famer turned 70 years old earlier this month and has had plenty of Grade I winners over the years including Beholder, Pleasantly Perfect and The Tin Man.
• Umberto Rispoli won the first two turf races on this card.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

As has been stated here a few times, Illinois needed a severe kick. Horse racing, especially at the beautiful and historic Arlington Park, was in a slumber for too long. Churchill Downs, the parent company, seems apprehensive in revitalizing the main lifeline in the state. However, the secondary tracks are not waiting. First came Hawthorne, which is in the Chicago metro area, with the acceptance of sports betting on its property and an eventual modernized parlor. Now comes word that the smallish Fairmont, downstate near St. Louis, MO, will benefit from a multi-million dollar upgrade from a partnership with Fan Duel involving sports betting.

The St. Louis Derby will be re-activated, dormant since 2006, and a purse of $250,000 has been designated for the race. The track has been approved for 53 live dates in 2021. The sportsbook at Fairmont will open in 2021. The current owners are in their 20th year of operating the track which is 95 years of age.

Hawthorne could be the main artery in the state in the years that follow especially after at least $400 million will be poured into the revitalization.. Their simulcast feed is one of the easiest to assess and as such many handicappers are appreciative of the effort.

And while Illinois will never be confused with New York, Florida or Kentucky, if attaching sports betting and/or casinos to horse funds is what is needed to bolster the breeding industry as well as the purse structure, then everyone from the horsemen, to the local officials to track management should welcome the opportunity and raise Arlington to its natural prominence.

Arlington has the lavish past and is the most recognizable face in the upper Midwest. Churchill needs to make a decision. Save Arlington. This is too valuable an asset to lose to another real estate development.

Two down, one to go. Things are looking up for a change in Illinois.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sales: Approximately $237 million sold in Lexington, Ky this month.

• Fasig-Tipton one day sale (Nov. 8): $80,237,000
• Keeneland Breeding Stock (through 9 [of 10] days; ends today, Nov. 18): $156 million. Actual numbers: 2,060 horses for a gross of $156,257,200,

On Tuesday, Hidden Scroll, a son to Hard Spun, was the biggest seller at $525,000. He has just two wins in 8 starts and failed to hit the board in any graded stakes in a disappointing racing career that began with a stunning 14-length victory at Gulfstream. Hidden Scroll, at 4 years of age, will be transferred to the barn of Brad Cox from Bill Mott (two top conditioners) with the hope that his known pre-race antics and jitters can be suppressed.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Final Sales: Approximately $237 million spent in Lexington, Ky this month

• Fasig-Tipton one day sale (Nov. 8): $80,237,000
• Keeneland Breeding Stock (10 days, concluded Nov. 18): $157.8 million covering 2,286 sold.

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

• Aaron Gryder, who has over 3,900 lifetime wins in his 34-year career, will retire from riding later this month upon the closing of the Del Mar meet.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Tyler Gaffalione rode two winners to increase his total to 20 this meet. He is in a three-way battle for meet champ with Ricardo Santana, Jr. (21 wins) and Florent Geroux (19 wins). The meet ends November 29.
• Steve Asmussen and Michael Maker have each trained 12 winners to lead their division.

Gulfstream Park West (Florida):

• Luca Panici rode two long shots to victory today. He has brought home some prices this meet as evidenced today. Among his three rides, 3 2-0-1, he won with the longest shot at 19-to-1 and the second largest price at 8-to-1.
• Countdown: More than likely, Saturday, November 28 is the final day for horse racing at the venue once known as Calder which now has Jai Alai in addition to its popular casino in its 10th year. The track has hosted racing since 1971.
• Gulfstream 2021: As it appears, Gulfstream Park, operated by The Stronach Group, will increase its near-year round race schedule by 20 dates next year. Gulfstream Park West (ex-Calder), which is operated by Churchill Downs, hosted 40 days in recent years but leased the track to TSG. As such, there will probably be 20 less days of live racing in south Florida in 2021 from 2020. All racing appears to be headed for Gulfstream Park.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

An interesting poll on Paulick Report pertaining to 2020 Trainer of the Year. In 2019, the three finalists were Chad Brown (winner), Steve Asmussen and Brad Cox. I chose Cox and though Cox winning the Eclipse award is unlikely to happen, it seems at least one web site sees the shift.

Which among the following trainers would get your vote for an Eclipse Award for 2020?

