Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Nyquist Settling in at Gulfstream

Nyquist appears to be settling in comfortably in hs temporary surroundings at Gulfstream Park, his trainer Doug O'Neill said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the unbeaten Nyquist arrived at Gulfsteam, following a flight from O'Neill's base in southern California.

Nyquist was on the Gulfstream track Wednesday morning and schooled in the starting gate in preparation for Saturday's $1 million Florida Derby (Grade 1).

Nyquist is stabled in the barn of Mark Hening.

Nyquist won last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile (Grade 1) at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

The Florida Derby is 1 1/8 miles,  Nyquist is the 6-5 second choice in the morning line in the 
ten-horse field.

Mohaymen is the even money morning line favorite. He also is unbeaten and this year won the  Holy Bull (Grade 2) and Fountain of Youth (Grade 20 both at 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream.


We will have additional information from an interview with O'Neill in stories this evening and tomorrow.
-- Jim Freer


Florida Derby:Mohaymen in Post 9, Nyquist in 4

Ten horses were entered on Wednesday for Saturday's $1 million Florida Derby (Grade 1) at Gulfstream Park.

The unbeatens Mohaymen and Nyquist head the field.

Mohaymen has post 9 and was made the even-money morning line favorite by Gulfstream linemaker Jay Stone.

Nyquist drew post 4 and is 6-5 in the morning line.

We are on-site and will have ongoing coverage on this blog this afternoon.
--Jim Freer

It's Post Time; Tune in Today at 4:00 PM ET

Horse Racing FLA will be on the It's Post Time radio broadcast on WDBF Radio at 4:00 PM ET today.

Jim Freer, Senior Editor, will be discussing various racing topics with J.J. and Samm Graci, the hosts of the show; including the important Florida Derby running Saturday from Gulfstream Park.


WDBF Radio is an Internet-only radio broadcast covering live racing from the South Florida racetracks, including analysis and handicapping of simulcast races. It's Post Time airs race-days 3:00 - 5:00 PM. ET

Please use: www.wdbfradio.com as your address to access the program.

 


Industry Comes Together With Cash for PDJF at Annual Fundraiser at Frank & Dino’s

Text by Jim Freer

Photos by Barry Unterbrink


As an unofficial spokesman for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF), Ramon Dominguez is finding that  “the various parties in the industry are doing a good job of coming together to help our fallen riders.”

They provided an example on Monday night at a fundraiser for the PDJF at Frank & Dino’s Restaurant in Deerfield Beach, Fla.


Retired Jockey Ramon Dominguez

Prominent jockeys, trainers and racing industry officials were among approximately 175 attendees — most of whom stayed for dinner at $200 a plate for the PDJF.

A preliminary count of the dinner receipts was more than $25,000, Carlo Vaccarezza, general manager and co-owner of Frank & Dino’s, said on Tuesday.

Proceeds of silent auction items were still being tabulated, said Vaccarezza, who also is a trainer, owner and breeder whose horses race primarily at Gulfstream Park.  P1060115

This is the third straight year that Frank & Dino’s has held a dinner/fundraiser for the PDJF.

Vaccarezza estimates that Frank & Dino’s raised at least $60,000 for the PDJF in each of its two fundraisers, and that the amount was at least that large on Monday.

“We don’t take a penny of the proceeds,” he said. “We pay for the food and all the other costs.”

Vaccarezza added: “This was a fabulous event, and we’re planning to do it again next year.”

Auction items included photos signed by Eclipse Award winning jockeys Dominguez and John Velazquez, who also was at the event, and Victor Espinoza.

In addition there were halters worn in races by champion horses Mohaymen and Little Mike. Vaccarezza bred and trains Little Mike, a horse owned by his wife Priscilla.  P1060118

The proceeds from Monday night are for the PDJF, a 501(c)(3) public charity that provides financial assistance to approximately 60 former jockeys who have suffered catastrophic on-track injuries. Since its founding in 2006, the fund has disbursed over $7 million to permanently disabled jockeys, most of whom have sustained paralysis or brain injuries.

