Horse Racing: Horse racing (through 2021)

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

January 2, 2021

Aqueduct (New York):

• Conditions: Muddy, track sealed.
• Handle: $8.7 million.
• Eric Cancel had a 3-win day. His 15 wins is second at the meet to Kendrick Carmouche's 19 victories.
• Race 1: Knockout Punch (Eric Cancel/Bob Dunham) won the opener. Dunham, in his early 80s, has been training for more than 50 years and last won in 2018 (he was 0-for-25 in 2020). He has many owners of that span including George Steinbrenner.
• Race 6: Breakfastatbonnies (Kendrick Carmouche/Danny Gargan) romped by 11+ lengths as the only first-time starter entered. Jockey-trainer go back-to-back.
• Race 8: Pete's Play Call (Jorge Vargas, Jr./Rudy Rodriguez), the second longest odds on the board at 4-to-1 in a field of five, won the $100,000 Gravesend Stakes.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Conditions: Sloppy day in Maryland. Make adjustments wisely. Horses that like mud fare better on these days.
• Alexander Crispin, one of the nation's top bugs, won three times.
• Race 3: Bobby Two Times (Horacio Karamanos/Damon Dilodovico) won a thriller as he caught the lead horse, trained by Claudio Gonzalez, the state's most successful trainer in past 10+ years. This was the second straight race Gonzalez got nipped at the wire. Dilodovico was understandably happy when he got the photo in his direction.
• Race 5: Perpetrate (Carol Cedeno/Miguel Vera) gave the rider her 1,000th lifetime win. However, Julian Pimentel on board the unplaced #1 lobbied an objection against the winner but stewards dismissed the claim.
• Race 6: The winner must have been six lengths back but utilized the inside and caught the lead horse in a last second bob at the wire.
• Race 9: Rapidash Queen (Rebecca LaBarre/Robert Leaf, Jr.) won the finale by five lengths at 40-to-1. Not only were the odds imposing but the closest was the last finisher who was sent off 8-to-1. That is a sizable gap. The jockey rides with a 7-pound advantage and won for the 28th time in her pro career.
• Replay show:

​

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Chad Lindsay, who rode bulls in Texas before T-breds elsewhere, won twice.
• David Van Winkle, who from my memory trains mostly in Arizona and Minnesota, won twice today.
• Race 7: Daniel Sanner, mostly based in the Midwest, was the winning trainer. I don't recall him bringing horses to Tampa Bay in the past and he was winless at the meet with seven starters prior to today.
• Race 10: Lucy's Town (Daniel Centeno/Jose Delgado) gave the rider his 3,000th lifetime win. Centeno, who turned 49 last month, is the all-time leader at the tracks in wins with 1,377, and stakes victories with 50.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Handle: $15.4 million.
• Todd Pletcher, winless with five starters in 2021, won three times today.
• Saffie Joseph had two wins at Gulfstream and a third at Tampa Bay. He won half the races he entered.
• Race 1: Gregs Posse (Jesus Rios/Nancy Harris) delivered and shocked at 73-to-1. The first-time starter, foaled in New York by the breeder-trainer-owner, gave Harris her first win since April 2019 and her first victory at Gulfstream since 2017. She conditions on a farm mainly and has 11 lifetime wins. The $1 exacta with trainers Nancy Harris and winless Maria Mejia (nine lifetime starts) paid $462 and the $.50 tri returned more than $1,700.
• Race 2: Hard Game (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Michael Maker) broke his maiden in his fourth try. The jockey continued his winning ways. That is nine wins for him the past 2+ cards.
• Race 3: Black Hope (Luca Panici/Jose D'Angelo) gave the rider his first win after 44 consecutive defeats. Panici has been active through three races going 3 1-1-1 including hitting the board with 8-to-1 and 22-to-1 shots and winning with this 6-to-1.
• Race 4: Kentucky Pharoah (Julien Leparoux/Jack Sisterson) won the $75,000 Dania Beach Stakes. The 3-year-old colt won for the second straight time in four starts but is a perfect 2 2-0-0 on turf while 0-for-2 on dirt. This boy likes turf. He is owned by the iconic Calumet Farms of Lexington, Ky. Sisterson, only in his mid-30's and a former assistant to California based Doug O'Neill, has under 50 lifetime wins but he has a knack for winning bigger purses.
• Race 5: Competitive Speed (Leonel Reyes/Javier Gonzalez) at 9-to-1 upset far bigger names in the $75,000 Glitter Woman Stakes. This is perhaps the biggest win for the trainer outside of Camerero in Puerto Rico. Among the beaten jockeys in the reduced field were Irad Ortiz, Jr., John Velazquez, Paco Lopez and Luis Saez. Among the trainers defeated were Todd Pletcher and Christophe Clement.
• Race 6: Rijeka (Jose Ortiz/Saffie Joseph), a 12-to-1 m/l bet down to 3-1, won a close finish. The 5-year-old gelding lost 14 of his prior 15 starts and was out for the 24th time.
• Race 7: Drain the Clock (Edgard Zayas/Saffie Joseph) won the $75,000 Limehouse Stakes. The 3-year-old colt is 4 3-0-0 lifetime and is owned by Slam Dunk Racing which is headed by Nick Cosato a former jockey's agent based mostly in California. He also has some current top trainers as clients including Brad Cox, Peter Miller, Joseph and others.
• Race 8: Winfromwithin (Luis Saez/Todd Pletcher) won from the far outside post (#12) and the Into Mischief colt broke his maiden in his fourth try.
• Race 9: Con Lima (Paco Lopez/Todd Pletcher) won the $75,000 Ginger Brew Stakes. A rare Texas-bred to win in south Florida, the 3-year-old filly is 6 3-3-0 and won a stakes race for the first time. She has a certain reputation including being called "quirky" by track analyst Acacia Courtney and "difficult" by Pletcher but she does like the Gulfstream turf.
• Race 10: Mutasaabeq (Luis Saez/Todd Pletcher) won the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes as the even-money favorite. The 3-year-old colt was bought for $425,000 in November 2018 by Shadwell Stable (Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE). Pletcher earned the natural hat trick with his third straight win. The Holy Bull could be the colt's next race as he tried to improve on a 5 3-0-1 career mark.
• Race 11: Light Fury (Miguel Vasquez/Ronnie Spatz) won the finale at 7-to-1.
• Rainbow Six: Will have $1.3 million in Sunday's pool.
• Replay show:

