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

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

For those who need a free live stream to Gulfstream: Live Stream | World-Class Thoroughbred Horse Racing | Gulfstream Park

Gulfstream's card:

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
Race 1	$51,000	Allowance	1 1/16 Miles	Turf	16	11:30 AM
Race 2	$51,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	7 Furlongs	Dirt	12	12:00 PM
Race 3	$52,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Turf	16	12:30 PM
Race 4	$100,000	Cutler Bay S.	1 Mile	Turf	16	1:00 PM
Race 5	$52,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 Mile	Dirt	11	1:30 PM
Race 6	$100,000	Hal's Hope S.	1 1/8 Miles	Dirt	11	2:00 PM
Race 7	$100,000	Sanibel Island S. presented by US Foods	1 Mile	Turf	13	2:30 PM
Race 8	$75,000	Sir Shackleton S.	7 Furlongs	Dirt	12	3:00 PM
Race 9	$100,000	Sand Springs S.	1 Mile	Turf	13	3:34 PM
Race 10	$100,000	Orchid S. presented by Rood and Riddle	1 3/8 Miles	Turf	12	4:17 PM
Race 11	$200,000	Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Oaks	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	14	4:49 PM
Race 12	$200,000	Kitten's Joy Pan American S.	1 1/2 Miles	Turf	10	5:26 PM
Race 13	$100,000	Appleton S.	1 Mile	Turf	16	6:00 PM
Race 14	$750,000	Curlin Florida Derby	1 1/8 Miles	Dirt	13	6:36 PM

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TV schedule:

Date	Program	Time	Network
March 28	Live coverage of racing from tracks around the country	post time varies	TVG
March 28	"America's Day at the Races," featuring live coverage of racing from tracks around the country	1:30-7 p.m.	FS1
March 28	TVG's "Trackside Live," featuring live coverage of racing from tracks around the country including the Florida Derby	4 p.m.-8 p.m., Florida Derby post time 6:36 p.m.	NBCSN
March 29	Live coverage of racing from tracks around the country	post time varies	TVG
March 29	"America's Day at the Races," featuring live coverage of racing from tracks around the country	1:30-2:30 p.m. on FS2; 2:30-7 p.m. on FS1	FS1 and FS2
March 29	TVG's "Trackside Live," featuring live coverage of racing from tracks around the country	4 p.m.-8 p.m.	NBCSN

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[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, March 28, 2020

• For those who need a free live stream to Gulfstream: Live Stream | World-Class Thoroughbred Horse Racing | Gulfstream Park

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Handle: Neared $5 million.
• Jockeys: Very competitive percentages among the five winningest riders as Antonio Gallardo, Samy Camacho, Daniel Centeno, Pablo Morales and Jesus Castanon are close.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Guess: I have no idea the handle without spectators and few OTBs operating but with a national audience and a $5 million guarantee jackpot, $20,000,000 seems approachable. IIRC, the record at the track is approximately $50,000,000 for one day.
• Absent: Jose Ortiz (injured), Javier Castellano (tested positive), Irad Ortiz, Jr. (concerns regarding virus) and Edgar Prado (concerns).
• Repeat winners:

Jockeys: Joel Rosario, Tyler Gaffalione, Luis Saez, Paco Lopez, Manny Franco and Florent Geroux.
Trainers: Christophe Clement, Todd Pletcher and Barclay Tagg​

