January, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Pick 5 Carryover Spurs Brisk Wagering On Saturday Night Meadowlands Program

Handle reached remarkable heights and Let It Ride N stamped himself as the top harness horse currently in training on an eventful Saturday night at The Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J.

Wagering on the 15-race program totaled $4,562,477, which topped the “non-event” 2020 best of $4.1 million on June 20, when there were 18 races on the card. The average per race was $304,165, a number not seen since Hambletonian Day, when an average of $358,163 was put in play.

From the get-go Saturday, the action was fast and furious, as $565,076 was bet in the first race, thanks to $314,217 in “new money” wagered into the 20-cent Pick-5, which saw a total pool of $360,948 after the carryover of $46,731 was added in.

Another $468,040 was wagered on the sixth race, due in large part to an Early 50-cent Pick-4 pool of $120,947. The Late 50-cent Pick-4 was predictably popular as well, with $102,248 in action leading to $351,354 in total play. The single-race $350,000 barrier would be broken four times during the night.

RIDE, RIDE, RIDE: The incredible early success of the Nifty Norman-trained Let It Ride N continued in the featured $28,000 Open/Preferred Handicap for pacers, as the 8-year-old gelded son of Rock N Roll Heaven-Love A Gamble stayed perfect in five North American starts since his arrival from Australia in late November.

Driver Dexter Dunn didn't ask Let It Ride N for big speed at the start, settling in seventh along the rail from post nine in the nine-horse field around the first turn. Searching for a second consecutive score, Harambe Deo set a fast pace, hitting the quarter in :26.1.

Before the half, Dunn had Let It Ride N racing on the rim, following the first-over Rock Diamonds N as Harambe Deo paced the half in :53.2. Nearing the five-eighths, Rock Diamonds N started to back up in the 1-2 favorite's face, so Dunn had to move three-wide likely earlier than he would have liked.

It didn't matter.

“He had no choice [but to move him],” said Norman of Dunn's aggressiveness. “But the horse has a huge kick and seems to be able to carry his speed a long way.”

Let It Ride N gobbled up ground while three-wide around the far turn and collared Harambe Deo shortly after they straightened up in the stretch before blowing his foes away in a thoroughly dominant performance, scoring by 2 lengths over the late-rallying Hesa Kingslayer N after pacing his final quarter in :26.1. Vettel N closed for third. Highalator, the 9-2 second choice, finished seventh, with Harambe Deo (7-1) eighth.

“He really amazed me,” said Norman of his prized pupil. “He doesn't seem to have any bottom in him. I'm in shock again tonight. He's got an amazing brush. What impressed me the most, is once he passed Harambe Deo, he kicked off again like he had another gear.”

Let It Ride N, who won at The Meadowlands on Dec. 12 in 1:48.4 and now has three wins at the mile oval, lowered his lifetime best to 1:48.1. He's now won 23-of-59 lifetime starts and earned $360,958 for owners Enzed Racing Stable Inc.

“He's 8 years old,” said Norman. “You don't expect 8-year-olds to do this. All I've done is put him on Lasix, so he must have been bleeding back home. Next, I'll take him to Yonkers to see if he can get around a half-mile track. We might try the [Borgata] series there. I'm going to have to stake him to some races this year. He looks like he can be a Grand Circuit horse. I have to give him that chance.”

A LITTLE MORE: Dunn and Yannick Gingras picked up right where they left off in 2020, as each won three times on the card. … Norman had a training double, as did Stacy Chiodo. … Racing resumes Friday at 6 p.m. … The Big M will race every Friday and Saturday from now through Hambletonian Day, Aug. 7.

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NYRA Reports 19 Percent Increase In Daily Average Wagering During Pandemic-Shortened Year

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has announced that its 2020 race meets conducted at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course generated all-sources handle of more than $1.8 billion.

Total handle over the 157 race days contested in 2020 was $1,813,935,091 for an average daily handle of $11,553,727, a 19 percent increase over 2019. Average field size for the 1,507 races completed in 2020 was 7.82, a six percent increase over 2019.

Since the resumption of live racing on 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 percent increase over the same period in 2019.

Despite the loss of 43 race days to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in 27 percent fewer race days and 25 percent fewer races than in 2019, all-sources handle declined year-over-year by just 14 percent compared to the $2,108,126,369 generated in 2019.

At the outset of the pandemic, NYRA voluntarily suspended live racing operations on March 19 to devote all resources, energy and attention to maintaining the health and welfare of the backstretch community. Live racing resumed June 3 when NYRA opened the Belmont Park spring/summer meet to mark the return of professional sports in New York. Since June 3, all NYRA tracks have been operated without spectators and with only a limited number of essential personnel, horsemen and owners on-site.

