Bernie's Blog

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Late Pick 4 has $1 million guarantee . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - Saturday’s 12-race program at Gulfstream Park, highlighted by the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, will offer guaranteed pools for the Late Pick 4, the Late Pick 5 and the Rainbow 6.

The pool for the Late Pick 4 (Races 9-12) will be guaranteed at $1 million, while the Late Pick 5 (races 8-12) and the 20-cent Rainbow 6 (races 7-12) will offer guaranteed pools of $750,000. The Rainbow 6 pool will be guaranteed as long as the multi-race wager isn’t solved before Saturday.

The multi-race sequences for all three wagers will include the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational, North America’s richest race; and the $7 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, North America’s richest turf race.

The third running of the Pegasus World Cup field will be headlined by $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and 2018 Horse of the Year finalist Accelerate. The Pegasus World Cup Turf will feature an international field of grass stars, including Yoshida, a Gr. 1 winner on turf and dirt, and Aerolithe, a multiple graded stakes-winning mare in Japan making her first start in the U.S.

Should the Rainbow 6 go unsolved through Saturday’s program, there will be a mandatory payout of the entire pool of the popular multi-race wager on Sunday.

Saturday’s card will offer seven other stakes, including four additional graded stakes: the $200,000, Gr. III W. L. McKnight; $200,000, Gr. III La Prevoyante; $150,000, Gr. III Fred Hooper; $150,000, Gr. III Fasig-Tipton Hurricane Bertie, $150,000 Gulfstream Turf Sprint; $150,000 Ladies Turf Sprint, and the $125,000 South Beach.

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Bernies Blog

Records Fall at Tampa Bay Downs

Sunday, January 20, 2019

Win Win Win aptly named . . .

OLDSMAR - Michael Trombetta, the trainer of 3-year-old colt Win Win Win, had a helpless feeling after Gladiator King broke through the gate as the field for the $125,000 Pasco Stakes was being loaded, delaying the start. But a horse with the kind of talent Win Win Win displayed in setting a 7-furlong track record has a way of making his connections feel like they’re just along for the ride, anyway.

After breaking slowly from the No. 2 post, Win Win Win was taken in hand for the first part of the race before jockey Julian Pimentel launched his bid from the outside at the ¼-mile pole. Win Win Win surged past Gladiator King and Overdeliver, speeding to a seven-and-a-quarter length victory in track and stakes-record time of 1:20.89. Overdeliver finished second, followed by Cave Run and War Bridle, who was racing for the track’s fantasy-based “Tampa Bay Owners Club.” Jackson and Zenden were late scratches.

It was a record-setting Skyway Festival Day at Tampa Bay Downs, where 3-year-old filly Molto Bella set a stakes record of 1:22.20 in winning the $125,000, 7-furlong Gasparilla Stakes and 5-year-old mare Tapa Tapa Tapa established a stakes standard of 1:43.27 in the $50,000, mile-and-a-sixteenth Wayward Lass.

Bred in Florida by Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Stud and owned by her Live Oak Plantation, Win Win Win improved to 3-for-4, and Trombetta’s coy reply of “maybe” when asked if the horse would be nominated to the Gr. III Sam F. Davis Stakes on Feb. 9 had a definitive air to it.

“We’ve always liked this guy, and we’re very happy with him,” Trombetta said. “They left the two inside horses in there while they were chasing the loose horse, and I think he might have fallen asleep in there. He broke flat-footed, but Julian knows him really well. He had a nice little pace to run at (22.10 for the first quarter-mile and 44.52 for the half) and he showed what he can do.” Despite being forced to go wide on the turn, Win Win Win left his four rivals behind in a few quick, powerful strides in the 20th edition of the Pasco.

“I didn’t panic (at the start) because he did the same thing last time,” Pimentel said of Win Win Win’s awkward beginning in a runner-up effort in the Heft Stakes at Laurel on Dec. 29. “He’s very quick, so I just took my time and let him do his thing. I had so much horse and when I asked him to run, he took off.”

The winner’s share of $56,000 boosted Win Win Win’s earnings to $127,300. The son of Hat Trick-Miss Smarty Pants, by Smarty Jones, broke the stakes and track mark set in 2015 by subsequent Gr. II winner Catalina Red as a 2-year-old (the Pasco was run that season on Dec. 27, 2014). El Grande Rojo had equaled the track mark the following year as a 7-year-old gelding.

HIGH ROLLERS - Dennis Scott won the inaugural “High Rollers Handicapping Contest” with a final bankroll$1,150, earning first-place money of $5,000. Jim Tipps finished second with a bankroll of $910 to earn $2,000. Scott and Tipps also receive their choice of a seat at the 2019 or 2020 National Thoroughbred Racing Association Handicapping World Series.

Rich Averill and Wadie Khalaf tied for third with final bankrolls of $840, each earning $1,250. Finishing fifth with an $810 bankroll was Brendan Fay, who earned $500.

A total of 40 players participated.

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Bernies Blog

Japan's Aerolithe Checks in at Gulfstream for Pegasus

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Travel time was more than 21 hours . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - Sunday Racing Co. Ltd.’s Grade I-winning mare Aerolithe arrived at Gulfstream Park this morning at approximately 3:15 a.m. to prepare for the $7 million, Gr. I Pegasus World Turf Cup Invitational, North America’s richest grass race, on Jan. 26.

The mare’s excellent adventure began in Tokyo, then to South Korea to Anchorage to Miami. Total travel time, including layovers, was 21 hours and 25 minutes. “She traveled really well, much better than expected,” said Kate Hunter, Pegasus World Cup field representative for the Japan Racing Association.

Aerolithe, winner of the Gr. I NHK Mile Cup as a 3-year-old, has finished first or second in nine of 13 career starts, including a victory Oct. 7 in the Gr. II Mainichi Okan and a second-place finish on June 3 in the Gr. I Yasuda Kinen. The 5-year-old daughter of Kurofune, a son of French Deputy, is trained by Takanori Kikuzawa. Hunter confirmed that Florent Geroux will ride the mare. She will remain in quarantine at Gulfstream for approximately 42 hours.

“She’s going to stay inside the barn until her 42-hour quarantine is finished,” Hunter said. “But once that’s done, she’ll spend the day walking and the trainer, who is also going to be riding her in the mornings, gets in on the morning of the 20th, so he will be riding her on the morning of the 20th on the track.”

Hunter said there is a great deal of excitement regarding Aerolithe’s participation in the Turf Invitational. “To be able to bring over a Japanese horse to America, especially with the recent issues with Japanese cargo companies not being able to fly in or out of Japan, it’s a huge get,” she said. “The filly really wanted to go to the Breeders’ Cup but we were denied because of airplane issues. So they were really keen on coming to America and giving it a go. She’s a really game filly with good speed and a lot of heart so they were really keen on giving her a chance in the United States.”

Aerolithe is not the only international competitor on Pegasus World Cup Invitational day. Kukulkan, Mexico’s undefeated Triple Crown winner who was victorious in the Clasico del Caribe at Gulfstream in December, will return to compete in the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus while Ireland’s Magic Wand will compete in the inaugural running of the World Turf Cup.

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Bernies Blog

Audible Preps for $9 Million Pegasus

Sunday, January 13, 2019

Breezed 5 furlongs at Palm Beach Downs . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - Audible, the 2018 Florida Derby winner, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.91 Saturday morning at Palm Beach Downs in preparation for the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 26.

“Audible’s training really well," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "I’ve been pleased with all of his works, particularly this morning. It was a good, solid five-eighths with a strong gallop-out that we were looking for. All indications are he’s in good form and coming up to the race very well.”

Audible worked in company inside Impact Player before drawing clear in the stretch and galloping out well ahead of his workmate.

Owned by China Horse Club, WinStar Farm, Head of Plains Partners LLC and Starlight Racing, Audible followed up his Florida Derby triumph with a troubled third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby before going to the sideline for six months. The son of Into Mischief fired fresh to win the seven-furlong Cherokee Run on the Breeders’ Cup undercard at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3 but faltered in his most recent start, finishing second in the 1 1/16-mile Harlan’s Holiday on Dec. 15 over a sloppy Gulfstream track.

“It wasn’t what we were hoping for," Pletcher said. "We needed a race to build him up for the Pegasus. It didn’t go as planned. He was a prohibitive favorite. Unfortunately, before the race, the skies opened and we got a downpour into a harrowed track. They tried to seal it after that but it was too late. I think, more than anything, he didn’t like the condition of the track. He didn’t fire his best shot. He came out of it well and has trained better than ever coming into the Pegasus. It served its purpose in terms of conditioning.”

Pletcher noted that the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus will be Audible’s third start off a layoff, widely viewed as a positive from handicapping and conditioning perspectives. “We eased back into it after the Harlan’s Holiday," Pletcher said. "We’ve put some good, solid five-eighths into him and I’ve been particularly pleased with the way he’s galloped out. This will be his third start off the layoff. I think a mile and an eighth is ideal for him, especially if there’s a good contested pace. That’s important for him. He likes to settle early. If we can get some good solid fractions. Some of the main contenders have a lot of speed. If they mix it up a little bit, I think he’ll benefit from that.”

Gunnevera ‘a Different Horse’ Heading into the Pegasus

Gunnevera continues to please trainer Antonio Sano with his preparation for the Pegasus World Cup. The 5-year-old son of Dialed In breezed six furlongs in 1:15.80 under Irad Ortiz Jr. Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park West. “I feel very happy with him,” said Sano, whose trainee finished third in last year’s Pegasus. “He’s a different horse. He’s a stronger horse.”

Gunnevera, who concluded his 2018 campaign with a runner-up finish behind Pegasus contender Accelerate in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, worked in company with stablemate Cometin.

“He worked really good," Ortiz said. "He’s doing everything right. Hopefully, he comes back to racing the way he is right now.” Ortiz has the return mount on Gunnevera after guiding him to his runner-up finish in the Classic. Gunnevera, who has $4.1 million in career earnings, captured the 2017 Fountain of Youth. He also won the 2016 Saratoga Special and the $1 million Delta Jackpot and has been Gr. 1 stakes-placed in the 2017 Travers and the 2018 Woodward at Saratoga, as well as the Classic.

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Bernies Blog

Gulfstream Gets 2 Races on Friday's Stronach 5

Thursday, January 10, 2019

$50,000 guarantee, 12 percent takeout . . .

LAUREL, MD – The Stronach 5, featuring a $50,000 guaranteed pool and industry-low 12-percent takeout, will travel from Maryland to South Florida to California Friday afternoon.

The national pick 5 will offer turf races from Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park with the sequence beginning at Laurel Park at 4:35 p.m. with a 10-horse field going a mile and ending at Golden Gate Fields at 5:47 p.m. with eight horses going a mile on the all-weather surface.

Past Performances for Stronach 5: http://www.laurelpark.com/handicapping/stronach-pick-5

Friday’s Stronach 5 sequence

? Leg One – Laurel Park 9th Race – (10 horses, one mile) 4:35 ET, 1:36 PT

? Leg Two – Gulfstream Park 9th Race –(9 horses, six furlongs) 4:41 ET, 1:41 PT

? Leg Three – Santa Anita 4^th Race – (11 horses, 1 1/8^th mile turf) 5 ET, 2 PT

? Leg Four – Gulfstream Park 10^th Race – (12 horses, 1 1 1/16^thmiles turf) 5:12 ET, 2:12 PT

? Leg Five – Golden Gate Fields 5^th Race – (8 horses, one mile) 5:47 ET, 2:47 PT

Five bettors each received $29,027.90 last week for hitting the Stronach 5. Four bettors each cashed for $29,068.30 on Dec. 28 and 37 players each won $2,916.90 on Dec. 21.

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.

For the Stronach 5, if a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.

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Bernies Blog

Patternrecognition Readies for Pegasus

Monday, January 7, 2019

Breezes 5 furlongs at Palm Meadows . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence’s Florida-bred Patternrecognition breezed five furlongs Sunday morning in preparation for a scheduled start in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park. The Chad Brown-trained winner of the Gr. I Cigar Mile Dec. 1 at Aqueduct was clocked in 1:02.05 while working at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.

The son of Adios Charlie is a 100 percent Ocala Stud Farm product, out of the High Cotton mare Almost a Valentine. He has won his three most recent starts, including a victory in the Gr. II Kelso at Belmont Park prior to his Cigar Mile score. The 6-year-old didn't make a start until April of his 4-year-old season in 2017, breaking his maiden at Aqueduct in his debut. He posted a record that year of 2-4-0 in six starts. After a long layoff to begin 2018, he has gone 3-1-0 in five tries, including the two graded stakes, and his earnings jumped to $812,325.

Sold by Ocala Stud for $420,000 at the 2015 OBS April 2-year-old sale, he has been worse than second just once, and that was a fourth.

RAINBOW 6 CARRYOVER GROWS

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 went unsolved Sunday, producing a carryover jackpot of $88,035.81 for the Wednesday program. Multiple tickets with all six winners each paid $2,883.18. The multi-race wager has gone unsolved for two racing days after yielding a $166,317 payoff Friday. After going unsolved for the first 12 programs of the 2018-2019 Championship Meet, there have been four jackpots paid out. The wager was solved on Dec. 19 for a $580,349 payoff, Dec. 27 for $288,350 and again Dec. 30 for $177,317.

The carryover jackpot is only paid out when there is a single ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

WHO'S HOT - Jockey Jose Ortiz tripled with victories aboard Silver Diva ($13.80) in Race 3, Queen of Beas ($5) in Race 6 and Math Wizard ($6) in Race 11. Emisael Jaramillo notched a double with Brenda’s G L P ($29.40) in Race 5 and High Risk Strategy ($19.60) in Race 4.

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Bernies Blog

Gulfstream Shatters Handle Record

Friday, January 4, 2019

Up $122.7 billion from 2017 . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - A record $2.010 billion was wagered via Gulfstream Park in 2018, representing a $122.7 million increase over the previous record in 2017. Live wagering was up from $1.632 billion to $1.750 billion despite two fewer days of racing.
Gulfstream’s 2018 highlights included the second-running of the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), won by Gun Runner, named Horse of the Year two days earlier at the Eclipse Awards at Gulfstream Park. All-sources handle on the Pegasus was a then-record $41 million, a four-percent increase over the 2017 inaugural running. The 67th running of the $1 million Florida Derby, won by Audible, generated a total handle of $49.909 million, a single-day record handle.
“We’re grateful for all the support we received in 2018 from fans and horsemen,” said Gulfstream’s General Manager Bill Badgett. “The quality of racing, the stars both human and equine who participated at Gulfstream were incredible. We continue to rebuild year-round racing in Florida with the help of breeders, owners and horsemen. While we’re pleased with the record growth the past two years in handle, we believe there is room to continue growing. The Stronach Group’s commitment to reinvigorate thoroughbred racing is evident by its pursuit of improved customer service, relevant entertainment and fine dining.”

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Bernies Blog

Yates Breezes to Surprise Frosh Haul

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Cajun Breeze rocks in first season . . .

It was no surprise that Double Diamond Farm's First Dude ended the year as Florida's leading sire with progeny earnings of $4,915,031, with the late Wildcat Heir $762,660 behind. First Dude was attempting to become only the second Florida sire to reach $5 million, other than Journeyman Stud's Wildcat Heir, who surpassed $6 million for four straight years - 2014 to 2017.

The biggest surprise of 2018 was Stonehedge Farm's Cajun Breeze, a son of Congrats who led the Florida freshman sire list early in the season before dropping to fifth place by year's end. But, before he slipped down the list, Cajun Breeze afforded Michael (Bo) Yates and his Shadybrook Farm with a sensational summer, following in the footsteps of former jockey-turned-trainer Wesley Ward.

For about a decade, Ward has primed the 2-year-olds in his stable earlier than most, taking advantage of the lucrative maiden special purses beginning in April at several eastern tracks. In the space of a few months, Ward has consistently racked up a ton of money with his always-ready juveniles. Yates duplicated Ward's success by having some very good runners by Cajun Breeze pile up a ton of money at Gulfstream.

The best of the early Shadybrook runners was Cajun Firecracker, who broke his maiden at Gulfstream, then won the Dr. Fager Stakes, and was third in the Affirmed. He earned $125,000 for Yates, who then sold him to William and Corinne Heiligbrodt prior to the $400,000 In Reality, where Cajun Firecracker finished seventh. He was later second in the Clever Trevor Stakes at Remington Park and collected another $20,000.

Yates struck again early with Nancysaidso, a filly who won twice, finished second twice and finished fourth in the Desert Vixen Stakes and fifth in the Susan's Girl. She's earned $101,700.

Cajun Embers has a first and a second and finished fifth in the Dr. Fager, with earnings of $51,900. Mardi Gras Girl has a pair of seconds and collected $23,750, and Itsabouttime Girl has a fourth and a second and has collected $8,920. Quizzical Cajun, though bred by Shadybrook, is owned by B-5 LLC and trained by Yates, and has a pair of seconds and earnings of $23,750.

Cajun Breeze wound up with $346,900 in progeny earnings in his first season with just six runners, and $317,980 came in the Shadybrook colors. That's not counting the five victories and nine seconds and thirds that added to the Shadybrook haul via breeders' awards.

In an interesting twist, all the successful runners still in the Shadybrook barn have been on the shelf for the last three months or so, apparently primed for the new season. Congratulations to Bo Yates for a cleverly mapped-out campaign. Will he try it again this year?

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Bernies Blog

Rainbow Hit For Second Time in 3 Days

Monday, December 31, 2018

Lucky bettor strikes for $177,317 . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - The 20-cent Rainbow 6 was solved Sunday at Gulfstream Park, yielding a $177,317 jackpot payoff to the holder of the only ticket with all six winners. The multi-race wager had gone unsolved for the two racing days since a lucky bettor hit the jackpot for a $288,350 payoff.
Sunday’s winning combination was 1-13-10-4-7-10.
The Rainbow 6 will start anew on Tuesday when the sequence will span Races 5-10 on the special New Year’s Day program. First-race post time is set for 12:35 p.m. There will also be a Super Hi-5 carryover of $3,766.84 heading into Tuesday’s program.
WHO'S HOT - Tyler Gaffalione reached the 1,000-victory career milestone, scoring aboard Miss Marcela ($12.40) in Race 3 and Mission From Elle ($17) in Race 8. Paco Lopez also made a pair of trips to the winner’s circle aboard Delicious Pursuit ($46.40) in Race 2 and Billy Big ($10) in Race 7.
Trainer Kenny McPeek doubled with Deweycheatemanhowe ($11.20) in Race 1 and Papa’s Girl ($12.40) in Race 6.
Jockey Edgard Zayas was taken to Aventura Hospital after being unseated from his mount in Sunday’s fifth race. Zayas was to undergo surgery for a broken femur. His mount Killer Kitten collapsed on the backstretch due to a shoulder injury and was subsequently euthanized

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Bernies Blog

Massam Scores; Wolfson's Status Is Affirmed

Friday, December 28, 2018

Finish 1-2 in Festivus Challenge . . .

OLDSMAR - Brad Massam of Chatham, N.J., amassed a bankroll of $164.10 to capture the annual “10 Days of Festivus Challenge” Handicapping Contest sponsored by Tampa Bay Downs. The runner-up, with a bankroll of $131.90, was Steve Wolfson of Ormond Beach, a racing consultant and a member of the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) Hall of Fame.
Massam earned the first-place prize of $1,000 and Wolfson picked up $500. There were 779 entrants.
Massam, who describes handicapping as a hobby, believes the turning point occurred Dec. 12 when his fourth-race selection, Handsome Girl, finished second at odds of 38-1. She paid $31.20 to place and $9.80 to show, giving his bankroll a $41 boost.
All told, Massam had three selections that returned more than $28, giving him a cushion that widened when he selected first-time starter and winner They Call Me Lucky ($17, $7.60, $7.40) in the ninth race on Sunday, closing day of the contest.
Wolfson, one of three sons of the late Louis Wolfson, who bred and raced 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed, entered the contest with strong credentials. He finished fourth in the 2003 NHC at Bally’s Las Vegas, a contest won by his son, Steve Jr. The younger Wolfson joined his father in the NHC Hall of Fame this year.
“It’s especially gratifying to do well because there were so many people competing,” the elder Wolfson said. “I play Festivus every year. It’s a customer-friendly contest and they do a great job of disseminating the information. I’ve always loved Tampa Bay Downs, going back to when George Steinbrenner owned the track. The grass course is great and it’s like being at a country fair.”
Massam said his interest in the contest was also stoked by the turf offerings. “I enjoy turf racing, and because Tampa Bay Downs offers an outstanding turf racing product featuring consistently full fields and many races for young horses that attract top barns, I follow the Tampa meet very closely,” Massam said in an e-mail response.

AROUND THE OVAL - Four-time leading Oldsmar jockey Antonio Gallardo continues to sizzle, riding back-to-back winners for trainer Kathleen O’Connell and adding a third victory to give him 11 winners over the last four racing days.
Gallardo and O’Connell teamed to win the fourth race on the turf with Sweet Soul Music, a 6-year-old Florida-bred horse owned by Mark F. Taylor and Robert A. Meier IV. Sweet Soul Music was claimed from the race by owner-trainer Mike Dini for $16,000. Gallardo and O’Connell also won the fifth with Shimmyshimmy Shake, a 2-year-old Florida-bred filly owned by Ca Sal Stables. The jockey won the eighth race on the turf in a three-horse photo finish aboard Miko, a 4-year-old filly owned by Preferred Pals Stable and trained by Linda Rice.
Willie Martinez rode two winners, both on the turf. He won the sixth on Lady Love, a 4-year-old filly bred and owned by Tri County Stables and trained by Anthony Granitz, then added the 10th with More Than Teddy, a 4-year-old gelding owned by Sharyn and Peter Wasiluk Jr., and trained by the latter.

Trainer Dennis Ward sent out two winners. He took the second race with Wild Wigglin Jack, a 4-year-old Florida-bred gelding that he bred, and is owned by his Ridenjac Racing enterprise. He was ridden by Quincy Hamilton. Ward also won the seventh with Distinctly Blue, a 2-year-old Florida-bred filly owned by Edward R. Schuster and ridden by Mike Allen.

MORNING GLORY DEBUT - Racing fans can gain valuable insights about the sport by attending track announcer Richard Grunder’s popular “Morning Glory Club," which makes its return at 10 a.m. on Saturday on the first floor of the grandstand.

Grunder, who is in his 35th season as track announcer, will interview a different guest each Saturday through March 9, including trainers, jockeys and track personalities. His guest Saturday is up-and-coming trainer Kent Sweezey. Admission is free, along with coffee and donuts.

FOR OUR HEROES - Tampa Bay Downs will admit active and retired military personnel with proper identification free of charge on Military Appreciation Day, Jan. 5. Servicemen and women will be recognized during the day’s action.

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To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>

Subject: MASSAM, WOLFSON 1-2 IN FESTIVUS CHALLENGE; GALLARDO STAYS HOT

Date: Dec 28, 2018 5:09 PM

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: MIKE HENRY
December 28, 2018	813-855-4401 Ext. 1367

MASSAM, WOLFSON 1-2 IN FESTIVUS CHALLENGE; GALLARDO STAYS HOT

OLDSMAR, FL. – Brad Massam of Chatham, N.J., amassed a bankroll of $164.10 to capture the annual “10 Days of Festivus Challenge” Handicapping Contest sponsored by Tampa Bay Downs.

The runner-up, with a bankroll of $131.90, was Steve Wolfson of Ormond Beach, Fla., a racing consultant and a member of the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) Hall of Fame.

Massam earned the first-place prize of $1,000 and Wolfson picked up $500. There were 779 entrants.

Massam, who describes handicapping as a hobby, believes the turning point occurred Dec. 12 when his fourth-race selection, Handsome Girl, finished second at odds of 38-1. She paid $31.20 to place and $9.80 to show, giving his bankroll a $41 boost.

All told, Massam had three contest selections that returned more than $28, giving him a cushion that widened when he selected first-time starter and winner They Call Me Lucky ($17, $7.60 and $7.40) in the ninth race on Sunday, the closing day of the contest.

Wolfson, the son of the late Louis Wolfson, who owned 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed, entered the contest with strong credentials. He finished fourth in the 2003 NHC at Bally’s Las Vegas, a contest won by his son, Steve Wolfson, Jr.

The younger Wolfson joined his father in the NHC Hall of Fame this year.

“It’s especially gratifying to do well because there were so many people competing,” the elder Wolfson said. “I play Festivus every year. It’s a customer-friendly contest and they do a great job of disseminating the information.

“I’ve always loved Tampa Bay Downs, going back to when George Steinbrenner owned the track. The grass course is great and it’s like being at a country fair.”

Massam said his interest in the contest was also stoked by the turf offerings. “I enjoy turf racing, and because Tampa Bay Downs offers an outstanding turf racing product featuring consistently full fields and many races for young horses that attract top barns, I follow the Tampa meet very closely,” Massam said in an e-mail response.

Around the oval . Four-time leading Oldsmar jockey Antonio Gallardo continues to heat up, riding back-to-back winners for trainer Kathleen O’Connell and adding another victory to give the rider 11 winners over the last four racing days.

Gallardo and O’Connell teamed to win the fourth race on the turf with Sweet Soul Music, a 6-year-old Florida-bred horse owned by Mark F. Taylor and Robert A. Meier, IV. Sweet Soul Music was claimed from the race by owner-trainer Mike Dini for $16,000.

Gallardo and O’Connell also won the fifth with Shimmyshimmy Shake, a 2-year-old Florida-bred filly owned by Ca Sal Stables. The jockey won the eighth race on the turf in a three-horse photo finish on Miko, a 4-year-old filly owned by Preferred Pals Stable and trained by Linda Rice.

Willie Martinez rode two winners, both on the turf. He won the sixth race on Lady Love, a 4-year-old filly bred and owned by Tri County Stables and trained by Anthony Granitz. Martinez added the 10^th with More Than Teddy, a 4-year-old gelding owned by Sharyn and Peter Wasiluk, Jr., and trained by the latter.

Trainer Dennis Ward sent out two winners. He captured the second race with Wild Wigglin Jack, a 4-year-old Florida-bred gelding bred by Ward, owned by his Ridenjac Racing enterprise and ridden by Quincy Hamilton.

Ward also won the seventh with Distinctly Blue, a 2-year-old Florida-bred filly owned by Edward R. Schuster and ridden by Mike Allen.

“Morning Glory Club” to debut Saturday . Thoroughbred racing fans can gain valuable insights about the sport by attending track announcer Richard Grunder’s popular “Morning Glory Club” show, which makes its return at 10 a.m. on Saturday on the first floor of the Grandstand.

