April, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Adare Manor Headlines California Graded Stakes Action

Bob Baffert's ADARE MANOR (Uncle Mo) re-enters graded-stakes company with an expected start in the GII Santa Maria S. Saturday at Santa Anita. A runaway winner in her maiden-breaking score in early 2022, she romped by 13 lengths in the GIII Las Virgenes S. in her next start but missed qualifying for the GI Kentucky Oaks. Transferred back to Baffert's care after near misses in both the GII Santa Anita Oaks and the GII Black-Eyed Susan S., she faltered to sixth in the GI Cotillion before calling it a year last September. After making her 4-year-old debut with a second over seven furlongs at Santa Anita Feb. 18, she returned to the winner's enclosure with a gate-to-wire win against optional claimers at a mile Mar. 31 with a near career high 92 Beyer Speed figure.

Challenging her from either side is a pair of runners from the John Sadler barn in Kristenbosch (Midnight Lute) and Big Switch (Mr. Big). Kristenbosch picked up a Grade I placing behind Fun to Dream (Arrogate) in the GI La Brea S. Dec. 26 and added her own graded-stakes win in the GIII La Canada S. to open her season Jan. 15. She was most recently a narrow third, beaten just a length, in the GIII Monrovia Apr. 8. Big Switch owns several stakes wins, albeit against state-bred company, but was beaten just a head by the aforementioned Adare Manor in that same optional claimer Mar. 31 and has been off the board only twice in her eight-race career.

ANCIENT PEACE BACK ON TURF FOR PROVIDENCIA

After a commanding gate-to-wire maiden-breaking score Dec. 30, Ancient Peace (War Front) caught a rained-off contest when last spotted Apr. 8 but was well-adapted, responding with a six-length win on the Santa Anita main track. Back on the grass for her states debut, the John Sadler trainee will take on a pair of runners on either side starting with Doug O'Neill's stakes winner Broadway Girls (Army Mule). She's been in exclusively stakes company since breaking her maiden at Del Mar last November and picked up a win in the Blue Northern S. Dec. 30 before fading to sixth behind the undefated Faiza (Girvin) in the GIII Las Virgenes. On the outside, Paris Secret (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) won on debut in Ireland last October and was fourth in her American unveiling at Santa Anita Mar. 18 for trainer Phil D'Amato.

OLDER HORSES TURF AT GOLDEN GATE

Not to be left out of the California graded-stakes action, Golden Gate plays host to the GIII San Francisco Mile S. with Balnikhov (Ire) (Adaay {Ire}) looking to get back in the winner's circle after just missing by a nose in the GII Santa Anita Mathis Mile S. Dec. 26. The 4-year-old gelding, after spending his juvenile season in France, has picked up a pair of wins since coming state-side including the GIII Bryan Station S. at Keeneland last October.

Breaking from the far outside with plenty of speed, Dicey Mo Chara (GB) (Adaay {Ire}) nearly went gate-to-wire before just getting headed late in the GII Charlie Whittingham S. to begin his season Apr. 8. Now a 5-year-old for trainer Leonard Powell, the gelding has kept exclusively graded-stakes company dating back to a narrow third when beaten just a half-length in Golden Gate's All American S. last May. Two starts back he added graded-stakes winner to his resume with a score in the GII San Gabriel S. Dec. 26.

Also a potential speed factor to contend with, Bob and Jackie (Twirling Candy) had to settle for third after leading much of the way in the GIII American S. over the mile distance at Santa Anita Apr. 2.

The post Adare Manor Headlines California Graded Stakes Action appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

‘It’s A Huge Team Effort’ — As Mullins Wraps Up Another Irish NH Championship

Six Irish National Hunt champions, including Willie Mullins, will be presented with their end-of-season awards at Punchestown on Saturday. Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, will be on hand at the course to distribute the honours.

