Monday, August 27, 2007
The Top 10 Things That Drive Me Nuts As A Horseplayer!
1. All payoffs should be shown in $2 increments: How many times have you heard someone say "Is that payoff for $1 or $2?" All payoffs should be shown in $2 increments, on a uniform nationwide basis. If the player can't calculate the winnings for his $1 exacta or even his 10-cent superfecta, he should either stay home or bring a calculator
2. Surface changes need to be in bold print across the screen on a regular basis: You wager on a race, under the assumption that it is a turf race, and the first indication that the race is off the turf is when the field is loaded into the gate. the sky is sunny...the dirt track is dry...so you assume the race is still on the turf...and now it is too late to cancel your ticket...grrrrr!!
3. In this world of advanced technology, how come we can't put a camera right on the wire? On a close photo finish, you don't know who actually won, because the camera, for some unexplainable reason, is stationed 20 yards behind the wire! why can't we have a shutter-cam right on the wire, like they have at quarter-horse tracks?
4. Why doesn't every track offer a 50-cent pick 4? The biggest pick-4 payoff I hit was $11,000 for a 50-cent ticket at Keeneland last Fall. It paid that much because there was a 50-1 shot in the sequence. The only way I could included the horse was by spreading in that race. The only way I could possibly spread that far was because it was a 50-cent denomination.
5. Why doesn't every track offer a 10-cent superfecta? A player on my budget will pass on most superfectas because, at a $1 minimum, the price of the ticket, makes it prohibitive to spread. But, at a 10-cent minimum, I get to have some fun, spread enough to have a fair shot at winning, without blowing-up my bankroll.
6. Tracks need to post the pick-3 and pick-4 "will pays" far more frequently: You can't miss the win odds...you can't miss the exacta payoffs...but if you blink, turn away for a minute, or go get a hot dog and a beer, you will never know what your pick-3 or pick-4 tickets will pay. They are only shown 1 time, typically, for maybe a minute, and then never seen again...why???
7. I want analysts who actually analyze the race: Each track has an in-house analyst or two...TVG and HRTV have a staff of hosts...I don't need them to be witty...don't need them to do schtick...I don't need them to act goofy. All that I ask is that they give me worthwhile insight/information on the upcoming race. Jan Rushton, in New York, is the prototype for how the job should be done. She is matter-of-fact, professional, and routinely tells me information that assists me as a bettor. That's all I want.
8. Don't display the day's changes in a "crawl" that people can't see: Too many of the tracks run the day's scratches/changes in a "crawl" that trails across the bottom of the screen. That's OK except, that the crawl is often so low on the screen that it cannot be read on many simulcast TV's...there are 20 minutes between races...between each race, place that same information in the middle of the screen, in big bold print, in addition to the crawl...makes sense to me.
9. There has to be uniformity in how scratches are handled on multi-race wagers: We have all been there before...you play a pick-3, pick-4 or pick-6, and halfway through the sequence, one of your horses is a late scratch. The question becomes: "Do I get stuck with the favorite...get a refund...or get a consolation?" I personally favor a consolation payout, but there should be a uniform policy, nationwide, when this happens.
10. The same uniformity should apply when part of an entry is a late scratch: New York does it right...when part of an entry is a late scratch, all wagers are refunded, and the remaining part of the entry runs for purse money only. Sure, sometimes the remaining part of the entry wins the race, and all that you have is a stinking refund. But, if the "good" half of the entry scratches, and you're stuck with a ticket on a 1-for-25 nag who has no chance, a refund is a very good thing indeed.
None of these proposals would require millions of dollars to implement. None of these proposals would involve a major change to the essence of the sport. And yet, these simple, easy-to-implement changes would sure make my life a lot easier. Don't you agree?
Friday, August 10, 2007
Dick Harbin Comments On Victor Espinoza's "Race-Riding"!
If you wagered in good faith on the talented filly Balance in last Sunday's Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar, you are due a refund. Of course, that refund will never be coming, but a refund is in order. One of the very basic tenets to placing a wager is that your jockey will ride that horse in a manner that gives the horse the best possible opportunity to win that race. Instead of riding Balance to win the race, Victor Espinoza rode the race in a manner that was designed to accomplish one goal: to see to it that another jock's mount, the brilliant filly Nashoba's Key lost the race.
Going into the first turn, Espinoza floated Nashoba's Key into the 4 path, and continued that move as they started down the backstretch. Sensing the tactics that Espinoza had chosen, Joe Talamo, aboard Nashoba's Key, calmly backed his filly off a bit, and angled her over to the rail. Now, Balance had every opportunity to get first jump on Nashoba's Key. But, rather than putting his mount into a position to pounce on the two longshot pace-setters, Espinoza chose instead to restrain his filly in an attempt to pin Nashoba's Key down on the rail, hoping that she might get boxed-in.
All of these silly efforts were for naught, as Talamo patiently waited, then found a hole at the top of the lane, and Nashoba's Key burst through that opening and drew off to a convincing romp. Not only did Espinoza fail miserably in his attempt to beat Nashoba's Key, his bizarre antics threw his mount, Balance, so far off of her game to a point where she could not even finish second.
Clever race-riding has a long and storied history in horse racing. One of my first vivid memories of this fine art was watching Angel Cordero Jr. letting Codex "drift out" well into the path of Genuine Risk, as they turned for home in the 1980 Preakness. Clever race-riding, at a key instant in a race, is part of the game, and as it did with Codex, often leads to victory.
But race-riding stunts, such as Espinoza's, where the goal is solely to try to get another horse beat, is shameful. Ultimately, it is a gross disservice to your mount, the owners of your mount, and, most importantly, a disservice to the thousands of people who wagered on your mount.
For the record, my money was Nashoba's Key, so don't mistake this for the bitter grumblings of a beaten player.
Labels: commentary, Del Mar, Dick Harbin, Victor Espinoza
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Article from Las Vegas Racing Critic Warren Eves
I recently had a chance to have a lively and entertaining dinner at Joe's Stone Crab & Steak House in Las Vegas with longtime racing friends Warren Eves and Richard Eng.
We discussed a lot of subjects on the overall theme of "the state of racing in America." Last Friday, Warren called me just before air time for Thoroughbred Connection's Friday Night Touch to tell me about his frustrating and disappointing effort to play the Ellis Park Pick Six (now with a $0.50 minimum) in Las Vegas a week ago. He later sent me this article and gave me his permission to post it on my blog,
We discussed a lot of subjects on the overall theme of "the state of racing in America." Last Friday, Warren called me just before air time for Thoroughbred Connection's Friday Night Touch to tell me about his frustrating and disappointing effort to play the Ellis Park Pick Six (now with a $0.50 minimum) in Las Vegas a week ago. He later sent me this article and gave me his permission to post it on my blog,
By Warren H. Eves
Las Vegas, Nev.—Is the party really over?
Handicapper Don Kieger put me on a live venue this week. Both of us, finding things difficult in the once lucrative world of horse betting, have been exploring alternate options in 2007. Synthetic tracks, manipulation of equine medication mandates, and short fields have shrunk our paydays. For years we could bank on making significant scores that would fill the coiffeurs. Those days have faded from view.
Kieger was excited a racetrack was giving the bettor a shot. He likes Ellis Park’s innovative 50-cent pick four. It was something he felt I should investigate.
Ellis Park is currently offering pick-4 wager on their last four races. The racetrack went one step further. They shaved their take on the pick four down to a paltry 4%. Most racetrack’s take on exotic bets is near 25%. The player, something the greedy members of Thoroughbred Owners of California never have considered, was finally getting considerations.
I thought this pick four wager might put us back in the fast lane. Synthetic racetracks have been puzzling and value has been ever so hard to find. I was in search of an area one might be able to exploit.
Picking up a Racing Form at the Palms casino racebook was where we started Wednesday night.
We purchased a Thursday Racing Form for a buck from ticket writer Monty. We chatted for a few minutes. The subject matter was the aging customer base in Las Vegas racebooks. Monty admits the average age in the Palms book is senior oriented to be sure. He added: “Take a look across the street at the Gold Coast. The average age is probably closer to 70.” He’s right, and there are reasons why young people in today’s world have found other forms of entertainment more enticing.
One thing I can tell you is the 50-cent pick four at Ellis Park allows a player to use more horses than normal. You get bang for your buck. And that’s been the name of the game—up until now.
Applying basic handicapping methods, supplemented by Brisnet speed and class numbers, I came up with a strategy. Keep in mind, I’ve never been big on the numbers approach. I respect those who go to all the trouble of placing a number on a race. I’ve simply found other handicapping approaches more to my liking.
We came up with a main ticket for Ellis Park’s pick four on Thursday, August 2. Keep in mind, this is a racetrack I don’t know much about. It’s also why I called handicapper Don Kieger in Minnesota for his opinion. His input has always been a valuable. Don’t kid yourself, most handicappers have their quirks. For instance not a day goes by when I don’t check out the opinions of Michael Hammersly or Chuck Dybdal. They work for the Daily Racing Form. I’ve never met either of them. I respect their opinions. It’s obvious they do their own thing. That can’t be said for some other names that appear daily in the Racing Form.
