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]

A Friday at Keeneland is magical in so many ways. Another strong card. The facility should be represented by its usual crowd, too,

FRIDAY

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
Race 1	$56,000	Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	7	1:00 PM ET
Race 2	$54,000	Maiden Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	11	1:32 PM ET
Race 3	$120,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/8 Miles	Dirt	5	2:04 PM ET
Race 4	$100,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	9	2:36 PM ET
Race 5	$110,000	Allowance	5 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	16	3:08 PM ET
Race 6	$57,000	Starter Allowance	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	8	3:40 PM ET
Race 7	$100,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	11	4:12 PM ET
Race 8	$130,000	Allowance	1 1/16 Miles	Turf	11	4:44 PM ET
Race 9	$300,000	Baird Doubledogdare S.	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	8	5:16 PM ET
Race 10	$110,000	Allowance	1 1/8 Miles	Turf	12	5:48 PM ET

SATURDAY

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
Race 1	$45,000	Claiming	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	8	1:00 PM ET
Race 2	$57,000	Starter Allowance	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	6	1:32 PM ET
Race 3	$47,000	Maiden Claiming	7 Furlongs	Dirt	15	2:04 PM ET
Race 4	$78,000	Claiming	7 Furlongs	Dirt	7	2:36 PM ET
Race 5	$120,000	Allowance	1 1/8 Miles	Turf	8	3:08 PM ET
Race 6	$100,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	13	3:40 PM ET
Race 7	$110,000	Allowance	6 Furlongs	Dirt	7	4:12 PM ET
Race 8	$350,000	Elkhorn S.	1 1/2 Miles	Turf	10	4:44 PM ET
Race 9	$300,000	Ben Ali S.	1 3/16 Miles	Dirt	7	5:16 PM ET
Race 10	$130,000	Allowance	5 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	16	5:48 PM ET

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

At some point, I would think Gulf takes races off the turf for an extended period of time.

@Marco 85

Turf racing resumes following last week's storms

After absorbing approximately 30 inches of rain in less than a 48 hour period last week, and lying dormant ever since, the Gulfstream Park turf course is expected to reopen, weather permitting, when racing resumes Thursday.

www.drf.com

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – After absorbing approximately 30 inches of rain in less than a 48 hour period last week, and lying dormant ever since, the Gulfstream Park turf course is expected to reopen, weather permitting, when racing resumes Thursday.

This should come as good news to the connections of the nine 3-year-old fillies entered in the afternoon’s main event to be decided at a mile under first-level allowance and optional-claiming conditions for horses competing under a $75,000 price tag.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Woodbine's 2023 opening day is Saturday. The track races through December 17.

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
Race 1	$29,000	Claiming	4 1/2 Furlongs	All Weather Track	6	1:10 PM ET
Race 2	$29,700	Claiming	4 1/2 Furlongs	All Weather Track	6	1:42 PM ET
Race 3	$54,500	Claiming	5 Furlongs	All Weather Track	6	2:14 PM ET
Race 4	$65,900	Maiden Optional Claiming	5 Furlongs	All Weather Track	9	2:44 PM ET
Race 5	$49,600	Maiden Optional Claiming	5 Furlongs	All Weather Track	6	3:18 PM ET
Race 6	$111,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	5 Furlongs	All Weather Track	14	3:50 PM ET
Race 7	$111,600	Maiden Special Weight	5 1/2 Furlongs	All Weather Track	7	4:22 PM ET
Race 8	$61,800	Optional Claiming	5 Furlongs	All Weather Track	6	4:54 PM ET
Race 9	$40,200	Claiming	5 Furlongs	All Weather Track	8	5:26 PM ET

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

TV for Friday through Sunday:

April 21	"America's Day at the Races"	1 p.m.-6 p.m.	FS2
April 21	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	FanDuel TV
April 21	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	Racetrack Television Network
April 22	"America's Day at the Races"	1 p.m.-7 p.m.	FS2
April 22	Live coverage of the Middleburg Spring Races from Virginia	1 p.m.	Facebook, Twitter and YouTube
April 22	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	FanDuel TV
April 22	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	Racetrack Television Network
April 23	"America's Day at the Races"	1 p.m.-6 p.m.	FS2
April 23	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	FanDuel TV
April 23	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	Racetrack Television Network

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Selected tracks that are scheduled to open by the end of May:

