Month: June 2021

Lost And Found Presented By LubriSYNHA: Martens Looks Back Fondly On 40th Anniversary Of Belmont Win

June is a special month for former jockey George Martens and his sister Cheryl: both will be celebrating 40th anniversaries of different kinds this year. For George, the sixth day of the month marks the day he guided Summing to victory in the 1981 Belmont Stakes a few days before Cheryl married Tony McNeil. It is easy to imagine the festivities surrounding those occasions with some of racing's biggest names in attendance four decades ago. Now, their lifestyles are much quieter and far from the energized atmosphere of Belmont Park in the New York City suburbs.

Martens is semi-retired and sharing a home with the McNeils near Remington Park where Tony, who closed his own race riding career in 2012, works as a racing official. Martens' 1976 Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice is on full display at the residence.

“I am pretty proud of my accomplishments,” Martens said. “I had so many great people who were behind me, from Hall of Famers to people who were just trying to make an ordinary living training horses. I remember almost every single one of them.”

While meandering down memory lane, Martens rattles off names of leading jockeys, stakes winners, famous stables, high-profile horsemen, and lesser knowns that impacted his productive but relatively brief career centered primarily in New York and the East Coast. With generations of jockeys in his pedigree, including his father Buddy, he naturally gravitated to the track.

“I was raised right outside the gate in (the town of) Elmont,” Martens said to underscore Belmont Park's influence.

He went to the barns with his father whenever time allowed to learn all he could. Not surprisingly, he was skilled enough to obtain his jockey's license when he turned the minimum age of 16. After those initial two mounts in 1974, Martens established himself within the legendary New York jockey colony that included eventual Hall of Famers Angel Cordero Jr., Jorge Velasquez, and Jacinto Vasquez.

“When I started, I was real shy,” Martens said. “I learned so much competing with them every day. They were all great help to me.”

He rode 70 winners in 1975 and another 105 while still an apprentice in his 1976 Eclipse Award season. He transitioned seamlessly when his weight allowance expired later that year and closed his championship season with a career-high 132 victories including 27 as a newly minted journeyman.

Some years were statistically far better than others and with just one win in 1988, Martens decided he was more comfortable being a morning rider. He lost 30 pounds to make a brief comeback in 1995. His record stands at 888 victories including Grade 1 scores in the aforementioned Belmont, the 1986 Selima Stakes on Collins and 1981 United Nations Handicap on his all-time favorite Key to Content.

Martens' life reached a turning point in 2008 when his father was diagnosed with a terminal illness and he relocated from Florida to the outskirts of Oklahoma City, where his parents had retired to be near the McNeils and their children. He spent about five years as an exercise rider for Steve Asmussen and then became a jockey's valet at Remington Park. The track is 1,500 miles southwest of Belmont Park where 60,000-plus watched Summing capture the third leg of the Triple Crown under a hometown celebrity. Echoes of that afternoon no doubt will be heard again this month when the Martens and McNeil families celebrate the milestone anniversaries.

“There is no better feeling that I can have in my life now than reminiscing about racing during the best times of my life,” Martens said. “I have made so many friends with people in the horse business. If it wasn't for the horses, I wouldn't know all these good people who are involved in racing. That is what I take out of what my accomplishments mean to me.”

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Economic Indicators: Derby Return To May Helps Boost Total Wagering Dollars

Equibase, LLC released its fourth monthly report of 2021 on Economic Indicators in Thoroughbred Racing on Friday, June 4. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Equibase has been providing monthly economic indicators advisories. The Advisory is typically disseminated on a quarterly basis to provide key metrics used to measure racing's performance throughout the year.

With the pandemic-instigated racing shut down across much of North America in May of 2020, as well as the rescheduling of the Kentucky Derby, it's no surprise to see the massive 55.84 percent increase in wagering from May of 2020 to May of 2021. The increase in racing is evidenced by the 206 percent increase in races held across the same period.

Average daily wagering, however, was down 51.84 percent from May of 2020 to May of 2021, perhaps indicative of the other options for wagering dollars available as pandemic restrictions continue to decrease across the country.

