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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

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Sunday, December 10, 2023

Cumberland (Maine):
  • Images: The feed was barely visible amid snowfall throughout the day.
Aqueduct (New York):
  • Post Times: The first race was sent as scheduled but every other race was moved earlier in order to avoid conflict with bad weather expected.
Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Race 8: Macanga (John Velazquez/Elizabeth Dobles) was given a professional ride by Johnny V., who picked up the mount earlier in the day, to win at 4-to-1. The American Pharoah filly costs $150,000 and entered off a debut performance at Monmouth (NJ).
Golden Gate Fields (California):
  • Race 10: In the final race of the meet, the $.50 Pick 5 returned $96,998.60.
  • Final Race Meet: Golden Gate is set to close permanently following its final meet which runs December 26, 2023 - June 9, 2024.
Hipodromo Presidente Ramon (Panama):
  • Card: Five of the nine raced held purses of $100,000 or more with the $300,000¨CLÁSICO LV INTERNACIONAL DEL CARIBE¨ the feature.
  • U S. Riders: Irad Ortiz, Jr. (3 wins), Ricardo Santana, Jr. (2 wins), Luis Saez (1 win), Paco Lopez and Javier Castellano among those listed.
  • Race 9: Blessed Ben Hur (Luis Saez/Mario Estevez) won the $300,000 feature.
​
 
Last edited:
The three Ky. Derby preps this weekend:
  • Kawasaki Racecourse (Japan): The Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun -- December 13, 2023
  • Remington Park (OK): Springboard Mile Stakes -- December 15, 2023
  • Los Alamitos (CA): Los Alamitos Futurity Stakes -- December 16, 2023

1702262448242.png

Remington (OK) -- Dec. 15
Springboard Mile (Ky. Derby prep).
[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]$11,000[/TD]
[TD]Claiming[/TD]
[TD]6 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]5:00 PM CT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]$11,000[/TD]
[TD]Claiming[/TD]
[TD]1 M 70 Y[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]5:29 PM CT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]$12,000[/TD]
[TD]Claiming[/TD]
[TD]6 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]5:58 PM CT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]$34,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]5 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]6:27 PM CT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]$50,000[/TD]
[TD]Useeit S.[/TD]
[TD]1 M[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]6:56 PM CT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]$50,000[/TD]
[TD]Jim Thorpe S.[/TD]
[TD]1 M[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]7:25 PM CT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]$75,000[/TD]
[TD]Trapeze S.[/TD]
[TD]1 M[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]7:54 PM CT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]$75,000[/TD]
[TD]She's All In S.[/TD]
[TD]1 M 70 Y[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]8:25 PM CT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]$75,000[/TD]
[TD]Jeffrey A. Hawk Memorial S.[/TD]
[TD]1 M 70 Y[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]8:56 PM CT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]$300,000[/TD]
[TD]Remington Springboard Mile S.[/TD]
[TD]1 M[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]9:28 PM CT[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


1702516250919.png

Los Alamitos (CA) -- December 16
Futurity (Kentucky Derby prep)
[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]$20,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Claiming[/TD]
[TD]1 M[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]12:30 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]$29,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Claiming[/TD]
[TD]5 1/2 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]12:58 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]$29,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Claiming[/TD]
[TD]6 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]1:28 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]$21,000[/TD]
[TD]Starter Allowance[/TD]
[TD]6 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]1:58 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]$16,000[/TD]
[TD]Claiming[/TD]
[TD]5 1/2 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]2:28 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]$29,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Claiming[/TD]
[TD]5 1/2 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]2:58 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]$45,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]6 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]3:28 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]$33,000[/TD]
[TD]Claiming[/TD]
[TD]5 1/2 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]3:58 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]$200,000[/TD]
[TD]Los Alamitos Futurity[/TD]
[TD]1 1/16 M[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]4:30 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Kentucky Derby prep in Japan:

 
Last edited:
Los Alamitos' current meet ends December 17.

After that, race dates for quarters and T-breds are as listed below. I assume there will be racing dates added once southern Cal publishes.

1702516564087.png
 
1702516993474.png


TV schedule for this weekend (Fri-Sun).

