Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. said he told trainer Phil D'Amato Count Again was "ready to run" in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on Memorial Day at Santa Anita Park and he wasn't kidding.
Month: May 2022
Maryland Purses, Claiming Prices For Select Races To Increase July 1
The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association Board of Directors has approved an increase in claiming prices and changes in race conditions in some categories along with a blended purse increase for overnight races that will begin July 1 and extend at least through the end of 2022.
The changes were developed in conjunction with the Maryland Jockey Club. The purse hike will average 10% to 11%, with a bottom purse of $17,000 for a $5,000 condition claimer and the highest purse at $70,000 for an open allowance race.
The increase in claiming prices stemmed from discussions on providing a higher return on investment for Thoroughbred owners who race in Maryland by elevating the value of racehorses, and combating the inflation of expenses and auction prices in the current environment. The purse increase, in many categories, reflects the changes in claiming prices.
The MTHA board also considered the possibility there could be a limit on purses based on claiming prices should the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority opt to adopt a rule in the future. The purse-to-claiming-price ratio rule was not included in the HISA Racetrack Safety Program that takes effect July 1 because some stakeholders around the country expressed concerns.
Under the revised structure, maiden claiming prices will be $45,000-$36,000 (which includes a Maryland-bred or Maryland-sired waiver), $30,000-$24,000, $20,000-$16,000, and $12,500-$10,000. Purses for each of those categories, as well as maiden special weights, will be higher. There will no longer be a maiden claiming $25,000-$20,000 with a Maryland-sired waiver.
There is also a change in a claiming eligibility rule: A horse is ineligible if it has started for less than $5,000—unless it has finished first, second or third for $5,000 or more since starting for less than $5,000.
The complete list of revised purses, conditions, and claiming prices appears here.
After cancellation of live racing for two weeks at Laurel in January, the MTHA board authorized a 20% hike in purses from Jan. 16 through the end of February. A 10% increase (based upon the purse structure prior to the lost days) was in place through March and for the short spring meet that ended May 8.
“The temporary purse increases benefited horsemen at a critical time, but committing to a purse hike through at least the end of 2022 will provide consistency for our racing program and help horsemen plan for the remainder of the year,” MTHA President Tim Keefe said. “In addition, this seemed to be a good time to increase various claiming prices and gauge the impact it could have on our owners and our racing product.”
MTHA projections show that even with the purse increase the Thoroughbred Purse Account will maintain a strong cushion at the end of this year and into 2023.
To view changes, click here.
The post Maryland Purses, Claiming Prices For Select Races To Increase July 1 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Will Take Charge Colt Upsets Hollywood Gold Cup
There Goes Harvard, the second-longest shot in a field of five, pulled off the upset under invading rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the GI Hollywood Gold Cup S. Monday at Santa Anita.
Taking six starts to break his maiden, doing so on the Ellis turf last summer, the chestnut was second in the Runhappy Ellis Park Derby on the main track two tries later. Runner-up off a seven-month layoff in a local dirt optional claimer Mar. 19, the homebred dead-heated for the victory in a similar spot Apr. 17 before capturing a local turf allowance May 14. Settling last at the rail behind dueling Defunded and Stilleto Boy (Shackleford) through a sharp :22.72 quarter, There Goes Harvard moved up a spot as the half went up in :46.13. Creeping into third going by six furlongs in 1:10.99, he swung into the three path for racing room approaching the stretch, sidled up to Defunded entering the final furlong and proved best in deep stretch for the victory.
“I was pretty excited, when I saw him stick his head in front coming to the three-sixteenths pole, I got a little emotional but things just worked out properly,” said winning trainer Michael McCarthy, who notched his first Gold Cup win, as did Ortiz. “Small field, you have to take a shot. The horse is doing well and sometimes you just have to take a chance. I just can't thank Irad enough here. Every body involved, my grooms, my guys, everyone in barn 59, big day. The way things are going lately, it's nice to get a win anywhere, but yes these are the kinds of races you get up for in the morning. You hope you are lucky enough to participate in, let alone win.”
“I had a perfect trip,” said Ortiz, who shipped in for the Memorial Day card from his Belmont Park base. “My horse was fighting a little bit with me going into the first turn, they went a little fast. I tried to let him relax, settle a little bit and he did come back to me on the backside. That was the key, after that, I was just biding my time and kicked him out down the stretch and he responded really well.”
