Category: Blog Posts

Kentucky Oaks 2020 Report 12/8/2019

The Kentucky Oaks points race series for 2020 picked up steam with a pair of graded races on Dec. 7. Lake Avenue went all the way in the Demoiselle (G2), and Bast pulled off a wire job later that day at Los Alamitos in the Starlet (G1). Last week, Finite ran her winning streak to three in the Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill Downs. The Starlet was the final Oaks points race of the year. The next race on the docket is the Santa Ynez at Santa Anita Park on January 5.  Kentucky Oaks 2020 Points Race Recaps Golden Rod (G2) from Churchill Downs (11-30-19) – Winner: Finite ($3.60) This dirt route at Churchill Downs was run in the slop. Bean and Lady Glamour battled on the pace, and strong favorite Finite sat in the right spot behind those two. Finite surged to the lead in the stretch and held

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Kentucky Derby 2020 Update Dec. 8, 2019

The Kentucky Derby 2020 preps are winding down for the juvenile set. Silver Prospector took the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) Nov. 30. Shotski wired the field in the Remsen (G2) Dec. 7, and Thousand Words captured the Los Al Futurity (G2) later that day for trainer Bob Baffert. The Derby trail has one more stop for the juveniles next week, the $400k Springboard Mile at Remington Park on Sunday, Dec. 15. They will all officially turn three on January 1, and the Jerome at Aqueduct is the first points race of 2020.   Kentucky Derby 2020 Points Race Recaps Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) Recap (11-30-19) – Winner: Silver Prospector ($17.80) This graded point race was run at a mile and a sixteenth in the slop. Longshot New Eagle set the pace and favorites South Bend and Tiz the Law were in chase mode. I initially thought my value

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Del Mar Report (Nov. 29 thru Dec. 1)

Del Mar Recap for Friday (11-29-19) Good, drying out main track upgraded to fast by the eighth race. No turf races carded. There were five front running winners (8f, 6f, 8f, 6f, 6f). Riding double for Rafael Bejarano. The $2 Pick 6 pool was $138,369, and nobody has all six winners. The 5 out of 6 consolation payoff was $5,280.00. There will be a Pick 6 carryover of $125,177 when live racing resumes Saturday, Nov. 30, and the single ticket jackpot carryover stands at $26,823. Nov. 29 Claims: Race 2 – Aggressivity ($40k, John Sadler). Race 4 – Leroy ($32k, John Sadler). Race 8 – Top Brass ($40k, John Sadler). Race 9 – Mr. Unusual ($32k, John Sadler), Promise Nothing ($32k, Rafael Becerra).   ————– Del Mar Recap for Saturday (11-30-19) Fast main track and good turf course. The flat mile finale was transferred to the main track. Three front running winners on dirt (6f, 5.5f,

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Horses To Watch December 3

KENZOU’S RHYTHM (November 29): Five year old gelding for Jeff Mullins was in for a $28,000 claiming tag in Friday’s 4th, a mile event for older horses on the main with a top claiming price of $32,000. Off at 6/1 in a six horse field shortened by scratches, he made the running right from the start and dueled between horses through quick splits of 23.13 and 47.15 over a track rated as “good”. He put the inside speed away at the ¼ pole but had no answer for the one on his outside, but he battled gamely down the lane and didn’t give it up until the 1/16 pole, and still held second at the wire. This was just his second start off a long layoff and he got nothing out of his previous start. He’s sitting on a win, though he might need a slight class drop. Either way,

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TURFDOM NEWS AND NOTES December 3

• The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club completed their four week fall meet on a high note this past Sunday with record wagering, resulting in a 9% increase for the meet in average daily handle. The daily handle this year was $11,291,574 and topped 2017’s total of $11,004,979. This was the sixth year that Del Mar has hosted their fall meet since the closing of Hollywood Park. This is the first time in their 82 year history at this track that they had to cancel racing due to inclement weather. They lost two Thursdays during the meet due to heavy rainfall. However, in each case both the main track and the turf course dried out quickly and they were fast and firm for the final day of the meet. Average field size for the meet was 7.4 runners per race and was down from last year where the average was 7.7.

