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]

Cincinnati weather has affected track conditions at Belterra. Originally listed as good, then muddy now sloppy. Changes have run the gamut.

 

[GKJ]

Muddy days at Monouth means you get 10-horse fields where horses 5-10 all scratch

 

[GKJ]

National Treasure is the winner of the Preakness over Blazing Sevens. That was a hell of a stretch duel. Mage is 3rd.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, May 20, 2023
For followers of Beyer...

Belmont (New York):

• Jose Ortiz was noticeably absent from Pimlico today where many of the top riders performed. He won four times, a stretch of five races, and had a natural hat trick.

Pimlico (Maryland):

• Handle: More than $101.6 million wagered which is unofficially the second highest total wagered: $104 million bet last on last year's comparable card.
• Trainer's Competition:An interesting bonus was tied into the two cards (Friday and Saturday) in which trainers were awarded purse money based on finishes in both stakes and non-stakes races with the prizes garnering $50,000 for both. Points were accumulated as followed: $25,000 going to the leader, $10,000 to second, $7,500 to third, $4,000 to fourth, $2,500 to fifth and $1,000 to sixth.
  • STAKES: Graham Motion (34 points), Chad Brown (31), Kenny McPeek (22), Brad Cox and Brittany Russell (21) and Michael Maker (17).
  • NON-STAKES: Brittany Russell (43 points), Michael Maker (35), Graham Motion (26), Michael Trombetta (19), Jamie Ness (12) and Rudy Sanchez-Salomon (11).
• John Velazquez was the riding star of the day. The Hall of Famer went 9 4-1-2 in a rare jaunt to Maryland. He was 0-for-12 in the Preakness, the second-losingest record in the race's long history. Fair to say he will win Jockey of the Week among other accolades.

• Flavien Prat rode three winners.
• Bob Baffert sent out three horses but one was euthanized following a misstep; his other two horses won. He was the only trainer with multiple wins today. Tears on the post-race interview may be authentic but they will not sway many viewers. The tragedy is the mournful part of the sport and Baffert's success is permanently attached to the doom.
• Irad Ortiz, Jr. rode two winners.
• Race 6: Ryvit (Tyler Gaffalione/Steve Asmussen) won the Grade 3 $200,000 Chick Lang Stakes. Gaffalione picked up the mount for Keith Asmussen (broken finger two days ago) whose father trains the horse. Ryvit has won four straight, improved to 4-1-1 from seven starts and increased his lifetime earnings to $348,068. Havnameltdown (Luis Saez/Bob Baffert), sent off the favorite, broke down during the race and was euthanized. The rider was transported to a local hospital but minor injuries appeared to be limited to leg pain.

​

• Race 7: Whitebeam (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Chad Brown) won the Grade 3 $100,000 Gallorette Stakes. Whitebeam ran in the US for just the second time following six starts in Europe.

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• Race 8: Never Explain (Flavien Prat/Shug McGaughey) won the Grade 3 $200,000 Dinner Party Stakes as the second-longest odds at 13-to-1. Never Explain is a 5-year-old son to Street Sense. He has won three straight following just two wins in his prior 12 starts. An expensive purchase at auction at $475,000.

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• Race 9: The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $55,000.
• Race 11: Straight No Chaser (John Velazquez/Dan Blacker) won the Grade 3 $100,000 Maryland Sprint Stakes. The colt won a graded stakes for the first time. The trainer, born in England, tutored under Hall of Famer Richard Mandella and unofficially won a graded stakes fore the second time.

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• Race 13: National Treasure (John Velazquez/Bob Baffert) won the 148th edition of the Grade 1 $1.5 million Preakness Stakes. It was the first time the rider won a Preakness. It was the trainer's eighth win in the Preakness. National Treasure cost $500,000 at auction and won for the second time in six starts. His lone win was in his debut race at Del Mar and he entered off his worst finish, a fourth at Santa Anita

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Baffert's Preakness wins:​

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Horse	Jockey	Year
National Treasure	John Velazquez	2023
Justify	Mike Smith	2018
American Pharoah	Victor Espinoza	2015
Lookin at Lucky	Martin Garcia	2010
War Emblem	Victor Espinoza	2002
Point Given	Gary Stevens	2001
Real Quiet	Kent Desormeaux	1998
Silver Charm	Gary Stevens	1997

​

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Race 11: Foreign Relations (Declan Cannon/Conor Murphy) won the Grade 3 $225,000 Louisville Stakes. The horse cost a mere $25,000 at auction. Unofficially, this is just the second graded stakes win for the trainer.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Here is an interesting stat per the DRF:

John Velazquez, who has won 6,503 races, is winless with 12 mounts in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. Since 1909, according to the Preakness media guide, only Edgar Prado (14) has had more mounts without a Preakness win.

2023 Preakness: For Velazquez to get off the schneid, National Treasure must focus

Prior to the Kentucky Derby, John Velazquez walked from the Churchill jockeys' room to the paddock with Javier Castellano. NBC had just shown a graphic detailing Castellano's 0-for-15 record in the Derby. Entering Saturday's Preakness Stakes, the roles are reversed. Castellano is a two-time...

www.drf.com

John Velazquez, who has won 6,503 races, is winless with 12 mounts in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. Since 1909, according to the Preakness media guide, only Edgar Prado (14) has had more mounts without a Preakness win.​

So much for that.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

National Treasure is the winner of the Preakness over Blazing Sevens. That was a hell of a stretch duel. Mage is 3rd.

I played Blazing Sevens on top. Excruciating finish and stretch, reminded me of the 1997 Kentucky Derby a bit when Baffert won with Silver Charm and I had Captain Bodgit. Great races nonetheless.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

New Jersey numbers are going strong.

Monmouth has handled an increase of 23% compared to similar dates of 2022.

Meadowlands (H) is averaging $3 million a card.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, May 21, 2023

Belmont (New York):

• Flavien Prat had his second-straight 3-win day at Belmont. He is in a groove, among the best riders in North America currently. He has won six of his past 11 rides.

Monmouth (New Jersey):

• Paco Lopez had a 3-win day which boosted his meet-lead with nine victories in the early stage.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Outside Posts: At a recent check, the 8-to-12 holes were a combined 4-for-76 in sprints this meet, turf and dirt combined.
• Leonel Reyes-Bobby Dibona teamed twice for two victories. Reyes had a 3-win day.

Santa Anita (California):

• Phil D'Amato: For as successful a trainer since he set down in southern Cal, D'Amato is just 2-for-40 with first-time starters since the beginning of last year.
• Race 7: Mike Operator (Erik Garcia/Angela Aquino) won for the fourth time in eight starts at Santa Anita and for the 11th time in 41 outings. The 7-year-old was the longest shot on the board and entered off a gate-to-wire win at Rillito (AZ) of all places. I don't recall the last time a horse entered from the Tuscon, AZ racetrack and then onto victory at SA..

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

MONDAY: The Midlantic May Two-Year-Olds in Training sale began today (ends tomorrow). The average price was $105,435 with 161 head sold. The average price was $91,603 last year.

Highest purchase was $800,000.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Santa Anita (California):

Mandatory Payout In Santa Anita's Memorial Day Single Ticket Rainbow Pick Six Jackpot - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report

Santa Anita Announces Mandatory Pick Six Payout On Memorial Day, Monday, May 29 & Will Guarantee A $1 Million Payout

paulickreport.com

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In addition to a full complement of Memorial Day weekend stakes action and activities, there will be a mandatory payout in Santa Anita's 20 cent Single Ticket Rainbow Pick Six Jackpot on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29. Additionally, Santa Anita will guarantee a $1 million payout to any Single Ticket winner on Saturday, May 27 and on *Sunday, May 28.​

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*Fans are advised that if there is a Single Ticket winner on Saturday, the $1 million guarantee is no longer valid on Sunday, May 28.​

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Additionally, if there is no Single Ticket winner on Saturday and Sunday, Monday's total Rainbow Pick Six is expected to approach the $3 million mark—with a mandatory payout in place.​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

MONDAY: The Midlantic May Two-Year-Olds in Training sale began today (ends tomorrow). The average price was $105,435 with 161 head sold. The average price was $91,603 last year.

Highest purchase was $800,000.

TUESDAY: The second day of the sale saw a $1,000,000 Arrogate filly sold. We will never know the greatness of Arrogate as a sire but it appeared to be limitless based on what will be a small sample size.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Fusiachi Pegasus, winner of the 2000 Kentucky Derby, has passed away at 26. Long life.

He was sold at auction for a record $70 million back when.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

TV Schedule

Date	Program	Time	Network/Social Media
May 25	"America's Day at the Races"	5 p.m.-8:30 p.m.	FS2
May 25	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	FanDuel TV
May 25	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	Racetrack Television Network
May 26	"America's Day at the Races"	12:30 p.m.-1:50 p.m. and 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.	FS2
May 26	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	FanDuel TV
May 26	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	Racetrack Television Network
May 27	"America's Day at the Races"	12:30 p.m.-6 p.m.	FS2
May 27	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	FanDuel TV
May 27	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	Racetrack Television Network
May 28	"America's Day at the Races"	12:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. on FS1, 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. on FS2	FS1 and FS2
May 28	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	FanDuel TV
May 28	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	Racetrack Television Network
May 29	"America's Day at the Races"	12:30 p.m.-6 p.m.	FS2
May 29	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	FanDuel TV
May 29	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	Racetrack Television Network

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Monday cards are in the process of being finalized. The two major Cali tracks, Belmont, Pimlico and Monmouth are among the few not yet available.

Most majors are operating with Gulfstream (FL) choosing to not race on the Memorial Day holiday. Woodbine (Canada) is also not running as is the norm for a Monday.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Thursday, May 25, 2023

Delaware Park (Delaware):
Racing Has Begun:

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Race 5: Someone nailed a $.50 Pick 5 for $115,000 under the lights tonight. The opener was a $17 winner, the high until the finale in which a $74 winner exploded the board.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

TURF RACING SCHEDULE at GULFSTREAM (closed) and WOODBINE (open): While Gulfstream's turf will be closed on Sunday for the foreseeable future, Woodbine's turf will open Saturday. Gulfstream is a rare U.S. track that operates 12 months a year and partly because of the tropical summertime , Tapeta and dirt will be utilized likely until the Championship Meet starts in December.

Woodbine Launches 2023 Turf Season This Saturday - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report

Woodbine Racetrack’s highly anticipated turf racing season is set to get underway this Saturday afternoon (May 27).

paulickreport.com

Woodbine's highly anticipated turf racing season is set to get underway this Saturday afternoon (May 27).​

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A total of three turf races are carded Saturday for the world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course. The Inner Turf, which will host its fifth year of racing this season, is set to open soon.​

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“I think everyone, horse people and fans, look forward to the start of turf racing,” said trainer Kevin Attard. “We have two beautiful courses and the races are always competitive.”​

 

[Marco 85]

Thursday, May 25, 2023

Delaware Park (Delaware):
Racing Has Begun:

View attachment 712826​

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Race 5: Someone nailed a $.50 Pick 5 for $115,000 under the lights tonight. The opener was a $17 winner, the high until the finale in which a $74 winner exploded the board.

Good turf racing at both Delaware and Horseshoe Indiana.
Plenty of maiden races with good breeding and trainers.
Tough to handicap but worth it if you can figure a race out.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Friday, May 26, 2023

Pimlico (Maryland):

• Race 7: It is said never play a maiden making a debut in the inside hole and here is ample evidence but I couldn't resist Brittany Russell -- well, anything -- but she has a craft with 2-year-olds and debut runners, too. Keep an eye on Under the Overpass (Sheldon Russell/Brittany Russell) who finished strongly. A 7-horse field and the results included a $1 tri that returned $1,100.

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• Race 1: When you wheel the 10 in exactas, which broke bad, and then see a 22-to-1 in front and as such you root against your own horse to start a Pick 3.....and the result is a $380 exacta. Not a lone first-time starter but those babies help immensely. Follow the 10.

