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]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday's card at Oaklawn.

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
Race 1	$27,000	Claiming	1 Mile	Dirt	8	12:35 PM CT
Race 2	$28,000	Maiden Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	9	1:10 PM CT
Race 3	$60,000	Starter Allowance	1 Mile	Dirt	9	1:44 PM CT
Race 4	$90,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 Mile	Dirt	9	2:18 PM CT
Race 5	$34,000	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	9	2:50 PM CT
Race 6	$27,000	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	12	3:22 PM CT
Race 7	$104,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	8	3:54 PM CT
Race 8	$27,000	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	14	4:26 PM CT
Race 9	$500,000	Count Fleet Sprint H.	6 Furlongs	Dirt	10	4:58 PM CT
Race 10	$45,000	Starter Allowance	6 Furlongs	Dirt	14	5:34 PM CT
Race 11	$1,000,000	Apple Blossom H.	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	4	6:12 PM CT
Race 12	$90,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 Furlongs	Dirt	12	6:46 PM CT

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

A nice feather in the cap; for Leonel Reyes. He is scheduled to ride Party Favor, a $520,000 daughter to Practical Joke, making her debut in Race 6 on Friday at Gulf for Todd Pletcher owned in part by WinStar Farm.

Reyes had a recent propensity to bring home bombs but he has established himself as a playable rider.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

@Marco 85

We love to wallow in self-pity as handicappers. I am reliving my biggest two: the Captain in 1997 and Afleet Alex in 2005. Alex drifted ugly.

Tom Durkin was something special.



And Dave Anderson had his unique call. I am not sure if Alex Solis erred in the stretch or not --- I am in the minority he made a misstep -- but man I wanted that horse to win.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Ron Faucheux, fresh off winning the trainer's crown at Fair Grounds, has retired at the age of 40 to become a jockey's agent. He cited the costs associated with being a trainer and the lack of earning a decent living.

Trainer Faucheux Wins Fair Grounds Title and Walks Away

On the surface, trainer Ron Faucheux could not have been doing any better. He came out of the Fair Grounds meet on Mar. 26 with his third straight training title at the New Orleans track, his 42 winners five more than Bret Calhoun and Brad Cox. He had a career best 81 winners in 2022

www.thoroughbreddailynews.com

 

[Marco 85]

Ron Faucheux, fresh off winning the trainer's crown at Fair Grounds, has retired at the age of 40 to become a jockey's agent. He cited the costs associated with being a trainer and the lack of earning a decent living.

Trainer Faucheux Wins Fair Grounds Title and Walks Away

On the surface, trainer Ron Faucheux could not have been doing any better. He came out of the Fair Grounds meet on Mar. 26 with his third straight training title at the New Orleans track, his 42 winners five more than Bret Calhoun and Brad Cox. He had a career best 81 winners in 2022

www.thoroughbreddailynews.com

That is disheartening.
You’re a winning trainer and can’t make
decent living.
What is future going to look like
when guys like him stop training?

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

That is disheartening.
You’re a winning trainer and can’t make
decent living.
What is future going to look like
when guys like him stop training?

Kiaran McLaughlin went that route a couple or so years ago and IIRC he cited New York's high cost of living.

The era of super trainers probably hurts the smaller guys and gals, too.

I have a good friend who is an active trainer (no names) and he has a substantial number of horses but he told me recently he will likely reduce stock. Trainers have little free time.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Rumors seemed to be strong last year that The Stronach Group was interested in buying either Turf Paradise or Arizona Downs. The former is the main track in the state, the latter did not request racing dates for 2023.

Today, news came that a sale to a real estate group by TP is pending. That does not bode well for the future of TP even if it is not a major venue comparatively speaking to many others.

Meanwhile Arizona Downs, much smaller, looks to be in the future hands of TSG. If TSG wants to add Arizona to California, Maryland and south Florida, it is an interesting twist but I imagine a large part of that transaction will include simulcast rights. AZ Downs and Stronach had a much disputed debate regarding signals in recent years.

