CONTENTS JUNE 2015 4
From The Publisher
6
The Teaser
Topics that titillate the racing mind.
10
HPNOW Analysts Offer Their Triple Crown Takes
Our entire staff gives personal accounts of now a potential Triple Crown bid affects each.
36
Back to Night School
41
Meet Our Team:
45
Galloping Out:
Quick-link summaries to all of our fan education lessons in May ‘15.
SoCal analyst Terry Turrell featured this month in season-long profiles.
16
Countdown to the Crown:
31
Family Trees:
Jeremy Plonk takes you through each Belmont Stakes contender with bottom-line analysis.
Expert AQHA handicapper Jennifer K. Hancock looks at the sport’s young sires and what to watch for.
Plonk offers a silver lining of what June 7 could mean post-Belmont.
From the Publisher Slow news days are when the Kardashians move into the lead segment. Thankfully we don’t have to worry about that with a Belmont Stakes looming that will lure 20 million TV viewers and a sellout crowd of 90,000 on pins & needles. Christmas comes early for horse racing fans on June 6 this year. You may not have been on American Pharoah to win the Derby (my hand raised), and you might have been stubborn and picked against him in the Preakness (again, my hand raised). But the beauty of this handicapping world in which we play is that you STILL don’t have to parimutuelly marry him at Belmont? (Will I or won’t I? Read on …) One thing’s for sure: You WILL be watching. Some will yearn to see history; others want to crown a legend; even others will be rooting like hell for the 4-horse to get up and round out an exacta or give them the highest possible return in a pick 4 spread leg. Even if you are not a ‘Pharoah phan, there’s still something for everyone. That’s why we play June 6 & always. - JP
Horse Player NOW Magazine Copyright 2015 Horse Player NOW All Rights Reseved
Editor, Publisher, Designer Jeremy Plonk Contributing Writers Candice Hare Jeff Nahill Terry Turrell Brian W. Spencer Jerry Shottenkirk Brian Nadeau Jennifer K. Hancock Photography Chief Enzina Mastrippolito (Photosbyz) Contributing Photographers Reed Palmer/Churchill Downs Benoit Photos/Santa Anita Adam Coglianese/NYRA Susie Raisher/NYRA Coady Photography/Oaklawn Park NBC Sports Group
THE TEASER:
From literally keeping away the Teaser, definition: A male masses en masse horse used at breeding farms to determine whether to being your own a mare is ready to receive a stallion. Also, perhaps the boss, eventually it most unfulfilling occupation in the universe. will all make sense.
B) The 38th consecutive depressing first Saturday in June.
In response to what was billed as an awful fan experience for many in attendance at Belmont Park in 2014 to witness California Chrome’s Triple Crown bid – rail transportation nightmares, traffic jams, food and water shortages, a lack of ushers, tellers and inefficient rest room facilities – the New York Racing Association implemented an assortment of changes for the 2015 renewal. Good idea.
Either way, everyone who wanted to see what would happen (or, more accurately, what did happen) at Belmont Park on June 6 should have been able to do so in person. Sadly, that was not the case. Just how many were turned away at the gate, or didn’t bother to show up at all, no one knows.
In a 2015 NYRA release providing, ―Important travel information for fans attending the 2015 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival on Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6,‖ fans are ―strongly encouraged to plan ahead and build significant time into their travels to and from Belmont Park … Significant delays
Go Ask Alice Depending when you read this column, the Belmont Stakes may have been: A) A celebratory coronation of the 12th Triple Crown winner in history.
or …
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should be anticipated accessing and exiting the property, with fans encouraged to arrive early and stay late.‖ In other words: allow 2-3 hours to get in and out of the parking lot, or toss a sleeping bag into the back seat just in case you need it. Of course, we embellish. NYRA has had one year to improve on last year’s failure and we assume they rose to the occasion.
allowing zero people to attend the Belmont Stakes would solve every issue. The Baltimore Orioles closed their ballpark to fans during a riotriddled home stand earlier this year and no one seemed to mind. In fact, some Oriole faithful were grateful for the respite.
