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]

Don’t agree with this at all. There’s been no evidence of further malfeasance.

It has become asinine. The medication in question regarding Medina Spirit's disqualification IS LEGAL but banned on race day. If that is the case, Baffert as trainer is solely responsible for what happens in his barn and has to accept responsibility. Whether he did or not, it wasn't to CD's liking. The differences between sides as to language on method of administration -- Baffert's camp says rubbing the ointment is fine but an injection would be a violation while CD maintains any method is a misdeed -- is an ongoing dispute. I sense CD is trying to appease outside elements concerning its significant number of horses breaking down during the recent meet moved to Ellis. That is a major PR nightmare but they could be covering their collective posterior, too with this ruling. The extension of this suspension seems curious.

NYRA banned Baffert in the past couple of years for a few months even though the state admitted he had no wrongdoings inside New York. NYRA stated the "integrity of the sport" was being challenged by the trainer's presence and cited his misdeeds elsewhere. I didn't agree with that ruling.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Monday, July 3, 2023

Belmont (New York):

• Javier Castellano: This is one for the ages. Javier Castellano escaped injury in the gate and eventually and reportedly placed on a stretcher and into an ambulance. The obvious interpretation was he would be off his mounts the rest of the day and awaiting results from whatever exam would be conducted. However, attending medical personnel ruled Castellano good-to-go and like a true pro, not only made his commitments but he won his next scheduled race. If that is fully accurate, what a story.

 

[GKJ]

It has become asinine. The medication in question regarding Medina Spirit's disqualification IS LEGAL but banned on race day. If that is the case, Baffert as trainer is solely responsible for what happens in his barn and has to accept responsibility. Whether he did, not top CD's liking. The differences between sides as to language on method of administration -- Baffert's camp says rubbing the ointment is fine but an injection would be a violation while CD maintains any method is a misdeed -- is an ongoing dispute. I sense CD is trying to appease outside elements concerning its significant number of horses breaking down during the recent meet moved to Ellis. That is a major PR nightmare but they could be covering their collective posterior, too with this ruling. The extension of this suspension seems curious.

NYRA banned Baffert in the past couple of years for a few months even though the state admitted he had no wrongdoings inside New York. NYRA stated the "integrity of the sport" was being challenged by the trainer's presence and cited his misdeeds elsewhere. I didn't agree with that ruling.

If there is no national body, then the idea that penalties should cross jurisdictions seems not very prudent aside from actual legal proceedings and/or consequences.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

If there is no national body, then the idea that penalties should cross jurisdictions seems not very prudent aside from actual legal proceedings and/or consequences.

CD removed Saffie Joseph's horses around the time of the Derby due to the sudden deaths of two of his horses prior to the Derby. He was put on immediate suspension and his horse scratched from the Derby in what could be considered safety precautions but certainly to many was overreach. The necropsy reports saw nothing conclusive which isn't uncommon among sudden deaths in horses and the trainer was, within the past week, reinstated. Joseph is very successful in Florida and doesn't appear to have much of a checkered history at Gulf. CD's oxygen is the Derby weekend. They will do whatever to appease public criticism.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Belmont (New York):

• Race 2: Battleoflexington (Junior Alvarado/Kelsey Danner) won by 8 1/2 lengths and probably could have won by double that had not the rider's knowledge that he had a layup as the race was in the final 1/16th mile.
• Flavien Prat won for five different trainers en route to a 5-win day. On July 1, he had rode a $94 winner at Ellis Park in a graded stakes. He could be the top challenger to Irad Ortiz, Jr. for Eclipse Jockey of the Year. Tyler Gaffalione won seven races on July 4, 2017 which tied a track record at Gulfstream (FL). Leroy Moyers won seven straight races, at the time a record in the U.S., at Suffolk Downs (MA) on July 4, 1967. Something magnetic about fireworks perhaps.

​

Los Alamitos (California):

• Race 9: Eda (Juan Hernandez/Bob Baffert) was sent off the favorite and won the $200,000 Grade 2 Great Lady M Stakes. Baffert has won this race a record seven times including four times since 2018. Eda, a $550,000 purchase by Massachusetts-based Baoma Corporation's Charles Chu, is 9 7-1-0 lifetime. She is a 4-year-old daughter to Munnings.

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Indiana has put together a solid card for Saturday which includes the Indiana Derby. The track is hooked up with Belmont for a Pick 5 bet.

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TH]Race #[/TH]
[TH]Purse[/TH]
[TH]Race Type[/TH]
[TH]Distance[/TH]
[TH]Surface[/TH]
[TH]Starters[/TH]
[TH]Est. Post[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 1[/TD]
[TD]$90,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]5 1/2 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]1:05 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 2[/TD]
[TD]$36,000[/TD]
[TD]Claiming[/TD]
[TD]1 Mile[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]1:36 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 3[/TD]
[TD]$90,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]7 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]2:09 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 4[/TD]
[TD]$95,000[/TD]
[TD]Allowance[/TD]
[TD]6 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]2:40 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 5[/TD]
[TD]$350,000[/TD]
[TD]Suburban S.[/TD]
[TD]1 1/4 Miles[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]3:09 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 6[/TD]
[TD]$80,000[/TD]
[TD]Allowance[/TD]
[TD]6 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]3:40 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 7[/TD]
[TD]$100,000[/TD]
[TD]Allowance Optional Claiming[/TD]
[TD]6 1/2 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]4:11 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 8[/TD]
[TD]$500,000[/TD]
[TD]Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational S.[/TD]
[TD]1 1/4 Miles[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]4:43 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 9[/TD]
[TD]$95,000[/TD]
[TD]Allowance[/TD]
[TD]7 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]5:15 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 10[/TD]
[TD]$750,000[/TD]
[TD]Belmont Derby Invitational S.[/TD]
[TD]1 1/4 Miles[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]5:49 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 11[/TD]
[TD]$175,000[/TD]
[TD]Victory Ride S.[/TD]
[TD]6 1/2 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]6:21 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 12[/TD]
[TD]$45,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Claiming[/TD]
[TD]6 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]6:53 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Cross Country Pick 5 – Saturday, July 8

Leg A: Horseshoe Indianapolis, Race 10 –Ind. General Assembly Distaff H. (5:28 p.m. Eastern)

Leg B: Belmont Park, Race 10 – G1 Belmont Derby Inv. (5:49 p.m.)

Leg C: Horseshoe Indianapolis, Race 11 – G3 Indiana Oaks (6:03 p.m.)

Leg D: Belmont Park, Race 11 – G3 Victory Ride (6:21 p.m.)

Leg E: Horseshoe Indianapolis, Race 12 – G3 Indiana Derby (6:40 p.m.)

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TH]Race #[/TH]
[TH]Purse[/TH]
[TH]Race Type[/TH]
[TH]Distance[/TH]
[TH]Surface[/TH]
[TH]Starters[/TH]
[TH]Est. Post[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 1[/TD]
[TD]$38,500[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]6 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]12:00 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 2[/TD]
[TD]$34,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]6 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]12:42 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 3[/TD]
[TD]$41,000[/TD]
[TD]Allowance[/TD]
[TD]6 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]1:14 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 4[/TD]
[TD]$100,000[/TD]
[TD]Mari Hulman George Memorial H.[/TD]
[TD]1 1/16 Miles[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]1:44 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 5[/TD]
[TD]$100,000[/TD]
[TD]Ellen's Lucky Star H.[/TD]
[TD]1 Mile[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]2:19 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 6[/TD]
[TD]$38,500[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]6 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]2:54 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 7[/TD]
[TD]$100,000[/TD]
[TD]Snack H.[/TD]
[TD]1 Mile[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]3:30 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 8[/TD]
[TD]$100,000[/TD]
[TD]Michael G. Schaefer Memorial S.[/TD]
[TD]1 Mile 70 Yards[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]4:20 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 9[/TD]
[TD]$100,000[/TD]
[TD]Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial S.[/TD]
[TD]1 1/16 Miles[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]4:53 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 10[/TD]
[TD]$100,000[/TD]
[TD]Indiana General Assembly Distaff H.[/TD]
[TD]1 1/16 Miles[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]5:28 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 11[/TD]
[TD]$200,000[/TD]
[TD]Indiana Oaks[/TD]
[TD]1 1/16 Miles[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]6:03 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 12[/TD]
[TD]$300,000[/TD]
[TD]Indiana Derby[/TD]
[TD]1 1/16 Miles[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]6:40 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Melanie Giddings has two lifetime wins. Two! Both came at Presque Isle Downs. Giddings got her trainer's license in 2022 and now has 11 horses under her care including Maple Leaf Mel for the first time.

