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

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

OHIO: Thistledown (Cleveland) will open for racing on June 4, the same day as Belterra (Cincinnati).

Thistledown will run the Ohio Derby on June 27.

Horses from Mahoning Valley (Youngstown), the meet is currently closed for the season, will depart that track by the end of May with many headed to Thistle.

IOWA: Prairie Meadows will open stables on June 1. That is a good sign. No schedule for racing has been released as yet.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Handle: Over $8,000,000 bet on the card.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Race 2: Flying Aletha (Edgar Prado/Wesley Ward) broke her maiden in style in her debut race. Ward, who excels with babies, said the 2-year-old filly will head to Europe for bigger stakes. He may have something! Prado moved into 8th place in all-time victories in North America passing fellow Hall of Famer Angel Cordero. He seems to be universally respected in the industry. Prado is eight wins behind Perry Ouzts who is active but sidelined due to injury and 5,000+ behind all-time leader Russell Baze. He got his start in 1986 at Hialeah Park (we all remember the pink flamingos) in south Florida and a few days later won for the first time a few miles north at Calder. Two wonderful historic tracks that are on the brink. Fingers crossed that Gulfstream can work out a deal with Hialeah in essence to replace the contract due to expire with Calder after this year.

​

• Rainbow Six: The $.20 (20-cent) Rainbow 6 will have its jackpot pool guaranteed at $1 million for Friday's 10-race card.
• Irad Ortiz, Jr. rode the card and finished 10 2-3-2.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The latest in the perpetual fight that is Illinois.

Fairmont (southern part of the state) and Hawthorne have applied for gaming/sports betting licenses. That was known. Hawthorne's intent on building a $450 million casino was the reason the smaller, family-owned track canceled its spring meet late last year. The state's Gaming Board has yet to act on those applications.

Arlington is the heavy hitter. Churchill Downs, owners, have said as recently as today that they will not conduct a meet unless spectators are permitted in the facility. The state has a moving target involving various phases and the track does not expect to have its wish granted until the final stage.

Arlington/CDI has stated there will be a meet, most likely in the summer, and that could start around the 4th of July if and once the various agencies lift restrictions.

A survey conducted by Arlington/CDI with various trainers revealed that "up to" 550 horses could be on the track to race at some point. Hawthorne is currently stabling TB horses estimated in the hundreds.

The Illinois horsemen have requested -- demanded -- 30 days of racing minimum whether spectators are permitted or not. Meanwhile CDI has stated in no uncertain terms that they will not forgo a meet and with that indicated selling the facility presumably to horse racing interests is not going to happen though that was not specified.

The next meeting is June 18. CDI/Arlington currently gets simulcast revenue despite no live racing and that is part of the problem since the horsemen would prefer Hawthorne get the revenue.

Hawthorne does expect to run a summer harness meet.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Friday, May 22, 2020

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Race 4: Antonio Gallardo recorded his 100th win of 2020, the fourth jockey in North America to reach the feat.
• Race 5: The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $22,000.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Irad Ortiz, Jr. added three wins to his collection. He finished 7 3-2-1. Since and including May 15, he is 37 12-15-3. The high win total is almost expected with him but the place number is extraordinary (for good or not). Entering Saturday, May 23, Ortiz has 127 wins which is second in North America to Luis Saez's total of 132. With Saez suspended for 15 days, unless something unforeseen occurs, Ortiz should be the leader when Saez returns in early June.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Handle: More than $8.2 million bet. Similar number to Thursday.
• Race 10: A 96-to-1 shot led the in the stretch but eventually placed and paid $69.40 in the middle. The $.20 Pick 6 paid $24,000+.
• Race 8: Casual (Ricardo Santana, Jr./Steve Asmussen) won for the second time in two lifetime starts. She is royally bred, a 3-year-old daughter to Curlin, and was purchased in a private auction. She may be one to follow as the year progresses.
• Ricardo Santana, Jr./Steve Asmussen teamed five times and won three. The duo is among the best in North America as a team. Asmussen, the second winningest trainer in North America history, is about 600 wins behind #1 Dale Baird who passed away in 2007.
• John Velazquez and Ricardo Santana, Jr. each lead the young meet with 4 wins.

Lone Star (Texas):

• Opening day: The meet opened.
• Mike Luzzi, veteran east coast jockey, moved his tack to Texas with the desire to ride with his son Lane in a race. They were on 110-to-1 and 72-to-1 shots, respectively, and finished appropriately in second-to-last and last. OK, that wasn't a Hollywood finish but I do believe it is the first time they raced together in what has to be a fantastic moment.

Ruidoso Downs (New Mexico):

• Card: Opening day with 14 trials races leading to the "World’s Richest Quarter Horse Race" the Grade I $1,000,000 All American Futurity" which will be run on June 7. The top five times of the day secured a spot in the finals with the remaining five spots going to the five fastest times on Saturday, May 23. In the two days, 277 horses were entered.
• Times: Most of the times for the winners were around 18 seconds.
• Three-fer: The team of Alan Hernandez and Wesley Giles combined for three wins among 10 opportunities.
• Francisco Calderon rode three winners for three trainers.
• Race 2: A $99.00 winner that paid $79.20 in the middle.
• Race 3: Elmer had the fastest time on the card at 17.799.
• Race 13: A $158.20 winner. At 78-to-1, the longest odds in a field of nine.

