Showing all posts tagged "Racing Entries"
Litfin At Large: Belmont Super Saturday I
Dave Litfin - Litfin At LargeLitfin At Large: Belmont Super Saturday I
by Dave Litfin @DaveLitfin
Here's your Long Island weather forecast for Belmont Park's "Super Saturday I" program: "Showers on Friday, with a steady rain Saturday morning, showers continuing in the afternoon; chance of rain 80%; winds NE at 10-20 miles per hour."
In other words, if you're headed to the track for the 11-race card that begins at 12:30 and includes five stakes, bundle up buttercup.
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (race 6, 3:26 p.m. EDT): With only four horses signed on, the featured Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (gr. IT), a "Win And You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT), is not part of the early pick five, nor is it part of the newly-instituted late pick five. About the only thing you can do is single Flintshire(#4) in the first leg of the pick six.
Under weight-for-age conditions, Flintshire carries the same 126 pounds as his stablemate Money Multiplier (#3), who he gave 10 pounds to in the Sword Dancer en route to his third win without a loss this season.
The most interesting thing about the race is a potentially boggy turf course, because the two most accomplished runners, Flintshire and Twilight Eclipse(#2), both like to hear their feet rattle.
Flintshire, relocated to the United States expressly for firm ground, is 0 for 4 on soft or "good-to-soft" going, including a fifth-place finish in the 2014 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud at 3-5, and a fourth in the 2013 Qatar Prix Niel at 3-2.
All seven of Twilight Eclipse's grass victories have been on firm turf—the firmer the better, since he set the current world record of 2:22.63 seconds for 1 1/2 miles in the 2013 Pan American (gr. IIT). This will be the fourth crack at the Turf Classic for Twilight Agenda, who was arguably best when a very troubled third last year.
The horse most favored by significant rain stands to be Ectot (#1), a three-time winner over soft going as a 2-year-old in 2013 including the group 1 Criterium International.
I'm just a spectator.
Gallant Bloom Handicap (race 7, 4:04 p.m. EDT):Wavell Avenue (#6) was a fast-closing second to eventual Eclipse Award winner La Verdad in last year's Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II), and turned the tables on that rival in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I). Coming off a flat sixth in the Ballerina, Wavell Avenue takes on La Verdad's half sister, Hot City Girl (#3), who nearly won the La Brea (gr. I) in her final start of 2015, and returned to form beating New York-breds in the Union Avenue at Saratoga Race Course in mid-August.
Wavell Avenue should be okay if the rains come, as she was a maiden winner—for a $40,000 tag, with no takers—on a sloppy Belmont strip in October 2014 in what was a vastly improved effort as a third-time starter.
Wonder Gal (#7), second in a sloppy Frizette (gr. I) two years ago, underwent a myectomy after coming up empty in the Barbara Fritchie (gr. II) last winter and returned to win impressively at the Spa, albeit over New York-bred optional claiming company.
Paulassilverlining (#4), who won the Distaff (gr. III) and Vagrancy (gr. III) back to back in the spring, has also run well over off-going, as has Quezon (#2), who picks up three-time Eclipse Award winner Javier Castellano and gets in light.
In a wide-open start to the late pick five, a realistic case can be made for five of the seven entrants:
A - 4, 6, 7
B - 2, 3
Pilgrim (race 8, 4:37 p.m. EDT): Oscar Performance(#6) has continued to train forwardly since his lengthy maiden triumph second time out, but like almost every other lightly raced 2-year-old in this edition of the Pilgrim (gr. IIIT), he is an unknown on turf rated anything other than firm.
The lone entrant with experience on rain-softened courses is the import My Bo Chop (#5), who figures to improve off his United States debut when a respectable fifth in the With Anticipation (gr. IIT).
Also likely to go forward is Oiseau de Guerre (#8), who had his heels clipped early and was headstrong through a premature move when odds-on first time out.
Hitting the "all" button is not out of the question in this situation—unless the race is rained off the turf, in which case I would try to skate by using only Sir Douglas (#4) and Thirst for Victory (#10).
