Synthetic Tracks reviewed by Bill Finley for TDN Magazine

While browsing the news today I came across a piece by Bill Finley for TDN Magazine. It is titled “Ground Control: The (REAL) Truth about Synthetic Tracks”. Finley is a strong proponent of synthetic surfaces and he uses the article as a platform to dispel rumors about the surfaces. He makes good use of statistical figures and does a good job of reasoning that the tracks have saved the lives of horses. I can agree with Finley; to an extent.

What is good for me may not necessarily be good for you. Horses are much safer competing on Poly Track in a very cold place like Turfway Park. This may or may not be true for the same horses at Santa Anita, Keeneland, or Del Mar. It must be considered that the cold weather in Florence, KY makes dirt at Turfway Park less safe. Adding Poly Track there made perfect sense. People quickly jumped to conclusions after seeing a decline in injuries and fatalities at Turfway. I’ve listed below a few that I have problems with.

• Richard Shapiro acted hastily and without enough data and evidence when he mandated that all California tracks install a synthetic surface. I believe his heart was in the right place, but from a logical sense these tracks shouldn’t have been forced on California until more data was available.
• Tracks that quickly decided to install synthetic surfaces did not consider variables such as the cold weather at Turfway Park, and the fact that they run mostly cheap horses there. I’m not a veterinarian or a trainer, but I would think that cheap horses are more susceptible to injury in the first place.

I plan on going into this subject further when I have more time, but for now I would love to hear your thoughts on the topic. Click here to read Bill Finley’s article.

Bettor Friendly Tracks; where to get the most bang for your buck!

Horse bettors are presented with a million different variables on any given day. There are almost always at least 10 tracks to bet at any given moment. There are a minimum of 11 “traditional” wagers that can be made. These include Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Quinella, Trifecta, Superfecta, Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4, and the Pick 6. Many circumstances are beyond the bettor’s control. Tracks can come up sloppy. Turf courses can be rated good or soft. Jockeys can fall off their mount. These things are uncontrollable, but we as bettors are able to control certain variables such as takeout. Will I place my wagers at the track with 25% exacta takeout, or the one with 18.5% takeout? Will I give my business to the track that has large and competitive fields, or the track that has small fields with many favorites finding the winners circle?

There are many factors to consider when deciding which track offers the best bang for the buck. The number one factor is size and competitiveness of the fields. If favorites are winning a disproportionate amount of races it will be hard to make money. If the majority of races at a track have only 6-8 horses or even less then exotics will pay little to nothing unless a huge long shot is able to win and the favorite runs out of the money. The wagering menu is also an important factor. Dime superfectas offer great value in fields of 10 horses or more. The same can be said for the 50-cent trifecta. Rolling Pick 3’s and the Pick 4 and 6 wagers offer great value for those who are able to string together several winners in a row. Takeouts must also be taken into consideration when making your decision. Whether you realize it or not, YOU have a choice when it comes to where you will bet your hard earned money. Let’s take a look at the top five bettor friendly tracks in the United States along with some honorable mentions.

#1 Churchill Downs (Louisville, Kentucky)- It was a tough decision, but the storied Churchill Downs ranks as the most bettor friendly racetrack in the entire United States. Whether it’s the beautiful scenery behind the legendary twin spires, low takeouts, or full fields, gamblers cannot go wrong with Churchill Downs. Home to the Kentucky Derby, this track is beloved by many fans. The Run for the Roses is one of the best betting races you will find, but there is much more to Churchill Downs than just a single race. One of the things I love best about Churchill Downs is the “real dirt”. While many gamblers have no problem with synthetic tracks, I find them harder to handicap and I know a lot of people out there would agree with me. Regular dirt races are much easier to handicap, and thus easier for gamblers to make money. The second thing I love about Churchill Downs is the diversity in race types. Churchill Downs is one of the only tracks I can think of where you might see low level claimers and Grade 1 winners compete on the same day on a regular basis.

The takeouts at Churchill Downs are very reasonable. The track keeps 16% of the Win-Place-Show pools, and 19% of all exotic pools. The amount of money in the pools is among the highest in the nation due to Churchill Downs popularity and strong racing. Their wager menu is very strong. They offer 50 cent Trifectas, Pick 3’s, and Pick 4’s. They also have the very popular dime superfecta wager. These wagers shouldn’t be underestimated. They allow bettors to stretch their bankroll and offer more bang for your buck. Average field size at Churchill Downs is 8.28 according to information provided by the Horseplayers Association of North America. I also like Churchill Downs because of their very useful advanced deposit wagering service (www.twinspires.com). Wagering online is very convenient and has many benefits, but we will save that discussion for another time. Churchill Downs has set the bar for other tracks when it comes to treating the bettor well.

#2 Keeneland (Lexington, Kentucky)- While the Kentucky racing circuit certainly has problems that it needs to address, the top two tracks when it comes to wagering lie in the Bluegrass State. Keeneland is one of the premier meets in horse racing. The beautiful location combined with the highest quality of racing makes Keeneland a must visit for all horse racing fans. The feature race in the spring is the Bluegrass Stakes, which has produced countless Kentucky Derby winners. It is just one of many excellent races at Keeneland. The takeout rate of 16% for Win-Place-Show wagers and 19% on exotic wagers is very reasonable. The takeout rates in Kentucky are among the best in the entire nation. Keeneland is similar to Churchill Downs in many ways. Both have top notch racing and they share the same takeout rates. They even offer most of the same wagers. The place where they part the most is in their racing surfaces. Keeneland has Polytrack while Churchill Downs still has traditional dirt.

Many bettors often complain about the trickiness of handicapping Keeneland due to its Polytrack surface. While it can be difficult at times, it isn’t impossible to figure out. For those that are baffled by the Polytrack, Keeneland offers a complete database of information about the Polytrack. It is available for free on their website and is titled “PolyCapping”.  There is an abundance of valuable information available at www.keeneland.com, and it is all free.  Other resources available online are the Winners Book, and Clocker’s Comments. The Winners Book contains information about every horse that won in the previous meet. Some of the information included is the winning jockey, post time odds, morning line odds, and much more. Clockers Comments is one of the most valuable resources you will find anywhere. The clocker at Keeneland makes notes for every horse that works there. This information is invaluable, particularly when handicapping maiden races with first time starters. The final thing I like about Keeneland is their excellent contests. They have handicapping contests quite frequently both on site and online. I recommend any handicapper that wants a challenge to give these contests a try. Keeneland and Churchill are neck and neck for first and second. You can’t go wrong with either track. Keeneland is a credit to the entire racing industry.

#3 Oaklawn Park (Hot Springs, Arkansas)- While Keeneland and Churchill Downs clearly set the standard for doing right by the bettor, Oaklawn Park isn’t too far behind. The facilities at Oaklawn are top of the line and will put a smile on even the most well traveled track enthusiast. The feature race at Oaklawn is the Arkansas Derby. It is a great betting race and has presented us with many future great horses such as Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, and Curlin just to name a few. Oaklawn is also home to the Apple Blossom, a Grade 1 race won by potential Horse of the Year Zenyatta in 2008. The takeout rates at Oaklawn are solid at 19% for Win-Place-Show and 21% for exotic wagers. The average field size is 9.04 according to data gathered by the Horseplayers Association of North America. This is a solid number and ranks Oaklawn in the top tier of all tracks for that statistic. The pool sizes are strong and average over $100k per race.

Oaklawn offers both the 50 cent trifecta and dime superfecta wagers. These wagers help bettors to obtain value, especially when making bets on races that have large fields. The track has benefited from increased purses thanks to an onsite casino. Increasing the purses subsequently lead to better horses racing at this track. Gamblers are able to join the Oaklawn Park Winner’s Circle Player’s Club. Members are rewarded for wagering at Oaklawn and can use the points they earn to buy things like a Daily Racing Form, food, or cash. Oaklawn has some of the finest race calling in the entire country thanks to track announcer Terry Wallace. He has delivered race calls for 36 years and hasn’t missed a single race at Oaklawn since 1975. His calls are some of the best around, and he has called 19,621 races at Oaklawn without missing a beat. While Oaklawn is a top notch track there are a few things I would like to see them improve upon. Their website is lacking and doesn’t even begin to come close to Keeneland. Other than that and a few other small details they are doing a wonderful job. There is a reason they call Oaklawn Park the Saratoga of the South; they treat the horseman and the bettor very well. Owner Charles Cella has always maintained that Oaklawn is about the horse, and he is making good on that promise.

