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CONTENTS JULY 2015 4
From The Publisher
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The Teaser
Topics that titillate the racing mind.
10
Crowning Spring in Pictures
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Triple Crown Toppled
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Countdown to the Crown:
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AQHA Jockeys
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Back to Night School
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Meet Our Team
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Galloping Out
JP takes you behind the scenes.
Brian Nadeau shares his memories. Jeremy Plonk dissects each Queen's Plate contender with bottom-line analysis on every horse. Age is just a number to these riders, 'Racing Ace' Martha Claussen writes. Quick-link summaries to our topic of Pedigree Handicapping. Get to know Jeff Nahill. The Triple Crown celebration is on for American Pharoah.
Post-script to American Pharoah.
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From the Publisher What a great cover shot this month with jockey Victor Espinoza planting a wet one on American Pharoah! That about sums up the emotion that many racing fans now bask in a month after the historic Triple Crown takedown. Horse racing is a great reminder, however, that the beat goes on. It’s seemingly always post time somewhere. And as summer turns to July, we’re greeted at the front door by Canada’s prestigious Queen’s Plate. In mere days, Del Mar and Saratoga also will ring the doorbell. Monmouth, Arlington and many other great parts in-between also make their summer soirees. It’s always a great time of year to be a horseplayer, but maybe even more so this year. I’m sure you’ve felt post-Belmont attention from your friends and colleagues as well. As a known horseplayer, the reaction I’ve gotten from folks who never asked me about racing before has been very noticeable in my hometown. More people want to know about our great game. Share it! - JP
Horse Player NOW Magazine Copyright 2015 Horse Player NOW All Rights Reseved
Editor, Publisher, Designer Jeremy Plonk Contributing Writers Candice Hare Martha Claussen Brian Nadeau Photography Chief Enzina Mastrippolito (Photosbyz) Contributing Photographers Michael Burns / Woodbine Adam Coglianese/NYRA Chelsea Durand/NYRA Joe Labozzetta/NYRA Four Footed Photos/Hawthorne Coady Photography Dustin Orona Scott Martinez Jeremy Plonk
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THE TEASER:
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From the running of the coolers Teaser, definition: A male to teasing a Triple horse used at breeding farms to determine whether Crown champion, a mare is ready to receive a stallion. Also, perhaps the eventually it will all most unfulfilling occupation in the universe. make sense. Spa Folks Steamed Turnstiles for the 2015 Saratoga racing season haven’t spun yet, but operators for the venerable emporium affectionately known as ‘The Spa,’ already have some folks steamed. Normally, a sauna is part of the spa experience, but this time, the hot air came as a result of some fancy footwork by folks from the New York Racing Association.
After a more than 30-year run, NYRA pulled the plug on the event. They said they were losing money and that involved charities weren’t making much coin either. They have replaced the event with “community days” each Monday that will feature games, crafts and other activities for children, as well as fundraising opportunities for nonprofit organizations.
Traditionally, just before the upstate New York race meeting begins, the track holds an ‘open house’ event inviting fans to visit the facility free of charge for non-wagering races and various forms of entertainment. Proceeds from the event previously had gone to charities.
The decision to cancel the open house upset some local residents, but none was more bent than John Hendrickson, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s advisor to the NYRA board on Saratoga issues. Not because Hendrickson was in love with the open house concept, but more because he
wasn’t involved at all in the decision-making process. Eventually, he received a phone call from NYRA President and CEO Chris Kay informing him of the cancellation. Normally, Teaser loves seeing politicians with their panties in a bunch, but Hendrickson is not your usual politician. He’s Mary Lou’s husband. Yes, that Mary Lou. In Saratoga, there’s only one. If you know anything about Saratoga history, you know that Mary Lou Whitney is about as revered there as the mineral water. She’s iconic; a philanthropist and socialite who hosted extravagant parties in the late 50s and, reportedly, saved the town and racetrack from extinction. Until about five years ago, Mary Lou’s Whitney Gala still was a Saratoga tradition. So, when NYRA excluded Mary Lou’s hubby from the Saratoga open house decision-making process, they weren’t just snubbing a garden-variety politician, they were dissing Mary Lou’s old man.
