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]

@GKJ

This came to my attention through a friend. Cue Vin Scully because "I don't believe what I just saw..."

 

[GKJ]

@GKJ

This came to my attention through a friend. Cue Vin Scully because "I don't believe what I just saw..."

Need to hear from the jockey on that one.

 

[RosensRug]

We have the 5 Bossmakinbossmoves in the third race today Belmont At the Big A.

Boss loves the slop and that is the exact opposite of today's track conditions. Not expecting anything much from him.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Belmont at Aqueduct (New York):

• Card: A rare Wednesday racing. This was originally Sunday's card that was moved due to Saturday's canceled card being transferred to Sunday.
• Riders: Irad Ortiz, Jr. had a 4-win day. Flavien Prat rode three winners.
• Trainers: Chad Brown trained four winners and also won four of the five races he entered including a natural hat trick. Todd Pletcher added two wins.
• Race 5: Hard to Justify (Flavien Prat/Chad Brown) won the Grade 2 $200,000 Miss Grillo Stakes at 7-to-1 and with it received a bid to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. The 2-year-old Justify filly is a perfect 2 2-0-0.

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• Race 7: Agate Road (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Todd Pletcher) won the Grade 2 $200,000 Pilgrim Stakes and with it a berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Third time out, the Quality Road 2-year-old looks like a star in the making.

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

More than $9 billion wagered on U.S. racing so far but the handle is down from 2022. Much of it has been inclement weather but also the breakdowns in major ovals such as Churchill Downs and Saratoga. Hopefully the Breeders' Cup will bring some positive vibes for a sport that has a rough time in 2023.

YTD 2023 vs. YTD 2022
Indicator	YTD 2023​	YTD 2022​	% Change​
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$9,129,984,403​	$9,536,655,717​	-4.26%​
U.S. Purses (paid)	$947,936,563​	$945,222,310​	+0.29%​
U.S. Race Days	3,067​	3,223​	-4.84%​
U.S. Races	24,857​	26,010​	-4.43%​
U.S. Starts	181,555​	186,950​	-2.89%​
Average Field Size	7.30​	7.19​	+1.62%​
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,976,845​	$2,958,938​	+0.61%​
Average Paid Purses (paid) Per Race Day	$322,484​	$293,274​	+9.96%​
* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Thursday, October 5, 2023

Belmont at Aqueduct (New York):

• Race 1: Caress (Javier Castellano/George Weaver) won a debut performance at 6-to-1. Per David Grening of the DRF George Weaver now 18 for 45 (5 for 14 on dirt) with 2-year-olds this year

Laurel (Maryland):

• Race 10: Dream River (Xavier Perez/Gina Robb) won the finale by a head at 45-to-1. Robb, the wife to veteran trainer John Robb, is 15 7-2-2 lifetime and in her first full year as a conditioner. Her husband has been training since the early 1970s. This does it! She is the greatest trainer of all-time. She has a long history in the sport including her dad Luigi Gino and ex-husband and former jockey Mark Rosenthal in addition to various roles including ownership. But that record and today's win is intriguing.

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Thistledown (Ohio):

• Race 4: Back to Ohio (Jareth Loveberry/Larry Rivelli) won the Scarlet and Gray Stakes and improved to 8 7-1-0. The Ohio-bred has won at all three major Ohio T-bred facilities including a perfect 3 3-0-0 at Thistledown.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Friday, October 6, 2023

Belmont at Aqueduct (New York):

• Manny Franco rode four winners including two victories for Chad Brown who is currently on top of the trainers' standings this meet.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Race 8: Gulfstream expected a Pick 6 jackpot in excess of $1 million tomorrow provided it wasn't hit today. However, the "1" was one of two horses (also the 7) that were singled and alas, the victor nailed $210,000+ for a fortunate bettor.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Jeiron Barbosa rode a natural hat trick. Maybe he needs to spread his wings to raise his profile or maybe those not familiar with Maryland racing should pay attention but the kid is an astute rider.

