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

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

August 17, 2018

Saratoga (New York):

• Irad Ortiz, Jr. (3) and Jose Ortiz (2) combined to win five races.
• Race 1: Lacey Gaudet trained a winner at the Spa for the first time in her young professional life. There will be many more victories. She is young, talented, respected and has excellent lineage. She is based in Maryland.

​

• Race 5: Ricardo Santana, Jr. snapped a skid of 40 straight losses dating back to August 6. He was sizzling at the early part of the meet.
• Race 6: Ten of the 16 horses were scratched. The Ortiz brothers finished 1st and 2nd. In both instances, they were names as replacements for TBA as the riders.
• Race 7: Sweet Bye and Bye, won for the 5th time in 6 lifetime starts and for the first time in twostarts outside of Parx in Philadelphia. Rider Joshua Navarro , 4-for-4 with the horse, rode for the first time at the meet. The 3-year-old filly from Pennsylvania has won five in a row.
• Race 8: The two highest odds hit the board.
• Race 9: Chattal (Kendrick Carmouche/Brandon McFarlane) shocked with the second highest odds on the board in a field of nine to win the $100,000 feature race. The trainer certainly made a name for himself with his 6th lifetime win in 88 starts. He is a Maryland trainer in his second year as a pro, first time at the Spa.

“This is my first Saratoga win and my first Saratoga trip,” said trainer Brandon McFarlane. “It’s crazy. Just to get here is amazing, but to win, it’s nuts. I was expecting him to win, but not like that, it was a nice effort. He’s a Kentucky-bred, so maybe we’ll go to Kentucky Downs [next].”​

• Race 9: The win paid $47. The $2 Pick 3 paid $6,289. The $2 double paid $1,053.
  
• Race 10: The $2 Pick 6 paid out to those who hit five legs. The $2 Pick 4 paid over $41,000. The $2 Pick 3 paid over $4,800.
• Only two late races remained on the turf.
• The $.50 Pick 4 paid over $10,000.

Monmouth (New Jersey):

• What else can be said? Jorge Navarro was 4 2-1-1 and won two of the three races in which he entered. In one race, he finished 1st and 2nd, so in essence, he defeated himself. Among the competitors was Chad Brown. If Navarro is beyond suspicion of any past indiscretions, he is re-writing the book with his numbers with a dizzying array of splendor. He is 18-6-3 with his last 31 starts at Monmouth. The winningest trainer at the meet, he is 151 68-21-24 (45%/75%).
• Race 6: Jorge Navarro won in a romp at 3-to-5. Second place was a 44-to-1 bomb ridden by Isaac Castillo who is 24 11-2-1 in 2018. The $2 exacta was a phenomenal $71.
• Race 7: The all-Jorge Navarro exacta paid $23.80 and the finish was a nail biter.
• Race 8: Toppence (Victor Severino/Stephen Murtough) broke his maiden in his 12th try. The jockey ended the day 1-for-27 at the meet. The trainer won for the first time in 2018 with his 19th chance
• Jason Servis is 65 30-8-11 (46%/75%) at the meet.
• Jose Ferrer rode three winners in five starts.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Race 1: Ashley Castrenze won the opener, her only ride of the day. She is 3-for-3 the last two days. Anytime Ashley Castrenze wins, birds stop chirping, bees stop buzzing and cell phones are turned off in order to show appreciation . She is officially seven away from her 100th lifetime win.
• Race 9: A $63 winner.
• Race 10: A $17.60 winner on a shrewd move by Jevian Toledo in the stretch. A quick alteration in pattern made this quite the eye-catching finish.

Belterra (Ohio):

• Race 8: A dead heat for win.
• Race 5: An 8-year-old maiden ran for the 26th time.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Race 3: My Charming Clyde, an 11-year-old gelding, raced for the 112th time and finished fourth.
• Race 8: Remember the Maine was elevated to victory through a DQ.

Del Mar (California):

• Joe Talamo won twice. No other jockey won as many and no trainer won more than once. The last three days has been spread near evenly for victories.

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Eurico Da Silva, the winningest rider at the meet, won four times in eight starts. He was 8 4-2-1.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

AUDIO FEED: http://www.skyracing.com.au/index.php?component=content&Itemid=114&id=96

Winx goes for the world record of 26 straight wins at approximately 1:00 a.m. ET (past midnight in the east coast U.S.). The race is in Australia.

Winx looks to eclipse Black Caviar’s record in race renamed in her honor - Brisnet

For the third straight year, Winx kicks off her Australian spring in the same stakes at Randwick – but Saturday’s renewal (late Friday night 1 a.m. EDT) has noteworthy differences.

The about seven-furlong affair formerly known as the Warwick S. (G2) has been upgraded and rechristened the Winx S. (G1) in her honor. And its historical significance is greater as well. Should Winx extend her winning streak to 26 in her own race, she’d surpass the record of 25 held by another Australian legend, Black Caviar.

The world’s highest rated Thoroughbred, Winx comes off another stellar campaign at the age of six, her highlights including a third consecutive Cox Plate (G1) and a repeat in the April 14 Queen Elizabeth (G1) in her seasonal finale.
Connections skipped an international foray to Royal Ascot, explaining that it was in Winx’s best interests to remain in Australia. Now she’ll look toward an unprecedented fourth Cox Plate back at Moonee Valley October 27, and trainer Chris Waller has her ready to go in her comeback.

“She’s seven years old now – just turned seven – but in our eyes, she’s picture perfect,” Waller said.
“She’s primed for Saturday. She’s spot-on. She’s sharp. I just shake my head in disbelief most mornings.”
==================

Kementari at his best to tackle Winx in 2018 Winx Stakes - HorseRacing.com.au
Winx Stakes

Aug 18, 2018
3:00 PM - Randwick 6

7389x	1. Classic Uniform (8)	Andrew Adkins	59 KGS	101.00
22x04	2. Religify (1)	Jay Ford	59 KGS	101.00
x420x	3. Libran (11)	Tommy Berry	59 KGS	151.00
1820x	4. Cabeza De Vaca (2)	Tim Clark	59 KGS	91.00
20x40	5. Invictus Prince (4)	Jason Collett	59 KGS	151.00
29342	6. Oriental Runner (3)	Bobby El-Issa	59 KGS	151.00
130x2	7. Kementari (7)	Glyn Schofield	58.5 KGS	6.00
5462x	8. Ace High (10)	Tye Angland	58.5 KGS	34.00
3714x	9. D'argento (9)	James Mcdonald	58.5 KGS	20.00
x111x	10. Winx (5)	Hugh Bowman	57 KGS	1.20
0121x	11. Unforgotten (6)	Kerrin Mcevoy	56.5 KGS	41.00

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[Preds Partisan]

The Breeders' Cup sites were officially announced today ending speculation of many months.

SANTA ANITA (CA) -- November 1-2, 2019 -- 10th time host

KEENELAND (KY) -- November 6-7, 2020 -- 2nd time host

DEL MAR (CA) -- November 5-6, 2021 -- 2nd time host
​

Laurel (Maryland) wants the BC but apparently fell short; however, the track will reapply for 2022. Same owners as Santa Anita and Gulfstream but the Stronach Group does not have any wishes to be a host track in Florida.

Belmont (New York) has many drawbacks currently, the desire for NYRA to want it among them, but weather, money and certainly the infrastructure are among the concerns.

Keeneland will be a week later than 2015 BC, so we'll see if the weather holds. 2016 was 60's and 70's, 2017 was 40's. I'm within driving distance so I'm in no matter what.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

"Very, very windy conditions" as they go to post.