Grunder, who is in his 35^th season as track announcer, will interview a different guest each Saturday through March 9, including trainers, jockeys and track personalities. His guest Saturday is up-and-coming trainer Kent Sweezey. Admission is free, along with coffee and donuts.

Military Appreciation Day . Tampa Bay Downs will admit active and retired military personnel with proper identification free of charge on Military Appreciation Day, Jan. 5. Servicemen and women will be recognized during the day’s action.

The track is privileged to stage a day in recognition of these heroes who contribute so much to the American way of life.

Tampa Bay Downs is open every day for simulcast wagering, no-limits action and tournament play in The Silks Poker Room and golf fun and instruction at The Downs Golf Practice Facility.

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Bernies Blog

Guaranteed Pool of $50,000 for Stronach 5

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Wager returns Friday . . .

LAUREL, MD – The Stronach 5 returns Friday with a $50,000 guaranteed pool, three turf races, and the return of Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields into the national pick 5 with an industry-low 12-percent takeout.

The Stronach 5 will kick off with a pair of turf races from Gulfstream Park before heading to Golden Gate Fields for two five-furlong sprints before finishing up at Santa Anita with a 1 1/8th-mile optional claimer on the turf.

Past performance for the Stronach 5 : http://www.laurelpark.com/handicapping/stronach-pick-5

Friday’s sequence

? Leg One – Gulfstream Park 10^th Race – (16 entries, 1 1/16-mile turf) 4:40 ET, 1:40 PT

? Leg Two – Gulfstream Park 11^th Race – (16 entries, 1 1/16mile-turf) 5:12 ET, 2:12 PT

? Leg Three – Golden Gate Park 4^th Race – (10 entries, 5 furlongs) 5:15 ET, 2:15 PT

? Leg Four – Golden Gate Park 5^th Race – (9 entries, 5 furlongs) 5:30 ET, 2:30 PT

? Leg Five – Santa Anita Park 6^th Race – (16 entries,, 1 11/8 mile turf) 6 ET, 3 PT

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday. For the Stronach 5, if a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.

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Bernies Blog

College Day in Tampa Set for Jan. 12

Monday, December 24, 2018

Scholarships to be awarded . . .

OLDSMAR - Tampa Bay Downs is set to reach out to “Generation Z” through its inaugural “College Day” promotion, to be held Saturday, Jan. 12. Current college students and high school seniors pursuing a post-secondary education are eligible to compete for one of five $2,000 scholarships to be awarded through the Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce Educational Foundation.

Entrants will be eligible to win prizes and poker chips (usable in The Silks Poker Room) by spinning a prize wheel. Wagering seminars will be provided by track personnel throughout the day. All students enrolled in four-year U.S. colleges and universities and two-year colleges and technical schools, as well as high school seniors, are eligible. There is no charge to enter.

Here is how the contest works:

To enter, eligible students must complete an entry form that will be available at the Customer Service Desk on the day of the contest. Upon the completion of that day’s racing, 25 names will be drawn at random and designated finalists.

After notification from track officials, the finalists will be required to submit an essay of fewer than 500 words on the following subject: “Marketing Horse Racing To a New Generation of Fans,” with emphasis on initiatives and proposals aimed at attracting and retaining new followers.

The deadline to submit essays is Feb. 2. They may be typed, hand-written or printed from a computer or personal device and should be submitted to the General Office or the Publicity Office. A panel of judges will rank each essay, with criteria including feasibility of the marketing plan presented; originality; understanding of the horse racing industry; clarity; and grammar and spelling.

All non-winners will receive two passes good for free admission on any racing day. Track employees and their family members are not eligible.

“We think this is a fun and exciting way to introduce the younger generation to our sport, as well as tap into their creativity and new ways of thinking,” said Margo Flynn, the track’s Vice President of Marketing and Publicity. “The winners will receive aid toward furthering their education, and we hope to get ideas that can be implemented in upcoming seasons.”

ALLEN ON A ROLL - Four-time Oldsmar riding champion Ronnie Allen Jr. rode three winners Sunday. Allen captured the first race aboard My Solitude, a 4-year-old Florida-bred filly owned by Mark Hoffman and trained by Justin Johns. The jockey next won the seventh on American Deluxe, a 4-year-old gelding owned by Robson Thoroughbreds and trained by Gerald Bennett.

Allen wrapped up his big day by winning the ninth race on They Call Me Lucky, a 2-year-old Florida-bred filly owned by Martin Goodell and trained by Maria Bowersock.

Samy Camacho rode two winners. Camacho, who leads the jockey colony with 23 victories, won the sixth race on Ballston, a 3-year-old filly owned by Brushy Hill Enterprises and trained by Danny Gargan. He added the eighth, the Cody’s Original Roadhouse Race of the Week, with Killybegs Captain, a 4-year-old colt owned by Curragh Racing II and trained by John P. Terranova II.

Racing continues Wednesday with a 10-race card beginning at 12:17.

The annual Calendar Giveaway begins Wednesday. The 2019 edition of the commemorative keepsake will be distributed throughout the week to the first 10,000 patrons, with paid admission. Included are photographs by some of the area’s top equine photojournalists.

MORNING GLORY CLUB RETURNS . Thoroughbred racing fans can gain valuable insights about the sport by attending track announcer Richard Grunder’s popular “Morning Glory Club,” which makes its return at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 29 on the first floor of the Grandstand. Grunder, who is in his 35th season as track announcer, will interview a different guest each Saturday through March 9, including trainers, jockeys and track personalities. Admission is free, along with coffee and donuts.

MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY - Tampa Bay Downs will admit active and retired military personnel with proper identification free of charge on Military Appreciation Day, Jan. 5. Servicemen and women will be recognized during the day’s action. The track is privileged to stage a day in recognition of these heroes who contribute so much to the American way of life.

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Bernies Blog

Tampa Cancels Tomorrow's Program

Thursday, December 20, 2018

weather too much to overcome . . .

OLDSMAR - Friday’s live racing card and morning training at Tampa Bay Downs have been cancelled because of ongoing heavy rain and anticipation of high winds in the Tampa Bay area.

Officials said the track will remain open for simulcast wagering and no-limits action in The Silks Poker Room.

“We’re disappointed to lose a day of racing, but our No. 1 priority is the safety of our horses, jockeys and fans,” said Peter Berube, the track’s Vice President-General Manager. “Proper track maintenance is virtually impossible with the type of weather we’ve been getting. We appreciate the patience and understanding of our fans and look forward to putting on a full 10-race card Saturday, when sunshine is expected to return.”

Berube said there is a possibility the lost date could be made up later in the meeting or by adding races to existing dates.

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Bernies Blog

Rainbow Pool Soars Over $408,000

Monday, December 17, 2018

Sunday's winners hit for $1,020 . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - There will be a jackpot carryover of $408,116.25 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 when live racing returns to Gulfstream Park with a 10-race program Wednesday, Dec. 19. First race post time is 12:35 p.m.

A total of $163,518 was bet Sunday into the Rainbow 6, which began with a carryover of $368,877 from Saturday’s stakes-filled program. Multiple tickets were sold with all six winners, each worth $1,020.14.

Wednesday’s Rainbow 6 sequence spans Races 5-10, highlighted by a $47,000 optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares 3 and older at 1 1/16 miles on the newly refurbished turf course which attracted a field of 11 led by 123-pound topweight She’s Right Again.

Notes: Jacks a Warrior ($4.60) was a front-running four-length winner of Sunday’s third race, a 5 ½-furlong claimer for 3-year-olds and up, to give Shamir Maragh his first win as a trainer. The winning time was 1:06.17 over a fast main track. It was the 15th career starter for Maragh, who had seven seconds and three thirds before his breakthrough victory. Jacks a Warrior was also Maragh’s first starter, finishing fourth on Aug. 25 at Gulfstream.

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Bernies Blog

Sir Anthony Upsets Audible in Harlan's Holiday

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Pays $53.80 for 4th victory in a row . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - Richard Otto Stables’ Illinois homebred Sir Anthony extended his winning streak to four with a rail-skimming trip from last and held off heavily-favored Audible in the final yards for a half-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000, Gr. III Harlan’s Holiday.

The eighth running of the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up was the first of five graded stakes worth $600,000 in purses on an 11-race program, anchored by the $200,000, Gr. II Fort Lauderdale for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on the newly refurbished turf course.

With Brian Hernandez Jr. up for trainer Anthony Mitchell, Sir Anthony ($53.80) completed the distance in 1:45.14 over a sloppy, sealed track for his second career stakes victory and first in graded company.

Audible, winner of the Gr. I Florida Derby and Gr. II Holy Bull at Gulfstream over the winter, held second by a length over Apostle, followed by Audible’s Todd Pletcher-trained stablemate, Village King, and long shots Sightforsoreeyes and Minute Madness.

“I watched a few replays of this horse and over at Hawthorne they went slow the first three-quarters in a couple of his races and he was still able to close into them and run them down,” Hernandez said. “Today, I just kind of rode him like that. I figured if I got to the three-eighths pole in good shape, he’d punch home, and he did. My horse is an old pro and he’s shown that he doesn’t mind being [inside]. All the pressure was on Audible and we were just going to hopefully sneak up on him, and we were able to save all the ground and get through.”

Stablemates Sightforsoreeyes and Minute Madness ran first and second, respectively, through moderate fractions of 25.19 seconds for a quarter-mile and 49.80 for the half. Hall of Famer Javier Castellano moved Audible off the rail from their inside post, where the only horse they led through six furlongs in 1:13.50 was Sir Anthony. Castellano began asking Audible rounding the turn and swung to the far outside to launch a bid, while Hernandez stayed put with Sir Anthony to wait for an opening. It came once they straightened for home, where they forged a short lead, then powered through the stretch as Audible fought to make up ground down the middle of the track.

Audible was making just his second start and first against graded competition since running third to eventual Triple Crown winner Justify in the Kentucky Derby, using the Harlan’s Holiday as a prep for the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational - North America’s richest thoroughbred race - Jan. 26 at Gulfstream.

“He never really seemed like he fired," Pletcher said. "You hate to use the track as an excuse, but obviously it rained quite a bit and they sealed the track. It seemed like he was just never really taking him there and handling the track the way we would have hoped. We just let Javier ride his race, but he was never really taking him. He had to kind of ask him to get into every position he tried to.”

Sir Anthony now owns five wins from 14 starts and pushed his career earnings over $200,000. It was the fourth graded-stakes win for Mitchell and first since Original Spin in the 2005, Gr.III Arlington-Washington Breeders’ Cup Lassie.

December 15, 2018

Sir Anthony Springs $53.80 Upset in Harlan’s Holiday (G3)

G1 Winner Audible Second in Prep for $9 Million Pegasus World Cup (G1)

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Richard Otto Stables’ Illinois homebred Sir Anthony extended his win streak to four races with a rail-skimming trip from last and held off Grade 1-winning favorite Audible in the final yards for a half-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Harlan’s Holiday (G3).

The eighth running of the 1 1/16-mile Harlan’s Holiday for 3-year-olds and up was the first of five graded-stakes worth $600,000 in purses on an 11-race program, anchored by the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on the newly refurbished turf course.

Following the Harlan’s Holiday were a trio of $100,000 races for fillies and mares 3 and up – the six-furlong Sugar Swirl (G3) and one-mile Rampart (G3) on dirt and the My Charmer (G3) going one mile on the grass.

With Brian Hernandez Jr. up for trainer Anthony Mitchell, Sir Anthony ($53.80) completed the distance in 1:45.14 over a sloppy, sealed track for his second career stakes win and first in graded company.

Audible, winner of the Florida Derby (G1) and Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream over the winter, held second by a length over Apostle, followed by Audible’s Todd Pletcher-trained stablemate Village King and long shots Sightforsoreeyes and Minute Madness.

“I watched a few replays of this horse and over at Hawthorne they went slow the first three-quarters in a couple of his races and he was still able to close into them and run them down,” Hernandez said. “Today, I just kind of rode him like that. I figured if I got to the three-eighths pole in good shape, he’d punch home, and he did.

“My horse is an old pro and he’s shown that he doesn’t mind being [inside],” he added. “All the pressure was on Audible and we were just going to hopefully sneak up on him, and we were able to save all the ground and get through.”

Castellano began asking Audible rounding the turn and swung to the far outside to launch a bid, while Hernandez stayed put with Sir Anthony to wait for an opening. It came once they straightened for home, forging a short lead and powering through the stretch as Audible fought to make up ground down the middle of the track.

Audible was making just his second start and first against graded competition since running third to eventual Triple Crown champion Justify in the Kentucky Derby (G1) May 5, using the Harlan’s Holiday as a prep for the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) – North America’s richest Thoroughbred race – Jan. 26 at Gulfstream.

“He never really seemed like he fired. You hate to use the track as an excuse, but obviously it rained quite a bit and they sealed the track,” Pletcher said. “It seemed like he was just never really taking him there and handing the track the way we would have hoped … We just let Javier ride his race, but he was never really taking him. He had to kind of ask him to get into every position he tried to.”

Sir Anthony how owns five wins from 14 starts and pushed his career earnings over $200,000. It was the fourth graded-stakes win for Mitchell and first since Original Spin in the 2005 Arlington-Washington Breeders’ Cup Lassie (G3).

“He’s been a promising young colt who took a while to figure it out, but now that he’s figured it out who knows where we go from here,” Mitchell said. “He ran a couple of races where it was like, ‘What’s going on?’ It just didn’t make sense, but ever since he won the [Bruce D. Memorial] at Arlington he’s just got progressively better and better.

“The owner, I’m so delighted for. He bred the horse and he’s been with me for a very long time and we’ve enjoyed a lot of success,” he added. “He predominately breeds Illinois-breds and we’ve done pretty good with them. But going ahead and beating the likes of Audible – that’s huge. I mean, I can’t put words to that

December 15, 2018

Sir Anthony Springs $53.80 Upset in Harlan’s Holiday (G3)

G1 Winner Audible Second in Prep for $9 Million Pegasus World Cup (G1)

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Bernies Blog

First Dude: Can He Reach $5 Million?

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Only Wildcat Heir has accomplished the feat . . .

Here's an interesting fact concerning Florida's general sire list. Since the turn of the century, only one stallion has been able to reach $5 million or more in progeny earnings for a single year. That stallion is the late Wildcat Heir, who stood at Journeyman Stud until his premature death in 2015.

Wildcat Heir topped the Florida list in 2014 with $6.2 million; 2015 with nearly $7 million; 2016 with $6 million, and 2017 with $6.3 million. Again, no other stallion has reached $5 million.

This year, Double Diamond Farm's First Dude is the leader with $4,792,397 as of this morning. Can the son of Stephen Got Even add another $207,603 by Dec. 31? Stay tuned.

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Bernies Blog

Gunnevera Added to Pegasus Field

Monday, December 10, 2018

Only a few spot remaining for $9 million race . . .

Gunnevera Confirmed for $9 Million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1)

HALLANDALE BEACH - Salomon Del Valle purchased a spot in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational, confirming multiple graded stakes-winner Gunnevera for North America’s richest race set for Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park. Gunnevera, who finished third in last year’s Pegasus World Cup, most recently ran second in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 3.

“I’m paying all the money myself,” said Del Valle, a Venezuelan businessman who entered Gunnevera as part of a partnership in last year’s Pegasus. “I’m happy to be in the race.”

The Pegasus World Cup will be accompanied by the inaugural running of $7 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational on the Jan. 26 program in the newly-created $16 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series. Owners can secure a spot in the starting gate for the Pegasus World Cup for a $500,000 fee and will be given preference in purchasing a spot in the Pegasus World Cup Turf for $500,000. A $1 million bonus is being offered if an owner should win both races.

Gunnevera, who has $4.1 million in career earnings, captured the 2017 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream. The Antonio Sano-trained 4-year-old son of Dialed In has also won the 2016 Saratoga Special and the $1 million Delta Jackpot and has been stakes-placed in the 2017 Travers and the 2018 Woodward at Saratoga.

“I have a good chance. He just got beat by a length in the Breeders’ Cup,” Sano said. “Maybe there will be more speed in the Pegasus. One more chance. It’s in my house.”

In addition to Gunnevera, Hronis Racing’s Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Accelerate, Charles Fipke’s Seeking the Soul, and Calumet Farm’s Bravazo and True Timber are confirmed for the World Cup. Tabor, Magnier and Smith’s Coolmore has also purchased a spot for a horse to be determined.

Audible, the 2018 Florida Derby winner, is also being pointed to the World Cup and is scheduled to be entered in next Saturday’s $100,000, Gr. III Harlan’s Holiday Stakes to prep for the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus. Owned by China Horse Club International, WinStar Farm, Starlight Racing, and Head of Plains Partners, Todd Pletcher-trained Audible finished third in this year’s Kentucky Derby.

Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence’s Patternrecognition, who defeated True Timber by three-quarters of a length in the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct last time out, is also under consideration. The Stronach Group is currently negotiating with other groups, with only a few open spots remaining.

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Bernies Blog

Rainbow Unsolved Again; Carryover Nearly $200,000

Monday, December 10, 2018

Sunday winners get $3,028 . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - For the seventh straight program Sunday at Gulfstream Park, the 20-cent Rainbow 6 went unsolved to push the carryover jackpot to $197,569.67 for the return of live racing on Wednesday. Post time for the 10-race program is 12:35 p.m.

A total of $133,857 was bet into the multi-race wager Sunday, which produced multiple winning tickets worth $3,028.28.

The carryover jackpot is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

Wednesday’s Rainbow 6 sequence, which includes three races on Gulfstream’s newly refurbished turf course, will span Races 5-10 and drew a total of 68 entries or 11.3 horses per race. There will also be a $1 Super Hi-5 carryover of $8,968.70 for Wednesday’s opener.

Who’s Hot: Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., spending his first full winter in South Florida, won his first two races of the Championship Meet aboard Miss Harry ($6.20) in the third and Four K’s ($11.60) in the ninth.

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Bernies Blog

Jala Jala Makes History in Copa Confraternidad

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Wins both premier races in series . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - Mexican star filly Jala Jala made history Saturday at Gulfstream Park, saving ground early before drawing off to an impressive 4 ¾-length triumph in the $100,000 Copa Confraternidad del Caribe. The victory, coupled with her nine-length romp in the Clasico del Caribe last December, made Cuadra San Jorge’s Jala Jala ($4.40) the first filly ever to sweep the Clasico Internacional del Caribe’s premier races for 3-year-olds and older horses, beating males both times.

The 1 ¼-mile Copa Confraternidad was the fourth of five stakes, worth more than $700,000 in purses, as part of the Clasico Internacional del Caribe, Latin America and the Caribbean’s premier thoroughbred event hosted by Gulfstream for the second consecutive year.

Last year, Gulfstream became the first pari-mutuel facility outside Latin America or the Caribbean to host the Clasico Internacional del Caribe since its inception in 1966. Jala Jala is the second straight horse to win both the Clasico and Confraternidad in successive years, following Panamanian colt El Tigre Mono in 2016 and 2017.

It was the second Clasico win of the day for Puerto Rican jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., following Michegas’ runaway victory in the Copa Invitacional three races earlier. The winning time was 2:08.46 over a fast track.

Ortiz settled Jala Jala in fifth along the rail as Bold Master posted early fractions of 24.38 and 49.95, pressed by fellow Puerto Rican contender Exclusivo, a multiple group stakes-winner with 15 wins from 17 career starts. Exclusivo cruised past leaving the backstretch after going six furlongs in 1:15.08, but Jala Jala was creeping up the inside and into contention.

Tipped to the outside by Ortiz once clear of 2017 Clasico del Caribe runner-up Fray Angelico on the turn, Jala Jala met no resistance as she assumed the lead and straightened for home in front, pulling clear under a hand ride. Fray Angelico was a decisive second, 10 lengths ahead of Exclusivo. Puerto Rican Triple Crown winner Justiciero was fourth.

Michegas, Ortiz Jr. Win for Puerto Rico in Copa Invitacional

Michegas, representing Puerto Rico, put on a show in the $77,500 Copa Invitacional, kicking off Saturday’s program with a 10 ¼-length romp in the 1 ¼-mile race for 3-year-olds and up. Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Michegas was the 1-5 favorite in a field reduced to five starters by the early scratches of defending champion Coltimus Prime from Panama and morning-line favorite California Music of Panama.

Trained by Jose Velez for owner Oscar D. Establo, Michegas ran 1 ¼ miles in 2:07.05 to post his 11th victory in 31 starts, sparking an enthusiastic celebration at the winner’s circle by the Puerto Rico fans.

Brigantia Heads Panamanian Exacta in Copa Dama del Gama

Owned and trained by Alberto ‘Droopy’ Paz Rodriguez, a Panamanian legend with more than 6,400 career wins, Brigantia put away Mexican filly Triple Crown winner Kutzamala at the top of the stretch and held on for a 1 ½-length win in the Copa Dama del Caribe for 3-year-old fillies.

Ridden by Luis Saez, a native of Panama and graduate of its jockey school, Brigantia ($15.40) ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:49.91 to top a Panamanian exacta with runner-up Rosa Salvaje, who edged Mexico’s Etruska for by a neck. It was three lengths to Kutzamala in fourth.

Kutzamala, favored at 7-5 in a field of nine, lost for the second straight time after sweeping three Group 1 races in Mexico for trainer Fausto Gutierrez. The Point Determined filly was in front through fractions of 24.90 and 49.37 seconds, pressed by 30-1 long shot Visionaria. Saez and Brigantia ranged up next to Kutzamala midway around the turn, surged past and straightened for home in command, avoiding free-running Salmiana, who lost rider Manny Cruz after bobbling badly out of the gate.

“I’m crying because my wife isn’t here and I cry because of this win. Any win is a big win, I’m just so happy,” Rodriguez said. “I’m surrounded by family and friends today.”

Venezuela’s Big Boris One Takes Copa Velocidad del Caribe

Big Boris One, who was victorious in his two career starts in Venezuela, remained undefeated with a triumph in the $105,000 Copa Velocidad del Caribe. The 3-year-old colt, trained by Juan Carlos Avila, pressed the pace set by Mexico’s Tati along the backstretch before taking the lead on the turn and holding off a late run from Mexico’s Magno by three quarters of a length.

Big Boris One ran six furlongs in 1:13.66 under Paco Lopez to prevail in his stakes debut. Magno finished two lengths ahead of late-closing Puerto Rico’s Don William R.

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Bravazo Heading to Pegasus World Cup

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Competed in all 3 Triple Crown races . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Tuesday that Calumet Farm’s Bravazo, third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile and second in the Preakness Stakes, is being pointed toward the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Saturday, Jan 26 at Gulfstream Park.

“That’s surely where we’re headed if everything goes well,” Lukas said.

Bravazo, who finished second in the Gr. I Clark Handicap on Nov. 23, has raced in eight consecutive Gr. 1 events at six tracks and is the only horse other than Justify this year to compete in all three Triple Crown races.

“We’ve got a window of about seven weeks so we’ll get him in a work pattern,” Lukas said. “We did ship him to Arkansas where he’s getting a week to just take it easy. We’ll start picking up a work tab schedule in mid-December. He’s really done well. He’s fit, his weight is excellent. He’s run eight straight Grade 1’s and a lot of people would think he would taper off but he seems to only have gotten better. He’s a picture of consistency.”

Lukas said his first inclination would be to ship Bravazo to Gulfstream a week before the race. “I don’t think we’ll come in right on top of it,” he said.

A winner of 14 Triple Crown events, Lukas said he supports the Pegasus Championship Invitational Series, which for the first time will include a $7 million turf event.

“I think it's a significant development in the big picture of racing,” he said. “One of the things we’ve struggled with in thoroughbred racing is keeping superstars on the track. I think this is a step in the right direction. Any time you start the season with a $9 million race . . . it better be on your radar.”

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Bernies Blog

Record Handle for Claiming Crown

Sunday, December 2, 2018

Handle reaches $$13.6 million . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - Gulfstream Park celebrated its 2018-2019 Championship Meet with a record handle on the 20th edition of the Claiming Crown.

Total handle on the 11-race program was $13.612 million, up 14 percent, smashing the previous Claiming Crown record set last year of $11.925 million. Handle on the event has grown every year since Gulfstream starting hosting it in 2012.

“We’re extremely pleased with Opening Day,” said General Manager Bill Badgett. “We received a lot of compliments about the improvements at our facility and we witnessed some memorable performances on track from our equine and human athletes. We want to thank our fans and horsemen for supporting Gulfstream and the Claiming Crown program. We’re looking forward to the rest of our Championship Meet and next week’s incredible big Clasico Internacional de l Caribe.”

Trainer Jorge Navarro was a big winner Saturday, saddling the winner of three Claiming Crown races – Aztec Sense in the $200,000 Jewel, Misschief Maas in the $110,000 Glass Slipper and Salsa’s Return in the $110,000 Iron Horse. “Amazing day,” Navarro said. “I told my wife if we can win three races today it’s a touchdown.”

Jockey Chris Landeros got the Championship Meet off to a good start as well, winning the $110,000 Glass Slipper aboard Misschief Mass, the $110,000 Rapid Transit with Rocket Heat, and the first race of the meet on Solar Kitten. “It’s special because it’s so tough here,” he said. “You’ve got to come here prepared mentally and be ready. I’m looking forward to the meet and I’m very excited.”

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Bernies Blog

Pletcher Gears Up for Another Gulfstream Title

Thursday, November 29, 2018

He's been the leader for 15 years. . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - Todd Pletcher has clearly taken the Championship Meet to a new level. The seven-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer has distinguished himself as the undisputed champion of Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet for 15 consecutive years. Pletcher will begin a campaign for an unprecedented 16th straight training title during the 2018-2019 meet that will get underway Saturday and run through March 30.

“Gulfstream’s been a great meet for us for a number of years," Pletcher said. "I think Gulfstream’s program fits our program well. It emphasizes 2-year-old and 3-year-old races if you include the December part and especially the 3-year-old part in January, February and March. It seems to be a racetrack that suits our program but it also seems to suit our training style. It’s a track where you want to be somewhat involved in the early part. It seems horses that tend the pace have a little bit of an advantage.”

Pletcher-trained horses have been dominant in Gulfstream's 3-year-old program during his championship reign. The Dallas native has saddled a record five winners of the $1 million Florida Derby, including four of the last five winners of the premier Triple Crown prep. He notched his first Florida Derby win with Scat Daddy in 2007 before finding the winner’s circle with Constitution (2014), Materiality (2015), Always Dreaming (2017) and Audible (2018). Always Dreaming went on to win the Kentucky Derby.

“I think over the years the meet has complemented our program and we’ve been fortunate enough to develop a lot of good 3-year-olds due to Gulfstream that have gone on to success in Triple Crown races and other such events as well,” Pletcher said. “It’s always a fun time of the year when you’re winding up the 2-year-old season and starting to look forward to the 3-year-olds.”

