Horse Racing: Del Mar (CA) and Churchill Downs (KY) meets end; Oaklawn (AR) opens Friday; Aqueduct's (NY) card filled with graded stakes (Dec. 7)

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, November 24, 2024

Aqueduct (New York):

• Manny Franco won five times in six mounts. He hit the board with all five rides in Friday though winless. He gets some of the top mounts in NY but an 11 5-3-3 two-day mark will pay some bills.

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Jockey injuries from the spill late last week:
  • Edgar Zenteno suffered a broken shoulder and neck bone.
  • Justin Stein suffered three fractured vertebrae (mid-spine) and ribs.
  • De-Sean Gaskin was also examined but specific injuries weren't mentioned.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Gulfstream Park (FL):

• Opening Day: Thanksgiving Day is Thursday and also opening day to the annually anticipated Championship Meet in south Florida. Gulf's card starts at 11:15 am ET and ends with a final post scheduled at 2:40 pm ET. The Sunshine Meet ended Sunday (yesterday).
• Dylan Davis, as discussed a few days ago, has been exceptional in New York the last few months but now he has opted to ride in Gulf for the first three months of 2025. He has verbal commitments from top trainers such as Saffie Joseph, Chad Brown, Christopher Clement, Michael Maker and others.
• Edwin Gonzalez was top jockey at the now-closed Sunshine Meet which ended yesterday. His first title at Gulf was won by one victory over Edgard Zayas.
• Saffie Joseph won his 11th straight Sunshine title as top trainer.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The state of Wyoming will introduce its first mile-long race track in August 2025 with everything from breeding to simulcast facilities involved. The Stronach Group (Gulfstream, Santa Anita, etc.) is involved. The signal will be shipped as well. That part of the country lacks significant racing parimutuel interests. Hopefully it succeeds.

Per Bloodhore:
The track, located 10 miles east of Cheyenne at Thunder Plains Park, will host its inaugural race day on Friday, August 1, 2025, with additional race days to follow on August 2, 3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, 29-31 and September 1. Dates are subject to change per the Wyoming Gaming Commission.

Per WyomingNewsNow.cvm:

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Friday at Churchill Downs:

Race 10 Mrs. Revere S. (Grade II)

POST Time - 5:18 PM ET​

• Purse $300,000.
• One And One Sixteenth Miles. (Turf) (Rail at 24 Feet) (Includes $50,000 – KTDF - Kentucky TB Devt Fund).
• For Fillies, Three Years Old.

P#	PP	Horse	A/S	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1	Dancing N Dixie (FL)	3/F	R Santana, Jr.	118	M E Casse	20/1
2	2	Buchu (KY)	3/F	I Ortiz, Jr.	120	P A Bauer	5/1
3	3	Kehoe Beach (KY)	3/F	L Dettori	118	W A Ward	3/1
4	4	Pharoah's Wine (KY)	3/F	C J Lanerie	118	D L Romans	30/1
5	5	Chilled (KY)	3/F	L Machado	118	V H Oliver	30/1
6	6	Pin Up Betty (KY)	3/F	B J Hernandez, Jr.	118	M J Maker	5/1
7	7	Minoushka (GB)	3/F	T Gaffalione	118	B P Walsh	9/2
8	8	Neon Icon (KY)	3/F	J R Leparoux	118	G R Arnold II	30/1
9	9	Pounce (KY)	3/F	F Geroux	118	M E Casse	20/1
10	10	Simply in Front (KY)	3/F	L Saez	118	E Kenneally	15/1
11	11	Maxisuperfly (KY)	3/F	A Cedillo	118	E N Foster	30/1
12	12	Poolside With Slim (IRE)	3/F	J R Velazquez	120	G R Arnold II	6/1
Also Eligibles:
13	13	Adrasteia (KY)	3/F	A Jimenez	118	F Bogle	30/1
14	14	Breezing Along (KY)	3/F	E A Roman	118	A M Meah	30/1
15	15	Sanctify (KY)	3/F	B J Hernandez, Jr.	118	H Holsapple	30/1

Race 11 Clark S. presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade II)​

POST Time - 5:48 PM ET​

• Purse $600,000.
• One And One Eighth Miles. (Includes $100,000 – KTDF - Kentucky TB Devt Fund).
• For Three-Year-Olds And Upward.

