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

[Cyclones Rock]

Don't beat yourself up. It is tough to estimate these things. These are unprecedented times.

Not too long ago I predicted about $25 million for Florida Derby day. Gulf ended the day with an all-time track record $54 million bet. I thought I was being generous with no track attendance and OTBs closed for the most part. But online betting took the reins, excuse the pun.

Close to $750,000 bet just into the Pick 6 today. I didn't do the strict math but the handle could have been around $13 million based on a mental tabulation.

I have never beaten myself up for a poor track handle estimate. My handicapping gives me plenty of opportunities for self loathing

Your man Luca came up big for me in race 10 on a $39 winner.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Luca desperately needed a win. Almost two months, over 50 rides and no wins since his injury.

Good for you.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

A new player took advantage of NYRA's $200 match play to win the massive $.50 Pick 5 at Gulf on Sat. The winning ticket holder is based in Lexington, KY. The ticket cost $409.50 but returned over $524,000.

Per NYRA, the person joined March 14. It's all uphill from here.

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

About NYRA Bets
Introduced in August 2016, NYRA Bets is a leading online wagering platform, available nationwide online, on your phone and at kiosks at NYRA tracks. As a legal, United States-based, regulated and licensed provider of horse race wagering, NYRA Bets gives fans the opportunity to wager on more than 250 race tracks worldwide from anywhere at any time. You can download the NYRA Bets app for iOS and Android.
For more information, visit www.nyrabets.com.​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

This changes the landscape of Gulfstream racing just a bit...

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The last line speaks volumes but perhaps this is some semblance of a working schedule in Kentucky:

Tom's d'Etat Sets Sights on Churchill Downs - BloodHorse

"Churchill Downs is hopefully going to let horses come in on the 28th of April, which fit our schedule well as far as shipping," said Stall. "It's hard to map out a schedule right now but we're hoping for the best as far as racetracks being able to run. Whenever they tell us we can go somewhere we're going to go but the horse came out of the race in really good shape."

For the time being, the plan for Tom's d'Etat will likely feature a next start in the May 30 Blame Stakes at the Louisville track. From there, the hope will be to start the horse to the June 27 Stephen Foster (G2), a race in which he ran third last year. A "Win and You're In" race, the 1 1/8-mile dirt test provides an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

But if there is one thing for certain in the age of COVID-19, it's that nothing is certain.​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Go for Gin turns exactly 29 years of age this week, the oldest living winner of any of the Triple Crown races. He was a late foal, born in April, compared to say American Pharoah who was born in February.

Ridden by Chris McCarron and trained by Nick Zito, the Boston-New York connection was a sensation in the slop. And was one of my most profitable winners at that point in time. Among the challengers was Holy Bull who is undoubtedly one of the greatest Florida-bred race horses of all-time.

A look back at the 1994 Kentucky Derby. Zito's reaction was something for the ages. This was fun!

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Kentucky Derby anniversary recaps...

Part 1 -- 1970 -- Dust Commander -- 50 years ago -- Post #827
Part 2 -- 2000 -- Fusaichi Pegasus -- 20 years ago -- Post #852
Part 3 -- 1990 -- Unbridled -- 30 years ago -- Post #858
Part 4 -- 1980 -- Genuine Risk -- 40 years ago -- Post #875
Part 5 -- 2010 -- Super Saver -- 10 years ago -- Post #883
Part 6 -- 1920 -- Paul Jones -- 100 years ago -- Post #907
Part 7 -- 2015 -- American Pharoah -- 5 years ago -- To come​

Paul Jones -- Named after American Revolutionary War commander John Paul Jones, the winner of the 1920 Kentucky Derby was part of a field of 22 (maximum now is 20) prior to five scratches. The field of 17 was the largest at the time. He was also a gelding, at a time when it was not entirely uncommon to win the Derby. The winning time of 2:09.0 is one of the slowest ever for a winner of the race, though run on a wet track. The winner collected approximately $30,000 which was roughly what the connections made for the gelding's other 64 races. He won 14 of those 65 starts which, at one point, included 13 races in eight weeks. Much of the time, he raced at New York tracks. The Derby did not include Man o' War whose owner decided not to run but whose career ended 21 20-1-0 and is considered by some to be the greatest race horse of all-time. His only loss was to Upset. In one race in which Paul Jones and Man o' War raced against each other, Man o' War carried 24 extra pounds and still won by more than 18 lengths.

Ted Rice -- The winning jockey died three years later from a severe head injury resulting from a racing incident at Jamaica Race Course on Long Island, a track which closed in 1959.

