Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Match Races, Small Crowds at Hialeah Opener

Hialeah Park opened its quarter horse race meet on Wednesday with match races and in front of a  sparse audience that one  spectator said was less than a dozen for the first race.

According to our colleague Sheldon Glass who was at Hialeah, the program listed the names of the jockeys but not of the horses.   The program did not list past performances.  

The horses lined up in a makeshift starting gate with no doors, and the jockeys were given a verbal "go" command for races of 110 yards.

Based on one day, those who expected a "sham" at the historic track in Hialeah, Fla., apparently have seen one.
Later this afternoon and evening, our blog and Web site will  have more coverage of Hialeah--including video and pictures from today.


From 2009 to 2016, Hialeah had traditional quarter horse racing.

John Brunetti Jr., Hialeah's president,  last week told us that the track is making the change to cut its costs of racing.

What Hialeah is doing in racing complies with  the minimum requirements of state laws and regulations for it to keep its casino and card room.
Hialeah is conducting it meet under a purse agreement with the South Florida Quarter Horse Association. Several of that group's  founders also are part of the horsemen's group at Gretna Racing in the Panhandle town of Gretna, Fla.

Hialeah is following Gretna's model of low-cost racing.

Until this  year, Hialeah's purse agreement was with the Florida  Quarter Horse Racing Association.

Hialeah will have racing Wednesdays through Sundays from May 31 until June 25.   

There will be two race cards each day, both with eight races. and first post times of 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.



--Jim Freer

Hialeah to Open QH Meet Amid Controversy



NOTE: On Wednesday night, we will  have  a report on today's racing and  will examine the issues at Hialeah Park.

Hialeah Park will open its 2017 quarter horse racing meet on Wednesday, with some significant changes. 

The historic track in Hialeah Fla., will have racing Wednesdays through Sundays from May 31 until June 25.   

There will be two race cards each day, both with eight races. and first post times of 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

The two-a-day programs and the racing will in some ways be similar to the low-budget match races now being run at the controversial Gretna Racing in the Panhandle town of Gretna, Fla.

Hialeah is running this year’s races under a contract for race purses and other track/horsemen issues with a new trainers/owners group.  That group has several organizers who also are part of the trainers/owners group at Gretna Racing.

Hialeah brought in the South Florida Quarter Horse Association to replace the Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association, which had held the contract since Hialeah began quarter horse racing in 2009.

At this year’s meet, Hialeah will have smaller race fields, shorter races and much lower races purses than at its previous quarter horse meets.

Note—Hialeah Park has not held thoroughbred racing since 2001. The photo on the home page is of Hialeah Park during the 1930s.
--Jim Freer

Monday, May 29, 2017

Stainless Wins 2-YO Fillies Race at Gulfstream

Stainless  Wins  2-YO Fillies Race at Gulfstream

Eighth at Gulfstream: A Memorable Connection

Eighth at Gulfstream: A Memorable Connection

For old-times sake and rooting reasons, we are putting   a few bucks on American Halo (the 4 horse) in the sixth race.

She is a daughter of Monarchos, our all-time favorite horse.  In 2001, he won the Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby.

American Halo is a Kentucky-bred first-time  starter and a homebred of John Oxley.

Oxley owned  Monarchos, who was trained by John Ward  and ridden by Jorge Chavez.  Mark Casse trains American Halo, and Luca Panici has the  mount today.  Oxley also owned Sky Mesa, the maternal grand sire of American Halo.

Today's race is a $50,000 maiden special weight is five furlongs on dirt for 2-YO fillies.
--Jim Freer

With ten minutes to post, Americn Halo is the 7-1 third chiuce.. Stainles, out of the Tdd Pletcher barn is evn-moeny and Go Astray, trained by Agel Rodruioguz, is 2-1.
 

Gulfstream Rainbow 6 Grows by $205,463

Sanfilipo, at 8-1, won Gulfstream's sixth race on Friday to start the Rainbow 6.

Bettors poured $205,463 into the Rainbow 6.  That was the most of any day for the Rainbow 6 in the current spring meet. 
The carryover coming in was $464,569.

Rainbow 6 Coming Up at Gulfstream

The sixth race is coming up at Gulfstream with a Rainbow 6 carryover of $464,569.

Scheduled post is 3:58 p.m. 

Barring any late scratches, there will be 54 starters in the Rainbow 6 races.  That is one of the largest numbers in recent weeks.

To go  ALL in every leg of today's Rainbow 6 would cost $94,080.
--Jim Freer 

Gulfstream Super Hi-5 Pays $3,569..70

With most of the money coming in during the  last minute,  bettors added $47,851 to the carried-over  Super Hi-5 at Gulfsteam on Monday.

It was hit on multiple  tickets, and paid $356..70 for the minimum $1  bet.

The carryover coming in  was $9,511.

Vedelago held on to beat Dominate in the 7 1/2  furlong turf race for  $10,000 claimers.

The order of  finish was 2-6-1-5-7.
 

Gulfstream Starts Day with Super Hi-5 Carryover

First post of 1:15 is nearing at Gulfstream Park,  and there is still time to get in on the first race's  Super Hi-5 carryover of $9,511.