Maybe TSG can make AZ Downs a player in the industry but the potential loss of TP is not a positive step for the industry.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Wednesday, Aril 12, 2023

Keeneland (Kentucky):

• Card: Keeneland almost always puts on a good show. Today was no different.
• Tyler Gaffalione rode a natural hat trick beginning with the fifth race. Gaffalione has turned into Mr. Kentucky.
• Tyler Gaffalione-Brendan Walsh teamed twice and both horses were victorious.
• Race 3: Amaretti (Flavien Prat/Bill Mott) broke her maiden second-time out in convincing style. The Bernardini filly is owned by world class superstars Godolphin.

​

• Race 2: Hibernacle (Joel Rosario/Wesley Ward) won a race filled with first-time starters. Everyone it seems is on the Ward "first-timers" bandwagon but it is tough to dispute his strike rate: 20 9-1-5 (45%/75%).

​

 

[Marco 85]

Wednesday, Aril 12, 2023

Keeneland (Kentucky):

• Card: Keeneland almost always puts on a good show. Today was no different.
• Tyler Gaffalione rode a natural hat trick beginning with the fifth race. Gaffalione has turned into Mr. Kentucky.
• Tyler Gaffalione-Brendan Walsh teamed twice and both horses were victorious.
• Race 3: Amaretti (Flavien Prat/Bill Mott) broke her maiden second-time out in convincing style. The Bernardini filly is owned by world class superstars Godolphin.

​

• Race 2: Hibernacle (Joel Rosario/Wesley Ward) won a race filled with first-time starters. Everyone it seems is on the Ward "first-timers" bandwagon but it is tough to dispute his strike rate: 20 9-1-5 (45%/75%).

​

Tyler beat me out in the fifth.
Had the #2 who almost went wire to wire at 10 to 1.
Exacta came back $82. Which was good for a 2 to 1 on top.
Should have been roughly 50.

Both the 2 and 7 who came in 4th will win shortly.
The 7 was behind a wall of horses and finished 4th.

This continues a string seconds for me.
Last 3 horses I bet and 4 of the last 5 bets have come in second.
Exactas have been good though.

 

[GKJ]

I didn’t realize Arizona Downs is just the old Yavapai Downs renamed. Much further away from Phoenix metro

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

And

I didn’t realize Arizona Downs is just the old Yavapai Downs renamed. Much further away from Phoenix metro

Ninety miles per an article. The track was idle for about 10 years. It races mostly quarter horses. Stronach and the track feuded over simulcast signal fees and the state got involved to basically say the signal has to be issued to all properties or none.

Stronach not only controls home tracks like Laurel, Golden Gate, Gulf and Santa Anita but also Del Mar, Meadowlands and a contingent of racing under the simulcast grouping.

That meant betting on the three major Cali tracks and some others throughout the US was not permitted at Turf, AZ Downs or their many OTBs within Arizona. Stronach elevated TP with licensing rights but when the state intervened, no one got anything for about three years.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Heavy rain in south Florida and with that Gulfstream is canceling its race day today.

More than 2-feet est.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Gulfstream has canceled its card for Friday.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Thursday, April 13, 2023

Aqueduct (New York):

• Jose Ortiz and Manny Franco both rode three winners. Ortiz has hit the board with 13 of his past 19 mounts at the Big A.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Race 6: Wondrwherecraigis (Sheldon Russell/Brittany Russell) won for the first time since finishing 10th in Dubai and just by a nose in an AOC race. The 6-year-old gelding is 16 8-3-1 lifetime but last won 15 months ago.

​

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Cancellations: Card from Thursday and Friday were canceled due to a reported two feet of rain in some parts of the area.

​

Keeneland (Kentucky):

• Race 2: Mangione (Gerardo Corrales/Wesley Ward) won at 8-to-1. Ward sent out two starters for the first time and paid a gigantic (for him in these conditions) $18,86. He is 22 10-1-5 (45%/73%) with first-timers in 2023.,

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Keeneland's card for Saturday. Race 9 is the final Ky. Derby prep.

