Tag: Horseplayers

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday, featuring stakes action from Aqueduct Racetrack and Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks qualifiers from Oaklawn Park.

The Cross Country Pick 5 requires bettors to pick the winner of five select races from tracks across the country. The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country with each week featuring a mandatory payout of the net pool. The Cross Country Pick 5, boasting a low 15 percent takeout, will continue each Saturday in February and March, offering sequences with races from Aqueduct Racetrack and partner tracks across the country.

Saturday's sequence kicks off in Race 7 at Aqueduct Racetrack [3:55 p.m. Eastern] as Yo Cuz, a three-time stakes winner at the Big A, leads a field of nine older fillies and mares in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance sprint. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the New York-bred and sired Laoban bay captured the seven-furlong $500,000 NYSSS Fifth Avenue in December 2021 ahead of state-bred scores last year in the one-turn mile Maddie May and seven-furlong East View. She will look to get back to winning ways after failing to hit the board in her last three outings.

A competitive field includes the David Duggan-trained Kant Hurry Love, who enters from a pair of open-lengths scores against fellow state-breds; and the improving Bruce Levine trainee Kitten's Appeal, a Kentucky-bred, who garnered a career-best 80 Beyer Speed Figure last out when runner-up in a six-furlong allowance sprint that featured five returning rivals.

Action switches to Oaklawn for the second leg with graded-stakes winners Pretty Birdie and Yuugiri squaring off in the $150,000 Carousel [Race 7, 4:06 p.m.], a six-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares.

Trained by Norm Casse, Pretty Birdie made the grade at second asking in the Grade 3 Schuylerville at Saratoga Race Course. She's won 2-of-3 starts at Oaklawn, including the Purple Martin in March and the Poinsettia last out on December 17.

Yuugiri is also 2-for-3 at Oaklawn for trainer Rodolphe Brisset, including a neck score over Beguine in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Fantasy in April and a six-furlong allowance win last out on December 30. The multiple graded-stakes placed Samurai Charm ships in from Santa Anita for trainer Peter Miller while Mercy Warren arrives from a 16-length optional-claiming score at Fair Grounds for trainer Cherie DeVaux.

The middle leg will see a field of six travel a one-turn mile in the $125,000 Stymie [Race 8, 4:26 p.m.] at the Big A led by the streaking Repo Rocks, who enters with a trio of stakes wins for trainer Jamie Ness.

Last out, the 5-year-old Tapiture gelding garnered a 111 Beyer for his 8 1/2-length romp in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Toboggan here, which came on the heels of stakes scores at Parx in the 6 1/2-furlong Let's Give Thanks and six-furlong Blitzen.

Grade 1-placed Miles D will look to get back on track for trainer Chad Brown following a seventh-place finish last out in the Grade 3 Fred W. Hooper on January 28 at Gulfstream Park. The 5-year-old Curlin bay finished third in the 2021 Grade 1 Travers two starts before completing his sophomore season with a half-length score over eventual Grade 1-winner Speaker's Corner in the nine-furlong Discovery here. Another threat is the Todd Pletcher-trained Bourbonic, who captured the 2021 Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino and enters from a strong optional-claiming win on February 5 in which he added blinkers.

The sequence concludes with a pair of graded tilts from Oaklawn, starting with the Grade 3, $300,000 Honeybee [Race 10, 5:43 p.m.], a 1 1/16-mile test for sophomore fillies offering 50-20-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-five finishers.

The 12-horse field is topped by Godolphin's Kentucky homebred Wet Paint, a Brad Cox trainee, who bested four of her returning rivals last out in the Martha Washington going the Honeybee distance at Oaklawn.

A fresh challenge will be provided by the Norm Casse-conditioned Effortlesslyelgant, a $475,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, who graduated last out at Oaklawn; three-time winner Towhead for trainer Mike Maker; Grade 2-placed New York-bred Gambling Girl for Pletcher; and Grade 3-placed Grand Love for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who recently secured his 10,000th win in North America.

Closing out the wager is the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel [Race 11, 6:23 p.m.], a 1 1/16-mile test for sophomores offering 50-20-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-five finishers.

Cox will saddle a pair of strong contenders in the 11-horse field led by 2-1 morning-line favorite Verifying and 5-2 second choice Giant Mischief. By Justify, Verifying is a half-brother to multiple Grade 1-winning multi-millionaire Midnight Bisou. He finished second in the Grade 1 Champagne in October at the Big A and enters from a 5 1/4-length optional-claiming score traveling one mile on January 14 at Oaklawn.