OK, you’re right. It’s silly to compare one of 81 Camden Yards home games to the historic / frustrating (choose one) Belmont Stakes — oldest and most However, in challenging leg of addition to But, for a sport starving the Triple Crown. aggressively for new fans, why in the Unlike an O’s game, addressing several world would any decision- fans are anxious to issues, NYRA suits maker hosting such a attend the Belmont also limited overall prestigious event ever Stakes and perhaps attendance at the want to limit attendance? witness a once-in-atrack on Belmont lifetime occurrence Stakes Day to 90,000 people — (or not). about 5,000 less fans than showed up for Big Brown’s 2008 Crown bid But, for a sport starving for new and about 30,000 fewer folks than fans, why in the world would any were there to see Smarty Jones fall decision-maker hosting such a short in 2004! prestigious event ever want to limit attendance? Go ask Alice, when The theory behind turning away she’s 10 feet tall. approximately 5,000-30,000 paying customers is that less people in An Inmate Running the Asylum attendance cause less congestion. Can’t argue with that one. However, reasoning along a similar line also would clearly suggest that
Gottta hand it to the folks who run California racing; they’re not afraid to be the first to try anything. Governor Jerry Brown has named
jockey Alex Solis to the California Horse Racing Board. Yep, you heard right. Jockey Alex Solis, currently riding at Santa Anita, is now a member of the California Horse Racing Board. At the last CHRB meeting, chairman Chuck Winner welcomed Solis to his new job. Solis promptly was named chair of the Jockey, Driver and Welfare Committee and member of the Medication and Track Safety Committee. Now, Teaser’s plenty OK with Solis serving as a CHRB commish. Good idea, actually. Jockeys have unique perspectives on racing and Solis ought to strengthen the board in areas. Plus, he isn’t just any jock. He’s a Hall of Fame resident! But couldn’t Governor Brown have waited until the Panamanian star was retired from the saddle before naming him to the state’s most important racing body? What’s next: Active jockeys in the stewards’ stand? Solis’ appointment came on the heels of actress Bo Derek’s
resignation from the CHRB (told you California’s wasn’t afraid to try anything first) and it is possible Governor Brown (or whoever donated enough money to his campaign to have his ear) wanted Solis in immediately because, like with parking in the Bronx, you never know when another spot might open up. Still, having an active rider in a position of authority could create an uncomfortable situation. Let’s say Solis is involved in an inquiry on the track. How can the stewards, who are hired by the CHRB, fairly adjudicate the issue? Teaser doesn’t suggest any impropriety, or that Solis or the stewards would not operate as equitably as possible. But was it really necessary to put the CHRB and the stewards in such an untenable position? Solis’ spot on the CHRB also is a burden for the fans. Now, after a questionable ride, when they cuss him out they’ve got to do it in a respectful manner, ―Hey, Mr. Commissioner, you couldn’t ride in a taxi!‖ - THE TEASER
HPNOW ANALYSTS OFFER TRIPLE CROWN ‘TAKES’ “I hurried to complete my paper route so I could see Canonero II win the 1971 Triple Crown. Barely hit the brakes when I got home, laying the Stingray on its side, leaving the canvas bag hanging from the handlebars and running to get to the TV in time. And it was the first of many disappointments on Belmont Saturdays. With the exception of those Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed triumphs, it seems that most years have felt the same. Affirmed won the 1978 Triple Crown two weeks after I launched my high school graduation cap high into the air, and there has not been a crown won since then. Hopefully that streak of no-Triple Crownwinner will come to an end this week. It’s about time -- the span between Affirmed and now is 37 years , 12 more than the gap between Citation and Secretariat. And at that time horse racing fans thought THAT was a long wait. It’s time, Pharaoh.”
