tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64843057899869859722024-03-05T00:14:32.749-05:00all-about-horse-racing.blogspotThis blog is for Horse Racing fans all around the world. Please add anything you like including links to other sites as long as it is about horse racing. Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.comBlogger607125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-68001237587570995002013-01-01T17:13:00.001-05:002013-01-01T17:13:11.271-05:00Harness RacingThere are four readily identifiable characteristics of each horse in a harness race. They are the horse's form, the consistency of the horse's racing effort, the horse's final finish time, and the ability of the driver. If the handicapper considers each of these attributes for each horse in the race, he may be able to select a winning bet.
The way I accomplish this is:
I look at the past performance chart for the race. For each horse in the race I add the finish position of each of the last three races. The horse with the lowest total is the horse that is awarded an "F" for form. I write it in the left margin of the performance chart next to the horse's betting number.
On the right side of the chart near the top of each horse's section is information about the number of starts, firsts, seconds, and thirds for the current year. I add the finishes (firsts, seconds, and thirds) and divide that total by the number of starts. This percentage is the consistency. The horse that has the highest consistency number is awarded a "C" in the left margin.
Most modern past performance charts list a speed rating either in front of the chart for a race or near to the right of the times for the race. Go through the speed ratings and for the highest number, put a "T" in the left margin. When I first began using this system, that speed rating didn't exist and I examined the finish times of each horse in their last race. Usually the last race was at the same track where the current race was taking place and it was an easy task to see which horse shows the best time. Sometimes, though, horses would not have raced at the current track previously and I had to exercise care in comparing times when that occurred. There is a chart available at www.ustrotting.com/speed_ratings/print_sr.cfm that allowed me to convert various track times to a time for the track where racing was taking place. When I determine which horse had the best time, I awarded that horse a "T" in the left margin. There may be instances where this older method might have to be used.
I then consider the driver of each horse. In addition to starts, wins, seconds, and thirds, there is a number in the area of driver information that is the USTA proficiency rating. Generally, it means that the higher this number the better the driver. I find the highest number and put a "D" in the left margin.
At times there will be ties in the totals used in awarding letters. I always award everyone a letter that has the best number.
Occasionally there will be a horse that has been awarded all four letters and no other horse will have a letter. It is likely that this horse will win the race and a win bet is indicated.
Three letter horses are usually first, second, or third and it is usually a safe bet to bet them to place or show.
When only two horses have letters, an exacta box has a good chance of happening.
The odds on the tote board should be watched closely because in harness racing a major drawback is that good horses tend to have payoff odds that offer a really low return. It is not unusual to see a four letter horse have odds of 1/9 at post time and pay $2.10 for a $2.00 win bet. Although it is fun to cash tickets, this is probably not a profitable bet and bets should be made only at better odds.
There are times when the letters are a hodgepodge of characters and no decision is possible. In those instances no bet should be made using this method.
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-81846578354563389092012-03-29T20:21:00.000-04:002012-03-29T20:21:07.735-04:00Union Rags ready for Florida DerbyBy Jay Privman | Daily Racing Form<br />
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -- As good as Union Rags ran last time out in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, trainer Michael Matz expects an even better performance Saturday, when Union Rags heads the field in the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby, which drew a field of nine Wednesday at Gulfstream Park.<br />
Union Rags is the favorite not only for the Florida Derby, but for the Kentucky Derby, too. He is the 3-1 choice on the Kentucky Derby future line set by Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form 's national handicapper, and also is the 3-1 favorite on the line set by Mike Battaglia of Churchill Downs for Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opens Friday and closes Sunday.<br />
If not for the head of Hansen in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last fall, Union Rags would be unbeaten in five starts as well as the reigning 2-year-old champion. In his only start since the Breeders' Cup, Union Rags romped to a four-length victory in the Fountain of Youth, a win that re-established his position as the ante-post favorite for the May 5 Derby.<br />
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Interviews with trainer Larry Jones -- who sends out Mark Valeski and Mr. Bowling in Sunday's Louisiana Derby - and the trainer of Florida Derby hopeful El Padrino, Todd Pletcher. Plus, a Barry Abrams commentary on the Maktoum family.<br />
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"You never know how they are going to act after four months off," Matz said Wednesday morning, during a break at the Palm Meadows training facility, where he is based during the winter. "But I thought we couldn't have written it any better. We didn't have to use him that hard. I don't think it was a tough race on him. I can't see why he wouldn't make another move forward after that last race. But this is obviously a tougher race."<br />
As Matz spoke, he was standing just a few yards from Union Rags, who was getting a bath after his routine gallop about 30 minutes earlier. Union Rags always has been advanced for his age, but he developed over the winter into an even more glorious-looking athlete.<br />
"He's doing good right now," Matz said, a wide smile crossing his face. <br />
"Mentally and physically, he did what he was supposed to do from 2 to 3," Matz added. "I just have to try and keep him happy now."<br />
Union Rags drew post 6 when nine 3-year-olds were entered Wednesday in the Florida Derby, which will go as the 11th race on a 13-race card that begins at 12:30 p.m. Eastern. Chuck Streva of Gulfstream Park made Union Rags the 6-5 morning-line favorite.<br />
El Padrino, winner of the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds in his last start, is the 2-1 second choice. He drew post 8.<br />
The only other horses less than 12-1 are Take Charge Indy (5-1), who was second to El Padrino in an allowance race here two months ago in his last start, and News Pending (8-1), second to Union Rags in the Fountain of Youth.<br />
From the rail out, the Florida Derby field is Fort Loudon (Luis Jurado the rider), News Pending (Rajiv Maragh), Take Charge Indy (Calvin Borel), Neck 'n Neck (Edgar Prado), Z Camelot (Joe Bravo), Union Rags (Julien Leparoux), Bartolome (Jesus Castanon), El Padrino (Javier Castellano), and Reveron (Elvis Trujillo).<br />
Bartolome, whose lone win in four starts came in his debut in September on a sloppy track at Calder, and Z Camelot, who is winless in four starts and has yet to finish in the money, were the surprise entrants. Streva made Bartolome 30-1 and Z Camelot 50-1.<br />
Not entered, even as a tire kicker for 72 hours, was Alpha, even though trainer Kiaran McLaughlin at one point considered it. But after several twists and turns, Alpha is committed now to the Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial next week at Aqueduct.<br />
"He's going to work here Friday morning and then fly later Friday to New York," McLaughlin said Wednesday morning at Palm Meadows.<br />
One consideration for McLaughlin is that Ramon Dominguez, who has ridden Alpha to victories in the Withers and Count Fleet in his last two starts, is expected to be riding again by the Wood after separating his collarbone earlier this month.<br />
But Dominguez's status for Alpha could be impacted if Hansen, whom Dominguez rode to wins in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and the Gotham Stakes, winds up in the Wood. In that case, McLaughlin would need a replacement rider for Alpha. Hansen is under consideration for the Wood, but, as of now, is expected to run in the Blue Grass at Keeneland on April 14.<br />
"We're going to run in the Wood, and we hope we will get to have Ramon," McLaughlin said. "Even if they change their mind with Hansen, we will run against Hansen."<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-15779446090466752652012-03-22T20:34:00.000-04:002012-03-22T20:34:51.803-04:00Grand National Latest Odds 2011 The Midnight Club 10/1 <B><br />
