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Horse Racing: Maryland racing down to 127 dates in 2025; Flavien Prat nearing records for most stakes and graded stakes won in a year

MiamiScreamingEagles

MiamiScreamingEagles

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INTERNATIONAL KEY DATES

Awards
  • Eclipse Awards -- Thursday, January 25, 2024 -- 53rd edition -- at The Breakers Palm Beach, FL.
Breeders' Cup (USA)
Dubai World Cup (UAE)
  • Web site -- Dubai World Cup | Dubai Racing Club
  • Date -- March 30, 2024 at Meydan Racecourse
  • Purse -- USD30.5 million for the card -- $12,000,000 U.S. for the race -- which is estimated to start at 6:30 am ET.
Epsom Derby (England)
  • Date -- June 1, 2024 at Epsom Downs Racecourse
  • Purse -- About $2 million US.
Everest Stakes (Australia)
  • Date -- October 15, 2024 (unofficial) at Royal Randwick Racecourse (Sydney, Australia).
  • Purse -- $13.35 million (U.S.)
Hong Kong Races (Hong Kong)
  • Hong Kong Gold Cup -- HK$12,000,000 on February 25, 2024 at Sha Tin Racecourse.
  • FWD QEII Cup -- HK$28 million for the race as part of a HK$72 million card on April 30, 2024 at Sha Tin Racecourse.
  • Hong Kong Cup -- HK$36,000,000 on December 8, 2024 at Sha Tin Racecourse.
Japan Cup (Japan)
  • Date -- November 2024 (date not confirmed) at Tokyo Racecourse (Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan).
Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks (USA)
Melbourne Cup (Australia)
  • Website -- 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival
  • Date -- November 2-9, 2024 at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia
  • Purse -- $5.3 million U.S.
Pegasus World Cup (USA)
  • Date -- January 27, 2024 -- $3,000,000 -- 1 1/8 miles -- Dirt -- Gulfstream (Florida) -- Times TBD
Prix de l'Arc Triomphe (France)
Royal Ascot (England)
  • Web site -- Ascot
  • Dates -- June 18-22, 2024 at Ascot Racecourse (Ascot, Berkshire, England)
Saudi Cup (Saudi Arabia)
  • Twitter -- x.com
  • Web site -- The Saudi Cup Races
  • Date -- February 23-24, 2024 at King Abdulaziz Racetrack (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
  • Purse -- World's richest horse race -- $20 million
Triple Crown (Canada)
DateRaceTrackDistancePurseEditionBilling
August 17King's PlateWoodbine Racetrack (ON)1 1/4 miles$1 million (Ca.)165thThe oldest continuous race run in North America.
September 10Prince of Wales StakesFort Erie Race Track (ON)1 3/16 miles$400,000 (Ca.)89thNiagara’s most prestigious sporting event.
September 29Breeders' StakesWoodbine Racetrack (ON)1 1/2 miles$400,000 (Ca.)133rdThe third and final jewel of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown.

Triple Crown (USA)
  • 1. May 4, 2024 -- Kentucky Derby -- at Churchill Downs (KY) -- 1 1/4 miles -- $3 million
  • 2. May 18, 2024 -- Preakness Stakes -- at Pimlico Race Course (MD) -- 1 3/16 miles -- $1.5 million
  • 3. June 8, 2024 -- Belmont Stakes -- at Saratoga Race Course (NY) -- pending @ 1 1/4 miles -- $2 million
    • The 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, highlighted by the 156th edition of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 8, will commence on Thursday, June 6, and conclude on Sunday, June 9.
MEETS and STAKES
Calendars and Schedules
Click to read more...
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

MiamiScreamingEagles

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RESOURCES
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

MiamiScreamingEagles

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NYRA 2024

DaysSeasonDatesTrack
47WinterJanuary 1 - March 30Aqueduct
16SpringApril 4 - April 28Aqueduct
31Spring/SummerMay 2 - July 7Belmont @ Aqueduct
4Belmont Stakes FestivalJune 6 - June 9Belmont @ Saratoga
40SummerJuly 11 - September 2Saratoga
31FallSeptember 13 - November 3Belmont @ Aqueduct
26FallNovember 7 - December 29Aqueduct
 
MiamiScreamingEagles

MiamiScreamingEagles

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Race 9 is a Kentucky Derby prep. Oaklawn's card on January 1 begins the Arkansas route for Kentucky Derby points.

