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]

@

I've heard a ton of rumors about the Belmont going to Saratoga but nothing concrete just yet. The big question is the distance and where they would start the race from. My understanding is that for a mile and a half race the gate would just about be on the turn.

I would LOVE for it to happen and would do everything I could to make sure I'm in attendance for the day.

Rumors getting stronger that Belmont Stakes could move to Saratoga in both 2024 and 2025.

Separately, why would NYRA contemplate a surface change at Aqueduct if that track's lifespan is short?

 

[RosensRug]

@
Rumors getting stronger that Belmont Stakes could move to Saratoga in both 2024 and 2025.

Separately, why would NYRA contemplate a surface change at Aqueduct if that track's lifespan is short?

Aqueduct has until the new Belmont grandstand is finished which is projected for 2027. Assuming the fall and spring Belmont meets will be held at the big A for possibly 2025 and 2026 the synthetic track would get a decent amount of use.

They put in a synthetic training track at belmont a couple of years back and most of the trainers love it. Given that there's no grass racing during the winter having the option to run grass horses on the synthetic would be a welcome addition i think.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Christophe Clement finishes 1-2 in the opener. The man is a master on turf.

 

[RosensRug]

The rumors appear to be true about Belmont stakes being at Saratoga the next two summers.... Hotel rates quadrupled today... Glad i got mine locked in last week.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The rumors appear to be true about Belmont stakes being at Saratoga the next two summers.... Hotel rates quadrupled today... Glad i got mine locked in last week.

That is an indication. Now let's see if Maryland opts to change the date of the Preakness and if NYRA reacts.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Junior, my boy! 54-to-1 in the Hopeful. What a week for Junior Alvarado.

 

[RosensRug]

Junior, my boy! 54-to-1 in the Hopeful. What a week for Junior Alvarado.

Wish i had this one...

That is an indication. Now let's see if Maryland opts to change the date of the Preakness and if NYRA reacts.

Also looks like the Belmont will be a mile and a quarter so just one lap around

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Monday, September 4, 2023

John Velazquez has lost with his last 25 mounts since winning the Grade I on board Bolshoi Ballet on August 26.​

Saratoga (New York):

• Closing Day: Few sports venues can match the beauty of a day at Saratoga but this year was marred by too many devastating injuries to the equine athletes. Seven such injuries occurred during races. That will forever haunt this meet. Better days ahead. Perhaps there will be an extended meet in 2024 and 2025.
• Leading Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr. won the riders' crown with ease. Of the 19 jockeys with 3+ wins, Tyler Gaffalione had the top percentage at 21%.
• Leading Trainers: Linda Rice entered today two victories behind Chad Brown but with a win in the meet's last race, she tied for winningest trainer.

​

• Attendance: More than 1.1 million, a high since 2018.
• Handle: $799.2 million bet, the third highest in the track's 160-year history.
• Dual Winners: Javier Castellano, Christophe Clement and Linda Rice all won twice on the final day of the meet.
• The Ortiz Brothers: Though the duo finished 1-2 in the final standings, the brothers seemed to check out early finishing 15 1-2-1 today. The lone win was by Jose in the finale.
• Race 3: Pioneering Spirit (Jose Lezcano/Linda Rice) won the $150,000 Bernard Baruch Stakes.
• Race 10: Nutella Fella (Junior Alvarado/Gary Contessa) shocked the masses with a 54-to-1 shot victory in the Grade 1 $300,000 Hopeful Stakes, an unofficial Kentucky Derby prep race. Eighth in the stretch, the winner rallied strongly from the outside to take the important race. Nutella Fella broke his maiden in his debut at Delaware with Kevin Gomez riding for Richard Silliman. The $12,000 son -- yes, $12,000! -- to Runhappy was trained by Contessa who quit as a conditioner for about one year back in 2020 after 35 active years. This is unofficially Contessa's second career Grade I win.

​

• Race 11: The $.20 Pick 6 returned a massive $196,000+ Winners were 5-10-8-3-3-11

Timonium (Maryland):

• Final Day of the Meet: The fair meet ended. Onto Pimlico and then Laurel.
• Handle: $7.8 million for the brief meet, a total of 63 races, up 11% from 2022.
• Leading Jockey: Xavier Perez.
• Leading Trainer: John Robb with 9 wins. His wife Gina finished in second with 6 victories. She has just seven lifetime wins and began training last year.

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Canceled: Weather, heat.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Wish i had this one...

Also looks like the Belmont will be a mile and a quarter so just one lap around

Nice background story here. I thought the race was lost at the gate.

Nutella Fella rallies wide for 54-1 upset in Hopeful Stakes

The 2023 Saratoga meet ended the way it began – with trainer Gary Contessa pulling a stunning upset in a graded stakes for 2-year-olds.

www.drf.com

Contessa left New York a few years ago to work privately for Nick and Delora Beaver’s Bell Gable Stable in Delaware. While Contessa remains racing manager for the Beavers, he returned to New York this spring to open a public stable, comprised mostly of 2-year-olds.​

​

But there was always an understanding if the Beavers had a horse worthy of racing in New York, Contessa would get the horse.​

​

Nutella Fella won his debut July 26 at Delaware Park for trainer Richard Sillaman, overcoming significant gate issues. He shipped to Contessa in Saratoga soon after that.​

​

Contessa credited the New York Racing Association gate crew for working with Nutella Fella during the past month the colt has been here.​

​

“The New York gate crew made this happen as much as I did,” Contessa said.​

​

Monday, Nutella Fella acted up some at the gate and broke last under Junior Alvarado.​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Racing in North America struggled in many ways this summer but canceled races due to weather and wildfires from Canada were among the factors for a decrease in handle. One positive indicator is the increase in purse money.

YTD 2023 vs. YTD 2022
Indicator	YTD 2023	YTD 2022	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$8,249,313,338	$8,601,074,739	-4.09%
U.S. Purses (Available)	$854,882,701	$843,731,568	+1.32%
U.S. Purses (Paid)	$819,847,264	$813,549,148	+0.77%
U.S. Race Days	2,693	2,819	-4.47%
U.S. Races	21,934	22,805	-3.82%
U.S. Starts	160,102	163,766	-2.24%
Average Field Size	7.30	7.18	+1.64%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,063,243	$3,051,108	+0.40%
Average Available Purses Per Race Day	$317,446	$288,595	+10.00%

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Saratoga figures now confirmed. Races off the turf significantly dented handle.

Saratoga by the numbers (2023 vs. 2022)

Inclement weather forced 65 races off the turf, compared with 16 in 2022, which largely accounted for the nine percent decline in all-sources handle when compared to the record-setting wagering in 2022.

Average daily paid attendance surged past 27,000 for the first time since 2019 to finish at 27,642.

Total paid attendance: 1,105,683 vs. 1,075,586 (+2.8%)

Average daily paid attendance: 27,642

Races off the turf: 65 vs. 16 (+306%)

Races cancelled due to weather (8/4/2023): 4

All-sources handle: $799,229,288 vs. $878,211,963 (-9.0%)

Average daily handle: $19,980,732

Total on-track handle: $142,918,763 vs. $152,274,728 (-6.1%)

Total races: 410 (270 dirt and 140 turf) vs. 417 (218 dirt and 199 turf)

Average field size: 7.64 vs. 7.76 (-1.6%)


Number of timed workouts since Saratoga opened for training in April: 10,738

Source: Paulick Report​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Maryland and New York are talking. Here we go!

Maryland has stated that the decision-makers will comply with an October 31 deadline as to whether the Preakness will be changed from the traditional two weeks following the Ky. Derby. New York has a vested interest whether the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga (too soon?) will have a date change from its usual spot five weeks following the Derby.

A Triple Crown possibility on July 4 weekend at Saratoga? That sentence would have been considered laughable just months ago.

 

[GKJ]

Something feels funny about having the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Something feels funny about having the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga

It could be horse racing's version of the Yankees playing all home games in Shea/Queens as happened back in the 70s.

Then again there is the Arlington Million in Virginia.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Wish i had this one...

I usually don't like when jocks fist-pump or celebrate another's win instantly but Javier Castellano and Junior Alvarado are fellow countrymen and rarities as Venezuelans in New York. Many Puerto Rican-schooled jocks ride there as you know but Castellano and Alvarado have formed a bond. Junior considered himself an outsider a few years back.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Horse Racing on TV and elsewhere from Thursday through Sunday:

​

Sept. 7	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	FanDuel TV
Sept. 7	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	Racetrack Television Network
Sept. 8	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	FanDuel TV
Sept. 8	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	Racetrack Television Network
Sept. 8	Harness racing: New Jersey Classic Series	9 p.m.-11 p.m.	FS2
Sept. 9	Irish Champion Stakes from Leopardstown	9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.	FS2
Sept. 9	Live coverage of horse racing including Breeders' Cup preps at Kentucky Downs	post time varies	FanDuel TV
Sept. 9	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	Racetrack Television Network
Sept. 9	Harness racing: Ohio Night of Champions	8 p.m.-11 p.m.	FS2
Sept. 10	Live coverage of horse racing including closing day at Del Mar	post time varies	FanDuel TV
Sept. 10	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	Racetrack Television Network

With New York (NYRA tracks) dark until September 14, Kentucky Downs will get much attention on its race days. Saturday has two Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races and both are at Ky..Downs.

Kentucky Downs' card for Saturday:

Race	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
1	$150,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 F	Turf	16	11:30 AM CT
2	$150,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 M	Turf	16	12:05 PM CT
3	$1,000,000	Aristocrat Ladies Marathon S.	1 5/16 M	Turf	6	12:40 PM CT
4	$160,000	Allowance	1 M	Turf	16	1:15 PM CT
5	$150,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 M	Turf	16	1:51 PM CT
6	$170,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 5/16 M	Turf	16	2:27 PM CT
7	$150,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 M	Turf	16	3:04 PM CT
8	$1,000,000	Exacta Systems Franklin-Simpson S.	6 1/2 F	Turf	16	3:40 PM CT
9	$1,000,000	Castle Hill Gaming Ladies Turf S.	1 M	Turf	7	4:16 PM CT
10	$1,000,000	Ainsworth Turf Sprint S.	6 F	Turf	13	4:54 PM CT
11	$1,000,000	AGS Ladies Turf Sprint S.	6 1/2 F	Turf	9	5:30 PM CT
12	$1,700,000	FanDuel Kentucky Turf Cup S.	1 1/2 M	Turf	16	6:05 PM CT

Colonial Downs has an ideal card for turf players on Saturday:

Race	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
1	$75,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 1/8 M	Turf	6	1:30 PM ET
2	$45,000	Maiden Claiming	6 F	Dirt	8	1:58 PM ET
3	$40,000	Starter Optional Claiming	1 1/16 M	Turf	10	2:26 PM ET
4	$45,000	Maiden Claiming	1 1/16 M	Turf	8	2:56 PM ET
5	$70,000	Allowance	1 1/16 M	Turf	13	3:25 PM ET
6	$150,000	Da Hoss S.	5 1/2 F	Turf	10	3:58 PM ET
7	$125,000	Kitten's Joy S.	1 1/16 M	Turf	13	4:33 PM ET
8	$125,000	Exacta Systems Rosie's S.	5 1/2 F	Turf	11	5:10 PM ET
9	$250,000	Virginia Oaks	1 1/8 M	Turf	8	5:45 PM ET
10	$500,000	New Kent County Virginia Derby	1 1/8 M	Turf	11	6:20 PM ET
11	$150,000	Colonial Cup S.	1 1/2 M	Turf	11	6:55 PM ET

Del Mar's card for Saturday:

Race	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
1	$42,000	Maiden Claiming	5 1/2 F	Dirt	10	1:30 PM PT
2	$30,000	Claiming	6 F	Dirt	12	2:00 PM PT
3	$82,000	Maiden Special Weight	5 1/2 F	Dirt	14	2:30 PM PT
4	$82,000	Maiden Special Weight	5 1/2 F	Dirt	10	3:00 PM PT
5	$100,000	Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf S.	1 M	Turf	11	3:30 PM PT
6	$37,000	Claiming	6 F	Dirt	13	4:00 PM PT
7	$250,000	John C. Mabee S.	1 1/8 M	Turf	6	4:30 PM PT
8	$43,000	Starter Allowance	6 F	Dirt	13	5:00 PM PT
9	$83,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 M	Turf	13	5:30 PM PT
10	$300,000	FanDuel Racing Del Mar Debutante S.	7 F	Dirt	14	6:00 PM PT
11	$82,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 M	Turf	16	6:30 PM PT

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Whether fully accurate or not, still a good story if you tried to beat a 1-to-25 shot at Luton (England). Something that happened just once in British history (in 1948) happened again as a 1-to-25 shot lost, the largest favorite to lose in the nation's history dating back to the 18th century when gambling was instituted... well, if accounts date that far.

Still... Doom is doomed.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Officials looking into Saratoga as a possible Breeders' Cup host if all works well with the Belmont Stakes. Weather could be risky. Hotels prices for that potential weekend would be somewhere between enormous and insane.

 

[RosensRug]

Officials looking into Saratoga as a possible Breeders' Cup host if all works well with the Belmont Stakes. Weather could be risky. Hotels prices for that potential weekend would be somewhere between enormous and insane.

A breeders cup in Saratoga would be wild. I could see the embassy and hilton charging 2K a night.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

September 7, 2023

Colonial Downs (Virginia):

• Antonio Gallardo had a 4-bagger wining consecutive races early and late on the card.

Horseshoe Indianapolis (Indiana):

• Race 6: Big Paper (German Terraza/Tianna Richardville) was the longest shot on the board at 61-to-1 yet finished strongly to victory. The $2 exacta was a gigantic $1,100+. The $2 double however was $157. I would expect $9.80 and $124.60 winners pay more than $157 for a $2 double, however. The trainer operates a farm about 10 minutes from the track.
• Race 7: The $.50 Pick 3 paid $1,500+.,
• Replays of all Races: The most visually appealing simulcast feed out there, IMO.

​

Kentucky Downs (Kentucky):

• Meet: Four days down, three to go.
• Race 9: Sister Lou Ann (Jose Ortiz/Saffie Joseph, Jr.) won the $500,000 Jeff Ruby One Dreamer Stakes.

​

• Tyler Gaffalione had a 3-win day to take the lead of the riders' standings at the meet which has now passed the halfway point.
• Brendan Walsh trained three wins and is now the leading trainer at the meet. Tyler Gaffalione (2) and Declan Cannon (1), the latter, perhaps a surprise being third in wins this meet.
• Struggles: John Velazquez traditionally struggles at this track and this year he is 13 0-0-4. Joel Rosario is at 8% but I have a feeling we haven't heard the best yet from him. Steve Asmussen, at 17 0-3-2, is among some top trainers including current Hall of Fame members who are struggling to varying degrees this meet. The course is unique to North America and bills itself as the only all-European style track.

Trainers​	Starts	Win-Place-Show​
Steve Asmussen​	17	0-3-2​
Mark Casse​	8	1-2-1​
Chad Brown​	6	0-1-1​
Wesley Ward​	7	0-0-1​
Todd Pletcher​	12	1-2-2​
TOTALS​	50	2-8-7​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday at Del Mar.

Bob Baffert debuting on turf is irregular but here goes...

PP	Horse	A/S	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer
1	Ambiguous (KY)	2/R	H I Berrios	120	P Miller
2	Sharpazano (KY)	2/G	G Franco	120	M Glatt
3	Rastaman Vibe (KY)	2/C	E A Maldonado	120	R Hanson
4	Formidable Man (KY)	2/C	F Prat	120	M W McCarthy
5	Lake Superior (KY)	2/C	J J Hernandez	120	B Baffert
6	American Flyer (KY)	2/C	T J Pereira	120	D Pederson
7	Ngannou (KY)	2/C	U Rispoli	120	M W McCarthy
8	Grogu (KY)	2/G	D A Herrera	120	P D'Amato
9	Duccio (KY)	2/C	R A Vazquez	120	N D Drysdale
10	Long Jacket (CA)	2/C	R Gonzalez	120	J W Sadler
11	Ocala Kid (FL) (AE)	2/C	A Alsagoor	120	P Miller
12	Nesso's Lastharrah (FL) (AE)	2/C	H I Berrios	120	J Mullins
13	Ringtone (KY) (AE)	2/C	R Gonzalez	120	P A Oviedo
14	Ready to Storm (KY) (AE)	2/C	T J Pereira	120	D F O'Neill