The Jockeys’ Guild and the Thoroughbred Racing Association (TRA), whose members are 43 U.S. and Canadian race tracks, are among financial supporters of the PDJF.

Dominguez, a three-time Eclipse Award winner, was the guest of honor on Monday. He retired in 2013 due to head injuries sustained during a spill in a race at Aqueduct on Jan. 18 that year.

The soft-spoken and personable Dominguez declined to talk about details that injury, other than that he followed advise of doctors that he not run the risk of sustaining further head injuries.

Dominguez does not receive any money from the PDJF, of which he is an honorary member of the board of directors.

He noted that many of the jockeys who receive benefits did not achieve great financial success and/or suffered disabling injuries early in their careers.

About the PDJF


The PDJF was established in 2006.  Originally under the auspices of National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Charities, the PDJF became a stand-alone charity on January 1, 2009.  The Disabled Jockeys Endowment Fund was merged with the PDJF at the end of 2009.

The PDJF is governed by a board whose members are primarily racing industry officials and jockeys. It is seeking to raise enough of an endowment to develop into a self-sustaining organization that would be capable of providing for the near-term and long-term needs of permanently disabled riders.

Meanwhile, the PDJF is asking for financial support so that it may continue to assist permanently disabled jockeys with their day-to-day needs.

The medical needs of disabled jockeys are great and may include daily assistance from a caregiver. In today’s healthcare environment, costs continue to escalate – posing still more challenges to individuals who courageously test their limits every day.

The Jockeys’ Guild, based in Lexington, Ky., has a program under which jockeys can purchase health insurance and a temporary disability policy for which jockeys are eligible.

Contact: Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) P.O. Box 803, Elmhurst, IL; telephone (630) 595-7660; fax (630) 595-7655; email – info@pdjf.org

Monday’s Event

Among those attending were retired jockeys Angel Cordero, Jr., Jose Santos and Abigail Fuller and current jockey Eric Cancel.

Trainers on hand included Joe Orseno, Michelle Nihei, Milt Wolfson and Chuck Simon.

Tommy Trotter, the former New York Racing Association racing secretary also attended. So did Bill White and Glen Berman, the president and executive director respectively of the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association.

TVG analysts Caton Bredar, Todd Schupp and Paul Lo Duca the former major league catcher also attended.

They were joined by the husband-wife team of radio hosts JJ Graci and Samm Graci.

JJ, a former thoroughbred trainer, and Samm, a former thoroughbred owner, are hosts of “It’s Post Time.” The show airs daily from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern on wdbfradio.com, an Internet station that has a large international audience of racing fans.

They are live at Gulfstream on race days and have taped programs on other days.

On Monday at the PDJF event they did interviews with Dominguez, Velazquez, Cordero, Fuller, Lo Duca and others that will air soon on wdbfradio.com.

We will have more details of that schedule in an article tomorrow.






Industry Comes Together With Cash for PDJF at Annual Fundraiser at Frank & Dino’s

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Gulfstream Rainbow 6 Pays $1,086.34 on Normal Day


The Rainbow 6 returned to normal at Gulfstream Park today, one day after yesterday's large mandatory payout.

There were multiple tickets with the winning horses in all six races, and each paid $1,086.34.  By our calculation, there were 38 such tickets.

There will be a new carryover of $17,692.02 when Gulfstream resumes racing on Wednesday.  First post is 12:35 p.m. for the ten-race card. The Rainbow 6, a 20-cent only bet, starts on the fifth race.

In today's Rainbow 6 races, there were no winners at higher than 4-1 odds.

Bettors put $73,742 into the Rainbow 6 today.

There is a 20 percent takeout on the Rainbow 6.  On days with multiple winning tickets, Gulfstream divides 56 percent  of the bet among holders of those tickets and puts 24 percent into the carryover

Gulfstream pays out the "jackpot" of 80 percent of the day's bet plus the carryover only when there is just one ticket with all six winners.