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OK, maybe ‘old man’s’ not precisely the right term. After all, Hendrickson is 39 years younger than Mary Lou. Still, out of respect for the Saratoga’s Grand Dame, he should have been consulted, don’t you think? NYRA probably didn’t consult any horseplayers either for their opinions regarding a few additional changes this season. Track patrons now will be required to pay for a four or six-seat table at the popular lower Carousel restaurant and to reserve 100 prime picnic tables. The cost will vary from $35 to $100 per day, depending on whether it’s a weekday, a weekend, or Travers Stakes Day. Teaser gets that Saratoga is one of the few tracks in captivity that actually can raise prices without losing business, but those previously free prime picnic tables and the mad dash to reserve them, especially on big days, will be missed. It was like Pamplona, except with coolers instead of bulls.
Bidding for the Pharoah
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well from the gate right after the Belmont, when Zayat all but American Pharoah, the first Triple guaranteed American Pharoah Crown winner in 37 years, is the would race there next. The track biggest thing to happen to immediately sold out. Perhaps, each week Ahmed Zayat American racing since they ought to announce the name of a invented turning left. That’s why different track and event as one of coast-to-coast tracks are smashing American Pharoah’s next stops. piggy banks to get ‘Pharoah to Saratoga’s Travers, Parx’s PA perform at their joints. They’re Derby, Del Mar’s Pacific Classic, waving dollar bills at him like Santa Anita’s Awesome Again, etc. drunken frat boys do strippers. could take turns. That way, each The offers are track would sell out coming so fast and those events. furious that owner The offers are coming so Ahmed Zayat ought Ultimately, trainer fast and furious that to just rent a owner Ahmed Zayat ought Bob Baffert’s 10Marriott conference year-old son Bode to just rent a Marriott room, hire an ought to make the conference room, hire an auctioneer and let final track and race auctioneer and let the the tracks have at selection. After all, tracks have at it. it. May the most even at his tender deep-pocketed age, he’s got more track exec win! Triple Crown experience than 99% of trainers.
‘Hey, who’ll gimme two … three … now four … now five? Do I hear six?’ Doesn’t matter which track wins the bidding war, ‘Pharoah ain’t gonna lose, especially against fellow 3-year-olds.
At this writing, definite plans still are up in the air. Monmouth broke
As you can tell, Teaser’s got this whole thing figured out except for the part that explains how racetracks can afford to offer ‘Burger King-type’ bonus money to American Pharoah’s connections. Every time gamblers request takeout reduction, racetrack execs cry poverty.
- THE TEASER
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MY CROWNING SPRING IN PICTURES Since 2000, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to parlay my hard work and passion into producing live stats and research for major horse racing network telecasts. I joined NBC Sports in 2003 and this year had the amazing experience of helping produce a Triple Crown series that will be remembered for decades by racing fans and the general public alike. Inbetween races and shows, I had my iPhone clicking a lot this spring, and on the coming pages hope to share the journey with you all. – Jeremy Plonk
BEHIND THE NBC SPORTS SCENES
Left: 1) Here’s what it looks like to be the host. 2) Producer Rob Hyland conducts one of many preshow meetings. 3) Gary Stevens visits his old seat on the NBC set to share some between-race time with Tom Hammond on the Pimlico jockeys’ porch.
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Right: 1) Tom always has the perfect script. 2) The view from my seat during a telecast – the neon cards are stats provided live as they happen. 3) The best part of the ’15 Crown was having a healthy Bob Neumeier back at Pimlico w/ Eddie O.
AROUND THE TRACKS
Left: 1) Jill and Bode Baffert spend a quiet moment with American Pharoah at Pimlico. 2) The crowd at Belmont and my view from the NBC Sports set. 3) On his 21st birthday, Trevor McCarthy had every right to be nervous before his first Preakness.
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Right: 1) Jill Byrne, Christina Bosssanakis, Gabby Gaudet and Caton Bredar helped make Black-Eyed Susan Day shine. 2) My iPhone pic before history was made. 3) Laffit Pincay III checks his final messages in an office with quite a view.
SELFIES: Sorry, I couldn’t resist the memories of 2015.
Left: 1) Meeting Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie and talking college football. 2) Figuratively speaking with colleague and friend Andy Beyer. 3) Photobombing HPNOW’s Brian Nadeau and our longtime live chat friend Sabs at Belmont.