She has two horses running on New York's splendid card Saturday. Maple Leaf Mel. foaled in New York, is the morning line favorite in the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes. The horse is owned by NFL icon Bill Parcells who named the horse after the Canadian-born trainer. Jeffrey Englehart, her former mentor, had the horse.

Giddings is a cancer survivor who doesn't follow sports other than horse racing and was unaware of Parcells' background. She will stable at Saratoga.

Maple Leaf Mel is 4 4-0-0 lifetime.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Laurel Park canceled the remainder of today's card (July 6) due to lightning. The card was rescheduled from Friday when air quality issues emanating from fires in Canada prevented racing.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Bob Baffert has two $950,000 runners at Los Alamitos:

• Fifth Street makes his second start in Saturday's fifth race.
• Prince of Monaco debuts in the second race on Sunday.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

$6,074,478,517 was bet on U.S. races through June 30, 2023 which is down 3% from the same date in 2022.

However, betting per race day was up slightly:
[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]2023: $3,264,094[/TD]
[TD]2022; $3,246,563[/TD]
[TD]+0.54%[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The Breeders' Cup released poll results of 20 greatest moments as the event is in its 40th year.

The fact that Blame beating Zenyatta in 2010 has become part of frailty of memory by so many onlookers has reached the point of nauseating. Not part of the agenda?! Blame beat her. California will never forget. The Hollywood script (a perfect 20 wins in 20 races) did not conclude as directed in the feeble minds of so many and has become erased and eradicated to the point where precious few want to discuss one of the sport's most important moments. Garrett Gomez was taken to a hospital following a spill two days prior. He returned to win what is arguably the sport's biggest race in North America and certainly the culmination of the racing season.

Yes, having a 5-to-1 shot win as a handicapper was paramount. To this day, I will pit Garrett Gomez -- when he was on -- against any rider of the era. Gomez had too many demons, this "win" became a nuisance at times for his character, he paid the ultimate price with a premature death. While so many try to remove this race from memory, somewhere GoGo Gomez should be lauded.

My favorite Breeders' Cup moment (at that point in time).

The top 20 moments in chronological order are:

• 1984: Wild Again's Inaugural Classic Thriller
• 1988: Personal Ensign Nips Winning Colors in Distaff, Retires Undefeated
• 1989: Sunday Silence Bests Easy Goer in Horse of the Year Showdown
• 1991: Arazi's Mind-Blowing Juvenile Rally
• 1993: The 133-1 Classic Upset of Arcangues
• 1995: Cigar Wraps Perfect Season With Classic Score
• 1996: Alphabet Soup Wins First Classic Outside United States
• 2001: Tiznow Wins Post-9/11 Classic for America
• 2003: Krone Makes Breeders' Cup History on Halfbridled
• 2007: Curlin Wins Classic Over World-Class Field
• 2009: Zenyatta Trounces Males With Closing Rush in Classic for the Ages
• 2010: Goldikova Completes Hat Trick in Mile
• 2013: Wise Dan Sparkles in Mile
• 2015: American Pharoah Lands Grand Slam in Classic
• 2016: Beholder Turns Back Songbird for Distaff Win
• 2017: Gun Runner Soars Gate-to-Wire in Classic
• 2018: Enable Completes Arc/Turf Double
• 2020: Whitmore Earns His Moment in Sprint
• 2022: Flightline Caps Perfect Career With Classic Romp
• 2022: Cody's Wish Lands Fairytale Dirt Mile Score

And how does the 2014 Classic not make the list? A 10-minute inquiry to determine a winner?

