Horse Racing: Arkansas Derby day recap: $41,000,000 bet, Nadal and Charlatan win Ky. Derby preps

[Preds Partisan]

OMG OMG OMG OMG ...

TVG/NBCSN is talking about Unbridled right now and will do a feature tomorrow on his career. 30 years, baby!

OMG OMG OMG.

Did I actually type OMG?!

Welfare check, are you ok?

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Welfare check, are you ok?

I proposed a name to a friend who was seeking names for his recently purchased horse back when. He of course needed reasoning with the Jockey Club should he go forward with the choice. The name I suggested was "Toastmaster" in honor of Mrs. G's husband whose company developed the pop-up toaster... I guess now roughly 100 years ago. Lo and behold, the Ramseys had bred a horse with the same name and there went my contribution. It was toast!

And now Bloodhorse is on board with a 67-photo essay: Unbridled - Slideshow - BloodHorse

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Handle: $6.8 million bet.
• Samy Camacho had three wins for the second straight day and Antonio Gallardo, the leading rider at the meet, added two wins
• Marcelo Almeida, the winning rider, was victorious for the third time in his North American career. He had been riding in Brazil.
• Race 7: A $53.80 winner.
• Race 8: A 15-to-1 shot won, a Minnesota-bred who was 0-for-5 lifetime. The $1 double was an enormous $581.70. The $1 Pick 3 was massive at $5,454.
• Race 9: The $1 Pick 5 was a staggering $272,600.50. The $.20 Pick 6 paid over $77,000+ to all winners.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Irad Ortiz, Jr. (4) and Luis Saez (3) combined for seven wins.
• Race 2: Dale Romans won for the first time in almost six weeks and the first time this meet with his 12th start. The trainer was among a group of four with large profiles who entered today winless at the meet -- the others being Wesley Ward, Christophe Clement and Bill Mott who are a combined 0-for-40 at last check.
• Race 4: Irad Ortiz, Jr., the reigning North American Jockey of the Year who was off since March 19, won in his first race since self-quarantine.
• Race 5: Basquiat (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Chad Brown) won in his debut. The 3-year-old son to American Pharoah is owned by gazillionaire Peter Brant who purchased the horse through a private sale. This puppy is huge, seemed much bigger than the competition. Perhaps another to watch down the road.
• Race 6: Irad Ortiz, Jr. completed the natural hat trick. He won his first three races after a self-imposed layoff which lasted about five weeks.
• Race 7: Luis Saez, the leading rider at the meet, ended Irad Ortiz, Jr.'s winning streak at 3. Ortiz placed and for trainer Christophe Clement who is ice cold in the south Florida sun. Danny Gargan, the winning trainer, is a brilliant 37% this year. He is 22% lifetime.
• Race 8: Luis Saez rode his third winner on this card. Six wins the past two days.
• Race 9: Dr. Post (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Todd Pletcher) won the $75,000 Unbridled Stakes at even-money by fending off a challenge from Virginia-bred Attachment Rate (Luis Saez/Dale Romans). Ortiz won for the fourth time today. The 3-year-old son of Quality Road won for the second time in three career starts and could be pointed as a late bloomer for the Kentucky Derby or at least any future preps that may be re-scheduled. Owned in part by Vinny Viola (Florida Panthers).

​

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• Handle: Looks to be roughly $16,000,000 met at the track today.
• Joel Rosario-John Sadler teamed for two wins. Rosario road three winners.
• Ricardo Santana, Jr.-Steve Asmussen, the highly successful tandem, won twice.
• Race 11: A 25-to-1 bomber in the finale trained by Donnie Von Hemel who entered 2-for-56 this year.
• Race 10: Mia Mischief (Ricardo Santana, Jr./Steve Asmussen) was impressive in winning the $125,000 Carousel Stakes. The 5-year-old mare is 21 10-6-1 lifetime with $1,215,234 in earnings. She held off a challenge by Amy's Challenge (Alex Canchari/McLean Robertson) who was game at 7-to-1 but eventually was no match. Bellafina (Joe Talamo/Simon Callaghan), the favorite who has earned $$1.4 million, who began her career 8 6-1-0 but has now lost six straight, never recovered from a bad start.

​

• Race 9: Long Weekend (Joe Talamo/Tom Amoss) held off Echo Town (Ricardo Santana, Jr./Steve Asmussen) in a thrilling finish to win the $100,000 Bachelor Stakes. Eight Rings (Joel Rosario/Bob Baffert), who was on the Kentucky Derby trail, showed little in this shorter distance.

​

• Race 8: Wilbo (Stewart Elliott/Chris Hartman) won for the 13th time in 40 starts -- fourth time in last 8 starts. The 8-year-old closed nicely at 7-to-1.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

I proposed a name to a friend who was seeking names for his recently purchased horse back when. He of course needed reasoning with the Jockey Club should he go forward with the choice. The name I suggested was "Toastmaster" in honor of Mrs. G's husband whose company developed the pop-up toaster... I guess now roughly 100 years ago. Lo and behold, the Ramseys had bred a horse with the same name and there went my contribution. It was toast!

