Hpnmagdec14 by Horse Player NOW

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CONTENTS NOVEMBER ‘14 5

From The Publisher

7 The Teaser

Topics that titillate the racing mind.

12 Back to Night School

Approaching a Day at the Races is our archive subject from the online nationalfan education program.

30 Oaklawn Unveiling

Jerry Shottenkirk previews the upcoming seasonin Hot Springs.

35 Santa Anita Preview

SoCal’s post-Christmas present attracts Jeremy Plonk’s attention.

39 New Meadowlands Inaugural Season at Success

Ken Warkentin looks back at 2014 in the Big M’s new digs.

43 Who Pays Attention 16 Winter in Nawlins

Brian W. Spencer provides insight into racing at Fair Grounds.

21 Questions for Caton

Caton Bredar has anchored down at Gulfstream forthe winter.

25 Here Comes the Sun

Brian Nadeau offers what to look for (andhow to bet) at Gulfstream.

to Quarter Horse Racing? You Should.

Denis Blake gives you the crossover from TBs to QHs.

47 December Calendar

Stakes, key dates, Race of Month

52 Galloping Out

Jeremy Plonk provides 14 things we learnedin 2014.

From the Publisher Statistically speaking, I’ve seen a spike in many good handicappers during the winter months of racing. We track every win and loss among our Horse Player NOW team, and I do the same for my personal play. I’m not exactly sure what it is, perhaps it’s as simple as the tracks that are running, but winter seems to be a hot time of year to play. Our team has you dialed in for the premier race meetings of winter this month. From Gulfstream to Santa Anita to Fair Grounds and Oaklawn, we’ll preview a quartet of the biggest meets in the game. And while this doesn’t sum up all of winter’s gems – lest we forget Aqueduct and Tampa Bay Downs’ significant handle chunks – these are the meets at which we focus most of our attention and have had historically the most success. It’s been a wonderful first season of Horse Player NOW Mag. If there are any ways we can improve the publication in 2015, please email me Jeremy@Horseplayernow.com.

- JP

Editor, Publisher, Designer Jeremy Plonk Contributing Writers Caton Bredar Denis Blake Jerry Shottenkirk Brian Nadeau Brian W. Spencer Ken Warkentin Photography Chief Enzina Mastrippolito (Photosbyz) Contributing Photographers Coady Photography / Oaklawn Hodges Photography / Fair Grounds Adam Coglianese / NYRA Michael Lisa / Meadowlands Dustin Orona / Remington Park

THE TEASER:

From new light on a.m. works to Teaser, definition: A male foolish fantasies horse used at breeding farms to determine whether to Japanese snubs, a mare is ready to receive a stallion. Also, perhaps the eventually it will all most unfulfilling occupation in the universe. make sense. Working Out Workouts Ever wonder how a first-time starter with a single reported workout contained in a past performance line could be ready to run against (and defeat) foes that have numerous breeze times listed below their names? Teaser does all the time. And whenever one of those first-timers with just one (or even two) listed works beats him, he just shakes his head like an overworked inner-city cop as vandals shatter windows in an abandoned building. Don‟t sweat the small stuff. The operative word in this workout nonsense is „reported,‟ and while a runner may have had just one of

those, he probably also has had several „unreported‟ breezes. Now, before you get all hot and bothered and jump on the Internet to wail about how crooked the races are, realize this: This has been going on forever! And you are still alive. Imagine that. It‟s understood that „official‟ clockers don‟t time horses at training centers. Why? Because no one pays to make that happen. Workout times at these facilities are reported based on the honor system. Until now, that is. Bruno De Julio, an independent published clocker, horse owner, bloodstock agent and syndication manager, recently was denied admittance to Palm Beach Downs, a training center in Del Ray Beach.

Fantasy Fulfilled One thing led to another and this whole issue of „reported‟ workouts Can‟t do something you want to in caught a good breeze in its sails real life? That‟s okay; you can and picked up some momentum. probably do it in a fantasy world As per a Horseraceinsider.com story, the folks at Gulfstream Park instead. Or at least have the have taken the baton and run with decency to call it a fantasy world. it. The Hallandale track has hired a That‟s where Monmouth Park and clocker to work Palm Beach Downs New Jersey are headed in a quest and intends to hire another to time to legalize sports wagering. works at Payson Park, as well. A federal These workouts judge recently will be published told them they in past So far, it’s not entirely can‟t take performance data. clear what ‘fantasy sports bets in sports betting’ might So, there you order to boost entail exactly, but if it’s have it: Possible a struggling in line with what we’ve full disclosure of horse racing come to know and love workout product and to as ‘geek gambling,’ information from aid failing count me in. two popular casinos; Florida training instead centers. Happy? Teaser‟s not. Monmouth has announced it will offer fantasy sports betting. Used to be when one of those onework wonders flattened Teaser‟s So far, it‟s not entirely clear what tickets, he had a built-in excuse: „fantasy sports betting‟ might entail “No way I can play a horse with exactly, but if it‟s in line with what one workout showing! Crooks!” we‟ve come to know and love as „geek gambling,‟ count me in. Now, when one of those Palm Beach or Payson runners knocks Traditional „fantasy sports‟ usually him out of the Rainbow Six, he‟ll involve players selecting or drafting have no one to blame but a fictional roster of professional himself…and Bruno De Julio. athletes which then competes against other fictional rosters of

professional athletes on a yearly, monthly or even daily basis. Wins and losses then are established according to the amount of points scored by each roster member in real-world sporting events. Team owners pay entry or registration fees to compete and prizes to winners come in cold, hard cash. Professional sports leagues and the NCAA are behind the federal gambling ban, but they support and sometimes even operate „fantasy sports‟ leagues. Teaser wants to make sure he‟s got this one straight: It‟s illegal in New Jersey (and in most other states) to win or lose money based on what happens during an actual sporting event. However, it‟s also simultaneously legal to win or lose money based on what happens in an actual sporting event, as long as it involves fantasy teams composed of real players.

horse racing. Unlike other sports, gamblers can wager on horse racing for real! World Super Jockeys Series…sort of

The World Super Jockeys Series, an international event launched by the Japan Racing Association in 1987, attracts top caliber jockeys from Europe, North America, Oceania and Asia for a captivating two-day, four-race series enjoyed by fans in Japan and around the world.

Say what?

The jockeys, selected for outstanding performances through the season, ride on Japanese mounts chosen randomly by drawing. Points are awarded for each race and the jockey with the most points at the end of the second day wins. This year we welcome eight top-class jockeys from Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia and Hong Kong to join eight outstanding Japanese jockeys to claim this year‟s title.