– “The Dean” Jerry Shottenkirk
“For me personally, having witnessed several near misses up close and personal, I think it would be cool to finally see one. But I'd be lying if I said I think it would do anything for the sport. Would it help? Absolutely. But racing needs a heck of a lot more to happen than one horse winning a Triple Crown, if it's ever going to be on the front burner again. As for American Pharoah, if he does it, I'll be the first to congratulate him – but the racing snob in me wants to see a truly great horse win the Triple Crown, not a marginally fast one who has had a lot of things go his way this year.” – Brian Nadeau
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HPNOW ANALYSTS OFFER TRIPLE CROWN ‘TAKES’ “Home-based in Southern California since he migrated from training Quarter Horses in Arizona to training Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos to training Thoroughbreds, I have witnessed the progression and success of Bob Baffert since the early 1980s and fortunate to watch the progression of American Pharoah. Baffert knew he had the potential Triple Crown winner early on in American Pharoah's career, charting out a strategic course via Oaklawn Park to winning the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and he will be rewarded Saturday winning the Triple Crown. American Pharoah winning the Belmont Stakes definitely would be a positive for horse racing...a 3 to 4-week shelf life in today's media world. Will we see American Pharoah as a 4-year-old? NO. Winning the Triple Crown is not enough to cure the multiple problems this great industry faces. Racing lost 3-4 generations with the response from the states, tracks & owners – like shooting a shotgun into the ocean...you hear the noise & see very little results.”
– Terry Turrell
“Nine times since I've been a racing fan has a horse had a chance to complete the Triple Crown, and nine times they have failed. I don't see a Triple Crown win by American Pharoah fundamentally changing the game's popularity in the long-term, but it is always something I have wanted to see. This is a special horse whose brilliance is worthy of a Triple Crown title, and as a racing fan I'll be desperately pulling for him just as I have all of the other hopefuls before.” – Brian W. Spencer
HPNOW ANALYSTS OFFER TRIPLE CROWN ‘TAKES’ “In my lifetime, 10 horses have won the first two legs of the Triple Crown and none of them were able to win the Belmont. When I attended the Kentucky Derby earlier this year, I never knew we'd have a potential Triple Crown winner on our hands just a few weeks later. Should American Pharoah win, I'll feel privileged to have been able to see the beginning of such an important historical three-race span in the history of the sport.”
– Candice Hare
“If American Pharoah wins the Triple Crown, it would be great for the sport, but I'm not sure what it's long-term implications would be. It might have a short-term effect, but I think getting younger people interested in the sport starts at home. Take your children and grandchildren to the track to show them what a beautiful sport it is, beside the betting aspect. I didn't get into the sport until my early 20s (in the early 1980s), so I don't remember Affirmed winning the Triple Crown. This would be a real thrill. Wish I was there, because Belmont is only Triple Crown race I haven't attended.”
– Jeff Nahill
HPNOW ANALYSTS OFFER TRIPLE CROWN ‘TAKES’ While I don't think a Triple Crown will be a miraculous panacea for the sport, I do think it would be a positive reinforcement of horse racing. Best of all, I think American Pharoah can do it. Not only does the colt have the rare combination of speed and physical mechanics – he has one of the most efficient strides I've seen – but he's got the right mind. Watching the horse interact with a multitude of racing fans through the past weeks at Churchill, Pimlico and back to Churchill, he's been amazing. He poses for photos, eats carrots off the nose of Miss Kentucky, playfully & gently takes the cap off a photographer. When he steps on the track, he's all business. Human athletes and reality TV stars could take some lessons. American Pharoah is the whole package and will be the best shot we've seen in a long time to win the Triple Crown, and I'll be rooting for him.