• Race 1: Traipsing (Joel Rosario/Christophe Clement) paid $41.20 and topped a $2 exacta worth $462.80. The approaching exotics should be tasty. Once again, said many times in this thread and elsewhere, Clement is one of the best turf trainers in America. Rosario isn't exactly a bad rider and arguably the top closer in the land. He was my #2 rider in North America last year if I had a vote for Eclipse Awards. Rosario is 3-5-2 with his past 12 mounts. The trainer won for the 2,001st time in North America. Since March 22, he is 8 4-4-0 (50%/100%). First race in the books with a $41 winner. It doesn't always work that way which is why the best trainers and riders still lose around 75% of the time.
• Race 2: Travelling Midas (Tyler Gaffalione/Rusty Arnold) won as the second choice on the board at 7-to-2. The south Florida native, who returned yesterday from suspension, has won on consecutive cards and both wins came for Arnold. The grandsire of the winner is Touch Gold who won the 1997 Belmont Stakes but is also still kickin' at the ripe age of 26. That is one of the oldest Triple Crown winners alive.
• Race 3: Largent (Luis Saez/Todd Pletcher) won at 4-to-5. The Virginia-bred, originally purchased for $460,000, is 5 3-2-0 lifetime.
• Race 4: Decorated Invader (Joel Rosario/Christophe Clement) won the first stakes race of the day, the $100,000 Cutler Bay on turf. Same as race #1 except the 9-to-5 favorite. A horse I have been following since his first race is now 3-for-5 lifetime and had won a Grade I.
• Race 5: Wind of Change (Edgard Zayas/Efren Loza, Jr.), a Brazilian-bred who was 6-for-10 in his home country before winning today in his second start in the USA, wired the field at 19-to-1 and paid $40. The $.50 Pick 5 paid just under $10,000.
• Race 6: Identifier (Marcos Meneses/Oscar Gonzalez) shocked at 60-to-1 in a huge upset. He was making his graded stakes debut in winning the $100,000 Grade 3 Hal's Hope. The top four were sent off at 60, 24, 2 and 99 to 1, respectively. The winner paid $123. The $2 exacta paid $2114.60. The $.50 tri over $3,100. The $1 super paid over $30,000. The $2 double was over $2,200. The $.50 Pick 3 more than $1,600. "Big balloons," to quote Michelle Yu.

​

• Race 7: Highland Glory (Paco Lopez/Barclay Tagg) won the $100,000 Sanibel Islands Stakes in a photo finish by tracking down #5 Cheermeister. The $2 double paid over $1,300. The $.50 Pick 3 paid a fantastic $4,900+.
• Race 8: Vekoma (Manny Franco/George Weaver) raced for the first time since last year's Kentucky Derby and improved to 6 4-0-1 following a win as the favorite in the $75,000 Sir Shackelton Stakes.
• Race 9: La Signare (Tyler Gaffalione/Brendan Walsh), a French-bred, looked like he was shot out of a cannon in a clear but brilliant finish to win the $100,000 Sand Spring Stakes. Among the scratched was the 9-to-5 morning line favorite Newspaperofrecord. This was the beginning of the Pick 6 sequence and the jackpot was roughly $11,000,000 with a mandatory payout that was guaranteed to be $5m.
• Race 10: Mean Mary (Luis Saez/Graham Motion) wired the field at even money and won the Grade 3 $100,000 Orchid Stakes. She was challenged by the Chris Landeros mount, the jockey and horse who were game but the rider is still winless at the meet, in 2020 (96 starts) and on a 133-race losing streak.
• Race 11: Swiss Skydiver (Paco Lopez/Kenny McPeek) wired the field in a slow pace at 9-to-1 in the Grade 2 $200,000 Gulfstream Parks Oaks. There was a strong battle for second place but no doubt about the winner who received 100 points towards entry into the Kentucky Oaks.
• Race 12: Bemma's Boy (Florent Geroux/Michael Maker) closed sharply on board a 9-to-1 shot and won the Grade 2 $200,000 Pan American in a 3-way finish. Zulu Alpha (Tyler Gaffalione/Michael Maker) was the overwhelming favorite at 3-to-5 but there is much to question about the ride by Gaffalione. The horse also looked wet to me. Maker, the trainer, finished 1st-2nd. Todd Pletcher, another trainer, finished 3rd-4th.
• Race 13: Social Paranoia (Florent Geroux/Todd Pletcher) won the Grade 3 $100,000 Appleton in an entertaining finish. This was the second winner from a rider who picked up the mount from the idle Javier Castellano. The $2 Pick 3 paid over $2,100.