And now Bloodhorse is on board with a 67-photo essay: Unbridled - Slideshow - BloodHorse

They are talking about Toastmaster now on TVG/NBCSN.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

ARKANSAS DERBY UPDATE:

Obviously a switch in positions as there was going to be a 2/3rds value placed on entry into the Kentucky Derby if the race would be split. But now there will be two full allotments. This is fantastic for Oaklawn whose meet closes this weekend. It needs to be repeated: one of the best venues in North America.

Oaklawn Park announced Sunday it will run two $500,000 divisions of the Arkansas Derby this coming Saturday, May 2. They will be showcased on a 14-race card that starts at 12 p.m. Central.

There are currently 21 horses in the entry box for the Arkansas Derby, which is being drawn Sunday.

Oaklawn made the announcement at the end of its daily handicapping show, through hosts Nancy Holthus and Vic Stauffer.

They said each division of the Arkansas Derby will carry the full points value for the Kentucky Derby.

The Arkansas Derby will share a card with the Grade 2, $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap that is expected to have a full field of 14.
​

Source: Mary Rampellini, DRF

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

Oaklawn Park saw just enough entries submitted Sunday to run its signature Arkansas Derby (G1) in two divisions, adding intrigue to a first Saturday in May that will go without a Kentucky Derby for the first time since 1945.

That the Arkansas Derby wasn’t limited to its usual 14 starters allowed both Nadal and Charlatan -- high-profile, unbeaten colts from Bob Baffert’s barn -- a way into the field. Nadal was safely qualified, but Charlatan, who progressed through maiden and allowance ranks with triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures, wouldn’t have had the earnings necessary to crack a regular Arkansas Derby.

The split races with 22 total contenders will carry $500,000 purses and buck a bit of precedent when it comes to their points values toward the 2020 Kentucky Derby. Churchill Downs will award the full allotment of 100-40-20-10 points to both races' top-four finishers.

In the past, split division points correlated to the flights’ purse value relative to the original amount offered. For instance, under normal circumstances, $500,000 splits of what was originally a $750,000 race would have been worth two-thirds the points.

This, of course, is an abnormal year, with increased interest in the Arkansas Derby stemming from lost opportunities elsewhere. Other major preps — the Santa Anita Derby, Wood Memorial and Blue Grass Stakes — were all postponed or canceled. The last points-paying opportunity for horsemen fell on March 28 with the Florida Derby.

“While we are always respectful of the time-honored traditions of the Kentucky Derby, we’re in the midst of an unprecedented year,” said Churchill Downs Racetrack President Kevin Flanery. “We recognize that there are numerous 3-year-olds currently in training with limited racing opportunities, and our prominent partner Oaklawn Park is in a unique and important position to immediately fill a void for horsemen.

"An extension of the Road to the Kentucky Derby will continue to evolve in the weeks ahead. Our Churchill Downs team is united in our commitment to holding the very best Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5, and it will certainly be one of the most memorable of our lifetimes.”

We'll update here once the two fields are set. Other top contenders include the Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Wells Bayou, Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner King Guillermo, Southwest Stakes winner Silver Prospector (G3) and Storm the Court, 2019's champion 2-year-old colt.

First post time on Oaklawn's 14-race closing Saturday card, which includes the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses, is 1 p.m. ET.​

Source: With 22 entries, Arkansas Derby to run split divisions

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

With updates from Illinois, New York, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and Ontario this is the latest running tab. Situations have changed frequently and while there may be data not represented below, it was at one point accurate. Attempts are made to update in proper fashion.
Among the states where racing is ongoing:

• California
  • Los Alamitos for QH night racing through December 20. TB racing will be conducted for twelve days from June 28 through July 14.
• Florida
  • Gulfstream is currently in its spring/summer meet. Gulfstream usually races year-round until a brief autumn meet at nearby Gulfstream Park West (formerly Calder). GPW will be held probably in late September until around Thanksgiving based on the final year of the contract between Stronach (owner of Gulfstream) and Churchill Downs (owner of Calder).
  • Tampa Bay runs through May 30 after receiving an extension. It is dark until near Thanksgiving as scheduled but runs on June 30 and July 1 for fiscal reasons.
• Arkansas
  • Oaklawn will race through May 2 and then close as scheduled until January.
• Oklahoma
  • Remington Park has QH racing through May 30. It also has TB racing August 21 through December 20.
  • Will Rogers Downs for TB will run through May 23. Its QH (and more) schedule operates Sept. 12 through Nov. 14.
• Nebraska
  • Fonner Park will run beyond its scheduled closing date of April 29. It received an extension to run twelve more days from May 4 - May 31.

