One of the most controversial players in the world of poker, Phil Hellmuth, Jr. is often known by the not-so-affectionate moniker of “The Poker Brat.” But while his antics at the table have been known to ruffle a few feathers, Hellmuth has also been one of the most dominating players over the course of his career. In fact, many fans of the game view him as the face of professional poker, especially Texas Hold ’em.
Born July 16th, 1964 in Madison, Wisconsin, Phillip J. Hellmuth, Jr. was the oldest of five children. Being the son of a successful university assistant dean, Phil excelled in school and looked poised to follow in his father’s academic footsteps. Fate, however, had other plans.
Phil enrolled in the University of Wisconsin, and it was here that his poker career got off the ground. He was initially invited to play in cash poker games at the student union, but soon found that the low-dollar games didn’t present enough of a challenge. Months later, he was competing against professors and other members of the campus community in $100 buy-in games. Hellmuth did so well that he was able to pay off his student loans and still have a $20,000 bankroll left over. At this point, he dropped out of college in his junior year and became a professional poker player.
In 1989, the 24-year-old Hellmuth defeated Johnny Chan to become the youngest champion of the World Series of Poker main event. As of 2006, he has won an impressive nine World Series of Poker bracelets (bracelets are awarded to tournament winners), all in the Texas Hold ’em events. He was the season three champion of Late Night Poker, and he defeated Chris Ferguson in 2005 to win the inaugural National Heads-Up Poker Championship. As of 2006, his total live tournament winnings exceed $7,200,000.
His World Series of Poker accomplishments include: first place finishes in The Championship Event in 1989, Limit Hold ’em in 1992, 1993, and 2003, two No Limit Hold ’em events in 1993, one in 2001, and one in 2003, and Pot Limit Hold ’em in 1997.
However, for all his accomplishments, Phil has yet to win at the final table of a World Poker Tour event. He finished fourth at the Lucky Chances event (season one) and third at Foxwoods (season two). No doubt, this brings a smile to the face of his detractors.
Hellmuth is also involved in many ventures away from the card table. He frequently contributes to Card Player Magazine, as well as having penned Play Poker like the Pros, Bad Beats and Lucky Draws, Poker Brat (which was on the best-seller list for a month), and The Greatest Poker Hands Ever Played. He has also made several instructional videos, including Phil Hellmuth’s Million Dollar Poker Secrets. He is a spokesperson for the Ultimate Bet online poker room, and has been collaborating with Oakley on a signature line of sunglasses (no doubt, to compliment his signature line of clothing). Phil also writes a syndicated column which is printed in over 40 U.S. newspapers.
When he’s not traveling around the world playing poker, Hellmuth makes his home in Palo Alto, California with his wife Katherine (a psychiatrist at Stanford University) and two sons, Phillip III and Nicholas. His favorite food is salmon, while his favorite music and movies range from Pearl Jam and The American President to The Rolling Stones and The Matrix.
He estimates that his skill at poker and fondness for self-promotion may earn him as much as $400,000,000 in his lifetime. Then again, would you expect anything less from the face of modern professional poker?
In celebration of the life and memory of celebrity David Cassidy, the 5th Annual David Cassidy: A Triple Crown Life Event will be held at Putnum Place in Saratoga Springs, NY Aug. 16.
Hosted by the David Cassidy Memorial Legacy Group (DCMLG), the fundraiser aims to promote racing and to support Thoroughbred aftercare organizations, this year including the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, NYRA Cares, Take The Lead, Take2 and Columbia Greene Humane Society.
Debuting in 2021, the David Cassidy Remember Me Awards will again be included at this year's summer fundraiser. Featured among the award categories are Thoroughbred Aftercare Awards, Compassionate Trainers and Owners Awards, Heart of Saratoga Awards, Animal Welfare and Advocacy Awards, Animal Rescues and Shelters Awards, Amazing Horse Racing Awards and Thoroughbred Horse Racing Community Awards. The program will also include a concert.