#4 Santa Anita Park (Arcadia, California)- There is a reason that Santa Anita has hosted the last two Breeders Cup World Championships. This track is one of the finest in the entire world. Aptly named “The Great Race Place”, Santa Anita is home to the “Big Cap”, better known as the Santa Anita Handicap, and the Santa Anita Derby. Both are Grade 1 events that attract some of the finest horses in their divisions. This track has some of the best takeout ratings around. Their Win-Place-Show takeout is just 15.43%, ranking them in the top five of all tracks in North America for that category. The exotic takeout is a bit higher than some at 20.68%, but is still more than reasonable. The average field size is about average at 8.53 horses per race. Santa Anita offers the dime superfecta wager, but at this point in time does not offer 50 cent trifectas or 50 cent Pick 4’s. That is something I would like to see change in the near future.

One of my favorite reasons to bet Santa Anita is the $2 minimum Pick 6 wager. It isn’t uncommon for the wager to pay in excess of $100,000. If you are able to string together six winners in a row, you will be handsomely rewarded. The difficulty of the wager, combined with the massive amounts of money in the pool allows this to happen. The Super High 5 wager offered at Santa Anita represents another chance for a huge score. To a hit a Super High 5 the bettor must pick the first five finishers in a given race. It’s hard enough to hit a trifecta these days, so hitting the High 5 will almost always result in a huge pay day. Santa Anita’s website has Pick 6 carryover alerts for all tracks on the southern California circuit. Santa Anita is the perfect destination for the handicapper seeking the score of a lifetime.

#5 Gulfstream Park (Hallandale, Florida)- Home to the SunShine Millions, Florida Derby, and Donn Handicap, Gulfstream Park is a top notch track that bettors love. Due in large part to the excellent weather, this track has plenty of great horses to bet on when it runs from January to April. Winners of the Donn Handicap can often be found in the Dubai World Cup later in the year, and the same can be said for the Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby. Gulfstream has excellent field size, averaging 9.07 horses per race according to the Horseplayers Association of North America. The takeouts for Win-Place-Show are acceptable at 17%. The trifecta and superfecta takeouts are too high at 25%. The Pick 6 takeout is 15%, and all other wagers are 20%.

I really like the takeout numbers for Gulfstream, minus the trifecta and superfectas. Those large numbers can really take a bite out of your payoffs. Gulfstream currently accepts the Dime Superfecta and 50 cent Pick 4 wagers. These wagers offer good value, but the excessive superfecta takeout means I’d rather play that wager at another track. The Good Luck Players Club is a nice thing for onsite bettors. It allows customers to accrue points for every wager they make, and the points can be spent on various items. Overall I was disappointed with the usefulness of their website. Keeneland clearly sets the standard in this area, and most racks have a lot of catching up to do. On the whole, Gulfstream is a good track to wager on, but it has some work to do in order to catch up to the top four.

Honorable Mentions:

Del Mar- I love this track, and I could find little wrong with it. However, I felt it was just a bit lower than Santa Anita in terms of quality. Where the turf meets the surf, Del Mar is one of the best tracks in the country and bettors can’t go wrong with this one.

Saratoga- The Spa is a great track for win bettors, but the excessive trifecta, superfecta, Pick 3 and Pick 4 takeouts caused me to leave them out of the top five. The pools always have tons of money in them, and the quality of racing is almost unparalleled. If you’re going to bet in New York, then Saratoga is the place to do so.

Hoosier Park- This track has great field size and low takeouts. However the pools are small in comparison to the big boys, and I believe in betting into larger pools. This typically results in larger payouts. Hoosier should be the top pick for anyone seeking to bet on a smaller track.

Evangeline Downs- In my experience this track is a graveyard for favorites. Evangeline often has very large fields over 10 horses and it’s never a surprise to see a huge long shot find the winners circle. If you like making win bets on horses at big odds then look no further than Evangeline Downs.

Overall it is clear that Kentucky comes out in front when it comes to giving bettors the best bang for their buck. Churchill Downs and Keeneland are far ahead of all of their competition overall. Santa Anita is clearly the place to be if you are looking for a life-changing score. Oaklawn and Gulfstream are both excellent meets that cater to players that like traditional dirt racing and excellent fields. While takeout, field size and field quality are very important I advise you to not lose sight of the reason you are wagering. I think I can speak for the majority of horseplayers when I say we bet the horses because it is something that we love dearly. Stay within your comfort zone and remember the most important rule; have fun.

*I would like to give a special thanks to HANA (Horseplayers Association of North America) for the excellent work that they do and for gathering a large portion of information about the tracks and making it available on their website. If you would like to access their track information chart that includes takeout rates and much more visit: http://www.horseplayersassociation.org/hanatrackratingsbyoverallscore.html.

