I have to give a little nod to Sway Away in the San Vicente–he made a huge effort.
Nancy
The closure yesterday of the 1st Kentucky Derby futures pool resulted in a very robust amount of money invested: TB Times 2-20-11 "Handle up 27% for First Derby Future Wager
The Pool 1 betting total is the second-largest single pool total in Future Wager history, trailing only the $620,362 wagered during the opening pool in 2005.
The combined handle for win and exacta wagering rose from $466,048 in 2010 to $592,492 when wagering closed on Sunday.
Who was the heavy favorite? Was it Uncle Mo? Nada. “All others not listed” (meaning other than the 23 named horses) took pulled down the odds to 2.10-to-1; from there it was for the next three:
Uncle Mo at 3.60-to-1
Dialed In 8.40-to-1
To Honor and Serve at 10.50-to-1
Longest named option? Decisive Moment, should he win the Derby, will return those who wagered on him a fatty 186.70-to-1 
In case anyone wanted to see the past-performance record of those horses who were in this year’s 1st Derby Pool: (pdf) Daily Racing Form Future Bet Pool 1 contenders PP
note it didn’t include races held on Sat & Sun, so a few horses like Machen and The Factor made their 3rd lifetime starts
Horse with the most mileage? It’s a tie between:
Clubhouse Ride (by Candy Ride) with a career thus far of 11 2-2-4
Comma To the Top (by Bwana Charlie) 11 6-1-0
Least starts? Dialed In 2 2-0-0
(All other named horses have at least 3 starts)
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;5441453]
Horse with the most mileage? It’s a tie between:
Clubhouse Ride (by Candy Ride) with a career thus far of 11 2-2-4[/QUOTE]
And he’s off the trail …
DRF 2-21-11 “Clubhouse Ride injured, off Kentucky Derby trail”
Trainer Craig Lewis announced Monday morning at Santa Anita that Clubhouse Ride, a son of Candy Ride, has a hairline fracture of his right ankle that will require 45 days off.
Also next weekend’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth will be absent of Dialed In.
Trainer Nick Zito said he and owner Bob LaPenta both agreed that passing the race is in the best interest of their colt in light of his huge performance winning the Grade 3 Holy Bull in only his second career start here last month.
Additionally Zito will not opt for the adjusted $100k Timely Writer Stakes at Gulfstream. They changed that race from 1 1/8mi to just 1 mi which is not what Zito wants. He has said he needs 2-turns prep work before the Florida Derby.
Looking forward to watching the Fountain of Youth! keeping fingers crossed for Casper’s Touch, he’s out of our mare Lizzy Cool.
Very exciting kmb good luck. Anyone know where I can find an updated graded stakes list (the Derby site has not been updated since 2/13).
Thx
Nancy
perhaps there has been not much movement in the stakes list
[QUOTE=NMK;5441611]
Anyone know where I can find an updated graded stakes list.[/QUOTE]
http://www.drf.com/news/2011-kentucky-derby-contenders-ranked-graded-earnings
That list is current (2/21) with the 2 graded 3-yr old races from Feb 19th and 20th; the Southwest Stakes in about 30-minutes will change that list. I suspect the DRF will have the list updated by 10pm EST tonight.
Also note with the TC nominations having been released this earnings list (which excludes fillies) denotes those horses which will require a supplement to the TC
Upset in the Southwest Stakes.
Jon Court takes Archarcharch (at 15-1) to victory; J P’s Gusto with Ramon up for 2nd despite having all kinds of trouble with running room and Calvin guides Elite Alex for a more distant 3rd.
thanks Glimmer, much appreciated.
I’m glad for Jon Court, who is a throwback gentleman jockey, and having what appears to be his Derby horse in Archarcharch. Worth noting is that the trainer is Jinks Fires who is Jon’s father-in-law.
With $150k in graded money banked the next start for Archarcharch is most likely the Grade 3, $300,000 Rebel at Oaklawn on March 19. (He was by the way a $60,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland in September 2009.)
It’s Official: NBC Sports Secures Rights For Triple Crown!
The network will announce the deal later Tuesday, marking the first time since 2005 the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes will be broadcast by the same network.
