Jockeys playing basketball? Fun to watch, bad to bet

March 3, 2009 — maidenking

Psst. Here’s a tip: Don’t bet on the Santa Anita jockeys basketball team.

Wagering on jockeys Joe Talamo, Cory Nakatani and Rafael Bejarano might be a good idea while these guys are holding a whip and a horse’s reins. But when they tie up their Nike Air Zooms and pick up a basketball, gamblers should keep their money in their pockets. 

Oh sure, these riders are nice people and it’s fun to watch jockeys like Brice Blanc, David Flores and Kayla Stra scamper around the court. But why would a group of grown-ups who stand just over 5-feet tall and weigh 115 pounds spend much time honing their basketball skills?

They wouldn’t. And they don’t.

That much was evident Thursday at La Salle High School in Pasadena when the Santa Anita jockeys lost to a group of eighth graders from Holy Angels School in Arcadia 35-19. 

It’s easy to see that these jockeys don’t play much ball by watching the one-minute You Tube video below of the game, which was shot by SA blogger Mary Forney.

We see Nakatani clanking a couple of free throws, the ref moving another mistaken jock off the key during the shots, and a Santa Anita field goal try that went bad after a sweet set-up move. I don’t know, maybe their coach TV’s Kurt Hoover was to blame.

But what I do know is that if this match was a horse race, it was as dominant a victory for the school kids as Smarty Jones’ 11-1/2 length win in the 2004 Preakness Stakes.

The riders might have lost, but as usual, the annual game seemed to be a hugely popular and entertaining event. The jockeys play the Holy Angels every year to raise money for the school’s athletic department.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

March 2, 2009 — maidenking
Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: , , . Leave a Comment »

Results, Santa Anita Sunday Race 6 — lost $100

March 2, 2009 — maidenking
Winner #12 Jilona was trained by Beau Greely and bred by the owner John Greely, Beau's father.

Winner #12 Jilona was trained by Beau Greely and bred by the owner John Greely, Beau's father.

In November and December, #12 Jilona ran in two maiden special weight sprints for 2-year-olds where she was able to keep up with the early leaders for a half a mile.

In those races, Jilona showed that she had a superior quarter mile burst of speed to any of the runners going in this $32,000 maiden claimer. On Sunday, Jilona broke sharply then settled a few lengths off of leader #6 Betterthanfiction.

Coming into the stretch, Chantal Sutherland’s three-length lead on Betterthanfiction had dwindled to one, and Jilona was coming hard with a four-wide move. Jilona took over with an eighth of a mile to the wire and held off #4 She’s All Rev’d Up.

For betting purposes, I was waiting for 3-to-1 on Jilona, but she ended up going off at 5-to-2. I had four horses that I was considering, but only one of them went off in my odds range. So, I ended up with $100 on #13 Stormy Runaway at 31-to-1 based on her huge middle move in her last race.

To watch a replay of this race, go to www.calracing.com

PGM PP# NAME JOCKEY TRAINER ODDS FN
1 1 Tuaca Parfait (CA) Quinonez A Bernstein D 5.70 4
2 2 Warrens Risk Taker (CA) Valdivia, Jr. J Lewis C 26.30 11
3 3 Red Alarm (KY) Bejarano R Dominguez C 18.00 5
4 4 She’s All Rev’d Up (CA) Rios J Sadler J 3.30 2
6 5 Betterthanfiction (KY) Sutherland C Hajek I 3.50 3
7 6 Racing Rachel (FL) Smith M Miller P 9.50 10
9 7 Juliesdiorbracelet (CA) Nakatani C Abrams B 18.90 9
10 8 Retsina Code (KY) Solis A Bell, II T 44.00 6
11 9 Tan Tan (FL) Potts C Rosales R 56.40 7
12 10 Jilona (KY) Baze T Greely C 2.50 1
13 11 Stormy Runaway (CA) Stra K Zucker H 31.60 8
SCR – Kentucky Nectar (KY) Talamo J O’Neill D – –
SCR – Brahmzee (KY) Garcia M Baffert B – –
 
Pgm Win Place Show
12 $7.00 $3.80 $2.60
4 – $3.80 $2.60
6 – – $2.80
 
Exotic Payoffs
$1.00 Consolation Pick 3 paid $27.30 (3-2-8

 

  
Posted in maiden claiming 2s & 3s. Tags: , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Results, Santa Anita Sunday Race 3 — won $770

March 2, 2009 — maidenking

financial-etfs-bailout

I see two keys to this race: the first was the continued improvement of Gale in the Vale after her 11-month layoff, and the second was jockey Joe Talamo’s ability to ration this filly’s speed through a first quarter mile in 23.02 seconds. After not struggling through the first two furlongs, Gale in the Vale had enough left for the remaining five-eighths of a mile to resist the closing rush of #6 Keira’s Way.