Five tickets were the end result for Ellis’ pick 4. My first ticket went three deep in leg 1—race six. Then the ticket went two, by one, using three horses in the final leg which is the ninth and final race. The cost was $9. The second ticket went 3X2X4X1 at a cost of $12. The third ticket was 3X2X4X1. Another $12 investment. The fourth ticket also cost $12 and went 3X2X4X1. I singled a horse in the first leg of the final ticket, took all horses in race seven, then went 2 by 2. The cost was $18. Total investment was $63.
We arrived at Palace Station casino. The horses were coming onto the track for Ellis Park’s second race. A check of late changes found one of my key horses, the #2 horse, scratched in the last leg. A last minute adjustment was made. I added the #4 horse.
I went to the window. When I called off my first of five plays the writer shook her head. The racebooks were not taking this 50-cent wager on Ellis Park’s pick four. I said: “You’ve got to be kidding?”
I walked away perplexed and displeased. All this work? Everything was down the drain.
Longtime horseplayer Don Weimer was sitting in the first row of the Palace Station racebook. I told him they had turned down my Ellis Park pick four action. He said: “The party’s over.”
Palace Station also refused a 10-cent superfecta I tried to put in on race eight at Ellis before I left. Once again the ticket writer shook her head. “Not enough,” she said. I said, what do you mean? “You have not bet enough.” When I told her to up the amount and make it a 30-cent ticket superfecta it was still not enough.
So now we have Nevada racebooks dictating how much a player has to wager. Isn’t the name of the game to bet a little and win a lot? Obviously greed has shown it’s ugly hand. Ridiculous! I left Palace Station.
I had no action on a card I had spent several hours working on.
My mindset? I said to myself, they probably saved me money. I went grocery shopping.
On returning home I turned on the computer. I went to Brisnet’s website to see how my handicapping went at Ellis Park. One of three horses I was going to use in leg one of the pick four had won by a scant nose paying $12.40.
One of only two horses I used in the second leg, Bo Dee Green, had won the second leg by 2-3/4 lengths paying $6.60.
The third leg of the pick four, where my tickets went four deep, was next. Lumberjack Cat won by a half length and paid $17. This was not what I wanted to see. Three of the five tickets I wanted to play were alive.
Now I was in a position where I would be rooting against numbers 1, 4 and 10 in the finale. If any of three horses won I knew the Ellis Park pick four would produce a significant payoff.
A call was placed to Kieger in Minnesota. I told Don my wagers had been turned down. He couldn’t believe it. The worst scenario would be if the #1 won Ellis Park’s last race. Even though there were three scratches in the final leg the #1 had an original morning line of 10-1. That was the true value of the three tickets that would still be alive if we had action.
It was agonizing listening to Kieger’s words-eye description as he watched the final leg on TVG. The #10 horse was the favorite. The 3 horse led early, then the #7 took the lead. In crunch time it was #1 rallying widest and getting up to win by a ½. The win mutual was only $8.60 due to late scratches. The #10 ran second, so I could not have blown the pick 4 if had been given action.
There was a long wait to see what the pick four paid. My $63 investment would have reaped a return of $709.35. What’s a horseplayer to do?
NOTES SCRIBBLED ACROSS MY PROGRAM—You have to hand it to Del Mar management. Right or wrong they have been willing to discuss the pros and cons of their synthetic surface with the horsemen and with members of the press. This is refreshing because in the past, at places like Santa Anita, there was this take it or leave it attitude. Question? Do you think it’s possible that Del Mar, and other factions, have jumped into the world of polytrack? It’s a mixture of synthetic fibers and recycled rubber coated with some sort of a wax. But how about the beach factor? Did Joe Harper’s team do enough examination of how polytrack will be affected by the fluctuating climate of the seashore? I don’t know anything about any of these things. What I do know is polytrack has brought about radical change in racing at the track Bob Crosby made famous. I have to wonder what my longtime friend trainer Ray Priddy would be saying from his clubhouse box if he were still with us………………Station Casinos greed is also evident in the world of slot machines. Four-card keno machines usually pays 200-1 when one connects four of four. You can still get that payoff at the Palms and Ellis Island, but at the Station Casino’s? They pay considerably less for the same game. How about 154-to-1?…………….I think I read it in a recent edition of the Sunday Racing Form. I couldn’t agree with the writer more. They suggested the racetracks need to regain control of their own product. You can’t have a sightless group like the TOC having a say in the operation of the racetrack. If the members of the TOC don’t like the way Del Mar elects to run their meet, show them the door………….Question? Do you have a problem with so-called handicappers who continue to use Andy Beyer’s numbers as being their own? Too many handicappers, one prominently used in the Racing Form, and another here in Las Vegas would be lost if they didn’t have Beyer’s numbers to help them offer lame opinions……….What does jockey Joel Rosario have to do to get the attention of Del Mar trainers. He’s been riding primarily longshots and doing quite well since he shifted his tack to the SoCal circuit. Over 55 riders are plying their trade at Del Mar. How about this? Rosario has won races for trainers Herb Bacorn and John Meiars. Both conditioners rarely win. Rosario’s patient riding style is evident. If and when other trainers give him the chance he deserves, watch out! This is the most talented rider I have seen since Gary Stevens was riding in NorCal and getting one or two mounts…………The best sports talk radio in the country? This is a no brainer. Colin Cowherd is absolutely the best on ESPN weekdays from 7 to 10 a.m. He comes on right after the horrible Mike and Mike show on ESPN. And speaking of good radio, the LeRoy’s Sports Hour with John Kelly is a must. The show can be heard from 2 to 3 p.m. on Fox Sports radio which is 1460 on the dial. If you are a gambler, Kelly brings to the table every betting venue you can think of. I found myself nodding in approval when Kelly’s guest Friday was talking about steroid use. The age of steroid use began way before Bonds and is continuing on a daily basis. We’ve written about drug abuse for four centuries. If you think cycling and wrestling have a monopoly on ‘roids, think again. My original research took us way back to the days of body building. Steroids were also being used in breeding cattle in prominent places like Colorado and famed muscle builders were using and abusing. Horse trainers? Those who can afford the cost can and will continue to abuse the system which finds the mandates in place outdated. I’ll stop my tirade there because I could get ugly on the subject.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
The BEST Opening Day In All Of Thoroughbred Racing!
Over the course of my 25 years in thoroughbred racing, I've attended many opening days at all three major Southern California race tracks.
But there's only one opening day that qualifies as a truly special day, an OPENING DAY in BIG BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS!
And that's, of course, the one they had Wednesday July 18 at the "seaside oval" known as Del Mar, MY home track, the one that's exactly 15 miles from my doorstep!
What makes Opening Day at Del Mar so special? The fact that it's truly "an event" in San Diego. Not just among the horsey set, but for everyone in America's Finest City.
See, Del Mar only gets 43 racing days a summer, 7 weeks, 6 days a week, plus one extra day to close up shop the Wednesday after Labor Day.
It's the perfect number in a perfect setting in a perfect city ... three factors that combine to make it something special no matter what horses, what jockeys, and what trainers happen to be in the mix in any given year.
Do YOU remember the last time the local television stations covered YOUR track's opening day? Not just one or two, but ALL the San Diego stations, from network affiliates to independents, gave Del Mar dawn-to-dark coverage on Opening Day!
There were in-studio interviews (one with "yours truly"), live shots, features, and just about every kind of television story you can think of!
And suffice it to say they had plenty of "beauty shots," both human and equine, to fill their shows!
Naturally, Opening Day at Del Mar typically happens on a gorgeous, sunny, but really not hot Southern California day. And that means sundresses, beautiful hats, and lots of "head turners!"
Or as San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Nick Canepa wrote: "... it made the Playboy Mansion seem like the pound!"
Admittedly, I had a bit of trepidation as I awaited the first returns on the new Polytrack racing surface. I TRUST that the management team of Joe Harper, Craig Fravel, and others have the years of experience and have done the due diligence necessary to make the right decision. I just wonder when the "old fashioned" natural dirt "went bad" after being the surface of choice for over 100 years.
One thing I DID notice as I watched the eighth race intently through my binoculars is that the "kickback" is HIGH, and I mean REALLY HIGH! Now, according to jockeys and trainers, it's a "friendly kickback," but BOY is it high!!!
Godspeed and Good Luck the rest of the Summer!
Friday, July 13, 2007
Get Ready For The NEW Del Mar!!!
Get ready for a Del Mar Opening Day like you've never seen before!!!
When the horses break from the gate for "the lidlifter" on Wednesday July 18, they will contest the first "polytrack" race at the "Seaside Oval."
What happens after that will produce a myriad of questions! How will the track play? Will it favor speed? WIll it favor closers? How should I handicap for the rest of the day? How should I handicap for the rest of the week? Will it REALLY be safer for the horses?
I posed THIS question to the regulars on Del Mar's popular Fans Forum ... "What advice would you give if someone asked the question: "How do I handicap for Opening Day and/or the first few days of the Del Mar meeting?"
Responses ranged from "betting on opening day is financial suicide" to "plunge in with both fists and try to make your meet a success right off the bat!"
One post that REALLY caught my eye was the one written by twodollarstoshow, who began with these words: "Bet on horses who appear to have been pointed to opening week. Horses who 'were stopped on' a few months ago while racing well (as opposed to a runner who had great pp's and then one clunker and then was stopped on) ."
I would encourage you to read ALL the posts in the thread, and also consider checking out Jim Quinn's analysis as well.