“From 2005 through 2011, I skipped the Belmont, because, frankly, the racing fan in me felt wronged by Smarty Jones’ defeat & I didn’t want to go back. It was the most stinging sports day of my lifetime & I let it bother me for way too long. Time heals all wounds, and business brought me back to Belmont in 2012. I haven’t missed one since, and I realize now how fortunate I am to witness a part of history…whether it’s a horse I’m rooting for (Smarty Jones) or not (Big Brown). Not that American Pharoah needs my pledge pin, but I’m A-okay with him joining the game’s most exclusive club. And I’m also cool with anyone trying to beat him at 2-to-5.” – Jeremy Plonk
By Jeremy Plonk Wouldn’t the irony be sweet if the 10th season of Countdown to the Crown actually ended with the countdown reading zero? As the clock ticks toward the June 6 Belmont Stakes, American Pharoah’s place in history becomes closer to realization. What stands before him – as it has for his predecessors and current rivals – is the challenge of the mile and one-half distance at Belmont Park. As written in Countdown a week ago, American Pharoah’s likelihood of success rates on an equal plane with Smarty Jones in 2004 and only behind Spectacular Bid in ’79
of all contenders since Affirmed made history 37 years ago. But even with comparables in his historical favor, the here and now has been a cruel sidekick to many who have teased the trick. There are no tap-in putts over Big Sandy. Rivals won’t give the crown away without a skirmish. Cinderella may have fit the glass slipper, but the prince who earns these three jewels must be capable of carrying the tradition for centuries. Will the crown fit the reigning 2year-old champion at age 3? We count down his chances and foes:
MUBTAAHIJ
• Pretty good run in full-field Derby in terms of a clean trip and didn't do enough with it; even-grinding 8th with no excuse. Prep Notes • 2-time winner at 1-3/16 miles in Dubai in a 3-week span in March, taking Al Bastakiya and United Arab Emirates Derby. Prep Notes • 5: 4-1-0 at Meydan and 3: 0-0-0 in his other worldwide junkets in England and America. A horse-for-course only? Prep Notes
Style
• As trainer Mike de Kock predicted, the American brand of early speed was faster than he offers. Will chase midpack.
• Not since Afleet Alex's 2-a-day training sessions have we seen Schedule a Triple Crown contender do this much. Won't lack fitness. • Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. was leading rider at both Belmont Park meets in 2014 and knows the oval exceptionally well. X-Factor BOTTOM LINE: Didn’t see quite enough life in Derby to make him jump some of the others. NOT ON MY TICKETS. Fair win odds 15-1.
TALE OF VERVE • Rallied 10 lengths in slop to finish a distant Preakness 2nd to American Pharoah. Only closer despite slow come-home split. Prep Notes • Visually sharp Keeneland route maiden breaker April 23 in start 6 that garnered a huge 114 BRIS late pace figure. Prep Notes • Underachieved at Fair Grounds in MSW ranks all winter-spring but hinted at talent. Company lines at FG didn't advance. Prep Notes
Style
• A one-run closer in most attempts, but he nearly got up going 7F at Kee at 2. Not as far back in Belmont as Preakness.
• His inability to graduate in MSWs now comes around to help Schedule him as he hasn't been banging with heavyweights all year. • 3rd Dallas Stewart trainee to blow up T-Crown place price in 3 years, but Golden Soul & Commanding Curve flopped at Bel. X-Factor BOTTOM LINE: Preakness runners haven’t come back well in Belmont of late and pace set-up tougher this time than last. NOT ON MY TICKETS. Fair win odds 30-1.
FRAMMENTO
• Advanced from 16th to 10th in Kentucky Derby, but closed only 2 lengths total and actually lost 2 lengths back in lane. Prep Notes • Blue Grass 4th looks less impressive given 5: 0-0-0 record since by top 3 (Carpe Diem, Danzig Moon, Ocho Ocho Ocho). Prep Notes • Beaten 12-1/2 lengths by Frosted in Holy Bull and 8-3/4 lengths by that rival in Kentucky Derby -- needs even more. Prep Notes
Style
• Showed more pace earlier in career BEFORE adding blinkers in his last 3 starts and becoming a 1-run plodder.
• Nick Zito employs the Birdstone blueprint from 2004 after a Schedule Derby dud, resting up for Belmont. Freshened at Saratoga. • Hall of Famer Mike Smith takes mount and rides closers well. 4 of his last 5 Belmont Stakes rides ran top 3 with 2 wins. X-Factor BOTTOM LINE: Not keen on an exacta shot, but 3rd or 4th feels possible. Very fringe EXOTICS CONTENDER. Fair win odds 30-1.