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
Race 1	$100,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	7	1:00 PM ET
Race 2	$49,000	Maiden Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	13	1:32 PM ET
Race 3	$120,000	Allowance	1 1/16 Miles	Turf	14	2:04 PM ET
Race 4	$48,000	Claiming	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	9	2:36 PM ET
Race 5	$110,000	Allowance	1 1/8 Miles	Turf	16	3:08 PM ET
Race 6	$100,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 Furlongs	Dirt	15	3:40 PM ET
Race 7	$110,000	Allowance	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	8	4:12 PM ET
Race 8	$250,000	Giant's Causeway S.	5 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	15	4:44 PM ET
Race 9	$400,000	Stonestreet Lexington S.	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	11	5:16 PM ET
Race 10	$600,000	Jenny Wiley S.	1 1/16 Miles	Turf	9	5:48 PM ET
Race 11	$120,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	12	6:20 PM ET

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The ominous tone that has been buzzing in Maryland racing circles may sadly have some merit. Laurel may be the next track to face a sale if in fact Pimlico becomes the power broker in the state. Both tracks are in need of repairs and owned by The Stronach Group. There seems to be some serious talk that Maryland will go to a one-track state (discounting Timonium from the current situation) and Pimlico would get the nod over Laurel. Much of it centers around stringent state laws and how public funds are used for private ownerships. Sounds as if The Stronach Group could also depart the state which could be a reason why it has looked into Arizona.

Racing will continue in Maryland but the loss of Laurel would be up there with the losses of Hollywood, Suffolk Downs, Calder, Hialeah and Arlington. Not a good day.

 

[Marco 85]

The ominous tone that has been buzzing in Maryland racing circles may sadly have some merit. Laurel may be the next track to face a sale if in fact Pimlico becomes the power broker in the state. Both tracks are in need of repairs and owned by The Stronach Group. There seems to be some serious talk that Maryland will go to a one-track state (discounting Timonium from the current situation) and Pimlico would get the nod over Laurel. Much of it centers around stringent state laws and how public funds are used for private ownerships. Sounds as if The Stronach Group could also depart the state which could be a reason why it has looked into Arizona.

Racing will continue in Maryland but the loss of Laurel would be up there with the losses of Hollywood, Suffolk Downs, Calder, Hialeah and Arlington. Not a good day.

Wow. That’s horrible news.

From what I read and heard. Pimlico is in major disrepair and not in a very good area.

If the TSG group does sell them. That would be a major blow to Maryland
racing.

It would be a major boost to Churchill which bought
Colonial Downs last year.

Interesting that there is so much interest in a dying sport.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Friday, April 14, 2023

Aqueduct (New York):

• Domenick Schettino sent out two horses and both won. He was 1-for-17 in 2023 entering today.
• Suspension: Jaime Torres received a 14- racing days suspension, which is stricter than 14 days, for a race in which Jose Lezcano suffered a wrist injury. The rider's decision in a race last week was undoubtedly questionable; fortunately, no significant injuries to the horses involved.

​

​

Laurel (Maryland):

• Brittany Russell failed to win with two horses previously under the care of Todd Pletcher. Horses formerly under his care don't seem to have much success first-time-out once they leave his barn.

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Race 6: Noble Fish (Antonio Gallardo/John Rigattieri) was a debut winner at 4-1. Strong connections with a veteran trainer who is a New England legend but has been solid nearly everywhere since he began training in the 1960s. Having a potent Florida-sire in Uncaptured didn't hurt.
• Race 9: Bourbon Blast (Scott Spieth/Joseph Cheeks) won at 59-to-1 and set the exotics ablaze including a $.50 Pick 4 that returned nearly $30,000. Spieth will most likely win for the 5,000th time some point later this year. Cheeks trains mostly at Presque Isle where Spieth could win that historic race.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Canceled: The second straight day the card was canceled due to the massive rainfall in the area. Gulf is scheduled to race tomorrow (Saturday).

Keeneland (Kentucky):

• Race 8: Praise and Honor (Joe Rocco/Jonathan Wong) won at 48-to-1. The $1 exacta paid $499.28.
• Race 9: Chez Pierre (Flavien Prat/Arnaud Delacour) won the $600,000 Grade I Maker's Mark. The horse, jockey and trainer were all born in France. among the defeated was international superstar Modern Games (William Buick/Charlie Appleby) who placed at 4-to-5 and had earned over $3 million in 13 starts.