Don't Push It 10/1 <B><br />
What A Friend 14/1 <B><br />
Backstage 14/1 <B><br />
Oscar Time WIN TIP 14/1 <B><br />
Ballabriggs 14/1 <B><br />
Silver By Nature 14/1 <B><br />
Quinz 16/1 <B><br />
Big Fella Thanks 20/1 <B><br />
Becauseicouldntsee 20/1 <B><br />
Bluesea Cracker 20/1 <B><br />
Arbor Supreme EW TIP 20/1 <B><br />
Niche Market 25/1 <B><br />
Majestic Concorde 25/1 <B><br />
Hello Bud 25/1 <B><br />
Calgary Bay 28/1 <B><br />
State of Play 33/1 <B><br />
Character Building 33/1 <B><br />
West End Rocker 33/1 <B><br />
Skippers Brig 33/1 <B><br />
Tidal Bay 40/1 <B><br />
Chief Dan George 40/1 <B><br />
Comply or Die 40/1 <B><br />
Golden Kite 50/1 <B><br />
The Tother One EW TIP 66/1 <B><br />
Killyglen 66/1 <B><br />
Vic Venturi 66/1 <B><br />
Dooneys Gate 66/1 <B><br />
Grand Slam Hero 66/1 <B><br />
Or Noir De Somoza 66/1 <B><br />
King Fontaine 66/1 <B><br />
In Compliance 100/1 <B><br />
Surface to Air 150/1 <B><br />
Can't Buy Time 100/1 <B><br />
Ornais 100/1 <B><br />
Royal Rosa 100/1 <B><br />
Quolibet 200/1 <B><br />
Santa's Son 150/1 <B><br />
That's Rhythm 150/1 <B><br />
Piraya 150/1 <B><br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-8556934439477059422012-03-16T21:31:00.002-04:002012-03-16T21:31:52.064-04:00Big Brownby Esther Marr<br />
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Many Thoroughbred farm workers consider themselves lucky if they played a part in buying, selling, or raising at least a couple successful horses throughout their careers. With less than a decade of experience, however, Randy Gilbert has already had his hands on around a dozen high profile Thoroughbreds, including 2008 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Big Brown. <br />
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“I’ve had some awesome opportunities, so I consider myself very blessed,” said Gilbert, 31, who got his start in the industry via the Kentucky Equine Management Internship program and is currently managing Joseph and Vanessa Seitz’ Foxborough Farm near Versailles, Ky. <br />
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Upon receiving his bachelor’s degree from Ohio State in agricultural business in 2001, Gilbert knew he wanted to be involved in the horse industry, but wasn’t sure where to get started. <br />
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“I thought Kentucky would be a good place to go, but I didn’t really have any connections down here, so I happened to be looking on the Internet and came across (KEMI’s) web page, and that’s how I first found out about KEMI,” said Gilbert of the program, which integrates academic studies with hands-on experience, leadership, and responsibility on a Central Kentucky horse farm. <br />
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“KEMI was everything I hoped for,” continued Gilbert, who went through the program from January to June of 2001. “I made a lot of connections through the program, and I’ve been able to work with really good horsemen, blacksmiths, and the best vets. Just the knowledge you gain down (in Kentucky) is incredible.”<br />
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Gilbert did more than just make connections for a lifelong career during his time with KEMI—he also met his wife, Carrie through the program. A native of Rochester, N.Y., Carrie now works for Flaxman Holding’s Thoroughbred operation at Lane’s End’s Oak Tree division. <br />
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When Gilbert completed his six-month KEMI internship at Hilary Boone Jr.’s Wimbleton Farm near Lexington, he was asked to stay on staff for another year following the program’s completion. During the summer of 2002, he went to work for John and Alice Chandler’s Mill Ridge Farm, where he helped farm manager Donnie Snellings prep yearlings for upcoming sales. <br />
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Following his stint at Mill Ridge, Gilbert broke yearlings for Juddmonte and Diamond A. farms, and in January of 2003, he was hired to work for Darley’s Newmarket division in England for six months. <br />
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In December of that same year, Gilbert served as assistant manager for owner Dr. Gary Knapp and farm manager Dominique Tijou at Monticule back in Lexington, where he remained for three years. During that time, Knapp bred his mare Mien to the now pensioned Claiborne stallion Boundary, and the resulting foal was a large bay colt who was later named Big Brown. <br />
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“Knowing now what I know now, it was really neat,” said Gilbert, who remembers Big Brown as a baby on the farm. “(Big Brown) was just this plain, average bay horse. He never was in trouble or caused a problem. He just took everything in stride. The only thing that made him stand out was that white spot on his side, and he was always a little on the bigger side. <br />
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“Dominique and I were excited when we sold him at the (2006) Fasig-Tipton October sale (for $60,000). We were jumping up and down—six times the stud for a Boundary, and Boundarys weren’t very popular. Eddie Woods had bought him and liked him, so we knew he was going to a good place. To see now that he’s turned into a Derby winner, it’s a neat feeling.” <br />
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Though raising a classic victor was an unforgettable experience, Gilbert has been privileged to have worked with numerous other stakes winners, including 2003 champion 2-year-old filly Halfbridled; grade II winner and 2003 Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) runner-up Minister Eric; and this year’s Frizette Stakes (gr. I) winner Sky Diva. <br />
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“To say that I raised a Derby winner was awesome, but I have to say the most exciting thing (that has happened to me thus far in the industry) was selling a $9.2 million Danzig yearling a couple years ago to Sheikh Mohammed,” said Gilbert of the dark bay or brown colt, who was bred and consigned by Monticule to the 2006 Keeneland September sale.<br />
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“I remember telling Dominique when that foal was born, ‘this is going to be the best looking horse that we’ve ever raised here,’” Gilbert continued. “He was just awesome from the get-go. He was a perfect picture as a foal, weanling, yearling, and then when we took him to the sale. Leading him out of the sale ring after he went for $9.2 million, it was all I could do to hope that nothing happened between getting out of the ring and back into the stall.” <br />
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Though his interest in Thoroughbreds may have developed later in life, Gilbert’s love affair with horses started at age six when his grandparents bought him his first pony. He joined the Pony Club and performed in eventing, dressage, and 4-H shows until graduating from college. Gilbert reported that the first pony that got him hooked on the industry is still alive and well at age 34 and is residing at his parent’s farm in northeastern Ohio.<br />
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“I always had an interest in Thoroughbreds—we watched the Kentucky Derby every year,” said Gilbert. “I knew I wanted to work on a farm. I had known since first came to Kentucky when I was nine that I wanted to move down here eventually. I guess all the pieces just fell together.”<br />
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Copyright © 2008 The Blood-Horse, Inc. All Rights Reserved.<br />
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GOOD LUCK!! and have A GREAT DAY!!!<br />
all-about-horse-racing.blogspot.com<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-55989352071276037942012-03-11T12:06:00.002-04:002012-03-11T12:06:30.426-04:00Mucho Macho ManMucho Macho Man continues to establish himself as a serious player in the older horse division, posting a convincing victory in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap. A smart winner of the 1 1/8-mile Sunshine Millions Classic January 28, the leggy bay colt cut back powerfully to a one-turn mile while extending his win streak to three. Ramon Dominguez was up for trainer Kathy Ritvo.<br />
One of only three horses to contest all three legs of the 2011 Triple Crown, Mucho Macho Man is developing into a much more imposing runner at age four this season. And that's not surprising considering his late foaling date (June 15). Third in the Kentucky Derby, he finished sixth and in the Preakness and was freshened five months following a seventh in the Belmont Stakes, winning an allowance/optional claiming event at Aqueduct November 9. In the aforementioned Sunshine Millions Classic, Mucho Macho Man garnered a career-best 108 BRIS Speed rating and was flattered when runner-up Ron the Greek came back to win the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap last Saturday.<br />