KEEN ICE
• 7th at 45/1 in Kentucky Derby, 1 of only 3 horses to gain more than 5 lengths on American Pharoah the final 1/2 mile. Prep Notes • Mild Louisiana Derby bid not nearly as visually inspiring as his Risen Star 3rd. Fair Grounds crew hasn't starred in Crown. Prep Notes • Consistent grinder stayed equal or gained ground in stretch in all 7 career starts at a mile or longer, all 94-104 BRIS late figs. Prep Notes
Style
• Fast pace or slow, he's never been closer than 4 lengths early & that bid at GP was his worst; they'll take back even at 12F.
• Continued to work exceptionally well at Churchill Downs after Schedule Derby as he did going into it; perfect season, timing-wise. • Sire Curlin was a 2-time Jockey Club Gold Cup winner and '07 Belmont Stakes runner-up in his 3 career starts at Belmont. X-Factor BOTTOM LINE: He’s going to get the 1-1/2 miles and he never embarrasses himself. EXOTICS CONTENDER. Fair win odds 12-1.
Kent Desormeaux now plays the role of potential spoiler after bidding for Triple Crowns in 1998 (Real Quiet) and 2008 (Big Brown).
MATERIALITY
• Closed 5-1/4 lengths over last 1/2 mile of Kentucky Derby after seemingly blowing it at start. What might have been? Prep Notes • 3-for-3 at Gulfstream in a tight squeeze from Jan. 11 debut 'til Ky Derby starting gate. Little margin for error because of that. Prep Notes • Lackluster return tries by Upstart in Ky Derby and Ami's Flatter in Marine at Woodbine cloud his Fla Derby form some. Prep Notes
Style
• Confirmed pace player simply missed break in Louisville. Fully expect him to be on the lead in Belmont or pressing 'Pharoah.
• Light resume played against him at Churchill, but works back Schedule into his favor for freshness now. Similar to Dunkirk (Bel, 2nd). • Sire Afleet Alex was a blowout Belmont Stakes winner and game Champagne 2nd over Bel track in 2 local appearances. X-Factor BOTTOM LINE: John Velazquez at Belmont and an early pace presence should strike fear into the favorite. But he just feels short of top prize. EXOTICS CONTENDER. Fair win odds 6-1.
Will Materiality’s front-running Florida Derby tactics be back in the Belmont and change the dynamic in his rematch with American Pharoah? Click the replay to watch his signature score.
Pletcher & Velazquez have hoisted a Belmont trophy over their home track.
FROSTED
• Rallied 7-3/4 lengths for 4th in Kentucky Derby, the most ground made up by any horse on American Pharoah in race. Prep Notes • Visually impressive rally to win Wood Memorial in race after throat surgery with a strong come-home time & late BRIS fig. Prep Notes • Worth noting a very solid 2nd over Belmont main track during 2YO campaign & graduated as soon as he got more distance. Prep Notes
Style
• Capable of being on front or close to it based on Fountain of Youth, but he likely tries to sit 3rd/4th and aim for Pharoah.
• Aggressive workout placement at Belmont in company with Schedule Met Mile contender Tamarkuz. Building toward a solid effort. • Belmont Stakes-winning tandem of McLaughlin (Jazil '06) & Rosario (Tonalist '14) and now he has the home-field edge. X-Factor BOTTOM LINE: Clearly the most likely upsetter to American Pharoah if the favorite doesn’t deliver his A-game. WIN CONTENDER. Fair win odds 7-2.
Photo: Susie Raisher/NYRA
MADEFROMLUCKY
• Liked his professional win in Peter Pan in all-important start over the Belmont surface ... also was first Castellano pairing. Prep Notes • Tried American Pharoah at Oaklawn when running 4th in Ark Derby & 2nd in Rebel to no avail with different pace tactics. Prep Notes • Worked poorly at Churchill in the week leading up to the Derby and Pletcher pulled the plug wisely. Benefits now. Prep Notes
Style
• One-paced grinder whether it's 4-1/2 furlongs at age 2 or routing 9 furlongs at age 3 in 1-turn and 2-turn scenarios.
• He's been in serious race mode since last December without a Schedule break and comes in as a new shooter to the Triple Crown. • Among the Belmont Stakes players, only he and Frosted have a race over the track ... and 'Lucky owns a G2 score at that. X-Factor BOTTOM LINE: I was warming up to him before Derby and his style really plays to Belmont. Serious EXOTICS CONTENDER. Fair win odds 8-1.
