Tag: Horseplayers

Beginning Thursday, June 16, Horseshoe Indianapolis will have a first post of 2:10 p.m. on Thursdays.

The change will go into effect through the remainder of the 2022 racing season, which extends through Wednesday, Nov. 23.

“Over the past few weeks, several racetracks have changed their post times on Thursdays and caused a congested national simulcast schedule late in the day,” explained Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing. “Moving our post time up to 2:10 p.m. on Thursdays will assist in eliminating so much overlap with other signals and provide better flow for our racing program.”

Initially, Thursday racing in November was moving up to 2:30 p.m. Those dates will also move to 2:10 p.m. for consistency throughout the season.

The 20th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Live racing is conducted at 2:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday with Thursday post times set for 2:10 p.m. A total of 12 Saturdays will feature live racing in 2022 highlighted by the 28th running of the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby and the 27th running of the Grade 3 $200,000 Indiana Oaks set for Saturday, July 9. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis.

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Three races worth at least AU$1 million will headline the year's biggest card of racing in Australia's north-eastern capital, Brisbane, this Friday night. For the first time, TVG will broadcast live from Eagle Farm Racecourse, with Sky Racing World's Jason Witham providing commentary and race-by-race analysis.

The nine-race, all-stakes program commences at 6:43 p.m. Pacific / 9:43p.m. Eastern. Brisbane's showpiece race, the seven-furlong Stradbroke Handicap (G1), includes two horses whose career paths are worthy of chapters, rather than paragraphs.

Ayrton (5-1) is rated by his trainer Mick Price, who has compiled more than 40 Group One wins, one of his best-ever talents. The horse aroused interest from Hong Kong after his career debut, but offers were not entertained. He brought a 4-for-5 record amid tremendous buzz to Brisbane in May of last year, when future book favorite for the Stradbroke as a 3-year-old, but was upset in a prep race he needed to win to gain entry into the field.

His campaign in the second half of 2021 was derailed by a life-threatening spider bite (Australia holds the dubious distinction of housing the world's most venomous snakes and spiders). Ayrton resumed racing in April, surprising Price with a first-up win at seven furlongs when considered short of fitness. He again ventured north from his Melbourne base to tackle Brisbane's winter riches. Price had designs on a stretch-out, but a defeat at 1-1/8 miles caused an immediate rethink which resulted in the Stradbroke Handicap again becoming his target race.

Like last year, Ayrton was immediately made the bookies' favorite; unlike last year, the now-4-year-old is fully qualified and safely ensconced in the field of 18. Ayrton is named for the ill-fated Brazilian who is widely regarded as the greatest Formula 1 driver of all time. Ayrton Senna's last win was the Australian Grand Prix of 1993.

Catchy name aside, Alligator Blood (10-1) captured national attention by winning his first five races prior to a nose defeat in his Group One debut. After two more victories, he was hot favorite for a $3 million race but drama unfolded when his van was stuck in traffic for two hours after a tanker truck full of gasoline overturned on the freeway. The headline horse was provided a police escort in order to make the race – which he won, before subsequently being disqualified!

Alligator Blood rebounded with two more wins, including a deserved Group One success in February of 2020, but has lost each of eight sporadic races since. However, the horse recently made his 2022 debut in a key prep race for the Stradbroke, producing an enormous comeback effort when a close 2nd after being forced to cover considerable extra ground. Alligator Blood's name is an American poker term, which describes players who display resilience and tenacity while refusing to give up. Clearly, those qualities “bleed” through the horse's career.

Eleven Eleven ran a brilliant second place to Apache Chase in another important Stradbroke prep, in the Kingsford-Smith Stakes (G2) over 6 1/2 furlongs, after being caught behind runners down the stretch. Local wagering market moves have seen him firm from 6 -1 to 4 -1 and become the new favorite for the race.

Friday night's other million-dollar-plus races are the Q22, at 1-3/8 miles, headed by the upset Doomben Cup Exacta of Huetor (5-2) and Maximal (5-1); and the J.J. Atkins Plate at a mile for 2-year-olds, with favoritism up for grabs among Political Debate, Sharp 'N' Smart and Sheeza Belter.   