​

• Race 14: Tiz the Law (Manny Franco/Barclay Tagg) looked ideal in the Grade I $750,000 Florida Derby and received 100 points towards entry into the Kentucky Derby. Tiz the Law is 5 4-0-1 lifetime and has won three graded stakes. The New York bred could be the Kentucky Derby pre-race favorite but with the race in September there is an uncertainty to the event. The time was the greatest at 1:50.00 and the 96 Beyer figure was good not sensational. Shivaree (Emisael Jaramillo/Ralph Nicks) was runner up at 80-to-1. The $.20 Pick 6 paid over $17,000+ to all winners. The Florida Derby has accounted for 24 winners of the Kentucky Derby, the most of any prep.

​

• Chris Landeros ended the day winless in 97 starts this year and a 134-race losing streak.
• Todd Pletcher sent out 16 starters and won twice but failed to hit the board 12 times.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• Handle: Over $5,000,000 bet.
• Race 5: High Risk Strategy (Jermaine Bridgmohan/Jason Barkley) won at 72-to-1 and paid a staggering $147.80/$66.60/$24.00. The $2 exacta was over $1,948. The $.50 tri was over $7,400. The $.10 super over $12,000. In three previous races on the surface, he finished no better than seventh. Congrats if you had that one.
• Race 6: The $1 double was $507.80. The $.50 Pick 3 paid over $3,800.
• Race 9: K J's Nobility (Calvin Borel/Cecil Borel) won the $100,000 feature race. The owner is 20 years old and in college in California. is now 11 6-0-2 training this year after a fifth win with his brother Calvin riding.

Golden Gate (California):

• Race 1: The card began with a $55.40 winner.
• Juan Hernandez ended the day with a natural hat trick which at last check brings him to within one win of the lead in North America (Irad Ortiz, Jr. has 90) this year.
• Handle: $3.9 million.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

3-5- or 12 in this race and a happy pick 3 awaits.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

3-5- or 12 in this race and a happy pick 3 awaits.

And of course it finished 3-5-12. I threw the trifecta out. Got the Pick 3.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Ongoing race day remarks...

Race 4: Christophe Clement on turf! Rosario closed!

4-for-4.
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The Rainbow Six is nearing $7,000,000.... and with the changed post time will easily exceed that number. It is growing exponentially.
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My prediction of $20 million being bet at Gulf today has been obliterated. I am told about $40 million has already been wagered. The track record is slightly under $50 million.
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Get ready for more Funny Cide comparisons.

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NEW YORK (update): Aqueduct's brief spring meet, which runs April 2-19, is likely to be canceled. The winter meet ends by schedule tomorrow (March 29) but was already canceled.

Belmont's meet runs April 24-July 1. The hope is that meet runs in some capacity.

===============================

ILLINOIS (update): Arlington will not open as schedule on May 1. Opening day is unknown.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Gulfstream may have set a track record with approximately $54,000,000 bet today if the unofficial figure is accurate. The prior mark was $49m+. Looks as if the lack of much competition aided Gulf today with the inclusion of the guaranteed payout for the Pick 6 jackpot which reached around $11,000,000. The Fla Derby had about $6m bet. Numbers are unofficial.

A summary of the 10 stakes races held Saturday:

 

[Orr Fourever]

I got lucky and had 2 across on Identifier. Kitty was down to 10 bucks, that got it back up to close to 2 hund. Didn't get a sniff for the rest of the day.

That's okay tho I didn't wager all of it.

You might be walking around lucky and not even know it...

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

I got lucky and had 2 across on Identifier. Kitty was down to 10 bucks, that got it back up to close to 2 hund. Didn't get a sniff for the rest of the day.

That's okay tho I didn't wager all of it.

You might be walking around lucky and not even know it...

"Just when I thought I was out, they bring me back in. "

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

That fourth place horse went off at 128-to-1 officially. There was $149,000+ bet into that superfecta pool which resulted in over $3,000 for all winning $.10 (10 cents) bets. When the 2-to-1 favorite weakened, there was plenty in which to be bewildered.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

GULFSTREAM --Closing day of the meet: Today, as scheduled, is the final day of the Gulfstream winter/spring meet. The spring/summer meet is scheduled for April 2 - September 27.

Whether a Gulfstream Park West (GPW) meet is held in the fall is undetermined as 2020 was slated to be the final year of racing at the former Calder. Currently, the state of Florida lists no dates for racing beginning in October.

As for today, as expected, Irad Ortiz, Jr. and Luis Saez are battling it out for top rider. Ortiz, Jr. leads 115-111 however Irad is idle today. Look for Saez to be extra competitive today.

Live stream to Gulfstream: Live Stream | World-Class Thoroughbred Horse Racing | Gulfstream Park

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Post times for today...



Sunday, March 29, 2020

• Gulfstream has not released its official handle for yesterday. I would assume a release will be issued especially if it is a track record which was $49.9 million. The unofficial report is $53,555,529 was bet yesterday on the 14 races.

TV schedule for today:

TVG	Live coverage of racing from tracks around the country	Post time varies, est. start time 12:00 pm ET
FS1 and FS2	"America's Day at the Races," featuring live coverage of racing from tracks around the country	1:30-2:30 p.m. on FS2; 2:30-7 p.m. on FS1
NBCSN	TVG's "Trackside Live," featuring live coverage of racing from tracks around the country	4 p.m.-8 p.m.

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GULFSTREAM
Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post ET
Race 1	$22,000	Maiden Claiming	5 Furlongs	Turf	11	1:00 PM
Race 2	$20,000	Claiming	1 Mile	Dirt	12	1:30 PM
Race 3	$50,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 Mile	Turf	9	2:00 PM
Race 4	$50,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 Furlongs	Dirt	16	2:31 PM
Race 5	$31,000	Claiming	1 Mile	Turf	9	3:03 PM
Race 6	$50,000	Maiden Special Weight	7 Furlongs	Dirt	16	3:34 PM
Race 7	$39,000	Claiming	1 Mile	Turf	8	4:06 PM
Race 8	$39,000	Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Turf	12	4:39 PM
Race 9	$51,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 Mile	Dirt	8	5:11 PM
Race 10	$50,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 Mile	Turf	16	5:43 PM

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[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, March 29, 2020

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Handle: A hair under $5,000,000.
• Race 1: An 18-to-1 shot, a first-time starter which was one of two in the race, was victorious. I have an infinity for lone first-time starters, the other was sent off 84-to-1.
• Race 2: The favorite not only prevailed in a field of 11 but romped to nearly a 10 length win.
• Race 4: Antonio Gallardo, the leading rider at the meet, won for the second time this day. Mad Grace, the winner, is 5 4-0-0 this year -- all at Tampa Bay. She had raced prior in Texas, Oklahoma, Indiana and Kentucky where she was 2-for-13 lifetime.
• Race 6: Apogee (Samy Camacho/Christophe Clement), a 4-year-old Malibu Moon filly bought last year for $240,000, opened it up another gear in the stretch. Give her another look next time out. Clement on turf! Since and including March 22, Clement is 15 7-4-1.
• Race 7: A $57 winner with Samy Camacho going back-to-back. The 4-to-5 favorite was scratched at the gate.
• Race 8: The $.20 Pick 6 paid out over $91,000.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Closing day: Today is the finale. The spring/.summer meet is scheduled for April 2 - September 27.
• Leading riders: Irad Ortiz, Jr. (115 wins) and Luis Saez (113 wins) battled for the top rider spot as they have done in the very recent past. Ortiz has won the past two titles and Saez the two prior to that.
• Leading trainer: Todd Pletcher led with 48 victories.
• Race 1: A deep field but there were some rather obscure trainers in that race. The winner, Shamir Maragh who comes from a long line and active racing family, sent out a horse for the second time this year.
• Race 2: I sense a trend. The winner trainer, Richard Arnold, Jr., sent out a horse for the second time this year. Two winning trainers on this card both sending out horses for a second time in 2020. The last time he had more than two wins in a given year was in 2010 with four victories. BTW, that runner up was game. Nice job by the Swedish jockey Fanny Olsson to continue riding. She got place money.
• Race 3: Luis Saez wins. As stated above, he is approaching the meet lead in wins. He rides the rest of the card from what I see.
• Race 4: Center Aisle (Joel Rosario/Chad Brown) was sent off at 3-to-5 in her maiden race and delivered strongly. The Into Mischief 3-year-old was purchased for $1.5 million last year by Larry Best of Boston Scientific under the name OXO Equine.

