Horse Racing: BELMONT dates move to AQUEDUCT; SARATOGA opens July 11

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MiamiScreamingEagles

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KENTUCKY DERBY ENTRIES (unofficial):

Rider changes for the KY Derby which will have a maximum of 20 horses:
  1. Ricardo Santana, Jr. replaces Jose Ortiz on Plus Que Parfait. Ortiz had the mount in Dubai.
  2. Jose Ortiz stays on Tacitus (Jose Ortiz likely had the option of which horse he could ride).
  3. Irad Ortiz, Jr. replaces his brother Jose Ortiz on board Improbable. Irad does not ride for Bob Baffert very often.
  4. Julian Pimentel replaces Irad Ortiz, Jr., who opted for Baffert's horse, on Win Win Win. I am not sure if Pimentel has had a Derby mount in the past.
  5. Julien Leparoux rides the Japanese import.
  6. Mike Smith's decision has yet to come: Richard Mandella or Bob Baffert? His pick could determine the pre-race favorite. Right now, I think Mandella's Omaha Beach is a step ahead. UPDATE: Smith will ride Omaha Beach for Mandella
  7. Manny Franco could ride for Todd Pletcher, based on past association, but that has yet to be determined. UPDATE: Franco will ride Spinoff for Pletcher.
  8. Flavien Prat and Florent Geroux are currently without Derby mounts. UPDATES: Prat will ride Country House for Bill Mott. Geroux will ride Roadster for Bob Baffert since Mike Smith opted elsewhere.
  9. Cutting Humor and Gray Magician have yet to have jockeys announced. There is no lock that either will be in the Derby either, depending on other factors including training. UPDATE: Gray Magician trained well and will have Drayden Van Dyke on board. Cutting Humor is expected to have a rider announced on Monday or Tuesday of Derby week.
  10. The top 20 listed below are likely headed to the Kentucky Derby. As many as four horses (below in red) could head an also eligible list should there be defections (injuries for example). Horses ranked 21 through 25 (one of whom is not pointed to the race) would be eligible based on the amount of changes from the current top 20.
  11. Additional info on contenders: Get to know the 2019 Kentucky Derby contenders - Brisnet and http://www.brisnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Derby19Points.pdf

Rank Horse Trainer/
Probable Jockey
Points Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings
1. Tacitus Bill Mott/
Jose Ortiz
150 $610,000
2. Omaha Beach Richard Mandella/ Mike Smith 137.5 $1,050,000
3. Vekoma George Weaver/
Javier Castellano
110 $747,600
4. Plus Que Parfait Brendan Walsh/
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
104 $1,540,400
5. Roadster Bob Baffert/
Florent Geroux
100 $636,000
6. By My Standards Bret Calhoun/
Gabriel Saez
100 $600,000
7. Maximum Security Jason Servis/
Luis Saez
100 $582,800
8. Game Winner Bob Baffert/
Joel Rosario
85 $1,810,000
9. Code of Honor Shug McGaughey/
John Velazquez
74 $432,070
10. Haikal Kiaran McLaughlin/
Rajiv Maragh
70 $322,500
11. Improbable Bob Baffert/
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
65 $589,520
12. War of Will Mark Casse/
Tyler Gaffalione
60 $440,840
13. Long Range Toddy Steve Asmussen/
Jon Court
53.5 $830,000
14. Tax Danny Gargan/
Junior Alvarado
52 $307,500
15. Cutting Humor Todd Pletcher/
Undecided
50 $462,467
16. Win Win Win Mike Trombetta/
Julien Pimentel
50 $350,000
17. Country House Bill Mott/
Flavien Prat
50 $220,000
18. Gray Magician Peter Miller/
Drayden Van Dyke
41 $526,000
19. Spinoff Todd Pletcher/
Manny Franco
40 $224,000
20. Master Fencer (JPN) Koichi Tsunoda/
Julien Leparoux
Japan Road to Derby $234,392
21. Bodexpress Gustavo Delgado 40 $188,000
22. Signalman Kenny McPeek 38 $496,840
23. Anothertwistafate (has been removed from Derby contention) Blaine Wright 38 $268,960
24. Sueno Keith Desormeaux 32 $285,000
25. Bourbon War Mark Hennig 31 $137,200
26. Instagrand Jerry Hollendorfer 30 $276,000
27. Mucho Gusto Bob Baffert 24 $286,800
28. Knicks Go Ben Colebrook 20 $675,085
29. Owendale Brad Cox 20 $124,000
30. Outshine Todd Pletcher 20 $74,500
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D4Es1CrUcAADa6f.jpg
The latest NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll
Rank Horse Points (first-place votes)
1. Omaha Beach 448 (32)
2. Roadster 370 (5)
3.
Tacitus 344 (7)
4.
Game Winner 322 (1)
5.
Improbable 271
6.
Vekoma 183 (6)
7.
Maximum Security 177
8.
Code of Honor 87
9.
War of Will 67
10.
By My Standards 57

Omaha Beach Climbs to No. 1 in NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll - BloodHorse