And don't forget to listen to this week's broadcast, either live or via the archives. We'll interview Del Mar President/CEO Joe Harper and top conditioner Doug O'Neill, who won the Del Mar training title a year ago.
Labels: Del Mar, Doug O'Neill, Joe Harper, Opening Day, polytrack
Thursday, July 05, 2007
The Monster That Are Monday!
AKA... MY Pick Six ticket "sucked!" Yep... dead after two races ... only two wins after my "free and clear" winner got nailed at the wire in the finale!
If only I had known BEFORE the sequence what jockey G. F. "Gonky" Almeida told TVG's Chris Kotulak AFTER barely getting home the heavy favorite "from the clouds" in the opener ... "the track is loose, it's very hard to come from behind."
That's not to say it COULDN"T be done, but it looked to me like some horses that typically folded up shop at the top of the lane were getting pretty brave all the way to the wire!
Oh well! As I mentioned when I submitted my $432 ticket for the BIG Hollywood Park Pick Six carryover Monday morning, I wasn't going to play it myself! Intead, I went in with some friends that actually played a $2K ticket and IT TOO was toast after the second leg!
Which makes it all the more amazing to think about some of the stats released by HP in the wake of a North American record pool of almost $11M for a four-day carryover Pick Six on a rare Monday of racing in Inglewood!
There were 13 tickets with all six winners ... each ticket worth $576,044.40!
One bettor at Los Alamitos "had it twice," once on a $2 ticket, once on a $4 ticket. A Hollywood Park bettor also "had it twice" although investing $960 and $768 on two tickets.
Either way, it was --as they like to say in the trenches-- "a life-changing experience!"
And, to think, that on a normally mundane "extra" day of racing, Hollywood Park's total handle was over $18M!
The racing industry should take notice and do whatever is within its abilities to bring back THE MONSTER THAT ATE MONDAY!
If only I had known BEFORE the sequence what jockey G. F. "Gonky" Almeida told TVG's Chris Kotulak AFTER barely getting home the heavy favorite "from the clouds" in the opener ... "the track is loose, it's very hard to come from behind."
That's not to say it COULDN"T be done, but it looked to me like some horses that typically folded up shop at the top of the lane were getting pretty brave all the way to the wire!
Oh well! As I mentioned when I submitted my $432 ticket for the BIG Hollywood Park Pick Six carryover Monday morning, I wasn't going to play it myself! Intead, I went in with some friends that actually played a $2K ticket and IT TOO was toast after the second leg!
Which makes it all the more amazing to think about some of the stats released by HP in the wake of a North American record pool of almost $11M for a four-day carryover Pick Six on a rare Monday of racing in Inglewood!
There were 13 tickets with all six winners ... each ticket worth $576,044.40!
One bettor at Los Alamitos "had it twice," once on a $2 ticket, once on a $4 ticket. A Hollywood Park bettor also "had it twice" although investing $960 and $768 on two tickets.
Either way, it was --as they like to say in the trenches-- "a life-changing experience!"
And, to think, that on a normally mundane "extra" day of racing, Hollywood Park's total handle was over $18M!
The racing industry should take notice and do whatever is within its abilities to bring back THE MONSTER THAT ATE MONDAY!
Monday, July 02, 2007
Hollywood Park Pick Six Ticket For Monday July 2!!!
DISCLAIMER: THIS TICKET IS STRICTLY FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION ONLY ... THERE'S NO REALISTIC CHANCE THAT I WILL PLAY IT ON MY OWN ... I WILL LIKELY PARTICIPATE IN A GROUP TICKET!!!
A $172 "bomber" in the sixth race Sunday July 1 fuels a record four-day Pick Six carryover of $3,274,505.48 for a rare Monday racing card at Hollywood Park. Since Sunday bettors wagered about $3.5 million chasing a $1.3 million three-day carryover, there's anticipation that today's pool could break the North American record of $7,303,848 set at Santa Anita on March 3, 2004.
Having said all that, here's my $432 ticket including comments on each race...
Race 3: 6 Plan For Fun + 7 Talaris + 8 Skipaslew
You might have a better chance playing Russian Roulette than to stake a big P6 ticket on one of THESE $8K bottom of the barrel claimers!
Race 4: 6 Visayas + 7 Coyote Fast
I learned a bitter lesson long ago NOT to leave a "Cagey Canani" horse off a carryover ticket, thus Coyote Fast is a MUST!
Race 5: 3 Get Off The Sugar + 6 Key Maker
Both of these horses have performed well over the HP "cushion" ... Get Off The Sugar bested Key Maker on the wire at the same distance 5/16.
Race 6: 3 Guydance From Above + 4 Bench Wench + 7 Lt. Lorraine
Like fact that CNak takes over Bench Wench ... ditto for MBaze riding Lt. Lorraine in place of Matt Garcia ... gotta have Guydance after seeing Mendoza/Chavez team for the big bomber Sunday!
Race 7: 5 Into Reality + 7 You Are The Answer
These two figure to benefit most from what should develop into a speed duel up front.
Race 8: 2 On Shine + 3 Seems To Me + 4 Kickin Caper
Would like to "be alive" and "have 'em all" going into the finale ... will settle for a "barn switch," a comebacker, and an Avila/Berrio "question mark" to end the sequence!!!
Good luck! Here's hoping you or a group you're in pulls down the BIG BUCKS!!!
Labels: carryover, hollywood park, pick six
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Just A Handful Of Polytrack... !!!
"Just a handful of polytrack .. !!!" With all due respect to Mary Poppins, exactly WHAT IS IT the racing industry is trying to accomplish with the figuratively INSTANTANEOUS decision at so many facilities to scrap dirt tracks in favor of artificial surfaces? I mean, we're talking about a game that LITERALLY waited DECADES before it scrapped antiquated procedures like keeping medication information and veterinarian reports from the bettors! And how long did it take "the old boys" to give up their tired old logic that lowering the exacta minimum from $5 DIDN'T mean the bettors "would lose their money too fast?"
So, when you think about it, this change from dirt to poly over the course of a few years feels like it's happening in the blink of an eye in "racetrack time!" Now, don't get me wrong, I'm ALL in favor of doing what is BEST for the thoroughbreds! But something doesn't add up! The "old dirt tracks" worked for over 100 years and --in an age of technological advancements and improvements-- all of a sudden they DON'T WORK???
I posed that question to trainer Frank Monteleone when he joined us on The Friday Night Touch last week. His reply, "That's very good question!"
Frank didn't have "an answer," but I've gotta think that over-reliance on medication and permissive medication rules play a role. And that's driven by the financial pressure to win and to win early!
Maybe polytrack will work out, maybe not. But I remember when Astroturf was ALL the rage in professional sports! It was going to make natural grass a faint memory! And look what happened!
During my annual visit to the San Diego County Fair, I stopped by the Del Mar exhibit in the new products barn and I was able to "grab a handful" of polytrack mixture that's now in place at the seaside oval. I gotta say, THAT is some weird-a** feeling stuff! Imagine a handful of beach sand, mixed with a sticky, tacky feeling wax substance, with some pieces of rubber mixed in for good measure. Once I balled up some of it in my hand, it was almost IMPOSSIBLE to get the sand off! I rubbed my hands together, rubbed 'em on a towel under the bowl, and rubbed 'em on my pants! But the sand was STILL there! Eventually, a vigorous soap-and-water washing got most of the stuff off! All I know is that I would HATE to fall face-first into the stuff!
There have been some concerns aired by a group called the CTBA Boardwatch that a few anonymous trainers have expressed concerns over hind-end problems with some horses that worked over the polytrack prior to the start of the fair. Now I read that there are plans to add more wax to the mix after they pull the temporary cover off the track when the fair ends in early July.
Maybe time WILL prove that the move to artificial racing surfaces IS a good thing! But I STILL have this nagging suspicion it was done too quickly without enough due diligence. Prove me wrong and I'll be thrilled!!!
Labels: Del Mar, polytrack, Thoroughbred Connection, thoroughbred racing
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Get Ready For The Ultimate Selector!!!
We're excited to have The Ultimate Selector as our scheduled guest Friday June 15, 2007! If you've been following his exploits on any of the popular thoroughbred racing message boards, you know he's developed somewhat of a "love-hate" relationship with his fellow racing fans!!!
Without giving away the interview or his secrets, The Ultimate Selector has figured out a way to use his computer skills and online wagering capabilities to refine the art of "determining the edge" in betting on horse races.
And he's a guy that LOVES the action! He's the kind of horseplayer that bets a lot of races most every day! That flies counter to the traditionally accepted notion of "picking your spots."
Don't miss the interview! It's gonna be interesting!
Monday, March 05, 2007
Add These To Your "Must See/Do" List: The DRF Horseplayers Expo & Wynn Las Vegas!
I’m just back from a weekend at the fabulous Wynn Las Vegas for the 2007 DRF Horseplayers Expo. I’m gonna tell you this NOW and I’m gonna tell you this again before I finish up. You MUST visit Wynn Las Vegas and you MUST attend the next DRF Horseplayers Expo!
Let’s start with Wynn Las Vegas! What a place! DEFINITELY a five-star resort in my estimation! Great rooms, great amenities, a great spa and workout area, a roomy conference center, and –thanks to John Avello, the best race and sports book manager in the business– a fantastic, large, and very friendly area to spend the afternoon watching the races.