The more representative year-to-date numbers, from the first five months of 2019 to the first five months of 2021, show total wagering up 12.88 percent while average daily wagering is up 25.55 percent.

May 2021 vs. May 2020
Indicator May 2021 May 2020 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $1,415,509,171 $908,333,874 +55.84%
U.S. Purses $106,723,865 $31,971,002 +233.81%
U.S. Race Days 398 123 +223.58%
U.S. Races 3,249 1,059 +206.80%
U.S. Starts 23,161 9,145 +153.26%
Average Field Size 7.13 8.64 -17.45%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $3,556,556 $7,384,828 -51.84%
Average Purses Per Race Day $268,150 $259,927 +3.16%

YTD 2021 vs. YTD 2020
Indicator YTD 2021 YTD 2020 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $5,284,716,622 $4,056,194,923 +30.29%
U.S. Purses $411,282,722 $254,699,053 +61.48%
U.S. Race Days 1,443 1,001 +44.16%
U.S. Races 12,376 8,421 +46.97%
U.S. Starts 93,411 67,928 +37.51%
Average Field Size 7.55 8.07 -6.43%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $3,662,312 $4,052,143 -9.62%
Average Purses Per Race Day $285,019 $254,445 +12.02%

2019 Comparisons:

May 2021 vs. May 2019
Indicator May 2021 May 2019 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $1,415,509,171 $1,300,923,869 +8.81%
U.S. Purses $106,723,865 $115,776,828 -7.82%
U.S. Race Days 398 450 -11.56%
U.S. Races 3,249 3,650 -10.99%
U.S. Starts 23,161 25,955 -10.76%
Average Field Size 7.13 7.11 +0.25%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $3,556,556 $2,890,942 +23.02%
Average Purses Per Race Day $268,150 $257,282 +4.22%

YTD 2021 vs. YTD 2019
Indicator YTD 2021 YTD 2019 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $5,284,716,622 $4,681,850,887 +12.88%
U.S. Purses $411,282,722 $428,807,298 -4.09%
U.S. Race Days 1,443 1,605 -10.09%
U.S. Races 12,376 13,552 -8.68%
U.S. Starts 93,411 102,513 -8.88%
Average Field Size 7.55 7.56 -0.22%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $3,662,312 $2,917,041 +25.55%
Average Purses Per Race Day $285,019 $267,170 +6.68%

* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.

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Bound For Nowhere Headlines Jaipur

Hard-knocking turf sprint specialist Bound For Nowhere (The Factor) seeks Grade I glory Saturday in the GI Jackpot Jaipur S. at Belmont, a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint S. Missing by a head in the GIII San Simeon S. at Santa Anita in March of 2020, the 7-year-old was a close third after leading the way in Keeneland's GII Shakertown S. that July. Benched following that effort, the bay resurfaced in the Shakertown, which returned to its usual spot on the calendar in early April.

“He's had a lot of minor issues along the way that's taken a lot of time to get to the races, which is why he's only had 15 total starts in his career, but this year he really turned the corner,” said conditioner Wesley Ward. “Each and every work is better than I've ever seen. He's always been the type of horse that wouldn't put much effort into his works. He's not letting anyone outwork him when he's in company. His times are significantly better than in the past. As you go into these big races, you're always dealing with issues. This time we're dealing with zero issues.”

Got Stormy (Get Stormy) has defeated males before and she takes them on again in this spot. Winner of the 2019 GI Fourstardave H., the chestnut was second in last year's renewal before winning the GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint S. in September and the GIII Buffalo Trace Franklin County S. in October. Off the board in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint S. Nov. 7 at Keeneland, the 6-year-old opened 2021 with a win in the GIII Honey Fox S. Feb. 27 and was fifth last time in the GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. May 1.

“She likes to have a target,” said trainer Mark Casse. “A lot of times in these mile races, the pace isn't fast enough for her to have a target and we're hoping that won't be the case going three quarters.”

Fast Boat (City Zip) looks to make it three in a row Saturday as he takes on Grade I company for the first time. Capturing the Pulse Power Turf Sprint S. at Sam Houston Jan. 31, the gelding rallied to victory in the GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint S. Apr. 30.