In the Gulfstream Park Handicap, Mucho Macho Man broke fourth but had advanced to second, only a half-length back of pacesetter Tackleberry, after the opening half-mile. Tackleberry, who was making a title defense off a 285-day layoff Saturday, continued to show the way through the far turn but proved no match when challenged in upper stretch.<br />
Dominguez confidently kept his mount well off the rail throughout and Mucho Macho Man easily edged away from his rival after passing the three-quarters mark in 1:09 4/5 with a narrow advantage. The final margin was two lengths as he completed the mile in 1:35 2/5 over the fast track.<br />
Favored at 3-5 among five rivals, Mucho Macho Man returned a $3.40 win payoff to his many supporters. Tackleberry was off as the 5-1 third choice and held second by a half-length over the 7-5 Jackson Bend. Cajun Breeze and Clean Shot rounded out the order of finish. Soaring Stocks was scratched.<br />
Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Dream Team One Racing Stable, Mucho Macho Man has now earned $1,063,643 from a 14-5-3-3 record. He was bred in Florida by John D. and Carole A. Rio.<br />
Runner-up in both the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes and Grade 2 Nashua Stakes as a two-year-old, Mucho Macho Man opened his sophomore season with a fourth in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes and then broke through with his first stakes victory, capturing the Grade 2 Risen Star by 1 1/2 lengths. He recorded a close third in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby after throwing a shoe at the start and was sent off as the 9-1 fourth choice among 19 contestants in last year's Kentucky Derby.<br />
The son of Macho Uno is out of a stakes-winning Ponche mare Ponche de Leona. Tracing the female line further back, this is the family of multiple Grade 2-winning millionaire Guided Tour, multiple Grade 2 heroine Possible Mate and Grade 1 queen Dream Empress.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-19110866483722983472012-03-10T10:02:00.000-05:002012-03-10T10:02:34.553-05:00Zenyatta New MomVERSAILLES, Ky. (AP) — Zenyatta gave birth to a newly born colt yesterday.<br />
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The former Horse of the Year foaled a dark bay colt shortly after 10 p.m. EST Thursday at Lane's End Farm in Versailles, Ky., where Zenyatta has lived since retiring in November 2010. The colt weighed 130 pounds and resembles his mother with a white star on his forehead and white dots on his left front hoof.<br />
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MORE: Farm contest to name Rachel Alexandra's colt<br />
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She and the colt were said to be doing well Friday. The colt was sired by 2006 Preakness winner Bernardini. Zenyatta won 19 of 20 races in her career. She became pregnant last June after a miscarriage in her first mating session with Bernardini.<br />
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Owners Jerry and Ann Moss said Friday that Zenyatta is encouraging her baby, who they say is already showing his mother's spirit.<br />
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A posting Friday on Zenyatta's website, which is written as if from her, said: "I am one who likes to lick. It is a habit I developed somewhere along the way in my life. As you may remember, I used to lick my (groom) Mario's face all of the time after I won a race. Thus, licking my dear foal seems like second nature to me."<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-46080390225359512852012-01-26T15:17:00.000-05:002012-01-26T15:17:07.312-05:00Blind Luck Retired; Booked to BernardiniBy Blood-Horse Staff<br />
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Dr. Mark Dedomenico’s Blind Luck, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2010, has been officially retired from racing and booked to Darley stallion Bernardini .<br />
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Blind Luck arrived Jan. 24 at John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms near Lexington, Ky.<br />
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A champion for Dedomenico, John Carver, Peter Abruzzo, and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, Blind Luck was a graded stakes winner all three years she raced. At 2 she won the Hollywood Starlet (gr. I) and the Oak Leaf (gr. I). As a 3-year-old she captured the Betfair TVG Alabama Stakes (gr. I), the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), the Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I), and a pair of grade II events. Last year at 4 she took the Vanity Handicap (gr. I) and two grade II stakes, including a nose victory over 2011 Horse of the Year Havre de Grace in the 10-furlong Delaware Handicap.<br />
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Blind Luck, by Pollard's Vision , placed in two Breeders’ Cup events. She ran third in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) and second in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (gr. I) her championship season. She missed the 2011 Ladies’ Classic after finishing seventh in the Lady’s Secret Stakes (gr. I) Nov. 1 in what was her last start.<br />
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Shortly after last year's Breeders’ Cup, Dedomenico bought out his partners' interest in Blind Luck at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale. He purchased her through agent Mike Puhich for $2.5 million from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment.<br />
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Blind Luck finished worse than third just once in her career. She was retired with a record of 12-7-2 from 22 starts and earnings of $3,279,520.<br />
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Bred in Kentucky by Fairlawn Farm, Blind Luck is the first foal out of the winning Best of Luck mare Lucky One, who is a half sister to graded stakes winner Ethan Man and the dam of a Brazilian group winner.<br />
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Bernardini, whose 2012 fee at Darley near Lexington is $150,000, was the leading second-crop sire of 2011.<br />
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Once in foal, she will be sent to Dedomenico's Pegasus Training and Rehabilitation Center near Redmond, Wash.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-90766170661800296822012-01-06T12:22:00.002-05:002012-01-06T12:24:19.469-05:00Thoroughbred racingFlat racing is the most common form of Thoroughbred racing. The track is typically oval in shape and the race is based on speed and stamina. Within the general category of Thoroughbred flat racing, there exist two separate types of races. These include conditions races and handicap races. Condition races are the most prestigious and offer the biggest purses. Handicap races assign each horse a different amount of weight to carry based on their ability.[11] Beside the weight they carry, the horse is also influenced by its closeness to the inside barrier, the track surface, its gender, the jockey, and the trainer. A typical Thoroughbred race is run on dirt, synthetic or turf surfaces. Viscoride and Polytrack are synthetic substitutes. Thoroughbred races vary in distance, but are usually somewhere between five and twelve furlongs. A furlong is a distance measurement equal to one eighth of a mile, 220 yards[12] or 201.168 metres.<br />
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Thoroughbred racing in the United States<br />
<br />
In 1665, the first racetrack was constructed on Long Island. It is the oldest thoroughbred race in North America. The American Stud Book was started in 1868, prompting the beginning of organized horse racing in the United States. There were 314 tracks operating in the United States by 1890; and in 1894, the American Jockey Club was formed.[15] The anti-gambling sentiment prevalent in the early 20th century led almost all states to ban bookmaking. Bookmaking is the process of taking bets, calculating odds, and paying out winnings. This nearly eliminated horse racing altogether. When parimutuel betting was introduced in 1908, the racing industry turned around.[16] Horse racing flourished until World War II. The sport did not regain popularity in the United States until horses began to win the Triple Crown. The Triple Crown is a series of three races, consisting of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes.[<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-17667627031849369332012-01-02T11:56:00.002-05:002012-01-02T11:56:45.291-05:00New York's top horse in 2011By Bob Ehalt<br />
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It was former NYRA track announcer Marshall Cassidy who first gave the words meaning and context.<br />
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While calling the 1989 Whitney, the normally reserved Cassidy became rather exuberant in detailing Easy Goer’s victory and described him as “New York’s Easy Goer.”<br />
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He wasn’t the nation’s horse. That award, specifically Horse of the Year, went to Sunday Silence.<br />