Guess that‟s why there isn‟t widespread interest in fantasy

So says the publicity release promoting the event.

In the first place, Teaser hates jockey challenges. They don‟t prove a thing. While jocks are brave, incredible athletes, the sport‟s called „horse racing‟ and not „jockey racing‟ for a reason. Jocks get way too much praise when horses win and way too much blame when they lose. The little fellas are paid 10% of the purse and, according to capitalism, that‟s what the job‟s worth. Still, this Japanese World Super Jockeys Series has Teaser bent out of shape because not one USbased jockey is involved. That‟s right, zero, zilch, nada. How is that possible? What got lost in translation? Cash Asmussen won the inaugural event in 1987 and Jerry Bailey scored best in 1996. The top prize is $30,000 in US currency, with $20k to second and $10k to third. Sounds like a decent payday. Perhaps no top US jock was interested in giving up stateside mounts for the weekend Nov. 2930. After all, there are plenty of stakes races on both coasts immediately following Thanksgiving. Maybe Series riders mainly include those who are conveniently in town for the Japan Cup?

For Teaser it‟s most palatable to imagine top US jocks declining an invitation than to think none was offered. It‟s just not right to call something the World Super Jockeys Series without including at least one Yank in the irons. - HPN

This month’s topic of review:

DAILY APPROACH

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.

“Approaching a Day at the Races” has been a topic over the years in Night School and one that gets a lot of follow-up interest from both novice and more-serious players. What measures should you take in the lead up to a race and raceday? We’ll examine that and more. All Night School archives on any subject remain available free to read, listen and view. In this “Back to Night School” edition, we’ll sample some of the best moments from the past three seasons as we have discussed “Approaching a Day at the Races.

Let’s take a look at a few archive videos on the subject as well as a highlight from our full, 90-minute session with HRTV’s Aaron Vercruysse. Videos feature Jeremy Plonk, Tom Hammond and Bob Neumeier of NBC Sports. Click either video to view now.

Aaron Vercruysse (HRTV): Replays are a big key to success. I am also a big fan of watching trouble horses in bad races get overbet. I am old school, I love the newspaper DRF, not downloaded PPs … I’m like Linus and his blanket. I try and get my work done before I get to the races. This makes me more comfortable about the day; it is all in the attitude. Everyone that handicaps before the track has "one" horse they love. I always try to "end" a multi-race wager with my horse; it keeps you from having to play more. Racing is like fashion ... less is more. How many big bets lose and little bets win? FULL 2011 chat transcript.

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As Thanksgiving approached, the third-oldest racetrack in the country opened its doors again when Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots kicked off its 143rd season of Thoroughbred racing. The biggest news coming into the season was the bombshell announcement made by Rosie Napravnik (pictured) that she would not be returning to the saddle in New Orleans, or anywhere, for the foreseeable future. Expecting a child with trainer Joe Sharp and placing family first, she opened the door for another rider to claim top honors this season, ending her 4year reign atop the standings. Napravnik had won a third of all

graded stakes at Fair Grounds over the last 4 years, opening up highend wins for the rest of the colony. Fair Grounds always hosts a deep jockey colony, but with the absence of Napravnik, Shaun Bridgmohan, and Leandro Goncalves, there are roughly 200 wins from last season now up for grabs. James Graham, second behind Napravnik the last three seasons, figures to pick up a handful of her more lucrative mounts from Tom Amoss. Richard Eramia rates as another capable contender for the top spot with his business firmly cemented amongst the Louisiana horsemen.

Apprentice Andre Ramgeet, barely more than 400 rides into his career, has been turning heads with intelligent rides in the early stages of the meet and could continue to make his presence felt.

Hawley’s horses looked fairly competitive on paper in their first starts of the meet, but it was when his runners got around to making their second start at the stand that they really woke up. It felt like his second-out runners were winning There has not been much almost by default daily, and often movement in the trainer race as at square prices. Hawley tends to nearly all of the freshen his big names are horses for back with roughly two One trainer who produced a similarly sized months prior favorite angle of mine last strings as years to the Fair season is Wes Hawley – and it’s past. Tom Amoss Grounds meet, a timely note given the date of and Steve and that first publication of this article. Asmussen may start of the once again do season allows battle for leading them to shake trainer, with a roster of capable off just enough rust to fire big trainers lined up to win a handful shots in December. of races as well. Louisiana-based Eddie Johnston has a really classy Many improvements have been stable of nice horses who should made throughout the facility with make plenty of noise in the extensive upgrades on the Louisiana-bred ranks. backstretch coupled with the replacement of nearly 1,700 feet of One trainer who produced a drainage pipes underneath the turf favorite angle of mine last season course. While those improvements is Wes Hawley – and it’s a timely were cause for cautious optimism note given the date of publication for the upcoming meet, there is of this article. Last season, still a place at Fair Grounds where

hope always springs eternal â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the road to the Louisiana Derby. Improving 3-year olds will get a chance to go long in allowance company in late December to prove their worthiness to take a shot in the Grade III Lecomte on January 17. The Grade II Risen Star on February 21 provides a final local chance to punch a ticket into the $750,000 Grade II Louisiana Derby to be held on the penultimate day of the meet, March 28. The lesson may have been learned by the public by now, but pay attention to whether or not trainer Dallas Stewart sends a Louisiana Derby also-ran to the Kentucky Derby. Two years in a row such a horse has crashed the exacta behind the victorious race favorite: Golden Soul, second to Orb at 34-1 in 2013, and Commanding Curve, second to California Chrome at 37-1 this year. While the boys will get most of the publicity with clear Kentucky Derby implications, perhaps the most important race in determining future success over the years has

Road to the Derby and Oaks January 17 Lecomte Silverbulletday February 21 Risen Star Rachel Alexandra March 28 Louisiana Derby Fair Grounds Oaks

been the Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks. With six of the last 10 Fair Grounds Oaks winners having gone on to glory in the Kentucky Oaks, there has not been a more productive or important Oaks prep race in the entire country over the last dozen years. Producing superstars such as Rachel Alexandra, Untapable, Ashado and Proud Spell just since 2004, the Fair Grounds Oaks is the place to start when handicapping on Derby

Eve at Churchill Downs.

opportunities for big bombs.

There is an incredible amount of history at Fair Grounds, but from a contemporary standpoint, it still remains one of the most intriguing and challenging handicapping puzzles in the country owing to a fair-playing main track and an almost impossibly long stretch run. Horizontal or multi-race players can feast on generous payoffs in the pick four due to solid fields and a competitive Louisiana-bred racing program that provides some

In a city celebrated for its unique culture, irresistible eats, and round-the-clock opportunities for revelers, there is a reason Fair Grounds has stood the test of time in New Orleans â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and for the 143rd time it will again play the part of a beautiful winter getaway for those spending their afternoons shivering in colder climates up North. We'll try to send some sunshine - HPN your way.

AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE Q-RACING JOURNAL TO FOLLOW AMERICA’S FASTEST ATHLETES!

Each issue, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll take your questions for Caton Bredar, Horse Player NOW analyst, Night School co-host and noted reporter for HRTV. What's the difference between Gulfstream Park and Gulfstream Park West? Very simply, they are two different tracks being run by the same ownership/management team. Gulfstream Park is the same track as always, located in Hallandale, FL and owned and operated by The Stronach Group. Gulfstream Park West is the track formerly known as Calder, located near Opa Locka, FL and operated since October 2014 by The Stronach Group. The Calder property has been owned by Churchill Downs Inc., which still operates the casino located adjacent to the track and grandstand. For the most part, the horses and horsemen competing (and the caliber of competition) at GP during the summer months and GPW in October and November are

essentially the same. The names and quality will begin a gradual change upward when racing restarts at Gulfstream Park on December 6 with the arrival of many Midwest and Northern/East Coast horsemen, jockeys and horses. When you handicap the GP races, it's going to be important to note any differences in running lines for horses based in Florida year-round as the two track surfaces are very different even though the people and horses are often the same. GPW remains a deeper track that some horses really take to and others struggle over; going back to GP can make a big difference.

Pose your questions each week in Night School â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or by emailing askcaton@horseplayernow.com!

Can anyone besides Todd Pletcher make a case for leading trainer at Gulfstream's Championship Meet? There's strength in numbers, and Pletcher, who has led the standings at GP for the past decade, is tough to get past. Since the winter of 2004, no trainer has won more races--or purse money--than the Toddster. That said, the changing dynamics of racing in South Florida, combined with a change in Pletcher's base of operations (for the first time he'll train and stable at Palm Beach Downs training center), leave the door open a crack for another conditioner to step to the forefront. Away from Palm Meadows (which is owned by Gulfstream Park), Pletcher will be under zero pressure to run at Gulfstream as opposed to any other winter racing venue; at the same time, it remains to be seen how effective horses shipping in from Palm Beach Downs will be, as opposed to those shipping in from other venues. I’m not saying Pletcher won't win the title again, but with some powerful outfits gearing up

more than ever for the winter and simultaneously having horses based down in Florida year-‘round, it's possible someone other than Pletcher could assume a lead role. What do you most look forward to, for the Gulfstream 2015 Championship Meeting? Everything! Even if you didn't have some of the best weather in the nation and didn't have the Atlantic Ocean and the beach in the background of the shot from the quarter-pole camera, the racing would be enough to make you look forward to Gulfstream every year as much as a child looks forward to Santa Claus. The quality of the jockey colony is superb with an unbelievable quantity of jockeys to go along with the quality, making the raceriding as competitive as any place you'll find. Two very different turf courses every racing day make for interesting and contentious grass racing. And the Rainbow 6 with a 20-cent minimum means every day you can, on a limited budget,

Pose your questions each week in Night School – or by emailing askcaton@horseplayernow.com!

swing for the fences and, at the same time, possibly hit for a decent score. The 3-year-old program is second to none. So chances are, if you don't see the next Kentucky Derby winner (like Animal Kingdom pictured below), you will at least see some of the major players in the Triple Crown picture (i.e. Tonalist in 2014). If standing out in the sunshine,

breathing in salty beach air as the horses run and the palm trees sway isn't enough, you can always finish the day off with a steak dinner at Christine Lee's on the third floor of the clubhouse, or a rum cocktail at the bar in the Village, just a stone's throw from the walking ring. You can celebrate or drown your losses, and you don't even have to leave the track! What's not to look forward to?

Follow me @CBredar

Pose your questions each week in Night School â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or by emailing askcaton@horseplayernow.com!

By Brian Nadeau

fter the obvious lull that is the postBreeders’ Cup portion of the racing calendar, the opening of the Gulfstream Park winter meet December 6 offers horseplayers a chance to dive back into the action and wager on what, undoubtedly, ranks as the winter’s best racing product. Large fields, turf racing and expansive horizontal wagers make Gulfstream an attractive handicapping destination. So, let’s take a look at the meet as a whole, along with a few important nuggets that I’ve picked up along the way that might help pad your wagering bankroll.

Speed Kills If the old Keeneland main track was known as a paved highway then the Gulfstream Park main track should now be known as the old Keeneland. Quite simply, speed is a must when you’re dealing with the main track at Gulfstream. And, yes, I know speed is always good to have, no matter where they run the races, but at Gulfstream it’s almost a necessity. Last year, 28% of the main track races were won in wire-to-wire fashion. Add in another 16% that were won by pace pressers (those within a half-length at the pace

call) and it means that 44% of the main track races run at Gulfstream were won by horses within a halflength or closer to the lead. And we’re talking about a sample of well over 400 races, so this is a tried and true scenario over the course of my research, which went from December through the last weekend of March. Conversely, only 15% of the dirt races were won by closers, so if you’re backing a horse with little speed, you better get a fair price before taking the plunge. The only sample that is left is the stalkers, which won 41% of the time, so simple math tells us that 85% of the main track races run at Gulfstream Park over a four-month span were won by horses within 4 lengths of the lead. When you’re constructing your tickets and you’ve got to decide between a runner with tactical speed and one without it, it should be a pretty easy choice. But you should also do your due diligence when watching the races and take note of a winning closer or a horse that made a sustained

run from the back to run into the number. While it might not prove fruitful at Gulfstream, these are the types of overlaid horses that pop up at Aqueduct and Belmont in the spring and can often fire at big prices over race tracks that play much, much fairer. Todd is God

Me telling you Todd Pletcher (pictured) is going to win a lot of races at Gulfstream isn’t exactly the equivalent of splitting the atom.