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Wow. That’s horrible news.

From what I read and heard. Pimlico is in major disrepair and not in a very good area.

If the TSG group does sell them. That would be a major blow to Maryland
racing.

It would be a major boost to Churchill which bought
Colonial Downs last year.

Interesting that there is so much interest in a dying sport.

The city of Baltimore was fighting with Stronach at one point when rumors flourished that the Preakness could be move to Laurel. Then there were indications that Laurel could bid for the Breeders' Cup following upgrades but one of that transpired and certainly heading into the C-virus, there were more pertinent concerns. Then came Laurel's surface problems. Last week, when there was a cancellation, I sensed there was something more to that announcement. Separately perhaps, came the news from Arizona.

Stronach tried to get into other states including Massachusetts and perhaps PA within the past 10 years but the former was nullified by the then current owners due to a failed casino while the latter didn't have much legs as Parx has remained steady in Philly. The Group seemed to want a MA-PA-MD-FL East coast presence.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Today's national TV lineup:

April 15	"America's Day at the Races"	1 p.m.-4 p.m. on FS1, 4 p.m.-4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. on FS2	FS1 and FS2
April 15	Live coverage of horse racing including broadcast of the Lexington Stakes	post time varies	FanDuel TV
April 15	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	Racetrack Television Network

 

[Marco 85]

Great day for turf racing around the country.
Prices galore.

Keeneland turf playing speed.

A couple of 3 year old races and up at the Big A
won by 4 year olds at prices for good trainers.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, April 15, 2023

Aqueduct (New York):

• Katie Davis rode two winners, a rare outcome as she has few mounts in NYRA tracks. Her brother Dylan also won,
• Race 6: No More Talk (Carol Cedeno/Kieron Magee) gave the mid-Atlantic connections a victory at a NYRA track. The 9-year-old Maryland gelding won for the 12th time in 80 starts. It was the jockey's lone ride of the day. Good to see her win on a bigger stage but also a feather-in-the cap for Laurel.
• Race 7: Kosuke (Jaime Torres/James Bond), with a jockey awaiting a 14-day suspension as mentioned in yesterday's review, stunned viewers at 41-to-1 in a first-time-out performance. Unfortunately for my purposes, there was another first-timer in the race, the post time favorite who never factored. My betting angle of picking lone first-timers at a price was hindered.

Meadowlands (New Jersey):

• Power Outage: In between races 1 and 2, a temporary power outage struck the track due to as the track reported "sharp cloud to ground lightning."

Laurel (Maryland):

• Card: Four of the 11 races were stakes. Good card with some nationally prominent names on the program.
• Handle: $3.9 million.
• Race 10: Perform (Fergal Lynch/Shug McGaughey) nipped Ninetyprcentmaddie (Paco Lopez/Butch Reid) with an awesome finish to win the $125,000 Federico Tessio Stakes and with it an invitation to the Preakness Stakes. The winning jockey said afterwards emphatically he "never" felt comfortable he would get to the finish line first.

​

• Race 9: Cats Inthe Timber (Jevian Toledo/Brittany Russell) won $125,000 Weber City Miss Stakes. In the interview after the race, Russell praised her light filly incessantly. Exceptional training job. She is a star in many ways. She also had the a 2-to-1 m/l entered but that was an early scratch.

​

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Race 6: Caughtandcollected (Daniel Centeno/John Rigattieri) gave the 70-something year-old trainer his third straight win spread over multiple days. He could be the measuring stick for greatest and most successful trainers who worked in the now shuttered New England circuit. Rigattieri began training in the 1960s and has been remarkable this year winning at a 32% clip.

Keeneland (Kentucky):

• Handle: $26.7 million. A huge day and a magnetic vibe with the railbirds on full display.
• Race 9: First Mission (Luis Saez/Brad Cox) won the $400,000 Grade 3 Lexington Stakes. This was the final Kentucky Derby prep but the winner will likely be pointed to the Preakness as he doesn't have enough points to qualify for Kentucky Derby. Disarm, a third place finisher, did meet the points total necessary to be qualified for the Derby.