P#	PP	Horse	A/S	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1	Bolzy (KY)	5/H	L Dettori	121	D K Von Hemel	12/1
2	2	Grand Aspen (KY)	5/H	G Corrales	121	J Thomas	20/1
3	3	Crupi (KY)	4/C	I Ortiz, Jr.	123	T A Pletcher	4/1
4	4	Piroli (KY)	5/G	E Morales	121	M W McCarthy	20/1
5	5	Most Wanted (KY)	3/C	F Geroux	120	B H Cox	7/2
6	6	Hit Show (KY)	4/C	T Gaffalione	123	B H Cox	3/1
7	7	Rattle N Roll (KY)	5/H	B J Hernandez, Jr.	121	K G McPeek	5/1
8	8	Red Route One (KY)	4/C	C A Torres	123	S M Asmussen	8/1
9	9	Cooke Creek (KY)	5/G	L Saez	121	M J Maker	6/1
10	10	Uno Mas Bourbon (KY)	3/C	F Arrieta	118	I R Wilkes	20/1

Saturday at Churchill Downs:

The next Kentucky Derby prep race in North America is Saturday at Churchill Downs. A reminder that only one Ohio bred has won the Kentucky Derby and that was Wintergreen in 1909. Jonathan's Way has an early following.

Race 11 Kentucky Jockey Club S. (Grade II)​

POST Time - 5:48 PM ET​

• Purse $400,000.
• One And One Sixteenth Miles. (Includes $75,000 – KTDF - Kentucky TB Devt Fund).
• For Two Year Olds.

PP	Horse	A/S	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer
1	He's Not Joking (KY)	2/C	F Geroux	122	J Carroll
2	Jonathan's Way (OH)	2/C	J Rosario	122	P A Bauer
3	Tiztastic (KY)	2/C	C A Torres	122	S M Asmussen
4	Dapper Moon (LA)	2/C	R Santana, Jr.	122	D Stewart
5	Filoso (KY)	2/C	J R Velazquez	122	C Summers
6	Clock Tower (KY)	2/G	G Corrales	122	W A Ward
7	Sonic Skidaddle (KY)	2/C	T Gaffalione	122	B P Walsh
8	First Resort (KY)	2/C	L Saez	122	E G Harty
9	Render Judgment (KY)	2/C	B J Hernandez, Jr.	122	K G McPeek
10	Redacted (KY)	2/C	E Morales	122	D Stewart

Owners: 1 - Di Scola Boys Stable (John Di Scola) ; 2 - Rigney Racing, LLC (Richard Rigney) ; 3 - Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC (Ron Winchell), Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith ; 4 - Valene Farms, LLC (Murray Valene) ; 5 - Gold Square, LLC (Al Gold) ; 6 - Mrs. Fitri Hay ; 7 - Calumet Farm (Brad Kelley) ; 8 - Godolphin, LLC (Mohammed Al Maktoum, et al.) ; 9 - Baccari Racing Stable, LLC (Chris Baccari), Dream Walkin Farms, Inc. (Tonni Covel, et al.), MJM Racing (Michael J. Mackin) and Rocket Ship Racing (Brook T. Smith) ; 10 - Briland Farm (Stacy and Rob Mitchell)
Breeders: 1 - James Wasserson; 2 - Susan L. Anderson Racing LLC; 3 - Capital Bloodstock; 4 - Coteau Grove Farms, LLC; 5 - Hunter Valley Farm & Oisin Murphy; 6 - Clarkland Farm, LLC; 7 - Calumet Farm; 8 - Godolphin; 9 - Green Lantern Stables; 10 - Briland Farm, Robert Mitchell &Stacy Mitchell
Pedigrees (Sire - Dam, by Dam Sire): 1 - Practical Joke - Collegeville Girl , by Central Banker ; 2 - Vekoma - Female Drama , by Indian Charlie ; 3 - Tiz the Law - Keesha , by Tapit ; 4 - Malibu Moon - Fashioned Gem , by Old Fashioned ; 5 - City of Light - Kenda , by Bodemeister ; 6 - Not This Time - Hot Stones , by Bustin Stones ; 7 - City of Light - Chica Boom Chic , by Tapit ; 8 - Uncle Mo - Fair Maiden , by Street Boss ; 9 - Blame - Barbara Gordon , by Commissioner ; 10 - Honor Code - Delicatus , by Distorted Humor ;

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Monday, November 25

• Jose Ortiz, one of the nation's top riders, is scheduled to ride in Louisiana, Ohio and New Mexico in three straight days. He won two stakes at Mahoning Valley (OH) today. He has won eight of his past 18 rides.
• Flavien Prat-Tim Hamm made a rare formation, and the result was a sweep of three races at Mahoning Valley (OH).
• Jay Bernardini won twice at Mahoning (OH) and the victories propelled him to a career-best 90 wins in one year. He excelled mostly at the shuttered New England tracks in New Hampshire and Massachusetts but has moved onto successful journeys in mostly Ohio and West Virginia.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Zia Park (NM) has a gigantic card Tuesday (tomorrow).

