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

[RosensRug]

What on earth is going on with the Saratoga turf course this summer....another horse went down today and did not survive. Between this and the whole spring churchhill downs fiasco somethings gotta change.

 

[RosensRug]

What on earth is going on with the Saratoga turf course this summer....another horse went down today and did not survive. Between this and the whole spring churchhill downs fiasco somethings gotta change.

Reports the horse had a heart attack during the race..so maybe not the courses fault but equally as sad. Been a really bumming meet thus far, think this is the fifth or sixth death in as many weeks.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Reports the horse had a heart attack during the race..so maybe not the courses fault but equally as sad. Been a really bumming meet thus far, think this is the fifth or sixth death in as many weeks.

It is the most disconcerting part of the sport. Heart attacks are uncommon during races but unfortunately I have witnessed that fatality and up close. Thoroughbreds are born to run. Without the sport and certainly the financial interest of buying through sales, the breed will near extinction. Opinions vary mightily from owners, trainers, riders and anyone else associated. Even the recent input of the mandated federal body has limits. Those of us who love this species also know the dedication and admiration plenty of people on the backside offer without much praise. When these issues happen on a national platform, the criticism is instantaneous and certainly that applies to the major players such as Churchill. Santa Anita and Saratoga.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Charles Town Oaks and Classic highlight Friday night's card at Charles Town (WV)
[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TH]Race[/TH]
[TH]Purse[/TH]
[TH]Race Type[/TH]
[TH]Distance[/TH]
[TH]Surface[/TH]

[TH]

---

[/TH]

[TH]Est. Post[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]$26,500[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]7 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]5:00 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]$27,400[/TD]
[TD]Allowance[/TD]
[TD]4 1/2 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]5:32 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]$28,400[/TD]
[TD]Allowance[/TD]
[TD]1 1/16 M[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]6:02 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]$28,400[/TD]
[TD]Allowance[/TD]
[TD]7 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]6:32 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]$75,000[/TD]
[TD]Last Enchantment S.[/TD]
[TD]4 1/2 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]7:02 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]$75,000[/TD]
[TD]Autumn S.[/TD]
[TD]4 1/2 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]7:32 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]$250,000[/TD]
[TD]Russell Road S. Presented by Triple Crown Nutrition[/TD]
[TD]7 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]8:02 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]$250,000[/TD]
[TD]Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon S.[/TD]
[TD]7 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]8:32 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]$350,000[/TD]
[TD]Robert Hilton Memorial S.[/TD]
[TD]7 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]9:05 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]$750,000[/TD]
[TD]Charles Town Oaks[/TD]
[TD]7 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]9:44 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]$1,000,000[/TD]
[TD]Charles Town Classic S.[/TD]
[TD]1 1/8 M[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]10:25 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]$75,000[/TD]
[TD]Sadie Hawkins S.[/TD]
[TD]7 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]10:55 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]$75,000[/TD]
[TD]Frank Gall Memorial S.[/TD]
[TD]7 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]11:25 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