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Right: 1) Any day with Night School co-host Caton Bredar is a good one – especially Oaks Day. 2) Hanging with HPNOW ‘capper DCDINO and his way better half Maryfrances at Churchill. 3) Catching up with Gary Stevens between races at Preakness.
Triple Crown Toppled:
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You just had to be there!
I
would try to quantify the scenario for you that beautiful Saturday afternoon in Elmont, New York, try to put you on the apron at the finish line, but there’s nothing I can compare it to in the world of sports.
If the scene was an unfamiliar one to a good percentage of the 90,000 in attendance, that’s because it had been 37 years in the waiting. Triple By Brian Nadeau Crowns don’t come along every day, and everyone in Sports are unique, in that every attendance June 6 at Belmont single event ends with knew it quite well. If the name disappointment, in one way or synonymous with a failed shot at another other. There’s always a history in the Kentucky Derby is winner and a loser. Give or take, Apollo, then the name Affirmed half the fans are unhappy, half are was a nice exacta partner in the ecstatic. For every Seahawks fan Belmont Stakes. there was a Patriots fan, for every In the interim since 1978, when Ohio State fan there was an the latter became racing’s 11th Oregon fan, for every Federer fan Triple Crown winner, 12 horses there was a Nadal fan. have failed and a 13th (I’ll Have June 6 at Belmont Park was another) didn’t even get the different. chance due to injury. Everyone went home happy. Along the way there have been American Pharoah made sure of it. those worthy, Spectacular Bid
comes immediately to mind, and others who would have been a bit tough to fathom, like Charismatic and War Emblem. And while Spectacular Bid went on to stamp himself as one of the greatest Thoroughbreds of the 20th century, the rest of the vanquished didn’t. And now, looking back, it’s easy to see why they weren’t Triple Crown winners; they simply didn’t deserve to be. Was American Pharoah any different? He really didn’t look it,
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on paper at least. Sure, he won the Derby in workmanlike fashion and the Preakness in a breeze, but he was moderately fast at best and had come a long way in a short amount of time this year. Skeptics abounded, this handicapper included, and major players like Frosted and Materiality made it easier to side against the chalk and his run at history. The gambler in us (me) almost forced you to take the contrarian approach and try to beat American Pharoah.
Here you had a horse making his fourth start in eight weeks, without a huge speed figure advantage on his fresh rivals, while negotiating a grueling 1 ½-mile trip he wasn’t exactly bred to love. What’s the line in Rounders? “Get your money in when you have the best of it and protect it when you don’t?” That seemed to apply to the Belmont. And then the gates opened and everything changed. All of a sudden, that pick four I was alive to with 14-1 Slumber starting it off – one
that didn’t include American Pharoah – didn’t matter anymore. That triple you keyed with Frosted on top didn’t matter either. The slew of supers your uncle played without ‘Pharoah seemed almost an afterthought. You could look into all of that after the dust settled.
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Vanquished tickets be damned; everyone was rooting for history, as hard as that seemed to believe. Even at Cameron Indoor you can spot the 20 or so scattered people wearing NC State red when the Wolfpack comes to town. Death Valley is still going to have a few thousand invade from Tuscaloosa when the Tigers and Crimson Tide play. You could still see the Bumgarner, Lincecum and Sandoval jerseys at Kauffman Stadium during the World Series last year. But good luck trying to come up with anyone rooting against American Pharoah during the Belmont. They simply weren’t there to be found.
The race itself was a perfect script for pandemonium, as it just kept building and just kept getting more obvious, which was the exact opposite of the past 12 failures. First American Pharoah made a loose lead. Then the halfmile went up in a pedestrian 48.83. Then you could tell Materiality was spent from chasing, even after a moderate 5 furlongs. Victor Espinoza merely was sitting like a statue. The 6 furlongs in a turf-like 1:13.41. The widening stride off the far turn. Instant acceleration when given his cue. The openlength lead in midstretch. The coast home under the wire. Building. Building. Building. Until finally, when American Pharoah hit the wire, the crowd in attendance just lost it. The gamut of emotions could have as easily
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been placed at a Super Bowl as at a Beatles concert. There were as many people yelling and screaming as there were crying and shaking their head in disbelief. Seventyyear-old men who had seen a trio of Triple Crowns in the 1970s were high-fiving 15-year-old children who didn’t see Real Quiet lose, let alone Secretariat win. I’m not sure how good of a job I did describing it all, but I witnessed it, and it’s something I’ll never – HPN forget.
