Kentucky Derby Post Positions & Morning Line Betting Odds

The post positions have been drawn and morning line betting odds appointed for Saturday's 145th running of the Kentucky Derby.  The starting gate will be full, with 20 entries, unless there are scratches.  Bodexpress is the lone colt on the "waiting list," if there happens to be a scratch before 9 a.m. on Friday (his named jockey is Chris Landero and he is trained by Gustavo Delgado).
  All of the starters will race 1 and 1/4 miles (10 furlongs) over the main dirt track at Churchill Downs; each will carry 126 pounds; and there is a guaranteed purse of $3 million.  Below are the post positions, the entry, the morning line betting odds, the name of the jockey, and the name of  the trainer.
   1.   War of Will               20 to 1          Tyler Gaffalione - Mark Casse
   2.   Tax                            20 to 1          Junior Alvarado - Danny Gargan
   3.   By My Standards      20 to 1          Gabriel Saez - Bret Calhoun
   4.   Gray Magician         50 to 1          Drayden Van Dyke - Peter Miller
   5.   Improbable                6 to 1           Irad Ortiz Jr - Bob Baffert
   6.   Vekoma                     20 to 1          Javier Castellano - George Weaver
   7.   Maximum Security  10 to 1           Luis Saez - Jason Servis
   8.   Tacitus                      10 to 1           Jose Ortiz - Bill Mott
   9.   Plus Que Parfait      30 to 1           Ricardo Santana Jr - Brendan Walsh
  10.  Cutting Humor         30 to 1          Corey Lanerie - Todd Pletcher
  11.  Haikal                       30 to 1           Rajiv Maragh - Kiaran McLaughlin
  12.  Omaha Beach            4 to 1           Mike Smith - Richard Mandella
  13.  Code of Honor          15 to 1           John Velasquez - Shug McGaughey
  14.  Win Win Win             15 to 1          Julian Pimentel - Michael Trombetta
  15.  Master Fencer (JPN)   50 to 1       Julian Leparoux - Koichi Tsunoda
  16.  Game Winner             5 to 1           Joel Rosario - Bob Baffert
  17.  Roadster                      6 to 1          Florent Geroux - Bob Baffert
  18.  Long Range Toddy    30 to 1          Jon Court - Steve Asmussen
  19.  Spinoff                       30 to 1          Manny Franco - Todd Pletcher
  20.  Country House          30 to 1          Flavien Prat - Bill Mott     

I wish all of the colts who race the very best racing luck.  I hope there are no injuries before, during, or after the race.  I wish all of the jockeys and the 16 trainers the best of luck.  I wish all of the connections - owners, breeders, barn workers, and families - all of the very best.  Here's to a beautifully run and injury free Kentucky Derby 145!          

Great Racing At Gulfstream Park, With 2 Pegasus Races Worth a Total of $16 Million

Today, or tomorrow, depending on when and where you are reading this, on 26 January, Gulfstream Park Race Track will conduct 12 races for thoroughbred horses.  Many are stakes races, with big money purses, and they have drawn top horses from around the country.  The two Pegasus Invitational races have drawn entries from around the world, and the races are drawing world-wide television coverage.  NBC will be covering the two Invitational Races live, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. EST.

For the two Pegasus races, I am listing: Post position; Horse's name; (Sire's name); age and sex; assigned weight; and morning betting odds.

  The first Pegasus race is the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Turf Stakes.  The distance to be run is 1 3/8 miles (11 furlongs) on the turf course; the guaranteed purse is $7 million; and the post time is 4:51.    This is a handicap race, which takes into consideration the horse's age, sex, and past racing performances.  Assigned weights range between 112 pounds and 124 pounds for 10 entries.
  1.    Magic Wand (IRE)     (Galileo-IRE)             4yo filly       112        9 to 2
  2.    Yoshida (JPN)            (Heart's Cry-JPN)      5yo horse     124       5 to 2
  3.    Channel Maker          (English Channel)       5yo geld       117       12 to 1
  4.    Aerolithe (JPN)          (Kurofune)                  5 yo mare     112        8 to 1
  5.    Next Shares                (Archarcharch)           6yo geld       124        15 to 1
  6.    Fahan Mura                (English Channel)      5yo mare      119        30 to 1 
  7.    Bricks and Mortar      (Giant's Causeway)    5 yo horse     124       5 to 1
  8.    Delta Prince               (Street Cry-IRE)          6yo horse      124       15 to 1
  9.    Catapult                      (Kitten's Joy)               6yo horse     124        7 to 2
 10.   Dubby Dubbie            (Ice Box)                      4yo geld       124       30 to 1