Race	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
1	$30,000	Maiden Claiming	6 1/2 F	Dirt	9	1:30 PM PT
2	$82,000	Maiden Special Weight	5 1/2 F	Dirt	12	1:59 PM PT
3	$43,000	Starter Allowance	1 1/16 M	Turf	13	2:29 PM PT
4	$82,000	Maiden Special Weight	5 1/2 F	Dirt	13	2:59 PM PT
5	$82,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 M	Turf	14	3:29 PM PT
6	$83,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	6 1/2 F	Dirt	15	3:59 PM PT
7	$100,000	Del Mar Juvenile Turf S.	1 M	Turf	9	4:29 PM PT
8	$83,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 M	Dirt	9	4:59 PM PT
9	$83,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	5 F	Turf	14	5:29 PM PT
10	$300,000	Runhappy Del Mar Futurity	7 F	Dirt	7	5:59 PM PT
11	$82,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 M	Turf	12	6:29 PM PT

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Friday, September 8, 2023

• NYRA tracks are dark until Thursday when Aqueduct resumes racing until perhaps May or June, 2023.

Pimlico (Maryland):

• Opening Day: The meet runs 9/8/2023-9/24/2023.
• Laurel runs: 9/29/2023-12/31/2023.
• Axel Concepcion had two wins, both for Jamie Ness. Concepcion could be a leading contender for Apprentice of the Year in North America.

Colonial Downs (Virginia):

• Penultimate Day of the Meet:

​

​

​

• Mychal Sanchez won with his first three mounts amid a 4-win day.

Del Mar (California):

• Race 2: Soho (Umberto Rispoli/John Sadler) gave the jockey a win with his first ride since escaping what some thought was a serious injury that led to hospitalization on August 31. Rispoli, one of the top turf riders in California, last won August 19 as part of a 3-win day but was limited to one ride, resulting in injury, since then.

​

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Sofia Vives had a career-day winning four times. She has 71 lifetime wins. She is a South Carolinian by birth and raised in Florida's horse country.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

2024 Kentucky Derby preps:

Series Races	Last Year	This Year
Early Prep Season	10-4-3-2-1	10-5-3-2-1
Breeders' Cup	30-12-9-6-3	30-15-9-6-3
Late Prep Season	20-8-6-4-2	20-10-6-4-2
Early Championship Series	50-20-15-10-5	50-25-15-10-5
Late Championship Series	100-40-30-20-10	100-50-25-15-10

2023-24 ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY SCHEDULE: 37 RACES

Kentucky Derby Prep Season

Date	Race	Racetrack	Grade	Purse	Distance	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
Sept. 16, 2023	Iroquois	Churchill Downs	III	$300,000	1 M	10	5	3	2	1
Oct. 7, 2023	Champagne	Aqueduct	I	$500,000	1 M	10	5	3	2	1
Oct. 7, 2023	Breeders' Futurity	Keeneland	I	$600,000	1 1/16 M	10	5	3	2	1
Oct. 7, 2023	American Pharoah	Santa Anita	I	$300,000	1 1/16 M	10	5	3	2	1
Oct. 29, 2023	Street Sense	Churchill Downs	III	$200,000	1 1/16 M	10	5	3	2	1
Nov. 3, 2023	Breeders' Cup Juvenile	Santa Anita	I	$2,000,000	1 1/16 M	30	15	9	6	3
Nov. 25, 2023	Kentucky Jockey Club	Churchill Downs	II	$400,000	1 1/16 M	10	5	3	2	1
Dec. 2, 2023	Remsen	Aqueduct	II	$250,000	1 1/8 M	10	5	3	2	1
*Dec. 9, 2023	Los Alamitos Futurity	Los Alamitos	II	*$200,000	1 1/16 M	10	5	3	2	1
Dec. 15, 2023	Springboard Mile	Remington Park		$300,000	1 M	10	5	3	2	1
Dec. 23, 2023	Gun Runner	Fair Grounds		$100,000	1 1/16 M	10	5	3	2	1
Jan. 1, 2024	Smarty Jones	Oaklawn Park		$300,000	1 1/16 M	10	5	3	2	1
*Jan. 6, 2024	Jerome	Aqueduct		*$150,000	1 M	10	5	3	2	1
*Jan. 7, 2024	Sham	Santa Anita	III	*$100,000	1 M	10	5	3	2	1
Jan. 20, 2024	Lecomte	Fair Grounds	III	$200,000	1 1/16 M	20	10	6	4	2
Jan. 27, 2024	Southwest	Oaklawn Park	III	$800,000	1 1/16 M	20	10	6	4	2
*Feb. 3, 2024	Holy Bull	Gulfstream Park	III	*$250,000	1 1/16 M	20	10	6	4	2
*Feb. 3, 2024	Robert B. Lewis	Santa Anita	III	*$200,000	1 1/16 M	20	10	6	4	2
*Feb. 10, 2024	Withers	Aqueduct	III	*$250,000	1 1/8 M	20	10	6	4	2
Feb. 10, 2024	Sam F. Davis	Tampa Bay Downs	III	$250,000	1 1/16 M	20	10	6	4	2
*March 2, 2024	John Battaglia Memorial	Turfway Park		*$150,000	1 1/16 M (AW)	20	10	6	4	2