William Garth -- The winning trainer hailed from Virginia.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Race 3: Skol Factor (Joel Rosario/McLean Robertson) was brilliant in his second race. The Minnesota-based trainer, mentioned here yesterday, won on a second-straight card. It doesn't hurt to have one of the best jockeys in America riding. Keep an eye on the 3-year-old gelding who could be making noise as the year progresses. Minnesota Vikings' fan rejoice.

I mentioned this horse a few days ago after a win at Oaklawn. Word is this horse may be a late bloomer for the Kentucky Derby preps later in the year.
​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The Apple Blossom is loaded! More on this race down the line.



OAKLAWN
Saturday, April 15, 2020

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post Central Time
Race 1	$17,000	Maiden Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	14	12:35 PM (CT)
Race 2	$19,000	Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	11	1:06 PM
Race 3	$60,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 Mile	Dirt	13	1:37 PM
Race 4	$19,000	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	13	2:08 PM
Race 5	$23,000	Maiden Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	13	2:39 PM
Race 6	$19,500	Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	12	3:10 PM
Race 7	$61,000	Allowance	1 Mile	Dirt	10	3:42 PM
Race 8	$350,000	Count Fleet Sprint H.	6 Furlongs	Dirt	11	4:14 PM
Race 9	$62,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	12	4:45 PM
Race 10	$600,000	Apple Blossom H.	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	14	5:16 PM
Race 11	$38,000	Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	14	5:47 PM

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

APPLE BLOSSOM HANDICAP

What: Grade 1. A race that some have mentioned as Breeders' Cup caliber. A sensational field with some of the top older females in the country running.
Where: Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas
When: Saturday, April 18, 2020, Race 10
Time: 5:16 pm CT
Who: 4 year-olds, fillies and mares
Distance: 1 1/16 mile
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $600,000
Card: shown above
TV: TVG/NBCSN and Fox Sports 1
History: Mike Smith has won this race a record six times but not since 2010 when Zenyatta won for the 16th straight time at odds of 1-to-20. Since then, just in the past few years, stars such as Untapable, Stellar Wind, Close Hatches, Havre de Grace and my baby Forever Unbridled all won.
​

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Ollie's Candy (KY)	Joel Rosario	120	John W. Sadler	12-1
2	Coldwater (KY)	Walter De La Cruz	112	Peter Eurton	50-1
3	Awe Emma (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	115	Dallas Stewart	20-1
4	Come Dancing (KY)	Florent Geroux	120	D. Wayne Lukas	3-1
5	Point of Honor (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	119	George Weaver	10-1
6	Street Band (KY)	Sophie Doyle	119	J. Larry Jones	15-1
7	Queen Nekia (FL)	David Cohen	115	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	20-1
8	Saracosa (KY)	Martin Garcia	114	Cipriano Contreras	30-1
9	Horologist (NJ)	Tyler Baze	116	Richard Baltas	15-1
10	Cookie Dough (FL)	Abel Cedillo	118	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	10-1
11	Serengeti Empress (KY)	Joseph Talamo	122	Thomas M. Amoss	4-1
12	Go Google Yourself (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	120	Paul J. McGee	12-1
13	Lady Apple (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	119	Steven M. Asmussen	15-1
14	Ce Ce (KY)	Victor Espinoza	121	Michael W. McCarthy	7-2

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

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Almost four years ago? It can't be! One of the great B.C. races of all-time and two legends. Songbird began her career 11 11-0-0 and this was her first lost. Gary Stevens by a nose, just like the 1997 Kentucky Derby.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Today (Thursday's) post times (TVG for televised races)

✓ Gulfstream Park - 1:00 p.m. ET
✓ Oaklawn Park - 2:05 p.m. ET
✓ Remington Park - 7:00 p.m. ET​

Televised racing for this weekend (other than TVG):
Friday, April 17

4:00 - 8:00 pm ET (NBCSN)​

Saturday, April 18

1:30 - 7 pm ET (FS1)
4:00 - 8:00 pm ET (NBCSN)​

Sunday, April 19

1:30 - 2:30 pm ET (FS2)
2:30 - 6:30 pm ET (FS1)
4:00 - 8:00 pm ET (NBCSN)​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

TVG + NBCSN announced they will continue their partnership through at least May 31. Obviously that is a reflection on the current sports climate in addition to horse racing being active. However, Oaklawn (Arkansas) and Tampa Bay (Florida) go dark after the weekend of May 2 which was originally intended as the dates of the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby cards. The Arkansas Derby will be held that Saturday instead.