​
[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]Dec. 15[/TD]
[TD]"America's Day at the Races"[/TD]
[TD]2:30 p.m.-6 p.m.[/TD]
[TD]FS2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dec. 15[/TD]
[TD]Live coverage of horse racing[/TD]
[TD]post time varies[/TD]
[TD]FanDuel TV[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dec. 15[/TD]
[TD]Live coverage of horse racing[/TD]
[TD]post time varies[/TD]
[TD]Racetrack Television Network[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dec. 16[/TD]
[TD]"America's Day at the Races"[/TD]
[TD]2:30 p.m.-6 p.m.[/TD]
[TD]FS2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dec. 16[/TD]
[TD]Live coverage of horse racing[/TD]
[TD]post time varies[/TD]
[TD]FanDuel TV[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dec. 16[/TD]
[TD]Live coverage of horse racing[/TD]
[TD]post time varies[/TD]
[TD]Racetrack Television Network[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dec. 17[/TD]
[TD]"America's Day at the Races"[/TD]
[TD]2:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.[/TD]
[TD]FS1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dec. 17[/TD]
[TD]Live coverage of horse racing[/TD]
[TD]post time varies[/TD]
[TD]FanDuel TV[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dec. 17[/TD]
[TD]Live coverage of horse racing[/TD]
[TD]post time varies[/TD]
[TD]Racetrack Television Network[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
 

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Thursday, December 14, 2023

Penn National (Pennsylvania):
  • Race 1: Lawyer John (Jevian Toledo/Brittany Russell) broke his maiden in his second try in a race for PA-breds. Not much value in a short field when sent off at 1-to-5 but the 33-to-1 runner up made the $2 exacta a handsome $27.50. Russell is 38% at this meet.
 
Friday, December 13, 2023
  • Michael Maker had a good day going 6 3-1-1.
Aqueduct (New York):
  • Race 9: The $.50 Pick 5 paid an enormous $156,000+.
  • Race 5: Prince of Joy (Elijah Greenidge/Ricardo Legall) basically wired the field at 63-to-1. The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $58,000. The winning rider came to New York from Barbados last year and won for the first time in the States earlier in 2023 at Belmont Park.
Laurel (Maryland):
  • Race 4: Battling Time (Sheldon Russell/Brittany Russell) was bet down to 5-to-1 which is high for the duo but once again the hubby-team won and boast a perfect 4 4-0-0 mark the past 10 days. The couple excels on Friday cards.
Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Conditions: Off the turf again and this weekend will likely be a washout.
  • Irad Ortiz, Jr. won twice for Michael Maker amid a 3-win day. He should win North America Jockey of the Year with relative comfort.
  • Payouts: Nine of the 10 winners were sent off under 2-to-1.
Oaklawn (Arkansas):
  • Favorites: 0-for-10 today. The favorite that did win was eventually DQ'd and placed second. Oaklawn can humble many.
  • Emmanuel Esquivel-Cipriano Contreras teamed for three winners with five opportunities.
  • Race 10: The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $43,000.
  • Race 5: Shutup Please (Kylee Jordan/Tim Dixon) won at 37-to-1 and topped a $.50 tri that returned more than $3,700.
Los Alamitos (California):
  • Race 8: Midnight Memories (Juan Hernandez/Bob Baffert) won the $100,000 Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes.
​


Remington (Oklahoma):
Otto the Conqueror (Tyler Gaffalione/Steve Asmussen) won the Springboard Mile at Remington (OK) which is a Kentucky Derby prep.

Remington runs today, its season finale which is rescheduled from a postponed date.
 
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Saturday, December 16, 2023
  • Brittany Russell had horses at Gulfstream, Penn National, Charles Town and Laurel. She finished adeptly at 9 5-3-0.
  • Chad Brown, trainer of the year possibility, is in an ugly 8 1-0-0 stretch.
  • Racing: Off the turf and hideous conditions at many southern tracks including Fair Grounds, Gulfstream and Tampa Bay.

Aqueduct (New York):
  • Race 10: The $1 Pick 6 returned more than $74,000.
  • Race 9: Antonio of Venice (Manny Franco/Rudy Rodriguez) was elevated to victory in the $500,000 New York Stallion Series Stakes. Brick Ambush (Junior Alvarado/Danny Gargan) was placed 12th from an original 2nd place. Much confusion and controversy reigned. Alvarado, at least in the past, seemed to be on the questionable side of many rulings by New York stewards but that had subsided.
​

​
​

​
​

​
​

​
​


Laurel (Maryland):
  • Race 1: The all-Brittany Russell exacta was a nice way to start the day.
​

  • Race 5: When you wheel the 7 up-and-down (has to finish first or second in exactas) at 25-to-1....
1702859800678.png
​

  • Jevian Toledo rode five winners and ended the day with four straight wins. He finished 8 5-0-1.
1702783248782.png

Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Canceled: The final three races due to the brutality of heavy rains and winds. Racing for Sunday could be affected as well.
Oaklawn (Arkansas):
  • Steve Asmussen trained three winners with two ridden by his son Keith.
Los Alamitos (California):
  • Race 8: Wynstock (Kyle Frey/Bob Baffert) won the $200,000 Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity. Baffert won this race for the 8th time in its 10 years at Los Al since relocating from Hollywood Park and 14th time overall. Wynstock was sent off 11-to-1 and withstood a DQ from the connections of Stronghold (Antonio Fresu/Phil D' Amato). Wynstock was purchased for $700,000. The race is a Kentucky Derby prep.
​
 
Last edited:
Sunday, December 17, 2023
  • What a Difference a Day Makes?: The conversation regarding yesterday's frustrating -- depending on one's entrepreneur attempts -- NYRA stewards' ruling continued into today. Not easily forgotten or forgiven.
Aqueduct (New York):
  • Meet: The track takes a break until December 28 and then the meet concludes December 31. Aqueduct then races from January into early June when Saratoga hosts the Belmont Stakes Festival.
  • Nearing History: Linda Rice is four wins away from tying David Jacobson's one-year NYRA record.
​


Laurel (Maryland):
  • Race 7: Prado Road (Sheldon Russell/Brittany Russell) popped his maiden in his third try but to open it up in the stretch on what appeared to be a soggy surface, keep an eye here. Russell may have something for down the road. The hubby-wife team are on a 28 11-7-0 roll.

​


Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Card: Off-the-turf again.
  • Race 8: Scootaloo (Jorge Ruiz/Julie Stormfelt) won the MSW at 14-to-1, wiring the field as the second longest shot. The race held a particular interest in that good young sires were prominent and I thought some could make it to Kentucky Oaks preps. Scootaloo was the only horse who had seen the track prior to today. Stormfelt, who took out her license this year, won for the second time in her career, She is a former assistant to Mark Casse and Kent Sweezey.
​

Los Alamitos (California):
  • Closing Day: The short meet opened earlier this month. Santa Anita starts December 26.
  • Leading Jockeys: Juan Hernandez, Edwin Maldonado and Diego Herrera tied with six wins apiece.
  • Leading Trainer: Mark Glatt with seven wins.
Woodbine (Ontario):
  • Closing Day: The track's meet began in April. Most likely Woodbine will operate an April-December schedule in 2024.
  • Leading Jockey: Kazushi Kimura led the meet with 161 wins.
  • Leading Trainer: Mark Casse with 113 wins.
 
Last edited:
NYRA responded (video above)

www.bloodhorse.com

NYRA Stewards Explain Controversial NYSS Decision

The NYRA stewards decision to disqualify Brick Ambush from second to last following the Dec. 16 Great White Way Division of the New York Stallion Series raised a furor on racing social media. On Sunday, the stewards explained their decision online.
www.bloodhorse.com www.bloodhorse.com

Posted on the NYRA website's "Stewards Decisions" page under the Dec. 16 NYSS Stakes, the stewards wrote: "At the 1/4 pole #12 Brick Ambush (Junior Alvarado) came in, causing a chain reaction. The #11 Solo’s Fury (Jose Lezcano) pushes down into the #7 The Big Torpedo (Javier Castellano). After reviewing the video and speaking with the riders, the stewards disqualified the #12 Brick Ambush for interference and place him behind the #11 Solo’s Fury."​
​
Franco agreed with the stewards.​
​
“I held my spot inside (at the top of the lane) and the pressure was coming from outside," Franco said in the post-race interview. He added that he felt hehadn't interfered with The Big Torpedo. "Javier (Castellano) wasn't there yet, he was trying to get there."​
​
Hundreds of comments from an angry and confused public spewed online in the race's aftermath. Amongst the frenzy, Dean Reeves, the owner of Brick Ambush, declared he was appealing the stewards' controversial decision.​
​
The owner told the Thoroughbred Daily News that he and trainer Danny Gargan were going to appeal because they were "not really sure what happened. We were never involved in the conversation. ... I feel like I got robbed, like I got mugged. We have to appeal this. I want to see how they came to their conclusion that we had anything to do with it. I watched the slow motion and had it stop and start. I have some questions for them.”​
​
With his disqualification from second place to last, Brick Ambush lost the $100,000 share of the $500,000 purse that was allocated to second.​
 
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Keeneland (KY), which is in the conversation for America's most prestigious race course, will dish out a record $8.1 million in purses for its eagerly anticipated April 5-26 Spring meet. The Blue Grass is among the highlights and will be in its 100th edition.
 