The post Bound For Nowhere Headlines Jaipur appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Weekend Lineup Presented By Form2Win: Belmont Stakes Racing Festival

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival takes center stage this weekend, with four graded stakes races on Friday at Belmont Park and a total of eight Grade 1 races scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Big Sandy.

While no Triple Crown is on the line, the Belmont will feature an Eclipse Award winner, the Preakness winner, two Grade 1 Derby prep winners, and four other sophomore colts chasing their place in the history books.

Friday, June 4

4:07 p.m. – G2 True North Stakes – Belmont Park

Grade 1-winner Flagstaff bested Eclipse award-winner Whitmore in a thrilling finish last out and will look to win his third consecutive stakes race as part of a seven-horse field in Friday's Grade 2, $300,000 True North for 4-year-olds and up sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs over the main track at Belmont Park.

4:40 p.m. – G3 Bed o' Roses Stakes – Belmont Park

In two winning starts over the Belmont Park main track, Tommy Town Thoroughbreds' Victim of Love has displayed an affinity for the Nassau County oval and will vie to keep such ways intact in Friday's 64th running of the Grade 3, $300,000 Bed o' Roses for older fillies and mares going seven furlongs. Trained by Todd Beattie, Victim of Love's pair of winning starts at Belmont Park took place when sweeping the last two editions of the Grade 3 Vagrancy.

5:15 p.m. – G2 New York Stakes – Belmont Park

Looking to defend her $750,000 New York title will be the popular Graham Motion-trained mare Mean Mary, who is owned by Alex G. Campbell, Jr. and will be ridden by Luis Saez from post 7. The daughter of Scat Daddy seeks her seventh career victory in her 11th start and enters off an impressive gate-to-wire victory three weeks ago in Pimlico's Grade 3 Gallorette, her first start since finishing seventh in November's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. A dominant 5¼-length winner of last year's New York, a 1¼-mile inner turf test, she faces an arguably tougher field in 2021 and the possibility of more cut in the ground.

5:48 p.m. – G2 Belmont Gold Cup – Belmont Park

LECH Racing Limited's Baron Samedi will seek to parlay his winning form in Europe when traveling stateside as the lone international contestant in Friday's seventh running of the Grade 2, $400,000 Belmont Gold Cup at two miles over the Widener turf. Trained by Joseph O'Brien, Baron Samedi began his career with five unplaced efforts, but once gelded and stretched out considerably in distance, the son of Harbour Watch displayed a notable turnaround in form. He conveyed his newfound winning ways in August at Cork Racecourse going ten furlongs over heavy ground while being given a 65 rating.

Saturday, June 5

12:47 p.m. – G1 Woody Stephens – Belmont Park

Undefeated one-turn titans Jackie's Warrior and Drain the Clock will square off in Saturday's 37th running of the Grade 1, $400,000 Woody Stephens presented by Nassau County Industrial Development Agency.

1:22 p.m. – G2 Brooklyn Stakes – Belmont Park

Trainer Todd Pletcher will be well-represented with three contenders in Saturday's Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets. But the Hall of Fame conditioner will also send out a strong contingent in another 1 1/2-mile graded stakes contest on the day, with Ajaaweed and Moretti forming a potent one-two punch in the Grade 2, $400,000 Brooklyn Invitational presented by Northwell Health for 4-year-olds and up.

2:01 p.m. – G1 Acorn Stakes – Belmont Park

Traditionally one of America's premier races for sophomore fillies, Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Acorn at Belmont Park has attracted a compact, quality field to tackle Big Sandy's one-turn mile. Blazing Meadows Farm and Siena Farm's Tim Hamm-trained Dayoutoftheoffice returns to the course and distance of her greatest triumph, last fall's Grade 1 Frizette, in what will be just her second start of the season. Klaravich Stables' Search Results will hope to optimize her second top-level attempt after losing last month's Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks by a neck to divisional leader Malathaat. Trained by Chad Brown, the daughter of Flatter went into the Classic undefeated from three tries, including the Grade 3 Gazelle at the Big A.