FOLLOW HORSE PLAYER NOW’S COUNTDOWN TO THE QUEEN’S PLATE EACH WEEK BEGINNING APRIL 10
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By Jeremy Plonk
We conclude our Countdown to the Crown series for 2015 with an indepth look at the July 5 Queen’s Plate at Woodbine. The 1-1/4 miles classic boasts a purse of $1 million and much historical significance as Canada’s most importand race.
The filly Lexie Lou bested the boys a year ago, and we have a potential leading lady in 2015 as well with Academic. Can the colts bounce back or do we have yte another filly phenom? Let’s count them down, horse-by-horse.
NOT ON MY TICKETS Ault This 5-race maiden takes a major leap in class while looking to graduate. Trainer Danny Vella has turfpedigreed, British Columbia-bred who would shock in this spot if he were to pull the upset.Bear At Last Just 1-for-11 lifetime and winless in 4 stakes bids, it’s hard to project this Plate Trial 53-1 shot too far forward even if he had a troubled trip here June 14. Sire Marchfield was 6th in the 2007 Queen’s Plate, but this damside pedigree leans shorter in distance from post 13. Billy’s Star While a maiden until breaking through May 8, he’s often been his own worst enemy – including an erratic run in the Plate Trial June 14. Trainer Roger Affield (pictured) has won the Plate a record-sharing 8 times and seems more likely to add to that with stablemate Danish Dynaformer. He does have the right trainer and pedigree for the trip, but needs a big leap forward.
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Sweet Grass Creek Yes, he’s by Wando, the 2003 Canadian Triple Crown winner. And, true, he’s trained by Mike Keogh of Wando fame. But Wando already was a 4-time major stakes winner by this point in his career and Sweet Grass Creek is just 1for-5 while bombed at 102-1 in last year’s Cup and Saucer. He certainly has improved since then, but his return to stakes company seems a big stretch. Oakton Clearly the least accomplished of Mark Casse’s two Queen’s Plate starters as he seeks a Plate repeat, Oakton owns a maiden claiming score at Keeneland from 6 starts. The Plate is the Macho Uno colt’s first try vs. Ontario-sired foes, but it’s a daunting leap.
Breaking Lucky While in possession of a solid pedigree for the 10 furlongs, the son of Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky owns only a sprint maiden win to his credit so far and will be making a class leap into his first stakes bid. The QP will be the Reade Baker trainee’s first attempt vs. fellow Ontario-sired performers, but he appears difficult to recommend off of his 4 career starts to date. Milwaukee Mist Based at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, KY, the Battaglia Memorial third-place finisher leaves open company for the first time while transferring his Polytrack form from the US. He lacks turn of foot and tends to flatten out late. A wide draw in post 12 will not help his running style in this situation. Portree You could make a good case for him as one of the QP contenders with potentially the biggest leap forward in him. The April 25 debut winner added an allowance route on the stretchout before a very solid fourth in the Plate Trial in which it’s likely he moved too soon. His daddy Niigon won the 2004 Plate, but his damsire Hennessy leans a bit more miler-type. Portree
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will need a perfectly timed move in order to overcome what happened in the Plate Trial as the distance extends. That’s not impossible; but demand a price of 20-1 or more – especially after drawing wide in post 11. EXOTICS CONTENDERS Conquest Boogaloo Last year’s Swynford winner has dropped 4 straight since then, but trainer Mark Casse commands respect in search of his second straight Plate winner. The Scat Daddy colt has serious issues leaving the gate and can be his own worst enemy, but 10 furlongs gives him time to recover. He’s bred to excel shorter than this trip and likely makes a move in the race that gets you out of your seat before flattening out. He was 23-1 when third in the Plate Trial and likely will be sent out an underlay of that price despite a tougher assignment this time. Easy Indygo Twice in recent years, trainer Nick Gonzalez has found a front-end, upset recipe in the Queen’s Plate. Big Red Mike (2010) and Midnight Aria (2013) offered QP surprises and this son of Marchfield figures to appreciate the distance. Don’t
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be shocked if he’s up closer to a slow pace than it looks on paper. We’ve heard this tune before.
flattered that day when Marine 3rdplace finisher Danish Dynaformer returned to score.
Shaman Ghost The G3 Marine Stakes winner (pictured below, No. 7 black silks) leaped on everyone’s Queen’s Plate radar when he broke his maiden at Gulfstream Park in March. He’s followed with consecutive wins at Keeneland and over the Woodbine Polytrack, making him 3-for-3 in main track routes this season. The Brian Lynch trainee sat out the Plate Trial and saw his form
By 2004 US Horse of the Year and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Ghostzapper, the test will be to see if the Gilded Time in the damside of his pedigree can get him 1-1/2 furlongs further than he’s ever run. In a Plate that doesn’t have a ton of early pace in it, expect Shaman Ghost to be hustled early from the inside rail draw in a field of 14 and sit much closer to the pace than he did in the Marine Stakes.
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Ami’s Flatter (pictured above) Beaten 4-5 favourite in the G3 Marine, many were left scratching their heads as to what to make of the impressive Woodbine juvenile who had made quite a name for himself in Florida this winter. Twotime Plate-winning trainer Josie Carroll now must get the G1 Florida Derby third-place finisher back on track off workouts – and appears to be doing so based on the recent tab since the Marine. Clearly his runner-up finish to Carpe Diem in the G2 Tampa Bay Derby was the kind of performance that would put Ami’s Flatter squarely into the win discussion of the Queen’s Plate. The pedigree and style absolutely say ‘yes’ with a methodical approach and a pair of Belmont Stakes winners in the genepool.
Academic It’s likely you missed her at 66-1 in the Woodbine Oaks 4 weeks ago, and the old saying about skipping the wedding and attending the funeral applies. But it’s also hard to look at her 1:48-4/5 performance and stack it up against the sameday Plate Trial in 1:49-4/5 and not be intrigued. She’s made the lead in 4 straight starts including a 2-for-2
record as a sophomore. Academic projects once again to be the pace in the Plate. With precious little other speed involved, the Reade Baker trainee’s chances absolutely improve and put her right on the cusp of the top contenders. She’s not only a ‘now’ horse, but one with a pace advantage. That’s doubly dangerous. WIN CONTENDERS Danish Dynaformer The No. 1-ranked Queen’s Plate contender in our Countdown to the Crown rankings since his third in the Marine after a troubled trip, he’s justified that confidence since with a win in the Plate Trial (pictured). The gallop-out June 14 was sensational and gives all indication that the additional distance will be a welcome sign as trainer Roger Attfield bids to become the first 9-time winner of the Queen’s Plate. He could pass Harry Giddings, Jr. into an exclusive club…and the feeling here is that he will with Danish Dynaformer. The impeccably bred son of Dynaformer is out of a Danehill
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mare, giving him world-class stamina. With 3 wins in his last 4 starts – all at 1-1/8 miles on turf or Polytrack – there’s little left to prove. He’s been 7-2 odds in each of his last 3 bids and likely will be favourite in the Queen’s Plate now given the defection of Conquest Curlinate. Anything at 2-1 or more represents fair win value to this eye. All hail the great Dane, and salute Roger Attfield’s historic bid!
COUNTDOWN TO THE QUEEN’S PLATE PICKS: W) DANISH DYNAFORMER P) AMI’S FLATTER S) ACADEMIC Be sure to pick up our full Queen’s Plate Day wagering guide at Horseplayernow.com before the July 5 main event!
AQHA Jockeys
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Age is Just a Number for These Underrated Athletes
By Martha Claussen
Thoroughbred handicappers place a differing amount of emphasis on the role of the jockey when analyzing races. They may rate certain riders higher on the turf and others might be considered better routing than sprinting. Quarter Horse jockeys have a simple, but highly challenging, goal to winning races. They must get a clean break from the starting gate and make a blazing fast, unimpeded run to the wire – sometimes in excess of 55 mph aboard a breed dubbed, "America's Fastest Athletes."