Santa Anita (California):

• Handle: Over $7.4 million bet.
• Race 4: Two even money shots dominated the field and the $1 exacta paid a rousing $3.10. The winner was victorious by more than 12 lengths. The runner up finished more than 11 lengths ahead of the closest challenger. Third place horse lost by more than 23 lengths. Think about that for a moment.
• Flavien Prat won twice today and has ridden winners in eight of his past 13 starts the last two racing days.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

CHURCHILL DOWNS' CARD FOR SATURDAY

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post ET
Race 1	$35,000	Maiden Claiming	7 Furlongs	Dirt	16	1:00 PM
Race 2	$34,000	Starter Optional Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	10	1:30 PM
Race 3	$79,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	16	2:00 PM
Race 4	$79,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 Mile	Dirt	16	2:32 PM
Race 5	$88,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Turf	15	3:04 PM
Race 6	$81,000	Allowance	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	11	3:36 PM
Race 7	$100,000	Shawnee S.	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	8	4:08 PM
Race 8	$100,000	Tepin S.	1 Mile	Turf	15	4:40 PM
Race 9	$100,000	Blame S.	1 Mile	Dirt	14	5:12 PM
Race 10	$150,000	Matt Winn S.	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	12	5:44 PM
Race 11	$100,000	War Chant S.	1 Mile	Turf	15	6:16 PM

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

MATT WINN STAKES

What: Kentucky Derby prep race. Worth 50-20-10-5 to the top four finishers
Where: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky
When: Saturday, May 23, 2020, Race 10
Time: 5:44 pm ET
Who: 3-year-olds
Distance: 1 1/16 mile
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $150,000
TV: The race will be aired on Fox Sports 1. If TVG shows the race, it will also air on NBCSN; however, due to a past contract dispute between TVG and Churchill Downs, the race may be aired on TVG2 (not TVG) and perhaps not aired on NBCSN. My guess is that the race will be aired only on Fox Sports 1 nationally and not TVG/NBCSN.

TVG for all-day coverage of select tracks.
TVG2 for all day coverage of select tracks.
NBCSN 4:00-8:00 pm ET;
Fox Sports 1: 2:30-6:30 pm ET
Fox Sports 2: 1:00-2:30 pm ET​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Keeneland update:

The track has requested to run five consecutive days July 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Each day will have 9 or 10 races. This is part of the canceled spring meet. Keeneland is working with various bodies including Ellis Park which currently has the Kentucky summer race dates. The request is now awaiting approval.

That means Keeneland and Saratoga would be run the same week.

The stakes schedule:

July 10

• $300,000 Maker's Mark Mile (G1) 4YOs & Up 1 Mile (T)
• $100,000 Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select 3YO Fillies 7 Furlongs,

July 11

• $600,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2) 3YOs 1 1/8 Miles KY. DERBY PREP
• $400,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) 3YO Fillies 1 1/16 Miles
• $350,000 Coolmore Jenny Wiley (G1) 4YOs & Up, F&M 1 1/16 Miles (T)
• $250,000 Madison (G1) 4YOs & Up, F&M 7 Furlongs
• $150,000 Shakertown (G2) 3YOs & Up 5½ Furlongs (T)
• $150,000 Appalachian (G2) Presentedby Japan Racing Association 3YO Fillies 1 Mile (T)

July 12

• $175,000 TVG Elkhorn (G2) 4YOs & Up 1½ Miles (T)
• $100,000 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3) 3YOs 1 1/16 Miles (T)

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

TV Schedule (Monday is Memorial Day)

• TVG shows racing all day and night. TVG2 is shown on various systems but not as readily available.
• NBCSN shows part of the TVG broadcast from 4-8 pm ET. NBCSN does NOT show any of TVG2.
• Churchill Downs will be aired on Fox Sports 1 or Fox Sports 2 (depending on the time which can be found below) and TVG2. No races will be aired on TVG or NBCSN.
• Gulfstream will appear on NBCSN and TVG but not on Fox Sports.
• Gulfstream's live stream FREE as always: Live Stream | World-Class Thoroughbred Horse Racing | Gulfstream Park
• Tampa Bay will air on NBCSN/TVG and Fox Sports.
• Santa Anita will air on Fox Sports and TVG/NBCSN.I
• Lone Star goes off at 4:05 pm ET.

TVG (which will aired partly on NBCSN) and TVG2 (not part of NBCSN) will have the following lineup:

Tampa Bay	1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9	TVG
Gulfstream	1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11	TVG
Churchill	1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11	TVG2
Ruidoso	1-2-3-4	TVG
Santa Anita	1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9	TVG
Ruidoso	5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12	TVG2
Golden Gate	1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9	TVG
Lone Star	1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9	TVG
Charles Town	2 (and more into the night)	TVG

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

​

Date	Program	Time. ET	Network
SATURDAY May 23	"America's Day at the Races"	1-2:30 p.m. on FS2; 2:30-6:30 p.m. on FS1	FS1 and FS2
May 23	Live coverage of horse racing	various post times	TVG
May 23	TVG's "Trackside Live"	4 p.m.-8 p.m.	NBCSN
SUNDAY May 24	"America's Day at the Races"	1-3:30 p.m on FS2; 3:30-5:30 p.m. on FS1	FS1 and FS2
May 24	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	TVG
May 24	TVG's "Trackside Live"	4 p.m.-8 p.m.	NBCSN
MONDAY May 25	"America's Day at the Races"	1-5:30 p.m.	FS2
May 25	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	TVG
May 25	TVG's "Trackside Live"	4 p.m.-8 p.m.	NBCSN

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

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

A reason the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" series has yet to be revealed is that the committee is adding races to NBC's schedule partly to fill the void of the canceled Olympics. At least that is a working possibility.

Most states have working schedules by now as far as when tracks will run.

The schedule should be released by mid-June.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Are you kidding me? This graded stakes at Santa Anita.

Why the hell are they talking the 1? He did nill.

Elevate my 2. I wheeled the 2 and have a 70-1.



Please.

Shock... Mike Smith gets the benefit of the doubt.

That is one long stewards' review to make no change. 6-1-2 stays. I had 1-2 and 2-1 which would have been topped by a 70-1.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, May 23, 2020

• Updated meets: Minnesota and Washington were updated in the second post of this thread. I believe that leaves all states that run TB racing with schedules except Illinois (not related to the C-virus) and Pennsylvania (related to the C-virus). Some states run seasonal fairs and those aren't all included in the post.