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Dr. Blarney is entered in Race 3 at Finger Lakes (NY) on Wednesday, July 12.

Dr. Blarney is a 10-year-old Massachusetts-bred who will be out for the 45th time. He is 27-4-5 lifetime with nearly $800,000 in career earnings, a phenomenal achievement at mostly smaller tracks. He is entered off a win which snapped a 6-race losing streak.

His career numbers:

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]Track[/TD]
[TD]Starts[/TD]
[TD]1st-2nd-3rd[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Aqueduct (NY)[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]0-0-0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Fort Erie (ON)[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]2-0-0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Penn National (PA)[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]0-1-1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Laurel (MD)[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]0-0-1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Parx (PA)[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]0-0-0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Finger Lakes (NY)[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]8-2-1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Suffolk Downs (MA)[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]10-0-1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Delaware (DE)[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]6-1-1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Monmouth (NJ)*[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]1-0-0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD](9 tracks)[/TD]
[TD]45[/TD]
[TD]27-4-5[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
*Broke his maiden in a 2015 debut win.

From 2015:

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

@Marco 85

I hope you nailed Cherie DeVaux today at 7-to-1. She won the graded stakes with More Than Looks, the horse you recommended a couple of weeks back that was sent off even-money at Ellis Park, Johnny Velazquez rode today.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Friday, July 7, 2023

• Kevin Rice, who won at Belmont today, has a hot barn. He is 5-1-0 with his past seven starters, mostly at Presque Isle (PA).

Belmont (New York):

• Closing Weekend: Two more days at Belmont and then Saratoga opens. Belmont may be dark until May 2024 and after that the track could be dormant for all of 2025 depending on ongoing construction to various parts of the track.
• Jose Ortiz rode four winners including going 2-for-3 for his wife's aunt Linda Rice and her nephew Kevin who entered a horse at a NYRA track for the first time since October; Kevin is mainly at Presque Isle (PA).
• Jose Ortiz has 55 wins at the meet. His brother Irad is in second place with 53 wins.
• Linda Rice has a 5-win lead in the trainers' category at the meet and has won her first outright title at the track. She has won the past three trainers' title at NYRA tracks but all were at Aqueduct (2022 fall meet and 2023 winter and spring meets; she tied Todd Pletcher for the Belmont title in 2011). At last check, she has claimed 23 horses from Kentucky tracks and that has been a boon to her standing.
• Race 3: Vallelujah (Jackie Davis/Robbie Davis) won as the longest shot on the board at 14-to-1. The jockey is the daughter of the trainer who won for the first time in 2023 with just the 11th time he sent out a horse. He last won a race in August 2022.

Belterra (Ohio):

• Race 1: D'money Honey (Perry Ouzts/Larry Smith) gave the jockey his 7,378th career win which is 5th best in North America annals. Today was also his 69th birthday.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Leonel Reyes rode four winners.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Mike Luzzi, who has ridden just once since March and even prior to then sporadically, has a mount on opening day at Saratoga July 13. He probably is exercising horses at this stage of his career.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Melanie Giddings has two lifetime wins. Two! Both came at Presque Isle Downs. Giddings got her trainer's license in 2022 and now has 11 horses under her care including Maple Leaf Mel for the first time.

She has two horses running on New York's splendid card Saturday. Maple Leaf Mel. foaled in New York, is the morning line favorite in the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes. The horse is owned by NFL icon Bill Parcells who named the horse after the Canadian-born trainer. Jeffrey Englehart, her former mentor, had the horse.