Through Friday, there were 52 straight days with multiple winners--thus producing a growing carryover.

The carryover was $4,503,332 going into yesterday (March 26)--a day which Gulfstream for two weeks had hyped as a mandatory payout day for the carryover with a payment among multiple winning tickets.

Bettors yesterday added  $10,782,375, a North American record for a Pick 6.

That helped generate a 12-race all-sources handle of $25,941,217.  That is third-highest in Gulfstream history, behind only Florida Derby day last year and in 2014.

There were 147 winning Rainbow 6 tickets, with each paying $89,456.54.

Gulfstream will have another Rainbow 6 mandatory payoff on Sunday April 3, the last day of its championship meet.  Gulfstream will begin its spring meet on Wednesday April 6.

Florida rules prohibit pari-mutuels from carrying over a bet from one meet to the next.

By setting a mandatory payout for yesterday, Gulfstream held it on a Saturday prior to next Saturday's Florida Derby--which does not need an added incentive for bettors.

Yesterday's mandatory payout also took some fan interest and incalculable betting dollars away from Fair Grounds in New Orleans, which had the biggest day of its meet including the Louisiana Derby (Grade 2) and three other graded stakes.

Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Inc., a fierce rival of Stronach Group which owns Gulfstream.
--Jim Freer

 



 

New Rainbow 6 Pool Starts at $73,742.

 (Comments Welcome Below)
Bettors put $73,742 into a new Rainbow 6 pool at Gulfstream Park today, Easter Sunday.


That is almost three times more than the $25,515 that was bet on the Rainbow 6 on Jan. 14--the last time Gulfstream began a new Rainbow 6 pool.  That betting came on a Wednesday.

Avalancha, the 8-5 favorite, won today's  fifth race which was the first leg of the Rainbow 6.

Today is the first  day after yesterday's mandatory payout when bettors poured a record 10,782,375 into the Rainbow 6. They were attracted by a carryover of $4,503,332.

That carryover had grown over 52 days and Gulfstream had highly publicized that on  Saturday it would  pay out the carryover and the day's new bets even if there were multiple tickets with all six Rainbow 6 winners.

Except on mandatory days like Saturday, Gulfstream pays out the carryover only if there is just one ticket with all six winners.

On non-mandatory days (following the 20 percent takeout), Gulfstream divides 56 percent of the day's Rainbow 6 bet among tickets with multiple winners and puts 24 percent into the carryover.

The Rainbow 6 is a 20-cent only bet.  There are no consolation payoffs for having winners  in five races.

The last time there was  a single winning ticket was Wednesday Jan. 13.

Rainbow 6 betting the next day was $25,515.  Today's higher bets can be attributed to two factors:

*It is a weekend day, even though Easter when there  is no betting at tracks and OTBs in New York State.

*Publicity over the recent carryover has raised awareness of the Rainbow 6, and some bettors who had five of 6 yesterday might be thinking "get back."

--Jim Freer and Barry Unterbrink

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Rainbow 6 pays Just Under $90,000

The Raunbow6 at Gulfstream Park paid $89,456.54 on Saturday,'

That was for a 20-cent.  Most winners undoubtedly had deep tickets with dozens of combinations.


By our calculation, there were 146 winning tickets.


On Sunday morning, we will have more information about Gulfstream's mandatory payout day on the Rainbow 6.
-- Jim Freer 

The Rainbow 6 Through four races


Bettors added $10,782,375 to the Rainbow 6 at Gulfstream on Saturday.


The carryover coming in was $4,503,332.

Bettors at Gulfstream and around the country poured money into the Rainbow 6 because today there will be a mandtory payout of the carryover plus today's new bets.  It will be disributed among all tickets with the winners of all six races.

Those winners will divide about $13.1 million.


A big payout could be looming.

The winners of the first three legs and their odds were:
7th  --Mighty Mo  3-1
8th -- Deer  Dog    6-1
9th -- Rose's Dancer  13-1
10th -- Bibbo  6-1

.