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Race 5: David Flores was the winning rider. David Flores was the winning trainer. He has over 3,500 wins as a rider and earned more than $153 million for his connections but retired in 2017 to become a trainer. He returned as a jockey this year and today's victory was his first in post-retirement as a rider. He has five wins lifetime as a trainer including two in the past two days. He won his first race as a jockey in 1984, his first win as a trainer came 36 years later. What's the old adage? If you want something done right, you do it yourself.
• Handle: Over $6.3 million bet.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Victor Lebron won three times including both ends of the opening daily double. Some of the bigger named jockeys were riding elsewhere today.
• Race 11: The $.20 Pick 6 paid over $23,000.
• Handle: No official handle released but I estimated around $9 million bet.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Handle: Over $19,000,000 bet today
• Card: Five stakes races today highlighted by a Kentucky Derby prep.
• East coast riders: Good day for the contingent that winters in Florida and rides mostly in New York at other times. Jose Ortiz, Joel Rosario and John Velazquez have a combined 14 wins and are three of the five riders with 4+ wins.
• Joel Rosario and Jose Ortiz each rode two winners.
• Javier Castellano (0-for-14) and Joe Talamo (1-or-29), the latter coming off a brilliant Oaklawn meet, are struggling.
• Chad Brown and Brad Cox trained two winners apiece.
• Race 3: Mitchell Murrill, who hails from Alabama, won and hit the board for the first time in 12 starts this meet.
• Race 7: Dunbar Road (Jose Ortiz/Chad Brown) won the $100,000 Shawnee. She is another top older female in North America. Bought for $350,000, she is 8 5-1-1 lifetime.
• Race 8: Sharing (Manny Franco/Graham Motion) won the $100,000 Tepin Stakes. The 3-year-old filly was bought for $350,000 and is 5 4-0-1 lifetime. Onto bigger races for the maturing girl.
• Race 9: Owendale (Florent Geroux/Brad Cox) won the $100,000 Blame Stakes. The 4-year-old colt has earned over $1.1 million. He was idle since late November but now onto graded stakes. A strong training job.
• Race 10: Maxfield (Jose Ortiz/Brendan Walsh) looked exemplary, finished strongly and won the $150,000 Grade 3 Matt Winn stakes and with it 50 points towards entry into the Kentucky Derby. The 3-year-old son to Street Sense was off since October. He is 3 3-0-0 lifetime. Today was the culmination of one exceptional training performance.

The new Kentucky Derby leader board:

• Nadal 150 points
• Tiz the Law 122 points
• Wells Bayou 104 points
• Charlatan 100 points
• King Guillermo 90 points
• Ete Indien 74 points
• Modernist 70 points
• Ny Traffic 70 points
• Maxfield 60 points
• Authentic 60 points

• Race 11: Smooth Like Strait (John Velazquez/Michael McCarthy) won the $100,000 War Chant Stakes.

Lone Star (Texas):

• Race 3: A German-bred won at 59-to-1 and paid $120.60 as the longest shot off 11 entered.
• Race 5: Mike Luzzi drilled an 86-to-1 shot to place behind the 3-to-5 favorite. His son finished third at 9-to-1. I believe that is the second time the father-son rode in the same race.
• Race 6: Lane Luzzi delivered a 12-to-1 shot to a place spot.
• Race 7: Mike Luzzi rode a 34-to-1 shot to place. The third straight race in which a Luzzi brought home a price for place. The $50 tri paid of $2,300.
• Race 9: Lane Luzzi placed on board a 22-to-1 shot.
• Father-son: Mike Luzzi and his son Lane rode (races 5, 7 and 9) in the same race three times. They combined to go 9 0-5-1 (no wins but in the money six of nine times and with some healthy prices). Mike moved his tack from New York to Texas to ride with his son.

Santa Anita (California):

• Handle: Over $10,000,000 bet.
• Race 5: Wildman Jack (Mike Smith/Doug O'Neill) withstood an inquiry and won the Grade 3 $100,000 Daytona Stakes. The lengthy review involved the original order of finish of 6-1-2. The #1 Sparky Ville (Geo Franco/Jeff Bonde) and #2 Stubbins (Umberto Rispoli/Doug O'Neill) likely would have been elevated to 1st and 2nd, respectively. It was an exciting finish as the 70-1 bomber nearly held on for victory but Smith got the benefit of the doubt in the ruling. Tough call but one has to wonder. Nonetheless, this was an exceptional finish to a race loaded with tslent.

The inquiry (the race is officially a Grade 3 not a Grade 2).

​

• Race 8: United (Flavien Prat/Richard Mandella) won the Grade 2 $200,000 Charles Whittingham Stakes by a nose and then an inquiry DQ'd the original runner up in what was otherwise a thriller. Rockemperor (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Chad Brown) was placed third behind Originaire (Umberto Rispoli/Jeff Mullins). Mandella called Whittingham a hero prior to the race and he now saddles horses in the same stable that Whittingham once called home. Mandella last won this race in 1996 but three years prior to it being re-named after Whittingham, the legendary Hall of Famer, who passed away. United is a multiple graded stakes winner and has hit the board in each of six graded stakes among his 13 lifetime starts.

Charles Whittingham Stakes (Grade II) - May 23, 2020​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

TV for today:

Gulfstream airs on NBCSN/TVG but not Fox Sports.

