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

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

BELMONT STAKES

Date: June 8
Purse: $1,500,000
Distance: 1 1/2 miles

The status of Tax could be determined today (Monday) as the connections seemed to be wavering on whether to enter him in this race. Per the DRF, rider assignments have been updated with Todd Pletcher's two colts.

Monday update: Tax will be entered in the Belmont but could be scratched as late as Saturday.

The draw is Tuesday (June 4).

Saturday's card at Belmont should be massive. The Met may be the best race of the day.​

[TABLE="class: brtb_item_table"][TBODY][TR][TD]Horse[/TD][TD]Trainer[/TD][TD]Possible Jockey [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Bourbon War[/TD][TD]Mark Hennig[/TD][TD]Mike Smith[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Everfast[/TD][TD]Dale Romans[/TD][TD]Luis Saez[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Intrepid Heart[/TD][TD]Todd Pletcher[/TD][TD]John Velazquez [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Joevia[/TD][TD]Greg Sacco[/TD][TD]Jose Lezcano[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Master Fencer[/TD][TD]Katsumi Yoshizawa[/TD][TD]Julien Leparoux[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Sir Winston[/TD][TD]Mark Casse[/TD][TD]Joel Rosario[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Spinoff[/TD][TD]Todd Pletcher[/TD][TD]Javier Castellano[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Tacitus[/TD][TD]Bill Mott[/TD][TD]Jose Ortiz[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Tax[/TD][TD]Danny Gargan[/TD][TD]Irad Ortiz Jr.[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]War of Will[/TD][TD]Mark Casse[/TD][TD]Tyler Gaffalione[/TD][/TR][/TBODY][/TABLE]
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151st Belmont Stakes post position draw to be held at Citi Field on June 4

Post positions for the 151st running of the Belmont Stakes will be drawn on Tuesday, June 4 at 5:30 p.m. in the Foxwoods Club at Citi Field prior to the game between the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants

WHEN:

Tuesday, June 4
Doors open: 4:30 p.m.
Belmont Stakes Draw: 5:30 p.m.​

WHERE:

Citi Field, 120-01 Roosevelt Ave., Queens, NY 11368
Foxwoods Club
Media Entrance: Hodges Gate​

WATCH:

The Belmont Stakes post position draw will be streamed live at www.belmontstakes.com​

 

[Cyclones Rock]

Speaking of Belterra...
It appears that Sonny Leon merited runnerup status for Jockey of the Week. Flavien Prat got the top prize. Julien Leparoux had a 5-win day at Churchill as did Leon at Belterra. That is a lofty second place if so.

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Only 75 riders have reached 4,000 career wins in North America recorded annals. Two are approaching:

Rafael Bejarano has 3,995
Chris Emigh has 3,989

Another tragic Cincinnati area racing fact: Michael Rowland-a long time fixture and jockey riding title winner at Thisteldown-died of injuries which occurred at Turfway Park in February of 2004.

He finished with 3,997 career wins.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Another tragic Cincinnati area racing fact: Michael Rowland-a long time fixture and jockey riding title winner at Thisteldown-died of injuries which occurred at Turfway Park in February of 2004.

He finished with 3,997 career wins.

Did you know the Bush family? I believe the old man was from Cincinnati/no. KY. His son Vernon, same first name, won over 3,000 races but got injured in a paddock accident last year at (IIRC) Belterra which resulted in a leg broken in four places. He showed the injury on his Facebook page. I believe that ended his career as a rider and he may be at the track in some other capacity. The younger Vernon's brother George had a horse entered at Belterra yesterday. He trains in Florida, Kentucky and did at River Downs as well.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

June 3, 3019

• A typical light Monday but Philly made news with a large payout. $31k is for $.50.

Finger Lakes (New York);

• Race 7: The longest shot on the board won the $50,000 feature race at 16-to-1. Trainer Paul Barrow finished 1-2 and ahead of bigger names such as Jeremiah Englehart, Linda Rice and Rudy Rodriguez.

Parx (Pennsylvania):

• Race 8: The $.50 Pick 4 (8-6-4-4) paid $31,981.95
• Payouts: Four winners paid $29 or more topped by two in the fifties during the card.

===============================================================
Gulfstream (Florida):

• Rainbow Six: The track will not run Monday or Tuesday as the norm but does have a rare Wednesday day scheduled. The Rainbow Six will start at $1,977,432. If it isn't hit entering Saturday's Belmont Stakes, look out! This could be one astronomical tally.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

BELMONT PARK (NEW YORK), Friday, June 7

• Card: Has 103 runners battling for $2,136,000 in purse money. This is the day BEFORE their biggest card. I can hear Sinatra blaring already.
• Friday's full card: Live Racing
• Television: TVG covers until a switch to NBCSN from 5-6 pm ET. TVG then follows.

