Free, Fun Open House - Saratoga July 15th

I am tempted to go check this out...although I live far away in Pennsylvania..

http://www.nyra.com/belmont/stories/June262012.shtml

Excerpt:

The familiar gates of Saratoga Race Course will open five days early as The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) prepares to host its annual pre-season preview party, the 32nd annual Open House. A Saratoga tradition held prior to the start of racing season at North America’s most historic thoroughbred racetrack, Open House returns to kick off a full day of fun and attractions on Sunday, July 15, to benefit dozens of local non-profit organizations.


Saratoga's Open House offers a free sneak-peek into the popular summer meeting with a full day of games, activities, live music, food, pony rides, behind-the-scenes tours, mascot races, handicapping seminars, and non-wagering horse racing. The 32nd annual Open House will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission and parking are free. ...more at this link

http://www.nyra.com/belmont/stories/June262012.shtml


I think this is a FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY for racing fans and more importantly to take people who are new to racing here. And just get them involved and interested!!

Queen's Plate Canada 2012

One of the biggest racing days in Canada. The 1 1/4 Canadian Queen's Plate.

DRF Free Past Performance

1,4,6 7, 12, 14 are my narrowed down selections. But really BET WORTHY are:

14 IRISH MISSION & 7 GOLDEN RIDGE and 1 RIVER RUSH

1: River Rush - has carried 126lb around on 2 turn 1 1/8 mi and won by 5 lengths. So he could stretch out for more well I think. But the price on him might be low.

2.Has some experience carrying 126 lb but failed to impress in any way in the PlateTrial. Also he was stuck at the 5/6th position the whole time. no pace improvement. Has closed better at 7f, but maybe we are asking for much.

3. Baker trainee (same as :1: River Rush) and was supplemented at 25k, so that might mean something as to what the trainer thinks of his chances!! Has worked out good lately. He is a gelding, so he might rate better and do the distance well. Tri/supers

4. Strait of Dover The ML favorite with convincing victory at 8.5F and has been in winning form. However, he has nt raced for a while..why?

5.toss.

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6. Wilcox Workouts of up to 7F recently. hmm! Lightly raced horse, could be wild card if the price goes even better! Could make money even on PL/SH with this one. Son of Giant's Causeway, distance should be ok I think.

7. Golden Ridge Contreras L on board, Casse trainer. Good workout, Distorted Humor sire. Horse is improving 3-2-1 at the 8.5 distance, now stretching to 10f. If odds better than 6-1 at post, worth betting wps.

8. Has the name ULTIMATE in his name and I am sucker for that. ok jokes apart, I feel that this is a slow horse so he can be tossed out of major bets.

9-13. i am ignoring these even if they have chances, because I just spotted
ok coming back:

12; Big Creek  has Dominguez on him and he could get a better ride. The only issue is what I see is that Indian charlie babies dont seem to stretch out too well.

14. Irish Mission. THis horse tracked a slower pace than the race where River Rush won last (same day) and won her last race well driving in the stretch. She has a 5lb advantage and has shown that she can win 9f in 1:48.72 (vs River Rush 1:48.97). She just needs a faster pace to track. I just hope Alex Solis handles her well! But she is worth some bets (even for win) simply because of her latest workout, Giant's Causeway connection and Wo familiarity now.

Secretariat Preakness Record Time Approved!!

After almost 40 years of waiting, the record time that "Big Red" - Secretariat, achieved while winning the Preakness Stakes of 1973 has been officially credited to him as 1:53 flat by the Maryland Racing Commission in a unanimous vote. Now, it can be said that Secretariat officially holds the fastest time recorded for all three of the Triple Crown Races - Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

I do have to add here that modern technology or not, they are fudging at some level when they give a "flat time" rather than agreeing to honor the DRF clock which measured 1:53 2/5 (see wikipedia). I am happy for Secretariat to be officially recognized as the fastest runner in the Preakness, but I am not happy that the final time is now being fudged.

For more about the Triple Crown click here.

This news was received on twitter and verified via Brisnet editorial

The official minutes of the meeting can be found here within a few business days from June 19, 2012.

Featured below is a photo of the Memorial of Secretariat erected in Kentucky.

This photo is used under Creative Commons License Some rights reserved by Just chaos

Stephen Foster H. and Many Other Stakes

I will update this post later today or early tomorrow morning to fill in details on a very exciting Stephen Foster handicap to be played out under the lights in Kentucky this Saturday..

Also,, Fleur de Lis handicap will feature 2011 BC Classic winner Royal Delta.

Selections for the Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont - Race 8
     




       

ISIS REXX Key Plays

ISIS Pharmaceuticals (long for a while) recently hit a new 52 wk high and is sitting close to 11. The company has several drugs under development and has partnerships with Genzyme etc. Worth a deeper look again.

REXX a natural gas and wet gas exploration company based in Pennsylvania (working on Marcellus and Utica shale) is also showing confidence around the 10-11 range. This is a long term play and is a volatile stock. But this is worth reading more into.

Will add more on these over the weekend.

