Enable: Record-breaking horse retired from racing
Record-breaking mare Enable, who won 11 Group One races, has been retired from racing.
Month: October 2020
Bluffing 101
Bluffing is used to deceive other player’s into thinking you have a better hand when you really don’t. In order to make the bluff work, you need the other players to think you actually have a better hand by betting or raising.
Bluffing should be done at the right time and done sparingly. Remember, everyone is looking for their own opportunity to bluff. Here are some reason why you shouldn’t bluff.
When Not to Bluff
Player’s Expect You to Bluff: You were caught bluffing and now labeled as apoor bluffer. Don’t stick you hand in the cookie jar until you rebuild your reputation as an honest player, then try to bluff later.
Against Too Many Players: The chances are that someone has a made hand and they’ll stick with it.
Against Bad Players: Bad players have no idea what’s going on. They’ll call you regardless, because they aren’t concerned with what you have. They want to improve their own hand, so they’ll call just about anything.
You lost a Series of Hands: Players will expect you to make some crazy moves to make your money back (playing on tilt). They’ll be ready to call you down.
Again, bluffing should be used sparingly. Here are some scenarios where a typical bluff should be taken into consideration:
The RIGHT Time to Bluff
Against Weak or Tight Players: Once you have a general idea of how your opponents play, your biggest targets would be pounding the weak and tight players who tend to fold easily. However, bluffing too early won’t make them budge; they may not believe you have a better hand or maybe holding a strong hand of their own. (Refer to the table image section)
Few Players in the Pot: It’s easier to trick a few individuals (1-3) rather than a small group. Fewer hand out there, the chances of someone making a reasonable hand are slim.
Everyone has checked and you’re last to act: Betting will force a few players out of the pot, but not all (also known as squeezing). It’s pretty common to see someone bluff and bet on the button, so most of the time players will call because they won’t believe you have the better hand. It’s also a good strategy to see where you stand.
You Bet Preflop and Missed: You’re holding an A Q and bet preflop, and the flop comes down K -8 -5 . Other player’s may still think your hand is strong because of your bet preflop. So a bet on the flop would make your opponents thinking you’ve hit nicely on the flop.
Player’s Fear You: If you won a hand through a good play, and see your opponent a bit aggravated or show respect by commenting on your hand, then trick them in the future by running the same play that beat them. They will more likely fold to your bluff if you play it right.
Semi-Bluffing
A semi-bluff is a partial bluff with some truth in that play. With a semi bluff, you can either win by them folding right then, by improving to the best hand, or by catching a scare card and betting out on the following round. You should have general knowledge of calculating odds before attempting a semi-bluff. Here are a few examples of when to semi-bluff.
Example 1: You’re holding 8 8 in the pocket, someone raises preflop and you call. The flop is a rainbow of 3 – -9 . It’s likely your opponent has overcards (AK, KQ, A10). You don’t want your opponent to catch any of his cards on the turn of river so bet to get the pot then and there.
Example 2: You are holding a J 10 and the flop comes down as Q -9 -5 . At this point you have an open-ended straight draw and a flush draw. You should be concerned with someone having the king or ace of hearts. So betting at the pot might make them fold or give you an idea of where you stand.
‘A Rewarding Win For The Whole Team’: Pletcher Reflects On Happy Saver’s Rapid Ascent, Jockey Club Gold Cup Victory
After numerous close defeats in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup including a disqualification from victory in last year's edition, trainer Todd Pletcher secured the elusive win Saturday when Wertheimer and Frere's unbeaten sophomore Happy Saver rode the rail to victory in the prestigious classic-distance race at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.
Pletcher, who had finished second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup previously with Keen Ice [2017], Palace Malice [2013], Stay Thirsty [2012], Quality Road [2010], Lawyer Ron [2007] and Newfoundland [2004], saddled Vino Rosso in last year's running. Vino Rosso crossed the wire first but was ultimately disqualified to second for interference with Code of Honor in the stretch run.
Pletcher said the long-awaited victory with the son of Super Saver was welcome.
“That was a race that had been alluding us for a while,” Pletcher said. “I thought we broke through last year only to be disqualified. Not only had we not won it, but we had seven seconds, a number of which were very close. It was a very rewarding win for the whole team and it was nice to do it for the Wertheimers, who have been loyal supporters of ours for a long time. He's by Super Saver and out of a mare we trained, so it was a great win all the way around.
“He looks good,” Pletcher said the morning after Happy Saver's win. “He seemed to bounce out of everything well. He's a little bit tired, which I would expect after running a race like that. It seems like he's in good shape.”
Following a debut victory on June 20 at Belmont Park, Happy Saver bested older winners going two turns at Saratoga en route to a triumph in the September 7 Federico Tesio at Laurel Park, ahead of the Jockey Club Gold Cup, where he earned a career best 100 Beyer Speed Figure.
Pletcher praised his newly minted Grade 1-winner on being able to make such a swift climb up the ladder.