While Pletcher will be gearing up his horses for the 3-year-old program and an attempt to win a sixth Florida Derby, the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Jan. 26 is a more immediate goal. Audible, who finished third in last year’s Kentucky Derby and who recently returned to action with an impressive stakes victory at Churchill on Nov. 3, is being pointed to North America’s richest race.

During the 2017-2018 Championship Meet, Pletcher saddled 70 winners from 221 starters for a 32-percent strike rate.

“I always look at each meet as a different challenge," Pletcher said. "You kind of have the streak in the back of your mind. You’d like to keep it going but at some point it’s going to end. We had a little bit of a lull during the summer, but I feel like it’s picked up the last month or so. We were able to have a good Keeneland Meet and win a Breeders’ Cup race.”

Pletcher won the Keeneland Fall Meet title and saddled Bulletin for a victory in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. “We have some horses moving in the right direction now," he said. "We’re looking forward to the Gulfstream meet but also respect how challenging it is to win races there. We certainly don’t take anything for granted.”

In addition to dominating the Championship Meet, Pletcher has maintained a year-round presence at Gulfstream the past few years and has won or taken a share of the trainer’s title during the Spring Meet for the last two years). Bulletin debuted at Gulfstream during the Summer Meet, capturing a Sept. 29 maiden special weight race before going on to win at the Breeders' Cup.

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Bernies Blog

Gulfstream Opens Saturday With Renovated Turf Course

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

More than 5,000 stall applications received . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet, which includes the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, Gr. I Florida Derby, Eclipse Awards, Claiming Crown and Clasico Internacional del Caribe, begins Saturday, Dec. 1 with a renovated turf course.

Renovations on the 180-foot course began over the summer, according to General Manager Bill Badgett. “We started with the outside 100 feet and we totally tore it up and put all new sod down,” he said. “The inner part of the course we renovated. We used Celebration Turf, which continues to score high in studies done on tolerance and recovery.”

Badgett announced earlier this year there were more than 5,000 stall applications received for the 3,100 stalls at Gulfstream, Palm Meadows and Gulfstream Park West for the Championship Meet. Horsemen are also stabled for the meet in South Florida at Palm Beach Downs and Payson Park.

“There’s a lot of excitement about the meet,” Badgett said. “More horsemen want to keep horses in South Florida year-round or permanently relocate here due to our program. Obviously, turf racing is very important to us and the addition of the Pegasus World Cup Turf only adds to it. We’re happy that we have a pristine course that’s ready for business beginning Saturday. It will be the first of many big weekends during the Championship Meet.”

Breakfast at Gulfstream Returns

Breakfast at Gulfstream returns with the opening of the Championship Meet Saturday. Fans can come out between 8-10:30 a.m. and take free tram tours of the backstretch, watch horses gallop and work out, and enjoy a breakfast buffet ($10 per person, children under two eat free). Tours of the backstretch last approximately 45 minutes and guests must arrive before 9:30 a.m. to take the tour. There are character appearances for the children each Saturday and special guests.

Pegasus Tickets on Sale

Tickets to the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, which includes the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational and the inaugural running of the $7 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, are on sale now at pegasusworldcup.com

To be contested Saturday, Jan. 26, the Pegasus has attracted the country’s top horses in its previous two runnings including Horses of the Year Gun Runner, California Chrome and Arrogate, plus West Coast and Gunnevera. Both Pegasus races are the richest of their kind in North America.

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Bernies Blog

Zayas, Joseph Take Fall Turf Festival Titles

Monday, November 26, 2018

Zayas edges Paco by 2 . . .

MIAMI GARDENS - Edgard Zayas captured his second riding title in three years at Gulfstream Park West Sunday, prevailing over Paco Lopez, 47-45.

In the trainer’s race, Saffie Joseph Jr. saddled 15 winners to claim the title. Victor Barboza Jr., who saddled a pair of winners Sunday, finished second with 13 wins.

Zayas, who finished second last season behind Emisael Jaramillo, 50-44, had previously captured the Gulfstream Park West title in 2016 with 47 victories.

Bruno Schickedanz and Thoroughbred Champions Training Center tied for the owner’s title with eight winners each.

Live racing in South Florida will resume Saturday at Gulfstream Park, which will host the $1.11 million Claiming Crown on the opening-day card of the 2018-2019 Championship Meet.

RAINBOW 6 YIELDS $1,464 PAYOFF

A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 pool on closing day of the Fall Turf Festival yielded a $1,464 payoff for each ticket with all six winners. The multi-race wager had gone unsolved for nine racing days since Nov. 8, when a single ticket hit for a $71,152.16 jackpot payoff.

Wagering on the Rainbow 6 began with a carryover of $123,818.96, which generated a handle of $637,162 for the six-race sequence that spanned races 5-10.

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Bernies Blog

Mandatory Payouts for Gulfstream West's Jackpots

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Rainbow 6 carryover is $123,818 . . .

Mandatory Payouts Set for Sunday’s Closing Day Card

MIAMI GARDENS – The 20-cent Rainbow 6 went unsolved at Gulfstream Park West today, producing a $123,818 carryover jackpot for Sunday’s mandatory payout on the closing day card of the Fall Turf Festival.

Multiple tickets with five of six winners were each worth $721.28.

The multi-race wager has gone unsolved for nine consecutive racing days since Nov. 8, when a single ticket hit for a $71,152 jackpot payoff.

Mandatory payouts are also scheduled for the Late Pick 5 (Races 5-10) and the Race 10 Super Hi-5.

Heading into Sunday’s card, there will be a Super Hi-5 carryover of $7,907.05.

ZAYAS HOLDS SLIM JOCKEYS' LEAD

Also heading into the final day of the Fall Turf Festival, Edgard Zayas holds a 46-44 lead over Paco Lopez for the jockey’s title. Zayas has nine scheduled mounts, while Lopez is named to ride in eight races Sunday. In the trainer’s race, Saffie Joseph Jr. holds a 15-12 edge over Marcus Vitali.

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Bernies Blog

Stronach 5 Carryover: $88,000 for Nov. 30

Saturday, November 24, 2018

No winners yesterday . . .

LAUREL - Since there were no winning tickets in Friday’s Stronach 5, the national Pick 5 wager with the industry-low 12-percent takeout will have a carryover on Friday, Nov. 30 of $88,189.41.

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool is carried over to the next Friday.

Winning payoffs in Friday’s Stronach 5, with races from Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park West and Golden Gate Fields, ranged from $25.80 to $6.40.

Friday’s races and sequence

· Leg One – Laurel Park Eighth Race: Papacho $25.80

· Leg Two –Gulfstream Park West Eighth Race: Heaven’s Humor $11

· Leg Three – Laurel Park Ninth Race: Fashion Faux Pas $6.40

· Leg Four – Gulfstream Park West Ninth Race: Armonico $22.20

· Leg Five – Golden Gate Fields Fifth Race: Anitanewmercedes $17.40

If a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the post-time favorite in the betting.

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Bernies Blog

Tampa Opens for 93rd Season

Friday, November 23, 2018

Tampa Bay Derby set for March 9 . . .

OLDSMAR - Thoroughbred racing makes its triumphant return to the area Saturday when Tampa Bay Downs plays host to a 10-race opening - day card beginning at 12:25 p.m.

The track’s 93rd anniversary season, which began July 1 during the Summer Festival of Racing and Music, consists of 91 racing days and runs through June 30. The 2018-2019 stakes schedule is comprised of 28 races worth a track-record $3.74 million in purse money.

Stakes action begins Saturday, Dec. 1, with the 15thrunning of the $100,000 Turf Dash for horses 3-years-old-and-upward at 5 furlongs on the grass, and the $100,000 Lightning City Stakes for fillies and mares 3-years-old-and-upward, also at 5 furlongs on the lawn.

The biggest racing day of the season is March 9 with a Festival Day program offering $1 million in purse money, headed by the 39thedition of the Gr. II, $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby for 3-year-old Triple Crown prospects.

“Everything is in place to enjoy another successful season,” said Peter Berube, the track’s Vice President-General Manager. “The combination of our stakes schedule and overnight program, our outstanding main track and turf course, and great weather make Tampa Bay Downs one of the most attractive winter racing sites in the country.

“Our schedule of special events has something for everyone, and we hope it will help attract new fans who like what they see and bring their friends the next time they visit. With The Silks Poker Room and The Downs Golf Practice Facility open every day, we believe we offer as much entertainment variety as any sporting venue in the area,” Berube said.

Almost all of the leading stables and jockeys are back from last season. Gerald Bennett, who has won three consecutive training titles, heads a roster that includes two-time leading Tampa Bay Downs conditioner Kathleen O’Connell; Arnaud Delacour; Keith Nations; Michael Stidham; Victor Carrasco Jr., Dennis Ward; Derek Ryan; Monte Thomas; Anthony Granitz and Darien Rodriguez.

Antonio Gallardo, last season’s leading jockey and winner of four of the last five Tampa Bay Downs titles, will defend against the likes of six-time champion Daniel Centeno; four-time leading jockey Ronnie Allen, Jr.; reigning George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award- winner Jose Ferrer; two-time Oldsmar riding champion Jesus Castanon; past champion Willie Martinez; plus Samy Camacho; Pablo Morales; Jose A. Bracho, last season’s top apprentice rider; Scott Spieth; Mike Allen; Brian Pedroza and Shannon Uske.

Tampa Bay Downs plans to unveil a number of new promotions, starting with the Dec. 8 “Tampa Bay Owners Club” contest that will give fans a chance to become part of a fantasy syndicate group receiving many of the perks of owning a thoroughbred, without the financial risk.

Upgrades to the facility have been made with customer comfort and convenience in mind. New self-service AmTote International wagering terminals have met with widespread approval. A waterproof, vinyl plank floor has been installed in the grandstand, and the winner’s circle has been repaved.

And when visitors walk through the redesigned main entrance, they’ll discover a treasure trove of memorabilia and facts in an attractive display titled “Tracking Our History,” highlighting such milestones as the 1997 ground-breaking for the renowned Tampa Bay Downs turf course and the thrilling 2007 Tampa Bay Derby victory by Street Sense, who went on to win the Kentucky Derby.

On Dec. 1, Tampa Bay Downs launches its annual “10 Days of Festivus On-line Handicapping Contest,” which runs through Dec. 22. Registration is free and players compete for a $1,000 grand prize.

The “Tampa Bay Owners Club” contest on Dec. 8 gives fans a chance to become fantasy owners by picking the winner of a designated race. Anyone making a winning selection will receive free admission and a program each time “their” horse competes throughout the meeting, along with a mutuel voucher, concession stand discounts, an attractive pin and trips to the paddock and (hopefully) the winner’s circle.

Dec. 15 features the “Touch Vodka Brunch at the Downs” beginning at 9 a.m. beneath the Trackside Picnic Pavilion Tent. The cost is $8 and early arrivals can watch horses work out and meet with horsemen.

The track’s popular calendar giveaway takes place Dec. 26, 28, 29 and 30, with the 2019 edition given away free while supplies last, with admission.

Other promotions include the inaugural “College Day” contest on Jan. 12, awarding five college students and/or high school seniors $2,000 college scholarships; a “High Rollers Handicapping Contest”on Jan. 19; the “Live It Up Challenge” handicapping contest, which begins on Feb. 9; and events featuring Bourbon, Barbecue & Cigars; Craft Beer & Wings; and a Seafood Fest & Crawfish Boil.

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Bernies Blog

OBS Wagering Surpasses $26,000

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Wagering on the first eight races at Tuesday's OBS races started out sparsely, but...

Wagering on the first eight races at Tuesday's OBS races started out sparsely, but began to pick up with the arrival of latecomers who came to watch races 9 and 10, the two $125,000 OBS Sprint Championships.

The first eight races were for quarter horses, followed by two for thoroughbreds, all of which were included in the wagering platform. There was no wagering allowed on the Championship races.

Following is the race-by-race handle:

Race No. 1 - Win, Place, and Show - $1,112; Exacta - $555.

No. 2 - WPS - $1,663; Exacta - $744; DD - $249.

No. 3 - WPS - $1,811; Ex - $983; DD - $226.

No. 4 - WPS - $1,540; Ex- $621; DD - $251. (Scratches reduced field to 4 runners).

No. 5 - WPS - $1,962; Ex - $1,100; DD - $301.

No. 6 - WPS - $2,057; Ex - $1,081; DD - $269.

Quarter horse wagering - WPS - $10,145; Ex - $5,084; DD - $1,296. Total - $16,525.

No. 7 - WPS - $2,351; Ex - $1,042; DD - $133.

No. 8 - WPS - $3,676; Ex - 1,761; DD - $638.

Thoroughbred wagering - WPS - $6,027; Ex - $2,803; DD - $771. Total - $9,601.

Total for 8 races - $26,126.

Not one betting favorite won in the 8 races. Three finished second (all were 4/5); three finished third; two finished fifth. The longest-priced winner was Circle Away in the eighth. The 4-year-old gelding by Circular Quay (bred by Star Runner Farm - owned by Michaelle Bordis) paid $27.80.

The top exacta of $277.80 was produced in the seventh race by Tellbuffy ($10.80) and Queen Maeve (6-1). The best daily double of $180 was produced in the second and third races by Mr So So Comment ($8.80) and Toast to Clever Two ($15.00).

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Bernies Blog

Casse Strikes Twice at OBS

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Apprentice Declan Carroll gains first stakes-winner . . .

Trainer Mark Casse saddled both winners of the inaugural runnings of the OBS Sprint Stakes as the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company presented its November Day of Racing.

Gary Barber’s Lookin to Strike came running late to edge Grupo 7C Racing Stable’s Star Juancho in the shadow of the wire to win the $125,000 OBS Sprint by a nose, with Michael Dubb’s Yummy Bear a length back in third. Triple bug rider Declan Carroll picked up the first stakes victory of his career aboard the graded stakes- winning 3-year-old colt by Lookin At Lucky.

The winner is a two-time OBS graduate, consigned by Select Sales to the 2016 Selected Yearling Sale and then sold at the 2017 April Sale by SBM Training & Sales, Agent, for $210,000 after turning in an under tack eighth in :10 flat. The victory leaves the winner with a 10-5-0-0 record and earnings of $195,644.

In the $125,000 OBS Filly and Mare Sprint, Bill and Vicki Poston Racing’s Southern Sis came flying in the final sixteenth to beat Averill Racing et al’s R Happy Ending by two lengths, with Westbury Stables’ Sierra Aleone a nose back in third. It’s the first stakes score for the 4-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Kantharos, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione. The time for the six furlongs was 1:09 2/5. The two-time OBS graduate was sold by Southern Cypress, Agent at the 2015 August Yearling Sale to the winning connections for $35,000. Consigned by Grassroots Training & Sales to the 2016 April Sale, she was bought back for $50,000 after breezing an under tack eighth in :10 flat. Now 12-4-3-0, she has earned $194,432.

The first six races of the 10-race card were for quarter horses. In the first, Rocio Lopez’s Eyes Have a Fortune was the winner by a nose, running the 220 yards in a track record :21.727. Trained by his owner, the 6-year-old gelding was ridden by Ruben Serna.

Despite delaying the start by his reluctance to enter the starting gate, Howard and Kelly Kleinberg’s Mr So So Comment was a one-length winner of the second race, racing 330 yards in :17.207. The 6-year-old gelding, trained by Howard Kleinberg, was ridden by Natasha Fritz.

The third race went to Myron McKinnon’s Toast to Clever Two by three quarters of a length, with David Boraco aboard for trainer Walter Lee Graham, getting the 330 yards in :17.204.

The combination of McKinnon and Graham made it two in a row in the fourth, with DLJ Royal Flow scoring by a head. The 4-year-old horse, ridden by Reynier Arrieta, ran 330 yards in :17.041.

The same connections scored their third win in a row in the fifth, with One Way Flight racing 220 yards in :12.19 and winning by a head. Reynier Arrieta was aboard the 4-year-old gelding.

Owner Rocio Lopez picked up her second victory of the day in the sixth race, as Hesa Trickie Lad won by a length and survived a claim of foul, getting the 220 yards in :12.006. Ruben Serna rode the 9-year-old gelding.

The seventh was a six-furlong race for maiden thoroughbreds, and it went to Jack Treadway and Ken Westlye’s Tellbuffy, who caught front-running Silver Springs in the final furlong and scored by a 4 1/2 lengths. The 4-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Telling, trained by Ken Westlye and ridden by Odilon Martinez, was clocked in 1:13.

Race eight, a six-furlong thoroughbred starter allowance, was won by Michaelle Bordis’ Circle Away, who rallied in deep stretch and won going away by a length and a quarter, running the distance in 1:11 4/5. The 4-year-old gelding by Circular Quay, trained by Robert W. Bordis, was ridden by Raymond Torres.

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Bernies Blog

Noon Post for OBS 10-Race Program

Monday, November 19, 2018

Two sprints worth $125,000 each . . .

Live racing returns to Ocala on Tuesday, Nov. 20 with a 10-race card highlighted by a pair of $125,000 OBS Sprint Stakes, both at six furlongs. First post is at noon, and there will be pari-mutuel wagering on the card’s first eight races. The races will be streamed live on the OBS website at obssales.com. Admission and parking are free and the gates will open at 10:00 a.m.

The first six are races for Quarter Horses at distances of 220, 330 and 440 yards. The seventh race is a six- furlong dash for thoroughbred maidens and the eighth is a six-furlong thoroughbred starter allowance.

Races nine and 10 are non-wagering events. The ninth is the $125,000 OBS Filly and Mare Sprint, to be run at six furlongs for fillies and mares, three and up, which have gone through the ring at an OBS Sale.

Winds of Change Racing Stable’s graded stakes-winning Rich Mommy gets top billing in the field of eight, bringing earnings of $244,185 into the race. Victor Barboza Jr. trains the 4-year-old daughter of Algorithms, winner of Gulftream’s Gr. III Sugar Swirl Stakes, and Emisael Jaramillo will ride.

The horses and riders in post position order: Lawrence Dalton and Joan Lawrence’s Exotic Gold, 114, Federico Mata; Bill and Vicki Poston Racing’s Southern Sis, 117, Tyler Gaffalione; Zollie Durr’s Weekend Appeal, 117, Augusto Marin; Barry Kirkham’s Seminara, 119, Ronnie Allen; Anthony J. Russo’s Money or Love, 121, Manoel Cruz; Averill Racing , CCF Racing Stable, Silver Oaks Stable and K Lauren Racing’s R Happy Ending, 116, Paco Lopez; Westbury Stable’s Sierra Aleone, 116, Tyler Gaffalione; Rich Mommy, Spring in the Wind and Orecchiette were early scratches.

The 10th race is the $125,000 OBS Sprint Stakes for three-year-olds and up which have gone through the ring at an OBS Sale.

Trainer Mark Casse brings a pair of Gary Barber-owned graded stakes-winners to the field of 13, with Tyler Gaffalione named on both.

Conquest Panthera, winner of the Gr. I Woodbine Mile last year, is the leading earner in the field with a $355,275 bankroll. The 6-year-old gelding by Kitten’s Joy, who will carry 121 pounds, was also on the board in a pair of graded stakes in 2018.

Lookin To Strike comes into the race off a victory in the Gr. III Ontario Derby at Woodbine in October. The 3-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky, with $147,644 in earnings, will carry 120 pounds.

The field in post position order: Conquest Panthera; Marcy Brooks and David Diamond’s Gone Diesel, 114, Gary Wales; Lookin To Strike; K. E. Racing Stable’s D’Rock, 114, Odilon Martinez; The Four Horsemen Racing Stable and Lady Lindsay Racing Stables’ Sweetontheladies, 121, Marcos Meneses; Lawrence Dalton and Roberta Russell’s Bertiesbeauboaz, 114, Federico Mata; Flea Market Racing’s Successful Roman, 117, Jose Alvarez; Thoroughbred Champions Training Center’s My Chinumado, 116, Aby Medina; Flying Dragon Stable’s Rhombus, 114, Raymond Torres; Midwest Thoroughbreds’ Quijote, 121, Paco Lopez; Michael Dubb’s Yummy Bear, 121, Jeffrey Sanchez; Grupo 7C Racing Stable’s Star Juancho, 116, Emisael Jaramillo; George Santis’ Invasors Wind, 117, Roberto Alvarado, Jr.

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Bernies Blog

Gold Man: Going for No. 21 at Laurel

Thursday, November 15, 2018

9-year-old has started 77 times . . .

In this age of the infamous "bounce," the fake news which claims that horses who have run a tough race are said to need weeks off to recover before they can compete again, comes the old warrior named Gold Man.

This 9-year-old gelding by little-known stallion Agnes Gold, was bred by the late superb turf writer, race track publicist and OBS marketing director David Goldman and was foaled on March 15 of 2009. He was the last horse bred by Dave in his long career as a breeder; the best was the multiple graded stakes-winner Caltech, winner of the Washington D. C. International and Lawrence Realization and earner of more than $700,000 racing for his friend, attorney David Romanik.

Gold Man will make the 78th start of his career tomorrow in the fifth race at Laurel, a starter allowance at 1 1/16 miles on the grass with a purse of $25,000. It's for 3-year-olds and up who have started for a price of $8,000 or less in 2017 and 2018. And Gold Man has started for every claiming tag from $8,000 and up in his long career, which has resulted in earnings of $362,535 while campaigning for more barns than anyone can count without a calculator. He's been so tough in his own element for so long he might be in the running for "most claims by one horse in a lifetime."

The gelding's record is 20-16-8 in his 77 tries and how many horses win 20 times in their career?

This will be his 15th start of 2018 - his last before this came on Nov. 4 at Laurel, and he won it by 1 1/2 lengths. In fact, he's won four of his last five with previous victories at Laurel, Timonium and Penn National. He has also made stops at Gulfstream, Delaware Park, Charles Town, Pimlico and Meadowlands along the way, after breaking his maiden at Calder Race Course in Romanik's silks in his long-ago debut on Sept. 16 of 2012

What makes this one more special is that it will be just the fifth time in those 77 races that Gold Man will try the grass. His record on the green stuff? Oh for four. The last turf try came in 2016 - before that, it was three times in 2013.

But his latest trainer, Hugh McMahon, may have run out of options. Or, a dirt race that fits his conditions may not be coming up for a few weeks, and he doesn't want his machine to be sitting around doing nothing when there's money to be made. Or he thinks his bread-and-butter horse is in such good form that the surface won't matter.

One thing we do know - the bounce won't have anything to do with the outcome. It should be interesting.

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Bernies Blog

Bozzo Remembered As Gentleman and Scholar

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Longtime trainer passes away at 98 . . .

MIAMI GARDENS - Jerry Bozzo, who passed away Sunday at the age of 98, will be remembered as the oldest winning thoroughbred trainer in history, as well as a gentleman and a scholar.

“He was a great gentleman. It was a pleasure to ride for him, but it was also a pleasure to know him,” said jockey Luca Panici, who rode frequently for Bozzo, including back-to-back victories aboard homebred Gusty Wind during Gulfstream Park’s Summer Meet this year. “I’ve known him since I began riding here at Calder. He was a good horseman and a really, really good gentleman.”

Bozzo, who was a graduate of Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon University) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, became the oldest trainer to win a race on June 3, 2017 when he sent out Cotton Tooyah for a 4 ½-length victory at Gulfstream Park. He surpassed the record of the late Noble Threewitt, who visited the winner’s circle for the last time two months after celebrating his 95th birthday. Threewitt, who was born Feb. 24, 1911, was credited with being the oldest trainer to win a race when Threeatonce captured a maiden claiming race at Santa Anita on April 22, 2006.

Bozzo had already become the oldest trainer ever to saddle a stakes-winner when homebred Flutterby won the Sea Lily at Gulfstream on May 30, 2015 before going on to finish second in the Gr. II Princess Rooney and win two more stakes. Panici, who rode Flutterby to three stakes victories in 2015, enjoyed Bozzo’s company as much as riding horses for him.

“I was more happy for him than for me when we won a race,” Panici said. “Training a horse, having a winner, kept him in good shape. He had an amazing history, being in World War II and his business. He was always a pleasure to be around. More than business, it was a pleasure to talk with him and have a conversation in the mornings.”

The retired aeronautical engineer, industrialist and World War II veteran. sold his Pennsylvania bottle manufacturing company in 1969. He had been breeding and training thoroughbreds in South Florida since the 1970s.

“My favorite times with Jerry had nothing to do with the horses," said trainer and longtime friend Phil Combest. "We were baseball fans and we talked baseball right up to a month ago. He was as sharp as a tack right up to the end. It’s hard to be a Marlins fan, but we both kind of hung in there with them.”

Bozzo celebrated his 98th birthday on Oct. 25, two weeks after winning the fifth race at Gulfstream Park West with his record-breaker, Cotton Tooyah.

At Bozzo’s request, a memorial service has not been scheduled.

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Bernies Blog

Rainbow 6 Goes for $71,152

Saturday, November 10, 2018

Millions Preview set for today . . .

MIAMI GARDENS - The 20-cent Rainbow 6 was solved at Gulfstream Park West Friday when a single ticket with all six winners was worth a $71,152.16 jackpot payoff. The combination of Friday’s winning ticket was 8-3-6-3-4-9.?

The multi-race wager was last solved Oct. 27 for a $162,143.62 jackpot payoff.

The Rainbow 6 starts anew today, when the six-race sequence will span Races 6-11 on the Millions Preview card (Noon first-race post time).

The $75,000 Juvenile Sprint will kick off the sequence in Race 6, followed by a maiden special weight race, the $75,000 Juvenile Fillies Turf, the $75,000 Millions Distaff, the $75,000 Juvenile Turf and another maiden special weight race.

There will be a Super Hi-5 Carryover of $1,110.54 heading into today’s program.

Clasico Candidates Arrive from Panama, Venezuela, Puerto Rico

Horses from Venezuela, Panama and Puerto Rico arrived at Gulfstream Park Friday to begin preparations for planned starts in the Clasico Internacional del Caribe Saturday, Dec. 8.

Gulfstream, which became the first pari-mutuel facility last year outside Latin America or the Caribbean to the host the event since its inception in 1966, will once again play host to five races for horses from eight Latin American and Caribbean countries with purses totaling more than $700,000. The highlight of the day will be the $300,000 Clasico del Caribe for 3-year-olds.

A horse from Ecuador is scheduled to arrive today, while a strong contingent from Mexico, including defending Classic del Caribe champion Jala Jala, is slated to arrive next Thursday.

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Bernies Blog

Mr. Jordan Looks for 5 in a Row at Gulfstream West

Friday, November 9, 2018

Headlines Millions Preview program . . .

