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Santa Anita’s $7,500 Online ‘Showvivor’ Contest Returns For Opening Day

Santa Anita's popular free online “Showvivor” will again be available to players everywhere beginning Opening Day, Tuesday, Dec. 26. Fans can play for free at santaanita.com/contests.

Additionally, beginning Saturday, Dec. 30, Santa Anita's $18,000 Santa Anita Pick 'Em Contest returns. An online contest that mixes popular sports props including horse racing and football, Santa Anita Pick 'Em will be offered every Saturday and Sunday with $500 in prize money paid to the top winner each day.

To sign up and for additional details regarding Santa Anita Pick 'Em, please visit santaanita.com/pickem.

With special early first post time for an 11-race card on Opening Day at 11 a.m., fans are encouraged to register to play at showvivor.santaanita.com prior to first post time. The contest offers players a variety of cash incentives, highlighted by the $2,500 top prize, which will be awarded to the longest “Show Streak” over the course of Santa Anita's Classic and Spring Meet, which will conclude on June 18.

Players can select one horse from one race each racing day. That horse must run no worse than third in order for the player to “Showvive.” If the player's selection fails to run 1-2-3, that individual is not totally eliminated, as he or she may start up a new streak the next racing day. The player with the longest Show Streak on June 16 will be declared the top prize winner of $2,500.

Fans are advised the longest Show Streak is just one of six separate ways to win beginning Dec. 26.

SHOW STREAK The player that has the longest “show” of no-worse than third place finish streak at the end of the Classic Meet will win the Grand Prize of $2,500. If a player fails to make an online selection on a given race day, their streak is still alive, but they will not be given credit for any days missed.

WIN STREAK This carries a $1,000 prize and is intended to reward players who have selected the most consecutive first place finishers. If a player fails to make a selection on a given day, his or her streak may continue, but the player will not receive credit for any days missed.

TOTAL WINS On closing day, June 18, the player that has selected the most total wins will receive a $500 prize.

HIGHEST SINGLE WIN PAYOUT This carries a $500 prize and will be awarded to the player wit the single highest win payout (on a Two Dollar wager) over the course of the entire meet.

TOTAL WIN EARNINGS This is a Showvivor category which also carries a $500 prize and is awarded to the player that accumulates the highest total dollar amount-won based on their selections at the end of the meet. For example, each time an entrant's selection finishes in first place in the official standings (Wins), the dollar amount, based on Santa Anita's official Two Dollar Win payout, will be added to that player's total money-won to date. The winner will be determined on closing day.

MONTHLY CONTEST, NEW WAY TO WIN Separated into five different date ranges, beginning Dec. 26 through Jan. 28, and ending June 1 through June 16, the winner, by Total Monthly win Earnings, of each of these individual calendar periods earns an entry into the next $500 Live Money Handicapping Contest at Santa Anita and thus an opportunity to compete for more cash and prizes. No exchanges are offered.

Entries for Opening Day, Tuesday, Dec. 26, are available at santaanita.com. For additional information on ShowVivor, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

The post Santa Anita’s $7,500 Online ‘Showvivor’ Contest Returns For Opening Day appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Santa Anita’s New Synthetic Infield Training Track On Schedule For Mid-January Opening

A major change coming to Santa Anita this winter is the transformation of its infield training track.

As part of a larger $32 million improvement plan for Santa Anita announced this summer, Santa Anita's training track is changing from a sand-based surface to all-weather synthetic produced by Tapeta Footings. The surface change is designed to improve safety while also helping to limit weather-related training disruptions.

“The main thing is having synthetic will alleviate a complete stoppage of training because of weather,” said Jason Egan, Santa Anita Director of Racing and Racing Secretary.

This week has provided a perfect example of the potential impact of a synthetic training track at Santa Anita. With back-to-back rainstorms hitting the area, the main track was “sealed” on Tuesday and has since been closed entirely for training.

