Sunday, January 31, 2016

Gulfstream: Eleven-Race Sunday Card Follows Saturday Highlighted by Mohaymen

By Jim Freer

Gulfstream Park will have eleven races today with first post time of 12:35 p.m.

The main track is listed as fast and the turf course is listed as good.  Six races are scheduled for turf.

Those races will follow an exciting Saturday that was highlighted by Mohaymen’s (photo on home page) eye-popping victory in the $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes (Grade 2) for 3-year-olds.

Mohaymen, in his first race at Gulfstream, took the lead from Greenpoint Crusader in the final turn and powered ahead to beat that rival by 3 ½ lengths.

Junior Alvarado rode Mohaymen who won in the very fast time of 1:42.07 on the track listed as fast. He was the  1-5 favorite in the six-horse field.

Mohaymen’s win was his fourth in four career starts, with three in graded stakes.  The Holy Bull victory should solidify his spot near the top (first in some cases) of most analysts’ lists of contenders for the May 7 Kentucky Derby (Grade 1).

In the winner’s circle, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said he  expects that Mohaymen’s next race will be the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (Grade 2) at Gulfstream on Feb. 27.  After that, the likely target would be the $1 million Florida Derby (Grade 1) at Gulfstream on April 2.

Mohaymen, a son of Tapit, is owned by Dubai-based Shadwell Stable.

Later today we will have a story with more detailed analysis of the Holy Bull.

Gulfstream Park, Jan. 30, 2016 –11th race

2 -MOHAYMEN                                     2.60 2.10 2.10

5 -GREENPOINTCRUSADER                       2.60 2.20

3 -FELLOWSHIP                                                        3.80

$2 EXACTA 2-5  PAID $5.60; $1 TRIFECTA 2-5-3  PAID

$16.60; 10 CENT SUPERFECTA 2-5-3-4  PAID $2.06

The winners of Saturday’s other Gulfstream stakes were:

*Cathryn Sophia in the $200,000 Forward Gal (Grade 2) at seven furlongs on dirt for 3-year-old fillies.

*Awesome Banner in the $150,000 Swale (Grade 2) for at seven furlongs on dirt for 3-year-old males.

*Pricedtoperfection in the $100,000 Sweetest Chant (Grade 3) at one mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies.

*J.R.’s Holiday in the ungraded $100,000 Kitten’s Joy at one mile on turf for 3-year-old males.

Note—photo of Mohaymen courtesy of Gulfstream Park

 


Gulfstream: Eleven-Race Sunday Card Follows Saturday Highlighted by Mohaymen

Saturday Handle: Gulfstream and Tampa Bay Combine for Season-Best $22 Milli

By Jim Freer and Barry Unterbrink

Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs combined for more than $22 million in all-sources handle on Saturday, for their highest total yet in the 2015-2016 racing season.

The exact number was $22,246,692. Of that, $17,073,244 was for 12 races at Gulfstream and $5,173,448 was for ten races at Tampa Bay, according to Equibase charts.

The previous high for 2015-2016 was $19,394,214 on Jan. 2. That day, Gulfstream did $13,750,166 for eleven races and Tampa Bay did $5,644,048 for ten races.

Tampa Bay began its meet on Nov. 28 and Gulfstream began its meet on Dec. 5.

Gulfstream’s Saturday Jan. 30 handle was its highest yet for the 2015-2016 meet.GulfstreamPark-logo-final_new

It came on a rain-free day with the Holy Bull (Grade 2), a major Kentucky Derby prep and four other stakes for 3-year-olds  as attractions.

Last year’s Holy Bull Day, Saturday Jan. 24, also was rain free.  Gulfstream’s all sources handle that day was $14,628,928 for 11 races.

On this year’s Holy Bull day, Gulfstream had 111 starters, for an average of 9.3 per race.  On 2015’s Holy Bull day, it had 117 starters for an average of 10.5 per race.

Here are yesterday’s handle numbers for several other major U.S. tracks: *Santa Anita — $14,194,493 for ten races

*Aqueduct — $9,285,980 for ten races

*Oaklawn Park — $4,521,757 for nine races

All-sources handle is the total of all bets on a track’s races. It includes bets made: live on-site; at other tracks and pari-mutuels; at off-track betting locations and simulcast centers; through Internet and phone advanced deposit wagering (ADW) services; and at Nevada sports books.

Tampa Bay provided this breakdown for yesterday;TBDowns_Logo

Attendance: 3,647

Live handle–$278,520

ITW handle–$354,912

ISW handle–$4,540,016

Total handle—5,173,448

ITW (Intra-Track Wagering) is the amount of bets placed on Tampa Bay races at other horse tracks and at greyhound tracks and jai-alai frontons in Florida.

ISW (Inter-State Wagering) is the amount of bets placed on Tampa Bay races by bettors outside Florida, through all of the sources listed above as part of all-sources handle.

Gulfstream does not routinely provide breakdowns on its sources of wagering. Admission is free at Gulfstream, where many fans wander in and out from restaurants and stores at the adjacent Village at Gulfstream Park retail center.

Gulfstream does not estimate the attendance in its racing area. We estimate that attendance yesterday was in the 7,500 range.

 

 

 


Saturday Handle: Gulfstream and Tampa Bay Combine for Season-Best $22 Milli

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Mohaymen Shines in Winning Holy Bull

Mohaymen took the lead coming aroung the final turn, and went on to win the $350,000 Holy Bull (Gr.2) on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. 

Mohaymen won the 1-1/16 mile stakes in a fast time of 1:42.07.


Junior Alvarado rode Mohaymen for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and owner Shadwell Stable of Dubai.

Greenpointcrusader came in second by about 4 lengths. Fellowship finished third.