Last Race BRIS Speed/Class Ratings by Kentucky Derby Qualifiers
Rank Horse Speed Rating Class Rating Last Race (finish)
1 Tacitus103120.9Wood Memorial (1st)
2 Omaha Beach99122.5Arkansas Derby (1st)
3 Vekoma101121.5Blue Grass (1st)
4 Plus Que ParfaitN/AN/AU.A.E. Derby (1st)
5 Roadster98120.1Santa Anita Derby (1st)
6 By My Standards102120.2Louisiana Derby (1st)
7 Maximum Security102121.3Florida Derby (1st)
8 Game Winner97119.6Santa Anita Derby (2nd)
9 Code of Honor95117.9Florida Derby (3rd)
10 Haikal98118.6Wood Memorial (3rd)
11Improbable98121.8Arkansas Derby (2nd)
12 War of Will89115.1Louisiana Derby (9th)
13 Long Range Toddy83116.6Arkansas Derby (6th)
14 Tax101120.0Wood Memorial (2nd)
15 Cutting Humor99117.7Sunland Derby (1st)
16 Win Win Win97119.4Blue Grass (2nd)
17 Country House92119.1Arkansas Derby (3rd)
18 Gray MagicianN/AN/AU.A.E. Derby (2nd)
19 Spinoff102119.5Louisiana Derby (2nd)
20 Master Fencer (JPN)N/AN/AFukuryu (1st)
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Kentucky Oaks Day- Friday, May 3rd, 2019
Race Post Time Wagering
1 10:30AM WPS EX DD P3 P5
2 10:58AM WPS EX DD P3 P4
3 11:26AM WPS EX DD P3 P5
4 11:59AM WPS EX DD P3 P4
5 12:35PM WPS EX DD P3
6 1:17PM WPS EX DD P3 S6
7 2:00PM WPS EX DD P3 P5
8 2:53PM WPS EX DD P3 P4
9 3:53PM WPS EX DD P3 P5
10 5:04PM WPS EX TRI SUPER P3 DD SH-5
11 6:12PM WPS EX SH5 P3 (O/D-DBL)(O/W/D-P3)(Longines-Kentucky Oaks
12 6:48PM WPS EX DD
13 7:23PM WPS EX
[TBODY] [/TBODY]
Derby Day- Saturday, May 4th, 2019
Race Post Time Wagering
1 10:30AM WPS EX DD P3 P5
2 11:01AM WPS EX DD P3 P4
3 11:31AMWPS EX DD P3
4 12:03PM WPS EX DD P3 P5
5 12:35PM WPS EX DD P3 P4
6 1:13PM WPS EX DD P3
7 1:55PM WPS EX DD P3 S6
8 2:45PM WPS EX DD P3 P5
9 3:37PM WPS EX DD P3 P4
10 4:28PM WPS EX DD P3 P5
11 5:25PM WPS EX DD P3 P4 (Old Forester Turf Classic)
12 6:50PM WPS EX DD P3 SH5 (Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve)
137:50PMWPS EX DD
148:20PMWPS EX
[TBODY] [/TBODY]
NOTE:Trifecta and Superfecta wagering on all races that qualify under Kentucky statutes.Daily Double and Super High-5 wagers are $1 minimum straight bets.On Oaks Day and Derby Day the Superfecta is a $1.00 minimum wager.Trifecta, Pick-3, Pick-4 and Pick-5 wagers are $.50 minimum straight bets.The Single-6 is a $.20 minimum wager.The Exacta is a $2.00 minimum straight bet with $1.00 boxes and wheels.The special Oaks Day/Derby Day Pick-6 is a $2.00 minimum wager and will be a separate event from the regular Oaks Day card.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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April 17, 2019

Aqueduct (New York):
  • Race 1: The much anticipated debuts of American Pharoah's first two U.S. runners was mollified slightly. One horse was scratched while the other faded to third after holding the lead. Tesorina was the 4-to-5 favorite who finished third behind the winning entry which was trained by Todd Pletcher. Lady Delaware was scratched by trainer Wesley Ward who had both Pharoah starters.
  • Joe Bravo, who rode Tesorina in the opener, ended the day with his 50th consecutive loss. Jersey Joe is too good of a rider to be in this funk.
  • Race 9: The $2 Pick 6 paid out over $55,000.
  • Irad Ortiz, Jr. won three times. Four riders combined to win the nine races with Javier Castellano, Manny Franco and Kendrick Carmouche picking up two victories apiece.
  • Mike Repole owned horses that won the first three races.
Tampa Bay (Florida):
  • Samy Camacho , the meets leading rider, won his first four starts en route to a 5 4-0-1 day.
Indiana Grand (Indiana):
  • Race 4: The bomb of the day when an 88-to-1 shot passed the favorite along the rail. The winner paid $178.20. The $2 Pick 3 returned over $8,500.
  • Race 5: The $2 Pick 4 was a massive $41,000+.
Keeneland (Kentucky):
  • Joel Rosario won twice with prohibitive chalk. He is an outstanding 29 11-5-3 (38%/66%) at the meet.
  • Javier Castellano, who rode in New York today, is 33 14-7-4 (42%/76%) at this meet.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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CHARLES TOWN CLASSIC
What: Grade II
Where: Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races (Charles Town, West Virginia)
When: Saturday, April 20, 2019, Race 11
Post time: 5:37 pm Eastern Time
Who: 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
Distance: 1 1/8 miles
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $1,000,000
Television: TVG
History: Inaugurated in 2009.


[TR][TH]PPHorseJockeyWgtTrainerM/L
1Mongolian Groom (KY)Geovanni Franco118Enebish Ganbat-
2Nanoosh (KY)Emisael Jaramillo118Jorge Navarro-
3Diamond King (KY)Javier Castellano118John C. Servis-
4Rally Cry (KY)John R. Velazquez118Todd A. Pletcher-
5Imperative (KY)Jacob Radosevich118Anthony T. Quartarolo-
6Discreet Lover (FL)Christian Hiraldo118Uriah St. Lewis-
7Something Awesome (ON)Edgar S. Prado118Jose Corrales-
8Runnin'toluvya (WV)Oscar Flores118Timothy C. Grams-
9War Story (KY)Kendrick Carmouche118Jorge Navarro-
10Unbridled Juan (ON)J. D. Acosta118Jose Corrales-
11Bobby G (KY)Xavier Perez118Jose Corrales-
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Woodbine opens on Saturday...


[TR][TH]Race #PurseRace TypeDistanceSurfaceStartersEst. Post
Race 1$40,000 Maiden Optional Claiming 5 FurlongsAll Weather Track61:00 PM
Race 2$20,800 Maiden Claiming 5 FurlongsAll Weather Track71:36 PM
Race 3$67,500 Allowance 5 1/2 FurlongsAll Weather Track62:07 PM
Race 4$42,500 Optional Claiming 5 FurlongsAll Weather Track92:38 PM
Race 5$32,500 Maiden Claiming 5 FurlongsAll Weather Track83:12 PM
Race 6$65,000 Maiden Special Weight 5 FurlongsAll Weather Track83:45 PM
Race 7$45,000 Starter Optional Claiming 7 FurlongsAll Weather Track74:18 PM
Race 8$125,000 Whimsical S. Presented by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing 6 FurlongsAll Weather Track64:51 PM
Race 9$72,500 Allowance Optional Claiming 5 FurlongsAll Weather Track65:24 PM
Race 10$42,500 Optional Claiming 5 FurlongsAll Weather Track125:58 PM
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[TBODY][TR][TH]...but don't sleep on Laurel's card...
[TR][TH]Race #PurseRace TypeDistanceSurfaceStartersEst. Post
Race 1$28,000 Starter Optional Claiming 6 FurlongsDirt71:10 PM
Race 2$27,000 Maiden Claiming 1 MileTurf161:42 PM
Race 3$42,000 Allowance 1 MileDirt82:12 PM
Race 4$42,000 Allowance 1 MileTurf112:42 PM
Race 5$100,000 Frank Whiteley, Jr S. 6 FurlongsDirt83:12 PM
Race 6$100,000 King T. Leatherbury S. 5 1/2 FurlongsTurf153:42 PM
Race 7$100,000 Primonetta S. 6 FurlongsDirt104:12 PM
Race 8$100,000 Dahlia S. 1 MileTurf154:42 PM
Race 9$125,000 Weber City Miss S. About 1 1/16 MilesDirt75:12 PM
Race 10$125,000 Federico Tesio S. 1 1/8 MilesDirt65:42 PM
Race 11$100,000 Henry S. Clark S. 1 MileTurf106:12 PM
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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April 18, 2019

