(1) -The current 2-year-old sale at Timonium has turned out to be a blockbuster like the OBS sale before it, and hopefully that will help the nation's race tracks begin to fill out their cards. Short fields have devastated fields all season at all tracks, and what used to be nine or 10-race programs at most of them, has seriously declined.

    On one recent day, Belmont Park carded nine races, as did Indiana Grand, but they were the only two venues around the country to do so. Churchill Downs, Gulfstream, Pimlico, Lone Star, Belterra, Charles Town and Evangeline all had eight, and Golden Gate just seven. Remington Park carded 11 races, but 10 were for quarter horses and one was mixed. Sam Houston had nine for quarter horses and one mixed. 

    The major reason for a decline in handle is (a) less races, and (b) less runners competing in those races. It's simple math. And owners and trainers who are flouting the stupid "bounce" theory and entering their horses more frequently than normal, are taking advantage of the situation.      

   (2) - Journeyman Stud's Khozan, Arindel Farm's Brethren and Double Diamond Farm's First Dude battled all through 2020 in the race to see which Florida stallion would wind up with the most winners for the year. The Dude won the battle with 64 winners, Brethren was second with 53 and Florida's leading stallion, Khozan, had 52.

    So far this year, it has been just Khozan and First Dude, with Khozan leading for several months until earlier this week when First Dude went berserk with four winners on Monday to go up by one, 33-32. However, Khozan moved back into a tie yesterday with a first-time winner who turned in a very sharp performance. Khozan's Success broke his maiden in his second start and the track where he enjoyed his success probably would stump most racing fans who don't live in Illinois. 

    The 3-year-old colt won at FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing and it's a good bet few know that it's the old Fairmount Park.

    Khozan's Success was bred by Ocala's Phillip and Karen Matthews and sold for $37,000 to William Stiritz at the OBS October sale as a yearling. In his first start, he finished fifth at Oaklawn Park before his second try in Illinois in which he went off at 1/5 and paid $2.40, winning by 12 1/2 lengths.

    When Gulfstream Park and NYRA added casinos, purses skyrocketed proportionately, especially in New York. It didn't happen at FanDuel, and the purse for this maiden special was $18,000, but much of it was for Illinois-breds. The final value of the race was $13,388 and Khozan's Success collected $7,200. Not much of a deal for the race track. 

(3) - The problem of major odds changes in races after the field leaves the gate has not abated by one iota. I bet on a horse last week who was 6-1 for much of the wagering, went to 5-1 when the field was approaching the gate, and when it won, the tote board read 8/5. It's always nice to win, but the feeling one gets when the odds have taken a late dive is unique, and very disappointing. 

    

    

            

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