Del Mar touts weren't having much luck peddling their wares on Opening Day.
NY Times: Horse Racing & more- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
- Louisville C-J
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
- Pace & Cap Forum
- Big Day Ender LRL R8-9 DD 2-26
- Happy Christmas to All!
- Tampa Late Pick 3
- One More Time PARX R10 Ex 12-22
- Nice Ex Ht PARX R9 12-22
- Werpy LSP Completes Nice DD Hit OP R3-4 12-21
- Saratoga 2019
- Very Nice Day Ender MVR R10 12=18
- Good DD Hit MVR R6 &R7 12-18
- Dec 14 LRL 5 defines both a Werpy Long Shot and a RMath Longshot
- Dan Illman’s Blog
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
- Steve Crist’s Blog
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
- Peter Fornatale’s Blog
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
- DRF Players’ Podcast
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
Sunday, Del Mar Race 6 — 4:30 pm post time
July 26, 2009 — maidenking
Maiden King conquers So. Cal. maiden races
Maiden Special Weight, 5-1/2 furlongs, 2 yo fillies
Possible overlays Morning line
#7 Kaloula 12/1
#8 Misinjennuous 5/2
#10 Millennia 12/1
This 10-horse field is populated by seven first-time starters and three second timers.
I like to see at least a 60 Beyer Speed Figure in a debut race for horse making its second start in a 2-year-old maiden special weight race. And I don’t see any with these three runners.
However, what I do see are a couple of first timers who could win at a big price. The first is #7 Kaloula who has shown talent in her workouts, has the breeding to win early and gets a weight break with an apprentice aboard.
Jockey Alex Solis rides #10 Millennia, who has just as much to like as Kaloula. She’s an early foal, has win-early breeding and Solis and trainer Lisa Lewis combined successfully in limited chances with debuters.
Finally, if 5-to-2 morning line favorite #8 Misinjennuous goes off at 7/2 or more then I am interested. If not, then no bet.
My plan is to bet $150 to win on #7 Kaloula at 10/1 to 19/1 only and $250 to win on #10 Millennia at 7/2 to 19/1. Also, at 7/2 and up, I’ll place $200 to win on #8 Misinjennuous.
Ah, Opening Day at Del Mar
July 25, 2009 — maidenking
Horses parade in the paddock for Wednesday's ninth race. I attended Opening Day at Del Mar. Check out the scene below and click on picture for more detailed view.
July 25, 2009 — maidenking
Afleet's Picasso with Martin Garcia aboard readies for the Opening Day nightcap
As trainer Carla Gaines chats with Alex Solis before he rides Eleventh Hour for owner B. Wayne Hughes
At the front gate
July 25, 2009 — maidenking
This is what it looks like when 45,000 people all show up at once
Ponying up
July 25, 2009 — maidenking
Not Unusual is making sure that I get a picture of her good side
While Stuck on Go, with Pedro Arambula up, is staring me down
July 25, 2009 — maidenking
Yes, Virginia, there is a dark side to horse racing. It's called the photo finish.
July 25, 2009 — maidenking
Who says the Opening Day crowd just comes to party? These well-dressed ladies are all business as they study up at the paddock rail.
It's 85 degrees, there's a cool breeze and you're at Opening Day at Del Mar. How can you not smile?
A couple of winners
July 25, 2009 — maidenking
Joel Rosario is loving life after winning the nightcap on Saintly Spirit
July 25, 2009 — maidenking
Jockey Martin Pedroza gestures to the crowd after taking the 9th race aboard Wickednwackyingrid
Bejarano injured after horse breaks down in the 3rd
July 25, 2009 — maidenking
An 8-year-old claimer who won 10 or 37 starts and nearly $200,000, Mi Rey went down in the stretch after fatally injuring his leg and was vanned off.
Partying and people watching trump racing at Del Mar’s Opening Day
July 23, 2009 — maidenkingYep, I was at Opening Day at Del Mar on Wednesday with 44,906 others, which was the track’s largest and likely best-dressed crowd of all time. Although it was sunny, the weather wasn’t too hot, as a refreshingly cool Pacific Ocean sea breeze acted as our natural air conditioner.
Coming from roasting Las Vegas where the wind blows hot like a convection oven, I appreciated the climate change.
