Pegasus World Cup Invitational Results and Payouts

 Hmmm...  Just thinking...  The Pegasus World Cup Invitational decided a couple of years ago to not allow any competitors to use Lasix.  Suddenly, in 2019, the purse between the two races, which was then $16 million altogether, was reduced tremendously.  This year the races were for a combined $4 million.  There were no international horses that ran - if you count Say the Word, bred in Ontario, as a North American entry, and not a separate country, even though Canada is most definitely a separate country.  What caused the sudden downturn in purses and international horses?  Not allowing the use of Lasix?  Or some other esoteric factor?  -  Or is it just that the races are run in January?

   Anyway, whoever set the morning line betting was spot on assigning the favorites lower odds.  Both morning line betting favorites, Colonel Liam and Knicks Go won their races.

  In the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, Colonel Liam covered the 1 3/8 miles in 1:53.09, winning by an outstretched neck over Largent.  Largent was  two lengths in front of Cross Border, who finished a half-length before Social Paranoia. Colonel Liam's pay packet was $549,000; Largent took back a check for $183,000; Cross Border added $91,500 to his income; and Social Paranoia took home $45,750.  The rest of the field finished in this order: 5th was Pixelate; 6th, Next Shares; 7th, Storm the Court; 8th, Aquaphobia; 9th, Breaking the Rules; 10th, North Dakota; 11th, Say the Word; 12th, Anothertwistafate.

  In betting payouts, Colonel Liam paid $7 to win; Largent paid $5.00 to place; and Cross Border paid $6.40 to show.  As always, I report payouts on a $2 bet.  The Exacta paid $24.20; the Trifecta paid $384.20; and the Superfecta paid $2,286.40.

Colonel Liam defeats Largent yesterday.

   In the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, the betting favorite Knicks Go ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.89 and finished the race 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Jesus' Team.  Jesus' Team was a neck in front of Independence Hall, who was 6 1/4 lengths before Sleepy Eyes Todd.  Knicks Go was rewarded with $1,740,000; Jesus' Team took home $580,000; Independence Hall upped his earnings by $290,000; and Sleepy Eyes Todd added $145,000 to his bankroll.  The rest of the field crossed the line in this order: 5th, Code of Honor; 6th, Coastal Defense; 7th, Kiss Today Goodbye; 8th, Last Judgment; 9th, Math Wizard; 10th, Tax; 11th, Mr Freeze; 12th, Harper's First Ride.

   Knicks Go paid $4.60 to win; Jesus' Team paid $8.60 place; and Independence Hall paid $10 for a show bet.  The Exacta paid $43; the Trifecta paid $700.20; and the Superfecta paid $4,868.  

Knicks Go crosses the finish line in the PWCI.

I hope your day at the races went well!

Pegasus World Cup Invitational Races at Gulfstream Park on 23 January

On Saturday, 23 January, the "big money" thoroughbred races return with the two Pegasus World Cup Invitationals; one at 1 3/16 miles on the Turf, one at 1 1/8 miles on the dirt.  These races are for race horses aged 4 and up, whom the Pegasus Cup Board feel are worthy of an invitation.  The races will be held at Gulfstream Park and Casino in Hallandale, Florida.  NBC will cover the races live on television.  Several horses who would have been invited have retired due to an injury or for stud duty.

   The first of the two races has a Post Time of 4:59 p.m. EST.  This is the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, run at 9.5 furlongs (1 3/16 miles), for a purse of $1 million.  There are 12 entries, all male, and all will carry 123 pounds.  They range in age from 4 to 8 years; 10 were bred in Kentucky, with Cross Border from New York, and Say the Word from Ontario.  Nine of the boys are intact, although Cross Border is a ridgling; while Next Shares, Largent, and Say the Word are geldings.  All of the horses are bays, except the morning-line betting favorite, Colonel Liam, who is a gray or roan.

  For these races, I will list the Post Position, entry name (with age), morning line betting odds, sire, and dam. 

 

   Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational         9.5 furlongs        $1 million purse     equal weights

1.   Next Shares (8)               20 to 1        ArchArchArch        Two Dot Slew

2.   Breaking the Rules (6)    10 to 1        War Front        Protesting

3.   Storm the Court (4)        12 to 1         Court Vision        My Tejana Storm

4.   North Dakota (5)            10 to 1         Medaglia d'Oro        Starry Dreamer

5.   Colonel Liam (4)            7 to 2           Liam's Map        Amazement

6.   Largent (5)                      9 to 2           Into Mischief        Life in Seattle

7.   Aquaphobia (8)              20 to 1          Giant's Causeway        Pussycat Doll

8.   Anothertwistafate (5)      5 to 1           Scat Daddy        Imprecation

9.   Cross Border (7)            15 to 1          English Channel        Empress Josephine

10.  Pixelate (4)                   15 to 1           City Zip        Speckled

11.  Say the Word (6)            6 to1            More Than Ready        Danceforthecause

12.  Social Paranoia (5)        8 to 1            Street Boss        Shutterbug

Colonel Liam, the PWCTI morning line betting favorite

   

   The Post Time for the Pegasus World Cup Invitational is listed as 5:44 p.m. EST.  The race covers 9 furlongs (or 1 1/8 miles) on the main dirt track, and has a purse of $3 million.  All entries are males, ranging in age from 4 to 6 years, and all will carry 123 pounds.  Three of the entries are geldings: Tax, Harper's First Ride, and Last Judgment.  Nine of the twelve were bred in Kentucky, with Last Judgment bred in Florida, and  Knicks Go and Harper's First Ride in Maryland.  There are 6 bays, 4 chestnuts and 2 grays or roans.  Mr Freeze is the eldest at age 6.  Paynter is the sire of two entries in this race.