The country’s most prolific trainer sends out an assembly line of good-looking 3-year-olds every winter in South Florida that go on to make waves in their respected sophomore divisions. In the “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” world of wagering, “To Todd or not to Todd” is often a tough question. But just how lethal is Pletcher? The question got me to thinking, so I did some research, knowing the stats would be impressive, but they even surprised me. In the past three years (at Gulfstream only), Pletcher has sent out 33 first-time starters in 3-year-old maiden special weight races (for colts and fillies) on dirt that went off at 2-1 or lower. He’s won with a gaudy 55% of them, for an ROI that sits at $2.29. If you’re an exotics player, 74% of them ran in the money. If you want to take it a step further, 12 of the 33 have been odds-on and eight of them have won, for an ROI of $2.26. So what does it all mean? It’s pretty clear actually. Don’t play against any Pletcher first-time

starter at Gulfstream that gets bet. Of course, I know you’re saying “Well, I’m certainly not betting on some horse that has never run and is 4-5!” And I completely concur. But Gulfstream has a large and expansive wagering menu, filled with two pick fours, a pick five and the Rainbow 6 (more on that later), so taking a potential free square on a Pletcher firster would give you a huge leg up on your competition. And, as hard as it is to believe, a lot of people won’t be thinking the same way, as they are often scared to single in races loaded with young, inexperienced horses, many of which have never started before. That universal good thing might be 4-5 on the board, but he/she could be 5-2 in the horizontal exotics, and that’s something you should be taking advantage of. What to Watch? The 3-year-olds, of Course! While the February 7 Grade I Donn Handicap for older horses will garner a lot of attention, Gulfstream has forged its niche as a Mecca for 3-year-olds and a

pivotal proving ground on the road to the Kentucky Derby. The maiden and allowance races in December and early January funnel several horses into the lucrative graded stakes in late January, February and March, when the Grade I Florida Derby is run on the 28th. The Holy Bull (January 24, pictured above in Barbaro’s 2008 win) and Fountain of Youth (February 21) will begin to give us an idea of just how strong the South Florida 3-year-olds are this year, but do your homework before those key stakes to get an even better idea. I’ll be paying close attention to the aforementioned maiden and allowance races leading up to those two stakes, as you can often unearth several live contenders at overlaid odds. As always, trip handicapping is one of the last handicapping stones that is

virtually unturned, so take some detailed notes to get a good handle on the competition. And to take it one step further while revisiting what I mentioned above, winning from off the pace isn’t easy at Gulfstream, but a long-striding 3-year-old that is able to overcome the track profile and make headway in the stakes races might be worth a long look as he continues down the path to the first Saturday in May. Chasing That Rainbow If you’ve followed me on Xpressbet’s website through my weekly blogs, or in our online

chats, you know by now I’m a big proponent of Gulfstream’s Rainbow 6 wager. Simply, it’s a $0.20 base wager that pays out the full pool only if there is one single winner. If there isn’t one single winner, the majority of the pool carries over and the rest is divided among the multiple winners who did hit all six races. It grows in a hurry and, at such a small base wager, allows for the little guy to join in on the fun and get a ton of bang for their wagering buck. I don’t get involved until the pool gets well above $100,000 and starts to attract national attention. When this is the case, it offers daily opportunities to hit a relatively formful sequence and still get paid handsomely. I’ll offer one caveat, and it may be an odd one: I’m not trying to be the single winner. Frankly, I’m not that good, not that naïve and not that wealthy that I can throw thousands of dollars at the bet on a daily basis, hoping for that one monumental score. I like to play for anywhere from $20-

$80, in the hopes of turning that into $800-$5,000. And don’t forget, with a $0.20 base play you can have a ton of coverage on a ticket that falls within my range. What I like to try and do is identify one or two races in the sequence that could offer chaos and use as many horses with a hint of form that I can. I’ll also always look for one single – a horse I can hang my hat on and be okay with losing should he/she do the same. The beauty of a minimal play is that you don’t have to pull your hair out if a 5-2 single goes down in flames (you didn’t have that much tied into said horse). With my budget, I don’t want to be getting involved in a sequence that looks impossible, because I know I have no chance and will simply be throwing my money down the wagering drain. When that’s the case, I just pass knowing there’s a great chance no one will have a single winning ticket anyway, and I will just look to tomorrow. There’s always tomorrow. – HPN

Oaklawn Unveiling By Jerry Shottenkirk When Danza streaked along the rail and captured the Arkansas Derby (pictured), it meant the end of a captivating 2014 Oaklawn Park racing season. Before Danza was even pulled up, the wheels were in motion for 2015, and Oaklawn has given plenty of reasons to look forward

to the season that starts on Jan. 9 and ends on April 11. The most significant change is an incentives program for Lasix-free horses. Oaklawn owner Charles Cella has called the incentives experimental and his track is offering a 10-percent bonus of a winnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s share for horses that run and win. Incentives available up to a total of $1.4 million for the season will be available. That means a possibility of a $1,080 bonus for the lowest level and up to $60,000 for the Arkansas Derby.

It may be a step in the right direction, but it doesn’t make handicapping any easier. Perhaps horses can run to their par or even better without Lasix. Over this track and during this season, it’s going to take a start to find out. It puts a wrinkle in a handicapper’s approach to gauging if Lasix is a necessity for certain horses. Handicapping at Oaklawn is challenging, particularly in the first part of the season. Some horses come into the season after time away from the races; many others come in from tracks in the MidSouth region and hit Hot Springs, Ark., running. A good number of horses-forcourses become common. No less than 15 runners won 3 or more times last season. If they adapt to the track, they often continue the success, and with that, they often continue that success at other

ports. The best example from last year was Moonshine Mullin. After setting for third in an optional claiming race in his first outing of the season, he reeled off wins in an $80,000 claiming race and a couple of optional claimers. He went on to Churchill Downs, where he beat the heavy hitters in the G2 Alysheba and G1 Stephen Foster. He outlasted Will Take Charge, Departing and Revolutionary, among others. He was claimed during the ’13 fall season at Remington Park, and owner Randy Patterson and trainer Randy Morse enjoyed the Moonshine magic often during the Oaklawn season. Oaklawn was home to a few other horses that developed into some of the country’s best. Work All Week won a sprint to start off the year at Oaklawn and Don’t Tell Sophia worked her way into the elite after developing into a great runner over the OP strip.

There is no reason to believe the talent in 2015 cannot be on par with last year. In fact, it might be better. Work All Week, who went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, is expected to run. Graded winner Don’t Tell Sophia is expected to battle in the track’s lucrative stakes program, and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies champ Take Charge Brandi, Moonshine Mullin, and the Steve Asmussen-trained duo of Tapiture and Breeders’ Cup Distaff heroine Untapable are expected to compete later in the season. Oaklawn has its usual pair of G1 races in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (April 11) and the $600,000 Apple Blossom (April 10). The G2 Rebel Stakes (March 14) offers $750,000, the G3 Fantasy Stakes (April 4) is worth $400,000, the G3 Count Fleet (April 9) brings a purse of $300,000 and the G2 Oaklawn

Handicap (April 11) offers $600,000.