Not unexpected but the New York Gaming Commission denied hearing appeals requested by owners of two horses -- including the fourth place finisher -- citing the rule that state stewards have been granted the say in matters pertaining to DQs.

The race occurred this past Saturday at Aqueduct.
 
Woodbine (ON) handled CA$613,125,180 and that was the second-highest in track history, off about $8m from 2022; however, Woodbine seems to have a devout following with handicappers as some of the unique options seem to resonate. The swinger -- popular in some overseas spots -- was introduced this year and though it appeared to me the pools were miniscule at least it was an attempt at another gimmick (basically similar to exactas except the horses have to be predicted correctly in top three finishes).

In 2023, a total of 1,180 races were contested over 128 dates of racing compared to 1,198 races over 132 dates in 2022. The average handle per race in 2023 was a record CA$519,597.
 
Last edited:
Arizona's issues have become ridiculous. While the state is not a major player, it would help the sport to have some stability. Reading the court case the last 48 hours and the licensing involving Arizona Downs, the possibility of harness racing going there, Stronach's interest, considering historical racing machines, Turf Paradise's sale-no sale, the OTBs, simulcast rights and so much more, one needs to acquire a staff of legislative pages for analysis.
 
Wagering is up 1.4% in North America, from the comparable period in 2022, since early November's Breeders' Cup and much can be attributed to massive increases at two Churchill Downs owned ovals. Fair Grounds (LA), one of America's oldest venues in any sport, has seen a boon but so has Turfway (KY) which races nights. Turf has seen an inordinate amount of attention for field sizes and purses since CD purchased the property.

Turfway also has historical wagering which could have and should have boosted racing in states from Massachusetts to Arizona but internal issues quashed the thought (maybe Arizona will see the light). Virginia and most exceptionally Arkansas, along with Kentucky, saw the benefits.
 
Last edited:
Good news from New Mexico as Zia Park, one of five tracks in the state, boasted a 72% increase in daily handle this year compared to 2022. Zia 's average handle was over $800,000, the highest in-state since 2010. Currently, NM has Zia, Albuquerque Downs, SunRay Park, Ruidoso Downs and Sunland Park in addition to the state fair. Zia which runs both QHs and T-breds.

2023-24 schedule: https://www.nmrc.state.nm.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-2024-Race-Dates-1.pdf
 
Thursday, December 21, 2023

Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Paco Lopez rode four winners with four rides, the final via DQ.

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TH]Race[/TH]
[TH]Race Type[/TH]
[TH]Breed[/TH]
[TH]Horse[/TH]
[TH]Finish[/TH]
[TH]Trainer[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]Starter Optional Claiming[/TD]
[TD]TB[/TD]
[TD]Winter Princess[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Steve Klesaris[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]Starter Optional Claiming[/TD]
[TD]TB[/TD]
[TD]The Distractor[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Kelly Breen[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]Claiming[/TD]
[TD]TB[/TD]
[TD]Lucky Curlin[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Fernando Abreu[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]Allowance Optional Claiming[/TD]
[TD]TB[/TD]
[TD]Okiro[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Jose Garoffalo[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

The jockey leaderboard at Gulfstream to date.

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TH]Rank[/TH]
[TH]Jockey Name[/TH]
[TH]Starts[/TH]
[TH]1st[/TH]
[TH]2nd[/TH]
[TH]3rd[/TH]
[TH]Total $[/TH]
[TH]Win %[/TH]
[TH]Top 3[/TH]
[TH]Top 3 %[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Paco Lopez[/TD]
[TD]62[/TD]
[TD]18[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]$901,680[/TD]
[TD]29%[/TD]
[TD]34[/TD]
[TD]55%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]Irad Ortiz, Jr.[/TD]
[TD]56[/TD]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]$548,880[/TD]
[TD]29%[/TD]
[TD]34[/TD]
[TD]61%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Edgard J. Zayas[/TD]
[TD]88[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]19[/TD]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]$600,050[/TD]
[TD]10%[/TD]
[TD]44[/TD]
[TD]50%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]Luis Saez[/TD]
[TD]34[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]$315,190[/TD]
[TD]24%[/TD]
[TD]20[/TD]
[TD]59%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Jose L. Ortiz[/TD]
[TD]36[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]$297,140[/TD]
[TD]19%[/TD]
[TD]26[/TD]
[TD]72%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]Miguel Angel Vasquez[/TD]
[TD]62[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]$268,780[/TD]
[TD]11%[/TD]
[TD]19[/TD]
[TD]31%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]Emisael Jaramillo[/TD]
[TD]35[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]$259,580[/TD]
[TD]17%[/TD]
[TD]19[/TD]
[TD]54%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]Joe Bravo[/TD]
[TD]32[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]$324,700[/TD]
[TD]16%[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]41%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]Jorge Ruiz[/TD]
[TD]34[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]$175,970[/TD]
[TD]15%[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]35%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]Leonel Reyes[/TD]
[TD]71[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]$256,050[/TD]
[TD]6%[/TD]
[TD]17[/TD]
[TD]24%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]Junior Alvarado[/TD]
[TD]25[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]$179,980[/TD]
[TD]16%[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]44%[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

