MiamiScreamingEagles
Global Moderator
- Jan 17, 2004
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Saturday, January 27, 2024
Aqueduct (New York):
Santa Anita (California):
- California Crown: September 28 will be the inaugural edition of what is teased to be a Pegasus style day of racing at Santa Anita. Much depends on how the simulcast money in California, a complex issue as to how it pertains to the north and south. Details have yet to be finalized but with Stronach opting to close Golden Gate in order to strengthen Santa Anita, then this announcement in the past 24 hours had to be part of the conceived result. Northern Cal dates have yet to be finalized for a portion of 2024 once GGF is shut which could happen in June.
“Pegasus is here in Miami. It’s very Miami-centric. It’s part of the cultural fabric of Miami now and a must-attend event,” Stronach said. “We want to do the same thing at Santa Anita. We have the most gorgeous venue built in 1934, and it doesn’t have a marquee, special-event date. So we are launching California Crown. It’ll be the richest day of racing in California, and we’re doing it with amazing partners.”
Aqueduct (New York):
- Kendrick Carmouche rode four winners including the final three races.
- PEGASUS CARD HANDLE: Record $47.3 million wagered.
- Card: Seven of the 13 races were graded stakes.
- Race 13: National Treasure (Flavien Prat/Bob Baffert) was sent off the favorite and won the Grade I $3,000,000 Pegasus World Cup Invitational by a neck over hard-charging Senor Buscador (Junior Alvarado/Todd Fincher) who was bet down from a 20-to-1 m/l to 8-to-1.
- Race 12: Warm Heart (Ryan Moore/Aidan O'Brien) set a course record in winning the Grade I $1,000,000 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational. The lone filly in the race was out for the second time in the US in 11 lifetime starts. European connections succeeded.
- Race 11: Tumbarumba (Luis Saez/Brian Lynch) won the Grade 3 $150,000 Fred W. Hooper Stakes at 8-to-1 by a nose. Among the defeated was fourth place finisher Hejazi (Flavien Prat/Bob Baffert), a $3.5 million purchase who has earned approximately $300,000 in nine starts. The New York foal was the highest purchase price in the state of Maryland when bought at public auction.
- Irad Ortiz, Jr. rode five winners. He was named 2023 Eclipse award winning jockey of the year at ceremonies earlier this week. Too early to give him 2024 Jockey of the Year?
- Race 11: Dynadrive (Reylu Gutierrez/Michael Maker) won the Grade 3 $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup.
- Race 10: Bellamore (Stewart Elliott/Steve Asmussen) won the Grade 3 $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic by a neck over Free Like a Girl (Freddy Manrique/Chasey Pomier) who is a past winner as Louisiana-bred Horse of the Year.
Santa Anita (California):
- Race 8: Newgrange (Victor Espinoza/Phil D'Amato) won the Grade 2 $200,000 San Pasqual.
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