Horse Racing: I. Ortiz/B. Cox/Godolphin/Into Mischief top 2023; J. Rodriguez/B. Russell win Laurel titles on final day; L. Rice sets NYRA record for wins in a year

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, March 11, 2023

Laurel (Maryland):

• Axel Concepcion won three times aboard four mounts. He turns 18 years old in less than a week. He has 27 lifetime wins in the US.

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Weather: Spectacular.
• Irad Ortiz, Jr. does what he does best: win multiple times on a card. He had four winners with nine mounts.
• Race 8: Skippylongstocking (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Saffie Joseph, Jr.) fought back and then drew off to win the Grade 3 $100,000 Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes.

​

• Race 9: Shantisara (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Chad Brown) won the Grade 2 $225,000 Hillsborough Stakes.

​

• Race 10: Mission of Joy (Antonio Gallardo/Graham Motion) won the Grade 3 $200,000 Florida Oaks.

​

• Race 11: Tapit Trice (Luis Saez/Todd Pletcher) rallied strongly to win the Grade 3 $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby and with it accumulated 50 points towards entry into the Kentucky Derby. As mentioned a few weeks ago, I like this horse. He is spunky.

​

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Race 8: Frank's Rockette (Junior Alvarado/Bill Mott) was the prohibitive factor and galloped to an 8-length win in the $125,000 Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie. The 6-year-old Into Mischief mare is 26 11-9-3 with well over a million earned.

​

• Jose Ortiz rode the card and finished 12 3-3-1.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• Race 9: Secret Oath (Tyler Gaffalione/Wayne Lukas) won the $250,000 Grade 2 Azeri Stakes as she ran from the competition including favorite Clairiere (Joel Roasrio/Steve Asmussen). She has earned $1.9 million. The top two finishers closed from back of the pack. Lukas is about 100 wins away from 5,000 in his career and following the win joked that he was "given" the race because he once trained Azeri. More importantly, he stated that Gaffalione would keep the mount from Luis Saez who opted to "understandably (per the trainer)" ride at Tampa Bay with a potential Kentucky Derby mount.

​

Remington (Oklahoma):
Race 12: A rare triple-dead heat:

Golden Gate (California):

• Evin Roman rode five winners on seven mounts. His worst finish today was a pair of seconds.

​

Santa Anita (California):

• Off The Turf: Racing was removed from the turf and as such reduced fields led to a low handle.
• Race 5: Spirit of Makena (Joe Bravo/George Papaprodromou) won the Grade 3 $200,000 San Carlos.

​

• Race 8: A Mo Reay (Flavien Prat/Brad Cox) won by a head over front runner Fun to Dream (Juan Hernandez/Bob Baffert) to win the Grade I $500,000 Beholder Mile.

​

• Flavien Prat won three times and Joe Bravo had two scores on three mounts. They accounted for four wins in the first five races.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Arabian Knight, a top contender for this year's Kentucky Derby and currently under the care of Tim Yakteen, is off the trail.

 

[GKJ]

 

[Orr Fourever]

I had a bad case of seconditus yesterday. I'll be back. I love it at the track...

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Dylan Davis has won the first three races at Aqueduct today.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

I had a bad case of seconditus yesterday. I'll be back. I love it at the track...

No horse player ever has been able to shake those frustrating days. There is strength in numbers or so we like to think.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, March 12, 2023

Aqueduct (New York):

• Rob Atras ended his NYRA week at 11 9-1-1. The nearly flawless record is astonishing and his consecutive streak of six came within two victories of the NYRA recognized record. Atras has been labeled an up-and coming trainer in recent years after he arrived on the circuit from his days in Winnipeg.
• Dylan Davis rode winners in the first three races.

Tampa Bay Downs (Florida):

• Kathleen O'Connell became the winningest female trainer in No. America history when My Eagle Soars (j. Antonio Gallardo) was victorious. O'Connell won for the 2,386th time. Her first win came in 1981 at the now shuttered Hazel Park (MI).