  The second Pegasus race is the Pegasus World Cup Invitation Stakes.  The distance to be run is 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on the main dirt track;   the guaranteed purse is $9 million; all horses are male, and all carry the same weight of 124 pounds in the race.  Post time is scheduled for 5:36 for 12 entries.
  1.   Bravazo                        (Awesome Again)       4yo colt          12 to 1
  2.   Something Awesome   (Awesome Again)        8yo geld         20 to 1
  3.   City of Light                (Quality Road)            5yo horse        5 to 2
  4.   Seeking the Soul          (Perfect Soul-IRE)      6yo horse        12 to 1
  5.   Accelerate                    (Lookin' At Lucky)       6yo horse         9 to 5
  6.   Tom's d'Etat                 (Smart Strike)              6yo horse        20 to 1
  7.   True Timber                 (Mineshaft)                  5yo horse        30 to 1
  8.   Gunnevera                   (Dialed In)                   5yo horse         8 to 1
  9.   Kukulkan (MEX)        (Point Determined)      4yo colt           30 to 1
 10.  Audible                       (Into Mischief)              4yo colt           10 to 1
 11.  Imperative                   (Bernardini)                  9yo geld          30 to 1
 12.  Patternrecognition       (Adios Charlie)             6yo horse        10 to 1

Have fun at the races!

 

Two Other Stakes Races on Both Breeders' Cup Days

The big news races at Churchill Downs are the 14 Breeders' Cup races on 2 and 3 November - but there are two other Stakes races being run on the days of the Breeders' Cup races, as well as the regular meat-and-potatoes races that occur daily at any track during a racing meet.  I won't give a run-down of the usual races, but the four Stakes races each have a horse entered that qualified for the Breeders' Cup wait list.  - And I hold the Marathon Stakes close to my heart; it was once a part of the Breeders Cup, but no longer is.  (And I love old-fashioned long distance races - remember, original thoroughbred racing took place over a distance of 5 miles and were run in heats, all on the same day.  These days, we breed for quickness over short distances - but I adore long-distance runners....)
   On Friday, 2 November, Louder Than Bombs will race in the Street Sense Stakes, and Toast of New York will run in the Marathon Stakes (Grade II).
             
     Street Sense Stakes        2 year olds        1 mile (8 furlongs)     $100,000
          Post time:  2:36          Weight:  122 pounds           (All colts; #6 is a gelding)
 1.    Distant Shore (MD)              10 to 1
 2.    Improbable (KY)                   5 to 2
 3.    Trophy Chaser (KY)              3 to 1
 4.    Unionizer (FL)                       8 to 1
 5.    Moonster (KY)                       8 to 1
 6.    Reward the Miracle (FL)      15 to 1
 7.    Manny Wah (KY)                  6 to 1
 8.    Louder Than Bombs              8 to 1
 9.    Marquee Prince                      6 to 1

    Marathon Stakes       3 and up               1 3/4 miles (14 furlongs)    $200,000
          Post Time:   6:43            Weight:   122 pounds        (All entries bred in KY)
 1.    Term of Art   4, c                  20 to 1
 2.    Dabster        4, c                    9 to 2
 3.    Imperative    8, g                  30 to 1
 4.    Finglas    4, g                       20 to 1
 5.    Senior Investment   4, c       20 to 1
 6.    War Story    6, g                    4 to 1
 7.    Big Dollar Bill    4, g            5 to 1
 8.    Honorable Duty   6, g           4 to 1
 9.    Toast of New York   7, g       9 to 2
10.   Rocketry    4, c                      7 to 2

   On Saturday, 3 November, Dak Attack will race in the Cherokee Run Stakes, and Bixby Lou will run in the Chilukki Stakes (Grade II).