After the race, McLaughlin said there was a good chance her unbeaten Mohaymen will run in the Fountain of Youth (Gr.2) at Gulfstream Park on February 27th.

 

A Look Ahead at the Sweetest Chant

The tenth is coming up at Gulfstream. It is the Sweetest Chant (Grade 3) at one mile  on turf for 3-year old fillies. 

There are 12 entrants with no clear favorite.

We like Hidden Treat, now 21-1, as a  good longshot threat to hit the board.

He is shipping in from Tampa, where he won the six-furlong Sandpiper on dirt.  

He has a turf pedigree and is owned by Lael, the owners of the late Barbaro.  Paco Lopez will ride for trainer Arnaud Delacour
- Jim Freer

A look ahead at the Sweetest Chant

Lighthouse Sound, Hyman Roth Head Feature Field at Tampa

Today's feature at Tampa Bay Downs is the tenth and finale.  Scheduled post is 4:55 p.m.

It is a starter handicap at 1 1/8 miles on turf, with a $23,000 purse, for 4-year-olds and up.

Lighthouse Point is the likely favorite in the field of eight.  He is coming off wins at 1 1/16 miles and 1 1/8 miles on turf at Tampa Bay, both in $16,000 claiming races.

Antonio Gallardo will ride for trainer Darien Rodriguez.

A horse that could seek to wire the field is Hyman Roth ridden by Ricardo Feliciano.
-Jim Freer   

J.R.s Holiday Takes the 5th Race at 19:1

J.R.'s Holiday, trained by Jose Garaffalo, outran Azar, the Pletcher trained horse, to win the $100,000 Kitten's Joy Stakes at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Little Mo #5 finished in-the-money after the stewards ruled that #3 Don't Be So Salty bumped Little Mo near the 16th mile pole, and placed her fourth.
 
# Win Place Show
2 $40.80 $12.40 $6.40
4 . $5.20 $4.20
5 . . $6.40     
$1 Exacta: $118.20
$0.50 Trifecta: $399.85






Cathryn Sophia Wins the Forward Gal Stakes

After breaking slowly, Cathryn Sophia got into gear and went on to win the seven-furlong Forward Gal (Grade 2) in 1:22.04.

Her time was second fastest in the 36-year history of the race for 3-year-old fillies.


Saturday Preview: Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park; Turf Test Series Resumes at Tampa Bay

By Jim Freer

The nation’s racing fans will be focusing on Gulfstream Park this afternoon as it runs the $350,000 Holy Bull (Grade 2) and four other stakes races for 3-year-olds.

The Holy Bull is 1 1/16 miles on dirt.

Shadwell Stable’s Mohaymen, unbeaten in three starts, is the likely heavy favorite in the six-horse field. Junior Alvarado will ride Mohaymen for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

Note: The photo on the home page shows Mohaymen winning the 1 1/8 mile Remsen (Grade 2) last Nov. 28 at Aqueduct.

The biggest threat to Mohaymen could be Greenpoint  Crusader, winner of the one-mile Champagne (Grade 1) at Belmont Park last Oct. 3.  John Velazquez will ride Greenpoint Crusader for trainer Dominick Schettino.

Past performances indicate that Mohaymen and longshot Perfect Saint (Corey Lanerie/Dale Romans) will contest the early lead.

Conquest Big E (Mike Smith/Mark Casse) and Fellowship (Jose Caraballo/Stan Gold) are late runners with good potential to hit the exacta. Longshot Frontier Ranger (Edgard Zayas/Ron Pellegrini) rounds out the field.

Several of the top 3-year-olds stabled in South Florida are not running in the Holy Bull, and are expected to wait until next month to run in Kentucky Derby preps at Gulfstream or at other tracks.

Zulu, trained by Todd Pletcher, and Brody’s Cause, trained by Romans, are among notable absentees.

One note of interest is that the Holy Bull is the only race on Saturday’s 12-race card in which Pletcher does  not have an entrant.

The Holy Bull is a prep race in qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby (Grade 1) that will be on May 7 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

The Holy Bull winner will receive ten points.  The second through fourth place finishers will receive four, two and one points respectively.

The Fountain of Youth (Grade 2) at Gulfstream on Feb. 27 will have 50 qualifying points for the  winner, and the Florida  Derby (Grade 1) at Gulfstream on April 2 will have 100 qualifying points for the winner.

The Holy Bull is today’s 11th race with a scheduled post of 5:05 p.m.

First post time is 12:05 p.m. for the 12-race card with seven races on turf.  Conditions are fast and firm, and the forecast has a zero percent chance of rain.

Because of rain, Gulfstream on Thursday and on Friday was forced to move all of its scheduled-for-turf races to the dirt track.

Today’s Gulfstream card has a pair of seven-furlong dirt stakes.

The $200,000 Forward Gal (Grade 2) is for fillies and the $150,000 Swale (Grade 2) is for males.

Gulfstream also has two turf stakes, both at one mile on turf with $100,000 purses.

The Sweetest Chant (Grade 3) is for fillies, and the ungraded Kitten’s Joy is for males.

* Tampa Bay Downs has ten races today, with first post of 12:15 p.m.

The dirt track is listed as fast and the turf course is listed as good.

The feature tenth race (scheduled post of 4:55 p.m.) is the third race in the four-leg male division of the Tampa Turf Test starter handicap series.  It is 1 1/8 miles for 4-year-olds and up that have started for a claiming price of $16,000 or less in 2015 or in 2016.





Saturday Preview: Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park; Turf Test Series Resumes at Tampa Bay

Friday, January 29, 2016

Friday Preview: Off the Turf at Gulfstream and At Tampa Bay

HorseracingFLA Staff Report

Racing is off the turf today at Gulfstream Park and at Tampa Bay Downs.

At Gulfstream, first post time is 12:35 p.m. for the 11-race card. The fourth, sixth, seventh, ninth and 11th races had been scheduled for turf.

Tampa Bay Downs today has a ten-race card with first post at 12:25 p.m. The eighth and tenth races had been scheduled for turf.

According to the Weather Channel, there is a zero percent chance of rain today and tomorrow in both the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area and the Tampa Bay area.

That should help both tracks’ turf courses dry out in time to have racing on that surface on Saturday.

Rainbow 6 Carryover

Gulfstream has a Rainbow 6 carryover of $230,679.99 today.

The Rainbow 6 is a 20-cent only per combination bet, with multiple horses permitted in each leg. For example, a ticket with two horses in each race has 64 combinations and costs $12.80.

Friday’s sequence covers races six to 11 and includes the featured 10th, a $44,000 one-mile optional claiming allowance with promising maiden winners Shagaf, Rally Cry and Bar None.

Gulfstream pays out the full Rainbow 6 pool of the day’s bets (minus the 20 percent takeout) plus the carryover only on days when  there is just one ticket with all six winners.

On other days Gulfstream divides 70 percent of the day’s bets (minus the takeout) among those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent (minus takeout) is added to the carryover.

On Thursday there were four winning Rainbow 6 tickets, each paying $15,200.08. Gulfstream also added $26,053 to the carryover.

Gulfstream has gone 11 straight racing programs without a single Rainbow 6 winner. It was last hit on Jan. 13, for $76,799.38.


Friday Preview: Off the Turf at Gulfstream and At Tampa Bay

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Handicapping Corner: Thursday, Jan. 28

HorseracingFLA Staff Report

We have given ourselves a $1,000 imaginary stake for the Gulfstream Park championship meet that will end April 2, and a $1,000 imaginary stake for the Tampa Bay Downs meet that will end May 8.

One most days, we will post a suggested bet on one race at each track.

Our current bankrolls are:

Gulfstream–$980.40


Tampa Bay–$964.00

Tampa Bay

Dark today

Gulfstream

Racing is off the turf today, and as we write this the main track is listed as sloppy.

We are taking the seventh race, with scheduled post at 3:35 p.m.  The race was scheduled for turf but has been moved to the dirt.

It will be five furlongs, a $62,500 optional claimer with a $46,000 purse, for 4-year-olds and up.

Our pick to win is Big Family (9), based on his record on dirt including a second place finish in a non-graded stakes at Belmont Park last September. Luis Saez will ride for trainer Gustavo Delgado.

For the exacta box we also like Wild Woo Who (6) based on his record on dirt and Hothersal (3), debuting on dirt but the class of the field.  Storming Inti (4) has speed and could hit the trifecta for a price.



*$5 win and show on 9            $10

*$2  place and show  on 6        $4


$2 exacta box   3-6-9               $12

$1 trifecta part wheel               $ 4 

First     6 9

Second  6 9

Third    3  4 

Total                                        $30


Handicapping Corner: Thursday, Jan. 28

Racing Off the Turf at Gulfstream Today

HorseracingFLA staff Report

Racing is off the turf and the main track is  listed as muddy today at Gulfstream Park.

The change was made due to  heavy rains, with more rain in the forecast for this afternoon.

First  post is 12:35 p.m. for the 11-race card.  The first, fourth, fifth, eighth and  tenth races had been scheduled for turf.

Tampa Bay  Downs is dark today. It will resume racing on Friday with ten races  and first post of 12:25 p.m.


Racing Off the Turf at Gulfstream Today

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Ramsey-Maker Horse at 5-1 Wins First Leg of Pick 5


There  is $650,743 in the Late PIck 5,   That is  huge even for Gulfstream.

Bettors added $562,479 to the pool  today. They were attracted by the carryover  of $88,264 from Sunday when there  were no tickets with all five winners.

Today's opening  leg fifth race was won by Keystoneforvictory at 5-1.

The connections are Ken and Sarah Ramsey and Mike Maker with Julien Leparoux riding.

We will be back for the 11th and last race.

Opening Remark at 3-1 Wins First Leg of Gulfstream Rainbow 6

The late multi-race bets are underway at Gulfstream, and offer excitement even if you are not betting.

In the Rainbow 6, Opening Remark (3-1) won  the  opening leg  sixth race for Pletcher and  Saez. 

Bettors  poured  $127,608 into the Rainbow 6.  That is  added to the  carryover of $174,033

The  seventh race is coming up, starting the Late Pick 5.   It  has 14 runners,  a  maiden claimer on turf

 There is a  carryover of $$8,264
--Jim Freer

Racing Today: Tampa Bay Off Turf; Gulfstream Has Large Late Pick 5 and Rainbow 6 Carryovers

HorseracingFLA Staff Report


At Tampa Bay Downs today, racing is off the turf due to  rain and the dirt track is listed as sloppy for a ten-race card that has first post of 12:25 p.m.


The eighth and tenth races had been scheduled for turf at the Oldsmar track.


At Gulfstream Park conditions are listed as fast and firm as of 11:15 a.m.


First post is 12:35 p.m. for an 11-race card at the Hallandale Beach track.  Four races are scheduled for turf.


Also as of 11:15 a.m. it had stopped raining at Gulfstream, following rain earlier in the morning.  There is a 40 percent chance of rain in the afternoon forecast.


*Gulfstream has large carryovers today on its Late Pick 5 and Rainbow 6.


Rainbow 6  — $174,033; requires picking  winners of the last six races Late Pick 5 — $88,264, requires picking winners of last five races   *This afternoon, we will have coverage of both tracks on our blog.


*At 2 p.m. today on this Web site, we will post our daily Handicapping Corner on this Web site—after we sort out the weather.


 


 


 


 


 


 



Racing Today: Tampa Bay Off Turf; Gulfstream Has Large Late Pick 5 and Rainbow 6 Carryovers

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Whatawonderfulworld Wins OBS Championship Stakes

Whatawonderflworld rallied to catch the pace-setting  Golden Ray and win the $100,000 OBS Championship Stakes on Tuesday  at the Ocala Training Center.

The winner is trained by Michael Maker and was was ridden by Jose Lezcano.  The winning time was 1:45.05 for  1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track.

Two Step Time finished third and Bullet Gone Astray came in fourth.
-- Jim Freer
 

Bullet Gone Astray, Swagger Jagger to Meet in OBS Feature



Bullet Gone Astray and  Swagger  Jagger head a field of a dozen 3-year-olds in this afternoon's $100,000 OBS Championship Stakes at the Ocala Training Center.

The race is the fifth on the card in the annual OBS race day. Scheduled post is 3:15 p.m.

It is a non-wagering race.  But it has significance for fans watching at the OTC  and on its the OBS  web site

Bullet  Gone Astray, Swagger  Jagger and several other horses in the race could move on to other stakes races during the next several months at Gulfstream Park or at Tampa Bay Downs.

Bullet Gone Astray caught attention on Aug.  1 when he was the runaway winner of the Mountaineer Juvenile at Mountaineer Park in Chester, W.Va.

The son of Gone Astray has been winless since then in five races. All were stakes at a mile or shorter, including the Hopeful (Grade 1) at Saratoga.

Trainer Henry Collazo has been looking for a two-turn stakes race  for Bullet Gone Astray, and he feels that the Ocala race could be the right spot.

Collazo said he did not strongly consider running Bullet Gone Astray in the $350,000 Holy Bull (Grade 3) at 1 1/16 miles this coming Saturday at Gulfstream.

"I don't want to put him in that deep right now," Collazo  said. "This (OTC) will be a good test.  I always let the horse take us where he shows he wants to go, rather than us taking the horse somewhere."

Luca Panici has ridden Bullet Gone Astray in all seven of his previous races and has the mount again today.

Swagger Jagger won the Pulpit Stakes at one mile on turf on Nov. 28 at the Gulfstream Park West meet held at Calder.  Eddie Castro will ride Swagger Jagger for trainer Michael Maker.

The OBS stakes also has Extinct Charm, winner of a stakes at Aqueduct, and Unbridled Trick, winner of a  stakes at Thistledown in Ohio.
--Jim Freer





Four Stakes Winners Head Field Today for OBS Races at Ocala Training Center

/HorsercacingFLA Staff Report


The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company this afternoon will hold its 27th annual Day of Champions race card on the all-weather track at the Ocala Training Center.


Four of the five races are stakes for 3-year-olds that have gone through an OBS sales ring


The fifth and feature race is the $100,000 OBS Championship Stakes for males. It is 1 1/16 miles, with scheduled post of 3:45 p.m.


Stakes winners Bullet Gone Astray (Photo  on home page) Swagger Jagger, Extinct Charm and Unbridled Trick are among the 12 entrants


The first race, at 1:00 p.m., is a $10,000 allowance for quarter horses at 440 yards. All six entrants have raced this season at Hialeah Park


There will be pari-mutuel wagering on the first race and second race. The OBS Web site will stream all five races.


Here is the schedule for the four thoroughbred races:


*Second (1:45 p.m.) – $50,000 OBS Sprint, 6 furlongs for males


*Third (2:15 p.m.) = $50,000  OBS Fillies Sprint, 6 furlongs  males


*Fourth (2:45 p.m.) — $100,000 OBS Fillies Championship, 1 1/16 miles


*Fifth (3:15 p.m.) — $100,000 OBS Championship, 1 1/16 miles




The races are being held in conjunction with the OBS Winter Mixed Sale, which will be this Wednesday and Thursday.


Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream Park do not have racing today. Thus, the OBS card will have some of the top jockeys and trainers from those two tracks.


Among the trainers are Todd Pletcher, Michael Maker, Ralph Nicks, Mark Casse and Kathleen O’Connell.


Among the jockeys are Javier Castellano, Tyler Gaffalione, Antonio Gallardo, Edgard Zayas and Joe Bravo.


On our blog  we will have a preview of the fifth race later this morning and a report on the stakes’ results later today.



Four Stakes Winners Head Field Today for OBS Races at Ocala Training Center

Monday, January 25, 2016

This Week at Florida’s Tracks: Jan. 25 to Jan. 31

HorseracingFLA Staff Report


Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs will both have their regular schedules this week.


Gulfstream will have racing Wednesday through Sunday with first post of 12:35 p.m. On Saturday Jan. 30 it will have the $350,000 Holy Bull (Grade 2) and four other stakes races.


Tampa Bay Downs will have racing on Wednesday and then on Friday through Sunday. First post time is 12:25 p.m.


Tampa Bay Downs will not have any stakes races this weekend.


Please check this Web site and/or our blog each morning for information on the number of races and aby changes in post times.


The Holy Bull is 1 1/16 miles on dirt for 3-year-olds. It is a prep race for the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (Grade 2) at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 27 and the $1 million Florida Derby (Grade 1) on April 2.


The other four Gulfstream stakes races this Saturday are:


*$200,000 Forward Gal (Grade 2) – seven furlongs on dirt, 3-year-old fillies


*$150,000 Swale (Grade 2) – seven furlongs on dirt, 3-year-olds


*$100,000 Sweetest Chant (Grade 3) — one mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies


$100,000 Kitten’s Joy – one mile on turf, 3-year-olds


Gulfstream Park GulfstreamPark-logo-final_new


901 S. Federal Highway Hallandale Beach, Fla. 33009 Phones — (954) 454-7000 Gulfstream Park Website


Gulfstream has racing on Wednesdays through Sundays during its winter meet that ends April 3.