​

• Race 5: Big Tina (Emisael Jaramillo/Armando De La Cerda) was determined at 16-to-1 to hold off the even money favorite ridden by Luis Saez.
• Race 6: Dr. Post (John Velazquez/Todd Pletcher) edged Nocturnal (Luis Saez/Todd Pletcher). The winner was out for the second time and purchased for $400,000 by St. Elias Stables (Vinny Viola of the Florida Panthers). The runner up was out for the first time. Both were trained by the same trainer though there seem to be slight bumping in the stretch.

​

• Race 7: Kaufy Bean (Hector Berrios/Herbert Miller) wired the field at 20-to-1 and with a late jockey change.
• Race 8: Luis Saez won for the second time this day and also ended a streak of three straight place positions. Despite the wins, Saez cannot catch Irad Ortiz, Jr. atop the rider standings at the meet.
• Race 9: Remarkable Soul (Emisael Jaramillo/Ralph Nicks) humiliated the balance of the field in a 12 3/4 length victory.
• Race 10: Chris Landeros rode the winner and for his father-in-law Ian Wilkes. The victory was the first of the year and meet and ended a lengthy losing streak dating to November. He entered the race 0-for-101 in 2020 and had lost his last 138 starts which includes other tracks. He finished the meet 123 1-3-16. One ticket held the Rainbow Six Jackpot of $192,923.

​

• John Velazquez placed twice today before winning in race 6. He last won prior on March 15, a string of 20 races.
• Paco Lopez was invisible today...until the finale when he almost interrupted Chris Landeros' storybook ending.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• Race 2: The two bug girls finished 1st-2nd. Chel-C Bailey (10-pound bug), the former MMA participant, chased down Kelsi Harr (7-pound bug) who rode for her fiancee trainer Robert Cline. It was Bailey's third lifetime win.
• Race 6: Deflater (Kelsi Harr/Robert Cline) won and paid $57.40. Good for the engaged duo! Breeder is Larry Jones.
• Race 8: Mojo Man (Fernando De La Cruz/Jimmy DiVito) looked beaten, retreated and then exploded with a load of energy just as he was left for dead. He won at 11-to-1 but due to a non-starter at the gate, his odds got cut in half, nearly, to 6-to-1.
• Race 9: Strike That (David Cohen/Robertino Diodoro) won for the third time in four lifetime starts. The 4-year-old could be headed to stakes races.
• Leading jockeys: Ricardo Santana, Jr. (36 wins), Joe Talamo (36), David Cohen (34) and Martin Garcia (33) are tight atop the leader board.