       Cherokee Run Stakes        3 year old colts       7 furlongs      $200,000
             Post time:   11:15             (2 geldings; # 4 and # 8.   All bred in KY, except #3 NY, #11 MD)
 1.    Cool Bobby                   118           12 to 1
 2.    Honorable Treasure       118           12 to 1
 3.    Audible                         122            2 to 1
 4.    Smart Remark               118            20 to 1
 5.    Cowboy Creed              118            30 to 1
 6.    Mr Freeze                      120           12 to 1
 7.    Principe Guilherme       118           12 to 1
 8.    Kowboy Karma             118           10 to 1
 9.    Dak Attack                    118           12 to 1
10.   Aveenu Makainu            118           15 to 1
11.   Still Having Fun            120            4 to 1
12.   Super Sol                       118            4 to 1

     Chilukki Stakes        3 and up (fillies and mares)        1 mile      $200,000
           Post time:   6:22          Weight:   121 pounds      (All are KY-bred)
 1.    Moonlit Garden            4               7 to 2
 2.    Awestruck                     4               4 to 1
 3.    Shenandoah Queen       6               7 to 2
 4.    Bixby Lou                     4               20 to 1
 5.    Student Body                4               15 to 1  
 6.    Divine Miss Grey         4                9 to 5
 7.    Berned                          4                8 to 1
 8.    Pricedtoperfection        5                20 to 1

Belmont Stakes Post Positions and Odds

The draw for Saturday's 150th running of the Belmont Stakes has taken place.  Once again, the forecast is for afternoon and evening thunderstorms.   Will Justify become the 13th Triple Crown winner in 100 years?  We'll see....   There will be ten entries in the gate, unless there is a scratch due to illness.  Besides Justify, only one other contender has been both the Derby and the Preakness, that being D. Wayne Lukas trainee Bravazo, who finished second in the Preakness.   Tenfold also ran in the Preakness, three weeks ago.  Four other entries ran in the Derby, and this is their first return to the races since then: Free Drop Billy, Hofburg, Vino Rosso, and Noble Indy.  Plus three new colts, Restoring Hope, Gronkowski, and Blended Citizen.  All ten colts were bred in Kentucky.
  Here are post positions drawn, sire, and morning line betting odds:
1.     Justify        Scat Daddy     4 to 5
2.     Free Drop Billy     Union Rags     30 to 1
3.     Bravazo     Awesome Again     8 to 1
4.     Hofburg     Tapit     9 to 2
5.     Restoring Hope     Giant's Causeway     30 to 1
6.     Gronkowski     Lonhro    12 to 1
7.     Tenfold     Curlin     12 to 1
8.     Vino Rosso     Curlin     8 to 1
9.     Noble Indy     Take Charge Indy     30 to 1
10.   Blended Citizen     Proud Citizen     15 to 1

Yesterday I wrote there were 23 horses who had won both the Derby and the Preakness, but not the Belmont Stakes.  Here is a listing, giving the year and the name of the colt:
1932    Burgoo King
1936    Bold Venture
1944    Pensive
1958    Tim Tam
1961    Carry Back
1964    Northern Dancer
1966    Kauai King
1968    Forward Pass
1969    Majestic Prince
1971    Canonero II
1979    Spectacular Bid
1981    Pleasant Colony
1987    Alysheba
1989    Sunday Silence
1997    Silver Charm
1998    Real Quiet
1999    Charismatic
2002    War Emblem
2003    Funny Cide
2004    Smarty Jones
2008    Big Brown
2012    I'll Have Another
2014    California Chrome