PHOTO: Susie Raisher/NYRA
AMERICAN PHAROAH • Toyed with Preakness foes as previously reliable foes failed to handle weather/track; exaggerated margin, but impressed. Prep Notes • Kentucky Derby win was big-time gut check in which worked harder than many expected. Preakness waltz helps now. Prep Notes • Romping scores at Oaklawn in Rebel & Arkansas Derby got some form flattery following Madefromlucky's Peter Pan win. Prep Notes
Style
Schedule
• We haven't learned about his ability to handle pace pressure (only passed 3 horses in his career). He'll be 1st-2nd again.
• Baffert keeping him at Churchill was par for the conditioner, who did the same plan/preps with Silver Charm, Real Quiet.
• He's won 3 races in 5 weeks (35 days between Ark Derby and Preakness). No one knows if he'll handle 12F or Bel surface. X-Factor BOTTOM LINE: A gambler may not like him at 2-5 to do two new things (distance and surface), but it’s also fair to say he’s the most likely WIN CONTENDER by a sufficient margin. Fair win odds 6-5.
JEREMY PLONK’S 2015 BELMONT STAKES PICKS WIN: AMERICAN PHAROAH PLACE: MADEFROMLUCKY SHOW: FROSTED
Spring and summer in American Quarter Horse racing are filled with futurities prepping the freshman class for their run at the world’s richest purse for 2-year-olds, the All American Futurity.
This year, the Labor Day classic at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico will feature a record $3 million purse, and horsemen will be preparing their sprinters at tracks across the country leading up to the midAugust trials.
When handicappers open up a program featuring Quarter Horse races and see almost non-existent past performance lines for firsttime starters, instead of heading for the concession line while waiting for a more favorable betting opportunity, let’s look at ways to decipher clues in order to find a winner. The American Quarter Horse Association, the sprinters’ equivalent to the Thoroughbreds’ Jockey Club, is the world’s largest equine breed registry and also provides many free statistics that can be beneficial to handicappers. At the AQHA website, you can find statistics on the leading horsemen and sires. Analyzing pedigrees of first-time starters is my go-to handicapping tool, and AQHA is my favorite free source of information. While the American Quarter Horse industry revolutionized the breeding industry with syndicating stallions, the practice does make it more difficult to determine a stallion’s class and demand based solely on breeding fees. Many syndicated stallions’ breeding fees are private treaty and therefore not easily
evaluated. There are some alltime leading stallions that jump off the page such as Mr Jess Perry, First Down Dash and Corona Cartel – who also are notably the top-three leading broodmare sires of 2-year-old earners in that order. But each spring there are new names that join the list of the elite, and if you are an astute handicapper, you might pick up on a trendsetter that leads you straight to the winner’s circle. Using AQHA’s Sires of 2-Year-Old Money Earners list, you will see stallions highlighted with a pound sign indicating that this is their first crop of runners. It’s important to use the 2-year-old list to find these up-and-coming sires as they only have freshmen runners and they can get buried in the overall sires of money earners list. When mining for helpful data, it’s always preferable to drill down to the most relevant information. AQHA does not recognize races in which a 2year-old starts prior to March 1; competes against older horses; or is allowed to compete at a distance greater than 440 yards prior to September 1 with the exception of the trials and finals for the West
Texas Futurity and the Mardi Gras Futurity, which are exempt from the March 1 rule. On June 1, there are only three months of data on 2-year-old racing, which could be diluted if you add the additional two months that horses 3-years-old and older were competing. As of May 15, five stallions with their first crop of starters are perched on the top-25 list of leading sires of 2-year-old money earners. At No. 8, Good Reason SA has seven winners in 2015. His first crop included 76 foals, and his top runner to date is Send Me Good Candy, who has earned $124,564. Good Reason SA has two stakes-placed runners. Ranking 11th on the list is Dominyun, a 2008 stallion with 46foals in his first crop, six of which are winners. Next on the list is Freighttrain B at No. 12. The 2008 stallion sired 67 foals in his first crop and six are winners at the track. The Louisiana Cartel has been garnering attention with his 17th position. The 2007 stallion sired 56 foals in his first crop and currently has a stakes-placed runner. At No. 22, One Sweet Jess has sired four winners from his first crop that included 106