On grass:
A - 6
B - 5, 8
Vosburgh Invitational (race 9, 5:11 p.m. EDT): X Y Jet (#6) was regarded as the top sprinter in the nation early in the season after winning three stakes at Gulfstream Park by almost 15 lengths, and finishing a close second in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (gr. I). After surgery to remove a knee chip, this will be his first race in over six months, and he will have to be at his best in order to handle the streaking A.P. Indian (#5), who has won five straight stakes capped by the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (gr. I) and the Forego (gr. I) at Saratoga.
Also rating some consideration in the Vosburgh, a "Win And You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) are: Holy Boss (#2), a solid second in the Vanderbilt;Joking (#3), who improved to 5-3-0 at Belmont by winning the True North (gr. II) prior to a designed freshening; and Stallwalkin' Dude (#7), third, beaten a neck, in the 2015 Vosburgh.
A - 5
B - 2, 6
C - 3, 7
Beldame (race 10, 5:45 p.m. EDT): In the absence ofCavorting and Curalina, there's little question Forever Unbridled (#2) is the one to beat in the Beldame (gr. I), but there is one caveat: she has never run on anything but fast tracks, and trainer Dallas Stewart has sounded apprehensive about running the multiple graded stakes-winning filly in the muck and mire. What's more, her full sister, 2015 Ballerina (gr. I) winner Unbridled Forever, raced solely on fast tracks throughout her career.
The only other entrant I can take in this spot is Off the Tracks (#7), who returns to the scene of her two best performances, a win in the Mother Goose (gr. I) and a runner-up finish in the Acorn (gr. I).
Posted on October 1st, 2016
Impressive Maiden Winners Try Pilgrim Stakes
Oscar Performance breaks his maiden Aug. 20 at Saratoga Race Course Coglianese PhotosImpressive Maiden Winners Try Pilgrim Stakes
by Jeremy Balan @BH_JBalan
Several impressive 2-year-old maiden special weight winners will take the logical step up in the $200,000 Pilgrim Stakes (gr. IIIT) Oct. 1 at Belmont Park.
The most impressive of six last-out winners entered is Amerman Racing's homebred Oscar Performance, a Kitten's Joy colt who set the pace and drew off to win by 10 1/4 lengths at the Pilgrim's 1 1/16-mile distance Aug. 20 at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Brian Lynch, Oscar Performance is out of the stakes-winning Theatrical mare Devine Actress, who won the 2010 Santa Lucia Handicap at Santa Anita Park over 1 1/16 miles on the then synthetic main track.
Also stepping up after clear route grass graduations are Frostmourne (2 1/4 lengths Sept. 3 at Saratoga),J. S. Choice (3 1/4 lengths Sept. 5 at Saratoga), andKitten's Cat (two lengths Sept. 15 at Kentucky Downs).
Bookew Bucks will stretch out after a six-furlong, maiden-breaking grass score at Belmont Sept. 11 for trainer George Weaver, while Sir Douglas will switch surfaces, owners, and trainers (from William Fires to Chad Brown) after a 4 1/2-length, five-furlong dirt win July 10 at Ellis Park.
Bird's Eye View and My Bo Chop are the only entrants with stakes experience. They finished third and fifth, respectively, in the With Anticipation Stakes (gr. IIT) Aug. 31 at Saratoga.
Maiden Oiseau de Guerre completes the field following a three-quarter length second in his debut Aug. 28 at Saratoga for Brown as the 4-5 favorite.
Pilgrim S. (gr. IIIT)
Belmont Park, Saturday, 10/1, race 8
$200,000, 2yo, 8.5f (turf), 4:37 PM (local)
| P# PP | Horse, Sire, Age/Sex, Jockey, Owner | Wgt M/L |
|---|---|---|
| 1 1 | Frostmourne (KY) Speightstown, 2/c, J–Manuel Franco, O–Green Lantern Stables LLC | 118 10/1 |
| 2 2 | J. S. Choice (KY) Congrats, 2/c, J–Irad Ortiz, Jr., O–KRA Stud Farm | 118 4/1 |
| 3 3 | Bird's Eye View (KY) Mizzen Mast, 2/c, J–John R. Velazquez, O–Ballybrit Stable, LLC | 118 15/1 |
| 4 4 | Sir Douglas (KY) More Than Ready, 2/c, J–Jose Lezcano, O–Covello, J., Coleman, T., Doheny Racing Stable, Madaket Stables LLC et al. | 118 6/1 |
| 5 5 | My Bo Chop (FR) Myboycharlie (IRE), 2/c, J–Junior Alvarado, O–Team Valor International and Earle I. Mack LLC | 118 12/1 |
| 6 6 | Oscar Performance (KY) Kitten's Joy, 2/c, J–Jose L. Ortiz, O–Amerman Racing LLC | 118 2/1 |
| 7 7 | Bookew Bucks (NY) Bluegrass Cat, 2/g, J–Luis Saez, O–Team Penney Racing | 118 20/1 |
| 8 8 | Oiseau de Guerre (KY) War Front, 2/c, J–Javier Castellano, O–Bligh, J., Magnier, M., Tabor, M., Smith, D. and Sheep Pond Partners | 116 7/2 |
| 9 9 | Kitten's Cat (KY) Kitten's Joy, 2/c, J–Joel Rosario, O–Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey | 118 10/1 |
| 10 10 | Thirst for Victory (KY) Stay Thirsty, 2/c, J–John R. Velazquez, O–Repole Stable | 118 2/1 |
| 11 11 | Cohen's Kat (KY) Einstein (BRZ), 2/c, J–Rider TBA, O–Hall, George, E. | 118 6/1 |
Breeders: 1-Green Lantern Stables, LLC; 2-Greenwood Lodge Farm, Inc.; 3-Cloyce C Clark & Jay Goodwin; 4-Blue Devil Racing Stable, LLC; 5-ALAIN CHOPARD; 6-Mrs. Jerry Amerman; 7-William Butler; 8-Jay W. Bligh; 9-Kenneth L. Ramsey & Sarah K. Ramsey; 10-Bo Hirsch, L.L.C.; 11-K & G Stables
Posted on October 1st, 2016
Belmont Saturday Highlight Horse: Danny’s Deceiver will relish wet track in the Vosburgh
timeformusblog.com
Belmont Saturday Highlight Horse: Danny’s Deceiver will relish wet track in the Vosburgh
Posted on
DontLetTheGamePassYouByfortfus
In three runs over sealed tracks, Danny’s Deceiver has earned two wins and a second, which is better than he’s done in all of his fast track races. It would have seemed unlikely that he could compete against a field of this quality just a few months ago, but he’s made huge strides over his past few starts.
He defeated a strong allowance field on Belmont Stakes day in June, and then made an eye-catching run from far back to nearly win in July. He was still dismissed at 40/1 in the Forego—his stakes debut—but he managed to pass more than half the field while rallying from last to be fourth. The fact that he was able to accomplish such a feat over a fast track speaks to the form that he’s in right now. I take it as a positive sign that Jose Ortiz climbs aboard, and the stiff 6-furlong workout that he put in a few days ago would appear to indicate that he’s feeling good coming into this race. If there’s one horse in this race that could surprise a lot of people and step up to hit the board—or even win—I believe it’s him.
THE PLAY
Win/Place: 8
Exacta Key Box: 8 with 1,2,3,6,7
Trifecta: 7,8 with 2,3,7,8 with 1,2,3,6,7,8
Posted on October 1st, 2016
Stakes Preview: The Vosburgh is A. P. Indian’s Race To Lose. Will He Show Up?