Santa Anita (California):

• Race 7: Ballet Dancing (Flavien Prat/Simon Callaghan) won the Grade 3 $100,000 Santa Ana Stakes.

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

With Arabian Knight off the trail, here is a list of the latest Ky. Derby odds.

Kentucky Derby 2023	Caesars	Circa	KDFW	Trainer
Forte	3-1	3-1	3-1	Todd Pletcher
Tapit Trice	8-1	6-1	8-1	Todd Pletcher
Practical Move	12-1	14-1	12-1	Tim Yakteen
Instant Coffee	14-1	15-1	19-1	Brad Cox
Confidence Game	24-1	30-1	30-1	Keith Desormeaux
Geaux Rocket Ride	25-1	30-1	30-1	Richard Mandella
Red Route One	22-1	30-1	24-1	Steve Asmussen
Reincarnate	18-1	30-1	24-1	Tim Yakteen
Verifying	22-1	32-1	36-1	Brad Cox
Awesome Strong	40-1			Jorge Delgado
Hit Show	40-1	30-1	28-1	Brad Cox
Rocket Can	40-1	40-1	42-1	Bill Mott
Angel of Empire	45-1	50-1	38-1	Brad Cox
Henry Q	50-1	35-1		Todd Fincher
Kingsbarns	50-1	40-1	43-1	Todd Pletcher
Skinner	45-1	50-1	45-1	John Shirreffs
Disarm	50-1	55-1	60-1	Steve Asmussen
National Treasure	15-1	60-1	53-1	Tim Yakteen
Worcester	65-1			Bob Baffert
Litigate	35-1	55-1	66-1	Todd Pletcher
Dreamlike		70-1		Todd Pletcher
Raise Cain	50-1	70-1	66-1	Ben Colebrook
Blazing Sevens	45-1	75-1	66-1	Chad Brown
Classic Legacy	60-1	75-1		Bill Mott
Curly Jack	60-1	75-1		Tom Amoss
Echo Again	75-1			Steve Asmussen
Slip Mahoney	60-1	75-1		Brad Cox
Victory Formation	60-1	65-1	82-1	Brad Cox
Classic Car Wash		75-1	85-1	Mark Casse
Hejazi	70-1	85-1	53-1	Tim Yakteen
Sun Thunder	65-1	60-1	85-1	Kenny McPeek
Cyclone Mischief	60-1	75-1	89-1	Dale Romans
Tapit's Conquest	50-1	40-1	90-1	Brad Cox
Cairo		100-1	75-1	Aidan O'Brien
Corona Bolt	100-1			Brad Cox
Gulfport	100-1			Steve Asmussen
Jace's Road	70-1	100-1		Brad Cox
Mage	100-1	75-1	75-1	Gustavo Delgado
Mo Strike	100-1			Brad Cox
Scoobie Quando		100-1		Ben Colebrook
Two Phil's	50-1	100-1	88-1	Larry Rivelli
Dubyuhnell	100-1	110-1		Danny Gargan
Arthur's Ride	125-1	125-1		Bill Mott
Shopper's Revenge	125-1	100-1		Steve Asmussen
Tapit Shoes	125-1	125-1		Brad Cox
Banishing	50-1	150-1		Brendan Walsh
Bishops Bay	135-1	150-1		Brad Cox
Bo Cruz		150-1		Al Stall Jr.
Congruent	60-1	150-1	94-1	Antonio Sano
Crupi	100-1	150-1		Todd Pletcher
General Jim	135-1	150-1	65-1	Shug McGaughey
Giant Mischief	60-1	150-1		Brad Cox
Gold Magic	150-1			Kevin Attard
Kangaroo Court (g)	125-1	150-1		Tim Yakteen
Point Proven	100-1	150-1		Todd Pletcher
Super Chow	150-1			Jorge Delgado
Wildatlanticstorm	150-1			Ray Ashford
Bourbon Bash	175-1			D. Wayne Lukas
Demolition Duke	175-1			Brad Cox
Fort Bragg	125-1	175-1		Tim Yakteen
General Banker	150-1	175-1		Jimmy Ferraro
Powerful	175-1			Steve Asmussen
Protégé	175-1			Ron Moquett
Cagliostro		100-1	189-1	Cherie DeVaux
Arabian Lion	125-1	200-1	179-1	Tim Yakteen
Arctic Arrogance	150-1	200-1		Linda Rice
Classic Catch	125-1	200-1	179-1	Todd Pletcher
Continuar		200-1		Yoshito Yahagi
Denington		200-1	241-1	Kenny McPeek
Derma Sotogake		200-1		Hidetaka Otonashi
Eyeing Clover		200-1		Brad Cox
First Defender	175-1	200-1		Steve Asmussen
Fort Warren	125-1	200-1		Brittany Russell
Gun Pilot	125-1	200-1		Steve Asmussen
Mandarin Hero		200-1	116-1	Terunobu Fujita
Mr. Ripple	75-1	200-1		Saffie Joseph Jr.
Perrière		200-1	59-1	Yoichi Kuroiwa
Shadow Dragon		200-1		Bill Mott
Uncle Jake		200-1		Brittany Russell
Event Detail		225-1		Paulo Lobo
Bromley	150-1	250-1		Paulo Lobo
Carmel Road		250-1		Tim Yakteen
Harlocap	125-1	250-1		Steve Asmussen
Two Eagles River	150-1	150-1	270-1	Chris Hartman
Funtastic Again		300-1		Wesley Ward
Genius Jimmy		300-1		Michael McCarthy
Giroovin		300-1		Genaro García
Howgreatisnate		300-1		Andy Simoff
Invulnerable		300-1		Joe Sharp
Jungfrau	150-1	300-1		Bill Mott
Lord Miles	150-1	300-1		Saffie Joseph Jr.
Lugan Knight		300-1		Michael McCarthy
Major Dude	150-1	300-1	141-1	Todd Pletcher
Neural Network		300-1		Chad Brown
Prairie Hawk		300-1		Saffie Joseph Jr.
Recruiter		300-1		Cathal Lynch
Single Ruler		300-1		Keith Desormeaux
Uncorrelated		300-1		Chad Brown
*All other 3-year-olds			10-1
(g) gelding
*KDFW only