Keeneland (Kentucky):

• Race 2: Royal Slipper (John Velazquez/Wesley Ward) won first-time-out, not an easy task from the inside hole. The 2-year-old daughter to Uncle Mo looks headed for bigger things. Ward is 28% with first-timers.

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• Race 4: Xtreme Smoke Show (Tyler Gaffalione/Mac Robertson) stole the show with a 12-to-1 victory as the longest shot on the board. Second time starter won her debut at Canterbury (MN) and perhaps that scared some bettors; however, kudos to two personal favorites of mine in Gaffalione and Robertson.

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• Race 6: Bourbon Breeze (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Riley Mott) surged to victory in a first-time-out performance. The 2-year-old filly is a daughter to Omaha Beach who would have gone off at the 2019 Kentucky Derby favorite had not a breathing issue caused the connections to scratch.

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• Race 7: Hoist the Gold (John Velazquez/Dallas Stewart) won the $350,000 Grade 2 Phoenix which is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race. The 4-year-old colt won for just the 4th time in 24 starts.

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• Race 8: Buchu (Martin Garcia/Phil Bauer) won the $350,000 Grade 2 Jessamine Stakes which is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race. The 2-year-old Justify filly was out for the 5th time.

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• Race 9: Candied (Luis Saez/Todd Pletcher) won the $500,000 Grade I Alcibiades which is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race. The 2-year-old Candy Ride filly is 2 2-0-0 lifetime. Pletcher has won 192 Grade I races his his stellar career but until today had never won this race. She’s now In the BC Juvenile Fillies and gets 10 points on the way to the 2024 Kentucky Oaks.

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• John Velazquez rode three winners in a big day. He may have dipped into the fountain of youth today, though in reality is 52 years of age.
• Luis Saez rode winners in the last two races.
• 10 Races, 10 Trainers: Not one trainer won more than once.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Weather for Saturday in key spots:

Long Island, NY -- rain
Miami, FL -- sunny and 89.
Lexington, KY -- sunny and 60s
Arcadia, CA -- sunny and 95.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Periodic daily updates...

Indiana has QH trials today throughout its card which starts at 10:45 am ET.

The worst weather in New York today will likely affect the key turf races.

BAQ turf currently listed as "yielding" for races 3, 4, 6 and 9. Turf was labelled "good" earlier. Dirt track is "sloppy."

Weather should deteriorate over and around New York City during the afternoon.

New York 11 is off the turf. Scratch all horses 1 through 10 except for the 6. The 11 and three MTO are in for a 5-horse race

Brittany Russell has a beauty. Wow. First-time starter, a $160,000 Collected filly named Chicken Parm. Sweet stuff. Sheldon Russell rode confidentially and opened her up in the stretch.

Brittany Russell went b-2-b. Almost got caught but.... some of us shouldn't celebrate prematurely. LOL. Brittany!

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

All I can say is today may have been a top five racing day in 2023.

More to come.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, October 7, 2023

• Breeders' Cup Implications: Nine of the 17 races with Breeders' Cup ties were held today with Belmont at Aqueduct (NY), Keeneland (KY) and Santa Anita (CA) the star attractions. Good show by all.
• Chad Brown finished 8 4-3-0. His uncharacteristic struggles outside New York, at least numerically, were halted today.
• Todd Pletcher had a 3-win day sending horses to the big three facilities today. He finished 14 3-2-6.

Belmont at Aqueduct (New York):

• Repeat Winners: Junior Alvarado rode three winners, including two graded stakes and Irad Ortiz, Jr. had two victories. Bill Mott, two graded stakes, and Chad Brown both won twice.
• Race 3: McKulick (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Chad Brown) won the Grade 3 $200,000 Waya Stakes.

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• Race 4: War Like Goddess (Junior Alvarado/Bill Mott) won the Grade I $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. So High (Romero Maragh/Naipaul Chatterpaul) was sent to the lead at 90-to-1 and opened what appeared to be a 20+ length lead.