DontLetTheGamePassYouByfortfus
>>Go to the PPs for The G1 Vosburgh | Post Time 5:11 EDT Saturday
It’s been a few years since we’ve had a dominant older Grade 1 dirt sprinter in this country, which makes A. P. Indian a welcome presence. He is undoubtedly the leader of this division after sweeping both Grade 1 sprints for older horses at Saratoga, running his winning streak to five. If he shows up, he’s a likely winner of this race—but will he show up? His connections have cast doubt over whether they would run him over a sloppy track, and there is plenty of rain in the forecast for Friday and Saturday. If he remains on the sidelines, this race really opens up.
Let’s go through the field:
#1, Weekend Hideaway (20/1): This horse has been plagued by inconsistency but seems to have gotten over those issues this year, as he’s put together four straight solid performances, including three wins against New York-breds. However, he was no match for X Y Jet at Gulfstream, or even Stallwalkin’ Dude in this race last year, so it would appear that he’s a cut below the best runners at this level. That said, he would be one worth moving up if the track comes up wet.
#2, Holy Boss (4/1): After reeling off four straight victories towards the first half of his three-year-old campaign, he’s been winless since last year’s Amsterdam at Saratoga. He’s hardly been disgraced in any of those races, and some might even argue that he’s improved as a four-year-old. However, the fact remains that he’s been in position to win in four straight races and just has not been able to seal the deal. Today his task is complicated by an inside draw in a race that features other speed and stalking types drawn to his outside. He resented getting stuck down inside in the True North two back, and he could be in for a similar trip here.
#3, Joking (8/1): After struggling to get through his allowance conditions for what seemed like an eternity, Joking has come on suddenly this year at the age of seven. Charlton Baker is having a fantastic year on the NYRA circuit and this runner’s success in the Grade 2 True North has to be considered his crowning achievement. That said, he missed some races over the summer and now must be set to top even his prior performance while returning from a layoff dating back to mid-June. The hurdles are significant, but he does love Belmont Park and ran a competitive speed figure when last seen. I’ll be using him underneath in exactas and trifectas.
#4, Green Gratto (30/1):
#5, A. P. Indian (1/1):
There is little to criticize when analyzing this gelding’s recent form. He’s equally effective at distances ranging from six to seven furlongs; he can race on the lead or come from off the pace; and he’s run speed figures that are simply a few points higher than those of almost all of his competitors. In winning 10 of his 16 lifetime starts, he’s finished out of the money only twice. However, one of those subpar performances did come over a sloppy track in last year’s Phoenix at Keeneland. It’s possible that he needs a fast track to produce his very best effort, and he’s unlikely to get that on Saturday. However, if that is the case, his connections have indicated that he’d be unlikely to run. If the track is anything close to fast and he shows up, I’m not trying to beat him.
#6, X Y Jet (7/2): In many ways, this horse is the real wild card in the race. He is the only runner in this field to have consistently run speed figures that suggest he could give A. P. Indian a scare. However, he has not been seen since late March, and his connections picked an awfully ambitious spot in which to bring him back. Speed is the name of the game for this son of Kantharos, and he will try to take them as far as he can up front. However, he’s never encountered a horse that can finish up like A. P. Indian, and I wonder if an early tussle with Green Gratto could leave him somewhat vulnerable late. It’s also fair to wonder whether he can produce his best form in New York. Jorge Navarro’s runners have been effective at Monmouth and Gulfstream, but he gets only a 54 trainer rating on the NYRA circuit. Perhaps his Golden Shaheen effort is supposed to ease those concerns, but I still need to see it here to believe it.
#7, Stallwalkin’ Dude (8/1):
He nearly won this race last year after boldly forging to the lead past midstretch under Irad Ortiz. However, the game Rock Fall had just enough left in reserve to battle back for the victory. Things have not gone smoothly since then, as he’s had his ups and downs and seemed to completely tail off during the spring and early summer of this year. However, he got back on track at Saratoga and earned another Grade 1 placing in the Forego. He was never going to beat A. P. Indian that day, but he still ran a creditable race. Now he shortens up to arguably his best distance while in some of the best form of his career. I don’t anticipate that he’ll beat A. P. Indian, but he’d become a major player in the event that the favorite scratches.