Charity Spotlight: MacBeth Fund

One of the best people I’ve met in racing is three time Kentucky Derby winner Chris MacCarron. He is a legend that has won every important race several times. He is currently running a jockey school in Lexington. I had a chance to meet him a year ago, and I was assisting him as he signed autographs.

The money he raised was for the benefit of the MacBeth Fund, an organization that exists to help injured and disabled jockeys that he helped to start. The fund is named in honor of Don MacBeth, a jockey who died of cancer. MacBeth is most famous for riding Chief’s Crown to victory in the inaugaral Breeders Cup Juvenile and the Travers Stakes the following year.

The organization was started in conjunction by Chris MacCarron and comedian Tim Conway. Best known for his roles on the Carroll Burnett and McHale’s Navy, Conway wanted to donate his fee for a show at Canterbury Downs to a fund for disabled jockeys. The only problem was that no such fund existed at the time. Conway’s donation of $5k helped kick the MacBeth fund off.

The money he donated and the money donated by people everyday is used for many purposes. Some is allocated to help pay the rent for injured jockeys, or to buy expensive medical equipment. Some of the funds are used to help making homes wheel chair accessible. Money is also used for little things like food. The fund has aided over 1,000 jockeys and is typically helping 40-50 during any given month.

Jockeys are constantly facing life and death situations. Michael Straight was recently paralyzed during a race at Arlington Park. Ron Turcotte, regular pilot of Triple Crown legend Secretariat, is also paralyzed. Unfortunately there are plenty of other examples. Jockeys are at a higher risk of dying than any other athlete. This is easy to believe since they are balancing themselves on a 1,000 pound animal going at speeds of 35-40 MPH.

I’ve donated to the fund in the past and plan to do so again when I graduate college and have more disposable funds. I highly encourage anyone to donate to help the men who help make our sport go and put their lives on the line every time they step in the irons. Click here to learn more!

Horse Racing Resources

The internet is a wonderful thing. So many times in the past I have found myself wondering things like “Who won the 1996 Hollywood Gold Cup?” or “Who was the sire of Bellamy Road?”. If not for the internet I would have to resort to the sometimes fuzzy memories of my elders. There are numerous horse racing resources on the ‘net. Let’s take a look at a couple of the most useful ones!

• Pedigree Query

Just like its name would suggest, Pedigree Query is the ultimate source for all things pedigree related. I believe they have ever horse that has ever raced in their database, but I don’t know that for sure. They also offer information on careers of most horses. The typical search returns 5 generations, but for a small subscription fee up to 9 generations are included. Pedigree Query also offers progeny reports, photos, hypomating, line breeding, and female family reports. I recommend bookmarking this site.

• Stallion Register

I love this website. It is developed and maintained by the Blood Horse. Stallion Register is a MUST visit for any breeder. It has reports on just about every stallion in the United States, including stud fees and progeny reports. When searching a horse such as Big Brown links to other Three Chimneys stallions are included at the bottom. This goes for sires at other farms.  Information on top progeny and auction results are provided. Race records are available along with current  Users are also able to compare sires head to head.

• Daily Racing Form

DRF is a must visit for any horse racing fan. They have entries, results, charts, and horse racing news. The writers are top notch, and the information provided is invaluable. Visitors are able to take advantage of their “Race of the Day” page, which provides free PPs for one race daily. DRF also has books and videos that could help a new gambler or even a seasoned veteran.

• Wikipedia

Wikipedia provides information about literally everything; horse racing or not. I find the information to be accurate about 90% of the time, but there are errors from time to time.  Many famous horses have detailed pages on Wikipedia, along with famous races. There is an abundance of horse racing information that can be gained by surfing Wikipedia.

I’m sure I’m forgetting something important, but I’ll add more later. Do you have any horse racing website you would like to share with the visitors of this website? Leave a comment and educate us.

Horseracingpark.com is the best horse racing game on the net

I’ve been racing horses at HorseRacingPark for over 2.5 years now. I’m a small time owner. I race mostly in claimers and allowances. My horses find their way into stakes company rarely, but they have a big shot when they do. My winning percentage of 15.4% at pay tracks is pretty good by most standards. I’d willing to say that Horseracingpark.com is the best horse racing game on the internet, and if you haven’t checked it out yet you are truly missing out.

