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.
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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.
July 25, 2009 — maidenking
Jockey Rafael Bejarano was in good spirits before Del Mar's 2nd race on opening day. In the 3rd, he was seriously injured when thrown from Mi Rey
Mi Rey's trainer Doug O'Neill solemnly walks away from van after viewing the gelding's injury.
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.
Wednesday, Del Mar Race 4 — 3:30 pm post time
July 22, 2009 — maidenking
Maiden King conquers So. Cal. maiden races
Maiden claiming $50,000, 5-1/2 furlongs, 2 yo fillies
Possible overlays Morning line
#2 Deputy Judy R N 3/1
#3 Dixie Saint 20/1
#4 Our Bellini Bikini 5/1
#5 Punctual 6/1
#7 Action Gal 6/1
#9 Wicked Trip 20/1
Lots and lots of inexperienced runners in here. In fact, only three of the nine fillies have raced and two of those ran only one time.
I like these races because bettors usually won’t pound down a first-time starter, and if they do, the low price makes that horse one of the worst long-term wagers at the race track.In this race, the horses who have run before didn’t show much, so I’ll take my chances that the winner will be a horse making its first start.
Breaking from the rail, #1 Bye Bye Hollywood did well on May 21 to get the lead while leaving from a wide post position at 4-1/2 furlongs. The gate is positioned so close to the turn at 4-1/2 furlongs that it’s almost impossible to win from any stall outside of the 4 post.
The problem I see with Bye Bye Hollywood is that her Beyer Speed Figure was only 26 and this class of fillies usually run in the low to middle 60s. At 3-to-1, she is too risky.
The two first timers that look the best are #2 Deputy Judy R N and #7 Action Gal. Trainer Kathy Walsh has a poor winning percentage with first-time runners, but Deputy Judy R N is working out well and this type of horse is a good bet at 7/2 to 19/1. Mike Machowsky, who trains Action Gal, has a good win record with Lo Hi Stable over the years when they send a horse out for the first time. But I will need a much better price than 7/2.
Also, #4 Our Bellini Bikini has strong breeding, trainer and jockey angles in it’s favor.
For some reason, I don’t know why, Florida-breds have been winning with greater frequency first-time out than horses bred in California or Kentucky. I don’t particularly like when debuting horses train at Fairplex or San Luis Rey Downs, but #3 Dixie Saint, #5 Punctual and #9 Wicked Trip were all bred in Florida. Therefore, I give them all a longshot’s chance.
At the betting windows, I will put $250 to win on #2 Deputy Judy R N at 7/2 to 19/1, $100 on #7 Action Gal at 5/1 to 19/1, but $200 if Action Gal is 10/1 to 19/1. On #4 Our Bellini Bikini, I’ll bet $200 at 5/1 to 9/1, but just $100 at 10/1 to 19/1.
Also, I’ll put $50 on any of these runners at 10/1 to 19/1 only: #3 Dixie Saint, #5 Punctual, and #9 Wicked Trip.
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.
Results, Hollywood Park Sunday Race 6 — lost $700
June 23, 2009 — maidenking
Trainer Jeff Mullins won with second-time starter #12 I Want My Money
Four horses looked like they could win this race, and although they all ran well, second-time starter #12 I Want My Money was clearly the best.
Trainer Jeff Mullins, whose Hollywood Park win rate is hovering around 30 percent, dropped I Want My Money in class from a $50,000 maiden claimer where he debuted on May 21. In that race, I Want My Money was obviously not at his best as jockey Martin Garcia hustled him the whole way, but could only muster a 68 Beyer Speed Figure.
But I Want My Money was working out right along and he had a fast drill on June 6, which set him up well for this win at 7-to-2.
The race began as jockey Tyler Baze shot #5 Gifted Student to the front. This John Sadler runner hadn’t raced since Oct. 13, but Sadler excels at getting horses like this gelding into the winner’s circle. Gifted Student was challenged at the top of the stretch by #14 Quality Plus, another second-timer who had the desirable combination of early speed and the best last race Beyer Speed Figure.
But Gifted Student shook Quality Plus off at the top of the lane to pull ahead by a length. However, Quality Plus fought right back, closing the gap.
Their stretch duel was interrupted by I Want My Money who came blasting up between horses and blew them both away to win by 2-1/2 lengths. Born to Cus, an improving Doug O’Neill runner making his third start at 7-to-1, ran late and won a three-way photo for second.
I put $400 to win on #5 Gifted Student at 6/1. Also, I had $200 to win on #14 Quality Plus, whose odds were 3.0-to-1, but if he’d been bet to 2.9-to-1 instead then my $200 would have shifted to the winner #12 I Want My Money.
I also had $100 to win on #13 Born to Cus.