Giddings is a cancer survivor who doesn't follow sports other than horse racing and was unaware of Parcells' background. She will stable at Saratoga.

Maple Leaf Mel is 4 4-0-0 lifetime.

Win. Great story.

Bob Baffert has two $950,000 runners at Los Alamitos:

• Fifth Street makes his second start in Saturday's fifth race.
• Prince of Monaco debuts in the second race on Sunday.

Win and paid $13.40.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, July 8, 2023

• Brittany Russell sent out four starters and won three times.
• Melanie Giddings (Belmont) and Cindy Murphy (Prairie Meadows) are two impressive stories today. Too bad supposed all-sports channels refuse to acknowledge the great successes this sport has to offer.

Belmont (New York):

• Handle: $25 million.
• Penultimate Day of the Meet: Belmont could strategically be shut until 2025 due to construction.
• Jose Ortiz won four times for the second straight day and has solidified the riders' title. He was hit-or-miss today, though, as he failed to hit the board with his other eight rides today. He leads by four wins heading into today's finale.
• Race 5: Charge It (John Velazquez/Todd Pletcher) never looked back to win the $350,000 Grade 2 Suburban Handicap.

​

• Race 8: Aspen Grove (Oisin Murphy/James Stack) upset the $500,000 Grade I Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes at 15-to-1. The filly is a daughter to Justify. The British-based champion jockey rode at Belmont for the first time. The trainer has entered horses in the US just five and now has two wins.

​

• Race 10: Far Bridge (Jose Ortiz/Todd Pletcher) won the $750,000 Grade I Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes.

​

• Race 11: Maple Leaf Mel (Joel Rosario/Melanie Giddings) won the $175,000 Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes. The horse, owned by NFL icon Bill Parcells, is named after the Canadian-born trainer. Giddings entered with two lifetime wins and both came at Presque Isle Downs. She got her trainer's license in 2022 and now has 11 horses under her care. Jeffrey Englehart, her former mentor, had the horse. Giddings is a cancer survivor who doesn't follow sports other than horse racing and was unaware of Parcells' background. She will stable at Saratoga. Maple Leaf Mel is 5 5-0-0 lifetime. Feel good story of the day for sure.

​

• Race 12: The $1 Pick 6 was a gigantic $184,000+.

Monmouth (New Jersey):

• Race 1: Payout Ratio (Madison Olver/Chad Brown) won the opener at Monmouth and this was likely going one of two ways. A $340,000 purchase in a $19,000 purse out for the third time with Olver, a 7-pound bug who hails from Colorado and has little connection to the trainer or owner. The horse was either a bust or not for the very astute ownership group led by Seth Klarman. Alas, the horse was claimed for $16,000 following the 11-length win.
• Race 9: Precious Avary (Silvestre Gonzalez/Timothy Shaw) shocked the Jersey Girl Handicap at 22-to-1. The winner likes turf, 2-for-2 lifetime in her 10th start. The small-stable mid-Atlantic trainer had one of his biggest wins in a 20-year career winning this $85,000 purse.

​

Delaware Park (Delaware):

• Race 5: Alva Starr (Mychal Sanchez/Brett Brinkman) won the $100,000 Dashing Beauty Stakes. The horse is 2-for-2 at Delaware in four career starts. The trainer is Louisiana-based.
• Race 7: Doppleganger (Jevian Toledo/Brittany Russell) won the shortened field of three in the Battery Park Stakes. Doppleganger is 4-for-5 (5-for-12 lifetime) under Russell's care since being transferred from Bob Baffert's barn.
• Race 9: Idiomatic (Florent Geroux/Brad Cox) won the $500,000 Grade 2 Delaware Handicap. The Curlin filly has six wins in nine starts.

​

Laurel (Maryland):

• Race 9: Daredavite (Jean Briceno/Linda Albert) blew up the tote board at 56-to-1 and helped produce a $1 exacta that paid $730 and a $1 superfecta that would have paid over $171,000 but winning tickets for $.10 received $17,000.