Winx going for the record.... UPDATE: Winx breaks the Australian record for consecutive wins at 26.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

August 18, 2018

Saratoga (New York):

• The is been an underwhelming Saratoga meet mainly due to the dismal weather and the related lack of turf races and reduced fields.
• Race 10: The $2 Pick 6 was hit for $123,000+.
• Race 9: Eskimo Kisses (Jose Ortiz/Ken McPeek) won the $600,000 Grade I Alabama Stakes after a blistering pace was set by two front runners. The 3-year-old filly is 10 3-4-0 and won a graded stakes race for the first time after four failures. She received a 100 Beyer for the outing. As mentioned in the preview, I thought Midnight Bisou (Mike Smith/Steve Asmussen) was vulnerable and partly because of the sire Midnight Lute who preferred shorter distances.

​

• Race 8: Rushing Fall (Javier Castellano/Chad Brown/eFive Racing) is proving to be a good one. The 3-year-old filly improved to 6 5-1-0 after winning the $300,000 Grade 2 Lake Placid. The Florida-based owners also have Good Magic under their care.

TVG on Twitter​

• Race 6: An interesting race in that many first-time starters with excellent connections and regal pedigree were showcased. The $85,000 purse was won by Code of Honor (John Velazquez/Shug McGaughey) at 6-to-1.
• Race 5: Dylan Davis, a Saratoga-native who last rode on a card August 10, won on board a 20-to-1 bomb.
• Race 4: One of the highlights of the day when Joe Bravo caught Javier Castellano at the wire. Great finish. Bravo snapped a 16-race losing streak though he was in the money nine times in that skid.
• Race 1: Ten of 16 horses were scratched as the race was taken off the turf.
• John Velazquez and Javier Castellano rode two winners. Chad Brown, the leading trainer at the meet, won twice.
• Irad Ortiz, Jr. has 37 wins to lead all riders. Chad Brown has 29 wins to lead all trainers.

Monmouth (New Jersey):

• Jorge Navarro was 5 2-1-1. He is 20-7-4 with his last 36 starters and 156 70-22-25 (45%/75) at the meet.
• Jason Servis was 3 2-1-0. He is 68 32-9-11 (47%/76%) at the meet.
• Much has been made about the numbers of Jorge Navarro and Jason Servis, but Chad Brown, maybe quietly if that is all possible, is 49 18-11-9 (37%/78%).
• Paco Lopez won three of his last four starts after no wins through six.
• Jose Ferrer won just once with nine starters, He had 3-win days the last four cards. A tough task at any track.
• Race 9: Dead heat for the win.
• Race 1: Luis Rivera, Jr. rode and trained the winner in the opener which paid $31.60. It was the first time he trained a winner while riding to victory for the 1,559th time.

Delaware Park (Delaware):

• Race 2: Let me see if I can write an appendage to the last two days of reviews. When Ashley Castrenze wins, birds stop chirping, bees stop buzzing, people get off their cell phones and the tides stop crashing the sand all in appreciation of yet another victory. She has now won her last four starts after a win today. This time, she rode for Jackie Acksel who is also her mother. The trainer won for the first time in 13 starts in 2018. Go Ashley go!

Laurel (Maryland):

• A good card with solid deep fields. Four stakes races with $75,000 purses.
• Race 9: Whereshetoldmetogo (Jeremy Rose/Anthony Pecoraro) was sent off at 3-to-5 and the obvious expectation to win but while 14 6-2-0 is a good lifetime record, the 3-year-old colt is a perfect 3-for-3 under Rose and on a 3-race win streak. The purse was $75,000.
• Race 5: Wily and intelligent veteran Chris DeCarlo had one mount and shocked some with a $39.20 winner. Shocked some, not all! The $2 Pick 3 paid over $5,900. The $2 Pick 4 paid over $49,000. The $2 Pick 5 paid over $22,000 to those who hit four legs.
• Race 4: Was named after local legend Ben's Cat.
• Weston Hamilton won his first two starts. He is a leading contender for Apprentice of the Year.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Race 9: The winner has the very strange record of 34 8-0-0.
• Race 5: The $2 exacta paid over $800.
• Race 4: The 3rd place finisher paid $23.20 and was sent off at 80-to-1.
• Race 2: One of the best finishes of the day as the #8 came flying from the back of the pack and reserves enough energy to be lifted to victory.

Del Mar (California):

• A record handle of $25,969,128 was the most in the track's history except as the Breeders' Cup host. Wow!
• Race 11: Tyler Gaffalione, who is based at Gulfstream, won the finale. The victory was his first in 12 lifetime starts at Del Mar, eight of which came on this card.
• Race 10: Accelerate (Joel Rosario/John Sadler) won the $1,000,000 Grade I TVG Pacific Classic by a record-setting 12 1/2 lengths and received an invitation to the Breeders' Cup Classic as this was a "Win and You're In" race. A tremendous machine, Accelerate received a 115 Beyer which speaks of the stirring performance and is 5 4-1-0 in 2018. The 5-year-old horse is 20 8-5-5 and has earned $2,312,480. The Pacific Classic was his seventh stakes win. Rosario won for the fourth time on the card in seven starts. The race finished 5-7-3. 5-3 (the 3 was 15-to-1) would have been a lot better since that was my pick.

​

• Race 9: Game Winner (Joel Rosario/Bob Baffert), a first-time starter, won and gave the East coast-based rider his third win on this card. My theory about Rosario holds true, I suppose, even on the left coast in that if he wins early enough he will repeat later on the card. Game Winner drew the outside rail and yet that seemed no hindrance.
• Race 8: Fatale Bere (Kent Desormeaux/Leonard Powell), a French-bred sent off at 7-to-1, won the $300,000 Grade I Del Mar Oaks. The 3-year-old filly is 10 5-0-1 and won at the track for the first time in three starts.

​

• Race 6: Fashion Business (Flavien Prat/Phil D'Amato) won the $250,000 Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap. Prat won on a 4th straight card. This was a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" race for the Longines Turf.
• Race 5: The $.50 Pick 4 paid over $21,000. The $1 Pick 3 was over $5,500. Diversionist (Joe Talamo/James Cassidy) was a first-time starter and paid $84.80 to win.
• Flavien Prat leads all riders with 25 wins. Peter Miller leads all trainers with 21 wins.

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Race 10: Neepawa (Jerome Lermyte/Mark Casse) won the $400,000 Breeders Stakes which is the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. Wonder Gadot, the winner of the first two legs, is pointed towards next weekend's Travers' Stakes at Saratoga (New York).
• Race 6: The $20 Pick 5 paid over $7,000.
• Race 5: The runner up at 79-to-1 paid $42.50 for place.

NOTES:

• Jason Servis: is 9-2-4 with his last 17 starters combined at Saratoga and Monmouth dating back through August 11

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Unique Bella has been retired due to injury per Jerry Hollendorfer. She was the champion female sprinter last year and finished 12 9-2-0 with $1.2 million in earnings.

======================================
2018 Travers Stakes (Saratoga, August 25)

Probable runners per HorseRacingNation

HORSE	TRAINER
Trigger Warning	M. Rone
Seahenge	A. O'Brien
Mendelssohn	A. O'Brien
Meistermind	S. Asmussen
Good Magic	C. Brown
Tenfold	S. Asmussen
Vino Rosso	T. Pletcher
Wonder Gadot	M. Casse
Hofburg (will not run)	W. Mott
King Zachary	D. Romans
Bravazo	D. Lukas
Axelrod	M. McCarthy
Catholic Boy	J. Thomas
Gronkowski	C. Brown

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

August 19, 2018

Saratoga (New York):

• Race 7: I make no bones about using Junior Alvarado as often as possible. He is as competitive a rider as anyone. He is not shy. He is capable of bringing home prices. He is not generally among the upper echelon of riders who invariably gets to ride chalk. He is not perfect. And while today's decision wasn't shocking, it is getting more apparent the favoritism that certain riders seem to get with stewards in New York. Alvarado, on a first-time starter, was sent off at 16-to-1 (he finished second in the prior race at 18-to-1), but DQ'd from victory following a stewards' inquiry while Velazquez was elevated. As a singular event, there was cause for the ruling as Alvarado bumped another horse but the history between the two riders is documented. Not only in issues one-on-one but also when they are involved separately or here with a third party. Alvarado is not a darling of the New York stewards while Velazquez, as some have said, "runs the show." Too many examples highlighted by this year's almost near-universally condemnation in the Wood Memorial (anyone else notice the same connections then as today's DQ?) in which Velazquez remained the victor though later fined by his ride which caused many handicappers to issue distasteful comments. Not too many people thought Alvarado then would have been given that privilege had the roles been reversed. Today's decision wasn't nearly as questionable and controversial as some of the past -- those consecutive Sunday DQ's on cards within the last five years still burn -- but there seems to be bad blood between the two riders. Alvarado seemingly does not get treated similarly to others and that would be pitiful if there is a dislike for a jockey. Update, David Grening on the DRF, noticed the similarities to the Wood. Again, today's call was just but too many in the past could be called irregular.