2023 North America Leading Jockeys by Wins, Paco Lopez is 2nd (rank shown is based on purse).


[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TH]Rank[/TH]
[TH]Jockey Name[/TH]
[TH]Starts[/TH]
[TH]1st[/TH]
[TH]2nd[/TH]
[TH]3rd[/TH]
[TH]Total $[/TH]
[TH]Per Start $[/TH]
[TH]Win %[/TH]
[TH]Top 3[/TH]
[TH]Top 3 %[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Irad Ortiz, Jr.[/TD]
[TD]1,496[/TD]
[TD]353[/TD]
[TD]256[/TD]
[TD]239[/TD]
[TD]$38,340,342[/TD]

[TD]
$25,629​
[/TD]

[TD]24%[/TD]
[TD]848[/TD]
[TD]57%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]Paco Lopez[/TD]
[TD]1,190[/TD]
[TD]269[/TD]
[TD]187[/TD]
[TD]164[/TD]
[TD]$11,758,391[/TD]

[TD]
$9,881​
[/TD]

[TD]23%[/TD]
[TD]620[/TD]
[TD]52%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Tyler Gaffalione[/TD]
[TD]1,367[/TD]
[TD]263[/TD]
[TD]199[/TD]
[TD]176[/TD]
[TD]$29,639,805[/TD]

[TD]
$21,682​
[/TD]

[TD]19%[/TD]
[TD]638[/TD]
[TD]47%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]Luis Saez[/TD]
[TD]1,295[/TD]
[TD]243[/TD]
[TD]185[/TD]
[TD]149[/TD]
[TD]$22,766,958[/TD]

[TD]
$17,581​
[/TD]

[TD]19%[/TD]
[TD]577[/TD]
[TD]45%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]Jose L. Ortiz[/TD]
[TD]1,323[/TD]
[TD]241[/TD]
[TD]237[/TD]
[TD]206[/TD]
[TD]$22,112,397[/TD]

[TD]
$16,714​
[/TD]

[TD]18%[/TD]
[TD]684[/TD]
[TD]52%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]Manuel Franco[/TD]
[TD]1,215[/TD]
[TD]236[/TD]
[TD]193[/TD]
[TD]179[/TD]
[TD]$17,319,478[/TD]

[TD]
$14,255​
[/TD]

[TD]19%[/TD]
[TD]608[/TD]
[TD]50%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]23[/TD]
[TD]Jaime Rodriguez[/TD]
[TD]1,067[/TD]
[TD]233[/TD]
[TD]204[/TD]
[TD]158[/TD]
[TD]$8,035,336[/TD]

[TD]
$7,531​
[/TD]

[TD]22%[/TD]
[TD]595[/TD]
[TD]56%[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
 
Last edited:
Friday, December 22, 2023

Laurel (Maryland):
  • Race 8: Mission Beach (Sheldon Russell/Brittany Russell) won for the trainer first-time-out following three races under Bob Baffert's watch. $400,000 horses don't often run at Laurel but this baby wants to run. Good job again by the hubby-wife team. And it's a Friday (only 1-for-3 today :thumbu:.)

​


Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Race 9: The $.20 Pick 6 returned over $324,000.
​


Fair Grounds (Louisiana):
  • Race 2: The $.10 super returned over $7,400.
 
The much ballyhooed decision from a few days ago -- written and shown a few posts ago -- has not subsided...