I’ve known John Avello since his days at Bally’s/Paris down The Strip from Wynn Las Vegass. He’s always been “in touch” with his horseplayers and it shows in the way he designed and the way he operates the race and sports book.
We did a segment with him on Thoroughbred Connection’s Friday Night Touch from the “mini book” he set up for the Expo and it would be well worth your time to listen to the on-demand archive. John’s always been considered the “guru” of Las Vegas race and sports book linemakers. He’s always on the leading edge with his Kentucky Derby, Triple Crown, and Breeders’ Cup lines. In fact, he’s already got a line posted for this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Monmouth Park in October.
During the Expo, he put up a page full of head-to head matchup propositions that included a Drums of Thunder – Adore The Gold matchup in the Fountain Of Youth, a St. Paul –Tiago matchup in the Bob Lewis, and an Awesome Gem – Molengao prop in the Santa Anita Handicap.
Most every review of the race and sports book at Wynn Las Vegas has been positive, including this one by journalist Sal DeFilippo on the very high traffic www.lasvegas.com site.
Now, for the Expo. It was two days of VERY informative general sessions and panel discussions. MY favorite was the Friday morning panel called Making Your Own Lines: How To Find Hidden Value which featured the DRF’s Mike Watchmaker and two linemaking geniuses Barry Meadow (Money Secrets At The Race Track) and Steve Fierro (The Four Quarters Of Horse Investing). It’s not that they broke any “new ground” in this area, because there’s really no new ground to be broken. But, the bottom line is, this whole concept of value, the importance of betting value, and the difference between “creating” value and “finding” value is –in my opinion– the most overlooked aspect of betting thoroughbreds at EVERY level of involvement, from beginners to the so-called experts.
And trust me when I say there are a lot of people who scoff at the idea of value and will scoff at what I’ve written. If I had anything to do with it, I’d send a limo to pick ‘em up and take ‘em to the track or the OTB every racing day!!!
The most entertaining “star of the show” was the former NYRA handicapper and telecaster Harvey Pack! I loved to watch him on my Father’s old C-Band satellite dish hosting NYRA replays back in the 80s and –believe me– he’s still “got his fastball!” He had the room in stitches when he opened the Expo on Thursday evening and he got better as the event moved along. This guy’s gotta be in his 80s and he could STILL work any comedy club anywhere!
Overall, I rate the quality of discussion and the event management A+. The DRF staffers such as Mandy Minger and Lila Kerns were incredibly helpful and always on top of things. And Del Mar’s Julie Sarno brought a very pleasant touch to the registration desk!
Like I was saying, this is an event you MUST attend at least once if not every time they hold it. And, hopefully, the next DRF Horseplayers Expo will be in the exact place the 2007 event was held: the fabulous Wynn Las Vegas!
Labels: DRF Horseplayers Expo, Harvey Pack, John Avello, Wynn Las Vegas
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Thank You Barbaro! You Could Have Been The Triple Crown Winner!
Considering the reports out of Pennsylvania the previous weekend, the sad news of January 29 was not unexpected. But, still, the news that 2006 Kentucky Derby winner BARBARO had been euthanized after an eight-month struggle for survival hit me like a punch in the stomach. I was SO convinced that his stunning victory on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs gave us legitimate hope for a Triple Crown champion, the first since the great AFFIRMED in 1978.
I was on my way home from Las Vegas on Preakness Saturday last year and –as is often the case– my flight was late into San Diego. I knew I wouldn’t make it home in time to see the race, so I hurried over to a hotel sports bar just across the street from San Diego’s landmark wharf and maritime museum. The bar was fairly packed and I could feel the excitement build as the race drew near. I was CERTAIN I’d be driving home to make hotel and plane reservations for The Belmont for the third time in four years!
But then there was that first bad omen when BARBARO broke through the starting gate. I remember thinking, “Not good!” and then almost immediately hearing Gary Stevens on the network telecast agree and follow up with comments about what a jockey thinks when a situation like that occurs.
And then the race started. I remember thinking “Where’s BARBARO?” shortly after the break and Tom Durkin’s emotional call that “BARBARO’s being pulled up! BARBARO is out of the race!”
I’m certainly no veterinary expert, but when I watched the sickening replays of the injury and the way BARBARO was holding his right rear leg off the ground, I knew it was a catastrophic and likely fatal injury.
A few days after the Preakness, I was so impressed to see the x-rays of the incredible work the veterinarians did to –basically– put BARBARO’s leg back together again.
But they warned us right from the start that a full recovery was a longshot and a long way off at best, and their warnings proved to be prophetic.
Actually, the first six weeks of recovery went well. But it was early July when BABARO developed complications in his right rear that led to the development of laminitis in his left rear. The wheels were set in motion for a series of setbacks, recoveries, and setbacks that were ultimately too difficult to overcome for even the incredibly talented and innovative team of veterinarians that worked so hard to try to give us a miracle.
When I first heard of the extraordinary procedure they performed that last weekend, my intuition told me the end was near.
Which brings me to comment on the myriad of postings on horse racing message boards across the country that expressed concern –and in many cases doubt– about the motives and the methods behind the long, but unsuccessful, effort to save BARBARO.
Now, call me naive or tell me I am too trusting, but I was completely confident that the Jacksons and the veterinary staff at New Bolton were doing “right” by BARBARO every step of the way. For one thing, THEY were there. I wasn’t. They saw BARBARO almost every day since his injury over eight months ago. We read reports and looked at pictures. I believe they had no ulterior motives –be they money or fame– in working so hard for so long to keep BARBARO alive. What they found out –ultimately– is that whatever man does to fix a living creature broken can come nowhere close to God’s original creation and that there’s legitimate reason these types of leg injuries are usually catastrophic.
Hopefully, they also learned from their efforts and they can apply their new knowledge when the inevitable situation occurs that requires a heroic effort to save another one of our racing heroes.
Thank you BARBARO! You could have been the Triple Crown winner! You were a champion nonetheless.
Labels: Barbaro, Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Triple Crown
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
My Final Thoughts On The Eclipse Awards Voting & Banquet
Monday January 22nd’s 36th Eclipse Awards banquet at the beautiful Beverly Wilshire hotel didn’t provide much in the way of suspense or surprise when the results of the voting for 2006 honors were released, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to talk about!
As far as the voting went, it’s hard to argue with any of the results. INVASOR IS and SHOULD be Horse Of The Year and he easily outdistanced BARBARO and BERNARDINI in the tally. STREET SENSE (2YOM), DREAMING OF ANNA (2YOF), BERNARDINI (3YOM), WAIT A WHILE (3YOF), INVASOR (OM), FLEET INDIAN (OF), THOR’S ECHO (SPR), MIESQUE’S APPROVAL (MT), and OUIJA BOARD (FT) ALL earned their divisional honors ON the racetrack.
The closest voting was in the Male Turf category where BC winner MIESQUE’S APPROVAL (74 votes) edged out THE TIN MAN (69) and ENGLISH CHANNEL (63). Those with a decided East Coast bias might have a bone to pick with the voters in the Sprint Division where BC hero THOR’S ECHO (213) easily won over DISCREET CAT (39) and HENNY HUGHES (15), but Doug O’Neill’s horse registered his only two victories of the year when they really mattered.
In the human categories, Todd Pletcher (194 votes) won his third consecutive Eclipse Award as the top trainer over Kiaran McLaughlin (29). But how could Doug O’Neill only get 11 votes. And, more significantly, WHY did four voters ABSTAIN? If you’ve got a vote, USE IT! If you DON’T, LOSE it!
Edgar Prado (152 votes) was a relatively easy winner in the jockey category over Garrett Gomez (90), with Russell Baze (14) a distant third. The apprentice honors were a foregone conclusion with Julien Leparoux’s 403 victories, multiple riding titles, and $12.5M in earnings more worthy of overall honors. He received 254 votes to 7 for the talented Maryland-based Rosie Napravnik and 6 for California’s Martin Garcia.
A few things puzzled me as I left the banquet gala, which is always an enjoyable and interesting event to attend.
Why does the NTRA continue to use Jerry O’Connell as its emcee? Admittedly, I like his performance as Woody Hoyt alongside the lovely Jill Hennessy on Crossing Jordan, but this is two years in a row that he’s been “less than advertised” at the awards ceremony. He seemed distant and detached this year. His few attempts at humor bombed, and he continues to mispronounce some of the marquee names in racing.
And there’s Ken Rudulph of TVG. Kenny, I LIKE you, but quit trying so hard! When you try to force humor and schtick, it doesn’t work!
One final little peeve (and do know that I’m not dissing HRTV and I respect so many of their people) … WHY did HRTV deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Robin Rosenthal and Bill Yarhaus of Pony Highway for the Media Eclipse Award given to their great documentary On The Muscle? HRTV merely aired the documentary (and LONG AFTER it was premiered). This award should have been 100% Robin and Bill’s award. I appreciate the fact that HRTV did decide to air the film, but the network shouldn’t reap the benefits of so much hard work by the filmmakers.
Labels: Eclipse Awards, Horse Of The Year, Invasor
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Owner's Stable Mourns Death Of Founder Thomas Thompson
When Owner’s Stable founder and managing partner Thomas Thompson fell seriously ill in early December, his popular Southern California-based partnership stable was enjoying its most successful year. In its six-year history, Owner’s Stable has sent out 359 runners and visited the winner’s circle 58 times, mostly on the tough Santa Anita/Hollywood Park/Del Mar/Fairplex circuit with additional winners in Northern California, Washington, and Texas. Their runners have banked almost $2 million dollars, finishing third or better almost 50% of the time.