RacePurseRace TypeDistanceSurfaceStartersEst. Post
1$142,000Allowance Optional Claiming1 1/16 MDirt712:30 PM CT
2$48,000Starter Allowance6 FDirt1212:58 PM CT
3$33,000Maiden Claiming6 FDirt141:26 PM CT
4$38,000Claiming6 FDirt121:54 PM CT
5$31,000Claiming1 1/16 MDirt112:22 PM CT
6$44,000Claiming6 FDirt122:50 PM CT
7$60,000Maiden Claiming1 MDirt123:18 PM CT
8$140,000Allowance6 FDirt143:46 PM CT
9$300,000Smarty Jones S.1 1/16 MDirt94:14 PM CT
10$115,000Maiden Special Weight6 FDirt144:40 PM CT


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MiamiScreamingEagles

MiamiScreamingEagles

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January Kentucky Derby preps in the U.S.

RACETRACKPOINTSDATE
Smarty JonesOaklawn (AR)10-5-3-2-1January 1
JeromeAqueduct (NY)10-5-3-2-1January 6
Lecomte (Grade 3)Fair Grounds (LA)20-10-6-4-2January 20
Southwest (Grade 3)Oaklawn (AR)20-10-6-4-2January 27
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

MiamiScreamingEagles

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Monday, January 1, 2024
  • 2023: The past year was difficult and at times excruciatingly painful. Those of us involved in this sport know there are plenty of good people who work tirelessly but that positivity can be adrift in a maelstrom of negativity. The racing community needs to get the positive word to the mainstream. Somehow tracks have to work in conjunction and focus on the strength of the sport without overlooking improvements that can be made. A thoroughbred is born to run. The breed isn't a household pet. They are extraordinary beasts and without the sport of racing, the breed becomes extinct. There are many magnificent moments that occurred last year that comparable stories in some team sports would gain unlimited traction. Cody's Wish was among the most breathtaking. It was fun watching Brittany Russell's meteoric rise as someone who followed her from her earliest days. And the handicapping wins, the frustrating losses and those in between. All the best to a prosperous 2024 to all involved, to those who resonate quietly on the backside to the glorious wonders of victory in graded stakes. And as a personal aside, great job Junior!
1704204112777.png
​
Aqueduct (New York):
  • Rob Atras sent out two horses and both returned winners.
Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Handle $8.8 million.
  • Race 8: Power Squeeze (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Jorge Delgado), a 3-year-old filly who had raced at Monmouth (NJ) and Delaware (DE) only, was sent off 8-to-1 but romped to win the $150,000 Cash Run Stakes. Power Squeeze entered off a maiden win at Delaware under apprentice Madison Olver.
Oaklawn (Arkansas):
  • MSW: Oaklawn runs $115,000 Maiden Special Race races. Much talent in these races.
  • Race 10: Hess (Martin Garcia/Randy Morse) was the lone first-timer and won at 5-to-1. The MSW at $115,000 was 12-deep. Sired by Moonshine Mullin, a million dollar earner who was trained by Morse and ridden to graded stakes wins by Calvin Borel, the gelding was unraced through three years but debuted on his 4th birthday. (all horses age a year on January 1 for racing purposes).
  • Race 9: Catching Freedom (Cristian Torres/Brad Cox), sired by Constitution, was sent off the favorite and won the $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes by more than two lengths in the first U.S. Kentucky Derby prep of 2024. There were Derby preps late in 2023 as normal but this was the first as horses turned three-years-of-age and the opener for the Oaklawn (AR) route that later includes the Southwest, Rebel and Arkansas Derby. Cox winning the race is no surprise, he may be the leading candidate for 2023 Trainer of the Year; the awards are presented on Jan. 25. Cox had three in this race and there was an energetic battle for the rest of the exotics.
​