#8, Dannie’s Deceiver (20/1):
THE PLAY
If A. P. Indian (#5) runs, he’s my top pick, but I think there are a few runners that could be used underneath him in exactas and trifectas, including Stallwalkin’ Dude (#7) and Dannie’s Deceiver (#8). If the favorite is scratched, then Dannie’s Deceiver would inherit the role of my top selection.
With A. P. Indian:
Win/Place: 8
Exacta: 5 with 7,8
Trifecta: 5 with 7,8 with 1,2,3,6,7,8
Trifecta: 5 with 1,2,3,6 with 7,8
Without A. P. Indian:
Win/Place: 8
Exacta Key Box: 8 with 1,2,3,6,7
Posted on October 1st, 2016
TIMEFORMUS SATURDAY BELMONT PARK
Whitegate (#1)
Was steadied in traffic when attempting to move up the rail last time.
Faces a much easier field today.
Charlton Baker gets a 100 trainer rating with runners coming off layoffs of this length.
10/1 on ML
———–
Race 6:
Reconsider It (#10)
Was done in by a wide trip in her debut.
Was hindered by a slow pace last time.
Gets a huge rider switch to Junior Alvarado.
Posted on October 1st, 2016
Stakes Preview: In the G1 Beldame at Belmont, Don’t Overlook This Longshot
This Beldame features three Grade 1 winners, in the form of Apple Blossom winner Forever Unbridled, surprise Test winner Paola Queen, and Mother Goose winner Off the Tracks. However, it’s still hard to shake the feeling that this has come up as one of the weaker Grade 1 races run in this division. The absence of stars like Songbird, Beholder, Stellar Wind, and Cavorting is certainly felt here.
Let’s go through the field:
#1, Tiger Ride (15/1): She’s actually run pretty well on dirt and put to rest any concerns about whether she could get this distance with her runner-up finish in a restricted stakes at Saratoga this summer. She deserves some credit for making the first run into a fast pace (color-coded in red) on that occasion in a race that ultimately fell apart late. However, she still lost to Rachel’s Temper and that one is hardly a serious threat to win this race. At best, she’s worth considering for the bottom rungs of trifectas and superfectas.
#2, Forever Unbridled (1/1):
#3, Rachel’s Temper (10/1): While I respect the year that Charlton Baker has been having, I still think he’s asking a lot of this mare. This is a horse that really struggled to get through her allowance conditions and fell into an absolutely perfect setup sitting well back off a fast pace when she finally earned a stakes win last time out. She is highly unlikely to get the same scenario here, and I’ll be surprised if she’s a factor.
#4, Penwith (10/1):
#5, Going for Broke (6/1): She barely beat Rachel’s Temper two back and I’m not convinced that she topped that performance despite earning a Grade 1 placing in her next start. I wonder if she’ll be overbet here because Songbird’s name shows up in her Alabama running line. That performance looks better in print than it does when watching the replay, as she got an absolutely perfect trip coming through on the rail around the far turn and still had trouble putting away the third place finisher, who was seemingly spent at the top of the stretch. I prefer others.
#6, Paola Queen (15/1): She never should have been 55/1 in the Test, but her win in that race was still a surprise. I generally love turnbacks and I have to believe that it was the shortened distance that allowed her to step up with her career-best performance last time. While she performed respectably enough in her three route attempts, she didn’t run fast enough in those races to compete against the likes of today’s older rivals. I’ll be surprised if she’s able to pull off the Grade 1 double here.
#7, Off the Tracks (5/2): There’s a lot to like about this filly, but I’m wondering if she’s a bit of a trap in this spot. Her odds are probably not going to be that much higher than those of Forever Unbridled, but I believe her older rival is a far more likely winner of this race. She obviously deserves accolades for her performance in the Test, which earned her a 123 speed figure—easily best in the field. That said, she was a turnback that day, just like Paola Queen, and she was not able to reproduce that form in the Prioress next time out. While she did earn a Grade 1 victory in the Mother Goose, she may have benefitted from a surface that was favoring inside speed on that occasion. Her lone race over a wet track was one of her worst, and there are still questions about her stamina. I’m not going to be shocked if she steps up and wins this race, but I don’t think a price around 5/2 or 3/1 would represent fair value. She’s somewhere in my play, but I prefer others on top.