• Ajax (ON) May 10
• Assiniboia (MB) May 22
• Belmont (NY) May 4
• Belterra (OH) April 27
• Canterbury (MN) May 27
• Century Mile (AB) May 6
• Delaware Park (DE) May 24
• Emerald Downs (WA) May 6
• Finger Lakes (NY) April 24
• Fort Erie (ON) May 23
• FanDuel (IL) April 18 -- last night
• Hastings (BC) April 30
• Horseshoe Indiana (IN) April 18 -- yesterday
• Monmouth (NJ) May 13
• Mountaineer (WV) April 30
• Prairie Meadows (IA) May 12
• Presque Isle (PA) May 15
• Ruidoso (NM) May 1
• Woodbine (ON) April 22

Arguably the most desired track of many handicappers, Kentucky Downs will hold its annual festival: Aug. 31 and Sept. 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, and 13.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Keeneland (Kentucky):

• Joel Rosario won three times.
• Wesley Ward continued his brilliant year (36%/64%) winning with his first three starters among four sent. He is 30 10-3-4 (33%/57%) including four MSW wins at the meet and leads all trainers with ten victories. He is expected to have multiple horses shipped to Ascot (England).
• Luis Saez won the finale and that elevated him into a first-place tie with Tyler Gaffalione at 12 wins apiece. Gaffalione was off his mounts today due to a spill yesterday.
• Race 1: American Rascal (Joel Rosario/Wesley Ward), the first foal to multiple stakes winner Lady Aurelia and a son to Curlin, demolished the field by more than 10 lengths in another debut winner for the trainer. Ward will take the winner to Ascot where the dam won twice. She was sold for $7.5 million for breeding purposes. Nice start for her new career, a son who was exemplary.
• Tomorrow:

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Dear Lord, Laurel has canceled again. This has a bad odor.

 

[Marco 85]

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Keeneland (Kentucky):

• Joel Rosario won three times.
• Wesley Ward continued his brilliant year (36%/64%) winning with his first three starters among four sent. He is 30 10-3-4 (33%/57%) including four MSW wins at the meet and leads all trainers with ten victories. He is expected to have multiple horses shipped to Ascot (England).
• Luis Saez won the finale and that elevated him into a first-place tie with Tyler Gaffalione at 12 wins apiece. Gaffalione was off his mounts today due to a spill yesterday.
• Race 1: American Rascal (Joel Rosario/Wesley Ward), the first foal to multiple stakes winner Lady Aurelia and a son to Curlin, demolished the field by more than 10 lengths in another debut winner for the trainer. Ward will take the winner to Ascot where the dam won twice. She was sold for $7.5 million for breeding purposes. Nice start for her new career, a son who was exemplary.
• Tomorrow:

​

The exotic prices at Keeneland are great.
3 to 1 over 5 to 1 exacta in the lone turf sprint
paid $62 dollars even with Ward on top.
Big fields and bad betting result in nice prices.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The exotic prices at Keeneland are great.
3 to 1 over 5 to 1 exacta in the lone turf sprint
paid $62 dollars even with Ward on top.
Big fields and bad betting result in nice prices.

Keeneland is majestic. Could be America's top track.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Looks like Laurel is closed indefinitely. The news is seemingly ominous. Maybe they will close until Preakness opens in early May.

 

[Marco 85]

Looks like Laurel is closed indefinitely. The news is seemingly ominous. Maybe they will close until Preakness opens in early May.

Sucks for Maryland horsemen.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sucks for Maryland horsemen.

It is heartbreaking and heart wrenching and for different reasons.

Racing has officially been canceled through this Sunday.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Friday, April 21, 2023

Aqueduct (New York):

• Dylan Davis rode the card and ended with three winners on nine mounts.
• Jimmy Jerkens left New York to train for a prince in the Saudi Arabia royal family.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Canceled: Due to what has been termed unsafe track conditions. Racing has been suspended through Sunday. There is ongoing discussion regarding a possible consolidation of Pimlico and Laurel with the latter's property being redeveloped. The maintenance of both facilities is costly and even though Pimlico runs infrequently, my guess is the appeal of the Preakness Stakes and perhaps legally that event not allowed to relocate, then Baltimore wins out should the merger transpire.
• Maryland Racing Schedule as Previously Listed:

• Laurel: 4/1/2023-5/7/2023, 6/2/2023-8/20/2023, 10/5/2023-12/31/2023.
• Pimlico: 5/11/2023-5/29/2023, 9/8/2023-10/1/2023
• Timonium (state fair): 8/25/2023-9/4/2023

Keeneland (Kentucky):

• Tyler Gaffalione -- aka Mr. Kentucky -- rode four winners. He sits atop the meet standings with 16 wins, four more than his closest challenger.
• Race 4: Loved (Tyler Gaffalione/Brendan Walsh) was sent off the favorite and broke her maiden in gigantic style winning by more than 11 lengths. The Godolphin-owned Medaglia d'Oro filly was sent off the favorite in her second start.

