Sir Winston Wins Belmont Stakes

When the ten horses left the gate at the start of the Belmont Stakes this afternoon, Tacitus was the betting favorite, and War of Will was a close second choice.  But it wan't to be for either colt.  Joevia quickly took the lead in the mile and a half race, and ran slow fractions.  The winner by one length was Sir Winston, the chestnut son of Awesome Again, under the guidance of Joel Rosario.  Tacitus was second, with early leader Joevia hanging on for third place.  The final time for the 12 furlongs was 2:28.3.
   The payouts for $2 bets were: (7) Sir Winston to win $22.40; (10) Tacitus to place $3.90; and (1) Joevia to show $8.70.  The $2 exacta paid $96; the trifecta paid $2,488; and the superfecta (7-10-1-4) paid $20,856.
   The complete order of finish was: 1, Sir Winston; 2, Tacitus; 3, Joevia; 4, Tax; 5, Master Fencer (JPN); 6, Spinoff; 7, Everfast; 8, Intrepid Heart; 9, War of Will; and 10, Bourbon War.
   There was some bumping coming around the final turn and into the stretch, and I expected Tyler Gaffalione to claim interference - but he didn't.  I hope the young man will learn to be honest in the future, as he clearly interfered with Maximum Security in the Kentucky Derby.  He Tweeted about it, and then took down the post within an hour, the evening of the Derby.  The video lawyer Anna Oldfather provided the KHRC shows the situation as it happened.  -   But that's over and done with.

War of Will Wins Preakness

War of Will, the colt who ran up behind Maximum Security, causing Maximum Security's disqualification in the Kentucky Derby, won the 144th running of the Preakness this afternoon at Pimlico Race Course.  Trained by Mark Casse, and ridden (again) by Tyler Gaffalione, the colt broke from the one post, as he did in the Kentucky Derby.  Unlike riding in the previous race, the jockey did not urge the horse to break extremely quickly, and the colt ran well without fighting the jockey as he did in the Derby.
   There was a gaffe in the Preakness, as Bodexpress was behaving badly in the starting gate, and had jockey John Velaquez pinned against the outside wall.  The jockey had removed his feet from the stirrups and the gates-man, inside the stall was holding Bodexpress' bridle when the starter opened the gates.  Bodexpress tried to blast out of the gate, but was checked by the man's hand on his bridle.  He reared, then bucked, sending John Velasquez flying through the air.  The jockey was unhurt, but very disappointed.  The colt ran the entire race, but moved away from the out-riders every time they attempted to catch and restrain him.
   Due to Bodexpress' riderless romp, the Stewards at Pimlico immediately hit the "Inquiry" sign switch as the race ended.  Seeing that Bodexpress had not interfered with any other horses and there were no fouls claimed, the sign was taken down shortly after the race.
   War of Will ran the 1 and 3/16 mile in a time of 1:54.34, and finished 1 and 1/4 lengths ahead of Everfast, who was 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Owendale.  Warrior's Charge was 2 1/2 lengths behind Owendale in fourth, Laughing Fox finished fifth, and the betting favorite at start time, Improbable, finished sixth. Finishing out the order of crossing the finish line (with their jockeys on board) were: 7th Win Win Win; 8th Bourbon War; 9th Signalman; 10th Anothertwistafate; 11th Alwaysmining; and 12th Market King.  Bodexpress was listed as "DNF" since he crossed the line without carrying 126 pounds for the distance.
   The pay-outs for $2 bets were: War of Will - win - $14,20; Everfast - place - $32.00; and Owendale - show - $6.00.   The $2 multi-pick tickets paid: exacta - $947.00; trifecta - $9,389.60; and superfecta - $103,848.80.
     We now wait three weeks for the running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in New York....

Monomoy Girl Wins 2018 Kentucky Oaks

Monomoy Girl, the chestnut daughter of Tapizar and Drumette, broke from the outside starting position (14), had a stretch duel with Wonder Gadot, and then had to survive a claim of foul by Wonder Gadot's jockey.  She overcame all of that and won the 144th running of the Kentucky Oaks by a half length this afternoon.

Wonder Gadot was 3 and 3/4 lengths in front of Midnight Bisou, who finished a half length in front of Eskimo Kisses.   The returns for a $2 bet were: for Monomoy Girl to win, $7.20; for Wonder Gadot to place, $14.00, and for Midnight Bisou to show, $3.20.  The Exacta paid $96.80, the Trifecta paid $362.40, and the Superfecta paid $2,774.80 - all for a correct $2 wager.

  The full order of finish in the Kentucky Oaks:

1.     Monomoy Girl

2.     Wonder Gadot

3.     Midnight Bisou

4.     Eskimo Kisses

5.     Chocolate Martini

6.     Sassy Sienna

7.     Coach Rocks

8.     Kelly's Humor

9.     Heavenhasmynikki

10.   Classy Act

11.   My Miss Lilly

12.   Patrona Margarita

13.   Rayya

14.   Take Charge Paula

California Chrome Wins Kentucky Derby

California Chrome won the Kentucky Derby very easily.  For the last furlong, his jockey, Victor Espinoza, was waving his whip in a salute to the Derby fans, while Commanding Curve was struggling to catch the winner.  Commanding Curve came from the back of the pack, a 37 to 1 long shot, and toiled to second place, a length and a half  behind the the easily galloping California Chrome.  Danza made it into third place, with Wicked Strong fourth and Samraat in fifth.  Once again, my choices fell flat.  California Chrome paid $7 for a $2 win ticket; Commanding Curve paid $31.80 for a place bet; and Danza paid $6 to show.  A $2 exacta bet of numbers 5 and 17 paid $340; while the $1 trifecta bet (5, 17, and 4) paid $3,424.60.
   I placed $30 in bets on the Derby - including a $2 place bet on Commanding Curve, and a $2 exacta with California Chrome and Commanding Curve.  I received a pay out of $371.80, so I came away with a profit of $341.80. At least, like yesterday, I wasn't in the red.
  California Chrome has (my favorite horse) *Forli in both his sire and dam's pedigrees - he is a superb looking chestnut colt and looks the part of a champion - like Man o'War.  His trainer, Art Sherman, was once the exercise rider for the 1955 Kentucky Derby winner Swaps...  The colt is modestly bred, but he's certainly a winner.  His sire is Lucky Pulpit, a grandson of A. P. Indy; the sire's dam has Lucky Mel in her pedigree.  His dam, Love the Chase, goes back to Mr. Prospector, Danzig, and Northern Dancer.
   Commanding Curve was a betting choice for me because of his pedigree, also.  His sire is Master Command, by A. P. Indy; the sire's female line includes Secretariat and Hail to Reason.  The dam's line includes Storm Cat and Alydar.  And Commanding Curve is a good-looking bay, too.
   In the Arkansas Derby, I had chosen Danza because of his jockey, Joe Bravo, and due to his breeding.  Danza has Street Cry and Ogygian in his sire lines, and Deputy Minister and Mr. Prospector on his dam's side.
  Vicar's In Trouble was highly touted coming into the Derby, and he had red-hot jockey Rosie Napravnik; but the colt drew the first post position.  I like his breeding, and his rider.  But I didn't think he could win.  The colt had to use his speed early in the race, and was then checked by horses in front of him later.  He finished last.
  This copy-righted photo of California Chrome winning the 2014 Kentucky Derby was taken by Dylan Buell: