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Crist Blog | December 23, 2008
Sugarplum Carryovers
Done shopping? Then you can get to work on Friday's two big carryovers: A 2-day, $159k headstart at Aqueduct, which reopens Friday after being dark since Dec.14, and a $227k carry at Hawthorne that has been building for 18 days. Here are the wintry lineups:
It's not as if there's a lot of parimutuel distraction between now and then. Six tracks (CRC, Pen, Pha, Sun, Tam, TuP) are open Tuesday but there's no Thoroughred racing scheduled anywhere in the U.S. either Wednesday or Thursday, when even the OTB's are closed in New York.
The early pp's are up for both Aqu and Haw and the two seeded sequences look like skullbusters. Full fields before scratches, two maiden claimers at Aqueduct, and three straight $4k or $5k claiming filly sprints at Hawthorne. Get cracking.
Friday is also opening day at Santa Anita, where a nine-race card includes three straight stakes races starting with the 6th: 12 Cal-bred 2-year-olds in the $125k California Breeders Champions Stakes; Gio Ponti vs. 12 in the $100k Sir Beaufort for 3-year-old turf milers; and seven 3-year-olds -- including G1 winners Colonel John, Georgie Boy and Into Mischief -- in the G1 $250k Malibu.
Into Mischief earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 95 winning last year's Hollywood Futurity by 1 1/4 lengths from Colonel John. This past Saturday, Pioneerofthenile won that race but earned a Beyer of only 86 -- the lowest in at least the last 19 years, a span during which the average winning fig has been a 99 -- after running the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.95. Half an hour later, the older G2 winner Zappa ran the same distance in 1:40.65 winning a N3x allowance race, earning a 99.
Pioneerofthenile matched the 86 he received in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, when he ran fifth, beaten 2 3/4 lengths, by Midshipman.
The most impressive winner at Hollywood last Saturday was the 3-year-old Rail Trip, a Jay Em Ess/Ron Ellis/Jump Start colt who won his Nov. 7 debut in 1:07.94 for 6f, good for a splashy 102 Beyer. Rail Trip returned Saturday to score by an identical 3 1/2-length margin, this time getting 6.5f in 1:13.92, which translated to a 101 Beyer.
Posted by Steven Crist Dec 23, 2008 12:46:30 AM | Permalink
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Comments
don_reed says:
Give it a rest - literally, not insultingly.
This is the time of the year when NOT watching and wagering results in rejuvenation.
Merry Christmas to all!
Posted by Don Reed Dec 26, 2008 3:52:58 PM
hammer says:
From frigid chicago: perhaps Hawthorne does not get the same accolades or buzz as Arlington, but for local players, it offers nicer folks, fuller fields and bet-friendly staff.
Posted by hammer Dec 26, 2008 3:52:58 PM
rick_marks says:
VERY nice touch by DRF to distribute Friday, December 26 edition on Tuesday AM. With all the down time, I just might cap 5 of the 7 tracks in the NY edition (sorry Calder and Laurel).
Posted by Rick Marks Dec 26, 2008 3:52:58 PM
tom_d says:
I agree with Mark c. about Tampa Bay Downs. I wrote last year to appeal to the people upset with Stronachs Gulfstream to give Tampa a chance. Unlike NYRA employees who constantly have their hand out, TBD workers go out of their way to help, their pleasant, and aren't expecting a tip for giving directions to the bathroom. There isn't a Sizzler type buffet to over pay for (Gulfstream.) Plenty of outdoor seating to escape the northern winter that was such a draw for the old Gulstream. Parking isn't a hassle, unlike Gulfstream who last Fla. Derby had given their parking spots to the construction of stores and condos for people who will never live there and stores no one will shop at. Gulfstream does have better simulcast areas and hot chicks for bartenders. At TBD, you don't want to use a teller as the old timers collect their dimes! The racing isn't up to the caliber of Gulfstream but they have full fields and a great turf course. AND! This Sat. Eibar Coa will be there. A chance to get Coa'd in person! Wonderful.