Among the states where racing has been changed, unchanged or canceled temporarily or anything else except currently ongoing :

• Kentucky (five tracks)
  • Turfway: Jan. 1 - Mar. 28 closed a few days earlier than expected.
  • Keeneland: Canceled its entire meet from Apr. 2 - Apr. 24.
  • Churchill Downs: The spring meet was to be held Apr. 25 - Jun. 27 but opening day has been postponed to a yet unspecified date. Stables will open no earlier than May 5. The track and local pols are having ongoing discussions.
  • Ellis Park: Jun. 28 - Sep.16 (expected to run on Sept. 7 and 16 along with Ky. Downs)
  • Keeneland: Seeking summer racing dates.
  • Churchill Downs: Sep. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    • Kentucky Oaks,Sep. 4
    • Kentucky Derby, Sep. 5
  • Kentucky Downs: Sep. 7, 9-10, 12-13, and 16 [was Sept. 2, 7, 9, 10, 12-13]
  • Churchill Downs: Sep. 17 - 27
  • Keeneland: Oct. 2 - 24
  • Churchill Downs: Oct. 25 - Nov. 29
  • Keeneland: Nov. 6 - 7 [Breeders' Cup host]
  • Turfway: Dec. 2 - 31
• California
  • Santa Anita is temporarily closed.
  • Golden Gate is temporarily closed.
  • Del Mar is scheduled to run July 18 - Sept. 7 and Oct. 31 - Nov. 29.
  • Alameda County Fair at Pleasanton is scheduled to operate a 15-day season from June 19 to July 12 but has suggested its meet be postponed to October.
  • There are six fair tracks which race different schedules from June through December.
• Louisiana
  • Fair Grounds closed early, March 21
  • Louisiana Downs is temporarily closed. Its meet was supposed to open May 2.
  • Evangeline Downs is temporarily closed. It was scheduled to open April 8.
  • Delta Downs is closed until further notice.
• New York
  • Aqueduct canceled the end of its winter meet and all of its spring meet which would have ended April 19.
  • Belmont was scheduled to operate for 51 days from April 24 through July 12 but that was canceled. The hope, as of April 16, is to begin racing in late May or early June.
  • Saratoga is scheduled to open July 16. The NYRA said on April 25 the meet is a go with or without spectators.
  • Finger Lakes was scheduled to run 127 days from April 25 -Nov. 25 but is temporarily closed. The hope is to run 85-90 days.
• Maryland
  • Laurel is temporarily closed through at least April 30.
  • Pimlico is scheduled to run May 7-25 but that is on hold. The Preakness Stakes could move to September.
  • Timonium is scheduled to run August 28 - Sept. 7.
• Pennsylvania
  • Penn National (near Harrisburg) closed temporarily.
  • Parx (near Philadelphia) is closed indefinitely.
  • Presque Isle (Erie) was scheduled to run to Sept. 22 but is temporarily closed. On April 18, the track announced a temporary opening date of June 8 or if the situations does not permit then June 22.
• New Mexico
  • Albuquerque Downs is scheduled to open July 17.
  • Zia Park is scheduled to open September 21.
  • Ruidoso Downs is scheduled to run May 22 - Sept. 7 and that opening day is still expected as of April 28. It was race both QH and TB.
  • Sunland Park was scheduled to close April 21 but closed earlier.
  • SunRay Park postponed its opener to at least April 30. The track was to operate April 24 - June 7.
• Arizona
  • Turf Paradise was scheduled to run through May 2 but closed early. In late April, the fall meet is hoped to go on schedule..
  • Arizona Downs could hold a summer meet.
  • Rillito Park runs in February and March only.
• Indiana
  • Indiana Grand is temporarily closed.
• West Virginia
  • Charles Town temporarily closed on March 24.
  • Mountaineer is scheduled to run April 26 - Dec. 2 but opening day was postponed.
• Texas
  • Sam Houston (Houston area) closed its TB meet less than a week earlier than expected.
  • Lone Star (Dallas area) was scheduled to open April 16 but is temporarily closed. The stables will open on May 4 but opening day is on hold. The stakes schedule will be reevaluated once an opening day is confirmed.
  • Retama (San Antonio) is scheduled to open July 3.
• New Jersey
  • Monmouth's opening day has been changed to July 4. Earlier, it was changed from May 2 to May 23
• Washington
  • Emerald Downs is temporarily closed but plans to hold a meet later in 2020
• Illinois
  • Arlington was scheduled to open April 27 but will close through at least the end of May and is not expected to run before July 4 if at all. A proposed rescheduled 45-day meet July 4-Sep. 26 is now in limbo. A meeting is scheduled for some point in May to address the dire situations and rift between ongoing parties. The track is owned by Churchill Downs.
  • Hawthorne announced cancellation of its spring meet many weeks ago in order to build a $450 million casino/sports betting facility. Everything is on hold. Family-owned operation hurting.
  • Fairmount is closed until further notice. The track which is roughly 13 miles east of St. Louis, MO generally runs twice a week this time of the year.
• Ohio -- Closed all tracks through at least May 15.
  • Mahoning Valley (Youngstown area) was scheduled to end its meet on April 18.
  • Thistledown (Cleveland area) was scheduled to run April 27 – October 22.
  • Belterra (Cincinnati) was scheduled to run April 24 - September 25.
• Nebraska
  • Horsemen's Park canceled its 7-day meet from May 8-24. It could reschedule.
• Delaware
  • Delaware Park is scheduled to run May 27 - October 31 but is temporarily closed.
• Iowa
  • Prairie Meadows is temporarily closed. The meet was scheduled to begin May 1.
• Virginia
  • Colonial Downs has 18 race dates between July 23 – Aug 29. The hope is the meet will be held with spectators but if not could be canceled.
• Wyoming
  • Wyoming Downs' opening day remains July 4.
• Colorado
  • Arapahoe Park's opening day remains May 23 with conclusion as scheduled August 16.
• Minnesota
  • Canterbury will change its May 15 - Sept. 12 meet to race summer dates yet specified.
• Oregon
  • Grants Pass Downs has canceled its spring meet which was supposed to begin May 10 and last about two months.