“The three stewards' attention was focused on the field as it arrived near the quarter pole, where several horses converged and were in close contact. As evident in the below/attached screenshots, horse Brick Ambush (#12), ridden by Junior Alvarado, came up on three horses that were crowded together – Antonio of Venice (#1) ridden by Manuel Franco, The Big Torpedo (#7) ridden by Javier Castellano, and Solo's Fury (#11), ridden by Jose Lezcano – and made disruptive contact. The stewards were concerned that Castellano's contact with the other horses and their riders could have impacted the results of the race.​
​
“During their 12-minute review, the stewards examined six separate camera views of the area of concern and conducted telephone interviews with Franco, Castellano, Lezcano, and Alvarado.​
​
“After review of the footage and interviews with the jockeys, the stewards unanimously concluded that Alvarado's movement of Brick Ambush to the inside at quarter pole caused a chain reaction that impacted the race. Accordingly, the stewards disqualified Brick Ambush for interference.​
​
“The following morning, all four jockeys were required to participate in a film review of the race and discussed the event with all three stewards. At the conclusion of the review, state steward Baeza issued a three-day careless riding suspension to Mr. Alvarado, to be effective Jan. 1 through Jan. 5, 2024. Mr. Alvarado accepted the penalty and declined to appeal.​
​
“Interested parties may visit Race Replays to watch the race replay. Please note that Alvarado is wearing white.” (Editor's note: when the statement and photos were first issued, a photo identifying the jockeys had Alvarado aboard The Big Torpedo instead of Brick Ambush.)​
 
Saturday, December 23, 2023
  • Racing: A quiet Saturday due to the upcoming Christmas break but four majors ran in the daytime and select others at night.
  • Brad Cox will have a merry night as he won six times and finished 12 6-2-2 at two Louisiana tracks.
Laurel (Maryland):
  • Race 6: Greeley and Ben (Jevian Toledo/Horacio De Paz) won the Dave's Friend Stakes and a race for the 25th time in 42 starts. The 9-year-old gelding has won over $980,000. He was out for just the third time this year. If he runs as a 10-year-old he is probably going to cross the million dollar mark. Nice horse who has run at many tracks. Due to NYRA regulations, he cannot run in New York because of age limits.
​

  • Race 7: An all-Brittany Russell exacta. She had more misses than hits today but this was the exception.

Tampa Bay (Florida):
  • Samy Camacho added two wins to his impressive meet-leading 27 wins, 31%.
  • Kathleen O'Connell, based in Florida via Michigan and who has been training for over 40 years, added two wins to her meet-leading 14 wins, 33%.
  • Tim Schuh has a four-horse stable. He sent two out yesterday and both won.
Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Irad Ortiz, Jr. rode the card and finished 11 3-2-2. He is likely to win Jockey of the Year and perhaps with relative ease.
  • Race 9: Spirit Wind (Jose Ortiz/Carlos David) won the $125,000 Grade 3 Sugar Swirl Stakes.
​

​
​

  • Race 10: Sibelius (Junior Alvarado/Jeremiah O'Dwyer) won the $125,000 Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes. The 5-year-old Not This Time gelding, one of the wisest purchases in recent years at $100,000 in 2018, has earned over $1.7 million with a stellar 23 8-3-3 mark.
​


Fair Grounds (Louisiana):
  • Card: Eight of the 12 races had $100,000 purses.
  • Florent Geroux finished 9 3-2-3 including 3-1-2 in 6 starts for Brad Cox.
  • Race 12: Track Phantom (Cristian Torres/Steve Asmussen) won the Gun Runner Stakes, a Kentucky Derby prep worth 10 points to the winner. A disappointing performance for third-place Nash (Florent Geroux/Brad Cox) who is high on many 2024 Kentucky Derby lists. The Godolphin-bred Medaglia D'Oro colt is 3 1-1-1 lifetime. Earlier in the week, Cox said “This is a good horse, he's very intelligent, does everything right, a super work horse,”
​


Turfway (Kentucky):
  • Pick 5: The Pick 5 paid $181,000 under the lights. Is Turfway the new Oaklawn? Prices galore this meet.
  • Axel Concepcion could be the leading candidate for Apprentice of the Year especially after his dynamic 9 4-1-1 day that ended with a natural hat trick.
  • Brad Cox had three winners all ridden by Axel Concepcion.
 
Last edited:
While Bill Mott isn't among the top dozen in wins, he will receive my meaningful vote for Trainer of the Year.