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Del Mar Recap Nov 14 – 17, 2019

Del Mar Recap for Thursday (11-14-19) Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running sprint winners on dirt (6.5f, 6f). The turf course winners were a last-to-first closer in a 4-horse field at one mile, a dueling front runner at five panels, a patient runner at one mile, and a presser/dueling front runner at one mile (rail at 30 feet). Turf hat trick for Drayden Van Dyke. The $2 Pick 6 pool was $54,614, and multiple tickets with all six winners paid $2,714 each. The 5 out of 6 consolation payoff was $24.80. The single ticket jackpot carryover stands at $49,987. Nov. 14 Claims: Race 5 – Oil Can Knight ($25k, Steve Knapp), Policy ($25k, Mark Glatt). ————– Del Mar Recap for Friday (11-15-19) Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. The turf course winners were a stalker at one mile, a front runner at five panels, and

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Del Mar Horses to Watch Nov. 19

VENETIAN HARBOR (November 15): Two year old filly for Richard Baltas made her debut in Friday’s third, a maiden special weight affair at 5/8 on the lawn. Taking a lot of late money, (she was in the gate at 9/5 and was even money on the far turn), she came out running under Prat, but then took back at the 3/8, when he didn’t want to engage in a speed duel. She fell 3 lengths off the pace, then re-rallied in the lane but fell one length short at the wire. She ran the final quarter in a very fast 22.25 and was past the winner just a few strides after the wire. Baltas always does well with 2nd time starters but is only 7% with debut runners. This one is bred for turf or dirt and they won’t beat her in start #2. Be ready. TIGRE DI SLUGO (November

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Del Mar Horses To Watch Nov 13

• Del Mar Race Track, where the “turf meets the surf”, completed week two of their four week fall meet without incident on Sunday. Overall the main track has played fair, but on Sunday the outside lanes were the place to be and rally wide closers had the advantage. The times have continued to be on the “slow” side. The turf course has played fair regardless of where the inner rails have been placed, in fact, the rails have been out both weeks preserving the inner part of the course for the final week of racing and their Turf Festival. With a 90% chance of rain in the area this week, the track announced six days in advance they would cancel Thursday’s race card this week. That’s the first time in the 82 year history of this track they cancelled a day of racing due to the weather. Of course

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Del Mar Weekly Report (Nov 8-10)

Del Mar Recap for Friday (11-8-19) Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. The winning turf course running styles were a front runner at five panels, a midpack closer at 8.5 furlongs, and a last-to-first closer at one mile (rail at 18 feet). Tiago Pereira and Bill Spawr teamed up for two wins.  The $2 Pick 6 pool was $51,318, and nobody had all six winners. The 5 out of 6 consolation payoff was $5,874.80. There will be a Pick 6 carryover of $27,416 when live racing resumes Nov. 9, and the single ticket jackpot carryover stands at $5,875.  Kathryn Crosby Stakes Recap (11-8-19) – Winner: Wicked Old Fashion ($67.80) The pace was swift early, and this turf route fell apart late. La Sardane and Lostintranzlation were the early instigators, and they opened up by 8+ lengths after a half-mile. The writing was on the wall and the lead started to diminish.

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Kentucky Derby 2020: BC Juvenile Recap

The very early Kentucky Derby 2020 picture was turned upside down following a top three surprise in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita Park on Friday, Nov. 1. Dennis’ Moment stumbled at the start, Eight Rings chased and retreated, and Maxfield scratched. It was anything goes after those events, and Storm the Court lead the longshot parade at the Great Race Place. The next Derby points race is the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 30.    Kentucky Derby 2020 Points Race Recaps BC JUVENILE Recap (11-1-19) – Winner: Storm the Court ($93.80) It was bombs away in the Juvenile, but this was probably not as big a surprise as the payoffs suggest. After Breeders’ Futurity (G1) hero Maxfield scratched, we were left with a less than stellar field of eight with two apparent standouts. Dennis’ Moment was the favorite based on a big local

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