​

Fair Grounds (Louisiana):

• Florent Geroux had a 4-win day and now owns a record of 8 6-1-0 in 2021. He is blistering.
• Thomas Amoss won twice and now sports a 6 4-0-0 mark in 2021. He has over 3,800 wins lifetime.
• Race 6: Sixth Street (Brian Hernandez, Jr./Steve Asmussen) broke his maiden in his third try. The $545,000 purchase by Texan Don Adam (Courtlandt Farms), lost prior starts at Gulfstream and Saratoga. Asmussen likely has lofty goals here.
• Race 10: Defeater (James Graham/Thomas Amoss) made his debut a successful one. The $210,000 purchase kicked it up a notch in the stretch.

Santa Anita (California):

• Handle: $11.8 million.
• Race 7: Anothertwistafate (Joel Rosario/Peter Miller) won the $200,000 Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes. The 5-year-old horse is 10 5-2-0 lifetime and is now a multiple graded stakes winner. The horse could be entered in the Pegasus World Cup turf later this month.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtf4HNESbQ8​

• Race 8: Life is Good (Mike Smith/Bob Baffert) delivered in what was billed as a test of distance for the young colt in the $100,000 Grade 3 Sham, a Kentucky Derby prep. No problem. He is now 2 2-0-0 and earned 10 points towards entry into the Derby. He was issued a 101 Beyer, a high figure. He was breathtaking on November 22 at Del Mar and immediately showed Derby-like promise. Today's race may have put him in the pilot's seat at this date for Derby prospects. I see Authentic in the stride. Baffert won this race for a record seventh time. He also broke the oddness of winning in even numbered years but not winning in odd numbered years dating back to 2014, Baffert said after the race "He passed the test." The $525,000 purchase of China Horse Club and WinStar Farm (the latter owned Justify among others) gives Baffert has another stud. The runner up Medina Spirit (Abel Cedillo/Bob Baffert) challenged at the end but couldn't catch the winner who was under a hand ride until urged by Smith.

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

What a way to start a ticket. "All" bettors rejoice! 73-to-1.

Bombs over Hallandale.

Bred, owned and trained by Nancy Harris. You don't see that too often. She has been active for over 30 years but sends out few starters. The prices will be staggering.

Curiosity got the better of me. She has 11 lifetime wins, her last three wins came at Tampa Bay -- her first since April 2019 -- and her last victory at Gulf was September 1, 2017.

And from Mike Welsch, who has seen it all, probably as floored as the rest of us:

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Luca Panici has hit the board twice, he needs a win however.

Update:
Luca went out and won the third race.

His first three mounts today:

1. 8-to-1 finished 3rd
2. 22-to-1 finished 2nd
3. 6-to-1 finished 1st.​

He ended a 44-race losing streak.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

That was a thrilling finish at Laurel 3. I am not sure who won but if the lead horse lost, that is twice a Claudio Gonzalez starter got nabbed a step prior to the wire and that never happens in Maryland.

Result: And so it does happen.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Hot barns and other minutia to begin the new year:

• Saffie Joseph has five wins in 2021, most of any trainer in North America.
• Thomas Amoss's barn is scorching at 6 4-0-0.
• Steve Asmussen is 6 3-0-0.
• Todd Pletcher is approximately $1.7 million away from becoming the first trainer to earn $400,000,000 lifetime.
• Peter Miller has earned over $300,000 already this year.
• Mark Casse (14 starters) and Doug O'Neill (12) have yet to taste victory with 26 combined starters. Both have extraordinary lists of successes.
• Claudio Gonzalez is 1-for-13. He had two tough defeats yesterday at Laurel where he has won plenty of trainers' titles through the years.

Meanwhile, the jocks who are performing at high and low numbers this new year:

• Irad Ortiz, Jr. (Florida), Eric Cancel (New York) and Florent Geroux (Louisiana) are sizzling with six wins to lead all others but in Geroux's case his magnificent start is 8 6-1-0.
• Johan Rosado (Maryland) is 9 5-0-2.
• Trevor McCarthy and Sheldon Russell have yet to win with 23 rides combined. Russell was burning up Maryland especially in the latter half of 2020.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

even though Scarborough Downs has been shuttered after 7 decades; the OTB remains active.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

I thought Mike Smith felt victory was in the bag and perhaps with all the restrictions in California decided not to risk an apparently easy win. When challenged, he said giddy-up. We also have to remember the test was the immature horse running two turns in just his second start. Smith is obviously not only skilled but has the acumen of a thousand men with this type.