It Justhitthe Wire DQd, Two Dozen Roses elevated to first

The stewards deemed that It Justhitthewire intereferred with Shanghai Bonnie and Two Dozen Roses to the point where a disqualification was necessary.

Two Dozen Roses ($9.40) was elevated to first with Shanghai Bonnie placed second and It Justhitthe Wire third.

Two Dozen Roses is trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez. Pletcher and Velazquez were the beneficiary of another disqualification earlier this meet when Guacamole was impeded by Super Simple in a call that was far more questionable than this one.

The irony with this DQ, which I do agree with for whatever that's worth, is the trainer and rider of It Justhitthe Wire are Kiaran McLaughlin and Junior Alvarado. Back in April, in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial, Vino Rosso, ridden by Velazquez for Pletcher, came over on and bumped with Enticed, ridden by Alvarado for McLaughlin, but after an inquiry and objection no change in the order of finish was made.​

• Jose Ortiz (3) and Irad Ortiz, Jr. (2) won five times combined in 10 races.
• Race 4: Moonlit Garden (Jose Ortiz/Christopher Davis), the latter who sent a mount to Saratoga for the first time, won the $100,000 feature race in a field of five. The trainer is in his upper 20s and has less than 20 lifetime wins. He sends horses out in Illinois and Louisiana mostly. Chris DeCarlo, in his only ride of the day, finished second at 6-to-1.
• Attendance was over 30,000.

Monmouth (New Jersey):

• An underwhelming card due to the weather which shortened many fields. Races 7 though 9 had a total of 11 runners. Pay outs were embarrassing but not unexpected. One example was a $.10 super in race 2 that paid $.92. That is not a misprint! The $.20 Pick 6 paid $98.
• Jorge Navarro tied his own personal record as he trained five winners and finished 6 5-1-0. Navarro is 25-8-4 with his last 42 starters and 162 75-23-25 (46%/76%) at the meet.
• Isaac Castillo had one ride and won. He is now 25 12-2-1 this year.

Laurel (Maryland):

• The meet ended. Jevian Toledo was the leading rider and Claudio Gonzalez the trainer with the most wins. The track takes a brief period off before resuming operations later this year.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Race 11: Little Chesney (Samy Camacho/Carlo Vaccarezza) won the $75,000 feature race. Camacho is having a breakout year. The winner paid $18.60. The rider has 303 lifetime wins, 135 which have come this year.

Ellis Park (Kentucky):

• Corey Lanerie not only won the two biggest purses but was victorious in four of five starts. He is 16 7-2-2 the last three days.
• Race 8: Seregenti Empress (Corey Lanerie/Tom Amoss) won the $75,000 purse by 13 1/2 lengths.
• Race 7: Tobacco Road (Corey Lanerie/Steve Asmussen) won the $75,000 Juvenile stakes by less than one length. It is early but this 2-year-old could be a player later in the year and into next year's three-year-old crop. He is 3 2-0-0.
• Race 3: A 107-to-1 finished third and paid $17.80 at the end.

Del Mar (California):

• Drayden Van Dyke dominated the card by winning seven times which tied a track record (Victor Espinoza in 2006). He began the day with a natural hat trick plus one in winning races 2 through 6 then ended the day with another natural hat trick in winning races 8 through 10. DVD was nearly a stupendous 8 8-0-0 but finished second to Joel Rosario in race 6 (he did not have a mount in races 1 and 7). DVD, just 23 years of age, finished 8 7-1-0. A remarkable day and when coupled with Rosario's performance yesterday at Del Mar, it was a splendid show by two talented individuals.

​

• Race 8: Catapult (Drayden Van Dyke/John Sadler) won the $200,000 Grade 2 Del Mar Mile Handicap in a large field of 13. The 5-year-old horse is 15 6-3-1 and has consecutive victories at the track after spending much of his career on the East coast with Chad Brown. There was a DQ for second place as Gary Stevens was placed second and Tyler Gaffalione dropped to third. Gaffalione, IIRC, has been DQ'd at both Saratoga and Del Mar this summer. A first?

​

• Drayden Van Dyke won for five trainers including two each for John Sadler and Michael McCarthy who were both 2-for-2 on the card.
• Drayden Van Dyke (26) led Flavien Prat (25) by one win for the meet lead following his massive effort.
• Joel Rosario 12 5-2-0 and Tyler Gaffalione 13 1-1-3, two of the East coast's top riders, have had near polar opposite success at the meet.
• Heriberto Figueroa, who is 88 17-11-7, and Asa Espinoza, who is 132 15-14-11, are among the nation's top apprentice riders.
• Mike Smith is 24 4-3-1 at the meet. He has lost his last 14 rides and has not won since July 29. This month, he has hit the board just four times on 13 rides.
• The $2 Pick 6 paid out over $31,000.
  
• From the track's web site: The track drew a record-shattering sum of more than $5 million to Sunday’s early Pick Five wagering pool, thanks to Saturday’s $785,777 carryover.

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Race 4: A 94-to-1 came in second place and paid $58.70 in the middle.
• Race 6: A 43-to-1 and 58-to-1 hit the board and were mostly responsible for a $2 trifecta that returned over $4,300. The favorite ran off the board.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

August 20, 2018 (Monday)

Saratoga (New York):

• Race 8: Junior Alvarado won two of the day's biggest purses including the $100,000 feature with the second longest shot on the board. Both wins came for trainer Jimmy Jerkens who has been victorious with his last five starters at the meet. Jerkens lost his prior 13 starts before this win streak. Alvarado hit the board with seven starters in 10 rides the last two days.

​

• Race 9: Romero Maragh made his Spa debut in the finale and all he did was bring home a 48-to-1 shot to the winner's circle which paid $98 for the victory and $42.80 for place. Maragh, who is the 18-year-old nephew of veteran rider Rajiv Maragh, is a bug rider who hones his skills at Gulfstream in Florida. The $.50 Pick 4 paid over $6,000. The $.50 Pick 5 was over $98,000.

​

• Ricardo Santana, Jr. won the first two races and finished second in the third race with the longest shot on the board. It was his first multi-win day at the meet since July 30.
  
• Irad Ortiz, Jr. (40 wins) is running away with the meet title. He has a 12-win lead over his nearest competitor Javier Castellano. Jose Ortiz is third with 26 victories. There are nine riders who have 17+ wins at the meet. Ortiz, Jr. (23%) and Castellano (20%) have the highest win percentages and Junior Alvarado, in a 3-way tie for 7th place with 17 wins, is third at 17%.
• As a side note: even with the defection of Hofburg, the Travers is shaping up to be a competitive field. NBC has a 2-hour broadcast on Saturday which starts at 4:00 pm ET.

Del Mar (California):

• Drayden Van Dyke was named Jockey of the Week in North America for his record-tying performance on Sunday.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

With approximately two-thirds of the 2018 calendar year complete, here are leaders in important categories:

Most wins, jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr. (237), Timothy Thornton (207).