“We have some unique situations in California with rules as it relates to weather,” Egan said. “Like with the rain this week. It either closes our racetrack entirely or limits what our training activities can be.”

With the worst of this week's rainstorms having passed, Santa Anita's main track is expected to be unsealed Friday. Per rules of the California Racing Board, only joggers will be allowed on the track Saturday. Full training is slated to resume on Sunday given the current forecast.

“Having a synthetic training track, we can continue on with workouts, gallops, that sort of thing. I think it will be a big assist,” Egan added.

Santa Anita's training track has been closed for construction since Nov. 12. Prior to this week's rainstorms, its conversion to synthetic had been ahead of schedule, track officials said. As things stand, the training track remains on course to reopen in mid-January.

The post Santa Anita’s New Synthetic Infield Training Track On Schedule For Mid-January Opening appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Saudi Cup Aspirations? Tyler Gaffalione Flies Overseas, Pilots Isolate To Easy Victory In Dubai’s Al Maktoum Mile

He was one of the headline acts on the card and G2 Godolphin Mile winner Isolate did not disappoint when charging to glory in the AED 1million G2 Al Maktoum Mile, the highlight of 'Festive Friday' at Meydan Racecourse.

Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, who flew in from the US especially to take the ride, the Doug Watson-trained 5-year-old outlined potential Saudi Cup credentials with a dominant win from the front, easing to a three and a half-length success over stablemate Golden Goal.

“It's a pleasure to be here and thanks to connections for bringing me over,” said multiple G1-winning jockey Gaffalione. “He took control early and he seems a lot stronger this year. I have a ton of confidence in this horse and the way he ran today I don't think stepping up in distance would be a problem.”

“I take everything with a little bit of pressure, so I'm glad it's over!” added Watson. “He showed today that he's pretty classy and he should improve for the run. I'll leave it up to everyone else to decide if we go to Saudi.”

Internationals Quick Off the Mark

The new format of the Carnival means international runners arrived at Meydan earlier than ever before and they wasted no time in getting off the mark when Ponntos took the Listed Ertijaal Dubai Dash, over 1000metres on turf.

Ridden by Antonio Fresu – returning to the UAE from the US for the first time this season – the Miroslav Nieslanik-trained gelding blazed a trail along the far rail and was never caught, beating Bilhayl by three-quarters of a length.

“It's nice to be back with a bang!” said Fresu. “I was thinking, going to the gate, that the horse was more relaxed than last season. He is very speedy and always runs to the wire, so I'm just very happy for connections – they deserve it.”

There was soon a second overseas winner, when Vafortino beat two Group 1 winners in the Listed Business Bay Challenge, over 1400metres on turf.

Trained by UK-based Belgian Kevin Philippart De Foy, Vafortino and James Doyle had to switch around G1 Al Quoz Stakes winner Danyah inside the final furlong but still emerged on top, beating that rival by a head.

“That was a worry today – it can get a bit messy today in these big fields and Kevin told me that he can take a bit of time to warm to the task,” said Doyle. “So I was trying to look for a bit of room at the top of the straight. Thankfully, he got me out of trouble.”

Double for Appleby and Buick

It was never going to take Charlie Appleby and William Buick long to get motoring and they struck in the second of the Group 2s, the Al Rashidiya, over 1800metres on turf.

Their Measured Time was the sole three-year-old in the field of 11 but made the most of his weight break and was always prominent behind the early leader Wirko. Turning for home he quickly went several lengths clear and won easily, by three and a quarter lengths from Erzindjan.

“He's a horse full of promise and it's great to have a winner here on the first night,” said Buick. “Today was a new test for him; first time away from England; first time at Meydan. I still think he's a horse full of potential.”

The boys in blue doubled up later on when Dhahabi took the Listed DRC Classic, over 2410metres on turf. A 3.1million Guinea yearling, the half brother to Golden Horn hasn't really lived up to his price tag but opened his Meydan account at the third attempt, on his first start since March.

