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Debut Winners American Icon, Iron Works Highlight Friday’s Stronach 5

Gulfstream Park's feature race, highlighted by several promising 3-year-olds including debut winners American Icon and Iron Works, will highlight Friday's Stronach 5.

The Stronach 5 will also feature races from Santa Anita Park, Laurel Park and Golden Gate Fields along with a low 12-percent takeout.

The Stronach 5, which continues to offer a strong return on investment, will start at 3:57 ET with Laurel's eighth race, a wide-open maiden $16,000 claiming event at a mile for 3-year-olds. Pit Stop Man takes a slight class drop for Edward Allard after finishing second against $20,000 claimers last out. Money Code, 1 ½ lengths behind Pit Stop Man last out, goes out for leading trainer Claudio Gonzalez. Keen On You goes out first time for trainer Hugh McMahon

Gulfstream's eighth race, a starter optional claimer for 3-year-old fillies over the Tapeta at a mile and 70 yards, serves as the second leg of the Stronach 5 and drew a field of eight including two from the barn of Antonio Sano. Paintbrush, claimed by Sano for $12,500 last out, gets the rail and Jose Ortiz while Cagua gets Javier Castellano after a 2 ¾ length victory while breaking her maiden for $16,000. Ready to Film ships in from Tampa for Gerald Bennett after failing in her last two races by less than a length in each against starter optional claiming company. Golden Bow gets Irad Ortiz Jr. after being claimed for $12,500 last out.

The Stronach 5 heads west for Santa Anita's third race, a $50,000 maiden claiming event for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs on the turf. Pretty Rena returns to turf for Michael McCarthy and drops out of maiden special weight company. John Velazquez (26 percent) gets the mount. Reddam Racing LLC's An Agent Mistake, a daughter of Klimt, debuts for trainer Doug O'Neill as does Topolina, a daughter of Goldencents.

Gulfstream's featured ninth race, a competitive allowance optional claimer for 3-year-olds at a mile, drew a field of 10 including Iron Works, a $550,000 son of Distorted Humor and a four-length winner Jan. 8 against maiden special weight company for Todd Pletcher. Gulfstream's perennial leading trainer will also send out American Icon, a $400,000 son of Gun Runner and an 8 ½ length winner in his debut Dec. 26. OXO Equine LLC's Graphic Detail, who broke his maiden first out Nov. 6 at Belmont, returns to the track after a fourth-place finish Jan. 1 in the Mucho Macho Man. Steal Sunshine was a 10 ½ length winner last out and will make his first start since being claimed for $50,000 by Bobby Dibona.

The Stronach 5 concludes with Golden Gate's third race, a $4,000 claimer for 4-year-olds and up who have never won two. Minsky, claimed for $6,250 Nov. 12, returns after a troubled fourth-place finish Dec. 26. Bourbonwithatwist enters off three second-place finishes. The Tim Bellasis-trained son of Strong Mandate has finished in-the-money in nine of his 14 starts. Time Is Gone returns after a five-month layoff and gets the rail.

Friday's races and sequence

Leg 1 –Laurel Race 8: (9 entries, 1 mile) 3:57 ET, 12:57 PT
Leg 2 –Gulfstream Race 8: (8 entries, mile & 70 yards) 4:11 ET, 1:11 PT
Leg 3 – Santa Anita Race 3: (9 entries, 6 furlongs turf) 4:33ET, 1:33 PT
Leg 4 – Gulfstream Race 9: (10 entries, 5 ½ furlongs) 4:42 ET, 1:42 PT
Leg 5 –Golden Gate Race 3: (10 entries, 5 ½ furlongs) 4:49 ET, 1:49 PT

Fans can watch and wager on the action at 1/ST.COM/BET as well as stream all the action in English and Spanish at LaurelPark.com, SantaAnita.com, GulfstreamPark.com, and GoldenGateFields.com.

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.

If a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.

The Maryland Jockey Club serves as host of the Stronach 5.