Money earned, jockey: Jose Ortiz ($17,000,000+), Irad Ortiz, Jr. ($16 million+), Florent Geroux ($15 million+).

Most wins, trainer: Karl Broberg (360), Steve Asmussen (242) -- That large difference between first and second place is correct.

Money earned, trainer: Steve Asmussen ($18,000,000+), Chad Brown ($16 million+), Todd Pletcher ($13 million+), Bob Baffert ($11 million+).

Here are three leading contenders for Apprentice of the Year:

• Weston Hamilton, who rides mostly in Maryland: 622 starts, 78 wins, $2.2 million earned.
• Asa Espinoza, who rides mostly in southern Cal: 397 starts, 53 wins, $1.6 million earned.
• Heriberto Figueroa, who rides mostly in southern Cal: 255 starts, 46 wins, $1.1 million earned.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Possible Travers Stakes entries (the draw will be announced later in the week).

[TABLE="class: brtb_item_table"][TBODY][TR][TD] HORSE[/TD][TD] TRAINER[/TD][TD]JOCKEY (some not confirmed) [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Good Magic[/TD][TD]Chad Brown[/TD][TD]Jose Ortiz[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Gronkowski[/TD][TD]Chad Brown[/TD][TD]Joel Rosario[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Wonder Gadot[/TD][TD]Mark Casse[/TD][TD]Irad Ortiz, Jr.[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Vino Rosso[/TD][TD]Todd Pletcher[/TD][TD]John Velazquez[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Catholic Boy[/TD][TD]Jonathan Thomas[/TD][TD]Javier Castellano[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Bravazo[/TD][TD]D. Wayne Lukas[/TD][TD]Luis Saez[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]King Zachary[/TD][TD]Dale Romans[/TD][TD]Robbie Albarado[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Trigger Warning[/TD][TD]Mike Rone[/TD][TD]Irwin Rosendo [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Tenfold[/TD][TD]Steve Asmussen[/TD][TD]Ricardo Santana, Jr.[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Meistermind[/TD][TD]Steve Asmussen[/TD][TD]To be announced[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Mendelssohn[/TD][TD]Aidan O'Brien[/TD][TD]Ryan Moore[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Seahenge[/TD][TD]Aidan O'Brien[/TD][TD]To be announced [/TD][/TR][/TBODY][/TABLE]

==========================================================
Relive the only dead heat in 148 years of the event (2012):

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

TRAVERS STAKES

The post positions have been drawn for the Travers. The card has not been officially released. Post times and races will be verified today or tomorrow (Thursday).

What: 149th running of the Mid-Summer Derby for 3-year-olds
When: Saturday, August 25, 2018
Post Time: Approximately 5:44 p.m. ET
Where: Saratoga (NY)
Purse: $1,250,000
First post: 11:35 a.m. ET
TV: NBC, 4:00-6:00 p.m. ET (Travers Stakes, the Sword Dancer and other races)

Travers (G1) $1,250,000
Sword Dancer (G1) $1,000,000
Personal Ensign (G1) $700,000
Forego (G1) $600,000
H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) $500,000
Ballerina (G1) $500,000
Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa (G2) $400,000​

1 - Trigger Warning 30-1

Trainer: Mike Rone; Jockey Irwin Rosendo
Last 2 starts: 2nd Grade 3 Indiana Derby; 3rd Grade 3 Ohio Derby.​

2 - Wonder Gadot 5-1

Trainer: Mark Casse; Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Last 2 starts: Winner of the Queen’s Plate Stakes and Prince of Wales Stakes in Canada.​

3 - Gronkowski 4-1

Trainer: Chad Brown; Jockey: Joel Rosario
Last 2 starts: 2nd Grade 1 Belmont Stakes; Won the Burradon Stakes in England.​

4 - Bravazo 12-1

Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas; Jockey: Luis Saez
Last 2 starts: 2nd Grade 1 Haskell; 6th Grade 1 Belmont Stakes.​

5 - Vino Rosso 10-1

Trainer: Todd Pletcher; Jockey: John Velazquez
Last 2 starts: 3rd Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga; 4th Grade 1 Belmont Stakes.​

6 - Meistermind 30-1

Trainer: Steve Asmussen; Jockey: Manny Franco
Last 2 starts: Won an allowance race at Saratoga; Won maiden special weight.​

7 - King Zachary 15-1

Trainer: Dale Romans; Jockey: Robbie Albarado
Last 2 starts: 4th Grade 3 Indiana Derby; Won the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes.​

8 - Mendelsshon 12-1

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien; Jockey: Ryan Moore
Last 2 starts: 3rd Grade 3 Dwyer Stakes; 20th Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.​

9 - Good Magic 2-1

Trainer: Chad Brown; Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Last 2 starts: Won Grade 1 Haskell Invitational; 4th Grade 1 Preakness​

10 - Tenfold 10-1

Trainer: Steve Asmussen; Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.
Last 2 starts: Won the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga; 5th Grade 1 Belmont Stakes.​

11 - Catholic Boy 8-1

Trainer: Jonathan Thomas; Jockey: Javier Castellano
Last 2 starts: Won the Grade 1 Belmont Derby and Grade 3 Pennine Ridge, both on turf.
​

Source: Travers Stakes at Saratoga 2018: Post positions, odds, complete info

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

SWORD DANCER

What: Grade I. The winner gets an invite to the Bredeers' Cup Turf division as part of the "Win and You're In" Series.
Where: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY
When: Saturday, August 25, 2018, Race 10
Post time: 4:49 p.m. Eastern Time
Who: 3-year-olds and up
Distance: 1 1/2 mile
Surface: Inner turf
Purse: $1,000,000
History: Inaugurated in 1975
Television: Part of the BC broadcast from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. ET
Preview: Spring Quality Seeks More Grade 1 Glory in Sword Dancer - BloodHorse
Note: New York has approximately $5.5 million in purse money this card. First race goes off at 11:35 a.m. ET. The 13th and final race is scheduled to be run at 6:54 p.m. ET. That is a looooonnnnnng day.
​

PP	Horse (location bred)	Jockey	Wgt.	Trainer
1	Glorious Empire (IRE)	Julien R. Leparoux	120	James L. Lawrence, II
2	Spring Quality (PA)	Edgar S. Prado	124	H. Graham Motion
3	Funtastic (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	124	Chad C. Brown
4	Hi Happy (ARG)	John R. Velazquez	124	Todd A. Pletcher
5	Highland Sky (KY)	Manuel Franco	116	Barclay Tagg
6	Bigger Picture (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	122	Michael J. Maker
7	Channel Maker (ON)	Joel Rosario	120	William I. Mott
8	Seahenge (KY)	Wayne Lordan	112	Aidan P. O'Brien
9	Revved Up (KY)	Junior Alvarado	116	Jorge R. Abreu
10	Sadler's Joy (KY)	Javier Castellano	122	Thomas Albertrani

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

August 22, 2018

Saratoga (New York):

• Jose Ortiz and Javier Castellano, two of the three winningest riders at the meet, won twice.
• Race 9: Focus Group (Jose Ortiz/Chad Brown) won the $100,000 feature race. Irad Ortiz, Jr. was DQ'd from 2nd to 4th. A 37-to-1 was elevated to second.
• Race 10: Alejandro Maymo upped his meet mark to 4 2-0-1. He trains at Finger Lakes.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Emisael Jaramillo was 5 4-1-0. Four wins on a card is almost always impressive.
• Tony Maragh was suspended 60 days and fined by the Gulfstream stewards for this ride in race 4 on Sunday. Maragh, who has only 54 rides in 2018, rode for his uncle Aubrey. They are related to Rajiv Maragh and others in the game. This looks awful for the jockey (#7).