​

• Race 10: In Italian (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Chad Brown) wired the field to win the Grade I $600,000 Jenny Wiley Stakes.

​

Mahoning Valley (Ohio):

• Final Day: The meet finale was held today.
• Ohio Racing: Belterra (Cincinnati) runs April 27 - October 7. Thistledown (Cleveland) runs April 24 - October 12. Mahoning Valley (Youngstown) runs October 21 into next year.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• Steve Asmussen, the winningest trainer in North America history, won four times in the nine races he entered and finished 13 4-0-0 including victories in both graded stakes. It was a huge day for him in one context but hit-or-miss otherwise for the Hall of Famer as he won 4 times with 18 starters; however, he hit the board just twice with the 14 non-winners.
• Race 9: Skelly (Ricardo Santana, Jr./Steve Asmussen) won the $500,000 Grade 3 Count Fleet Handicap.

​

• Race 11: Clairiere (Joel Rosario/Steve Asmussen) caught Secret Oath (Tyler Gaffalione/Wayne Lukas) in a small field four to win the $1,000,000 Grade I Apple Blossom. The 5-year-old daughter to Curlin won for the 7th time in 18 starts and has earned over $2,8 million. She has raced in 16 graded stakes.

​

• Race 12: Music Mistress (Walter De La Cruz/Joe McKellar) topped one of the gigantic payouts I have ever witnessed in a non-graded stakes. The winner was sent off at 63-to-1 and the rummer up placed at 59-to-1. The winner paid $128.80. The $1 exacta paid over $1,800. The $.50 tri paid close to $9,500. The $.10 super paid over $35,000. The $.50 pick 5 paid over $42,000.

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The final Kentucky Derby points list (top 20 qualify):

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, April 16, 2023

Aqueduct (New York):

• Race 9: The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $36,000.
• Race 8: Lady Milagro (Jaime Torres/Carlos Martin) withstood an inquiry/objection and photo finish with a jockey on board who will serve a 14-day suspension for causing interference in a race a few days ago. The same rider won yesterday at 41-to-1.

Laurel (Maryland);

• Save Laurel! An appeal.
• Arnaldo Bocachica-Anthony Farrior teamed three times and each mount returned a winner. The pair ply their craft at Charles Town often but are to be takes serious whenever at Laurel. Farrior is 9 5-2-0 (56%) at the meet.

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Suffolk Downs Lives: When Suffolk Downs (MA) connections relocated south in the past, there was an informal nickname to Tampa Bay as "Suffolk Downs South." That moniker was resurrected this past week as many connections found wins from an area that was once thriving in the industry. Also, Jay Bernardini, arguably the most successful trainer at Suffolk the final (approx.) 10 years of its existence, won the trainer's title at Mahoning Valley (OH).
• Race 4: Call Bros (Vernon Bush/Brenda McCarthy) gave the former regular duo at Suffolk Downs a victory as the longest shot on the board at 15-to-1. Bush, at the age of 61, won with mounts on consecutive days, a rarity for him at this point in his life. He returned to riding last year after more than three years idle due to injuries. McCarthy won for the fourth time at the meet.
• Race 6: Winter's Ghost (Daniel Centeno/John Rigattieri) gave the 70-something year-old trainer his fourth straight win spread over multiple days. He could be the measuring stick for greatest and most successful trainers who worked in the now shuttered New England circuit. Rigattieri began training in the 1960s and has been remarkable this year winning at better than a 32% clip.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Elizabeth Dobles sent out two horses which produced consecutive winners in the 8th and 9th races. She hit at 12% during the Championship Meet but should fare this time of year. She is 33% at the embryonic stages of the current meet.

Keeneland (Kentucky):

• Race 8: Key of Life (Florent Geroux/Brad Cox) won the Grade 2 $400,000 Beaumont Stakes by a neck after being sent off the favorite.

​

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• Keith Asmussen rode two winners for his father. The son has 26 wins. The father has over 10,000. The son is in his third year of riding.