Tampa Bay, due to its annual fiscal policies with its country and state, goes dark until a 2-day racing schedule on June 30 and July 1 as is the norm and then remains closed for live racing until very late in the calendar year (likely around Thanksgiving). Oaklawn is dark annually until January.

Other than Gulfstream, the smaller tracks in Nebraska, Oklahoma and Los Al in California are the others currently operating. Unless other tracks are permitted and opt to start their schedules in May sometime, the partnership will focus on Gulfstream (Florida) for the most part.

Kentucky will have a meeting on April 21 which could discuss racing in May.

 

[GKJ]

We’re going to get deep fields because horses are running out of places to run.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

David Grening said today Belmont could open as early as late May or perhaps June. He is tied into the New York scene.

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

NYRA delays Belmont meet, hoping to open by end of May

The Belmont Park spring-summer meeting will not begin on April 24 as scheduled, but multiple sources have indicated that the New York Racing Association is hopeful of being able to open the meet – without spectators – at the end of May or early June.

On Thursday, the NYRA officially announced the start of the meet would be delayed “due to the continuing impact of the coronavirus pandemic,” according to a press release.

The release did not address a timeframe for the start of the meet, which was scheduled for 51 days from April 24 through July 12.

Racing has not been conducted on this circuit since March 15 at Aqueduct. The final six days of the Aqueduct winter meet were lost as were all 13 cards of the Aqueduct spring meet.​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Race 7: I'll Make U Famous (Marcelo Almeida/Miles Heinen) won for the second time in 18 career starts but the phenomenal payout was the attention-grabber. The winner was sent off at 88-to-1 and paid $178.60/$65.20/$21.60, the $1 double neared $500, the $1 exacta was over $650 and the $.50 tri returned $1,400+. The jockey won in the US for the second time, he had nearly 2,000 victories in Brazil.
• Race 8: The $1 double paid $486.50.
• Handle: What is approximately the norm for Tampa these days, just a hair under $6 million.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

• Luis Saez (98 wins), Juan Hernandez (91) and Irad Ortiz, Jr. (90) are the riders with 90+ winners in North america this year. Only Saez is currently riding.
• Steve Asmussen (117 wins), Robertino Diodoro (102) and Karl Broberg (97) are the three winningest trainers in 2020. Not much of a surprise there.

Gulfstream Park (Florida):

• Chalk bit the dust: Favorites were walloped today winning twice in the 11-race card.
• Race 11: The $.20 Pick 6 paid over $68,000 to multiple winners. The carryover for tomorrow's card will begin at $1.052 million. Mandatory payout on Sunday.
• Race 5: Stormy Derby Day (Luca Panici/Thomas Bush) wired the field at 21-to-1, a race which included two Todd Pletcher starters.

​

• Tyler Gaffalione added two wins to his meet lead of 21. He finished 8 2-2-3 today.
• Handle: A rough guess by me but around $9 million. Over $2.6 million was bet on the finale (race 11).
• Cold stables: Bill Mott, Wesley Ward, Christophe Clement and Dale Romans are a combined 39 0-6-5 at the meet. Four top trainers. Half of those place finishes are from Ward's stable.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• Ricardo Santana, Jr. must really want to win the rider's title this meet. He took the lead in the standings with a 4-win day after finishing 6 4-1-0. He has won seven times the past two racing days. Santana was suspended last week for 10 racing days due to a riding infraction involving David Cohen but that has been appealed. He led the annual meet in wins every year from 2013-18 before having the 6-year streak snapped in 2019 by Cohen. He currently has 45 wins which is tops, followed by the total victories of Joe Talamo (43), Martin Garcia (41) and Cohen (41). The meet ends the opening weekend of May.
• Handle: Over $6.6 million bet.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

With updates the past couple or so days from New York, Texas and Woodbine among others, this is the latest running tab. Situations have changed frequently and while there may be data not represented below, it was at one point accurate. Attempts are made to update in proper fashion.