St, Louis Derby highlights Saturday's card at Fan Duel (IL)
[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]1[/TD]
[TD]$22,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]6 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]7:30 PM CT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]$8,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Claiming[/TD]
[TD]6 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]7:58 PM CT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]$8,000[/TD]
[TD]Claiming[/TD]
[TD]6 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]8:26 PM CT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]$13,500[/TD]
[TD]Allowance Optional Claiming[/TD]
[TD]1 M[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]8:54 PM CT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]$16,000[/TD]
[TD]Allowance Optional Claiming[/TD]
[TD]6 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]9:22 PM CT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]$250,000[/TD]
[TD]St. Louis Derby Presented by FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK[/TD]
[TD]1 1/16 M[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]9:50 PM CT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]$16,000[/TD]
[TD]Allowance Optional Claiming[/TD]
[TD]1 M[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]10:18 PM CT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]$20,000[/TD]
[TD]Allowance Optional Claiming[/TD]
[TD]6 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]10:46 PM CT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]$24,000[/TD]
[TD]Allowance Optional Claiming[/TD]
[TD]6 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]11:14 PM CT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]$8,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Claiming[/TD]
[TD]1 M[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]11:42 PM CT[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Pat O"Brien Stakes highlights Saturday's card at Del Mar (CA)
[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]1[/TD]
[TD]$30,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Claiming[/TD]
[TD]5 1/2 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]2:00 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]$43,000[/TD]
[TD]Starter Allowance[/TD]
[TD]5 F[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]2:30 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]$32,000[/TD]
[TD]Claiming[/TD]
[TD]6 1/2 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]3:00 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]$82,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]1 M[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]3:30 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]$84,000[/TD]
[TD]Allowance Optional Claiming[/TD]
[TD]1 M[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]4:00 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]$53,000[/TD]
[TD]Claiming[/TD]
[TD]6 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]4:30 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]$82,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]5 F[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]5:00 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]$84,000[/TD]
[TD]Allowance Optional Claiming[/TD]
[TD]6 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]5:30 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]$83,000[/TD]
[TD]Allowance Optional Claiming[/TD]
[TD]1 1/16 M[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]6:00 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]$250,000[/TD]
[TD]Pat O'Brien S.[/TD]
[TD]7 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]6:30 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]$46,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Claiming[/TD]
[TD]1 M[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]7:00 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Canadian Derby highlights Saturday's card at Century Mile (Edmonton, AB)
[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]1[/TD]
[TD]$27,500[/TD]
[TD]Alberta Stallion Stakes Derby[/TD]
[TD]330 Y[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]3:45 PM MT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]$50,000[/TD]
[TD]Alberta Stallion Stakes Futurity[/TD]
[TD]330 Y[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]4:15 PM MT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]$35,000[/TD]
[TD]Starter Allowance[/TD]
[TD]1 5/8 M[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]4:45 PM MT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]$10,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Claiming[/TD]
[TD]6 1/2 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]5:15 PM MT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]$19,500[/TD]
[TD]Allowance Optional Claiming[/TD]
[TD]6 1/2 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]5:45 PM MT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]$10,000[/TD]
[TD]Claiming[/TD]
[TD]6 1/2 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]6:15 PM MT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]$15,500[/TD]
[TD]Claiming[/TD]
[TD]7 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]6:45 PM MT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]$10,000[/TD]
[TD]Claiming[/TD]
[TD]7 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]7:15 PM MT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]$100,000[/TD]
[TD]Century Casino Oaks[/TD]
[TD]1 1/8 M[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]7:45 PM MT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]$100,000[/TD]
[TD]Northlands Distaff H.[/TD]
[TD]1 M[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]8:15 PM MT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]$200,000[/TD]
[TD]Canadian Derby[/TD]
[TD]1 1/4 M[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]9:15 PM MT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]$100,000[/TD]
[TD]Speed to Spare Championship S.[/TD]
[TD]1 1/4 M[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]9:55 PM MT[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

I have two horses running Sunday at Saratoga....First time on the grass for one (super star susan) and Three Unions who's won twice on the grass downstate at NYRA...Hoping to get a good trip from unions and my first Saratoga winners circle picture.

Do you own? If so, extra good luck!

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday's monumental card at Saratoga (NY):
[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]1[/TD]
[TD]$83,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]7 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]11:40 AM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]$95,000[/TD]
[TD]Allowance[/TD]
[TD]5 1/2 F[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]12:13 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]$70,000[/TD]
[TD]Starter Allowance[/TD]
[TD]1 1/8 M[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]12:46 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]$156,000[/TD]
[TD]Allowance Optional Claiming[/TD]
[TD]6 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]1:19 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]$156,000[/TD]
[TD]Allowance Optional Claiming[/TD]
[TD]1 3/16 M[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]1:55 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]$136,500[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]6 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]2:31 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]$500,000[/TD]
[TD]Forego S.[/TD]
[TD]7 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]3:07 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]$149,500[/TD]
[TD]Allowance[/TD]
[TD]5 1/2 F[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]3:43 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]$500,000[/TD]
[TD]H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S.[/TD]
[TD]7 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]4:19 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]$500,000[/TD]
[TD]Ballerina H.[/TD]
[TD]7 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]4:55 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]$750,000[/TD]
[TD]Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer S.[/TD]
[TD]1 1/2 M[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]5:31 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]$1,250,000[/TD]
[TD]Travers S.[/TD]
[TD]1 1/4 M[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]6:11 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]$136,500[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]1 M[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]6:48 PM ET[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Saratoga (New York):

• Race 10: Cherokee Cottage (Junior Alvarado/Bill Mott) was 10th at the 3/8th pole but aided by a massive run, topped the finale at 17-to-1. The victory cemented Pick 5 ($20,000) and Pick 6 winning tickets ($65,000) for those holding winning combinations.
• Race 6: Burning Bright (Luis Saez/Norm Casse) suffered a cardiac fatality mid-race. Rider Saez is out indefinitely.