While those numbers may not stack up with the “mega stables” of thoroughbred racing, they’re the “frosting on the cake” that made almost every one of the Owner’s Stable partners thrilled to be part of the operation.
But it was the big handshake and the big heart of a big man –the late Thomas Thompson– that truly brought the human touch to the business of Owner’s Stable.
When Thomas Thompson died way too young on January 9, 2007 at the age of 35, his passing left a HUGE void in the lives of all those he touched, from his Owner’s Stable partners, to the trainers that saddled the OS horses, to the jockeys that rode for the barns on a regular basis, to the racing officials and executives he dealt with on a regular basis.
I attended a memorial luncheon of Owner’s Stable partners and friends, including Thomas’ wife Gina, and longtime friends/partners Neil Haymes and Milt Policzer Friday January 12 at Santa Anita’s Frontrunner Restaurant. It was just the way Thomas would have wanted it… some good fellowship, lots of memories, a few winning bets, and an Owner’s Stable horse entered to run in the fifth race. The four-year-old filly FEEL THE RUSH did her best to make it a “near perfect” day (considering the circumstances), but she had to settle for fifth-place money in a very competitive 5 1/2F sprint.
Thomas Thompson had a huge passion for and a huge love of the “Sport Of Kings.” According to his wife, it happened something like this early in their relationship… Thomas said, “I gotta tell you something… one day I’m gonna own thoroughbreds!” Gina had to ask, “What are thoroughbreds?” Thomas promptly told her they were race horses. That weekend, after church on Sunday, they went on a date to Hollywood Park and Thomas’ dream took a big step toward reality.
Thomas would have been 36 in March and the Thompsons would have celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary in April, but it was not to be.
Gina had always known that Thomas’ health was a delicate situation. When they took their blood tests and physicals before marriage, doctors discovered that Thomas’ kidneys were failing. They never really knew why, but in 2003 –just a couple of years after the birth of Owner’s Stable– dialysis was no longer working and Thomas received a transplanted kidney.
That kidney served him well until this past December when Thomas took ill with pneumonia. But the combination of treating the pneumonia and the added stress of an unexpected cardiac arrest took a final toll. Thomas Thompson fought hard just like he expected his Owner’s Stable horses to battle, but the Good Lord finally called him home just a day after he was transferred from the hospital to a long term care facility.
I know I can speak for my Thoroughbred Connection co-hosts Dick Harbin and Derek Simon in saying that we were privileged and honored to have Owner’s Stable as a longtime sponsor and supporter of our broadcasts. We always enjoyed having Thomas Thompson as a guest on the show many times. If you’ve got a few minutes, go back and listen to any of the archives of his visits with us and you will get a sense of the passion and heart he brought to thoroughbred racing.
Our condolences and sympathies go out to Gina, Thomas’ family, and all the Owner’s Stable partners who were touched by the late Thomas Thompson.
Labels: Owner's Stable, Thomas Thompson
Friday, December 22, 2006
A Look Back At 2006 ... A Look Ahead To 2007!
I'm convinced that the older you get, the faster time flies! It sure seems like just YESTERDAY that we watched that visually impressive victory by BARBARO in the Kentucky Derby.
But that was almost eight months ago and so much has transpired so quickly that it’s hard to get my arms around the events of 2006.
For me, the year 2006 was filled with both personal and professional HIGHS and LOWS.
On April 24, the day my Mother Helen turned 87, we took my beloved Father Albert to the doctor to follow up on some tests to determine why he hadn’t been feeling good for a couple of weeks. The doctor told us, “There’s no other way to put this … your Father is dying.” Five days later, after I had one final opportunity to make sure that my Father was assured of his eternal salvation, he died quietly in his sleep at the age of 91.
My Father was a lifelong racing fan. He introduced me to the sport as a youngster at the “old” Del Mar in the 1960s. He made many a drive to Santa Anita and Hollywood Park over the years … he took a group of family and friends to the inaugural Breeders’ Cup at Hollywood Park in 1984. We always kidded him that “he never met a favorite he couldn’t bet on.”
A week later, the day after we buried my Father, I watched that breath-taking victory by BARBARO at Churchill Downs and I was SURE that –at the very least—I would be at Belmont Park five weeks later to witness the latest attempt at a Triple Crown. (I had been at Big Sandy to see FUNNY CIDE and SMARTY JONES make their runs at racing immortality.)
We all know what happened two weeks later at Pimlico as our hopes for a Triple Crown attempt were shattered in a sickening instant as BARBARO suffered that catastrophic injury shortly after the start of the Preakness. I am amazed at what’s been done to save BARBARO and amazed at what a fighter he’s been. He’s still got a LONG way to go in his road to recovery and let’s hope that he keeps on fighting.
The misfortune of BARBARO gave rise to the emergence of BERNARDINI as a major player on the national scene given his convincing victory in Baltimore. And INVASOR –the Uruguayan champ out of Argentina—burst on the scene with a victory in the Pimlico Special. Those two –of course—would chart courses that would eventually lead them to meet up in Louisville almost six months later.
Here in California, the arrival of Summer got us all looking forward to opening day at Del Mar in July. On July 19, my Thoroughbred Connection co-host Derek Simon traveled from Denver to join me for the lidlifter at the seaside fun palace. We had a great day, cashed a few bets, shook hands and chatted with the likes of NFL stars LaDanian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates, then later enjoyed a great steak at Bully’s North in beautiful downtown Del Mar.
Five days later, my life took a strange and totally unexpected twist. The Monday after opening day, I awoke with some pretty severe pain in my left flank. It got bad enough to drive me to the emergency room for some treatment and relief. Not surprisingly, doctors told me I had a stone in my left kidney. They said it would likely pass on its own. BUT, totally unexpectedly, they told me that the CT scan on my abdomen revealed a large mass in my RIGHT kidney, a mass that was likely malignant.
So, on August 8, surgeon Dr. Bernard Morris removed my cancerous right kidney. I was in the hospital for four days and –believe me—the day after surgery, it was hard to imagine that I’d be able to walk out of the hospital in a few days. But I did, and I also managed to put in an appearance at Del Mar’s Pacific Classic Draw Soiree AND spend the entire day at the races Pacific Classic Sunday August 20. I was thrilled to witness the Doug O’Neill trainee LAVA MAN win the race and complete a sweep of California’s major handicap races … the Santa Anita Handicap, the Hollywood Gold Cup, and the Pacific Classic.
Back to the kidney situation … since the tumor was “contained” within my now-removed right kidney, there was no need for further treatment. I set a goal to be back on the tennis court by Labor Day, I was, and I haven’t looked back since. To GOD be the glory!!!
By October, I was getting excited about my annual road trip to the Breeders’ Cup. I’ve always enjoyed Kentucky, Louisville, and Churchill Downs. From a media standpoint, the Breeders’ Cup is always a fun and enjoyable event to cover.
We were fortunate enough to be able to have David Beltran, author of The Agua Caliente Story, and Leslie Johnson, a longtime owner and racing fan from Washington, join us in Louisville to help with our reporting. They both co-hosted, handicapped, helped with interviews, and recapped the races along with me and Derek Simon.
I was lucky enough to “give out” three Breeders’ Cup “bombers” on the air the Saturday morning of the races… STREET SENSE @ $32.40 (Juvenile), MIESQUE’S APPROVAL @ $50.60 (Mile), and RED ROCKS @ $23.60 (Turf). I watched from the sixth-floor media viewing terrace as INVASOR took command of the Breeders’ Cup Classic in the stretch and opened up for an impressive victory that SHOULD earn him 2006 honors as Horse Of The Year.
On Friday December 1, I was watching the TVG coverage of the races from Bay Meadows with my darling daughter Jenna-Marie when jockey Russell Baze won the fourth race aboard BUTTERFLY BELLE to record victory # 9,531 and pass the legendary Laffit Pincay, Jr. as the all-time wins leader in the history of thoroughbred racing. What I couldn’t understand is why SO MANY people couldn’t accept the accomplishment without trying to qualify it or diminish it. Nobody –not even Baze himself– ever pretended that it meant that he was “better” than Laffit … but when I consider how many absolutely awful bums he rides day-in and day-out, I’m amazed that he could get to 1,000 never mind close in on 10,000!
Looking forward to 2007, Thoroughbred Connection is proud to announce our alliance with The Racing Dispatch, the new racing news web portal managed by Louisiana Downs announcer Travis Stone and Philadelphia Park back-up caller Pat Cummings. We’re excited about working with two experienced young professionals who bring so much passion and knowledge to the mix. Please monitor our web site for announcements concerning our broadcast schedule in 2007. We think you’ll be please to hear what’s in store for the year to come! On behalf of Derek Simon and Dick Harbin, my broadcasting partners, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Labels: 2006, look back, review, thoroughbred racing
Monday, November 06, 2006
My On-The-Air "BC Bombers" Strike Big At Churchill Downs!
I "gave out" these Breeders' Cup "Bombers" Saturday morning... all except one at least 10/1 on the ML!