Aqueduct (New York):
  • Junior Alvarado was a perfect 3 3-0-0 including two wins for trainer James Bond who has also won his last three starts. Bond is 33% in 2019.
  • Manny Franco (15) and Jose Lezcano (14) are the leading riders at the brief meet.
  • Joe Bravo lost with his only ride, a skid of 51 straight defeats for the talented rider who was 20% in 2018.
Laurel (Maryland):
  • The turf course opened today. It appeared to be deep and plush.
Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Paco Lopez won four consecutive races beginning with the third en route to taking the lead in the meet's rider standings. Lopez finished the day 7 4-0-1 and has a one-win lead over Emisael Jaramillo.
  • Samy Camacho visited from Tampa Bay and won with his lone mount following an inquiry. The winner entered with a lifetime record of 36 1-5-12, one win in 36 starts but on the board in half those starts. Camacho is a strong 8 4-0-1 at the meet
  • Race 6: Tiger Blood tried turf for the first time and won after 33 career starts on dirt. Bet down from a 12-to-1 morning line to 7-to-2, other bettors saw the opportunity.
  • Race 1: A total of $18 was bet in the roulette pool. That is the smallest I have seen.
Keeneland (Kentucky):
  • Tyler Gaffalione won the final two races and had three victories in total. He is third in victories behind the sizzling Javier Castellano and Joel Rosario at the meet.
Oaklawn (Arkansas):
  • Ricardo Santana, Jr. (61 wins) opened a 2-win lead over David Cohen (59 wins) at the meet after two victories.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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April 19, 2019

Aqueduct (New York):
  • Dylan Davis won three times with five starters. He won the opener for the Wesley Ward-trained Maven who will go down in history as the first baby of American Pharoah to win in the U.S.

  • Pick 6: The $2 Pick 6 paid out over $89,000.
  • Race 8: Bronx Bomber (Benjamin Hernandez/John Kimmel) won at 34-to-1. His prior race he won as the even-money favorite.
Tampa Bay (Florida):
  • Rains: The track canceled racing following the second race had concluded due to heavy rains.
Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Paco Lopez, who recently returned from a 30-day suspension, was suspended 60 RACING days following the finale on Sunday. He was eligible to ride today. I am not sure when the suspension begins or when he will return. I assume the other tracks will heed by the suspension and that his return anywhere depends on Gulfstream's schedule. Dallas Stewart announced that Lopez will be replaced by Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the Kentucky Oaks.

  • Nik Juarez won three times with six starters.
  • Luca Panici won three times with seven starters. He also finished third with a 44-to-1 shot, on the lead much of the race before tiring. He had a 10-to-1 victory here:


Keeneland (Kentucky):
  • Jose Ortiz-Chad Brown combined to win three times with four starters. One win was in the Grade 3 feature.
  • Florent Geroux won three times with eight starters.
Oaklawn (Arkansas):
  • Ramon Vazquez won his first four starts en route to a 5-win day on seven starters.
  • David Cohen was suspended 60 days for a riding infraction in which his whip made contact multiple times on rival jockey Edgar Morales in a race April 6.
Santa Anita (California):
  • Rafael Bejarano hit the board with all five starters including three victories. He is 12 4-5-2 yesterday and today combined.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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April 20, 2019

Aqueduct (New York):
  • Irad Ortiz, Jr. likes to win as much as any rider in recent times. That sounds questionable but Irad will ride any time and any amount on any given day. Some jocks can pick and choose mounts. He seems to have an unending desire to ride. He was 9 4-3-1 today.
  • Meet's closing day: Aqueduct is dark to live racing until November. Belmont opens April 26 and runs through July 7. Saratoga then opens from July 11 and runs through September 2
Laurel (Maryland):
  • Race Day: An excellent card with seven races at $100,000 or more.
  • Alwaysmining (Daniel Centeno/Kelly Rubley) won the $125,000 Xpressbet Federico Tesio by 11 1/2 lengths and punched a ticket to the Preakness Stakes as this was a "Win and You're In" race.
  • Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. won three of the stakes races and that feat nabbed him North American Jockey of the Week, not common for a Laurel rider.
Charles Town (West Virginia):
  • Runnin'toluvya (Oscar Flores/Timothy Grams) won for the ninth straight time and improved to 16 12-2-0 (all but one race at CT) in winning the $1,000,000 Charles Town Classic. The winner paid $21.20. The race had Javier Castellano, John Velazquez and other notable riders with big name trainers Todd Pletcher, Jorge Navarro and John Servis all losing. The West Virginia-bred made instant headlines for the locals.

  • Jeff Runco, a local trainer, won three times.
  • Record-breaker: The handle was listed as $5,720,375 which set a track record for the event.
Keeneland (Kentucky):
  • Tyler Gaffalione won twice including the 1 1/2 miles Grade 2 $250,000 feature on Bigger Picture for Michael Maker. Gaff will have a ticket to the Hall of Fame for his own ceremony some day.
Oaklawn (Arkansas):
  • Crowd: The track was packed yet again.
Santa Anita (California):
  • Race 1: Martin Garcia won for the first time since September. He had recently returned from injury. His win was on board a 15-to-1 bomber for Doug O'Neill.
  • Race 6: Cistron (Victor Espinoza/John Sadler) won the $200,000 Grade 2 feature race with the second longest price on the board.



Woodbine (Ontario):
  • Opening Day: The meet opened.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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April 21, 2019

Gulfstream (Florida):
  • One of the few tracks operating on Easter Sunday.
  • Paco Lopez had five wins including the early daily double and later a natural hat trick. His final win came via a DQ to Emisael Jaramillo. Lopez has been suspended 60 racing days following a ride last Sunday. The suspension likely will begin this week.


April 22, 2019

Parx (Pennsylvania):
  • Race 5: Scott Lake became the sixth trainer in thoroughbred history to win 6,000 races when I’m the Talent (bred in PA) won her debut.
D4yaCmKWwAUgDK9.jpg:large
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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Craig Perret, Unbridled''s Kentucky Derby rider, was inducted into the Hall of Fame today. Nice addition. Carl Nafzger, the trainer, is already in. But now it is time to remove the omission and put Unbridled into the Hall. I am determined on this matter! Unbridled is one of the greatest studs of this era.