Kentucky Derby Championship Series

Feb. 17, 2024	Risen Star	Fair Grounds	II	$400,000	1 1/8 M	50	25	15	10	5
Feb, 18, 2024	Sunland Derby	Sunland Park	III	*$600,000	*1 1/8 M	20	10	6	4	2
Feb. 24, 2024	Rebel	Oaklawn Park	II	$1,250,000	1 1/16 M	50	25	15	10	5
*March 2, 2024	Gotham	Aqueduct	III	*$300,000	1 M	50	25	15	10	5
*March 2, 2024	San Felipe	Santa Anita	II	*$400,000	1 1/16 M	50	25	15	10	5
*March 2, 2024	Fountain of Youth	Gulfstream Park	II	*$400,000	1 1/16 M	50	25	15	10	5
March 9, 2024	Tampa Bay Derby	Tampa Bay Downs	II	$400,000	1 1/16 M	50	25	15	10	5
*March 23, 2024	Jeff Ruby Steaks	Turfway Park	III	*$700,000	1 1/8 M (AW)	100	50	25	15	10
March 23, 2024	Louisiana Derby	Fair Grounds	II	$1,000,000	1 3/16 M	100	50	25	15	10
March 30, 2024	UAE Derby	Meydan Racecourse	II	*$1,000,000	1 3/16 M	100	50	25	15	10
*March 30, 2024	Florida Derby	Gulfstream Park	I	*$1,000,000	1 1/8 M	100	50	25	15	10
March 30, 2024	Arkansas Derby	Oaklawn Park	I	$1,500,000	1 1/8 M	100	50	25	15	10
*April 6, 2024	Wood Memorial	Aqueduct	II	*$750,000	1 1/8 M	100	50	25	15	10
*April 6, 2024	Blue Grass	Keeneland	I	*$1,000,000	1 1/8 M	100	50	25	15	10
*April 6, 2024	Santa Anita Derby	Santa Anita	I	*$750,000	1 1/8 M	100	50	25	15	10
*April 13, 2024	Lexington	Keeneland	III	*$400,000	1 1/16 M	20	10	6	4	2

* = Race dates and distances to be announced by host track; date based on recent historical placement. … Schedule subject to change. … (AW) = Synthetic.

2023-24 EUROPEAN ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY SCHEDULE

EUROPEAN ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY – First staged in 2018, the “European Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve” is a stand-alone series that is separate from America's “Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve” series. Only one invitation to compete in the Kentucky Derby will be extended with preference given to the horses with the most points in the “European Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve” series. No invitation will be extended beyond the Top 4 point earners but if a horse also qualifies through America's “Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve” series, the invite will be extended to the next eligible horse. If two or more horses have the same number of points, the tiebreakers are earnings in non-restricted stakes races through April 13, 2024 followed by lifetime earnings through April 13, 2024. In the case of remaining ties, the additional starter(s) and/or also-eligible horses shall be determined by lot (aka a “shake”). Any points earned in America's “Road to the Kentucky Derby” will be credited to the horse's point total in the “European Road to the Kentucky Derby.” Since 1967, there have been 53 horses who previously raced outside North America and ran in the Kentucky Derby. Venezuela's Canonero II won the 1971 Derby and Puerto Rico's Bold Forbes won the Derby in 1976. Bold Arrangement (GB), who was campaigned in Great Britain and France, finished second to Ferdinand in the 1986 renewal.

2023-24 EUROPEAN ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY SCHEDULE: 7 RACES

Date	Race	Racetrack	Grade	Purse	Distance	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
Sept. 23, 2023	Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford	Curragh (IRE)	II	$127,000	1 M (T)	10	5	3	2	1
Sept. 30, 2023	Juddmonte Royal Lodge	Newmarket (GB)	II	$150,000	1 M (T)	10	5	3	2	1
Oct. 1, 2023	Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère	Longchamp (FR)	I	$425,000	7 F (T)	10	5	3	2	1
Oct. 28, 2023	Vertem Futurity Trophy	Doncaster (GB)	I	$240,000	1 M (T)	10	5	3	2	1
*March 1, 2024	Patton	Dundalk (IRE)		*$40,000	1 M (AW)	20	10	6	4	2
*March 13, 2024	Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes	Kempton (GB)		*$72,000	1 M (AW)	20	10	6	4	2
*March 30, 2024	Cardinal Condition Stakes	Chelmsford City (GB)		*$121,000	1 M (AW)	30	15	9	6	3

* = Race dates and distances to be announced by host track; date based on recent historical placement. … Schedule subject to change. … (T) = Turf … (AW) = Synthetic.

JAPAN ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY – First staged in 2017, the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve” is a stand-alone series that is separate from America's “Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve” series. Only one invitation to compete in the Kentucky Derby will be extended with preference given to the horses with the most points in the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve” series. If a horse also qualifies through America's “Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve” series, an additional invite could be extended. If two or more horses have the same number of points, the tiebreaker is lifetime earnings through April 13, 2024. In the case of remaining ties, the additional starter(s) and/or also-eligible horses shall be determined by lot (aka a “shake”). Any points earned in America's “Road to the Kentucky Derby” will be credited to the horse's point total in the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.” Six horses based in Japan have run in the Kentucky Derby: Ski Captain (14th, 1995); Lani (9th, 2016); Master Fencer (JPN) (6th, 2019); Crown Pride (JPN) (13th in 2022); Derma Sotogake (JPN) (6th in 2023); and Mandarin Hero (JPN) (12th in 2023).

2023-24 JAPAN ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY SCHEDULE: 4 RACES

Date	Race	Racetrack	Grade	Purse	Distance	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
Nov. 25, 2023	Cattleya	Tokyo (JRA)		*$220,000	1 M	10	5	3	2	1
Dec. 13, 2023	Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun	Kawasaki (NAR)		*$527,000	1 M	20	10	6	4	2
*Feb. 18, 2024	Hyacinth	Tokyo (JRA)		*$274,000	1 M	30	15	9	6	3
*March 23, 2024	Fukuryu	Nakayama (JRA)		*$265,000	1 1/8 M	40	20	12	8	4

* = Race dates and distances to be announced by host track; date based on recent historical placement. … Schedule subject to change.