Florida HBPA Re-elects White as President



The board of directors of the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association has re-elected Bill White as president for 2016-2017.

The election was held on Thursday night. White will begin his second 12-month term as Florida HBPA president on April 1.

White has been a Florida HBPA board member for several periods since the late 1990s.

He was a thoroughbred trainer from1983 until 2013, and established a record as one of the leading trainers in Florida racing history.  
Data from Equibase show him with 2,034 career wins in 12,082 starts, for a high 17 percent winning percentage.
He has been leading trainer based on wins at 11 Calder meets and at five Tropical at Calder meets held at Calder Casino & Race Course.
He has 1,534 training wins at Calder. That places him second to his legendary and semi-retired friend Manny Tortora, who has more than 2,000 Calder wins.  A precise number for Tortora is not readily available because of discrepancies between Calder data and Equibase Co. data.
White dispersed his stable of horses to other trainers early last year to devote full-time efforts to his duties as Florida HBPA president.
The Florida HBPA represents the interests of over 6,000 Thoroughbred horse owners and trainers who do business in Florida.
--Jim Freer






Friday, March 25, 2016

On saturdayGulfstream WILL have a Ranibow 6 Mandatory Payout

Gulfstream Park will have its highly anticipated mandatory payout on the Rainbow 6 on Saturday.

The carryover will be $4,503,332. It is expected that $10 million or more will be bet on the Rainbow 6 because Gulfstream will pay out the full carryover and day's pool even if there are multiple tickets with the winners of all six Rainbow 6 races.

Gulfstream usually makes that payout only if there is just one ticket with all six winners.

Friday was the 52nd straight race day when that didn't happen on the Rainbow 6. There were 102 tickets with all six winners, and each received $5,312.56.

The Rainbow 6 will be on Saturday's seventh through 12th  races, with the  sequence scheduled to start at 12:35 p.m.

It is 20-cent only per combination only bet. 

Quezon Wins Ninth at Gulfstream

Gulfstream ran the ninth race, and it was won by the 1-2 favorite Quezon.

The tenth and finale is coming up, with no singles in the Rainbow 6. 

 

Weather Delay at Gulfstream

Amid thunder and rain, the ninth race has been delayed at Gulfstream.

The tenth and final race has been moved from turf to the sloppy dirt track.

Gulfstream officials reportedly are meeting to decide whether to cancel today's last two races.

That would produce refunds, including $673,828 that was bet today on the Rainbow 6.

The carryover coming of $4,341,678 would be there tomorrow--with the highly publicized mandatory payoff and Rainbow 6 betting that could be $10 million or more.
 --Jim Freer



First Rainbow 6 Race Won by 7-1 Shot

Reagan's Odyssey at 7-1 won Gulfstream's fifth race, the rained-off-the turf start of the Rainbow 6.


Bettors added $673,828 to the Rainbow 6 pool.

The carryover coming in was $4,341,678. If there is just one ticket with the winners of all Rainbow 6 races it would pay just under $4.9 million.

If there are multiple winning tickets--which is likely--they would divide about $540,000. 

Also with multiple winners today there will be mandatory payout tomorrow, no matter the number of winners, of the carryover and of tomorrow's bets on the  Rainbow 6 races.
--Jim Freer

Gulfstream Off the Turf

Due to rains, Gulfstream Park is moving races five (upcoming), seven and ten off the turf and to the main track listed as sloppy.

There is a delay, partly to let bettors change picks in the Rainbow 6 which starts with the fifth race.

On tickets already bought and not exchanged before the fifth race, there are no refunds and no ALLs if a horse is a late  scratch.

Expect some scratches.  

Let's hope this doesn't happen again tomorrow, with what probably will be a mandatory payout.

Going ALL in Rainbow 6 Would Cost $24,696

It would cost $24,696 to cover the Rainbow 6 at Gulfstream Park today.

That means going ALL in every race, hoping to take down the $4.3 million-plus takeover before tomorrow's anticipated mandatory payout.

We think it will be a day with a pool of $600,000 or more and some mid-shot winners.  Our mental bet is $129.60.