Giant Mischief, by Into Mischief, is out of multiple graded-stakes winner Vertical Oak. He won his first two starts, including an optional-claiming score in November at Keeneland ahead of a close second as the odds-on favorite in the Springboard Mile in December at Remington Park.

Steep opposition will come from a trio of Asmussen trainees in Grade 1-placed Red Route One, stakes-winner Powerful, and two-time winner Gun Pilot; as well as recent Grade 3 Sham-winner Reincarnate for trainer Tim Yakteen.

Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 sequence will be available for download at https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/cross-country-wagers.

America's Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct winter meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the best way to bet every race of the Aqueduct Racetrack winter meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

Cross Country Pick 5 – Saturday, February 25

Leg A: Aqueduct Racetrack -Race 7, ALW (3:55 p.m. Eastern)

Leg B: Oaklawn Park -Race 7, $150K Carousel (4:06 p.m.)

Leg C: Aqueduct Racetrack -Race 8, $125K Stymie (4:26 p.m.)

Leg D: Oaklawn Park -Race 10, G3 Honeybee (5:43 p.m.)

Leg E: Oaklawn Park -Race 11, G2 Rebel (6:23 p.m.)

The post Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 Features Stakes Action From Aqueduct, Oaklawn appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Due to unprecedented winter conditions forecast for Southern California through this weekend, Santa Anita Park has cancelled Saturday and Sunday's racing programs prior to entries being taken for either day. The track had already postponed the Friday racing card, which was a makeup day not originally on the calendar.

Blizzard warnings have been issued for the San Gabriel Mountains behind the historic track, with snowfall expected at the 1,000 foot level. It is the first blizzard warning ever issued in Los Angeles County. The storm, which is expected to begin late morning on Thursday, is forecast to drop six inches of rain through Saturday.

The decision to cancel both days out of an abundance of caution was made in consultation with industry stakeholders, including the Thoroughbred Owners of California, the California Thoroughbred Trainers Association, and the California Horse Racing Board.

In the judgement of the stakeholders, because the track will have been closed for training for at least two days because of the storm, the races were called off through the weekend to prioritize the safety of the competitors.

The main track and training track training schedule will be announced on a daily basis and will be open for training as the weather permits.

The post Unprecedented Winter Weather Forecast Causes Weekend Cancellations At Santa Anita appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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This Saturday's $1 million Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park drew a full field of 12 vying to get into the top 10 on the “Road to the Derby” points list with the 50 points awarded to the winner, also with an eye to the all-important Arkansas Derby on April 1.

Leading the field in points earned to date with 17 is Red Route One, who finished second in his first race of the year, the G3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn, bringing his total to 13 points. Frosted Departure finished two lengths further behind Red Route One when third in the Southwest to earn six points. Recent Lecomte third Confidence Game hopes to improve and add to his total to date of seven points. Verifying finished second in the G1 Champagne Stakes last October in only the second start of his career (to earn four points) before a sixth place finish in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, then returned for an easy win last month.

Another recent top performer in a stakes race is Reincarnate, who has been transferred from Bob Baffert's barn to trainer Tim Yakteen after the colt won the G3 Sham Stakes but did not earn any points because of Baffert's Churchill Downs suspension. Similarly, Giant Mischief rallied from last of nine to gain second in the Springboard Mile Stakes when last seen in December but didn't garner any points because he raced on Lasix.

Powerful won the Ed Brown Society Stakes, a sprint race, when last seen near the end of September and is trying two turns for the first time. Gun Pilot, who just won an allowance level race three weeks ago at Oaklawn, is one of three horses trained by Steve Asmussen (Powerful and Red Route One are the others), who recently became the first trainer in history to reach the milestone of 10,000 career wins in North America. Bourbon Bash was second in that race and third in the Renaissance Stakes prior to that.

Two horses – Event Detail and Talladega – recently earned their first wins and step up into graded stakes for the first time but both have exceptional breeding and should be considered contenders in this very deep and talented field.

Main win contenders:

Although with just a maiden win to his credit, Event Detail has a lot of factors on his side coming into this year's Rebel Stakes. He is sired by 2018 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner City of Light, who has his first crop of 3-year-olds racing this year and has produced 13 different winning horses from just 45 to hit the track to date, including three stakes winners. Perhaps better than that, the colt's dam is a daughter of tremendous sire Into Mischief out of a mare by Seattle Dancer, a half-brother to champion Seattle Slew who sired 37 stakes winners. Of course pedigree is meaningless until a horse proves itself on the track, which this colt has done. Entered in nothing more than a sprint prep in his debut, Event Detail finished sixth, but when sent two turns for the first time he rallied impressively from 11th of 12 in the early stages to finish second. The 98 Equibase® Speed Figure earned at the time (on Jan. 1) was strong, compared to the same figure Red Route One earned when second in the Southwest Stakes four weeks later and the 103 figure Sham Stakes winner Reincarnate earned one week later. Event Detail showed physical and mental improvement four weeks after that when winning easily by nearly three lengths, improving to a 99 figure which could have been higher. Having saved something for this race, and in the hands of trainer Paulo Lobo, who won nearly 25 percent of his races in 2022, Event Detail could show a new dimension and post the upset win as he will be fairly ignored by many bettors given he is moving from a maiden race into this Grade 2 stakes.