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Gulfstream (Florida):

• Leonel Reyes rode three winners. I keep calling him overlooked and under-appreciated but he has established a solid reputation especially once the big guns head north. He was 6 3-1-2 today. He has hit the board with 14 of his past 16 mounts.

Churchill (Kentucky):

• Race 4: Sharp Tune (Florent Geroux/Steve Asmussen) made an impressive debut.

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[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Some intense pools this weekend:

Gulfstream:

Gulfstream Park: Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed At $175,000 Sunday - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 pool will be guaranteed at $175,000 for Sunday’s nine-race program at Gulfstream Park.

paulickreport.com

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 pool will be guaranteed at $175,000 for Sunday's nine-race program at Gulfstream Park.​

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Sunday's Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 4-9, featuring the Musical Romance Handicap in Race 7, in which graded stakes-placed R Adios Jersey will concede between three and seven pounds to her five rivals. In Race 8, a 7 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance for 3-year-old fillies on turf, Todd Pletcher-trained Soviet Excess, a son of Uncle Mo who is coming off a sharp maiden score on Tapeta, is rated as the 3-1 morning-line favorite.​

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The Rainbow 6 jackpot is paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.​

Pimlico:

Pimlico: Rainbow 6 Jackpot Soars To $432,683 For Sunday - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot went unsolved for a 10th consecutive racing day Saturday at historic Pimlico Race Course, growing to $432,683.12 for Sunday’s eight-race program.

paulickreport.com

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The 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot went unsolved for a 10th consecutive racing day Saturday at historic Pimlico Race Course, growing to $432,683.12 for Sunday's eight-race program.​

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First race post time is 12:25 p.m. (ET).​

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A total of $81,003 was put into Saturday's Rainbow 6, which began with a carryover of $406,768.42 from Friday's program. Multiple tickets were sold, each paying $1,087.92.​

Santa Anita:

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, May 28, 2023

Belmont (New York):

• The Ortiz brothers combined for seven wins.
• Jose Ortiz won his last three rides amid a 4-win day. He finished 7 4-1-2.
• Irad Ortiz, Jr. won three times.

Delaware Park (Delaware):

• Race 6: Award Wanted (Angel Cruz/John Robb) wired the field as the longest shot on the board at 18-to-1 to win the $150,000 Obeah Stakes. She defeated a 2-to-5 shot ridden by Paco Lopez. The 6-year-old Maryland-bred was out for the 35th time and won for the 10th time. She has hiut the board nine straight times, mostly at Laurel.

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Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Race 11: Miss Yearwood (Chris Landeros/Ian Wilkes) won the $225,000 Keertana Stakes. She broke near last and rallied strongly from sixth in the stretch to win the 1.5 mile race.

Canterbury (Minnesota):

• Opening Night: The meet extends into September 16.
• Lynn Rarick, a small stable trainer, with about 50 wins in her resume, sent out two horses and both won.

Santa Anita (California):

• Race 7: Fast Buck (Hector Berrios/Cesar DeAlba) shot out of the gate like a cannon and held on against all expectations to win the Grade 3 $100,000 Daytona Stakes. DeAlba won a graded stakes for the first time. The trainer, best known for quarter horses including as a jock, is a perfect 3-for-3 at the meet.

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• Race 8: Spirit of Makena (Joe Bravo/George Papaprodromou) won the Grade 2 $200,000 Triple Bend Stakes.

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Churchill Downs has deep fields today. A $1.25 million horse is debuting in Race 5 for Brad Cox as Pumpkin Scone will be ridden by Florent Geroux. In the same race will be debut or second-time out efforts from Uncle Mo, Into Mischief, Runhappy, Arrogate and Gun Runner babies.