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• Race 5: Just F Y I (Junior Alvarado/Bill Mott) won the $400,000 Grade I Frizette Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. This is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race for the NetJets Juvenile Fillies.
• Race 6: Today's Flavor (Javier Castellano/George Weaver) won the $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint in a race that was taken off the turf due to inclement weather and track conditions.
• Race 8: Timberlake (Florent Geroux/Brad Cox) won the $500,000 Grade I Champagne Stakes. This is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race for the FanDuel Juvenile.

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• Race 9: Lost Ark (Kendrick Carmouche/Todd Pletcher) won the $500,000 Jockey Club Derby Invitational in a race taken off the turf.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Maryland Million Day: Next week. Draw is tomorrow (Sunday).

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• Brittany Russell is just a superstar! She entered three races at Laurel and won each. Her day, including losses at Delaware, finished 6 3-1-0.
• Race 3: Chicken Parm (Sheldon Russell/Brittany Russell) debuted to a fine victory and paid $11.20 which is a bomb for the trainer's stable. A group of owners paid $140,000 for the Collected filly.
• Race 4: P.J.'s Rider (Jevian Toledo/Brittany Russell) gave the trainer consecutive wins but not before nearly losing what seemed like a certain victory. The new probability graphic that Maryland has installed had the winner at 98%. It can be found with humor now.

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Gulfstream (Florida):

• Race 9: Three Witches (Leonel Reyes/Saffie Joseph, Jr.) won the Grade 3 $200,000 Princess Rooney Invitational Stakes. The trainer had three in the race. This is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race for the PNC Bank Filly & Mare Sprint.

Belterra (Ohio):

• Closing Day: The meet opened April 27.
• Leading Jockey: John McKee with 92 wins. Perry Ouzts, at the age of 69, was second in rider wins with 71. He turns 70 in July.
• Leading Trainer: Larry Smith with 54 wins.

Keeneland (Kentucky):

• MSW: Three races were $100,000 Maiden Special Weight.
• Jose Ortiz-Todd Pletcher combined to win back-to-back Grade I races, not an easy accomplishment for even the best of connections.
• Flavien Prat rode three winners.
• Race 6: Arzak (Joel Rosario/Michael Trombetta) was sent off 11-to-1 but won the $350,000 Grade 2 Woodford Stakes.
• Race 7: Yuugiri (Flavien Prat/Rodolphe Brisset) won the Grade 2 $350,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes by a nose in what may have been the race of the day and should be under consideration for graded stakes race of the year. Wildly fun race and finish to watch. This is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race

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• Race 8: Gina Romantica (Tyler Gaffalione/Chad Brown) was sent off 11-to-1 but won the Grade I $750,000 First Lady Stakes.
• Race 9: Locked (Jose Ortiz/Todd Pletcher) won the Grade I $600,000 Breeders' Futurity Grade I. This is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race
• Race 10: Up to the Mark (Jose Ortiz/Todd Pletcher) won the $1,000,000 Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes by a nose in another graded stakes that should receive attention for such race of the year. The winner was a $450,000 purchase for owners Repole Stables and St. Elias Stables. This is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race,

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Santa Anita (California):

• Handle: $13 million.
• Race 3: Chatalas (Antonio Fresu/Mark Glatt) wired the field to win the Grade 2 $200,000 Chandelier Stakes. This is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race.

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• Race 4: Slider (Hector Berrios/John Sadler) won the $100,000 Speakeasy.
• Race 8: Didia (Vincent Cheminaud/Ignacio Correas IV) won the $300,000 Grade 2 Rodeo Drive Stakes. The Argentinian was sent off the favorite. This is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race.

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• Race 9: Muth (Juan Hernandez/Bob Baffert), a $2,000,000 purchase, won the Grade I $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes. Muth is 3 2-1-0 lifetime. He is a 2-year-old star son to Good Magic. This is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race.

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Woodbine (Ontario):

• Handle: $5.4 million.
• Race 9: Artie's Storm (Emma-Jayne Wilson/Paul Buttigieg) won the Grade 3 $150,000 Durham Cup Stakes.