​

• Race 3: Arzak (Luis Saez/Michael Trombetta) won at 17-to-1, the longest shot on the board.

​

• Race 2: Perfect Munnings (Jose Ortiz/Linda Rice) won by more than 14 lengths.
• Race 1: Awakened (Thomas Garner/Jack Fisher) won the $150,000 Grade I Jonathan Sheppard, a steeplechase race at odds of 6-to-1.

​

• Jose Ortiz-Linda Rice, related through marriage, won twice with four starters. They finished 4 2-2-0 and have shown a high strike rate this meet.

Belterra (Ohio):

• Race 8: The $.50 tri returned more than $6,000.

 

[RosensRug]

Do you own? If so, extra good luck!

I do! Me and my father are partners in one of the ownership groups for a mid-sized NYRA based stable.

 

[GKJ]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Timely Writer, too. If you are unfamiliar, read about him sometime. Small time interests who had a Derby contender.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Old-school graphics at Timonium's opening day are preferable to the current facelift 1s/t instituted a few years ago at its tracks (red-pink for Laurel). White and the yellow-orange shade on black has been known to work for visual purposes.

Bring it back!

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Friday, August 25, 2023

• Todd Pletcher has appealed a 15-day suspension that was to start August 30 issued in Pennsylvania for a win with Mind Control last year.

Saratoga (New York):

• Another Off-Track: More inclement weather affected racing. This has been an exceptionally trying meet in many ways for the Spa.
• Handle: Roughly $18 million.
• Race 6: Fierceness (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Todd Pletcher) wired the field and was victorious by more than 11 lengths in a fantastic debut race. The 2-year-old City of Light colt was bred and is owned by Repole Stable.

​

• Race 9: Idiomatic (Florent Geroux/Brad Cox) won the Grade I $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes in a mild surprise at 4-to-1 and received a 101 Beyer score. Among the challengers were multi-millionaires Nest (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Todd Pletcher), Secret Oath (Javier Castellanu/Wayne Lukas) and Clairiere (Joel Rosario/Steve Asmussen).

​

• Flavien Prat won the opener and finale and was joined by Manny Franco and Irad Ortiz, Jr. as twice-victors. No trainer won more than once.

Monmouth (New Jersey):

• Race 9: The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $37,000.
• Lane Luzzi moved his tack from Texas and though he has found little opportunity to succeed at the meet, he delivered 8-to-1 and 14-to-1 shots. He rode yesterday in Saratoga's second race with his dad Michael riding in the opener for a rare time in 2023.

Charles Town (West Virginia):

• Handle: $7.9 million.
• Card: 13 races nine of which were stakes including two graded. The Charles Town Oaks and Classic highlighted.
• National Names: Tyler Gaffalione, Junior Alvarado and John Velazquez were among the riders while trainers including Chad Brown, Kenny McPeek, Dale Romans, Steve Asmussen and Saffie Joseph shipped.
• Tyler Gaffalione finished a 2-win night at 5 2-2-0.
• Race 13: No Change (Marshall Mendez/Cynthia McKee) won the $75,000 Frank Gall Memorial Stakes.
• Race 12: Lucky Blonde (Christian Hiraldo/Tim Grams) won the $75,000 Sadie Hawkins Stakes.

​

• Race 11: Skippylongstocking (Tyler Gaffalione/Saffie Jospeh) won the Grade 2 $1,000,000 Charles Town Classic. Skippy has won six times in 19 starts and has earned over $1.5 million.

​

• Race 10: Vahva (John Velazquez/Cherie DeVaux) won the Grade 3 $750,000 Charles Town Oaks. Vahva won a graded stakes for the first time in nine career starts. The Gun Runner filly won or the third time in nine starts.

​

• Race 9: Damon's Mound (Junior Alvarado/Michelle Lovelle) won the $250,000 Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes.

​

• Race 8: Society (Tyler Gaffalione/Steve Asmussen) won the $250,000 Pink Ribbon Stakes.