   Pegasus World Cup Invitational           9 furlongs         $3 million purse    equal weights

1.   Sleepy Eyes Todd (5)            8 to 1          Paddy O'Prado        Pledge Mom

2.   Coastal Defense (5)             20 to 1          Curlin        Trensa

3.   Independence Hall (4)         20 to 1          Constitution        Kalahari Cat

4.   Knicks Go (5)                       5 to 2           Paynter        Kosmo's Buddy

5.   Jesus' Team (4)                     8 to 1           Tapiture        Golden Memories

6.   Kiss Today Goodbye (4)     10 to 1          Cairo Prince        Savvy Hester

7.   Tax (5)                                  5 to 1           Arch        Toll

8.   Harper's First Ride (5)        10 to 1           Paynter        Polyester

9.   Last Judgment (5)               20 to 1           Congrats        Fantasy Forest

10.  Code of Honor (5)              9 to 2             Noble Mission (GB)       Reunited

11.  Mr Freeze (6)                    15 to 1            To Honor and Serve       Heavenly Cat

12.  Math Wizard (5)               20 to 1             Algorithms        Minister's Baby

Knicks Go is the morning line betting favorite for the PWCI

Saturday's Breeders Cup Races For 3-Year-Olds And Up - 9 Races Worth $21 Million

 Friday's Breeders Cup 2020 races are designated as "Future Stars Friday" and are only for horses  that are 2 years old.  Saturday's races are for the older horses.  The United States is just about the only nation to choose "dirt" raising over racing on grass (turf).  That happened when the Colonies kicked off the traces of the English government; they decided to race their horses the opposite from England.  Hence, we breed for light-weight horses who can run short distances on dirt and race counter-clockwise.  Most other nations prefer to race clockwise, on turf and breed for endurance.  This is why, in both Friday's and Saturday's races, you'll see horses from other nations entered in the turf races, while almost every horse entered in a dirt race was bred in the US (with a few from Ontario thrown in).

   I covered the Juvenile races in my last post.  Today I cover the Saturday races in like manner.  However, all of yesterday's horses are age 2, and there is a set standard for male and female 2-year-olds.  Saturday's races have males and females running against each other (though some are gender specific) at varying ages.  They, too, have a specific weight to carry for age and sex.  You'll see soon where it's listed.  The sex determination is strange, if you're not knowledgeable about horses: a neutered male horse is a gelding, always; from birth until the age of 5, girls are fillies and boys are colts; at age 5 and after the girls are mares and the boys are horses.  Once a horse is being used for breeding, they are broodmares and stallions.  The father of a horse is the sire, the mother is the dam.

  The first of the Breeders Cup Races on Saturday is listed at 12:02 pm Eastern Standard Time, and they are taking place at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky.  No crowds are permitted due to the pandemic.  I will list the name of the race, the amount of the purse, and the length of the race.  Then I'll put in my own, personal comments.  Next I'll list post position, the name of the entry with age in [brackets], the assigned weight in pounds, the morning line betting odds, the name of the sire, and the name of the dam.

***   Fillies and Mares Sprint        $1 million       7 furlongs (7/8 mile)

   There are nine entries for this race, all bred in Kentucky, except Speech, who is Florida bred.  Of the 9, 4 are 3 years old, 4 are 4 years old, and Come Dancing is 6 years old.  And eight of the nine ladies are bay, with Sally's Curlin a chestnut.

1.   Speech [3]                  122     6 to 1        Mr. Speaker       Scribbling Sarah

2.   Gamine [3]                 122     7 to 5        Into Mischief       Peggy Jane

3.   Come Dancing [6]     124     8 to 1        Malibu Moon       Tizahit

4.   Inthemidstofbiz [4]    124    30 to 1       Fed Biz        Midst

5.   Sconsin [3]                122    20 to 1        Include        Sconnie

6.   Venetian Harbor [3]   122    8 to 1          Munnings      Sounds of the City

7.   Serengeti Empress [4]   124   3 to 1       Alternation      Havisham

8.   Sally's Curlin [4]       124     20 to 1        Curlin       Cabo Queen

9.   Bell's the One [4]      124      6 to 1         Majesticperfection      Street Mate

***    Turf Sprint       $1 million        5 1/2 furlongs  (11/16 mile)

This race has both sexes running - there are 4 females running against 10 males, a full field of 14, with 4 entries on the "wait list" in case of scratches.  Six of the male starters are geldings.  Since this is an very short race, there are only two international entries - a 4-year-old filly bred in Great Britain, and a 6-year-old mare bred in Australia.  Two of the geldings entered were bred in Florida (Imprimis and Extravagant Kid), and the other 10 entries are Kentucky bred.  Two of the 14 entries are chestnut, Just Might and Got Stormy, while the rest are bays.  All entries  are aged 4 to 7; the females carry 3 pounds less than the males.

1.   Big Runnuer [5]             126     12 to 1       Stormy Atlantic      Elusive Luci

2.   Just Might [4]                126     30 to 1        Justin Phillip       Dynamite Babe

3.   Imprimis [6]                   126     4 to 1         Broken Vow       Shoppers Return

4.   Front Run the Fed [4]     126    12 to 1        Fed Biz       Lawless Miss

5.   Wet Your Whistle [5]     126    15 to 1         Stroll       Winlocs Glory Days

6.   Glass Slippers (GB) [4]   123   12 to 1        Dream Ahead      Night Gypsy

7.   Leinster [5]                    126     4 to 1          Majestic Warrior      Vassar

8.   Oleksandra (AUS) [6]    123    12 to 1        Animal Kingdom      Alexandra Rose (SAF)

9.   Into Mystic [4]               123    12 to 1        Into Mischief       Loveofalifetime

10. Bombard [7]                   126    15 to 1        War Front       Witty

11. Wildman Jack [4]           126    12 to 1         Goldencents      Orientatious

12. Got Stormy [5]               123     7 to 2          Get Stormy      Super Phoebe

13. Texas Wedge [5]            126     30 to 1         Colonel John       Callmenancy

14. Extravagant Kid [7]       126     15 to 1         Kiss the Kid       Pretty Extravagant

    *  The "wait list" four are:  Equilateral,  Chaos Theory,  Archidust,  Bulletproof One *

Got Stormy is the early betting favorite for the Turf Sprint.

***     Dirt Mile        $1 million        8 furlongs (1 mile)

   This race has a full 12 entries, plus one on the "wait list."   All of the entries are males; so the 3-year-olds carry 123 pounds, while the older guys carry 126.  Three of the 12 are geldings: Sharp Samurai, Silver Dust, and Pirate's Punch.  They range in age from 3 to 6 years.  All but two were bred in Kentucky: Knicks Go was bred in Maryland and Rushie is a Florida bred.  Of the twelve, only one is a chestnut (Mr. Freeze), and three are gray/roan (Silver Dust, Knicks Go, and Rushie); the rest are bays. 

1.    Art Collector [3]         123      6 to 1       Bernardini      Distorted Legacy

2.    Sharp Samurai [6]      126      15 to 1      First Samurai      Secret Wish

3.    Silver Dust [6]            126     30 to 1       Tapit        Filare l'Oro

4.    War of Will [4]           126     10 to 1       War Front       Visions of Clarity (IRE)

5.    Knicks Go [4]            126       7 to 2        Paynter       Kosmo's Buddy

6.    Mr. Money [4]           126      20 to 1       Goldencents       Plenty O'Toole

7.    Rushie [3]                  123      20 to 1       Liam's Map       Conquest Angel

8.    Pirate's Punch [4]       126     20 to 1        Shanghai Bobby      Catch the Moon

9.    Mr. Freeze [5]            126      6 to 1         To Honor and Serve      Heavenly Cat

10.  Complexity [4]          126      2 to 1          Maclean's Music       Goldfield

11.  Jesus' Team [3]          123      30 to 1         Tapiture       Golden Memories

12.  Owendale [4]             126     15 to 1         Into Mischief     Aspen Light

     *  The colt on the "wait list" is Pingxiang *

***      Fillies & Mares Turf          $2 million        10 1/2 furlongs  (1 3/16 miles)

    There is a full field of 14 ladies here, with no wait list.  They range in age from 3 to 7 years in age.  The three 3-year-olds carry 120 pounds, while the rest of the field carry 124.  There is one chestnut, one gray/roan, eleven bays, and, surprisingly, one brown.  (Most horses listed as brown are dark bays, and black legs, muzzles and mane and tail can be seen in certain light.  This filly is a light chocolate brown all over - Terebellum.)  Starship Jubilee was bred in Florida, Mucho Unusual in California, and the Kentucky-breds are: Mean Mary, Rushing Fall, Harvey's Lil Goil, and Civil Union.  There are also two ladies from France and six from Ireland.  - - It's not unusual to have two horses with the same sire running in the same race - stallions cover a lot of mares in any one year.  But in this race, we have two half-sisters with the same mother and different sires.  The shared dam is Starlet's Sister (IRE); she has a 6- and 5-year-old daughter in this race, bred in different countries....  I don't know if this has happened before in Breeders Cup history....

1.   Starship Jubilee [7]          124     10 to 1       Indy Wind       Perfectly Wild

2.   Sistercharlie (IRE) [6]     124     6 to 1         Myboycharlie (IRE)      Starlet's Sister (IRE)

3.   Peaceful (IRE) [3]           120     12 to 1        Galileo (IRE)       Missvinski

4.   Mean Mary [4]                124      7 to 2         Scat Daddy        Karlovy Vary

5.   My Sister Nat (FR) [5]    124     12 to 1        Acclamation (GB)       Starlet's Sister (IRE)

6.   Rushing Fall [5]              124       5 to 2        More Than Ready       Autumnal

7.   Terebellum (IRE) [4]      124      20 to 1        Sea the Stars (IRE)       Marvada (IRE)

8.   Mucho Unusual [4]        124      30 to 1         Mucho Macho Man       Not Unusual

9.   Harvey's Lil Goil [3]      120      20 to 1         American Pharoah       Gloria S.

10. Civil Union [5]               124      12 to 1         War Front       Photograph

11. Audarya (FR) [4]            124      12 to 1         Wootton Bassett (GB)     Green Bananas (FR) 

12. Lady Prancealot (IRE) [4]  124   30 to 1        Sir Prancealot (IRE)       Naqrah (IRE)

13. Nay Lady Nay (IRE) [4]  124    20 to 1         No Nay Never       Lady Ederle

14. Cayenne Pepper (IRE) [3]  120    8 to 1         Australia (GB)       Muwakaba

***        Sprint               $2 million                6 furlongs (3/4 mile)   

   This race has a full field of 14, plus one on the scratch "wait list."   Although it's not in the race title description, this race is on the dirt, and all entries are US-bred.  This is a weight for age and sex; and there is one filly (Frank's Rockette) racing against the boys.   There are also 3 geldings in the race: C Z Rocket, Whitmore, and Diamond Oops.  The horses range in age from 3 to 7 years.  Eleven were bred in Kentucky and three in Florida (C Z Rocket, Collusion Illusion, and Firenze Fire).  There are three chestnuts and eleven bays.

1.    Echo Town [3]               124       20 to 1       Speightstown       Letgomyecho

2.    C Z Rocket [6]               126        7 to 2        City Zip       Successful Sarah

3.    Collusion Illusion [3]     124       20 to 1       Twirling Candy      Natalie Grace

4.    Bon Raison [5]               126       30 to 1       Raison d'Etat       Padmore

5.    Manny Wah [4]              126       30 to 1        Will Take Charge      Battlefield Angel

6.    Frank's Rockette [3]       121       10 to 1        Into Mischief       Rocket Twentyone

7.    Whitmore [7]                 126       15 to 1        Pleasantly Perfect      Melody's Spirit

8.    Firenze Fire [5]              126        8 to 1         Poseidon's Warrior       My Every Wish

9.    Empire of Gold [3]        124       30 to 1        Goldencents       Empire Diva

10.  Yaupon [3]                     124        7 to 2         Uncle Mo        Modification

11.  Diamond Oops [5]         126        8 to 1          Lookin At Lucky       Patriotic Viva

12.  Hog Creek Hustle [4]    126       30 to 1         Overanalyze       Candy Fortune

13.  Jasper Prince [5]            126       30 to 1         Violence       Ambitious Journey

14.  Vekoma [4]                    126        3 to 1           Candy Ride (ARG)       Mona de Momma

      *  The one horse on the "wait list" is Lasting Legacy *

***            Turf Mile               $2 million              8 furlongs (1 mile)

   A full field of 14 entries, ranging in age from 3 to 7 years, with two mares (One Master and Uni) competing against the boys.  (There  is also one horse on the scratch "wait list.")   Again, this is a weight for age and sex race. Of the fourteen starters,  one each were bred in Brazil, France, and Florida; two in Great Britain, four in Ireland, and five in Kentucky.  So there are eight international and five domestic starters; the Florida-bred is March to the Arch.  March to the Arch is also one of two geldings in the race, the other is Safe Voyage.  In coat colors, there is one chestnut, one gray/roan and the rest are bays.  ** If you want to make an homage bet for/to the great Sunday Silence, his grandson is the Brazilian-bred Ivar. **

1.   Circus Maximus (IRE) [4]     126     12 to 1       Galileo (IRE)       Duntle (IRE)

2.   Kameko [3]                            123      6 to 1         Kitten's Joy       Sweeter Still (IRE)

3.   Lope Y Fernandez (IRE) [3]  123     30 to 1       Lope de Vega (IRE)     Black Dahlia (GB)

4.   Siskin [3]                                123     12 to1        First Defence       Bird Flown (GB)

5.   Digital Age (IRE) [4]             126      8 to 1        Invincible Spirit (IRE)      Willow View

6.   Safe Voyage (IRE) [7]            126     15 to 1       Fast Company (IRE)       Shishangaan (IRE)

7.   Casa Creed [4]                        126     20 to 1       Jimmy Creed        Achalaya

8.   March to the Arch [5]            126     15 to 1        Arch       Daveron (GER)

9.   One Master (GB) [6]              123      15 to 1       Fastnet Rock (AUS)      Enticing (IRE)

10. Halladay [4]                            126     12 to 1        War Front       Hightap

11. Ivar (BRZ) [4]                         126      4 to 1         Agnes Gold (JPN)       May Be Now

12. Uni (GB) [6]                           123      5 to 1         More Than Ready       Unaided (GB)

13. Factor This [5]                        126       8 to 1         The Factor        Capricious Miss (GB)

14. Raging Bull (FR) [5]              126      8 to 1          Dark Angel (IRE)       Rosa Bonheur

      * The single horse on the "wait list" is Order of Australia (IRE) * 

Ivar (BRZ) is the early betting favorite in the Turf Mile.

***             Distaff                  $2 million                9 furlongs  (1 1/8miles)

   A field of ten fillies and mares will contest the Distaff this year (barring scratches).  The Distaff is always contested on the dirt track, and nine of the ten entries were bred in Kentucky; Horologist is a New Jersey bred filly.  The two 3-year-olds will carry 121 pounds, with the other eight will pack 124 pounds.  The 10 ladies  are from 3 to 5 years of age.  And Swiss Skydiver won the Preakness the first weekend of October.  There are five bays, four chestnuts and one gray or roan.  I will only list the ages of this group, since I explained the weights a couple of sentences ago...