Gulfstream's free live stream: Live Stream | World-Class Thoroughbred Horse Racing | Gulfstream Park​

Churchill airs on Fox Sports but not NBCSN/TVG. Churchill is shown on TVG2.
Santa Anita airs on every network.
Ruidoso airs on TVG until race 5 then a switch to TVG2.
Golden Gate will be on TVG.
Lone Star will be on TVG.​

SUNDAY	"America's Day at the Races"	1-3:30 p.m on FS2; 3:30-5:30 p.m. on FS1	FS1 and FS2
SUNDAY	Live coverage of horse racing	all day and night coverage	TVG or TVG2
SUNDAY	TVG's "Trackside Live"	4 p.m.-8 p.m.	NBCSN

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, May 24, 2020

• Does the TVG on air talent based in California get commission for every time she says "Zenyatta beat the boys"? There was an on-screen graphic promoting the 11-year old race to be re-aired tomorrow, too. My gosh, it is almost daily with the network. Does TVG have footage of any other horses of the past besides American Pharoah and Zenyatta? The east coast had some great horses, and stories, too.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Races 1 and 2: Leonel Reyes won both ends of the opening daily double, a rare 2-win day for him. He nearly had a third but was DQ'd for victory. in the 8th. He entered today 5-for-170 in 2020.
• Race 8: Hector Berrios was elevated to victory, his second straight on the card.
• Pick 6 carryover for Monday: Over $600,000.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Handle: Over $11,000,000 bet today.
• Race 10: The $.20 Pick 6 paid out over $223,000. Nearly a quarter million dollars for one lucky bettor.
• Race 9 ... Lessons from Avery (Rafael Bejarano/Charlie LoPresti) paid $149.20 and was the second longest shot in a field of 12. Jose Lezcano lodged an objection against Paco Lopez (4th against 2nd) but that was denied. Or as I wrote as the objection was being reviewed: Balloons at Churchill and multiple objections involving Paco Lopez no less. 73-1 initial winner, 5-1, 2-1 and 42-1. Oh boy and now Maggie Wolfendale is going off on Paco's history and saying she is "tired of him." No change! $5000 tri. Go Paco! Gary Stevens was calmer in saying that Lopez has a reputation which we all know. Junior Alvarado a few months ago said he would "drop him." Racing against Lopez can be an exercise in frustration and angst for many riders. He has the history to redefine the word aggressive. Plenty of handicappers who play him play him for that reason.

​

• Races 1 and 2: Jason Barkley, who has been hailed as one of the nouveau trainers and as a graduate of the University of Louisville, sent two horses out today and won both ends of the early daily double. He has under 40 lifetime wins. Among his jobs was assisting Nick Zito and also dealing cards in New Hampshire of all places.
• Javier Castellano is 16 0-6-0 and Joe Talamo is 35 1-4-4 this meet.

Golden Gate (California):

• Frank Alvarado won three times on five mounts.

Santa Anita (California):

• Races 1 and 2: Jeff Mullins trained winners in each race of the opening daily double.
• Races 4, 5 and 6: Abel Cedillo rode the natural hat trick and for three different trainers.
• Handle: Over $10.6 million bet on the track today.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

That note about NBC and the Breeders' Cup is confirmed. NBC is looking to fill some TV slots now that meets are more concrete.

The Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" race schedule will be released by mid June (hopefully). Many races leading up to the weekend event in early November.

Keeneland and Saratoga on consecutive summer weeks. The only thing better is if fans were allowed. Both tracks are pertinent to all discussions with NBC.

Also, I found it curious why Gulf hasn't been doing official handles through Equibase lately. Today, the track announced increased purses for June. That is a good sign. I wonder if the official handle absent on Equibase had anything to do with this matter. The track gets a large sum from the adjacent casino on normal business days.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Santa Anita's card for Monday, Memorial Day is strong. The highlight is a Breeders' Cup prep race.

SHOEMAKER MILE STAKES

What: Grade I. Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" prep race, the first this year in North America. The winner gets an automatic invitation to the Breeders' Cup Mile (turf). The full Breeders' Cup series has yet to be revealed.
Where: Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA
When: Monday, May 25, 2020, Race 9
Time: 4:30 pm PT; 7:30 pm ET
Who: 3-year-olds and up
Distance: 1 mile
Surface: Turf
Purse: $300,000
TV: TVG and NBCSN.​

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Without Parole (GB)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	122	Chad C. Brown	-
2	True Valour (IRE)	Jose Valdivia, Jr.	124	Simon Callaghan	-
3	Next Shares (KY)	John R. Velazquez	124	Richard Baltas	-
4	Voodoo Song (NY)	Mike E. Smith	122	Richard E. Mandella	-
5	War of Will (KY)	Flavien Prat	122	Mark E. Casse	-
6	Blitzkrieg (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	122	Doug F. O'Neill	-
7	Majestic Eagle (KY)	Jorge I. Velez	122	Neil D. Drysdale	-
8	Raging Bull (FR)	Joel Rosario	122	Chad C. Brown	-
9	March to the Arch (FL)	Victor Espinoza	124	Mark E. Casse	-
10	Neptune's Storm (KY)	Umberto Rispoli	124	Richard Baltas	-
11	River Boyne (IRE)	Abel Cedillo	126	Jeff Mullins	-

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

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post Pacific Time
Race 1	$51,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	5 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	12	12:30 PM
Race 2	$50,000	Maiden Special Weight	4 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	7	1:01 PM
Race 3	$53,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 Mile	Dirt	6	1:32 PM
Race 4	$27,000	Maiden Claiming	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	11	2:03 PM
Race 5	$200,000	Monrovia S.	5 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	8	2:34 PM
Race 6	$51,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	5	3:05 PM
Race 7	$51,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 Mile	Turf	10	3:36 PM
Race 8	$50,000	Maiden Special Weight	5 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	10	4:07 PM
Race 9	$300,000	Shoemaker Mile S.	1 Mile	Turf	11	4:38 PM
Race 10	$19,000	Claiming	1 Mile	Dirt	9	5:09 PM
Race 11	$300,000	Gamely S.	1 1/8 Miles	Turf	11	5:39 PM