[TR][TH]Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
Race 1	$90,000	Maiden Special Weight	7 Furlongs	Dirt	8	12:50 PM
Race 2	$72,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 Furlongs	Turf	11	1:22 PM
Race 3	$92,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 Mile	Turf	11	1:54 PM
Race 4	$80,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	9	2:26 PM
Race 5	$250,000	Bed o' Roses Invitational S.	7 Furlongs	Dirt	7	2:58 PM
Race 6	$97,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 Mile	Turf	11	3:36 PM
Race 7	$150,000	Tremont S.	5 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	8	4:09 PM
Race 8	$250,000	True North S.	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	10	4:42 PM
Race 9	$600,000	New York S.	1 1/4 Miles	Turf	8	5:15 PM
Race 10	$400,000	Belmont Gold Cup Invitational S.	2 Miles	Turf	9	5:48 PM
Race 11	$55,000	Starter Allowance	6 Furlongs	Turf	11	6:22 PM

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[TBODY][TR][TH]NEW YORK STAKES

What: Grade II
Where: Belmont Park, Elmont, New York
When: Friday, June 7, 2019, Race 9
Post time: 5:15 pm Eastern Time.
Who: 4-year-olds and up. Fillies and mares.
Distance: 1 1/4 miles
Surface: Inner turf
Purse: $600,000
Television: TVG (24/7 horse racing channel). NBCSN - 5:00-6:00 pm ET
History:. Inaugurated in 1940.
Note: Chad Brown in turf races at New York always has to be considered. I am interested in how well the #5 performs.

[TR][TH]PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Holy Helena (ON)	Manuel Franco	119	James A. Jerkens	-
2	Matty's Magnum (KY)	Junior Alvarado	119	David G. Donk	-
3	Giant Zinger (NY)	Jose L. Ortiz	115	William I. Mott	-
4	Lady Montdore (KY)	Kendrick Carmouche	119	Thomas Albertrani	-
5	Vexatious (KY)	Florent Geroux	119	Jack Sisterson	-
6	Competitionofideas (KY)	Javier Castellano	123	Chad C. Brown	-
7	Semper Sententiae (KY)	John R. Velazquez	115	Mark A. Hennig	-
8	Homerique (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	119	Chad C. Brown	-

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​

[TBODY][TR][TH]
BELMONT GOLD GUP INVITATIONAL STAKES

What: Grade II
Where: Belmont Park, Elmont, New York
When: Friday, June 7, 2019, Race 10
Post time: 5:48 pm Eastern Time.
Who: 4-year-olds and up.
Distance: 2 miles
Surface: Turf
Purse: $400,000
Television: TVG (24/7 horse racing channel). NBCSN - 5:00-6:00 pm ET
History:. Inaugurated in 2014.
Note: This is the longest graded stakes race in North America; TWO MILES! Euros have won the last two, this is the sixth edition.
Picks: The 4 and 6 from the US and perhaps the 8 coming in from overseas.

[TR][TH]PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Mootasadir (GB)	Ben Curtis	121	Hugo Palmer	-
2	Noble Thought (KY)	Kendrick Carmouche	115	Michael J. Maker	-
3	Amade (IRE)	Flavien Prat	119	Alessandro Botti	-
4	Red Knight (NY)	Jose L. Ortiz	115	William I. Mott	-
5	Highland Sky (KY)	Manuel Franco	115	Barclay Tagg	-
6	Arklow (KY)	Florent Geroux	123	Brad H. Cox	-
7	Hunter O'Riley (KY)	Junior Alvarado	115	James J. Toner	-
8	Raa Atoll (GB)	Jozef Bojko	121	Luke Comer	-
9	Canessar (FR)	Joel Rosario	115	Arnaud Delacour	-

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[Cyclones Rock]

Did you know the Bush family? I believe the old man was from Cincinnati/no. KY. His son Vernon, same first name, won over 3,000 races but got injured in a paddock accident last year at (IIRC) Belterra which resulted in a leg broken in four places. He showed the injury on his Facebook page. I believe that ended his career as a rider and he may be at the track in some other capacity. The younger Vernon's brother George had a horse entered at Belterra yesterday. He trains in Florida, Kentucky and did at River Downs as well.

I'm not a horseman so I only know a few trainers, but I recall Vernon Bush although I never met him. He rode in this area and out east. I recall him riding at Suffolk regularly but I can't recall when that was. I wasn't aware of his injury. Sorry to see his career end. I'd imagine he was at least 50 years old and I know that he couldn't ride at much less than 123 lbs. or so for a number of years.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

You got me thinking about long term local jockeys and I came across this nice video about the 8th leading race winning rider of all time, Belterra-based Perry Outz. 7,039 and counting for the 64 year old. 2nd most mounts of all time at 51,074 only trailing Russel Baze who had 53,578.
https://www.equibase.com/stats/ViewAllTime.cfm?tf=all-time&tb=jockey&vb=W

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

I'm not a horseman so I only know a few trainers, but I recall Vernon Bush although I never met him. He rode in this area and out east. I recall him riding at Suffolk regularly but I can't recall when that was. I wasn't aware of his injury. Sorry to see his career end. I'd imagine he was at least 50 years old and I know that he couldn't ride at much less than 123 lbs. or so for a number of years.

The younger Vernon is likely in his upper 50s at this stage. He did have weight issues as the years advanced, not surprising. He came from a racing family; the competitive element and instinct was innate.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

BELMONT PARK (NEW YORK), Saturday, June 8

• Card: There are 13 races of which ten are stakes. 112 horses entered to win $7.424 million.
• The Met Mile (race 9 on Saturday) is incredible.
• Weekend Cards: By my count, the Friday and Saturday cards combined have 225 horses entered to win $9.56 million.
• Television: TVG coverage begins at 11:35 a.m ET. NBCSN coverage starts at 2:30 pm ET. NBC coverage begins at 4:00 pm ET.
• Saturday's full card: Belmont Stakes Day