Hastings (British Columbia):

• Race 6: Sunbird (Amadeo Perez/Terry Jordan) won the $100,000 Grade 3 BC Premier's Handicap.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

New York today. Ouch. Off the turf. Race 7 is a graded stakes with seven of nine horses scratched. A graded stakes match race. Maybe one will scratch and we will see a walkover ala Spectacular Bid.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, October 8, 2023

• Recap from Wednesday though today: There were 17 races in North America as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series of which eight were held during Keeneland's opening weekend..

Belmont at Aqueduct (New York):

• Card: Off-the-turf though the weather was without precipitation.
• Jose Ortiz had a 3-win day.
• Chad Brown sent out two horses and both won. He won 10 times the past four days at Belmont, sending out 23 horses there.
• Race 1: Billal (Junior Alvarado/Bill Mott), a $750,000 Street Sense colt, won second-time-out for the star combo.
• Race 3: Randomized (Joel Rosario/Chad Brown) won the $250,000 Grade 2 Beldame.
• Race 5: Book'em Danno (Jose Ortiz/Derek Ryan) won the Grade 3 $150,000 Futurity Stakes. This is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race.

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• Race 7: Gerrymander (Jose Ortiz/Chad Brown) won the Grade 3 $150,000 Noble Damsel Stakes. Every horse was scratched except the 1 and 9. The match-race ended in a 25-length win.
• Race 8: Jody's Pride (Flavien Prat/Jorge Abreu won the Grade 3 $150,000 Matron Stakes.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Leonel Reyes had a 5-win day. He began the day winning the card's opening four races. He won for five trainers.

Keeneland (Kentucky):

• Handle: Roughly $11 million.
• Card: The completion of opening weekend at arguably America's top racing destination, Lexington, KY. So much talent on hand it is difficult to absorb all.
• Race 8: Committee of One (Cristian Torres/Steve Asmussen) won the $250,000 Indian Summer Stakes. Another nail-biter this weekend at Keeneland.

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• Race 9: Idiomatic (Florent Geroux/Brad Cox) won the $600,000 Grade I Juddmonte Spinster Stakes. This is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race.

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• Race 10: Can Group (Francisco Arrieta/Mark Casse) won the Grade 2 $350,000 Bourbon Stakes. Eighth in the stretch, the 27-to-1 shot was the second largest price on the board in a field of 12. Now he is going to the Breeders' Cup. This is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race.

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• John Velazquez-Wesley Ward combined to win consecutive races. Velazquez has a meet-leading five victories.
• Big Named Trainers: Todd Pletcher (3 wins), Wesley Ward (3), Chad Brown (2), Steve Asmussen (2) and Brad Cox (2) are among the seven trainers with multiple wins in this opening weekend.

Will Rogers (Oklahoma):

• Race 9: The finale had a runner up at 109-to-1 actually pay $106.20. None of my immediate contacts remembers seeing a loser pay that total.

Santa Anita (California):

• Race 6: Endlessly (Juan Hernandez/Michael McCarthy) won the Grade3 $200,000 Zuma Beach Stakes.
• Race 8: Dreamfyre (Hector Berrios/O.J. Jauregui) won the Grade 3 $200,000 Surfer Girl Stakes. The winning trainer, based at Golden Gate Fields, said he will send the filly, a perfect 3 3-0-0, to the Breeders' Cup. He has never had a horse in the event.

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Handle: $7.9 million.
• Javier Castellano won four straight races en route to a 4-win day on board seven mounts. Castellano is 12 6-0-2 this meet when he visits from the U.S.
• Race 7: Fev Rover (Javier Castellano/Mark Casse) won the $750,000 Grade I E.P. Taylor Stakes. The Irish-bred won for the 6th time in 19 starts including 4-for-8 in North America.

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• Race 9: Nations Pride (William Buick/Charlie Appleby) won the $750,000 Grade I Canadian International Stakes. The 4-year-old Irish-bred won for the 9th time in 14 starts including 3-for-5 in North America.

