Tag: Horseplayers

The live Thoroughbred racing season breaks from the gate at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack (FLGR) this upcoming Monday, April 24; marking the 62nd consecutive season of racing at the Western New York track. A scheduled 90-day meet will begin with an eight-race Opening Day card kicking off at 1:15 p.m.

The seventh race is the feature event of the Opening Day card. The allowance test drew a classy group of older males and will be run at a distance of four and one-half furlongs. Dr Blarney is the early 8-5 favorite and has a resume that includes a total of 26 career victories. The Karl Grusmark-trainee will be under the guidance of jockey Jacqueline Davis.

Lady's Golden Guy defeated the morning line favorite when they last met in November. The Debra Breed-trainee completed a three-race win streak to finish the 2022 meet. The successful span of victories included a significant triumph in the Leon Reed Memorial Stakes on October 10. He will be under the direction of Nazario Alvarado.

Last year's top performers will be honored following the fourth race on Opening Day. Jockey Andre Worrie finished the 2022 meet with 98 victories to claim his first FLGR riding title. He will try to pick up where he left off on Monday, as he is named to ride in five races. Meanwhile, veteran trainer Chris Englehart will be recognized for his 20th training title after saddling 62 winners in 2022.

The 2023 meet will feature 14 stakes, headlined by the $150,000 New York Derby on Monday, July 24 for New York-bred 3-year-olds. The richest stake of the year is the $200,000 (estimated) New York Breeders' Futurity for New York-bred 2-year-olds on Monday, October 16. 2022.

Trainer James Aquilano is closing in on a career milestone of 2000 victories in 2023. With 1964 victories to his credit since his first-year training in 1981, he sits 36 away from the mark. Prior to starting his own training career, Aquilano served as an assistant to Finger Lakes legendary conditioned Michael S. Ferraro.

FLGR will introduce a $1 minimum Pick-6 to replace the Jackpot Pick-6 in the wagering menu this season. The multi-race bet will begin at race three on every card. If no one selects all six winners, 75% of the pool carries over to the next live racing day, while 25% is paid out to those selecting the most winners in the designated races.

Live racing programs will be free for all fans in attendance on both Opening Day, as well as on Tuesday.

FLGR will offer live thoroughbred action each Monday and Tuesday for the first three.weeks of the season. Wednesday will be added as a race day on May 17. First race post time has been moved to 1:15 pm for this season.

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The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Sunday with action from Aqueduct Racetrack and Keeneland.

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, offers sequences with races from Aqueduct Racetrack and partner tracks across the country.

The sequence begins at 1:32 p.m. Eastern in Race 2 at Keeneland, a 5 1/2-furlong turf maiden special weight for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. The overflow field will see the debut of the Ignacio Correas-trained All I Want Is You, who enters from a sharp April 15 half-mile breeze from the gate in 46.80 seconds over the Keeneland dirt, the fastest of 100 works that day. Glamour Anna also enters from an April 15 bullet work when covering a half-mile in 47.84 over the Skylight Training Center Dirt for trainer Anna Navarrete. The Wesley Ward-trained Cowichan has hit the board in each of her four lifetime outings and enters from a close third in a September maiden at Saratoga Race Course.

The action continues at Keeneland in Race 5 [3:08 p.m.] with an overflow field in a one-mile turf allowance for older fillies and mares. For the Flag made a winning debut for her new trainer Jimmy Toner last out, scoring a fourth-out graduation in frontrunning fashion in a one-mile maiden special weight in March at Gulfstream Park. The effort garnered a 77 Beyer Speed Figure. Dual stakes-placed Pioneer's Edge will vie to return to winning ways for conditioner Josie Carroll, while four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown sends out Lakota Spirit for her first start since a distant fourth-place finish in the June 25 Wild Applause at Belmont Park.