Congrats to all who were inducted today ( Perret, Royal Delta Elected to Racing Hall of Fame - BloodHorse )
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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KENTUCKY OAKS (unofficial entries)
  • When: The 145th running of the Kentucky Oaks is May 3, 2019 at 6:12 p.m. ET
  • Where: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky
  • Draw: 11:00 a.m. ET, April 29
  • Who: 14 fillies who earned points via the "Win and You're In" series. The list below includes two also eligible who could enter upon defection.
  • Television: NBCSN's coverage begins at noon and lasts through 6:30 p.m. ET
  • Note: Restless Rider at those odds is very tempting.
FillyOddsPossible JockeyTrainer
Bellafina2-1Flavien PratSimon Callaghan
Champagne Anyone6-1Chris LanderosIan Wilkes
Jaywalk8-1Javier CastellanoJason Servis
Jeltrin10-1Luis SaezAlexis Delgado
Restless Rider 10-1Brian Hernandez, Jr.Ken McPeek
Flor De La Mar 12-1Joel RosarioBob Baffert
Street Band 12-1Sophie DoyleLarry Jones
Lady Apple12-1Ricardo Santana, Jr.Steve Asmussen
Out For A Spin 14-1Irad Ortiz, Jr. Dallas Stewart
Liora14-1Channing HillWayne Catalano
Serengeti Empress 15-1James GrahamTom Amoss
Motion Emotion 18-1Mike SmithThomas Van Berg
Positive Spirit 20-1Jose OrtizRodolphe Brisset
Chocolate Kisses 20-1Tyler GaffalioneMark Casse
Cookie Dough (also eligible #1)25-1Jeffrey SanchezStanley Gold
Dunbar Road (also eligible #2)12-1TBAChad Brown
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Kentucky Oaks Day- Friday, May 3rd, 2019
Race Post Time Wagering
1 10:30AM WPS EX DD P3 P5
2 10:58AM WPS EX DD P3 P4
3 11:26AM WPS EX DD P3 P5
4 11:59AM WPS EX DD P3 P4
5 12:35PM WPS EX DD P3
6 1:17PM WPS EX DD P3 S6
7 2:00PM WPS EX DD P3 P5
8 2:53PM WPS EX DD P3 P4
9 3:53PM WPS EX DD P3 P5
10 5:04PM WPS EX TRI SUPER P3 DD SH-5
11 6:12PM WPS EX SH5 P3 (O/D-DBL)(O/W/D-P3)(Longines-Kentucky Oaks
12 6:48PM WPS EX DD
13 7:23PM WPS EX
[TBODY] [/TBODY]
Kentucky Derby Day- Saturday, May 4th, 2019
Race Post Time Wagering
1 10:30AM WPS EX DD P3 P5
2 11:01AM WPS EX DD P3 P4
3 11:31AMWPS EX DD P3
4 12:03PM WPS EX DD P3 P5
5 12:35PM WPS EX DD P3 P4
6 1:13PM WPS EX DD P3
7 1:55PM WPS EX DD P3 S6
8 2:45PM WPS EX DD P3 P5
9 3:37PM WPS EX DD P3 P4
10 4:28PM WPS EX DD P3 P5
11 5:25PM WPS EX DD P3 P4 (Old Forester Turf Classic)
12 6:50PM WPS EX DD P3 SH5 (Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve)
137:50PMWPS EX DD
148:20PMWPS EX
[TBODY] [/TBODY]
NOTE:Trifecta and Superfecta wagering on all races that qualify under Kentucky statutes.Daily Double and Super High-5 wagers are $1 minimum straight bets.On Oaks Day and Derby Day the Superfecta is a $1.00 minimum wager.Trifecta, Pick-3, Pick-4 and Pick-5 wagers are $.50 minimum straight bets.The Single-6 is a $.20 minimum wager.The Exacta is a $2.00 minimum straight bet with $1.00 boxes and wheels.The special Oaks Day/Derby Day Pick-6 is a $2.00 minimum wager and will be a separate event from the regular Oaks Day card.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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April 23, 2019

Will Rogers (Oklahoma):
  • Race 9: This is what is known as one hell of an exacta. In the $55,000 Will Rogers Stakes, in a small field of five with two Oaklawn shippers, the $2 exacta paid $73.80 despite the chalk winning. A 32-to-1 bomber, the longest shot on the board, finished second to the even-money favorite which was one of the Oaklawn shippers; the other finished last. Sometimes, the favorite-all option results in wonders even with 7 3/4 length wins: they don't ask about that at the window.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belmont (New York):

  • Belmont's opening day, April 26: Belmont's spring/summer meet opens Friday. One noteworthy change is twilight racing has been moved to most Thursdays rather than Fridays with first posts listed at 3:05 pm ET. The meet runs from April 26 through July 7. Plenty of stakes races culminating with the Belmont Stakes on June 8. Roughly $20,000,000 up for grabs.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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April 24, 2019

Mahoning Valley (Ohio):
  • Meet ended: The final day of the October-April annual meet at the track in Youngstown. Belterra (Cincinnati) opens April 26 and Thistledown (Cleveland area) opens April 29. Some trainers will also ship to Mountaineer in West Virginia.
  • Luis Quinones (49 wins) and Jeffrey Rodosevich (46 wins), won the jockey and trainer titles, respectively, at the meet.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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BEWITCH STAKES
What: Stakes race on Keeneland's final card of the meet.
Where: Keeneland Racecourse, Lexington, Kentucky
When: Friday, April 26, 2019, Race 9
Post time: 5:30 pm ET
Who: 4 year old fillies and mares
Distance: 1 1/2 miles
Surface: Turf
Purse: $150,000
Note: A rare 1 1/2 mile race. Deep field with no clear cut favorite.

[TR][TH]PPHorseJockeyWgtTrainerM/L
1Beach Flower (KY)John R. Velazquez118McLean Robertson6/1
2Sky Full of Stars (GER)Julien R. Leparoux118Christophe Clement9/2
3Flower Party (IRE)Adam Beschizza118Michael Stidham4/1
4Ickymasho (GB)Jose L. Ortiz118Roger L. Attfield7/2
5Peru (GB)Luis Saez118Michael J. Maker8/1
6Samuna (FR)Tyler Gaffalione118Jorge R. Abreu15/1
7Maroubra (FR)Joel Rosario118Cherie DeVaux5/1
8Gaining (GB)Florent Geroux120Brad H. Cox8/1
9Coachwhip (KY)Tyler Baze118Jack Sisterson15/1
10Dynabee (KY)Corey J. Lanerie118Jack Sisterson20/1
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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Jan 17, 2004
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WILLIAM WALKER STAKES
What: Stakes race on Churchill Downs' opening night of the meet.
Where: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky
When: Saturday, April 27, 2019, Race 8
Post time: 9:39 pm ET
Who: 3 year olds
Distance: 5 furlongs
Surface: Turf
Purse: $125,000
Note: When was the last time John Velazquez was given as much as 10 pounds to …. anyone? That said, Bulletin is 3 3-0-0 lifetime with wins in blacktype/stakes races including the $1,000,000 BC Juvy Turf Sprint.