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• Race 10: Big Invasion (Dylan Davis/Christophe Clement) won the Grade 2 $250,000 Nearctic Stakes.

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[MiamiScreamingEagles]

SATURDAY -- OCTOBER 14 -- LAUREL PARK -- MARYLAND MILLION DAY

Race	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
1	$50,000	Maryland Million Turf Distaff Starter H.	1 1/16 M	Turf	12	11:30 AM ET
2	$40,000	Maryland Million Starter H.	7 F	Dirt	13	12:01 PM ET
3	$125,000	Maryland Million Ladies S.	1 1/8 M	Turf	10	12:32 PM ET
4	$40,000	Maryland Million Distaff Starter H.	7 F	Dirt	15	1:03 PM ET
5	$125,000	Maryland Million Turf S.	1 1/8 M	Turf	11	1:34 PM ET
6	$100,000	Maryland Million Lassie S.	6 F	Dirt	15	2:05 PM ET
7	$100,000	Maryland Million Sprint S.	6 F	Dirt	10	2:36 PM ET
8	$100,000	Maryland Million Turf Sprint S.	5 1/2 F	Turf	16	3:07 PM ET
9	$100,000	Maryland Million Nursery S.	6 F	Dirt	14	3:38 PM ET
10	$100,000	Maryland Million Distaff S.	7 F	Dirt	13	4:09 PM ET
11	$150,000	Maryland Million Classic S.	1 1/8 M	Dirt	11	4:40 PM ET
12	$50,000	Maryland Million Turf Starter H.	1 1/16 M	Turf	16	5:11 PM ET

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Learn something new everyday department...

From a DRF article, we learn that Gerald Bennett, who has trained for over 50 years and sent out more than 20,000 starters, has a horse entered at Aqueduct (NY) this week, a first. He has sent out two horses on NYRA tracks in his lengthy career, one each at Saratoga and Belmont.

The Nova Scotia born trainer sends horses out at many eastern tracks with Tampa Bay the most obvious. BWoodbine, Delaware, Monmouth, etc. over the years but never Aqueduct....until (barring a scratch) this week.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Frankie Dettori announced today he will not retire this year after stating so earlier. He plans to move his tack to California for 2024.

Dettori has won over $200 million in purse money riding mostly overseas.

 

[GKJ]

Frankie Dettori announced today he will not retire this year after stating so earlier. He plans to move his tack to California for 2024.

Dettori has won over $200 million in purse money riding mostly overseas.

Knew he couldn’t quit it. Instead he found a new challenge.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Thistledown (Ohio):

• Race 8: The $.20 Pick 6 returned an immense $74,000+.

Horseshoe Indianapolis (Indiana):

• Race 7: A 64-to-1 shot placed and paid $34.80.
• Race 6: A 49-to-1 shot nipped a 48-to-1 in perhaps the race of the day. The $2 exacta paid over $2,100. The $.50 tri over $7,500. The $.10 super paid over $7,200. The $2 double paid $4,904.

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Thursday, October 12, 2023

Horseshoe Indianapolis (Indiana):

• Favorites: None won the first eight races. The ninth and finale was won by the favorite in the lone QH race on the card.
• Race 7: A 66-to-1 shot placed and paid $37.80. The winner withstood an inquiry lodged by the third-place finisher.
• Race 3: A 106-to-1 shot finished third and paid $21.60.
• Race 2: The 1-to-2 favorite finished fourth in a field of five. The show prices were $9.60/$23/$10.40. Bridge jumpers special!