But being challenged was a good thing.

Heavy Favorite Life Is Good Wins Sham But Baffert Stablemate Medina Spirit Made It Close - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report

Sent from his outside post position, heavily favored Life Is Good was running easily throughout but survived a mild scare late from stablemate Medina Spirit to prevail by three quarters of a length in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., thus stamping his ticket for the early trail to the Kentucky Derby on May 1 at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Bob Baffert, who won last year's Sham with eventual Derby winner Authentic, Life Is Good, a striking bay colt by Into Mischief, got a flat mile in 1:36.63 and despite the fact the winning margin was evaporating late, held sway on the gallop-out around the Club House turn as he seemed to re-focus while not letting Medina Spirit pass him at any point.

“It was his first time around two turns,” said Smith, who had been aboard for a sensational 9 ½ length maiden win going 6 ½ furlongs on Nov. 22 at Del Mar. “He got away just a little slow, but he got up and of course he's naturally so quick, he was just up underneath himself. Just as we were heading for home, he was doing things all by himself so easy out there.

“He didn't know what he was doing going twice around, and he just got the lead and was looking out at the Infield on the big screen. He could see himself, and he got to looking, but I was watching as well so I saw the horse coming on the outside. I didn't want to panic, I just showed it (the stick) to him a little bit. What I liked really was after the race, when I stood up and the (other) horse got next to me, he jumped back in the bridle and I mean I had to pull him up.

“He's just very, very talented. We don't know yet how talented. We haven't gotten close yet.”
​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

This is a fantastic story involving Catemaco -- a horse who broke his maiden at Santa Anita on January 1 in his debut.

In summary, as a baby, the horse ate a black widow spider and if not for the immediate actions of backside employees, the horse would have died. Kirsten Mulhall, the trainer, tells the details.

Back in 2004, Mulhall, at the time just 21 years of age, famously trained Imperialism to a third place finish in the Kentucky Derby behind Smarty Jones and Lion Heart. I didn't see that mentioned in the article.

She has more head than I realized, 23 per the article.

After Near-Fatal Experience With Black Widow, Mulhall’s Miracle Horse Catemaco Wins Racing Debut - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, January 3, 2021
Free live streams to select tracks:

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

• Leading riders in 2021: Irad Ortiz, Jr (9), Alexander Crispin (8), Joel Rosario (7), Florent Geroux (7) and Eric Cancel (7).
• Money earned (riders): Joel Rosario $545,480.
• Leading trainers: Michael Maker (7), Saffie Joseph (6), Peter Miller (5).
• Money earned (trainers): Peter Miller $385,288.

Aqueduct (New York):

• Conditions: Muddy (sealed).
• Handle: $6.4 million.
• Race 9: The $.20 Pick 6 paid $15,000+ to all winners.
• Race 8: Mrs. Orb (Dylan Davis/Michael Miceli) won the $100,000 La Verdad on a muddy surface. The 6-year-old mare was purchased for $30,000 in 2017 but has earned over $439,000 and won for the 6th time in 23 starts. She had finished second in five straight starts but is now 23 6-8-3.

​

• Race 6: American Lincoln (Romero Maragh/Jesus Romero) won at 14-to-1 and basically wired the field. Romero and Romero.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Conditions: Sloppy (sealed).
• Alexander Crispin won four times. He ended the day 8 4-0-2. His eight wins in 2021 is second only to Irad Ortiz, Jr.'s nine victories. He is getting some buzz for 2020 bug of the year. Laurel has a good riders' colony and Weston Hamilton won the Eclipse for Apprentice of the Year in 2018.

• Sheldon Russell, winless in 2021 with 11 starts, won the opener and finale today. Dale Capuano trained both winers.
• Race 6: McElmore Avenue (Alexander Crispin/Mary Eppler) won for the fourth straight time and fifth win in 11 career starts.
• Race 5: Anthony Lynch, the winning trainer, is 18 years old. He began training last year. His father Cal trains at Laurel.
• Race 1: Sheldon Russell won for the first time in 2021 with his 12th mount. That is the way to end a skid, right out of the gates.
• Replay show:

​

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Handle: Just under $4 million
• Daniel Centeno, who won for the 3,000th time yesterday, had a 3-win day.
• Race 4: Honesta (Tomas Mejia/Jose Delgado) won for the first time in 16 lifetime starts. The trainer, former jockey, is 24% lifetime and is the second leading trainer at the meet with a sizzling 62% in the money.
• Race 5: Starship Goddess (Walber Alencar/Anthony Ferraro) was the lone first-time starter and delivered at 7-to-1. The jockey, in his early 30s, has been riding in the U.S. for a little more than two years after spending time in his native Brazil. Ferraro trains mostly at Finger Lakes.
• Race 8: There were three first-time starters in this race. My tip for lone first-timers doesn't apply here but always give second looks to first-timers with prices. Two of the three finished 1-2 at 16-to-1 and 25-to-1, respectively. A $1 exacta paid $139.30.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Handle: $10.5 million
• Irad Ortiz, Jr. had three wins.
• Mark Casse opened the day 0-for-14 but won twice. He is a member of both the U.S. and Canadian Halls of Fame.
• Race 2: The race appealed to me with Michael Maker squaring off against two Wesley Ward horses. As it finished Maker won and Ward finished 2nd and 3rd; however, John Velazquez, riding a first-time starter for Ward, was DQ'd from third and placed fifth. Conventional wisdom or what passes as such often dictates that Johnny V. doesn't get DQ'd. He did here.
• Race 4: The lone first-time starter finished third at 70-to-1 and paid $12.00. Again, lone first-time starters can offer much value especially when used in exotics.
• Race 6: Search Results (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Chad Brown) won in her debut. She was purchased for $310,000 by Klaravich Stables. Rider, trainer and owners are all defending Eclipse Award winners for their categories.
• Race 9: Plenum (Leonel Reyes/Oscar Gonzalez) paid $65.80 in victory. The $2 exacta was $939.20. The $.50 tri returned over $2,000. Reyes can bring home bombs.
• Race 10 Well Defined (Luca Panici/Kathleen O'Connell) gave the jockey an exclamation to a decent weekend. He ended a 44-race losing streak yesterday. The past two days, he was 5 2-1-1. There is much competition in south Florida this time of year. Pete Aiello gets a kick out of elongating the Luuuuuuuca Panici after a win.
• Leading jockeys: Luis Saez (38 wins), Irad Ortiz, Jr. (34), Edgard Zayas (32) and Paco Lopez (31).
• Leading trainers: Todd Pletcher (21 wins), Michael Maker (14) and Saffie Joseph (13).