Santa Anita (California):
  • Race 1: Elegant (Juan Hernandez/Bob Baffert) was cold on the board and sent off at 7-to-1 but won the opener is a $65,000 MSW in a first time on turf. The Omaha Beach filly failed to hit the board in all three prior starts but she was racing with Lasix for the first time as were all others entered. Ashley (Mike Smith/John Shirreffs) was in the first hole but the priciest filly in the race a - daughter to Into Mischief -- at $400,000 finished fourth.
1704201158180.png
  • Race 4: Imagination (Juan Hernandez/Bob Baffert) won the $65,000 MSW though in less than spectacular time. The $1.05 million Into Mischief colt was out for the third time and had placed in both prior starts. The $825,000 Indispensable (Kazushi Kimura/John Sadler) placed. The $675,000 Cornell (Frankie Dettori/Bob Baffert) finished third.
​

​
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​
  • Race 8: Chismosa (Kyle Frey/Rafael DeLeon) won the $100,000 Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes at 8-to-1, the second largest odds on the board. Chismosa began her career with three straight wins but since then had lost eight in a row. She was the lone filly in the race foaled in California. The trainer had just one graded stakes win prior to today.
​

​
 

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MiamiScreamingEagles

MiamiScreamingEagles

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Saturday's card at Aqueduct is highlighted by the Jerome Stakes. The winner receives 10 points towards entry into the Kentucky Derby.
1704244503110.png


RacePurseRace TypeDistanceSurfaceStartersEst. Post
1$70,000Maiden Special Weight6 1/2 FDirt612:20 PM ET
2$28,000Claiming6 FDirt712:50 PM ET
3$150,000Jerome S.1 MDirt51:19 PM ET
4$80,000Maiden Special Weight1 MDirt61:48 PM ET
5$43,000Maiden Claiming6 FDirt72:17 PM ET
6$70,000Maiden Special Weight6 1/2 FDirt72:47 PM ET
7$84,000Allowance Optional Claiming7 FDirt73:18 PM ET
8$150,000Ladies S.1 1/8 MDirt63:47 PM ET
9$35,000Claiming6 FDirt94:16 PM ET

Good memory when Mike Luzzi wired the field (well, he fought back at one point) and beat two west coast shippers from Bob Baffert's barn.

 
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GKJ

GKJ

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I’m gonna guess that I don’t need to know the rest to know which wins that. I saw some debate on Twitter today, doesn’t seem as academic that he will win HOY, but then again, it’s not the smartest bunch on there.
 
MiamiScreamingEagles

MiamiScreamingEagles

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Laurel's meet began today. Big news should be revealed today regarding Maryland racing and the future. Be prepared.

Meanwhile, the Russells just combined to win again -- second race of the new meet -- with a 9-year-old who finished with a nice kick.
 
MiamiScreamingEagles

MiamiScreamingEagles

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Not the news I wanted but the expected happened. It sounds as if Laurel will continue for four years while extensive renovations to Pimlico in Baltimore gets a revitalization and eventually all in-state racing (except for Timonium and the state fair). Bye bye Laurel I gather.
 
MiamiScreamingEagles

MiamiScreamingEagles

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To summarize the news from Maryland today:
  • LAUREL: Stronach Group (owners) retains control of Laurel and apparently will redevelop the property. Laurel appears to be safe for four years, at least for now but that generally doesn't bode well for racing subsequently.
  • PIMLICO: (Baltimore race track) is saved. Stronach Group will sell that property to the state of Maryland. Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority ("MTROA") will gain control January 1, 2025.
    • Construction: The entire structure and perhaps the race track will be torn and remodeled from scratch.
    • Capacity: Approximately 71,000 under the new plan(s).
    • Clubhouse: 137,000 square feet.
    • Training Facilities: Bowie (the one-time race track), Shamrock Farm in Woodbine or Mitchell Farm in Aberdeen.
    • Racing Schedule: 140-to-165 days.
    • Approval Dates Needed from the General Assembly: The 2024 session begins Jan. 10 and ends April 8.
  • PREAKNESS: The second leg of the Triple Crown will be held at Laurel for the next three years beginning 2025. The Stronach Group and the Maryland Jockey Club (joined in the past) will retain ownership of the intellectual property associated with the Preakness Stakes under a license to MTROA.
  • TRIPLE CROWN: The 2025 Triple Crown in the US will likely be held at Churchill Downs, Laurel and Saratoga as opposed to the traditional Churchill Downs, Pimlico and Belmont.
 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

MiamiScreamingEagles

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Wagering in December 2023 was up 6.6% from December 2022 across the U.S.. However, wagering suffered a 3.7% decrease from 2023 compared to 2022. This past year was tough in many respects but weather and other conditions such as summer fires hurt handles as well.