HorseRacingPark, or HRP for short, has everything related to horse racing that  you can imagine. Horses can be purchased through claimers, auctions, breeding, and can be automatically generated. Full pedigree analysis is listed for every horse, along with conformation statistics. Players have full control over every aspect of their horses career. They get to train the horse, decide if he needs something like blinkers or lasix, and are left to decide in which race their horse will compete.

Players can race for free at Mountaineer, or try their hand at the pay tracks. The pay tracks include nearly every track in the United States such as Del Mar, Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Keeneland, and many more. There are also U.S. jockeys in the game like Rafael Bejarano and Garrett Gomez. Just about any jockey you will find in real life is also in virtual form at HRP.

Nearly every stakes race that happens in reality also happens at HRP, but on a 1:1000 scale. The $5,000,000 Breeders Cup Classic is the $5,000 Breeders Cup Classic at HorseRacingPark. The Triple Crown hasn’t been won yet, and the first trainer to take all three races will get $30,000.  Purses go as low at $1, and horses can be claimed at prices ranging from $1 to $120.

Other features at HRP include the weekly handicapping contest, in which players can wager on the races being contested each day. The top two finishers get to compete in the end of year contest for $500, and free horse vouchers.  They also have Pick ‘Em contests from time to time where the winner is awarded free horse vouchers.

Breeding is one of the best parts of HRP. There is no feeling like winning a race with a homebred. There are plenty of options for breeding. You can use your own sire and mare, or you can pay a stud fee and use your own mare or lease a mare from someone else. Sires can be found in the price range of $1-50 in most cases, and the best mares go from anywhere to $50-100 per foal. Breeding at HRP is just like in real life. Breed the best to the best and hope for the best.

When players breed horses they have the option of starting the horse as a yearling or a two-year-old. There are many owners who are in the game strictly for breeding. They breed horses for the sake of selling them in the auctions. This can be very profitable if you are able to get a horse that is quick early on or has a great pedigree and conformation. Above is a picture of two “HRP” sires. These are two sires you could potentially get if you auto generate a horse in which case the sire and mare are randomly picked.

Above is a picture of a couple of the horses in the auction at the moment. The auction is one of the best parts of the game. It runs four times each year, and allows owners to buy/sell horses for small and big money. I’ve seen horses sell for under $10 that went to be a Grade 1 winners, and horses that sold for over $1,000 only to bust.

I have had a lot of success with the auctions, with total sales in excess of $1,000 (my investment was much smaller). The horses I’ve sold haven’t really gone on to do much (knock on wood) so I don’t really regret selling any of them. Perhaps the worst was Daiwa Major, who won the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth after I sold him. I didn’t really mind that though because a friend owned him and I got a decent price at $250.

Some of the biggest sales in recent memory at HorseRacingPark are $1,000 Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby winner Whats Up. He sold for around $1,500 after burning up the track in an allowance en route to a track record breaking win. The owner that sold him claimed Whats Up for just $7. Not a bad return on investment! Another big sale was Breeders Cup Turf winner Siberian Rhythm. He sold for $2,555 after his big Breeders Cup win.

I’ve had a couple of good horses in my time at HRP. The best was a two-year-old colt named Entourage. He broke his maiden first time out at Golden Gate, and then ran respectably in an allowance. He was training very well and I had a feeling he was sitting on a big race, so I entered him in the $122.50 Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Juvenile at Turfway Park. He was a longshot, but he got up to win the race by a neck. Always one to make a profit, I sold him in the next auction for a hefty sum of $351. He didn’t really pan out on the track as a three-year-old, but is currently standing at stud in California. He has a great conformation and pedigree so he may see some success as a sire.

Other horses I’ve had include a four-year-old named Angry Again. He ran very well for me, winning two races in a row by a combined 10 lengths before losing by a nose to eventual Arlington Million victor Eviction Notice. I ended up selling Angry Again for $301. He didn’t do much on the track after I sold him, but he looks to be a future star at stud. He has sired a Grade 2 winning filly in his first crop. My best horse at the moment is a filly named Chopped N Screwed. She broke her maiden against maiden claimers at Golden Gate by 11 lengths and has quickly progressed. She won an allowance at Del Mar in her last start. I think with a bit of luck she could become a stakes winner.