Fair Grounds (Louisiana):

• Top rider: Mitchell Murrill won twice and leads the meet with 28 wins. Four riders have 23 or more wins. A close battle. The meet ends in late March.
• Top trainers: Tom Amoss (14 wins), Steve Asmussen (13) and Brad Cox (13) are in a nip-and-tuck battle for top trainer. Their percentages for wins and ITM are close, too.

Santa Anita (California):

• Handle: Over $10,000,000.
• Umberto Rispoli rode three winners, all on turf. Mentioned often since he came to the U.S. but the Italian-born rider is exceptional on turf courses. He won the finale at 19-to-1 in a dramatic conclusion to the race day.
• Joel Rosario won three times. Not too much can be said about Rosario. He is superb ad should be a nominee for Jockey of the year for 2020.
• Juan Hernandez rode two winners and leads the meet with 12 wins.
• Peter Miller is among the hottest trainers in North America to start 2021. He won three more times and has six victories in January one behind leader Michael Maker. Miller's seven wins this meet -- which began December 26 and runs into June -- is tops among all trainers.
• Race 9: Constantia (Umberto Rispoli/Peter Miller) got up in time and paid $40.00. This appeared to be a false favorite race as Althea Gibson (Jessica Pyfer/Phil D'Amato) was sent off at 5-to-2. The 2-3-4 finished, boxed, paid $511.05 for $.50. Big time score in the finale.
• Race 8: Kalypso (Joel Rosario/Bob Baffert) won the Grade 2 $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes. She was a $240,000 purchase in 2019 and has already surpassed that in career earnings. Baffert won this race for a record sixth time snapping a tie with Wayne Lukas. Frosteria (Mike Smith/Bob Baffert) finished second. Baffert finished 1-2 in two graded stakes this weekend. The man is good. This was a Kentucky Oaks prep race and as such the winner receives 10 points towards entry into the race.

​

• Race 2: Pharoah's Heart (Joel Rosario/Mark Glatt), a 4-year-old daughter to American Pharoah who was sold initially for $250,000 in 2017, made her debut in a field of four and won as the 3-to-1 favorite.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The numbers are now officially processed and more than $10 billion was bet on U.S. racing in 2020 down about 1% from 2019; however, available races were lessened due to the C-virus by 23%. March, April and May were the weakest months because of the restraints enacted due to C-virus protocols with few tracks operating.

We must remember that tracks in Florida, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska to name four and partly California supported the industry and especially in the cases of heavyweights in Florida and Arkansas did stellar jobs with the efficiency in minimizing threats due to the virus. Exceptional jobs by all involved.

The major events took a significant hit and that was not unexpected. The Derby was down 48% and the Preakness 50% from the prior year. Still, $160 million was bet on the Breeders' Cup compared to $173 million in 2019, not a overpowering difference considering the protocols in place.

U.S. Thoroughbred handle 2020 — month by month

NYRA released its figures for 2020 racing. More than $1.8 billion was wagered on 157 race days. The $11.1 million daily average handle is an increase of 19% from 2019, reduced racing dates due to the C-virus.

Individual tracks with significant growth from 2020 to 2019:

Turfway (Kentucky) reported December numbers for its 13-day meet:

Despite three fewer race dates compared to 2019, all-sources wagering at Turfway Park soared to $32.3 million, an $8.3 million jump and 34.6 percent increase from last year's $24.0 million. The average daily handle skyrocketed 65.6 percent from $1.5 million in 2019 to $2.48 million in 2020. Source: Paulick Report​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

That is a major league hit in SA 9. Boxed 2-3-4 as well. Fingers crossed.

Official after the photo finish: awaiting prices 19-1, 9-2 and 10-1. Umberto Rispoli on turf is a godsend.

Update: $244.50 for a $2 exacta. $511.05 for a $.50 tri. Huge ticket to conclude the day.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Pegasus World Cup info is getting closer to being finalized.