[TR][TH]Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post (ET)
Race 1	$92,000	Allowance	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	6	11:35 AM
Race 2	$90,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 1/4 Miles	Turf	9	12:11 PM
Race 3	$150,000	Easy Goer S.	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	6	12:47 PM
Race 4	$700,000	Longines Just a Game S.	1 Mile	Turf	7	1:22 PM
Race 5	$700,000	Ogden Phipps S.	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	5	2:01 PM
Race 6	$400,000	Jaipur Invitational S.	6 Furlongs	Turf	9	2:41 PM
Race 7	$700,000	Acorn S.	1 Mile	Dirt	9	3:22 PM
Race 8	$400,000	Woody Stephens S. Presented by Mohegan Sun	7 Furlongs	Dirt	11	4:04 PM
Race 9	$1,200,000	Runhappy Metropolitan H.	1 Mile	Dirt	9	4:46 PM
Race 10	$1,000,000	Manhattan S.	1 1/4 Miles	Turf	10	5:36 PM
Race 11	$1,500,000	Belmont S. Presented by NYRA Bets	1 1/2 Miles	Dirt	10	6:37 PM
Race 12	$95,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/8 Miles	Turf	11	7:28 PM
Race 13	$400,000	Woodford Reserve Brooklyn Invitational S.	1 1/2 Miles	Dirt	9	8:00 PM

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[TBODY][TR][TH]RUNHAPPY METROPOLITAN MILE

What: Grade I.
Where: Belmont Park, Elmont, New York
When: Saturday, June 8, 2019, Race 9
Post time: 4:46 pm Eastern Time.
Who: 3-year-olds and upward (only colts and a gelding entered)
Distance: 1 mile
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $1,200,000
Television:

TVG (24/7 horse racing channel) begins coverage in the morning with first post at 11:35 am ET.
NBCSN -- 2:30 pm ET - 4:00 pm ET.
NBC -- 4:00 pm ET - 7:00 pm ET.​

History:. Inaugurated in 1891.
Full card: Entries
Note: This should be one of the most rousing races of the year. The field is deep and competitive.
Quote: "On paper, it's a dynamite race. It's a super-tough race," Todd Pletcher said. "It's what you expect in the Met Mile."

[TR][TH]	PP	Horse		Age/Sex	Jockey	WGT	Trainer	ML
	1	Coal Front Kentucky		5/C	Jose L. Ortiz	122	Todd A. Pletcher	6-1
	2	McKinzie Kentucky		4/C	Mike E. Smith	124	Bob Baffert	5-2
	3	Mitole Kentucky		4/C	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	122	Steven M. Asmussen	3-1
	4	Thunder Snow (IRE) Ireland		5/C	Christophe Soumillon	124	Saeed bin Suroor	5-1
	5	Tale of Silence Kentucky		5/C	Julien R. Leparoux	116	Barclay Tagg	30-1
	6	Promises Fulfilled Kentucky		4/C	Luis Saez	120	Dale L. Romans	12-1
	7	Firenze Fire Florida		4/C	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	119	Jason Servis	4-1
	8	Pavel Kentucky		5/C	Mario Gutierrez	118	Doug F. O'Neill	20-1
	9	Prince Lucky Pennsylvania		4/G	John R. Velazquez	119	Todd A. Pletcher	12-1

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[TBODY][TR][TH]BELMONT STAKES

What: Grade I. The third leg of the Triple Crown.
Where: Belmont Park, Elmont, New York
When: Saturday, June 8, 2019, Race 11
Post time: 6:37 pm Eastern Time.
Who: 3-year-olds
Distance: 1 1/2 miles
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $1,500,000
Television:

TVG (24/7 horse racing channel) begins coverage in the morning with first post at 11:35 am ET.
NBCSN -- 2:30 pm ET - 4:00 pm ET.
NBC -- 4:00 pm ET - 7:00 pm ET.​

History:. Inaugurated in 1867. Some of the greatest horses of all-time have run in this race, not always to victory but there have been 13 Triple Crown winners following this race.

PP		HORSE		TRAINER		JOCKEY		ODDS
1		Joevia		Greg Sacco		Jose Lezcano		30-1
2		Everfast		Dale Romans		Luis Saez		12-1
3		Master Fencer		Koichi Tsunoda		Julien Leparoux		8-1
4		Tax		Danny Gargan		Irad Ortiz Jr.		15-1
5		Bourbon War		Mark Hennig		Mike Smith		12-1
6		Spinoff		Todd Pletcher		Javier Castellano		15-1
7		Sir Winston		Mark Casse		Joel Rosario		12-1
8		Intrepid Heart		Todd Pletcher		John Velazquez		10-1
9		War of Will		Mark Casse		Tyler Gaffalione		2-1
10		Tacitus		Bill Mott		Jose Ortiz		9-5

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

My early synopsis:
1. If Joevia wins this race, it will be the biggest upset in a Triple Crown race since, well, Country House in 2019. This horse finished 11th in the Wood and his only two wins have come at Monmouth. Jose Lezcano is the hottest rider in New York but he will have a mammoth task to win this race.

2. Everfast has 11 races with just one win. Dale Romans took a surprising gamble by entering him in the Preakness but it paid off in dividends with a second place finish. Repeating that here will be difficult. Romans is unusually cold at the current Churchill Downs meet. If Luis Saez wins this race, he will become synonymous with words such as retribution and terms such as poetic justice.

3. Master Fencer may have been the best closer not named Country House in the Kentucky Derby. He was rested for the Preakness and if he adapts to the track could be a commodity. Julien Leparoux is one of three non-New York regular riders in this race and he has been in a zone the last couple or so weeks.