Golden Gate (California):

• Races 4 and 5: Frank Lucarelli trained both winners, his first two starters of the day.
• Race 6: Juan Hernandez rode the winner which tied him atop the 2020 North America standings with Irad Ortiz,. Jr.
• Race 7: Juan Hernandez rode the winner which put him atop the 2020 North America standings with a 91st winner.
• Race 8: Jonathan Wong trained his second winner of the day and has a phenomenal 13 7-4-2 (54%/100%) mark the past four racing days.
• Race 9: Jonathan Wong trained his third winner of the day and has a phenomenal 15 8-5-2 (53%/100%) mark the past four racing days. He finished 1st-2nd in this race to comprise a Wong Exacta. He has one hot barn. How hot? He won this race and yet his winning percentage fell a point due to having tow entered in the race.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Let's see how this #7 fires in Gulf's 4th race. Larry Best, the former chief exec from Boston Scientific, dropped $1.5 million last year in a purchase. This is the debut for the 3-year-old fillies.

.... well, that was a nice performance. Tested and delivered. A win at 3-to-5.

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

Now an article on the horse...

OXO Equine's $1.5 Million Filly Wins on Debut - BloodHorse

Trained by Chad Brown, Center Aisle signaled she was ready with a succession of strong breezes culminating in a bullet four-furlong breeze from the gate in :48.25 March 21 at Palm Meadows Training Center. She was the fastest of 52 at the distance.

Bred in Kentucky by Breffni Farm, Center Aisle is the fifth foal to race and fourth winner out of the Empire Maker mare Specification, a half sister to grade 1 winner and sire Skimming.

The price paid by Larry Best of OXO Equine was the co-second-highest price for a filly at the Florida sale and was a tie for the most expensive filly sold at the auction since it moved to Gulfstream Park five years ago.​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The Borels are hot when they team... but a 20-year-old owner? Cool!

https://www.paulickreport.com/news/...ivers-20-year-old-owner-first-stakes-victory/

Owner Carson McCord, 20, collected her first career stakes victory in Saturday's $100,000 Nodouble Breeders' at Oaklawn with favored K J's Nobility ($5.60), who rolled to a three-length victory in the 6-furlong race for Arkansas-breds under 53-year-old Hall of Fame jockey Calvin Borel.

“I'm so happy,” McCord said moments after leading her prized 6-year-old gelding into the winner's circle. “I can breathe now.”

McCord graduated from nearby Lake Hamilton High School in 2018 and is a sophomore at Chapman University in suburban Los Angeles, with an eye toward becoming a hedge fund manager. She is majoring in business administration.

McCord said because Chapman has moved all classes online until the end of the spring semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is allowing her to watch her horses run in person. But, even in a perfect world, McCord said she still would have been in Hot Springs for Saturday's race.​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

This is the latest from Los Angeles.

California Groups Work to Restore Racing at Santa Anita - BloodHorse

The Thoroughbred Owners of California, The Stronach Group, and the California Thoroughbred Trainers are working together to persuade the Los Angeles County Department of Health to rescind its March 27 order prohibiting live racing at Santa Anita Park to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"Allowing the continuation of live racing does not present a health risk to the 1,000 plus workers on the backstretch who live in dormitories at the track and must be at the track every day to support live training of 1,700 horses every day," the TOC said in a March 29 post on its website.

The TOC noted that required care and exercise for animals is already deemed an "essential activity" and urged the county to send inspectors to Santa Anita to witness firsthand the safety and precautions in place.

"The revenue generated from continued live racing at Santa Anita is critical for the Thoroughbred ecosystem to keep these backstretch workers employed," the TOC's post continued. "If there is a prolonged period of no racing many of these jobs will certainly be eliminated and up to 1,000 people could be added to the current LA homeless problem."​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Everyone is rooting for Chris Landeros in the finale. Perhaps going off the favorite in the finale. Horse racing gods: Get him a win. 0-for-109 at the meet or whatever.

HE DID IT!

... and someone just cashed a ticket worth over $192,000.

----------

Fairytales do happen!

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

MOJO MAN!!!!

Michelle Yu said she likes Mojo because he was a longshot. Great pick. I played the horse in the past and got reunited. As the race developed, track announcer said two horses would pass him and then... Mojo shot a load of energy. 11-to-1. That explosion ends a wonderful weekend.