You won’t find another Wednesday crowd like this at any horse track on planet Earth. Opening Day obviously has become one of San Diego’s annual social occasions, as the horse races have become a side show to partying and people watching. Women in wide-brimmed hats, tight dresses and spiked heels come looking more like they’re ready for a night on the town, rather than a day at the track. Randomly pick any 100 of them and you’ll get 10 who could be Sports Illustrated swimsuit models and another 25 that are better looking than your favorite movie actress. And one thing Las Vegas teaches you is that where women go, men follow.
Guys rolled up to Del Mar’s door in Cadillac Escalades and large Mercedes sedans wearing expensive suits, designer sunglasses and lots of hair gel. Of course, maybe 1 in 1,000 of these people will be found within a mile of any horse track in America on any other day.
But that’s beside the point. I overheard one guy in his 30’s describing the atmosphere to his friend on his cell phone saying, “You won’t believe this place. I’m in love with horse racing.”
So it’s safe to say that some were converted. But if the new fans come back next Wednesday seeking the same experience, they’ll likely be disappointed when they look around and see nothing but middle-aged men studying racing forms in their work clothes.
During the day, I roamed around Del Mar like I owned the place. I took my camera out to the paddock area where the owners, trainers and jockeys all gather while their horses get ready to compete. Or as one young woman said “It’s where the horses go to show off before they race.” I’ll publish some of the photos over the weekend.
Tragedy struck in the third race when Mi Rey broke his right front leg and dumped jockey Rafael Bejarano. The rider was then kicked in the face by Senor Afortunado and Bejarano was treated at Scripps Memorial Hospital for a broken jaw, a broken nose and several fractured facial bones. As Mi Rey was loaded onto the horse ambulance, security allowed me onto the track to photograph the solemn scene.
On Thursday, I plan to drive to Huntington Beach with a side trip to the off-track betting parlors in Ventura and Santa Barbara. Then I’ll come back to Del Mar on Friday to watch the horses go through their early morning workouts.
The horses I’m eyeballing in Thursday’s second race include #1 Wunderpferd and #6 Roman Charity. Both need to be 10/1 to 19/1 for a bet. In the fourth, I probably won’t bet anything because the Florida-bred first-time starters that I like — #2 Mytigernosissy and #4 Pico Pico — both have morning lines below 5-to-1 and I need at least 10-to-1. But in the nightcap, it’s likely that I’ll be on #7 Pacific Halo and #11 Waves of Honour at 2/1 to 7/2 and I also like #8 Moral Hazard at 3/1 to 9/1.
Year end report — MK betting yields $1.28 for $1. Blogging suspended until Del Mar begins July 22
June 26, 2009 — maidenking
For the last year, betting on this site yielded $1.28 for every $1 wagered or $126 per race
On June 25, 2008, I began making maiden selections on this blog for sprint races on the Southern California Thoroughbred racing circuit. I started off with an imaginary $50,000 bankroll and wagered almost all of it on maiden races, but also played the Triple Crown series.
My immediate goal was to win my way to $100,000 by June 25, 2009, but about halfway through I could see that my goal was unrealistic unless I either drastically increased my wagers or the number of races I played.
I started out betting every maiden race throughout the week, but needed to take a break after Del Mar because I fell behind in my record keeping. When I came back for the Santa Anita meet, I continued betting as many races as time allowed, but shortly afterward cut back to weekends only.
For the year, I won 42 of the 133 races that I wagered on, or 31.5 percent. I bet $59,715 and collected $76,495 for a profit of $16,780. My average race bet was $448 and my average payoff on the races I won was $1,821. Over the 133 races, I made $1.28 for every $1 bet for an average yield of $126 for each race wagered on.
I showed a profit in eight months — June 2008, July, August, September, December, January, March and April. And I lost money in three months — February, May and June 2009.
Right now, my databases are about four months behind and I need to catch up. So, I plan to spend the next few weeks updating my information so I can be ready for the Del Mar meet, which starts on July 22.
That means I won’t be blogging about Southern California maidens until opening day at Del Mar. Good luck, and I will talk to you then.