​

Del Mar (California):

• Drayden Van Dyke won his first two rides. He ended the day 11 9-2-0. a marvelous streak highlighted by his 7-for-8 mark on Sunday.
• Dabster (Joe Talamo/Bob Baffert) won the $75,000 feature race in a reduced field of four. It was his first stakes win in 8 lifetime races. Soi Phet, a 10-year-old who has earned over $1,000,000, finished last in the field of four in his 60th ace.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

August 23, 2018

Saratoga (New York):

• Race 10: Jose Lezcano wired the field with the second longest price on the board at 12-to-1. Prior to the win, the #2 was the only horse singled among possible winning tickets entering the finale. And then it happened. The $2 Pick 6 paid out over $48,000. Right now, someone's favorite jockey is Jose Lezcano. And why not, the jockey has always had the reputation for being a strong turf rider. The $.50 Pick 5 was over $7,000. No jockey or trainer repeated a win today.
• Race 9: The Ortiz brothers finished 1-2 in the $100,000 feature race.
• Race 8: Mike Luzzi, in his only ride of the day, nearly wired the field with an 11-to-1 shot. He was caught by Javier Castellano in the deep stretch. Luzzi paid over $11 for place.
• Race 7: Awesome finish by Joel Rosario to win.
• Race 6: David Cohen rode a 7-to-1 colt who made his dirt debut after a lifetime mark of 0-for-2 on turf.
• Race 5: Kendrick Carmouche topped a $2 exacta that paid over $430. The $2 Pick 5 paid over $10,000.
• Race 4: Joe Bravo brought home the favorite with one of his two rides.
• Race 3: Ricardo Santana. Jr. won. Junior Alvarado placed at 15-to-1.
• Race 2: Junior Alvarado won one of his three rides.
• Race 1: Hurdles.
• Attendance was over $26,000. Handle was over $12,000,000.
• John Velazquez is 0-1-4 in his last 12 rides.

Monmouth (New Jersey):

• Race 3: 10 of the 14 horses entered were scratched.

Delaware Park (Delaware):

• Race 1: If there was ever such a thing as a hunch play for me, the opener was won by Josey Wales.
• Race 5: 8 of the 12 entered were scratched.

Belterra (Ohio):

• Race 8: A $119.80 winner that paid $38.20 in the middle. The tri was over $1,800. The $2 Pick 3 paid in excess of $3,100.

Arlington (Illinois):

• Race 5: The $2 Pick 5 paid over $38,000.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Edgard Zayas scored a natural hat trick starting with race 3. He was 5 3-0-2.

Del Mar (California):

• Race 8: The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $16,000.

Golden Gate (California):

• Opened its meet today.

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

According to Equibase, Javier Castellano has 4,956 wins and John Velazquez has 5,959 victories. The two could reach enormous milestones later this year.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Future wagering is now available for two Breeders' Cup races. Many of these horses will not be entered in the indicated race but that is the risk of a future proposition.

The field, listed in alphabetical order, with program numbers and morning-line odds for the Breeders' Cup Classic Future Wager #1, is as follows:

Number	Horse	Odds
1	Accelerate	4-1
2	Blended Citizen	50-1
3	Bravazo	30-1
4	Catalina Cruiser	15-1
5	Catholic Boy	50-1
6	Collected	12-1
7	Diversify	5-1
8	Draft Pick	50-1
9	Good Magic	12-1
10	Gronkowski	12-1
11	Gunnevera	15-1
12	Hofburg	30-1
13	McKinzie	30-1
14	Mendelssohn	30-1
15	Mind Your Biscuits	30-1
16	Monomoy Girl (f)	30-1
17	Pavel	30-1
18	Saxon Warrior (JPN)	30-1
19	Tenfold	50-1
20	Thunder Snow (IRE)	12-1
21	Toast of New York	30-1
22	Vino Rosso	30-1
23	West Coast	9-2
24	All others	50-1

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

The field, listed in alphabetical order, with program numbers and morning-line odds for the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Future Wager, is as follows:

Number	Horse	Odds
1	Abel Tasman	4-1
2	Berned	50-1
3	Blue Prize (ARG)	30-1
4	Chocolate Martini	50-1
5	Coach Rocks	50-1
6	Dream Tree	15-1
7	Elate	6-1
8	Eskimo Kisses	8-1
9	Farrell	30-1
10	Gamble's Ghost	50-1
11	Ivy Bell	30-1
12	La Force (GER)	12-1
13	Midnight Bisou	15-1
14	Monomoy Girl	7-2
15	Mopotism	50-1
16	My Miss Lilly	50-1
17	Road to Victory	50-1
18	She's a Julie	50-1
19	Sinfonia Fantastica (ARG)	50-1
20	Talk Veuve to Me	30-1
21	Thirteen Squared	50-1
22	Unbridled Mo	SCR
23	Wonder Gadot	5-1
24	All others	50-1

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

August 24, 2018

Saratoga (New York):

• A good day for the Spa, great weather, superior card to handicap. Ten of the 11 races had purses of $75,000 or more. Six races were $150,000 or more.
• All horses throughout the card were bred in New York state.
• The total handle approached $20,000,000.
• Races 1 and 2: Kendrick Carmouche was the winning rider including the opener as a replacement for Wilmer Garcia. The opener, otherwise, had strong New Jersey ties with the winning horse having run at Monmouth both prior starts and for trainer Russell Cash who won for the 4th time in 175 starts the last two years.
• Race 3: Sea Foam (Joel Rosario/Christophe Clement) was the victor in the day's highest purse at $250,000.

​

• Race 4: John Velazquez ended his 14-race skid with a victory.
• Race 5: Dugout (Javier Castellano/Larry Rivelli) won the $200,000 purse.
• Race 6: Colonel Tom (Dylan Davis/George Weaver) wired the field at 4-to-1 in a very impressive performance. He is 4 3-0-0 lifetime. A ceremony in between the 5th and 6th races held to honor Bob Baffert who was named to the Walk of Fame.
• Race 7: The favorite was a late scratch after busting through the gate. The eventual winner was ridden by Andre Worrie who tasted his first win at the meet. The purse was worth $200,000.
• Race 8: La Moneda (Junior Alvarado/Thomas Morley) improved to 9 6-0-0 and won for the fourth straight time in the $150,000 race for fillies and mares on turf.

​

• Race 9: English Soul (Manny Franco/Raymond Handal) won the $200,000 purse.
• Race 10: Kharafa (Dylan Davis/Timothy Hills), who has earned over $1.23 million, won for the 13th time in his 50th start. The 9-year-old was on an 11-race losing streak and had not won since September 2016. Davis picked up his second win, one of two riders with multiple victories today. Hills doesn't send out many starters but is 3-1-0 with his last four.
• Race 11: George Weaver won for the second time. He was the lone trainer with two wins. The $2 pick 6 was hit for $54,000+ after Eric Cancel won on board the favorite.
• Irad Ortiz, Jr. (40) leads Javier Castellano (32) as the winningest rider at the meet.
• Chad Brown (33) leads Todd Pletcher (16) as the winningest trainer at the meet. By my count, 122 trainers have won at the meet which is a number that seems high compared to recent years.

Monmouth (New Jersey):

• Jorge Navarro entered two horses in each of two races and won both. His incredible record in 2018 is 366 138-58-51 (38%/67%). At the meet, he is 166 77-24-25 (46%/76%).
• Jason Servis is 47%/76% at the meet with 34 wins among his 72 starters.
• Race 7: Strange circumstances when Paco Lopez was tossed approaching the stretch and in the lead. Lopez is scheduled to ride at Del Mar on Saturday.