[TR][TH]PPHorseJockeyWgtTrainerM/L
1Bulletin (KY)Javier Castellano123Todd A. Pletcher-
2Sovereign Impact (KY)Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.118William J. Denzik, Jr.-
3Legends of War (KY)Adam Beschizza120Doug F. O'Neill-
4Uncapped (KY)James Graham118Brendan P. Walsh-
5Jo Jo Air (KY)John R. Velazquez113Wesley A. Ward-
6Neverland Rock (GB)Luis Saez118Steven M. Asmussen-
7Abyssinian (KY)Julio A. Garcia113Wesley A. Ward-
8Hartel (KY)Florent Geroux118Peter Miller-
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[TBODY][TR][TH]Churchill Downs' opening night card...[/TH][/TR][/TBODY]
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[TR][TH]Race #PurseRace TypeDistanceSurfaceStartersEst. Post
Race 1$29,000 Maiden Claiming 1 MileDirt66:00 PM
Race 2$46,000 Claiming 1 1/16 MilesDirt66:28 PM
Race 3$29,000 Maiden Claiming 1 MileDirt76:56 PM
Race 4$35,000 Claiming 6 FurlongsDirt77:26 PM
Race 5$42,000 Maiden Claiming 7 FurlongsDirt97:57 PM
Race 6$106,000 Allowance Optional Claiming 1 1/16 MilesTurf158:30 PM
Race 7$50,000 Maiden Claiming 1 1/16 MilesDirt69:05 PM
Race 8$125,000 William Walker S. 5 FurlongsTurf89:39 PM
Race 9$55,000 Claiming 6 1/2 FurlongsDirt1110:11 PM
Race 10$42,000 Claiming 1 MileTurf1610:42 PM
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[/TH][/TR][/TBODY]
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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April 25, 2019

Penn National (Pennsylvania):
  • Night racing: Under the lights, per the norm.
  • Race 2: A much anticipated showdown between two of the meet's best shippers did not develop. Nick Zito, who hit the board 100% of the time at 7 5-1-1, and Jamie Ness, who was 28 15-3-3 (54%/75%), both saw the longest shot on the board win at 22-to-1. Zito's entry finished last, Ness was runner up.
Laurel (Maryland):
  • Race 1: Brooks Robinson ran for a waiver and held onto victory in breaking his maiden in his sixth try. There must have been bridge jumping in the race as the show payouts included $13.80 and $18.60 for the second and third place finishers, respectively, the runner up paid $4.40 more for show than place. At 50-to-1, the runner up also closed like a freight train.
  • Race 4: Creepy the Crab is now 37 0-3-6 lifetime after a fifth place finish.
  • Turf: Closers seem to be struggling in the early portion of the Laurel turf racing.
Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Paco Lopez, who won today, had his 60-day suspension cut in half and he has to donate $10,000 to a Jockey's Fund in addition to volunteering at a local hopsital. He can return to racing on June 15 following the suspension which begins this Saturday. The suspension was called "continuous reckless riding" after multiple DQs.
  • Victor Lebron, who I associate more so with the Kentucky tracks and maybe Tampa Bay but not so much Gulfstream, is 15 5-4-1 (33%/675) at the meet.
Keeneland (Kentucky):
  • Letsstaypositive (Tyler Gaffalione/Wesley Ward) cruised to victory in her maiden race. Ward excels with two-year-olds. His total record today at the oval was 3 2-1-0. The filly was the first winner for first-year sire Palace Malice and she won in a hand-ride in what would have otherwise been an epic romp in a short 4 1/2 furlong race.
  • Race to the finish: Tyler Gaffalione, Javier Castellano and Florent Geroux each have a meet-leading 14 victories while Luis Saez is next with 13 wins and Joel Rosario has 12. The meet closes April 26 (tomorrow). Castellano's 42% wins, 76% (33 14-7-4) in the money is almost unthinkable.
  • National anthem: A touching version. Corey Lanerie's daughter, whose mother passed at too young of an age last year, teamed with Shea Leparoux, the wife to rider Julien and daughter to late trainer Mike Mitchell.

Hawthorne (Illinois):
  • Race 1: A 1-to-9 shot finished second.
Oaklawn (Arkansas):
  • David Cohen-Robertino Diodoro won three times as a team among five tries.
  • David Cohen and Ricardo Santana, Jr. lead the rider standings with 64 wins apiece. Cohen was suspended 60 days earlier this month from April 27 to June 25.
  • Steve Asmussen (53) and Robertino Diodoro (44) are the winningest trainers at the meet which closes May 3.
  • M and M Racing are dominating the meet among owners. Add two more wins. The group led by Mike Sisk and his wife Mickala are relatively new to the game and use Diodoro as the primary trainer. The stable won the owners' title last year, too.
  • Race 5: The winner and runner up were both out for the 64th time.
Three notes:
  • Belmont (New York) opens tomorrow.
  • Norberto Arroyo, Jr., who has had a troubled past, has a ride at Santa Anita on Saturday, his first mount since Parx in September.
  • Jenn Miller, who had ridden dressage and equestrian prior to starting a career in T-bred racing, returned to racing on Monday and finished second in the Laurel opener. She is in her 30s and had the apprentice bug later in life than most since she participated in other types of racing. What made her return extra special was on Thanksgiving night 2017, she suffered a traumatic injury which included damage to her brain among broken bones. Excellent story in that she is now healthy enough to ride again. Among her brief successes was winning twice at Suffolk Downs (Massachusetts), her home state track, in July 2017 including a 43-to-1 shot She usually rides in the mid-Atlantic tracks (Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, Maryland, etc.).
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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April 26, 2019

