HORSE RACING

[Lumi]

HORSE RACING
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $24,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds

Mikeymike - Did a classic pop and stop in MSW debut; taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming.

Southern Defender - Has cashed two paychecks in two career starts; class drop can only help in tiny field.

Long Shot - Rise to Power

Race 2 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $30,000, Claiming $32,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Salty Sarah - Like that Garrett Gomez stays loyal despite a poor finish; second start off a 3-month hiatus.

Ashton Girl - Logical chalk has not run for a price tag before; tactical speed to sit a nice trip.

Long Shot - Squeeze Me Tight

Race 3 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $25,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds

Swiss Arrogant - Was grossly overmatched in last; his race two back is fast enough to beat these, class drop helps.

Show the Flag - Turning back in distance from route to this elongated sprint; his best stride will come late.

Long Shot - Ur Turn Dubai

Race 4 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $44,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies, 3-year-olds

Saltendipity - Big run for second in debut breaking from a parking lot post; can save some ground today.

She's Not Lion - Finished right behind the chalk and figures right there too; she started from post 13.

Long Shot - Z and I

Race 5 - 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $48,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up

Sterkel - Been away 4-months since trailing much tougher; best late kick, could run over these at a square price.

Hyades - English import makes U.S. debut for Ben Cecil; exits a bullet workout to showcase his current sharpness.

Long Shot - Bring It Home

Race 6 - 6 furlongs, Purse $46,000, Optional claiming $80,000, 3-year-olds

Concord Point - Bob Baffert baby crushed a key race field; colt is behind schedule, but will be stakes caliber.

Bulldogger - The main foe appears to be another Baffert baby; Saratoga win was a scorcher, been away 6-months.

Long Shot - High Success

Race 7 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), $60,000 Wishing Well Handicap, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Dreamt - Ran like a lost puppy in her U.S. debut; has ability, can only improve with more American experience.

Royal Taat - This is one great betting race; dead late closer has already won twice down the hillside course.

Long Shot - Dance to My Tune

Race 8 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $18,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

Miss Wined Up - Claimbed from Bob Baffert by the underrated Carl O'Callaghan; blinkers off and exits a bullet work.

Infinity n' Beyond - Eric Kruljac adds blinkers on for more focus; she too exits a bullet workout for this start.

Long Shot - Musical Grace

Best Bet - Concord Point (race 6)

Santa Anita Thursday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/3/$15.20; Long Shots, 7/1/$8.00; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Totals - 502/129/$813.00; Long Shots, 252/39/$412.40; Best Bets, 31/12/$58.20

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - #4 Custer (6/1) in race 9 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Warrior's Reward won at Gulfstream Park paying $5.60 to win, $3.20 to place and $2.60 to show. Stats - 31/21/$150.90

 

[Lumi]

Demanding horse owners keep heat on trainers

Demanding horse owners keep heat on trainers

Demanding horse owners keep heat on trainers

What do trainers Hal Wiggins, Jimmy Jerkens and Tim Ice have in common? They developed Grade I winners Rachel Alexandra, Quality Road and Summer Bird, respectively, and then had their star horses taken away.

Horse racing is a tough business. Loyalty is in short supply. As Gordon Gekko said to Bud Fox in the movie "Wall Street," "If you want a friend, go buy a dog." No wonder some owners and trainers will try whatever it takes to win.

Wiggins developed Rachel Alexandra through the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, where she scored a spectacular 20-length triumph. After the Oaks, new owner Jess Jackson bought the filly from Dolphus Morrison and turned her over to trainer Steve Asmussen, just as he had done previously with Curlin. No explanation was needed.

Still, the now-retired Wiggins was probably both happy and sad seeing Rachel Alexandra named Horse of the Year and knowing the role he played.

Quality Road's dominating win at the Florida Derby proved that he was a freak. Jerkens knew he had a shot to win the Kentucky Derby if he could just keep the colt together. But bad feet kept Quality Road from participating in the Triple Crown.

Eventually owner Edward Evans fired Jerkens and transferred the colt to champion trainer Todd Pletcher. Quality Road just won the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park in track-record time, moving him atop the handicap division.

And finally, Ice, who won the Belmont Stakes, Travers, Jockey Club Gold Cup and an Eclipse Award with Summer Bird, was fired by the Jayaramans for a "lack of communication." In all, 25 of their horses were removed, leaving Ice with a paltry six-horse stable. This is a new low, even in a "what have you done for me lately" sport like racing.

The pressure to win is intense. Horse owners spend much more money than they take in, so most demand a great deal in return. A little heat is one thing, but many trainers face Dante's Inferno.

? HWS -- The Horseplayer World Series is Feb. 18 to 20 at The Orleans. You can buy an unlimited number of entries at $1,000 apiece.

If you've never played in the HWS, find a partner and go. With a prize pool of an estimated $700,000, it's as good as it gets.

Also, a $100 qualifier will be held Feb. 21 for the 2011 event.

 

[Lumi]

At the Gate - Friday

At the Gate - Friday

At the Gate - Friday

It?s on.



Or I guess I should say, its back on.



Just a day after Rachel Alexandra owner Jess Jackson released a statement saying his star filly would not face off against Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom Invitational at Oaklawn Park, the race is back on.



Oaklawn Park owner Charlie Cella announced that the race would be moved from April 3 to April 9, which is a Friday and the day before the Arkansas Derby, the meet?s marquee event and closing day for the track.







"I understand the concerns of all competitors in needing a prep race and properly preparing for a race of this magnitude, especially in light of the weather we've been experiencing recently around the country," Cella said. "Both parties want this to happen when their champions are at their absolute peak. This date makes that possible."



Jackson had stated that Rachel Alexandra would need more time, and now his trainer Steve Asmussen has an additional six days to get the filly ready to face Breeders? Cup Classic winner Zenyatta in what is the most anticipated match up in racing in decades.



Jackson suggested on Wednesday a three race series and said he had talked to the NTRA, although it was news to Zenyatta owner Jerry Moss who told the Associated Press, ?"I have no idea what he's even talking about. Which three races? And where? And when?"



Both still need to stay healthy over the next two months, and both figure to have a prep race in the middle of March.



The saga only figures to get more interesting as the weeks pass,





Here is today's opening race from Aqueduct to get our day off to a good start:



AQU Race 1 Clm $7,500 (12:30 ET)

#2b Indy's Forum 2/1

#4 Fashion Queen 7/2

#3 Saturdaynitesandy / #3x Huge Party 5/2

#1 East Coaster / #1a Calling My Colors 4/1



Analysis: #2b Indy's Forum tracked the early pace and made a mild late run to finish third last out behind a loose on the lead gate to wire winner who was taking advantage of an inside speed favoring racing strip. The mare won her three previous starts, and we managed to cash on this gal at 16/1 three back. She drops out of a $12.5K claimer while getting a jock upgrade to Serpa. She owns the top last out speed fig and she loves the inner (12-5-1-2).



#4 Fashion Queen was a good second last out behind #3x Huge Party for this tag, beaten a length for the top spot. The mare owns a solid pace profile throughout with good early and mid pace numbers. She also has run well on the inner in her career (8-3-2-0) and gets a positive jock switch from a bug to Cohen.



Wagering

WIN: #2b to win at 2/1 or better.

EX: 2,4 / 1,2,3,4

TRI: 2,4 / 1,2,3,4 / 1,2,3,4,5



Today's Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:



AQU Race 8 Alw $43,000N1X (3:49 ET)

#2 Spring Elusion 7/2

#7 Zaphyra 8/5

#1 Spina 9/2

#3 Ouchy Night 4/1



Analysis: #2 Spring Elusion was a good looking winner last out against $25K non winners of two in her first start off a 4 1/2 month layoff. The mare steps into a tougher spot here but has been competitive at the Alw-1 condition, checking in second and beaten just a neck at Keeneland last fall, and running second at the level at Belmont Park last summer. It is interesting that Rosie lands with #3 Ouchy Night, but we get Serpa and a weight break. She looks capable of winning right back.



#7 Zaphyra broke her maiden last out off a 3 1/2 month break as the heavy chalk for Dutrow. The filly earned the top last out speed fig in the effort and hard to tell how good this gal might be as she makes just her third start since Sept. of '08 and her fifth career start overall.



Wagering

WIN: #2 to win at 5/2 or better.

EX: 2,7 / 1,2,3,7

TRI: 2,7 / 1,2,3,7 / 1,2,3,5,7



Live Longshots:

These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.



Aqueduct

R2: #7 Runaway Dunne 10/1

R4: #6 Mr Met 12/1

R5: #6 Wadi Suki 8/1

R9: #5 Fast Draw 15/1

R9: #4 Grapple 10/1



Good luck today!