In addition to live racing, Gulfstream has: * Simulcast wagering — seven days a week with more than 30 thoroughbred and harness tracks; open for simulcasting from 11 a.m. until approximately 11 p.m.


* Casino — the two casino rooms are open from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays and 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays


* Poker — 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays, and 24 hours on Saturdays and Sundays.


Tampa Bay DownsTBDowns_Logo


11225 Race Track Road, Tampa, Florida 33626 Main Phone (813) 855-4401 Toll Free (In Florida) (866)-TBDOWNS (823-6967) Tampa Bay Downs Website


Tampa Bay Downs will have four-day race weeks for most of its meet that will extend through next May 8. Race days will be Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.


There are three exceptions. It will have racing on Thursday Feb. 18 and Thursday Feb. 25 and be dark on Easter Sunday, March 27.


On days when it does not have live racing, Tampa Bay Downs is open for simulcasting and its poker room and golf range are open their regular hours.


*The Silks Poker Room hours of operation: Daily, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 a.m.


The Downs Golf Practice Facility hours of operation:


Pro Shop: 8:30 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. daily (Last bucket sold at 7:45 p.m.)


Range: 8:30 a.m. – dusk daily


Short Game Area: 8:30 a.m. – dusk daily (lights out at 9:45 p.m.)


 



This Week at Florida’s Tracks: Jan. 25 to Jan. 31

Vaccarezza Wins Two at Gulfstream, Triggering Big Carryovers


Longshots trained by Carlo Vaccarezza won Sunday's last two races at Gulfstream Park, setting up large carryovers in three exotic bets when racing resumes Wednesday at the Hallandale Beach  track.

Vaccarezza's winners were Little Baltar at 38-1 in the tenth race and Little Big Girl at  36-1 in the 11th and final race.

As a result, there were no wining tickets on any of these three bets. Gulfstream made consolation payoffs on the Rainbow 6 and Late Pick-5.

Here are the carryovers:

*Rainbow 6  -- $174,033; requires picking  winners of the last six races


*Late Pick 5 -- $88,264, requires picking winners of last five races  

* Super Hi-5 -- $6,992.44; on each race requires picking first five finishers in order.

On Wednesday morning we will  have an explanation of the bets and an  analysis  of the race card.

Little Baltar won an allowance/optional claiming race at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf. There was an eight-horse field.

John Velazquez rode Little Baltar.

The 4-year-old gelding is owned by Priscilla Vacarezza, Carlo's wife, and by J and J Stables.

Little Big Girl won a 7 1/2 furlong turf race for maiden 3-year-old filllies. Jockey Feargal Lynch rode her in a 12-horse field.

Carlo Vaccarezza also owns Little Big Girl.

Vaccarezza also had a winner at Gulfstream on Friday with Little Gianna who won a maiden claiming race  as the even money favorite.

Little Gianna is owned by Little Dreams  Racing, of which Vaccarezza is managing partner.

As a trainer he has four wins, one second place finish and a third place finish at the Gulfstream championship meet that began on Dec. 5.

  



Sunday, January 24, 2016

Handicapping Corner: Sunday, Jan. 24

 HorseracingFLA Staff Report


We have given ourselves a $1,000 imaginary stake for the Gulfstream Park championship meet that will end April 2, and a $1,000 imaginary stake for the Tampa Bay Downs meet that will end May 8.


Most days we will bet on one race at each track. Today, our only bets are on the eighth race  at Tampa Bay


 


Tampa Bay Downs


Starting Bankroll –$1,000


Jan. 23 – bet $32, return $4


Current — $972


Today – 8th race; scheduled post 3:55 p.m.; one mile on turf for 3-YOs.


Brerry (9) has the speed figures and could try to wire them, with Manny Cruz riding for Harty.


Bluegrass Tiger (2) is coming off impressive maiden win at Tampa and Gallardo  is  back  riding for  O’Connell.


Prized Signal (12) draws in from AE, Began in Britain, and won U.S. debut  at Gulfstream. Centeno  rides for  Niall Saville.


Marakech (6) has a  turf win at  1 1/16 at Tampa. Westshore Drive (3) is making his turf debuts, but has some  breeding for that surface.


Bets:

*$3  win and show on 9       $6


*$2 place and show on  2   $4


*$2 exacta box  2/-9-12     $12


 *$1  exacta part wheel         $6


First —        2  9


Second –     2  3  6 9


*$1   trifecta box   3-9-12     $6


Total  —  $34


 


 


 


 



Handicapping Corner: Sunday, Jan. 24

Saturday Stakes Won By Speedsters at Tampa and By Charming Kitten on Turf at Gulfstream

 


HorseracingFLA Staff Report


Speed ruled at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday as all three stakes races were won by horses that led at every call.


At Gulfstream Park on Saturday, the 2-5 favorite Charming Kitten (photo on home  page) beat Xaverian by 1 ½ lengths in the $100,000 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes.  The race was two miles on turf for 4-year-olds and up.


John Velazquez rode Charming Kitten for trainer Todd Pletcher and breeders/owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey


The race was run on a course listed as good, after Gulfstream took races off the turf on Friday due to heavy rain.


The winning time was 3:33.87, slow for a stakes race at the rarely run distance.


Xaverian, ridden by Joel Rosario, took the lead entering the final turn.  Charming Kitten caught him about 100 yards from the  finish and  gradually pulled ahead to the  wire.