THE PLAY
While I fully acknowledge that this is Forever Unbridled’s (#2) race to lose, I have to take a shot with Penwith (#4), given the expected value. I would bet her to win at odds of 8/1 or higher.
Win/Place: 4
Exacta Box: 2,4
Trifecta: 2,4 with 2,4 with ALL
Posted on October 1st, 2016
FULL GATE FOR RODEO DRIVE: GI Rodeo Drive S. Saturday, featuring a 14-horse scramble to seize a A Win and Youre In qualifying bid to the Nov. 5 GI Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf
RODEO DRIVE S.-GI, $300,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/4mT
2 Frenzified (GB) Yeats (Ire) Gonzalez Cassidy 10-1
3 Queen of The Sand (Ire) Footstepsinthsnd (GB) Blanc Gallagher 20-1
4 Avenge War Front Prat Mandella 6-1
7 Majestic Heat Unusual Heat Stevens Mandella 12-1
8 Fresh Feline K Kitten's Joy Sutherland Shirreffs 20-1
9 Generosidade (Uru) Nedawi (GB) Pereira Lobo 12-1
10 Nancy From Nairobi (GB) Sixties Icon (GB) Smith Sadler 10-1
11 Decked Out K Street Boss Desormeaux Desormeaux12-1
12 Zipessa K City Zip Geroux Stidham 7-2
13 Elektrum (Ire) High Chaparral (Ire) Espinoza Sadler 5-1
Posted on October 1st, 2016
Santa Anitas GI Chandelier S., which offers a guaranteed spot in the gate for the GI Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies here Nov. 5,
CHANDELIER S.-GI, $300,000, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m
2 Noted and Quoted The Factor Bejarano Baffert 6-1
3 Champagne Room KBroken Vow Smith Eurton 4-1
4 Zapperkat K Ghostzapper Arroyo, Jr. Baltas 9-2
5 American Cleopatra Pioneerof the Nile Elliott Baffert 7-2
6 Bitzka Tiago Baze Sadler 12-1
7 Datz a Violation K Stay Thirsty Pedroza Greenman 50-1
8 Mistressofthenight K Midnight Lute Desormeaux Baltas 10-1
9 Princess Coco K Pioneerof the Nile Espinoza Desrmeaux 15-1
10 Lake Time K Tapizar Stevens Kruljac 10-1
11 Nikki My Darling K Creative Cause Van Dyke Greenman 30-1
12 Demigoddess First Dude Boulanger Stutts 50-1
Posted on October 1st, 2016
Accelerate coming into his own for Los Alamitos Derby
Accelerate coming into his own for Los Alamitos Derby
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CYPRESS, Calif. – Accelerate, the winner of the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar last month, keeps jockey Tyler Baze active while they are in a race.
“You’ve got to let him know what’s going on," Baze said this week. “He’s just green. Once he puts it all together one of these days, he’ll be something special."
Accelerate was perfect at the Del Mar summer meeting, winning a maiden race July 28 and then the Shared Belief Stakes on Aug. 26. The next objective is Saturday’s $200,000 Los Alamitos Derby at 1 1/8 miles. The Grade 2 Los Alamitos Derby will be the longest and most prestigious race of Accelerate’s career, which began in mid-April.
:: LOS ALAMITOS DERBY: Get PPs, watch Saturday's card live
“I think this horse is growing up," said Baze.
Accelerate will be a strong favorite in the Los Alamitos Derby, the richest race of the track’s three-week September meeting. Purchased for $380,000 as a yearling, Accelerate is owned by Pete and Kosta Hronis and trained by John Sadler.