4. Tax has the leading rider in wins in North America on board and Irad Ortiz, Jr. is also the defending Eclipse Award winner for Jockey of the Year. This horse benefitted from the pace in the Wood Memorial to finish second but was in a tough position in the 2-hole in the Derby. He could like this track but it will be a tumultuous task to expect a win.

5. Bourbon War will have run in all three legs of the Triple Crown races and that could be a detriment (correction: he ran in two of the three). With Mike Smith riding, anything can happen as he is the big money rider. Could be used in exotics but if he can't win shorter races how can he go longer on less rest? It is a test but Smith has a knack and oddities can happen in this race.

6. Spinoff has been training well and a rider switch from Manny Franco to Javier Castellano could be in his favor. While Franco is a solid rider, though perhaps unaccustomed to Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, Castellano is one of the all-time greats. He will likely be used to fill tickets. Both of his wins came at the two tracks in Florida, he is lightly run with five races.

7. Sir Winston has not won in four starts this year but finished second in his most recent race, the Peter Pan in mid-May. Despite the success of Joel Rosario and Mark Casse, it will be a stretch to see this horse win.

8. Intrepid Heart could be the pick of wise guys and why not since it features the longtime connections of John Velazquez and Todd Pletcher both of whom are among the all-time greats and certainly of this era. This horse is the case of the unknown. Just three lifetime starts including a third in the Peter Pan.

9. War of Will is the sentimental pick. Tyler Gaffalione is a personal favorite. But while I loved this horse's chances in the Preakness, in which he won, this race could prove to be another matter. At 2-to-1, he could very well win but I am looking elsewhere.

10. Tacitus won the Wood Memorial and finished third in the Kentucky Derby in which he was my second choice. He only has five starts. He is expected to win by the morning line and that is how I see it.

The Belmont Stakes historically is the race of bombs and shocks. It could happen again as the obvious equalizer is the 1 1/2 mile distance to which many of these horses are unfamiliar. A simple mistake (Stewart Elliott on Smarty Jones in 2004) can cost a legacy and even the most skilled riders make errors. Pedigree is important. Closers vs. speed historically in this race offer little interest to me when compared to track bias entering the race day and especially that day. It appears as though New York will finally have a stretch of good weather and certainly conducive to the handicapping elements.[/TH][/TR][/TBODY][/TH][/TR][/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

June 5, 2019

Delaware Park (Delaware):

• Race 3: Anthony Pecoraro had two entered and won to boost his meet mark to an improbable 13 9-1-1 (69%/85%). This race caught the attention of many since each entered was a first-time starter. There was plenty of difficulty loading at the gate including one scratch.
• Race 5: A 10-year-old was the victor.

Mountaineer (West Virginia):

• Race 4: Two Montana breds -- same owner -- were entered. I am not sure the last time I saw two Montana breds in a race, one is rare enough. Maybe at the tracks in the Pac NW?

Thistledown (Ohio):

• Race 1: A 13-year-old ran. I believe that is the highest age accepted in most if not all jurisdictions.
• Race 2: A 6-year-old made a debut.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Racing: A rare Wednesday racing date.
• Race 2: Edgar Prado, the 9th winningest rider in North America annals, won for the 7,024th time. What stuck out like a sore thumb was the $10 roulette pool total. That is the lowest I have seen. If it gets to single digits...can it get to single digits? Save the bet for weekend racing or big purses. Just a suggestion.
• Race 3: The Rainbow Six came early today with just eight races on the card. The pool exceeded $.2 million.
• Rainbow Six: The carryover tomorrow will start at $2,035,367 after small payouts today.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Twilight Thursday on New York's card deserves it owns superlatives. Handicapping this card is a treat. Over $1.6 million in prizes covering 8 races with three stakes races including two Grade 3. The Woinder Again Stakes will get its share of attention but I like this baby (race 8). Chad Brown sends out three and in New York stakes he is to be regarded. But there is plenty of talent awaiting and if the MTO does not run that would mean nine horses from nine different places bred including five countries (USA, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Germany) and five states (PA, NY, KY, FL and MD).

The full card: Entries
Intercontinental Stakes (Grade 3)

6:46PM

Purse:	$200,000, Stakes
Wagers:	Exacta, Trifecta (.50), Super (.10), Double Wagers
Distance:	7 Furlongs on Turf

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FOR FILLIES AND MARES, FOUR-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD.

[TR][TH]Program	PP	Horse	A/S		WGT	Trainer	ML
1	1	Enthusiastic Gal Pennsylvania	7/F	Jose Lezcano	117	Steve Klesaris	20-1
2	2	Significant Form Kentucky	4/F	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	121	Chad C. Brown	2-1
3	3	Jc's Shooting Star (MTO) New York	7/F	Rider TBA	119	David G. Donk	8-5
4	4	Zonza (FR) France	4/F	Javier Castellano	115	Chad C. Brown	8-1
5	5	Stella di Camelot (IRE) Ireland	4/F	Manuel Franco	121	Chad C. Brown	7-2
6	6	Binti Al Nar (GER) Germany	4/F	Junior Alvarado	123	Peter Schiergen	20-1
7	7	Raven's Lady (GB) Great Britain	5/M	Mike E. Smith	123	James M. Cassidy	10-1
8	8	Fire Key New York	6/F	Jose L. Ortiz	121	James T. Ryerson	9-2
9	9	Broadway Run Florida	4/F	Luis Saez	121	John P. Terranova, II	5-1
10	10	Fear No Evil Maryland	5/F	Joe Bravo	117	Thomas Albertrani	12-1

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[MiamiScreamingEagles]

June 6, 2019

Belmont (New York):