JUVENILE FILLIES
Adhrhythm
Satulagi
Quick Little Miss
JUVENILE
Street Sense = WIN $32.40
Teuflesberg
Pegasus Wind
UD Ghetto
FILLY & MARE TURF
Dancing Edie
My Typhoon
Satwa Queen
SPRINT
Areyoutalkintome
Too Much Bling
Kelly's Landing
MILE
Badge Of Silver = 3rd
Miesque's Approval = WIN $50.60
Aussie Rules
DISTAFF
Lemons Forever
Baghdaria
Bushfire
Asi Siempre = 2nd (DQ to 4th)
TURF
Icy Atlantic
Rush Bay = 4th
Red Rocks = WIN $23.60
CLASSIC
Premium Tap = 3rd
Lawyer Ron
Giacomo = 4th
Suave
27 HORSES (27 X $2 = $54) ... RETURNED $107.20 ... PROFIT $53.20 ... ROI 98.5%
Sunday, October 29, 2006
My "Short Lists" Of Win Contenders For All Eight Breeders' Cup Races!
JUVENILE FILLIES
Dreaming Of Anna
Untouched Talent
Bel Air Beauty
Cash Included
JUVENILE
Great Hunter
Stormello
Scat Daddy
Circular Quay
FILLY & MARE TURF
Wait A While
Germance
Honey Ryder
Ouija Board
SPRINT
Too Much Bling
Siren Lure
Dubai Escapade
Henny Hughes
MILE
Aragorn
Gorella
Ad Valorem
Araafa
DISTAFF
Fleet Indian
Lemons Forever
Bushfire
Asi Siempre
TURF
Cacique
Hurricane Run
English Channel
Red Rocks
CLASSIC
Bernardini
Lava Man
Discreet Cat
Invasor
Monday, October 23, 2006
It's "Hurry Up And Wait" Time With The '06 BC 2 Weeks Away!
Thoroughbred Connection’s annual road trip to the Breeders’ Cup starts November 1 with my flight from San Diego to Louisville.
I’ll headquarter at the Galt House in downtown Louisville along with co-hosts Dick Harbin and Derek Simon. We’ll be at Churchill Downs early Thursday morning, then likely tour some Lexington “Blue Grass” breeding farms before returning to Louisville for the big VIP party on Thursday night.
At this point, it looks like we won’t be able to broadcast “live” shows from Kentucky, but we DO plan to produce and upload three “live on tape” shows Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Our Friday broadcast will review our first couple of days at Churchill Downs, then Saturday we’ll do comprehensive analysis and handicapping of the eight Breeders’ Cup races before following up on Sunday morning with a review of the days happenings.
All of the significant Breeders’ Cup prep races are in the books as of October 21. The last races that might have had any impact on this year’s BC were the Violet Stakes Friday 10/20 at The Meadowlands in which Distaff hopeful NO SLEEP provide victorious by 2 ½ lengths, the Maid Of The Mist Stakes Saturday 10/21 at Belmont Park in which Juvenile Fillies possible WIN WITH A WINK was a disappointing 5th, the Empire Classic Handicap 10/21 at Belmont Park in which Classic contender WEST VIRGINIA was 3rd, but beaten just a length, and the Carleton Burke at Oak Tree/Santa Anita in which Turf possible RUNAWAY DANCER finished a well-beaten 3rd, some 7 lengths behind the winner SYMPHONY SID.
As for developments away from the actual competition, there are a handful to report: trainer Richard Mandella says Arlington Million hero THE TIN MAN will NOT travel to Kentucky for the BC Turf. According to Mandella, the eight-year-old veteran has not rebounded as well as he had hoped for after his September 30 victory in the Clement Hirsch Turf Championship … trainer Barclay Tagg says hard-luck Champagne runner-up NOBIZ LIKE SHOW BIZ will not go in the BC Juvenile. NOBIZ LIKE SHOW BIZ was “sandwiched” coming out of the starting gate on the backstretch at Belmont Park, but rallied to make the lead before giving way late to SCAT DADDY. Tagg likely thinks he’s got his hands on a bona fide Triple Crown contender, so it’s hard to argue with his decision to bypass the Breeders’ Cup based on the last race … look for foreigners GEORGE WASHINGTON and DAVID JUNIOR BOTH to appear in the BC Classic … DAVID JUNIOR is supposedly “working a hole in the wind”across the pond … trainer Dallas Stewart says he’ll run three-time Louisville Handicap champ SILVERFOOT in the Turf … the old veteran PERFECT DRIFT turned in a solid 5F workout of 1:02 2/5 at the Churchill Downs Trackside Training Center on Saturday 10/21, so he’s on schedule to lineup for an unprecedented FIFTH Breeders’ Cup Classic … two other Classic contenders, SUAVE and SUN KING, turned in respectable Saturday works over the Churchill Downs main track.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
A Great Visit With Trevor Denman On Thoroughbred Connection!
On Sunday October 15, Derek Simon and I has the pleasure and the privilege of interviewing the legendary track announcer Trevor Denman, who will call the Breeders’ Cup races for the first time November 4, on Thoroughbred Connection.
In my opinion, and taking nothing away from NYRA’s Tom Durkin, who has done a great job calling every Breeders’ Cup race since the inaugural BC at Hollywood Park in 1984, it’s about time Trevor Denman got the assignment to call racing’s biggest event. Interestingly enough, it was 1984 when a relatively young race caller from South Africa was first heard in Southern California. Trevor took over for the likes of the great Harry Henson at Del Mar and Hollywood Park and the likeable Dave Johnson at Santa Anita.
Suffice it to say, the early returns were NOT favorable. For one thing, there was that accent. For another thing, there was that style, a style so different from the long-accepted “chart calling” style of announcing that dominated American race calling. But time would prove that the Trevor Denman “way” of calling races was so much more superior and so much more meaningful for racing fans whether they were at the track, watching on a simulcast monitor, or simply listening to a stretch call on a results line or on the radio.
What made –and still makes– Trevor Denman’s style so unique and so valuable is the uncanny way he is able to instantly analyze and convey to the fans whether a horse is challenging or dropping out of contention. Simply put, when Trevor says your horse “is not finding,” you can be 99.9% certain that your bet is a goner. Or when he says “they’re gonna have to sprout wings to catch” your horse, you’ve definitely got a ticket to cash!
Sounds simple enough, and many have tried to copy him, but Trevor Denman is in a league of his own when it comes to “analyzing” a race in mid-stream.
I really don’t know why it took so long for Trevor Denman to get the opportunity to call the Breeders’ Cup races, but I’m sure glad the higher-ups at ESPN, the network that will debut on the 2006 BC broadcast, gave him the call this summer. It’s not as though Trevor NEEDS the BC, he’s accomplished as much as a track announcer could ever hope to accomplish in his 20+ years in the United States, but –as he told us on Thoroughbred Connection– “it’s the cherry” on the top of his professional career.
As for the final week of significant Breeders’ Cup preps, there were two races at Belmont Park, two more at Keeneland, and another at Newmarket in England. Let’s start with the British race… BC Turf/F&M Turf hopeful PRIDE (FR) won the Champion Stakes over Turf/Classic possible HURRICANE RUN (IRE). In New York, SUTRA and ENCHANTING STAR finished 1-2 in the Frizette. The disappointing efforts there came from Juvenile Fillies hopefuls AWESOME ASHLEY (4TH) and MEADOW BREEZE (10TH). SCAT DADDY and NOBIZ LIKE SHOBIZ ran 1-2 in the Champagne, stamping their tickets to the BC Juvenile. GORELLA (FR) hung a nose win on KAREN’S CAPER in Keeneland’s First Lady to set up a start in the BC Mile. VACARE beat BC F&M Turf hopeful MAURALAKANA (FR) by a half-length in the QE2, with another F&M Turf possible GERMANCE finishing fourth.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Stage Set For BC Classic Showdown At Churchill Downs 11/4!
The results of the two most significant Breeders’ Cup prep races on “Super Saturday” were as expected … the brilliant three-year-old BERNARDINI won the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park under wraps and Santa Anita Handicap/Hollywood Gold Cup/Pacific Classic hero LAVA MAN was victorious in the G2 Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Oak Tree Santa Anita in their final tune-ups for the BC Classic on November 4 at Churchill Downs.
Not surprisingly, those two maintained the top two spots in the Classic division of the latest NTRA Breeders’ Cup World Championships polls. BERNARDINI tops the list with 148 points to 131 for LAVA MAN. The Uruguayan champion INVASOR (ARG), who sat out the Jockey Club Gold Cup after spiking a fever about 10 days ago, is third with 116 points. Those three are the only horse on the list with triple-digit totals, as SUN KING holds third at 73 and doubtful starter DISCREET CAT sits fourth at 72.
BERNARDINI is definitely in the “driver’s seat” based on the ease of his JCGC victory. It was essentially an “afternoon workout” for the Darley Stable flag-bearer as he cruised to a seven-length win under a motionless Javier Castellano, increasing his margin convincingly down the stretch after taking the lead approaching the stretch.
Trainer Tom Albertrani was definitely pleased with what he saw, saying, “That was exactly what I was hoping for. I’ve got a fresh horse for the Breeders’ Cup now. He does things so easily, I don’t know if anyone can give him the kind of race where he has to fight.”