Today's Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico

I remember when the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes got as much publicity as the Kentucky Oaks - but that was quite a few years ago.  These days, the second race in the Triple Tiara for Fillies is only a Grade II, with a total purse of $250,000.  It still covers a distance of 1 and 1/8 miles, or 9 furlongs, but it no longer has a luster to it's image.  All the fillies who ran carried 122 pounds; now it depends upon their race experience and wins....
   At any event, the post time for this year's running of the female counter-part of the Preakness Stakes is at 4:48 EDT in the afternoon.   Originally, there were ten entries, but Midnight Disguise, the only New York-bred filly was scratched with a bruised foot.  Of the nine fillies who enter the gate, all were bred in Kentucky, except Goodonehoney, who is from Maryland.  All of the fillies are bays, dark bays or browns, except for Red Ruby, who is registered as a grey or roan.
  Here is a listing of the post positions, the weight each filly will carry, her sire, and her morning-line betting odds:
1.     Tell Your Mama  116#      Blame         20 to 1
2.     Midnight Disguise    120#    Midnight Lute        4 to 1
3.     Coach Rocks    120#      Oxbow      7 to 2
4.     Red Ruby     118#      Tiznow      5 to 1
5.     Mihrab       116#       Tiznow       30 to 1
6.     C. S. Incharge     116#     Take Charge Indy     15 to 1
7.     Goodonehoney     118#      Great Notion       5 to 1
8.     Indy Union      116#       Union Rags       10 to 1
9.     Sara Street      116#       Street Sense       4 to 1
10.   Stakes On a Plane      116#      Run Away And Hide      20 to 1


The first running of the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes took place in 1919, with Milkmaid winning.  The race was then run at the distance of 1 and 1/16 miles - where it stayed until 1988, when the distance was lengthened to 9 furlongs.
   The third leg of the fillies Triple Tiara is the Mother Goose Stakes, at Belmont Park, the day before the Belmont Stakes.

The Preakness Stakes 19 May 2018

The second jewel of America's Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Horse Racing will be run this Saturday, 19 May, at Pimlico Race Course, outside of Baltimore, Maryland.  The one and three-sixteenths mile long race is a little bit shorter than the Kentucky Derby, and 5/16ths shorter than the Belmont Stakes, the last part of the Triple Crown races.  The post positions have been drawn, and morning-line betting odds posted.  There are only 8 colts racing in this race, four continuing on from the Derby, and four newcomers.  All of these boys were born in Kentucky; everyone carries 126 pounds.
 In post position 1 is Quip, a dark bay or brown colt, sired by Distorted Humor; odds of 12 to 1.
 Post two is Lone Sailor, a dark bay or brown colt, sired by Majestic Warrior; odds of 15 to 1.
 Post three is Sporting Chance, a dark bay or brown colt, sired by Tiznow;  odds of 30 to 1.
 Post four is Diamond King, a bay colt, sired by Quality Road; odds at 30 to 1.
 Post five is Good Magic, a chestnut colt sired by Curlin; odds at 3 to 1.
 Post six is Tenfold, a bay colt sired by Curlin; odds at 20 to 1.
 Post seven is Justify, the chestnut colt by Scat Daddy; odds are 1 to 2.
 Post eight is Bravazo, a dark bay or brown colt, sired by Awesome Again; odds are 20 to 1.

Justify, who broke from post 7 and won the Derby, is back in post 7 for the Preakness.
Good Magic finished second in the Derby, breaking from post 6; he's in the 5 hole Saturday.
Lone Sailor broke from post 8 in the Derby, and finished eighth.
Bravazo broke from post 13 in the Derby and finished sixth.

Jockey Mike Smith will once again be riding Justify.
 

Kentucky Derby Weekend - TV, Post Positions, Odds

NBC is doing blockbuster coverage of the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby this week, with coverage covering 20 races from Thursday, 3 May, through the Derby itself, on 5 May.  On Thursday, 3 May, NBC Sports Network will cover 4 races at Churchill Downs beginning at 4 pm (EDST).  On Friday, 4 May, there will be live coverage of 6 races, including the Grade I Kentucky Oaks,  with NBC Sports Network live from noon until 6 pm (EDST).  Ten races will have coverage on Saturday, 5 May, with live feed on NBC Sports Network from noon until 2:30; then on NBC from 2:30 until 7 pm (all EDST).  The final race covered will be, of course, the Kentucky Derby.
   On Friday, if there are no scratches, 14 fillies will race for the $1 million purse in the Kentucky Oaks.  The race covers one and one-eighth miles on the main dirt track, and all of the 3-year-old girls will carry 121 pounds.  Besides a trophy, and the $600,000 winner's portion, the winning filly will be draped with a blanket of pink lillies...   Originally, the race was run at the distance of 1  1/2 miles; the inaugural winner was Vinaigrette, who won in a time of 2:39.75, in 1875. 
  Eleven of the fillies are Kentucky bred; Wonder Gadot was bred in Ontario, Heavenhasmynikki was bred in Ohio, and Patrona Margarita was bred in Texas.  Ten of the fillies are bay, with three chestnuts and one grey/roan (My Miss Lilly).
  Here is a list of the Oaks entrants by post position, with their morning-line betting odds after their names:
1.     Sassy Sienna       15 to 1 
2.     Coach Rocks       12 to 1
3.     Classy Act           15 to 1
4.     Chocolate Martini     12 to 1
5.     Wonder Gadot      20 to 1
6.     Kelly's Humor     30 to 1
7.     Rayya                   12 to 1
8.     Heavenhasmynikki    50 to 1
9.     Take Charge Paula     15 to 1
10.   Midnight Bisou     5 to 2
11.   My Miss Lilly        10 to 1
12.   Patrona Margarita   30 to 1
13.   Eskimo Kisses        15 to 1
14.   Monomoy Girl         2 to 1