Among the states where racing is ongoing:

• California
  • Los Alamitos for QH through December 20. TB racing will be conducted June 26 through July 5.
• Florida
  • Gulfstream is currently in its spring/summer meet. Gulfstream usually races year-round until a brief autumn meet at nearby Gulfstream Park West (formerly Calder). GPW will be held probably in late September until around Thanksgiving based on the final year of the contract between Stronach (owner of Gulfstream) and Churchill Downs (owner of Calder).
  • Tampa Bay runs through May 2 and then is dark until (except June 30 +July 1 per normal) approximately Thanksgiving as scheduled. On April 21, there was chatter about extending the meet beyond May 2 and as such this could change.
• Arkansas
  • Oaklawn will complete the meet scheduled to end May 2 and then closed as scheduled until January.
• Oklahoma
  • Remington Park for QH through May 30, August 21 through December 20 for TB.
  • Will Rogers Downs for TB will run through May 23. Its QH (and more) scheduled operates Sept. 12 through Nov. 14.
• Nebraska
  • Fonner Park is running through April 29. It is seeking to add 12 racing days in May.

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

• Kentucky (five tracks)
  • Turfway: Jan. 1 - Mar. 28 closed a few days earlier than expected.
  • Keeneland: Canceled its entire meet from Apr. 2 - Apr. 24.
  • Churchill Downs: The spring meet was to be held Apr. 25 - Jun. 27 but opening day has been postponed to a yet unspecified date though May 7 is possible. Stables will open April 28.
  • Ellis Park: Jun. 28 - Sep.16 (expected to run on Sept. 7 and 16 along with Ky. Downs)
  • Keeneland: Seeking summer racing dates.
  • Churchill Downs: Sep. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    • Kentucky Oaks,Sep. 4
    • Kentucky Derby, Sep. 5
  • Kentucky Downs: Sep. 7, 9-10, 12-13, and 16 [was Sept. 2, 7, 9, 10, 12-13]
  • Churchill Downs: Sep. 17 - 27
  • Keeneland: Oct. 2 - 24
  • Churchill Downs: Oct. 25 - Nov. 29
  • Keeneland: Nov. 6 - 7 [Breeders' Cup host]
  • Turfway: Dec. 2 - 31
• California
  • Santa Anita is temporarily closed.
  • Golden Gate is temporarily closed.
  • Del Mar is scheduled to run July 18 - Sept. 7 and Oct. 31 - Nov. 29.
• Louisiana
  • Fair Grounds closed early, March 21
  • Louisiana Downs is temporarily closed. Its meet was supposed to open May 2.
  • Evangeline Downs is temporarily closed. It was scheduled to open April 8.
  • Delta Downs is closed until further notice.
• New York
  • Aqueduct canceled the end of its winter meet and all of its spring meet which would have ended April 19.
  • Belmont was scheduled to operate for 51 days from April 24 through July 12 but that was canceled. The hope, as of April 16, is to begin racing in late May or early June.
  • Saratoga is scheduled to open July 16.
  • Finger Lakes was scheduled to run 127 days from April 25 -Nov. 25 but is temporarily closed. The hope is to run 85-90 days.
• Maryland
  • Laurel is temporarily closed through at least April 30.
  • Pimlico is scheduled to run May 7-25 but that is on hold. The Preakness Stakes could move to September.
  • Timonium is scheduled to run August 28 - Sept. 7.
• Pennsylvania
  • Penn National (near Harrisburg) closed temporarily.
  • Parx (near Philadelphia) is closed indefinitely.
  • Presque Isle (Erie) was scheduled to run to Sept. 22 but is temporarily closed. On April 18, the track announced a temporary opening date of June 8 or if the situations does not permit then June 22.
• New Mexico
  • Albuquerque Downs is scheduled to open July 17.
  • Zia Park is scheduled to open September 21.
  • Ruidoso Downs was scheduled to run May 22 - Sept. 7 and that opening day is still possible.
  • Sunland Park was scheduled to close April 21 but closed earlier.
  • SunRay Park postponed its opener to at least April 30. The track was to operate April 24 - June 7.
• Arizona
  • Turf Paradise was scheduled to run through May 2 but has closed early.
  • Arizona Downs could hold a summer meet.
  • Rillito Park runs in February and March only.
• Indiana
  • Indiana Grand is temporarily closed.
• West Virginia
  • Charles Town temporarily closed on March 24.
  • Mountaineer is scheduled to run April 26 - Dec. 2 but opening day could be postponed.
• Texas
  • Sam Houston closed its TB meet less than a week earlier than expected.
  • Lone Star was scheduled to open April 16 but is temporarily closed. The hope is to open the meet in May. The stakes schedule will be reevaluated once an opening day is confirmed.
  • Retama is scheduled to open July 3.
• New Jersey
  • Monmouth's opening day has been changed to July 4. Earlier, it was changed from May 2 to May 23
• Washington
  • Emerald Downs is temporarily closed but plans to hold a meet later in 2020
• Illinois
  • Arlington was scheduled to open April 27 but will close through at least the end of May. Per the track, "We hope to have a revised race meet schedule later this spring."
  • Hawthorne announced cancellation of its spring meet many weeks ago in order to build a $450 million casino/sports betting facility.
  • Fairmount is closed until further notice. The track which is roughly 13 miles east of St. Louis, MO generally runs twice a week this time of the year.
• Ohio -- Closed all tracks through at least May 15.
  • Mahoning Valley (Youngstown area) was scheduled to end its meet on April 18.
  • Thistledown (Cleveland area) was scheduled to run April 27 – October 22.
  • Belterra (Cincinnati) was scheduled to run April 24 - September 25.
• Nebraska
  • Horsemen's Park canceled its 7-day meet from May 8-24. It could reschedule.
• Delaware
  • Delaware Park is scheduled to run May 27 - October 31 but is temporarily closed.
• Iowa
  • Prairie Meadows is temporarily closed. The meet was scheduled to begin May 1.
• Virginia
  • Colonial Downs has 18 race dates between July 23 – Aug 29. The hope is the meet will be held with spectators but if not could be canceled.
• Wyoming
  • Wyoming Downs' opening day remains July 4.
• Colorado
  • Arapahoe Park's opening day remains May 23 with conclusion as scheduled August 16.
• Minnesota
  • Canterbury will change its May 15 - Sept. 12 meet to race summer dates yet specified.
• Oregon
  • Grants Pass Downs has canceled its spring meet which was supposed to begin May 10 and last about two months.