As for LAVA MAN, a horse I am definitely rooting for, I did not come away as impressed with his win in Oak Tree’s Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap as I did with the BERNARDINI win. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but it seemed like jockey Corey Nakatani has to stay a little busier on LAVA MAN than I expected him to after throwing those first two “crosses” when LAVA MAN hit the top of the lane. Granted, LAVA MAN shouldered the high weight in the race at 126 and he set a pressured pace of :23 1/5, :46 4/5, and 1:10 3/5, then pulled away from the field through a mile in 1:34 3/5 and a final time of 1:48 for 9F over a fast Arcadia oval. Doug O’Neill, who trains LAVA MAN for STD Racing Stable & Jason Wood, said, “This horse just keeps running big races. I’ll have to dissect this one, but it sure seemed like he ran as good a race as he ever has.”
"LAVA MAN ships (to Kentucky) Tuesday morning on Tex Sutton," O'Neill said Monday morning at Santa Anita. "He'll go to Keeneland, then we'll figure out when we'll send him over to Churchill. The game plan is to train him at Keeneland as long as we can."
Keeneland began its meet Friday and unveiled the synthetic surface, Polytrack, on its main track. O'Neill is based at Hollywood Park, which recently completed installation of a similar synthetic surface, Cushion Track.
LAVA MAN, winner of seven consecutive stakes, is winless outside of California. His two most disappointing efforts came in Japan and New York. "I think we definitely do have something to prove," O'Neill said about winning outside of Southern California. "We definitely think we can do it. It's not like we're being bull-headed and going about the BC Classic the exact same way we went about the Jockey Club Gold Cup last year. We're going to do things different this year. He'll be back in Kentucky in ample time and he seems like he's as good as he's ever been, too, so it seems like a good time to tackle that challenge of running out of state. We're excited. We think he's got a big, big chance, obviously."
Almost forgotten in the wake of the “Super Saturday” victories by BERNARDINI and LAVA MAN is the #3 horse in the BC Classic poll, INVASOR (ARG). His recent health issue certainly complicated the situation for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, who now plans to train his horse up to the BC Classic without another prep race. Further clouding the situation … the fact that INVASOR (ARG) would have to be supplemented to the BC Classic at a cost of $750,000!
Monday, October 02, 2006
"Super Saturday" Strong Even Without Invasor In Gold Cup!
It’s still “SUPER SATURDAY,” with no less than eight Grade One Breeders’ Cup prep races on the docket 10/7 at three different racetracks across the country, but a little bit of the mustard is off the hotdog with the news that Whitney winner INVASOR (ARG) will not be on hand for a showdown in the G1 10F Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park against three-year-old sensation BERNARDINI after spiking a temperature last week.
According to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, INVASOR (ARG) had a 103-degree temperature after training hours on Thursday 9/28 which forced the cancellation of a Saturday workout and prompted the decision not to run in the JCGC. At this point, McLaughlin will attempt to train INVASOR (ARG) up to the $5M Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 4. The Uruguayan champion, a perfect 3-for-3 in the United States after winning the Pimlico Special, the Suburban, and the Whitney, would have to be supplemented to the BC at a cost of $750,000.
Tom Albertrani, the trainer of BERNARDINI, had a mixed reaction to the defection of INVASOR (ARG), noting that the showdown would have been a challenge, but that the race appears to be a lot easier with the older horse on the sidelines.
BERNARDINI will face ANDROMEDA’S HERO, AWESOME TWIST, DYLAN THOMAS (IRE), and perhaps even the rabbit SPANISH CHESTNUT in his final prep for the BC Classic. Of those rivals, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor’s DYLAN THOMAS (IRE) is the most interesting, coming into the race off a victory less than a month ago over Filly/Mare Turf division leader OUIJA BOARD (GB) in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
The “Big Sandy” on Hempstead Turnpike will also feature the G1 Flower Bowl Invitational (F/M, 12F T), the G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (12 F T), the G1 Beldame (F/M 9F), and the G1 Vosburgh (6F).
The Vosburg, the final major prep for the BC Sprint, figures to attract King’s Bishop winner and BC Sprint division leader HENNY HUGHES and defending BC Sprint king SILVER TRAIN. Even a victory by SILVER TRAIN will not be enough to sent him to Churchill Downs, as trainer Richard Dutrow is already on record as saying he will not ship his horse to Kentucky.
At Oak Tree Santa Anita, Big ‘Cap/Hollywood Gold Cup/Pacific Classic champion LAVA MAN is expected to make his last start before shipping east for the BC Classic in the G2 9F Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap. His principal rivals in Arcadia will be 2005 Kentucky Derby winner GIACOMO and 2006 Santa Anita Derby victor BROTHER DEREK. LAVA MAN trainer Doug O’Neill had originally planned to train his “big horse” on the traditional dirt surface of Santa Anita, but changed his mind and kept his stable star with the rest of his horses at Hollywood Park. LAVA MAN worked 6F over the Cushion Track surface in Inglewood last Saturday, with the clockers recording a time of 1:15.60. O’Neill called the work “fantastic.” Meantime trainer Dan Hendricks watched BROTHER DEREK work 5F in 59.40 at Santa Anita Sunday morning, labeling the work “nice and easy.” BROTHER DEREK looks to rebound from a somewhat dismal effort in his return to racing earlier this summer at Del Mar.
Congratulations to Gary Clawson, the week five winner in our Thoroughbred Connection "Road To The Cup" handicapping contest. His entry included the double-digit Hawthorne Gold Cup winner IT'S NO JOKE. The races for week six are already posted on the handicapping contest page and this week's entry code is ARAZI, the 1991 BC Juvenile winner.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Oak Tree Opens Wed 9/27 ... Three G1 Races On Tap Sat 9/30!
This past weekend certainly qualified as “the calm before the storm” in terms of Breeders’ Cup prep races go, although there were a couple of races run that will have some impact on the BC Classic and the BC Mile.
In the G2 Louisiana Super Derby, STRONG CONTENDER scored a one-length victory over one-time Triple Crown contender LAWYER RON. The win was the second G2 tally for the John Oxley-owned son of Maria’s Mon, who improved his overall record to 7-4-0-3. STRONG CONTENDER also moved into the top ten in the latest NTRA Breeders’ Cup Classic rankings, which are topped by BERNARDINI, INVASOR (ARG), and LAVA MAN. The top two, of course, are on target for a meeting in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on “Super Saturday” October 7.
The other race that had BC impact was the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, which went to Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, & Derrick Smith’s GEORGE WASHINGTON (IRE). The three-year-old defeated runner-up ARAAFA (IRE) and also-ran LIBRETTIST in a salty edition of the QE2 that produced some typical English “drama” after IVAN DENISOVICH (IRE) and jockey Seamus Heffernan were disqualified and placed last for “deliberate interference” against LIBRETTIST on the final bend. Unlike racing officials in the United States, the British judges wasted no time in making a ruling on the incident, suspending Heffernan immediately for two weeks. Frankie Dettori, the rider of LIBRETTIST, was so incensed by the incident that he clashed with winning trainer Aidan O’Brien shortly after the race. GEORGE WASHINGTON (IRE) vaults from sixth to second in the BC Mile rankings, ARAAFA (IRE) moves from fifth to fourth, and LIBRETTIST falls from third to sixth. ARAGORN (IRE), the Neil Drysdale-trained hero of the recently completed Del Mar session, holds down the top spot in the Mile poll. According to published reports, LIBRETTIST came out of the race injured, so his future plans are on hold.
The “Road To The Cup” shifts into full throttle this week as the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting opens in Arcadia, CA. With the 2006 edition of the BC scheduled just 38 days after the lidlifter at Oak Tree, the racing office has no choice but to offer the best of its stakes schedule in the first two weeks of its 26-day session. That means this Saturday’s card includes a Grade 1 “tripleheader” with the Yellow Ribbon, the Oak Leaf BC, and the Clement Hirsch Turf all on the docket. Each of those races figures to feature a G1 stakes winner as the early favorite … Del Mar Debutante winner POINT ASHLEY in the Oak Leaf, Arlington Million hero THE TIN MAN in the Clement Hirsch, and WAIT A WHILE in the Yellow Ribbon. All of those three can stamp a ticket to Kentucky with a win or at least a respectable finish.
There’s another big turf race scheduled this Saturday at Turfway Park, the G2 Kentucky Cup Classic. This race will attract the likes of GOULDINGS GREEN, GREELEY’S GALAXY, IT’S NO JOKE, PERFECT DRIFT (with new rider Julien Leparoux) and PREMIUM TAP, the 31-1 upset winner of the G1 Woodward at Saratoga September 2 last out under Kent Desormeaux. PERFECT DRIFT, the Murray Johnson trainee who has “danced all the dances” in a long racing career that’s seen him bank nearly $4.6 million will attempt to end a nine-race absence from the winner’s circle and earn a start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The results of week four in our Thoroughbred Connection "Road To The Cup" handicapping contest are not yet official because of the Monday 9/24 cancellation of racing at Kentucky Downs. They'll take another shot at getting those races in on Tuesday 9/25. The races for week five are already posted on the handicapping contest page and this week's entry code is VOLPONI, the BC Classic winner at Arlington International in 2002.
Monday, September 18, 2006
R. I. P. Lost In The Fog ... P Val Returns With Win!
It seems like every week thoroughbred racing loses another one of its equine stars and this week is no exception. The Eclipse Award winning sprinter of 2005, the hero and the heartthrob of Northern California racing, LOST IN THE FOG was put down Sunday September 17 at Golden Gate Fields, just three weeks after veterinarians found inoperable cancerous tumors in his spleen and along his spine.