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
Race 1	$52,000	Claiming	7 Furlongs	Dirt	7	12:45 PM ET
Race 2	$66,000	Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	8	1:14 PM ET
Race 3	$120,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 1/8 Miles	Turf	13	1:43 PM ET
Race 4	$72,000	Starter Allowance	7 Furlongs	Dirt	7	2:13 PM ET
Race 5	$120,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	8	2:45 PM ET
Race 6	$134,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	5 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	14	3:18 PM ET
Race 7	$127,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	7	3:50 PM ET
Race 8	$127,000	Allowance	1 Mile	Dirt	10	4:22 PM ET
Race 9	$120,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 1/8 Miles	Turf	13	4:55 PM ET

Woodbine offers a good betting card today:

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
Race 1	$51,000	Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	All Weather Track	7	1:10 PM ET
Race 2	$36,300	Maiden Claiming	7 Furlongs	Turf	11	1:39 PM ET
Race 3	$111,600	Maiden Special Weight	1 1/16 Miles	All Weather Track	8	2:09 PM ET
Race 4	$61,800	Optional Claiming	6 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	13	2:39 PM ET
Race 5	$111,600	Maiden Special Weight	1 1/16 Miles	All Weather Track	7	3:12 PM ET
Race 6	$65,900	Maiden Optional Claiming	6 Furlongs	All Weather Track	12	3:44 PM ET
Race 7	$111,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Turf	11	4:16 PM ET
Race 8	$114,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	All Weather Track	10	4:48 PM ET
Race 9	$111,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	6 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	10	5:20 PM ET
Race 10	$65,900	Maiden Optional Claiming	7 Furlongs	All Weather Track	13	5:53 PM ET

Santa Anita has short fields today but the card is worthy of a second look:

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
Race 1	$100,000	Crystal Water S.	1 Mile	Turf	7	1:00 PM PT
Race 2	$61,000	Maiden Special Weight	5 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	7	1:34 PM PT
Race 3	$61,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 Mile	Dirt	7	2:08 PM PT
Race 4	$100,000	Fran's Valentine S.	1 Mile	Turf	7	2:41 PM PT
Race 5	$150,000	Melair S.	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	5	3:15 PM PT
Race 6	$61,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 Furlongs	Turf	9	3:45 PM PT
Race 7	$63,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	9	4:15 PM PT
Race 8	$150,000	Snow Chief S. presented by City National Bank	1 1/8 Miles	Turf	7	4:45 PM PT
Race 9	$100,000	Thor's Echo S.	6 Furlongs	Dirt	6	5:15 PM PT
Race 10	$63,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 Mile	Turf	9	5:45 PM PT

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, May 28, 2023

Belmont (New York):

• Linda Rice was a 3-time winner today with six starters sent out. She is 6-1-7 with her past 15 starters.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Race 5: Mo Town Mayhem (Julien Leparoux/Mark Casse) won the $120,000 MSW -- mentioned in an earlier post -- in a race featuring the debut of $1.25 million Pumpkin Scone (Florent Geroux/Brad Cox) who got into a heated stretch battle with Absinthe (Ricardo Santana, Jr./Steve Asmussen) before both were passed and left in the dust by the charging winner. The longest shot on the board rallied strong from the outside at 14-1,

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Pimlico (Maryland):

Pimlico: Six-Figure Carryovers Holiday Monday In Rainbow 6, Jackpot Super High Five - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report

Historic Pimlico Race Course will serve up a special nine-race Memorial Day holiday program Monday featuring six-figure carryovers in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 and $1 Jackpot Super High Five wagers and a stakes-quality feature for 3-year-olds and up. First race post time is 12:25 p.m. (ET). The...

paulickreport.com

• Historic Pimlico Race Course will serve up a special nine-race Memorial Day holiday program Monday featuring six-figure carryovers in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 and $1 Jackpot Super High Five wagers and a stakes-quality feature for 3-year-olds and up. First race post time is 12:25 p.m. (ET). The 20-cent Rainbow 6 went unsolved for the 11th straight racing day Sunday, pushing the carryover jackpot to $454,077.75 for Monday. A total of $66,893 was put into the popular multi-race wager Sunday, which began with a carryover of $432,683.12 from Saturday's program.

Santa Anita (California):

• Card: Five stakes.
• Race 8: The Chosen Vron (Hector Berrios/Eric Kruljac) won the short field of four Thor's Echo for a seventh straight win. The Cal-bred is 16 12-1-2 lifetime.