I highly recommend giving HRP a chance. You won’t find a better or more realistic horse racing game anywhere on the internet. It is great for those of us who have always dreamed of owning horses but cant really afford the real thing. It is the best alternative you will find.  Gradedstakes.com visitors will get a special offer of 5 free horses by signing up through one of the many links on this page, or by clicking the banner below. Good luck and I’ll see you at the races!

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North American Racing Academy

I had the pleasure of meeting Chris McCarron last summer at River Downs. He was there to help his pupil, Jessica Oldham Stith, get through her first race. Stith’s parents were both jockeys and she was riding a mare named Greenwood Lady that was trained by the students at NARA. She was the first of many students to graduate from McCarron’s North American Racing Academy.

McCarron started the school to help jockeys learn the tricks of the trade. The video does a better job of telling you about the school than I could, so sit back and enjoy!

Stallion Profile: Medaglia d’Oro

Photo by Suzie Picou-Oldham

Stallion Register: Medaglia d’Oro

Pedigree Query: Medaglia d’Oro

Grade: A

Medaglia d’Oro is the complete package. The son of El Prado was a Grade 1 winner at the ages of 3,4, and 5. Retired to stud duty, he has already produced Grade 1 winners like Rachel Alexandra and Gabby’s Golden Gal. He will probably become well known as the sire of Rachel Alexandra, but Medaglia d’Oro was no slouch on the track either. He was a winner at distances ranging from 6 to 10 furlongs. In 17 career starts he earned a Beyer Speed Figure under 100 only twice.

The career of this great horse began at Turfway Park in the barn of David Vance while he was a two-year-old. He finished second in a twelve horse field after stalking the pace at odds of 5-1. His next start would come at the age of three, where he freaked to break his maiden by 4 lengths at Oaklawn Park. He earned a 100 BSF for that race. After that win he was purchased by Edmund Gann and switched to the barn of Bobby Frankel. Gann also owned Peace Rules and 1988 Japan Cup winner Pay The Butler.

Gann and Frankel had big plans for Medaglia d’Oro. His next race was in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park. Sent off at odds of 8-1 in a six horse field, he went to the lead and took back only to re rally for the win. After that race he would run a very strong second in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial behind Buddha.

The Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown weren’t particularly kind to Medaglia d’Oro. He finished a troubled fourth in the Run for Roses, and was up track in the Preakness. By the time he had reached the Belmont Stakes everyone had jumped off his bandwagon. He almost made them pay at odds of 16-1, but just missed super long shot Sarava while finishing second by a half of a length. The Belmont Stakes was the only race in which Kent Desormeaux rode him.

The Triple Crown left the son of El Prado a much better horse. Battle hardened from his previous races, he won the Jim Dandy under wraps by 13 lengths, earning a massive 120 BSF. That would be the largest number of his career. He bounced just slightly next out in the Travers but was still good enough to win by a half of a length over Repent. Coming for home it looked like Repent had a chance to run him down over the sloppy track, but Medaglia d’Oro dug down deep and held him off.

Medaglia D’oro’s next race would come in the Grade 1 Breeders Cup Classic. He would face horses such as Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem and Florida Derby winner Harlan’s Holiday; but it would be another horse that proved trouble for the Travers winning son of El Prado. Volponi romped home in the Classic at odds of 44-1, while Medaglia d’Oro was second best. This would mark the second time he was denied a classic win by a horse at odds of 40-1 or more.

The first start at four for Robert Frankel’s trainee would result in a win in the Grade 2 Strub Stakes. He then produced wins in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap and the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap. His streak would end at the hands of Candy Ride in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic. Candy Ride scorched the time, stopping the clock in 1:59 4/5 seconds for the ten furlongs distance. Medaglia d’Oro came home second.

The Robert Frankel trainee would be sent off favored for the second consecutive year in the Grade 1 Breeders Cup Classic, a race that included Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide. He would ultimately end up second bumping at the start of the race. Pleasantly Perfect won the race.In his final two starts, he won the Grade 1 Donn Handicap and finished second in the Grade 1 Dubai World Cup behind Pleasantly Perfect. His career earnings finished at $5,754,720.

Medaglia d’Oro was prolific on the racetrack and is proving to be even better at stud thus far. Although he has only a single crop racing right now, it looks like he could be one of the best in the nation. It seems like he does a better job at siring good fillies, although he has also produced the stakes placed colt Warriors Reward. Medaglia d’Oro isn’t just a funny name; he is a great racehorse.