Pedigree Notes:
With the victory, There Goes Harvard becomes the first Grade I winner for Three Chimneys' Will Take Charge, as well as his 11th stakes winner and fourth graded stakes winner. He is the first black-type performer from three foals to race out of his dam, a half to two stakes winners out of GSW Michigan Bluff. Third dam Middlefork Rapids was a GSW as well. Soul Crusader, who sold to Bud Petrosian for just $22,000 at Keeneland January in 2020, was represented by a juvenile Nyquist colt who sold for $700,000 to Zedan Racing at Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream after breezing a furlong in :9 4/5. She produced a filly by Sir Prancealot (Ire) this season.
Monday, Santa Anita
HOLLYWOOD GOLD CUP S.-GI, $400,000, Santa Anita, 5-30, 3yo/up, 1 1/4m, 2:02.66, ft.
1–THERE GOES HARVARD, 122, c, 4, by Will Take Charge
1st Dam: Soul Crusader, by Fusaichi Pegasus
2nd Dam: Michigan Bluff, by Skywalker
3rd Dam: Middlefork Rapids, by Wild Again
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Cannon Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Michael W McCarthy; J-Irad Ortiz Jr. $240,000. Lifetime Record: 12-4-5-2, $455,090. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Defunded, 122, g, 4, Dialed In–Wind Caper, by Touch Gold.
1ST G1 BLACK-TYPE. ($210,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Michael E Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman; B-Athens Woods LLC (KY); T-Sean McCarthy. $80,000.
3–Royal Ship (Brz), 122, g, 6, Midshipman–Bela Val (Brz), by Val Royal (Fr). O-Fox Hill Farms Inc & Siena Farm LLC; B-Haras Belmont (BRZ); T-Richard E Mandella. $48,000.
Margins: 1, 3 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 8.80, 5.50, 1.00.
Also Ran: Stilleto Boy, Spielberg. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
The post Will Take Charge Colt Upsets Hollywood Gold Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Poker Strategy: Bluffing Your Cards
Poker is all about winning, but losing as well. And when he loses, a player gets decepted. Bluffing is a typical poker method. The reason you bluff is obvious: you want to trick the others, making them think you have a better hand than the one you do, and even a better hand than they do. If you want your bluff to be successful, you need to actually persuade the others that you have better cards. Players without experience love to bluff. They would do it all the time. And that leads them to bankruptcy. The efficiency of a bluff is sometimes increased by situations and it is closely related to the information you have about the others that are playing with you. It’s difficult to give specific situations when bluffing works, because it depends on people’s reactions and they can often be unpredictable.
When it comes to online poker playing, some situations just ask for a bluff.
1. When you are playing against just a few players.
It’s actually quite simple to understand, and as you know fewer people are easier to trick. When there are just a few hands, odds tell us that the chances for a good hand are low and you can go ahead and bluff. But experienced players know that you can bluff in this situation, so they might go ahead and call you till the end. It’s tricky as is bluffing always and you should try it only when you play with persons you are familiar with.
2. When you play beside tight persons.
Tight players will go along with bidding only if they have something they usually fold when they have nothing, or they make small bets. If you bluff early and the others are still calling your bets, then it is probable that they really do have something and maybe you should stop bluffing because they can stick to their cards.
3. When the last card is dealt, on the river.
You can bluff here because the ones that really have bad hand will fold, they have to other chance of improving their hand. If you got this far without bluffing you probably have something, like an Ace or a low pair, and the bluffing you are about to pull off it’s actually semi-bluffing.
4. When you are last and every one else checked.
If they all checked, this means their hands are not that great at all. Be aware because you will force some to make the bid, but some will probably fold. You might need to make this a persistent bluff, betting and raising bets a few times, because the bluff is common and others expect it.
5. When you placed a bet early but didn’t get the cards.
Of course, if they see you are still betting they will think you found the cards you need on the table. It is fairly risky and there are no patters for this, you just have to feel the table and analyze the cards and odds accordingly.
6. When the others fear you.
If you just won a good hand or some consecutive less important hands, then they know you can really play. If they type “Nice hand” they are now in your power, they respect and fear your hands. They are likely to fold if you raise the bet, only if you play this bluff the same way you played the winning hands.
7. When the cards in the flop are bad.
It is possible that players will fold when they see bad flops. If the flop has three rainbow cards that don’t match at all, like for instance: 5, 8, and 2 most likely no one has anything. So try to bluff, but pay attention to the reaming two cards. If they are also low, go on with it.
When using any of these bluffing strategies, think about the fact that other players might know them too and because of that they might see that you are bluffing. But bluff only against players you are familiar with to have better chances of succeeding.