Horseshoe Indianapolis (Indiana):

• Handle: A massive $7.98 million. Eight of the 12 races were boldtype.
• Race 11: Defining Purpose (Brian Hernandez, Jr./Kenny McPeek) won the Grade 3 $200,000 Indiana Oaks.

​

• Race 12: Verifying (Marcelino Pedroza, Jr./Brad Cox) won the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby.

​

Prairie Meadows (Iowa):

• Race 5: Inca Stroll (Kevin Roman/David McShane) debuted to a 44-to-1 shot victory.
• Race 6: Reaper (Cristian Torres/Juan Alvarado) won the $100,000 Prairie Gold Juvenile Stakes, sent off the 4-to-5 favorite.
• Race 7: Crypto Mo (Cindy Murphy/Travis Murphy) won the Grade 3 $225,000 Iowa Oaks Stakes. The Mohaymen filly gave the 61-year-old jockey her 2,000th lifetime win. Almost a year ago, the horse reared in the gate and Murphy, whose husband trains the horse, suffered near catastrophic injuries including more than a dozen broken bones/fractures including broken ribs, a torn abdomen and a fractured pelvis.

​

• Race 8: Giant Game (Martin Garcia/Dale Romans) won the Grade 3 $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap. He won from the inside post, bet down to 9-to-1 from a 15-to-1 morning line. From what I can locate, the most recent graded stakes win for Romans came in October 2020.

​

• Race 9: How Did He Do That (Richard Eramia/Steve Asmussen) won the $250,000 Iowa Derby at 48-to-1 following a DQ in a nail-biter that had dead-heat written all over it. The Good Magic colt was winless in four starts this year and had just two wins in 10 starts entering.

​

Los Alamitos (California):

• Race 5: Fifth Street (Joe Bravo/Bob Baffert) was cold on the board in his second start yet prevailed to pay $13.40. The $950,000 son to Quality Road defeated stablemate Worcester (Juan Hernandez/Bob Baffert), who finished second, among other challengers.

​

• Race 9: Reincarnate (Juan Hernandez/Bob Baffert) won the $125,000 Los Alamitos Derby. The Good Magic colt cost $775,000 and gave the trainer his 7th straight win in this race and 13th lifetime.

​

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

I don't believe what I just saw. Iowa Derby winner!

So much for Steve Asmussen having a bad day. He entered the race 1-for-13 across U.S. tracks.

Three-across-the-wire....



The end to an exasperating day.

Good Magic is another young sire that should be watched. He sired the Kentucky Derby winner Mage and last night his sons won the Iowa and Los Alamitos Derbies.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Irad Ortiz, Jr. has won twice early in the Belmont final card today. He is now within two of his brother Jose for meet leader.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Three wins for Irad through five races at Belmont; down by one.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, July 9, 2023

• Larry Rivelli is a brilliant 36%/72% in 2023 and with 118 starts. Much of that is in the Midwest, mostly Hawthorne (IL) but that includes wins such as the Ohio Derby and two graded stakes victories in Kentucky.

Belmont (New York):

• Closing Day: This appears to be the last race day at Belmont until either Spring 2024 or perhaps at some point in 2025 depending on completion of ongoing construction.
• Riders' Title: Jose Ortiz held on to win the title with 59 victories, one more than his brother Irad Ortiz, Jr. who had three winners today. Irad appeared destined for a fourth win in the penultimate race of the meet but his horse veered ugly in the stretch. Jose won a meet title for the 12th time. Both riders appear destined for Hall of Fame status when all is said and done.

​

• Trainers' Title: Linda Rice, who entered nine horses today and five were scratched, won the title comfortably with 34 wins, six more than Chad Brown. Rice won an outright title at Belmont for the first time.
• Owners' Title: Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables won their 22nd owners’ title at a NYRA track.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Brittany Russell won with her lone starter this day. She is 5 4-1-0 the past two days with three winning riders. She is 28%/63% in 2023.