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

NYRA postpones Glen Cove, Knickerbocker stakes due to rain

Due to inclement weather that will likely impact turf racing Sunday at Aqueduct, the New York Racing Association has postponed two turf stakes scheduled for Sunday and will run them next week.

www.drf.com

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Due to inclement weather that will likely impact turf racing Sunday at Aqueduct, the New York Racing Association has postponed two turf stakes scheduled for Sunday and will run them next week.​

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The $125,000 Glen Cove Stakes, for 3-year-old fillies scheduled for six furlongs, has been pushed to Thursday. It will be open to original nominees and supplements and be drawn Saturday.​

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The Grade 3, $150,000 Knickerbocker Stakes, for older males at 1 1/8 miles, has been rescheduled for Friday. It will be open to original nominees and supplements and be drawn Sunday.​

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There is rain in the forecast for Saturday, becoming heavier late in the day and overnight. There are five turf races scheduled for Saturday’s card.​

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Despite the decision not to take entries Thursday for the two turf stakes scheduled for Sunday, NYRA did card three races for turf on the nine-race card that begins at 12:35 p.m.​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

New York has canceled a couple of major turf races for Sunday due to weather forecasted for the prior day.

Weather is not expected to be cooperative on Saturday and it looks as if Maryland Million will be affected severely at Laurel.

Racing in 2023 has been nightmarish at times.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Friday, October 13, 2023

• Gun Runner: His sire feed is now $250,000. One of the best race horses of the past 25 years, he could surpass his on-track efficiency with his off-track prowess. What a horse!

Belmont at Aqueduct (New York):

• Dylan Davis rode four winners for four different trainers. Yesterday he was unseated in the finale but was unscathed.
• Linda Rice had three winners including back-to-back with Jose Ortiz riding both to victory.
• Trevor McCarthy is 47 0-2-7 this meet. Since winning two stakes at Colonial Downs (VA) on September 9, he is 1-for-53.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Race 10: The Pick 6 not only paid out to those who hit just four legs but the sum was a paltry $26.88 -- perhaps the lowest I have seen.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Emisael Jaramillo won the first three races.
• Race 1: Silver Ticket (Emisael Jaramillo/Todd Pletcher) won at 8-to-1. A rarity to see Pletcher pay that amount at Gulf.
• Race 8: Qualy (Skyler Spanabal/Saffie Joseph) rocked the house to pay $80.40. Spanabal, a native of Michigan whose first win came at her home track of the now-defunct Hazel Park, has under 100 lifetime wins. Joseph at 39-to-1 is almost unthinkable.

​

Keeneland (Kentucky):

• Leaders: Tyler Gaffalione (8 wins) and Luis Saez (7) have developed a decent rivalry over the recent years. The trainers' title is up for grabs with Todd Pletcher's four wins the most. The important meet at the popular track ends October 28.
• Race 9: Bold Act (Jamie Spencer/Charlie Appleby) was sent off the favorite and finished with a pulsating victory while setting a stakes course record for 1 1/2 miles in 2:28.08. Homebred by Godolphin, the powerhouse ownership based in Europe/Middle East. The young Irish bred was the youngest horse in the race at 3-years-old and his mother Dancing Sands has three foals and all are winners. He improved to 12 6-2-2 lifetime in his North American debut. Cellist (Martin Garcia/Rusty Arnold) nearly wired the field at 17-to-1. The race had three millionaires in Channel Maker, Red Knight and Therapist, the latter two trained by Michael Maker.

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Laurel's turf is currently listed as good. Rain is expected.

Delaware has removed turf racing.

New York is currently firm.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

New York has now removed turf racing except 2 and 4. Turf is firm currently.

Dirt is now downgraded to good.

Raining steadily in New York.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Woo. Maryland my Maryland. The only first-time starter wins at 65-to-1.

The Pick 3 at Laurel paid out to 2 out of 3. Yikes. I had the two bombs but not the middle horse. Damn! This is a fun day so far.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, October 14, 2023

Royal Randwick (Sydney, Australia):

• Attendance: A record crowd of 46,498.
• Think About It (Sam Clipperton/Joe Pride) won the world's richest turf horse race -- the TAB Everest worth US$12.5 million -- for a ninth straight win and a lifetime mark of 12 11-0-1. The 5-year-old gelding This race, started in 2017, is also the second-richest thoroughbred race behind only the Saudi Cup,

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Belmont at Aqueduct (New York):

• Weather: Racing was initially hindered by the removal of turf races except 2 and 4 but eventually the balance was met with the same fate. Not a good day in the area once again. This has been an issue even in the summer at Saratoga.
• Jose Lezcano and Kendrick Carmouche, the latter a natural hat trick, both rode three winners.