Race	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
1	$45,000	Maiden Special Weight	5 F	Dirt	6	12:05 PM MT
2	$45,000	Maiden Special Weight	5 F	Dirt	8	12:33 PM MT
3	$45,000	Maiden Special Weight	5 1/2 F	Dirt	9	1:01 PM MT
4	$100,000	Zia Park Distaff S.	6 F	Dirt	6	1:29 PM MT
5	$100,000	Zia Park Sprint S.	6 F	Dirt	6	1:57 PM MT
6	$125,000	Zia Park Championship S.	1 1/16 M	Dirt	6	2:25 PM MT
7	$100,000	Zia Park Juvenile S.	6 F	Dirt	7	2:53 PM MT
8	$100,000	Zia Park Princess S.	6 F	Dirt	10	3:21 PM MT
9	$300,000	Zia Park Oaks	1 1/16 M	Dirt	11	3:49 PM MT
10	$300,000	Zia Park Derby	1 1/16 M	Dirt	10	4:17 PM MT

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

For meets that begin in December 2024, Southern California racing dates confirmed at meeting:

Los Alamitos will run a brief T-bred meet followed by an extensive quarter horse schedule.

• December 6 - December 15 for T-breds.
• December 28 - December 21, 2025 for QHs.

Santa Anita:

• December 26 - June 15, 2025.

North and South regions will continue to have dialogue as to racing schedules next year. The north has been struggling as a replacement for Golden Gate Fields. The South has been struggling with small fields. Eventually money distribution through simulcast feeds as host tracks and how purses are constructed will have to be discussed.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Tuesday. November 26

Zia Park (NM)

• Jose Ortiz won three stakes at Zia (NM) on Tuesday. He was 7 3-0-2 riding for Steve Asmussen. He is 25 11-4-4 his last five racing days with rare visits to Ohio and New Mexico among his stops that included his base in Louisiana. Coupled with two wins for Asmussen at Mahoning, the pair concluded two days as a team going 9 5-0-2.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

Bob Baffert returns to Churchill Downs next Wednesday with Barnes, a $3.2 million colt by Into Mischief who is making his debut. The 2-year-old colt is named after Baffert's longtime assistant Jimmy Barnes.

Baffert had a horse listed at Churchill a few days ago but that was as an also eligible who didn't enter. Baffert has not officially run at CD since 2021.

Win.



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https://paulickreport.com/news/triple-crown/hopefully-we-are-here-the-first-saturday-in-may-bob-baffert-back-in-winners-circle-at-churchill-downs

Zedan Racing Stables’ $3.2 million 2-year-old colt, Barnes, made his debut a winning on at Churchill Downs on Wednesday, winning a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight by a nose. The 2-year-old Into Mischief colt marked Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's first starter beneath the Twin Spires since the end of his three-year suspension by Churchill Downs Incorporated in 2021.

Named in honor of Baffert’s longtime assistant Jimmy Barnes, the highly regarded colt broke from post No. 3 under jockey Martin Garcia. Innovator took the early lead, and Barnes had to work hard to run down that rival in the shadow of the wire. Grinding down the center of the stretch, Barnes got his nose down ahead of Innovator to complete the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.97.

Innovator is trained by D. Wayne Lukas, who waited with Baffert in the paddock to see which of them won the photo finish.

Penn National (Pennsylvania):

• Race 2: Firstlady Rosalynn (Jevian Toledo/Brittany Russell) won at 5-to-1. Russell had horses at Fair Grounds, Aqueduct and Churchill without wins as Laurel was closed for track maintenance since Friday.

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The finale on Saturday at Del Mar is the Grade I Hollywood Derby.

Race 9 Hollywood Derby (Grade I) POST Time - 4:27 PM PT​

Purse $300,000. One And One Eighth Miles. (Turf) For Three-Year-Olds.