Canada:

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

Note: QH is quarterhorses; TB = thoroughbreds

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Gulfstream provides a free live stream of its simulcast feed: Live Stream | World-Class Thoroughbred Horse Racing | Gulfstream Park

Televised racing for this weekend (other than TVG):
Friday, April 17

4:00 - 8:00 pm ET (NBCSN)​

Saturday, April 18

1:30 - 7 pm ET (FS1)
4:00 - 8:00 pm ET (NBCSN)​

Sunday, April 19

1:30 - 2:30 pm ET (FS2)
2:30 - 6:30 pm ET (FS1)
4:00 - 8:00 pm ET (NBCSN)​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Friday, April 17, 2020

• $$$$$$$: Each major track paid out high sums of money this day.

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Handle: Over $5.4 million.
• Race 8: The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $79,000. The $.20 Pick 6 paid an exorbitant $119,000+.
• Race 7: The $.50 tri paid over $2,200. The $.50 Pick 3 was over $1,200.
  
• Raul Mena rode a natural hat trick beginning in the second race. Two of his wins came for Dale Bennett whose father Gerald is the leading trainer at the meet.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Handle: Gulfstream doesn't officially tabulate through Equibase but I would guess around $12,000,000 bet today.
• Chalk: Favorites tasted defeat 8 of 10 races.
• Breaking maidens: Maidens won five times on the 10-race card. In addition, a Chilean was victorious in his U.S. debut and at 30-to-1.
  
• Payouts: Another day with large payouts.
• Race 10: The $.20 Pick 6 paid over $111,000 to all winners. The carryover will begin at $1.195 million with a mandatory payout scheduled for Sunday.
• Race 9: Mi Tres Por Ciento (Hector Barrios/Amador Sanchez) won at 30-to-1 in his U.S. debut. The 5-year-old Chilean won 10 of 28 in his home country.

​

• Race 8: Luca Panici won on the third straight card. His mount held off a rambunctious runner up ridden by Luis Saez.
  
  ​
• Race 7: Not often a race finishes 12-11 in a field of eight.
• Race 5: Less than a week ago, the track set a record with a $.50 Pick 5 that paid over $500,000. While not near that, today's early Pick 5 returned over $134,000. A magnificent sum!
• Race 4: A 43-to-1 shot won.
• Race 3: A 15 1/2 length win for the favorite. An old-fashioned whoopin'.

​

• Hector Berrios won three times.
• Bill Mott, Christophe Clement, Dale Romans and Wesley Ward are a combined 45 0-7-6.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• Oaklawn being Oaklawn: It took a while but the lofty prices have been surfacing in the latter half of this meet. Oaklawn had that tendency.
• Handle: Over $8,000,000 bet.
• Card: two races with purses of $100,000.
• Race 10: The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $42,000. A 29-to-1 shot ridden by Martin Garcia ended the day.
• Tyler Baze-Ingrid Mason teamed to win the first two races.
• Corey Lanerie rode for the first time since March 21 at Fair Grounds (Louisiana) and won. It was his fourth race this meet.
• Jockey standings: Ricardo Santana, Jr. (46 wins), Joe Talamo (43), Martin Garcia (42) and David Cohen (41) top the leader board.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Televised racing for this weekend (other than TVG):

Saturday, April 18

1:30 - 7 pm ET (FS1)
4:00 - 8:00 pm ET (NBCSN)​

Sunday, April 19

1:30 - 2:30 pm ET (FS2)
2:30 - 6:30 pm ET (FS1)
4:00 - 8:00 pm ET (NBCSN)
​

Oaklawn's card for Saturday is in post #909.

