Category: Horse Racing News

‘Encouraging Start’: $3.4-Million Wagered On Monmouth’s Opening-Day Program

Laki shook off an eight-month layoff, taking full advantage of an early speed duel that developed in front of him, before drawing off to a 2 1/2-length victory in the first running of the Oceanport Centennial Stakes as racing fans welcomed back Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., with a rousing reception at the betting windows (and online) on opening day of the COVID-19 delayed meet.

Despite attendance restrictions under guidelines issued by the state in the ongoing battle against the pandemic, bettors wagered $3,422,830 from all sources on the six-race twilight card.

Average handle for Fridays a year ago was approximately $2.5 million, when a typical card saw eight live events.

“We're happy and grateful that the day went off without a hitch,” said Dennis Drazin, Chairman and CEO of Darby Development LLC, operators of the racetrack. “It was a great racing card that was whole-heartedly endorsed by the betting public.

“It was an encouraging start to a year that could certainly use some positive news.”

Ridden by Trevor McCarthy for the first time, Laki won for the ninth time in 24 career starts, with the $45,000 winner's share from the $75,000 purse boosting his career earnings over $500,000.

“He's been training so well coming into the race. I'm not surprised by this, even after eight months off,” said trainer Damon Dilodovico. “Toward the end of the year last year he just needed to be freshened. We weren't looking for the COVID-19 sized freshener but maybe it ended up helping him.

“I was surprised to see him in front early amongst those horses because there was a lot of speed in the race. Trevor just let him do his thing and sat off a good speed duel. That's really where he is more comfortable.”

Though Laki broke to the lead from the rail in a field of speedsters, McCarthy eventually settled the 7-year-old gelding behind dueling leaders Chateau and Awesome Anywhere. Laki powered by both in mid-stretch, finishing the five furlongs in :57.62.

Laki paid $13.00 to win, with Awesome Anywhere holding second, 5¾ lengths ahead of Midtowncharlybrown.

“Damon kind of left it up to me,” said McCarthy. “I thought the five-eighths might be a little short for him. That was my biggest worry. I just tried to break him as sharp as I could break him just to get position. I couldn't believe I broke in front of everybody. I kind of just sat there, let him get himself together and let the other guys go at it after he settled in.

“We got to sit off a nice hot speed duel. He usually finishes good. He showed his true class.”

Racing resumes at Monmouth Park on Saturday, July 4, with a 12-race card that begins at 12:50 p.m.

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Azalea, Carry Back Stakes In Rainbow 6 Sequence At Gulfstream; Jackpot Has $250,000 Guarantee

Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., will celebrate Saturday's July 4th holiday with a $250,000 Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool guarantee on a 12-race program highlighted by the $75,000 Carry Back and the $75,000 Azalea.

First race post time is set for noon.

The Rainbow 6 went unsolved Friday for the second day following Tuesday's mandatory payout. Multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $11,255.28.

The carryover jackpot is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

Saturday's Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 7-12, including the Azalea, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies, in Race 9 and the Carry Back, a seven-furlong event for 3-year-olds, in Race 11.

Boerne, rated at 6-5 in the morning line, looms as a popular 'single' with Rainbow 6 bettors. The Juan Carlos Avila-trained daughter of Fed Biz, finished second behind talented Up in Smoke in the June 8 Game Face at Gulfstream as the even-money favorite. Boerne has won her three previous starts by a combined 15 lengths.

Double Crown, who outfinished Grade 1 stakes-placed Green Light Go in the May 16 Roar Stakes last time out, tops a highly competitive edition of the Carry Back. The Kathy Ritvo-trained gelded son of Bourbon Courage will be joined by stablemate Ournationonparade and Hutcheson Stakes winner With Verve.

The Rainbow 6 sequence kicks off with 6 ½-furlong maiden special weight race for 3-year-olds and up in Race 7. Whisper Hill Farm's Plum Funny, a 3-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor, is scheduled to make her career debut for trainer Ralph Nicks. Plum Funny is out of Plum Pretty, who won the 2011 Kentucky Oaks (G1). St. George Stable LLC's Mascabroni, a 3-year-old daughter of Hard Spun, also brings strong bloodlines into her debut.  The Fausto Gutierrez-trained filly is out of So Much Love, who is out of Grade 1 stakes-winning Love Lock.

Orseno, Jaramillo Team Up for Two Wins
Trainer Joe Orseno had two winners Friday with jockey Emisael Jaramillo bringing both to the winner's circle. Jaramillo rode Cash Call Kitten ($6) to victory in the fifth race and brought home Orseno's 13-1 shot Dakota's Dude ($29.60) in the seventh race.

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Days After Major Victory In Stephen Foster, Mena Hits, 2,000-Win Milestone

Jockey Miguel Mena won his 2,000th career victory in Friday's fifth race on the second day of the RUNHAPPY Summer Meet at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky., going wire to wire on Michael Langford's 3-year-old Substantial in the maiden race on turf.

Active on social media, Mena said he learned from Twitter that he was close to the milestone. Mena achieved win 1,998 in high-profile fashion by taking Churchill Downs' Grade 2 Stephen Foster on leading older horse Tom's d'Etat. No. 1,999 came on Ellis' opening card.

“A lot of folks were posting how I was two away, three away and I was one away today,” said Mena, Ellis Park's 2006 riding champion. “I've been riding since I was 16. I came to America when I was 17 years old. Two thousand wins, a lot of hard work went into it, and it has paid off.”

The native of Peru began riding in America in 2003. Now 33, Mena has earned at least $1 million in purse earnings every year since 2005. He has won at least 100 races every year since 2006, with the exception of 2018, when he was sidelined much of the year after sustaining eight fractures to his ankle and heel in a riding mishap. Delaying his recovery was the fact that surgery wasn't possible because of the development of massive blisters that made the risk of infection too great.

But Mena came back with a vengeance last year, his $6.5 million in purses his highest in seven years. For his persistence, Mena was chosen recipient of the Fair Grounds' first Randy Romero “Pure Courage” Award.

The jockey, who won 50 races in Peru, says back then he couldn't have imagined winning 2,000 races in the United States.

“I never did,” he said. “I came with a lot of dreams. I came very hungry to work my butt off. I'm so grateful to this country. It has given me a better life, not only for me but for my family in Peru as well. I'm very thankful to America.”

Mena's 15,395 career mounts have earned purses exceeding $68.5 million. While now still in his prime, the jockey's statistics might have been even more impressive had a drinking problem at age 22 not threatened to derail his promising career. A turning point came when he married his wife, April, in 2011, the couple subsequently having daughters Naelah and Montserrat.

“We all grow up different. I appreciate the ups and downs that I've been through,” he said. “It has taught me a lot; it has made me mature. Things are going the right way. I just knock on wood to keep it that way.”

Asked about achieving 3,000 wins, Mena said, “Well, we're going to work for it. Ten more years, who knows? We'll keep on working hard.”

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