• What: $3 million dirt race and a $1 million turf race (two races on a yet incomplete card)
• Where: Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, FL
• When: Saturday, January 23, 2021
• TV: NBC 4:30 - 6:00 pm ET and all-day coverage on TVG
• Distance: 1 1/8 miles on dirt and 1 3/16 miles on turf
• Tickets: On sale for as much as $1,100+

DIRT
Horse	Owner	Trainer
Charlatan	SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Frederick Hertrich III, John Fielding, Golconda Stables	Bob Baffert
Code of Honor	W.S. Farish	Shug McGaughey
Harpers First Ride	MCA Racing Stable LLC	Claudio Gonzalez
Jesus’ Team	Grupo 7C Racing Stable	Jose D’Angelo
Kiss Today Goodbye	John Sondereker	J. Eric Kruljac
Knicks Go	Korea Racing Authority	Brad Cox
Mr Freeze	Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister	Dale Romans
Mucho Gusto	HRH Prince Faisal Bin Khaled	Bob Baffert
Sharp Samurai	Red Baron’s Barn LLC, Rancho Temescal LLC, Mark Glatt	Mark Glatt
Sleepy Eyes Todd	Thumbs Up Racing, LLC	Miguel Angel Silva
Tax	R.A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch	Danny Gargan
True Timber	Calumet Farm	Jack Sisterson

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Reserve Invitees in Order of Preference
Anothertwistafate	Peter Redekop B.C., Ltd	Peter Miller
Math Wizard	John Fanelli, Khalid Mishref, Cash is King LLC, LC Racing LLC, Collarmele Vitelli Stables LLC, Ioannis, Zouas, Bassett Stables	Saffie Joseph Jr.
King Guillermo	Victoria’s Ranch	Juan Carlos Avila
Idol	Calvin Nguyen	Richard Baltas

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

-----------------------
TURF
The 12 horses given first preference for the Pegasus World Cup Turf are (in alphabetical order):

• Anothertwistafate – Owned by Peter Redekop B.C., Ltd. Trained by Peter Miller
• Breaking the Rules – Owned by Phipps Stables. Trained by Shug McGaughey
• Colonel Liam – Owner by Robert and Lawana Low. Trained by Todd Pletcher
• Cross Border – Owned by Three Diamonds Farm. Trained by Mike Maker
• Doswell – Owned by Joseph Allen LLC. Trained by Barclay Tagg
• Largent – Owned by Twin Creeks Racing Stables, LLC, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. Trained by Todd Pletcher
• North Dakota – Owned by Allen Stable Inc. Trained by Shug McGaughey
• Pixelate – Owned by Godolphin, LLC. Trained by Michael Stidham
• Say the Word – Owned by Agave Racing Stable and Sam-Son Farm. Trained by Philip D'Amato
• Sharp Samurai – Owned by Owned by Red Baron's Barn LLC, Rancho Temescal LLC, Mark Glatt. Trained by Mark Glatt
• Social Paranoia – Owned by The Elkstone Group, LLC. Trained by Todd Pletcher
• Storm the Court – Owned by Exline-Border Racing, LLC, David Bernsen LLC, Susanna Wilson and Dan Hudock. Trained by Peter Eurton

The also eligible horses (in order of preference):

• Next Shares – Owned by Debby Baltas, Richard Baltas, Christopher Dunn, Jules Iavarone, Michael Iavarone, Jerry McClanahan, Ritchie Robershaw, Mark Taylor. Trained by Richard Baltas.
• Field Pass – Owned by Three Diamonds Farm. Trained by Mike Maker
• Analyze It – Owned by William H. Lawrence. Trained by Chad Brown
• Greyes Creek – Owned by OXO Equine LLC. Trained by Chad Brown

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

January 2, 2021

• Race 8: Life is Good (Mike Smith/Bob Baffert) delivered in what was billed as a test of distance for the young colt in the $100,000 Grade 3 Sham, a Kentucky Derby prep. No problem. He is now 2 2-0-0 and earned 10 points towards entry into the Derby. He was issued a 101 Beyer, a high figure. He was breathtaking on November 22 at Del Mar and immediately showed Derby-like promise. Today's race may have put him in the pilot's seat at this date for Derby prospects. I see Authentic in the stride. Baffert won this race for a record seventh time. He also broke the oddness of winning in even numbered years but not winning in odd numbered years dating back to 2014, Baffert said after the race "He passed the test." The $525,000 purchase of China Horse Club and WinStar Farm (the latter owned Justify among others) gives Baffert has another stud. The runner up Medina Spirit (Abel Cedillo/Bob Baffert) challenged at the end but couldn't catch the winner who was under a hand ride until urged by Smith.

​

​

I saw Authentic in the stride of Life Is Good. Baffert has now openly compared him to his multiple graded stakes winner from 2020. He has some work to do with just two starts and the disconcerting final quarter mile. The horse is green with just two starts. The next race will be a major step towards progression.

As far as the stable mate Medina Spirit and Life Is Good...

​

Options open for Life Is Good; San Felipe possible

“They both came back well, so we’re pretty happy about both of them,” Baffert said as he embarks yet again on the Triple Crown trail.

“The San Felipe (on March 6) is a race we’re considering, but I might keep them separated. I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet. It’s a long way off, but they both ran really well.

“One might go out of town or they might stay here. I don’t know yet. It’s too far out. The important thing is they ran well and we thought they would and they ran fast.”

Life Is Good led throughout after breaking from the outside post position in a compact field of five. The bay Into Mischief colt set fractions of 23.56, 46.67, 1:10.66 and 1:23.24 under Mike Smith, who had a four-length lead entering the stretch and never touched him with the crop, although he did have to show it to him when Medina Spirit closed the gap as his touted stablemate drifted out in the final sixteenth.