5th -- 3  4 6
6th -- 2  3
7th -- 1 3 5 6
8th  -- 1 2  5
9th --   1  5
10th --  1 4  5
--Jim Freer


 

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Rainbow 6 Carryover Reaches $4.3 Million

Gulfstream Park will have a Rainbow 6 carryover of $4,341,678 on Friday.

The ten-race card has a first post of 12:35 p.m. The Rainbow 6 starts on the fifth race, with scheduled post of 2;35  p.m.

Friday will be the final day before Saturday's mandatory payout of the day's pool and full carryover--no matter the number of winning tickets.

The carryover is second largest in Rainbow 6 history, trailing one that reached almost $6.4 million in May 2014.


It keeps growing because Thursday was the 51st straight day without the jackpot-hitting requirement of just one ticket with the winners of all six Rainbow 6 races.


On Thursday there were multiple tickets with the winning horses in all six races. Each paid $13,248.

The Rainbow 6 is a 20-cent only per combination bet.
--Jim Freer

Second Leg Won by 5-2 Shot

Bluegrass Lady at 5-2 won the seventh race, second leg of the Rainbow 6.

The favorite Navajo Kitten finished sixth and last.

Rainbow 6 Opener Won by 7-2 Shot

Blavatski at 7-2 won Gulfstream's sixth race to start the Rainbow 6.

Bettors added $667,575 to the pool.   We'll have all the math after the seventh race.

It is a $6,250 claimer with just six runners.

Navajo Kitten, the 5 horse, is even  money.

No doubt that many players singled her and are hoping they won't need to find a bridge.
--Jim Freer

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Rainbow 6 Carryover Nears $4.2 Million as Payout Looms



Gulfstream Park will have a Rainbow 6 carryover of $4,181,511 on Thursday.

The 11-race Thursday card has a first post of 12:35 p.m. The Rainbow 6 starts on the sixth race, with scheduled post of 3:05  p.m.

Thursday and Friday will be the final two days before Saturday's mandatory payout of the day's pool and full carryover--no matter the number of winning tickets.
The carryover is second largest in Rainbow 6 history, trailing one that reached almost $6.4 million in May 2014.

It keeps growing because Wednesday was the 50th straight day without the jackpot-hitting requirement of just one ticket with the winners of all six Rainbow 6 races.


Wednesday's Results

On Wednesday there were multiple winning tickets, each paying $908.04. By our calculation, there were 458 such tickets.

The carryover coming in on Wednesday was $4,003,307. Bettors added $742,680 to the Rainbow 6.


That was second highest for the Rainbow 6 in its current carryover cycle. The largest was $823,493 this past Saturday March 19.  


Wednesday's Rainbow 6 betting was 11 percent of the total handle of $6,815,954 for the 11-race card.

 
Gulfstream has a 20 percent takeout on the bet. On days with multiple winning tickets, such as Wednesday, it divides 56 percent among winning tickets and adds 24 percent to the carryover.

Wednesday's $908.04 payout was relatively small for the Rainbow 6, but still an IRS reporting event.


Bladerunner, at 12-1 in the 11th and final race was the only winner at higher than 5-1 in a Rainbow 6 race. 

 
If the carryover extends until Saturday, we are among those who expect that betting on the Rainbow 6 could be as high as $10 million that day.

Thursday's Rainbow 6 races have 59 entrants, including main track only and also eligibles.


There are 82 entrant, including AE and MTO for the six races on the Saturday card.


The March 26 payout date is based on schedule requirements.


Gulfstream will end its winter championship meet on Sunday April 3 and begin its spring meet on Wednesday April 6.


Florida rules prohibit  a pari-mutuel from extending a carryover from one meet to another.


Sunday March 27 is Easter and Saturday April 2 is Florida Derby day, when huge handle is already a certainty.  Thus, this Saturday is the obvious day for the mandatory payout.    


Carryover History

The scene is similar to May 2014.  