The abbreviated 25-day Belmont spring/summer meet generated $15,466,198 in average daily handle from all sources, a 42 percent increase over the 2019 spring/summer meet. Despite running 23 fewer days than in 2019, a 48 percent decrease, all sources handle during the spring/summer meet declined by just 26 percent for a total of $386,654,955.

The June 20 Belmont Stakes Day card, which featured 12 races and six graded stakes, highlighted by Tiz the Law's victory in the 152nd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes, generated all sources handle of $67,753,336.

NYRA held its 2020 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course as scheduled and without interruption. All-sources handle for the 2020 summer meet totaled $702,535,468 compared to $705,343,949 wagered from all sources on Saratoga in 2019. Average daily handle for the 40-day meet was $17,563,387.

The 2020 fall meet at Belmont Park generated $9,923,813 in average daily handle from all sources, marking a 33.6 percent increase over the 2019 fall meet.

Despite running 10 fewer days than in 2019, the all sources handle for the Belmont fall meet totaled $267,942,961, just 2.5 percent lower than in 2019. Due to the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, NYRA adjusted the fall schedule by adding a one-week break following the conclusion of the summer meet at Saratoga. Consequently, the 2020 fall meet was contested over 27 days compared to 37 days in 2019, a 27 percent decrease in race dates.

The recently concluded Big A fall meet, which ran from November 6 through December 6, generated $9,261,276 in average daily handle from all sources for a 12.8 percent increase over 2019. Conducted over 18 race days, the Aqueduct fall meet generated all sources handle of $166,702,976. The 2019 fall meet, which was conducted over 25 race days, generated all sources handle of $205,249,710. A total of 175 races were run during the Aqueduct fall meet in 2020, equating to 58 fewer than the number of races run in 2019.

NYRA conducted a total of 127 stakes races in 2020, not including New York-bred and NYSSS races, accounting for 25 percent of all stakes run in the United States. Of the 127 stakes, 95 were of the graded variety, representing 25 percent of all graded stakes run in the United States. NYRA hosted 33 Grade 1 stakes in 2020, or 35 percent of all Grade 1 races run in the United States. Due to the myriad impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the reorganization of the stakes calendar, 36 stakes races scheduled for 2020 were not run, with 17 of them graded.

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Fog of War: The New War Front in Town

The town of Stillwater, New York, just outside Saratoga Springs, is often called the ‘turning point of the American Revolution.’ It was there that one of the critical battles in the Battle of Saratoga was won and so it is fitting that the new stallion in town, standing at Barry Ostrager’s Questroyal North, is Fog of War (War Front–Say {Ire}, Galileo {Ire}). This son of War Front and winner of the GI Summer Stakes at Woodbine at two will stand as the property of Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm Inc. and Three C Stables, LLC with a stud fee set at $7,000 LFSN.

A $400,000 Keeneland September yearling, Fog of War was purchased by White Birch Farm and raced for his entire career with Chad Brown in Brant’s colors.

“Fog of War has been a horse we’ve been following since early on in his career,” said Christopher Bernhard, general manager at Questroyal and advisor to Three C Stables. “He was a maiden special weight winner here in Saratoga and shipped up to Woodbine for a second start [in the GI Summer S.] and looked pretty hopeless at the top of the stretch. Ultimately, he got free and got ahead of Preakness winner War of Will (War Front) at the wire. He won by about a length and a half. Just to have all that traffic in just his second race and then when he finally got free, he just kind of shook loose. He probably would have been one of the favorites for the Breeders’ Cup that year if he didn’t come out of the race with some sore shins. And, so they put him away for a little while.”

Brant, speaking to the TDN on Nov. 17, said he was impressed with Fog of War’s two-year-old season as well.

“Fog of War’s win first time out at Saratoga and his Grade I victory in the “Win and You’re In” Summer S. at Woodbine beating War of Will showed us that he was our best colt of that crop and marked him as one of the clear favorites for the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf,” said Brant. “Unfortunately, Fog bucked his shins and would not make the race but his undefeated 2-year-old campaign managed to show everyone his brilliant turn of foot and class.”

Said Bernhard, “Fog of War, to me, is probably the nicest pedigree of any horse that’s come to the state. War Front has established himself as a very good sire of sires at this point. His son Declaration of War had a Breeders’ Cup winner with Fire at Will. The Factor has also had numerous Grade I stakes horses. War Front also has several young sons that are at stud now like Omaha Beach who was an incredibly popular horse last year. And, then Claiborne Farm will be standing War of Will for his first season this coming breeding season.”