The DCMLG previously announced a scholarship program, which includes four scholarships: The David Bruce Cassidy Thoroughbred Horse Racing Family Scholarship; David Bruce Cassidy Memorial Saratoga County Scholarship; The Dr. Jerry Bilinski Animal Sciences Scholarship; and The David Bruce Cassidy Theatre and The Arts Scholarship. The deadline for all scholarship applications is Apr. 12. For more information, email DavidCassidyIts4ever@gmail.com.
The world's richest horse race contained plenty of international star power, with the likes of GI Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun (Into Mischief) facing off with defending winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), G1 Champion S. victor Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) and GI Breeders' Cup Distaff victress Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), but in the end it was a new name written among the global racing elite with the locally trained Emblem Road (Quality Road) springing the upset in the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup. Though he has raced exclusively in Saudi Arabia since being purchased for $80,000 at OBS June in 2020, Emblem Road traces his roots back to Kentucky. Bred by Brian Moore's Brushy Hill Enterprises out of the Bernardini mare Venturini, Emblem Road was born at Threave Main Stud in Paris, Kentucky. His mating was planned by the late Mike Recio, whose South Point Sales Agency sold him for $230,000 at Keeneland September in 2019.
Now owned by Prince Saud bin Salman Abdulaziz, Emblem Road came into Saturday's 1 1/8-mile race off the back of three straight wins, but looked likely to have blown all chance at the start when breaking slowest of all from gate five. Rider Wigberto Ramos didn't panic, however, and kept Emblem Road in touch with the pack but still with plenty to do as the Dubai raider Secret Ambition (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) moved to make the running. Amr Zedan's Country Grammer (Tonalist) raced in Secret Ambition's slipstream while Art Collector (Bernardini) kept the frontrunner company to the outside, with Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) tracking the GI Woodward S. winner. Mandaloun and Mishriff raced in the three and four paths while stalking the pace, with Marche Lorraine and Sealiway further toward the back. Emblem Road, meanwhile, began to circle the field as they ran into the bend, quickly picking off rivals while traveling five wide. By the time they straightened, Emblem Road was running on the heels of his stablemate Making Miracles (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), likewise running a bold race at long odds. With Art Collector having called it a day at the quarter pole and Secret Ambition soon dropping back on the rail, it was a tussling Country Grammer and Midnight Bourbon who inherited the lead, but Emblem Road soon arrived on their outside, with Making Miracles also rallying gamely in behind. As Midnight Bourbon ceded, Emblem Road grabbed the lead from Country Grammer at the 50-meter mark and hit the line a half-length the best. Making Miracles stayed on for fourth, while the Uruguayan raider Aero Trem (Brz) (Shanghai Bobby) grabbed fifth at huge odds. Marche Lorraine was sixth, while Mandaloun faded to ninth and Art Collector 12th. Sealiway and Mishriff were distanced in 13th and 14th, respectively.
Emblem Road and Ramos returned to raucous celebrations in the King Abdulaziz Racecourse stands, and Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Al Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, summed up the occasion: “To have a locally trained horse perform that way is very emotional. I'm very happy for the connections, and I'm happy for Saudi Arabia. I think Mishriff, a Saudi-owned horse [the 2021 Saudi Cup winner], did amazing things to spread the love of horses. And now to have a locally-trained horse win it [the Saudi Cup] is extremely special, and I'm really excited about what this means for the future of horse racing in Saudi Arabia.”
Ramos explained how he put his knowledge of the course to good use. “My horse ran a great race and I broke good and my horse was very strong,” he said. “He wanted to go early, but I took my time with him and took a little hold and saw another horse, so then I just waited for the 500 metres to ask him. The key on this track is that you have to be near the front when you pass the 800 metres. If you're near, you are in a good position and outside is the best part of the track. It's a big turn, so when you put a horse who comes from behind all the way on the outside, they finish a lot better. I knew that I could do it, but now that I've done it, I still don't believe it. I beat so many good horses and this is the biggest race in the world. I think he could go on to the Dubai World Cup. He's the kind of horse who can do it.”