We suggest keying Abtaal (1)  and  Dominate (6). If you have to toss one, it could be Pop the Champ (4).

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Sprint Handicap Highlights Gulfstream Card

Gulfstream Park's 11-race Sunday card is underway, with conditions fast and firm and temperatures  in the  low 90s.

The featured third race is the Opening Lead, a $50,000 overnight handicap at six furlongs on dirt for 3-year-olds and up.
The likely  favorite is Requite, unbeaten in three  starts  on the  Gulfstream dirt.    Scheduled post is 2:21 p.m.

Saturday, May 27, 2017

Gulfstream Rainbow 6 Carryover at $426,956


 
Gulfstream Park will have a Rainbow 6 carryover of $426,956.17 on Sunday.

Gulfstream will have an 11-race card with first post of 1:15 p.m.  The Rainbow 6 will be on the sixth through 11th races.

In Sunday’s first race there will be a Super Hi-5 carryover of $2,967.  It is a $1 minimum bet that requires picking the first five finishers in correct order, with no consolation payoffs.

The Rainbow 6 carryover is growing because Gulfstream has gone 20 racing days without the jackpot payoff requirement of just one ticket with the winners of all six Rainbow 6 races.

On Saturday, there were six tickets with all six Rainbow 6 winners. Each received a payoff of $16,259.30 on a 20-cent bet.

The jackpot is the combination of the full carryover plus 80 percent of the day’s new Rainbow 6 bet (20 percent takeout).

On days with multiple winning tickets, Gulfstream takes out 20 percent of the day’s Rainbow 6 bet. It then divides 56 percent of the day’s Rainbow 6 bet among tickets with the most winners (usually six) and adds 24 percent to the carryover.

The carryover coming into Saturday was $385,147.  Bettors added $174,249—of which 24 percent was added to the carryover.

HorseRacingFLA’s review of Equibase charts shows that Saturday’s wagering on the Rainbow 6  is the most in any day of the spring meet that began on April 5.  The current carryover is the highest for the meet.

The odds on the Rainbow 6 winners were 7-5, 4-1, 5-2, 38-1, 5-2 and 4-1.

The 38-1 winner was Money or Love in the $100,000 Musical Romance Stakes.  There are no consolation payoffs on the Rainbow 6.  Thus, Money or Love’s knocked out a large and undetermined number of tickets.

The Rainbow 6 is a 20-cent per combination-only bet. Multiple horses can be used in each race, thus setting up a ticket with multiple 20 cent combinations.  For example, a ticket with two horses in each race has 64 combinations and costs $12.80.
--Jim Freer




Susie Bee Wins Christmas Past at Gulfstream

Susie Bee beat Inside Out by three-quarters of a length in Saturday's $75,000 Christmas Past Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Susie Bee won he 1  1/16 mile turf stakes in 1:41.97 on the  course listed as firm. The race was for fillies  and mares 3-years-old and up.

Tyler Gaffalione rode  Susie Bee, for his  fourth win  of the day.  He leads Gulfstream jockeys with 63 victories in the spring  meet.

Mike  Maker  trains Susie Bee for Calumet Farm.
--Jim Freer

Money or Love Springs Upset in Musical Romance

Money or Love, at 5-1, found  a spot along the  rail in the  stretch and beat R Kinsley Doll by a length in Saturday's  $100,000 Musical Romance Stakes at Gulfstream.

The Musical  Romance was seven furlongs on dirt  for  Florida-bred  fillies and  mares 3-years-old and up.
Money or Love won in 1:22.97 on the track listed as  fast. Ramsey Zimmerman rode her  for  trainer  and owner  Anthony Russo.

The race was pat of  a new series of  spring/summer  $100,000 stakes, with funding and  sponsorship  by Gulfstream and the Florida  Horsemen's  Benevolent  and Protective Association.

Musical Romance Coming Up at Gulfstream

The upcoming ninth race at Gulfstream  is the Musical Romance, at seven furlongs on dirt for  Florida-bred  fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.

The 3-2 favorite is Hola Charlotte, trained by Angel Penna Jr. and to be ridden by Jorge Ruiz.  She  will be running late  in a field with several speed horses. 

One speedster is  Eva London, trained by Penna with Carlos  J.  Hernandez  riding.  She  has  the  tough one  hole.

Along with Hola  Charlote, we like  the chances of  Royal  Jewely with C.J. McMahon  riding for Gerald  Bennett.

Pletcher Horses Run1-2 to Start Rainbow 6

Hieroglyphics, at  8-5,edged his 6-5 favored stablemate in Gulfstream's sixth race--the start of  the Rainbow 6.
Bot horses are trained by Todd Pletcher.  Tyler Gaffalione rode Hieroglyphics.

The race  was the  start of the Rainbow  6.   Bettors  added  $174,249 to the Rainbow  6.   The carryover coming  in was $385,147.

Earlier today--Pletcher  and  Gafffalione  combined to win the second  race  with Al Khor.  Gaffalione  rode Mr Sam to victory in the  fifth race for  trainer  Armando de  la  Cerda.