The middle leg features a salty second-level six-furlong outer turf allowance for older horses in Race 7 [4:34 p.m.] at Aqueduct, led by the return of multiple stakes-placed Grooms All Bizness for trainer Jorge Duarte, Jr. The son of Fed Biz drops in off two consecutive stakes starts, most recently finishing a game second in the Carle Place on October 23 at Belmont at the Big A.

The Rafael Romero-trained Surprise Boss was last seen posting a runner-up effort on March 19 where he was bested a neck by Joey Freshwater, who exited that effort to win the Grade 3 Bay Shore on April 8. Other stakes-performing challengers include Saint Selby, who finished third in the state-bred John Morrissey in August for trainer Rob Atras, and the Tom Morley-trained Seven Scents, who won the Pulse Power Turf Sprint last January.

The penultimate leg will offer stakes action from the Big A in Race 8 [5:06 p.m.], the $200,000 NYSSS Park Avenue for eligible New York-sired sophomore fillies sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs. Impressive maiden winner Clover Street will look to build upon a 5 1/2-length romp last out for trainer Mark Hennig in a seven-furlong state-bred maiden special weight. The daughter of Teuflesberg will face a trio of stakes performers in the Linda Rice-trained multiple stakes-winner Les Bon Temps, the Brad Cox-trained NYSSS Fifth Avenue runner-up Midtown Lights, and Little Linzee, who has hit the board in three consecutive stakes for conditioner Domenick Schettino. The undefeated Honest Banker also looks to make a successful stakes debut for trainer Rob Atras and boasts a 2-for-2 record over the Aqueduct main track.

The sequence closes out in Race 9 [5:16 p.m.] from Keeneland as a full field of sophomore fillies look to notch their first victory in a one-mile maiden special weight on the turf. Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse will hope to see Boltoro finish one better than her last outing when she finished a game second in an off-the-turf maiden on March 18 at Fair Grounds Race Course, an effort that garnered a field-best 73 Beyer Speed Figure. Her rivals include Rosy Tomorrows, who finished a prominent fourth on debut in March for trainer Mike Maker, and the Sarah Hamilton trainee Golden Runner, who tries dirt for the first time after a pair of third-place finishes over the Turfway Park synthetic.

The Wesley Ward-trained Tactical Joke could provide interest should she draw in off the also-eligible list. The daughter of Practical Joke finished third in her January 27 debut sprinting five furlongs on the Gulfstream Park turf and was defeated 1 1/4 lengths after rallying from seventh-of-9.

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 spring 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 spring 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 – Sunday, April 23

Leg A: Keeneland, Race 2 – MSW (1:32 p.m. Eastern)

Leg B: Keeneland, Race 5 – allowance (3:08 p.m.)

Leg C: Aqueduct Racetrack, Race 7 – allowance (4:34 p.m.)

Leg D: Aqueduct Keeneland, Race 8 – NYSSS Park Avenue (5:06 p.m.)

Leg E: Keeneland, Race 9 – MSW (5:16 p.m.)

The post Sunday’s Cross Country Pick 5 Features Races From Aqueduct, Keeneland appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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This Saturday's Grade 2, $350,000 Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland brings together a field of 10 horses which for the most part specialize in turf “marathons” of a mile and one-half or thereabouts. Leading the field in terms of making a career at these distances on grass is Channel Maker, who has banked more than $3.7 million while winning nine times in a fantastic 50 race career. That being said, Channel Maker hasn't won since July of 2022.

Horses with more recent success in similar races are Value Engineering and Red Knight, both trained by Mike Maker. Value Engineering won the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida Stakes when last seen in March, while Red Knight captured the G3 William L. McKnight Stakes near the end of January. Highest Honors finished fourth in the Mac Diarmida and although he won the Curlin Stakes early in his career (in 2019) he has never won a graded stakes. Rising Empire got close to a win at this level when leading from the start and coming up a half-length short of victory last month in the G2 Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes, in which Another Mystery was fourth.