Emblem Road has won seven of nine starts and has never been off the board, and he has raced exclusively over this track. He broke his maiden going a mile by 6 1/4 lengths in November of 2020 three weeks after running a debut third, and he won a pair of allowance races in late December and early January of last year before being put away for the season. Emblem Road was second on return on Aug. 28 before winning a local stakes race by 14 lengths. He rounded out the year with a five-length victory in November and returned a winner once again in a Jan. 15 stakes over Great Scot (GB) (Requinto {Ire}), who was third in last year's Saudi Cup but only made it as far as the also eligibles for this year's edition.
Flavien Prat and Joel Rosario aboard runner-up Country Grammer and third-place Midnight Bourbon, respectively, had positive feedback on their mounts. Prat said, “[Country Grammer] ran great. When I pulled away I thought I was going to win, I thought it was going to be enough and that my horse was doing the hardest, but the winner was just too good and finished harder.”
Rosario said of Midnight Bourbon, “I thought he ran really well; it was probably a little bit different with him but he showed heart. He did great.”
Florent Geroux said of Mandaloun, “No good. He just wasn't there today. We knew the locals were good horses but we thought the outside horses might be better.”
Ryan Moore and David Egan provided insight on the well-beaten European fancies. Moore said of Sealiway, who was running on the dirt for the first time, “He started really well. He had more speed than I expected and the pace was strong, and once he got shuffled back he got some kickback and he didn't know what to do. He's a good horse.”
Egan said of Mishriff, “He didn't jump as sharp as last time but I did a similar thing and kept him out wide. He got there with ease but once I turned into the bend I was struggling from a long way out. I hope he's alright, there's obviously something amiss. He's better than that.”
Pedigree Notes
Saudi Arabian themes run along the bottom of Emblem Road's pedigree, too: his second dam is the four-time Grade I-winning filly Ventura (Chester House), who was bred by the late, great Saudi Arabian breeder Khalid Abdullah of Juddmonte Farm. Emblem Road's dam, the unplaced Venturini, was the first live foal out of Ventura and was purchased by Brushy Hill for $62,000 at Keeneland November in 2016 in foal to Temple City. The resulting produce was the Canadian listed-placed Kunal, and Emblem Road is the mare's second foal. She has a 2-year-old colt by Nyquist. Ventura has since produced the G3 Prix de Lieurey winner Fount (GB) (Frankel {GB}). The dual South African Group 1 winner Queen Supreme (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) appears under the third dam Estala (GB) (Be My Guest).
Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia SAUDI CUP-G1, $20,000,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-26, 4yo/up, 1800m, 1:50.52, ft.
1–EMBLEM ROAD, 126, c, 4, Quality Road 1st Dam: Venturini, by Bernardini 2nd Dam: Ventura, by Chester House 3rd Dam: Estala (GB), by Be My Guest 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN.
($230,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP; $80,000 2yo '20 OBSJUN). O-Prince
Saud Bin Salman Abdulaziz; B-Brushy Hill, LLC (KY); T-Mitab
Almulawah; J-Wigberto Ramos; $10,000,000. Lifetime Record:
9-7-1-1, $10,204,734. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Country Grammer, 126, h, 5, Tonalist–Arabian Song, by
Forestry. ($60,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $450,000 2yo '19 OBSAPR;
$110,000 '21 KEEJAN). O-Zedan Racing Stables, WinStar Farm
& Commonwealth T'Breds; B-Scott & Debbie Pierce (KY); T-Bob
Baffert; J-Flavien Prat; $3,500,000.
3–Midnight Bourbon, 126, c, 4, Tiznow–Catch the Moon, by
Malibu Moon. ($525,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Winchell
Thoroughbreds, LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings,
LLC (KY); T-Steven Asmussen; J-Joel Rosario; $2,000,000.
Margins: HF, 1HF, 3.