Posted by Tom D. Dec 26, 2008 3:52:58 PM
arizonadave says:
Los Al Jockey Sam Thompson passed away yesyerday the 24th from an injury after a race on the 20th. very sad.
Posted by arizonadave Dec 26, 2008 3:52:58 PM
high_limit says:
Merry and a Happy Mr Steve, and crew...
Posted by High Limit Dec 26, 2008 3:52:58 PM
walt says:
Amazing that Monticello is the only track anywhere running on Christmas Eve. That reminds me of 30+ years ago when my late father stopped at OTB in Manhattan on Christmas Eve to bet a triple (as trifectas were called in those days in New York and were by NYRA up to 1995 I believe), and hit it for over $2,000 for a $3 wager (triples/trifectas were $3 wagers at the harness tracks in those days). One of the most memorable Christmas Eves I can remember.
I also remember another Christmas Eve a couple of years later when Yonkers actually ran a "studio" card just for OTB (the track was not open to patrons at all) that took 90 minutes to run with the entire program shown on WOR-TV (Channel 9, now WWOR-TV) that night.
How times have changed. In more recent years, Philly Park would race on Christmas Eve, and in some years was in fact the only track open on Christmas Eve from my memory.
Posted by Walt Dec 26, 2008 3:52:58 PM
trenton_ralph says:
Merry Christmas Steve, Are you doing any updates today for the bigA ?
Posted by trenton Ralph Dec 26, 2008 3:52:57 PM
plod_boys says:
Rodman ensures nice P6 price. Triple vs. plod & a vs. plod winner first asking.
Posted by Plod Boys Dec 26, 2008 3:52:57 PM
justin says:
Steve a very happy holidays to you and your family. I will take no part with Hawthorne, you have a real magician.
Posted by Justin Dec 24, 2008 12:47:35 AM
ajv says:
Rhetorical question: With Maiden Claimers bookending $4,000 and $5,000 claimers and one token NW1, how does one put together a Pick 6 ticket for Hawthorne without having an Illinois guv's salary? I don't know why this pool tempts me....Maybe its the names of the riders at Hawthorne that intrigues me. Surely the jock's room must be a Tower of Babel.
Posted by AJV Dec 24, 2008 12:47:35 AM
yuwipi says:
Done shopping? I've only begun. Checking store closing times for the 24th now. It's an annual ritual.
Like to make wishing a wonderful holiday season to all associated with this blog a similar habit. To all and their families, from the Big Guy whose name heads the blog, to all the other commenters and readers - Happy Holidays.
Posted by yuwipi Dec 24, 2008 12:47:35 AM
gofor_broke says:
Good sprint stake on Saturday. Fabulous Strike and Lucky Island, the 2 favorites in the Vosburgh. A good field, and that's a positive sign for this winter meet.
Great to see Aqueduct PP's again.
Posted by gofor broke Dec 24, 2008 12:47:35 AM
mark_c says:
I am so happy that Tampa is open.It is my favorite gambling racetrack! Large fields-cheaper claimers on the turf,and the BEST customer relations person anywhere by the name of Margo Flynn.She took an hour to find a solution for the problem I had getting a live video feed.She went online to find a solution for me and then called me at home with the answer! I am sure the poeple at NYRA would have sone the same for me (HAHAHAHHAHAHA! NOT!)
Posted by mark c Dec 24, 2008 12:47:35 AM
raps07 says:
Santa Anita looks enticing, but who knows how the track will play and how long some horses have been off. Hollywood turned dreadful, with 6 horse fields the norm, nice to see bulky fields. The Big A is the Big A, no surprises, possible keys out of the pick 6, BUT Eiber Coa is at Calder. Ahhhh, some good news !!!
Posted by Raps07 Dec 23, 2008 1:45:27 PM
Comments to this entry are closed.
About
Steven Crist has been the Publisher and a columnist for Daily Racing Form since 1998. Previously, he covered racing for The New York Times from 1981-1990; was founding editor-in-chief of The Racing Times in 1991-92; and a vice-president of the New York Racing Association from 1994-97. He recently released an instructional DVD titled "Exotic Tickets," and is the
author of several books including "Betting on Myself" and "Exotic Betting."