TAMPA BAY: April 18

[TBODY][TR][TH]Race #[/TH][TH]Purse[/TH][TH]Race Type[/TH][TH]Distance[/TH][TH]Surface[/TH][TH]Starters[/TH][TH]Est. Post (ET)[/TH][TH][/TH][/TR][/TBODY]
[TBODY][TR][TD]Race 1[/TD][TD]$22,500[/TD][TD]Allowance Optional Claiming[/TD][TD]6 Furlongs[/TD][TD]Dirt[/TD][TD]6[/TD][TD]12:28 PM[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Race 2[/TD][TD]$11,500[/TD][TD]Maiden Claiming[/TD][TD]1 1/16 Miles[/TD][TD]Turf[/TD][TD]10[/TD][TD]12:58 PM[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Race 3[/TD][TD]$11,500[/TD][TD]Claiming[/TD][TD]6 Furlongs[/TD][TD]Dirt[/TD][TD]10[/TD][TD]1:28 PM[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Race 4[/TD][TD]$10,000[/TD][TD]Claiming[/TD][TD]6 Furlongs[/TD][TD]Dirt[/TD][TD]13[/TD][TD]1:58 PM[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Race 5[/TD][TD]$16,000[/TD][TD]Claiming[/TD][TD]1 1/16 Miles[/TD][TD]Turf[/TD][TD]14[/TD][TD]2:28 PM[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Race 6[/TD][TD]$10,000[/TD][TD]Claiming[/TD][TD]5 1/2 Furlongs[/TD][TD]Dirt[/TD][TD]14[/TD][TD]2:58 PM[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Race 7[/TD][TD]$20,000[/TD][TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD][TD]1 1/16 Miles[/TD][TD]Turf[/TD][TD]10[/TD][TD]3:28 PM[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Race 8[/TD][TD]$20,000[/TD][TD]Allowance Optional Claiming[/TD][TD]7 Furlongs[/TD][TD]Dirt[/TD][TD]8[/TD][TD]4:00 PM[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Race 9[/TD][TD]$15,000[/TD][TD]Claiming[/TD][TD]1 Mile[/TD][TD]Turf[/TD][TD]11[/TD][TD]4:32 PM[/TD][/TR][/TBODY]

GULFSTREAM: April 18

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post (ET)
Race 1	$22,000	Maiden Claiming	1 Mile	Turf	12	12:45 PM
Race 2	$17,000	Maiden Claiming	5 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	10	1:15 PM
Race 3	$20,000	Claiming	5 Furlongs	Turf	8	1:45 PM
Race 4	$20,000	Claiming	1 Mile	Dirt	6	2:15 PM
Race 5	$45,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 Mile	Turf	12	2:46 PM
Race 6	$20,000	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	8	3:17 PM
Race 7	$45,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 Mile	Turf	13	3:48 PM
Race 8	$30,000	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	8	4:21 PM
Race 9	$47,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 Mile	Turf	14	4:53 PM
Race 10	$33,000	Starter Optional Claiming	1 Mile	Dirt	8	5:25 PM
Race 11	$47,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	5 Furlongs	Turf	15	5:57 PM
Race 12	$17,000	Maiden Claiming	5 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	10	6:29 PM

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[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, April 18, 2020

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Handle: More than $7.5 million bet today.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Sunday's Rainbow Six: The carryover begins at roughly $1.6 million. Track personnel estimate we could see a $5 million jackpot tomorrow on mandatory payout day.
• Track conditions: Sloppy and off the turf.
• Race 1: First win in the US for 5-pound bug Joseph Trejos who previously rode in Panama.
• Race 9: Fanny Olsson delivered a 40-to-1 shot, the longest on the board, by 4 lengths. The jockey from Sweden won for just the third time in 79 starts this year.