Inquiry....hold all tickets...

Much confusion due to a non-starter. Odds all change including the top three finishers. Dammit! Mojo wasn't as long as thought. Eats into the profit. Everything on hold. Prices yet to be determined.

Now official... what a bunch of hooey. Mojo gets cut in half, nearly. Pays $14.80 as a 6-to-1 offering. Damn, damn, damn because of a non-starter.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

*** GULFSTREAM PARK -- OPENING DAY ***
Thursday, April 2

Thursday, April 2 is opening day of the spring/summer meet at Gulfstream. The card has been released:

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
Race 1	$35,000	Maiden Claiming	5 Furlongs	Turf	14	1:00 PM
Race 2	$19,000	Maiden Claiming	5 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	14	1:30 PM
Race 3	$18,000	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	7	2:00 PM
Race 4	$45,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 Mile	Turf	16	2:31 PM
Race 5	$17,000	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	9	3:03 PM
Race 6	$32,000	Claiming	1 Mile	Turf	10	3:34 PM
Race 7	$45,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	9	4:05 PM
Race 8	$46,000	Allowance	5 Furlongs	Turf	9	4:36 PM
Race 9	$45,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 1/16 Miles	Turf	16	5:07 PM

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Paco Lopez, Javier Castellano, Irad Ortiz, Jr. and Jose Ortiz are among the riders without scheduled mounts for the opening two days of the Gulfstream spring/summer meet (Thursday and Friday). UPDATE: A rider change. Dismiss... In the 7th race on Thursday, John Velazquez rides for Todd Pletcher. That is the rider's only mount in two days. That sends a signal.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

As a separate note, the productions on both Fox Sports and TVG/NBCSN were exemplary. Both feeds were conducted in professional manners and each offered tips to new viewers to the sport who may have watched simply to get their sports fix.

Many of the talent have horse racing backgrounds through first-hand experiences and their deliveries were helpful while also not forgetting the regular viewers.

Good job by all the on-air talent and the behind-the-scenes crews.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Tampa Bay's card for Wednesday, April 1 is stacked. Check out the field sizes:

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
Race 1	$9,000	Maiden Claiming	5 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	11	12:30 PM
Race 2	$10,350	Maiden Claiming	1 Mile	Turf	14	1:00 PM
Race 3	$10,350	Maiden Claiming	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	12	1:30 PM
Race 4	$13,050	Claiming	1 Mile	Turf	14	2:00 PM
Race 5	$9,000	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	12	2:30 PM
Race 6	$10,350	Maiden Claiming	1 Mile	Turf	14	3:00 PM
Race 7	$18,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 Furlongs	Dirt	13	3:30 PM
Race 8	$18,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Turf	10	4:00 PM

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[Cyclones Rock]

Buddy of mine sent this link to me. Even if you're not a Turfway buff like I am, there's a great history about the Spiral/Jim Beam Stakes to take in.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

Will Rogers Downs had $366k in handle on race 2. $230k on race 1. $600k on first two races total.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Will Rogers Downs had $366k in handle on race 2. $230k on race 1. $600k on first two races total.

Very close to $3,000,000 in handle for a Monday night at Will Rogers. There were only two tracks going Monday night. The other was FONNER PARK (Nebraska):

Race 1: First race was won by the only first-time starter who was sent off the favorite. One of my much-hyped betting angles, lone first-time starters but that type going off the favorite is rare.

Race 2: I am at the head of the class when it comes to track codes but I learned two in this race. Although I knew CLS is Columbus, Nebraska, I learned that there is an ATO (Atokad, South Dakota) and SWF (Sweetwater Fair, Wyoming). ATO is part of Dakota backwards -- similar to the former Ak-Sar-Ben in Nebraska). You learn something new every day!