Belmont (New York):
  • Opening day: The track was initially listed as good but following the second race a monsoon interrupted and caused a lengthy delay which necessitated in additional races being removed from turf.
  • Joe Bravo ended a 54-race (by my count) losing streak with a gate-to-wire victory His last win came on March 8 at Gulfstream.
  • Race 8: Pat On the Back (Dylan Davis/Jeremiah Englehart) charged on the rail and won the $100,000 feature race.
  • Dylan Davis, Jose Lezcano and Kendrick Carmouche each won twice. No trainer won more than once.
Laurel (Maryland):
  • Race 4: Michael Trombetta starters finished 1st and 2nd. A 50-to-1 shot ridden by Johan Rosado finished third.
  • Race 2: Johan Rosado picked up the start as a replacement for Carol Cedeno and won at 30-to-1. Cedeno will likely be an active rider at Delaware Park which opens May 4.
Belterra (Ohio):
  • Meet opener: The meet opened today.
  • Race 8: The $.50 tri in the finale exceeded $1,100.
Keeneland (Kentucky):
  • Closing day of the meet: The last day of the popular April meet, with a packed crowd and beautiful weather. Churchill Downs opens tomorrow.
  • Handle: The track handled over $153 million for its 16-day meet or slightly under $10,000,000 per racing day.
  • Florent Geroux won the rider's title in a nail biter. His victory in the 7th race gave him 15 at the meet which eventually topped the other riders. Tyler Gaffalione, Luis Saez and Javier Castellano (a stellar 42%/76%) each had 14 victories. Joel Rosario, John Velazquez and Brian Hernandez, Jr. each had 13 wins.
  • Wesley Ward (11 wins) was the winningest trainer at the meet. Ward was hot this week with a 9 5-2-0 mark. Brad Cox (10 wins) and Chad Brown (9 wins) followed.
  • Race 9: Ickymasho (Jose Ortiz/Roger Attfield) took the lead at the half-mile and never looked back in the Grade 3 Bewitch Stakes run at 1 1/2 miles. The winner is 7 years old and won for the 9th time in 39 starts. Attfield, who will turn 80 years old later this year, is based at Woodbine and this was his lone win at the meet in 13 starts.
Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Race 8: The winner paid $75.00 and was the second half of a double that paid $1,074.
  • Race 10: The $.20 Rainbow 6 paid over $30,000 to all winners. Three horses were singled including the #1 who led entering the stretch. The person with that ticket would have won the bulk of the jackpot which now has a carryover in excess of $500,000. The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $54,000. The $.50 Pick 4 paid over $8,400.
Oaklawn (Arkansas):
  • Race 7: A 27-to-1 shot wired the field and won by more than 4 lengths.
  • Race 6: I don't know how many 9-year-olds Steve Asmussen has in his barn but one delivered today, first time off the claim.
  • Races 2 and 3: McLean Robertson starters won both races. He last won a race on March 21, a span of roughly 30 starts. He has not had a productive 2019 but that will likely change when Canterbury (Minnesota) opens.
  • Ricardo Santana, Jr. won three times and edged in front of David Cohen in the rider standings by two victories. Cohen, who won once today, will be suspended until late June due to a riding infraction earlier at the meet which ends on May 4. What could have been an interesting battle will be a formality as Santana will win the meet now with no immediate competition in the standings.
Santa Anita (California):
  • Race 2: Howard Zucker, the winning trainer who doesn't send out many horses, won for the first time since September and for the 250th time in his career which began in 1973 at the now-shuttered Garden State in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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Saturday was a great day of horse racing. Not for me though. Hahahaha
I'm liking Tax for the Derby. Got a lot out of the wood.
Hope he draws in...

Each entry will get puff pieces as the days shrink towards the Derby but here is one on Tax if you are still considering. Good luck.

‘Push-Button’ Tax Has Alvarado Excited For Third Derby Mount - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report

Count jockey Junior Alvarado among those impressed with Tax's blistering half-mile work on Thursday in preparation for the Grade 1, $3 million Kentucky Derby.

Alvarado, who is set to make his third career Derby mount when he pilots Tax on May 4 at Churchill Downs, watched as Tax recorded a 47.80-second breeze, the fastest of 48 recorded works at the distance, over the Belmont Park training track.

“I thought it was great and I loved the way he started; it's really important when you're getting ready to ride a mile-and-a-quarter race that your horse can be in the bridle but won't try and run off,” Alvarado said from the Belmont jock's room Friday. “Coming down the lane, he has such a beautiful, long stride. I was paying attention to his gallop out and it was outstanding. He showed me everything I wanted to see. He did it nice and strong, pretty much on his own.”​
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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This is a traditionally quiet weekend to stakes races with the Kentucky Derby one week out. Many tracks will open their meets by next weekend including Monmouth (New Jersey), Delaware Park (Delaware), Finger Lakes (New York), Arlington (Illinois), Canterbury (Minnesota), Prairie Meadows (Iowa), Louisiana Downs (Louisiana), SunRay (New Mexico) and Hastings (British Columbia). The increased handles will be universal for Friday and Saturday when the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby are run, respectively. Other facilities will open to live racing later in May.

Churchill Downs' opening card, tonight under the lights:

Race Post Time ET Wagering
1 6:00PM WPS EX DD P3 P5
2 6:28PM WPS EX DD P3 P4
3 6:56PM WPS EX DD P3
4 7:26PM WPS EX DD P3 P4
5 7:57PM WPS EX DD P3 S6
6 8:30PM WPS EX DD P3 P5
7 9:05PM WPS EX DD P3 P4
8 9:39PM WPS EX DD P3
9 10:11PM WPS EX DD
10 10:42PM WPS EX SH5
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SANTA MARGARITA STAKES
What: Grade II
Where: Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California
When: Saturday, April 27, 2019, Race 8
Post time: 7:50 pm Pacific Time
Who: 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
Distance: 1 1/8 miles
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $200,000
Television: TVG
History: Inaugurated in 1935. Hall of Fame riders Bill Shoemaker, Chris McCarron and Laffit Pincay, Jr. have won this race a high of six times.
Note: Norberto Arroyo, Jr. has had one mount since the end of 2017 and that was Labor Day weekend in 2018. A curious decision.