Sunday, Hollywood Park Race 2 — 1:30 pm post time
June 13, 2009 — maidenking
Maiden King conquers So. Cal. maiden races
Maiden claiming $40,000, 6 furlongs, 3 yo and up, F
Possible overlays Morning line
#1 Brilliant Response 3/1
#5 Hannah’s Moment 6/1
#9 Angel of Mystery 6/1
#12 Lady Alex 7/2
Jockey Rafael Bejarano chooses to keep the mount on #1 Brilliant Response after that one ran poorly coming off a nine-month layoff on May 23. The filly, who is trained by Carla Gaines, has positive long-term angles going for it if betting action shows up.
Also, Gaines’ is only a 12 percent trainer this year, but she wins at 29 percent over the last two years when Bejarano rides.
Two second-time starters look good at the right price. Both #9 Angel of Mystery and #12 Lady Alex have been working out well and they ran decently in their debuts.
Finally, #5 Hannah’s Moment deserves a chance because she has the kind of good early speed that wins at 6 furlongs.
At 2/1 to 7/2, I will bet $300 on #1 Brilliant Response. If she falls out of the betting range, then I will put $150 on #5 Hannah’s Moment at 3/1 or higher, and $200 on both #9 Angel of Mystery and #12 Lady Alex at 5/2 to 7/1 only.
From a sure Hall of Famer to rode “like a bug boy.” America turns its back on Borel after he loses Belmont
June 8, 2009 — maidenking
Kent Desormeaux celebrates winning the Belmont Stakes aboard Summer Bird
What a difference a race makes.
Leading up to Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, the racing world spent five weeks genuflecting before the great Calvin Borel. Racing observers loved the way he captured the Kentucky Derby with his rail ride on 50-to-1 shot Mine That Bird, and they also admired his savvy decision to jump off the Derby champion and onto Preakness-winning filly Rachel Alexandra.
Borel’s fame skyrocketed, as trainers and analysts heaped credit on him for his outstanding Triple Crown rides. Writers called for the jockey to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and the rider entertained America with stints on the “Tonight Show” and the “Late Show with Dave Letterman.”
But fame is fleeting.
In Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, Borel made a huge move from the backstretch to the top of the lane aboard Mine That Bird. He was poised to become the first jockey ever to win all three Triple Crown races riding two different horses.
But at the quarter pole it seemed that the grueling three-race Derby-Preakness-Belmont schedule caught up with Mine That Bird. Or maybe, running the 1-1/2 mile-Belmont distance was just not this gelding’s thing.
In any event, Mine That Bird was gassed.
As Borel pleaded with the Bird to pass tiring pace setter Durkirk, anybody watching the stretch run could see that the other Bird — Summer Bird — was the only horse left with any legs. Desormeaux had Summer Bird rolling. He blew by both Dunkirk and Mine That Bird with 100 yards to go and crossed the wire 2 -3/4 lengths in front.
Right afterward, television analysts, and even trainer Chip Woolley, pointed fingers at Calvin Borel. They said he moved Mine That Bird too early and that’s why the 6-to-5 favorite lost the race.
In the New York Post, writer Ed Fountaine summed it up this way: “Did Calvin’s sudden celebrity, his guest spots on Jay Leno and David Letterman, go to his head? Renowned for his work ethic, Borel spent Belmont week sightseeing in Manhattan, not taking a single mount to get acquainted with Belmont Park, a track he had just ridden over seven times before.
“Then, after guaranteeing victory all week, he rode 6-5 favorite Mine That Bird like a bug boy. Abandoning the golden rail, he launched a premature move wide around the far turn and ran out of gas in the final furlong.”
Rode like a bug boy? Ouch. And just last week Borel was a sure Hall of Famer.
Yep, it looks like America’s short love affair with Borel is over. Put a fork in it. It’s done.
When gamblers lose big money at short odds — especially when the rider guarantees victory — they will turn on that jockey. Horseplayers can be unforgiving, and some are downright nasty. Just ask any jockey about the crude language they hear when unsaddling losing favorites at any race track in America, and they’ll tell you.
When I looked at the Belmont, Mine That Bird didn’t look much better than some of the other horses and, at 2-to-1 on the morning line, he offered absolutely no value. The 1-1/2 mile Belmont is a tricky distance because the pace is so slow and in the recent past this race has ended with many unforeseen outcomes.