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

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Memorial Day TV Schedule (Monday, May 25, 2020)

MONDAY May 25	"America's Day at the Races"	1:00 - 5:30 pm ET	Fox Sports 2
May 25	Live coverage of horse racing	post times vary	TVG and TVG2
May 25	TVG's "Trackside Live"	6:00 - 8:00 pm ET	NBCSN (TVG feed)

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

TV/Stream Info:

Gulfstream airs on TVG/NBCSN but not Fox Sports.
Churchill Downs airs on Fox Sports and TVG2 but not TVG or NBCSN
Gulfstream's free live stream: Live Stream | World-Class Thoroughbred Horse Racing | Gulfstream Park​

Monday Racing (all times ET):

Gulfstream (Florida) - 12:45 pm
Churchill (Kentucky) - 1:00 pm
Ruidoso (New Mexico) - 2:00 pm
Santa Anita (California) - 3:30 pm
Golden Gate (California) - 3:45 pm
Fonner (Nebraska) - 5:00 pm
Scioto (Ohio) - 6:30 pm (Harness Racing)
Remington (Oklahoma) - 7:00 pm
Assiniboia (Manitoba) - 8:35 pm -- OPENING DAY
​

TRACK	RACES	TVG NETWORK
Gulfstream	1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12	TVG
Churchill	1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10	TVG2
Ruidoso	1-2	TVG
Ruidoso	3-4-5-6-7-8-9	TVG2
Santa Anita	1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11	TVG
Golden Gate	1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11	TVG
Fonner	1-2-3	TVG2
Assiniboia	2-3	TVG
Remington	8	TVG
Scioto Downs	10	TVG

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Monday, May 25, 2020 - Memorial Day

• Bob Baffert is roughly $239,000 away from making $300,000,000 in his training career. Only Todd Pletcher and Steve Asmussen have earned more.
• Irad Ortiz, Jr.: California announced today that the reigning Jockey of the Year in North America has been suspended three days: Sunday, June 5 and June 6. Which means that since tracks uphold suspensions from other jurisdictions that he will not be available when he returns to New York for the Belmont opener. That means the top two jockeys currently -- along with Luis Saez who dropped his appeal from the Kentucky Derby DQ last year and will be out 15 days (maybe more depending on another incident in New York) -- could miss the Belmont opening day. The suspension of Ortiz, in a rare visit to California, is from a graded stakes race Saturday in which he was DQ'd from second to third.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Weather: Dreary, ugly, rainy, miserable. Reportedly, the area received three inches of rain.
• Track: Sealed/sloppy to open, all races off the turf.
• Scratches: By my count, 50 horses were scratched prior to the opening race.
• Race 1: Ten horses scratched including 1 through 5 are scratched, 6 through 11 are entered and 12 through 16 are scratched. An odd looking board with 10 of 16 scratched.
• Race 3: Ten horses scratched. The track is barely visible to the viewer due to the gray skies and heavy, dreary rain.
• Race 4: Emisael Jaramillo won consecutive races. He won for the 1,000th time in North America within the past week after more than 4,000 wins in Venezuela.
• Races 9 and 10: Victor Lebron and Larry Rivelli teamed for consecutive wins.
• Race 12: The $.50 Pick 5 paid in excess of $72,400. A huge number on most days but more so today with scratches a plenty. The $.20 Pick 6 paid over $26,000. About $1.4 million bet into the last race.
• Pick 6: Guaranteed to be $1.2 million. The carryover for Thursday's card will be over $900,000.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Handle: Over $10,000,000 bet today.
• Race 10: The three longest shots on the board topped the ticket led by a 40-to-1 shot. The $.50 tri paid over $2,100. The $,20 Pick 6 paid over $96,000.
• Race 9: Nine horses scratched prior to the opening race.
• Race 4: Corey Lanerie won for the second time on the card and jumped ahead of all competitors with his sixth win at the meet.

Santa Anita (California):

• Handle: Over $14,000,000 bet today.
• Weather: The opposite of south Florida. 90 degrees and sunshine.
• Abel Cedillo: Had four wins today. He has done admirably since relocating from northern Cal. He won seven races the past two days. Could he win Jockey of the Week?

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• Race 11: Keeper Of the Stars (Abel Cedillo/Jonathan Wong), a 4-year-old filly, pulled a mild upset and won the $300,000 Grade I Gamely Stakes. It was her 7th win in 15 starts. She was sent off from the far outside and at 7-to-1. It was the jockey's fourth win of the day. It was the trainer's first Grade 1 win. Over $1,000,000 was bet into the Pick 4 alone.

on Twitter​

• Race 10: Joel Rosario went back-to-back.
• Race 9: Raging Bull (Joel Rosario/Chad Brown) won the Grade I $300,000 Shoemaker Mile and with it received the all-important invitation to the Breeders' Cup Turf Mile. The French-bred improved to 13 6-2-2. Brown is the best turf trainer in North America. Next Shares (John Velazquez/Richard Baltas) came from about 30 lengths back and a distant last place to finish second in a furious finish. War of Will (Flavien Prat/Mark Casse), who won the 2019 Preakness Stakes and was out for his fifth start since, tried turf for the first time and did not look out of place despite being DQ'd from 5th to 6th.

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• Race 8: Secret Keeper (Abel Cedillo/Clifford Sise) broke her maiden in her debut at 10-to-1. It was the rider's third victory on the card.
• Race 6: Jolie Olimpica (Mike Smith/Richard Mandella) won the Grade 2 $200,000 Monrovia Stakes. The Brazilian-bred 4-year-old filly is 6 5-1-0 lifetime including 3 2-1-0 in the US, all graded stakes. A perfectly timed ride by Smith.

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Assiniboia (Manitoba):

• Opening day: The meet extends through September 15.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Bob Baffert may be having second thoughts pertaining to Charlatan running in the Belmont Stakes which means Nadal could be his lone Triple Crown possibility. Update: That changed with the injury to Nadal.