Interview: Joe Bravo

“Jersey” Joe Bravo is a multiple Grade I winning jockey. His best wins include victories aboard Lion Heart in the Haskell Invitational and a triumph in the Donn Handicap under Formal Gold. He is currently riding at Monmouth Park. I recently had the pleasure to ask him a few questions. Let’s take a look at what he had to say.

Gradedstakes.com: I’ve read that your first winner was aboard Daffy Doc at Calder Race Course. Do you remember anything about that horse or the race?

Joe Bravo: Yea, thank God I was on the best horse. I was in the middle of the track and had no clue until it was over! The horse was the real winner.

Gradedstakes.com: I saw a poll earlier this year that asked “Which jockey would you most like to see win a Kentucky Derby?”I picked you of course! Are there any prospects you can tell us about?

Joe Bravo: This is the best time of the whole year and we are all shopping for our best shot at winning the Kentucky Derby. So many horses are growing into themselves, it’s hard to tell.

Gradedstakes.com: Your father and grandfather were both jockeys. How has that benefited you?

Joe Bravo: The experience they have in the game and were able to pass on is priceless. In this game you learn something new each  and every day.

Gradedstakes.com: You’ve won quite a few big races. The 2004 Haskell Invitational sticks out for me. How did it feel to win that race and beat the heavy favorite Rock Hard Ten?

Joe Bravo: Winning the biggest race of the year at your home track? It doesn’t get any better!

Gradedstakes.com: Your Pennsylvania Derby win was excellent. Anak Nakal hadn’t been doing his best running, but he really responded to you. Was there anything specific that you did, or was he just ready to go?

Joe Bravo: It was wild in post parade. He was giving me a sense that he had it all along and he just pulled me to the winners circle.
Gradedstakes.com: What race are you most proud of winning?

Joe Bravo: Well I’m going to have to say the Donn Handicap aboard Formal Gold, because it was my first Grade 1 win. Beating Skip Away was cool, because I worked him at least 20 times, but never rode him in a race. I was on top of the world after beating him!
Gradedstakes.com: Who are your favorite horses that you have ridden?

Joe Bravo: Wow that is tough, I’ve been riding for 21 years so there is a long list. Let’s find that Kentucky Derby winner and we can talk about him!

Gradedstakes.com: Which jockeys did you admire when you were younger?

Joe Bravo: When I was coming up, Pat Day and Angel Cordero were great. There are so many talented riders; you have to watch all of them.  Like I said earlier, you learn something new every day.

Gradedstakes.com: Your success at Monmouth has been phenomenal. How do you perform at such a high level year in and year out?

Joe Bravo: This game is similar to a snow ball effect. The owners want the hot jock, so the hard part is keeping people happy when you can’t ride their horse. On the other hand, the easy part is riding, because I love what I do and it doesn’t feel like a job to me.

Gradedstakes.com: Do you have any interesting or funny stories from the Jockeys Room, or otherwise?

Joe Bravo: What happens in there stays in there (laughs).

Gradedstakes.com: Do you have any stories from the poker tables?

Joe Bravo: I live for riding and playing poker. What poker player DOESN’T have some bad beat stories?! I love the game though.

Gradedstakes.com: What do you think of the show Jockeys?

Joe Bravo: It’s OK I guess. I think I would have done some things different, but that’s why I’m a jockey and not a producer (laughs).
Gradedstakes.com: What kind of advice would you give to an aspiring jockey?

Joe Bravo: My best advice would be to get an education. Your next race could always be your last. You had better love this game, because it’s not easy.

Gradedstakes.com: Are there any other thoughts that you would like to share with us?

Joe Bravo: I was born for this (laughs).

Win a free copy of Pedigree Handicapping!

Pedigree Handicapping is a book by Lauren Stich of the Daily Racing Form. It is a very good read and gives insight on the impact pedigree plays when handicapping. It also tells us which sires do well in certain types of situations and plenty of other good information. This fine book can be yours for free if you win my contest!

The contest is quite simple. If you have a blog or website, write a 250 (or more) word post about who your favorite racehorse is and why. In this post you must include a link to this website. When you are finished leave a comment on this post linking to the page where your post is located. The winner will be the post that I deem to be the best. The contest will be open for one week.

For me, picking my favorite racehorse is not easy. Through the years we see so many magnificent runners that captivate our hearts and minds. Choosing just one is not easy, but I’ll go with Hard Spun. I got to watch from the rail as he won the Lanes End Stakes at Turfway Park. He did it in a powerful and easy way, and I knew right away he would be top contender for the Kentucky Derby. I can remember a few days before the First Saturday in May he worked five furlongs in :57 H and I was immediately sold. He was my top pick, and he ran a hard fought second at odds of 10-1. I thought turning for home that nobody would get to him, but Street Sense slipped through on the rail to win that day.