• Steve Asmussen -- 9.57%
• Bob Baffert -- 13.85%
• Chad Brown -- 9.13%
• Brad Cox -- 52.52%
• Someone else -- 14.93%

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

ONTARIO DERBY

What: Grade 3. Belichick enters from winning the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown in a race that denied Mighty Heart a chance at history.
Where: Woodbine Racetrack, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
When: Saturday, November 21, 2020, Race 8
Time: 4:58 pm ET
Who: 3-year-olds
Distance: 1 1/8 mile
Surface: All-weather track (Tapeta)
Purse: $125,000
TV: TVG (all-day coverage of racing)
History: Inaugurated in 1972.​

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Field Pass (MD)	Kazushi Kimura	126	Michael J. Maker	2/1
2	Belichick (ON)	Luis Contreras	122	Josie Carroll	5/2
3	Mnemba Island (KY)	Emma-Jayne Wilson	120	Julia Carey	10/1
4	Lucky Curlin (KY)	Patrick Husbands	120	Mark E. Casse	6/1
5	Deviant (ON)	Jerome Lermyte	120	Mark E. Casse	20/1
6	Mighty Heart (ON)	Rafael Manuel Hernandez	124	Josie Carroll	7/2
7	Dune of Pilat (FR)	David Moran	120	Brendan P. Walsh	20/1
8	Malibu Mambo (ON)	Justin Stein	120	Kevin Attard	8/1

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

KENNEDY ROAD STAKES

What: Grade 2. Pink Floyd, the Canadian Sensation, will try to win this race for the third time (2017 and 2019). He is 32 26-1-1 lifetime
Where: Woodbine Racetrack, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
When: Saturday, November 21, 2020, Race 9
Time: 5:28 pm ET
Who: 3-year-old and up
Distance: 6 furlongs
Surface: All-weather track (Tapeta)
Purse: $175,000
TV: TVG (all-day coverage of racing)
History: Inaugurated in 1906. ​

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Souper Stonehenge (FL)	Emma-Jayne Wilson	121	Mark E. Casse	-
2	Ride a Comet (KY)	Patrick Husbands	121	Mark E. Casse	-
3	Eskiminzin (ON)	Darryll P. Holland	122	Carlos Grant	-
4	Silent Poet (ON)	Justin Stein	126	Nicholas Gonzalez	-
5	Dixie's Gamble (ON)	Luis Contreras	121	Josie Carroll	-
6	Roaring Forties (FL)	Kazushi Kimura	121	Daniel J. Vella	-
7	Pink Lloyd (ON)	Rafael Manuel Hernandez	128	Robert P. Tiller	-

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

Pink Lloyd data:

• Foaled: February 23, 2012
• Current jockey: Rafael Hernadez
• Trainer: Robert Tiller
• Money Earned: $1.57 million U.S.
• Ontario born and raised: All races run at Woodbine.
• Record: 32 26-1-1 (some would argue 31 26-1-1 considering the non-starter decision in one race)
  • 1st: 26 times
  • 2nd: once
  • 3rd: once
  • 4th: twice
  • 5th: twice
• Current winning streak: 5
• Current winning streak excluding the decision to make him a non-starter: 10
• Longest winning streak: 11
• Last loss (excluding non-starter DQ): October 27, 2018.
• Kennedy Road Stakes: Won in 2017 and 2019. Lost in 2016. Did not run in 2018.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Aqueduct (New York):