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

It is possible the Belmont Stakes could include:

Source: Racingdudes.com

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Santa Anita on Monday has a stellar card on tap:

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
Race 1	$61,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 1/8 Miles	Turf	8	1:00 PM PT
Race 2	$61,000	Maiden Special Weight	4 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	5	1:34 PM PT
Race 3	$24,000	Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	5	2:07 PM PT
Race 4	$42,000	Starter Optional Claiming	7 Furlongs	Dirt	5	2:39 PM PT
Race 5	$400,000	Gamely S.	1 1/8 Miles	Turf	7	3:12 PM PT
Race 6	$61,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	6	3:42 PM PT
Race 7	$500,000	Shoemaker Mile S.	1 Mile	Turf	11	4:13 PM PT
Race 8	$400,000	Hollywood Gold Cup S.	1 1/4 Miles	Dirt	6	4:44 PM PT
Race 9	$63,000	Allowance	1 Mile	Turf	14	5:16 PM PT
Race 10	$63,000	Allowance	About 6 1/2 Furlongs	Downhill turf	12	5:46 PM PT

Two pricey first-time starters debut at Santa Anita today. Extortion cost $1,000,000 -- owned by India-born Kuldeep Singh Rajput -- and Truehood was sold for $750,000. Both trained by Bob Baffert.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Monday, May 29. 2023

• Brad Cox sent out fiive horses across three tracks and finished with a unique mark of 5 1-0-4.

Belmont (New York):

• Big Apple Showcase Day Card: Ten races, six stakes, 96 horses, all New York-breds.

Pimlico (Maryland):

• Race 9: Star Shopping (Horacio Karamanos/Jerry Robb) gave the trainer his first lifetime win in his seventh try. He is the nephew to local legend John Robb and was the lead caretaker of Mary Eppler's barn. This is his only horse.
• Friday's Card: The next day of racing in Maryland is Friday. A carryover of $459,622.70 in the Jackpot Super High 5 and $483,561.81 in the Rainbow Pick 6 awaits.

Canterbury (Minnesota):

• Memorial Day: An exceptional presentation by the host track to honor the fallen. An extremely touching ceremony to represent the true meaning of today's holiday. Seeing children of perished soldiers partake in the ceremony is a reality check.

Lone Star (Texas):

• Card: Six of the 12 races were stakes including one graded.
• Cristian Torres had a 3-win day.
• Race 10: Hayes Strike (Cristian Torres/Kenny McPeek) won the $200,000 Texas Derby.
• Race 11: Juncture (Tyler Gaffalione/Brad Cox) won the $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff.
• Race 12: Frosted Grace (Cristian Torres/Robertino Diodoro) won the Grade 3 $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile.

​

Santa Anita (California):

• Handle: More than $17 million. Many winners shared in the Pick 6 Jackpot for roughly $45,000.
• Race 8: Defunded (Juan Hernandez/Bob Baffert) won the $400,000 Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes. The win gave Baffert his 9th win in this race which established a new record previously set along with Charlie Whittingham. Defunded has seven wins in 17 starts and has earned $1.5 million. The 5-year-old son to Dialed In cost $210,000.

• Race 7: Exaulted (Juan Hernandez/Peter Eurton) won the $500,000 Grade I Shoemaker Mile Stakes. he has won three-in-a-row and this was his first graded stakes win in 14 starts. This was the first U.S. "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup race for 2023.

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• Race 6: Reiquist (Ramon Vazquez/Tim Yakteen) was the longest shot on the board at 17-to-1 and won this MSW race which featured two Bob Baffert pricey starters that disappointed immensely.
• Race 5: Macadamia (Tiago Pereira/Phil D'Amato) won the $400,000 Grade 1 Gamely Stakes. D'Amato, perhaps the state's top turf trainer, has two entered. The winner was sent off 6-to-1.

​

• Race 1: Act Three (Umberto Rispoli/David Hofmans) was sent off at the surprising odds of 21-to-1 and narrowly won the opener. Rispoli, one of the top turf riders in southern Cal. found every bit of energy to propel the second-time starter to victory.

​