[TR][TH]PPHorseJockeyWgtTrainerM/L
1Starr of Quality (CA)Tiago Josue Pereira120William Spawr5/1
2Exuberance (KY)Norberto Arroyo, Jr.120Ian Kruljac20/1
3La Force (GER)Drayden Van Dyke120Patrick Gallagher4/1
4Birdie Gold (KY)Victor Espinoza120Gary Mandella20/1
5Withholding Info (KY)Joseph Talamo120Bob Baffert6/1
6Lemoona (KY)Aaron T. Gryder120Richard Baltas3/1
7Just a Smidge (KY)Martin Garcia120Bob Baffert10/1
8Paradise Woods (KY)Mike E. Smith120John A. Shirreffs9/5
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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April 27, 2019
  • Doug O'Neill was a star this day. He had horses entered at four tracks and finished 6 3-1-1. Among his wins was a Grade 3 at Golden Gate. He hit the board at three tracks in three stakes races.
Belmont (Aqueduct):
  • Race 9: Therapist (Eric Cancel/Christophe Clement) won the $125,000 feature race at 5-to-2 in a reduced field of six. The winner appeared too good to be true at the odds offered, not the favorite, since he was 3 3-0-0 lifetime on the Belmont turf and sported an impressive 11 7-0-2 mark lifetime on turf. Cancel, a competent rider who doesn't have the name brand of Jose Ortiz and Manny Franco among others, rode with a fury in charging at the wire. Clement excels on turf.
  • Race 2: A $45.20 winner in which Mike Luzzi almost wired the field but was caught in the stretch by Joey Martinez. The double paid $686.
  • Race 1: Tzeonn Chang won the opener at 31-to-1. It was his second win in 2019. He had a skid off 66 straight losses prior to his win in March with his last prior victory coming in 2009. The win in March was followed by a fine for rough riding.
Laurel (Maryland):
  • Race 6: An excellent finish in which trainer Michael Trombetta ended the race day 36 11-7-4 (31%/61%). He is having a profitable meet.
  • Race 8: Scout's Honor was a 10-year-old out for just the 31st time, 10 of which came in 2018. He won.
  • Race 9: A 1-to-5 June-bred won in a reduced field of four. June-breds are rare in North America.
Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Race 11: Quebec (Samy Camacho/Bobby Dibona) won the feature race. The trainer had a good day at 3 2-1-0.
  • Paco Lopez, the leading rider at the meet, began his 30-day suspension today. He is scheduled to returned in mid-June.
Churchill Downs (Kentucky):
  • Meet opener: The meet opened at 6:00 pm ET.
  • Race 10: The $.50 Pick 4 paid over $2,200. The $.50 Pick 5 returned over $28,000. The $.20 Pick 6 jackpot paid over $43,000.
  • Race 8: Jo Jo Air (John Velazquez/Wesley Ward) upset the $125,000 William Walker Stakes at 14-to-1. The 3-year-old filly, one of two in the race of eight limited to 3-year-olds, is a daughter to Scat Daddy and performed admirably under the direction of a heady jockey and a sizzling trainer who is 10 6-2-0 the last four days at various tracks. Runner up Uncapped (James Graham/Brendan Walsh) at 20-to-1 which led to a haughty $2 exacta of $232.60. Legends of War (Adam Beschizza/Doug O'Neill) finished third which rendered bridge jumpers to their awaited fate with show prices returning $10.00, $7.40 and $13.00. Bulletin (Javier Castellano/Todd Pletcher) failed in totality at 1-to-9. Bridge jumpers paid the price: Look out below!
Hawthorne (Illinois):
  • Cancellation: The card was canceled following the second race due to an excessively sloppy track. This was the last day of the meet. Arlington opens on Friday.
Oaklawn (Arkansas):
  • David Cohen won his first two starts. Reports indicated his suspension was to begin today but it did not and he is scheduled to ride into next week. Perhaps that has been amended. If so, the rider's title at the meet is up for grabs. As of today, Ricardo Santana, Jr. has 70 wins, three more than Cohen.
  • Ricardo Santana, Jr. won three times and rode the first nine races.
  • Race 9: Nitrous (Ricardo Santana, Jr./Steve Asmussen) won the $150,000 feature race. Landeskog (Edwin Maldonado/Doug O'Neill), owned by Erik Johnson of the Colorado Avalanche (ERJ Racing), was runner up.


Golden Gate (California):
  • Race 10: Blitzkreig (Rafael Bejarano/Doug O'Neill) won the Grade 3 $250,000 San Francisco Mile. The winner was a $25,000 claimer in January. That is a nice profit.


Santa Anita (California):
  • Race 8: Paradise Woods (Mike Smith/John Shirreffs), sent off at 3-to-5, romped to victory in the Grade 2 $200,000 feature race by 10 1/2 lengths. I mentioned in an above post Norberto Arroyo, Jr. riding for the second time since the end of 2017 and the curiosity factor. His mount finished third at 56-to-1 as the longest shot on the board. Arroyo was generally considered a fearless rider but had off-the-track issues which interfered with his career.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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KENTUCKY DERBY NOTES:
Omaha Beach
had an impressive final workout today judging by reports. Coupled with Mike Smith riding, it is likely that Omaha Beach will be sent off the favorite in the Kentucky Derby, unless of course, bettors decide to jump on a Bob Baffert starter. But if the weather is wet at Churchill on Saturday, that could boost the chances for Omaha Beach mightily.
----------------------------------------------
The only colt without a rider as yet will have one named in the next day or two per trainer Todd Pletcher. Cutting Humor worked out today with an exercise rider.
----------------------------------------------
The following game plan for Tax interests me in that Junior Alvarado excels as a rider from the outside and as a closer. He doesn't work his best, normally, on the inside. Alvarado will have to overcome the usual machinations of drawing the rail in a large field but if he sits patiently he can maneuver this properly. The draw for the Derby will be held mid-week.

Derby Notes: Pletcher Pair ‘All Systems Go,’ Master Fencer Takes A Tour Of Keeneland - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report

TAX – Trainer Danny Gargan confirmed Saturday morning that New York-based Withers (GIII) winner Tax is doing well and preparing to ship Sunday from Belmont Park to Churchill Downs.

The son of Arch has two wins, two seconds and a third from five career starts and had his final serious breeze Thursday, going a half-mile in 47.80 (fourth-fastest of 79) over the Belmont training track.

“He worked really good the other day and we just jogged him today,” Gargan said. “We only worked him once, with only four weeks between races, since the Wood (Memorial). He's been doing great, but it's the best 20 3-year-olds in the country, so he's going to have to be good. It's all about the post and draw.

“I'd like to be closer to the rail,” he continued. “Churchill seems to be a track where you're better drawn down inside and—like I said—it's all about the post. If he's drawn well, I'd like to see him in fourth or fifth early on. If he's outside in 18 or 19, he'll be third or so early and we'll have to use him.”

Hailing from a deep Claiborne Farm pedigree, Tax is a grandson of multiple graded stakes-winning Yell, who was third in the 2003 Kentucky Oaks (GI) and second in the following year's Louisville Breeders' Cup (GII). He made his first two starts for Claiborne and Adele B. Dilschneider, while trained by Ben Colebrook, but was claimed by Gargan for owners R. A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch and Corms Racing Stable. He has subsequently made three starts, including a third in the Remsen (GII), his aforementioned Withers win and a last-out runner-up effort to Tacitus in the Wood Memorial (GII).

“When I claimed him, I had seen his run first time out,” Gargan said. “I actually thought he was going to be a grass router, being an Arch out of a Giant's Causeway mare, but when I breezed him, I saw that he was a dirt horse—and a good one. He showed he had speed when he ran first time out and a big horse who has that kind of speed is a good thing to have.”
Junior Alvarado, aboard for his past two runs, keeps the mount.​
------------------------------------------------------------
There are plenty of believers that what we saw tonight at Churchill could happen in the Derby especially if Omaha Beach does not run up to expectations. And some think John Velazquez could upset the applecart. If tonight is a prelude to activity at Churchill this upcoming weekend, we could be in for some jolting activity.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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As we approach the Kentucky Derby, some favorite memories...