Gulfstream Park – Jan. 23, 2016, ninth race


1 – Charming Kitten       2.80 2.20 2.10


9 -XAVERIAN                        4.80 3.20


7 -ST. ALBANS BOY                        2.40


$2 EXACTA 1-9 PAID $19.80; $1 TRIFECTA 1-9-7


PAID $29.90; 10 CENT SUPERFECTA 1-9-7-2  PAID


$5.59; $1 SUPER HIGH FIVE 1-9-7-2-8  PAID $120.00


 


Today’s Racing


Gulfstream will have eleven races today with first post of 12:35 p.m.


Tampa Bay will have ten races today with first post time of 12:25 p.m.


There are no stakes races at either track.


Tampa Bay on Saturday


The winners on Tampa Bay’s annual Skyway Festival day were:


*R Girls a Charmer defeated Cosmic Girl by four lengths in the $100,000 Gasparilla at seven furlongs  on dirt for  3-year-old fillies.


R Girls a Charmer won in 1:25.61on a track listed as good.  Antonio Gallardo rode for trainer Mark Casse.


Tampa Bay Downs—Jan. 23, 2016, sixth race


6 -R GIRLS A CHARMER                          3.60 2.60 2.40


7 -COSMIC GIRL                                                 3.00 2.60


3 -MISSALANEY                                                          7.40


$2 EXACTA 6-7 PAID $8.40; $1 TRIFECTA 6-7-3 PAID $47.60; $1 SUPERFECTA 6-7-3-5  PAID $246.40

*Morning Fire beat Epic Journey by 1 ½ lengths in the $100,000 Pasco at seven furlongs on dirt for 3-year+old males.


Daniel Centeno rode Morning Fire for trainer Keith Nations. The Pennsylvania-bred colt won in 1;24.76 on the track listed as good.


Nations said he might point Morning Fire toward the Sam F. Davis Stakes (Grade 3) at 1 1/16 miles at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 13.


In a story early this week, we will have more on Morning Fire in an early preview of Florida races that are on the Kentucky Derby trail.


Tampa Bay Downs—Jan. 23, 2016, seventh race


1 -MORNING FIRE                10.80 4.80 4.00


3 -EPIC JOURNEY                         5.80 4.00


2 -AWESOME SLATE                              6.00


$2 EXACTA 1-3 PAID $51.60; $1 TRIFECTA 1-3-2


PAID $123.00; $1 SUPERFECTA 1-3-2-7 PAID $681.60


white clover


*White Clover, at 13-1, won by 2 ¼ lengths over the 7-5 favorite Savings Account in the $50,000 Wayward Lass at  1 1/16 miles on dirt for fillies  and  mares 4-years-old  and up.


Victor Lebron rode the 4-year-old White Clover who won in 1:45.68 on the track that had been upgraded to good. Rusty Arnold trains White Clover.


 


Tampa Bay Downs-Jan. 23, 2016—ninth race


4 -WHITE CLOVER                                  29.80 11.60 7.20


3 -SAVINGS ACCOUNT                                     3.80 3.00


10 -HER MAJESTY’S FLAG                                        7.00


$2 EXACTA 4-3  PAID $99.20; $1 TRIFECTA 4-3-10


PAID $757.60 $1; SUPERFECTA 4-3-10-6  PAID $7,409.10


—  Photo  of Charming Kitten courtesy of Gulfstream Park


— Photo of White Clover courtesy of Tampa Bay Downs


 


 


 



 



 


 



Saturday Stakes Won By Speedsters at Tampa and By Charming Kitten on Turf at Gulfstream

Saturday, January 23, 2016

White Clover, 13:1 Wins the Wayward Lass Stakes 9th

White Clover edged Savings Account in Tampa Bay's final stakes race today, the Wayward Lass Stakes. Victor LeBron mounted the winner.

Her Majesty's Flag, as 20:1, placed on the dirt track at 1-1/16 mile.

#WinPlaceShow
4$29.80$11.60$7.20
3
$3.80$3.00
10

$7.00 

 $1 Exacta: $49.60; $.50 Tri, $378.80; $1 DD, $89.40; $.50 Pick-3, $304.15

Morning Fire Wins Pasco at tampa

Morning Fire (4-1) fought off Epic Journey to win the Pasco Stakes for 3-year-old males at Tampa Bay.

Morning Glory ran the  seven furlongs  in 1:24.76.

The ninth race, at 4:20, is the third stakes of the day in oldsmar.  It is the Wayward Lass at 1/16 miles for fillies and  mares 4-years-old and up.
-- Jim Freer  


r girls a charmer wins Fillies stakes at Tampa

R Girls a Charmer, the 4-5 favorite, wired the field to  win the $100,000 Gasparilla Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Tampa Bay downs

Cosmic Girl, the 2-1 second choice, finished second.

R Girls a Charmer ran seven furlongs in 1:25.61 on the track listed as good

The seventh coming up at 3:20 is the  Pasco at seven furlongs fo 3-year-old males

Hand of Power is the 2-1 favorite as we write.  Formal Summation, our pick to  win, is next at 7-2.
-- Jim Freer

R Girls a Charmer Wins Fillies Stakes atTampa

Handicapping Corner: Saturday, Jan. 23


                  HorseracingFLA Staff Report

Starting today, we are giving ourselves a $1,000 imaginary stake for the Gulfstream Park championship meet that will end April 2, and a $1,000 imaginary stake for the Tampa Bay Downs meet that will end May 8.

Our fantasy bets for Saturday Jan. 23, 2016

Gulfstream Park

The ninth race is the $100,000 H. Allen Jerkens, scheduled at two miles on turf for 4-year-olds and up.

We are calling this bet off if the race is taken off the turf.