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Letter To The Editor: An Aussie Perspective On Being An American Racing Fan

I was saddened to read the heartfelt Letter to the Editor: Why I Am Leaving The Sport I Loved for 50 Years that appeared on the Paulick Report website on Jan. 20. As an Australian turf fanatic and now small-time owner who has been living in New York for a decade, I have a perspective on this.

Like the author, I relate deeply to that experience of the first time at the track and getting “hooked.” As a sports fanatic kid growing up in Melbourne in the 1980s and 1990s, I was ambiently aware of racing, but it wasn't until I experienced the roar of the crowd at the 1999 Caulfield Guineas and an epic battle between the champion colts Redoute's Choice and Testa Rossa that I was transformed forever. Or as the author puts it, “spiritually fed.”

Sadly, nothing about the author's recent experiences and decision to get out of the game entirely surprised me.

A few observations:

Racetrack Experience – American racetracks, even the bigger ones, are generally decrepit. While there may be little motivation to invest given the sport is played for TV and online wagering, it's a stark contrast to the magnificence of a Flemington or Royal Randwick on a clear day. Not to mention the hundreds of picturesque racecourses that make up Provincial/Country fixtures. Where my father lives in Kyneton, about an hour's drive from Melbourne hosts a brilliant “Country Cup” day each year with entertainment and great food options. In other words, a way to get people who aren't necessarily racing fans to enjoy a day out and perhaps also place a few wagers.

Wagering Experience/Bet Types – The user interfaces for American parimutuel betting are, in my view, very poor and don't reflect what younger generations would regard as a good user experience. While wagering types are mostly common between North America and Australia, the existence of “Flexi” betting options whereby a bettor can invest wagers of their choosing in return for a calculated % of the dividend are far more enticing than the rigid unit options available here. Additionally, many young people don't grasp parimutuel totalizator concepts. The option for “Fixed Odds” betting in Australia attracts a different type of player.

Integrity & National Regulations – I am not suggesting that Australia doesn't have its own issues with integrity, animal welfare, and scandals. To suggest otherwise would be untrue. But as recent examples show, public outrage against exposed corruption and animal cruelty has led to swift and decisive action by regulators. The bad guys do get disqualified for extended periods. While there may be minor state differences, on the whole, there are national rules of racing for medication and horse ratings/classification systems that promote certainty for participants and the wagering public.

Mainstream Interest / Media Platforms – Finally, while racing remains niche in Australia, engagement in some form is much more common there, particularly amongst younger generations. While only a handful of my friends follow racing daily, a large cohort will get together with their mates for the occasional “weekend quaddie” (a Pick 4 equivalent) as a social activity at pubs and sports venues across the country. A lot of this has to do with the prevalence of excellent media and digital platforms like Racing.com.

— David Salter
Owner, fan, and horseplayer

Want to sound off about something you've seen in the Paulick Report? Send us a letter at info at paulickreport.com. Please include your contact info so our editorial staff can reach you if they have questions.

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NTRA Issues Statement On Player Disqualification At National Horseplayers Championship

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) issued the following statement on Monday after its first ever disqualification during the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) which took place this weekend in Las Vegas, Nev.

“The NTRA disqualified a player from the 2022 NHC for violating the official rules. One of the violated rules states, “All wagers must be placed personally, and in-person, by the Contest Player.” The disqualified player was not present at Bally's during the NHC tournament and his contest wagers were being submitted on-site by an intermediary without authorization. No authorization was given to the player to leave Bally's or the State; he violated both. The rules of the NHC are clearly outlined and all participants are required to sign them prior to the tournament.”

According to a report in HorseRacingNation.com, the disqualified player was Jonathan Kinchen, the Fox Sports racing analyst and a tournament regular who won the NHC Tour title in 2015. Kinchen reportedly left Las Vegas to attend Saturday's Pegasus World Cup day races at Gulfstream Park in Florida and had his tournament bets made in Las Vegas by an associate.

Kinchen indicated on Twitter he would make a statement in an upcoming podcast.

NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney said, “The rules are clear that participants must be onsite to participate in the NHC. The NHC is the world's most prestigious handicapping tournament. The integrity of the event is of paramount importance—not just to us but to the thousands of men and women who attempt to qualify and play each and every year. The NTRA will staunchly and steadfastly follow the rules and defend the integrity of this prestigious event and its participants.”

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‘Old-School’ Player, Harvey Pack Disciple David Harrison Wins National Horseplayers Championship

David Harrison of Webster, N.Y., topped a field of 643 entries to win the $725,000 first-place prize and an Eclipse Award as Horseplayer of the Year at this weekend's 23rd annual National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) presented by Racetrack Television Network, Caesars Entertainment, and Bally's Las Vegas.

Harrison amassed a winning score of $342 over the three-day tournament from 53 mythical $2 Win and Place bets – 18 on Friday, 18 on Saturday, 10 in Sunday morning's Semifinal round, and seven at the climactic Final Table presented by Caesars Sportsbook and Global Tote, A BetMakers Company.

The 63-year-old Harrison, who makes his living as a real estate appraiser and collateral analyst, held a $30.30 advantage over A.J. Benton and the rest of the field entering the Final Table.

Despite a tightening of the TVG Leaderboard from the first six of seven Final Table races, Harrison did enough to hold off his rivals late.

“This is an absolute life-changing score,” Harrison said. “I'm a middle-class, middle-income, hard-working guy. This is going to help me hopefully retire a little bit earlier than I'd planned. I'm totally overwhelmed and don't even know what else to say.”

The contest came down to the Baffle Stakes at Santa Anita – a 6 1/2-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-olds – with Harrison $16.60 ahead of Benton and $17.20 to the better of Ryan Patrick Scully. The other seven were at least $44 from the top.

“The guys in second and third only had a few options,” Harrison said. “Don't Swear Dave went up to 4-1 and I thought, 'If I don't have that horse they could nip me. And my name's Dave! I can't let that horse beat me.'”

Even-money favorite Maglev hit the lead in upper stretch and drew off easily. To slam the door shut, Don't Swear Dave closed for second, making it impossible for anyone to catch Harrison. As Maglev opened up Harrison did not wait to see him hit the wire before raising his arms in triumph and leaving the stage to celebrate with his friends in a far corner of the ballroom.

Harrison started the day in 14th and made his big moves in the morning's Semifinals round. At the Final Table, no player moved more than one position.

“My goal was to creep up and I hit my first couple of races,” he said. “Then the one that really got my confidence up was the horse at Laurel – Let Me Finish. Every time I get into a discussion with my wife she's always telling me that – let me finish. That was one of my hunch plays and that's probably the reason I won.”

Harrison has been handicapping since the late 1970s, when he would frequent Belmont Park, and credits the late New York Racing Association broadcaster and handicapper Harvey Pack for teaching him how to handicap. After the trophy presentation, Harrison tossed his Daily Racing Form in the air in tribute to Pack.

“I'm an old-school guy,” he said. “I just use the Form.”

Scully ended up second with $324.80, good for a $200,000 prize, followed by Benton with $321, which was worth $150,000.

The official Top 10, with placing, final bankroll, name, hometown (and prize):

1. $342.00, David Harrison, Webster, N.Y. ($725,000 + Eclipse Award + BCBC spot)

2. $324.80, Ryan Patrick Scully, Montgomery, Ill. ($200,000)

3. $321.00, A.J. Benton, Manchester, N.H. ($150,000)

4. $293.80, Frank Paros, Jupiter, Fla. ($100,000)

5. $286.00, David McCarty, San Diego ($75,000)

6. $260.00, Sally Goodall, Las Vegas ($70,000)

7. $253.20, Mike Somich, Raleigh, N.C. ($65,000)

8. $252.30, Shirley Wolff, Holmdel, N.J. ($60,000)

9. $243.50, Kevin Smith, Coral Gables, Fla. ($55,000)

10. $240.00, Dale Day, Yukon, Okla. ($50,000)

By virtue of his victory, Harrison also earns an exemption into next year's NHC and a berth to the 2022 Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge worth $10,000.