MIAMI GARDENS - A winner of nine races, six stakes and more than $780,000 in purses, Mr. Jordan commands respect wherever he races, but nowhere does the flashy gray 6-year-old gelding have more ‘cred’ than at Gulfstream Park West.

The Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained veteran stakes performer will bring an undefeated record at Gulfstream Park West into Saturday’s Millions Classic Preview.

The 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds and up will be one of nine races for Florida-breds worth a total $675,000 in purses on a Millions Preview Day card that will serve as an early prep for Jan. 19 Sunshine Millions card at Gulfstream Park for many of the entrants.

Owned by David Melin, Leon Ellman and Laurie Plesa, Mr. Jordan is 4-for-4 at Gulfstream Park West, all in stakes competition. He is not only undefeated, the son of Kantharos is also untested at the Miami Gardens track while romping to four straight stakes victories by a total of 22 ¾ lengths. After breaking his maiden at first asking at Monmouth Park, Mr. Jordan captured the 2014 Juvenile Sprint Stakes by three lengths and the Smooth Air Stakes by 4 ½ lengths back-to-back. He returned to Gulfstream Park West to capture the 2016 Millions Classic Preview by 3 ¾ lengths before defending his title last year by 11 ½ lengths.

Paco Lopez will become reacquainted with Mr. Jordan Saturday. Lopez, who rode Roy H. to victory in last Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Sprin at Churchill Downs, was aboard Mr. Jordan for victories in the 2014 Juvenile Sprint Stakes and the 2016 Millions Classic Preview, as well as the 2015 Pegasus at Monmouth Park.

Mr. Jordan is scheduled to face four rivals, including Deland and Noble Drama, who have both registered recent victories over the Plesa trainee at Gulfstream.

Ricardo Vallejo’s Deland enters the Classic Preview off impressive back-to-back stakes victories, taking the July 22 Coast Is Clear by two lengths and the Sept. 7 Mo Exception by eight lengths.

“The horse is in very good condition at the moment,” Barboza said. “My plan is to run in the Classic Preview Saturday, the Grade 3 (Dec. 15 Harlan’s Holiday) and the Sunshine Millions (Classic) at Gulfstream.”

The son of Gottcha Gold, a Gr. 1 winner in Puerto Rico, came to Gulfstream last fall to compete in the Caribbean Classic, only to be sidelined with a hoof injury before the race. The 6-year-old gelding stumbled and lost his rider at the start of his U.S. debut Feb. 10 at Tampa Bay Downs but showed promise while finishing second behind Imperial Hint in a Tampa sprint stakes. Deland was transferred to trainer Victor Barboza Jr. two starts later and finished second in the Big Drama Stakes at Gulfstream prior to winning his two most recent races.

Both of his recent victories were achieved at a mile around one turn, but Barboza isn’t concerned with the addition of a turn and distance.

“I don’t think it is a problem for the horse. The horse has won at a mile and a quarter in Puerto Rico,” said Barboza, referring to Deland’s triumph in the 2016 Copa Barbosa (G1) at Camarero.

Emisael Jaramillo has the return mount.

Harold Queen’s Noble Drama is coming off a victory in the $150,000 Florida Sire Stakes Wildcat Heir at Gulfstream Sept. 29, prevailing by a neck over Mo Cash and nearly two lengths ahead of a troubled-trip Mr. Jordan.

“He’s a good little horse. It took him a couple races to get him focused, but he’s doing great,” said trainer David Fawkes.

The son of Gone Astray is out of Queen Drama, a full sister to 2010 Eclipse sprint champion Big Drama and multiple Gr. 1 stakes winner Sheer Drama.

“He came back from that race in good order and he’s been working good,” Fawkes said.

Queen’s homebred 3-year-old gelding’s most recent victory was achieved at a mile around one turn.

“Two turns is no problem. He won two turns at Tampa,” said Fawkes, referring to Noble Drama’s triumph in the 1/16-mile Florida Sire Stakes Silver Charm on May 5. “He’s already won against older horses.”

Nik Juarez has the return mount.

Midwest Thoroughbreds’ Jay’s Way is scheduled to return from an eight-month layoff for the Classic Preview. The 5-year-old son of Gone Astray won the Sunshine Millions last year, stubbornly holding off Mr. Jordan by a half-length.

Trained by Armand De La Cerda, Jay’s Way hasn’t raced since finishing sixth in the Challenger Stakes at Tampa March 10.

Hector Berrios has been named to ride Jay’s Way.

Arindel’s Weisser, who set the pace before fading to fourth in the Wildcat Heir, rounds out the field. Edgard Zayas has the mount.

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Bernies Blog

Big Guns Appear Headed to Pegasus World Cup

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Accelerate No. 1 on list . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Accelerate, runner-up Gunnevera, Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Monomoy Girl and Florida Derby winner Audible are all strong possibilities to compete in the richest race in North America – the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park.

Other horses considering the third running of the Pegasus include Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner City of Light and runner-up Seeking the Soul. Arklow, fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, is a possibility for the $7 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational , the richest turf race in North America, also being run on Jan. 26.

In just two years, the Pegasus has become one of the sport’s biggest events. In 2017, the race brought together two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome and 2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Arrogate, who won the inagural running by 4 ¾ lengths. Earlier this year, Horse of the Year Gun Runner ended his career with a 2 ½-length victory in the Pegasus over West Coast and third-place finisher Gunnevera.

Trainer John Sadler, who saddled Accelerate to a length victory over Gunnevera in Saturday’s $6 million Classic, said the 5-year-old, a winner of four consecutive Gr. I races, will be shown as a stallion in Lexington before being sent back to his stable in California.

“If all is good, we’ll probably go in the Pegasus, kind of our all-out Gun Runner of last year, and then he’ll go off to stud,” Sadler said.

Gunnevera, trained at Gulfstream by Antonio Sano and a winner of more than $4 million, is also targeting the Pegasus after finishing second in Saturday’s Classic. “He’s going to race in 2019 and will point to the Pegasus,” Sano said.

After watching their filly win the Distaff for her ninth victory in 11 starts, the connections of Monomoy Girl said they would consider running against the boys in the Pegasus.

“I think we will take a look at the Pegasus,” said co-owner Sol Kumin. “I think it’s a good distance for her . . . speed-favoring track at Gulfstream. She’ll get obviously a little bit of a weight break. I think that would be the only race that we would probably look at.”

Brad Cox, trainer of Monomoy Girl, said; “Really, right now, in the near future that would be the race we would target. Beyond that, it will be the Breeders’ Cup next year at Santa Anita. We would have plenty of time to come back and prepare for the Distaff if there is a run in January in the Pegasus. She’s worthy of a break and some time. When we give that to her it will be up to what we decide to do with the Pegasus.”

Cox also said Arklow, fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, will be considered for the inaugural running of the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational. “We might also might take a look at the Pegasus turf race with him as well. We’ll give him a few days to come out of his race and we’ll go from there.”

Florida Derby winner Audible, who was sidelined earlier this year after finishing third in the Kentucky Derby, returned from a six-month layoff for trainer Todd Pletcher to impressively win the Cherokee Run on Breeders’ Cup Day. After the 3-year-old’s performance, Elliott Walden, president and racing manager of WinStar Farm, said; “I think Audible could be Pegasus-bound after that.”

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Bernies Blog

First Dude Filly Wins Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

Saturday, November 3, 2018

Shamrock Rose scores in a photo . . .

Conrad Farms’ Shamrock Rose was 14th and last in the early going of the $1-million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, but charged between horses under Irad Ortiz Jr. in the stretch and was best by a head in a four-horse blanket finish.

It’s the fourth straight stakes victory for the 3-year-old daughter of First Dude, who is trained by Ocalan Mark Casse. She's now 10-5-2-1 with $917,687 in earnings after collecting a check for $550,000. She was sold for $120,000 by Best A Luck Farm LLC, Agent, at the 2017 OBS April Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. The second OBS graduate to win the Filly and Mare Sprint,, Shamrock Rose follows in the footsteps of April Sale graduate Musical Romance, who captured the 2011 renewal.

Double Diamond Farm's First Dude is Florida's leading sire with more than $4.5 million in 2018 progeny earnings, and now holds a big lead over deceased Wildcat Heir.

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Bernies Blog

Stronach 5 Goes Cross-Country

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Two turf races, 52 entries . . .

LAUREL, MD – Friday’s Stronach 5, the national wager featuring an industry-low 12-percent takeout, will kick off Friday at Santa Anita Park and go cross-country with stops at Gulfstream Park West, Laurel Park and Golden Gate Fields. It features two turf races and 52 entries.

The sequence begins with Santa Anita’s fourth race, a 5 ½ furlong event for 2-year-old fillies, before heading cross-country to Gulfstream West for a turf event with 16 3-year-olds entered to go a mile on the turf. After a stop in Maryland for Laurel’s 10th race featuring fillies and mares going a mile, the sequence heads west for Santa Anita’s fifth race, a mile turf event for fillies and mares, before concluding at Golden Gate Fields with a field of 10 juvenile claimers going 5 ½ furlongs on the all-weather surface.

Friday’s Stronach 5 sequence:

? Leg One - Santa Anita Fourth Race (nine horses, main), 4:53 ET, 1:53 PT

? Leg Two – Gulfstream West Ninth Race (16 horses, turf), 5:02 ET, 2:02 PT

? Leg Three – Laurel Park 10th Race (10 horses, main), 5:16 ET, 2:16 PT

? Leg Four – Santa Anita Fifth Race (10 horses, turf), 5:35 ET, 2:35 PT

? Leg Five – Golden Gate Fifth Race (10 horses, all-weather), 5:50 ET, 2:50 PT

Five bettors won $15,765.50 on last week’s Stronach 5. It was hit on Oct. 19 by one bettor who took home $88,286, and has offered bettors a good return on investment. The national Pick 5 rewarded 14 bettors on Sept. 28 with $9,888 while the Oct. 5 payoff was $1,161 with the highest payoff on any race being $12. The Oct. 12 Stronach 5 returned $3,629 to 25 bettors with the highest payoff in the sequence being $14.

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool is carried over to the next Friday.

For the Stronach 5, if a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.

October 31, 2018

Friday’s Stronach 5

Five Races, Two on the Turf, Four Tracks, 52 Entries

Past Performances and Preview Show

LAUREL, MD – Friday’s Stronach 5, a national wager featuring an industry-low 12-percent takeout, will kick off Friday at Santa Anita Park and go cross-country with stops at Gulfstream Park West, Laurel Park and Golden Gate Fields

Past performances for Friday’s Stronach 5, which features two turf races and 52 entries, are available at:

http://www.laurelpark.com/handicapping/stronach-pick-5

The Stronach 5 Preview Show, hosted by Jason Blewitt and featuring Millie Ball, Ron Nicoletti, Stan Salter and Matt Dinerman is available at:

https://www.xbtv.com/video/stronach-5/stronach-5-analysis-for-november-2nd-2018/

The sequence begins with Santa Anita’s fourth race, a 5 ½ furlong event for 2-year-old fillies, before heading cross-country to Gulfstream West for a turf event with 16 3-year-olds entered to go a mile on the turf. After a stop in Maryland for Laurel’s 10^th race featuring fillies and mares going a mile, the sequence heads west for Santa Anita’s fifth race, a mile turf event for fillies and mares, before concluding at Golden Gate Fields with a field of 10 juvenile claimers going 5 ½ furlongs on the all-weather surface.

Friday’s Stronach 5 sequence

? Leg One - Santa Anita Fourth Race (nine horses, main), 4:53 ET, 1:53 PT

? Leg Two – Gulfstream West Ninth Race (16 horses, turf), 5:02 ET, 2:02 PT

? Leg Three – Laurel Park 10^th Race (10 horses, main), 5:16 ET, 2:16 PT

? Leg Four – Santa Anita Fifth Race (10 horses, turf), 5:35 ET, 2:35 PT

? Leg Five – Golden Gate Fifth Race (10 horses, all-weather), 5:50 ET, 2:50 PT

Five bettors won $15,765.50 on last week’s Stronach 5.

The Stronach 5, hit Oct. 19 by one bettor who took home $88,286, has offered bettors a good return on investment. The national Pick 5 rewarded 14 bettors Sept. 28 with $9,888 while the Oct. 5 payoff was $1,161 with the highest payoff being $12. The Oct. 12 Stronach 5 returned $3,629 to 25 bettors with the highest payoff in the sequence being $14.

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.

The Maryland Jockey Club serves as host of the Stronach 5.

October 31, 2018

Friday’s Stronach 5

Five Races, Two on the Turf, Four Tracks, 52 Entries

Past Performances and Preview Show

Past performances for Friday’s Stronach 5, which features two turf races and 52 entries, are available at:

http://www.laurelpark.com/handicapping/stronach-pick-5

The Stronach 5 Preview Show, hosted by Jason Blewitt and featuring Millie Ball, Ron Nicoletti, Stan Salter and Matt Dinerman is available at:

https://www.xbtv.com/video/stronach-5/stronach-5-analysis-for-november-2nd-2018/

Friday’s Stronach 5 sequence

? Leg One - Santa Anita Fourth Race (nine horses, main), 4:53 ET, 1:53 PT

? Leg Two – Gulfstream West Ninth Race (16 horses, turf), 5:02 ET, 2:02 PT

? Leg Three – Laurel Park 10^th Race (10 horses, main), 5:16 ET, 2:16 PT

? Leg Four – Santa Anita Fifth Race (10 horses, turf), 5:35 ET, 2:35 PT

? Leg Five – Golden Gate Fifth Race (10 horses, all-weather), 5:50 ET, 2:50 PT

Five bettors won $15,765.50 on last week’s Stronach 5.

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.

The Maryland Jockey Club serves as host of the Stronach 5.

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Bernies Blog

Tampa Bay Downs Adds Florida Turf Cup Sponsors

Monday, October 29, 2018

Zaxby's, Touch Vodka will sponsor races . . .

OLDSMAR, FL – Crisp fall weather arrived on cue for thoroughbreds who will begin to arrive Tuesday morning at the Tampa Bay Downs barn area for the 2018-2019 meeting.

Final preparations are being made for the Saturday, Nov. 24 opening day card as Tampa Bay Downs resumes its 93rd anniversary season, which began July 1 during the track’s Summer Festival ofRacing.

Meanwhile, Peter Berube, the Vice President-General Manager of Tampa Bay Downs, announced the addition of two new race sponsors for the 17th annual Florida Cup, which will be contested Sunday, March 31.

Touch Vodka, a Tampa-based company which offers an Artisan vodka distilled from Florida wildflower honey and three citrus-infused selections, will sponsor the $115,000 Touch Vodka Turf Classic. Touch Vodka is distilled by Fat Dog Spirits, LLC in Ybor City.

Zaxby’s, a chain of fast-food restaurants offering chicken wings, chicken fingers, sandwiches and salads, will sponsor the $115,000 Zaxby’s Sprint. Now in 18 states, Zaxby’s has numerous locations throughout Tampa, Hillsborough County, the greater Tampa Bay area and Ocala.

The 2018-2019 Tampa Bay Downs stakes schedule consists of 28 races worth a track-record $3.74 million in purse money.

“We are delighted to add Touch Vodka and Zaxby’s to our group of sponsors for the upcoming season,” Berube said. “We are grateful for their support and look forward to long, rewarding partnerships.”

Horses will ship into Tampa Bay Downs on a daily basis throughout the next few weeks, including those from many of the track’s perennial top stables. The top 11 trainers (by number of winners) from 2017-2018 are returning: Gerald Bennett; Kathleen O’Connell; Arnaud Delacour; Keith Nations; Michael Stidham; Dennis Ward; Victor Carrasco Jr.; Derek Ryan; Monte Thomas; Anthony Granitz and Darien Rodriguez.

The main track will open for training on Monday, Nov. 5.

Tampa Bay Downs will simulcast the 35thBreeders’ Cup from Churchill Downs on Friday and Saturday. Five Breeders’ Cup races for 2-year-olds will be run Friday beginning at 3:21 p.m. The first of nine Breeders’ Cup races Saturday goes off at noon.

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Bernies Blog

Five Cash In on Stronach 5

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Each winning tickets pays $15,765 . . .

LAUREL, MD - Friday’s Stronach 5, which concluded with a $20.20 winner at Golden Gate Fields, returned $15,765.50 to five bettors.

There was $89,630 bet into the pool for the national wager with a guaranteed $50,000 and an industry-low 12-percent takeout. The second leg produced the $16.80 winner Take a Leap at Santa Anita.

The sequence and winners were:

?Leg One – Gulfstream West, Seventh Race - Hollywood Overdogs $4.60

?Leg Two – Santa Anita, Third Race - Take a Leap $16.80

?Leg Three – Gulfstream West, Eighth Race - Green Mansions $9.60

?Leg Four – Laurel, 10th Race - Silver Dagger $4.60

?Leg Five – Golden Gate, Fifth Race - Kid Cantina $20.20

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool is carried over to the next Friday.

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Bernies Blog

Strong Gulfstream Roster Pre-entered for Breeders' Cup

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

...

HALLANDALE BEACH - Multiple graded stakes-winner Gunnevera heads a strong Gulfstream Park contingent pre-entered for the 35th Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs Nov. 2-3.

The Antonio Sano-trained Gunnevera, who has earned more than $3 million during an 18-race career than includes great success at Gulfstream, was among the pre-entries announced Wednesday for the $6 million Classic. The 4-year-old son of Dialed In, who finished second in the Woodward at Saratoga last time out, finished third in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational and won an optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream this year. The stretch-running colt captured the Fountain of Youth last year.

Gunnevera, who is listed second on the list of alternates, is expected to draw into the Classic field since two horses above him – City of Light and Bravazo – both have first-preference for the $1 million Dirt Mile.

Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount aboard Gunnevera. The Classic field of pre-entries includes four other participants in the Pegasus World Cup – runner-up West Coast, Collected, Seeking the Soul and Toast of New York. Catholic Boy, who finished fourth in the Florida Derby before going on to win the Travers at Saratoga, was also pre-entered in the Classic. Mind Your Biscuits, who was the runner-up in an optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream before defending his title in the Dubai Golden Shaheen, was also pre-entered in the Classic, as well as the $2 million Sprint.

Stormy Embrace, Well Defined, Cookie Dough and Pay Any Price, all South Florida-based stakes-winners during Gulfstream’s Spring/Summer Meet, were also pre-entered in various Breeders’ Cup stakes.

Trainer Kathleen O’Connell pre-entered Stormy Embrace in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint and Well Defined in the $2 million Juvenile.

Matalona Thoroughbreds’ Stormy Embrace captured the $250,000 Princess Rooney, a seven-furlong ‘Win & You’re In’ sprint on the June 30 Summit of Speed program. Stonehedge LLC’s Well Defined registered a dominating 7 ½-length victory in the $400,000 In Reality, the 1 1/16-mile finale of the Florida Sire Stakes series Sept. 29. Trainer Juan Avila’s Trophy Chaser, who broke his maiden at Gulfstream by 15 ¾ lengths on Aug. 25 before finishing fifth in the Champagne at Belmont, was also pre-entered in the Juvenile.

Stanley Gold-trained Cookie Dough was pre-entered in the $2 million Juvenile Fillies. The Arindel homebred, who breezed five furlongs in 1:00.10 Tuesday, overcame traffic to capture the $400,000 FSS My Dear Girl at 1 1/16 miles by 7 ½ lengths. Gold saddled Awesome Feather for a triumph in the 2010 Juvenile Fillies.

Pay Any Price, who breezed a half-mile Wednesday morning in 49.97 seconds for trainer Georgina Baxter, was pre-entered in the $1 million Turf Sprint. The 8-year-old gelded son of Wildcat Heir, who is owned by Averill Racing and Matties Racing Stable, won four turf sprints during the Spring/Summer Meet, including the Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint on the Summit of Speed program.

Stakes-winners during Gulfstream’s 2017-2018 Championship Meet that were also pre-entered for Breeders’ Cup races were Promises Fulfilled and X Y Jet.

Robert J. Baron’s Promises Fulfilled, who launched his 2018 campaign with a victory in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth, was pre-entered for the Sprint and the Dirt Mile. The Dale Romans-trained 3-year-old has won three straight graded stakes, including the Allen Jerkens at Saratoga.

Jorge Navarro-trained X Y Jet, who captured the Smile Sprint on the Summit of Speed program and who won the Mr. Prospector and Sunshine Million Sprint during the Championship Meet, was pre-entered in the Sprint.

Others pre-entered in Breeders’ Cup races who competed during Gulfstream’s Championship Meet: Channel Maker, Hi Happy and Sadler’s Joy ($4 million Turf); Giant Expectations and Seeking the Soul (Dirt Mile); Extravagant Kid, Blind Ambition, Bucchero, Rainbow Heir, Richard’s Boy and Vision Perfect (Turf Sprint); Fuhriously Kissed and Verve’s Tale ($2 million Distaff); and Marley’s Freedom (Filly & Mare Sprint).

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Bernies Blog

Cookie Dough Headed for BC Juvenile Fillies

Friday, October 19, 2018

Arindel Filly is "doing great" . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – Florida Sire Stakes star Cookie Dough is being pointed toward a start in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs Nov. 2, trainer Stanley Gold confirmed today.

“She’s doing great," Gold said. "She’ll breeze again next week. We’ll leave on the 26th, and off we go,” said Gold, whose multiple stakes-winning trainee returned to the Gulfstream Park worktab last Saturday with a five-furlong breeze in 1:00.65, the third fastest of 31 recorded at the distance.

Cookie Dough is coming off back-to-back scores in the Florida Sire Stakes series, having captured the $200,000 Susan’s Girl by 6 ½ lengths at seven furlongs before successfully negotiating two turns while winning the $400,000 My Dear Girl by 7 ½ lengths at 1 1/16 miles.

“I think we haven’t seen the best of this filly yet. Hopefully, we’ll see it on the second of November,” Gold said.

In the My Dear Girl, Cookie Dough was forced to race extremely wide around the first turn after breaking from the No. 12 post position and was slow to settle into stride along the backstretch under jockey Jeffrey Sanchez. Arindel’s homebred daughter of Brethren advanced along the backstretch before making a sweeping move to the lead on the far turn. She drew away through the stretch to win comfortably.

“She could have had a better trip, but she didn’t," Gold said. "She overcame it. She didn’t get hit with the stick. She was under a hand ride. There was plenty of gas in the tank and she came back good. I was pleased, and, as I said, I don’t think we’ve seen her best race yet.”

Gold has fared well with two previous Juvenile Fillies starters. He saddled Awesome Feather for a victory in 2010 following a sweep of the Florida Sire Stakes series. Last year, Arindel’s Blonde Bomber finished third behind Caledonia Road.

The $150,000, Gr. III Tempted at Aqueduct Nov. 2 had been under consideration, before it was decided Cookie Dough had earned the opportunity to run in the Juvenile Fillies.

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Bernies Blog

He's Had Enough Moves to Frosh Sire Lead

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Woodford stallion has 8 winners . . .

With 2 1/2 months remaining in the battle for various titles, the Florida freshman sire race has more or less sorted itself out. While Stonehedge Farm South's Cajun Breeze and Ocala Stud's Uncaptured began quickly as far as number of winners is concerned, Woodford Thoroughbreds' He's Had Enough and Get Away Farm's Drill have come from behind and moved to the forefront.

He's Had Enough now leads the way with eight winners, followed by Drill, with six. Pleasant Acres' Handsome Mike has also made a good late run and has five. Uncaptured has four and Cajun Breeze three.

In the money earned column, however, Uncaptured is still on top with $389,816, mainly due to talented Catherinethegreat ($138,939), but He's Had Enough is striving for that title, too, with $375,132 in the till. Drill is still very much in the hunt with $353,662. The son of Lawyer Ron has the biggest money-winner in the group - two-time stakes-winner Drillit has earned $175,500. Cajun Breeze is not out of it, either, with $311,270 in his bank.

BUCCHERO TO PLEASANT ACRES - Two-time Woodford Stakes winner Bucchero will take up residence at Pleasant Acres for the 2019 breeding season as new stallions begin to trickle in to Marion County. Earlier, Neolithic joined the roster, and the new pair make up for the loss of Anthony's Cross, who has moved to California, and ultra-successful Poseidon's Warrior, now a resident of Kentucky.

Bucchero is the first son of former Ocala Stud star Kantharos to go to stud, and he'll stand for $5,000. He's still campaigning, and is being pointed for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.

Other new stallions imported thus far for 2019 are Ami's Flatter and Girvin at Ocala Stud, and Wait, at Arindel Farm.

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Bernies Blog

City Zip Colt Sells for $95,000 at OBS Finale

Saturday, October 13, 2018

Open sessions up 22.5 percent . . .

Hip No. 677, a son of City Zip consigned by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent, was sold for $95,000 to Tracy Farmer to top the second and final Open session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s October Yearling Sale. The dark bay or brown colt, out of Prettyatthetable, by Point Given, is a half -brother to graded stakes-winning OBS Yearling Sale graduate Pomeroy’s Pistol.

Hip No. 648, a chestnut colt by Giant Surprise consigned by Kelli Mitchell, Agent, went to Bladen Bloodstock for $75,000. He’s out of stakes-placed No Mo Magic, by Mo Mon, a half-sister to stakes-winner At the Disco.

Hip No. 565, a daughter of Uncaptured also consigned by Summerfield, was sold to S G V Thoroughbreds LLC for $72,000. The bay filly is out of Jim’s Lonesa, by Put It Back, a half-sister to stakes-winner Who What Win.

Summerfield also consigned Hip No. 603, a son of Kantharos purchased by W.D. North Thoroughbreds LLC for $72,000. The bay colt is out of Luca’s Lady, by Hold Me Back, a half-sister to stakes-placed Jet Majesty.

Champion Equine LLC paid $72,000 for Hip No. 756, a son of Central Banker consigned by Beth Bayer, Agent. The bay colt is out of stakes-placed Spirit of Rose, by City Zip.

Hip No. 614, a chestnut colt by Kitten’s Joy consigned by Stuart Morris, Agent, went to de Meric Stables, Agent, for $70,000. He’s out of Mayakoba, by War Chant, a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Juniper Pass.

For the session, 142 yearlings sold for $1,845,400, averaging $12,996 with a $7,500 median figure. The buyback percentage was 25.6%.

For the two Open sessions, 294 horses sold for $3,870,250, compared with 291 horses selling for $3,126,100 in a single session a year ago. The average was $13,164, up 22.5%, compared with $10,743 in 2017 while the median rose to $7,000 from $5,000 last year. The buyback percentage was 24%; it was 23.4% in 2017.