“I always tell Mike to try and save something,” Baffert said. “Life Is Good wasn’t as tired as I thought he could have been. He needs to learn to relax a little bit better, but he will. He’ll mature, just like Authentic.

“When he won the Sham last year, he was sort of puzzling, zig-zagging all the way down the stretch, but they’re babies.

“Still, you can see their raw talent.”​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Two ballots that I seen for the 2020 Eclipse Awards nominees are mentioned below but for mow my summary:

JOCKEY: The top two jockeys won't be universal but should be close to it. Joel Rosario deserves more respect. He has settled into a nice groove the past three years and has upped his game in 2020 perhaps more so than any year. The maturation has shown and combined with his physical strength has produced. Irad Ortiz, Jr., is the obvious pick. The accolades are not needed since his successes speak volumes. I don't agree with the selection of John Velazquez, he would barely crack my top ten but some will advance shinier objects -- he is 5th in money earned which can't be avoided but also approximately 70th in total wins. There are too many jocks who have toiled to greater extents and in the cases of my top four each nearly had double the mounts.

TRAINER: One pundit picking Brad Cox is worthy. He has been my pick though not the upset contrarian I thought. People are beginning to recognize his skillset. Chad Brown is the defending winner and is stellar on turf and layoffs. Bob Baffert on dirt and in big games is brilliant. But Cox is the worthy recipient despite maybe not having the name recognition of the others. He clinched the deal at the Breeders' Cup. Steve Asmussen led 2020 in various categories but still is a step behind the others.

APPRENTICE: As far as Apprentice of the Year, Alexander Crispin as the top bug surprises me a bit but Laurel has a competitive riders colony. The Ohio-based Yarmarie Correa is someone with whom I am not too familiar. Charlie Marquez was doing well at Laurel but in a tougher league in New York is still learning. He is 17 or 18 years of age. Luis Cardenas in New York is someone who would fill my ballot of those with whom I am familiar. While I don't have a strong preference for top bug, any Laurel jock getting nominated gets my vote.

We'll find out later this month.

For selected categories, my picks (only three can be nominated):
Jockey of the Year:

1. Irad Ortiz, Jr.
2. Joel Rosario
3. Tyler Gaffalione (by a whisker over Saez)
4. Luis Saez
5. Florent Geroux
6. Flavien Prat​

Trainer of the Year:

1. Brad Cox
2. Bob Baffert
3. Chad Brown​

Two respondents I have seen are from Paulick Report and the Los Angeles Times:

Jockey of the Year:
John Nevills (Paulick Report)

1. Irad Ortiz Jr.
2. Joel Rosario
3. John Velazquez​

John Cherwa (Los Angeles Times)

1. Irad Ortiz Jr.
2. Joel Rosario
3. Flavien Prat
​

Trainer of the Year:
John Nevills (Paulick Report)

1. Brad Cox
2. Chad Brown
3. Steve Asmussen​

John Cherwa (Los Angeles Times)

1. Bob Baffert
2. Brad Cox
3. Chad Brown
​

Apprentice Jockey of the Year:
John Nevills (Paulick Report)

1. Alexander Crispin
2. Yarmarie Correa
3. Charlie Marquez​

John Cherwa (Los Angeles Times)

1. Alexander Crispin
2. Yarmarie Correa
3. Santos Rivera​

Horse of the Year:
John Nevills (Paulick Report)

1. Authentic
2. Improbable
3. Monomoy Girl​

John Cherwa (Los Angeles Times)

Not listed.​

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

PARX resumes today @12:25

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

More numbers being punched. With some tracks idle for parts of 2020, available racing was limited. As mentioned in the above post, tracks in Florida, Arkansas and Nebraska among other spots buoyed the industry until tracks rejoined. While wagering was near identical from $11 billion to $10.9 billion, the average wagering per day is the truest indicator and that was a growth of 32%.

YTD 2020 vs. YTD 2019
Indicator	YTD 2020	YTD 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$10,925,226,444	$11,033,824,363	-0.98%
U.S. Purses	$869,774,080	$1,167,920,667	-25.53%
U.S. Race Days	3,302	4,425	-25.38%
U.S. Races	27,700	36,207	-23.50%
U.S. Starts	220,006	272,553	-19.28%
Average Field Size	7.94	7.53	+5.51%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,308,669	$2,493,520	+32.69%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$263,408	$263,937	-0.20%

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

1st Half 2020 vs. 1st Half 2019
Indicator	1st Half 2020	1st Half 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$5,055,522,519	$5,672,774,271	-10.88%
U.S. Purses	$324,168,648	$544,002,132	-40.41%
U.S. Race Days	1,301	2,104	-38.17%
U.S. Races	10,906	17,457	-37.53%
U.S. Starts	88,074	130,239	-32.38%
Average Field Size	8.08	7.46	+8.25%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,885,874	$2,696,185	+44.12%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$249,169	$258,556	-3.63%

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

2nd Half 2020 vs. 2nd Half 2019
Indicator	2nd Half 2020	2nd Half 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$5,869,703,925	$5,361,050,092	+9.49%
U.S. Purses	$545,605,432	$623,918,535	-12.55%
U.S. Race Days	2,001	2,321	-13.79%
U.S. Races	16,794	18,750	-10.43%
U.S. Starts	131,932	142,314	-7.30%
Average Field Size	7.86	7.59	+3.50%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,933,385	$2,309,802	+27.00%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$272,666	$268,815	+1.43%