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• Nik Juarez is scheduled on mounts tomorrow. He has been sidelined with injury for about 10 weeks.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• Handle: $19,000,000 bet today. The track is sizzling in popularity.
• Joel Rosario added two wins to his meet total and has hit the board with 83% of his mounts.
• Race 10: Ce Ce (Victor Espinoza/Michel McCarthy) nipped Ollie's Candy (Joel Rosario/John Sadler) in winning the Grade I $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap. The 7-to-2 shot caught the 7-to-1, the latter who nearly wired the field with blistering fractions of 45+ for the 1/2 mile and 1:10 for 3/4 miles. Two California horses finished 1-2. The field of 14 was the largest for this race since 1977. Great race...even though my #1 got caught.

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• Race 8: Whitmore (Joe Talamo/Ron Moquett) improved to 34 14-10-3 and has earned more than $3.1 million after winning the Grade 3 $350,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap for the third time. Whitmore loves Oaklawn and now has a lifetime record of 14 9-4-1 at the Arkansas oval including a remarkable 4 3-1-0 in this race. He ran 19th in the 2016 Kentucky Derby.

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[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, April 19 (TV information)

• Gulfstream airs on NBCSN/TVG only.
• Tampa Bay airs on both Fox and NBCSN/TVG.
• Oaklawn is on both Fox and NBCSN/TVG.

1:30 - 2:30 pm ET (FS2)
2:30 - 6:30 pm ET (FS1)
4:00 - 8:00 pm ET (NBCSN/TVG)
All day coverage on TVG

TAMPA BAY

[TR][TH]Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post	Entries Plus
Race 1	$10,000	Maiden Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	8	12:40 PM	FREE
Race 2	$12,500	Maiden Claiming	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	9	1:10 PM	FREE
Race 3	$11,500	Maiden Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Turf	14	1:42 PM	FREE
Race 4	$18,700	Starter Optional Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	7	2:15 PM	FREE
Race 5	$19,000	Starter Optional Claiming	1 Mile	Turf	8	2:45 PM	FREE
Race 6	$10,000	Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	9	3:15 PM	FREE
Race 7	$20,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 Mile	Turf	13	3:45 PM	FREE
Race 8	$10,000	Claiming	7 Furlongs	Dirt	12	4:15 PM	FREE
Race 9	$20,000	Maiden Special Weight	5 Furlongs	Turf	14	4:45 PM	FREE

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GULFSTREAM
Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post (ET)
Race 1	$25,000	Maiden Claiming	5 Furlongs	Turf	16	12:55 PM
Race 2	$17,000	Claiming	5 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	6	1:24 PM
Race 3	$17,000	Maiden Claiming	1 Mile	Dirt	8	1:53 PM
Race 4	$20,000	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	7	2:23 PM
Race 5	$45,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 Mile	Turf	12	2:53 PM
Race 6	$24,000	Starter Optional Claiming	1 Mile	Turf	11	3:23 PM
Race 7	$18,000	Claiming	1 Mile	Dirt	9	3:53 PM
Race 8	$46,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 Mile	Turf	15	4:25 PM
Race 9	$18,000	Starter Optional Claiming	1 Mile	Dirt	8	4:55 PM
Race 10	$46,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 Mile	Turf	15	5:25 PM
Race 11	$45,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 Mile	Turf	13	5:55 PM

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OAKLAWN
Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post (CT)
Race 1	$17,200	Maiden Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	14	1:05 PM
Race 2	$25,000	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	12	1:35 PM
Race 3	$23,000	Maiden Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	11	2:05 PM
Race 4	$17,500	Claiming	5 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	14	2:35 PM
Race 5	$18,000	Maiden Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	14	3:06 PM
Race 6	$17,500	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	14	3:36 PM
Race 7	$25,000	Starter Allowance	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	10	4:06 PM
Race 8	$35,000	Starter Allowance	6 Furlongs	Dirt	10	4:38 PM
Race 9	$63,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	12	5:09 PM
Race 10	$60,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 Furlongs	Dirt	12	5:38 PM

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[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Race 1: Tessie's Red Sox (Augusto Marin/Bobby Raymond) broke her maiden in her eighth try. Former Suffolk Downs connections hook up for a 37-to-1 bomber to win by more than 5 lengths. The trainer began his career in the 1970s.
• Race 6: David Hinsley, the winning trainer, was 1-for-42 this year entering today.
• Jonathan Thomas, a good young trainer with a bright future, won twice and placed with his three starters.
• Handle: Confirmed at $6.6 million.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Rainbow 6: Estimates were low in the $5-6 million range. There was over $7.3 million in fresh money bet into the existing pool which propelled the jackpot to $8,691,482. All winning ticket holders shared $20,158.94. There were 15,167,156 ticket holders alive after the first leg.
• Handle: I counted about $17,000,000 but that is a loose estimate.
• Luis Saez had a 3-win day. His win in the 11th was one of steel nerves as he hugged the rail which was let open by jockey Chris Landeros who had the lead but fended off a challenger on the outside. Saez is now three victories behind Tyler Gaffalione for meet lead.
• Race 2: A 17-to-1 shot, longest on the board, won.
• Race 4: A solid finish.