Timonium (Maryland):

• Began its meet through September 3. Laurel takes a vacation until reopening September 8.
• Races 4-5: Erin Walker-Gerald Brooks teamed for consecutive wins.
• Race 7: Gerald Almodovar won for the 2,000th time aboard a 16-to-1 who was the longest shot on the board. The rider is based at Charles Town in West Virginia but has had success at Timonium.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Race 3: Tyler Gaffalione won his second consecutive race of the day. The favorite finished last of seven. The longest shot on the board finished second at 16-to-1. The $2 exacta was $111.80. Kudos to anyone who had the Gaffalione/Todd Pletcher-all exacta. That is a helluva payout for a field of seven.
• Race 10: Four horses were singled in the finale. If any of those four won, the $.20 Pick 6 jacpot would be nailed. And so it happened when the #12 at 2-to-1 was the victor and someone collected a winning ticket for more than $165,639.77. The $,50 Pick 5 was hit for over $17,000. Samy Camacho ride the winner and Sarah Nagle, who is 3 2-0-0 at the meet, the listed current trainer replacing Reid Nagle.

​

Canterbury (Minnesota):

• Race 6: The three longest shots on the board made the top three. A $59.80 winner. The show prices were $11.40, $10.80 and $7.40. The favorite finished sixth.
• Race 8: The $2 pick 4 paid over $17,000.

Remington (Oklahoma):

• Race 8: The top four were 9-to-1, 71-1, 33-1 and 43-1 in the $100,000 feature race. The favorite with the connections of Florent Geroux/Brad Cox finished 8th out of 10th. It was Geroux's lone ride of the day. The $,50 tri was over $2,700. The $2 exacta was $921.20.

Del Mar (California):

• Race 8: The $2 Pick 6 was hit for $224,035.80.
• Race 7: Shenandoah Queen (Tyler Baze/John Sadler) won the $75,000 feature race and snapped an 8-race losing streak, though six were in graded stakes, with her last win almost exactly one year ago on August 25, 2017. Vale Dori (Drayden Van Dyke/Bob Baffert) came in second place and now sports a lifetime mark of 20 9-6-2 but has failed to win in six straight.
• No trainer or jockey won more than once.
• Drayden Van Dyke (28) leads Flavien Prat (26) as the winningest rider at the meet.
• Peter Miller (24) leads Doug O'Neill (15) as the winningest trainer at the meet.

Hastings (British Columbia):

• Aaron Gryder won five consecutive races, with just one favorite, en route to a 6 5-0-1 day. Oddly, his day began with a last place finish on board the favorite in a field of three.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Parx has been dark since August 7 but reopens with a card that should not be overlooked among the excellent racing offered today.

SMARTY JONES STAKES

What: Grade III
Where: Parx Racing, Bensalem, PA
When: Saturday, August 25, 2018, Race 8
Post time: 4:18 p.m. Eastern Time
Who: 3-year-olds
Distance: 1 1/16 mile
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $300,000
History: Inaugurated in 2010. Named after the wonderful colt that should have won the Triple Crown in 2004, Smarty Jones finished 9 8-1-0 and earned over $7,000,000. He began his career at the facility formerly known as Philadelphia Park.
Stream: parx racing - live racing​

[TR][TH]PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	First Mondays (MD)	Joshua Navarro	119	John C. Servis	5/1
2	Cowboy Night (KY)	Jomar Garcia	117	Michael Charles Aro	20/1
3	Wait for It (PA)	Mychel J. Sanchez	117	Edward J. Coletti, Jr.	12/1
4	Title Ready (KY)	Kendrick Carmouche	117	Steven M. Asmussen	4/1
5	Diamond King (KY)	Frankie Pennington	124	John C. Servis	8/1
6	Transistor (FL)	Luis A. Rodriguez Castro	117	Rudy R. Rodriguez	15/1
7	Flameaway (ON)	Jose Lezcano	124	Mark E. Casse	2/1
8	Axelrod (FL)	Joe Bravo	124	Michael W. McCarthy	3/1

[TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY][/TH][/TR][/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

August 25, 2018

Saratoga (New York):

• An entertaining day which began before 11:30 a.m. and ended just after 7:00 p.m. The 13-race card had 12 with purses of $77,000+ and seven with purses at $400,000 or more. Seven graded stakes races included six Grade I.
• All-sources handle a record $52,086,597 which beat the previous mark of $49,668,754 (2015). The lousy weather that hovered throughout this meet took a backseat today.
• Race 6: Promises Fulfilled (Luis Saez/Dale Romans) improved to 9 5-0-2 with a victory in the $500,000 Grade I Jerkens. The winner paid $4.50.
• Race 7: Abel Tasman (Mike Smith/Bob Baffert) improved to 14 8-4-0 including 2-for-2 at the Spa with a victory in the $700,000 Grade I Personal Ensign Stakes. The winner received an invitation to the Breeders' Cup Distaff. The winner withstood an objection by rider Jose Ortiz after bumping in the stretch which involved a photo finish. Smith was sent off at 3-to-5.

​

• Race 8: Marley's Freedom (Mike Smith/Bob Baffert) improved to 12 6-2-0 in winning the $500,000 Grade I Ballerina by more than three lengths. The winner received an invitation to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
• Race 9: Whitmore (Ricardo Santana, Jr./Ron Moquett) paid $19.60 in winning the $600,000 Grade I Forego. Whitmore received an invitation to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. He is 22 11-5-2 and is just $9,000 away from being a $2,000,000 earner. Whitmore, who ran in the 2016 Kentucky Derby, won a Grade I for the first time in his fourth try.
• Race 10: Glorious Empire (Julian Leparoux/James Lawrence), an Irish-bred, wired the field in winning the $1,000,000 Grade I Sword Dancer. The winner was sent off at 15-to-1 and paid $33.40. The 7-year-old gelding was out for the 23rd time, received an automatic invitation to the Breeders' Cup Turf race and got a 106 Beyer figure which was the highest issued on the card. Leparoux has struggled at the meet with a 70 3-9-8 mark. Lawrence is 5 2-2-0 at the meet and though he has been training since the 1980s won a Grade I for the first time.

​

• Race 11: Catholic Boy (Javier Castellano/Jonathan Thomas) impressed many in winning the $1,250,000 Travers Stakes. My bet of the day and at 7-to-1 was a godsend. The outside post may have prevented some handicappers but I considered it an advantage due to the distance of 1 1/4 mile and more so trusting Castellano and his knowledge of the track. Castellano won this race for a record 6th time including five times since 2010. Catholic Boy, who is 9 6-1-0 lifetime, was 5 4-0-0 on turf and that could have been another reason bettors shied away. He paid $16.20 to win. The $1 exacta was $145.25 with 13-to-1 Mendelssohn (Ryan Moore/Aidan O'Brien) who had earlier success in Europe but debuted in the U.S. to a 20th place finish in this year's Kentucky Derby. The $1 Pick 3 was over $1,400. The $.50 Pick 5 was over $6,000. The $2 Pick 6 was over $55,000. I used Catholic Boy in losing exactas with the favorite Good Magic who was a flop and finished ninth and with Bravazo who finished third. Much was made of Wonder Gadot who won the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown and avoided the attempt at the third leg in order to run here but the only filly in the race finished last in a field of 10. I never considered her or gave much serious consideration to Gronkowski who finished 8th at 3-to-1.