The post position draw for the Kentucky Derby was at 11 this morning.  All but three of the colts were bred in Kentucky; Flameaway was bred in Ontario, Firenze Fire is a Florida-bred, and Audible was bred in New York.
   Here is the post position draw, with morning line odds behind the colt's name.  Number 21 is an alternate entry, who is eligible to run if any of the other entrants scratch.  Should any colt scratch, and 21 run, all of the horses to the outside of the colt who is scratched will move one gate over closer to the rail.
1.     Firenze Fire          50 to 1
2.     Free Drop Billy    30 to 1
3.     Promises Fulfilled     30 to 1
4.     Flameaway           30 to 1
5.     Audible                 8 to 1
6.     Good Magic          12 to 1
7.     Justify                    3 to 1
8.     Lone Sailor            50 to 1
9.     Hofburg                 20 to 1
10.   My Boy Jack         30 to 1
11.   Bolt d'Oro              8 to 1
12.   Enticed                  30 to 1
13.   Bravazo                 50 to 1
14.   Mendelssohn         5 to 1
15.   Instilled Regard     50 to 1
16.   Magnum Moon      6 to 1
17.   Solomini                30 to 1
18.   Vino Rosso             12 to 1
19.   Noble Indy             30 to 1
20.   Combatant              50 to 1
**alternate  21**  Blended Citizen   50 to 1 **

Enjoy watching, and, if you wager, I hope you win!

Kentucky Oaks Today, Derby Tomorrow

It was raining early this morning at Churchill Downs, and the main track surface was given a "sloppy" rating, while the turf track is listed as "good."  The weather forecasters say there will be periods of both rain and sun throughout today.   The Kentucky Oaks, the female version of the Derby, is scheduled to leave the starting gate at 6:12 EST this afternoon.  There is a full field of 15 fillies, who will each carry 121 pounds, over the main track for 1 and 1/8 miles.  The purse for this year's Oaks is $1 million...  I'll be listing post position, filly, morning line betting odds, sire, and coat color. All of the Oaks entries were born in Kentucky.
1     Ever So Clever         20 to 1         Medaglia d'Oro    dark bay
2     Lockdown                20 to 1          First Defence       dark bay
3     Mopotism                 20 to 1         Uncle Mo             bay
4     Paradise Woods         5 to 2          Union Rags          bay
5     Jordan's Henny         30 to 1         Henny Hughes     gray/roan
6     Vexatious                  20 to 1         Giant's Causeway   bay
7     Farrell                        5 to 1          Malibu Moon        bay
8     Sailor's Valentine      30 to 1         Mizzen Mast         gray/roan
9     Wicked Lick             30 to 1         Maclean's Music   chestnut
10   Miss Sky Warrior       9 to 2         First Samurai         dark bay
11   Tequilita                   20 to 1          Union Rags            bay
12   Daddy's Lil Darling   20 to 1        Scat Daddy            dark bay
13   Abel Tasman               5 to 1         Quality Road         bay
14   Salty                            6 to 1          Quality Road        bay
15   Summer Luck            30 to 1         Lookin At Lucky   bay