2:41 p.m. – G1 Jaipur Stakes – Belmont Park

MyRacehorse Stable and Spendthrift Farm's multiple Grade 1-winner Got Stormy joins defending race-winner and fellow mare Oleksandra in taking on the boys in Saturday's Grade 1, $400,000 Jackpocket Jaipur, a six-furlong turf sprint on Belmont Stakes Day. The 35th running of the Jackpocket Jaipur is a “Win and You're In” qualifier to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in November at Del Mar.

3:18 p.m. – G1 Ogden Phipps Stakes – Belmont Park

With the Friday morning scratches of both Swiss Skydiver and Valiance, the 53rd running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Ogden Phipps has drawn a field of five fillies and mares. G1 Apple Blossom winner Letruska is the morning-line favorite after her upset of champion Monomoy Girl, while Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil is two-for-two so far this year. The prestigious 1 1/16-mile test for older fillies and mares is a Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” qualifier, offering the winner an automatic entry into the Distaff on November 6 at Del Mar.

3:58 p.m. – G1 Just A Game Stakes – Belmont Park

Twelve stakes winners, including 11 graded/group stakes winners—all seeking their first turf Grade 1 score comprise the dozen entered in Saturday's $500,000 Longines Just a Game over one mile on the Widener turf course. The powerhouse stables of Charlie Appleby and Chad Brown make up half of those in a race that has traditionally showcased some of the best turf females in training, including eight Breeders' Cup winners.

4:42 p.m. – G1 Met Mile – Belmont Park

Cash is King and LC Racing's Mischevious Alex will look to build on his already impressive ledger in Saturday's stallion-making Grade 1, $1 million Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap, a one-turn mile for 3-year-olds and up on Belmont Stakes Day. However, Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go, trained by reigning Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, looms the one to beat as the 126 pound highweight with an impressive record of 19-6-3-1 with purse earnings in excess of $4.5 million.

5:30 p.m. – G3 Monmouth Stakes – Monmouth Park

A winner in his 2021 comeback race on April 24 at Pimlico Race Course, Corelli will step up to graded stakes company again when the grass specialist goes in the Grade 3 Monmouth Stakes, the headliner on Saturday's 12-race card at Monmouth Park. The 13th running of the $150,000 Monmouth Stakes, scheduled for 1 and 1/8th miles on the grass, has attracted a field of 10 plus two alternates.

5:38 p.m. – G1 Manhattan Stakes – Belmont Park

Trainer Chad Brown will be loaded for bear in the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Manhattan, with four of the 10 horses entered running under his banner in the 1 1/4-mile inner turf test for 4-year-olds and up on Saturday, Belmont Stakes Day, at Belmont Park. Brown's quartet all have the credentials to win, but that honor may go to Domestic Spending, a 4-year-old son of Kingman who made a successful 2021 debut in the Grade 1 Turf Classic on May 1 at Churchill Downs.

6:49 p.m. – G1 Belmont Stakes – Belmont Park

A talented group that includes an Eclipse Award winner (Essential Quality) and an American Classic victor (Rombauer) will comprise an eight-horse field for the 153rd running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday at Belmont Park, marking the third and final leg of the Triple Crown. Hot Rod Charlie ran a strong third, just one length back to winner Medina Spirit, in the Kentucky Derby, and will get a rematch against Essential Quality. Pletcher, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer, will saddle three contenders as he seeks his fourth career Belmont score: Known Agenda, Overtook, and Bourbonic. Rock Your World notched a Grade 1 win with a 4 1/4-length margin in the Santa Anita Derby in April in his main track debut, improving to 3-for-3 overall to start his career before running 17th in the Kentucky Derby last out. Yuji Inaida's France Go de Ina will look to nab the $1 million bonus offered to the connections of any Japan-based horse who wins the Belmont Stakes.

7:52 p.m. – G2 Monrovia Stakes – Santa Anita

A two-time graded stakes winner who has been idle since well beaten by Eclipse Champion Gamine in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Nov. 7, the Richard Baltas-trained Venetian Harbor heads a field of eight fillies and mares going 6 ½ furlongs on turf in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Monrovia Stakes at Santa Anita.

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