foals. The 2008 stallion also has a stakes-placed runner to his credit. An example of a first-time starter lighting the board is Nucky, who at press time was ranked fourth in the AQHARacing/Horseplayernow.com poll. Trained by Mike Joiner, who is known for developing young runners, Nucky was the fastest qualifier to the Grade 2 West Texas Futurity at Sunland Park after winning his debut by threequarters of a length. He repeated his dominating performance when he won the West Texas final in April. The gelding is by freshman sire Dominyun. With AQHA allowing mares to produce multiple foals through embryo transfer technology, stallion owners can breed their best mares to young stallions hoping to quickly prove a stallion’s prodigy at the track. Referencing the aforementioned leading broodmare sires list might help a dam jump off the page, too, in your handicapping. Of course don’t forget to look for leading sires of 2-year-old money earners. The top three as of May 15 are Ivory James, PYC Paint Your Wagon and Corona Cartel.
Ruidoso Downs’ historic summer season began Memorial Day weekend with 32 trials for the Grade 1, $750,000 Ruidoso Futurity. The final will run June 7, and while there won’t be any firsttime starters in the Ruidoso Futurity, there will be plenty of races leading up to the All American trials with youngsters getting their first start.
2014 leading sires of 2-year-old Quarter Horse money earners: 1. Walk Thru Fire 2. PYC Paint Your Wagon 3. Tempting Dash 4. One Famous Eagle 5. Volcom
Jennifer K. Hancock is a member of the American Quarter Horse Association’s Wrangler Racing Aces Fan Education team. Her resume includes working as a racehorse groom in college, the press box coordinator at Sam Houston Race Park, the editor of The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal and currently as a freelance writer and marketer at her own Lone Oak Marketing.
6. Corona Cartel 7. Apollitical Jess (freshman sire in ‘14) 8. Heza Fast Dash 9. First Moonflash 10. Ivory James
This issue we review classes from:
MAY 2015 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.
The 2015 Night School season hit the start of the Triple Crown campaign with 4 lessons in May. Weeks 9 and 11 on the season were live chat Q&As for the pending Kentucky Derby and Preakness editions. Our 2 radio sessions for the month included some of our biggest guests ever. Week 12: When to Bet More … Bet Less (Plus a Ky Derby 141 review) Week 13: Racing from the Outside (How racing is perceived and covered by national media.)
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“A good friend of mine always tells me you have to go for the „greed‟ play. When you like a horse to win, forget you‟re alive in the pick 3 and pick 4; you‟ve got to fire.” “There‟s something romantic about (horse racing) – at it‟s best – that draws people in that can‟t even read a Racing Form.”
“I‟m an old fuddy-duddy journalist in that way. I‟ve been temped to bet every race we‟ve covered, but I can‟t bring myself to … If I would‟ve bet the (Derby) trifecta, I would have hit it …” “It‟s like playing fantasy sports, you‟re investing a certain amount of money ... and we see how that has exploded and attacked many demographics of young people.” “I‟ve learned something from mixed martial arts … go in with the 'no apologies necessary' attitude. If you don‟t like the sport, don‟t watch the sport.”
COMING THIS MONTH IN NIGHT SCHOOL! TUESDAYS, 8:30 PM ET JUNE 2 BELMONT STAKES HANDICAPPING
JUNE 9 NEWBIE NIGHT AT THE RACES
Ask the experts all your key questions about the final jewel in the Triple Crown.
Our Summer Semester begins with the basics during live racing action from Mountaineer. JUNE 16 BET TYPES – WHEN AND WHY? We teach how to tackle an actual card from Mountaineer in terms of pools & plays.
JUNE 23 PACE/RACE SHAPES
JUNE 30 JOCKEY-TRAINER COMBOS
Dissect the past performances to see how the race may play out in real time.