Verifying showed he belongs with the best in his division last fall, when in only the second start of his career he rallied to lead late in the Champagne Stakes before settling for second. That effort earned a 92 figure which was pretty strong for a 2-year-old at that time of year. Five weeks later the colt didn't run nearly as well when sixth of 10 in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but he apparently matured both physically and mentally over the early winter because his return to the races last month was notable. In that two-turn race at Oaklawn, likely with the Rebel Stakes in mind, Verifying stalked the pacesetter for the first three-quarters of a mile then took over with ease, kicking clear by 5 1/4 lengths. The 102 figure earned stacks up nicely with the field-high 103 last race figure earned by Reincarnate when winning the Sham Stakes six days earlier and is likely to be bettered given Verifying is making his second start of the year. Also notable is his pedigree as he is by Triple Crown winner Justify, out of the mare Dive Delite, making him a half-brother to champion Midnight Bisou, who earned $7.4 million and who had a fantastic campaign as a 3-year-old in 2018 when winning the Santa Anita Oaks and finishing third in the Kentucky Oaks.

Reincarnate broke his maiden on Nov. 25 in his second two-turn race on dirt, earning a 95 figure, which he bettered significantly winning the Sham Stakes on Jan. 8, earning a career-best and field high last race 103 figure. This colt also has tremendous breeding to be on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, as he is from the first 3-year-old crop of Good Magic, who won the 2018 Blue Grass Stakes before a runner-up effort in the Derby that year. Good Magic also won the Haskell Invitational Stakes that summer and so far, among his eight foals to race in stakes, four have won including Reincarnate. Looking at the pattern of improving figures, from 87 to 90 to 92 to 95 to 103, it is logical to conclude Reincarnate can continue to improve and may be a strong factor in this year's Rebel Stakes.

Giant Mischief has to get honorable mention in my opinion. He has two wins and one runner-up effort in three races to date and he's a son of tremendous sire Into Mischief. His trainer is Brad Cox, who also trains Verifying and who saddled Angel of Empire to win the Risen Star Stakes last week. In only the second start of his career last November, Giant Mischief earned a field high 105 figure when winning a seven furlong race in tenacious fashion. Following that he rallied mid-race from ninth to get within a neck of the lead in the two-turn Springboard Mile, running fairly evenly thereafter but still second at the end in a fine effort (with a 98 figure) which portends good things in his 3-year-old campaign.

Another horse which could be a contender is Red Route One, who rallied strongly from last of eight to finish second to a horse in Arabian Knight who could not be caught in the late stages of the Southwest Stakes last month. In doing so the colt earned a career best 98 figure and could improve off that effort in his second start as a 3-year-old.

The rest of the field, with their best representative Equibase® Speed Figures, is Bourbon Bash (90), Confidence Game (97), Frosted Departure (94), Gun Pilot (93), Powerful (83), and Talladega (89).

Win Contenders:
Event Detail
Verifying
Giant Mischief

Rebel Stakes – Grade 2
Race 11 at Oaklawn Park
Saturday, February 25 – Post Time 6:23 PM E.T.
One Mile and One Sixteenth
Three Year Olds
Purse: $1 Million

The post Equibase Analysis: Maiden Winner Event Detail Holds Strong Upset Chance In Wide Open Rebel appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., has canceled Friday's card due to heavy rain forecast for the area beginning Thursday. Most of the races scheduled for Friday will be brought back as “extras” on Saturday, according to a notice from the racing office.

“We're looking at a low end of probably two inches of rain between late Thursday and Friday with a high end closer to five inches,” said Jason Egan, Santa Anita director of racing and racing secretary.

Friday was originally scheduled to be a dark day at Santa Anita following Monday's special Presidents' Day card. However, due to what were multiple rain-related cancellations earlier in the Classic Meet, Friday's card was added to serve as a makeup for the lost days.

On-track fans are advised that Santa Anita will be open for simulcast wagering Friday in the Grandstand Paddock Room beginning at 10 a.m. Parking and admission are free.

The post Santa Anita Cancels Friday Card Due To Heavy Rain Forecast appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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