• Weather: The skies were blue amid puffy clouds. The sun shined. The weather cooperated. The track played fair. Any biases on the track were not visible. Track biases can change by the day and that certainly will affect handicapping this monstrous weekend.
• Chad Brown had an outstanding afternoon going 10 3-3-1. He won three of the six races in which he entered, each won was on turf, and was the victor in both graded stakes. Brown excels on turf especially in New York. He is the defending North America Trainer of the Year.
• Joel Rosario won the opener, that was a clear sign he'd win another based on his usual trend. He did and was the only rider to win multiple times.
• OXO Equine ran two horses and the ownership led by Larry Best, formerly of Boston Scientific, won both. They drop large capital for their horses.
• Mike Smith is among the visiting riders this weekend. He is at a career-best 27% this year; however, he has won just once with his last 23 starts.
• Race 9: A stunning payout in the finale. As odd as a theory of mine that exists, Eric Cancel does not win many but it seems has a high rate of winning the last race of the day. It happened again today. The odds of the top 4 were: 35-1, 25-1, 29-1 and 3-1.

The winner paid $68.50.
The $1 exacta returned $564.50.
The $.50 tri paid $6,575. ($13k for $1)
The $.10 super was a staggering $25,521.10. ($25k for ten cents)
The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $19,000.​

• Race 8: Significant Form (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Chad Brown) won the $200,000 Grade 3. Owned by Peter Brant and model wife Stephanie Seymour. The day was filled with glamour.

​

• Race 7: Maryanorginger (Jorge Vargas, Jr/Jeremiah Englehart) -- somewhere there must be a fan of 1960s/1970s TV -- won. One of my favorite handicapping techniques proved here -- go with the only first time starter -- despite this being a $150,000 race. This horse could be pointed towards Saratoga.

​

• Race 3: Cambier Parc (Jose Ortiz/Chad Brown) pulled a mild upset over Newspaperofrecord (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Chad Brown), the latter whom was sent off at 1-to-9 (officially 15 cents on the dollar) and is now 5 3-2-0 with consecutive losses, both of which came with her being passed in the stretch. It was a an exceptional test for the winner but the runner up faces questions.

​

Delaware Park (Delaware):

• Jeremy Rose won one of his two starts. He is 26 10-6-0 (38%/62%) at the meet.
• Daniel Centeno is 21 7-6-5 (33%/86%) at the meet.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• The Rainbow Six will have a carryover of $2.095 million.
• Race 9: Carlo Vaccarezza won for the first time at the meet in his 43rd start. Vaccarezza is supposedly getting out of the training business and in his early days as a pinhooker has been successful. One sale was a $500,000 to Kenny McPeek through an unnamed Canadian businessman.
• Samy Camacho won three times with five mounts.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• John Hancock won two of three. In race 3, his ownership is Imaginary Stables who has been mentioned by me a few times but when they send horses at Gulfstream.
• Adam Beschizza rode consecutive winners (races 5 and 6) but he finished with a ferocious rally to win the 5th on board a 10-to-1 shot. In that race, he defeated a horse trained by Dale Romans who nearly wired the field. Beschizza had three rides and nearly had a natural hat trick but lost in the 4th by less than a length.

Golden Gate (California):

• Irving Orozco won five straight starts and finished an incredible day at 7 5-0-1. He won races 3 through 6, did not ride in the 7th, and finished with a victory in the eighth.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

June 7, 2019

• Chad Brown is 26 12-6-3 (46%/81%) in the month of June and has won 12 of the 18 races in which he entered. Brown has also won the last six graded stakes races at Belmont in which he entered. That is a remarkable feat. It is only June but he is probably and by a fair distance the leading candidate for Trainer of the Year.

Belmont (New York):

• Handle: If I did the math correctly, New York handled just a smidgen under $20,000,000...for a Friday! It was more than $19.9 million at last check.
• Weather: A beauty of a day which likely helped the track with the speed bias.
• Lightning fast: The track was speed favoring much of the day. I would imagine that holds tomorrow but funky things can happen overnight.
• Chad Brown had another exceptional day. He was in the money each time with three winners in five races. Overall, he was 7 3-3-1 and won both graded stakes races in which he entered.
• Race 1: Steve Asmussen won just mere moments after winning the Churchill Downs opener. He ended the day with one win among 20 starters this meet.
• Race 2: Joel Rosario won on board a 14-to-1 shot. He won early, you know what that means....he finished with three wins. The race finished 10-9-8-7.
• Race 3: Six of 11 entered, some main track, only were scratched.
• Race 4: The lightning fast track was in evidence here.
• Race 5: Separationofpowers (Jose Ortiz/Chad Brown) won the $250,000 Grade 3.

​

• Race 6: The combo of Manny Franco and Todd Pletcher won.
• Race 7: Fore Left (Mario Gutierrez/Doug O'Neill) improved to 2 2-0-0 after another race that favored speed. This time California connections won.
• Race 8: Catalina Cruiser (Joel Rosario/John Sadler) improved to 6 5-0-0 in winning the $250,000 Grade 2 True North. All prior wins came in California.
• Race 9: Homerique (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Chad Brown) won the $600,000 Grade 2 New York Stakes. Brown finished 1-2. The winner ran mostly in France but is a perfect 2 2-0-0 in the U.S. Brown's horses finished 1-2-3 in this race in the 2016 edition.