Verstappen finished second in the Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes on all-weather last month and hopes to transfer that form to the grass. Tiz the Bomb is winless in six races going back a year since a victory in the G3 Jeff Ruby Steaks on all-weather in March, 2022. Shawdyshawdyshawdy earned his last win in October, on dirt, and has never been competitive in three stakes tries to date. Howe Street enters the race off a win in an allowance race and may be in too deep to be competitive.

Top Contenders:

Trainer Mike Maker has become well-known the past few years for winning these kinds of long turf races, and he brings two horses into this year's Elkhorn Stakes which can add to his success. We'll start with Value Engineering, who had only run one mile and three-eighths or more one time in 15 starts before he joined the Maker barn this past December via a private sale to current owner Michael Hui. In his first start for Maker last December, Value Engineering won the one mile and five-eighths H. Allen Jerkens Handicap easily in a field of nine. That race was scheduled to be run on turf but was run on the all-weather track at Gulfstream Park, but the horse got his chance to run on turf one month later in the William L. McKnight Stakes, where he made a visually impressive mid-race rally from seventh to lead in the middle of the race, only to be run down late by his stablemate Red Knight, settling for second in the end by a length. A different outcome awaited Value Engineering last month in the Mac Diarmida Stakes, which he won fairly easily in a field of 12. Both of his recent efforts earned very strong, and very consistent 112 Equibase® Speed Figures and a repeat of either gives this 7-year-old a big shot at winning his second straight graded stakes.

Red Knight has a similar story to Value Engineering as he had raced 27 times, winning eight of those races, before joining the Maker barn last July. He immediately won the Colonial Cup Stakes at the same mile and one-half distance of the Elkhorn, earning a 108 Figure in the process. In his next start, last September in the $1 million Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes, Red Knight proved resilient when battling head and head for the last eighth of a mile to win by a nose in the end, bettering his effort to a then career-best 112 figure. After a much better-than-looked effort in the Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland when eighth but beaten just over one length for the win, Red Knight found the competition in the Breeders' Cup Turf much too tough and checked in 11th. Given nearly three months off, Red Knight returned to top form with a new best 113 figure when winning the William L. McKnight Stakes, beating stablemate Value Engineering by a length. Having now won three of five since joining the Maker barn and with a win at Keeneland in the similar Sycamore Stakes back in 2020, Red Knight is just as probable to win as his stablemate Value Engineering and that's why trainer Mike Maker appears to have a pair of aces coming into the race.

Honorable mention goes to another pair of horses possibly just a cut below the top two. Another Mystery finished second in last year's Elkhorn with a 112 figure competitive with the top pair and he nearly won the similar John B. Connally Stakes in January when leading late and settling for second by three-quarters of a length. Similarly, Verstappen has run three very competitive races in a row, winning two and finishing second in the other. That runner-up effort earned him a career-best 109 figure when a couple of lengths shy of winning the Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes last month. As a horse who has only raced 11 times and a 4-year-old with improving to do, Verstappen may be competitive in this situation.

The rest of the field, with their best representative Equibase® Speed Figures, is Channel Maker (112), Howe Street (91). Highest Honors (111), Rising Empire (102), Shawdyshawdyshawdy (111) and Tiz the Bomb (110).

Win Contenders:
Value Engineering
Red Knight

For consideration on exacta tickets for second and third place:
Another Mystery
Verstappen
Highest Honors

Elkhorn Stakes – Grade 2
Race 8 at Keeneland
Saturday, April 22 – Post Time 4:44 PM E.T.
One Mile and One Half on Turf
Four Year Olds and Upward
Purse: $350,000

The post Equibase Analysis: Maker Has Pair Of Aces For Elkhorn appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will host an all-stakes Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday featuring racing from Aqueduct Racetrack, Keeneland and 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, offers sequences with races from Aqueduct Racetrack and partner tracks across the country.

The sequence kicks off at 4:44 p.m. Eastern in Race 8 at Keeneland, the Grade 2, $350,000 Elkhorn for older horses traveling 1 1/2 miles over the turf. The evergreen multiple Grade 1-winner Channel Maker, who makes the second start of his 9-year-old campaign, will vie for a successful title defense for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott off a troubled seventh-place finish in the Grade 3 William L. McKnight on January 28 at Gulfstream Park.

Fellow 9-year-old gelding Red Knight will attempt to double up on graded scores after defeating Channel Maker in the last-out Grade 3 McKnight for trainer Mike Maker, who also sends out the in-form 7-year-old Value Engineering. Younger challengers in pursuit of their first graded score include the Brendan Walsh-trained Rising Empire and the lightly-raced Howe Street, who enters along with Shawdyshawdyshawdy for conditioner Jorge Abreu.

The second leg features a field of eight in the $200,000 NYSSS Times Square [Race 8, 5:06 p.m.], a 6 1/2-furlong turf test for eligible New York-sired sophomores, at Aqueduct. Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse sends out Lifetime of Chance for his first start since being transferred from the barn of Linda Rice. The son of The Lieutenant, who finished third in the NYSSS Great White Way in December, broke his maiden last out with an impressive 16-length score on March 18. His challengers include the Jimmy Ferraro-trained Great White Way-winner and multiple graded stakes-placed General Banker, as well as the streaking Kerness, who arrives with three consecutive victories for conditioner Jamie Ness.

The action switches back to Keeneland for the middle leg in Race 9 [5:16 p.m.], the Grade 3, $300,000 Ben Ali for older horses at 1 3/16 miles. The multiple graded stakes-winning Skippylongstocking makes his return for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. after winning the Grade 3 Challenger by 3 1/4 lengths in March at Tampa Bay Downs. The son of Exaggerator has won three graded events and was third in last year's Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.

He will face a familiar rival in Pioneer of Medina, who finished a close second to his foe in the Grade 3 Harlan's Holiday in December at Gulfstream. Trained by Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, Pioneer of Medina scored a narrow victory in the Grade 3 Mineshaft in February at Fair Grounds. The field also includes graded stakes winners Rattle N Roll for trainer Ken McPeek and the Brad Cox-trained Tawny Port.

The final two legs feature stakes races from Oaklawn Park, beginning with Race 10 [6:06 p.m.], the Grade 2, $1 million Oaklawn Handicap for older horses going nine furlongs. The field of seven is headlined by the matchup of graded stakes winners Charge It and Last Samurai – the latter entering with two graded stakes victories in his last two outings for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Fellow Hall of Famer and former Lukas mentee Todd Pletcher will saddle Charge It on the heels of a disappointing runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile on March 4.

The salty field will also see Grade 1-winner Classic Causeway look to improve off a close second in the Grade 3 Essex Handicap in March for McPeek while Grade 1 Clark-winner Proxy will attempt to return to winning ways for Cox after being defeated a neck last out in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap to returning rival Stilleto Boy.

The sequence concludes in Race 11 [6:46 p.m.] at the Hot Springs oval, the $200,000 Bath House Row at nine furlongs for sophomores. The field of nine will see the return of several former Kentucky Derby hopefuls, including Red Route One, who races for the first time since finishing an even sixth in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 1 for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. Victory Formation is in search of his first win since the January 1 Smarty Jones for Cox as the Christ Hartman-trained Two Eagles River attempts his first stakes victory off a seventh in the Arkansas Derby. Impressive maiden winner Tapit Shoes also enters for Cox as he tries for his first victory against winners.

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 spring 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 spring 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, April 22

Leg A: Keeneland, Race 8 – G2 Elkhorn (4:44 p.m. Eastern)

Leg B: Aqueduct Racetrack Race 8 – $200K NYSSS Times Square (5:06 p.m.)

Leg C: Keeneland, Race 9 – G3 Ben Ali (5:16 p.m.)

Leg D: Oaklawn Park, Race 10 – G2 Oaklawn Handicap (6:06 p.m.)

Leg E: Oaklawn Park, Race 11 – $200K Bath House Row (6:46 p.m.)

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

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