1.    Ce Ce [4]                    12 to 1        Elusive Quality       Miss Houdini

2.    Harvest Moon [3]       12 to 1        Uncle Mo        Qaraaba (GB)

3.    Dunbar Road [4]         12 to 1        Quality Road       Gift List

4.    Horologist [4]              8 to 1          Gemologist        Cinderella Time

5.    Swiss Skydiver [3]      2 to 1           Daredevil        Expo Gold

6.    Lady Kate [4]             15 to 1          Bernardini        Princess Haya

7.    Point of Honor [4]      30 to 1          Curlin        Zayanna

8.    Valiance [4]                 12 to 1         Tapit        Last Full Measure

9.    Ollie's Candy [5]         10 to 1         Candy Ride (ARG)       Afternoon Stroll

10.  Monomoy Girl [5]        8 to 5          Tapizar        Drumette

***              Turf                $4 million                    12 furlongs  (1 1/2 miles)

   A field of ten for the $4million Turf seems small, for some reason.  But the entries themselves provide a variety: a single 3-year-old colt from Great Britain faces 4-, 5-, and 6-year-olds.  In the group of ten are 3 fillies and 1 mare, 3 geldings, 1 colt, and 2 horses.  One was bred in Ontario, Canada; one in Germany; 2 in Great Britain; 3 in Ireland, and 3 in Kentucky.  There are 4 chestnuts and 6 bays.  Galileo (IRE) is the sire of  the mare running, as well as the 3-year-old colt.  And two of the entries, both 6-year-olds have the same sire, both are chestnuts; but one is a horse and one is a gelding, and they are listed as being bred is different countries...    This is a weight for age and sex race, so everything will be listed.  (The ladies carry 123 pounds, and the 3-year-old colt has 121.)

1.    Arklow [5]                  126      5 to 1        Arch       Unbridled Empire

2.    Magical (IRE) [5]       123      5 to 2        Galileo (IRE)      Halfway To Heaven (IRE)

3.    Tarnawa (IRE) [4]      123      6 to 1         Shamardal       Tarana (IRE)

4.    Mehdaayih (GB) [4]   123     30 to 1       Frankel (GB)       Sayyedati Symphony

5.    Donjah (GER) [4]       123     30 to 1       Teofilo (IRE)       Dyanamore

6.    Lord North (IRE) [4]  126       8 to 1       Dubawi (IRE)       Najoum

7.    United [5]                    126      8 to 1       Giant's Causeway       Indy Punch

8.    Red King [6]               126     30 to 1       English Channel       Youre Speeding Luv

9.    Channel Maker (ONT) [6]  126    5 to 1    English Channel       In Return

10.  Mogul (GB) [3]           122      4 to 1        Galileo (IRE)       Shastye (IRE)

***              Classic                  $6 million             10 furlongs  (1 1/4 miles)

   The Classic gets its name because it's run at the "classic" Kentucky Derby distance of 1 1/4 miles on a dirt track.  This year, all ten entries are male, ranging in age from 3 to 7 years.  The two 3-year-olds will carry 122 pounds, while the other eight will tote 126.  Tiz the Law, one of the 3's, won the Belmont Stakes in June.  The other, Authentic, won the Kentucky Derby in September.  (The Preakness winner is running in the Distaff.)  Maximum Security, who won the 2019 Derby but was subsequently disqualified - to my mind, wrongly, having viewed the tapes over 150 times - is also running in this Classic.  All of the entries were bred in Kentucky, except Tiz the Law, from New York.  Tacitus is the gray/roan in this race, and Improbable is the chestnuts; the rest are bays.  -- And, if you want to make another homage bet, this one with an eye to the ladies,  Title Ready's dam is out of the great Personal Ensign, who won a hard-fought 1988 Breeders Cup Distaff.  --  Since I explained the weight earlier I won't list them below.

1.    Tacitus [4]                   20 to 1       Tapit       Close Hatches

2.    Tiz the Law [3]            3 to 1         Constitution       Tizfiz

3.    By My Standards [4]   10 to 1       Goldencents       A Jealous Woman

4.    Tom's d'Etat [7]             6 to 1        Smart Strike       Julia Tuttle

5.    Title Ready [5]            30 to 1        More Than Ready       Title Seeker

6.    Higher Power [5]         20 to 1       Medaglia d'Oro       Alternate

7.    Global Campaign [4]   20 to 1       Curlin        Globe Trot

8.    Improbable [4]              5 to 2         City Zip       Rare Event

9.    Authentic [3]                 6 to 1        Into Mischief       Flawless

10.  Maximum Security [4]  7 to 2        New Year's Day       Lil Dixie      

Improbable is the early betting favorite in the Classic.

Happy handicapping!  Happy Betting!!   

And here's to two days of racing without accidents

or injuries of any kind!

Future Stars Friday - Breeders Cup 2020 For Two-Year-Olds

  Friday, 6 November will be the first day of the Breeders Cup races this year, and, as in the recent past, the juveniles, or two-year-olds, are showcased.  It's called "Future Stars Friday."  The races will be run at Keeneland this year, for the first time ever.  Post positions were drawn today, so I will start by giving information on the five juvenile races for Friday.  If you've read my racing posts before, you know I write about odd things - like coat colors, and where the horse was bred.  I'll right a small bit about each field of entries and then specific information, which I'll spell out before the first full listing.