​

• Race 10: Amade (Fravien Prat/Alessandro Botti) inflicted damage to the U.S. runners in winning the rare 2 miles $400,000 Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup. It was a good race for French connections. The winner paid $15.20, is 13 8-2-1 and won in his first try in the U.S. The Euros having an advantage at the distance isn't a surprise -- I opted for the #8 coming out of a race in Germany -- but this horse looked smaller in size however proved to be the champ. Amade was one of three starters who last raced in Europe and this was just his third try on turf in a 13-race career. The jockey rides in the U.S. but was born in France. The trainer raced in the U.S. for the first time and is based in France. Florent Geroux, also born in France but riding in the U.S., finished second.

This is the best race I have won," Botti added. "I never won a Group race in France. I won in Italy and in Newmarket, and now here. This is my first start at Belmont and in America so I am 100 percent." @OTIRacing​

• Race 11: Joel Rosario won the finale.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Race 1: Two horses were late scratches at the gate. One was the hot rider-trainer of Jeremy Rose and Anthony Pecoraro and the other was the Russell husband-wife team which hits the board with a high percentage.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Race 2: Elizabeth Dobles is 26 11-3-5 (42%/73%) after winning this race and not hitting the board in the next. She was 1-to-9 on the board much of the time prior to race 2 and her starter won in a nail biter; actually, a good fight down the stretch. Winning owners were once again Imaginary Stables.
• Race 5: Edgar Prado won for the 7,025th time in North America. He is 9th all-time in wins.
• Emisael Jaramillo won three times.
• Edgard Zayas was taken off his mounts following a spill in the second race. It looked precautionary upon first glance.
• Sloppy and off turf: Mid-card the turf racing was switched to a sloppy main track.
• Rainbow Six will begin at more than $2.2 million.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Steve Asmussen was the winning trainer a mere few minutes before winning the Belmont opener.
• Brian Hernandez, Jr. won both ends of the early double.
• Race 9: The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $40,000.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

All systems go...should be a wonderful day for racing with cooperative weather and a tremendous card.



Thoughts like this have been oozing the past few days. This is what NY wanted when they produced the remarkable card in lieu of no Triple Crown contender:

 

[GKJ]

Longest shot on the board is 15/1

 

[Cyclones Rock]

Joel Rosario with the Calvin Bo-rail ride!

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

June 8, 2019

• Karl Broberg, the winningest trainer this year in North America, had horses at six tracks (Minnesota, Iowa, Kentucky, Texas and two in Louisiana) in five states and ended the day 13 6-1-2. He won at five different tracks.
• Steve Asmussen, perhaps the number one rival to Karl Broberg in terms of volume, ended the day 17 4-2-4.

Suffolk Downs (Massachusetts):

• Day 3 of 6: This is the third of six racing days in what appears to be the final year of existence for the track though simulcast operations seem to be have given a lifeline at least temporarily.
• Attendance and handle: More than 8,800 people attended and over $670k was wagered.
• Jay Bernardini, who is as successful a trainer at the track in the past few years as anyone, won twice and finished 9 2-2-1. One winner paid $18.40 and seemingly with his new rider Luis Quinones who for whatever reason replaced Erik Barbaran on mounts.
• Hugh McMahon, who had horses entered at three tracks, was the big winner today going 5 3-0-2 at Suffolk. He trains in the mid-Atlantic mostly.
• Katie Davis, one of three siblings riding, won consecutive races and finished 5 2-1-1. The life of a jockey, she rode at four tracks in four states in three days.
• Race 1: Finished 1-9-6-3. The tri paid $1,962.40 (60 cents short of 1963).
• Race 9: A Texas bred was victorious. I don't know of too many who won in the northeast recently.
• Non-betting races: The first two races conducted today were for purse money only and had non-betting interests. They were listed as races 10 and 11, respectively, in some programs.

Belmont (New York):

• Handle: Over $101 million bet on this massive card which was less than 2018 but more than any year in which there was not a possibility of a Triple Crown winner.
• Attendance: 56,217 on a beauty of day.
• Card: Thirteen races all of which had purses of $90,000+, nine of which exceeded $400,000 and three were in the millions. There was a blistering array of talent at hand.
• Race 13: Marconi (Jose Lezcano/Todd Pletcher) wired the field in the finale and won the $400,000 Grade 2 Brooklyn Invitational.
• Race 11: Sir Winston (Joel Rosario/Mark Casse) won the $1.5 million Grade I Belmont Stakes, a race which was inaugurated in 1867 and has as much history as almost any sporting event in the U.S. Over $56 million was bet on the Belmont Stakes race. The winner was sent off at 10-to-1. Sir Winston was the only horse in the race to have a Beyer of 100 in any career race, for him his most recent prior outing. Despite the strong connections, this horse was a surprise winner who had been training well but entered off four straight losses. He improved to a less than sparkling 10 3-1-1 mark.

​

• Race 10: Bricks and Mortar (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Chad Brown) improved to 11 9-0-2 in winning the $1,000,000 Grade I Manhattan Stakes. The 5-year-old has earned over $4.3 million which includes winning the 2019 Pegasus World Cup Turf in January at Gulfstream. Brown had four entered in this race and finished 1-2-3.
• Race 9: Mitole (Ricardo Santana, Jr./Steve Asmussen) improved to 11 8-2-1 and won for a seventh straight time in winning the $1.2 million Grade I Met Mile which was a deep field filled with extraordinary runners.