Trainer Willie Mullins was named the Irish NH Champion Trainer for the 17th time. He saddled his 4,000th career winner in January and sets a new record for the number of winners in a NH season having surpassed his previous best of 212, set in the 2017/2018 season. The trainer of Irish Grand National hero I Am Maximus (Fr) (Authorized {Ire}), Mullins's other significant wins in Ireland were with multiple Grade 1 winners State Man (Fr) (Doctor Dino {Fr}), Galopin Des Champs (Fr) (Timos {Ger}), El Fabiolo (Fr) (Spanish Moon) and Facile Vega (Ire) (Walk In The Park {Ire}).

Mullins said, “To win the champion trainer title is the icing on another great season for our team. Winning titles like this wouldn't be possible without our loyal owners who send us these wonderful horses. It's a huge team effort at Closutton–our staff go above and beyond in all weathers and keep the show on the road so winning the champion trainer title is a tribute to everyone at home.”

The rest of the winners are:

Champion Owner: JP McManus
Champion Jockey: Paul Townend
Champion Conditional: Michael O'Sullivan
Champion Amateur: Patrick Mullins
Champion Lady Amateur Rider: Jody Townend.

Named Champion Owner for the 20th time, McManus is also winning his third consecutive owners' title. Winner of the Horse Racing Ireland Contribution to the Industry Award in December, his colours were carried by I Am Maximus, with five-time Champion Jockey Paul Townend aboard, to win the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. McManus enjoyed further Grade 1 success with Saint Roi (Fr) (Coastal Path {GB}) and with Gentleman De Mee (Fr) (Saint Des Saints {Fr}).

McManus said, “It's always an honour to win the champion owner title. Thanks goes to all the trainers, jockeys and fantastic horses who gave my family and I some great days this season.”

Horse Racing Ireland Chief Executive, Suzanne Eade, said, “My heartiest congratulations go to our champions JP, Willie, Paul, Michael, Patrick and Jody, all wonderful ambassadors for National Hunt racing and for Irish sport. A special mention must go to our three Cork heroes, Paul who gained his first success in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National, Michael who has enjoyed a sensational breakthrough season and to Jody who rode out her claim, a notable achievement for any rider.

“The season has been a great success with big numbers in attendance at our flagship meetings from start to finish. Thanks to a very special and dedicated workforce, the vast majority working behind the scenes in racing yards and stables in every county in the country, the Irish racing and breeding industries continue to go from strength to strength.”

The post ‘It’s A Huge Team Effort’ — As Mullins Wraps Up Another Irish NH Championship appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Fonner Park Attracts Strong Field Of 10 For Saturday’s Bosselman Gus Fonner Stakes

The $75,000 Bosselman Pump & Pantry/Gus Fonner Stakes has attracted a full field of 10 horses for Saturday's 1 1/16th mile race at Fonner Park.

“The $75,000 Bosselman Gus Fonner Stakes is the richest race run annually at Fonner Park,” Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak said. “The field of 10 in the race is certainly the best field of horses we will present all year. Mission accomplished. Money talks and it attracts. It will be an excellent betting race.”

Trainer Mark Hibdon, who will send Sarcastic Tone to the post for the Bosselman, agreed.

“For as long as I've been coming here, this is one of the toughest ones I've seen drawn up,” said Hibdon, who has been coming to Fonner Park since 2017. “It's anybody's race. I think there are several horses in there that are deserving and can win it.”

At the top of the list would be morning-line favorite Buck Moon. The 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Malibu Moon and Grand Pauline is 9-5 on the morning line. He's coming off a 10-length win in an allowance optional claiming race March 23 at Hawthorne.

Its A Wrap was trained by Isai Gonzalez a year ago and won the Dowd Mile in 2022 before finishing fifth in the Bosselman. Its A Wrap, now trained by Jon Arnett, has been off since a Jan. 25 win at Tampa Bay Down and is 4-1 on the morning line.

Gonzalez is back in the Bosselman with Munqad, a horse he claimed just three weeks ago for $20,000. At 8-1 on the morning line, he will likely go out to the lead along with Buck Moon.

“It looks like there's going to be a lot of competition,” Gonzalez said. “We've been looking at the field, and there are a lot of nice horses this year.”

Fleetridge, shipping in from Keeneland, is 6-1 on the morning line. This will be his first out since October.