Canada:

• Assiniboia Downs (near Winnipeg, Manitoba) is scheduled to operate May 24 - September 20.
• Century Downs (near Calgary, Alberta) is scheduled to open September 6.
• Century Mile (Edmonton, Alberta) is scheduled to open April 25 but is temporarily closed.
• Fort Erie Race Track (Fort Erie, Ontario) is scheduled to open May 26 but is closed temporarily.
• Hastings Racecourse (Vancouver, British Columbia) is scheduled to open April 26 but is temporarily closed.
• Marquis Downs (Saskatchewan) could open May 29 per its website. It is scheduled to run through Sept. 7.
• Woodbine Racetrack (Toronto, Ontario) was scheduled to open TB racing on April 18 but that has been delayed. The hope is a June or July opening date but without spectators. The next update is due May 12. The Queen's Plate will not run on June 27 but rather a later unspecified date.

Note: QH is quarterhorses; TB = thoroughbreds

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Antonio Gallardo added to his meet lead with three wins. He finished 5 3-0-2.
• Georgina Baxter trained winners at both Florida tracks in less than an hour. She is 8-for-21 at the meet in Tampa Bay. She took over the Ralph Ziadie collection he whom was denied a training license in 2018 for repeated violations. Ralph's son Kirk was suspended in 2015 for six years. Baxter was suspended earlier this year for 25 days.
• Race 6: Mary Ann Bennett, wife to leading trainer Gerald Bennett, won for the first time in 2020 with her 17th starter.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Pick 6: Paid over $61,000 to all winners.
• Weather: Passing storms, racing off the turf.
• Joe Bravo, in his lone ride of the day, won at 10-to-1. He entered today 6-for-114 in 2020.
• Tyler Gaffalione returned from his suspension and won one race. He is second behind Luis Saez in meet wins.
• Irad Ortiz, Jr., who won four times yesterday after five weeks off, was dismounted at the start of the penultimate race. He did not ride in the finale but was reported to be uninjured.
  
• Emisael Jaramillo won consecutive races, the only rider (no trainer did so) to win more than once today. One win was in arguably the race of the day, race 9:

​

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• Kelsi Harr, currently riding as a 7-pound bug, placed in three straight races. She rode 17-to-1, 53-1 and 9-1.
• Race 3: I want to see this photo finish! Update: photo just revealed. Gary Stevens called it"the closest photo finish I have ever seen and I have been around a while..." Interestingly, when asked about weight allowances he said "I am not a big weight (subscriber), 2-3-4 pounds doesn't factor but when you are talking nine pounds that is (big)." The runner up Kelsi Harr, who carried 115 pounds, came flying at the end and I thought she won but apparently not. She carried nine less pounds than winner Martin Garcia.

​

• Race 4: Nick Zito, with his 16,001st start, trained a winner for the second time in 42 starts this year. The $.50 tri paid $1,687.75 and the $.10 superfecta returned $6,049.00 thanks to the runners who filled the ticket at 53-to-1 (Kelsi Harr/Larry Jones), 81-to-1 and 82-to-1. Good luck coming up with that super.
  
• Martin Garcia and Brad Cox teamed for two wins.
• Rider standings: Ricardo Santana, Jr. (54 wins), Martin Garcia (51) and Joe Talamo (50) entering the final week of the meet.

 

[GKJ]

My inclination of a G1 race having to be split is probably not a good thing and wasn’t something they wanted to happen. But that’s the nature of where we are with horses needing spots to run and Oaklawn clearly positioning the Arkansas Derby as the replacement for the Kentucky Derby

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

My inclination of a G1 race having to be split is probably not a good thing and wasn’t something they wanted to happen. But that’s the nature of where we are with horses needing spots to run and Oaklawn clearly positioning the Arkansas Derby as the replacement for the Kentucky Derby

Valid point. I'm looking at it more so as Oaklawn is the center of the horse racing world right now. Last year, track officials bailed out Santa Anita's horsemen immensely by splitting the Rebel Stakes. This year, it is the Arkansas Derby. Their two biggest races on consecutive years. This is the original date of the Kentucky Derby. It obviously won't receive the universal attention of the Kentucky Derby but provided nothing startling happens, the track wanted to replace the Ky. Derby after it was canceled and should relish in it. Roughly $30,000,000 bet here the last two days. Growing exponentially.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Fast Enough (shin) and Shooter's Shoot (fever) will scratch from their Arkansas Derby races.