HOW TO GET INTO THE KENTUCKY OAKS STARTING GATE – The Road to the Kentucky Oaks is a series that awards points to the Top 5 finishers in each race. The Top 14 point earners nominated to the Longines Kentucky Oaks will earn a spot in the starting gate for the 150th running of the Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I), which is scheduled for Friday, May 3, 2024. The 1 1/8-mile Oaks is the nation's premier race for 3-year-old fillies. At least 14 horses have entered the race in eight of the last nine years (a rescheduled September 2020 in the lone exception).

2023-24 ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY OAKS SCHEDULE: 32 RACES

Date	Race	Racetrack	Grade	Purse	Distance	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
Sept. 16, 2023	Pocahontas	Churchill Downs	III	$300,000	1 M	10	5	3	2	1
Oct. 6, 2023	Alcibiades	Keeneland	I	$600,000	1 1/16 M	10	5	3	2	1
Oct. 7, 2023	Frizette	Aqueduct	I	$400,000	1 M	10	5	3	2	1
Oct. 7, 2023	Chandelier	Santa Anita	II	$200,000	1 1/16 M	10	5	3	2	1
Oct. 29, 2023	Rags to Riches	Churchill Downs		$200,000	1 1/16 M	10	5	3	2	1
Nov. 3, 2023	Breeders' Cup Juv. Fillies	Santa Anita	I	$2,000,000	1 1/16 M	30	15	9	6	3
Nov. 25, 2023	Golden Rod	Churchill Downs	II	$400,000	1 1/16 M	10	5	3	2	1
Dec. 2, 2023	Demoiselle	Aqueduct	II	$250,000	1 1/8 M	10	5	3	2	1
*Dec. 9, 2023	Starlet	Los Alamitos	I	*$300,000	1 1/16 M	10	5	3	2	1
Dec. 23, 2023	Untapable	Fair Grounds		$100,000	1 M 70 Y	10	5	3	2	1
*Jan. 7, 2024	Santa Ynez	Santa Anita	II	*$200,000	7 F	10	5	3	2	1
*Jan. 13, 2024	Busanda	Aqueduct		*$100,000	1 1/8 M	20	10	6	4	2
Jan. 20, 2024	Silverbulletday	Fair Grounds	II	$150,000	1 M 70 Y	20	10	6	4	2
Jan. 27, 2024	Martha Washington	Oaklawn Park		$250,000	1 1/16 M	20	10	6	4	2
*Jan. 27, 2024	Las Virgenes	Santa Anita	III	*$200,000	1 M	20	10	6	4	2
*Feb. 3, 2024	Forward Gal	Gulfstream Park	III	*$125,000	7 F	20	10	6	4	2
Feb. 10, 2024	Suncoast	Tampa Bay Downs		$150,000	1 M 40 Y	20	10	6	4	2
*March 2, 2024	Cincinnati Trophy	Turfway Park		*$150,000	1 M (AW)	20	10	6	4	2

Championship Series

*Feb. 16, 2024	UAE Oaks	Meydan Racecourse	III	*$150,000	1 3/16 M	50	25	15	10	5
Feb. 17, 2024	Rachel Alexandra	Fair Grounds	II	$300,000	1 1/16 M	50	25	15	10	5
Feb. 18, 2024	Sunland Park Oaks	Sunland Park		*$300,000	1 1/16 M	20	10	6	4	2
Feb. 24, 2024	Honeybee	Oaklawn Park	III	$400,000	1 1/16 M	50	25	15	10	5
*March 2, 2024	Davona Dale	Gulfstream Park	II	*$200,000	1 M	50	25	15	10	5
*March 2, 2024	Busher	Aqueduct		*$200,000	1 M	50	25	15	10	5
*March 3, 2024	Santa Ysabel	Santa Anita	III	*$100,000	1 1/16 M	50	25	15	10	5
March 23, 2024	Fair Grounds Oaks	Fair Grounds	II	$400,000	1 1/16 M	100	50	25	15	10
*March 23, 2024	Bourbonette Oaks	Turfway Park		*$300,000	1 1/16 M (AW)	50	25	15	10	5
*March 30, 2024	Gulfstream Park Oaks	Gulfstream Park	II	*$250,000	1 1/16 M	100	50	25	15	10
March 30, 2024	Fantasy	Oaklawn Park	III	$750,000	1 1/16 M	100	50	25	15	10
*April 5, 2024	Ashland	Keeneland	I	*$600,000	1 1/16 M	100	50	25	15	10
*April 6, 2024	Gazelle	Aqueduct	III	*$250,000	1 1/8 M	100	50	25	15	10
*April 6, 2024	Santa Anita Oaks	Santa Anita	II	*$400,000	1 1/16 M	100	50	25	15	10

* = Race dates and distances to be announced by host track; date based on recent historical placement. … Schedule subject to change. … (AW) = Synthetic.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, September 9, 2023

• Chad Brown's excellence at NYRA has not transferred elsewhere. The trainer has lost 42 of his last 45 starts outside of NYRA (Saratoga) dating to very late July. He is a combined 1-for-18 at Kentucky Downs and Colonial Downs for those meets. He did win at Kentucky Downs today in a MSW but it was his lone victory with 10 horses sent out.
• John Velazquez's pitiful history at Kentucky Downs continues as he is 0-for-20 this meet.
• Mark Casse had a 3- win day including graded stakes at Woodbine and Kentucky Downs.
• Bolt d'Oro had two major victories. Turning into a superb young sire.
• Diego Velazquez, Tahiyra and Auguste Rodin won Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races in Leopardstown (Ireland). All there were foaled in Ireland.