Favorite pre-race quote: Al Michaels "And there's Loni Anderson,. She's been known to go to the window." Only a horse player can appreciate that quote.:laugh:

Chris Antley… 1999... all that bleeping talent... and those demons. Still one of the greatest jockeys of this era and no one will ever convince me otherwise. Back to the horse: A claimer wins the Kentucky Derby.


Zito! Go For Gin. 1994...


And how about that Zito and Antley team in 1991....
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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1990... "A squeeze play and ... Unbridled caught the worst of it." Gulp! But then my favorite and nothing will ever replace it. Mrs. G. will always be an indelible memory. Nafzger all class.


 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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2007... Calvin Borel and Street Sense.... I told 'em in 2006 this horse would win. I told 'em all he would break the juvy jinx! Great memory...for personal reasons.



2004... Smarty Jones... Next to the Bid, the one should-have-been Triple Crown winner.


And of course the second best Florida-bred of all-time :sarcasm: . OK, the best! Affirmed had the heart of a champion, literally. Arguably the greatest race horse post-Secretariat in North America history. 18-year-old rider, 1978.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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The two biggest heartbreakers...

1997... "And here comes the Captain..." I am still waiting... Alex Solis, that one misstep hurt.


2005... Yeah, Giacomo this and Giacomo that. Afleet Alex winning this race and the Triple Crown would have been THE sport's story of the decade. Jeremy Rose got a lot of heat but he made up for it the next two legs.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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April 28, 2019

Belmont (New York):
  • Junior Alvarado had a 3-win day and nearly eked out a fourth victory.
  • Race 2: Uncle Sigh (Junior Alvarado/Patrick Quick), who ran in the 2014 Kentucky Derby, was out for the 39th time and earned a win by kicking it up a notch in the stretch and walloping the competition by 7 lengths.
  • Race 3: Argonne (Junior Alvarado/James Bond) prevailed under a steady ride by the jockey. The hot trainer is 10-for-32 in 2019, 32% winning. Among those defeated was the successful ownership of Klaravich Stables nominated for a 2019 Eclipse Award as best owners in the sport.
  • Race 7: Tiz Morning (Junior Alvarado/Edmund Davis) crept and closed along the rail and defeated the far larger connections of Presto (John Velazquez/Todd Pletcher). Alvarado and Velazquez seem to have had a rivalry in the past and of course one moment was the infamous 2018 Wood Memorial. Alvarado, as mentioned by me yesterday, generally does not do his best riding along the rail. For him to beat a wise rider like Velazquez adds to the intrigue of the race and was an exceptional performance. The trainer won for the first time in his career and is the son of veteran rider Robbie Davis.
  • Race 9: Fire Key (Jose Ortiz/James Ryerson) won the $125,000 feature race by a whisker and held off a charging Junior Alvarado who nearly pulled off one of his patented come-from-behind on the outside victories. My initial impression was Alvarado got the win. The photo finish included a third horse ridden by Joe Bravo.
BEL_20190428_9_1.jpg
  • Race 10: There were 10 scratches in a reduced field of 6. Some but not all races were off the turf which is almost becoming the norm at New York tracks.
  • Robbie Davis, who is 57 years old, rode Dublin Green, a 5-year-old horse with a 50-to-1 morning line in the 4th race. The horse didn't factor. Davis is also listed as the owner and trainer. This was his first ride of 2019, he had just eight last year and just one start from 2003 through 2012; he has not won a race since 2002. Davis has two daughters and two sons active. His son Dylan rode three times today. His son Edmund won as a trainer for the first time in his career. His daughter Jackie had two wins Friday night at Penn National. His daughter Katie had two mounts at Laurel and hit the board with both.
  • Jose Lezcano is having a resurgence in 2019. He made the decision not to go to Gulfstream (Florida) this winter in order to pick up more mounts at Aqueduct (New York). That worked out for him as he finished fourth in wins at a 22% win rate. He followed that by being second to Manny Franco in wins in the brief April meet at Aqueduct. At the early stages of this Belmont meet, he leads with five wins and has a gaudy mark of 12 5-3-2 (42%/83%) including 4-3-2 with his last nine mounts. He is 25% in 2019 which would be a career best, but still much racing to go and the racing gets tougher in New York as the weather warms and eventually Saratoga opens.
Laurel (Maryland):
  • Trevor McCarthy, the leading rider at the meet, added to his totals with a 7 3-1-1 day.
  • Race 1: The opener was won by a 7-year-old maiden out for just the 8th time.
Belterra (Ohio):
  • Race 5: A rare Tennessee-bred was scratched by the trainer in what would have been the 4-year-old colt's first race.
Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Edgard Zayas won four times and rode the entire card of 11 races. In the finale, he was put up after an objection/inquiry which removed trainer Lilli Kurtinecz from having consecutive wins with her only two starters on this day. The rider DQ'd was Hall-of-Famer Edgar Prado who has over 7,000 wins.
Oaklawn (Arkansas):
  • Ricardo Santana, Jr. (72 wins) continues to have a 3-win lead over David Cohen who was penalized with a 60-day suspension for a riding infraction in early April. I assume he has appealed the suspension which was to start April 27. Both riders won twice today. One of Cohen's wins was for trainer Lynn Chleborad who ended the day 2-for-69 at the meet.
Lone Star (Texas):
  • Mocito Rojo (Filemon Rodriguez/Shane Wilson), a $10,000 claimer, won the Grade 3 $300,000 feature for three-year-olds and upward. The trainer won a graded stakes for the first time. The winner improved to 22 14-3-1 and raced outside the state of Louisiana for just the second time. He had run at the three Louisiana tracks and once at Remington (Oklahoma). Among those defeated were two Steve Asmussen trained horses and two shippers from Phil D'Amato's stable in California. It was a big day for the smaller track. TVG even sent out the impeccable Gabby Gaudet to cover the race day.



  • Steve Asmussen was 6 0-1-4. He had one winner in 13 starts covering three tracks.
Turf Paradise (Arizona):
  • Race 3: A bomber at the Phoenix track in which a $111.40 winner topped an exacta that paid out $1,738.60. The $1 super paid out more than $35,000.
Woodbine (Ontario):
  • Eurico Da Silva, the leading rider at the 2018 meet, was a perfect 6 6-0-0 today. He recorded wins in six consecutive races (races 2 through 7) and had the opportunity to tie the track record in the finale but his horse was scratched at the gate. He did not ride in the opener either. The feat was his personal high for victories on a card. Last year, he established a track record 237 wins at the meet. UPDATE: Despite his tremendous feat, he was not given North American Jockey of the Week, that went to DeShawn Parker at Indiana Grand who had 10 wins in 22 starts.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

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