We get inside the human element with live statistical handicapping.
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MEET OUR TEAM: TERRY TURRELL 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 Terry Turrell, who has been with our site since its inception.
A
professional writer, handicapper, and racing official since 1965, Terry Turrell was the official track morning line maker for Western Harness during its heyday at Hollywood Park (1969-79) and has set the official lines at Los Alamitos and Del Mar. While he presently covers the Southern California Thoroughbred circuit for Horse Player NOW and the L.A. Daily News, and the Los Alamitos AQHA action for the Long Beach Press Telegram, Turrell has also been the public handicapper for the Long Beach Press-Telegram, San Diego Union, Los Angeles Daily News, Escondido Times-Advocate and the Orange
County Register. Fans on ESPN.com have enjoyed Terry’s live chats in recent years as well. Turrell’s handicapping style is predominantly based on careful, personal observation; the notion that class will always prevail; and isolating value. “Handicapping is so much more than numbers and statistics,” says Turrell. “Until you can duplicate human personalities, horses and riders, along with racing luck, and shove them all into a computer, I will stick with 'observation' as the number one factor for success at the windows.” Recently, he’s turned his focus to handicapping tournaments, and he
counts his multiple tournament wins, including his two Sun Coast Challenge victories, and being a finalist in the 2006 DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship, among his tournament career highlights. A graduate of Long Beach State University, Turrell currently resides in Sunset Beach, CA, and his sons Tim, Toby, and Jeff have followed in his footsteps in having successful careers in the horse racing industry. He’s had the privilege of seeing many great races throughout his lifetime, but in addition to naming Charlie Whittingham as his favorite trainer, both Eddie Delahoussaye and Bill Shoemaker as his favorite jockeys, and the great Dr. Fager as his favorite racehorse, he names Native Diver vs. Viking Spirit in the American Handicap as one of the most memorable races he’s witnessed.
And as far as spending a day at the track goes, for him, nothing beats watching the races with a handcarved sandwich and a cold brew. When asked to describe today’s state of racing, Turrell said, "The most significant problem in racing today is medication, and the lack of a consistent medication standard for all states. There will always be racing; however, greed and a poor product, weakened by small and cheap fields, too much racing and the lack of a solid game plan for the U.S. must be rectified." – HPN Catch Terry’s selections daily in the HP NOW BUZZ Report for all SoCal Thoroughbred tracks + Los Alamitos Quarter Horse action!
You can follow Terry on Twitter @TerryTurrell
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The Day After. June 6 promises to be an amazing day around the ovals from coast-tocoast, not just at Belmont Park where all eyes will be on American Pharoah. Our collective heart rate will rise as post time approaches whether you’re in the backyard at Belmont, at an OTB in Chicago or watching with a craned neck at a monitor from Santa Anita Park. Those tuned in at home on NBC Sports also will feel sweaty palms. We’re all-in when it comes to seeing a part of history.
American Pharoah’s result won’t change the business of horse racing unless the business men and women of horse racing get inspired to do something. And that may very well be the silver lining.
Then will come June 7. Now what? How does an industry react to success or failure? How do the individuals associated with the horse handle their new-fangled status as living legends; or as we saw with Steve Coburn a year ago, their potential crushing defeat of emotions in the spotlight?
Left to its own devices, change has been slow in horse racing. Part of the reason is you can’t maneuver the Titanic like a Maserati. There will be factions of industry fat cats who are happy, and others jealous, if American Pharoah finds success. At the track level, though, ‘Pharoah may inspire. Smarty Jones changed a state’s perception of horse racing in Pennsylvania. Granted, we screwed up the golden eggs handed us in the Keystone State and haven’t improved the product.
Come Sunday, we return to issues of integrity, a game with a takeout higher than economically feasible for many of its hardcore players, and dwindling field sizes from which to make those wagers. But it doesn’t have to remain that way.
But great horses do inspire action, and there are likely executives in board rooms all over the US needing a reason to get excited about going to work again in the racing industry. What if American Pharoah re-inspires them? – JP
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