  The first Breeders Cup race kicks off at 2:30 pm Eastern Standard Time just so you can view it live, if you so desire.   

 *After listing the name of the race,  the purse amount, and the distance (all entries carry 122 pounds, except the two fillies noted below, who get a 3 pound weight allowance since they are competing against  the male of the species), I will list the post position, name of the entry, morning line betting odds, name of sire and name of dam. *

*** Juvenile Turf Sprint      $1 million     5.5 furlongs (11/16 mile)

  This race is is being held at 5 1/2 furlongs, or 11/16ths of a mile this year because of track conditions at Keeneland.  Fourteen  horses will contest the race, and two of them this year are fillies.  The colts will carry 122 pounds, while the two fillies (Amanzi Yimpilo and Dirty Dangle) will carry 119 pounds.  This field also has a gelding entered - Second of July.  Three of the entries were bred in Ireland: Amanzi Yimpilo, Mighty Gurkha, and Ubettabelieveit.  Two were bred in Florida: Golden Pal and Windy Red City; while After Five was bred in Maryland and Bodenheimer is a Washington bred. The other seven entries were bred in Kentucky. There are 3 gray/roans, 5 chestnuts, and 6 bays. Two of the colts are sired by Uncle Mo. - There are three horses on the waiting list in case there are any scratches.

1.    Mighty Gurkha (IRE)     20 to 1        Sepoy (AUS)     Royal Debt (GB)

2.    Windy Red City              30 to 1        Chitu      Gator Hall

3.    Lippizaner                       20 to 1        Uncle Mo      Irish Lights (AUS)

4.    County Final                   15 to 1         Oxbow      Tapajo

5.    Cowan                              8 to 1          Kantharos      Tempers Flair

6.    Ubettabelieveit (IRE)     20 to 1          Kodiac (GB)      Ladylishandra (IRE)

7.    Momos                           15 to 1          Distorted Humor      Inspeight of Us

8.    Amanzi Yimpilo (IRE)   15 to 1          No Nay Never      Honourably (IRE)

9.    After Five                        6 to 1          The Factor      Idle Talk

10.  Bodenheimer                  8 to 1           Atta Boy Roy      Beautiful Daniele

11.  Into the Sunrise             15 to 1           Into Mischief       Bellini Sunrise

12.  Dirty Dangle                  20 to 1          Not This Time      Chambray

13.  Second of July                 8 to 1           Jack Milton       Wichita

14.  Golden Pal                      8 to 5            Uncle Mo       Lady Shipman

     * The three "wait list" entries are: Blame the Booze, Gypsy King, and Trade Deal *

Golden Pal is the morning line betting favorite for the Juvenile Turf Sprint.

***  Juvenile Turf           $1 million       8 furlongs (1 mile)

   This race has a full field of 14 - 12 colts and 2 geldings (New Mandate and Go Athletico).  All but two entries are bay: Sealiway is chestnut and Outadore is a gray/roan.  Five horses each were in Ireland and Kentucky, 2 were bred in France, 1 in Great Britain, and 1 in Ontario, Canada.  And two entries were sired by Into Mischief.  -  Two horses on the "wait list" in case of scratches.

1.    Sealiway (FR)                8 to 1        Galiway (GB)      Kensea (FR)

2.    New Mandate (IRE)     12 to 1        New Bay (GB)      Mishhar (IRE)

3.    Abarta                           12 to 1        Into Mischief       Dame Marie

4.    Public Sector (GB)        8 to 1         Kingman (GB)      Parle Moi (IRE)

5.    Cadillac (IRE)               6 to 1          Lope de Vega (IRE)       Seas of Wells (IRE)

6.    Mutasaabeq                   5 to 1          Into Mischief       Downside Scenario

7.    Fire at Will                   12 to 1         Declaration of War      Flirt

8.    Outadore                        8 to 1          Outwork       Adore You

9.    Battleground                  6 to 1          War Front      Found (IRE)

10.  Ebeko (IRE)                 20 to 1         Awtaad (IRE)      Allegrezza (GB)

11.  Gretzky the Great          8 to 1          Nyquist       Pearl Turn

12.  Go Athletico (FR)        10 to 1         Goken (FR)      Byburg (FR)

13.  Devilwala (IRE)           30 to 1         Kodiac (GB)      Najraan (GB)

14.  The Lir Jet (IRE)          20 to 1         Prince of Lir (IRE)      Paper Dreams (IRE)

     *  The two "wait list" horses are Barrister Tom and Harlan Estate *

***  Juvenile Fillies        $2 million       8.5 furlongs  (1 1/16 miles)

   Only seven fillies are entered in this race - half a full field.   Six were bred in Kentucky, with Simply Ravishing bred in New York.  Five of the fillies are bay, and Girl Daddy and Crazy Beautiful are gray/roans.

1.    Simply Ravishing          5 to 2        Laoban       Four Wishes

2.    Vequist                           8 to 1        Nyquist       Vero Amore

3.    Dayoutoftheoffice          5 to 2        Into Mischief       Gottahaveadream

4.    Thoughtfully                 20 to 1       Tapit        Pension

5.    Girl Daddy                     6 to 1        Uncle Mo       Cara Marie

6.    Crazy Beautiful             20 to 1       Liam's Map       Indian Burn

7.    Princess Noor                 9 to 5        Not This Time       Sheza Smoke Show

Princess Noor is the morning line betting favorite for the Juvenile Fillies.

***  Juvenile Fillies Turf          $1 million        8 furlongs (1 mile)

   A full field of 14 and two fillies on the "wait list" in case of scratches.  Eight of the fillies were bred in Ireland, the other six in Kentucky.   Two are gray/roans, three are chestnuts, and nine are bays.  Two fillies share the sire Kodiac (GB), and two share the sire Lope de Vega (IRE)

1.    Oodnadatta (IRE)            20 to 1        Australia (GB)       Bewitched (IRE)

2.    Miss Amulet (IRE)          12 to 1        Sir Prancealot (IRE)       Shena's Dream (IRE)

3.    Alda                                 12 to 1        Munnings       Soldata

4.    Plum Ali                           4 to 1          First Samurai       Skipping

5.    Aunt Pearl (IRE)              3 to 1          Lope de Vega (IRE)       Matauri Pearl (IRE)

6.    Nazuna (IRE)                  30 to 1         Kodiac (GB)       Night Fever (IRE)

7.    Tetragonal (IRE)             20 to 1          Mehmas (IRE)       Crystal Snowflake (IRE)

8.    Mother Earth (IRE)         20 to 1         Zoffany (IRE)       Many Colours (GB)

9.    Madone                           10 to 1          Vancouver (AUS)       Indian Love Call

10.  Campanelle (IRE)            4 to 1           Kodiac (GB)       Janina (GB)

11.  Royal Approval                10 to 1         Tiznow       Touch the Moon

12.  Spanish Loveaffair           15 to 1          Karakontie (JPN)       Spanish Bunny

13.  Union Gables                   20 to 1          Speightstown       Tonasah

14.  Editor at Large (IRE)       12 to 1          Lope de Vega (IRE)       What Say You (IRE)

   * Two fillies on the "wait list" are  Invincible Gal and Snowfall *

***  Juvenile Colts              $2 million        8.5 furlongs (1 1/16 miles)

   A full field of 14 here, all colts bred in Kentucky.  Two are chestnuts, two are gray/roans, and ten are bays.  Two colts share the same sire, Laoban.

1.    Camp Hope               30 to 1       Summer Front       Praising

2.    King Fury                  15 to 1       Curlin       Taris

3.    Reinvestment Risk      9 to 2        Upstart       Ridingwiththedevil

4.    Likeable                     15 to 1        Frosted       Dashing Debby

5.    Essential Quality         4 to 1        Tapit       Delightful Quality

6.    Keepmeinmind          30 to 1        Laoban       Inclination

7.    Jackie's Warrior           7 to 5        Maclean's Music       Unicorn Girl

8.    Classier                      15 to 1        Empire Maker       Class Will Tell

9.    Sittin on Go               12 to 1        Brody's Cause       Set'n On Ready

10.  Dreamer's Disease     30 to 1        Laoban       Marketplace

11.  Next                           15 to 1        Not This Time       Bahia Beach

12.  Hot Rod Charlie         30 to 1        Oxbow       Indian Miss

13.  Rombauer                  15 to 1         Twirling Candy       Cashmere

14.  Calibrate                    20 to 1         Distorted Humor      Glamour and Style

Jackie's Warrior is the morning line betting favorite for the Juvenile Colts.

The Breeders Cup Races in 2020

 The 36th incarnation of the Breeders Cup Races will take place on Friday and Saturday of this wee, 6 and 7 November.   Since the Races began in 1984 many types of races have been added and subtracted from the card - I loved the Marathon, the few times it was run, allowing the older horses with staying power to really run a true race (to my way of thinking, anyway), and while the Grand National Steeplechase wasn't truly a Breeders Cup race, it was fun and exciting to watch.

   This year, with the pandemic, there will be no crowds in the stands, just as with the Triple Crown races. The host race course this year is Keeneland, and this is the first time it has played host.  The Breeders Cup will feature the juvenile (2-year-old) races on Friday, which has been dubbed "Future Stars Friday" for the past few years.  Five Breeders Cup races will take place between 2:30 and 5:15 that afternoon, with purses totaling $7 million.

Chief's Crown (bay with black shadow roll, jockey with pink cap) wins

the first Breeders Cup Race - the Juvenile at Hollywood Park in 1984.

   Saturday there will be nine Breeders Cup races, with start times beginning at 12:02 pm and ending at 5:18.  These 9 races will have purses of $21 million in total.  The draw for post positions for all of the races will be between 4:30 and 6:30 this afternoon (Monday).   Tuesday I will post the entries, posts, bloodlines, and morning line betting odds for the Juvenile races taking place on Friday.  Wednesday I will post the same information for the 9 races for older horses that will race on Saturday.  The fields are limited to 14 horses, and in some turf races to 12 entrants only - those will be noted.

   Just a few fun facts:  

1.  The first Breeders Cup Races were run at Hollywood Park in 1984; the 2021 races will be held at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

2.  The jockey with the most winning rides is Mike Smith, with 26.  He does not have any mounts this year, sadly.

3.  The trainer with the most wins is D. Wayne Lukas with 20 races won.

4.  The owner winning the most money so far is Juddmonte Farms with $16.8+ million.

5.  The breeder winning the most money so far is Adena Springs with $10.1+ million.

6.  The horse winning the most money in Breeders Cup Races is Zenyatta with a total of $4,680,000.

The Breeders Cup race times (Eastern Standard), purses, and race names for both days follow.