“What he's been able to accomplish you don't see very many other horses do,” Pletcher said. “He went from a seven-furlong maiden on June 20 to a mile and an eighth allowance at Saratoga, to a mile and an eighth stake at Laurel and came back to Belmont and then to win a Grade 1 going a mile and a quarter against older horses is something you don't see very often.”
In winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup, a Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” event, Happy Saver earned an all-fees paid entry into the Grade 1, $6-million Breeders' Cup Classic on November 7 at Keeneland, which Pletcher said is under strong consideration.
“That's what we're going to think about,” Pletcher said. “We'll see how he bounces out of this and let him take us there when he wants to. Speaking to the Wertheimers last night, they're in no rush and they plan on racing him next year.”
Should Happy Saver make the trip for the Breeders' Cup, he would seek to give Pletcher a second straight win in the Classic after winning last year's edition at Santa Anita with Vino Rosso. Wertheimer and Frere have never won the Classic, but owned Breeders' Cup heroes Halfbridled, who took the 2003 Juvenile Fillies for Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, and international superstar Goldikova who captured three consecutive runnings of the Mile from 2008-10.
Happy Saver's sire Super Saver gave Pletcher his first triumph in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in 2010 after a slew of placings.
“I don't see a lot of similarities,” Pletcher said. “The one thing I would say is that from a physical standpoint, they're both very good-looking and well-balanced horses. Super Saver could get a little intense in the paddock and this one is more laid back.”
Other possible Breeders' Cup contenders for Pletcher include Grade 1-winners Valiance [Distaff] and Halladay [Mile] as well as impressive maiden winner Likeable [Juvenile] and Grade 2 Bourbon winner Mutasaabeq [Juvenile Turf].
Pletcher also spoke of recent first out maiden winner Malathaat, who gave Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez his 2,000th win at Belmont Park, and said that the $100,000 Tempted on November 6 going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct could be in play for the regally-bred daughter of Curlin out of the Grade 1-winning A.P. Indy mare Dreaming of Julia.
“I thought she ran really well the other day,” Pletcher said. “She's obviously bred to be a very nice filly.”
The post ‘A Rewarding Win For The Whole Team’: Pletcher Reflects On Happy Saver’s Rapid Ascent, Jockey Club Gold Cup Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Galilean Emerges From Stretch Duel, Inquiry With California Flag Win
Trainer John Sadler's classy Galilean cut back in distance, added blinkers and survived a stewards inquiry to prevail in Sunday's $100,000 California Flag Handicap at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, the 4-year-old colt by Uncle Mo was up to nip Ultimate Bango by a head while getting 5 1/2 furlongs on turf in 1:02.13.
Away alertly from his outside post, Galilean tracked pacesetter Mikes Tiznow and Ricardo Gonzalez into and around the far turn and was one length off of him a quarter mile out. As Mikes Tiznow began to shorten stride, Galilean drifted inward some, causing Gonzalez to steady at the sixteenth pole and from there, Galilean was able to outrun Ultimate Bango late.
“Unfortunately, my horse didn't want to switch leads and he was hanging in the whole way,” said Rispoli, who had ridden him for the first time at Del Mar on Aug. 23. “I was obligated to just ride it with him and to try to make him as straight as I can, but he's a huge horse. I got (the win) because he was the (best) horse in the race.”
Fifth to world-class turf miler Mo Forza in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile Handicap on turf Aug. 23, Galilean was off as the 3-2 favorite in a field of five California-bred or sired 3-year-olds and up and paid $5.00, $3.00 and $2.20.
Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Denise Barker, William Sandbrook, John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith, Galilean, who is out of the El Prado mare Fresia, notched his sixth win, all stakes, in his 12th career start. With the winner's share of $60,000, he now has earnings of $577,098.
“He's a really good horse,” said Sadler who took over training duties five starts back on Feb. 29, 2020. “This is the third stakes we've won with him. … He's got so much class. We changed things up today, running short, but we added blinkers and as you saw, he's got a ton of natural speed. Long range, it's exciting because these Uncle Mo's are becoming great stud prospects and that's very encouraging for him.
“We're excited about the new turf chute here at Santa Anita and we'll look at running him in a stake going six and a half (furlongs) this winter. We'll probably stick with the state-bred program, there's just so much money there.”
Ultimate Bango, who was also adding blinkers in his first start for Mark Glatt, tracked Galilean to the far turn, kept inside of Mikes Tiznow through the stretch drive while making the lead inside the furlong pole, but couldn't keep the winner safe late. Off at 9-2 with Abel Cedillo, Ultimate Bango paid $5.00 and $3.20 while finishing 1 1/4 lengths in front of Rookie Mistake.
Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Rookie Mistake finished well at 9-1 and paid $4.60 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.71, 45.09 and 56.29.
Named for the Hi Card Ranch-bred winner of the 2009 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, the California Flag is for eligible California-bred or sired 3-year-olds and up and is part of the lucrative Golden State Series, which is sponsored by the CTBA.
The post Galilean Emerges From Stretch Duel, Inquiry With California Flag Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