The five-year-old was given the perfect ride by Buick who kept him three back on the rail and produced him with a run down the centre of the track to streak clear of Scottish Anthem by two and a quarter lengths.

Atletico El Culano's last win came in Uruguay 18 months ago, but the Grade 1 winner rolled back the years with a last ditch success in the Listed Entisar Stakes, over 1900metres on dirt.

Ridden by Jose Da Silva for Julio Olascoaga, the seven-year-old had plenty of work to do early on but arrived with a sustained run well inside the final furlong to deny Military Law by a head.

“In our stable this was probably the horse that most deserved a win,” said Olascoaga after his third success of the campaign. “He got the job done today with his characteristic of coming from behind from a strong pace. It was a well-timed ride by Jose [da Silva], who also suggested to remove the blinkers during the week.”

Rich Lyke Me Digs Deep

It's been a busy start to the season for RB Rich Lyke Me and the G2 Madjani Stakes winner backed up two weeks later and successfully defended his title in G1 Maktoum Challenge R1 [Presented by Emaar] for Purebred Arabians.

Winner of the race in 2022 and earlier this year, the Fawzi Nass-trained grey had to dig deep this time, however, duelling throughout much of the race with stablemate Hiab Al Zaman. Seeing off that rival in the straight, he was then able to hold off Falaah by a length and a half.

“He had to work hard today,” said winning rider Adrie de Vries. “He was backing up quickly after two weeks and wasn't that sharp out of the gates today. There was a lot of pressure on my inside, too.

“I'll leave [future plans] up to Fawzi Nass and [owner] Sheikh Nasser, but the smart thing to do would be to keep him here and work back from the Dubai Kahayla Classic.”

Nass and de Vries doubled up later on when Manama Gold ran out the taking winner of the Storm Coaster by Emaar two-year-old fillies Conditions race.

The William Knight-trained Frost At Dawn opened up a commanding lead turning for home but Mamama Gold was electric when set alight by de Vries, passing her in a matter of strides and winning by two and a half lengths.

“This is a bit what I expected,” said the winning jockey. “She trialled really well; trained on from then, got more professional and she's a very clever filly.

“She was having a nice look at the winning post. I always like it when a horse is having a look around, it often means there's a bit left in the tank.”

It's rare that a Meydan meeting goes by without a win for Bhupat Seemar and the former Champion Trainer struck in the closing At The Top [Presented by Emaar] Handicap, over 1200metres on dirt.

Morning has always been a speedy sort but he and Richie Mullen had to survive almost falling at the start, coming from the back of the pack to secure a half-length win over Al Tariq.

The Dubai Racing Carnival continues on Friday, January 5th when the G2 Zabeel Mile, now worth AED850,000, is the feature.

The post Saudi Cup Aspirations? Tyler Gaffalione Flies Overseas, Pilots Isolate To Easy Victory In Dubai’s Al Maktoum Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Final Leg Of The Pennsylvania Stallion Series On Tap Next Week

The final leg of the $1,000,000 Pennsylvania-Sired/Bred Stallion Series is set for Wednesday, Dec. 27th at Parx Racing with the Miss Behaviour S. and the Wait for It S.–both purses are $200,000.

Initially, four races were carded for the inaugural series in 2022, while this year saw the expansion to six. Following the conclusion of the Stallion Series, a $50,000 trainer's bonus will be split among the conditioners of the horses who accumulated the first, second and third highest number of points over the six series races.

The first leg kicked off on PA Day at the Races in August. Gamboling Ghost (Weigelia) took home the $100,000 Whistle Pig S. and Jody's Ruby (Talent Search) topped the $100,000 Miss Blue Tye Dye S. for fillies.

The series continued with the second leg on the Pennsylvania Derby Day undercard. Notice of Action (Hoppertunity) held on to take the $150,000 Prince Lucky S. and filly Aoife's Magic (Smarty Jones) romped in the $150,000 Imply S. Both winners return for the final leg of the series.

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