​

​

​

• Race 7: Coastal Mission (Arnaldo Bocachica/Jeff Runco) won the $250,000 Russell Road Stakes.

​

• Race 6: Stryda (Antonio Lopez/Jamey Johnson) won the $75,000 Autumn Stakes at 5-to-1.

​

• Race 5: Jefferson Native (Javier Rivera/Linda Dollinger-Stehr) was one of the longest prices on the board but won the $75,000 Last Enchantment Stakes at 12-to-1

​

Timonium (Maryland):

• Opening Day: Today began racing at the annual Maryland State Fair. Racing is conducted from 8/25/2023-9/4/2023.
• Carlos E. Lopez rode winners in the first two races amid a 3-win afternoon.

Del Mar (California):

• Race 4: Rothschild (Ramon Vazquez/Tim Yakteen), a $700,000 Uncle Mo colt, won second-time-out. Bob Baffert had two first-timers but neither hit the board or shown much of an effort.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

ENTRIES: CANADIAN DERBY (G3)​

Century Mile Racetrack and Casino, Saturday, August 26, 2023, Race 11

• Grade III
• 1 1/4m
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 3 yo
• 9:15 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Flashin Aces (CA)	N'Rico Prescod	126	James R. Brown	40/1
2	2Mano Dura (KY)	Antonio Whitehall	126	Jerry Gourneau	5/1
3	3Sunbird (KY)	Enrique Alonzo Gonzalez	126	Terry Jordan	3/1
4	4Altitude (KY)	Keishan Balgobin	126	James R. Brown	50/1
5	5Kauai Dan (KY)	Dane Nelson	126	Craig Robert Smith	25/1
6	6Abeliefinthislivin (KY)	Amadeo Perez	126	Barbara Heads	10/1
7	7Chase the Chaos (PA)	Keihton Natera	126	Carson Frey	8/1
8	8Green Amazon (ON)	Sven Balroop	126	Steven Gaskin	30/1
9	9Tshiebwe (KY)	Alexander Marti	126	Craig Robert Smith	20/1
10	10Accidental Hero (KY)	Kimal Santo	126	Larry Grieve	25/1
11	11Heroic Move (KY)	Rico W. Walcott	126	Robertino Diodoro	9/2
12	12American Blaze (KY)	Jose Mariano Asencio	126	Tom Rycroft	15/1
13	13Discovery Peak (KY)	Neville Stephenson	126	Jerry Gourneau	30/1
14	14Riverside (KY)	Dane Nelson	126	Gonzalo Anderson	25/1

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

SARATOGA:s card today extends from 11:30 am ET to after 7 pm. TV coverage starts on FS2 at 11:30 then heads to FS1 at 1:30 then FOX at 3:00 and then back to FS2 at 6:30 pm.

Scattered storms could hit early afternoon.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saratoga's dirt course is listed as muddy. Turf is listed as good. Sun shining currently. Maybe track conditions will improve.

Race 2 has been removed from turf.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Interesting opener. Two headstrong riders going head-to-head with some bumping: Irad Ortiz, Jr. and Junior Alvarado.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Irad Ortiz, Jr. has won the first two races today. He likely will add more today.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, August 26, 2023

• Brad Cox sent out horses at five tracks and finished the day 9 3-2-3.
• Emmanuel Esquivel won the opener at Indiana for Brad Cox then headed to southern Illinois where he won the St. Louis Derby for the same trainer.
• Steve Asmussen had a successful day at Saratoga winning two Grade I races. His extensive barn sent out 15 horses across six tracks and finished 15 3-3-1.
• Chad Brown's barn is unusually cold with just one win with his past 25 starters.
• Bob Baffert is 7 0-0-1 the past two days.

Saratoga (New York):

• Handle: $50,183,271 which is off roughly $5 million from last year.
• Irad Ortiz, Jr. rode four winners. Junior Alvarado rode two winners.
• Steve Asmussen sent out three horses and finished 3 2-1-0 winning two Grade I events.
• Race 1: Catire Vizcaya (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Juan Avila) dueled Walstid (Junior Alvarado/Kenny McPeek) in a good match between two headstrong riders. Both probably respected the other's abilities to fight even though Junior appeared to come in on Ortiz.
• Race 6: Just F Y I (Junior Alvarado/Bill Mott) nipped Shop Lifting (Jose Ortiz/Tony Dutrow) in a battle of first-timers. The winner with the catchy name is a 2-year-old filly to Justify, who else.
• Race 7: Gunite (Tyler Gaffalione/Steve Asmussen) won the Grade I $500,000 Forego Stakes. Elite Power (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Bill Mott) was sent off the favorite but couldn't catch the gate-to-wire winner. The brilliant daughter to Gun Runner, is 11 9-1-0 lifetime with over $2.6 million earned. She is 4 4-0-0 at the Spa. The race is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

​

• Race 8: Souper Quest (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Norm Casse) gave the young trainer a remarkable seventh win with 12 horses sent out this meet.