Monmouth (New Jersey):

• Race 10: He'spuregold (Paco Lopez/Kelly Breen) won the Irish War Stakes for the third straight year. Not many horses in this era can claim winning a specific race three times. The 5-year-old New Jersey-foaled son to Vancouver has seven wins in 21 starts but that includes a wonder 9 6-1-0 mark at Monmouth (NJ). Tough to see the usually dapper Breen in his current condition with a brace supporting his neck following fusion surgery; however, he appears to be on the mend.

​

Los Alamitos (California):

• Race 2: Prince of Monaco (Juan Hernandez/Bob Baffert), a $950,000 purchase, walloped the short field by more than 8 lengths in a debut romp. Both of Baffert's $950,000 horses won this weekend.

​

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Woodbine (Ontario):

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Inarguably one of the most anticipated events on the annual calendar: SARATOGA: Day 1 -- Thursday, July 13

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TH]Race #[/TH]
[TH]Purse[/TH]
[TH]Race Type[/TH]
[TH]Distance[/TH]
[TH]Surface[/TH]
[TH]Starters[/TH]
[TH]Est. Post[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 1[/TD]
[TD]$149,500[/TD]
[TD]Allowance Optional Claiming[/TD]
[TD]1 1/8 Miles[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]1:10 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 2[/TD]
[TD]$136,500[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]5 1/2 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]1:44 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 3[/TD]
[TD]$50,000[/TD]
[TD]Claiming[/TD]
[TD]5 1/2 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]2:20 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 4[/TD]
[TD]$162,500[/TD]
[TD]Allowance Optional Claiming[/TD]
[TD]1 1/16 Miles[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]2:52 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 5[/TD]
[TD]$52,000[/TD]
[TD]Claiming[/TD]
[TD]1 1/8 Miles[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]3:26 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 6[/TD]
[TD]$100,000[/TD]
[TD]Allowance Optional Claiming[/TD]
[TD]5 1/2 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]4:00 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 7[/TD]
[TD]$70,000[/TD]
[TD]Starter Allowance[/TD]
[TD]7 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]4:34 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 8[/TD]
[TD]$70,000[/TD]
[TD]Starter Allowance[/TD]
[TD]1 Mile[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]5:10 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 9[/TD]
[TD]$175,000[/TD]
[TD]Schuylerville S.[/TD]
[TD]6 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]5:44 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 10[/TD]
[TD]$50,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Claiming[/TD]
[TD]1 1/16 Miles[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]6:18 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

SARATOGA: Day 2 -- Friday, July 14
Back-to-back cards with $136,500 MSW races? Count me in!

Chad Brown has two entered in Race 2 on Friday. As a big fan of the Cars, I have an all-Brown exacta awaiting simply because a $440,000 starter named Ocasek (co-lead singer) and also Moore's Law. The cover artwork on the band's eponymous Candy-O album was New Jersey startlet Candy Moore who dated the drummer David Robinson. That is my hunch play of the week.