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

In terms of graded stakes, Saturday is light with Oaklawn (AR) perhaps the marquee track. Lane Luzzi, son to Mike, has a mount in a graded stakes. He was riding at Sam Houston (TX).

OAKLAWN on SATURDAY

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
Race 1	$90,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 Furlongs	Dirt	6	12:35 PM CT
Race 2	$27,000	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	9	1:07 PM CT
Race 3	$27,000	Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	9	1:43 PM CT
Race 4	$27,000	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	9	2:17 PM CT
Race 5	$27,000	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	9	2:47 PM CT
Race 6	$38,000	Maiden Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	9	3:18 PM CT
Race 7	$106,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	7	3:50 PM CT
Race 8	$200,000	Whitmore S.	6 Furlongs	Dirt	10	4:22 PM CT
Race 9	$500,000	Essex H.	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	10	4:54 PM CT
Race 10	$90,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 Furlongs	Dirt	14	5:25 PM CT

March 25 will have plenty of action with Fair Grounds (LA) the marquee track.

April 1 will have the Arkansas Derby and Florida Derby highlighting expected huge cards at Oaklawn (AR) and Gulfstream (FL).

April 8 will be electrifying throughout the states with Aqueduct (NY), Keeneland (KY) and Santa Anita (CA) among the attractive cards [12 graded stakes at those tracks].

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

@Marco 85

Check out this article.

You have discussed this in the past. It involves ADW and CAW players and how it relates to not only wagering but also possibly handles.

The Week in Review: Handle Falls Sharply Again in February... What's Going On?

Figures released last week by Equibase showed that U.S. handle declined by 5.21% in February. This comes after handle declined by 7.19% in January. For the year, that's a drop off of 6.22% and, if those numbers hold up throughout the year, total handle will be off by $750 million and the...

www.thoroughbreddailynews.com

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

New York state's budget is due March 31. NYRA is seeking $455 million in capital (called a loan) for construction of Belmont Park to among many tasks winterizing the facility. If it gets passed, NYRA has seemingly agreed to put Aqueduct up for sale which would lead to future development, in all likelihood not racing.