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• Race 9: One in Vermillion (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Esteban Martinez) gave the trainer his first Grade I, the $500,000 Allen Jerkens, but only after a horrifying scene in which New York Thunder (Tyler Gaffalione/Jorge Delgado) suffered a catastrophic injury mere steps from an eventual victory. The California-bred winer raced in Arizona, New Mexico, California, Minnesota, Iowa and West Virginia prior to today's center stage win. New York Thunder entered 4 4-0-0.

SUNDAY: Somewhat lost due to the unfortunate and heartbreaking circumstances that cast such a pall over the Allen Jerkens was that One in Vermillion gave Martinez, who is currently stabled at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota, the first Grade 1 victory of his seven-year training career. “It was hard to enjoy it (his first Grade 1 win) like I was supposed to after watching what happened to New York Thunder,” Martinez said by phone while on the road back to Canterbury with his pride and joy, One in Vermillion, in tow, late Sunday morning. “Obviously I felt terrible for both the horse and his connections and had very mixed emotions in the moments immediately after the race.” SOURCE: DRF

• Race 10: Echo Zulu (Florent Geroux/Steve Asmussen) galloped to an easier-than- expected win against Goodnight Olive (Irad Oritz, Jr./Chad Brown) who ran a good race. The race is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

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• Race 11: Bolshoi Ballet (John Velazquez/Aidan O'Brien) won the $750,000 Grade I Sword Dancer Stakes in a 1 1/2 mile performance in which the Hall of Rider cruised at 5-to-1 even after a win last night in a $750,000 race at West Virginia. The Irish-foal entered off a race at Ascot with his European-based trainer.

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• Race 12: Arcangelo (Javier Castellano/Jena Antonucci) gave the Hall of Fame rider his record-setting seventh win in the $1.25 million Grade I Travers Stakes, annually one of the most anticipated races on the calendar year. Arcangelo has won his past four starts to up his career mark to 6 4-1-0 which includes a perfect 3 3-0-0 in graded stakes. The son to Arrogate has already earned $1.7 million.

​

​

Delaware Park (Delaware):

• Race 3: Qia (John Hiraldo/Chelsey Moysey) was the second highest odds on the board yet went gate-to-wire at 55-to-1. The winner paid $112.60 and the $.50 Pick 3 returned more than $1,500.
• Chalk: Won six of eight races including favorites winning the final five on the card following the bomb.

FanDuel (Illinois):

• Race 5: Tabeguache (Emmanuel Esquivel/Brad Cox) was the longest shot on the board but won the $250,000 St. Louis Derby at 8-to-1. Cox had two of the five starters and finished 1-2. Tabeguache was out for the fifth time and boasts a 3-race win streak. He is a son to top sire Into Mischief and the first foal from More Mojo who was winless in seven starts but purchased for $325,000 at a 2016 yearling auction.

​

​

Del Mar (California):

• Handle: $20 million.
• Race 10: Anarchist (Ramon Vazquez/Doug O'Neill), sent off the favorite, won the Grade 2 $250,000 Pat O'Brien Stakes. The race is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

​

• Race 4: Mary's Bolt Boy (Ricardo Gonzalez/Mick Ruis, Sr.) won at odds of 50-to-1 and withstood an inquiry that seemingly didn't involve him even though his light was blinking in the replay box. Mirahmadi (Juan Hernandez/Bob Baffert) was demoted from third to fourth.

​

• Doug O'Neill had three winners in six races in which he sent out horses.
• Umberto Rispoli is in Japan as part of an international jockey challenge.

Century Mile (Alberta):

• Handle: $1.8 million.
• Card: Biggest race day of the year in Alberta.