According to reports, trainer Greg Gilchrist had just finished grazing LOST IN THE FOG outside his barn at the Bay Area track when the horse went into distress. Gilchrist said, “We accomplished what we wanted to do. It was all about giving him quality time. We did everything we could for him. He was happy and content right up to the end. He went quietly and easily.”
It was a sad and bittersweet conclusion to an all-too-brief racing career that saw LOST IN THE FOG start out with ten consecutive victories before finishing off the board as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last October at Belmont Park in New York.
What I remember most about LOST IN THE FOG and the Breeders’ Cup is not how the race ended, but just how gracious and accommodating Greg Gilchrist was with the fans, his fellow horsemen, and the racing media. I remember having an at-length conversation with him at the festive Thursday night VIP party at Belmont Park. He agreed to join us on our Thoroughbred Connection broadcast Breeders’ Cup morning and freely offered his mobile phone number so we wouldn’t have any trouble getting a hold of him.
Thinking back, it was the only Breeders’ Cup race I didn’t bet that day. I just wanted to focus on watching the race and pulling for LOST IN THE FOG to perform well without having to worry about how any wagers turned out.
Thanks for the memories LOST IN THE FOG! And thank you Greg Gilchrist for making it enjoyable to cover last year’s event!
One of my favorite human stars in racing, jockey Patrick Valenzuela, made an unexpected and successful return to the saddle Sunday at Woodbine. PVal, riding for the first time since July 16, replaced the injured Corey Nakatani and piloted the Neil Drysdale-trained BECRUX to victory in the G1 $1 Million Woodbine Mile. I realize there are more than a few Patrick Valenzuela critics –I dare say “haters”– out there, but don’t count me among them! Even though he’s let me down more than once after committing to an interview or an appearance on a broadcast, he’s always been courteous and friendly. I remember last year at Santa Anita I was in the saddling barn after a race, and Patrick said “hi” to me but I was concentrating on something else. He turned to face me and said, “What’s up, John? Aren’t you talking to me anymore?”
Congratulations to Bill Pietschmann, the week three winner in our Thoroughbred Connection "Road To The Cup" handicapping contest. His entry included the double-digit Monmouth Park winner JERSEY PEACH. The races for week four are already posted on the handicapping contest page and this week's entry code is TIZNOW, the only two-time winner of the BC Classic.
The big news in the NTRA Breeders’ Cup rankings was the debut of the Juvenile and Juvenile Fillies polls. Hopeful Stakes winner CIRCULAR QUAY and Del Mar Futurity champion HORSE GREELEY are one-two in the Juvenile poll, while Del Mar Debutante winner POINT ASHLEY and Schuylerville victress COTTON BLOSSOM top the Juvenile Fillies division.
Monday, September 11, 2006
BC Contender Electrocutionist Dead In Dubai!
The sudden and unexpected death of Dubai World Cup champion ELECTROCUTIONIST over the weekend took a leading star away from this year’s Breeders’ Cup and caused a shakeup in the new NTRA Breeders’ Cup World Championship polls.
The Godolphin stable color-bearer, the five-year-old ELECTROCUTIONIST (RED RANSOM), died of an apparent heart attack only days after a cardiac abnormality was first detected. According to Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford, the horse initially responded well to treatment, but was fatally stricken early Saturday morning.
The multiple stakes winner came to Godolphin after the end of the 2005 racing season and promptly rattled off a pair of impressive wins at Nad al Sheba, taking the Maktoum Challenge Round III March 2 and the Dubai World Cup over BRASS HAT three weeks later. He resumed his 2006 campaign in June, finishing second to Breeders’ Cup Filly/Mare Turf leader OUIJA BOARD (GB) and –in what proved to be his final start– finished second to Breeders’ Cup Turf contender HURRICANE RUN in late July.
With ELECTROCUTIONIST unfortunately out of the picture, Breeders’ Cup Turf leader SHIROCCO (GER) moved way up into the Breeders’ Cup Classic rankings, coming from out of the top ten to take the sixth spot. DAVID JUNIOR moved up from sixth to fifth, with the top four unchanged: BERNARDINI, INVASOR (ARG), LAVA MAN, and SUN KING.
In the Turf rankings, a weekend victory by SHIROCCO (GER) over HURRICANE RUN at Longchamp in France, forced a flip-flop of last week’s one-two ranked runners, while the departure of ELECTROCUTIONIST, seventh last week, allowed GO DEPUTY to sneak from out of the top ten to ninth place. And Irish Derby winner DYLAN THOMAS (IRE) scored a narrow victory over OUIJA BOARD (GB) in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown to move up three notches to sixth place. Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor, the owners of DYLAN THOMAS (IRE) --also seventh in the Classic division rankings-- will face a decision on which of the two BC races to send their ace three-year-old to on the first Saturday in November.
Three G1 stakes races run over the weekend at Belmont Park all had Breeders’ Cup implications … the Man O’ War Stakes, the Garden City Breeders’ Cup, and the Gazelle. Turf contender CACIQUE (IRE) moved up two spots to third after posting a two-length victory over GO DEPUTY and SHOWING UP in the Man O’ War. In the Garden City BC, the Todd Pletcher-trained MAGNIFICENT SONG took advantage of the absence of barnmate WAIT A WHILE to beat TAKE THE RIBBON and JADE QUEEN. But, even with the victory, the winner couldn’t crack the top ten in the Filly/Mare Turf rankings, with OUIJA BOARD (GB) and GORELLA (FR) listed one-two. In the Gazelle, PINE ISLAND tallied over TEAMMATE and LAST ROMANCE to move up to fourth in the BC Distaff rankings.
Even though the first Breeders’ Cup Juvenile rankings aren’t due out for another week, trainer Richard Mandella served notice that he might have a contender by sending out HORSE GREELEY to win the G2 Del Mar Futurity on closing day at the scenic seaside oval.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Premium Tap And Pomeroy Win In New York!
The two graded stakes races on closing weekend at Saratoga were supposed to shed some major light on both the Breeders’ Cup CLASSIC and the Breeders’ Cup SPRINT, but they left many more questions unanswered than they did answered!
In the 7F Forego, Tracy Farmer’s COMMENTATOR was favored to make it two straight wins in two starts this year and remain perfect at Saratoga after winning his first two career starts there in 2004 and adding last year’s 9F G1 Whitney to his list of accomplishments as the highlight of a brief three-race campaign in 2005. But COMMENTATOR, breaking from the two-hole, stumbled at the start, brushed slightly with FRIENDLY ISLAND, and had to rush up to avoid being swallowed up by the outside speed horses. COMMENTATOR never had a sniff of the lead, which went to longshot SPANISH CHESTNUT until the eventual winner, Silverleaf Farm’s POMEROY, took charge at the 5/16ths pole and repelled the stretch challenge of WAR FRONT to post the mild surprise. Based on what I saw, the connections of POMEROY definitely deserve to set their sights on Churchill Downs and the BC SPRINT, but –first—they’re likely to move on to the 6F Vosburgh at Belmont Park in early October. And given the bad start by COMMENTATOR, you shouldn’t be surprised to see his connections take one more shot at a BC prep by testing POMEROY again in a month.
If the results of the Forego were surprising, then the results of the 9F G1 Woodward had to be considered SHOCKING! This was a race that was supposed to ratchet up Breeders’ Cup CLASSIC hopes for the likes of SUAVE, SUN KING, FLOWER ALLEY, and even ANDROMEDA’S HERO. But on a difficult, tiring Saratoga surface, none of those four horses acquitted himself well, let alone gave indications that he could be considered a contender in the BC Classic, which will be run in 60 days. The race went to longshot PREMIUM TAP, under veteran jockey Kent Desormeaux, at odds of more than 30-1. SUAVE ran into traffic troubles on the first turn, ‘Mo settled his horse just off the early pacesetter SECOND OF JUNE, made the lead at the top of the lane, put away a that dogged rival late, and easily withstood a mild rally by SUN KING. After the race, Desormeaux commented that his horse, fifth in the G1 Whitney August 5, couldn’t get in any workouts for about a three-week period in late July and early August, but was able to get in solid 4F and 5F drills prior to the Woodward. This race was probably most damaging to the BC hopes of FLOWER ALLEY, the CLASSIC runner-up to the late ST. LIAM last October at Belmont Park. He was off for eight months before winning the sloppy Salvatore Mile at Monmouth Park in June, threw in a clunker (seventh, beaten nine lengths) in the Whitney, and really damaged his BC hopes with a dull and uninspiring effort in the Woodward. The win by PREMIUM TAP, whose tongue dangled out the left side of his mouth the entire race, prompted Hall Of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey –on the ESPN broadcast – to say, “I couldn’t have bet this horse even on the replay!”
With two months left until “the big day” in Louisville, there’s finally some action in the Juvenile and Juvenile Fillies divisions to discuss. Michael & Doreen Tabor’s CIRCULAR QUAY, a horse we talked up quite a bit on Thoroughbred Connection prior to his Bashford Manner win at Churchill Downs in July, overcame a slow break to post an impressive victory in Saratoga’s G1 Hopeful on Labor Day. Later in the afternoon, the Bob Baffert-trained filly POINT ASHLEY registered a 2 ½ length victory in the G1 Del Mar Debutante.