The next item on the OBS agenda is the Day of Racing, set for Tuesday, Nov. 20. The next sale is the Winter Mixed Sale, including the Horses of Racing Age section, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 29-30.

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Bernies Blog

Kantharos Colt Heads Open Yearling Sale's First Session

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Stonestreet pays $190,000 . . .

Hip No. 516, Our Time, a chestnut colt by Kantharos consigned by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent, went to Stonestreet Stables LLC for $190,000 to top the first Open session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2017 October Yearling Sale. He’s out of Golden Trumpet, by Formal Gold, from the family of Gr. I winner Wilderness Song.

Hip No. 311, a son of Kitten’s Joy consigned by Woodford Thoroughbreds, Agent, was purchased by Ann Maher-Springman, Agent for Rashed Yousef Bouresly, for $100,000. The dark bay or brown colt, a full brother to stakes-winner Kuwait Currency, is out of Thebignbadestbunny, by Smart Strike.

Hip No. 341, a son of Mark Valeski consigned by Magnolia Point Thoroughbreds, Agent, went to Tracy Farmer for $85,000. Out of Vindi Princess, by Vindication, the bay colt is a half-brother to stakes-winner Big Drink of Water, who picked up his third stakes victory in the Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial Stakes at Presque Isle last Thursday.

Smokey Willow Farm paid $80,000 for Hip No. 458, a son of Cairo Prince consigned by Stephens Thoroughbreds LLC, Agent. The dark bay or brown colt is out of Day of Obligation, by Deputy Minister, from the family of Gr. I stakes-winner Confessional.

Hip No. 489, a son of The Big Beast consigned by Beth Bayer, Agent, went to S G V Thoroughbreds LLC for $70,000. The bay colt is out of Faith Hall, by High Cotton, a half-sister to graded stakes-placed Show Me the Bling.

For the session, 143 yearlings sold for $1,967,300, averaging $13,757, with a $7,000 median figure. The buyback percentage was 27%.

The sale continues Today at noon with Hip No.’s 551 – 789 selling in the second Open session.

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Bernies Blog

Record Cairo Prince Colt Tops Selected Yearling Sale

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Sells for $340,000 . . .

Hip No. 138, a son of Cairo Prince consigned by Stuart Morris, Agent, was sold to John C. Oxley today for an OBS Yearling Sale record $340,000 to top the Selected Sale of Yearlings. The gray or roan colt is out of Minutia, by Concord Point, a half-sister to stakes-winner Mykindasaint. The price bettered the previous mark of $335,000.

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Bernies Blog

Amendment 3: A Well-funded Con Job That Could Destroy Horse Racing in Florida

Monday, October 8, 2018

Seminole Tribe pulling a fast one . . .

There is no way to look at Amendment 3 as anything but an anti-gambling measure.

Yet, the main financial supporter - to the tune of nearly $20 million so far - is the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Yes, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the same folks that we all know already conduct the largest casino gambling operation in the state and have for many years. In fact, the revenue from the Seminole Tribe’s Hard Rock Casino in Tampa - by itself - dwarfs the revenue of all the pari-mutuel facilities in Florida combined, meaning the billions that the Seminole Tribe makes from its six other casinos in Florida is just icing on its already gigantic cake.

So, inquiring minds might ask: Why would Florida’s largest gambling company be supporting an anti-gambling constitutional amendment?

The answer to this question is easy: It is a universal truism that no one is more vehemently opposed to any expansion of gambling than those already in the gambling business. Here, the Seminole Tribe, through the clever wording of Amendment 3, has dealt with its hypocritical stance on gambling by specifically EXEMPTING itself from all of the amendment's anti-gambling provisions. As one of the creators of Amendment 3, this was rather easy for the Seminole Tribe to accomplish.

Since Amendment 3’s anti-gambling provisions were intentionally designed by the Seminole Tribe to apply ONLY to the state’s pari-mutuel facilities, while leaving the Seminole Tribes’ enormous gambling empire intact, the most obvious impact from the adoption of Amendment 3 is that it will perpetuate the monopoly the Seminole Tribe already has on gambling in Florida. In fact, it is not a stretch to say that the Seminole Tribe already has it ALL, and now it wants even more.

More importantly to anyone involved in Florida’s once prospering thoroughbred industry, if Amendment 3 passes, the industry’s current downward spiral will become a death spiral. Just look at California, another state where gambling is 100% controlled by Indian tribes. Within the last few years, Hollywood Park and Bay Meadows were permanently closed, and Golden Gate Fields is on a death watch. Why is that? Because the California tribes, with their millions (or billions) in campaign contributions, have blocked the race tracks from ever receiving a slot machine license. This, in turn, has caused the tracks to be unable to compete with California’s many Indian casinos.

If this sounds familiar, there is a reason for it: Exactly what has happened in California has started to happen in Florida. We have already lost Hialeah Park as a thoroughbred track because it couldn’t compete, and now Calder has announced it will no longer conduct thoroughbred racing after 2020.

We can't let what happened to thoroughbred racing in California happen in Florida.

While Amendment 3 may be cleverly worded to make it sound both pro-citizen and pro-democratic, in reality it’s just the opposite. Amendment 3 is simply another special interest CON JOB - the same as the bogus Solar Energy Amendment of 2016 that was soundly defeated once the voters figured out that only the big power companies, i.e., FP&L, Florida Power and Duke Energy, benefited from the amendment’s adoption, and not the citizens as the pro-Solar amendment propaganda asserted.

As with the Solar scam, one can search all the pro-Amendment 3 propaganda and not find any reference to the fact that one of the amendment's sponsors and primary supporters (to the tune of nearly $20 million), is Florida’s largest and most profitable casino operator, the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Amendment 3 is totally misleading and hypocritical, yet very typical of the way sponsors of scam amendments like this one try to trick the voters.

If Amendment 3 is adopted, the Seminole Tribe and its 4,000 multimillionaire members will become even richer - while everyone associated with the billion-dollar thoroughbred industry will be obliterated.

Amendment 3 is nothing but a well-funded, anti-competitive CON JOB. Save the thoroughbred horse racing industry in Florida by voting NO on Amendment 3.

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Bernies Blog

Without a SW, Two Step Salsa Reaches New Heights

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Get Away Farm stallion about to pass $2 million . . .

One of the most unique stallions on this year's Florida general sire list is Two Step Salsa, the son of Petionville whose sixth crop reached the races this year.

The Get Away Farm sire began his career with two graded stakes-winners from his first crop (2011), Blue Grass Stakes winner Dance With Fate and Palos Verdes Stakes winner Conquest Two Step. In his first year, Two Step Salsa's progeny earnings hit $620,716. For the next four years, he was very consistent - from a low of $1,601,980 to a high of $1,695,866.

Last year was his high water mark, with a personal best of 58 winners and earnings of $1,909,980. With three months remaining on the schedule, Two Step Salsa has achieved new highs, 59 winners and earnings less than $6,000 from breaking $2 million. With Salsa Dog running today at Presque Isle Downs and Flying Emerald at Thistledown, that milestone could be reached before midnight.

What makes the feat so much more surprising is that Two Step Salsa doesn't have even one stakes-winner this year. What he does have is 24 runners who have earned more than $100,000, led by Dance With Fate at $680,050.

One who has no regrets sending mares to Two Step Salsa is Dennis J. Federico, who has bred full siblings Maddy's Salsa (3-year-old filly) and Maddy's Last Dance (2-year-old colt), both out of his stakes-winning Dance With Ravens mare Maddy's Dance. Now eight, Maddy's Dance has just the two foals following a racing career during which she compiled a record of 5-1-3 in 15 starts with earnings of $165,940. She broke her maiden for Federico in her Suffolk Downs debut in 2012, won the Maryland Million Distaff Handicap at three, and closed out her career with victories at Delaware Park and in the Million.

Maddy's Salsa raced in Federico's colors 13 times before being claimed out of a winning race by Bruno Schickedanz for $10,000. She's now 2-4-1 in 15 tries with earnings of $54,650.

Maddy's Last Dance finished second in his Sept. 3 debut at Gulfstream Park and collected $8,590, then came back and scored in a $50,000 claimer on Sept. 27 and earned $26,150, a total of $34,740. He'll earn a bunch more before he's finished, as will Maddy's Salsa, along with several more of the stallion's solid runners.

And Two Step Salsa's numbers will continue to reach new heights for the next 90 days.

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Bernies Blog

In Reality Winner Is Well Defined

Monday, October 1, 2018

Stonehedge Farm gelding Breeders' Cup bound? . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – Well Defined parlayed an easy early lead into an easy victory in the $400,000 In Reality Division of the 2018 Florida Sire Stakes series Saturday at Gulfstream Park, providing Stonehedge Farm’s Gil Campbell and trainer Kathleen O’Connell with their 11^th victories in the series for juveniles sired by stallions standing in Florida.

“I don’t keep count, because they’re all very special,” said O’Connell after her first success in the 1 1/16-mile FSS open division finale. The race co-headlined the eight stakes program worth $1.325 million, along with the $400,000 My Dear Girl, the 1 1/16-mile FSS finale for fillies.

Well Defined went right to the lead under Carlos Montalvo and set comfortable fractions of 24.57 and 48.33 seconds for the first half-mile. Garter and Tie, who caught Well Defined by a half-length in the seven-furlong Affirmed last time out, progressed along the backstretch to enter contention heading into the far turn. Emisael Jaramillo sent Garter and Tie after the pacesetter on the turn but was never able to make a serious threat as Campbell’s homebred gelding drew off to a 7 ½-length score in 1:44.47.

“Unbelievable horse," Montalvo said. "For the distance he relaxed even more. Miss O’Connell did an amazing job with him in the morning teaching him to relax with the pony. When we got to the backside he let me set to cruise control and catch our breath, so when we got to the front side it was over. I didn’t have to ask him, it was an amazing ride.”

Garter and Tie, the 7-5 favorite, finished second, 14 ½ lengths ahead of Gump.

Well Defined is a son of With Distinction and broke his maiden at first asking at 4 ½ furlongs on June 2 before finishing third in an optional claiming allowance, then second in the Affirmed. He's been a work in progress. “He’s always shown he has a lot of talent," O'Connell said. "He was like a mischievous Dennis the Menace. It’s just getting it all together at the right time." Well Defined raised his earnings to $317,600 on a record of 2-1-1 in his four starts.

Although Well Defined was unable to hold off Garter and Tie in the second leg of the FSS series, O’Connell had no qualms about his ability to carry his speed around two turns. “I actually liked him better going farther," she said. "To me it’s so much easier on a horse rather all the hoopla going short." O’Connell recently saddled the 2,000^thwinner of her career to rank second all-time among women trainers.

She was noncommittal when asked if Well Defined could be headed to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3. “I’m going to enjoy today, as I’m sure [Mr. Campbell] will, and go from there,” she said. “We’ll see how he comes out of the race and come up with a plan that makes sense.”

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Bernies Blog

Arindel Wins With Cookie Dough, Tops Gulfstream's Owners Again

Monday, October 1, 2018

Ocala Farm goes over $1 million . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – Jockey Emisael Jaramillo, trainers Victor Barboza Jr. and Armando De La Cerda, and owner Arindel were honored at Gulfstream Park Sunday on closing day of the Summer Meet.

Jaramillo topped the jockey standings with 64 winners. The 41-year-old veteran, who was the winningest rider in Venezuelan history before moving to South Florida in 2015, has ridden 671 winners in North America. He also won the 2017 Gulfstream Park West title.

Barboza Jr. and De La Cerda tied for first in the trainer’s race after De La Cerda saddled Cool Mover ($3) for a victory in Sunday’s sixth race. Barboza Jr., who finished in a three-way tie for the Spring Meet Title with Oscar Gonzalez and Todd Pletcher, also captured the 2017 Summer Meet title.

Arindel, which captured Saturday’s $400,000 My Dear Girl with Cookie Dough, repeated as Summer Meet leading owner with 13 winners and $1 million in purse earnings. Arindel also topped the Spring Meet standings.

Racing resumes Wednesday at Gulfstream Park West. First-race post time is set for 1:15 p.m.

Gulfstream Park West’s Fall Turf Festival will be highlighted by the Sunshine Millions Preview program on Nov. 10, when eight stakes for Florida-bred horses will be contested for purses of $75,000. The Showing Up for 3-year-olds and the Cellars Shiraz for 3-year-old fillies will both be run at a mile on turf Nov. 3.

The 2018-2019 Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park will get under way Dec. 1.Rainbow 6 Mandatory

Payout Marks Summer Meet End

Closing Day of the Summer Meet was marked by a mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6. Betting on the popular multi-race wager started with a carryover jackpot of $137,215, generating an additional handle of $807,047. Multiple tickets with all six winners in the six-race sequence that spanned Races 6-11 were each worth $71.31.

The Rainbow 6 had gone unsolved for eight racing days after the multi-race wager was hit Sept. 15 for a $244,778.08 jackpot payoff.

The Rainbow 6 will start anew on Wednesday’s opening-day program at Gulfstream West with a six-race sequence that will span races 3-8 including an optional claiming allowance in race 7. Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained Apostle, a 3-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro who was purchased for $900,000 at the 2017 OBS March sale, came off a sixth-month layoff to break his maiden at a mile at Gulfstream Aug. 23 in his third lifetime start. Edgard Zayas has the return mount.

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Bernies Blog

Florida Sire Stakes Headline Final Gulfstream Weekend

Friday, September 28, 2018

Racing moves to Gulfstream West on Wednesday . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – Gulfstream Park’s Summer Meet will close this weekend with more than $1 million in stakes purses, the finals of the Florida Sire Stakes, mandatory payouts, the inaugural running of The Stronach 5, and a celebration of bourbons, local craft beers, and barbeque bites and sliders.

The action begins today with the introduction of The Stronach 5, a national $1 wager featuring five races at four tracks with a guaranteed pool of $50,000 and an industry-low takeout of 12 percent. The opening leg of The Stronach 5 begins at 5:26 p.m. with Race 9 at Laurel. The sequence includes two races from Gulfstream, one from Santa Anita and one from Golden Gate Fields.

Saturday’s 14-race program begins at noon and includes the finals of the Florida Sire Stakes with the $400,000 In Reality and $400,000 My Dear Girl. The program includes eight stakes races and 152 entries (including also eligibles).

Gulfstream will also play host to its final Taste of the Track in Ten Palms Restaurant featuring tastings of hand selected bourbons, local craft beers and BBQ bites and sliders. For more information go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bourbon-beer-bbq-tickets-49909343189

Gulfstream will close its summer meet Sunday with mandatory payouts of its Rainbow 6, Late Pick 5 and Super Hi 5.

Live racing moves to Gulfstream Park West Wednesday with a 1:15 p.m. first race post.

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Bernies Blog

Top Trainers Already Thinking Pegasus

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Baffert, Pletcher, Brown getting ready . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – Bob Baffert doesn’t know who he may saddle in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational or $7 million Pegasus World Cup Turf, but one thing is for certain. “I’ll be there with something,” Baffert said.

Baffert isn’t the only one who plans on being at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 26 for the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series. Trainer Todd Pletcher is hoping to bring Florida Derby and Holy Bull winner Audible back to South Florida for the Pegasus and possibly Man o’War and Pan American winner Hi Happy for the World Cup Turf.

Chad Brown, who saddled the filly Stellar Wind in the 2018 edition of the Pegasus, said he would “love to have horses in both races.”

In just two years, the Pegasus has grown into a major racing event – “It’s very positive they’re having it and it’s still a lot of money,” Baffert said, and the addition of the Pegasus World Cup Turf is expected to turn the day into an international day of racing.

“The new turf race is exciting,” said Brown, who set a record for most wins by a trainer this summer at Saratoga. “I think the timing of the race and the distance (1 3/16 miles) makes a lot of sense. I have some prospects in mind, but there’s a lot of time between now and then and we’ll have to hope those horses stay healthy and continue to develop.”

The addition of the World Turf Cup “can hopefully bring some European and international runners and, between the two races, multiply who shows up,” Pletcher said. But he also says both of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational races are contested at the right time on the calendar. “If you look at a horse like [2018 Pegasus winner] Gun Runner, it gives them one more opportunity to run a race before they go to stud for a significant purse. It also ties in well with the Dubai World Cup.”

“It gives you an opportunity for a horse that’s maybe not had such a long campaign, maybe a horse who got started a little later in the year who’s rounding into form and it gives them an opportunity for a good purse,” Brown said. “For horses who have had a long season there is a little bit of a dilemma. Do you keep going or give them the rest you had planned? They’re awfully big races, both of them are, and with huge prize money at stake. So if you have a horse good enough, you would almost have to keep him going and point toward the race. It would be really hard to sit out with one of the main contenders.”

Along with a day of world-class racing, the Pegasus has also become one of sport’s most colorful days, attracting new fans, celebrities, and major entertainment. “It’s a fun day,” said Baffert, who saddled inaugural Pegasus winner Arrogate. “You can tell everyone in the grandstand is having fun. It’s a good crowd. Plus, [The Stronach Group’s Chairman and President] Belinda [Stronach] brought in [multi-platinum recording artist] Post Malone. They had a tent and I got to hang out there. It’s a big deal. It’s an event. I think it’s very important these things get off the ground.”

Pletcher agreed Pegasus has been a success. “You can tell by the crowds it’s attracted, the handle it’s attracted. It’s something the racing world is watching,” he said. “Any time you bring a huge purse like that it attracts attention in the community. It brings people to the races that could just be casual race goers. They want to show up for those marquee events. It certainly attracts a new crowd, a different crowd that you normally don’t get, which is important because you want new people to go to the races."

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Bernies Blog

Racing at OBS: Nov. 20

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Two stakes scheduled worth $125,000 . . .

Live racing returns to the OBS track on Tuesday, Nov. 20. Two sprint stakes for OBS Sale graduates headline the day and will be open to older horses. Free nominations to both races close on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

The new position on the calendar provides horsemen a stakes opportunity before the kickoff of the Gulfstream Park Championship meeting and the Tampa Bay Downs opening. The two OBS stakes are non-wagering events, but there will be pari-mutuel wagering available on eight additional races. Entries will be taken on Tuesday, Nov. 13.

The stakes races for OBS graduates will be run over six furlongs with a guaranteed purse of $125,000 each. The OBS Sprint and the OBS Filly and Mare Sprint are for 3-year-olds and up. All starters finishing fifth through last will earn $5,000. Supplementary nominations of $500 may be made at time of entry for those horses missing the free nomination deadline. There is a fee of $1,250 to enter and $2,500 to start.

The eight pari-mutuel races will feature quarter horse races for 2-year-olds as well as for 3-year-olds and up at distances from 220 yards to 440 yards. Up to four thoroughbred maiden and starter allowance races may be used as substitute races. Purses range from $4,000 to $7,000 with all starters guaranteed a minimum of $200.

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Bernies Blog

Gulfstream Adds Turf Invitational to Pegasus Program

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Track also introduces Pick 24 . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - The Stronach Group, owners of the Pegasus World Cup, announced today an exciting new element to what has become one of the premier events on the thoroughbred racing calendar. The Pegasus World Cup 2019, to be held on Jan. 26, will be adding a Gr. 1 turf stakes to this year’s race-day festivities.

The addition of the turf race, which will be run at 1 3/16 miles, aims to attract and showcase 12 of the best older turf horses from around the world turning the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational into a Championship Invitational Series. The total purse for the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational will be $7 million with $3 million awarded to the winner. The Pegasus World Cup Invitational, to be contested on the dirt at 1 1/8 miles, will offer a $9 million purse with a $4 million prize waiting the winner in the 12-horse field.

Any owner who purchases a spot in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational will be given preference to purchase a spot in the Turf Invitational. The cost to secure an entry spot and enter a horse is $500,000 per race.

“As an international owner I am thrilled that the Pegasus World Cup will include a turf race,” said John Magnier, Founder of Coolmore. “Coolmore, like The Stronach Group, believes in growing our sport and there is no better way to do that than to provide a new platform to showcase the world’s best thoroughbreds.”

As an added incentive and as part of the commitment to provide new, lucrative opportunities for horse owners, The Stronach Group will offer a $1 million bonus to an owner who wins both the Pegasus World Cup Invitational and the Turf Invitational.

The Stronach Group will also introduce a new wager, the Pegasus Pick 24. It will offer the chance to bet on the exact order of finish for both the Pegasus World Cup Invitational and the Turf Invitational. A $5 million bonus awaits the lucky fan who hits the Pegasus Pick 24

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Bernies Blog

Stall Applications Overflowing for Gulfstream Meeting

Friday, September 14, 2018

More than 5,000 received . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – Gulfstream Park announced it has received more than 5,000 stall applications for the approximately 3,100 stalls available at Gulfstream, Palm Meadows and Gulfstream Park West for its Championship Meet.

The Championship Meet, which begins Nov. 30, will feature the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, Florida Derby, Clasico Internacional del Caribe, Eclipse Awards, Claiming Crown, Fountain of Youth and world-championship turf and dirt racing through March.

There are 274 trainers who applied for stalls. Among those applying include Todd Pletcher, who has won the Championship Meet trainer’s title an unprecedented 15 times, Bill Mott, Shug McGaughey, Kiaran McLaughlin, Dale Romans, Chad Brown, James Jerkens, Graham Motion, Mike Maker, Michael Matz, Ken McPeek, Wesley Ward, Jason Servis, Mark and Norm Casse, Rick Violette, Kelly Breen, Bob Hess, Jeremiah Englehart, Mark Hennig, Eddie Kenneally, Brendan Walsh, Mary Eppler, Michael Trombetta, Jorge Navarro and Jane Cibelli.

Trainers who will participate in the Championship Meet who are stabled in South Florida year-round include Eddie Plesa Jr., David Fawkes, Stanley Gold, Kathy Ritvo, Antonio Sano, Ralph Nicks, Jena Antonucci, Henry Collazo, Michelle Nihei, Joe Orseno, Gustavo Delgado, Armando De La Cerda, Elizabeth Dobles, Kathleen O’Connell, Peter Walder and Victor Barboza Jr.

“We are delighted with the response from so many of the top trainers in North America and Latin America who would like to winter in South Florida for our legendary Championship meet,” said Gulfstream General Manager Bill Badgett. “Along with world-class racing, The Stronach Group is also redefining the experience of attending the races with relevant and exciting entertainment. We believe this Championship Meet will be the most exciting in Gulfstream’s 80-year history.”

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Bernies Blog

Kentucky Downs Draws the Fields and the Cash

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Historical racing is the answer . . .

The current meeting at Kentucky Downs is probably the most unique of any track in North America.

No. 1 - There are 10 races on today's program and the least number of entrants in any race is 10, in the third. The total for the entire program is 153, an average of 15.3 per race. What management at Gulfstream Park, Saratoga and Del Mar wouldn't give for numbers like that.

No. 2 - Like every day, the purses in almost every race are supplemented by money earned from the track's historical races, and the figures are from another world. Here's a race-by-race breakdown of the total purse money for each race, and the amount generated by wagering on the historical races:

1st - $55,000 - $44,550.

2nd - $130,000 - $113,100.

3rd - $145,000 - $124,700.

4th - $130,000 - $113,100.

5th - $130,000 - $113,100.

6th - $140,000 - $120,400.

7th - $130,000 - $113,100.

8th - Franklin Simpson Stakes: $300,000 - $258,000.

9th - Ramsey Farm Stakes: $400,000.

10th - $50,000 - $40,500.

Totals - $1,610,000 in purses - $1,040,550 generated from historical races.

I have often read comments by the legion of pessimists that racing has to be buoyed by outside sources in order to stay afloat (like casinos). My answer is: tell that to the owners and trainers who have showed up for this meeting. I'm sure they will be embarrassed to accept their winnings.

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Bernies Blog

Jaramillo Sizzling at Gulfstream

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

So Glitzy gets 10th winner for Millers . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH –Emisael Jaramillo took the lead in the Summer Meet jockey race at Gulfstream Park Saturday with a five-win day. He then added two more winners on Sunday.

In addition to his winning the $75,000 Trinniberg aboard Cautious Giant in Race 5, Venezuela’s all-time winningest jockey scored aboard Master Rory ($4.20) in Race 3, Lady Magica ($3.80) in Race 7, Red Crescent ($11.20) in Race 10, and Piloting ($6.60) in Race 10. On Sunday he won with Song of Melody ($4.80) and Golden Alina ($2.40).

Jaramillo holds a 50-44 lead over Tyler Gaffalione, who rode at Kentucky Downs Saturday and has ridden several programs out of town during the Summer Meet.

Thursday’s Rainbow 6 Carryover will be $120,801, with a post time of 2 p. m. Sunday's multiple winners received $2,150.

THIS IS SO NIFTY - Leverett and Linda Miller, former owners of T-Square Stud, have added another winner produced by their incredible broodmare, So Ritzy. So Nifty, a 2-year-old colt owned and bred by the Millers, scored at Gulfstream Sunday in his second start, a $50,600 maiden special. He's the 12th of So Ritzy's 13 foals to run and the 10th to win. The 13th foal is named So Dears, a yearling filly by Fury Kapcori.

Among her runners, So Ritzy has produced Silver Wagon, an earner of $1,162,193, Rehoboth ($727,215), So Glitzy ($179,405), So Swanky ($166,315) and Ritzy Jones ($111,000). The 12 have combined to win 46 races, led by Rehoboth, who won 16 times during a 77-race career, and Silver Wagon and So Swanky, who won seven times each. as a group, they have earned $2,563,464.

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Bernies Blog

Cookie Dough Brings Arindel the Bread

Monday, September 3, 2018

Brethren filly wins by 6 1/2 . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH –Cookie Dough broke through with her first win in four career starts in Saturday’s $200,000, 7-furlong Susan’s Girl Division of the Florida Sire Stakes, providing trainer Stanley Gold with his record-extending 19^thtriumph in the series for 2-year-olds sired by accredited stallions standing in Florida.

Arindel Farm’s homebred filly paid $26 after she dominated eight rivals by 6 ½ lengths under Jeffrey Sanchez. She graduated after a pair of trouble-filled third-place finishes in maiden races and a sixth-place finish in the $100,000 Desert Vixen, the first leg of the FSS Aug. 4 in which she was involved in a blazing early speed duel.

“We’ve always been in trouble with her," Gold said. "The first time out she got knocked into the rail and got hurt pretty bad and had to go home and have some time off. The second time she ran she got pushed into the rail. She got banged up but didn’t have to go home. We just never had a clean trip, and I thought she was one of our two best fillies. She had a clean trip today, brought her A Game and did it.”

Cookie Dough broke alertly from her No. 10 post position and rated well while pressing pacesetter Nancysaidso along the backstretch past fractions of 22.93 and 46.48 for the first four furlongs. Under confident handling by Sanchez, Cookie Dough responded when asked for her kick leaving the turn and into the stretch, quickly opening up on the field and drawing off to a commanding victory.