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But Easy Goer was indeed New York’s Horse of the Year, especially since he notched his lone victory over Sunday Silence in the Belmont Stakes, right here in New York.<br />
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More than two decades later, Cassidy’s words can spark an interesting debate. Havre de Grace seems destined to be named the industry’s Horse of the Year. But was she New York’s Horse of the Year? Taking into account her only two races in the Big Apple -- wins in the Woodward and Beldame -- did she accomplish more in her NY races than anyone else?<br />
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Let’s ponder that, shall we? <br />
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As in any awards competition, there needs to be criteria to judge the candidates.<br />
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In this case, New York’s top races needed to be sorted so that graded stakes victories can be weighed and judged properly.<br />
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For starters, the Belmont Stakes has to stand alone and be an A -- the only A. There’s simply no way to top the importance and magnitude of a race that can turn a horse into a Triple Crown champion.<br />
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After that, sticking with 3-year-olds, the Travers deserves an A-minus. It’s not the Belmont, but it’s certainly the next best thing.<br />
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Behind the Travers, with a B-plus, come the Whitney, the Met Mile and the Jockey Club Gold Cup, followed by the B races: the Woodward, the Beldame, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, the Alabama, and the Wood Memorial.<br />
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All of the other Grade 1 stakes are B-minus. Grade 2 stakes rate a C-plus and Grade 3 stakes are a C-minus.<br />
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Now let’s put that criteria to work, giving us 2011’s Top 5, which will be delivered in a style borrowed from Dave Letterman, NY’s No. 1 talk show host -- now that Regis Philbin has retired.<br />
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5 -- Cape Blanco: He won the Man o’ War and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, both Grade 1 stakes, making him New York’s Turf Horse of the Year by a couple of furlongs. You had to admire the courage he showed in winning the Turf Classic despite suffering a career-ending injury in the race.<br />
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4 -- Flat Out: He won the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Suburban, a Grade 2 stakes. He was also second in the Whitney and Woodward and a victory in either one of them would have earned him the No. 1 spot.<br />
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3 -- Havre de Grace: Number one in the nation, but only number three in New York. She was a perfect 2-for-2 in New York, winning the Woodward, where she beat the boys, and the Beldame. That gave her two B’s, which is a better than average grade for most horses, but not enough to win this competition.<br />
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2 -- Tizway: The key element for him is that the Whitney outweighs the Woodward. They are both Grade 1 stakes contested at Saratoga, but the Whitney, which comes first, seems to draw a better and deeper field on a year-in, year-out basis. He was also an easy winner of the Met Mile, giving him two B-pluses, which would normally be difficult to top.<br />
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1 -- Stay Thirsty: And here is your winner, who gets the nod for his consistency in the year’s two biggest races of the year in New York. He won the Travers and was second in the Belmont Stakes which puts him right alongside Tizway and Havre de Grace. What vaults him to the front of the line are wins in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and Grade 3 Gotham. Just to be safe, he was 3rd in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, which is quite impressive for a fifth line on the resume.<br />
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Put all of that together and Stay Thirsty ran five times in New York -- more than Tizway and Havre de Grace combined -- and won the Travers and two other stakes, with a second in the Belmont Stakes and a third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, to boot<br />
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Stay Thirsty may have loathed Churchill Downs, but in the Big Apple he gets the nod from this corner, as being New York’s Stay Thirsty.<br />
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And what are your thoughts? Who would you crown as New York’s Horse of the Year?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-58640659887568607352011-12-28T11:01:00.001-05:002011-12-28T11:01:37.778-05:00HandicappingHandicapping, in sport and games, is the practice of assigning advantage through scoring compensation or other advantage given to different contestants to equalize the chances of winning. The word also applies to the various methods by which the advantage is calculated. In principle, a more experienced player is disadvantaged in order to make it possible for a less experienced player to participate in the game or sport whilst maintaining fairness. Handicapping also refers to the various methods by which spectators can predict and quantify the results of a sporting match.<br />
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The term handicap derives from hand-in-cap, a popular 17th-century lottery game, where players placed their bets in a cap.[1] Handicapping is used in scoring many games and competitive sports, including Go, chess, Croquet, golf, bowling, polo, basketball, and track and field events. It also serves to foster wagering on horse racing events. Often races, contests or tournaments where this practice is competitively employed are known as Handicaps.<br />
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The term is also applied to the practice of predicting the result of a competition, such as for purposes of betting against the point spread. A favored team that wins by less than the point spread still wins the game, but bets on that team lose.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-27787752619585255962011-12-21T09:25:00.000-05:002011-12-21T09:25:48.593-05:00Strike the Gold, Kentucky Derby winner of 1991, deadGlenye Cain Oakford, Daily Racing Form<br />
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Strike the Gold, the 1991 Kentucky Derby winner who became a successful sire in Turkey, died Wednesday after having a heart attack, the Jockey Club of Turkey’s longtime adviser Jean-Pierre Deroubaix confirmed Thursday.<br />
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Strike the Gold, by Alydar, was 23. He died at the Jockey Club of Turkey’s Karacabey Pension Stud Farm. He had stood in Turkey since 1999.<br />
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“He collapsed and fell,” Deroubaix said. “The vet succeeded in waking him up. When he fell he broke his fetlock.”<br />
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Veterinarians euthanized the horse.<br />
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Deroubaix said that Strike the Gold had developed laminitis earlier in the year but was doing well before the heart attack. “The problem was his age,” he said. “The laminitis was a bit difficult to manage but not a real problem. The horse was doing very well. He was successful in Turkey, a good sire year after year. Nothing exceptional, but he was producing year after year, very good horses.”<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-89660069325449258322011-12-19T10:59:00.002-05:002011-12-19T11:05:49.186-05:00FREE PICKS PARX Monday, 12/19/2011<b>1st 3-Hadrian's Image, -4 - 5<br />
2nd 7-Seaside Fortune, -2 - 1<br />
3th 5-Haydens Hero, -3 - 6<br />
4th 3-Knockout Punch Kid, -2 - 7<br />
5th 9-Billysingssinatra, -6 - 5<br />
6th 3-Eze Does It, -4 - 10<br />
7th 3-Touch Screen, -2 - 7<br />
8th 1-Westover Wildcat, -10 - 8<br />
9th 5-Kat's Hope, -1 - 9</b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-69341793949163214002011-12-18T09:51:00.000-05:002011-12-18T09:51:16.690-05:00FREE PICKS AQEDUCT Sunday 12-18-20111 - HEPATOLOGIST, Daucus Carota, Corofin<br />
2 - BRILLIANT AUTUMN, Really Bullish, Marvelous Margaret<br />
3 - HE CAN RUN, Kid Wando, Perfect Trippi<br />
4 - MOB WIFE, Cayman Smile, Raw Moon<br />
5 - TRULEE SCRAPPIN, Hillswick, Mannington<br />
6 - SAUCY JADE, Ready to Party, Cranberry Queen<br />
7 - TIZ THE ARGUMENT, Marion Ravenwood, Ima Jersey Girl<br />
8 - NORMAN ASBJORNSON, San Pablo, Socialsaul<br />
9 - TROPOIN, Launch N Relaunch, Bucky, Adams Rides Again<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-24935490593145840232011-12-16T11:02:00.001-05:002011-12-16T11:03:36.755-05:00FREE AQUEDUCT PICKS Friday 12/16/2011FREE AQUEDUCT PICKS Friday 12/16/2011<br />
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Race 1: 7 Dubai's Connection---SPELL CHECK---R Clever Cat<br />