Rainbow 6 Time at Gulfstream

 The  sixth race is coming up at Gulfstream to start the Rainbow 6.  

The carryover coming  in is $365,147--the largest for the Rainbow 6  in the  spring meet  that began April 5.  We expect that as much as $200,000  will  be added to the pool.

There are 56 runners in the six races. To go ALL in every  race would  cost $123,492.60.

Gulfstream Has Two Distaff Stakes on Saturday

The feature race at Gulfstream Park today is the $100,000 Musical Romance Stakes, at seven furlongs on dirt for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up and restricted to Florida-breds.

It is the second race in a new stakes series that Gulfstream  is sponsoring and funding along with the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent  & Protective Association.

Gulfstream has an 11-race Saturday  card with first  post  at 1:15 p.m.  Conditions are listed as  fast and firm.  The Weather Channel forecast is for just a five percent chance of rain during  racing hours.

The Musical Romance  is  the ninth race  with scheduled post of 5:34 p.m.

It is part of the ten-race FHBPA/Gulfstream Park Summer Stakes Series.

All of the races have $100,000 purses.  Six are restricted to Florida-breds.  Four are Florida-preferred. Those races are open to horses from all states, with bonuses beyond the purse money for Florida-breds that finish in the  top  three.
In an upcoming article we will have  more  details  on the Florida HBPA/Gulfstream program.

Gulfstream today also has the $75,000 Christmas Past at 1  1/16 miles on turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.  It is not  part of the new Florida HBPA/Gulfstream  series.
The Christmas Past is the  tenth race with scheduled post of 6:06 p.m.

We will have coverage this afternoon and evening on this blog.

*The  carryover  has grown to $385,146.51 on the Rainbow  6.  It will be on the sixth through 11th races.

On the first race,  there is a carryover of $4,576.17 on the  Super Hi-5.  It is a $1 minimum bet that requires picking the first five finishers  in correct order.

*On  Sunday, Gulfstream will have eleven races with first post of 1:15 p.m. 

The third race feature is the $50,000 The Opening Lead, an overnight handicap for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs on dirt.

*On Monday,  Gulfstream will have a special Memorial  Day card with first post at 1:15 p.m.

The feature is the $50,000 The Home of the Brave, a 
starter handicap at 1 ½ miles on turf for 3-year-olds and up that have started for a claiming price during their careers.
--Jim  Freer

Gulfstream Carryovers for Saturday



Gulfstream Park has  a carryover of $4,576.17 on its Super Hi-5 in its first race on Saturday.

 It is a $1 minimum bet hat requires picking the first five finishers  in correct order.
 
First post is 1:15 p.m. for an 11-race card.

The carryover on the Rainbow 6 has grown to $365,146.51.  It is on races  six  to eleven.


Gulfstream Carryovers  for Saturday

Friday, May 26, 2017

Rainbow 6 Next at Gulfstream


Gulfstream's fourth Race is coming up to start the Rainbow 6, with a  carryover of $356,270.

It is a $50,000 maiden special weight at five furlongs on turf for 2-year-old fillies.

There are eight starters, following the scratch of Kathy's Clown (3).

The 2-1 favorite  Capetown (2) is a first-time starter for trainer Mark Casse and owner John Oxley--the connections of Classic Empire.  Edgard Zayas rides the daughter of Malibu Moon



Gulfstream: Back on Turf for Friday




Racing is back on the turf at Gulfstream Park for Friday’s nine-race  card, which has first post of 1:15  p.m.

The carryover on the Rainbow 6 has grown to $356,270.  It is on races four through nine, with the sequence scheduled to begin at 2:53 p.m

The dirt track is listed as fast and the turf is listed as  good.  The second, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth races are scheduled for turf.

The Weather Channel forecast is for a chance of  scattered thunderstorms throughout the afternoon—peaking at 55 percent around 3:00 p.m.

On Thursday, rain before and during racing hours  forced  Gulfstream to take four races off  the turf.

The Friday card has eight claiming races.

The exception is the fourth race. It is a $50,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies at five furlongs on turf.

We will have  coverage of that  race  and of the Rainbow 6 on our blog, which can be accessed on the menu bar at the top of this Web site’s home page.

*Gulfstream, as usual, will have live racing on Saturday and  Sunday this weekend.

It also will have racing this Monday May 29, with a special Memorial Day card.

First post is 1:15 p.m. each of the three days.

Gulfstream will have two stakes races on Saturday.

The $100,000 Musical Romance is seven furlongs on dirt  for Florida-bred  fillies and mares 3-years-old and  up.

The  race is part of  a new ten-race series of stakes that are  funded and sponsored by Gulfstream and the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective  Association. 
  
All ten races have  $100,000 purses.  The Musical Romance is one of six races in the series that are  restricted to Florida-breds.  The other four races are Florid-preferred. They are open to horses bred in any state, and bonuses will be paid to Florida-breds that finish third or better.

On Saturday, Gulfstream also will have the $75,000 Christmas Past Stakes, at  1 1/16 miles on turf  for fillies  and mares 3-years-old  and up.  It does not have a restricted or preferred  status.