While the stakes program is as lucrative as any in the country, the daily cards bring quality and have been a showcase for many trainers whose horses are ready to go once they begin racing at the Spa, which opened in 1904. It’s never a surprise when Asmussen wins a training title, but he was particularly dominant in 2014 and will return with his usual strong cast of characters. Asmussen-trained horses won 22 percent of their races and more

than $1.8 million in purses – nearly Channing Hill won 18 races and twice the amount of nearest just over $1 million in mount competitor D. Wayne Lukas. earnings. Jon Court captured 26 However, while the “power” stables races and his mounts earnings have done well, they haven’t been were $990,000. Court comes in off alone. One of the most notable is a renaissance Fall Meet at the stable of Federico Villafranco, Churchill. The outstanding, who has trained a powerful string regional-based Cliff Berry always is for owner Danny Caldwell over the in the top 10 and gets his share of past few years. In 2014, Villafranco “live” mounts as well, as does trainees won 25 of journeyman Luis Oaklawn often works 82 races for 30Quinonez. best for speed horses, percent success. Trainers who but it’s certainly possible Some of the frequent Churchill to get it done off the country’s most Downs, Fair Grounds, pace. successful Remington Park, conditioners pop up on a daily Hawthorne, Turfway and Delta basis. Kenny McPeek, Mark Casse, Downs often fill much of the card Wayne Catalano, Tony Dutrow, to start off the season, but once Bret Calhoun, Chris Richard and the big-money races begin, New Donnie Von Hemel are regulars Yorkers, Floridians and Californians here, and J.R. Caldwell and Cody will make their presence felt. Autrey and many others will have Oaklawn often works best for their stables ready to go. speed horses, but it’s certainly As one would expect, Asmussen’s possible to get it done off the pace. first-call rider in this area – Ricardo The short stretch of mile races, Santana, Jr. – dominated. He won which begin and end at the 59 races and his mounts earned in sixteenth-pole, often make it excess of $2.5 million. Norberto difficult to run down the speed. But Arroyo, Jr. won 31 races and $1.1 more times than not, it is a fairmillion in mount earnings, and playing track. - HPN

SANTA ANITA PREVIEW By Jeremy Plonk

he defined seasons of Southern California racing have taken a noticeable turn of late. When you’ve balanced the annual turkey dinner at Thanksgiving with both the Detroit Lions and Del Mar racing action, you know things have changed.

But there’s something about Dec. 26 that still rings true on this circuit. Opening day at Santa Anita for the winter meeting (no matter how long it now lasts), still feels like a kickoff to the New Year. After three consecutive SA years that culminated with Breeders’ Cup bids, the 2014-’15 campaign at the Great Race Place will have a different feel as the championships move to Keeneland in the autumn. Perhaps once again, Santa Anita’s prized stakes schedule can resume more of its historical atmosphere

and become less of a stopping-off point for the Breeders’ Cup. In all, eight Grade 1 races will be run at the upcoming winter meet, which concludes April 19 before rebranding and reloading with a spring meet April 25-June 28.

Recent runners like I’ll Have Another and California Chrome have proven that, and the Santa Anita Derby historically has produced as many ‘wow’ moments as any 3-year-old spring stakes that I can recall. Think Mister Frisky. Think Winning Colors. Think Sunday Silence. Think Point Given.

For me, the Santa Anita winter meet always has been about two The Daily Approach of those premier Grade 1s – the March 7 Santa Anita Handicap and No doubt the weekend stakes the April 9 Santa menu at Santa Anita Anita Derby. With stacks up with any The player’s pick five, all due respect to locale in America. But the first five races on the the other divisions, the four-day race card, remains one of the it’s those marquee week (Thursdaycircuit’s best bets with races for the top Sunday) that has just a 14% takeout. colts and geldings become the norm in on the west coast Arcadia provides a that rev my motor. There’s significantly different product from something about the ‘Big Cap that a wagering standpoint. tugs at my sense of importance like Last year’s 69-day winter meeting no other handicap race in the saw handle grow 4% over the country. It’s not always a showcase same dates the season prior. of Hall of Famers-to-be, but it pulls But as has been a national problem you in like it could be. That’s the with a shrunken foal crop since sign of a great race. 2008, the average field size during The same can be said about the the winter meeting dropped from Santa Anita Derby. In any given 8.08 starters per race in 2013 to year, the west coast could pop THE 7.66 last season. horse for the Triple Crown trail.

Betting Southern California requires those three won’t be players once horseplayers to compound value again. So how do you separate? via the multi-race wagers given the Baffert went just 3-for-16 with field-size issues. Consider that a first-time starters at last year’s series of 6-horse fields in a pick winter meet, while Sadler was 3three still offers 216 combinations for-8 with more limited strikes. vs. the 120 possibilities for an Hollendorfer went 1-for-7 in debuts intra-race trifecta in those same 6at the meet. horse fields. String together a On turf, the advantage also went quintet of 7-horse line-ups in a pick to Sadler with 16 grass wins at the five and you have 16,849 combos meet – Hollendorfer had 10, and a reasonable way to turn $30 Baffert just 2. Both into $1,500 without Sadler and the ‘Dorf tapping your innerDon’t be surprised if the scored at 19% on the Powerball supply of white-haired one gets green. luck. The player’s off to a flying start at pick five, the first The trio also led the the SA stand with more five races on the colony in stakes wins, bullets to fire. card, remains one paced by Sadler’s 8 of the circuit’s best (31% wins), Baffert (22%) and bets with just a 14% takeout. Hollendorfer (12%) each had 7. Who’s Hot, Who’s Not? Jerry Hollendorfer, John Sadler and Bob Baffert all finished within a single victory for the leading trainer title at last year’s winter meet and all won at a 20% rate or more. If you go back two seasons, only three wins separated that power trio atop the standings. Nothing on the landscape has changed to think

Because Del Mar has replaced Hollywood as the circuit’s lead-in, it’s worth nothing that early in the Dmr stand, Baffert has started about half as many runners as Hollendorfer and Sadler, and may have more horses with more conditions to attack for the start of the Santa Anita meeting. Don’t be surprised if the white-haired one

gets off to a flying start at the SA stand with more bullets to fire. Rafael Bejarano (pictured) annihilated the riderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standings during the last winter meet. And his autumn return to the top during the former Oak Tree timeframe indicates that his summer Santa Anita swoon this year was an aberration. Bejarano nearly doubled-up any other rider in turf wins last winter at SA, winning exactly as many

times as No. 2 and 3-rated grass riders Joe Talamo and Corey Nakatani combined. When it came to the money races, it was no surprise to see veterans Mike Smith (10 winners, 18%) and Gary Stevens (9 winners, 25%) atop the stakes mix last SA winter. Bejarano (9 winners, 15%) and Nakatani (9 winners, 22%) also were in high demand in stakes.