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Race 2: 5 Runnin Bayou---RUNNIN BAYOU---Mightylover<br />
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Race 3: 1 Red's Round Table---Joyous Music---Flying Train<br />
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Race 4: 7 Digital---JoeFaulkner---Eurosensation<br />
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Race 5: 7 My Piano Man---WINAHOLIC---Tap Attack<br />
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Race 6: 5 Mill Branch Millie---TANGLEWOOD TALE---Cameo Lady<br />
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Race 7: 6 Stealth Missle---ONA FROZENROPE---Call the Ball<br />
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Race 8: 1 One Last Dance---CASH FOR CLUNKERS---E Z Passer<br />
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Race 9: 6 Indymoolah---QUITE A FEAT---Out by Tomorrow<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-5044161436209053052011-12-10T09:06:00.001-05:002011-12-10T09:09:57.053-05:00Aqueduct - Saturday 10th December 2011Race 1 Claiming Stakes 1m 110yds <br />
Guaranteed prize money: $43,000 <br />
Declared runners: 12 <br />
Turf <br />
1-Stud Muffin <br />
2-Good Prospect <br />
3-Gimme Credit<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-73384060965999988232011-12-05T13:15:00.001-05:002011-12-05T13:16:57.275-05:00Handicapping Tournaments Aplenty at Fair Grounds Meetby Jim Mulvihill, Communications & Pari-Mutuel Marketing Manager | October 13, 2011<br />
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Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots has added two new handicapping contests to the schedule for its upcoming 140th Thoroughbred Racing Season, including the first-ever Fair Grounds NHC Superqualifier on Dec. 17, with an unprecedented 10 berths to the DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship on the line.<br />
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Fair Grounds will give away a grand total of 12 NHC seats in December, as two additional berths will be the top prizes in an online Claiming Crown Handicapping Contest administered by TwinSpires.com on Dec. 3. Fair Grounds will host its first Claiming Crown, the annual showcase for racing’s blue-collar heroes, that afternoon.<br />
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Also this meet, the Twin Spires Club VIP Handicapping Contests return on Jan. 7, Feb. 4 and March 3. The $250 winner-take-all affairs are restricted to Twin Spires Club Gold and Platinum VIPs and are free to enter for those top players.<br />
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Additional information and rules for all of Fair Grounds’ upcoming handicapping contests can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com/Tournaments.<br />
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140th Thoroughbred Racing Season Handicapping Contests<br />
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Dec. 3 – Claiming Crown Contest on TwinSpires.com<br />
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The Claiming Crown Contest is presented online in partnership with TwinSpires.com. Entry fee is $200, or qualify in $25 “satellite” tournaments on any of the three days prior. Submit $2 win and place wagers on designated races from the Claiming Crown Day card. Order of finish is determined by highest total winnings. Top two finishers earn berths to the DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (including travel and lodging). Third through fifth place earn berths to the Horse Player World Series. All of the top five finishers receive $300 to go toward travel expenses.<br />
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Dec. 17 – NHC Superqualifier<br />
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The Fair Grounds NHC Superqualifier Handicapping Contest is a “real money” handicapping contest. Players put up a $300 entry fee plus a $150 live money bankroll. Contestants must wager exactly $5 Win/$5 Place/$5 Show ($15 total) on one horse in each of 10 consecutive races at Fair Grounds. The player with the largest bankroll after the final Contest race is the winner. The Top 10 finishers receive automatic berths to the $2 million DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship, Jan. 27-28, at Treasure Island Las Vegas. If the Contest attracts 150 or more entries, the Top 20 finishers will receive a portion of a cash prize pool that could be as high as $63,000.<br />
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Jan. 7, Feb. 4 and March 3 – Twin Spires Club VIP Handicapping Contests<br />
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During the live Thoroughbred Racing Season, Fair Grounds offers up free contests open exclusively to Platinum and Gold Twin Spires Club VIPs. Contests are held in the Gold Room and cash prizes total $250 every month.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-8709705369818251342011-11-29T09:35:00.000-05:002011-11-29T09:35:16.844-05:00Mr. Ryder Likely Choice in Tropical TurfBy Blood-Horse Staff<br />
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Trainer Christophe Clement may have the one to beat in the Tropical Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Calder Casino & Race Course Dec. 2 with Brushwood Stable’s 4-year-old colt Mr. Ryder following a strong, third-place effort last out in the Oct. 15 Knickerbocker Stakes (gr. IIIT), beaten less than a length on yielding turf at Belmont Park.<br />
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The 1 1/8-mile Tropical Turf, which drew a field of nine, is the seventh race on the card and is slated for 3:08 p.m.<br />
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Mr. Ryder, a chestnut son of Giant's Causeway —Saudia, by Gone West, was purchased for $800,000 at the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale. He won three straight before the Knickerbocker– allowance races at Belmont and Monmouth Park and the July 16 Sussex Stakes at Delaware Park–all on turf.<br />
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Bred in Kentucky by Ben Walden and H. Sexton, Mr. Ryder holds an overall career record of 5-0-1 from nine starts, for earnings of $175,480.<br />
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Jockey Joe Bravo, who was aboard for the Knickerbocker, has the return riding assignment for the Tropical Turf. Toting 118 pounds, Mr. Ryder will break from post 6.<br />
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Trainer Todd Pletcher also has a viable contender with Black Rock Stable’s 3-year-old Silver Medallion. The son of Badge of Silver , who will be ridden by Javier Castellano and was also assigned 118 pounds in the Tropical Turf Handicap, finished a game third last out in the Nov. 3 Commonwealth Turf (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs after a runner-up effort in an allowance race at Woodbine in early October in his first start for Pletcher.<br />
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Silver Medallion was trained last winter by Steve Asmussen, winning the Eddie Logan Stakes on turf at Santa Anita and the El Camino Real Derby (gr. III) on the Tapeta synthetic track at Golden Gate Fields in February. He went on to finish fourth in both the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) and the Lexington Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland in April before heading to the sidelines until the Oct. 7 Woodbine allowance race.<br />
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Bred in Kentucky by Brereton Jones, Silver Medallion is out of the Stalwart mare Another Vegetarian and is a half brother to grade I victor Sweet Talker. He has a career mark of 3-2-1 from 10 starts and earnings of $306,603.<br />
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Certain to attract attention while making his stakes debut will be Frank Calabrese’s 6-year-old gelding Chosen Empire. Jockey Elvis Trujillo was named to ride the son of Empire Maker for trainer Nick Canani.<br />
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Chosen Empire, a $30,000 claim at Gulfstream Park in April, has won all four of his starts since by clear margins on the turf at Calder, Saratoga, and Monmouth Park. Most recently, he posted a 2 ½-length victory in an allowance optional claiming race at Calder Oct. 7.<br />
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Completing the field for the Tropical Turf are Stormy Lord, winner of the May 29 Connaught Cup Stakes (Can-IIT) and three other stakes at the Canada track this year; Tannersville, who captured the Our Dear Peggy Stakes on the Calder dirt Sept. 10; other Canadian invader Hollinger, a dual stakes winner in 2009; and Mobilizer, Perfect Footprint, and Grove Hall, who are all looking for their first black-type scores.<br />
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$100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap (gr. III, Race 7, 3:08 p.m.), 3YOs and up, 1 1/8 Miles (Dirt)<br />
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer<br />
1. Grove Hall (FL), E O Nunez, 112, R R Rodrigue<br />
2. Mobilizer (ON), J Sanchez, 116, R L Attfield<br />