P#	PP	Horse	A/S	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1	Stay Hot (KY)	3/R	A Fresu	122	P Eurton	8/1
2	2	Rothschild (KY)	3/C	F Prat	122	T Yakteen	15/1
3	3	Chatalas (KY)	3/F	K Kimura	119	M Glatt	30/1
4	4	Carson's Run (KY)	3/C	D Davis	122	C Clement	3/1
5	5	King of Gosford (GB)	3/C	I Ortiz, Jr.	122	P D'Amato	5/1
6	6	Formidable Man (KY)	3/C	U Rispoli	122	M W McCarthy	9/2
7	7	Donegal Momentum (KY)	3/C	J Castellano	122	T Morley	6/1
8	8	Atitlan (KY)	3/C	H I Berrios	122	J A Shirreffs	8/1
9	9	Tirupati (KY)	3/F	V Cheminaud	119	J Thomas	30/1
10	10	British Isles (KY)	3/G	D A Herrera	122	R Baltas	30/1
11	11	Heart Headed (KY)	3/C	M E Smith	122	G Papaprodromou	20/1
12	12	Twirling Point (KY)	3/G	L Dettori	122	J Thomas	20/1
13	13	Cathal (IRE)	3/C	J J Hernandez	122	J W Sadler	15/1

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

After another graded stakes win today, Flavien Prat has 78 stakes wins (Irad Ortiz holds the records with 79 in 2022) and 53 graded stakes wins (Jerry Bailey holds the mark with 55 in 2003) in 2024.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The opener at Laurel on Saturday was a 9-to-2 shot for leading trainer Brittany Russell ridden by her husband Sheldon. Large odds for the young trainer's stable but her barn is almost always alive in Maryland.

Race 2 winner was the opposite end of the spectrum. Winning trainer Nancy Heil last won in late 2022 and was unofficially on a 53-race losing streak. She is in her 80s and has been training for 50+ years. A 40-to-1 shot could not be denied today.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, November 30, 2024

• Brad Cox trained five winners. He ended the day 13 5-3-2. He has my vote for Trainer of the Year. Other circles seem to be pushing Chad Brown and even Kenny McPeek.
• Brittany Russell is 15 5-2-2 since November 27. She is spreading her wings beyond Maryland but it was the local spot in which she made news today with two $10+ winners. She is now among the top 10 winningest trainers in North America sitting in between industry stalwarts Michael Maker and Todd Pletcher. Not too shabby.
• Snowfall: Among the tracks with at least a trace of snowfall were Churchill Downs (KY), Woodbine (ON) and Batavia harness (NY).

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Race 8: Aristella (Patrick Husbands/Rachel Halden) won the $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes at 9-to-1. The English-born trainer had one of her biggest victories as a trainer.
• Race 9: Notorious Gangster (Fraser Aebly/Josie Carroll) won the $250,000 Coronation Futurity at 10-to-1.

Aqueduct (New York):

• Eric Cancel rode three winners. That could be a career-high win total for the jockey in one day, not sure.
• Race 9: Pretty Ana (Jose Lezcano/Chad Brown) won the $200,000 Grade 3 Comely Stakes.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Brittany Russell is 38% at the meet. She was her typical humble self in a media session following the eighth race but the track analyst basically said "take some of the credit" for the staggering numbers put up by her barn.
• Race 8: Winterfell (Jevian Toledo/Brittany Russell) won the $100,000 City of Laurel Stakes at 6-to-1. Winterfell was once trained by Bob Baffert but was winless in five starts. The 3-year-old Arrogate colt is a perfect 3-for-3 since a switch to the Russell barn..

​

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Jesus Rios was the victorious rider in both $300,000 FTBOA races (Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association).
• Race 6: My Denysse (Jesus Rios/Ruben Sierra) won the $100,000 won the FTBOA Florida Sire My Dear Girl at 35-to-1. The second largest odds on the board sent a euphoric reaction or frustrating response depending on which camp watched.

​

• Race 10: Rated By Merit (Jesus Rios/Michael Yates) won the $300,000 FTBOA Florida Sire In Reality. Sent off the prohibitive favorite, the winner has basically led gate-to-wire in all four starts. The 2-year-old colt is owned by Vinny Viola (Florida Panthers).

​

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Brad Cox finished an impressive day with four victories. He sent out seven horses.
• Florent Geroux-Brad Cox won three times among five races as a tandem.
• Luis Saez, off a 4-win day yesterday, rode two winners today and both were graded stakes.
• Race 12: The finale was won by the #16 and paid $51.70. How many instances in 2024 has the #16 won in North America?
• Race 11: First Resort (Luis Saez/Eoin Harty) won the important Grade 2 $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at 6-to-1 and with it received 10 points toward entry into the 2025 Kentucky Derby. Since 1974, only Super Saver won this race (2009) and went onto a Kentucky Derby win (2010).