Top of the Heap G. R. Carter, Jr. won his first AQHA Champion Jockey title in 1993. Since that coveted honor, he has added nine more year-end trophies and numerous achievements in the Quarter Horse industry. The 47-year-old native of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, with 3,766 career victories, is the all-time leader by wins, eclipsing the sports previous top champion, Alvin “Bubba” Brossette (3,631) last year. In May, Carter wrapped up
his 18th leading rider title at Remington Park and currently stands atop the leader board in money earners in 2015. He has ridden against the legends of the sport and has seen many young riders hone their careers. "I try to help the young riders; the ones that come to me," said Carter. "Omar Reyes is a good example of a young guy that enlisted my support. I couldn't be more proud of the way his career has taken off."
Next year will mark the 30th year of Carter's illustrious career. He's ridden over 24,000 horses, but still has the passion and desire to win. Traveling is a huge part of his schedule with graded stakes opportunities in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Iowa and
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California. He tops the class of the 40-year-olds, but the resurgent Joe Badilla, Jr., 41, and Texas journeyman Rodrigo Vallejo, 49, are both ranked in the top ten in 2015. "It's a whole lot easier to sell yourself with a résumé," states Carter.
Thirty and Rising Quite a few top riders are in their 30s. Cody Jensen, AQHA champion jockey in both 2013 and 2014, is recovering from a starting gate accident in June at Ruidoso Downs. The 39-year-old continues to defy the odds in returning to the saddle after setbacks. Last year, he broke his collarbone in the Millie Vessels at Los Alamitos; had surgery and just five days later, won the Hobbs America Derby aboard Hes Relentless. Jensen’s quarter horse mounts have earned more than $32 million since he started riding in 1993. Ramon Sanchez, 39, won the 2014 All American Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs and three editions of the Grade 1 Champion
of Champions at Los Alamitos. Cesar DeAlba, 33, is another notable rider at Los Alamitos, winning four Derbies in 2014, and is fourth in the nation in wins for the year. David Alvarez, 36, continues to top the charts in Louisiana and Texas as does Raul Ramirez, Jr., 33, who was the 2ndleading money-earner through the first six months of 2015. Russel Hadley, 32, won the $1.1 million Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park in May, and in New Mexico, there is Esgar Ramirez, 32, who is the fifthleading AQHA rider by money earned in 2015.
AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE Q-RACING JOURNAL TO FOLLOW AMERICA’S FASTEST ATHLETES!
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From a Trainer's Perspective
"Some of my clients have strong Trainer Paul Jones has a sizable feelings about which jockey will operation at Los Alamitos and an ride their horse," he explains."A lot impressive group of runners at has to do with the owners." Ruidoso Downs. Obviously, choosing the right rider is an Texas-based conditioner Brian integral part of his 13 AQHA Stroud trains 2014 AQHA world Champion Trainer titles. Several of Champion Jrc Callas First. Stroud the standout jockeys at Los has always believed in giving Alamitos started as gallop boys for young riders a shot and 21-yearJones; big names old Damian Martinez including Oscar Peinado, "I like the help the made the most of that Joe Badilla, Jr. and even younger riders if opportunity in 2014. his current first call they work hard and rider, Ramon Sanchez. "I watch the up and look promising. For Jones has been known to give mounts to some of the young riders, most recently Jesus Ayala and Jose Nicasio, who is Eduardo Nicasio's younger brother.
coming jockeys to see if they have the right combination of talent and riding style," said – Trainer Paul Jones Stroud. "They need to be aggressive but not override their horse." the bigger races I tend to use the veteran jockeys."
"I like the help the younger riders if they work hard and look promising," said Jones. "For the bigger races I tend to use the veteran jockeys." Interestingly, the call is not always up to the trainer.
Stroud acknowledges that the younger guys know they have to show up every morning to work horses, and they need every mount possible to make a living. "As a trainer, I want a rider that will try as hard on a $3,500 claimer as a stakes horse," explains Stroud.