“Last time she got the lead and I didn’t want to take her back," Sanchez said. "But she runs better when she has one horse in front. When you’re ready, when she has a horse in front, and you ask her to run, she gives everything.”

Cookie Dough, a daughter of red-hot second-crop sire Brethren, ran seven furlongs in 1:24.46, giving her trainer his first FSS win for Arindel Farms after saddling 18 winners for a former client, Jacks or Better Farm.

“I don’t really think about that, but it’s exciting to win the first because it is No. 19,” Gold said. “It’s nice not to fade away and not win any for a long time.”

Starship Nala, fifth in the six-furlong Desert Vixen, finished second after stalking the pace. Blazing Brook finished another length back in third. Capture Your Dream, the 3-5 favorite who won the Desert Vixen, faded to sixth after being forwardly placed into the stretch.

Gold said Cookie Dough would be pointed to the $400,000 My Dear Girl, the 1 1/16-mile FSS finale for fillies on Sept. 29.

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Bernies Blog

Stronach 5 Offers Low Takeout

Sunday, September 2, 2018

5 races in less than an hour . . .

LAUREL, MD– The Stronach Group announced today it will begin offering a new national Pick 5 wager – the Stronach 5 – beginning Friday, Sept. 28.

The first week will offer a guaranteed pool of $50,000 on the multi-race, multi-track wager with an industry-low 12-percent takeout.

The minimum wager on the Stronach 5 will be $1. The Stronach 5 will feature races from Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.

The Stronach 5 will be an action-packed wager that will take less than 60 minutes. The Maryland Jockey Club will serve as host and offer the multi-race bet as a separate wagering program. Past performances will be available in programs at all Stronach Group tracks and in the Daily Racing Form.

The first 100 fans who buy a program Sept. 28 at Gulfstream, Santa Anita, Maryland or Golden Gate will be awarded a Quick Pick ticket on the Stronach 5.

While The Stronach Group had a similar cross-country wager in the Magna 5 from 2004-2010, there are significant differences with the Stronach 5. The Magna 5 had a 22 percent takeout, and if there were no winning tickets 75 percent of the pool was carried over.

For the Stronach 5, if a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection in that race on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.

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Bernies Blog

Cajun Firecracker Returns in Affirmed for New Owners

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Shadybrook sold Cajun Breeze colt . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – Cajun Firecracker got the money in the $100,000 Dr. Fager Division of the Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream on Aug. 4. His breeder/owner/trainer got a pile of cash after the homebred colt’s triumph in the first leg of the lucrative series for 2-year-olds sired by accredited stallions standing in Florida.

Bred and owned by trainer Michael Yates’ Shadybrook Farm, Cajun Firecracker is scheduled to return in the $200,000 Affirmed Division of the FSS for new connections Saturday.

“We’re in this business to make money,” Yates said. “Our goal this year was to win a [sire] stakes. We accomplished that and then we had an offer that was too good to refuse.”

The undefeated son of Cajun Breeze was purchased by Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, a long-time client of Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, and transferred to the barn of trainer Ralph Nicks to prepare for the seven-furlong Affirmed.

Cajun Firecracker became the first winner for first-year sire Cajun Breeze on April 13, capturing his debut by two lengths. Yates had campaigned the hard-knocking Cajun Breeze during a 33-race career that yielded four victories and $246,860 in earnings before his retirement in 2015.

“Cajun Breeze is doing very well. It’s very rewarding,” Yates said. “I have 14 yearlings and 15 mares in foal to him this year. I’m all-in.”

Cajun Breeze, a son of Congrats, is a half-brother to Cajun Delta Dawn, who captured two legs of the 2016 Florida Sire Stakes, the Desert Vixen and the Susan’s Girl, before finishing second in the Gr. III Delta Downs Princess.

Cajun Firecracker, who will be ridden back by Miguel Vasquez, closed from off a contested pace to prevail by a neck over odds-on favorite Fully Loaded in the six-furlong Dr. Fager after a seven-week layoff.

For this one, Yates will be trying to upset Cajun Firecracker with Cajun Embers, another son of Cajun Breeze, who closed from last to fifth in the Dr. Fager.

“I thought it was a productive race. Our goal was to try to make sure he was running at the end,” said Yates, who will also be represented by Nancysaidso, a two-time winner by Cajun Breeze, in Saturday’s $200,000 Susan’s Girl for fillies. “The further the races go for him, we feel like the better chance we’ll have.” Jesus Rios has the mount aboard Cajun Embers.

Calypso Stable and Rousseau Racing’s Fully Loaded, who was disqualified and placed third in the Dr. Fager for interference in the stretch after pressing a strong pace, looms as the horse to beat again in the Affirmed. The Jose Pinchin-trained colt sustained his first loss in the Dr. Fager after winning his first two starts impressively. Nik Juarez has the mount aboard the son of Two Step Salsa.

Garter and Tie, who finished third and was placed second in the Dr. Fager, returns in the Affirmed for owner/breeder Jacks or Better Farm, which has notched a record 18 FSS victories. The son of Brooks ’N Down made a strong stretch run to fall short of graduating in the Dr. Fager by two necks. Emisael Jaramillo has been named to ride the Nicks-trained Garter and Tie.

Trainer Stanley Gold, who saddled all of the Jacks or Better’s winners, will seek to add to his personal record total with a pair of Arindel homebred sons of Brethren – Nacho Papa and Homeboy. Nacho Papa, who won his May 12 debut and finished second behind Fully Loaded in a July 6 optional claiming allowance, showed brief speed before fading to eighth at the finish of the Dr. Fager.

“He just didn’t show up. He had no excuses,” Gold said. “He came back to breeze two weeks ago in 47 (seconds), which was the fastest of 92.”

Homeboy closed from far back to capture a six-furlong maiden race on Aug. 18 by 1 ¼ lengths to graduate in his fourth career start. “He won very workmanlike. He kept coming. He’s definitely getting better,” Gold said. “He wants to run two turns.”

Jeffrey Sanchez has the return mount aboard Nacho Papa, while Jonathan Gonzalez will ride Homeboy.

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Bernies Blog

Capture Your Dream Set for $200,000 Susan's Girl

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Uncaptured filly looks for two in a row . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – John Oxley and Kathy Machesky’s Capture Your Dream is poised for a bid to win back-to-back divisions of the Florida Sire Stakes series Saturday in the $200,000 Susan’s Girl at Gulfstream Park.

The daughter of Ocala Stud Farm's Uncaptured, who captured the $100,000 Desert Vixen at six-furlongs on Aug. 4, is scheduled to meet nine other fillies in the seven-furlong second leg of the series for 2-year-old fillies sired by accredited stallions standing in Florida.

Trainer Mark Casse isn't too concerned about the added distance in Capture Your Dream’s quest to win her third straight race in her third career start.

“Her dad won going 4 ½ and won running a mile and three-sixteenths,” said Casse, who trained Uncaptured, a highly promising first-year sire whose multiple stakes victories include a triumph in the 1 3/16-mile Prince of Wales at Fort Erie in 2013. “She looks like her dad, just a little smaller version of him.”

Bred by Machesky, Capture Your Dream produced a flashy debut at Gulfstream on May 13, scoring by 10 ½ lengths in a performance that caught the eye of Oxley, who owned her multiple graded stakes-winning sire. Oxley struck a deal with Machesky, who maintained an ownership interest, and transferred the Anna Varsi-trained filly to Casse to prepare her for the Desert Vixen.

“She won the race very impressively and we were fortunate enough to make a deal,” Casse said. “I kind of backed off on her, because it was two months [between races]. I thought she might be vulnerable but she still got it done.”

Emisael Jaramillo is named to ride Capture Your Dream, replacing Tyler Gaffalione, who has mounts at Kentucky Downs Saturday.

The seven-furlong distance of the Susan’s Girl is also of no concern for David Fawkes, the trainer of Desert Vixen runner-up Select Friday.

The Kales Company LLC’s daughter of Kantharos, who debuted with an off-the-pace 3 ¼-length victory on July 1, broke slowly from the starting gate in the Desert Vixen before closing to finish 1 ¼ lengths behind Capture Your Dream. “I expect the added distance will help us a lot,” Fawkes said. “I thought she ran huge. I was actually disappointed she didn’t win the first leg, but it didn’t set up well for her.” Nik Juarez has the return mount aboard Select Friday.

Shadybrook Farm’s Nancysaidso, who brought a two-race winning streak into the Desert Vixen, will seek to rebound from a fourth-place finish in the first leg of the series.

“She’s training good. Her last race, although she was beaten about three lengths, was a good effort. Yet it was a little disappointing,” said breeder/owner/trainer Michael Yates. “I think there’s a little bit more there than we got last time.” Yates is hoping for a less stressful trip in the Susan’s Girl than she had last time.

“It was a big field, so my rider was forced to go a little bit. I really don’t think she wants to be sent, but that remains to be seen also. He had to chase the pace a bit due to the field size to keep from getting covered up by a bunch of horses,” Yates said. “If the pace is a little softer than the three-quarters race, I think she’ll run well.”

Nancysaidso surprised her trainer during a ‘maintenance work’ last Saturday when she breezed a half mile in 47.54 seconds, the fastest of 102 workouts at the distance.

“She’s been a filly that looked like she wanted a little more ground to begin with. She got her maiden broke going 5 ½, which was somewhat of a surprise and something that makes me feel better about her,” said Yates, who named Richard Mitchell to ride Nancysaidso for the first time.

Yates is also scheduled to saddle Jessica for a start in the Desert Vixen. Purchased by Yates’ Shadybrook Farm for $8,000 at the 2017 OBS October sale, the daughter of Prospective debuted with a 1 ¼-length victory at Gulfstream on July 28. Samy Camacho has the return mount.

Trainer Stanley Gold, who has saddled the winners of a record 18 FSS races, will be represented by three Arindel homebred fillies, Cookie Dough, Snowzilla and Samoa, in the Susan’s Girl. The three, who are all by Brethren, finished a neck and a head apart while finishing sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively, in the Desert Vixen.

Although Cookie Dough is still looking to graduate, Gold remains confident that she is worthy of competing with the best Florida-bred fillies. She finished third in her first two races after being pushed into the inside rail both times, before setting a pressured pace and fading to sixth under Jeffrey Sanchez in the Desert Vixen.

“She had tough luck twice and then Jeffrey had to send her to get out of there and was pushed by two legit speed horses. She went 45 and change and got tired from her efforts.” Gold said. “She doesn’t need to be there. She needs to be tactically close to the lead and to put in her run when it’s time.”

Snowzilla won one of three start prior to making a strong late run to close from 13^thto eighth in the stretch. Samoa, who broke her maiden in her second career start, lagged early in the Desert Vixen before making a belated rally. “She raced wide. She could never get in, but she gave a good kick at the end,” Gold said. “There will be plenty of speed in this race.”

Sanchez will retain the mount on Cookie Dough, while Jonathan Gonzalez and Luca Panici have been named to ride Snowzilla and Samoa, respectively.

Also entered in the Susan’s Girl: Starship Nala, who finished an even fifth in the Desert Vixen, Blazing Brook and Gerry’s Big Win.

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Bernies Blog

Oklahoma-Bred Is a Real Zinger

Sunday, August 26, 2018

No wins yet, but $30,186 in earnings . . .

Ocala tax specialist Judy White, who plys her trade from two offices, one in the Golden Hills complex and another in town, is part of a partnership called 'In To Win Racing' that owns the Oklahoma-bred 3-year-old Wolfzing. The ridgling trained by Lynn Chieborad was a $4,900 RNA at the Oklahoma yearling sale in 2016.

Wolfzing has raced six times and hasn't won yet, but it's just a matter of time. He has two seconds and three thirds on his resume and is getting better each week. That resume includes a recent third in the Iowa Stallion Stakes. Yesterday, in a maiden special at Remington Park for 3, 4 and 5-year-olds bred in Oklahoma, Alex Birzer got Wolfzing home second, 1 1/4 lengths behind Daaher's Success, in a swift 1:10.37 for six furlongs.

Wolfzing sat close to a pace of :22.15, :45.15 and :57.46 and was still there at the end, collecting a check of $9,203. That raised his total to a nifty $30,186, not bad for a horse who has raced just six times without visiting the winner's circle.

THEY NEED HELP - Even after all this time, several of the people at TVG still drive me nuts, mostly by what they have to say and how they say it. Joaquin Jaime is a nice kid, good-looking, great voice, but he's the king of redundancy. When the horses are getting into the gate, he constantly tells us who the 'post-time' favorite is, I guess so we won't get it mixed up with who the favorite was with five minutes to post time, or 10 minutes.

When I thought there were two horses who came out of the same race, Joaquin told us that "these two horses came out of the 'exact' same race." He also mentioned that in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes Firenze Fire "flattened out" in the stretch; anybody watching the late run of the son of Poseidon's Warrior knows he finished fastest of all.

And, of course, my No. 1 pet peeve, the 12-year mispronunciation of Leparoux by all the TVG-ites. Yesterday, Julien won the Gr. I Sword Dancer Handicap by daylight and track announcer Larry Collmus, as he always does, gave us the correct pronunciation of Le-paroux. Trainer Ron Ellis quickly chimed in with Leh-paroux, and Scott Hazelton with the infamous Lay-paroux.

EXCHANGE IT FOR A REAL BET - In New Jersey, they're still trumpeting exchange wagering, the "new" type of wagering introduced by Betfair that was supposed to put the oomph back in racing and save it from extinction. Some keep calling it "popular" but it certainly hasn't helped the handle at Monmouth Park. Look at the results from the Jersey shore, they're miserable.

GIVE ME A BREAK - It's anybody's guess why The Jockey Club has allowed breeders and owners to name horses after others who raced before them fairly recently. Something about running out of names. Phooey.

At least put in a rule that you can't name a horse after a recent millionaire, as in why is there a new Revved Up to conflict with Live Oak Stud's son of Sultry Song who is one of the four millionaires produced by the great broodmare Win Approval. It makes no sense, so I guess that's why they allow it.

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Bernies Blog

Frosh Supremacy Has Turned Into Tough Battle

Monday, August 20, 2018

Three stallions tied with 4 winners . . .

Despite the lack of a great many names on the 2018 Florida freshman sire list, the battle for leadership in two important categories - number of winners and earnings - appears to be going down to the wire based on the latest standings.

In the winners' department, it's Pleasant Acres Stallions' Handsome Mike, Ocala Stud Farm's Uncaptured and Woodford Thoroughbreds' He's Had Enough, all with four.

By earnings, it's Uncaptured with $337,287, followed by Stonehedge Farm South's surprising Cajun Breeze with $282,520, He's Had Enough with $202,716, Handsome Mike with $138,240 and Get Away Farm's Drill, who has three winners, with $107,426.

The whole earnings picture can change on Sept. 1 with the running of the second legs of the Florida Sire Stakes - the Affirmed for colts and geldings and the Susan's Girl for fillies.

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Bernies Blog

Nacho Mama Breaks Gulfstream Record

Monday, August 13, 2018

Her full sister wins following race . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – Nacho Mama made her debut a memorable one Sunday at Gulfstream Park, setting a track record on her way to a two-length victory in the fourth race, a $65,000 maiden special weight allowance.

The juvenile daughter of Brethren ran 4 ½ furlongs in 50.86 seconds, eclipsing the mark of 51.07 set by Awesome Banner on June 5, 2015.

Arindel Farm’s homebred filly stalked the early pace set by Abuela’s Love, a first-time starter by Cairo Prince trained by Eddie Plesa Jr. who set sharp half-mile fractions of 21 and 44. Nacho Mama, under Jeffrey Sanchez, made a three-wide move on the turn into the homestretch and kicked in through the lane to win going away over Abuela’s Love.

Stanley Gold trains Nacho Mama and also trained Awesome Banner, who went on to become a multiple graded stakes-winner.

“She breezed good and galloped very good,” Sanchez said. “She broke good. I didn’t want to use her too early. When I asked her to go, she finished very, very strong.”

One race after Nacho Mama set the track record, her 3-year-old multiple staked-placed full sister, Awesome Mass, won a hard-fought victory by a nose in a $47,000 second-level optional claiming allowance at 6 ½-furlongs. The Gold-trained Arindel homebred was also ridden by Sanchez.

Nacho Mama is eligible for the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series. The $200,000 Susan’s Girl for fillies, and the $200,000 Affirmed, are scheduled for Sept. 1.

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Bernies Blog

Capture Your Dream Romps in $100,000 Desert Vixen

Sunday, August 5, 2018

Looking ahead for $200,000 Susan's Girl . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – Capture Your Dream lived up to her 3-5 favoritism Saturday at Gulfstream Park while winning the $100,000 Desert Vixen Division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes, proving to be a smart purchase for owner John Oxley and trainer Mark Casse.

Capture Your Dream had captured her May 13 debut at Gulfstream Park by 10 ½ lengths for owner/breeder Kathy Machesky and trainer Anna Varsi before Oxley bought into the juvenile daughter of Uncaptured. The stallion was a multiple graded-stakes winner whom Oxley campaigned during his racing career and who now stands at Ocala Stud Farm.

Following the purchase, Capture Your Dream joined Casse’s Palm Meadows stable that already housed another talented daughter of Uncaptured, Catherinethegreat, who would go on to break her maiden easily at Gulfstream Park before winning the Gr. III Schuylerville at Saratoga.

“Working with her and Catherinethegreat, Uncaptured’s horses seem to be really smart. They know what they’re doing. It’s like it’s bred in them,” said Allen Hardy, Casse’s assistant trainer at Palm Meadows.

Capture Your Dream broke alertly under Tyler Gaffalione to press a quick early pace set by Cookie Dough, who registered fractions of 21.94 and 45.37 for the first half mile of the six-furlong race. Capture Your Dream grabbed the lead on the turn and into the stretch and kicked in through the lane to win by 1 ¼ lengths.

“The filly broke real good today and put herself in a good spot," Gaffalione said. She showed she could relax and when I asked her to run she showed a nice turn of foot. I don’t see seven furlongs being a problem.” The rider was looking ahead to the second leg of the Florida Sire Stakes on Sept. 1, when the $200,000 Susan’s Girl for fillies and the $200,000 Affirmed will be run at seven furlongs.

Capture Your Dream ran six furlongs in 1:11.31 to finish clear of late-running Select Friday.

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Bernies Blog

Cajun Firecracker Explodes for Shadybrook in Dr. Fager

Sunday, August 5, 2018

Son of Cajun Breeze upsets Fully Loaded . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – Shadybrook Farm’s Cajun Firecracker upset heavily favored Fully Loaded in Saturday’s $100,000 Dr. Fager Division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes. Trainer Michael Yates’ homebred colt scored at odds of 7-1, a small price compared to the odds that were stacked against a successful stallion career for his sire, Cajun Breeze.

A tough-as-nails warrior who amassed earnings of nearly $250,000 prior to his 2015 retirement, Cajun Breeze never won a stakes during his 32-race career. But he became a stakes-winning sire Saturday when his son crossed the finish line a neck ahead of the 3-5 favorite in the six-furlong race for 2-year-olds sired by accredited stallions standing in Florida.

Yates, who campaigned Cajun Breeze, took a chance at giving the son of Congrats a career at stud, sending him to Stonehedge Farm South in Williston and breeding many of his mares to him, including Clara Bow, Cajun Firecracker's dam.

“We owned the mare – she ran a little up the east coast – she’s a pretty mare. She had some talent but had some issues as a race horse so we just bred her,” Yates said.

Cajun Firecracker's only experience was a two-length triumph in an April 13 maiden special weight race at Gulfstream. He stalked the pace set by Jackson, who was pressed by Fully Loaded along the backstretch. then began advancing on the far turn. Fully Loaded took over the lead under Edgard Zayas leaving the turn and into the stretch as his pacesetting stablemate Jackson tired, and the colt by Two Step Salsa appeared to be on his way to his third victory in three starts. However, Cajun Firecracker kicked in through the stretch under Miguel Vasquez and wore down the tiring favorite, who drifted out into the Yates homebred nearing the finish.

“I thought we would stalk the speed because she was on the outside," Yates said. "I was thankful to be outside of it because [Fully Loaded] is a pretty good horse.” The racing gods were with us today.”

Before the race became official, Cajun Firecracker had to survive a foul claim by Tyler Gaffalione, who finished a fast-closing third aboard Garter and Tie. Although Cajun Firecracker drifted into the path of Garter and Tie, the stewards determined that Fully Loaded had initiated the incident and disqualified the favorite and placed him third.

Cajun Firecracker ran six furlongs in 1:09.94, after fractions of 22:08, 44.80 and 56.96.

The next leg of the Florida Sires Stakes is set for Sept. 1, when the $200,000 Affirmed and the $200,000 Susan’s Girl for fillies will be contested at seven furlongs.

Note: Total handle on Gulfstream’s Sire Stakes program was $9.576 million, a 13-percent increase over last year’s handle of $8.433. Handle on the opening day of the Sire Stakes has risen each of the last four years after $6.244 million was wagered in 2015.

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Bernies Blog

Dream Supreme's Legacy Still Spinning Around

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Her runners have earned more than $1 million . . .

Spinning Round kicked off her racing career for Kinsman Farm in 1991 and campaigned in the Steinbrenner colors until 1994. In that span, she became a multiple graded stakes-winner, compiled a record of 8-10-5 in 31 starts, and earned $639,225. Her record wound up being the second biggest highlight of her career. The first came later when she foaled Dream Supreme in 1997.

Dream Supreme, a daughter of Seeking the Gold, enjoyed a sterling racing career of her own - 9-2-2 in 16 starts with earnings of $1,007,680, including Gr. I victories in the Test and Ballerina, along with two Gr. II's and two Gr. III's. She took up occupancy in the breeding shed in 2002 and went to the best stallions money could buy, foaling six colts and four fillies over the next 12 years by A P Indy (4), Giants Causeway, El Prado, Medaglia d' Oro (2), Tiznow and Unbridled's Song. All 10 reached the races and have had various degrees of success.

Her first foal was Crystal Current, an A P Indy filly who raced 14 times and earned $109,380. Two years later, she produced Majestic Warrior, who made headlines early with a victory in the Gr. I Hopeful at Saratoga but never really fulfilled his promise, racing just seven times while earning $239,229. But that son of A P Indy has turned into a top 50 stallion over the past several years even after moving from Ashford Stud to Japan.

Dream Supreme's next best runner was Gold Shield, a 2012 son of Medaglia d'Oro who is still racing and has earnings of $261,405, best of all his dam's runners.

Her last foal, born in 2014, is Silver Shield, another son of Medaglia d'Oro who made his last start this week in a $42,000 maiden special at Ellis Park. Racing a flat mile on the grass, the 4-year-old sat comfortably in third early, went three wide on the turn, then got banged around several times in mid-stretch and lost all momentum, finishing fifth. Silver Shield is 0-1-0 in five starts and is the only one of the 10 foals who hasn't won.

All told, Dream Supreme's runners have gone 19-10-16 in 101 starts with earnings of more than $1 million and it will be interesting to see if Silver Shield can become winner No. 10 and make a meaningful contribution to her legacy.

NUGGETS OF CORN - The first Corn Off the Cob was born in 1967, a son of Khaled-Meticulous, by Bully Boy. He was bred by Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Winick and W. J. Fowler and had a solid career, going 7-8-0 in 27 tries with earnings of $220,144. He was a formidable 3-year-old in 1970 and along the way he won the Fountain of Youth and Arlington Classic, and was second in the Flamingo, Florida Derby, Blue Grass, Jersey Derby and Hollywood Derby.

Unlike so many others, there hadn't been a second Corn Off the Cob until 2016, when the name was given to a filly who broke her maiden racing for $35,000 at Gulfstream on Saturday. This Corn Off the Cob, by Kettle Corn out of the Tale of the Cat mare Dear to All, raced 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.09 and scored by 6 1/2 lengths. Bred by James J. Justiss, she's earned $18,800.

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Bernies Blog

Sire Stakes Comes Up Saturday Fully Loaded

Monday, July 30, 2018

Two Step Salsa colt is 2-for-2 . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – The $1.4 million FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes – a series which has produced some of Florida racing’s biggest stars over the past 37 summers – kicks off Saturday at Gulfstream Park with the $100,000 Dr. Fager for 2-year-old colts and geldings and $100,000 Desert Vixen for 2-year-old fillies.

The six-furlong events, for juveniles sired by nominated Florida stallions, begin the rich, three-race series that continues with the $200,000, seven-furlong Affirmed and Susan's Girl on Sept. 1, and culminates with the $400,000, 1 1/16-mile In Reality and My Dear Girl on Sept. 29.

Saturday’s 13-race Sire Stakes program will have a first-race post time of 12:15 p.m.

The Sire Stakes, formerly the Florida Stallion Stakes, dates back to 1982 and was created by Ocala breeder and owner Dan Lasater, who was the country's leading owner by money won for four consecutive years from 1973-1976, and by number of winners from 1974-1977.

In 1974, Lasater set a single-season money record of $3,022,960, which stood until 1984 when it was broken by John Franks, who, ironically, had earlier purchased Lasater Farm. In '74, Lasater also broke the record for number of winners with 494, a record which lasted until 2012 when it was broken by Midwest Thoroughbreds, with 542.

Sire Stakes participants have included Awesome Feather, Jackson Bend, Smile, Brave Raj, Mecke, Early Lunch, Three Ring, Blazing Sword, Sugar’s Image, Rexson’s Hope and Three Rules, who last year became the fourth colt to sweep the series. Awesome Feather, Brave Raj and Smile all went on to win Breeders' Cup races.

Jose Pinchin, who trained Three Rules, will likely have the favorite in Saturday’s Dr. Fager in Fully Loaded, a son of Two Step Salsa who is undefeated in his only two starts.

The Sire Stakes continue to grow in popularity. For the 2019 editions, 740 foals of 2017 have paid a May yearling fee, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. This is up by 13 percent compared to 651 foals of 2016.

Gulfstream will also host the first Taste of the Track Saturday in the Ten Palms restaurant. The Taste of the Track will feature unlimited cheese and wine tastings for $25 per person online and $30 per person at the door.

Thursday’s Rainbow 6 Carryover Nearly $600,000

When racing resumes Thursday at Gulfstream bettors will have a 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover of $589.483.52. Multiple winning tickets Sunday returned $6,379.92. There was $148,149 bet into Sunday’s Rainbow 6 pool.

The Rainbow 6 has gone unsolved for 16 straight racing days following the June 30 mandatory payout of a pool in excess of $4 million that yielded a $196,953.84 payoff for each ticket with all six winners.