​

• Race 8: Hog Creek Hustle (Corey Lanerie/Vickie Foley) pulled the shocker of the day -- until perhaps the Belmont Stakes -- by winning the $400,000 Grade I Woody Stephens at 18-to-1. The winner withstood a stewards' inquiry. That was Foley's first Grade I victory.
• Race 7: Guarana (Jose Ortiz/Chad Brown) improved to 2 2-0-0 lifetime after stepping up from a $76k race to winning the $700,000 Grade I Acorn Stakes. In just her second career start, she broke the track record for this race and won by five lengths.

​

• Race 6: World of Trouble (Manny Franco/Jason Servis) improved to 13 9-2-1 including five straight wins in winning the Grade I Jaipur at $400,000. The Florida-bred has earned more than $1.2 million.
• Race 5: Midnight Bisou (Mike Smith/Steve Asmussen) improved to 15 9-3-3 and has earned close to $2.7 million after winning the $700,000 Grade I Ogden Phipps.
• Race 4: Rushing Fall (Javier Castellano/Chad Brown) won the $700,000 Grade I Just a Game on turf. She has earned $1.9 million and is 9 8-1-0 after winning her seventh straight race.
• Race 1: Joel Rosario won the opener. When he wins early, he will repeat: my time tested theory and that proved correctly with exclamation points today.
• Chad Brown's remarkable run continued with three wins in five races. He finished 10 3-1-1. He is 36 15-7-4 in June, has won 15 of the most recent 23 races that he has entered and won 9 of the last 11 graded stakes in which he had a runner.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Rainbow Six was not hit again and the carryover into Sunday now stands at $2.228 million.
• Races 2, 8 and 9 were all close, the latter two won by rider Jesus Rios. Here is a replay of all races (video in the next post)

Arlington (Illinois):

• Jose Lopez had a natural hat trick and that includes the second longest shot on the board at 22-to-1 in the middle portion.

Santa Anita (California):

• Martin Garcia was a perfect 3 3-0-0 including two wins for Doug O'Neill.

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Desert Ride (Stephen Bahen/Neil Howard) upset the field and paid $18.50 in winning the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks. The field was limited to those foaled in Canada (all in Ontario) but was the only runner not to have run at Woodbine. She is now 4 3-1-0 after racing in Louisiana and Kentucky prior. (Recap video below)

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Part 2...June 9, 2019

Due to limitations above, here is the recap of Gulfstream's races of which three were very close (2, 8 and 9). My favorite call of the day was by the track announcer in race 2 who said "THEY DROPPED THE GLOVES and fought for a quarter of a mile." Old time hockey, er, horse racing.

​

Also, the $500,000 Oaks at Woodbine in which the lone non-Woodbine starter won:

​

 

[GKJ]

There's times I hate this race, and this was one of them. Not because of anything other than the fact that probably the two or three best horses in the race place 1-2-3 had the race been run at a distance you would typically expect from this caliber or horses. That doesn't mean Sir Winston is a bad horse, but what really happens is that of all the big races this year, this one becomes the least relevant. Didn't really want War of Will to win, and I think people inside the industry are too because it takes away all the what-ifs with regard to the Triple Crown.

 

[GKJ]

Santa Anita is up to 29 deaths this race meet. Their problems have not been solved.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

June 9, 2019

• Paco Lopez, who has not ridden since late April due to a suspension for multiple riding infractions, is due back by the end of this week IIRC. He likely will be at Monmouth (New Jersey) though Gulfstream (Florida) is possible.
• Karl Broberg had horses entered at three tracks and finished 11 7-1-2. He missed the board just once with 11 starters and won seven times. The last three days of racing, he has entered 41 horses in seven tracks in six states and won 20 times. In 2019, he has 251 winners which is 67 more than his closest competition (Steve Asmussen). They are the only two trainers to send out more than 900 starters this year, the third most is 475. More means more.

[TABLE="class: brtb_item_table"][TBODY][TR][TD]Track[/TD][TD]State[/TD][TD]Starters[/TD][TD]Wins[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Prairie Meadows[/TD][TD]Iowa [/TD][TD]10[/TD][TD]3[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Lone Star[/TD][TD]Texas[/TD][TD]15[/TD][TD]9[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Indiana Grand[/TD][TD]Indiana[/TD][TD]1[/TD][TD]1[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Evangeline[/TD][TD]Louisiana[/TD][TD]6[/TD][TD]2[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Louisiana Downs[/TD][TD]Louisiana [/TD][TD]2[/TD][TD]2[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Canterbury [/TD][TD]Minnesota[/TD][TD]5[/TD][TD]2[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Churchill Downs[/TD][TD]Kentucky [/TD][TD]2 [/TD][TD]1[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Seven [/TD][TD]Six [/TD][TD]41 [/TD][TD]20[/TD][/TR][/TBODY][/TABLE]​

Suffolk Downs (Massachusetts):

• Day 4 of 6: The closing year of the track.
• Race 1: Zipman (Luis Reyes/Rob Atras) won the opener. His last three tracks have been Belmont, Santa Anita and Del Mar and he was previously trained by Bob Baffert. With those credentials, he should have won at Suffolk Downs and he did.
• Race 6: Jay Bernardini, mentioned above as a powerful presence at the track in recent years, won twice. Also mentioned above, he has a new go-to rider in Luis Quinones who brought home a $31.00 winner. That figure is nearly astronomical for Bernardini at Suffolk. Interestingly, he had two entered in the race and switched riders with Quinones and Wilkin Ortiz.
• Races 10 and 11: The first two races were non-betting interests. They were listed as 10 and 11 in the program but in actuality the first two races run.
• Race 10: Successful Saint (Jose Baez/Dylan Clarke) remains undefeated at 3 3-0-0. Keep an eye on him as the 3-year-old progresses likely at Finger Lakes (New York). He seemed well-focused, classy and determined in winning a $50,000 exhibition race.