The carryover coming into Sunday May 25 was $6,397,286.  A mandatory payout was scheduled for the next day--Memorial Day.


Gulfstream was counting on another carryover on May 25, and huge betting the next day.

But on May 25 the since deceased Dan Borislow won  the Rainbow 6 jackpot for $6,678,939.12.  He did that with a $7,600 bet that had all runners in five of the races and two horses in the other race. 

There no doubt are some syndicates planning bets similar to Borislow's on Thursday and Friday with a goal of taking down the whole carryover  before it would be split on Saturday.  

In that case, some whales and syndicates would probably duplicate each others' bets--resulting in multiple winning tickets. 
-- Jim Freer and Barry Unterbrink









Who Will Face Mohaymen and Nyquist in Florida Derby?

The hype is starting to build for  the Florida Derby (Grade 1) to be run on April 2 at Gulfstream Park, and a big question is "who will step up to face Mohaymen and Nyquist?"

The list of possibles is newly out.

Gulfstream on Wednesday afternoon released the names of 31 horses that are nominated for the $1 million stakes at 1 1/8 miles on dirt for 3-year-olds.

As expected, Mohaymen and Nyquist head the list. Both are unbeaten. Barring injuries or changes in plans by human connections, both are scheduled to run in the Florida Derby.

At Gulfstream this year, Mohaymen won the Holy Bull and Fountain of Youth--both Grade 2 at 1 1/16 miles on dirt.

Nyquist's wins include last year's 1 1/16 mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile (Grade 1) at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., his home track.

Owner Paul Reddam and trainer Doug O'Neill are sending Nyquist east because the horse will receive a $1 million bonus if he wins the Florida Derby.

Fasig-Tipton and the Stronach Group, Gulfstream's parent, are paying that if a horse wins the Florida Derby after being put up for sale at the Fasig-Tipton Sale at Gulfstream in March 2015.

Reddam bought Nyquist for $400,000 at that sale. Information on whether any of the other Florida Derby nominees are eligible for the $1 million bonus is not readily available. 
From Equibase, here are the Florida Derby nominees and their Past Performances:

http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbHorsemenAreaDownloadAction.cfm?sn=SN-GP-20160402-534396

http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbHorsemenAreaDownloadAction.cfm?sn=SNPP-GP-20160402-534396

Fellowship is listed as definite for the Florida Derby.  Fellowship, trained by Stan Gold, finished third in both the Holy Bull on Jan. 30 and in the Fountain of Youth on Feb. 27.

On Wednesday evening the Gulfstream media office reported that    Ifyousnoozeyoulose and Sawyers Mickey, both owned by Ron Paolucci’s Loooch Racing Stables, and Majesto, owned by Grupo 7C Racing Stable, are being pointed to the 65th running of the  Florida Derby/

It is likely that eight or more horses will run in the Florida Derby.

The winner will earn $600,000. Consider what else is available, including about $50,000 for finishing fourth and $30,000 for fifth.

The official payout is as follows: After payment of 1% to all owners of horses finishing sixth through last, 62% of the remaining purse shall be paid to the owner of the winner, 20% to second, 10% to third, 5% to fourth and 3% to fifth. 

The winner of the Florida Derby will earn 100 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby (Grade 1) to be run May 7 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Second through fourth in the Florida Derby is  worth 40, 20 and 10 Kentucky Derby points respectively.

A second place finish in the Florida Derby will undoubtedly earn enough points to make the Kentucky Derby field.  A review of the latest standings indicates  that between 25 and 30 points will be needed to get into that race this year.
--Jim Freer



Saturday's Rainbow 6 Races Draw 82 Entrants

There are 82 horses entered, including Also Eligibles and Main Track Only, for the seventh through 12th races at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

Those  are the races in the Rainbow 6, and sheer math indicates that betting teams will need to go deep to hit it.

Factoring in expected scratches the field sizes will probably average about 11 horses.

Gulfstream will have a mandatory payout on the Rainbow  6 carryover for Saturday,  even if there 
are multiple tickets with all six winners.