NOTE: First Mondays, a Maryland-bred son of Curlin who brought $450,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2016 Yearling sale, drew away from his opponents to win Sunday’s ninth race, an optional claimer. First Mondays is undefeated in his two starts. The 3-year-old colt, trained by Jason Servis, covered the mile in 1:37.12…Trainer Jena Antonucci swept Sunday’s early double with Fame Galore ($24) in the first and Motivate ($33) in the second.

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Bernies Blog

Rainbow's On the Move Again

Monday, July 23, 2018

Gaffalione wins 3 more . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – The 20-cent Rainbow 6 went unsolved at Gulfstream Park Sunday, producing a $449,228 carryover jackpot for Thursday’s 10-race twilight program. First-race post time is 2 p.m.

Multiple tickets with all six winners Sunday were each worth $1,212.18.

The Rainbow 6 has gone unsolved for 12 straight racing days following the June 30 mandatory payout of a pool in excess of $4 million that yielded a $196,953.84 payoff for each ticket with all six winners.

Gaffalione Still On Fire

Tyler Gaffalione rode three winners on Sunday’s program. The 23-year-old rising star, who captured the Spring Meet jockey title, scored aboard Scorched Earth ($6.80) in the second race, Big Clue ($5.80) in the seventh and Bargainaire ($4.40) in the eighth.

Apprentice jockey Kevin Carmona, who notched his first career victory Saturday, came right back Sunday to win aboard Pretty Shea D. ($3.60) in Race 4.

SHE'S THE QUEEN - Congratulations to everybody connected with Monomoy Girl, who was awesome in winning the Gr. I Coaching Club American Oaks Saturday at Belmont Park. She has won five in a row, has four Gr. I victories and a Gr. II, and has posted a record of 8-1-0 in nine starts with earnings of $1,660,750.

Monomoy Girl was a $100,000 Keeneland September yearling and she was sent to Paul Sharp at his willow Creek Ranch west of Ocala. Paul broke and trained her and he must have done something right. Her lone loss came by a neck in November's Gr. II Golden Rod at Churchill Downs.

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Bernies Blog

Pleased, Thrilled and Excited to Write This Column

Monday, July 16, 2018

Only delighted is MIA . . .

Haven't written this for a long time - one of my all-time pet peeves. For decades, industry stake-holders have complained that the people who put on the shows at the nation's racetracks lack vision and imagination, the vision and imagination needed to find ways to put bodies back in the seats.

For a while, Betfair crowed that it had implemented exchange wagering in New Jersey, a supposedly innovative idea that I constantly rapped because I knew it had no chance. Where is exchange wagering now, many months later? I don't hear a peep about it.

I always said that the lack of imagination always pops up in the various types of press releases emanating from the tracks. Whenever there's a new employee announced, or a new position, or any kind of novel idea, the track publicity offices always resort to the same old tired cliches. Actually, I don't know if it's the publicity offices or the speakers themselves who write in cliches. They all love "thrilled, delighted, excited and pleased," when describing the event.

Recent case in point. A few days ago, Blood-Horse reported the news that Fasig-Tipton was stepping in to the California sales ring as Barretts goes out of business.

Here are the quotes from the principals. From my friend Tim Ritvo, The Stronach Group COO: "We're THRILLED to have Fasig-Tipton back in California . . . etc."

From Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning Jr., "We are very EXCITED to be returning to the auction marketplace in California."

From Miguel A. Santana, president and CEO of Fairplex, where Barretts used to hold its auctions. "We are PLEASED that Santa Anita and Fasig-Tipton are joining the auction arena . . . etc."

If there was one more exec making a statement, we could have added "delighted" and hit the superfecta.

Surely there's somebody out there who's sharp enough to bury my pet peeve forever. Please.

ALMOST A DEAD-HEAT - The general sire leader in Florida has been bouncing back and forth all season between Double Diamond Farm's First Dude and deceased Wildcat Heir, former Journeyman Stud stallion who led the list for so many years, even after his passing in 2015. As of today, the pair are less than $1,000 apart for 2018 and it looks like it will go down to the wire.

In third place is Songandaprayer, who took up residence at Journeyman this year after a career in Kentucky. He's 20. Fourth is High Cotton, who is now pensioned at Ocala Stud Farm.

That means Two Step Salsa is in fifth place, but Get Away Farm's son of Petionville is second among those still active, and who have been here since the beginning. Two Step is remarkable: he had his best year in 2017 - more than $1.9 million, and he's closing in on $1.2 million already this year, so a record is on the horizon. In addition, he has 23 runners who have surpassed $100,000 in earnings, and his colt, Fully Loaded, is headed for the $100,000 Dr. Fager in the Florida Sire Stakes series and it looks like he'll be the favorite. Exciting times for Manny Andrade, who also has seen freshman sire Drill get off to a good start with three winners, one of them stakes-placed.

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Bernies Blog

Florida's Freshman Sires Off to Great Start

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Surprising Cajun Breeze is the leader . . .

He's Had Enough, from Woodford Thoroughbreds, became the sixth of eight Florida freshman sires to get his first winner when Garbar Boy broke his maiden at Gulfstream Park on July 8. The gelding was bred by Karen Silva.

Even with only eight frosh, as a group the Floridians are showing great promise. The most surprising, of course, is Stonehedge Farm South's Cajun Breeze, who is not only the Florida leader with progeny earnings of $212,770, the son of Congrats leads the country as well. He has just eight 2-year-olds, five of whom have started, with three winners.

All of the Cajun Breezes who have helped contribute to the earnings total are the product of Shadybrook Farm and owner/trainer/breeder Michael (Bo) Yates. Bo, who owns an interest in the stallion, took a page out of Wesley Ward's book and had his string of Cajun Breezes ready to roll when the first 2-year-old races were programmed at Gulfsteam three months ago. There are three winners and one repeat winner, Nancysaidso, who leads the money-winners with $89,700.

In second place with $175,600 is Ocala Stud Farm's Uncaptured, a son of Lion Heart who has the most Florida winners with four, and is second nationally behind Spendthrift Farm's Goldencents, who has 119 2-year-olds and six winners.

Pleasant Acres Stallions Handsome Mike is next in Florida with $62,500 and two winners. But the son of Scat Daddy is likely to have another in the near future since his filly, Here Comes Jackie, finished a fast-closing fourth on the Monmouth grass on Sunday. She was off last going five furlongs after being destroyed leaving the gate, and was some 14 1/2 lengths behind after three-eighths. With a huge move on the turn, she was seventh in the stretch, 9 1/2 lengths behind, and a monster late run put her in fourth place at the wire, a nose out of third, and just 4 1/2 lengths from the winner.

The other two Floridians with at least one winner are Drill, from Get Away Farm, who has two, including stakes-placed Drillit, and Global Response, from CoCo Ranch. Black Onyx (Stonewall Prestige Stallions) and Fort Loudon (Ocala Stud) are the two who have been blanked so far although the latter has had just one starter.

The individual money leader nationally is New Mexico's Hustle Up (by Abstraction) who has earned $150,537 and is 4-for-4 at Sunland Park and Ruidoso Downs, with a stakes victory at each.

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Bernies Blog

Record Spring Meet for Gulfstream

Friday, July 6, 2018

Handle is record 334 million . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – Gulfstream Park’s Spring meet, which concluded Saturday with the Summit of Speed, set new standards for total and average handle despite six fewer days of racing.

Gulfstream’s total handle for the Spring was a record $334 million, up $22 million over 2017. Total handle on the Spring meet has climbed approximately $88 million since 2015.

Average daily handle topped $6 million ($6.312) for the first time since Gulfstream began running in the spring. This year’s average was up $1.012 million from 2017 and $2.1 million since 2015.

Highlights of the Spring Meet included victories by Stormy Embrace in the $250,000 Princess Rooney (G2), a ‘Win & You’re In’ Breeders’ Cup race, X Y Jet winning the Smile Sprint, and a three-way tie for leading trainer among Todd Pletcher, Oscar Gonzalez and Victor Barboza Jr.

“We continue building and shaping Florida racing’s Spring and Summer meets,” said Bill Badgett, General Manager of Gulfstream Park. “We’re building a strong, year-round program with quality racing and full fields, and fans and horsemen are supporting our program. There is still more to do and much more to accomplish as we continue to combine racing with entertainment events. We’re looking forward to a wonderful summer at Gulfstream starting with Wednesday’s free July 4^thcelebration and the Florida Sire Stakes.”

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Bernies Blog

X Y Z Runs Away With Gr. III Smile Sprint

Sunday, July 1, 2018

Rainbow 6 pays $196,953 . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – Gulfstream Park’s Spring meet ended Saturday with longshot Stormy Embrace winning the $250,000 Princess Rooney (G2), X Y Jet running away with the $250,000 Smile Sprint (G3), and a mandatory payout in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 which resulted in multiple winners earning $196,953.84.

There was $3,468,161 of new money bet into the Rainbow 6 Saturday.

The mandatory payout of the Late Pick 5 returned $21,309.25.

In other stakes races on Summit of Speed Day, highlights on Summit of Speed included Alter Moon’s easy victory in the $75,000 Azalea Stakes, Pay Any Price winning the $75,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint for his eighth victory in last 11 starts, and War Giant impressed when winning the $75,000 Carry Back.

The standings for the Spring meet ended with jockey Tyler Gaffalione winning the riding title while Arindel took home the leading owner award.

The trainer’s title ended with a three-way tie at the top with 17 wins between Todd Pletcher, Victor Barboza Jr., and Oscar Gonzalez.

Gaffalione, a Florida native who had 63 wins, finished third in the rider standings during the Championship Meet and has won two previous summer titles. Arindel, which finished with 14 wins this spring, won last year’s summer title.

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Bernies Blog

$801,668 Rainbow Jackpot for Thursday

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Jockey and trainers races are close . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – The 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot at Gulfstream Park went unsolved for the 26th consecutive racing program Sunday, producing a carryover jackpot of $801,668.76 for Thursday’s program.

Multiple tickets with six winners Saturday were each worth $2,917.40.

There was a $755,719 carryover jackpot going into Sunday’s six-race sequence that spanned Races 7-12, generating a handle of $191,508 on the multi-race wager.

RACES DOWN TO THE WIRE

The jockey and trainer races are both going down to the wire for Gulfstream’s Spring Meet, which concludes with Saturday’s Summit of Speed program.

Defending Spring Meet champion Tyler Gaffalione tops the jockey standings with 59 wins, with four other riders in hot pursuit. Emisael Jaramillo ranks second with 56 wins, one more than Edgard Zayas and Miguel Vasquez, who have both ridden 55 winners. Nik Juarez ranks fifth with 53 trips to the winner’s circle.

As hotly contested as the jockey race is, the race for the training title is even more competitive with eight trainers separated by one win. Victor Barboza Jr. and Oscar Gonzalez share a tenuous lead with 16 winners each, one more than defending champion Todd Pletcher, Stanley Gold, Ralph Nicks, Armando De la cerda, Antonio Sano and Ralph Ziadie.

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Bernies Blog

Notable Siblings Both Win on the Grass

Friday, June 22, 2018

Siblings of Arrogate and California Chrome break maidens . . .

Two of the most notable siblings of two of the most famous American runners in recent years broke their maidens yesterday at tracks about 3,000 miles apart.

Osare, a half-sister to Arrogate, won at Belmont Park for Ocala's Bridlewood Farm, while Faversham, a full brother to California Chrome, won at Santa Anita for Perry an Denise Martin.

Osare (Medaglia d'Oro-Bubbler, by Distorted Humor) was a $300,000 Keeneland September yearling and she finished fourth in her mile and one-sixteenth grass debut at Tampa Bay Downs, at odds of 7/2. Yesterday, racing 1 1/4 miles on the turf in her second try, the 3-year-old filly closed four lengths in deep stretch to get up by a head, with Javier Castellano riding. She paid $14.

Faversham (Lucky Pulpit-Love the Chase, by Not For Love), a 3-year-old ridgling, has been a big disappointment for the Martins, with only a pair of seconds to show for his first five starts. He won at a mile on the grass under Tiago Pereira and paid $36.40, coming from off the pace and scoring easily, by 3 1/4 lengths.

Aarrogate retired with earnings of $17,422,600; California Chrome with $14,752,650.

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Bernies Blog

Thursday's Rainbow Carryover Soars to $637,676

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Sunday winners hit for $2,342 . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – Bettors will return to live racing Thursday at Gulfstream Park with a 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover of $637,676.94.

There was no single winning ticket Sunday for the 22^nd consecutive race program. Multiple tickets with six winners returned $2,342.44.

Racing resumes Thursday with a 10-race program beginning at 1:15 p.m. The Rainbow 6 sequence kicks off with the fifth race, a maiden claiming event going six furlongs on the main track.

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Bernies Blog

OBS Sale Gross: More Than $17.1 Million

Sunday, June 17, 2018

Scat Daddy colt goes for $650,000 . . .

Hip No. 742, a son of Scat Daddy consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, went to Alistair Roden Bloodstock for $360,000 to top the third and final session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2018 June Sale of 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age. The bay colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 at Sunday’s Under Tack session, is out of Imprecation, by First Defence, a half-sister to Gr. I winner Nebraska Tornado.

For the session, 176 youngsters sold for a total of $5,673,500, averaging $32,236 with a $13,000 median price. The buyback percentage was $25.7%. There was no corresponding session in 2017. Five older horses sold for $96,500 compared to four bringing a total of $77,000 in 2017. The average was $19,300 compared to $19,250 a year ago, while the median was $11,000 compared with $13,500 a year ago. The buyback percentage was $37.5%; it was 42.9% in 2017.

For the entire sale, 520 2-year-olds sold for $17,125,500 in three sessions, compared with 434 horses grossing $14,999,900 in two sessions a year ago. The average was $32,934 compared to $34,562 a year ago while the median price was $15,000 compared with $18,500 in 2017. The buyback percentage was 21.8%; it was 16.9% last year.

The overall sale topper was Hip No. 211, a son of Scat Daddy consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, sold to Carlo Vaccarezza for $650,000. The dark bay or brown colt, whose eighth in :9 4/5 at last Thursday’s Under Tack session was the sale’s co-fastest at the distance, is out of Satulah, by Gone West, a daughter of graded stakes-winner War Thief.

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Bernies Blog

Half-Million Promised for Over the Rainbow

Friday, June 15, 2018

Rios wins with Flashing Diamond . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – Gulfstream Park’s 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover for today’s program has hit the half-million mark.

The multi-race wager went unsolved for the 19^th consecutive racing day Thursday, producing a carryover jackpot of $502,508.48 for today’s program. The twilight program begins with a 2:15 p.m. first-race post. The Rainbow 6 sequence will begin with 2-year-old maidens going 4 ½ furlongs on the main track.

Multiple tickets with six winners Thursday were each worth $6,587. There was $138,468 bet into the Rainbow 6.

Note: Jockey Jesus Rios, out since the first week of April after breaking his collarbone in a morning training mishap, won his first race back since returning, guiding favored Flashing Diamond to victory in the seventh race, a $30,000 claiming event.

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Bernies Blog

Rainbow 6 Keeps Going

Sunday, June 10, 2018

Wildcat Heir, First Dude in a battle

HALLANDALE BEACH – The 20-cent Rainbow 6 went unsolved for the 17^thstraight racing day at Gulfstream Park Saturday producing a carryover jackpot of $427,284.72 for Sunday’s 12-race program. Multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $41,990.48.

Today's Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 6-11 and will include the $75.000 Nicole’s Dream, a five-furlong turf stakes for fillies and mares carded as Race 7. Miz Mayhem, who won the Cedar Key Stakes by 1 ¼ lengths last time out, is slated to seek her fourth straight victory. Trained by Eddie Plesa Jr., the 3-year-old daughter of Yesbyjimminy has been rated as the 9-5 favorite in a field of eight.

FIRST DUDE ON TOP - FOR NOW

First Dude has taken the lead again on Florida's general sire list in his ding-dong battle with deceased Wildcat Heir. Dude, a son of Stephen Got Even, is poised to break the $2 million mark - at $1,976,445. Wildcat Heir, who died in 2015 and is currently relying on his 3-year-olds and up, is next at $1,911,065. Last week, First Dude had dropped to second briefly and it could keep changing weekly since First Dude has 112 runners and Wildcat Heir 146.

So far, four Florida stallions have passed the $1 million mark, with recent Journeyman Stud arrival Songandaprayer in third at $1.185 million and pensioned High Cotton (Ocala Stud Farm) fourth at $1,064,285. Get Away Farm's Two Step Salsa is fifth and could reach $1 million next - he's at $839,446, which is remarkable since his top earner this year is Salsalida with just $47,960.

Solid seasons are being turned in by Pleasant Acres' Poseidon's Warrior, Ocala Stud's Prospective and Solera Farm's Field Commission, all over $500,000 and all three with less than 36 runners.

SOLID PICKS - The myriad of TV analysts and handicappers, for the most part, who chimed in with their Belmont selections, got buried in the Belmont Stakes in their eternal quest to beat the favorite.

On TVG, the comments were plentiful on why Justify was not up to the Triple Crown task and a slew of other names popped up as the first choices. One sharpie even went so far as to bet a 5-horse trifecta box for $1 and he left Justify out, as in, not in the top 5. In my own expert analysis, I'm guessing he didn't win that one.

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Bernies Blog

Rainbow 6 Carryover Spiraling Again

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Gaffalione hits four-bagger . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - The 20-cent Rainbow 6 went unsolved for the 13^th straight racing day at Gulfstream Park Sunday, producing a carryover jackpot of $296,620 for Wednesday’s nine-race program.

Multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $327.88.

Wednesday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 4-9, including a six-furlong optional claiming allowance in Race 6, which will serve as a prep for the June 30 Smile Sprint for Three Rules, Cautious Giant and Splash Rules, and the $75,000 Liza Jane Stakes for 3-year-old fillies in Race 8.

First-race post time for Wednesday is set for 1:15 p.m.

ON A ROLL - Tyler Gaffalione, who captured the $200,000 Penn Oaks aboard Got Stormy at Penn National Saturday, returned to Gulfstream Sunday to score four victories, including an eye-catching triumph aboard multiple graded stakes-winner Curlin’s Approval in the $75,000 Ana T. Stakes. He also won aboard Transitive ($3.20) in Race 1, Juenesse Doree ($7) in Race 6 and Treasure For Gold ($5.40) in Race 8.

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Bernies Blog

Twilight Racing Is Back

Friday, June 1, 2018

Begins at Gulfstream today . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - Twilight Friday Racing returns to Gulfstream Park today with a 2:15 p.m. first-race post, drink specials throughout the property, and free concerts at Sport of Kings.

Along with the nine races – five scheduled over the turf – Gulfstream will feature $1 domestic drafts and $5 well drinks from 4-7 p.m. Ten Palms will offer pints of craft beer and glasses of house wine for $3 during the same time. Sport of Kings will open at 6:30 p.m. with Mr. Nice Guy scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Sport of Kings will offer $3 domestic beer bottles and house wine and $5 well drinks from 6:30-8 p.m.

Twilight Friday Racing runs through Aug. 31 with featured performers, including the Valerie Tyson Band (June 15), Studio 54 Tribute (June 22), Turnstiles (June 29) and the Tobacco Road Reunion with Albert Castiglia and Iko Iko (July 6).

Rainbow 6 Carryover Jackpot Grows to $187,917

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 went unsolved for the 10^thconsecutive program Thursday, producing a carryover jackpot of $187,917.30 for Friday’s twilight card.

Multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $3,417.81.

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Bernies Blog

A Good Day for Ocala's Horsemen/Horses in Hallandale Beach

Friday, May 25, 2018

Lots of cash returns to Marion County . . .

With so many of the northern trainers leaving town after Gulfstream's Championship Meeting, owners and breeders from Ocala have been in a good position to rake in cash by winning races, collecting breeders' awards and enhancing stallions' records. Thursday was a prime example.

The first race was won by Antoaneta, owned by Reid Nagle's Big Lick Farm in Morriston. Nagle prospered to the tune of $19,800 and doesn't have to fork over 10 percent to a trainer since he trains the filly himself.

The second race didn't help former Ocala Stud stallion High Cotton. He's been pensioned, but is fourth on the Florida money list with nearly $1 million this year.

Christmas Magic won the third race and earned a check for $21,500. He's by former Journeyman Stud stallion J P's Gusto, who's now at Bridlewood Farm, and picked up a juicy breeders' award (13.33 percent of $30,000) for Journeyman owners Brent and Crystal Fernung.

Race No. 4 was won by Cootie Alert, a filly by little-known Mount McKinley, a stallion owned by Tampa Bay Downs owner Stella Thayer. Mount McKinley stands at Ups and Downs Farm in Citra and owners Monte and Catherine Thomas breed a mare or two to him every year. They are the owners and breeders of Cootie Alert, and earned $9,100 for the victory, plus the breeders' award.

Sixth-race winner C. A. C. Chaquira is by retired Ocala Stud stallion Overdriven, currently 11th on the Florida sire list. The 2-year-old filly's breeders' award goes to Randell and Lucy Edwards; Randell is the long-time controller for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.

Taylor's in Orbit won the seventh race, and he's by Bridlewood Farm stallion Corfu, 24th on the Florida list.

Double Diamond Farm's First Dude is the Florida sire leader with earnings of more than $1.7 million, and he's the sire of the 8th-race winner, Mystic Magnolia, good for a check of $16,600.

The finale was won by Belle's Cachet, a 3-year-old filly by Treasure Beach, one of the highly-successful second-crop stallions at Pleasant Acres in Morriston. Belle's Cachet is her sire's ninth winner this year and sent Treasure Beach over the $300,000 mark.

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Bernies Blog

Where Have All the Savvy Newspaper Racing Types Gone?

Monday, May 21, 2018

Today's papers are devoid of expertise . . .

It's no secret that the amount of space devoted to thoroughbred racing in the country's newspapers has diminished significantly in recent years. There are various theories for the slight to the sport of kings, but one of the major problems that nobody disputes is the decided lack of sports editors who grew up spending time at the local tracks with their fathers, or mothers, as the case may be.

Several decades ago, the New York press boxes were not only inhabited by one or more racing writers for each of the city's papers, but also by the sports editors of those papers. On any given day, Belmont, Aqueduct or Jamaica might be the hangout for such as Mike Lee of the Long Island Press, Ed Comerford of Newsday, Ike Gellis of the New York Post, or several others. Those denizens made sure racing was prominent in their respective papers.

With the passing of the old guard. the new sports editors are more interested in the NFL, and Major League Baseball, and the NBA, and (ugh!) NASCAR. With less overall space devoted to sports sections these days, racing is the sport that has taken the biggest hit.

The problem has not only resulted in less racing news, but a lack of expertise exhibited in the little space allowed. Unfortunately, the Ocala Star Banner, once a place where racing columns and racing news were plentiful, has a bunch of amateurs trying to keep Ocala's huge thoroughbred community updated. Not only is the news doled out sparsely, the way it is presented thrusts the amateurs into the spotlight.

I could devote paragraphs to the Star Banner's lack of expertise, but I'll use just one instance, a caption under a picture of Justify winning the Preakness in yesterdays edition. Here it is:

"Justify, with Mike Smith atop, wins the 143rd Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico race track, Saturday in Baltimore. Bravazo, with Luis Saez aboard, wins second while Tenfold, with Ricardo Santana Jr. atop, places."

I was in awe upon learning that Bravazo won second and that Tenfold placed. It's enough to make one want to barf, and wonder where this guy (or girl) learned his or her trade. Hopefully, sports editor Paul Kardasz will keep the culprit far from the racing scene from now on.

DRILLING IT HOME - Get Away Farm's freshman sire, the Lawyer Ron stallion Drill, celebrated his first winner yesterday when Drill Time went wire-to-wire in a 4 1/2-furlong, $27,785 maiden special at Golden Gate Fields. The Florida colt bred by Jennifer and Gillian Johnson put up :22.32 for the first quarter and went on to score by two lengths in :52.72. Drill Time collected $15,600 for the effort.

Five of Florida's seven freshman sires of 2018 now have at least one winner. Ocala Stud's Uncaptured has two.

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Bernies Blog

Justify Odds-On in 8-Horse Preakness Field

Friday, May 18, 2018

All Kentucky-breds at Pimlico . . .

Eight holdovers from the Kentucky Derby are lined up for the 1 3/16-mile Preakness at Pimlico, with Derby winner Justify sitting as the 1/2 morning line choice. The big question, as always, is, "After his commanding performance in Louisville, can Justify win the Triple Crown?"

Seventeen of the 20 runners last time were Kentucky-breds, this time all eight are from the blue grass.

Aside from Justify, the other holdovers are Good Magic, who nabbed second by a head from Audible at odds of 9-1; Lone Sailor, who was 24-1 and finished eighth, and Bravazo, who was sixth at 66-1.

Good Magic lost by 2 1/2 lengths with Jose Ortiz and has his services again. He's the second choice at 3-1.

Lone Sailor has brother Irad Ortiz after finishing 9 1/4 lengths behind under James Graham and experiencing serious problems along the inside. He's listed at 15-1.

Bravazo was bumped at the start with Luis Contreras aboard, raced in mid-pack, and was four or five wide most of the trip. He lost by eight lengths, and was only a length out of fifth, the final money spot. He switches to Luis Saez this time and is listed at 20-1.

The purse is $1.5 million and all will carry 126 pounds. D. Wayne Lukas has two entrants, Bravazo and Sporting Chance, who goes with Contreras. Third choice on the line at 12-1 is Brisset, who leaves from the rail with Florent Geroux.

Did the sloppy track at Churchill Downs cost most of the participants, or was Justify just too good?

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Bernies Blog

Uncaptured Becomes First Frosh Sire With Two Winners

Monday, May 14, 2018

Catch Your Dream romps at Gulfstream . . .

Ocala Stud Farm's Uncaptured has the distinction of becoming the first freshman sire of 2018 to get two winners. After Bye Bye J gave the stallion by Lion Heart his first winner, No. 2 came at Gulfstream Park yesterday when Capture Your Dream romped at 4 1/2 furlongs by 10 1/2 lengths under Luca Panici.

The filly owned and bred by Kathy Machesky was clocked in :52.08 and collected a check of $42,000. That raised Uncaptured's earnings to $66,000, third best among all frosh sires. Cajun Breeze, from Stonehedge Farm South, is the nation's leader with one winner, several runner-up finishers, and earnings of $97,400.

Florida has two other frosh sires with a winner - CoCo Ranch's Global Response (Global Beauty) and Pleasant Acres Stallions Handsome Mike (Saint Michael).

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Bernies Blog

Millionaire Made at Gulfstream Again

Friday, May 11, 2018

Wager hits for more than $1.2 million . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – Gulfstream Park’s 20-cent Rainbow 6 was hit Thursday afternoon for $1,214,280.62. The winning ticket was played in Lewiston, Maine.