Monmouth at Meadowlands (New Jersey):

• Canceled: The brief 10-night racing program was disastrous this year as inclement weather was responsible for five cancellations.

Delaware Park (Delaware):

• Race 7: Copper Tax (Mychel Sanchez/Gary Capuano) won the Rocky Run Stakes as the prohibitive favorite at 2-to-5 and looked solid in doing so. Thedingoateyobaby (Jairo Rendon/Brittany Russell) placed at 22-to-1 in the 2-year-old's third lifetime race. That colt deserves another look and is now 3 1-2-0.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Card: Maryland Million Day. Good card and some interesting results. Eight of the 12 races were stakes.

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• Handle: $5.3 million.
• Weather: Cooperated for the most part as expected rain held off.
• Jevian Toledo had a monster day with four wins including three stakes victories. Oddly, he failed to hit the board with his other seven mounts.
• Race 4: Bad Temper (Tais Lyapustina/Gina Perri) won at 35-to-1. The $1 super paid $21,000.
• Race 5: Wicked Prankster (Yomar Ortiz/Sam Davis) won the $127,500 Turf Stakes. The 5-year-old was winless in five starts and last won in the 2022 edition of this race.

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• Race 6: Miss Harriet (Jean Briceno/Brandon McFarlane) won the $102,000 Lassie Stakes at 62-to-1 as the second highest odds in a field of 13 and as the lone first-time starter. The winner paid $126.60. The trainer, in his second year, won for the 24th time lifetime. The $.50 Pick 3 paid out to those who hit two legs. The $1 super paid over $54,000.

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• Race 7: Seven's Eleven (Angel Cruz/Carlos Mancilla) won the $101,000 Sprint Stakes.
• Race 8: Witty (Jevian Toledo/Elizabeth Merryman) won the $102,000 Turf Sprint Stakes.
• Race 9: Catahoula Moon (Xavier Perez/John Robb) won the $102,000 Nursery Stakes.
• Race 10: Intrepid Daydream (Jevian Toledo/Gary Capuano) won the $100,000 Distaff Stakes.

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• Race 11: Ain't Da Beer Cold (Jevian Toledo/Kenny Cox) was the highest odds on the board at 36-to-1 yet won the $150,000 Classic -- the card's feature race -- via DQ. Following the race, Cox, the winning trainer, who celebrated what could very well be his biggest lifetime win in nearly 40 years of training, said "I thought it (the objection review) could go either way but the longer it took (the better the chance for change)." Original winner Market Maven (Carlos E. Lopez/Jamie Ness) was placed second. The $1 super paid $21,000.

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Keeneland (Kentucky):

• Race 9: Mawj (Oisin Murphy/Saeed bin Suroor) is a serious horse to use the often-used vernacular but in this case accurate as she won the $600,000 Grade I QEII Challenge Cup. The Irish-bred is 9 6-1-1 lifetime with nearly a million in earnings. She won her North America debut and is a perfect 4 4-0-0 in 2023 racing in both Dubai and England in her career. She stretched out in her longest race ever but passed adeptly. Lindy (Tyler Gaffalione/Brendan Walsh) placed but ran an excellent race as well. bin Suroor won a group or graded race for the 500th time. He stated after the race the winner will be cross-entered in both the Mile (G1T) and Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) at the Breeders' Cup November 4 at Santa Anita (CA).

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• Winners: Eight jockeys and ten trainers won on the 10-race card. Success was spread as near evenly as possible. Luis Saez and Flavien Prat were the exceptions with multiple winners.
• Tyler Gaffalione was 8 0-4-0. He is now second to Luis Saez at the meet in wins.

Santa Anita (California):

• Pick 6: The $1 Pick6 returned $85,506.90