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

4th QTR 2020 vs. 4th QTR 2019
Indicator	4th QTR 2020	4th QTR 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$2,576,411,336	$2,439,642,344	+5.61%
U.S. Purses	$240,537,331	$274,053,649	-12.23%
U.S. Race Days	793	910	-12.86%
U.S. Races	6,805	7,653	-11.08%
U.S. Starts	55,530	61,576	-9.82%
Average Field Size	8.16	8.05	+1.42%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,248,942	$2,680,926	+21.19%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$303,326	$301,158	+0.72%

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

December 2020 vs. December 2019
Indicator	December 2020	December 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$751,865,995	$707,728,171	+6.24%
U.S. Purses	$57,535,084	$66,315,581	-13.24%
U.S. Race Days	229	252	-9.13%
U.S. Races	2,008	2,169	-7.42%
U.S. Starts	16,884	17,561	-3.86%
Average Field Size	8.41	8.10	+3.85%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,283,258	$2,808,445	+16.91%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$251,245	$263,157	-4.53%

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[GKJ]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Thursday, January 7, 2021

Aqueduct (New York):

• Handle: $4.5 million.
• Trevor McCarthy won the opener and the finale. The recently married Maryland-based rider is now 3-for-38 at the meet.
• Michael Moore, based in Philadelphia, won for the first time with his 20th starter (20 1-1-7) career-wise at a NYRA track.
• Joseph Lee trained the winner in the finale. It was his fifth lifetime win and first outside of Kentucky. He was 0-for-24 in 2020 in his return to training since last sending out a horse in 2002, the year of his most recent winner. He is a former assistant to Kiaran McLaughlin who retired to become an agent.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Handle: $6.9 million.
• Friday's Rainbow Six: It is guaranteed to reach $1.5 million.
• Edgard Zayas won three times. He is as skilled a rider as there is among the south Florida colony but he is excelling at this Championship meet with some of the nation's best. His 36 wins is second most.
• Replay show:

​

Turfway (Kentucky):

• Race 1: The $2 exacta was $1,376. The $.50 tri was over $5,000. The $.10 super was over $8,100.
• Race 4: The $.50 Pick 4 was over $30,000.

Fair Grounds (Louisiana):

• Mitchell Murrill won the opener and leads the meet with 30 wins.
• Florent Geroux won twice and is third with 26 wins at the meet. His 30% is by far the best at the meet among multiple winners.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The possible/probable runners for the Pegasus World Cup ($3 million) and Pegasus World Cup Turf ($1 million) is listed below [source: HorseRacingNation].

Pegasus World Cup Horse [TBODY] [/TBODY] Trainer [TBODY] [/TBODY] Status [TBODY] [/TBODY] Math Wizard S. Joseph, Jr. Probable Sleepy Eyes Todd M. Silva Probable Idol R. Baltas Possible King Guillermo J. Avila Possible Sharp Samurai M. Glatt Probable Kiss Today Goodbye J. Kruljac Probable Harpers First Ride C. Gonzalez Probable Mr Freeze D. Romans Probable Anothertwistafate P. Miller Possible True Timber J. Sisterson Probable Charlatan B. Baffert Probable Knicks Go B. Cox Probable Tax D. Gargan Probable Code of Honor C. McGaughey III Probable Jesus' Team J. D'Angelo Probable [TBODY] [/TBODY] [TBODY] [/TBODY]

Pegasus World Cup Turf Horse [TBODY] [/TBODY] Trainer [TBODY] [/TBODY] Status [TBODY] [/TBODY] Greyes Creek C. Brown Possible Field Pass M. Maker Possible Analyze It C. Brown Possible Next Shares R. Baltas Possible Storm The Court P. Eurton Probable Sharp Samurai M. Glatt Probable Say the Word P. D'Amato Probable Pixelate M. Stidham Probable Doswell B. Tagg Probable Cross Border M. Maker Probable Breaking the Rules C. McGaughey III Probable Anothertwistafate P. Miller Probable Colonel Liam T. Pletcher Probable Largent T. Pletcher Probable Social Paranoia T. Pletcher Probable North Dakota C. McGaughey III Probable [TBODY] [/TBODY] [TBODY] [/TBODY]

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

OAKLAWN (Arkansas):
Lou Cella, who was recently named Arkansas's sportsman of the year for 2020 due to his diligent and much-publicized work during the early stages of the C-virus and how it reflected in horse racing , was quoted yesterday as saying “Instead of $700,000, we’ll be at about $600,000. That’s still the highest in the nation. No one’s close to that."

The meet runs for 57 racing days from January 22 through Kentucky Derby day on May 1. It is one of the most appealing tracks for attendance -- especially on weekends -- up there with Del Mar, Keeneland, Saratoga, and select others. Fans will be allowed in reduced capacity with the possibility of increase as the meet advances and weather cooperates.

Oaklawn is strictly a dirt track (no turf racing) but it has been booming in recent years. Many national jocks and trainers have an increase attraction to the facility. More than $381 million was bet on racing at Oaklawn in 2020, a 63% increase from 2019.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Friday, January 8, 2021

• Chad Brown has won with his past seven starters and is 9 7-0-1 (78%/89%) in 2021.
• Alexander Crispin, with 12 wins, is the leading rider in North America in 2021. He is a 5-pound bug at last check.
• Florent Geroux is 53% this year and has the third most wins.