Thursday’s Rainbow 6 sequence started with Love and Lemons ($3.60) winning the fifth race and Wild Chatter ($11.40) the sixth. But after Global Beauty Coco won the third leg and returned $151.40 the live tickets were trimmed to a precious few. There were just five live tickets going into the 10^th and final race of the day, and Delicious Pursuit ($18.20) was one of those live tickets.

Racing returns Friday with a 10-race program beginning at 1:15 p.m. There will be a Super Hi 5 carryover of $3,887.63.

Three Rules Returns Saturday in $100,000 Big Drama

Graded stakes-winner Three Rules, who swept the 2016 Florida Sire Stakes, returns to the races after a five-month layoff Saturday in Gulfstream’s $100,000 Big Drama.

The seven-furlong event drew a field of seven including graded stakes-winner Mr. Jordan, Gulfstream Park Sprint runner-up Sweetontheladies, Tampa Bay’s Sprint Stakes runner-up Deland and 2017 Sunshine Millions Classic winner Hy Riverside.

First race post Saturday is 12:45 p.m.

Three Rules, trained by Jose Pinchin, became a fan favorite during the summer of 2016 when the son of Gone Astray swept the rich FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes program for owner-breeder Bert Pilcher and his partners. “This horse took us places and we’ve done stuff we never thought possible,” said Pilcher Wednesday afternoon.

After finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita, Three Rules returned in 2017 and finished second in the Swale (G2), third in the Fountain of Youth (G2), fifth in the Florida Derby (G1), and third in the Chick Lang at Pimlico. Since winning the Carry Back (G3) last summer, Three Rules’ lone start was a second-place finish Dec. 16 at Tampa in the Marion County Florida Sire Stakes.

“He had a couple little things…really was just off his feed a little bit and not as good as he had been so we just went ahead and let him be a horse for a while,” Pilcher said. “He came back to the farm but he wasn’t as happy as he usually is so he went back to the track. We just did less with him. He likes being there. He’s happy in that environment.”

Three Rules will go into the Big Drama on six works, two of them bullets over Gulfstream’s main track. “He’s doing really well,” Pilcher added. “He’s been working great. I know Jose is high on him putting in a big year and we hope it all translates this year to having a lot more fun.”

Nik Juarez is named to ride Three Rules.

Mr. Jordan, trained by Eddie Plesa Jr., takes a considerable drop in class after finishing fifth in the Gulfstream Park Hardacre Mile (G2) March 31 and fourth in the Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3) March 3. While the gelded son of Kantheros has won eight of 20 starts and $677,000, Mr. Jordan is winless in 12 tries at Gulfstream. The 6-year-old, who has finished second five times at Gulfstream, will have Edgard Zayas in the saddle.

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Bernies Blog

Gulfstream's Rainbow Carryover Slips Over $1 Million Again

Monday, May 7, 2018

Racing resumes Thursday . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – Bettors will have something special to look forward to at Gulfstream Park when racing resumes with a 10-race program Thursday – a 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover of $1,006,359.41,

There was no single winner of the wager Sunday. Multiple tickets with all six winners returned $2,771.88. There was $299,789 of new money bet into the Rainbow 6 Sunday.

Thursday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will begin with a five furlong turf event for fillies and mares that drew a field of 12.

NOTE: Jockey Nik Juarez rode four winners Sunday. Juarez won the first aboard Paco Ensaco ($12.60), the fourth with Oola Gal ($23.20), the ninth on Proper Princess ($7) and the 11^th and final race with Flowmotion ($6.40).

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Bernies Blog

Tidbits for Handicapping the Derby

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Only two unbeatens in the field . . .

The entries are in for, perhaps, the most wide open Kentucky Derby we've seen in decades. All that's left is for would-be handicappers to sort through the maze of information and figure out which horses to wager on based on Beyer numbers, Ragozins, Thorographs, personal observations and anything else they can find to throw into the mix.

Here's a quick rundown of some tidbits concerning the 20 runners:

(1) There are 17 Kentucky-breds entered. The lone "others" are Firenze Fire (Florida), Audible (New York) and Flameaway (Ontario).

(2) Scat Daddy has the most runners - 4 (Flameaway, Justify, Mendelssohn, Combatant). Curlin is second with 3 (Good Magic, Solomini, Vino Rosso). Medaglia d'Oro has 2 (Bolt D'Oro, Enticed). So 9 of 20 competitors are by three stallions.

(3) Only one horse has won more than four races - Flameaway with 5. Those with four are Firenze Fire, Audible, Bolt D'Oro, Mendelssohn and Magnum Moon.

(4) The only unbeaten horses in the race are Magnum Moon, at 4-for4 and Justify, at 3-for-3.

(5) There are four with just a maiden score (Lone Sailor, Hofburg, Solomini, Combatant).

(6) There are four who are already millionaires (Good Magic, $1,855,000); Bolt D'Oro ($1,016,000); Mendelssohn ($1,961,137); Magnum Moon ($1,177,800).

(7) One horse has made 10 starts (My Boy Jack); two have made nine (Firenze Fire, Flameaway): three have made eight (Free Drop Billy, Lone Sailor, Bravazo).

Good luck!

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Bernies Blog

Rainbow 6 Closing in on $800,000

Monday, April 30, 2018

Three live tickets Sunday missed the jackpot . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – Gulfstream Park’s 20-cent Rainbow 6 will be $795,987.53 when racing resumes Thursday.

Multiple winning tickets Sunday returned $48,864.92. There were three live tickets going into the last leg of the Rainbow 6, but all three failed to hit board. There will also be a Super Hi 5 carryover Thursday of $3,123.56.

Racing resumes Thursday with a nine-race program and a first race post of 1:10 p.m.

NOTES:

Let’s Go Stable’s Wooderson, a 3-year-old half-brother to Hall of Fame member and Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, finished second in his career debut.

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Bernies Blog

OBS Spring Sale Reaches New Heights

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Medaglia d'Oro filly goes for $1.1 million . . .

Records fell by the wayside as the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2018 Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training reached new levels in gross, average and median figures. The fourth and final session and entire sale was topped by Hip No. 1197, a bay filly by Medaglia d’Oro consigned by Randy Bradshaw, Agent, purchased by Steven W. Young, Agent, for $1,100,000. A half sister to Gr. I stakes-winner Stormello out of Wilshewed, by Carson City, her eighth in :9 4/5 was co-fastest at the distance at Saturday’s Under Tack session.

Hip No. 1164, a son of Kantharos consigned by Ocala Stud, was purchased by Stonestreet Stables LLC & E 5 Racing for $800,000. The chestnut colt, who turned in a quarter in :20 4/5 at Saturday’s Under Tack session, is out of Valid Concorde, by Concorde’s Tune, a full sister to stakes-winner Rocky River.
Hip No. 955, a bay colt by Munnings consigned by Randy Miles, Agent, went to Ed & Susie Orr for $700,000. The half brother to stakes-placed Avarice out of Senate Caucus, by Siphon (BRZ), worked an eighth in :10 flat at Friday’s Under Tack session.
Dennis O’Neill went to $485,000 for Hip No. 1158, a gray or roan colt by He’s Had Enough, whose quarter in :20 3/5 was co-fastest at the distance at Saturday’s Under Tack session. Consigned by Envision Equine, Agent, he’s out of Up for Grabs, by First Samurai, from the family of graded stakes-winner Sea of Secrets.
Robert Masiello paid $435,000 for Hip No. 1055, a bay colt by Midshipman consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent. A half brother to stakes-winning OBS graduate Small Bear out of Stella Prima, by El Prado (IRE), he worked an eighth in :10 flat on Saturday.
Hip No. 943, Starrific, a chestnut colt by City Zip consigned by Bobby Dodd, Agent, was sold to Red Baron’s Barn or Rancho Temescal LLC for $400,000. Out of Screen Gem, by Dynaformer, a daughter of stakes-placed Shuhrah, he turned in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat on Friday.
Hip No. 1079, a daughter of Bernardini consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, was purchased for $400,000 by Speedway Stables, LLC. The bay filly, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 on Saturday, is a half sister to graded stakes-winner Den’s Legacy out of Sunshine Song, by War Chant.
Hip No. 1161 a bay colt by Goldencents consigned by Woodside Ranch, Agent, went to Jay Em Ess Stable for $400,000. Out of Urloveisasymphony, by Forest Wildcat, a daughter of stakes placed Lifting the Veil, he breezed an eighth on Saturday in :10 flat.

For the session, 161 two-year-olds sold for a total of $17,230,500, compared with 144 horses bringing $13,142,200 at the corresponding session last year. The average price was $107,022, up 17.2% compared to $91,265 in 2017 while the median was $57,000, rising 11.8% compared with $51,000 a year ago. The buyback percentage was 20.3%; it was 22.9% a year ago.

For the entire sale, 707 horses grossed a sale record $69,429,500, compared with 678 youngsters bringing $60,935,900 a year ago, the previous record total. The average price was a sale record $98,203, besting last year’s sale previous record $89,876. The median was a record $55,000, up 15.8% above 2017’s sale record $47,500. The buyback percentage was 17.9%; it was 17% a year ago. Sixty-six horses brought $250,000 or more compared to 60 in 2017.

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Tapit Colt Goes for $750,000 at OBS Spring Sale

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Consigned by Niall Brennan . . .

Hip No. 352, a son of Tapit consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, went to Robert E. & Lawana Low for $750,000 to top the second session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2018 Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. The gray or roan colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 2/5 at Tuesday’s Under Tack session, is a half brother to graded stakes-winner Commissioner out of graded stakes winner Flaming Heart, by Touch Gold, a half-sister to the dam of Vino Rosso, one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby after his victory in the recent Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct

Hip No. 403, Wicked Wizard, a dark bay or brown colt by Speightstown consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, who worked an Under Tack eighth on Tuesday in :10 flat, was sold to Narvick International, Agent for Katsumi Yoshida, for $700,000. He’s out of stakes-winner Glinda the Good, by Hard Spun, and is a half brother to champion Good Magic, heading to the Kentucky Derby after his recent victory in Keeneland’s Blue Grass Stakes (G2).
Hip No. 534, a daughter of Malibu Moon consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, also brought $700,000, going to Speedway Stables, LLC. The dark bay or brown filly, who breezed a quarter in :21 flat last Tuesday, is out of Just Joyful, by Street Boss, a half sister to champion Boston Harbor.
Hip No. 606, a daughter of Into Mischief consigned by Paul Sharp, Agent, was sold to Spendthrift Farm for $650,000. The bay filly, who’s eighth in :9 4/5 on Wednesday was the session’s co-fastest at the distance, is out of Loveofalifetime, by Medaglia d’Oro, a half sister to graded stakes winner Savorthetime.
Justin Casse, Agent, went to $525,000 for Hip No. 474, a bay colt by Candy Ride (ARG) consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, who worked a quarter in :21 flat at Wednesday’s Under Tack session. He’s out of High On the Hill, by Fusaichi Pegasus, a half sister to graded stakes winner Lil’s Lad.

For the day, 180 horses brought a total of $18,932,500, a Spring Sale session record, compared with 167 selling for a total of $14,111,500 at last year’s second session. The average price was $105,181, up 24.5% compared to $84,500 in 2017 while the median price was $56,000, a 40% rise compared with $40,000 a year ago. The buyback percentage was 22.4%; it was 20.8% last year.

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Freshman Cajun Breeze Off to Good Start for Stonehedge

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Son of Congrats had 1-2 finishers in $64,000 MSW . . .

Stonehedge Farm South's Cajun Breeze has the honor of becoming the first Florida freshman stallion of 2018 to sire a winner, and the son of Congrats also added a second-place finisher out of the same race.

The milestone came at Gulfstream Park, where Cajun Firecracker captured a $64,000 maiden special under Nik Juarez, winning by two lengths over Mardi Gras Girl, who is also by Cajun Breeze. Cajun Firecracker, a colt, earned a juicy check for $43,000 for the score, while the filly Mardi Gras Girl collected $12,800 for second. The winner raced 4 1/2 furlongs in :52.58 and paid $12.20.

Another daughter of Cajun Breeze, Nancysaidso, finished second in a $63,000 maiden special at Gulfstream and earned $12,400. The filly led into deep stretch under Miguel Vasquez, succumbing at the wire by three-quarters of a length in a race that went in :51.79.

All three runners are owned and bred by Shadybrook Farm, and trained by Michael Yates, the farm's owner. Yates took a page out of the book of Wesley Ward, who has become well-known for his ability to get his 2-year-olds ready early and taking down a slew of the money given out at Gulfstream and Keeneland in April, May and June.

The three Shadybrook runners collected a total of $68,200 for their efforts to propel Cajun Breeze into an easy lead in the Florida freshman race. The stallion is listed as having eight current 2-year-old runners.

Two other Florida freshmen have had starters, CoCo Ranch's Global Beauty, a son of A. P. Indy (10 current 2yos) and Woodford Thoroughbreds' He's Had Enough, a son of Tapit (77 current 2yos), but as yet neither has one who finished in the money.

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Rainbow 6 Carryover Passes $500,000

Monday, April 23, 2018

Hofburg breezes . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL– The 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot for Thursday’s program at Gulfstream Park grew to $572,287.06 Sunday when the popular multi-race wager went unsolved for the 13^thconsecutive racing day.

Multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $4,833.22.

HOFBURG BREEZES

Juddmonte Farms’ Hofburg breezed five furlongs in company at Payson Park in Indiantown Sunday morning in preparation for a scheduled start in the May 5 Kentucky Derby. The Bill Mott-trained colt was timed in 1:01.40 after breezing for the second time since finishing second in the $1 million XpressBet.com Florida Derby at Gulfstream March 31.

Hofburg is scheduled to be shipped to Churchill Downs Monday.

The 3-year-old son of Tapit raced once as a 2-year-old, finishing fourth after a slow start in a seven-furlong maiden race at Saratoga Sept. 2. In his 3-year-old debut March 3 at Gulfstream, he overcame the No. 11 post position to capture a 1 1/16-mile maiden test. He came right back to finish second in the Florida Derby, three lengths behind victorious Audible and 7 ¾ lengths ahead of third-place finisher Mississippi.

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Rainbow 6 Nears $400,000 Again

Thursday, April 19, 2018

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HALLANDALE BEACH – The 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot grew to $377,314.63 for today's’s program at Gulfstream Park when the multi-race wager went unsolved Sunday for the ninth straight racing day.

Multiple tickets with all six winners were worth $14,437.32.

First-race post time for today's’s 10-race card is set for 1:10 p.m.

FRENCHIE'S BACK - The tale of Kathy Taylor's rescue of 23 horses from the failing Eddie Martin Stable South eight years ago, and the nine she brought back to her small farm and rejuvenated, has been documented often. One of the results of that rescue, the gelding French Quarter, is now seven and still very much in action.

Kathy bred the emaciated rescued French mare Cent Nouvelles to Shakespeare and eventually sold French Quarter privately for $9,000. He has since been a source of great pride, originally racing for trainer John Mattine in Canada and at Gulfstream Park, and now in the barn of Domino Enterprises with trainer David Fawkes, who has seen him become stakes-placed on several occasions.

French Quarter recently took a much-needed vacation and returned to finish sixth on the grass in his first try. But that's no surprise as grass has not been kind to him and this was no doubt a tightener. He's back at Gulfstream tomorrow in the eighth race, a $62,500 allowance optional claimer at six furlongs with Edgard Zayas aboard. Frenchie has earned a bit more than $300,000 and still appears to be fit and ready. He's 6-1 in the morning line in a field of six.

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Valkyrie Gold Wins First 2-Year-Old Race

Thursday, April 12, 2018

Daughter of Exclusive Quality . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – Todd Pletcher-trained Valkyrie Gold stamped herself as a strong prospect for the 2018 Florida Sire Stakes series Thursday at Gulfstream Park while capturing the first race of the year for 2-year-olds.

The daughter of Florida stallion Exclusive Quality broke alertly under Tyler Gaffalione to press the pace set by Nancysaidso through fractions of 21.93 seconds and 45.50 before launching a late drive to prevail by three-quarters of a length. Kenneth English and Alan Braun’s homebred filly ran 4 ½ furlongs in a solid :51.79 seconds as the even-money favorite.

“In these type of races you need to break well and she did that and got away good. I thought she was very professional,” Pletcher said. He said the primary goal for Valkyrie Gold is the Florida Sire Stakes series that gets under way with the $100,000 Desert Vixen Aug. 4.

“We’ll leave her down here and point to those races,” Pletcher said.

Nancysaidso held on for second, well clear of Cookie Dough.

Jackpot Swells

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot rose to $229,955 for Friday’s 10-race program at Gulfstream Park when the multi-race wager went unsolved for the sixth straight racing day. Multiple tickets with all six winners were worth $3,481.10.

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Oldsmar Competitors Heading for Louisville

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Includes Quip, Tampa Bay Derby winner . . .

OLDSMAR - Tampa Bay Downs will celebrate the world’s greatest horse race on Saturday, May 5, simulcasting the 144^thedition of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve from Churchill Downs in Louisville. At least four horses that have competed in Oldsmar this year are expected to be part of the likely 20-horse field.

That quartet includes Saturday’s Gr. II Wood Memorial Stakes presented by NYRA Bets winner, Vino Rosso, who won an allowance/optional claiming race here on Dec. 22, then finished third in the Gr. III Sam F. Davis Stakes and fourth in the Gr. II Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby.

Also, Gr. II Toyota Blue Grass runner-up Flameaway, who won the Sam F. Davis Stakes and finished second in the Tampa Bay Derby; Tampa Bay Derby winner Quip, expected to start in Saturday’s Gr. I Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park; and unbeaten Magnum Moon, who won the Gr. II Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn after capturing an allowance/optional claiming race here on Feb. 15 and is also expected to try the Arkansas Derby.

Vino Rosso and Magnum Moon are trained by Todd Pletcher, whose two Kentucky Derby victories have been with horses that competed at Tampa Bay Downs: Super Saver in 2010 and Always Dreaming last year.

Mark Casse trains Flameaway and Rodolphe Brisset conditions Quip.

In addition to the festivities surrounding the Run for the Roses, Tampa Bay Downs will present two new stakes on the first Saturday in May, both valued at $100,000: the FTBOA Silver Charm Florida Sire Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings and the FTBOA Ivanavinalot Florida Sire Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Both races are for FTBOA-registered Florida-bred horses sired by FTBOA-registered stallions which are FSS-eligible and will be contested on the main track at a distance of a mile and 40 yards.

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Servis Notches Win No. 1,000; 2-Year-Olds to Debut

Monday, April 9, 2018

First juvenile race on Thursday . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – Trainer Jason Servis notched his 1,000^thcareer victory Sunday at Gulfstream Park, reaching the milestone with Meant Tobe Mine in the ninth race.

The 61-year-old native of Charles Town, WV, was not present to witness Meant Tobe Mine’s win, but he has been a frequent visitor to winners' circles since the day in March 2002 that he saddled his first winner (Hattab Be You) at Aqueduct. The brother of trainer John Servis has scored at a 23-percent win rate from 4,273 starters.

Meant Tobe Mine, the 2-5-favorite ridden by Nik Juarez, sped five furlongs on the grass in :56.07 seconds to win the optional claiming allowance by 10 ½ lengths. Meant Tobe Mine was the second winner for the Spring/Summer Meet for Servis, who won at a 34-percent clip during the Championship Meet by scoring with 18 of 53 starters.

Rainbow 6 Carryover Jackpot Grows

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot rose to $185,512 for Thursday’s nine-race program when the multi-race wager went unsolved Sunday for the fifth straight racing day.

Multiple tickets with all six winners were worth $1,796.28.

Thursday’s six-race Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 4-9, anchored by the Spring/Summer Meet’s first race for 2-year-olds. A field of 10 juvenile fillies (and two also-eligible entrants) will debut at 4 ½ furlongs.

There are seven Florida-breds in the field, along with two Kentucky-breds and one Pennsylvania-bred. The Florida-breds are by Brethren, Cajun Breeze, Rattlesnake Bridge, Exclusive Quality, Factum, Concord Point and Global Response.

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Bernies Blog

Rainbow Climbing Again; Juarez Has Hot Hand

Sunday, April 8, 2018

Nik rides three more winners . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – The 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot climbed to $148,704 for Sunday’s 10-race program at Gulfstream Park when the multi-race wager went unsolved for the fourth straight racing day Saturday. Multiple tickets with all six winners were worth $12,548.40.

Today'y’s six-race Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 5-10. First-race post time is set for 1 p.m.

Juarez Off to Flying Start

Nik Juarez rode three winners on Saturday’s program, continuing his fast start for the Spring/Summer Meet with his third-straight multi-win day.

Riding full time for this first time during the Spring/Summer Meet, the 24-year-old Maryland native scored aboard Cosita Rica ($7.20) in the first race, Our Sarge ($8.60) in the fifth race and May Ty One On in the sixth race.

The leading rider at Monmouth Park last year, Juarez finds himself at the top of the rider standings at Gulfstream after winning two races the first two days of the Spring/Summer Meet before adding three more Saturday.

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Bernies Blog

Chilean Champ Gets First U. S. Victory

Monday, April 2, 2018

Next Gulfstream meeting begins Thursday . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – Super Super Stable’s Hidden to Win ($14.20) was a hard-fought front-running winner of Sunday’s second race at Gulfstream Park to give Chilean champion jockey Jaime Medina his first victory in the United States.

A 6-year-old Ontario-bred mare, Hidden to Win dueled for the lead with Indian Chaser through fractions of 24.32 and 47.35 seconds before putting that rival away after six furlongs in 1:12.12, then held off a late bid from Beautyofaday to win in 1:38.93 for one mile over a fast main track.

It was the third mount in the U.S. for Medina, 30, who finished off the board in two starts March 29 at Gulfstream. He spent the weekend in South Florida to get a feel for American racing before returning to Chile today.

According to Medina, he has ridden in Chile for 12 years with more than 2,200 wins. He earned his 2,000th victory on July 31, 2016 and rode the winner of the 2011 El Derby (G1) at Valparaiso Sporting Club.

LIVE RACING RETURNS THURSDAY

Gulfstream Park will host an eight-race program Thursday, April 5 to kick off a 110-day spring-summer meet that runs through Sunday, Sept. 30. First race post time Thursday is 1 p.m. The spring-summer schedule includes 34 stakes worth $4.175 million in purses highlighted by the Summit of Speed Saturday, June 30 and FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series Aug. 4, Sept. 1 and 29.

Live racing will be conducted primarily Thursday through Sunday with special programs Monday, May 28 (Memorial Day); Wednesday, June 6; Wednesday, July 4 (Independence Day); Wednesday, Aug. 22 and Monday, Sept. 3 (Labor Day).

WHO'S HOT: Jockey Tyler Gaffalione closed the Championship Meet with three winners, aboard Asked and Answered ($4.40) in the third race, O.K. Kay ($5) in the sixth and Nikki’s Cause ($9.80) in the ninth. Leader Luis Saez won with Disruptor ($8.20) in the fifth and Bow Tie Affair ($5.40), bringing his record total to 137 for the meet. Nik Juarez also had a riding double with Forty Fathoms ($5.60) in the seventh and Heading Home ($11.80) in the 12^th.

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez and trainer Todd Pletcher, who joined forces to win the $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby Saturday with Audible, teamed up for back-to-back wins with Slot ($3) in the 10thrace and Bold Daddy ($5.60) in the 11th. Pletcher claimed his 15th consecutive training title with 69 wins.

Rainbow 6 Carryover:$43,972.44

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Bernies Blog

Gulfstream Crushes Handle and Derby Day Records

Sunday, April 1, 2018

Wagering surpasses $49 million . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH – Gulfstream Park’s 67thrunning of the $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby, won by Audible by three lengths, generated a record total handle of $49,909,070.

The previous record for the highest single-day handle at Gulfstream excluding Breeders’ Cup came earlier this year on Pegasus World Cup Day when Horse of the Year Gun Runner won and fans wagered $41.9 million. Saturday’s handle was also a Florida Derby Day record, eclipsing the record in 2017 of $32.082 million.

Saturday’s handle, up 63.03 percent over last year’s Derby Day handle, was helped by a mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 that generated a North American record $16,583,425 in new money and a total Pick 6 handle of $21.336 million. That eclipsed both records set Jan. 28 at Gulfstream when a total Pick 6 handle of $19.779 million was paid out and $15.788 million of new money was wagered.

Audible’s victory was a record fifth Florida Derby for trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez. They won last year’s Florida Derby with eventual Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming.

The Rainbow 6 paid $9,018 to a slew of winners, who all might have used the same modus operandi to forge their tickets. That is, just include all of Gulfstream's top riders in each race.

Here is the winning sequence, with the prices and riders for each winner:

Race 9 - Outback Bob - $31.60, Jose Ortiz.

Race 10 - Outplay - $6, John Velazquez.

Race 11 - Lull - $8.60, Jose Ortiz.

Race 12 - Coach Rocks - $7.60, Luis Saez.

Race 13 - Hi Happy - $6.80, Luis Saez.

Race 14 - Audible - $5.20, John Velazquez.

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Bernies Blog

Record Pick 6 Pool Expected at Gulfstream Saturday

Friday, March 30, 2018

Carryover stands at more than $4.7 million . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL - A mandatory Rainbow 6 payout with the potential to yield a life-changing payoff will be held on Saturday’s Florida Derby Day program at Gulfstream Park.

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot grew to $4,753,154 today, when the multi-race wager went unsolved for the 43rdconsecutive racing day. The total pool is expected to approach $20 million Saturday due to the promise of producing a big-money score through a mandatory payout.

First-race post time is set for 11:30 a.m. Silks simulcast facility will be open at 8 a.m. for wagering on the Dubai World Cup program.

Guaranteed multi-race pools will also be offered for the Late Pick 4 ($750,000) and the Late Pick 5 ($500,000). The Late Pick 4 will span Races 11-14, while the Late Pick 5 will cover Races 10-14.

Saturday’s six-race Rainbow 6 sequence (Races 9-14) will be anchored by the $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1), featuring a showdown between Holy Bull (G2) winner Audible and Fountain of Youth victor Promises Fulfilled in a nine-horse field that will also include highly regarded graded-stakes winners Catholic Boy and Strike Power.

The record Rainbow 6 payoff was $6.6 million won by Palm Beach bettor Daniel Borislow on May 25, 2014, the day before a scheduled mandatory payout.

A total of $641,888 was wagered into the Rainbow 6 today, adding to a carryover of $4,599,159.48 from Thursday’s program. Multiple tickets with all six winners each returned $13,714.56.

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