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Delaware Park (Delaware):

• Race 10: Double O Otto (Felix Astudillo/James Lawrence) gave the jockey his first win.

Colonial Downs (Virginia):

• Closing Day: Today was the finale for the meet. As Trevor McCarthy said "the best turf course in America and (even more so than) Tampa Bay."

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• Race 9: Thirty Thou Kelvin (Trevor McCarthy/John Terranova) won the $250,000 Virginia Oaks in what may have been the ride of the day. The amount of energy exerted by McCarthy should be released as a homemade "How To Ride" video and that is in addition to the filly's excellence. The filly did not quit and as stated by the track announcer, she was "resilient" in winning by a neck at 11-to-1.

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• Race 10: Integration (Kendrick Carmouche/Shug McGaughey) won the $500,000 Grade 3 Virginia Derby.

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Kentucky Downs (Kentucky):

• Handle: $18 million+.
• Joel Rosario rode three winners.
• Florent Geroux-Jonathan Thomas teamed to win two $1,000,000 races.
• Meet Leaders: Florent Geroux (6 wins), Tyler Gaffalione (6), Jose Ortiz (5) and Joel Rosario (5) among jockeys and Brendan Walsh (6) leads all trainers.
• Race 3: Vergara (Joel Rosario/Graham Motion) won the $1,000,000 Grade 3 Ladies Marathon Stakes.

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• Race 8: Private Creed (Joel Rosario/Steve Asmussen) won the $1,000,000 Grade 2 Franklin-Simpson Stakes.

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• Race 9: Regal Realm (Florent Geroux/Jonathan Thomas) won the $1,000,000 Grade 3 Ladies Turf Stakes.

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• Race 10: Gear Jockey (Jose Lezcano/Rusty Arnold) won the $1,000,000 Grade 2 Turf Sprint Stakes in a thriller in which the top six horses were all separated by a head or a neck. This is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race.

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• Race 11: Bay Storm (Florent Geroux/Jonathan Thomas) won the $1,000,000 Grade 2 Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes.
• Race 12: Get Smokin (Fernando De La Cruz/Mark Casse) wired the field at 12-to-1 to win the Grade 2 $1.7 million Kentucky Turf Club Stakes, a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race. The 6-year-old gelding has raced 27 times and earned over $1.6 million; he cost just $11,000 at a sale in 2018. Undoubtedly, the biggest win in the rider's career. The $.50 Pick 5 returned over $88,000.

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Canterbury (Minnesota):

• Festival of Champions Day: Six stakes offering $500,000 in purses for Minnesota-breds.
• Harry Hernandez rode five winners including four straight victories from race 5 through 8.
• Richard Grunder, former track announcer at places in New Mexico, Saskatchewan and many other spots but most notably Tampa Bay Downs (FL), stated something which piqued my interest. He talked of 2-year-olds in his history and said War Pass was "the best horse I've seen since Secretariat." War Pass my very early 2-year-old pick to win the Kentucky Derby and who began his career at a perfect 5-for-5 but lost in the Ky. Derby prep, the Tampa Bay Derby, at odds of 1-to-20 and never truly recovered from injury.

Arapahoe (Colorado):

• Race 7: Virtually (Adrian Ramos/Temple Rushton) won the stakes race by an enormous 23 lengths at imposing odds of 1-to-9...or whatever is unofficially lower that than.

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Del Mar (California):

• Handle: $17 million.
• Penultimate Day: The meet ends tomorrow. Southern Cal racing turns to Los Alamitos from 9/15/2023-9/24/2023.
• Race 5: Flattery (Juan Hernandez/Peter Eurton) won the $100,000 Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes.
• Race 7: Closing Remarks (Umberto Rispoli/Carla Gaines) won the Grade 4 $250,000 John C. Mabee Stakes.
• Race 10: Tamara (Mike Smith/Richard Mandella) is on the verge of something special. The Bolt d'Oro filly by the impeccable Beholder is 2-for-2 after winning the Grade I $350,000 Del Mar Debutante by a dominating 6+ lengths.

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MORE ON TAMARA....

Tamara makes statement with easy Del Mar Debutante victory

Tamara, the filly with championship bloodlines, jumped to the fore of the nation’s juvenile filly division with an elegant win in her stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at Del Mar.

www.drf.com

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Tamara makes statement with easy Del Mar Debutante victory​

DEL MAR, Calif. - The hype is real. She’s her mother’s daughter.

Tamara, the filly with championship bloodlines, jumped to the fore of the nation’s juvenile filly division with an elegant win in her stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at Del Mar.

Tamara won the seven-furlong race with such ease that Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith was left in awe of her potential as major races such as the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita on Nov. 3 draw closer.

Tamara stalked pacesetter Pushiness to the turn before drawing away to win by 6 3/4 furlongs, finishing in 1:22

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Race 5: Hockey (Patrick Husbands/Mark Casse) broke his maiden. Hunch bettors rejoice.
• Race 8: Palazzi (Sahin Civaci/Mark Casse) won the Grade 3 $150,000 Singspiel Stakes.

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• Race 10: Moira (Rafael Hernandez/Kevin Attard) won the Grade 2 $200,000 Canadian Stakes in impressive fashion. The 4-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper has earned $1.1 million in 11 starts. Moira is the reigning Canadian Horse of the Year but entered off five straight losses including three second-place spots in 2023.

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[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, September 10. 2023

Monmouth (New Jersey):

• Final Day: Monmouth's meet concluded today. Thoroughbred racing in New Jersey shifts to the Meadowlands for a 10-day, all-turf meet that starts Friday, Sept. 15. The meet will run for five consecutive Fridays and Saturdays. Meadowlands' harness has been among racing success stories in 2023. Monmouth will re-open unofficially in May 2024.