Live streams:

• Santa Anita: Santa Anita Live Stream - Santa Anita Park
• Gulfstream: Live Stream | World-Class Thoroughbred Horse Racing | Gulfstream Park
• Laurel: Streaming Video | Laurel Park

Aqueduct (New York):

• Handle: $6 million.
• Kendrick Carmouche, fresh off his first ever NYRA title, leads the meet with 23 wins.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Alexander Crispin finished 6 4-1-0 and was victorious on his last four rides including a natural hat trick in the last three races. He is the LEADING rider in North America in 2021 with 12 wins (at last check). Though these stats won't matter, he could win the top bug trophy as Apprentice Jockey of the Year when the winners are revealed later this month. If so, that would make a Laurel jockey winner two of the past three years. Weston Hamilton won as top bug two years ago. He is now riding at Sam Houston (Texas).

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Antonio Gallardo was 6 4-0-1 and won with his final four mounts including the final three races. Almost an identical day to Alexander Crispin at Laurel.
• Race 4: Rose for a Saint (Isaac Castillo/Skip Einhorn), a 4-year-old gelding, broke his maiden in his 15th try and as the longest odds on the board. At 56-to-1, the winner paid $114.80/$51.00/$19.60. The gelding was 12 0-1-1 at Monmouth (NJ) before heading south where he ran his three most recent races. The winner was 8th at the 3.4 pole and 4th in the stretch.
• Race 7: Principled Stand (Antonio Gallardo/Chad Brown) made his debut race a nice one in a 7 1/4 length victory. He paid $9.60 which is a solid payout for anything owned by Klaravich Stables. The 4-year-old colt was purchased for the equal of $288,701 at the 2018 Tattersalls yearling sale in England.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Handle: $8.2 million.
• Rainbow Six carryover for Saturday: In excess of $1,000,000 to start but with a mandatory payout, the total will be multi-millions.
• Race 7: Nitro Time (Tyler Gaffalione/Saffie Joseph) wired the field and romped as the favorite but the dream $.50 trifecta for any who played paid out $118.05 in a short field of six. A 61-to-1 and 26-to-1 placed and showed, respectively, the two longest odds on the board.
• Replay show:

​

Fair Grounds (Louisiana):

• Race 7: The $.10 superfecta paid over $5,500.
• Mitchell Murrill (31 wins) and James Graham (30) are 1-2 in a very close battle for meet supremacy among riders.

Sam Houston (Texas):

• Opening day: Today began the 69-day meet. The mixed meet featured 46 thoroughbred dates from today until April 3 and then 23 quarterhorse dates from April 23 until June 12. Texas Champions Day is March 20.
• Race 10: The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $21,000.
• Reylu Gutierrez, who was raised in New York state near Finger Lakes and who rode on the East coast including NYRA tracks for part of his 5-year career, won three times. Lane Luzzi and Ry Eikleberry, the latter with 11 wins -- second most in North America this year -- won twice.
• Karl Broberg was the only trainer with multiple wins. His 327 wins in 2020 was second most in North America.
• Handle: $2.2 million.

Golden Gate (California):

• Re-opening date: The track, shuttered since November due to C-virus concerns in its county and nearby area, announced today it will reopen on January 15.

Santa Anita (California):

• Handle: $7.5 million.
• Race 3: Moraz (Umberto Rispoli/Michael McCarthy) obliterated the field by more than 10 lengths. The 3-year-old daughter to Empire Maker, out for the second time, looked wonderful in breaking her maiden.
• Richard Baltas has a 28 1-10-2 record. To have that many more place spots than wins is almost unreal.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Add another track to the long list of success stories the past few weeks and months.

Fair Grounds (Louisiana), in its 149th season and for the second time this meet, will raise purses 10% due to the increase in handle. Churchill owns the facility and I don't recall too often where the ownership group submits daily handles at its properties, rather it does for its investors and summarizes after closing dates.

Simulcast wagering is strong and gimmicks such as Pick 5 betting appeals to the most intuitive of bettors.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Alexander Crispin just won for the fourth time today at Laurel. He is the LEADING rider in North America in 2021 with 12 wins. Though these stats won't matter, he could win the top bug trophy as Apprentice Jockey of the Year when the winners are revealed later this month. If so, that would make a Laurel jockey winner two of the past three years. Weston Hamilton won as top bug two years ago.He is now riding at Sam Houston (Texas).

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Just another stat to throw into the mix of handicapping. Chad Brown -- defending Eclipse Award winner as Trainer of the Year (2019) -- is 9 7-0-1 in 2021. Think about that for a moment. He is 3 3-0-0 today including two wins at Tampa Bay.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

This story actually put a smile on my kisser. Carlo Vaccarezza is living the life. Horses, music and restaurants. He was Sinatra's cook.

God bless him.

Vaccarezza Dishing Up Starters at Santa Anita - BloodHorse

Trainer and restaurateur Carlo Vaccarezza, who has run his stable mostly in Kentucky and Florida in recent years, has sent a string to the West Coast. He currently has six horses at Santa Anita Park and plans to add another six more next week after they travel from Keeneland.
--------------------
"I've been in the restaurant business all my life," he said. "I own restaurants in New York City, and I'm building one in Lexington. I have a couple in South Florida, and I'm involved in an olive oil company in La Mirada, Calif., but my passion was always horse racing."

All his restaurants are named Frank and Dino's, after Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
------------------------
"They are high-end Italian restaurants, and we play the Rat Pack music and rock and roll," Vaccarezza said. "I used to cook for Frank."