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TH]PP[/TH]
[TH]Horse[/TH]
[TH]A/S[/TH]
[TH]Med[/TH]
[TH]Jockey[/TH]
[TH]Wgt[/TH]
[TH]Trainer[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Hero's Medal (KY)[/TD]
[TD]3/C[/TD]
[TD]L[/TD]
[TD]T Gaffalione[/TD]
[TD]118[/TD]
[TD]A M Stall, Jr.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Mount Craig (KY)[/TD]
[TD]4/C[/TD]
[TD]L[/TD]
[TD]L Saez[/TD]
[TD]124[/TD]
[TD]R Moquett[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]Dreamlike (KY)[/TD]
[TD]3/C[/TD]
[TD]L[/TD]
[TD]I Ortiz, Jr.[/TD]
[TD]118[/TD]
[TD]T A Pletcher[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]Ocasek (KY)[/TD]
[TD]3/C[/TD]
[TD]L[/TD]
[TD]F Prat[/TD]
[TD]118[/TD]
[TD]C C Brown[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]Moore's Law (KY)[/TD]
[TD]3/C[/TD]
[TD]L[/TD]
[TD]J L Ortiz[/TD]
[TD]118[/TD]
[TD]C C Brown[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Ride Up (KY)[/TD]
[TD]3/C[/TD]
[TD]L[/TD]
[TD]D Davis[/TD]
[TD]118[/TD]
[TD]L Rice[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]Exude (KY)[/TD]
[TD]3/C[/TD]
[TD]L[/TD]
[TD]J Alvarado[/TD]
[TD]118[/TD]
[TD]W I Mott[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TH]Race #[/TH]
[TH]Purse[/TH]
[TH]Race Type[/TH]
[TH]Distance[/TH]
[TH]Surface[/TH]
[TH]Starters[/TH]
[TH]Est. Post[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 1[/TD]
[TD]$88,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]5 1/2 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]1:10 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 2[/TD]
[TD]$136,500[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]1 1/8 Miles[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]1:44 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 3[/TD]
[TD]$149,500[/TD]
[TD]Allowance Optional Claiming[/TD]
[TD]1 1/16 Miles[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]2:20 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 4[/TD]
[TD]$135,000[/TD]
[TD]Wilton S.[/TD]
[TD]1 Mile[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]2:52 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 5[/TD]
[TD]$88,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]5 1/2 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]3:26 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 6[/TD]
[TD]$149,500[/TD]
[TD]Allowance[/TD]
[TD]1 1/8 Miles[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]4:00 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 7[/TD]
[TD]$42,000[/TD]
[TD]Claiming[/TD]
[TD]6 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]4:34 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 8[/TD]
[TD]$80,000[/TD]
[TD]Claiming[/TD]
[TD]6 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]5:10 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 9[/TD]
[TD]$150,000[/TD]
[TD]Coronation Cup S.[/TD]
[TD]5 1/2 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]5:44 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 10[/TD]
[TD]$50,000[/TD]
[TD]Claiming[/TD]
[TD]1 1/16 Miles[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]6:18 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

COLONIAL DOWNS
Thursday, July 13

Opening day of the annual and now expanded Colonial Downs (VA) meet owned by Churchill Downs which bought the track and properties for over $2 billion.

On Saturday August 12, there will be two Grade 1 Stakes — the Arlington Million and Beverly D — in addition to the Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes.

Colonial Downs is one of the newest venues in the USA having opened in 1997 but was dormant following the 2013 meet until 2019. The track has seen a resurgence since the re-opening much of which is centered around Historical Racing machines.

The meet runs through September 9.

Opening day is all-turf (the track does have a dirt course).

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TH]Race #[/TH]
[TH]Purse[/TH]
[TH]Race Type[/TH]
[TH]Distance[/TH]
[TH]Surface[/TH]
[TH]Starters[/TH]
[TH]Est. Post[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 1[/TD]
[TD]$60,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]1 1/16 Miles[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]1:35 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 2[/TD]
[TD]$25,000[/TD]
[TD]Claiming[/TD]
[TD]1 1/8 Miles[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]2:08 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 3[/TD]
[TD]$40,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Claiming[/TD]
[TD]5 1/2 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]2:38 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 4[/TD]
[TD]$60,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]1 1/16 Miles[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]3:08 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 5[/TD]
[TD]$75,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]5 1/2 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]3:39 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 6[/TD]
[TD]$40,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Claiming[/TD]
[TD]5 1/2 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]4:10 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 7[/TD]
[TD]$34,500[/TD]
[TD]Claiming[/TD]
[TD]5 1/2 Furlongs[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]4:40 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 8[/TD]
[TD]$70,000[/TD]
[TD]Allowance[/TD]
[TD]1 1/16 Miles[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]5:08 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Race 9[/TD]
[TD]$25,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Claiming[/TD]
[TD]1 1/16 Miles[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]5:37 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[GKJ]

Came across this race with John Henry winning the turf classic



Any idea why the letters are referenced even though there’s no coupled entries and no letters on saddle towels?