Last year the plan was rejected.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Looks like NYRA is en route to getting what it wants for racing to be consolidated at Belmont with significant improvements.

New York Senate, General Assembly endorse loans to remodel Belmont Park

Majority leadership of both legislative houses of the New York government released proposed budget resolutions on Tuesday that include endorsements for a plan to loan the New York Racing Association hundreds of millions of dollars so that the association can remodel Belmont Park.

www.drf.com

New York Senate, General Assembly endorse loans to remodel Belmont Park​

Matt HegartyMar 14, 2023

Majority leadership of both legislative houses of the New York government released proposed budget resolutions on Tuesday that include endorsements for a plan to loan the New York Racing Association hundreds of millions of dollars so that the association can remodel Belmont Park.

The support of the Senate and General Assembly for the plan is a strong indicator that the loan will be included in this year’s budget. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul included the plan in her own proposed budget released last month. By law, the legislature must pass a budget by April 1.

NYRA officials welcomed the inclusion of the proposal in the resolutions on Tuesday. The association has been lobbying for the plan for several years, which they contend is necessary to compete with sports and entertainment facilities that have more modern amenities.

“Horse racing means jobs and opportunities for thousands of New York families in every corner of the state,” said Patrick McKenna, the vice president of communications for NYRA. “That’s what a new Belmont Park is all about, and we’ll continue working with leaders in Albany to get this project across the finish line.”

The budget resolutions were released one day after a lobbying group called We Are New York Horse Racing held a rally on the capitol steps in Albany to support the plan. The coalition includes representatives of local government, labor groups, and New York racing constituencies.

Under the plan, NYRA would pay back the loan over a period of several decades, using money it receives from a casino located next to Aqueduct, a racetrack in Queens. The state, which holds the deeds to NYRA’s tracks, would be free to develop or sell Aqueduct when the Belmont project is complete.
The renovation of Belmont, which would include tearing down and rebuilding the current grandstand, is expected to take several years to complete. After the project is finished, downstate racing would be consolidated at Belmont.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Reading more into the decision a New York regulatory authority and how it affects racing. Eventually the passage rests with the State Assembly and Governor the latter who is a proponent of the sport.

The budget is due March 31 and this is potentially part of that package.

NYRA (operator of Saratoga, Belmont and Aqueduct) receives among many other changes.

• $455,000,000 loan with NYRA paying a minimum $24.8 million in return annually.
• A one-mile synthetic track which would make it, to my knowledge, Belmont would become the only track in the world with four surfaces (dirt, turf, turf and synth). It would be placed to the inside of the inner course. The synth track would be used for spring and winter racing.
• Renovation of the inner course.
• Vehicular access to the infield which is currently near completion.
• With the uncertain and not uncommon unpleasant weather New York receives in early November, a possible host for Breeders' Cup to offset the Kentucky-California rotation could be strengthened with a modernized facility.
• Upgrades completed by 2024.
• Aqueduct will be shut and property sold for redevelopment in the coming years (no timetable specified).
• Refurbished grandstand and clubhouse at Saratoga.
• Razing the 1.3 million square foot grandstand at Belmont to be replaced by a smaller and modernized structure.
• Belmont will race this spring and summer and then likely be dormant for the rest of 2023.
• Entertainment in addition to horse racing at Belmont.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The $30.5 million Dubai World Cup card could have a field of 14 for the signature race which is the $12 million Dubai World Cup. Bob Baffert's Country Grammer highlights the field.

The race is March 25 and will be televised internationally with Larry Collmus calling. TV details in the US will be unveiled shortly.

