Category: Blog Posts

Horses To Watch July 5 – By Rod Young Turfdom

HOLD THAT SMILE (June 30): Two year old filly for Simon Callaghan made her debut in Friday’s fifth, a maiden special weight event for Cal Breds at five furlongs on the main. Off at 12/1 in a full field, she broke running under Pedroza, fought for the lead between horses through a quick opening quarter, hung in there till the 1/8th pole, and then threw in the towel and settled for second beaten six lengths by the favorite. All in all, a very good debut and the favorite was running her third race of the meet. She will get a lot out of this race and be much tighter for start number two. Her speed is a real asset for breaking her maiden on this circuit. Follow. PAPA PAPA PAPA (July 1): Four year old gelding for Mark Glatt was still eligible for a Starter Allowance race, non winners of

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News and Notes July 5, 2017 – Rod Young Turfdom

•     The long six and a half month Santa Anita meet came to an end on Tuesday, the 4th. The meet had more than their share of issues, losing 3 days of racing due to heavy rains in the winter, losing two days of racing due to lack of entries, and finally being forced to just 3 days of racing per week twice in June. But the meet finished on an upbeat note with five days of racing the final week and most of those days had good field size. The pick six carried over into the final day and the payout including the single ticket jackpot was a whopping $478,128 and there were several winners. Young apprentice Evin Roman tied for the riding title with Flavian Prat with 41 winners apiece, and it went down to the final race. No apprentice rider had won a riding title at

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News and Notes June 27 – Rod Young Turfdom

The three day week was working fine until Sunday, and then they only had 69 horses to cover 10 races, and that was before any late scratches, and there were six of them. Now they have the challenge of closing out the long Winter/Spring meet with five consecutive race days, Friday through Tuesday, July 4th. So on Friday, they went back to 8 races. The lone c/o into Friday is the single ticket jackpot of the pick six which now stands at $285,071. We will have selections out for Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and the Holiday July 4th, but NONE for Monday, July 3rd. The main track played fair for most of the week with the exception of Sunday, where we thought a strong early speed bias was in place. All 7 main track winners Sunday were won in wire to wire fashion or within one half length of the lead

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Horses to Watch June 27 – by Rod Young Turfdom

SPECTATOR (June 23): Two year old filly for Phil D’Amato made her debut on Friday in a maiden special weight event at five furlongs on the main track. Off at 9/1 in a full field, she was slow to get going from the ten hole, rallied around horses at the ¼ pole, then cleared rather easily when set down for the drive. She won off by six and was visually impressive. This daughter of the new sire Jimmy Creed will be tough right back no matter where D’Amato puts her, and that includes a stakes. SO I SANG (June 24): Three year old filly for the Dorf made her debut in Saturday’s 2nd, a maiden special weight event at six and a half on the main track for 3 and up. Off at 9/2 in a field of 7, she broke running and tucked in third behind the leaders down

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Horses to Watch June 20 – by Rod Young Turfdom

POWERFUL THIRST (June 16): Two year old colt for Steve Miyadi made his debut in Friday’s 4th at five furlongs on the main track in a maiden special weight event for Cal breds. He was absolutely void of any speed out of the gate and quickly fell 15 lengths back of the leaders early. But he put in a nice run from the quarter pole on home, although 7 wide down the lane, and finished full of run, though beaten six lengths for all of it. This son of the good sire Grazen can run a little and Miyadi generally races his horses into form. I’m sure he will show more speed in start #2 and if Prat rides him back, he may very well be dangerous. This one is worth following at a price. NEWSMAN (June 16): Four year old colt for Phil D’Amato tried the second allowance condition

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News and Notes June 20 – by Rod Young Turfdom

The weather has been hot around Southern California and the entire Southwest for that matter, and it’s going to stay hot up until this Friday. That works well for the horses as racing resumes this Friday with another three day week, which so far has worked out well for the bettors with full fields and good prices throughout the card. And you know management loves those pick six carryovers that really make a difference in the overall handle. However, this doesn’t work for everyone. It’s less money for all the employees as they are not on salaries. They get paid by the hour and less work means less take home pay. And from what I hear, most of the horsemen are not crazy about 3 day weeks as well. It’s still fewer races per week and bigger fields make it tougher to win races. Santa Anita closes the following week

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Horses to Watch June 13 – by Rod Young Turfdom

SURRENDER NOW (June 9): Two year old filly for Peter Miller made her debut in Friday’s third, a five furlong sprint on the main track for maiden special weights. Off at 5/2 and the second choice in the wagering, she had good speed right out of the gate, controlled the pace into the turn, and opened up nicely when set down for the drive. She beat the 3/5 favorite by two at the wire and had her measure both early and late. She’ll be tough to beat in the Landaluce stakes on closing weekend. This barn continues to roll out winners at a spectacular pace. ROARING RULE (June 9): Four year old gelding for Hector Palma ran too good to lose in Friday’s 8th race, but he got beat a half at 21/1 in a starter handicap at a mile and a sixteenth on the main track. He went right

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News and Notes June 13 – by Rod Young Turfdom

For a change, Santa Anita Park decided to give the fans and the players what they want, instead of just catering to the owners and the trainers. Instead of running 4 days per week the next two weeks, they have cancelled the Thursday cards and will run just 3 days per week. They did that this past week and it resulted in fuller fields and better handle overall. This week they will have 10 races each day, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and based on Friday’s entries, it’s a winning formula. Overall, they lose 4 races, 34 on a 4 day week vs. 30 on a 3 day week. Can they make up the handle of those 4 lost races with fuller fields? They don’t know, and that’s why it’s just an experiment at this stage. But they do plan on running five days the final week, Friday through Tuesday, which

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Horses to Watch June 6 – by Rod Young Turfdom

SOUTH AMERICAIN (June 2): Three year old gelding for Neil Drysdale was unfortunate to draw the rail when facing six others Friday in a $50,000 maiden claimer coming down the hill for 3 and up. Off at 7/2 in a field of seven, he broke slowly and awkwardly from the rail but gathered himself quickly under Bejarano and was third in the early going. The jock kept him on the fence throughout the race and he never really found clear sailing. He finished the best that he could under the circumstances beaten a length while finishing third. He likes the turf and this is his proper level. He blew out in 58 and 4 for this race and Drysdale doesn’t work them fast. He’s a soon winner at this level with a better post and he can handle two turns as well. Follow. HOWDY KINGKOWBOY (June 3): Three year old

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News and Notes June 6 – by Rod Young Turfdom

This is a tough time for thoroughbred racing in Southern California, and it always has been, even when Hollywood Park was running. However, the shortage of horse inventory seems to be worse today than it was in years gone by. The culprit for this time of year is Del Mar. They start their 7 week summer season on July 19, and with purses anywhere from 20 to 30% higher, owners/trainers want to save their stock for that meet, and who can blame them. Horses aren’t machines, they need some down time and R and R just like us humans. And this time of year on the calendar always takes a beating. There is no racing this Thursday at Santa Anita Park, and the reason is, insufficient entries. Friday’s card is quite good, but it should be, they have crammed two days of racing into one good 9 race card. The

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