And lookee here, Todd Pletcher may be sending three in the race.

A potential field for June 20th's Belmont Stakes, the opening leg of the Triple Crown.

• Race 1: Belmont Stakes -- Belmont (NY) -- June 20, 2020
• Race 2: Kentucky Derby -- Churchill Downs (KY) -- September 5, 2020
• Race 3: Preakness Stakes -- Pimlico (MD) -- October 3, 2020

Sources: NYRA (New York Racing Association) and updates elsewhere

Horse	Trainer	Status	Sire
Basin	Steve Asmuseen	Probable	Liam's Map
Farmington Road	Todd Pletcher	Probable	Quality Road
Gouverneur Morris	Todd Pletcher	Probable	Constitution
Max Player	Linda Rice	Probable	Honor Code
Modernist	Bill Mott	Probable	Uncle Mo
Nadal	Bob Baffert	Injured, retired	Blame
Sole Volante	Patrick Biancone	Probable	Karakontie
Tiz the Law	Barclay Tagg	Probable	Constitution
Charlatan	Bob Baffert	Probable	Speighstown
Dr. Post	Todd Pletcher	Possible	Quality Road
Maxfield	Brendan Walsh	Possible	Street Sense
Ny Traffic	Saffie Joseph, Jr.	Possible	Cross Traffic
Shivaree	Ralph Nicks	Possible	Awesome of Course

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[MiamiScreamingEagles]

What an attractive under-the-radar race. Older females going long on turf.

OLD FORESTER MINT JULEP STAKES

What: Grade 3
Where: Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY
When: Saturday, May 30, 2020, Race 11
Time: 6:16 pm ET
Who: 4-year-olds and up, fillies and mares
Distance: 1 1/16 mile
Surface: Turf
Purse: $100,000
TV: TVG 2, Fox Sports 2
​

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Juliet Foxtrot (GB)	Florent Geroux	120	Brad H. Cox	-
2	Beau Recall (IRE)	Shaun Bridgmohan	120	Brad H. Cox	-
3	Winning Envelope (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	120	Chris M. Block	-
4	She'sonthewarpath (KY)	Chantal Sutherland	122	Steve Margolis	-
5	La Signare (FR)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	122	Brendan P. Walsh	-
6	Nay Lady Nay (IRE)	Jose L. Ortiz	120	Chad C. Brown	-
7	Secret Message (KY)	John R. Velazquez	120	H. Graham Motion	-
8	Altea (FR)	Joel Rosario	120	Chad C. Brown	-
9	Varenka (KY)	Javier Castellano	120	H. Graham Motion	-
10	Hanalei Moon (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	120	Mark E. Casse	-
11	Zofelle (IRE)	Corey J. Lanerie	120	Brendan P. Walsh	-
12	Coco Channel (KY)	Rafael Bejarano	120	Charles Lopresti	-
13	Elizabeth Way (IRE)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	122	Roger L. Attfield	-
14	Mitchell Road (KY)	Joseph Talamo	120	William I. Mott	-

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[MiamiScreamingEagles]

TEXAS

• Retama (San Antonio) was scheduled to run QH and TB at its upcoming meet from July to September; however the track informed the state's Racing Commission that it will race QH only. The TB will be transferred to Lone Star (Dallas) which is currently running. The feeling is the requests will be granted.

KENTUCKY

• Kentucky approved the Keeneland request to run from July 8-12. The Blue Grass will be run July 11 and that is a Kentucky Derby prep. This is a partial replacement for the scenic track losing its spring meet due to the C-virus. The venue will be the host for the Breeders' Cup in November and by then spectators will be allowed. Ellis Park will hold its scheduled summer meet but NOT on the dates awarded to Keeneland.

​

ILLINOIS

• Fairmont in southern Illinois will race next week. A smaller track but Illinois was among the final states to announce a race date. The exact opening date is not known.
• Hawthorne will open to harness on June 1. They will race TBs in fall-winter and are becoming chummier with the horsemen.
• Arlington... The horsemen issued another scathing letter about Arlington's positions on multiple issues. The track wants the state to reduce restrictions and the state doesn't look as if it going to bend. There is a meeting in June between parties.

IOWA

• June 19 is the targeted opening day for Prairie Meadows.

CALIFORNIA

• With the southern Cal tracks in action, the northern Cal fairs had an initial meeting with the state in preparation for June 11 which could set the parameters for those facilities (post #2 in this thread has potential dates). The most interesting portion of today's meeting is that Golden Gate could race Aug. 7 through Aug. 16 with a meet called Santa Rosa at Golden Gate and then continue racing under its usual brand through Oct. 4.
• And southern Cal. has an update with Del Mar applying for a longer meet from July 10 (not July 18) to Sep. 7.

MARYLAND

• Laurel took 144 entries for a 10-race card on Saturday despite not yet being permitted to race. The decision could be made public tomorrow (Thursday).

*** UPDATE ***

Maryland is approved to open. Laurel will race May 30, 31 and June 1 and if all goes smooth will conduct racing through Aug. 22.

It looks as if there will be 28 days of live racing in that meet.

I am not sure if Timonium will operate at that point as scheduled or if the state will go straight into Pimlico but that could mean at least 40 days in Baltimore until the Preakness.​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Oh, Nadal is retired due to injury. Big blow for Bob Baffert.

I thought from early on this campaign that 1,300 pounds was too big for a Kentucky Derby runner. Too much pressure. One reason why I liked Authentic to Baffert's other pair. However, that didn't transfer to the races as Nadal looked sensational in his brief career.

Now with an article below...

Unbeaten Nadal Retired with Condylar Fracture - BloodHorse

Nadal, one of the early favorites for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), has been retired with a left front lateral condylar fracture, co-owner George Bolton said May 28.