There have been no scratches in the Kentucky Derby field for tomorrow.  Girvin, who has a quarter crack in one hoof, will be wearing glued-on shoes.  Following are the 20 starters, with their jockeys and trainers listed...
1     Looking at Lee         Corey Lanerie                   Steven Asmussen
2     Thunder Snow          Christophe Soumillon      Saeed bin Suroor  
3     Fast and Accurate    Channing Hill                  Michael Maker 
4     Untrapped                 Ricardo Santana, Jr        Steven Asmussen 
5     Always Dreaming     John Velazquez                Todd Pletcher
6     State of Honor          Jose Lezcano                    Mark Casse
7     Girvin                        Mike Smith                       Joe Sharp
8     Hence                        Florent Geroux                 Steven Asmussen
9     Irap                           Mario Guttierrez               Doug O'Neill
10   Gunnevera                Javier Castellano              Antonio Sano
11   Battle of Midway      Flavio Prat                       Jerry Hollendorfer
12   Sonneteer                  Kent Desormeaux            Keith Desormeaux
13   J Boys Echo              Luis Saez                          Dale Romans
14   Classic Empire         Julien Leparoux              Mark Casse
15   McCraken                Brian J Hernandez, Jr     Ian Wilkes
16   Tapwrit                     Jose Ortiz                          Todd Pletcher
17   Irish War Cry          Rajiv Maragh                    Graham Motion
18   Gormley                    Victor Espinoza                 John Shirreffs
19   Practical Joke          Joel Rosario                       Chad Brown
20   Patch                         Tyler Gaffalione                Todd Pletcher

May all the races be cleanly run (figuratively, since there will be mud everywhere), and may no horses or jockeys have any injuries......

The Pegasus World Cup Invitational

The first (hopefully, annual) Pegasus World Cup Invitational horse race will be run on Saturday, 28 January at Gulfstream Park in Florida.  The race will be run at a distance of 1 1/8 miles on the main dirt track.  The starting time is listed as 5:40 p.m.  EST.  NBC will have live coverage.
    The Pegasus has several unique features.  The race is for four-year-olds and up - handicap horses, in other words.  Each entrant has paid a $1 million entry fee; to ensure a full gate, and good race, if a horse becomes ill or lame and must scratch, another horse may be named to race in its place.  The winner of this race will receive $7 million; second place receives $1,750,000; third place receives $1 million; all others will receive a payment of $250,000 each.
    Frank Stronach, who decided upon the rules for the race, would like to have the race be free of any race-day drugs.  As an incentive, any horse that does not use Lasix gets a 5 pound allowance in weight.  Only one horse will do so, Eragon, the four-year-old Argentinian colt.  All of the other entrants will carry 124 pounds, while Eragon will carry 119.
    Most handicappers believe that it will be a "two horse race" between California Chrome and Arrogate.  I'm assuming that the betting odds will reflect that.
    Following is a list of the entries - post position, name, where bred, jockey, assigned weight, and trainer:
1.     Arrogate    (Ky)             Mike Smith        124#       Bob Baffert
2.     Prayer for Relief (Ky)   F. Geroux            124#      Dale Romans
3.     Neolithic (Ky)               J. Velesquez        124#      Todd Pletcher
4.     Noble Bird (Ky)            J. Leparoux         124#      Mark Casse
5.     War Story (Ky)             A. Gallardo         124#      Jorge Navarro
6.     War Envoy (Ky)            Luis Saez            124#      Mick Ruis
7.     Shaman Ghost (On)       Jose Ortiz           124#      James Jerkens
8.     Semper Fortis (Ky)       T. Gaffalione       124#      Doug O'Neill
9.     Keen Ice (Ky)                J. Castellano       124#      Todd Pletcher
10.   Breaking Lucky (On)    L. Contreras        124#      Reade Baker
11.   Eragon (Arg)                  E. Prado              119#      Laura Wohlers
12.   California Chrome (Ca)  V. Espinoza        124#      Art Sherman

  The following three horses have been designated as alternates:  Stanford will take the place of Arrogate, should Arrogate scratch;  Sea Raven  will replace Breaking Lucky, if scratched; and if California Chrome is scratched, Madefromlucky will run in his place.
   Wishing great racing luck to all of the participants!!