The Todd Pletcher-trained Charming Kitten (1) is the obvious choice and could be even-money in the nine-horse field.

If any horse springs an upset, we think it would be the Irish-American import Roccia d’oro (2), trained by Tom Albertrani.  He could do well on a course softened by yesterday’s rain.

Either St. Albans Boy (7) or Morning Calm (3) should be in the exacta if one of the above two falter.

Mucho Mas Macho (8) who might have some late run, is our longshot.

*$3 place and show  on 2         $6

*$2 show on 7                          $2

*$2 exacta box  1-2-7              $12

*$1 exacta part wheel

First —    1 2

Second   1 2  3  5                     $6


Total —  $26.00



Tampa Bay

The seventh race, scheduled post 3:20 p.m., is the $100,000 Pasco Stakes at seven furlongs on dirt for 3-year-old males

Formal Salute (4) and  Jay’s Way (7) each finished within a length of unbeaten Ishaq (not running today) in the six-furlong Inaugural at Tampa Bay on Dec. 19.

Epic Journey (3) has a six-furlong allowance win at Tampa Bay in a faster time than the Inaugural.

Morning Fire (1) finished second in two sprint stakes at Parx in Philadelphia, and has had three blistering workouts at Tampa Bay.  He has the rail and needs a clean break—and should get one with Daniel Centeno on board.

Hand of Power (6) is in from Kentucky for trainer Ian Wilkes and will be gaining late with Julien Leparoux on board. Awesome Slate (2) also is a threat.

Our win pick is Formal Salute, outside of other speed and with the formidable team of Kathleen O’Connell and Ronnie Allen Jr.

*$3  win and show on 4           $6

*$3   place and show on 6        $6

*$2   show on 3                        $2

*$1 Exacta box    1-4-6-7         $12

*$1 exacta part wheel

First = 4  6

Second    2  3 4 6                      $6

Total                                        $32.00


Handicapping Corner: Saturday, Jan. 23

Tampa Bay: Pasco and Gasparilla Stakes for 3-Year-Olds Head Skyway Festival Card

HorseracingFLA Staff Report

Tampa Bay Downs will have its annual Skyway Festival day this afternoon, with three stakes races.

The $100,000 Pasco, for 3-year-old males, and the $100,000 Gasparilla, for 3-year-old fillies are both seven furlongs on dirt.

The $50,000 Wayward Lass, for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up, is 1 1/16 miles on dirt.

Those races are part of an 11-race card with first post of 12:20 p.m.

We will have coverage n our blog later today.

* Gasparilla – sixth race, scheduled post 2:50 p.m.

The 32nd renewal of the Gasparilla has ten entrants.

The top two finishers from the six-furlong Sandpiper Stakes on Dec. 19, drew outside, with Hidden Treat starting from the No. 10 post position and A Little Attitude from No. 8.

Daniel Centeno will ride Hidden Treat, who is 2-for-2 under trainer Arnaud Delacour. The trainer of A Little Attitude, Randy Klopp, has named Jose Ferrer to ride.

Top Canadian trainer Mark Casse has supplemented R Girls a Charmer to the Gasparilla.

She will break from the No. 6 post under Antonio Gallardo. R Girls a Charmer broke her maiden at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 2, after which Casse purchased her from her previous connections for owner Gary Barber.

Another to watch is No. 1 Valueable Charmer, trained by Gerald Bennett and to be ridden by Ronnie Allen, Jr. She has been ultra-impressive in two winning efforts at Tampa Bay, both at six furlongs, and may be ready for the step up to stakes company.

*Pasco – seventh race, scheduled post 3:20 p.m.

A field of 10 is entered in the 17th edition of the Pasco.

The group includes the second and third-place finishers from the $100,000 Inaugural Stakes, run at six furlongs on Dec. 19. They are Formal Summation from the barn of trainer Kathleen O’Connell and Jay’s Way, conditioned by Jamie Ness.

Formal Summation will break from the No. 4 post under jockey Ronnie Allen, Jr., with Jay’s Way breaking from the No. 7 post with Antonio Gallardo aboard.

Slated to ship in from Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach is the Ian Wilkes-trained Hand of Power, who broke his maiden on Nov. 14 at Churchill Downs. Julien Leparoux has been named to ride Hand of Power, who drew the No. 6 post.

Another intriguing candidate is Awesome Slate, a gelding who won the Canadian Juvenile Stakes at Northlands Park in October. Brian Lynch is the trainer and Angel Serpa the jockey. Awesome Slate drew the No. 2 post.

It is expected that some top finishers in the Pasco will move on to the Sam F. Davis (Grade 3) on Feb. 13 and then to the Tampa Bay Derby (Grade 2)—both at 1 1/16 miles at Tampa Bay Downs.

*Wayward Lass – ninth race, scheduled post 4:20 p.m.

The 32nd edition of the Wayward Lass also attracted 10 horses.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has entered a pair of 4-year-old fillies: Kinsley, the winner of a mile-and-40-yard conditional allowance at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 27, and Tiger Moth, the easy winner of a Gulfstream allowance on Dec. 23 in her most recent start.

Manoel Cruz will ride Kinsley from the No. 9 post, while Tiger Moth and Edgard Zayas break from the No. 8 position




Tampa Bay: Pasco and Gasparilla Stakes for 3-Year-Olds Head Skyway Festival Card

The H. Allen Jerkens, Scheduled for Turf, Highlights Gulfstream Saturday Card

By Jim Freer

Gulfstream Park will honor the memory of a racing legend on Saturday when it holds the $100,000 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes.

The race is named for the Hall of Fame trainer who died last March 18 at the age of 85.

It is two miles for 4-year-olds and up and is scheduled for turf—along with five other races on the 11-race card that has a first post of 12:35 p.m.