​

• Race 9: Frost Point (Flavien Prat/Bill Mott) won the Grade 3 $300,000 Doubledogdare Stakes.

​

​

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• Francisco Arrieta rode three winners.

Santa Anita (California):

• Meet: The 28-day Hollywood Meet opened and will run through Sunday, June 18.

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, April 22, 2023

• Steve Asmussen unloaded his barn. An extensive entry list at three tracks resulted in a 23 2-4-4 day.
• Brad Cox had just seven starters spread across three tracks and won once at each facility.

Aqueduct (New York):

• Handle: Roughly $12 million.
• Manny Franco rode three winners.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Canceled: Due to track safety concerns, racing was halted from Friday through Sunday and then into Thursday of the upcoming week. There is a possibility Laurel could card races for Friday.
• Plea: Fix this track!

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• John Rigattieri won yet again. Starting with April 12, he is 6 5-1-0. He is a remarkable 15 9-2-1 since March 22. Rigattieri is best known for his time at the New England tracks but now plies his craft at mostly Tampa Bay and Delaware.

Keeneland (Kentucky):

• Brian Hernandez, Jr. rode three winners.
• Race 8: Verstappen (Declan Cannon/Brendan Walsh) won the $350,000 Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes as the second longest shot on the board at 16-to-1.

​

• Race 9: Rattle N Roll (Brian Hernandez, Jr./Kenny McPeek) won the $300,000 Grade 3 Ben Ali Stakes.

​

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• Handle: $13 million.
• Joel Rosario rode the natural hat trick starting in race 9. All three wins were in stakes. Is that enough for Jockey of the Week?
• Race 2: Tapicita (Keith Asmussen/Steve Asmussen) gave the trainer his 867th Oaklawn victory which ties the track record previously set by Bob Holthus.
• Race 10: Proxy (Joel Rosario/Michael Stidham) won the $1,000,000 Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap by a head in a 3-way photo finish

​

Santa Anita (California):

• Handle: $10 million.
• Umberto Rispoli rode three winners, all on turf, aboard five mounts.
• Craig Lewis sent out two horses and both won. He has won with his past three starters. The long-time trainer entered the week 1-for-26 in 2023.
• Race 5: Brickyard Ride (Juan Hernandez/Craig Lewis) won the $100,000 Grade 3 Kona Gold Stakes.
• Race 9: Defunded (Juan Hernandez/Bob Baffert) was heavily favorite and did not disappoint in winning the Grade2 $200,000 California Stakes.

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Opening Day: The meet extends into December.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sucks for Maryland horsemen.

Emergency meeting to be held Tuesday. Entries are being accepted into tomorrow for Friday.

Let's see who enters and who doesn't. Lacey Gaudet has stated her objections but I assume other voices will be made in the next 48 hours.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Blazing Sevens, Chad Brown's lone potential Kentucky Derby runner, will skip the race and be pointed to the Preakness. Jace's Road is now among the 20 eligible horses.

 

[GKJ]

A jockey has died in Australia after being thrown during a race.

Jockey dies after horse racing fall in Australia

Jockey Dean Holland died as a result of injuries suffered in a fall during a horse race in Australia.

www.espn.com

 

[Marco 85]

A jockey has died in Australia after being thrown during a race.

Jockey dies after horse racing fall in Australia

Jockey Dean Holland died as a result of injuries suffered in a fall during a horse race in Australia.

www.espn.com

Being a jockey is a crazy dangerous job.

Zayas went down yesterday at Gulf.
Dont know his exact status but heard he had facial and dental issues

The jockeys risks are great but very few get the rewards.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Being a jockey is a crazy dangerous job.

Zayas went down yesterday at Gulf.
Dont know his exact status but heard he had facial and dental issues

The jockeys risks are great but very few get the rewards.