• Race 11: Abeliefinthislivin (Amadeo Perez/Barbara Heads) was sent off the favorite in a field of 12 and won the $200,000 Grade 3 Canadian Derby. The winner was among the lcass in the race having run at places such as Oaklawn, Del Mar, Santa Anita and Churchill Downs.

 

[GKJ]

Another horse breaks down in the shadow of the wire? Yikes.

Tyler on two horses that broke down, which means some idiots will be out with pitchforks.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Another horse breaks down in the shadow of the wire? Yikes.

Tyler on two horses that broke down, which means some idiots will be out with pitchforks.

Indeed but the rider is coincidental. The sport will always have emotional critics and that is where the powers need to address any and all possibilities and even how it could be addressed politically in the months and years to come. The meet is scheduled to end Labor Day weekend. An impromptu meeting today to discuss whether to cancel the remaining dates or not.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Tyler Gaffalione is off his mounts today. He is scheduled and expected to ride at Saratoga and Kentucky Downs this week.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, August 31, 2023

• Brad Cox is 22 9-4-3 since and including August 20.

Saratoga (New York):

• Meeting: Earlier in the day, a meeting with various parties determined all surfaces safe with jockeys voices their opinions in support. The riders should know as well as anyone whether track conditions necessitate change even if for self-interests. The meetings included the equine medical director who was especially cautious and detailed in his analysis with which any determination would be in need of time. The meet is scheduled to end a week from tomorrow (Monday).
• Handle: $20 million.
• Card: Six of the 11 races held purses $200,000+. Each race was limited to horses foaled in New York state,
• Race 1: Soloshot (Manny Franco/George Weaver) won by more than seven lengths in an impressive debut. Weaver is a fantastic 29 13-3-3 (45%) with 2-year-olds in 2023 and 50% with those on turf. A remarkable achievement.

​

• Manny Franco rode four winners including the late daily double as part of a $121,000+ Pick 6.
• Christophe Clement sent out three horses and each returned victorious.
• Brad Cox sent out two starters and both returned victorious.
• Chad Brown placed with both starters today. He has won just once with his past 27 starters. He continues to be the winningest trainer at the meet, however.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Closing Day of the Meet: Leonel Reyes, a jockey I have touted often the past couple of years, won his first U.S. riding title and Saffie Joseph won the trainers' crown. The Sunshine Meet gets underway September 1 and runs through Nov. 26. Then onto the annually much-publicizes Championship Meet which opens Dec. 1. Gulfstream is a rarity in that it operates 12 months a year.

Ellis Park (Kentucky):

• Closing Day: Today concluded a successful meet in which handle improved by 18% from last year. Leaders by category: jockey Gerardo Corrales, trainer Brad Cox, and Godolphin ownership. Cox's title was his fifth at Ellis and he will be in the mix for Trainer of the Year when all is said and done. Ellis next operates in July 2024.
• Upcoming Kentucky Racing:
  • Kentucky Downs -- August 31 - September 13
  • Churchill Downs -- September 14 - October 1
  • Keeneland - October 6- October 28
  • Churchill Downs -- October 29 - November 26
  • Turfway -- November 29 - December 31.

Hawthorne (Illinois):

• Race 1: Awesome Sunday (Chris Emigh/Brittany Vanden Berg) had an awesome Sunday with an opening race win. The trainer has been hit-or-miss this meet. She is third at the meet with 22 wins but is just 38% in-the-money [64 22-8-8]. The winning jockey and trainer are married.

Del Mar (California):

• Meets: Racing July 21 - Sept 10 & Nov 10 - Dec 3, 2023.
• Race 9: Eda (Juan Hernandez/Bob Baffert) won the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap. The 4-year-old Munnings filly is 10 8-1-0 lifetime with seven straight wins. She last lost 23 months ago.

​

 

[RosensRug]

Back from a weekend at the Spa....Horrible incidents on Saturday, really have no words to describe what we have seen during this meet. Hoping that this is just a freak year and we never have anything like this ever again.

My first race yesterday was taken off the turf and so we scratched and will be running on Wednesday now. The stable is hopeful with this horse (LousRedemption) so we'll see what we got. Ninth race was a disaster, waiting to hear back from the Vet as we think she got a little banged up on the back stretch, thankfully nothing too serious as she was able to finish the race.

 

[GKJ]

Update:

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Meanwhile, there is the situation involving Jason Huayas following a starting gate incident at Monmouth (NJ):