The full NHC and Consolation Tournament standings can be accessed at NTRA.com.

The NHC was held for the third straight year in the historic Bally's Event Center, which for three days was transformed into the world's largest race and sports book. The next NHC in 2023 will be at the same property but it will bear a new name, Horseshoe Las Vegas.

The NHC finals awarded cash prizes to 64 players—the top 10% of finishers—from a total cash prize purse of $2,339,550. An additional $50,000 went to the top 20 in today's Consolation Tournament. Including $355,000 paid out to top finishers in the year-long NHC Tour, NHC Tour travel awards, RTN subscriptions, and the $10,000 Charity Challenge tournament prize, plus $30,000 worth of Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge prizes in the form of entry fees, airfare, and hotel, the aggregate value of payouts this weekend in NHC cash and prizes totaled $3,568,592.

To make the Semifinals cut, the 509 individual NHC players were required to place 36 mythical $2 Win and Place wagers – 18 on Friday and 18 on Saturday. The highest 10 cumulative scores after the Semifinals round on Sunday morning moved on to the Final Table. Bankrolls amassed during Day 1, Day 2 and the Semifinals round rolled over to the Final Table, with the 10 finalists settling the NHC score in seven “mandatory” assigned races.

Final Table participants were relocated to a single table in the middle of the Bally's Event Center that served as NHC headquarters.

Final Table Race Results

Race: Winner ($2 Win, $2 Place), Second ($2 Place)

Gulfstream, Race 10: 8-Skyro ($11.80, $5.60), 5-Mid Day Image ($3.40)

Fair Grounds, Race 7: 8-Citizen West ($7.40, $4.20), 1-Abuelo Nuno ($6)

Sam Houston, Race 6: 11-Red Run ($12.80, $6), 1-Bloodline ($8.40)

Fair Grounds, Race 8: 10-Big Agenda ($6, $3.40), 3-Forever Mo ($3.60)

Sam Houston, Race 8: [Dead Heat] 9-Another Mystery ($23.60, $16.80), 6-Fantasioso ($10.80, $9.80)

Sam Houston, Race 9: 2-Greeley and Ben ($9, $4.60), 10-Mr Money Bags ($5.20)

Santa Anita, Race 9: 1-Maglev ($4.40, $2.80), 6-Don't Swear Dave ($4.40)

NHC Tour winner Kevin Costello advanced to the Semifinals with both of his entries, finishing 19th ($206) with Entry 1 and 53rd with Entry 2 ($173.60), which was the one eligible for a $5 million bonus if he could have won the NHC. Costello was the only player with two entries in the Semifinals round.

Defending champion Justin Mustari checked in at 108th ($137.20).

In a separate Consolation Tournament for players that did not reach the Semifinals round, David Wolff of Holmdel, N.J., husband of Final Table player Shirley Wolff, won the $10,000 top prize with a bankroll of $141.60 from 10 optional races. The Consolation Tournament started with bankrolls reset to zero. Cash prizes totaling $50,000 were awarded, from the $10,000 first prize down to $1,000 for 20th.

NHC weekend concludes this evening with the annual Champions' Dinner, featuring the presentation of prizes and the induction of the 2022 NHC Hall of Fame class: Michael Beychok, Stanley Bavlish, J. Randy Gallo, David Gutfreund, and Paul Matties Jr.

The 2022 NHC was the culmination of 310 qualifying contests held online and at racetracks and OTBs in 2021. From those contests, there were 44,553 entries played in hopes of making it to Bally's Las Vegas.

In addition to its three presenting sponsors – RTN, Caesars Entertainment, and Bally's Las Vegas – the NHC is supported by official partners Daily Racing Form, EquinEdge, FanDuel Group, Four Roses Bourbon, NYRA Bets, Race Lens, TVG, and 1/ST Bet. The Final Table, where only the top 10 players advance to determine final placings based on seven climactic races, is sponsored by Caesars Sportsbook and Global Tote, A BetMakers Company.

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