​

• Race 12: Quidura (Jose Ortiz/Chad Brown), a Great Britain-bred, improved to 11 5-3-1 after winning the $400,000 Grade II Balston Spa. Three of the six horses entered were trained by Brown. Five of the six were bred in Europe and the favorite was a failure at 4-to-5.
• Race 13: Joel Rosario had one of the best rides of the day when he finished as if he was shot from a cannon. David Cohen finished second at 29-to-1.
• David Cohen had an interesting day. While he failed to win in all six of his rides, he was 6 0-4-0. His place finishes went like this: 20-1, $11.60; 12-1 $11.60; 9-to-1, $7.40; 29-1 $29.20.
• Brian Hernandez, Jr., Manny Franco and Mike Smith each won twice. Hernandez, who is 8 3-0-0 at the meet and generally rides in the Midwest, is an underrated rider. Smith is 4 2-1-1 at the meet and was a perfect 2-for-2 today. Franco is a New York regular.
• Irad Ortiz, Jr., the winningest rider at the meet with 40 victories, had an awful day. He finished 12 0-2-3. He has zero wins in his last 33 rides. An incomprehensible skid, he last won August 20.
• Highest winning percentages: The top three riders among those with 20+ wins: Javier Castellano (21%, 33 wins), Irad Ortiz, Jr. (19%, 40 wins) and Junior Alvarado (17%, 20 wins). Alvarado, who has been riding since 2007 in North America, is having arguably a career-best year.
• John Velazquez was 7 0-1-1 and enters Sunday with just 1 win in his last 24 starts.
• Bob Baffert was the lone trainer to strike more than once. He is now 3 2-0-0 at the meet.
• Chad Brown had a tough day going 12 1-0-2. He has one win in his last 18 starts at the meet. Saratoga has a certain reputation for a reason.

Monmouth (New Jersey):

• Trevor McCarthy won three times and finished 6 3-2-0. Oddly, it was his mount for Jorge Navarro that missed the board.

Parx (Pennsylvania):

• Race 8: Axelrod (Joe Bravo/Michael McCarthy) trounced the competition and won the $300,000 Grade 3 Smarty Jones. The 3-year-old Florida-bred was sent off at 4-to-1. He ran his first seven races in California before winning the Indiana Derby last month. Axelrod is 9 4-1-1 lifetime. Next up is the Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 22. Joe Bravo: Have whip, will travel!
• Race 7: Aztec Sense (Kendrick Carmouche/Jorge Navarro) won the $100,000 President's Cup. The combo of Carmouche and Navarro finished 3 2-1-0.
• The track conducted live racing for the first time since August 7.

Timonium (Maryland):

• A tough meet to handicap some of which is due to the dimensions of the track. The short meet is a fair. Still, it offers something different.
• Race 10: The finale was a doozy. The $2 tri paid a massive $15,155,40. The $2 Pick 4 paid over $7,500.

Ellis Park (Kentucky):

• Race 5: The $2 Pick 3 paid over $6,000, three straight $20+ winners. The $2 Pick 4 paid over $24,000.
• Race 4: The $2 Pick 3 was an amazing $7,648.
• James Graham won three times on eight mounts.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Race 7: The tag team of 97-year-old trainer Jerry Bozzo and 66-year-old jockey Gary Bain showed and paid $17.20. Second time this year they hit the board if memory serves correctly. Bozzo, who was born in October 1920, won earlier this year and became the oldest trainer in the 100+ years of horse racing in North America. Awesome story!
• Race 11: I am unfamiliar with all the Maragh family members and their relationships. There are multiple family members in the business. Last week Tony Maragh, who is the cousin to the best known Rajiv Maragh, was suspended 60 days for failing to ride competitively and the trainer, his uncle Aubrey, was temporarily suspended while further investigation continues. In today's feature race, the winner was Mo Cash (Miguel Vasquez/Ricko Maragh) and the trainer has no known record in North America prior to this win nor has any mention of his relationship to the suspended trainer been recognized in the usual forums.

Arlington (Illinois):

• Jose Valdivia, Jr. won three times in seven starts and boosted his meet lead to 13 with 82 victories.
• Larry Rivelli was a perfect 2-for-2. The trainer is 32% and is dominating the meet with 59 victories, 38 more than his closest competitor.

Evangeline (Louisiana):

• Race 1: The $1 super was over $25,000. The $2 exacta was over $600.
• Race 4: The $.50 Pick 4 paid over $7,400.

Del Mar (California):

• Race 3: Tatters to Riches (Tyler Baze/Jeff Mullins) won the $100,000 Shared Belief for 3-year-olds. The colt is 4 3-0-0.and won for the second time this month after an 11-month layoff. His only loss was in his second race, the Grade I Del Mar Futurity. Then he was sidelined with ankle chips. He was tested at one mile in this race and prevailed. The horse was purchased for $1,000,000 in 2017 at the Ocala sale. he may be on the road to future stardom, certainly has high expectations.
• Race 5: A $145.80 winner who paid $51.20 for place. The $2 exacta returned $935.70. The $2 tri returned over $6,500. The $1 super paid over $25k. The $2 double was a remarkable $3,398.20. The $2 Pick 3 paid over $3,700. The $2 Pick 4 paid over $24,000. The $2 Pick 5 paid an exhilarating $173,038.20....to anyone who hit it. Ruben Fuentes, the winning rider, has won three of his last five mounts including two at 24-to-1 or better.
• Race 7: Catalina Cruiser (Drayden Van Dyke/John Sadler) won the $200,000 Grade 2 Pat O'Brien at 1-to-5 by more than seven lengths in a field of four. The winner got an invitation to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. From post-race analysis, the young rider said "He might be the best I've been on."
• Race 10: Someone nailed the $2 Pick 6 for $130,850. It marked the second consecutive day and the seventh time at this meet that the Pick 6 was hit by one bettor that day. What a day of racing! Absolutely shocking payouts.
• Drayden Van Dyke added two more wins to his meet lead. He leads Flavien Prat by four (30-26).
• John Sadler has trained winners in the last five cards. He is 8-5-2 with his last 20 starters at the meet.
• Leading trainers: Peter Miller (24), Doug O'Neill (16), John Sadler (14) and Jerry Hollendorfer (14).

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Race 8: Mr. Havercamp (Eurico da Silva/Catherine Day Phillips) won the $175,000 Grade II Play the King as the 4-to-5 favorite. The Ontario-bred is 9 6-0-0 lifetime. A 54-to-1 came in second, the longest shot on the board.
• Race 6: My Gal Betty (Rafael Hernandez/Roger Attfield) won the $100,000 Catch A Glimpse.

Northlands (Alberta):

• Race 12: Sky Promise, sent off the favorite, won the $200,000 Canadian Derby Stakes.

Notes:

• Bob Baffert was 4 3-1-0 today combined at Saratoga and Del Mar.
• Jorge Navarro was 5 3-1-0 today across three tracks but winless at Monmouth in one start.

A recap of the past few days of racing and the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" invitations. The full list is within post #1 of this thread.

8/22	York	Juddmonte International	Roaring Lion	Turf
8/23	York	Yorkshire Oaks	Sea of Class	Filly & Mare Turf
8/24	York	Nunthorpe Stakes	Alpha Delphini	Turf Sprint
8/25	Saratoga	Sword Dancer	Glorious Empire	Turf
8/25	Saratoga	Personal Ensign	Abel Tasman	Distaff
8/25	Saratoga	Ballerina	Marley's Freedom	Filly & Mare Sprint
8/25	Saratoga	Forego	Whitmore	Dirt Mile
8/25	Del Mar	Pat O'Brien Stakes	Catalina Cruiser	Dirt Mile

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

One of the great stories in recent years. Page McKenney was such a successful claimer, among the best ever. And now he is retired due to a tendon injury.

'Amazing Run' Ends for Fan Favorite Page McKenney - BloodHorse

(Mary) Eppler claimed Page McKenney on behalf of Staple for $16,000 in July 2013 at Penn National Race Course. Together they won 21 races, nine of them at Pimlico or Laurel Park, and Staple later sold an interest in the horse back to Bryant.

Page McKenney ended his career with 22 wins, 16 seconds, and five thirds from 58 starts and purse earnings of $1,905,940. In his last race, he finished third in the July 29 Monmouth Cup Stakes (G3), after which he developed filling in the same leg he had issue with following a runner-up finish in the 2016 Charles Town Classic Stakes (G2).​

 

[Orr Fourever]

I had no luck yesterday. I just had the Ishuddas...