Wagering on U.S. Races
2023 -- $11,658,624,859​
2022 -- $12,106,384,221​
-3.70%​
 

Marco 85

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Jan 13, 2021
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Thursday - January 4th.

A 3 year old won a race against older horses at Fairgrounds on the turf.

Crazy stuff. Never saw a race carded this early
for 3 year olds and up. Let alone for a 3 year old to win.

Horse population is pretty thin to do this already.
 
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GKJ

GKJ

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I guess that if Maryland was going to go with one over the other, rather commit to Pimlico than Laurel.
 
MiamiScreamingEagles

MiamiScreamingEagles

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Saturday, January 6, 2024

Aqueduct (New York):
  • Race 3: Drum Roll Please (Javier Castellano/Brad Cox) won the 4150,000 Jerome Stakes and with it earned 10 points toward entry into the Kentucky Derby. Castellano had a layup but still delivered. He has had a renaissance the past few months. Drum Roll Please, bred in Pennsylvania and purchased for $250,000, is a son to Hard Spun, the sire who seems to be excelling at NYRA tracks.
​


Laurel (Maryland):
  • Jaime Rodriguez had his second consecutive 3-win day.
Santa Anita (California):
  • Frankie Dettori has four wins aboard eight mounts the past two days.
  • Race 8: Muth (Juan Hernandez/Bob Baffert) won the $200,000 Grade 2 San Vincente. Muth, a $2 million Good magic colt, is 5 3-2-0. He was shortened to 7 furlongs to win this race. Muth enjoyed the distance shift and won comfortably which led to the track caller saying "Friends in the mornings. but foes this afternoon" after beating his stablemate.
​

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​

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MiamiScreamingEagles

MiamiScreamingEagles

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1704592337422.png


Winners in 17 horse and human categories will be announced on FanDuel TV, and other outlets, during the 53rd annual Eclipse Awards, presented by FanDuel TV, John Deere, Keeneland, and The Jockey Club, on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m. (ET).


Well, the three jockeys nominated made my final three cut weeks ago even though there was a push from some quarters to see Javier Castellano nominated.

I hoped against hope that Brittany Russell would get a nomination while I omitted Chad Brown from my final three trainers.

Apprentice? Spot on! Though I had Concepcion and Vives 1-2 for a while. That said, Torres is a strong choice as well.

And Cody's Wish needs to be Horse of the Year, just because!

Finalists for Horse of the Year will be announced during the live show on Jan. 25. The 2023 Eclipse Awards Finalists, with the exception of Horse of the Year, (in alphabetical order) are:
  • Two-Year-Old Male: Fierceness, Locked, Muth
  • Two-Year-Old Filly: Candied, Hard to Justify, Just FYI
  • Three-Year-Old Male: Arcangelo, Auguste Rodin (IRE), Mage
  • Three-Year-Old Filly: Mawj (IRE), Pretty Mischievous, Randomized
  • Older Dirt Male: Cody’s Wish, Elite Power, White Abarrio
  • Older Dirt Female: Clairiere, Goodnight Olive, Idiomatic
  • Male Sprinter: Cody’s Wish, Elite Power, Gunite
  • Female Sprinter: Echo Zulu, Goodnight Olive, Maple Leaf Mel
  • Male Turf Horse: Auguste Rodin (IRE), Master of the Seas (IRE), Up to the Mark
  • Female Turf Horse: In Italian (GB), Inspiral (GB), Mawj (IRE)
  • Steeplechase Horse: Awakened Merry, Maker (IRE), Snap Decision
  • Owner: Godolphin LLC, Juddmonte, Klaravich Stables Inc.
  • Breeder: Calumet Farm, Godolphin, Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC
  • Trainer: Chad Brown, Brad Cox, William I. Mott
  • Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione, Irad Ortiz Jr., Flavien Prat
  • Apprentice Jockey: Axel Concepcion, Jaime A. Torres, Sofia Vives
 
MiamiScreamingEagles

MiamiScreamingEagles

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Sunday, January 7, 2024
  • Two Emmys: Fractured a leg during training today and was euthanized. The well-traveled 6-year-old English Channel gelding was enjoying the Fair Grounds (LA) surface winning two of his past three races and had a solid 13 5-5-1 mark lifetime there; however, his most famous win came in the Mr. D (renamed Arlington Million in its final year at Arlington Park in Illinois) for his trainer Hugh Robertson who exuded old-school charisma that famous day. Two Emmys was bought for $4,500 and earned over $980,000. Sad news today. Great memory then. He finished 25 8-9-1 and raced as recently as December.
​