• Race 10: New York finales can often be funky. Today was no different. Mike Luzzi, in his lone ride, nearly wired the field at 23-to-1 but settled for second. Jose Lezcano, on board a 9-to-2 shot, won for just the second time with 28 mounts. That is surprisingly bad for him.
• Race 7: Lil Commissioner (Manny Franco/Rob Atras) won as the second largest odds on the board at 28-to-1. As pointed out by the astute Brooklyn Cowboy Kevin Cox, the 5-year-old gelding is now 5-for-5 lifetime when breaking from the rail and 2-for-21 in other positions.
• Race 2: Abel Castellano trained a winner for the 22nd time in his young career. It was his first winner at Aqueduct and second in New York (one also at Belmont). The former jockey who is a brother to the more famous Javier, rode until a switch in careers beginning in 2016. Most of his success has come at Delaware or Laurel.
• Race 1: Economic Policy (Jose Ortiz/Chad Brown/Klaravich Stables) was shockingly woeful at 2-to-5 today and finished off-the-board. The $210,000 purchase began his career with three losses but had won his prior two races.
• Linda Rice had a winner today to add to her total which is well over 2,000. She is involved in an ongoing hearing to determine whether she profited by providing gifts to certain members of New York racing.
• John Velazquez had a decent day even though he had just one winner. He finished 6 1-2-1, won with an 8-to-1 shot and placed with a 12-to-1.
• Junior Alvarado has been nearly invisible this meet. He is having an exceptional 2020 especially for those looking at exotics but this meet has been the subject of a search party.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Sheldon Russell rode two winners. He is 86 24-10-12 (28%/53%) at the meet.
• Brittany Russell placed at even money to bring her meet totals to 23 13-4-5 (57%/96%).
• Race 9: Full Dinner Jacket (Julian Pimentel/Kelly Rubley) upset the finale at 21-to-1. Reassured (Jevian Toledo/Brittany Russell) placed in the trainer's lone appearance. Toledo has the same agent as the trainer's husband and while the latter was injured earlier this year, Toledo picked up the mount.
• Race 5: Karan's Notion (Yomar Ortiz/Nancy Heil) entered off a $100,000 victory last month which gave the small-time trainer her first win in the Maryland Million in over 50 years of training. The 3-year-old gelding repeated a win today. He is 9 4-2-1 lifetime and out of Waquoit mare Susan Karan. The maternal grandfather, a multiple graded stakes winner who won at now defunct tracks as Detroit Race Course (Michigan), Rockingham Park (New Hampshire) and Suffolk Downs (Massachusetts) and finished third in the 1988 Breeders' Cup Classic, doesn't show up often in immediate pedigree these days, as he was born in 1983 but earned over $2.2 million in 19 wins and 30 starts. Heil won for the 150th time since 1976 when records were kept by Equibase. She is the perfect image of dedication to the sport.

​

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Turf: No turf racing again due to track conditions. Turf racing has been discontinued for the remainder of the meet through the Sunday following Thanksgiving.
• Tyler Gaffalione rode three winners. He now leads the meet with 23 wins and his 230 wins is third most in North America in 2020. He was never worse than second today going 6 3-3-0.
• Michael Maker trained two winners, both ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, and now leads the meet with 14 victories.
• Wesley Ward is 10 5-0-2 (50%/70%) this meet.

Indiana Grand (Indiana):

• Closing day: The meet, which began June 15, ended. The track reported over $198 million bet which is an all-time high.
• Leading jockeys: Deshawn Paker (106 wins) and Fernando Del La Cruz (100 wins).
• Leading trainers: Genaro Garcia (43 wins). Brad Cox ($1.18 million) and Michael Lauer ($1.10 million).

Gulfstream Park West (Florida):

• Race 1: Mark Casse, a member of the U.S. and Canadian Halls of Fame, won for the 3,000th time. He became the 34th trainer in North America history to reach 3,000 wins. Souper Watson, ridden by Miguel Vasquez, won at 7-to-1.

​

• Race 8: Karenina (Miguel Vasquez/Rohan Crichton) won for the 2nd time in 36 starts. She has placed 11 times and finished third 9 times. Today she was the bride.
• Miguel Vasquez rode three winners and sits atop the riders' standings with Edgard Zayas at 35 victories apiece.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Friday, November 20, 2020

• Tyler Gaffalione. I have touted "the kid" since his earliest of days and continue to praise his achievements. He needs to be recognized as a finalist for Eclipse Award Jockey of the Year. It may be a stretch with so many fantastic riders, especially on the east coast, but let's get it done! He has taken over Kentucky in the recent past but an exclamation point is stamped in 2020. In the past three days, he is a staggering 16 10-5-1 (63%/100%). His 234 wins in 2020 is third most in North America and he likely will pass Luis Saez -- without rides -- this weekend into second place. The kid can ride.
• Churchill Downs' jockeys headed elsewhere (among those who have confirmed):
  • Gulfstream (FL): Corey Lanerie, Julien Leparoux and Robby Albarado (good luck with the already exceptional colony of the Championship Meet)
  • Turfway (KY): Rafael Bejarano, Declan Cannon, Gerardo Corrales, Jon Court, Chris Landeros and Edgar Morales.