Also Ran: Making Miracles (GB), Aero Trem (Brz), Marche Lorraine (Jpn), Secret Ambition (GB), T O Keynes (Jpn), Mandaloun, Magny Cours, Real World (Ire), Art Collector, Sealiway (Fr), Mishriff (Ire). Click for the Racing Post chart and VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
Sent off the betting favourite in international markets on the strength of his form at home, Dancing Prince (Jpn) (Pas de Trois {Jpn}) made all the running beneath a white-hot Christophe Lemaire to give both the country and rider a fourth victory on the Saudi Cup undercard in the G3 Riyadh Sprint.
Soon in front from a favourable draw, the last-out winner of the G3 Capella S. at Nakayama in December, showed the way in advance of longshots Beehive (GB) (Fountain of Youth {Ire}) and Rudy Trigger (Arg) (Cosmic Trigger {Arg}), as Good Effort (Ire) (Shamardal) took the trail from fourth. Nursed along on the turn while easily retaining the call, Dancing Prince kicked further clear in upper stretch, with Good Effort emerging as the lone possible danger, and hosed up to score by daylight. Chain of Love (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), in a bit tight between the commonly owned Gladiator King (Curlin) and Switzerland (Speightstown) nearing the straight, finished well for third, while defending champion Copano Kicking (Spring At Last) ran on admirably to complete a Japanese 1-2-4 finish.
“This is unbelievable,” said Lemaire, the perennial leading rider in Japan. “I knew this was a very good horse and it's easy when you are riding good horses. I'm so happy for connections. I have been in Japan for two years with the restrictions and no travel, so I was fresh tonight. My horses were just too good tonight. I don't know what to say.”
Pedigree Notes:
Dancing Prince is the lone stakes winner for his sire, a 15-year-old son of the late Swept Overboard (End Sweep) and three-time Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed over turf sprint trips, who stands at Lex Stud on the island of Hokkaido.
Dancing Prince's dam, who won just $7,000 from four trips to the races, has pedigree appeal of her own, as she is a half-sister to Durandal (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), a three-time Japanese champion who posted the most important victory of his career in the 2004 G1 Mile Championship, defeating the Lemaire-ridden two-time champion Dance in the Mood (Jpn) (Sunday Silence).
Little Bessing was barren to Logotype for 2019 and was retired from stud duties thereafter.
Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia RIYADH CUP PRESENTED BY SAUDIA-G3, $1,500,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-26, 3yo/up, 1200m, 1:10.26, ft.
1–DANCING PRINCE (JPN), 126, h, 6, by Pas de Trois (Jpn) 1st Dam: Little Blessing (Jpn), by Bubble Gum Fellow (Jpn) 2nd Dam: Sawakaya Princess (Jpn), by Northern Taste 3rd Dam: Scotch Princess, by Creme dela Creme
O-Chizu Yoshida; B-Shadai Farm; T-Keisuke Miyata; J-Christophe Lemaire; $900,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Jpn, 13-9-1-1, $1,976,462. *1/2 to Princess Memory (Jpn) (Swept Overboard), SW & GSP-Jpn, $1,751,240. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Good Effort (Ire), 126, h, 7, Shamardal–Magical Crown, by Distorted Humor. O-Abdulla Al Mansoori; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited; T-Ismail Mohammed; J-Jim Crowley; $300,000.
3–Chain of Love (Jpn), 121, m, 5, Heart's Cry (Jpn)–Fair Ellen, by Street Cry (Ire). O-Koji Maeda; B-North Hills Co Ltd; T-Michihiro Ogasa; J-Ryusei Sakai; $150,000.
Margins: 5 3/4, 3 3/4, NK.
Also Ran: Copano Kicking, Sunset Flash (Ire), Switzerland, Gladiator King, Faz Zae (KSA), Mortajeh (KSA), Dolma (KSA), Beehive (GB), Rock Sound (Ire), Rudy Trigger (Arg). Click for the Racing Post chart. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