​
​
Aqueduct (New York):
  • Hot Jockeys: Kendrick Carmouche is sizzling with nine wins and a brilliant 39% strike rate. Don't overlook the young Lane Luzzi who is at 28% and not exactly riding chalk.
  • Rudy Rodriguez won with the first three horses of four that he sent out.
  • Race 4: Crimson Light (Kendrick Carmouche/Todd Pletcher) finished with a furious kick to win his debut. The City of Light colt was a $280,000 purchase and foaled in New York. Look for even better things ahead. Remember, this was a sloppy track today.
​

​
​


Laurel (Maryland):
  • Jaime Rodriguez has won exactly three races on each of the meet's first three cards. All wins today were for his top trainer Jamie Ness. The duo is 8 4-1-2 as a team this meet.
Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Brian Lynch sent out three horses, ridden by fairly decent jockeys named Tyler Gaffalione, John Velazquez and Jose Ortiz, and each returned a winner.
Oaklawn (Arkansas):
  • Cancelled: Track conditions related to the prior day's weather. The decorative grass was covered by snow yesterday and track maintenance needed more time for a proper racing surface.
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MiamiScreamingEagles

MiamiScreamingEagles

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Meadowlands (NJ) released pertinent info for 2023 and records were established. Normally racing harness on weekend nights, the track had 89 programs of which 60 (2/3rds) saw handles exceed $3 million. The year total of $274 million set a mark as did the average of $3.08 million.
 
MiamiScreamingEagles

MiamiScreamingEagles

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And now New York totals, not unsurprisingly down considering the dreadful meet at Saratoga.

All-sources handle at New York Racing Association tracks in 2023 was $2,204,653,635, a 5 percent decline from the 2022 figure of $2,321,863,828, according to numbers provided by the company.​
​
There were 196 days of racing held in both years though16 fewer races were conducted in 2023 compared to 2022. There were 98 fewer turf races run in 2023, compared to 2022. The average number of betting interests was relatively the same for both years -- 7.44 in 2023, 7.48 in 2022.​
​
The decline in business came primarily at two of NYRA’s premier meets where inclement weather played a significant factor. At Saratoga, handle was down $78,982,677, or 9 percent, from 2022. In 2023, wet weather forced 66 scheduled turf races to the dirt, compared to 17 the previous summer.​

--Source: DRF
 
MiamiScreamingEagles

MiamiScreamingEagles

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The #2 was purchased for $1 million by Texas exec Donald Adam.
RACE 9 POST TIME - Saturday. 4:06 PM ET at Gulfstream

PPHorseJockeyTrainer
1Military Road (KY)T GaffalioneC Clement
2Conquest Warrior (KY)J L OrtizC R McGaughey III
3D Day Sky (KY)E PerezI R Wilkes
4Antiquarian (KY)J R VelazquezT A Pletcher
5Droptop Caddy (KY)L PaniciG R Arnold, II
6Wistucky (KY)P LopezD L Romans
7Wasamattafoyou (FL)I Pimentel, Jr.M Infante
8Taparino (KY)D EganJ M Antonucci
9Princetown (KY)J AlvaradoW I Mott
10Goes the Clown (KY)L SaezJ F D'Angelo
11Causeway (KY)J CastellanoC C Brown
12Be You (KY)I Ortiz, Jr.T A Pletcher

 
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MiamiScreamingEagles

MiamiScreamingEagles

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Jan 17, 2004
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Interesting events tonight at the opening day of the Keeneland horses-of-all-ages January sale. Prank, a 4-year-old daughter to Into Mischief who won her only race, sold for a chart-topping $1.6 million. A total of 225 horses sold during Monday's Book 1 opener for a sum of $17,547,500.

1704769666494.png


Interesting events tonight at the opening day of the Keeneland horses-of-all-ages January sale. Prank, a 4-year-old daughter to Into Mischief who won her only race, sold for a chart-topping $1.6 million. A total of 225 horses sold during Monday's Book 1 opener for a sum of $17,547,500.
 
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