The deal includes more than 25 hours of race programming split between NBC and Versus, which is owned by NBC Sports Group. Terms were not disclosed.
Versus will also carry the Kentucky Oaks, the filly version of the Kentucky Derby.
NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol said the network is uniquely positioned to expand the reach of racing’s three biggest jewels.
That is fantastic news!
And as expected - but most disappointingly - Uncle Mo will opt for the $100k ungraded Timely Writer Stakes (ungraded) at 1-mile on the Gulfstream track instead of the Tampa Bay Derby (grade 2) on March 12th.
Per the BloodHorse they’ll switch to the TBD if the TW fails to fill. I suspect the Timely Writer will fill but only with horses that have no notions of ever going to a TC prep race let alone running in a Grade 1 race.
I think Uncle Mo is overrated and not the more developed horse (vs. his peers) he was in late fall of last year. If he did run in the TBD I think he’d get a wakeup call that 2011 isn’t 2010 and a 2-yr old Eclipse Award doesn’t mean a thing at 3.
More on NBC Universal’s Triple Crown news
The benefit to the sport is that those people without HRTV access will get to see more undercard and supporting races on Vs. (Verses) Network:
NBC acquired exclusive rights to the Preakness and Belmont through 2015.
The deals include coverage of the Black Eyed Susan Stakes and other Preakness-day and Belmont-day programming on Versus.
Additionally, expanded Derby week programming, including the Kentucky Oaks and Derby day programming, will air on Versus.
Financial terms were not disclosed yet but likely as was the case before NYRA likely got a bigger cut then the Maryland Jockey Club/MDI.
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;5442836]
And as expected - but most disappointingly - Uncle Mo will opt for the $100k ungraded Timely Writer Stakes (ungraded) at 1-mile on the Gulfstream track instead of the Tampa Bay Derby (grade 2) on March 12th.
Per the BloodHorse they’ll switch to the TBD if the TW fails to fill. I suspect the Timely Writer will fill but only with horses that have no notions of ever going to a TC prep race let alone running in a Grade 1 race.
I think Uncle Mo is overrated and not the more developed horse (vs. his peers) he was in late fall of last year. If he did run in the TBD I think he’d get a wakeup call that 2011 isn’t 2010 and a 2-yr old Eclipse Award doesn’t mean a thing at 3.[/QUOTE]
Last week, both Kelly Breen and Patrick Biancone were talking about taking on Mo if he went in this race. Each has a good, developing 3YO that won’t go to the Derby (Biancone’s is pointed to the Queen’s Plate): Nacho Business and Bowman’s Causeway. Of course that was before Pletcher announced Mo will go in this race. But I sure wish a couple of colts (geldings, fillies, whatever) of at least their quality would be in it to push Mo.
[QUOTE=Third Glance;5443858]
But I sure wish a couple of colts (geldings, fillies, whatever) of at least their quality would be in it to push Mo.[/QUOTE]
From your lips to the owners ears, but I suspect that it will be a 2nd tier at best. Nothing against the horses themselves but the days of a powerhouse stable seeing this paid workout for what it is and sending in a crusher just to tweak Repole just aren’t here.
I think they are being far too over protective of Uncle Mo. The Derby with 19-others taking on their horse brings in traffic issues they should be prepping for. The issue isn’t money but getting him focused again on racing.
Anyhow …
Bob Baffert indicated The Factor, fresh from winning the San Vicente Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita, would likely make his first start around two turns (1 1/8 mi to exact) in the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby on March 27.
Also NBC (and networks) does not appear to be poised to air prep races as they did in 2010 (with Churchill Downs writing the checks) on the heels of this Triple Crown deal. Per news reports Churchill Downs Inc. President Bob Evans said the television deals for the Triple Crown races took precedence and that the prep races could be reviewed again for future years.
Further its too late for 2011 but they’ll be working hard for 2012 to ink a single TC bonus marketing entity. Previously it was Chrysler then Visa who offered up the $5M Triple Crown bonus, which never was paid although insurance policies were (paid for and) underwritten.