Hard Spun would then go on to run third in the Preakness and fourth Belmont Stakes. Garrett Gomez was up in the Belmont Stakes, but I didn’t think it was fair to take the mount from Mario Pino. That would be the only race that Pino did not ride him. His next race was a second place finish behind Any Given Saturday in the Haskell Invitational. Any Given Saturday was never really able to run back to that performance. Hard Spun’s next race was all about getting that coveted Grade 1 victory. He won the Grade 1 King’s Bishop Stakes at 7 furlongs over the upstart First Defence.  Many people believe Hard Spun was a better sprinter than a router, and it is probably true. I think he would’ve been optimal going one mile.

The next start for Hard Spun would come in the Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway Park; a rematch against Street Sense. I was there for that race and I can still remember vividly Calvin Borel parading the Kentucky Derby winner in the paddock; he thought he was invincible. That proved to be untrue, as Hard Spun was lone speed and won the race within himself. If I close my eyes I can remember all the fans (myself included) screaming and cheering as they charged down the stretch.

Hard Spun’s last race would come in the Breeders Cup Classic where he would be runner up to Curlin. He was purchased by Darley and is currently standing for them along with his rivals Street Sense and Any Given Saturday. As long as I live I’ll never forget that colt who had great early speed a knack for almost always finishing on the board. I can’t wait until his first foals hit the track soon. Who is your favorite racehorse? Leave a comment and share your memories!

Stallion Profile: Street Cry

Stallion Register: Street Cry

Pedigree Query: Street Cry

Stud Fee: $150,000 Stands and Nurses

Grade: A+

Godolphin has had many great racers and stallions over the years. Among them are Bernardini, Discreet Cat, and Fantastic Light, but one colt stands out in my opinion. He has been on the breeding scene for a short time, but has already sired a Kentucky Derby winner, and an undefeated Breeders Cup winner. Who is this sire? None other than Street Cry. He is proving to be a prolific sire, but was also excellent on the track.

Street Cry is from the sire Machiavellian who was a son of Mr. Prospector and out of a Halo mare. Machiavellian was a multiple Group 1 winner on the ultra tough French racing circuit. Street Cry was easily his best son, but he also sired millionaires Medicean, Storming Home, and Almutawakel. His progeny were known for being good at the age of two, but even better at three and beyond as was the case with Street Cry.

Street Cry was an excellent runner at the ages of 2, 3, and 4. His best performance as a youngster came when he finished third in the Grade 1 Breeders Cup Juvenile.  He also finished second in the Grade 2 Norfolk and Del Mar Futurity as a two-year-old. At the age of three he won the 2,000 UAE Guineas, and claimed runner up performances in the Grade 3 UAE Derby and Discovery Handicap.

His career really exploded when he reached the age of 4. Under the tutolege of Saeed bin Suroor, he won the Grade 1 Foster Handicap and Dubai World Cup. Unfortunately he was retired prematurely due to an injury. Suroor has been quoted saying that he believes the colt wouldve won the Breeders Cup Classic later that year. He finished his career with 5 wins from 12 starts and total earnings of $5,150,837. Breeders were undoubtedly excited for a chance to breed their mares to him.

Sent off to stud in 2003, Street Cry had more than his fair share of nice mares. His sons and daughters instantly started kicking up dust, with Street Sense winning the Breeders Cup Juvenile, and then taking the Kentucky Derby. His best daughter, Zenyatta, is currently undefeated with victories in the Breeders Cup Ladies Classic, Apple Blossom Handicap, and Vanity Handicap. He is also the sire of Grade 1 winners Street Boss, Seventh Street, Whobegotyou (AUS), Street Hero and Grade 2 winners Desert Party, Street Sounds, and Grade 3 winner Summer Doldrums. He has cooled off slightly, but if he continues to produce quality runners at this rate he will be top sire in the United States in a very short period of time.

Street Cry is currently my favorite sire for a number of reasons. I like the fact that his progeny are good early on and at older ages just as he was. I also love the fact that they can sprint but they also relish the classic distance of 10 furlongs. Handicappers had better take notice every time they see a son or daughter of Street Cry on the track!

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