​

• Race 9: Good Cheer (Luis Saez/Brad Cox) won the $400,000 Grade 2 Golden Rod Stakes. The win gave the connections 10 points toward entry into the 2025 Kentucky Oaks.

​

Del Mar (California):

• Flavien Prat and Irad Ortiz, Jr., possibly 1-2 in Jockey of the Year voting when the year ends, made rare visits to California but were winless on a combined 11 rides.
• Race 5: Will Then (Vincent Cheminaud/Jonathan Thomas) won the Grade 3 $100,000 Jimmy Durante Stakes at 10-to-1. Thomas won the last three graded stakes, all within the last week, to which he entered at Del Mar.

​

• Race 7: Mi Hermano Ramon (Hector Berrios/Mark Glatt) won the Grade 2 Seabiscuit.

​

• Race 9: Formidable Man (Umberto Rispoli/Michael McCarthy) won the $300,000 Grade I Hollywood Derby. McCarthy paid respects to fallen trainer Ben Cecil who died the prior day.

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, December 1, 2024

Laurel (Maryland):

• Race 8: The race of the day? Gotta love the call "Photo finish, wherever the wire is!"

​

Churchill (Kentucky):

• Closing Day: Onto Turfway and mainly night racing in Kentucky. Turfway runs into March 29.
• Leading Jockey: Luis Saez was astounding with 42 wins and a 25% victory percentage.
• Leading Trainer: Steve Asmussen with 20 wins.

Del Mar (California):

• Meet Concluded: The 11th Bing Crosby fall race meet, consisting of 14 days, ended Suday with a total of $165.10 million wagered, up $12m from 2023.
• Southern Cal Dates: Los Alamitos -- Dec. 6 - 15 then Santa Anita -- Dec. 26, 2024 - Apr. 6, 2025
• Leading Jockey: Juan Hernandez won a Del Mar riding title for the fifth straight time.
• Leading Trainer: Mark Glatt captured his first Del Mar training title with 14 wins.
• Closing Day Heroics: John Velazquez went west and won both graded stakes.
• Race 5: Clock Tower (John Velazquez/Wesley Ward) won the Grade 3 $100,000 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes.

​

• Race 7: Sacred Wish (John Velazquez/George Weaver) won the Grade I $300,000 Matriarch Stakes by a neck at 12-to-1.

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Aqueduct (NY) on Saturday (December 7)

Race	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
1	$85,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 M	Dirt	6	11:40 AM ET
2	$45,000	Maiden Claiming	7 F	Dirt	11	12:10 PM ET
3	$90,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 M	Dirt	9	12:39 PM ET
4	$200,000	Go for Wand S.	1 M	Dirt	8	1:08 PM ET
5	$80,000	Allowance	6 F	Dirt	11	1:37 PM ET
6	$75,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 F	Dirt	11	2:07 PM ET
7	$250,000	Remsen S.	1 1/8 M	Dirt	7	2:36 PM ET
8	$250,000	Demoiselle S.	1 1/8 M	Dirt	10	3:05 PM ET
9	$500,000	Cigar Mile H. Presented by Twinspires.com	1 M	Dirt	11	3:35 PM ET
10	$92,000	Allowance	1 M	Dirt	11	4:04 PM ET

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Oaklawn (AR) opens Friday.

Race	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
1	$34,000	Maiden Claiming	6 F	Dirt	14	12:30 PM CT
2	$62,000	Claiming	6 F	Dirt	8	12:58 PM CT
3	$34,000	Maiden Claiming	1 1/16 M	Dirt	9	1:26 PM CT
4	$33,000	Claiming	1 1/16 M	Dirt	14	1:54 PM CT
5	$131,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	6 F	Dirt	10	2:22 PM CT
6	$33,000	Claiming	6 F	Dirt	12	2:50 PM CT
7	$130,000	Allowance	1 1/16 M	Dirt	14	3:18 PM CT
8	$110,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 M	Dirt	13	3:46 PM CT
9	$150,000	Advent S.	5 1/2 F	Dirt	6	4:14 PM CT
10	$55,000	Starter Allowance	1 3/16 M	Dirt	12	4:40 PM CT