​

• Race 11: Dr. Blarney (Tammi Piermarini/Karl Grusmark), a local legend bred in the state, improved to a brilliant 11 10-0-1 at Suffolk and 27 19-1-4 lifetime. This was an exhibition event raced prior to the scheduled card (race 11 in the program but the second race of the day) but the purse was for $50,000 and named after 19-year old Mr. Meso, another famous Mass-bred (24 wins in 68 races) who has lived a long and prosperous life.

​

Belmont (New York):

• Race 10: The finale had a close finish and the on-screen graphic indicated "interference in the lane" but that was nullified.
• Race 3: Break Even (Shaun Bridgmohan/Brad Cox) won the $150,000 Jersey Girl. Cox is a potent 22 8-6-3, 36% at the meet.

Monmouth (New Jersey):

• Nik Juarez won for four different trainers and finished 11 4-1-3.

Penn National (Pennsylvania):

• $100,000 purses: The card was run in the daytime and had two $100,000 purses, both of which were won by prohibitive favorites.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Race 8: Nothing shocking about a ticket topped by 5-1, 17-1, 21-1 and 7-1 but the $1 super paid over $48,000 and that is very generous for anyone who had it.

Mountaineer (West Virginia):

• Erik Barbaran appears to be with other trainers since a split from the Jay Bernardini camp. He rode for seven trainers and finished 8 3-2-1.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Rainbow Six: The carryover will be $2.288 million for the next day of racing on Thursday.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Corey Lanerie has a 3-win lead in the rider's standings.
• David Cohen was the leading rider at Oaklawn which ran from January into early May. He is struggling this meet with a 68 2-8-7 mark. The last I checked, his suspension resulting from a ride at Oaklawn in April is still under appeal.

Lone Star (Texas):

• Iram Diego dominated the card going 7 5-2-0. He had mounts in every race but two. Riding for the highly successful Karl Broberg, he won four of five starts.
• Karl Broberg, the leading trainer in North America, won four times with five starters.

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Race 9: Summer Sunday (Rafael Hernandez/Stuart Simon) won the Grade 3 $125,000 feature. Does this Ontario-bred filly like her home track? She is 6 6-0-0 at Woodbine and 2 0-0-0 elsewhere (both starts at Keeneland).

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

There's times I hate this race, and this was one of them. Not because of anything other than the fact that probably the two or three best horses in the race place 1-2-3 had the race been run at a distance you would typically expect from this caliber or horses. That doesn't mean Sir Winston is a bad horse, but what really happens is that of all the big races this year, this one becomes the least relevant. Didn't really want War of Will to win, and I think people inside the industry are too because it takes away all the what-ifs with regard to the Triple Crown.

The race itself was secondary to the card and I suppose that is what the NYRA had in mind in potential non-TC years by creating such a mammoth event. The Met Mile, for one, was a treat to handicap with imposing and various possibilities.. This card is New York's mini Breeders' Cup, a perfect time of the year in the northeast for weather. There are multiple reasons why NY won't host the event in the foreseeable future but this card on Saturday was splendid.

The Travers will be the next stage for some.

 

[GKJ]

So the state asked Santa Anita to shut down and they refused supposedly. They only have 6 more days at the meet. They also host the Breeders' Cup this year, so someone has to get this under control.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

So the state asked Santa Anita to shut down and they refused supposedly. They only have 6 more days at the meet. They also host the Breeders' Cup this year, so someone has to get this under control.

It will be a test of endurance for the Breeders' Cup. Supposedly, and this is from well before the disconcerting issues at Santa Anita, but Kentucky (breeding, history, etc.) and California (weather) have unique advantages especially for Europeans who travel so willingly for the Breeders' Cup and that is among the reasons why those states have held the event since the ugly weather at Monmouth in 2007. Whether the shippers from overseas are reluctant to enter because of what is ongoing at Santa Anita is debatable and unknown but the event is our pinnacle for racing and there should be safety first and foremost on the minds of all. Even plenty of insiders have varying opinions but this is bewildering. Stronach owns Santa Anita but other tracks from Golden Gate to Gulfstream from California to Florida to Maryland and there is nothing remotely close to this in those or other tracks. This breakdown isn't happening during racing with scant exceptions, it is happening for the most part in training or the backside.

 

[GKJ]

It will be a test of endurance for the Breeders' Cup. Supposedly, and this is from well before the disconcerting issues at Santa Anita, but Kentucky (pedigree, history, etc.) and California (weather) have unique advantages especially for Europeans who travel so willingly for the Breeders' Cup and that is among the reasons why those states have held the event since the ugly weather at Monmouth in 2007. Whether the shippers from overseas are reluctant to enter because of what is ongoing at Santa Anita is debatable and unknown but the event is our pinnacle for racing and there should be safety first and foremost on the minds of all. Even plenty of insiders have varying opinions but this is bewildering. Stronach owns Santa Anita but other tracks from Golden Gate to Gulfstream from California to Florida to Maryland and there is nothing remotely close to this in those or other tracks. This breakdown isn't happening during racing with scant exceptions, it is happening for the most part in training or the backside.

That's where I've been looking is the condition of the track. If it was medications this would be going on everywhere. Listened to Dick Jerardi talk about this one day, they just keep trying to not want to blame themselves but I don't think there's anything left to do since it's so isolated. I know weather was a problem at the start of the meet.