3. Perfect Footprint (KY), J Rodriguez, 116, D J Figueroa<br />
4. Stormy Lor (ON), J Stein, 121, I Black<br />
5. Tannersville (FL), L Jurado, 116, H Collazo<br />
6. Mr. Ryder (KY), J Bravo, 118, C Clement<br />
7. Silver Medallion (KY), J Castellano, 118, T A Pletcher<br />
8. Chosen Empire (KY), E Trujilo, 116, N Canani<br />
9. Hollinger (ON), P Lopez, 117 <br />
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Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/66382/mr-ryder-likely-choice-in-tropical-turf#ixzz1f6ZwEGxY<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-67043613335900724562011-11-22T14:49:00.000-05:002011-11-22T14:49:29.006-05:00Rapid Redux racks up 20th in a row, sets modern markRobert L. Cole Jr.'sRapid Redux made short work of just three rivals in Monday night's8TH race at Mountaineer to record his 20th consecutive victory, surpassing the modern North American mark of 19 straight wins shared by Zenyatta and Peppers Pride. A credit to trainer David Wells, the prohibitive 1-9 favorite led every step of the way, delivered the coup de grace turning for home, and won as rider Deshawn Parker pleased by an easy four lengths. <br />
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Rapid Redux's list of prospective rivals kept shrinking as the historic moment approached. Three were early scratches after the initial entries appeared, including his entrymate Zio Tony, Jemaru and It's About Image.<br />
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Three more were withdrawn from the starter allowance on Monday -- Copper Forest, the 8-1 second choice on the morning line; Disco Indy, the 12-1 third choice; and Lil Skeletol. Nearing the gate, yet another foe fell by the wayside when Spiritwood was a late scratch by the veterinarian. <br />
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As if sensing the importance of his assignment, or wanting to prolong the drama for the fans hanging on his every move, Rapid Redux refused to load. He went in partially, only to stop short. Parker brandished the whip as an incentive, but Rapid Redux wouldn't take up his position until he was good and ready. Finally, the front of the gate was opened, and he eventually obliged.<br />
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Quickest into stride from the outside post, Rapid Redux went straight to the lead and angled over on Sunshine Bo entering the first turn, appearing to tighten him up in the process. But Sunshine Bo recovered to play a pace-prompting role. Lady on Fire settled in third, and Sunshine Kid trailed.<br />
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Rapid Redux was effortlessly gliding over the muddy, sealed track as he reeled off fractions of :24 3/5 and :48 4/5. Sunshine Bo tried to turn up the pressure, but he was a spent force approaching the far turn, and Rapid Redux started to pull away. <br />
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Then Lady on Fire made her bid to stand athwart history and yell stop. Track announcer Peter Berry described her rally as "representing Zenyatta and Peppers Pride," referring to her intent to preserve her fellow distaffers' place in the record book.<br />
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But her sharp move on the far turn made little impact on Rapid Redux, who simply increased his margin at the top of the stretch. From there it was just a victory procession as he finished the mile in 1:40 under wraps, remaining perfect from four starts at Mountaineer. He handed Parker his third straight winner, and fourth overall, on the night. <br />
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Lady on Fire held second by two lengths from Sunshine Kid. Sunshine Bo brought up the rear, another 11 lengths back.<br />
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Rapid Redux rewarded his fans with $2.20 and $2.20, except for those who might have kept their tickets as a souvenir. There was no show wagering. <br />
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Since being claimed by his current connections for $6,250 at Penn National in October 2010, Rapid Redux has now captured 21 of 22 starts at a variety of venues around the Mid-Atlantic region. His only loss in that time frame came in his second outing for the Wells barn, when he backed up to eighth in a starter allowance a year ago, also at Penn National. Wells revealed that Rapid Redux displaced his palate that day, and a minor throat operation corrected the problem. Following Monday night's victory, he has amassed $342,229 in earnings from his overall 40-26-1-1 record. <br />
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Rapid Redux has a nicer pedigree than most denizens of starter allowance races. Bred by Fortress Pacific Equine in Kentucky, the son of Pleasantly Perfect is a half-brother to stakes winner Be Like Mike and the Grade 3-placed Sacred Journey, both by Unbridled's Song. His dam, the Storm Cat mare Thiscatsforcaryl, is a full sister to stakes victress Cat Affair, and she hails from the family of Group 1 Australian Oaks runner-up French Lady and Grade 1 Santa Ana Handicap heroine Annual Reunion. His fourth dam, the winning Love of Learning, is a full sister to the influential sire Halo and a half-sister to Hall of Famer Tosmah. <br />
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Sold for $85,000 at the 2007 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Rapid Redux began his career with trainer Kelly Breen. He broke his maiden in his second try, and managed to finish a distant third in the 2008 Tyro Stakes. But after several bad defeats, he was dropped into claiming company, where he descended the ladder until being scooped up by Cole and Wells. <br />
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Rapid Redux's eligibility for starter allowances will expire at the end of this calendar year. He was reportedly pre-entered in the December 3 Claiming Crown at Fair Grounds, but it is uncertain whether his connections will pursue that path<br />
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Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/handicapping?source=http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/article.cgi%3Fid=25327%26print=true%26header=bh#ixzz1eSvLe4S3<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-42641054765566693162011-11-14T11:41:00.002-05:002011-11-14T11:41:53.702-05:00Uncle Mo Retires from RacingSired by Indian Charlie out of Playa Maya, Uncle Mo was foaled in Kentucky on 10 March 2008, going on to compete undefeated in his two-year-old season in 2010. This spirited American champion thoroughbred racehorse gathered quite a following during his relatively short career, and many were saddened by the news that Uncle Mo is to retire from horse racing. The decision was made when blood tests revealed an elevated count of the enzyme gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) – a condition which is likely to escalate with the rigors of training and racing. While this is not a recurrence of the liver disease that plagued Uncle Mo earlier this year, causing him to miss out on the Triple Crown series, it nevertheless puts him at risk of ill health and liver damage, so his retirement is deemed to be in his best interests.<br />
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Uncle Mo had raced to victory in five of his eight career starts and bagged US$1,606,000 in earnings. Uncle Mo's debut race at Saratoga on 28 August 2010, saw the colt thundering along the turf to complete six furlongs in 1:09.21 and beating the runner-up by 14 ¼ lengths. He went on to win the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Racetrack with a final time of 1:34.51, equaling Seattle Slew's record and clocking up the second fastest result in the 61 one-mile Champagne history. Proving his wins were no flash-in-the-pan, Uncle Mo took first place in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs with a 4 1/4 lead.<br />
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With the liver being one of the organs that is able to regenerate itself, under proper care Uncle Mo can remain in good health. Moreover, the fact that his condition is non-hereditary opens up opportunities for him to pass on his excellent speed capabilities, agreeable disposition and superb conformation to his offspring. Faced with the reality that Uncle Mo will no longer be winning lucrative races, his owner Mike Repole was reported as saying that he considered himself lucky to own a horse like Uncle Mo. Revealing the close relationship between horse and owner, Repole said: "He's probably given me more thrills visiting him on a Sunday morning than he has when he raced. Uncle Mo will always be part of my life."<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-69351900163473002412011-11-11T11:17:00.002-05:002011-11-11T11:17:44.704-05:00Churchill Downs – Mrs. Revere StakesFillies on the Turf<br />
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The feature race on Saturday at Churchill Downs is the 21st running of the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere stakes. The turf race drew a field of twelve led by morning line favorite Marketing Mix.<br />