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• Race 5: Winnipeg Wonder nearly went the route at 55-to-1 but settled for show in a terrific finish. It was the Kentucky-bred's second lifetime race. The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $43,000.

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• Race 11: Roughly $9,600,000 was bet in this race.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• Handle: More than $8 million wagered.
• Race 1: Lynn Chleborad, a Nebraska-native who has been training since the 1980s, snapped a 46-race losing streak dating to mid-December. She trained the winner here.
• Race 8: Fernando De La Cruz lost his stick while dueling in the stretch. Finished in a hand ride. Tough break for those who wagered on his horse.
• Declan Cannon rode two winners. He was just 9-for-119 this year entering today. He did a splendid job winning race 7.
• Kim Puhl had two wins in 2020 entering today. That total was doubled following a 2-win day for the trainer.
• Leading riders: Ricardo Santana, Jr. (48), Martin Garcia (45), Joe Talamo (44) and David Cohen (41).
• Rivalry: Gary Stevens with some strong words during the Fox Sports broadcast. It has been clear for some time that Ricardo Santana, Jr. and David Cohen "don't like each other" but Stevens also said Santana "was a punk..."earlier in his career but has "since grown up." Cohen was suspended last year for a riding incident involving Edgar Morales but that got amended to a much smaller punishment. Santana got 10 days earlier for an incident with Cohen but has since appealed. Santana owned this meet for years -- 6 straight -- until Cohen moved his tack there and won last year's title. As of now, they are duking it out again for champion rider at this meet.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

With so few tracks operating, could we please clean up this one issue! We are appreciative to all who run and sacrifice but please don't overlap. TVG made a comment about Gulf and Oak working side-by-side so not to overlap during the Apple Blossom yesterday but there are only three tracks operating. These days should be less obfusgated than the usual weekend.

No name-calling here. Just a desire to express the obvious.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

ARKANSAS DERBY and OAKLAWN
Saturday, came word that 99 horses have been nominated to the $750,000 Arkansas Derby on May 2, a prep race for the Kentucky Derby. This is going to be one electric race....or two. The race could be limited to 14 horses or perhaps split with two 10-horse fields.
Oaklawn is searching out interested parties as this is a key race for many connections including Bob Baffert. One thing that will NOT happen is a 20-horse field ala the Ky. Derby especially since the race is a shorter distance.

Kudos to Oaklawn, Louie Cella the president of the track and his staff as they need to be commended. A fabulous meet under difficult and strenuous times. I have preached about Oaklawn for a while and anticipated a stellar meet back in January but this is the beginning -- more so the continuation -- of something special as the saying goes.

Rumors that Oaklawn would extend this meet were shot down. Purse money is a concern -- connected to the casino -- but so is maintenance. Oak should be on every player's bucket list down the line if for nothing else a show of support.

FONNER PARK and NEBRASKA
Fonner is interested in adding 12 racing days from May 4 - May 31. The state gaming commission has to confirm. The track has handled an outstanding $2.8 million daily this year.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

As I suspected a couple of weeks ago when the Kentucky Derby was first announced to run in September, I tried to compile updates for racing, the Kentucky dates do not seem concrete and the article penned yesterday used the word "confusion." I contacted a couple of people at the time since the day that I found striking was Sept. 16 (more so than Sept. 6).

As of now both Kentucky Downs and Churchill Downs are scheduled to run on September 16 but I wonder if Churchill's meet will have date changes from what is listed below.

Churchill Downs considers holding its spring meet without spectators

Per Bloodhorse, "The next full meeting of the KHRC is scheduled for April 21."

OK, the meeting was held today and am I mentioned a few weeks ago, I didn't think Churchill and Ky. Downs would run simultaneously on the same date. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission met today and just like that further amended days. There is another meeting ongoing today. I suppose racing dates will be updated but CD is not running on Sept. 16 as I understand. Also, as of now, the Sunday after the Ky. Derby will be dark throughout the state. Good job by everyone in Kentucky.



One adjustment:



This meeting is streaming live NOW (1:30 or so pm ET on April 21):