-HPN

New Meadowlands Inaugural Season a Success By Ken Warkentin

The inaugural season at the New Meadowlands began on November 23, 2013 when a sparkling, state-of-the-art grandstand was unveiled opposite the original building. The great Foiled Again, the richest pacer of all time, joined the sport’s first $4 million pacer and now-retired Gallo Blue Chip to help launch the grand opening. They were photographed side-by-side in a very special winner’s circle presentation (pictured right) and a new era was underway. Foiled Again wrapped up his third straight division title in the inaugural TVG FFA Pace. The 10year-old passed the $6 million mark, and symbolized the dominance of Yannick Gingras, who won his third straight driving title, and leading trainer Ron Burke, who passed his own astounding earnings record in 2014.

Typically, several stars of the sport, such as Sweet Lou, Trixton, JK Endofanera and Always B Miki kickstarted their campaigns at the Big M, but one of the biggest stories of the meet was the arrival of European super trotter Sebastian K and his Swedish trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt, who unleashed his eight-year-old barefoot wonder on May 10. Sebastian K’s first American start was an astounding world recordequaling 1:50.1. What a way to say hello!

Sebastion K came right back the following week to set a stakes record of 1:50.2 in the Arthur J. Cutler Memorial. He would then become the fastest trotter in history with a 1:49 mile at Pocono Downs, and later equaled the miletrack world record of 1:50 in the John Cashman, Jr. Memorial. Ake Svanstedt would also fuel his Hambletonian dreams by winning the Peter Haughton Memorial with Centurion ATM in a world recordequaling 1:53.2. On the pacing side, Sweet Lou certainly did his share to grab the spotlight in 2014 with an amazing streak of his own. The five-year-old Ron Burke trainee reeled off 10 straight wins, all with Hall of Famer Ron Pierce in the sulky, including a record six sub1:48 miles, and major wins in the William Haughton Memorial in 1:47.1 and the US Pacing Championship in 1:47.2, while

pushing past $3 million. Other Ron Burke stable highlights came with world champion trotting filly and Merrie Annabelle winner Mission Brief, and double millionaire pacing mare Rocklamation, who won the Golden Girls and Lady Liberty. Going into the season, Hall of Fame trainer Jimmy Takter had a lock on the Hambletonian with a titanic trio of Father Patrick, Nuncio and Trixton. World champion Father Patrick went into the big dance on a 15-race winning streak, and fresh off a 1:51.3 victory over his stablemates in the Stanley Dancer Memorial. But when the big favorite made a break from post 10, and Nuncio took on heavy pressure, Takter himself had Trixton poised to pounce and won the second-fastest Hambo ever in 1:50.3. Takter also captured the Hambletonian Oaks with Lifetime Pursuit in a world

record of 1:50.4, one of five stakes wins on the day for superstar driver Yannick Gingras. Trainer Tony Alagna continued to produce a string of young stars like the outstanding Artspeak, the follow-up to triple millionaire Captaintreacherous, a freshman son of Western Ideal who won his first seven starts, including the NJSS Final, and part of a successful Top 5 first season at the Meadowlands for rising star catch driver Scott Zeron. The 2014 Meadowlands Pace once again produced drama and excitement, and a $3,000 bargain, He’s Watching, and Tim Tetrick exploded to equal the alltime fastest race mile of 1:46.4. It was the Bionic Man’s fourth Pace trophy, and sparked a rousing celebration for Canadian trainer Dave Menary (pictured). The New Meadowlands also was center stage for the track’s all-time leading driver, John Campbell, who won a NJSS Final with Doo Wop Hanover and was second in his 28th Hambo appearance with Nuncio.

Brothers Ray and Larry Remmen, the track’s all time leading stable at $30 million, won the Mistletoe Shalee with Sandbetweenurtoes. Stacy Chiodo enjoyed her own memorable moment. New Jersey’s sweetheart became the first female driver to break 1:50 with her 11year-old pacer Mighty Young Joe in 1:49.3. Newcomers like Brett Miller, Dan Rawlings, Nancy Johansson, Tyler Smith and Vinnie Ginsberg all made their mark during the first season in front of the fabulous new building. Overall, the first season at the New Meadowlands yielded promising results, strong handles, positive feedback about the stunning venue and its amenities, customer service from a proud team, nightly fanfriendly promotions and world-class harness racing, capped by a blockbuster Hambletonian Day. The tradition of attracting top stars with great events, staging classic moments and creating modern day success continues into a bright future at Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment!

-HPN

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Who Pays Attention to Quarter Horse Racing? You Should.

By Denis Blake I used to think about American Quarter Horse racing in the same way many of you probably do. In other words, I didn’t. Yes, I was aware that it existed…but betting on it? No. As a horseplayer, I had learned to stick to what I knew, and I didn’t know much about Quarter Horse racing. Then one day at Canterbury Park, the Quarter Horses demanded that I stand up and take notice of them. At the time I was a handicapper for Daily Racing Form, and my normal routine in the press box was to pay close attention to the Thoroughbred races and then start to handicap the next day’s races when the Quarter Horse races started (usually the last two or three races).

That particular day was no different. I played the Thoroughbred races, and then turned my attention to next day’s handicapping puzzle. I didn’t pay much attention to the two Quarter Horse races but did notice that one jockey had swept both races. I had all but forgotten about that by the time the next day’s races came around. But then the same rider won the first Quarter Horse race of the card on a 6-1 shot. Despite the track announcer mentioning the rider’s hot streak, he went off at 10-1 in the next race on a horse that looked solid and promptly ran his streak to four. In the final race of the day, he was on a contender. Once more, despite many reminders of his hot streak by the announcer, the public

did not seem to notice, and he won again at 4-1.

Horse racing (especially those that are primarily Thoroughbred venues) most of the money wagered comes from simulcast/online outlets where players are accustomed to Thoroughbred racing.