Medicine Tail, winner of the Tondi earlier this meet, is 10-1 for trainer David C. Anderson. He's also bringing Bellamys Roan at 20-1 from Oaklawn Park.

Caseys Memory, a ship-in from Will Rogers Downs, and Cave Hill, who is trained by Larry Donlin and finished second in the Dowd, are both 12-1.

Unrestricted, trained by Marissa Black, is 20-1 after finishing fifth in the Dowd.

Long-time Fonner Park assistant racing secretary Wayne Anderson was impressed by the Bosselman field.

“I think it's one of our strongest fields,” Anderson said. “It's going to be a race kind of up for grabs depending on if the speed horses hook up and kind of set it up for the come-from-behind horses.

“And having the horses that ran first and second in the Dowd Mile coming back, that's always a good sign.”

The race will go as the 9th race on a card of ten races. First post is 1:30 pm CT; the 9th race post time is 5:40 pm CT.

The post Fonner Park Attracts Strong Field Of 10 For Saturday’s Bosselman Gus Fonner Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Penny Breakage: Winning Derby Bettors Will Get Paid More This Year After Kentucky Law Change

The 2023 renewal of the Kentucky Derby will be the first in modern history where wagering payouts are calculated to the penny, instead of the dime, a product of a Kentucky law change which has returned millions to horseplayers since the law took effect in July 2022.

“Lawmakers made the sharp decision that ensures, at least until other states catch up, that racetracks in Kentucky pay winning bettors – wherever they place that bet – more,” said Patrick Cummings, executive director of the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation (TIF) which advocated for the change following its 2018 white paper on the topic.

House Bill 607, which garnered bi-partisan support, standardized many other elements of pari-mutuel taxation. It was sponsored by Representatives Adam Koenig and Al Gentry while Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer guided its passage in that body. Governor Andy Beshear signed the bill soon after passage.

A year ago, more than $75 million was bet in the win, place and show (WPS) pools for the Kentucky Derby, with over $112 million in those pools across the entire day. TIF estimates that over $745,000 was withheld from winning bettors as breakage from the 2022 Derby Day WPS pools.

While 81-1 longshot Rich Strike shocked the field for the win a year ago, favored Epicenter finished second, paying $7.40 to place and $5.20 to show. If today's penny breakage provision had been in place in the 2022 race, Epicenter's place payout would have been $7.52, and the show payout $5.38.

Prior to the law passing, winnings were rounded down to the dime. Bet-takers – racetracks, off-track betting sites and most often now, advanced deposit wagering platforms via the Internet – keep breakage, a practice initiated in the early 1900s to facilitate a smoother customer experience when all bets were made in person, in cash, at the track hosting the race.

It is estimated that the total of all breakage on U.S. Thoroughbred racing exceeds $60 million annually.

On a favored outcome, such as a horse that pays just $2.40 to show for each $2 bet, it is possible that more than 30% of a horseplayer's profit is kept by the bet-taker because of antiquated breakage provisions.

“Rounding winning dividends to the penny has put more money back in the pockets and accounts of horseplayers choosing to wager on Kentucky's races,” Cummings said. “Thanks to the legislative leaders here in the commonwealth that brought this bill to the fore and their many colleagues that supported it,” Cummings added.

Since penny breakage has been in place on Kentucky's races, an additional $3.4 million from WPS pools alone, and in total well more than that, has been distributed to winning bettors.

“For the greater horse racing industry, this money is better back in the hands and accounts of horseplayers.”

While there are many factors which impact overall wagering, notably the effective takeout rates paid by massive computer-assisted wagering teams, wagering on Kentucky's races appeared to grow far more in 2022 than other states.

“The penny breakage provision likely played a very small, but meaningful, role in Kentucky's pari-mutuel successes from 2022. But every penny counts and we hope other states and track operators follow suit and recognize the sport and world has changed, and it is far beyond time to pay customers the entirety of their winnings.”

The 2023 Kentucky Derby will be contested on Saturday, May 6, but the penny breakage provision exists for every live race conducted in Kentucky.

The post Penny Breakage: Winning Derby Bettors Will Get Paid More This Year After Kentucky Law Change appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post