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

August 26, 2018

Saratoga (New York):

• The track handled over $17, 000,000. That is roughly $70,000,000 in two days of racing.
• Irad Ortiz, Jr., whose losing skid reached 34 mounts, and Manny Franco both won three times.
• Race 10: The $1 super paid over $40,000.
• Race 9: Chanteline (Ricardo Santana, Jr./Steve Asmussen) won the $100,000 feature race.
• Race 6: A long look from a stewards' inquiry DQ'd Dylan Davis for Irad Ortiz, Jr. The decision didn't sit too well with many viewers and not those on the losing end of the decision but that is not unexpected. I thought it was borderline but would have been in favor of leaving the original finish in place. Davis rode a fantastic race.

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• Race 2: Irad Ortiz, Jr. ended his losing skid at 34. Trainer Wesley Ward excels with 2-year-olds.
• Race 1: A thrilling opener in which Joel Rosario flew from the back of the pack yet again and caught Junior Alvarado prior to the wire in a terrific effort from both riders. Gary Contessa trained both horses. Both offered good betting value.
• Jose Ortiz hit the board five times in six winless starts (6 0-3-2). He has won just once in his last 26 rides.
• David Cohen has won just twice in 46 rides since August 13. However, he hit the board with another bomb today, similar to yesterday, when a 76-to-1 made third in Race 7.
• John Velazquez has just one win in his last 28 starts. He has failed to hit the board in 12 of 14 starts since his last victory.
• Javier Castellano has won just once, the travers Stakes, in his last 15 starts. He has hit the board just four times in that period (15 1-2-1).
• Chad Brown (34) leads Todd Pletcher (16) on top the victory standings for trainers.

Monmouth (New Jersey):

• Jose Ferrer won four times including a natural hat trick and also won two of the card's stakes races. Albin Jimenez also had three wins. They combined to win 7 of the 10 races.
• Jorge Navarro had a rare day of mediocracy. He was 8 1-2-1. He has won just once with his last 10 starters at the meet.

Timonium (Maryland):

• Race 5: Ashley Castrenze improved to 5-2-1 in her last 12 rides in Maryland. She picked up the ride and with a first-time starter. Anytime Castrenze wins, sunshine, rainbows and lollipops instantly appear.
• No jockey or trainer repeated victory today.
• Angel Cruz (4) and Erin Walker (3) have the most wins among riders in the short meet.
• Gerald Brooks (3) and Wayne Potts (2) have the most wins among trainers in the short meet.

Mountaineer (West Virginia):

• Through tonight, the leading trainers are Eddie Clouston (36 wins) and Jay Bernardini (34).
• Jay Bernardini had an odd night. He had two horses entered in both the first and second races, his only action of the evening. He finished second-to-last and last in a 10-horse field in the opener then finished 1st and 2nd in the next race.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Race 5: This race had it all. An inquiry, an objection, a photo finish, multiple rulings and..after all that... a dead heat.

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• Race 9: The winning trainer was Monica McGoey who won a race for the first time in her second career start. It seems based on cursory research that she maintains a stable in the area.
• Tyler Gaffalione (42), Emisael Jaramillo (36) and Samy Camacho (31) form the top three winningest riders at the meet. Camacho continues his bust-out year.
• Armando De La Cerda leads all trainers with 18 wins at the meet.

Ellis Park (Kentucky):

• Live racing was canceled due to a water main break.

Arlington (Illinois):

• Jose Lopez was 3-for-3. Sophie Doyle also won three times. Three trainers won twice apiece.

Del Mar (California):

• Trainer Peter Miller won four times among five starters. He is 14 7-2-2 since August 22.
• Flavien Prat (3) and Drayden Van Dyke (3) rode six of the ten winners with three apiece.
• Drayden Van Dyke has won his last three graded stakes races and is 14-5-4 with his last 34 starters. Van Dyke has had multiple winners four times on the last six cards.
• John Sadler has trained winners on six straight cards and is 9-6-2 with his last 22 starters. He has also won the last five graded stakes races in which he has been entered which outstanding.
• Race 9: True Royalty (Drayden Van Dyke/John Sadler) paid $19.20 in winning the $100,000 Grade 3 Torrey Pines.

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Woodbine (Ontario):

• Race 10: Code Warrior (Jesse Campbell/Micahel DePaulo) won the $125,000 Grade 3 Seaway.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

I had no luck yesterday. I just had the Ishuddas...

Saratoga had a spectacular card Saturday. Much talent. I was high on the 11 in the Travers but there were other opportunities that didn't work as well. Joe Bravo in the Smarty Jones at Parx was a saver. Great day of racing, however.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday's Grade I Woodward and its $750,000 purse could have as many as three runners from the Todd Pletcher barn. Tapwrit and Patch are confirmed and Rally Cry is possible. I assume the competition will include Gunnevera. From the NYRA home page, this is a true Who's Who in racing but Gun Runner could very easily be on that list and others such as Ghostzapper. Holy Bull, Easy Goer and Alysheba. Not a bad group of B-listers. A great race for 3-year-olds and up.

First run in 1954, the Woodward has been won by equine greats such as Sword Dancer, Kelso, Forego, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Cigar, Curlin, and Rachel Alexandra. In addition, Spectacular Bid won the 1980 race in a walkover when no one was willing to face him.
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And the rare walkover from 1980 with Spectacular Bid had no takers.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

August 27, 2018

Saratoga (New York):

• Race 7: Blue Belt (Junior Alvarado/Rudy Rodriguez) wired the field at 50-to-1. He is 18 5-1-4 lifetime and raced at Saratoga for the first time. The win paid $103.50 and was the largest victory to date at the Spa. The $1 Pick 3 paid $2,528.50. Alvarado is having an overlooked meet and perhaps his most productive year. How many times in 155 years of racing has a 50-to-1 wired the field at Saratoga? Maybe a question that has no answer. Junior!
• Race 8: Rose's Vision (Jose Ortiz/Stuart Simon) shipped in from Woodbine and won the $100,000 feature race. Third win in 12 races. Simon has been training since the early 1980s. Another turf win for Artie Schiller who developed into a good grass sire. The $1 Pick 3 paid over $2,300.
• Race 9: The $1 Pick 3 paid $3,400+. The $.50 Pick 4 paid $6,300+. The $.50 Pick 5 paid $56,000+.
• Jose Ortiz (3) and his brother Irad (2) combined to win 5 of the 9 races.
• Irad Ortiz, Jr. ended his 34-race losing streak yesterday. Beginning with the win that snapped the skid, he is 14 5-2-2.
• David Cohen has won just twice in 50 rides since August 13.
• John Velazquez won the opener but has just two wins in his last 32 starts. He has failed to hit the board in 15 of 18 starts.
• Javier Castellano has won just once, the Travers Stakes, in his last 20 starts. He has hit the board just six times in that period (20 1-4-1).

Finger Lakes (New York):

• Race 9: The Beacon Hill Handicap for Massachusetts breds had a field of seven including four trained by Dylan Clarke who won and also had the place finisher. Each horse had entered following Suffolk Downs' (Mass.) most recent weekend of racing in August.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

August 28, 2018

• A typical light Tuesday with many tracks dark.
• Saratoga reopens Wednesday. The track is down to its final six days of the racing year with Labor Day, Monday, the finale.
• Aaron Gryder, for his 6 5-0-1 night at Hastings (British Columbia) Friday, was named the North American Jockey of the Week by the Jockeys Guild. I don't recall the last rider from Hastings to receive the honor. Gryder won five straight races -- two through six -- including three stakes races after finishing third in the opener. He, of course, has a detailed past which includes over 3,800 wins in nearly 30,000 starts and riding titles in Kentucky, New York, California and Illinois. This is a remarkable feat at any track and the accolades are deserving. He was 7-for-10 overall during the week.

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