The National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame has announced their finalists for selection in 2009. They are:
Contemporary Male Horses: Best Pal, Point Given, Tiznow
Contemporary Female Horses: Open Mind, Silverbulletday, Sky Beauty
Jockeys: Eddie Maple, Randy Romero, Alex Solis
Trainers: Bob Baffert, Robert Wheeler
See the full article, including brief descriptions of each candidate, here:
http://www.racingmuseum.net/news/nrm-news-view-story-detail.asp?varID=209
Thursday, February 26, 2009
John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Field
The John Battaglia Memorial Stakes will be run this weekend at Turfway Park in Kentucky. This ungraded stake, with a purse of $100,000, is named for the former general manager of Latonia Race Track, which changed its name to Turfway Park in 1986. For those of you who recognize the Battaglia name, John Battaglia's son Mike is the odds maker for Churchill Downs and often works as a racing host and analyst for NBC's live racing coverage.
1. Dynamite Bob
2. Stratos
3. Platinum Van
4. Proceed Bee
5. Toccet Rocket
6. Shanes Gold
7. Fitzaslew
8. Parade Clown
One interesting fact for fans of fillies: this race was won by Absolutely Cindy last year, the only female in a field of eleven.
1. Dynamite Bob
2. Stratos
3. Platinum Van
4. Proceed Bee
5. Toccet Rocket
6. Shanes Gold
7. Fitzaslew
8. Parade Clown
One interesting fact for fans of fillies: this race was won by Absolutely Cindy last year, the only female in a field of eleven.
Sham Stakes Set
The 2009 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita will post as the 9th race at Santa Anita on saturday, running for $200,000 as part of a big Saturday of Kentucky Derby preps. The field, with post positions looks like this:
1. Hi Flyin Indy
2. Smart Bid
3. Tiz True
4. Lifeline
5. The Pamplemousse
6. Balfour Park
7. Mr. Hot Stuff
8. Bourbon Bay
9. Ventana
10. Mark S The Cooler
11. Unbridled Roman
12. Take the Points (appears he will start here)
1. Hi Flyin Indy
2. Smart Bid
3. Tiz True
4. Lifeline
5. The Pamplemousse
6. Balfour Park
7. Mr. Hot Stuff
8. Bourbon Bay
9. Ventana
10. Mark S The Cooler
11. Unbridled Roman
12. Take the Points (appears he will start here)
Fountain of Youth Stakes Field
The field is set for the 2009 Fountain of Youth Stakes (GII) at Gulfstream Park, a $250,000 prep for Kentucky Derby hopefuls. Last year, this race produced Derby starter Cool Coal Man. Here are the starters, with post position, and their morning-line odds.
1. Bee Cee Cee 30-1
2. Theregoesjojo 15-1
3. Notonthesamepage 4-1
4. Take the Points 10-1
5. Jack Spratt 20-1
6. Rocketing Returns 15-1
7. Beethoven 12-1
8. Break Water Edison 15-1
9. Capt. Candyman Can 5-1
10. Taqarub 6-1
11. Quality Road 8-1
12. This Ones for Phil 3-1
Note: For those of you observant enough to notice, you will see that Take the Points, the Todd Pletcher trained colt, is entered in both the Sham and the Fountain of Youth this weekend. Bloodhorse.com is reporting that he shipped to California this weekend, so it appears he will run in the Sham and scratch from the Fountain of Youth.
For those of you who just can't wait for some Fountain of Youth action, here's the replay of last year's running with Cool Coal Man:
1. Bee Cee Cee 30-1
2. Theregoesjojo 15-1
3. Notonthesamepage 4-1
4. Take the Points 10-1
5. Jack Spratt 20-1
6. Rocketing Returns 15-1
7. Beethoven 12-1
8. Break Water Edison 15-1
9. Capt. Candyman Can 5-1
10. Taqarub 6-1
11. Quality Road 8-1
12. This Ones for Phil 3-1
Note: For those of you observant enough to notice, you will see that Take the Points, the Todd Pletcher trained colt, is entered in both the Sham and the Fountain of Youth this weekend. Bloodhorse.com is reporting that he shipped to California this weekend, so it appears he will run in the Sham and scratch from the Fountain of Youth.
For those of you who just can't wait for some Fountain of Youth action, here's the replay of last year's running with Cool Coal Man:
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Horse Racing Movies
In light of Oscar night, I thought it might be appropriate to post a listing of horse racing related films. The link below will take you to a fairly comprehensive listing, although there are at least two that I can think of that aren't included (the 2003 version of Seabiscuit, with Tobey Maguire, and 1988's Hot to Trot, with Bobcat Goldthwait).
Anyway, if you're a movie buff like me, I'm sure you'll enjoy perusing the list.
http://www.horse-races.net/library/list-movies.htm
Anyway, if you're a movie buff like me, I'm sure you'll enjoy perusing the list.
http://www.horse-races.net/library/list-movies.htm
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool One
The first of three future wager pools for the Kentucky Derby closed on Feb. 15th, and as usual, the mutual field was the favorite at odds of 5-2.
For those of you unfamiliar with the tradition of the future wager pool at the Kentucky Derby, the premise is to pick the Derby winner before knowing precisely which horses will be running. Horses are assigned an odds to win (only win bets are allowed in the future pools) and bettors are given the opportunity to pick a winner at substantially higher odds than they are likely to receive on race day (provided that their pick actually makes it to the gate). In this process, some early contenders who have already started establishing themselves are given their own odds, while all other contenders who are not specifically named are considered part of the mutual field. In other words, a mutual field bet gets you all the remaining Triple Crown nominated horses.
As you can see, I have listed the horses singled out in the future wager pool in a column on the right-hand side of the blog. I find this the easiest way to track the runners as we count down to the main event. By clicking on the horse's name, you will be taken to their individual profile page on the Thoroughbred Times website, where more in-depth information about each is available.
The second future wager pool is slated for March 12-15, and final early wagering will be held April 2-5. Also, for those interested, the Kentucky Oaks (the filly version of the Kentucky Derby) has reduced its future wagering pools from three to one this year, and it will coincide with the second Derby pool in March. When it becomes available, those horses will be listed as well.
That said, I think it's also important to track several of the horses not singled out in the initial future wager pool. Keep in mind that last year's winner, Big Brown, was not an individual entry in the first pool, nor was former Horse of the Year and Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Curlin in 2007. To that end, I've created a separate list of "Other's to Watch." If there are any horses that I've missed that you feel belong there, send me a note and I'll get them added.
For those of you unfamiliar with the tradition of the future wager pool at the Kentucky Derby, the premise is to pick the Derby winner before knowing precisely which horses will be running. Horses are assigned an odds to win (only win bets are allowed in the future pools) and bettors are given the opportunity to pick a winner at substantially higher odds than they are likely to receive on race day (provided that their pick actually makes it to the gate). In this process, some early contenders who have already started establishing themselves are given their own odds, while all other contenders who are not specifically named are considered part of the mutual field. In other words, a mutual field bet gets you all the remaining Triple Crown nominated horses.
As you can see, I have listed the horses singled out in the future wager pool in a column on the right-hand side of the blog. I find this the easiest way to track the runners as we count down to the main event. By clicking on the horse's name, you will be taken to their individual profile page on the Thoroughbred Times website, where more in-depth information about each is available.
The second future wager pool is slated for March 12-15, and final early wagering will be held April 2-5. Also, for those interested, the Kentucky Oaks (the filly version of the Kentucky Derby) has reduced its future wagering pools from three to one this year, and it will coincide with the second Derby pool in March. When it becomes available, those horses will be listed as well.
That said, I think it's also important to track several of the horses not singled out in the initial future wager pool. Keep in mind that last year's winner, Big Brown, was not an individual entry in the first pool, nor was former Horse of the Year and Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Curlin in 2007. To that end, I've created a separate list of "Other's to Watch." If there are any horses that I've missed that you feel belong there, send me a note and I'll get them added.
Mayor Marv Runs Roughshod Over Field in Turf Paradise Derby
Mayor Marv took the lead forty feet from the gate and never looked back, drawing off to win by three lengths in the Turf Paradise Derby. The betting favorite at even odds covered the mile and a sixteenth in 1:43.23.
Mayor Marv's stiffest competition came from local favorite Hidden Bounty, the second betting choice at 9/5. Hidden Bounty ran well, stalking Mayor Marv from the outset and looking for a few strides as if he might have the gas to finish the job. He drew along side Mayor Marv with a furlong to go, but David Flores asked the Mayor for more and got it, while Hidden Bounty had nothing left and faded to a lapsing second place.
Just Jebicah finished third in a good race for him, and long shot Lesson in Deceit finished fourth.
After the race, the TVG hosts discussed the possibility of Mayor Marv shipping to Santa Anita to run in the April 4th Santa Anita Derby for $750,000, a turnaround of about five weeks. A quick check of the nominations for that race on the Santa Anita website confirm that he is nominated, but I think that race might be a little over his head. However, if he hopes to continue on the Derby trail, he will need to be stout there, or in a similar race, to earn enough money to qualify. Keep in mind that he's now won two straight and is under the tutelage of Bob Baffert, who is certainly no stranger to getting big runs out of his horses. Still a longshot, but he performed as asked today, and can't be counted out yet.
Mayor Marv $4.00 $2.40 $2.10
Hidden Bounty $2.60 $2.40
Just Jebicah $6.00
Mayor Marv's stiffest competition came from local favorite Hidden Bounty, the second betting choice at 9/5. Hidden Bounty ran well, stalking Mayor Marv from the outset and looking for a few strides as if he might have the gas to finish the job. He drew along side Mayor Marv with a furlong to go, but David Flores asked the Mayor for more and got it, while Hidden Bounty had nothing left and faded to a lapsing second place.
Just Jebicah finished third in a good race for him, and long shot Lesson in Deceit finished fourth.
After the race, the TVG hosts discussed the possibility of Mayor Marv shipping to Santa Anita to run in the April 4th Santa Anita Derby for $750,000, a turnaround of about five weeks. A quick check of the nominations for that race on the Santa Anita website confirm that he is nominated, but I think that race might be a little over his head. However, if he hopes to continue on the Derby trail, he will need to be stout there, or in a similar race, to earn enough money to qualify. Keep in mind that he's now won two straight and is under the tutelage of Bob Baffert, who is certainly no stranger to getting big runs out of his horses. Still a longshot, but he performed as asked today, and can't be counted out yet.
Mayor Marv $4.00 $2.40 $2.10
Hidden Bounty $2.60 $2.40
Just Jebicah $6.00
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