Gulfstream officials will decide on Saturday morning whether to keep the H. Allen Jerkens or any other races on the turf.

We will have an update after 10 a.m. on Saturday on this Web site and on our.blog

On Friday, rain forced Gulfstream to move its five scheduled-for-turf races to the dirt track that was sloppy and sealed.

The rain stopped in South Florida late Friday night.  The Saturday forecast has a zero percent chance of rain, with temperatures in the 60s and winds from the northwest at 20 miles per hour.

Charming Kitten Heads Field

The H. Allen Jerkens is the ninth race with scheduled post of 4:35 p.m.

It has nine entrants, with Charming Kitten (No, 9 in photo on home  page) the likely heavy favorite if it stays on turf.  Because the race is late in the afternoon, after some expected drying of the turf, our expectation is that it will be on turf that is not listed as firm

Charming Kitten is the only horse in the race with a win at two miles on turf.  That was in the inaugural Belmont Gold Cup Invitational in June 2014 at Belmont Park.  It came on a course listed as good—the likely listing of Gulfstream’s course on Saturday.

The 6-year-old Charming Kitten is a son of Eclipse Award-winning Kitten’s Joy, and his human connections are all multiple Eclipse Award winners. They are breeders and owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey, trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez.

Owner Ken Ramsey
Owner Ken Ramsey

Charming Kitten comes into Saturday’s race following a win in the  W.L. McKnight (Grade 3) at 1 ½ miles on turf at Gulfstream on Dec. 26.

Charming Kitten gained his first graded stakes victory as he won by a neck over Kaigun, who is not in the H. Allen Jerkens.

Charming Kitten has four second place finishes and a pair of third place finishes in graded stakes. His record also includes a win in the 2013 Kitten’s Joy Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Gulfstream.

The horses that finished fourth, fifth and eighth in the McKnight are back for Saturday’s race.

They are St. Albans Boy, Roccia d’Oro and Morning Calm.  The lengths they finished behind Charming Kitten were 3 ½, 3 ¾ and 8 ½ respectively.

“He ran great in the McKnight,” Pletcher said of Charming Kitten. “He seems like he came out of it even better. He’s a solid, honest horse and it’s great to know that he’s got a win at two miles.”

Todd Pletcher speaks with reporters following the Hal's Hope, Jan. 9, 2016-- photo by Barry Unterbrink
Todd Pletcher speaks with reporters following the Hal’s Hope, Jan. 9, 2016– photo by Barry Unterbrink

Last Oct. 31, St. Albans Boy won the 1 ½ mile Laurel Turf Cup on a turf course listed as good. Paco Lopez will ride him for trainer Kelly Rubley.

The McKnight was the third start for Roccia d’Oro since coming to the U.S. last spring after racing in Italy. He won his first two races and was fifth in the Derby Italiano (G2) last May in his last race before joining trainer Tom Albertrani’s  barn.

“He came out of the race really well,” Albertrani said. “I thought he was in a bad spot throughout the whole race and never really got a chance to use himself.”

Albertrani added: “To me, when he ran his last two races, he seems to want to stay on so that gives me a little more optimism that he can get a little further.”

Javier Castellano will ride Roccia d’Oro.

Charming Kitten and Morning Calm are the only H. Allen Jerkens entrants with experience at two miles on turf.

Morning Calm finished fifth in the Belmont Gold Cup last June for trainer Michelle Nihei.  He won the 1 ½-mile Raymond Earl Handicap on turf last May at Gulfstream.

Luca Panici will ride Morning Calm.

Saturday’s field also has Mucho Mas Macho, who won the 2013 Fort Lauderdale (G3) at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Gulfstream but since then is winless in 15 starts

Others in the Race

Rounding out the field are Good and Proper, third in the Bear’s Den Stakes last July at Gulfstream; Xaverian, making his stakes debut; maiden 4-year-old Neutronstar, and Matuszak, who ships in from Fair Grounds.

One angle for handicapping the H. Allen Jerkens is that none of the horses have a history of seeking the early lead.

It might be a case where one trainer pulls a surprise and has the rider take the horse to the lead and attempt to wire the field.

Matuszak is the only horse in the race whose experience is mostly on dirt, but he has not won a stakes Thus, Charming  Kitten probably would  be favored if the race is moved to dirt.

Trainer H .Allen Jerkens
Trainer H .Allen Jerkens

*H. Allen Jerkens is best known by many racing fans for wins by two of his horses over Secretariat in 1973, after that horse won the Triple Crown.  Those horses were Onion and Prove Out.






The H. Allen Jerkens, Scheduled for Turf, Highlights Gulfstream Saturday Card

Friday, January 22, 2016

The Gulfstream Scene

This weekend at Gulfstream Park and Village








MUSIC IN THE PARK

EVERY SATURDAY | 8-11PM

We know it’s a cold, but Cachet is heating things up this weekend with a little bit of salsa and a whole night of dancing. Come early for dinner & cocktails and check out the full

lineup of performers clicking here

.


CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
 JANUARY 24 | 3PM


Embark on a musical journey with

The South Florida Chamber Ensemble at Sirona Fine Art
 in the Gulfstream Village.

Musicians will be joined by a ballet of choreographed hip hop dancers. Click here for more information and tickets.













BREAKFAST AT GULFSTREAM
 EVERY SATURDAY | 7-10AM



A MINION is coming to Breakfast at Gulfstream this Saturday!

Click here

for more information.









FAMILY FUN FRIDAYS
 EVERY FRIDAY | 7-9PM



Don’t miss FREE caricaturist drawings and plenty of family fun TONIGHT!

Click here

for more information.


















The Gulfstream Scene