The injury was diagnosed after the 3-year-old Blame colt worked a half-mile Thursday in :48 4/5 at Santa Anita Park for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. He went into surgery at the equine hospital at the Southern California track, Bolton said.

"It requires two screws," the owner said. "He is now going to become a stallion. It's very sad, obviously. I just got the call this morning. It's a call you never want to get in horse racing.

"He retires undefeated. He retires, thank God, on a soon-to-be recovery. He gave us four great races."

Nadal was the leading point earner on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with 150 points and sat atop the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top 3-Year-Old Poll. After a maiden win Jan. 19 at Santa Anita, he rattled off three consecutive stakes victories, the Feb. 9 San Vicente Stakes (G2), March 14 Rebel Stakes (G2), and May 2 Arkansas Derby (G1).

He raced for the partnership of Bolton, Arthur Hoyeau, Barry Lipman, and Mark Mathiesen after being purchased by bloodstock agent Kerri Radcliffe for $700,000 at The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's Florida select 2-year-olds in training sale when he was part of the Randy Bradshaw consignment. He was bred in Kentucky by Sierra Farm out of the Pulpit mare Ascending ​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Thursday, May 28, 2020

• Fonner Park (Nebraska), one of the true positive stories in the sports world this year, handled $107 million in their now-completed meet. Last year, the track handled $12 million. That is a sizable bump.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Race 4: I'm a Rockstar (Marcos Meneses/Luis Ramirez) broke her maiden in her sixth start and paid $110.40 as she wired the field at 54-to-1. As if that happens every day! The $.50 tri paid over $2,100. The $.10 super paid over $8,000. Big bazookas at Gulf. Wire the field baby, at 54-to-1.

​

• Race 5: The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $20,000.
• Race 9: The $.20 Pick 6 paid over $26,000.
• Joseph Trejos, a 5-pound bug who is 23 years of age and from Panama, won three times with four mounts. He won in the U.S. for the first time this past April.
• Rainbow Six: The carryover will start at roughly $973,000 for tomorrow's card.
• Luca Panici, out five weeks with a rib injury, is due to return Saturday. The 46-year-old native of Italy could have a Kentucky Derby mount with Sole Volante.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Handle: Over $8.6 million bet on 10 races today.
• Race 10: The $.20 Pick 6 paid over $33,000.
• Race 9: The $.50 tri paid $1,800+. Three of the four longest odds finished 1-2-3.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Bob Baffert said Nadal's injury may not force the colt into retirement but that is the owners' call(s). The ownership is plural. The goal after surgery is to bring Nadal to stud where the stallion will mate. It is uncommon but male horses can return to racing after breeding with females. With a conglomerate, voices are not always on the same page and it is their call not the trainer's decision usually though he could offer opinions.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania could be the last state to issue a plan to race now that the bickering in Illinois is escalated in one sense but potentially minimized in another.

PA is in limbo but the horsemen seem to think/hope racing can begin late June. PA has three major TB tracks and state plans vary based on county health issues.

The $1.6 billion income to the state's economy is on hold. Delaware and New Jersey could benefit greatly if PA doesn't get in gear.

NEW JERSEY
New Jersey will open on July 3 and likely race through late September. Monmouth could see a seismic boom this year once the provisions are finalized and certainly if the horsemen in PA go elsewhere. Delaware hurt immensely last year and perhaps the track will see a boost, too, unless PA makes some positive decisions.

CALIFORNIA (redux)
California continues its upward progression as Del Mar will have a longer meet with 38 stakes worth of $5.5 million. The summertime meet in San Diego will go from July 10 through Sept. 7. This will start amid Keeneland's short summer which means Saratoga (NY), Keeneland (KY) and Del Mar (CA), three of the hottest racing facilities in North America if not the world, will be conducting meets almost concurrently.

Added to this year's oddities, there will be a Kentucky Derby prep race at Del Mar on August 1.

Also, there will be -- count 'em FIVE -- Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" races. There are hints that the Breeders' Cup is working with NBC (more likely NBCSN) to show races from Del Mar and the Breeders' Cup preps throughout the summer. While that isn't confirmed, it it being discussed. The Breeders' Cup will be at Keeneland (KY) November 6 and 7.

The five Breeders' Cup preps:

• The $250,000 Grade I Bing Crosby on Aug. 1 with the winner advancing to the BC Sprint.
• The $250,000 Grade I Clement L. Hirsch on Aug. 2 with the winner advancing to the BC Distaff.
• The $500,000 Grade I Pacific Classic on Aug. 22 for the celebrated Breeders' Cup Classic.
• The $200,000 Grade II Del Mar Handicap on Aug. 22 with the winner advancing to the BC Turf.
• The $150,000 Grade II Pat O'Brien Stakes on Aug. 29 with the winner advancing to the BC Dirt Mile.

COLORADO
Arapahoe Park is asking to run June 8 - Sept. 6. While not a major player on the TB circuit, it offers an option for horses in that part of the country including those who ran at the recently closed Fonner Park in Nebraska.

ARIZONA
Arizona Downs announced within the past 48 hours that it submitted live racing days for approval. I assume this will be for live racing this summer. Turf Paradise, the larger track, will probably re-open in October. Arizona Downs reopened in 2019 and underwent a name change from when the track last ran previously in 2010 under Yavapai Downs.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

TELEVISION COVERAGE

• NBCSN (TVG feed) shows Gulfstream, Tampa Bay, Santa Anita, Golden Gate and others but not Churchill.
• TVG2 shows Churchill among other tracks.
• TVG and TVG2 offer 24/7 coverage.
• Fox Sports 2 shows Tampa Bay, Churchill, Santa Anita and others but not Gulfstream.
• Fox Sports 1 is not scheduled to air racing this weekend.