Race 8: A $66.60 winner.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

"There are no contracts." One of the hosts said this on Sunday regarding the unwritten rule in sport where someone doesn't lose a job based on injury. Gary Stevens astutely pointed out that in racing there are no contracts and that despite his Hall-of-Fame career he had to re-establish himself when he returned from injury. Some trainers were better than others. It is a fine line but there are "no contracts" as was said on Sunday. It is good to see Patrick Biancone giving Luca Panici the mount. They had two Derby horses and if both continue to progress Biancone has to make decisions. Ete Indien is the other horse.

Sole Volante, Panici to partner up again in Arkansas Derby

Trainer Patrick Biancone said Monday that his Tampa Bay Derby runner-up Sole Volante is still on target for the $750,000 Arkansas Derby on May 2 at Oaklawn Park. Sole Volante, winner of the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa earlier this winter, has had just one work since the Tampa Derby, an easy half-mile in 50 seconds on March 15 at Palm Meadows.

“Since we had no intention of running in the Florida Derby, I gave him a little break,” Biancone said. “He’s in good condition, but he’ll be back on the work tab this week with the Arkansas Derby the plan, if the race goes.”​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

This is the final Kentucky Derby future pool. How some odds have changed over the past few weeks is indicated. (f) = field which means was part of those not specifically listed.

KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURE BET (Pool#4)

	Horse	Trainer	P1	P2	P3	P4
1.	Authentic	B. Baffert	50-1	15-1	6-1	8-1
2.	Basin	S. Asmussen	38-1	39-1	38-1	30-1
3.	Charlatan	B. Baffert	1-1(f)	2-1(f)	12-1	8-1
4.	Enforceable	M. Casse	1-1(f)	29-1	23-1	50-1
5.	Ete Indien	P. Biancone	1-1(f)	2-1(f)	16-1	20-1
6.	Excession	S. Asmussen	1-1(f)	2-1(f)	4-1(f)	20-1
7.	Gouverneur Morris	T. Pletcher	29-1	32-1	26-1	30-1
8.	Honor A.P.	J. Shirreffs	25-1	24-1	14-1	12-1
9.	King Guillermo	J. Avila	1-1(f)	2-1(f)	4-1(f)	20-1
10.	Major Fed	G. Foley	1-1(f)	2-1(f)	42-1	50-1
11.	Max Player	L. Rice	1-1(f)	49-1	71-1	50-1
12.	Maxfield	B. Walsh	13-1	13-1	15-1	20-1
13.	Mischevious Alex	J. Servis	1-1(f)	2-1(f)	4-1(f)	30-1
14.	Modernist	B. Mott	1-1(f)	2-1(f)	35-1	50-1
15.	Nadal	B. Baffert	1-1(f)	8-1	10-1	6-1
16.	Ny Traffic	S. Joseph, Jr.	1-1(f)	2-1(f)	4-1(f)	50-1
17.	Shivaree	R. Nicks	1-1(f)	2-1(f)	4-1(f)	50-1
18.	Sole Volante	P. Biancone	1-1(f)	2-1(f)	20-1	30-1
19.	Storm the Court	P. Eurton	41-1	30-1	60-1	50-1
20.	Thousand Words	B. Baffert	34-1	16-1	34-1	30-1
21.	Three Technique	J. Englehart	39-1	36-1	29-1	50-1
22.	Tiz the Law	B. Tagg	11-1	8-1	7-1	6-1
23.	Wells Bayou	B. Cox	1-1(f)	2-1(f)	62-1	30-1
24.	Mutuel field		1-1	2-1	4-1	5-2

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

ILLINOIS: Arlington has postponed racing until a possible June opening day. The hope is the track operates into September. Then again, the hope is the track operates.

CALIFORNIA: Santa Anita Derby postponed from April 4 to a yet unspecified date. Santa Anita Park is currently closed and will not reopen in time for this Kentucky Derby prep race. Golden Gate remains open for live racing and does Los Alamitos for QH racing.

OHIO: is dark until at least April 30. Mahoning Valley was in its meet.