KEY CONTENDERS
Accelerate, by Lookin At Lucky
Last 3 Beyers: 93-93-82
◗ Accelerate lost his first three starts, all in sprints, including a second in a maiden race here in April in which Arrogate was third. Arrogate has won four subsequent starts, including the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 27, and is a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.
◗ Accelerate’s Del Mar wins were at a mile. He beat maidens by 8 3/4 lengths and won the Shared Belief Stakes by a half-length over Semper Fortis, who is part of the Los Alamitos Derby field.
◗ The close finish in the Shared Belief Stakes served as a reminder to Baze that Accelerate is still developing. Baze said he needed to keep the colt focused in the race.
“He messes around a lot," he said. “When I broke his maiden, at the three-eighths pole I went to really riding him. I had to ride him hard to pay attention. He ran awesome that day. The light bulb was lit."
◗ Accelerate is most effective from a stalking position.
“I don’t think distance is a problem with him," said Baze, has been aboard Accelerate for all five of his starts. “From the very get-go, he’s been a horse that’s wanted to go two turns. He showed that the last couple of times he’s run."
Semper Fortis, by Distorted Humor
Last 3 Beyers: 92-81-64
◗ Semper Fortis had not raced in more than six months when he finished second at 14-1 in the Shared Belief Stakes. Purchased for $525,000 as a yearling, Semper Fortis won a maiden race for $62,500 claimers at Del Mar last November going five furlongs.
◗ Earlier this year, Semper Fortis won an optional claimer at a mile at Santa Anita and was a troubled sixth in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes.
◗ The Los Alamitos Derby will be the second start in a graded stakes for Semper Fortis. Trainer Doug O’Neill expects an improved effort following the Shared Belief.
“He got a little bit tired on the end," O’Neill said. “We’re assuming he’ll move forward off that. We’re right in the mix there."
Posted on September 24th, 2016
Del Mar Changes Pick 6 to "Jackpot" Wager
RACING NEWS
09/22/2016 5:05 PM ET
The Pick Six will offer a "Single Ticket Jackpot" element added to it which allows for a solo winner to score a potentially hefty jackpot. That enhancement was approved by the California Horse Racing Board at its monthly meeting Sept. 22 and will debut at the 15-day seaside session starting Friday, Nov. 11.
The standard formula for the Pick Six is that 70% of the total pool is paid out to those with tickets tabbing six of six winners. Consolation tickets, those with five of six winners, divided the remaining 30% of the pool.
The new twist on the Pick Six will alter that arrangement. Those picking all six winners will continue to get 70% of the pool, but the remaining 30% will be split two ways. Those with consolation tickets will be paid 15% of the pool, while the final 15% will be carried forward until there is a lone Pick Six winning ticket at which time that day's total Pick Six pool, along with the complete carryover pool, is paid to that one lucky winner.
"The majority of Pick Six players won't find anything different in this enhancement," said Craig Dado, Del Mar's executive vice president for marketing. "They're still paying $2 for the bet, 70% of the pool continues to go to those who pick six winners, the takeout is the same and the chance for a huge score is still there. What is different, though, is that there now will be a chance for an even bigger score if you've got that one ticket."
The new arrangement allows for payouts on the "Single Ticket Jackpot" pool on any day of the meeting. But in the scenario where no single ticket wins the bet for the whole meet, the entire carryover would be put in the closing-day Pick Six pool (Sunday, December 4) and paid out to all winning tickets.
Del Mar reports focus groups among a cross-section of racing fans have provided positive feedback on the new bet to track officials. Many bettors said they liked the idea of the payout remaining at 70% of the pool for those picking six winners, while others were intrigued by the idea of a large pool growing separately with the potential for a massive payout on closing day. Most Pick Six players indicated that consolation pools weren't the reason they played the bet and Del Mar officials emphasized that the consolation prizes weren't being taken away, but rather adjusted to allow for half of it to be reallocated to the "Jackpot" pool.
Posted on September 23rd, 2016