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• Leading Jockey: Paco Lopez dominated the standings with 76 victories.
• Leading Trainer: Claudio Gonzalez dominated the standings with 46 wins. New Yorkers Chad Brown and Robert Falcone had high win percentages.
• Handle: Average total handle was $4,032,648 in 2023, an 11.4% increase over last year's average of $3,620,719.
• Race 10: Thedingoateyobaby (Jairo Rendon/Brittany Russell) won the final race of the meet. I am told the name of the horse is a reference to a TV show. In any event, Russell won three more times today (two in Maryland) and 5x the past two days. Go Brit go!

Pimlico (Maryland):

• Race 5: Swill (Sheldon Russell/Brittany Russell) won the Challendon Stakes. Due to track conditions, the field was reduced to three.

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• Race 8: Whiskey and Rye (Xavier Perez/John Robb) was the longest shot on the board at 9-to-1 but won the Sensible Lady Turf Dash. The duo rider-trainer is typically almost always formidable.

Kentucky Downs (Kentucky):

• Day Six of Seven: Wednesday ends the popular meet.
• Race 10: Austere (Tyler Gaffalione/Brendan Walsh), who had an attention-grabbing 15-to-1 m/l but was sent off at a more reasonable 4-to-1 following select scratches, won the $500,000 Juvenile Fillies Stakes.

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• Race 9: Aspenite (Cristian Torres/Steve Asmussen) won the $500.000 Juvenile Mile Stakes.

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• Race 4: What a way to lose.... or win!

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• Cristian Torres and Tyler Gaffalione both won three times, the latter rode the card.
• Leading Jockeys: Tyler Gaffalione has a 3-win lead in the riders' standings with nine victories. Deep fields, he also saw the other side of glory finishing 10th or worse five times. Florent Geroux and Joel Rosario have six apiece.
• Leading Trainers: Brendan Walsh (6 wins; 26%) and Michael Maker (5 wins).
• John Velazquez, Hall of Famer who traditionally has difficulty at the track, is now 0-for-24 at the meet. Going back to 2018, he is 1-for-57 at Kentucky Downs.

Arapahoe (Colorado):

• Stakes: Five of the eight races were stakes.
• Race 6: A huge disparity between the $2 exacta ($35) and the $2 tri ($1,333). The 5 was sent off at 15-to-1 and yet paid $51 to show when the prohibitive favorite ran off-the-board.
• Race 7: A sizeable difference between the $2 exacta ($417) and the $2 tri ($2,583).

Del Mar (California):

• Final Day of the Meet. The track handled $526.1 million ($17.5m per card) which was down about $50m from 2022. Next up: Los Alamitos from 9/15/2023-9/24/2023. Santa Anita follows that which includes hosting the Breeders' Cup. Del Mar re-opens November 10 for a meet that ends December 3.
• Leading Jockey: Juan Hernandez with 39 wins. Newcomer Antonio Fresu finished second with 31 wins in his first full-year of riding in the US from Europe. He was suspended however for crop violations (32 days through October 9) in what didn't sit too well with some observers.
• Leading Trainer: Phil D'Amato had a one-win advantage over Bob Baffert, 21-20. Baffert nicked him in earnings.
• Michael McCarthy entered horses in four races, three resulted in victories.
• Race 10: Prince of Monaco (Flavien Prat/Bob Baffert), sent off at the smallest odds possible, beat stablemate Mirahmadi (Juan Hernandez/Bob Baffert) in the Grade I $300,000 Del Mar Futurity. This was Baffert's 17th win in this race including the past three years and 10th victory since 2008. Among his past winners in this race are Silver Charm, Lookin at Lucky and American Pharoah. Prince of Monaco, a 2-year-old son to Speightstown, is a perfect 3 3-0-0. He cost $950,000 at auction. All systems go.

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• Race 7: Endlessly (Juan Hernandez/Michael McCarthy) won the $100,000 Grade 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes. McCarthy sent out three horses and finished 1-2.

• Race 5: Formidable Man (Flavien Prat/Michael McCarthy), a $375,000 son to City of Light, won at 4-to-1 in his debut.

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• Race 4: Sandy Bottom (Umberto Rispoli/Michael McCarthy) won the $82,000 MSW in a debut performance.
• Bob Baffert's three maidens ran off the board including the $1.05 million Lake Superior who debuted to fourth in race 5.

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Sahin Civaci rode three winners including two stakes.
• Race 8: Sacred Dancer (Sahin Civaci/Don Pleterski) won the $100,000 Zadracarta Stakes. The trainer, who was nearly killed by a loose horse in 2017 at Fort Erie, collected his first career stakes win.
• Race 9: Tito’s Calling (Sahin Civaci/Michael DePaulo) won the $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Wednesday's card is the final of seven for Kentucky Downs in 2023.

Race	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
1	$150,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 1/2 F	Turf	16	12:30 PM CT
2	$150,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 M	Turf	16	1:02 PM CT
3	$75,000	Claiming	6 1/2 F	Turf	12	1:34 PM CT
4	$160,000	Allowance	6 1/2 F	Turf	16	2:06 PM CT
5	$150,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 M	Turf	15	2:41 PM CT
6	$180,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 M	Turf	10	3:14 PM CT
7	$160,000	Allowance	7 F	Turf	16	3:48 PM CT
8	$500,000	Pepsi Juvenile Sprint S.	6 1/2 F	Turf	10	4:21 PM CT
9	$500,000	Pepsi Untapable S.	6 1/2 F	Turf	15	4:54 PM CT
10	$150,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 1/2 F	Turf	16	5:28 PM CT