January, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Life is Good Possible for San Felipe

Life is Good (Into Mischief) exited his 3/4-length victory over late-closing stablemate Medina Spirit (Protonico) in Saturday’s GIII Sham S. in fine shape and could make his next start in the Mar. 6 GII San Felipe S., trainer Bob Baffert reported Sunday.

“They both came back well, so we’re pretty happy about both of them,” Baffert said. “The San Felipe is a race we’re considering, but I might keep them separated. I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet. It’s a long way off, but they both ran really well.”

Despite Life is Good’s fast-diminishing advantage nearing the wire Saturday, Baffert is not concerned about distance limitations for the ‘TDN Rising Star.’

“I always tell Mike [Smith] to try and save something,” Baffert said. “Life Is Good wasn’t as tired as I thought he could have been. He needs to learn to relax a little bit better, but he will. He’ll mature, just like [2020 GI Kentucky Derby and Sham S. winner] Authentic. When he won the Sham last year, he was sort of puzzling, zig-zagging all the way down the stretch, but they’re babies. Still, you can see their raw talent.”

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Kazushi Kimura to Spend Winter in Saudi Arabia

Grade I-winning jockey Kazushi Kimura, who was named the 2019 Eclipse Award Outstanding Apprentice Jockey, will spend the winter of 2020/21 riding primarily for Prince Sultan bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz in Saudi Arabia, he confirmed to the TDN on Sunday.

“Yes,” Kimura told the TDN regarding his Saudi Arabian posting. “I’m gonna ride in Saudi Arabia until the middle of March, then I will be back to Woodbine before the opening day.”

Kimura, who was also Canada’s Outstanding Apprentice Jockey in 2018, celebrated four graded winners in 2020 led by Gretzky the Great (Nyquist) in the GI Summer S. His other graded victories include Lady Grace (Kantharos) and Artie’s Princess (We Miss Artie) at Grade II level and Field Pass (Lemon Drop Kid) in the GIII Ontario Derby. From 2,152 total mounts, the Japanese-born reinsman has booted home 337 winners (16%) with an in-the-money percentage of 44%. His mounts’ earnings stand at $11,163,055 in North America.

Through Jan. 3, Kimura has already had two rides at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh. Kimura rode the unplaced G K Chesterton (Ire) (Poet’s Voice {GB}) for Nawa Faihaan Almundeel on New Year’s Day. His first run for his patron Prince Sultan bin Mishal was a 13th aboard Shuman (KSA) (Commissioner) in a local maiden on Jan. 2. However, it is surely only a matter of time before the young jockey returns to the winner’s circle.

“Yes, I’ve been getting good experience [in Saudi Arabia] so far,” the 21-year-old added.

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Jockey C.J. McMahon Charged With Attempted Murder In Louisiana

Jockey Charles J. (C.J.) McMahon, 26, was arrested by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office in Louisiana on Jan. 2 and charged with attempted murder in the second degree, illegal use of weapons, and possession of schedule 1 drugs.

Bond of $80,000 was set for the three charges and McMahon has a scheduled court date on Tuesday, Jan. 5.

McMahon was taken into custody at 4 p.m. CT on Saturday afternoon.

Previously a leading rider at Lone Star Park and Delta Downs, McMahon is coming off his least productive year since 2014, winning 47 races from 391 mounts that earned $1,147,087. He enjoyed his best years in 2015 and '16, winning 219 races in 2015 (ranking 11th nationally) and compiling mount earnings of $4,989,625 the following year. McMahon has won three graded stakes: the 2016 Texas Mile Stakes (G3) with Great Minds and the Super Derby (G3) and Oklahoma Derby (G3) with Texas Chrome in 2016.

The son of a Quarter Horse jockey and grandson of a trainer, McMahon began riding horses at an early age and took out his apprentice jockey's license at 16, recording his first win at Evangeline Downs in 2011. Most recently he rode the Delta Downs meet in Vinson, La., where he won with two of 41 mounts, his last appearance there on Dec. 28. He was named to ride the Jan. 8 and Jan. 9 programs at Sam Houston Race Park in Texas.

McMahon has 1,046 career victories from 6,734 races for mount earnings of $22,682,202, according to Equibase.

McMahon was suspended by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission for 30 days in 2017 for reportedly testing positive for methamphetamine and THC.

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NYRA Handle Tops $1.8 Billion in 2020

Total handle on the 157 race days held at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course meets in 2020 was $1,813,935,091, the New York Racing Association announced Sunday. The average daily handle of $11,553,727 was a 19% increase over 2019.

Since New York racing resumed June 3 through the end of 2020, all-sources handle totaled $1,586,344,888, a $7,059,402 increase over the same period in 2019. Average daily handle from June 3 through the end of 2020 was $13,443,601, marking a 16% increase over the same period in 2019.

With 43 fewer race days due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, all-sources handle declined year-over-year by 14% compared to the $2,108,126,369 generated in 2019.

Average field size for the 1,507 races completed in 2020 was 7.82, a 6% increase over 2019.

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