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Marketing Mix, for trainer Tom Proctor, drops out of a second place finish to Together in the Grade 1 QEII Cup at Keeneland. In the QEII Cup, Marketing Mix tracked the early pace and made good run, but could not hold off the late charge of the Euro-filly Together.<br />
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Marketing Mix was three lengths clear of the third place filly and is the one to beat on Saturday.<br />
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Hungry Island is another filly dropping out of a Grade 1 having run in the Garden City at Belmont Park. Hungry Island was fourth that day behind top fillies Winter Memories, Theyskens’ Theory and More Than Real.<br />
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Prior to the Garden City, Hungry Island won four straight races in New York, including the Grade 2 Lake Placid at Saratoga.<br />
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Louvakhova is an interesting filly making her second start in the U.S. for trainer Marty Wolfson. Louvakhova was uber-impressive in her debut taking a $69,000 turf stakes at Calder by four lengths. Her comment line “drifted out badly stretch” doesn’t do the run justice. A better line would have been, “stalked, when asked drew off.”<br />
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Bizzy Caroline and Smart Sting should take wagering action and run for top connections. Bizzy Caroline exits a second place finish as the favorite in the Grade 3 Valley View at Keeneland, which was her first race off a two-month layoff. Bizzy Caroline is two-for-two over the Churchill lawn including a victory in the Grade 3 Regret in June.<br />
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Smart Sting is coming off a short layoff for trainer Roger Attfield and must be taken seriously based on the runs of Woodbine horses in the Breeders’ Cup. Smart Sting won the Grade 3 Selene on the synthetic main track at Woodbine in her last, but was second in a Grade 3 prior to that.<br />
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Another filly coming down from Woodbine in New Normal, who has not run since winning a $100,000 stakes race at Woodbine in June. Last year New Normal won the Grade 3 Natalma at Woodbine and was eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.<br />
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Completing the field are long shots Groupie Doll, Holidaysatthefarm, Sea Level Drive, Don’t Tell Sophia, Trac N Jam and Tourmaline.<br />
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Post time for the Mrs. Revere is 4:37 ET and is the third leg of the late pick-4<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-35641461621124253032011-11-02T09:38:00.000-04:002011-11-02T09:38:03.302-04:00Tuesday Classic Contender ReportBy Jessica Chapel<br />
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Edited Breeders' Cup Classic contender news compiled by the BC Notes Team:<br />
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Drosselmeyer – The 2010 Belmont Stakes winner was on the track for a “short gallop” Tuesday morning and was pronounced fit and ready by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.<br />
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Flat Out – The Jockey Club Gold Cup winner returned to the track Tuesday morning and jogged two miles under exercise rider Otto Aguilar after walking the shedrow on Monday following his Sunday breeze. Trainer Scooter Dickey reported that the 5-year-old son of Flatter was fresh and on the muscle.<br />
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“He got mad because we didn’t let him gallop,” Dickey said. “He went one round and started on the next round, and he started giving the rider a little trouble, just getting into the bit and wanting to go. So he’s fine.”<br />
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Flat Out will get his way on Wednesday, when he is expected to gallop about 1 1/2 miles.<br />
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Game On Dude – The 4-year-old Classic contender boarded a flight from California to Louisville Tuesday morning. Trainer Bob Baffert, Game On Dude is expected to go to the track along with his other contenders Wednesday morning.<br />
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Havre de Grace – One day after giving his star pupil a “D” for her 5f workout in 1:02 Monday, trainer Larry Jones upgraded it to a “B or B+.” In fact, Havre de Grace was feeling so good Tuesday morning that Jones took her to the track to jog in the chute and she was dragging Cindy Jones around the barn as she walked her.<br />
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“She’s ready to get it on,” said Larry Jones. “It would have been a long time between now and Saturday if we hadn’t taken her to the track this morning. It’s the first time we’ve ever had to do that with her.<br />
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“After going home and watching the workout, I realized it was a good workout. (Jockey) Gabriel (Saez) didn’t even move on her. I even sent (owner) Rick (Porter) a text saying that I thought it was a really good work. We know she’s fit enough.”<br />
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Headache – Claimed for $25,000 in September of 2009, Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey’s Classic contender Headache has proven to be quite a purchase. He won only two of his first 14 starts for the current connections, but has flourished of late by capturing three of his last four outings, including the Cornhusker in June at Prairie Meadows and most recently the Hawthorne Gold Cup.<br />
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“He’s always had talent,” trainer Mike Maker said of the 5-year-old gelded son of Tapit. “He’s just been a slow learner. He was a bit of a hanger earlier in his career, and would just have one excuse after another. Now he seems to have gotten over that bad habit and figured it out. He can win by a wide margin when he’s much the best, like he did at Churchill (in May by 7 1⁄2 lengths), or win a tough battle like he did in the Hawthorne.”<br />
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Ice Box – After shipping from New York on Monday, Ice Box had an easy gallop under exercise rider Carlos Correa at Churchill Downs Tuesday morning.<br />
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Prayer for Relief – Zayat Stables’ 3-year-old Prayer for Relief will not run in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic after developing a fever.<br />
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Rattlesnake Bridge – Rattlesnake Bridge is scheduled to fly to Kentucky on a flight that departs from New York Tuesday afternoon. He has drawn post seven with jockey Calvin Borel as a Classic longshot. “He’s going to get a serious pace in there,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said.<br />
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Ruler On Ice – Trainer Kelly Breen sent the 2011 Belmont Stakes winner to the track early for a 1 1/2 mile gallop before catching a flight back to his home base in New Jersey. He will return to Louisville again Wednesday night.<br />
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“He’s training great,” said Breen from the airport. “I’m very pleased with him. I’m just trying to get him to the best spot I can where everything else is out of my control.”<br />
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So You Think – The Aidan O’Brien-trained Classic challenger So You Think is expected to arrive in Louisville on Tuesday evening.<br />
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Stay Thirsty – One of two Classic entrants from Repole Stable, the Bernardini 3-year-old galloped 1 1/4 miles at Churchill Downs on Tuesday.<br />
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“He’s doing well here,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, who has won six Breeders’ Cup races but is 0-for-9 in the Classic. “He ran a decent race (third) in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, but I don’t think he liked the off going that much that day.”<br />
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To Honor and Serve – The son of Bernardini will be taking on elders for the second time this season and could be one of the more attractive longshots despite drawing the outside post in a field of 13.<br />
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“I think he’s already proven himself as a top 3-year-old,” said Mott, who gave the colt four months off after a minor injury during the Triple Crown preps in Florida. “He’s come back very well. His last two races have been very good. The question is whether he’s ready to take on older horses, and we hope he is. He’s a much improving horse.”<br />
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The Pennsylvania Derby winner, one of the field’s confirmed front-runners, galloped Tuesday on the main track.<br />
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Uncle Mo – The 5-2 morning-line favorite walked the shedrow Tuesday morning, two days after his final breeze for his second attempt to beat older horses. Untested at the Classic distance of 1 1/4 miles, the Indian Charlie colt beat elders in the one mile Kelso at Belmont in his last start.<br />
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“He’s in excellent shape,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He really seems happy here. He’ll gallop tomorrow morning.”<br />
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Photos from the works at Churchill Downs on Tuesday:<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-28279865708219091822011-10-30T10:47:00.002-04:002011-10-30T10:47:51.091-04:00Santa Anita to host 2012 Breeders' CupBy Staff<br />
Bloodhorse<BR><br />
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As expected, Breeders' Cup Aug. 10 announced that Santa Anita Park in California will serve as the 2012 host site of the two-day World Championships.<br />
Santa Anita hosted the event in 2008-09. The 2012 World Championships, set for Nov. 2-3, will be its sixth time as host site.<br />
The announcement was made during a luncheon in Los Angeles. Breeders' Cup officials earlier said the 2012 host site would be selected from a pool of three tracks: Santa Anita, Belmont Park, and Churchill Downs.<br />
Churchill will host the World Championships for the second consecutive year and record eighth time Nov. 4-5, 2011.<br />
Breeders' Cup officials said Aug. 10 the decision "followed a lengthy review process by the Breeders' Cup Host Site Selection Committee." An announcement on the 2012 host site was said to be forthcoming in June, but it never materialized.<br />
In early July published reports stated Santa Anita's selection was a done deal even though the New York Racing Association had made a pitch for Belmont to host the 2012 event.<br />
"We are thrilled to bring back the Breeders' Cup to Southern California, which is always a strong draw for horse racing fans from around the world and where the Breeders' Cup has always been embraced by the community," Breeders' Cup president and chief executive officer Craig Fravel said in a statement. "Santa Anita Park is a world-class racing venue that will once again provide a spectacular setting for two days of the best in international racing."<br />
Fravel, formerly of Del Mar, was hired as Breeders' Cup chief in July. He replaced Greg Avioli, who went to work for Stronach and is said to have lobbied hard for Santa Anita to get the Breeders' Cup.<br />
"Hosting the Breeders' Cup is important to the California horse racing industry and it is an honor for Santa Anita to be chosen as host of the Breeders' Cup for the sixth time," said Frank Stronach, chairman of The Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita. "Our team looks forward to the challenge of building on the success of 2008 and 2009 with the 2012 Breeders' Cup."<br />
The Breeders' Cup was awarded to Santa Anita even though the track doesn't yet have the 2012 fall dates in Southern California. The California Horse Racing Board indicated those dates won't be awarded until this fall.<br />
Santa Anita, as the Los Angeles Turf Club, will host the dates this year, but for decades Oak Tree Racing Association held the dates at Santa Anita.<br />
NYRA president and CEO Charles Hayward indicated the association was prepared to host the 2012 World Championships.<br />
"Congratulations to Santa Anita, but we are disappointed that Belmont Park was not selected to host the 2012 Breeders' Cup World Championships," Hayward said. "The event was most recently held at Belmont in 2005, and since then, two different tracks -- Churchill Downs and now Santa Anita -- have hosted the Breeders' Cup three times.<br />
"We remain hopeful that Belmont will remain a serious option for the 2013 Breeders' Cup."<br />
The Breeders' Cup generated more than $60 million in economic impact in the Los Angeles area in both 2008 and 2009, officials said.<br />
Over the past five years the World Championships has experienced growth, expanding from eight to 15 races, increasing prize money from $14 million to $26 million, and growing total wagering from $140,332,198 to $173,339,131.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-85394785731706949832011-10-25T09:20:00.001-04:002011-10-25T09:20:46.552-04:00Ultimate Breeders' Cup Handicapping PackageThe Ultimate Breeders' Cup Handicapping Package is your ultimate resource for cashing in on this year's World Championships. Click the link below to subscribe to the package for $25 & begin downloading information today!<br />
Your Brisnet.com account will be charged the amount listed for each item downloaded on this page unless you click the link to subscribe for the package; then all products are $25 total. Product descriptions will include links as files become available.<br />
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special offer: TwinSpires.com players can access & download the Brisnet.com Ultimate Breeders' Cup Handicapping Package for free directly from TwinSpires.com. This offer requires a minimum of $100 in wagering on the Breeders' Cup through TwinSpires.com. $100 Sign-Up Bonus - Join Today.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-85134443791671669362011-10-24T12:50:00.001-04:002011-10-24T12:50:42.036-04:00Tips To Consider When Wagering On A HorseFITNESS <br />
Before a horse can be considered, it should be determined that he's physically fit enough to be at or near his best. Athletes become fit via two avenues, competition and training. Examine the dates of prior last races, found at the far left of the past performance line. The more recent races he has, the more certain of his fitness.<br />
If he's been away from the races for two months or more, examine morning training workouts shown underneath the last past performance line. It is generally understood that fitness is best derived by a combination of competition and training. The longer the layoff, the more difficult the comeback. Make a final determination and if deemed fit, go to the next variable. If not, eliminate.<br />
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CLASS <br />
Class in Thoroughbred racing can be defined by saying that class is the quality of competition a horse can compete favorably against. Look at the prior conditions under which the horse has raced. Regardless of any other variable, a horse cannot be expected to win without having shown a past ability to do so against similar competition. If he has not shown the past ability, he can be considered a throw-out, unless he's rapidly improving and won his last race with enough authority to move up in class against tougher competition. If he's fit and can compete against the competition, move to the next variable.<br />
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DISTANCE <br />
Through either breeding, conformation, running style, or training techniques, horses generally do better at certain distances. Few are versatile enough to handle short and long races effectively. Examine all races listed to determine if he's done well at the designated distance. If he's a proven competitor at today's distance, continue to consider him, and eliminate him if he's had numerous opportunities without success. He may show a potential to handle the distance, but can't be overly well regarded without proof. Remember, never expect a horse to do something he's never done before.<br />
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POST POSITION <br />
The Post Position Draw, a random drawing done after entries for a race are taken, can often turn a potential winner into a dead loser, and vice-versa! Track biases exist at many tracks, favoring inside or outside post positions. Check post position statistics listed in programs or Lone Star Today to see if certain posts appear better than others. As a general rule, far outside posts in bulky fields in sprints (10 or more) can prove more challenging. The two inside posts in big fields can also be detrimental. Early speed is preferable for both inside and outside posts because without it, outside horses lose ground and inside ones get trapped. A horse's running style and the post position are directly correlated. In longer, two-turn-races, inside posts are almost always preferred. The shorter the two-turn race, the more it favors inside. If it can be determined that the post will not be a detriment, move on. But a horse can be thrown out if it is determined his chances will be badly compromised by post position.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484305789986985972.post-53037032871466671372011-10-23T16:27:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:27:37.286-04:002010 Breeders' Cup Classic<object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_Et15M6wsPo?version=3&feature=player_detailpage"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_Et15M6wsPo?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=F419&m=602469&w=300&h=500&v=2"></script></div>Horsemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17871350001515310925noreply@blogger.com1