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

Monday, April 27, 2020

Will Rogers Downs (Oklahoma):

• Race 10: Some of the pay offs in the finale were extraordinary but that double topped the list:

$2.00 Daily Double (1-10) Paid: $2,151.60
$.50 Trifecta (10-4-3) Paid: $2,801.90 ,
$.10 Superfecta (10-4-3-7) Paid: $2,116.09 ,
$.50 Pick 3 (3-1-10) Paid: $1,446.55
$.50 Pick 5 (1-10-3-1-10) Paid: $21,647.25​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

ARKANSAS DERBY DAY
Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas
Final Day of the Meet: May 2, 2020​

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post Central Time
Race 1	$32,000	Starter Allowance	6 Furlongs	Dirt	12	12:00 PM
Race 2	$60,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 Furlongs	Dirt	14	12:32 PM
Race 3	$61,000	Allowance	6 Furlongs	Dirt	14	1:04 PM
Race 4	$60,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 Furlongs	Dirt	14	1:36 PM
Race 5	$62,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	13	2:10 PM
Race 6	$60,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 1/8 Miles	Dirt	14	2:44 PM
Race 7	$61,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	14	3:16 PM
Race 8	$61,000	Allowance	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	14	3:47 PM
Race 9	$62,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	14	4:19 PM
Race 10	$61,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	14	4:54 PM
Race 11	$500,000	Arkansas Derby	1 1/8 Miles	Dirt	11	5:29 PM
Race 12	$600,000	Oaklawn H.	1 1/8 Miles	Dirt	14	6:04 PM
Race 13	$500,000	Arkansas Derby	1 1/8 Miles	Dirt	11	6:43 PM
Race 14	$50,000	Starter Allowance	1 3/4 Miles	Dirt	14	7:14 PM

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

ARKANSAS DERBY (Division One)

What: Grade I. The annual Arkansas Derby has been split this year due to the importance of the race and lack of suitable options for many of the connections. Both are key preps for the Kentucky Derby. Each will have a 100-40-20-10 point system to the top four finishers.
Where: Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas
When: Saturday, May 2, 2020, Race 11
Time: 5:29 p.m. CT
Who: 3-year-olds
Distance: 1 1/8 miles
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $500,000
TV: Fox Sports 1 and TVG will show the entire card. NBCSN will air from 6-8 pm ET.
History: Inaugurated in 1936. Some of the all-time greats won this race. In the past 20 years, American Pharoah, Afleet Alex and Smarty Jones made their bones prior to excelling on the Triple Crown trail.
Late change: The #6 and #7 will scratch (will not run).​

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Charlatan (KY)	Martin Garcia	118	Bob Baffert	-
2	My Friends Beer (MD)	Declan Cannon	118	Jeremiah O'Dwyer	-
3	Mo Mosa (KY)	Kendrick Carmouche	118	Michael J. Maker	-
4	Gouverneur Morris (KY)	John R. Velazquez	118	Todd A. Pletcher	-
5	Jungle Runner (KY)	Tyler Baze	122	Steven M. Asmussen	-
6	Shooters Shoot (KY)	Joseph Talamo	118	Peter Eurton	-
7	Wrecking Crew (KY)	Flavien Prat	118	Peter Miller	-
8	Anneau d'Or (KY)	Juan J. Hernandez	118	Blaine D. Wright	-
9	Winning Impression (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	118	Dallas Stewart	-
10	Crypto Cash (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	118	Kenneth G. McPeek	-
11	Basin (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	122	Steven M. Asmussen	-

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

ARKANSAS DERBY (Division Two)

What: Grade I. The annual Arkansas Derby has been split this year due to the importance of the race and lack of suitable options for many of the connections. Both are key preps for the Kentucky Derby. Each will have a 100-40-20-10 point system to the top four finishers.
Where: Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas
When: Saturday, May 2, 2020, Race 13
Time: 6:43 p.m. CT
Who: 3-year-olds
Distance: 1 1/8 miles
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $500,000
TV: Fox Sports 1 and TVG will show the entire card. NBCSN will air from 6-8 pm ET.
History: Inaugurated in 1936. Some of the all-time greats won this race. In the past 20 years, American Pharoah, Afleet Alex and Smarty Jones made their bones prior to excelling on the Triple Crown trail.
Late change: The #2 and #8 will scratch (will not run).​

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Finnick the Fierce (KY)	Martin Garcia	118	Rey Hernandez	-
2	Saratogian (KY)	Joseph Talamo	122	Rodolphe Brisset	-
3	Storm the Court (KY)	Flavien Prat	122	Peter Eurton	-
4	King Guillermo (KY)	Samy Camacho	122	Juan Carlos Avila	-
5	Nadal (KY)	Joel Rosario	122	Bob Baffert	-
6	Code Runner (KY)	Stewart Elliott	122	Steven M. Asmussen	-
7	Silver Prospector (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	122	Steven M. Asmussen	-
8	Fast Enough (KY)	Tyler Baze	122	Rafael Becerra	-
9	Taishan (KY)	David Cohen	118	Richard Baltas	-
10	Farmington Road (KY)	Javier Castellano	118	Todd A. Pletcher	-
11	Wells Bayou (KY)	Florent Geroux	122	Brad H. Cox	-

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

---------------
VIRTUAL KENTUCKY DERBY:

NBC will air on Saturday, May 2 from 3:00 - 6:00 pm ET a special feature on the 2015 Kentucky Derby and American Pharoah. In addition, the NBC broadcast will air The Kentucky Derby: Triple Crown Showdown, a computer-simulated version of a race featuring all 13 Triple Crown winners.​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Television for this weekend is listed below.

• Fox Sports covers racing from Tampa Bay and Oaklawn but not Gulfstream.
• NBCSN airs the TVG feed and shows Remington, Gulfstream, Tampa Bay and Oaklawn.
• Gulfstream offers a free live stream from its simulcast feed (link below).

