March, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Sam Houston Boosts Purses For Second Time, Gets Additional Racing Day

Sam Houston Race Park announced that overnight purses at the Houston, Texas, track will be increased for the second time this season. The adjustment will be implemented on Wednesday, March 17, and will continue through the conclusion of the 2021 Thoroughbred Horse meet racing season on April 3.

All main track overnight purses will be increased by $6,000 and turf purses will be boosted by $1,000. The first purse increase was made on February 17 due to an extremely successful beginning of the meet. Sam Houston Race Park noted a handle increase of 40% in the five weeks of the season, bolstered by a record-setting handle of $5.3 million on its Houston Racing Festival card, which took place on January 31. Over the last four weeks, horseplayers have supported the four-day live racing schedule and continue to laud the racetrack's industry-low takeout of 12% on multi-race wagers.

One additional race day has been added to the 2021 Thoroughbred season. The Texas Racing Commission approved Sam Houston Race Park's request to add Wednesday, March 31 to the schedule. The meet. which began on January 8, will conclude on April 3 with live racing each Wednesday and Thursday at 4:00 pm (CT) and Friday and Saturday night card beginning at 6:45 pm.

“We are pleased to offer an additional day of racing and a second purse increase this meet,” said Frank Hopf, Sam Houston Race Park's senior director of racing operations. “After we announced our first increase, we cancelled four days of racing due to the winter storm in February that deeply affected Texas. Since then, we have been supported very well by our horsemen and horseplayers who continue to respond to our racing product.”

Texas Champions Day, which will take place on March 20, is the next premier racing night of the season. Each of the purses for the seven stakes saluting Texas-breds have been increased from $75,000 to $100,000.

Sam Houston Race Park is Houston's premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles from downtown Houston. The Park offers a variety of attractions including a Suite Level featuring luxurious suites overlooking the racetrack, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner's Circle Restaurant and the Jockey Club.

For more information on upcoming live racing, shows, events and tickets, please visit www.shrp.com.

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Collaborate Works for Florida Derby

Three Chimneys Farm and e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Collaborate (Into Mischief), last seen with a 'TDN Rising Star' graduation at Gulfstream Feb. 27, tuned up for an expected start in the Mar. 27 GI Curlin Florida Derby with a sharp four-furlong work in :47.05 (1/51) at the Hallandale oval Sunday. He worked in company with Sound Machine (Into Mischief), a 4-year-old stakes-winning filly.

“He showed great progression today. He's always been a good work horse,” trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. said. “He worked with Sound Machine. She was a little keen early on. She was on the outside and was leading and they finished head-and-head and he galloped out stronger than her.”

Collaborate graduated by a geared-down 12 1/2 lengths on the GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. undercard after completing a one-turn mile in 1:36.35.

“He has the looks physically; he's big, tall. Few are comparable to him in looks. As big as he is, he's very athletic, very fluid, very efficient mover,” Joseph said. “Watching him work today, you don't even know he's working that quick. He came the last quarter in :22 4/5 and galloped out. You don't think he's going that fast, but when you look at the clock, he is.”

Collaborate will be making just the third start of his career in the Florida Derby.

“I think he's a special horse,” Joseph said. “Obviously, we're asking a lot of him to make his third start in the Florida Derby and have to face a horse like Greatest Honour and a few others that will be more seasoned. I feel like he's a horse who has the ability to overcome seasoning.”

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Sam Houston Announces Purse Increase

Sam Houston Race Park is raising overnight purses for the second time at its current meet. Beginning Mar. 17, all main track overnight purses will be increased by $6,000 and turf purses will be boosted by $1,000.

The Texas track, which also announced a purse increase Feb. 17, has produced a 40% increase in handle during the first five weeks of the season and set a $5.3-million handle record on its Houston Racing Festival card Jan. 31.

Sam Houston has also added Mar. 31 to its racing calendar Mar. 31. The current race meet, which began Jan. 8, concludes Apr. 8.

“We are pleased to offer an additional day of racing and a second purse increase this meet,” said Frank Hopf, Sam Houston Race Park's Senior Director of Racing Operations. “After we announced our first increase, we cancelled four days of racing due to the winter storm in February that deeply affected Texas. Since then, we have been supported very well by our horsemen and horseplayers who continue to respond to our racing product.”

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Brooklyn Strong Works for Wood

Mark Schwartz's Brooklyn Strong (Wicked Strong), off since winning the GII Remsen S. last December, tuned up for a start in the Apr. 3 GII Wood Memorial with a five-furlong work in 1:01.13 (3/13) at Parx Saturday.

“He went by himself from the pole. Hopefully, we can hit one work a week up to the Wood,” said trainer Daniel Velazquez, who wasn't on hand for the drill after being hospitalized with a lacerated liver and torn bicep suffered during a training accident earlier Saturday morning.

Velazquez had hoped to start Brooklyn Strong in last Saturday's GIII Gotham S., but missed the race after a minor illness and lack of works due to inclement weather.

His win in the nine-furlong Remsen last year earned Brooklyn Strong 10 qualifying points to the GI Kentucky Derby and the Wood Memorial offers an additional 100-40-20-10 qualifying points.

“We know he can get the nine furlongs, I just want to make sure that he's ready,” said Velazquez. “We have another three weeks before the Wood and if we can get all the works in without interruption, I know we'll be ready.”

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