Kentucky Derby Changes Selection Method

One of the oldest sports in running (138 years and going strong), the Kentucky Derby (ahem.. presented by Yum Brands as it is usually touted nowadays) is changing its method of selection. It used to winnings from graded stakes of the top 20 horses from over 185 races, but now that system is being changed to a points system from about 36 races.

USA today is covering it in full.

The main goal is also to get 20 horses that are in the best form to qualify for the Derby and reduce chances of one hit wonders or horses that have won big at distances shorter than 1 mile to come into the Derby.

The campaign of races leading up to the Derby is being divided into four phases.

The first is called the Kentucky Derby Prep Season, typically spanning stakes from late September through late February. .

Then follows a "Kentucky Derby Championship Season", which typically will span the 10-week run-up to the Derby. The phase highlights mostly traditional prep races.

That's followed by the most important phase of the Kentucky Derby Championship Season. The races in this stage encompass the biggest events: the Florida Derby, Wood Memorial, Santa Anita Derby, Arkansas Derby, Toyota Blue Grass and Louisiana Derby, while also including the $2 million U.A.E. Derby in Dubai. Those races will offer a 100-40-20-10 point scale.

Finally, there's a last chance "wild-card" setup which features Keeneland's Lexington Stakes, two weeks before the Derby, and Churchill Downs' opening-night Derby Trial, a week before the Kentucky Derby.

What do you think? Add your comments on whether you think this is a good thing or bad thing or "change is always good" ..

Smart Bet on Belmont Stakes

Sadly, the Triple Crown favorite I'll Have Another has been scratched due to a tendon injury. We wish him a good life in his retirement.

More news here on Bloodhorse.com.

I am feeling so upset that I may not bet on the Belmont stakes at all now. However, for those who are looking at Smart Bets, I think Paynter, Atigun and Street Life would be good prices. Union Rags and Dullahan would be overbet, so they may not be a smart bet.

BELMONT STAKES IS STILL A GREAT RACE and the card today has some AMAZING RACES on the card today. 

I suggest you look out for these horses today (not just in win position but if odds justify look at PS also):

• Royal Currier in True North Handicap Race 7.

• Winter Memories vs Tapitsfly in Race 8 (Grade 1).

• Il Villano and Currency Swap in Race 9.

• AL Khali in the Woodford Reserve Manhattan H. Race 10.

• Paynter or Dullahan to win in Race 11 Belmont Stakes (but Union Rags may come 2nd!)

UPDATE: Hopefully people reading this blog were smart enough to box the exacta in Race 8 as well as in Race 11.... I did not bet Race 8 and I did not box Race 11. My 'arrogance' got me zip.. haha and saved me $2 in betting on Race 11. 

Live Webcast of belmont press conference

There are multiple live streams of Belmont Press Conference with Trainer Doug ONeill (I'll Have Another s trainer) and Owner Paul Reddam at the NYRA/Belmont Stakes area.

A better picture twitter.com/JBossertNYDN/s…

— Jerry Bossert (@JBossertNYDN) June 8, 2012

PLEASE BE PATIENT AS DUE TO UNPLANNED HEAVY WEB TRAFFIC, all streams may not be working best.


WAVE 3: http://www.wave3.com/category/200260/wave-3-live

WKCTV: http://www.wkyc.com/news/article/247664/33/LIVE-Belmont-news-conference-on-Ill-Have-Another

Bay area users Check: http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2012/06/08/ill-have-another-scratched-live-press-conference/

Related story: I'll Have Another did gallop out this morning (link) but afterward a swollen tendon and then the tendon injury was discovered, forcing the connections to scratch IHA from the historic attempt at the Triple Crown.

Belmont Stakes Post Positions and Free Past Performances

Free Past Performances (without odds - the best kind) are available from the Pdf download from Belmont Stakes Page. You can review morning line and real odds from contenders page.

It is a long long 1.5 mile race so post positions may not matter too much, yet the post positions are drawn and the battle lines are clear.

Used under a Creative Commons License
{Some rights reserved by IAN RANSLEY DESIGN + ILLUSTRATION}

For a full news release including details of recent contender bids in the past 34 years read the Bloodhorse.com story.

I'll Have Another, the triple crown contender this year, has drawn post position 11 out of a field of 12 horses. The main contender Dullahan has drawn post 5.

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Belmont Stakes this Saturday - June 9th

The Stakes
The one and half mile long, "test of the champions", the Belmont Stakes is going to be held this Saturday. This year, it is very special because of the possibility of Triple Crown happening as I'll Have Another has a shot at winning the crown, ending a drought of 34 years.

In honor of that occasion, on Thursday June 7th, the Empire State Building is going to be decked out in the colors of "Belmont Green" White and Purple (the color of the silks on I'll Have Another. (source: nyra).

This is a great way to get the city and its visitors involved in the great party that is horse racing!

I'll Have Another is going in as a strong favorite, but he has fend of some serious challengers in Dullahan, Union Rags, Paynter, Street Life among others. Also contending for the stakes are Optimizer, Unstoppable U, Guyana Star Dweej and others.

The coverage of Live draw will be available on the stakes page on Wed 11-1130am. Coverage on the Belmont Stakes will be provided by NBC.

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