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Making Their Mark Omar Reyes is one of the rising stars of Quarter Horse racing. Just 21, Reyes had a breakthrough year in 2014, finishing fourth in the $2.6 million All American Futurity (G1) aboard Apolitical Blood and winning the title in the 2014-‘15 Quarter Horse meet at Hialeah Park. Known as a very good sport, he agreed to ride an Ostrich two years ago at Remington Park. Dale Day, media relations director and track announcer, reported that the malicious bird spun Reyes around three times, dumped him and then attacked him! Safe to say, Reyes will leave ostrich racing to others, but he is certainly a young rider
with a promising future in the sport. Damian Martinez and Francisco Calderon are two "young guns" from Texas. Both are 21. Martinez, had a remarkable 2014, piloting Jrc Callas First to seven stakes wins, culminating with a victory in the $150,000 Zia Park Championship. There are many jockeys that ride their entire life without riding a Grade 1 winner, let alone a world champion buckle. Calderon won the $410,000 Oklahoma Futurity at Remington Park aboard Tee Chic on March 22 and guided This Is a Deal to second place in the $621,100 Sam Houston Futurity.
LEARN MORE ABOUT AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE RACING AT AQHARACING.COM & ON FACEBOOK @HORSERACINGACES.
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Fifty and Fabulous Several noted Quarter Horse riders, including Jacky Martin and Alvin "Bubba" Brossette, booted home their share of winners in their 50's. They could be standout representatives for the AARP card, crossing the half century mark in commanding fashion. Larry Payne, 57, is off to a blazing start in 2015 with two major titles to his credit. He guided Regard With Respect to victory in the $827,000 Remington Park Futurity (RG2) in April, and last month won the first leg of Quarter Horse's Triple Crown, the $750,000 Ruidoso Futurity (G1) with First Valiant Sign. Eddie Garcia, 50, is a legend in Southern California and has earned his spot at the top of the class as the All Time Leading Quarter Horse Jockey in wins and stakes victories at Los Alamitos.
There are only six Quarter Horse riders who have surpassed 3,000 wins, and Gilbert Ortiz, 52, currently riding at Delta Downs, is less than 20 wins away from joining the elite club. It is hard to believe that John Hamilton is 50; he sure doesn't look it, and whether he will admit it, takes great pride in coming into his prime later than most. He has been riding professionally since 1984; last year he won 162 races, the most of any Quarter Horse jockey in the country. "I might get the glory for winning a race, but the truth is that I only account for 18 seconds" said Hamilton. "My success is owed to God, my owners, trainers, grooms, gate crew and my wife who has put up with so much! Maybe, I won't ride for another ten years, but I have no intention of stopping anytime soon."
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Young or old, these guys are talented and make tremendous sacrifices for their profession. Jones has strong sentiments about their contribution to the Quarter Horse racing industry. "Too many people, including owners and trainers take the riders for granted," states Jones. "We owe a lot to these guys. They risk their lives and go above and beyond to win races. They are true athletes, and sadly, it is not acknowledged enough." - HPN
Martha Claussen is the coordinator of the Wrangler Racing Aces Fan Education initiative of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). She served as publicity director at Sam Houston Race Park from 1997-2007 and continues to be active in writing, fan education and Quarter Horse racing publicity in Texas, Louisiana and other regions in North America.
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This issue we review classes from:
PEDIGREES Since 2011, Night School has been teaching novice and expert handicappers alike in the finer points of playing the races. Through live chats, videos and radio simulcasts, the best in the industry have shared their expertise free with horseplayers. In each issue of Horse Player NOW Magazine, we go “Back to Night School” with a look at some of the high points of past lessons.
In this archive edition of Back to Night School, we look at Pedigree Handicapping from our September 16, 2014 lesson. Hosts Jeremy Plonk, Steve Byk and Caton Bredar were joined by guest instructors Sid Fernando, pedigree expert for eNicks.com, and James Scully, handicapper for BRISNET.com. Pedigree handicapping can be very valuable this time of year as the 2year-olds at Saratoga and Del Mar will be upon us shortly – and grass racing across the country is now in full bloom with many first-time grass performers in our handicapping crosshairs.
Sept. 16 Guest
Sept. 16 Guest
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On not overrating a sire’s race record vs. produce record: “There are horses like Speightstown who didn’t win his first stakes race until he was 6 years old and yet … he gets early horses, a lot of precocious horses, as well as a lot of horses over the scale of distances.” “There’s no more important angle than when a horse is trying something for the first time. I always reference the pedigree stats … ”
“A lot of people new to looking at pedigrees always ask me why it seems we always talk more about the sires than the dams … sometimes the mistake is made that the sire has a higher influence on the offspring … but when we’re looking for patterns and the proclivity of a particular pedigree, you’re going to have a bigger sample size with the sire than the dam … It’s not that the mare isn’t as important as the sire, it’s just that we have a lot more to go on regarding what the influence will be when we look at the sire.”