Aqueduct (New York):

• Race 10: Fun things seem to happen in New York finales! Anydayisherday (Luis Rodriguez Castro/Michael Simmons) shocked the viewers at 33-to-1, the second largest odds on the board, and paid $69. The jockey, traditionally at Parx and in his fourth year in North America racing, was 0-for-16 this meet. The trainer won for the seventh time in his 2-year career. This is where it gets fun for the bettors:
  • The $.50 Pick 4 paid over $39,000
  • The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $265,000.
• Race 9: Sun Summers (Jorge Vargas, Jr./Michael Maker) defeated Gogo Shoes (Kendrick Carmouche/Derek Ryan) by a length. They were sent off 13-to-1 and 24-to 1 shots, respectively.
• Race 8: Entertaining race in which Joel Rosario on board a 7-to-1 shot out-dueled Junior Alvarado who rode a 13-to-1 shot. There are few riders on this planet who can out-duel Rosario. He is having a terrific meet, third in wins and a brilliant 31%.
• Race 7: Letmetakethiscall (Dylan Davis/James Ferraro) won at 14-to-1 by more than six lengths. Runnerup was Miss Jimmy (Mike Luzzi/John Toscano) who won the finale at Belmont on November 1 and who now possesses a record of 16 8-6-0. She was 6th in the stretch and battled others despite no chance at victory.
• Race 6: Counterparty Risk (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Chad Brown/Klaravich Stables -- all defending Eclipse Award winners in their respective categories). The winner was out for the second time and was purchased at the Tattersalls in England two years ago. for $446,000+. The English purchased, Irish-bred is a son to Australia.
• Race 3: Noble Thought (Joel Rosario/Robert Falcone) was 8th in the stretch but flew like a 747 to nab the lead horse for victory. Rosario is among the best finishers in the racing world and showed his ability here. The 12 beat the 11. Not often that finish is seen.

​

• Irad Ortiz, Jr. won three times. He is second at the meet in victories (he was at Keeneland for the Breeders' Cup), three behind Kendrick Carmouche.
  
• Wayne Potts trained the winners in the first two races. He doubled his win total this meet and is now a 29% trainer. He does a bulk of his training in the mid-Atlantic.
• Handle: Approximately $8 million.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Race 7: Sheldon Russell rode his second winner of the day and this one on board a 16-to-1 shot. Great ride, exciting race. He is 91 26-11-13 (29%/55%) this meet in which he has the most victories.
• Race 4: One of the best battles of the day.

Gulfstream Park West (Florida):

• Today's replay show:
• Race 1: Subsidiary (Luca Panici/Mark Casse) gave the trainer his 3,0001st lifetime win. The horse likes the track with a 2 1-1-0 mark and both races under Panici. He is 16 3-2-4 overall.
• Jockeys: Edgard Zayas (35 wins), Miguel Vasquez (35 wins) and Emisael Jaramillo (32 wins) are battling for winningest rider.
• Closing day: November 28.
• Gulfstream: Opening day is December 1 for one of the most anticipated meets of the year....especially on weekends.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Tyler Gaffalione was challenged for meet supremacy the past couple of weeks but he has left all challengers in the dust. He now has a 4-win lead over Ricardo Santana, Jr. He was 6 4-1-1 today and put on a clinic. Take notes! I thought his win in the second race was most exceptional with a use of headiness and energy that oozed through the simulcast.

​

Hawthorne (Illinois):

• Race 2: The Geek (Charles Roberts/John Haran) won as the longest shot on the board at 35-to-1. The 2-year-old Illinois gelding was out for the second time. A tribute to all geeks.

Del Mar (California):

• Handle: $7 million roughly.
• Mark Glatt, who began his training career at Yakima Downs in Washington state, won for the 1,000th time.

 

[Fenway]

It was only a matter of time before the local media got wind of this

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, November 21, 2020 (part 1 of 2)

• Michael Maker won at Churchill Downs, Gulfstream Park West and Woodbine today for a 5-win afternoon.
• Mark Casse entered horses at three tracks and won one at each.

Aqueduct (New York):

• Handle: Close to $12 million.
• Race 10: In today's edition of strange things happen in New York finales, 17-year-old Charlie Marquez, at 8-to-1, held on to defeat defending Eclipse Award winner Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard the favorite.
• Race 9: North Dakota (Jose Lezcano/Shug McGaughey) was entered in a graded stakes for just the second time but won the $100,000 Grade 3 Red Smith Stakes at 8-to-1. The #1 horse, at 151-to-1, set the pace and led by more than 12 lengths at one point before fading into oblivion near the stretch.