I started to realize that I may have uncovered something â&#x20AC;&#x201C; no one was paying much attention to the Quarter Horses. I started out slowly, but after a little practice So how do you adjust your and research, I improved my Thoroughbred skills to play Quarter Quarter Horse handicapping skills Horses? Much is the same, but and started to turn a profit. It there are differences. When it seemed that the public did not comes to distances, really know how to keep in mind that handicap the breed. So how do you adjust because of the I also found that it your Thoroughbred skills shorter races for was easier to make to play Quarter Horses? Quarter Horses, an money betting on Much is the same, but ideal distance may them, and not there are differences. not be much because favorites different than a notwin at a higher rate. so-ideal distance. I usually avoid chalk, and although favorites do win more often in Obviously the difference between Quarter Horse racing, it seems an 870-yard race (about four overlays are also easier to spot. furlongs) and a 350-yard sprint (a Besides being oblivious to the little more than 1 Â˝ furlongs) is previously mentioned jockey easy to understand, but even the streak, the betting public often difference between 400 and 440 does not adapt their Thoroughbred yards can be significant. handicapping skills to Quarter Horse racing. And while the Some Quarter Horses excel in nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier Quarter Horse those final 40 yards while others tracks, such as Los Alamitos and tire and fade. Just because a horse Remington Park, certainly do have can win going 4 00 does not dedicated and knowledgeable necessarily mean he can go 440. handicappers playing their races, at That is often ignored by the betting many other tracks with Quarter public.

One pitfall to look out for is the “finish position trap.” When you are glancing through a Quarter Horse’s past performances, don’t give too much credence to his position in the order of finish. Instead, keep your eyes on how far back he was with respect to the winner (in addition to his final time and speed rating). It is not uncommon for a Quarter Horse to finish fifth by a length or less. Was such a horse a contender? Quite possibly. Maybe he was just the victim of a closelymatched field with a blanket finish. Or perhaps a bump out of the gate hurt his chances. If a Thoroughbred finishes fifth, was he in contention at the end? Probably not. My point is this – if you see a Thoroughbred that has finished in the middle of the pack, he’s was probably outrun. But for a Quarter Horse, that may not always be the case. On the flip side, be sure to keep the beaten lengths in perspective for the two breeds. A Thoroughbred who finished four lengths behind the winner likely ran a respectable

race, but a Quarter Horse beaten by four lengths was likely outrun. Handicapping trouble is another area that can be vastly different. A slow break or some bumping out of the gate in a one-mile race is generally no big deal, but for a Quarter Horse it can be devastating. I am much more forgiving when it comes to completely throwing out a Quarter Horse’s poor performance. Even if he broke just a half-length back or got bumped out of the gate, either could have cost him a chance to win, and an off-the-board finish after a little trouble will always help the odds next time out. Just be careful of horses with chronic, self-inflicted problems at the gate. Also, watch for a horse that might get “pulled” to a betterthan-expected effort. If there is a clear-cut winner, give the horses to his immediate inside and outside an extra look. Sometimes those horses will jump up and run a big race as they chase, or seem to get “pulled,” by a superior runner (as opposed to keeping pace with

another horse who might not be a factor in the race). Another thing to keep in mind for those on the fence about wagering on Quarter Horses is that the abundance Thoroughbred handicapping information has eliminated many overlays that used to exist for that breed. Today’s elite handicappers have more available information than ever, and for the most part, they do not bet on Quarter Horses. Would you rather enter a pari-mutuel battle against a group that includes seasoned pros, or one that includes bettors who do not fully understand Quarter Horse racing yet are happy to put their money into the pool? Just as the early pioneers of Thoroughbred speed figures enjoyed great success, so can those who take the time and effort to handicap Quarter Horse racing. We all know that one of the keys to winning at pari-mutuel wagering is being smarter and better informed than your competition. That is a tall order regardless of what breed you are betting, but it’s not quite so daunting a task in Quarter Horse racing.

Will History be Made at Los Alamitos? If you are curious to try your hand at Quarter Horse racing, check out the card at Los Alamitos on December 14 when Heza Dasha Fire is scheduled to race in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity. The gelding has a perfect six-for-six record and would earn the $1 million Los Alamitos Cash Bonanza with a victory to complete a sweep of the track’s three major futurities. He would become the first horse ever to win the bonus, and it would put him within striking distance of Quarter Horse racing’s all-time earnings mark of nearly $2.8 million set by Ochoa.

Denis Blake is one of the American Quarter Horse Association’s Racing Aces and is also editor of American Racehorse and The Horsemen’s Journal magazines.

7 Valedictory (WO), 3&up, 14F Soviet Problem (LA), 2yof, 7F Jamison (Sun), 3&up, 6.5F NM Commission (Sun), f/m, 6F 12 Magic City (FG), 3&up, 1m70y Kudzu (FG), 2yo, 5.5F

Point Given / Photos By Z

DECEMBER 2014 6 Claiming Crown (GP), 8 stakes Jennings (Lrl), 3&up, 8F Marylander (Lrl), 2yo, 7F Willa on the Move (Lrl), f/m, 6F Gin Talking (Lrl), 2yof, 7F Kingarvie (WO), 2yo, 8.5F Garland of Roses (Aqu), f/m, 6F Inaugural (Tam), 2yo, 6F Sandpiper (Tam), 2yof, 6F PA Nursery (Prx), 2yo, 7F Holiday Inaugural (TP), f/m, 6F Gold Rush (GG), 2yo, 8F Lightning Jet (Haw), 3&up, 6F Powerless (Haw), f/m, 6F Arizona Breeders (TuP), 4 stakes KLAQ (Sun), 3&up, 5.5F

13 Starlet (LA), 2yof, 8.5F LA Champions Day (FG), 8 stakes Sugar Swirl (GP), f/m, 6F El Prado (GP), 3&up, 7.5F-T South Beach (GP), f/m, 7.5F-T Harlan’s Holiday (GP), 3&up, 8.5F IL Futurity (Haw), 2yo, 8.5F IL Debutante (Haw), 2yof, 8.5F 14 Springboard Mile (RP), 2yo, 8F Trapeze (RP), 2yof, 8F Useeit (RP), 3yof, 8F Jim Thorpe (RP), 3yo, 8F She’s All In (RP), f/m, 8.5F King Glorious (LA), 2yo, 7F Damon Runyon (Aqu), 2yo, 1m70y East View (Aqu), 2yof, 1m70y Enchantress (Sun), 2yof, 8F OR Showcase (PM), 7 stakes

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19 Lookout (DeD), f/m, 7.5F 20 Los Al Futurity (LA), 2yo, 8.5F Trpcl Prk Derby (GP), 3yo, 8.5F-T Trpcl Prk Oaks (GP), 3yof, 8.5F-T Sugar Bowl (FG), 2yo, 6F Letellier (FG), 2yof, 6F Prairie Bayou (TP), 3&up, 8.5F B-Connected (DeD), 3&up, 7.5F Bold Ego (Sun), f/m, 5.5F Hank Mills (TuP), 3&up, 8F-T Kachina (TuP), f/m, 8F-T Eleanor Casey (CT), 2yof, 7F 21 KHEY Sprint (Sun), 3yo, 6.5F