Friday, May 1, 2020

• 4:00 - 7:00 pm ET on NBCSN
• 4:00 - 7:00 pm ET on Fox Sports 2
  
• Gulfstream live stream: Live Stream | World-Class Thoroughbred Horse Racing | Gulfstream Park

Saturday, May 2, 2020

• 1:00 - 8:00 pm ET on Fox Sports 1
  
• 3:00 - 6:00 pm ET on NBC
  • Virtual Kentucky Derby with all 13 Triple Crown winners
  • Replay, feature of American Pharoah winning the 2015 Kentucky Derby

• 6:00 - 8:00 pm ET on NBCSN
• 8:00 - 8:30 pm ET on Fox Sports 2
  
• Gulfstream live stream: Live Stream | World-Class Thoroughbred Horse Racing | Gulfstream Park

Sunday, May 3, 2020

• 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 2
  
• 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1
  
• 4:00 - 8:00 pm ET on NBCSN (coverage from TVG)
• Gulfstream live stream: Live Stream | World-Class Thoroughbred Horse Racing | Gulfstream Park

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

VIRTUAL KENTUCKY DERBY

​

What: All 13 Triple Crown winners partake in a virtual race.
When: Saturday, May 2, 3:00 - 6:00 pm ET (additional TV in an earlier post)
Virtual Race: 5:45 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Live stream: NBCSports.com and NBC app
Information: Triple Crown Winners to Race in Virtual Kentucky Derby For Charity on the First Saturday in May on NBC
Vote for your favorite (beginning April 30): Home
Note: Secretariat should win. Citation is my pick. I am rooting for Affirmed. That should cover the bases. ​

1. Affirmed, 1978

Morning-line odds: 5-1
Jockey: Steve Cauthen
Trainer: Laz Barrera​

2. Assault, 1946

Odds: 20-1
Jockey: Warren Mehrtens
Trainer: Max Hirsch​

3. Secretariat, 1973

Odds: 7-2
Jockey: Ron Turcotte
Trainer: Lucien Laurin​

4. Sir Barton, 1919

Odds: 20-1
Jockey: Johnny Loftus
Trainer: Guy Bedwell​

5. Seattle Slew, 1977

Odds: 5-1
Jockey: Jean Cruguet
Trainer: Billy Turner Jr.​

6. American Pharoah, 2015

Odds: 6-1
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
Trainer: Bob Baffert​

7. Gallant Fox, 1930

Odds: 20-1
Jockey: Earl Sande
Trainer: "Sunny" Jim Fitzsimmons​

8. Citation, 1948

Odds: 4-1
Jockey: Eddie Arcaro
Trainer: Ben Jones​

9. War Admiral, 1937

Odds: 8-1
Jockey: Charlie Kurtsinger
Trainer: George Conway​

10. Whirlaway, 1941

Odds: 6-1
Jockey: Eddie Arcaro
Trainer: Ben Jones​

11. Count Fleet, 1943

Odds: 6-1
Jockey: Johnny Longden
Trainer: Don Cameron​

12. Justify, 2018

Odds: 15-1
Jockey: Mike Smith
Trainer: Bob Baffert​

13. Omaha, 1935

Odds: 20-1
Jockey: Willie "Smokey" Saunders
Trainer: "Sunny" Jim Fitzsimmons​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

@Preds Partisan

My list posted last week...matched against the odds which were revealed today (very close). With the exception of Count Fleet (slightly high on my list), I got it close to the morning line odds.

My ranking of the 13 Triple Crown winners:

13. Omaha -- 1935 -- 20-1
12. Sir Barton -- 1919 -- 20-1
11. Assault -- 1946 -- 20-1
10. Gallant Fox -- 1930 -- 20-1

9. Justify -- 2018 -- 15-1

8. Whirlaway -- 1941 -- 6-1
7. American Pharoah -- 2015 -- 6-1
6. War Admiral -- 1937 -- 6-1

5. Seattle Slew - 1977 -- 5-1
4. Affirmed -- 1978 -- 5-1

3. Count Fleet -- 1943 -- 6-1

2. Citation -- 1948 -- 4-1

1. Secretariat -- 1973 -- 7-2

 

[Preds Partisan]

Arcaro is on two horses. Unfair, lol.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Arcaro is on two horses. Unfair, lol.

He'll explain in the post-race interview why he chose which mount and/or rider change to Calvin Borel

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

I'm not sure how things work in Hong Kong but a couple of results from Happy Valley caught my eyes:

Race 6: $241 winner but the $.20 quinella was under $24?
Race 9: $11 million in HK$ is about $1.4 million U.S. and that is what their version of the Pick 6 paid.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Saratoga will still be held as scheduled date 7/16/20 through Labor Day despite COVID-19

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Kentucky opens for business on May 11. No spectators but horse racing is a go. The confirmation for an opening day is due shortly. The track has to gather information regarding horse population, health protocol and total workers.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

With updates from Ontario, West Virginia, Kentucky, California, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Minnesota in the past week, this is the latest running tab. Situations have changed frequently and while there may be data not represented below, it was at one point accurate. Attempts are made to update in proper fashion.
Among the states where racing is ongoing:

• California
  • Los Alamitos for QH night racing through December 20. TB racing will be conducted for twelve days from June 28 through July 14.
• Florida
  • Gulfstream (Hallandale Beach) is currently in its spring/summer meet. Gulfstream usually races year-round until a brief autumn meet at nearby Gulfstream Park West (formerly Calder). GPW will be held probably in late September until around Thanksgiving based on the final year of the contract between Stronach (owner of Gulfstream) and Churchill Downs (owner of Calder).
  • Tampa Bay (Oldsmar) runs through May 30 after receiving an extension. It is dark until near Thanksgiving as scheduled but runs on June 30 and July 1 for fiscal reasons.
• Arkansas
  • Oaklawn will race through May 2 and then close as scheduled until January.
• Oklahoma
  • Remington Park has QH racing through May 30. It also has TB racing August 21 through December 20.
  • Will Rogers Downs for TB will run through May 23. Its QH (and more) schedule operates Sept. 12 through Nov. 14.
• Nebraska
  • Fonner Park will run beyond its scheduled closing date of April 29. It received an extension to run twelve more days from May 4 - May 31.

Among the states where racing has been changed, unchanged or canceled temporarily or anything else except currently ongoing :

• Kentucky (five tracks)
  • Turfway (Florence): Jan. 1 - Mar. 28 closed a few days earlier than expected.
  • Keeneland (Lexington): Canceled its entire meet from Apr. 2 - Apr. 24.
  • Churchill Downs (Louisville) : The spring meet was to be held Apr. 25 - Jun. 27 but opening day has been postponed to May 16. Stables will open May 11. A closing day is not confirmed but likely will follow the release of a conditions book this weekend.
  • Ellis Park (Henderson): Jun. 28 - Sep.16 (expected to run on Sept. 7 and 16 along with Ky. Downs)
  • Keeneland: Seeking summer racing dates.
  • Churchill Downs: Sep. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    • Kentucky Oaks,Sep. 4
    • Kentucky Derby, Sep. 5
  • Kentucky Downs (Franklin): Sep. 7, 9-10, 12-13, and 16 [was Sept. 2, 7, 9, 10, 12-13]
  • Churchill Downs: Sep. 17 - 27
  • Keeneland: Oct. 2 - 24
  • Churchill Downs: Oct. 25 - Nov. 29
  • Keeneland: Nov. 6 - 7 [Breeders' Cup host]
  • Turfway: Dec. 2 - 31
• California
  • Santa Anita (near Los Angeles) is temporarily closed. Discussions are ongoing with local politicians. The hope from track officials and those involved in the sport is a May 15 opening pending approval from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
  • Golden Gate (Berkeley) is temporarily closed.
  • Del Mar (near San Diego) is scheduled to run July 18 - Sept. 7 and Oct. 31 - Nov. 29.
  • Alameda County Fair at Pleasanton (Bay Area) is scheduled to operate a 15-day season from June 19 to July 12 but has suggested its meet be postponed to October.
  • There are six fair tracks which race different schedules from June through December.
• Louisiana
  • Fair Grounds (New Orleans) closed early, March 21
  • Louisiana Downs (Bossier City) is temporarily closed. Its meet was supposed to open May 2.
  • Evangeline Downs (Opelousas) is temporarily closed. It was scheduled to open April 8.
  • Delta Downs (Vinton) is closed until further notice.
• New York
  • Aqueduct (Queens) canceled the end of its winter meet and all of its spring meet which would have ended April 19.
  • Belmont (Nassau County) was scheduled to operate for 51 days from April 24 through July 12 but that was canceled. The hope, as of April 29, is to begin racing in late May or early June but without spectators.
  • Saratoga (Saratoga Springs) is scheduled to open July 16. The NYRA said on April 29 the meet is a go with or without spectators but based on regional concerns more than likely the meet with be spectator-less. .
  • Finger Lakes (Farmington, near Rochester) was scheduled to run 127 days from April 25 -Nov. 25 but is temporarily closed. The hope is to run 85-90 days.
• Maryland
  • Governor's office said late April that local economy to open in phases beginning in early May and the hope is horse racing is among those earliest to operate. But mid-May is a temporary goal to race live. No word as yet as to any changes pertaining to the Preakness.
  • Laurel (Laurel) is currently closed. The track normally operates much of the year except for brief meets listed below.
  • Pimlico (Baltimore) is scheduled to run May 7-25 but that is on hold. The Preakness Stakes could move to September.
  • Timonium (part of Baltimore) is scheduled to run August 28 - Sept. 7 with its annual fair meet which is popular with families.
• Pennsylvania
  • April 30: Parts of the economy to open May 8 and racing "under consideration" per local pols.
  • Penn National (near Harrisburg) closed temporarily.
  • Parx (near Philadelphia) is closed indefinitely.
  • Presque Isle (Erie) was scheduled to run to Sept. 22 but is temporarily closed. On April 18, the track announced a temporary opening date of June 8 or if the situation does not permit then June 22 or two weeks after that and so on.
• New Mexico
  • Albuquerque Downs (Albuquerque) is scheduled to open July 17.
  • Ruidoso Downs (Ruidoso Downs) is scheduled to run May 22 - Sept. 7 and that opening day is still expected as of April 28. It was race both QH and TB.
  • Sunland Park (Sunland Park) was scheduled to end its meet April 21 but closed earlier.
  • SunRay Park (Farmington) postponed its opener. The track was to operate April 24 - June 7.
  • Zia Park (Hobbs) is scheduled to open September 21.
• Arizona
  • Arizona Downs (Prescott Valley) could hold a summer meet.
  • Rillito Park (Tucson) runs in February and March only.
  • Turf Paradise (Phoenix area) was scheduled to run through May 2 but closed early. In late April, track officials said the fall meet is hoped to go on schedule..
• Indiana
  • Indiana Grand is temporarily closed.
• West Virginia
  • Charles Town temporarily closed on March 24 but will re-open to race on May 14.
  • Mountaineer was scheduled to run April 26 - Dec. 2 but opening day was postponed. The track will re-open to race on May 14.
• Texas
  • Sam Houston (Houston area) closed its TB meet less than a week earlier than expected.
  • Lone Star (Dallas area) was scheduled to open April 16 but is temporarily closed. The stables will open on May 4 but opening day is on hold. The stakes schedule will be reevaluated once an opening day is confirmed.
  • Retama (San Antonio) is scheduled to open July 3. Stables opened April 30.
• New Jersey
  • Monmouth's opening day of May 2 has been changed to July 4.
• Washington
  • Emerald Downs is temporarily closed but plans to hold a meet later in 2020
• Illinois
  • Arlington was scheduled to open April 27 but will close through at least the end of May and is not expected to run before July 4 if at all. A proposed rescheduled 45-day meet July 4-Sep. 26 is now in limbo. A meeting is scheduled for some point in May to address the dire situation and rift between ongoing parties. The track is owned by Churchill Downs.
  • Hawthorne announced cancellation of its spring meet many weeks ago in order to build a $450 million casino/sports betting facility. Everything is on hold. Family-owned operation hurting.
  • Fairmount is closed until further notice. The track which is roughly 13 miles east of St. Louis, MO generally runs twice a week this time of the year.
• Ohio -- Closed all tracks through at least May 15.
  • Mahoning Valley (Youngstown area) was scheduled to end its meet on April 18.
  • Thistledown (Cleveland area) was scheduled to run April 27 – October 22.
  • Belterra (Cincinnati) was scheduled to run April 24 - September 25.
• Nebraska
  • Horsemen's Park canceled its 7-day meet from May 8-24. It could reschedule.
• Delaware
  • Delaware Park is scheduled to run May 27 - October 31 but is temporarily closed.
• Iowa
  • Prairie Meadows is temporarily closed. The meet was scheduled to begin May 1.
• Virginia
  • Colonial Downs has 18 race dates between July 23 – Aug 29. The hope is the meet will be held with spectators but if not could be canceled.
• Wyoming
  • Wyoming Downs' opening day remains July 4.
• Colorado
  • Arapahoe Park's opening day remains May 23 with conclusion as scheduled August 16.
• Minnesota
  • Canterbury was originally scheduled to run May 15 - Sept. 12. The hope is to operate a summer meet. It was announced on April 30 that stables will open May 8; however, a starting date to race has not been indicated though some day in June is the earliest possibility.
• Oregon
  • Grants Pass Downs has canceled its spring meet which was supposed to begin May 10 and last about two months.