At the start, Talamo did not gun Gale in the Vale to the lead, but instead eased her up to the front. About a furlong or so into the race, Gale in the Vale got the lead and stayed there throughout.

The 9-to-5 favorite, #6 Keira’s Way, who finished second, did not make an impact until the final 100 yards when she came with a burst to miss by about a half a length.

I bet $350 on Gale in the Vale and collected $1,120.

To watch a replay of this race, go to www.calracing.com.

PGM PP# NAME JOCKEY TRAINER ODDS FN
1 1 Ata Honour (KY) Flores D Burnison E 5.30 7
2 2 Gale in the Vale (MD) Talamo J Zucker H 2.20 1
3 3 Smiling Bubbles (CA) Russell C Valenzuela, Jr. M 48.50 8
4 4 Lil Troublemaker (CA) Gavica G Soto A 64.90 3
5 5 Krypton Ranger (CA) Garcia M Garcia O 22.40 5
6 6 Keira’s Way (KY) Potts C Lucarelli F 1.80 2
7 7 Secret Potion (CA) Rosario J Hollendorfer J 2.80 4
9 8 Village Lady (CA) Couton J O’Callaghan C 32.70 6
SCR – Elsa’s Rose (CA) Sutherland C Sherlock G – –
 
Pgm Win Place Show
2 $6.40 $3.20 $3.40
6 – $3.00 $2.60
4 – – $10.20
 
Exotic Payoffs
$1.00 Consolation Pick 3 paid $13.50 (2-7-8)
$1.00 Exacta paid $8.80 (2-6)
$1.
Posted in maiden claiming 3^, 4^. Tags: , , . Leave a Comment »

Sunday, Santa Anita Race 6 — 3:05 pm post time

March 1, 2009 — maidenking
Maiden King conquers So. Cal. maiden races

Maiden King conquers So. Cal. maiden races

Maiden Claiming $32,000, 6 furlongs, 3-yo fillies

Possible overlays                   Morning line

#1 Tuaca Parfait                     12/1
#4 She’s All Rev’d Up               3/1
#5 Kentucky Nectar                 8/1
#6 Betterthanfiction                5/1
#7 Racing Rachel                     12/1
#8 Brahmzee                           8/1
#12 Jilona                               4/1
#13 Stormy Runaway               20/1

Here’s a little known fact about this race: In the Daily Racing Form it shows that Martin Garcia and Bob Baffert are 0-for-2 as a tandem from 2008-09. So it looks like Baffert never uses Garcia. But in 2006-07, Garcia rode 12 first time starters for Baffert and won with five of them at prices ranging from 9/2 to 9/1.

Garcia rides #8 Brahmzee in her debut today for Baffert. 

Looking at the replays, I saw plenty of horses with hidden talent and am hoping one of them will put it all together today at a decent price. On the rail, #1 Tuaca Parfait was four wide on the turn while breathing down the neck of the leaders in her Feb. 5 debut. On that day, she was bet to 5/1, however she loses jockey Tyler Baze today to contender #12 Jilona. Tuaca Parfait has the speed to get the lead and never look back.

On the far outside, #13 Stormy Runaway broke slowly in her last then made a huge middle move to get within a half length of the leaders. She’s been working out well and seems to be improving, but the post position could create a wide trip.

Jockey Chantal Sutherland had #6 Betterthanfiction under a bit of a hold while on the turn Jan. 16, but once Sutherland hit the gas this filly took off. Betterthanfiction is improving, as seen by her last four race Beyer progression of 22-47-57-60.  

Probably the best horse in the race is #12 Jilona who has the early speed to keep up with maiden special weight runners. She has already run a 66 Beyer Speed Figure, which is the median winning Beyer for this level.

Also, it would be no surprise to see #4 She’s All Rev’d Up cross the wire first but she’s an obvious contender. And the fact that Doug O’Neill trains #5 Kentucky Nectar is enough reason to give that one a long look.

Finally, I’ll bet #7 Racing Rachel if the price is right.

At 8/1 or more, I will bet $150 to win on #1 Tuaca Parfait, and $100 to win on #13 Stormy Runaway. Also, I’ll put $100 on first timers #7 Racing Rachel from 10/1 to 19/1 and #8 Brahmzee from 3/1 to 9/1.

Finally, if Jilona goes off at 3/1 or better, I will take $100 to win on her and $20 exactas with #8 Jilona over #1 Tuaca Parfait, #6 Betterthanfiction, #7 Racing Rachel, #8 Brahmzee and #13 Stormy Runaway.

Posted in Uncategorized. 1 Comment »
Newer posts »