Eddie Logan (SA), 2yo, 8F-T Pago Hop (FG), 3yof, 8F-T Woodchopper (FG), 3yo, 8F-T McKnight (GP), 3&up, 12F-T La Prevoyante (GP), f/m, 12F-T Mr. Prospector (GP), 3&up, 6F MD Juvenile Champ (Lrl), 2yo, 7F Pasco (Tam), 2yo, 7F Gasparilla (Tam), 2yof, 7F Red Hedeman Mile (Sun), 2yo, 8F Lost in the Fog (TuP), 2yo, 6.5F AZ Juvenile Fillies (TuP), 2yof, 6.5F 28 Daytona (SA), 3&up, 6.5F-T Kalookan Queen (SA), f/m, 6.5F-T NY Stallion Series (Aqu), 2 stakes Dominguez (Sun), 3&up, 8.5F

23 Gift of the Magi (Prx), 3&up, 7F Mistletoe (Prx), f/m, 6F

26 Malibu (SA), 3yo, 7F La Brea (SA), 3yof, 7F Mathis Bros Mile (SA), 3yo, 8F-T MD Juv Filly Champ (Lrl), 2yof, 7F Gravesend (Aqu), 3&up, 6F

31 Luke Kruytbosch (TuP), 3yo, 8.5F (pictured right)

27 Midnight Lute (SA), 3&up, 6.5F Bobby Frankel (SA), f/m, 9F-T

Auld Lang Syne (Prx), 3&up, 1m70y

Valley Forge (Prx), 3&up, 6F

LA Futurity (FG), 2 stakes Bay Ridge (Aqu), f/m, 8.5F Alex Robb (Aqu), 3&up, 8.5F

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Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec

2 – Online: Night School 3 – Online: Woodbine Chat 3 – AQHA national poll 4 – Los Alamitos (TB) opens 4 – Turfway Park opens 5 – Online: Remington chat 5 – Sunland Park opens 5 – Finger Lakes closes 6 – Gulfstream winter opens 7 – Woodbine closes 10 – AQHA national poll 12 – Online: Remington chat 14 – Online: Remington chat 14 – Remington Park closes 14 – Golden Gate closes 17 – AQHA national poll 21 – Los Alamitos (TB) closes 23 – AQHA national poll 26 – Santa Anita opens 27 – Online: Saturday Social 31 – AQHA national poll Learn more about handicapping every Tuesday (8:30 pm ET) in Night School!

MALIBU STAKES December 26, 2014 SANTA ANITA PARK DECEMBER RACE OF THE MONTH Shakin It Up scored a 17/1 surprise last year over Central Banker. Click video to watch the replay! KEY INGREDIENTS TO THE MALIBU: Sprinters have had far more success than routers turning back in distance in the season’s final G1 for the 3-year-olds. The last true router to win this race – and last ‘name’ 3YO from the Triple Crown trail – was Rock Hard Ten in ’04. Also don’t be afraid of a layoff, nor a bounce-back from a poor effort. Eight of the last 10 winners finished 3rd or worse in their mostrecent prep before Malibu success. MOST RECENT RENEWAL: The ‘other’ Baffert, Shakin It Up, upset 9/5 favorite and stablemate Flashback in a complete pace meltdown. The win was jockey David Flores’ 3rd in the last 7 years.

CLICK FOR FREE PICKS HANDICAPPER’S AIDES: Last 10 Winners – Full History ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ‘09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04

Shakin It Up Jimmy Creed The Factor Twirling Candy M One Rifle Bob Black Jack Johnny Eves Latent Heat Proud Tower Too Rock Hard Ten

B. Baffert R. Mandella B. Baffert J. Sadler B. Headley J. Kasparoff J. Robbins B. Frankel S. Gonzalez R. Mandella

D. Flores G. Gomez M. Garcia J. Rosario M. Smith D. Flores D. Flores E. Prado D. Cohen G. Stevens

Last 10 Winners’ Preps ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ‘09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04

Shakin It Up Jimmy Creed The Factor Twirling Candy M One Rifle Bob Black Jack Johnny Eves Latent Heat Proud Tower Too Rock Hard Ten

4th, Sunland Derby (Sun) 9th, Breeders’ Cup Sprint (SA) 8th, Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (CD) 4th, Goodwood (Hol) 3rd, allowance (Hol) 5th, Underwood (Hol) 1st, allowance (Hol) 9th, Perryville (Kee) 1st, On Trust Hcp (Hol) 6th, Haskell (Mth)

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FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS • FIRST POST 7:1 5

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MEADOWLANDS RACI NG & E N T E R TA I N M E N T 1 RACETRACK DRIVE • E. RUTHERFORD, NJ • P L AY M E A D O W L A N D S . C O M

14 Things We Learned in ‘14. The older you get, the smarter you get. It’s something oh so true, but oh so infuriating to hear when you’re young and think you have the world at your fingertips. It’s only with age that we learn that we still have a lot to learn. The year 2014 gave the sage a few more things to gather. 1. They can still run out west. California Chrome & Bayern proved a watered-down, daily, west-coast scene can still bring a big horse. 2. Dan’s still the man. Even at age 7, Wise Dan ran the table at 4for-4 with colic surgery in-between. 3. In Graham we trust. Our best turf trainer Graham Motion pitched a perfect game with import Main Sequence and trumped the Euros. 4. Poly means ‘many’ for a reason. The dirt racing at Keeneland was high-end superb during the Fall, but field sizes suffered without the Polytrack. 5. Gary’s a gamer. Knee replacement surgery couldn’t keep Stevens out of the saddle for long. 6. Rainbow bright. Someone likes the Rainbow Six at Gulfstream, a surprise to this eye.

7. Worldwide Ward. Wesley proved more than a 2yo sprint ace. 8. Paltry Pletcher veterans. No TAP starters over age 2 in BC. 9. Three blind mice. See how they miss a Classic disqualification. 10. Mainstream misfires. The Esquire TV show Horseplayers was solid racing viewing, but a Nielsen bust, and canceled after 1 season. 11. Hot young gun. The new face of the tournament game might be Matt Bernier, 24, and it will be interesting to see how this sharpie handles his success. 12. Twins Spires to Golden Dome. Churchill Downs became the Notre Dame of horse racing, providing a historic culture second to none once again, also spurring an opposition force like no other. 13. Rosie in bloom. Napravnik’s abrupt retirement to start a family came before she could shut up the last of the chauvinists still questioning her superior skills. 14. Life’s too short. Rest in peace, young man. Juan Saez, 17.

– JP

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