The carryover, after 50 days, is above $4 million.  There are no "single" tickets  left today as Gulfstream heads into the 11th and last race.

We are among those who expect that the carryover  will extend through Friday and reach about $5 million, and that $10 million or more could be bet on the Rainbow 6 on Saturday.

Before then, we will take several looks at the large fields.
--Jim Freer

Rainbow 6 Grows by $740,000

Bettors added a whopping $742,680 to the Rainbow 6 at  Gulfstream today.

It is off to a chalky start with even-money favorite Lady's Lunar Luck battling back along the rail to beat Vipera (7-1) by three-quarters of a length.
 
The carryover coming in today is  $4,003,307.

Today's betting was second highest for the Rainbow 6 in its carryover cycle, now in its 50th day. The largest was $823,493 this past Saturday March 19.

If there is just one winning ticket it would pay just under $4.6 million.

If there are multiple winning tickets, a more likely event, they would divide about $460,000.
--Jim Freer

Looking at the Rainbow 6

Here  is our mental bet for the Rainbow 6

Total bet   $86.40.  This is no time for singles

6th   1 4  5
7th   2 4  6
8th   2 5
9th    1  2
10th  4  7  8  10
11th   1  5 7
 

Going ALL in Today's Rainbow 6 Would Cost $68,000

It would cost $68,428.80 to cover all bases in the Rainbow 6 today at Gulfstream.

That means going ALL in all six races.  Barring any late scratches, the Rainbow 6 races have  52  entrants--relatively small for the Rainbow 6.
Two races, the seventh and ninth, have just six runners. 

So this might be a day for a team to take a plunge, with a good numerical chance to hit all six races and get a non-jackpot return.  We  hear that numerous bettors plan to hold off until Saturday, when Gulfstream will pay out the carryover no matter the number of tickets with all six winners.

This is Day 50 for the carryover, at $4,004,307 coming into the day.

There no doubt are large teams going ALL in most races with astute covers in other races.  And they might have similar tickets.

All of this means that it will be very unlikely that there will be just  one winning ticket today, tomorrow or Friday.
 --Jim Freer

 

Fast and Firm Today at Both Florida Tracks

The dirt tracks are listed as fast and the turf courses are listed as firm today at Gulfstream Park, where the Rainbow 6 frenzy is building, and at Tampa Bay Downs.

The first post is 12:25 p.m. for Tampa Bay's ten-race card. Four races are scheduled for turf. According to the Weather Channel, there is zero percent chance of rain this afternoon in and around Oldsmar where the track is located.

First post is 12:35 p.m. for Gulfstream's 11-race  card.

The Rainbow 6 is on races six to 11, with the sequence scheduled to start at 3:05 p.m.  The carryover is $4,003,307.

Six races, including four in the Rainbow 6, are scheduled for turf. According to the Weather Channel, there is just a 20 percent chance of rain this afternoon in and around Hallandale Beach where Gulfstream is located.

We will have a preview of the Rainbow 6 early this afternoon and  will monitor it later in the day.

The carryover is second largest in Rainbow 6 history, trailing one that reached almost $6.4 million in May 2014.
 
It keeps growing because Sunday was the 49th straight day without the jackpot-hitting requirement of just one ticket with the winners of all six Rainbow 6 races.  
Today, Thursday and Friday will be the final three race days before Saturday's mandatory payout of the day's pool and full carryover--no matter the number of winning tickets. --Jim Freer




 

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Frank & Dino’s to Hold Fundraiser on March 28 for PDJF

By Jim Freer

Frank & Dino’s Restaurant in Deerfield Beach, Fla., on March 28 will hold its third annual fundraiser for the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund (PDJF).

Ramon Dominguez, a three-time Eclipse Award winning jockey, will be the guest of honor. He retired in 2013 due to head injuries sustained during a spill in a race at Aqueduct on Jan. 18 that year.

The program will start at 6 p.m.  It will have cocktails, dinner, entertainment and a silent auction.

There is a donation of $200 per person.  Tables for ten may be sponsored for $2,000 per table.