​

• Race 3: Sebastian Saez, who is the younger brother to Luis and just trying to re-establish himself after a stay from racing, won for the first time in over two years but held on for dear life as he almost got caught by the hot riding of Joel Rosario.
• Races 1-2: Joel Rosario/Christophe Clement teamed for consecutive wins. No one else had multiple wins on the card.
• Kendrick Carmouche (13 wins), Irad Ortiz, Jr. (11 wins) and Joel Rosario (11 wins) top the riders' standings but Rosario is sizzling at (30%/54%).
• Jose Ortiz is 42 3-11-6 (7%/48%). He struggled at the Breeders' Cup, too. He just may be on the outside looking in for the final three nominees to Jockey of the Year. The former champ has the credentials but others may be more worthy for 2020.
• John Velazquez has just two wins with 24 mounts.
• Todd Pletcher, Christophe Clement and Rudy Rodriguez are having strong meets. Chad Brown has won just five times with 28 starts, not bad but not his typical numbers. Wayne Potts and Jeremiah Englehart may be flying under the radar but they are both having potent meets, too.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Race 9: The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $15,000. A decent sum.
• Race 8: A long wait to determine that the original winner was DQ'd for an 11-to-1 shot. This one hurt.
• Race 5: Little Huntress (Sheldon Russell/Brittany Russell) debuted to a place spot. It is tough for first-time runners to win from the inside slot. Brittany is now 24 13-5-5 (54%/96%) at the meet.

Gulfstream Park West (Florida):

• Edgard Zayas had a 4-win day. His 39 wins is best at the meet, four more than Miguel Vasquez.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Tyler Gaffalione won four races -- including a natural hat trick to start the card -- for the second straight day. His streak of being in the money ended at 20 (13-6-1). He is on a 25 14-6-2 (56%/88%) tear. He is second in wins in 2020 among all riders in North America and fourth in purse money with over $14.4 million earned. His 20% win total is third best for all riders with over $10 million earned. Great rider and by all accounts a quality young man. To the Eclipse Award voters: we all know Irad Ortiz, Jr. is deserving of top jock again but do not overlook Gaffalione! He needs to be a finalist. Much competition but the kid has won multiple rider titles in Kentucky.

​

• Michael Maker entered three horses at CD and won with all three. A perfect 3 3-0-0. He also won at GPW and Woodbine for a 5-win day.
• Race 8: Three Tipsy Chix (Julien Leparoux/Ian Wilkes) broke her maiden in her third try. Owner Anita Cauley bought the filly in a private purchase. The filly's mother is On Fire Baby who won multiple grades stakes including two Grade I wins. Sired by Medaglia d'Oro who isn't too bad himself.
• Race 9: Finite (Ricardo Santana, Jr./Steve Asmussen) improved to 11 6-3-0 including a perfect 3 3-0-0 at Churchill in winning the Grade 3 $100,000 Chilukki Stakes.

​

Hawthorne (Illinois):

• Race 1: A 26-to-1 bomber won.
• Race 2: A 30-to-1 bomber, 7th at the 3/4 pole, did his best imitation of a rocket and prevailed. The $1 double paid over $400 as did the $1 exacta. Frank Kirby, the winning trainer, ended the day 1-for-35 this meet.
• Race 3: The $.50 Pick 3 paid over $1,500. Winning rider Diego Sanchez ended the day 1-for-41 this meet.
• Race 7: Megan's Honor (Victor Santiago/Scott Becker) was sent off 1-to-9 and wired the field by more than 14 lengths.
• Simulcast: What a joy! Good colors and easy to read fonts.