DUBAI WORLD CUP (Sponsored by Emirates Airline) likely field

1	VELA AZUL (JPN)	Japan	Horse	2017	123	Kunihiko Watanabe
2	COUNTRY GRAMMER (USA)	USA	Colt	2017	121	Bob Baffert
3	ALGIERS (IRE)	UK	Gelding	2017	120	Simon & Ed Crisford
4	PANTHALASSA (JPN)	Japan	Horse	2017	120	Yoshito Yahagi
5	EMBLEM ROAD (USA)	Saudi Arabia	Colt	2018	118	Ahmad Abdulwahed
6	GEOGLYPH (JPN)	Japan	Colt	2019	118	Tetsuya Kimura
7	JUN LIGHT BOLT (JPN)	Japan	Horse	2017	118	Yasuo Tomomichi
8	T O KEYNES (JPN)	Japan	Horse	2017	118	Daisuke Takayanagi
9	CAFE PHAROAH (USA)	Japan	Horse	2017	117	Noriyuki Hori
10	CROWN PRIDE (JPN)	Japan	Colt	2019	116	Koichi Shintani
11	USHBA TESORO (JPN)	Japan	Horse	2017	116	Noboru Takagi
12	SALUTE THE SOLDIER (GER)	UAE/BAH	Gelding	2105	112	Fawzi Nass
13	BENDOOG (USA)	UAE	Colt	2019	111	Bhupat Seemar
14	REMORSE (IRE)	UAE	Gelding	2017	111	Bhupat Seemar

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The exceptional numbers at Meadowlands (NJ) have now produced handles in excess of $3 million for the past 19 cards. Last year, the track surpassed that feat 23 times in 85 nights. The track races harness.

 

[Marco 85]

Gulfstream is now carding 3 year olds and up races.
A decent 4 year old will beat a good 3 year old at this time of year.

I haven‘t followed Fairground this year but the last few years.
They were carding 3 year old and up races starting in February
due to the horse shortage.

I love betting 4 year old horses in the 3 year old and up races.

Great angle for a few months.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Gulfstream is now carding 3 year olds and up races.
A decent 4 year old will beat a good 3 year old at this time of year.

I haven‘t followed Fairground this year but the last few years.
They were carding 3 year old and up races starting in February
due to the horse shortage.

I love betting 4 year old horses in the 3 year old and up races.

Great angle for a few months.

Race 3 on Saturday, Shug has a $950,000 maiden who is one of two 4-year-olds in the race.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Handle: $7.1 million.
• Irad Ortiz, Jr. won three times including a perfect 2-for-2 afternoon for Chad Brown whose stable has won four of their past six races at the track.
• Race 7: Accede (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Chad Brown) was out for the first time and the Into Mischief filly won as the 7-to-5 favorite.

​

• Race 9: Preliminary (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Chad Brown) was one of two first-timers and she debuted with a strong rally to win for astute owners Klaravich Stables who purchased the Great Britain-bred for $357.212 at the Tattersalls October 2021 Yearling Sale. Klaravich doesn't usually spend that amount of horses but the outfit is considered as successful as any based in the U.S. The winner was sent off at odds of 3-to-1.

​

​

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• Francisco Arrieta earned a natural hat trick with victories in races 6 through 8.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Jaime Rodriguez has won the first four races at Laurel, twice for Jamie Ness. They have the m/l favorite in Race 5.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Make that 5 races and 5 wins.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Six wins for Jaime Rodriguez at Laurel. Jamie Ness trained four of them.

History made at Laurel.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Seven wins for Jaime Rodriguez. This is magical.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Woodbine set for 2 year race meet through 2024;

BloodHorse: Thoroughbred Horse Racing, Breeding, and Sales News, Data, Analysis, Photos, and Videos - BloodHorse

News and Analysis on Thoroughbred Horse Racing, Breeding, and Sales.

www.bloodhorse.com

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Fair Grounds runs 1st race of card then cancels remainder of today's schedule (weather);

BloodHorse: Thoroughbred Horse Racing, Breeding, and Sales News, Data, Analysis, Photos, and Videos - BloodHorse

News and Analysis on Thoroughbred Horse Racing, Breeding, and Sales.

www.bloodhorse.com