Thursday, May 28

1:00 – 6:00 p.m. ET (FS2)​

Friday, May 29

12:30 – 5:30 p.m. ET (FS2)
4:00 - 7:00 p.m. ET (NBCSN)​

Saturday, May 30

1:00 – 6:30 p.m. ET (FS2)
4:00 - 8:00 p.m. ET (NBCSN)​

Sunday, May 31

1:00 – 6:00 p.m. ET (FS2)
4:00 - 8:00 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
​

TVG (and NBCSN during its window listed above) with red indicating graded stakes.

Tampa Bay (FL)	1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9	TVG
Laurel (MD)	1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10	TVG
Gulfstream (FL)	1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11	TVG
Churchill (KY)	1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11	TVG2
Ruidoso (NM)	2-7-8	TVG2
Santa Anita (CA)	1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9	TVG
Golden Gate (CA)	1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9	TVG
Remington (OK)	1 (into the night)	TVG2
Charles Town (WV)	2 (into the night)	TVG2
Others	(into the night)	TVG and TVG 2

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Churchill Downs

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post (ET)
Race 1	$40,000	Maiden Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	7	1:00 PM
Race 2	$31,000	Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	8	1:30 PM
Race 3	$79,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 1/8 Miles	Turf	16	2:00 PM
Race 4	$29,000	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	7	2:32 PM
Race 5	$28,000	Maiden Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	16	3:04 PM
Race 6	$81,000	Allowance	1 1/8 Miles	Turf	20	3:36 PM
Race 7	$100,000	Winning Colors S.	6 Furlongs	Dirt	9	4:08 PM
Race 8	$79,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	16	4:40 PM
Race 9	$83,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	5 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	17	5:12 PM
Race 10	$83,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	11	5:44 PM
Race 11	$100,000	Old Forester Mint Julep S.	1 1/16 Miles	Turf	14	6:16 PM

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Gulfstream Park

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post (ET)
Race 1	$35,000	Maiden Claiming	1 Mile	Turf	16	12:45 PM
Race 2	$65,000	Maiden Special Weight	5 Furlongs	Dirt	9	1:15 PM
Race 3	$18,000	Claiming	1 Mile	Dirt	7	1:45 PM
Race 4	$45,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 Mile	Turf	14	2:15 PM
Race 5	$18,000	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	7	2:46 PM
Race 6	$17,000	Claiming	1 Mile	Dirt	8	3:16 PM
Race 7	$19,000	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	8	3:49 PM
Race 8	$33,000	Starter Optional Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Turf	13	4:21 PM
Race 9	$30,000	Claiming	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	6	4:52 PM
Race 10	$46,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/8 Miles	Turf	9	5:24 PM
Race 11	$18,000	Maiden Claiming	1 1/8 Miles	Turf	16	5:55 PM

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[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Santa Anita's card for Saturday

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post (PT)
Race 1	$51,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 Mile	Turf	8	12:30 PM
Race 2	$19,000	Maiden Claiming	5 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	7	1:02 PM
Race 3	$22,000	Claiming	1 Mile	Dirt	6	1:33 PM
Race 4	$19,000	Maiden Claiming	5 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	7	2:04 PM
Race 5	$50,000	Maiden Special Weight	5 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	12	2:35 PM
Race 6	$51,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	7 Furlongs	Dirt	5	3:06 PM
Race 7	$100,000	Honeymoon S.	1 1/8 Miles	Turf	9	3:37 PM
Race 8	$32,000	Maiden Claiming	5 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	13	4:08 PM
Race 9	$50,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 1/8 Miles	Turf	11	4:38 PM

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Friday, May 29, 2020

• Winningest jockeys: Luis Saez and Irad Ortiz, Jr. both have 132 wins in North America this year to lead all riders. Both are headed into suspensions, Ortiz for three days beginning tomorrow and Saez is in the early stages of 15 days due to his Kentucky Derby DQ from last year.

Belmont (New York):

• June 3: Exactly 130 entries were taken for Wednesday's opening day card. New York has not raced since March 15 when Aqueduct closed its meet due to the C-virus.

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Race 9: The $.50 Pick 4 made the tote board explode, figuratively speaking, when it returned $29,000+.
• Race 7: The biggest shots on the board at 30-to-1 and 28-to-1 -- finished 1-2 and paid $997.20 for a $2 exacta.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Irad Ortiz, Jr. was 9 3-4-0. His suspension of three days starts tomorrow (Sunday).
• Race 10: Did the $.10 super really pay $3.12? That is among the lowest I have ever seen.
• Rainbow Six: The jackpot starts at more than $1.05 million. Even when Gulf is not in the headlines, they find a way to make headlines. It is America's playground!

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Race 2: Cazadero (Ricardo Santana, Jr./Steve Asmussen), a 2-year-old son to Street Sense, won by over 8 lengths at 5-to-1. The race was filled with first-timers with one exception who ran off of the board. A good indication for the winner that bigger things await.
• Race 5: Big balloons for exotic bettors. The $.50 Pick 3 paid over $2,000. The $.50 Pick 4 paid over $15,000. The $50 Pick 5 paid over $39,000.
• Race 9: The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $21,000. The $.20 Pick 6 paid an enormous $52,000+.
• Tyler Gaffalione was 5 2-2-0. Good day for him. His eight wins at the meet is behind only Joel Rosario who has nine victories.
• Joel Rosario was 5 2-2-1. He is 100 away from 3,000 wins lifetimes. He has been exceptional especially the past three or so years. A rejuvenation of sorts. Just a good rider whose strength is on closers. He has hit the board 63% of the time at this meet.

Golden Gate (California):

• Juan Hernandez has hit the board with 20 of his past 24 mounts, with 34 of his past 41 starts and since racing resumed at the track a superb 48 of 62 times (77%). He is winning at a 32% clip this year.

Santa Anita (California):

• Handle: About $7 million bet on the card.