Del Mar (California):

• Race 6: Exotic West (Abel Cedillo/Bob Baffert) debuted to a victory. She is owned by Gary and Mary West and was purchased in a private sale. The 2-year-old filly won by half a length and held her own when challenged. She may need another race to figure out things but she showed enough for promise. Baffert gets much acclaim for the boys in his stable but he is 10 4-4-2 (40%/100%) in 2020 when showcasing girls for the first time.
• Race 5: Mac Daddy Too (Flavien Prat/Doug O'Neill) won for owner Erik Johnson of the Colorado Avalanche. The 2-year-old colt broke his maiden in his fourth try and first under the rider after three with Abel Cedillo.
• Race 4: Kershaw (Umberto Rispoli/Phil D'Amato) won and obviously likes the San Diego area track. He is now 6 3-2-1 here and 15 2-1-4 elsewhere. Then again, who doesn't like Del Mar?! He is also 4-for-10 at the mile distance.
• Race 2: Extra Hope (Juan Hernandez/Richard Mandella) won the $100,000 Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes. Mandella is 15 7-2-4 (47%/87%) at the meet.
• Abel Cedillo (16 wins) won twice. His lead in the riders' standings currently stands at six. He closest challenger is Flavien Prat (10 wins) who won three times.
• Handle: Approximately $11 million.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, November 21, 2020 (part 2 of 2)

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Race 10: Artie's Princess (Kazushi Kimura/Wesley Ward) won the Grade 2 $175,000 Bessarabian Stakes. She is 6 5-1-0 at Woodbine in her career.

​

• Race 9: Ride a Comet (Patrick Husbands/Mark Casse) won the Grade 2 $175,000 Kennedy Road Stakes and nearly established a track record in his performance missing by 1/5th of a second. Among the defeated was Pink Lloyd who finished third and had a 10-race winning streak snapped. He is 32 26-1-2 lifetime (per the DRF) and 33 26-1-2 (per Equibase) due to non-starter declaration in one race. The Canadian Sensation was unimpressive this race.

​

• Race 8: Field Pass (Kazushi Kimura/Michael Maker) won the $125,000 Grade 3 Ontario Derby. Field Pass, a Maryland-bred, ran on Canadian soil for the first time after five wins in 14 starts in the USA. Mighty Heart (Rafael Hernandez/Josie Carroll), who won the first two thirds of the Canadian Triple Crown, was sent off the favorite but finished fifth.

​

• Race 6: A $76 winner topped a massive ticket. There was also a dead heat for fourth and the bigger superfecta paid over $20k for $1. But the enormity of the Pick 5 resulted in a $107,980 windfall for some handicapper.
• Race 3: Merveilleux (Rafael Hernandez/Kevin Attard) won the $150,000 Ontario Damsel.
• Kazushi Kimura rode winners in two of three graded stakes. He was named Eclipse Award Apprentice of the Year for 2019 and the loss of his bug has not hindered him.
• Rafael Hernandez won three times including the finale and the victories propelled him to meet leader with 128 victories.
• Justin Stein, the winningest rider at the meet at the day's start with 126 wins, was 0-for-9.
• Handle: More than $8.4 million wagered.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

It was only a matter of time before the local media got wind of this

There was much promise for a revitalized Suffolk Downs and that was taken from the controversial and heated vote involving the Gaming Commission... what five years ago? The regional flavor from the fair tracks to Rockingham in New Hampshire eventually eroded but Suffolk despite its warts was once a regional treasure. The death knell to the sport was the loss of the casino application; otherwise, it would have been a boon for many aspects of the industry.

A legendary trainer in John Rigattieri holds his own at Tampa Bay and Delaware and the younger Jay Bernardini is a solid trainer in West Virginia and to a lesser degree in Ohio. Good trainers came out of Suffolk. Good horse people abound. There are plenty still active but elsewhere.

As far as going to Fort Erie, I know in the past Finger Lakes in New York held Mass bred races. I am not sure if that has been discontinued. Oddly, same ownership of the Bruins. It doesn't appear any law has been broken but it doesn't look good to have Mass-bred running in Canada; however, no track exists in the state to continue the sport. Suffolk's former owners have stated they want to build/find land for a smaller track and continue the profitable simulcast operation. Whether language gets rewritten if sports betting was to ever get approved in the state is another possibility but the Senate recently nixed a House piece from what I saw through research. Other states have done it, plenty of other states.

Illinois, like Massachusetts, isn't exactly smooth when it comes to such issues but look at what happened there recently. Hopefully that can propel the industry. If industry types and others get on the same page, then maybe this situation can be rectified but I sense it will happen only through sports betting legislation with horse racing somehow tied in. Plainridge (harness) gets 75% of money earned through casinos that goes to boost racing, if I am correct.

All that said, horse racing is booming in many areas and 2020 has seen record handles across North America. There is room to join.