Canada:

• Assiniboia Downs (near Winnipeg, Manitoba) is scheduled to operate May 24 - September 20.
• Century Downs (near Calgary, Alberta) is scheduled to open September 6.
• Century Mile (Edmonton, Alberta) was scheduled to open April 25 but is temporarily closed.
• Fort Erie Race Track (Fort Erie, Ontario) is scheduled to open May 26 but is closed temporarily.
• Hastings Racecourse (Vancouver, British Columbia) is scheduled to open April 26 but is temporarily closed.
• Marquis Downs (Saskatchewan) could open May 29 per its website. It is scheduled to run through Sept. 7.
• Woodbine Racetrack (Toronto, Ontario) was scheduled to open TB racing on April 18 but that has been delayed. The hope is a June 12 opening date but without spectators. The Queen's Plate will not run on June 27 but rather a later unspecified date.

Note:

• QH is quarterhorses
• TB = thoroughbreds

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Santa Anita targets 5/15 as start date to resume racing similiar to the NYRA Guidelines..... there hasn't been live thoroughbred racing in CA since Golden Gate Fields stopped abruptly.....after the LA County Stay at home order was issued

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Santa Anita targets 5/15 as start date to resume racing similiar to the NYRA Guidelines..... there hasn't been live thoroughbred racing in CA since Golden Gate Fields stopped abruptly.....after the LA County Stay at home order was issued

They have a condition book ready to go tomorrow. False hope? Let's hope not. They still need approval. Los Al, in a different county, has QH racing.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

They have a condition book ready to go tomorrow. False hope? Let's hope not. They still need approval. Los Al, in a different county, has QH racing.

that's one reason why GGF Stopped..... am now hearing May 14th will be the 1st race card at Churchill Downs

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

that's one reason why GGF Stopped..... am now hearing May 14th will be the 1st race card at Churchill Downs

Good. I'll assume some of the Oaklawn coalition will head there.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

Will Rogers Downs did about $5 million in handle on Wednesday.