 Friday 

2:30 pm    $1 million      Juvenile Turf Sprint

3:10 pm    $1 million      Juvenile Turf

3:50 pm    $2 million      Juvenile Fillies

4:30 pm    $1 million      Juvenile Fillies Turf

5:10 pm    $2 million      Juvenile

    Saturday

12:02 pm    $1 million      Filly & Mare Sprint

12:39 pm    $1 million      Turf Sprint

1:18 pm     $1 million       Dirt Mile

1:57 pm     $2 million       Filly & Mare Turf

2:36 pm     $2 million       Sprint

3:15 pm     $2 million       Mile Turf

3:54 pm     $2 million       Distaff

4:33 pm     $4 million       Turf

5:13 pm     $6 million       Classic

  

Vino Rosso won the last Breeders Cup Race, the 2019 Classic.

Kentucky Derby 2020 Results, Pay Outs, and Strangeness

 In 2020, we've learned to expect strange news and odd happenings.  Yesterday, a "boat parade" in support of President Trump in Texas, had four participating boats sunk by a much larger vessel, whose captain decided that he should be leading the flotilla; so he gunned his engines and flew past the other boats.  The waves from that larger boat's wake were what sunk the four other boats....  Who'd'a thunk it?

   The same sort of strange happenings infected the 2020 Kentucky Derby, too.  Originally, there were 18 entries for the classic race, run without a crowd in the grandstand.  There are scratches, of course, in the normal run of things.  The first scratch was King Guillermo, who spiked a fever, and vacated post number 6.  Then Finnick The Fierce was scratched because of a change in his walk and running - a sore foot - so the Gate 1 starter was gone.  Then, in the paddock, as the horses were being saddled, Thousand Words, trained by Bob Baffert, reared and flipped over, taking assistant trainer Jimmie Barnes with him.  Following protocol, the colt was immediately scratched, leaving Baffert with only one horse in the race - and not yet aware that his assistant trainer was in an ambulance on the way to the hospital, after getting Thousand Words back into his stall.  Barnes has a smashed wrist and will have an operation in California later this week to put pins in place for his wrist to heal....

Thousand Words going over in the Kentucky Derby paddock

  The betting favorite as the horses entered the starting gate was Tiz The Law, who had won the Belmont Stakes on 20 June, and the Travers in August.  We were told by the announcers that the four horses to watch were all on the outside, being (in post number) Ny Traffic, Honor A.P., Tiz The Law, and Authentic.  Authentic had seemed to barely hang on for his last racing win, by a nose, at 1 1/8 miles; most commentators agreed that the 1 1/4 Derby would be too far for the colt to win.

  Now, I have to disagree (being anal-retentive and a tad OCD) with the headlines last night and this morning that state Authentic led the race "wire to wire."  Authentic is a slow breaker from the starting gate.  He might have been in the first 8 stepping out of the gate, but he was not the first, so he couldn't have led "wire to wire." (Just my little nit-pick there.)  Anyway, John R Velasquez allowed the colt to find his stride, then took him to the lead just before the first turn - and then he led all the way to the finish line.  Tiz The Law engaged Authentic in the stretch, but just could not pass the bay son of Into Mischief.  

   Authentic ran the 1 1/4 miles (10 furlongs) in 2:00.61 and won by 1 1/4 lengths.  Tiz The Law was second by 2 lengths, ahead of Mr. Big News ( a long shot) in third, who was 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Honor A.P. in fourth.

Authentic, center, winning the Derby; Tiz The Law at left

with white shadow roll

   In betting payouts (each of these a $2 bet), Authentic paid $18.80 to win; Tiz The Law paid $3.40 to place; and and Mr. Big News paid $16.80 to show.  The Exacta (again, all $2 bets) paid $41; the Trifecta paid $2,623.60; and the Superfecta paid $15,851.60.

   It was announced today that Authentic and Thousand Words will both be entered in the (now third leg of the Triple Crown) Preakness Stakes, to be run October 4 at Pimlico Racetrack.  In this odd year, the Preakness will be run 4 weeks after the Derby, instead of the usual 2 weeks.  However, it will be run at it's normal length 1 3/16 miles, and at it's usual track, "Old Hilltop" outside of Baltimore, Mayland.

   To top of the weirdness of the 2020 Kentucky Derby, after Thousand Words flipped in the paddock, in the Winner's Circle after the race, Authenic spooked at something, and sent several people flying, including his trainer, Bob Baffert.  Baffert, seeing the colt start to spin uncontrollably, pushed several people to safety, before being hit by Authentic's hindquarters....   No one was harmed, thankfully.

Bob Baffert, white hair and blue jacket, going down as Authentic

spins in Winner's Circle

The complete order of finish in the 2020 Kentucky Derby:

1   -  Authentic

2   -  Tiz The Law

3   -  Mr. Big News

4   -  Honor A.P.

5   -  Max Player

6   -  Storm The Court

7   -  Enforceable

8   -  Ny Traffic

9   -  Necker Island

10 -  Major Fed

11 -  Sole Volante

12 -  Winning Impression

13 -  Money Moves

14 -  Attachment Rate

15 -  South Bend