The deadline for reservations is March 25. They may be made by calling Frank & Dino’s at (954) 427-4909.
Frank & Dino’s is at 718 S. Federal Highway in Deerfield Beach.

“This is a great organization and we are very pleased to help,” said Carlo Vaccarezza, a thoroughbred owner and trainer and co-owner of Frank & Dino’s.

“These young men and women put their safety and their lives on the line every day,” he said. “The medical costs from injuries can be enormous.”

Vaccarezza estimates that Frank & Dino’s has raised at least $60,000 for the PDJF in each of its two fundraisers.

“We don’t take a penny of the proceeds,” he said. “We pay for the food and all the other costs.”

John Williams, Frank & Dino’s other owner, is an owner of thoroughbreds including several in partnerships of Little Dreams Racing of which Vaccarezza is managing partner.

The PDJF is a 501(c)(3) public charity that provides financial assistance to approximately 60 former jockeys who have suffered catastrophic on-track injuries. Since its founding in 2006, the fund has disbursed over $7 million to permanently disabled jockeys, most of whom have sustained paralysis or brain injuries.

The Jockeys’ Guild and the Thoroughbred Racing Association (TRA), whose members are 43 U.S. and Canadian race tracks, are among financial supporters of the PDJF.

In addition to Dominguez, it is expected that other well-known jockeys and some prominent trainers and owners will attend the fundraiser at Frank & Dino’s.

“It will be the start of Florida Derby week, and we expect a good turnout,” Vaccarezza said.

He strongly suggested making reservations, but added that “we will not turn people away.”

“If you can’t attend, we hope that you can still contribute whatever you can to the PDJF,” he said.

Checks may be made out to the PDJF and mailed to Frank & Dino’s.

Paul Pompa, a thoroughbred owner based in New York, will not be able to attend the March 28 event.  But he has told Vaccarezza that he will purchase a sponsored table.

“We appreciate Paul’s support,” Vaccarezza said. “He is sending the right message to the industry.”

Pompa is best known as the co-owner, with IEAH Stables, of Big Brown.  In 2008, that horse won the Florida Derby, Kentucky Derby and Preakness—all Grade 1 stakes.

Silent Auction
Among items in the silent auction will be halters worn in races by multiple graded stakes winners Mohaymen and Little Mike.

Mohaymen won this year’s Holy Bull (Grade 2) and Fountain of Youth (Grade 2), both at Gulfstream Park. Kiaran McLaughlin, Mohaymen’s trainer, donated the halter.
Little Mike, a 9-year-old gelding, is still in training. He is trained and was bred by Vaccarezza and is owned by his wife Priscilla.

Dominguez rode Little Mike in his wins in the 2012 Arlington Million (Grade 1) at Arlington Park and in the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Turf (Grade 1) at Santa Anita Park.

It is anticipated that photos and other memorabilia signed by Dominguez and other top jockeys will be items in the silent auction.

About the PDJF
The PDJF was established in 2006.  Originally under the auspices of National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Charities, the PDJF became a stand-alone charity on January 1, 2009.  The Disabled Jockeys Endowment Fund was merged with the PDJF at the end of 2009. 

The PDJF is governed by a board whose members are primarily racing industry officials and jockeys. It is seeking to raise enough of an endowment to develop into a self-sustaining organization that would be capable of providing for the near-term and long-term needs of permanently disabled riders.

Meanwhile, it is asking for financial support so that it may continue to assist permanently disabled jockeys with their day-to-day needs.

The medical needs of disabled jockeys are great and may include daily assistance from a caregiver. In today's healthcare environment, costs continue to escalate -- posing still more challenges to individuals who courageously test their limits every day.  

The Jockeys’ Guild, based in Lexington, Ky., has a program under which jockeys can purchase health insurance and a temporary disability policy for which jockeys are eligible.

Contact: Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) P.O. Box 803, Elmhurst, ILL; telephone (630) 595-7660; fax (630) 595-7655; email -- info@pdjf.org