“Fog of War’s, dam, Say, was a Group Stakes winner, Group 1 Stakes-placed over in Europe,” Bernhard continued. “She had three foals of racing age. All three of them are stakes winners by War Front. The second dam was an incredible race filly here named Riskaverse, who made a little over $2 million dollars and danced every dance here. She was a $5 million broodmare prospect. The female family includes Havre de Grace, who was a $10 million broodmare prospect several years ago and sold to Mandy Pope. And Toll Fee, the third dam, is a brilliant female family with countless number of Group and Graded stakes winners.”

Chris Larsen, founder of Three C Stables, named for himself, his wife Colleen and his son Conner, became interested in horse racing after a serious motorcycle accident. He invested with West Point Thoroughbreds

“I was lucky enough to start off as a partner in Saratoga Russell (Trippi) and Justwhistledixie (Dixie Union),” said Larsen. “They were both outstanding runners and it was great working with West Point and Terry Finley.”

When Larsen decided try his hand at breeding racehorses, he started with the fillies then racing with West Point.

“Instead of selling them all at auction, we would have them appraised and I would decide whether or not to buy them. For instance, I bought and still have Fitz Just Right,” said Larsen. “I enjoy the idea of trying to create something. When you breed a horse that goes on to win a race, it puts you on top of the world.”

Larsen met Bernhard a decade or so ago when he was looking for someone to oversee his mares and advise him on breeding decisions.

“I’ve been doing this for close to a decade with Chris’s help,” said Larsen. “He has been looking for a stallion prospect for New York and when he mentioned Fog of War, I was like ‘that’s the horse.'”

“I am huge believer in the Galileo mare and you can’t take anything away from War Front,” said Larsen. “You have two great sire lines in Fog of War. He could be the horse that really carries on the Danzig line. I feel that strongly about him. I like him so much I decided to invest a lot more in mares and become more of a commercial breeder.”

“It was made even better when we found out we could partner with Peter,” said Larsen. “It’s the right horse with the right guy, with the right partner, and he’s got the right support. I’m really looking forward to it.”

In speaking to the TDN in November, Larsen added: “This will give breeders access to the world’s most successful sire lines… as well as taking advantage of the lucrative New York State breeder awards and restricted racing programs. We think Fog of War is destined to be New York State’s great sire.”

Adjusting to life on the farm at Questroyal seems to be no problem for Fog of War.

“I’ve been really impressed with the way Fog of War has handled coming in off of the racetrack,” said Bernhard. “You know, we’ve had quite a few showings and he’s come right into the breeding shed, stands up like he’s been doing this his whole life.”

“He has been a sweetheart to be around in the stall. I picked him up a Jollyball so he can throw that at me every day. And he’s just been a complete gentleman. We’re really excited to get him turned out in big field and let him do his thing and the breeding shed will open in a few weeks.”

“I’m going to say at this point we’ve got seventy-five in-house mares that are going to Fog of War,” said Bernhard. “When we were able to negotiate a deal with Mr. Brant, who’s also going to be sending a significant number of mares from Kentucky to breed to him, we went to Keeneland and Mr. Larsen bought 31 mares at the Keeneland November sale specifically for the horse. I don’t believe there’s been a horse that’s had that opportunity right off the racetrack with that volume of in-house horses.”

“Fog of War has all the makings of a potentially high-class stallion with his conformation, pedigree and speed,” said Brant in November. “I am so thrilled Fog will have the opportunity to be an exciting freshman stallion in New York and also allow White Birch Farm to be a new player in the New York State breeding and racing program.”

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Equiano: New And Proven

The dual Group 1-winning sprinter Equiano (Fr) has moved from Newsells Park Stud in England to the Irish National Stud. The stud’s director of sales Gary Swift discusses the sire of Group/Grade 1 winners The Tin Man (GB) and Belvoir Bay (GB) while Patrick Diamond provides an update on the INS Mare Syndicate.

TDN: Gary, you have a new stallion in Equiano, but he’s a proven sire compared to the majority of new stallions in Ireland. Why was he of interest to the Irish National Stud?

GS: Well firstly Equiano was a dual King’s Stand winner and the highest-rated son of Acclamation GB). He is already the sire of 29 stakes horses and four Group/Grade 1 horses. We felt that given the year that is in it, it was better for us to stand a proven sire like him than a new sire that we didn’t know a whole lot about. It is a little bit of a safety measure and the bookings we have taken so far tell us that the Irish breeders have reacted very well to him being in Ireland.