I spread my bets out over four horses at good prices that appeared to have the sustained running style that would work at 1-1/2 miles. And my runners had some of the best jockey talent in the country aboard: Chocolate Candy, 9/1, Garrett Gomez; Dunkirk, 9/2, John Velazquez; Mr. Hot Stuff, 22/1, Edgar Prado; and Flying Private, 17/1, Julien Leparoux.
At 11/1, Summer Bird looked OK too. When looking at his past performances, I added a few points to the 99 Beyer Speed Figure he earned in the Kentucky Derby to account for his wide trip, but my mistake was not giving Summer Bird enough weight for his potential to improve in just his fifth start.
I think spreading out my wagers against Mine That Bird was the right thing to do. But the one problem with betting four horses in a race, is that when they all lose you need to think up nasty things to shout at four jockeys in the unsaddling area instead of only one.
And that’s the real challenge.
© Copyright Maiden King, 2009. Written exclusively for maidenking.wordpress.com. Not to be duplicated or reprinted.
Saturday, Belmont Stakes — 3:27 pm post time
June 6, 2009 — maidenking
Maiden King conquers the Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes, 1-1/2 miles, 3-year-olds
Possible overlays Morning line
#1 Chocolate Candy 10/1
#2 Dunkirk 4/1
#3 Mr. Hot Stuff 15/1
#8 Flying Private 12/1
The Belmont Stakes is an intriguing race because 3-year-olds are tackling a mile-and-a-half distance for the first time and almost certainly will never race this far again.
Over the years, longshots have popped that were real head-scratchers when looking at their past performances, and I think it’s because of the slow early pace. The pace is much quicker at shorter distances than the Belmont Stakes, which leads some talented horses to tire badly in the stretch. But if the early pace is slowed to a crawl — like is often the case in the Belmont — then some horses can sustain their runs for much longer distances.
For example, when Commendable won the 2000 Belmont Stakes, somebody asked trainer D. Wayne Lukas how he got a sprinter to win a 12-furlong race. And Lukas said that Commendable galloped the first six furlongs, then it became a six furlong race.
Therefore, I expect the jockeys in this race to come out of the gate with their mounts in a hammerlock and their feet on the dashboard. Also, a slow pace would be disadvantageous to the 2-to-1 betting favorite Mine That Bird, who runs his best races closing from the clouds. That style works best with heated pace battles that burn out the early pace setters in the stretch.
Mine That Bird is a good horse, but I can’t take 2-to-1 at this crazy distance.
The best early speed looks like #6 Charitable Man, who won the Peter Pan while pressing the leader on May 9. However, if Dunkirk runs his best then he should be close to the front on the far turn.
Between these two, Durkirk is the better bet to win at this distance based on the sustained pace rating he earned in the Florida Derby. Two California-based horses — #1 Chocolate Candy and #3 Mr. Hot Stuff — have been running on synthetic surfaces where they have shown that they can run on if the early pace is slow enough.
Finally, D. Wayne Lukas saddles #8 Flying Private, who is improving and must be respected off is 102 Beyer Speed Figure earned in the Preakness Stakes.
At the window, I will bet $250 to win on #2 Dunkirk at 3/1 or better; $150 on #3 Mr. Hot Stuff and $100 on Chocolate Candy, both at 6/1 or more; and $100 on #8 Flying Private at odds of at least 8/1.
- DRF Today
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
- The Blood Horse
- McCarthy Out in Force to Cap a Season to Remember
- Knightsbridge Strong in Mr. Prospector Victory
- Counting Stars Wheels Back to Take Oaklawn's Year's End
- Sovereignty Set to Rejoin Mott's Stable, Race in 2026
- Montador, Hear the Queen Capture Stakes at Fair Grounds
- Lovcen Takes Japan's Hopeful in Just His Second Start
- Looking Ahead to 2026: Exciting Freshman Sires
- Analyzing the 2025 Malibu and La Brea Stakes
- Top Japanese Dirt 3-Year-Olds Face Off in Group 1 at Oi
- Knightsbridge Aims to Fulfill Promise in Mr. Prospector
- Santa Anita News
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
- Bob Baffert’s World
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
- On the Backstretch
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
- WSJ Sports
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
Maiden King 