No replay on youtube for the the Feb 21st Southwest Stakes (save for a wobbly video filmed of someone’s tv with the race on) so you’ll have to use the DRF’s replay (below). While many thought a call of foul near the wire by Archarcharch drifting into J.P.'s Gusto - and making Ramon check up - might be filed it never came to be.
Video: 46th edition of the Southwest Stakes (G3) $250k at 1-mi
Unfortunately for anyone watching races at Oaklawn this year the calls by venerable track announcer Terry Wallace have had some serious lapses and mistakes. He’s been their announcer for 37 years and ended his record streak of consecutive race calls at 20,191 just last month. The track has this year retained Frank Mirahmadi for backup which they may just want to use for the Arkansas Derby.
Side note:
Soldat has been partially sold to new interests in advance of his Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes start. Harvey Clarke remains his majority owner and Kiaran McLaughlin his trainer.
The field was drawn for the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (Grade II)
Once again I’m amazed the connections of Gourmet Dinner keep running this guy like the olden days. Why let a fat pursed race go to waste if you can cash a big check?
The $400k purse race will add the following graded earnings to the respective finishers: winner to receive $240,000; $80,000 to second, $40,000 to third, $20,000 to fourth, $12,000 to fifth and $8,000 to sixth.
Saturday Feb 26, 2011 at Gulfstream Park
Race 10 (approx) 5:26pm EST
Distance: One And One Eighth Miles.
PP. Horse. <> Jockey <> Weight <> Trainer
- Soldat <> A Garcia <> 120-lbs <> K P McLaughlin
- Gourmet Dinner <> R A Dominguez<> 120-lbs <> S W Standridge
- El Grayling <> R Maragh <> 116-lbs <> M J Maker
- Casper’s Touch <> A O Solis <> 116-lbs <> K G McPeek
- Bowman’s Causeway <> J R Leparoux <> 116-lbs <> P L Biancone
- Racing Aptitude <> J Lezcano <> 120-lbs <> H M Tesher
- To Honor and Serve <> J R Velazquez <> 122-lbs <> W I Mott
- Shackleford <> J L Castanon <> 116-lbs <> D L Romans
He went real old school yesterday, blowing out 3F in :34.80 at GP. Most of the “blowouts” I see these days really aren’t blowouts.
Calumet Farm’s silks were devil red and blue.
The Brazilian stable Stud TNT currently uses them. Curiously, both the TNT and the Calumet websites feature them.
[QUOTE=WhiteCamry;5447179]
Calumet Farm’s silks were devil red and blue.[/QUOTE]
Big mistake on my part - thanks for the correction.
With the Fountain of Youth Stakes I expected Gourmet Dinner to do very well and he delivered. It wasn’t a win but then again he proved he was tougher then most give him credit.
Video: Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (Grade II)
If anyone thought that Gourmet Dinner was going to rest up until the Kentucky Derby you’d be mistaken. Up next is either the Florida Derby or Santa Anita Derby - its much more likley that he’ll be shipped out to California. You’ve got to give him props for dancing in so many dances plus his team is still fixing things that will only make him better: From the DRF post race
He’s looked even better this winter, finishing third behind Dialed In in the Grade 3 Holy Bull and putting in a big effort in Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile Fountain of Youth.
“I thought he ran super on Saturday,” Standridge said. “I think if we had a little stronger pace, we could have been a little closer. I’m not taking anything away from the winner, but he was running slower on the pace than he did in his allowance win. My horse made a nice move but couldn’t quite get there.”
Standridge was briefly concerned by the fact that Gourmet Dinner switched leads a couple of times near midstretch, but once watching the head-on replay of the race, the former rider discovered what caused the problem.
“He switched perfectly turning for home, but when Ramon [Dominguez] hit him with his right hand at midstretch, he switched to his left lead,” Standridge said. “Ramon can really hit. But a few strides later, he switched right back.”
As for Soldat he’ll go to the Florida Derby next and earned a 96 Beyer for the Fountain of Youth. Bill Mott trained To Honor and Serve finishing a distant 3rd in the race looked expectedly rusty having not raced since the Remsen win in late November. Once again I think this is just one more indicator that Uncle Mo will be in the exact same boat as well with his first effort back.