TDN: You mentioned that he has a number of stakes horses and Group 1 horses. Can you highlight some of his best progeny?

GS: One of his more notable horses is The Tin Man (GB) who is an exceptional horse. He is the winner of three Group 1s. Belvoir Bay (GB) is a Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner and she is a consistent Group 1 horse. All of his progeny seem to be sound and consistent horses who factor over a number of years, they don’t just appear one afternoon in a Group 1. There seems to be a longevity and a hard-knocking quality to Equiano’s stock.

TDN: Have you noticed any particular nicks that seem to work well with Equiano?

GS: The Acclamation line is well known to crossover great with a range of mares and we think daughters of Invincible Spirit (Ire) will cross into him very well as would anything with Danehill Dancer (Ire). Most recently there are a couple of daughters of Tamayuz (GB) that seem to be doing quite well on the cross and I think, speed on speed, will carry this horse to another 20 stakes horses, and hopefully another couple of Group 1 horses as well.

TDN: What is he like in temperament and conformation?

GS: Julian Dollar, of Newsells Park, was able to tell us that he had an amazing attitude and he passes that on to his stock. They are extraordinarily mild-mannered horses and I think that is why his progeny function at two, three, four and beyond. Nowadays horses can’t be trained for longevity if they don’t have great temperaments. Equiano himself was a very expensive yearling, bred by Lady O’Reilly and throughout his career he was a resilient, robust horse and physically very sound, which he passes on to his stock.

TDN: You mentioned earlier that bookings have been strong for Equiano so far, can you detail what level of support you think he will get in 2021?

GS: Well the Irish National Stud has committed to sending him eight or 10 mares and they are all speed mares. One or two of them are young fillies starting off their breeding careers and we think he is a no-brainer for fillies starting out. With bookings from breeders we are seeing a pattern where breeders have a mare who has had two or three big covers and now they are just sitting back a bit with that mare waiting for those foals to come through. They are now booking in to Equiano as they want a proven horse of value. We are standing him at €3,000 which we think is an incredible price.

TDN: Patrick, how many years has the INS Mare Syndicate been going?

PD: We started our original syndicate in 2018 and off the back of the success we had from it we launched a new syndicate in 2020. The interest in the syndicates has been excellent, so we are just about to launch our 2021 syndicate.

TDN: What are some of the successes the syndicate has had?

PD: The first foal we took to the ring, from the mares, was an Awtaad (Ire) colt that we sold for €95,000, so naturally the syndicate was delighted with that. Our star mare, from the original syndicate, sold an Invincible Spirit colt for €330,000 at Goffs in 2019 and he has gone to Charlie Appleby now, so we are really excited to see what he could do in his two-year-old career. This year we sold an Invincible Spirit colt yearling for €120,000 to James Ferguson. In its short history we have had a great success and we are looking forward to building on that.

TDN: Is there a particular criteria the mares need to meet to become part of the syndicate?

PD: I suppose we try to tick all the boxes and buy premium mares but at a value that we think makes sense, ideally young mares, carrying good covers and with nice deep families. We have seen in recent years that there is a little bit of value to be found in buying the slightly more proven mares who are a little older.

TDN: What mares have you got for the 2021 syndicate so far?

PD: We bought our first mare in England, Millicent Fawcett (GB), who is a daughter of Kingman (GB). She is a winner and was trained by John Gosden. She is very well related, being a half-sister to a Group 2 and Group 3 winner. She is in foal to Showcasing (GB) who has done extremely well. This is her first cover so we are looking forward to seeing her first foal in 2021.

We bought another mare in Arqana, a Sea The Stars (Ire) in foal to Wootton Bassett (GB). She is a sister to a Group 1 winner and has a really good, strong family. She has a Siyouni (Fr) and a Frankel (GB) to run for her. As I said, she is currently in foal to Wootton Bassett and we managed to purchase her for half of his 2021 nomination so we feel like we got a really good bargain.

TDN: Is there a sense of community forming among the syndicate members now that the syndicate has been running a few years?

PD: Definitely, and it is growing. 2020 has been a tough year and people haven’t been able to get to see each other but we did a lot of Zoom calls and there has been a lot more content on the WhatsApp group. There’s definitely a great relationship building between our members. There are a lot of people from all walks of life. Some people were breeders before that scaled back or have had small operations and are looking to invest into a slightly higher-quality animal. Other people are new to breeding, which is great, and it is great to have people coming in with different angles and different viewpoints. We get the syndicate members involved in the mating plans and our selection process so they are involved from the word go. Quite often our syndicate members have come up with great ideas which have proved successful.

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