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TH]Rank[/TH]
[TH]Trainer Name[/TH]
[TH]Starts[/TH]
[TH]Starters[/TH]
[TH]1st[/TH]
[TH]2nd[/TH]
[TH]3rd[/TH]
[TH]Earnings[/TH]
[TH]Per Start[/TH]
[TH]Win %[/TH]
[TH]WPS / Start[/TH]
[TH]WPS / Starter[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Steven M. Asmussen[/TD]
[TD]2,127[/TD]
[TD]597[/TD]
[TD]371[/TD]
[TD]318[/TD]
[TD]276[/TD]
[TD]$26,877,513[/TD]

[TD]
$12,636​
[/TD]

[TD]17%[/TD]
[TD]45%[/TD]
[TD]1.6[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]Jamie Ness[/TD]
[TD]1,336[/TD]
[TD]279[/TD]
[TD]344[/TD]
[TD]268[/TD]
[TD]201[/TD]
[TD]$11,073,860[/TD]

[TD]
$8,289​
[/TD]

[TD]26%[/TD]
[TD]61%[/TD]
[TD]2.9[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Brad H. Cox[/TD]
[TD]934[/TD]
[TD]338[/TD]
[TD]261[/TD]
[TD]164[/TD]
[TD]138[/TD]
[TD]$30,528,282[/TD]

[TD]
$32,686​
[/TD]

[TD]28%[/TD]
[TD]60%[/TD]
[TD]1.7[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]33[/TD]
[TD]Anthony Farrior[/TD]
[TD]928[/TD]
[TD]250[/TD]
[TD]220[/TD]
[TD]183[/TD]
[TD]115[/TD]
[TD]$4,658,094[/TD]

[TD]
$5,019​
[/TD]

[TD]24%[/TD]
[TD]56%[/TD]
[TD]2.1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]37[/TD]
[TD]Karl Broberg[/TD]
[TD]1,104[/TD]
[TD]285[/TD]
[TD]207[/TD]
[TD]178[/TD]
[TD]153[/TD]
[TD]$4,536,816[/TD]

[TD]
$4,109​
[/TD]

[TD]19%[/TD]
[TD]49%[/TD]
[TD]1.9[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]Chad C. Brown[/TD]
[TD]896[/TD]
[TD]331[/TD]
[TD]204[/TD]
[TD]151[/TD]
[TD]130[/TD]
[TD]$25,490,831[/TD]

[TD]
$28,450​
[/TD]

[TD]23%[/TD]
[TD]54%[/TD]
[TD]1.5[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Mark E. Casse[/TD]
[TD]1,224[/TD]
[TD]324[/TD]
[TD]203[/TD]
[TD]204[/TD]
[TD]173[/TD]
[TD]$16,724,228[/TD]

[TD]
$13,664​
[/TD]

[TD]17%[/TD]
[TD]47%[/TD]
[TD]1.8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]Michael J. Maker[/TD]
[TD]1,181[/TD]
[TD]346[/TD]
[TD]199[/TD]
[TD]152[/TD]
[TD]159[/TD]
[TD]$15,528,384[/TD]

[TD]
$13,149​
[/TD]

[TD]17%[/TD]
[TD]43%[/TD]
[TD]1.5[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]Todd A. Pletcher[/TD]
[TD]960[/TD]
[TD]348[/TD]
[TD]184[/TD]
[TD]161[/TD]
[TD]156[/TD]
[TD]$26,798,974[/TD]

[TD]
$27,916​
[/TD]

[TD]19%[/TD]
[TD]52%[/TD]
[TD]1.4[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.[/TD]
[TD]793[/TD]
[TD]248[/TD]
[TD]180[/TD]
[TD]131[/TD]
[TD]111[/TD]
[TD]$10,361,745[/TD]

[TD]
$13,067​
[/TD]

[TD]23%[/TD]
[TD]53%[/TD]
[TD]1.7[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]Brittany T. Russell[/TD]
[TD]673[/TD]
[TD]208[/TD]
[TD]173[/TD]
[TD]136[/TD]
[TD]94[/TD]
[TD]$7,745,372[/TD]

[TD]
$11,509​
[/TD]

[TD]26%[/TD]
[TD]60%[/TD]
[TD]1.9[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]Linda Rice[/TD]
[TD]689[/TD]
[TD]230[/TD]
[TD]164[/TD]
[TD]121[/TD]
[TD]106[/TD]
[TD]$10,268,985[/TD]

[TD]
$14,904​
[/TD]

[TD]24%[/TD]
[TD]57%[/TD]
[TD]1.7[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
 
SANTA ANITA Opening Day

1703380718245.png


December 26 is opening day at Santa Anita.