The Eagle Farm card (AUS-B) will be broadcast live on TVG this Friday night (First Post: 9:43 p.m. ET / 6:43 p.m. PT) alongside cards from Randwick (AUS-A), Newcastle (AUS-C) and Gold Coast (AUS-D). All races will be live-streamed in HD on the new Sky Racing World App, skyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms such as TVG, TwinSpires, Xpressbet, NYRABets, WatchandWager, HPIbet, and AmWager. Wagering is also available via these ADW platforms. Fans can get free access to live-streaming, past performances and expert picks on all races at skyracingworld.com. 

About Michael Wrona

A native of Brisbane, Australia, Michael Wrona has called races in six countries. Michael's vast U.S. experience includes; race calling at Los Alamitos, Hollywood Park, Arlington and Santa Anita, calling the 2000 Preakness on a national radio network and the 2016 Breeders' Cup on the International simulcast network. Michael also performed a race call voiceover for a Seinfeld episode called The Subway.

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This Saturday's 154th running of the Grade 1, $1.5 Million Belmont Stakes features the return to the track of Rich Strike, who caused millions of people to say, “What just happened?” following the running of the Kentucky Derby. The colt, which had just one win in seven races on his resume prior to the Derby, emerged as the second highest longshot in history at 80-1 odds.

His biggest competition appears to be Grade 1 Peter Pan Stakes winner We the People and Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks runner-up Nest, with both those races having previously produced Belmont Stakes winners. Creative Minister enters the race off a third of nine finish in the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, is bred to love the mile and one-half trip, and could improve, as could Derby fifth place finisher Mo Donegal, who won the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes last fall.

Golden Glider was beaten 10 lengths when second behind We the People in the Peter Pan and hopes to improve as well. The field also includes Barber Road, who finished sixth in the Derby and one length behind Mo Donegal, as well as Preakness fifth place finisher Skippylongstocking.

Analysis and main contender:

The connections of We the People couldn't have been more pleased when he drew the ground saving rail for this year's Belmont Stakes because it should enable the talented colt to take the lead from the start and control the pace in a race in which no other horse appears to like to run on the lead in the early stages. We the People was bred to do one thing and that is to run in longer races. He debuted in February at a mile and dominated by nearly six lengths, then one month later won as easily by a similar margin.

Moving way up in class to run in the Arkansas Derby as the last chance to gain points for a start in the Kentucky Derby, We the People was very well-regarded at 2 to 1 odds but started fifth and finished seventh. Whatever transpired in that race appears to have been an aberration, because in the Peter Pan Stakes four weeks ago over the Belmont main track, We the People returned to his previous form. This time he grabbed the lead from the start and continually improved, eventually winning by 10 lengths. The 101 Equibase® Speed Figure not only was a career-best but is likely to be improved upon as the Belmont will be only his fifth career start.

Since the race, the colt put in a very strong :47.4 half-mile workout, which was ninth best of 66 on the day, and demonstrates he's holding top physical condition. Jockey Flavien Prat was aboard for the Peter Pan and rides back which is another strong factor. As a grandson of Tapit, whose progeny have had superb success in this race, and by relatively new sire Constitution, who has had two of six sons or daughters already win at the slightly shorter distance of 11 furlongs, We the People is the one to catch, and to beat.

Analysis Part Two – Second Tier Contenders

Creative Minister improved nicely in his first three races, culminating with a superb 108 effort winning an allowance race early on Kentucky Derby day. To put that in perspective, Rich Strike earned a 106 figure winning the Derby so on paper Creative Minister ran faster. Coming back on two weeks rest for the Preakness, Creative Minister managed only a mild rally and third place finish. Looking at the composition of the Belmont field, trying to determine who may be running second or third behind We the People appears to be the key to figuring out who may have a shot at upsetting the favorite.

Given that Creative Minister has been in third to fifth in the early stages of his last three races it is relatively safe to assume he will be one of those horses stalking the leader. Being a son of Creative Cause there is no doubt he will relish the distance as the sire has produced six winners from 11 horses which have won at this distance and even longer. His maternal grandfather is Tapit, and as mentioned that bloodline is a key to having the stamina for this race. As such, Creative Minister has a big shot to finish second or third and is not without a chance to win.