COMING THIS MONTH IN NIGHT SCHOOL! TUESDAYS, 8:30 PM ET JULY 7 FITTING RACE CONDITIONS
JULY 14 MARKING PAST PERFORMANCES
Get inside the ‘class’ of each race and learn to decipher which horses fit the conditions best/worst.
Study Jeremy Plonk’s actual PPs and see what he marks for each horse as important. Share ideas with others. JULY 21 MAKING RACE NOTES/BET-BACKS Watch races in realtime and understand what it means for future wagers.
JULY 28 PUBLIC HANDICAPPERS Learn what to listen for when tuning into the on-track experts and what to dismiss.
RADIO LESSONS RETURN THIS FALL We return to our SiriusXM radio simulcast format after Labor Day!
CLICK FOR MORE
Visit Horseplayernow.com for the racing industry’s FREE national online fan education program.
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MEET OUR TEAM: JEFF NAHILL Editor’s Note: We continue a season-long series spotlighting the members of the Horse Player NOW staff by introducing you to our west coast analyst Jeff Nahill, who has been with our site since 2013. Jeff Nahill, 57, has been covering horse racing in general -- in addition to the annual summer meet at Del Mar -- since 1987. He got into racing in the early 1980s when a boss took him to Del Mar for the first time. Soon after that trip, he hit a $350 double and was hopelessly hooked. Since then, he's covered most of the Breeders' Cups in California, as well as, the 2002 Breeders' Cup at Arlington Park. He also works parttime as a quality editor at the San Diego Union-Tribune and handicaps for the paper. Nahill joined the Horse Player NOW team to bolster our Del Mar coverage in 2013 and immediately caught on as a year-‘round west coast handicapper. This year he added Tampa Bay Downs as a circuit and showed immediate success with a flat-bet profit on all Tampa BUZZ report runners.
Nahill loves covering horse racing, in general, because "there are so many stories out there. Every day is different." His favorite horses include John Henry, Silver Charm, and Zenyatta. When attending the races, Nahill enjoys eating kettle corn or whatever is in the media lunch room (especially if it's Mexican food!)
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The most memorable race Nahill has attended was the 1996 Pacific Classic at Del Mar when Dare And Go ended Cigar's win streak (click video above to watch). "You could hear a pin drop when the horses crossed the finish line," Nahill recalled. "Everyone was stunned. Besides the race, I'll never forget the class (Cigar's) trainer Bill Mott showed answering all of the questions in the post-race press conference."
– HPN
Catch Jeff’s selections daily in the HP NOW BUZZ Report for all SoCal Thoroughbred tracks + Tampa Bay Downs winter-spring!
You can follow Jeff on Twitter @Jeff_Nahill
Momentum can be fleeting. In baseball, they say momentum is only as strong as tomorrow’s starting pitcher. Horseplayers know swings in momentum as well as anyone. Some days the font of the past performances looks 50-point and others you couldn’t read with a microscope. When it’s going well, the tide swells. When it’s not, well, padlock the wallet. The horse racing industry received great momentum this spring with the Triple Crown run of American Pharoah. Not only did he become front-page news everywhere and his connections regulars on the mainstream talk show circuit, but other horse racing stories found their way into consciousness. When the Wes Welker-owned Undrafted won at Royal Ascot in June, it became ticker info on the all the major news and sports networks, and among the sports lead headlines on website
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homepages like ESPN.com. Welker’s hometown Oklahoma City paper, The Oklahoman, featured the news story as well – a publication that dropped its turf writer more than a decade ago and forgot horse racing exists locally at Remington Park. Pre-Pharoah, such a story across the pond would only have made the racing industry trade pubs. But for a time, horse racing’s momentum is being felt in the fact that it’s suddenly cool again to be associated with a winning past time. How long will that carry? It’s anyone’s guess. But we must do everything we can to maximize chances while we’re hot. Now is no time to rest on the laurels of a Triple Crown champion. It is a time to double-down on the commitment to a game we love.
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