Unofficially, a broken jaw. Surgery appears unnecessary.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

THROWBACKS

• Tomorrow in Parx's 8th race, Beverly Park will try to win for the 29th time. An almost unheard of total, 28 wins in 53 starts is quite an achievement. The 6-year-old is trained by Lynn Cash who is a roofer by trade.
• In today's 7th at Finger Lakes, Dr. Blarney finished second. One of the few MA-breds still running, Dr. Blarney is 42 26-4-5.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Kentucky racing:

• Churchill Downs 4/29/2023-7/3/2023
• Ellis Park 7/7/2023-8/30/2023
• Kentucky Downs 8/31/2023-9/13/2023
• Churchill Downs 9/14/2023-10/1/2023
• Keeneland 10/6/2023-10/28/2023
• Churchill Downs 10/29/2023-11/26/2023
• Turfway Park 11/29/2023-12/31/2023

Keeneland's final three days of racing for this meet with the culmination Friday.

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
Race 1	$68,000	Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	7	1:00 PM ET
Race 2	$80,000	Maiden Special Weight	5 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	16	1:32 PM ET
Race 3	$43,000	Maiden Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	10	2:04 PM ET
Race 4	$55,000	Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	7	2:36 PM ET
Race 5	$130,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/8 Miles	Dirt	6	3:08 PM ET
Race 6	$100,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 3/16 Miles	Turf	16	3:40 PM ET
Race 7	$100,000	Maiden Special Weight	About 7 Furlongs	Dirt	14	4:12 PM ET
Race 8	$300,000	Bewitch S.	1 1/2 Miles	Turf	6	4:44 PM ET
Race 9	$110,000	Allowance	7 Furlongs	Dirt	7	5:16 PM ET
Race 10	$110,000	Allowance	1 Mile	Turf	13	5:48 PM ET

The Bewitch Stakes held this Friday reminds me of one of my biggest tickets. The 2016 version when Leparoux wired the field at a mile-and-a-half and Castellano came charging at the end. 8-12 exacta cold at $71.20.

 

[Marco 85]

Kentucky racing:

• Churchill Downs 4/29/2023-7/3/2023
• Ellis Park 7/7/2023-8/30/2023
• Kentucky Downs 8/31/2023-9/13/2023
• Churchill Downs 9/14/2023-10/1/2023
• Keeneland 10/6/2023-10/28/2023
• Churchill Downs 10/29/2023-11/26/2023
• Turfway Park 11/29/2023-12/31/2023

Keeneland's final three days of racing for this meet with the culmination Friday.

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
Race 1	$68,000	Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	7	1:00 PM ET
Race 2	$80,000	Maiden Special Weight	5 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	16	1:32 PM ET
Race 3	$43,000	Maiden Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	10	2:04 PM ET
Race 4	$55,000	Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	7	2:36 PM ET
Race 5	$130,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/8 Miles	Dirt	6	3:08 PM ET
Race 6	$100,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 3/16 Miles	Turf	16	3:40 PM ET
Race 7	$100,000	Maiden Special Weight	About 7 Furlongs	Dirt	14	4:12 PM ET
Race 8	$300,000	Bewitch S.	1 1/2 Miles	Turf	6	4:44 PM ET
Race 9	$110,000	Allowance	7 Furlongs	Dirt	7	5:16 PM ET
Race 10	$110,000	Allowance	1 Mile	Turf	13	5:48 PM ET

The Bewitch Stakes held this Friday reminds me of one of my biggest tickets. The 2016 version when Leparoux wired the field at a mile-and-a-half and Castellano came charging at the end. 8-12 exacta cold at $71.20.

Love the Ky schedule for the next 5 months.
Especially if the Churchill turf course is good.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Arrogate had an endless amount of talent on the course and potentially off.

California Chrome was blue collar and deserving.

Songbird was perhaps my favorite filly of all-time. She exuded charisma.

Corey Nakatani, jockey, was among other recipients.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The way Interpret today:s meeting is that all parties agree to let retired track superintendent John Passero gauge conditions of the track and once he makes a report, then the state authority will grant Laurel permission to race upon findings.

Friday's card is canceled.

 

[GKJ]

Did anyone ever figure out what happened to Arrogate? He had like pain in his neck and then had trouble standing or something and was then euthanized. But I don't recall and actual cause of death because I don't think anyone ever heard of that happening.