Nest has a chance to be the fourth filly to win the Belmont, with Rags to Riches the most recent to have done so in 2007. The filly has done little wrong in her career winning four of six and finishing second or third in the other two. Her best effort came one race before her last when winning the Ashland Stakes with authority by eight lengths. The 106 figure earned is as good as the Derby figure for Rich Strike and the field high figure of 108 earned by Creative Minister. Most importantly, Nest absolutely has the tactical speed to be second or third in the early stages of the Belmont Stakes as demonstrated in her two races this year before her runner-up effort in the Kentucky Oaks when she found herself seventh after a quarter mile and still sixth after a half-mile. With a strong will to succeed, Nest can't be ruled out as a factor in this year's Belmont Stakes.

Since by this point many will be asking “What about Rich Strike?” my answer is this colt's running style does not portend well for either the winner's historical profile or for this year's pace scenario. Rich Strike benefitted from a faster than average pace in the Derby, to put it mildly, as the first six furlongs was run in 1:10 after a :45 half mile. On average, he has been last or within three positions of last after a half-mile in his last six races. In spite of the perception the Belmont is won by closers because of its long distance which allows horse to wind up and gain momentum as the race increases, this is not the case. The race has been won primarily by horses which run the same tempo from start to finish, and so I am taking a stand against Rich Strike as a contender in this year's race.

Similarly, Mo Donegal is hard to endorse in spite of 103 and 101 figure efforts this year when winning the Wood Memorial and finishing third in the Derby.

The rest of the field, with their best representative Equibase® Speed Figures, is Barber Road (100), Golden Glider (99) and Skippylongstocking (102).

Top Win Contender:
We the People

Less Probable but also Win Contenders:
Creative Minister
Nest

Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets – Grade 1
Race 11 at Belmont Park
Saturday, June 11 – Post Time 6:44 PM E.T.
One Mile and One Half
Three Years Old
Purse: $1.5 Million
T.V.: NBC 5 – 7 PM E.T.

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When the Colonial Downs Racing presented by Woodford Reserve season gets underway on July 11 there will be “More Racing and More Money” available for the wagering public as the New Kent, Va., racetrack lowers the takeout rate on its Pick 5 wager to just 12% and the bet will offer a carryover provision for the first time. The wager will have a minimum 50-cent base.

The Pick 5, which will be offered on the last five races each day, will pay out 100% of its net pool to those bettors correctly selecting all five winners in the sequence. On days when nobody picks all 5 winners, 25% of the net pool will be paid to those who correctly selected the most winners while the remaining 75% will be carried over to the following day's program.

During the previous three seasons when the Pick 5 was offered with no carryover provision there were six occasions in which nobody selected all five winners.

The Pick 5 highlights a wagering menu that includes two Pick 4's. The Early Pick 4 will cover races 2-5 while the Late Pick 4 will encompass the final four races each day. Colonial Downs will also offer rolling Daily Doubles and rolling Pick 3 wagers starting with the 1:45 p.m. first race each Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

In addition, every race will have Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta, and Superfecta wagering. The minimum wager for Win, Place, and Show wagers is $2; the Exacta and Daily Double will offer a $1 base; Trifectas, Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 5 wagers can be played for as little as 50-cents; and the Superfecta will have a 10-cent minimum.

Now in its fourth year under the management of the Colonial Downs Group and ownership of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment ─ and as further proof of Colonial's progress in the Middle Atlantic region ─ Colonial Downs will offer a record of more than $600,000 in daily average purses, punctuated by an expanded stakes schedule and increased purse monies in open races, and for Virginia-bred, sired, and certified horses. As an additional benefit to horsemen, maiden special weight (MSW) races during the meeting will carry a $60,000 purse.

Colonial Downs kicks off its 2022 season on Monday, July 11 and will continue through Wednesday, September 7. The 27-day meet is highlighted by an expanded stakes schedule topped by the Grade 3 $300,000 New Kent County Virginia Derby which will be run on Tuesday, September 6 on a card that will also include the $200,000 Woodford Reserve Virginia Oaks, the $150,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Da Hoss Stakes, the $125,000 Exacta System's Rosie's Stakes, and the $125,000 Woodford Reserve Kitten's Joy Stakes.

Other key days during the season are Tuesday, August 16 when four $150,000 stakes will be presented as part of the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship Series (MATCH) as well as the opening day card with four stakes for Virginia-bred/sired horses and the closing day program featuring four stakes for Virginia-restricted runners.

All Colonial Downs races will be televised on TVG.

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