1703549477715.png


[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]$67,000[/TD]
[TD]Allowance Optional Claiming[/TD]
[TD]1 M[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]11:00 AM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]$65,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]6 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]11:30 AM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]$200,000[/TD]
[TD]San Gabriel S.[/TD]
[TD]1 1/8 M[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]12:00 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]$65,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]7 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]12:30 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]$300,000[/TD]
[TD]American Oaks[/TD]
[TD]1 1/4 M[/TD]
[TD]Downhill turf[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]1:00 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]$200,000[/TD]
[TD]San Antonio S.[/TD]
[TD]1 1/16 M[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]1:30 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]$67,000[/TD]
[TD]Allowance[/TD]
[TD]About 6 1/2 F[/TD]
[TD]Downhill turf[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]2:00 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]$300,000[/TD]
[TD]Malibu S.[/TD]
[TD]7 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]2:30 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]$200,000[/TD]
[TD]Santa Anita Mathis Mile S.[/TD]
[TD]1 M[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]3:00 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]$300,000[/TD]
[TD]La Brea S.[/TD]
[TD]7 F[/TD]
[TD]Dirt[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]3:30 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]$65,000[/TD]
[TD]Maiden Special Weight[/TD]
[TD]1 M[/TD]
[TD]Turf[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]4:00 PM PT[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
 
Last edited:
Sunday, December 24, 2023

Tampa Bay Downs (Florida):
  • Kathleen O'Connell added two wins to her meet-leading total which now stands at 16. She boasts a winning percentage of 35.
Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Luis Saez rode three winners.
  • Race 10: Style Points (Tyler Gaffalione/Christophe Clement) gave the jockey his first win this meet with his 17th mount.
  • Slow Starters: John Velazquez (9%) and Chad Brown (0-for-7).
  • Hot Barns: Brian Lynch (38%), second in money earned, and Ralph Nicks (63%), the latter who has won five times with eight horses ent out.
 
Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Golden Gate Fields (California):
  • Handle: $3.1 million.
  • Opening Day: The likely final meet in the track's history began today. Golden Gate Fields opened in 1941. Owners announced earlier this year that the track would conclude racing in 2024, tentatively set for June. The Stronach Group, owners of the property, hope to consolidate if not revitalize racing at Santa Anita, its southern California oval. TSG also owns two tracks in Maryland one of which could see a similar fate, mentioned to be Laurel rather than Pimlico, in the near future. The owners other main property is Gulfstream in Florida. TSG was rumored to seek purchase of the much smaller Arizona Downs (AZ) due to that state's ongoing issues involving seemingly everything from simulcast rights, to OTBs to race dates. If Golden Gate does shutter, San Francisco bay area would join a list of many other major cities/regions to lose a racetrack in recent years including Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Miami, Boston, Columbus (OH), Portland (OR), Austin (TX), and eventually New York city in addition to more regional venues from New Hampshire to Kansas to too many others.
Santa Anita (California):
  • Opening Day: The meet runs into April 7.
  • Card: 11 races of which six were graded stakes.
  • Handle: $18.3 million, down 30% from last year but being a Tuesday most majors were dark.
  • Attendance 37,000.
  • Finishes: Three races were officially declared won "by a nose."
  • Europeans: Flavien Prat, Antonio Fresu and Umberto Rispoli, each born in Europe, combined to win seven races including five of six turf races.
  • Multiple Riding Victories: Flavien Prat (3), Antonio Fresu (2 graded stakes) and Umberto Rispoli (2).
  • Multiple Training Victories: Mark Glatt (3) and Phil D'Amato (2 graded stakes).
  • Race 3: Easter (Antonio Fresu/Phil D'Amato) won the $200,000 Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes. Easter was bred in France.
​

  • Race 5: Anisette (Umberto Rispoli/Leonard Powell) won the $300,000 Grade I American Oaks. Anisette was bred in Great Britain.
​

  • Race 6: Newgrange (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Phil D'Amato) won the $200,000 Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes.
​

  • Race 8: Speed Boat Beach (Flavien Prat/Bob Baffert), bred in Florida, won the $300,000 Grade I Malibu Stakes.
​

  • Race 9: Watsonville (Antonio Fresu/Mark Glatt) won the $200,000 Grade 2 Mathis Mile Stakes by a nose.
​

  • Race 10: Daddysruby (Juan Hernandez/Peter Miller) won the $300,000 Grade I La Brea Stakes by a nose.
​

1703646302995.png
 

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