To watch a replay of this race, go to www.calracing.com
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Results, Hollywood Park Saturday Race 10 — lost $300
June 23, 2009 — maidenking![bio_PatrickBiancone[1]](https://maidenking.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/bio_patrickbiancone11.jpg "bio_PatrickBiancone[1]")
Trainer Patrick Biancone is winning with more than 20 percent of his HollyPark runners
The only thing I hate more than watching 7-to-5 shots win races, is when they’re followed home by 2-to-1 second choices.
Who likes that? Even horseplayers clutching $4.80 win tickets and $7.30 exactas squack and humbly make jokes at the payout windows about how little they won.
But these short-priced winners need to come in from time to time to feed the confidence of the people who wager on them. That way, the rest of us can get better prices when chalk players use their winnings to pound the next losing favorite.
That brings me to this race where the Patrick Biancone-trained #11 Zip Quick, 7/5, stalked the pace, went three-wide on the turn and accelerated away from the field in the stretch. Inside of him, was the 2-to-1 first time starter #6 Alfarabi who rushed up on the rail to the lead, but couldn’t hold off Zip Quick.
All of the first-time starters that I was considering went off at higher odds than my 20-to-1 maximum. However, second-time starters #5 Seattle Ruler and #8 Ranger Heartley fell into my odds range, so I was able to wager $150 on each.
I was hoping that these colts learned something in their first starts and were ready to uncork something huge in this race. But nothing unexpected happened, which is why the exacta money covered little more than a hot dog and a Coke at the snack bar.
To watch a replay of this race, go to www.calracing.com.
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Results, Hollywood Park Saturday Race 2 — lost $150
June 23, 2009 — maidenking
Jockey Agapito Delgadillo and trainer Marty Jones got #2 Kami D B C into the winner's circle
Trainer Mike Puype was bringing back #11 Mar Fina from a one-year vacation, which Puype routinely does both skillfully and profitably. But the morning line on Mar Fina was 7-to-2 and when I looked at the tote board it became clear that Mar Fina probably was not going to run well, as she was an ice cold 9-to-1 going into the gate.
The other filly racing back off a year-long break was #12 Veranda Cafe. Horses running in their second lifetime starts after long stretches away from the races are usually excellent bets — as long as they are at least 2-to-1 and no more than 9-to-1. The price on Veranda Cafe, however, was crushed to 3-to-2 by the betting public, so I could not wager on her either.
That left me with a $150 bet on #3 Sister Lucy who was coming out of two quarter horse races at Los Alamitos. Also, she ran a winning Beyer Speed Figure for this class when she finished third on Oct. 19 in a maiden special weight race.
In the race, Sister Lucy shot to the lead on the backstretch and Veranda Cafe rode her flank while pressing the pace less than a length away.
At the eighth pole, Veranda Cafe took the lead and was three-lengths clear of Kami D B C with a sixteenth of a mile to run. But Veranda Cafe tired badly and faded so fast that she not only lost the race, but she didn’t even hit the board.
Winning was Kami D B C, who was making her twelfth start, but ten of those were in maiden special weight races.
To watch a replay of this race, go to www.calracing.com.
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Sunday, Hollywood Park Race 6 — 3:30 pm post time
June 21, 2009 — maidenking
Maiden King conquers So. Cal. maiden races
Maiden claiming $32,000, 6 furlongs, 3 yo’s and up
Possible overlays Morning line
#5 Gifted Student 6/1
#12 I Want My Money 9/2
#13 Born to Cus 10/1
#14 Quality Plus 7/2
John Sadler, who trains #5 Gifted Student, has a very good record when bringing older maiden claimers back from long layoffs, especially when they are dropping in class. Gifted Student showed good speed in his debut on Oct. 13, as he was bet to 5/1 and had the lead after a half a mile versus eight others.
Jockey Tyler Baze, a 14 percent rider, is aboard. Baze, however, won with 23 percent of his last 103 mounts for Sadler, so he turns into Garrett Gomez when riding Sadler’s horses. Gifted Student is 6-to-1 on the morning line, but judging from Sadler’s other layoff winners I expect him to be bet to less than 4-to-1.
Breaking from the far outside, #14 Quality Plus is another second-time starter who had the lead for a half mile in his debut. This horse has many things to like: It has good early speed, competent connections and ran a decent Beyer Speed Figure last time. But it seems like the type of horse that will be bet below 3-to-1, which will likely cause me to try to beat it.
Jeff Mullins is one of those Southern California trainers that wins whenever he wants to and can never be totally eliminated. His runner #12 I Want My Money has been working out well and is worth a bet at the right price. The same goes for #13 Born to Cus, who Doug O’Neill bred, owns and trains. Born to Cus adds blinkers and makes a positive jockey switch from Alonso Quinonez to Joel Rosario. With older maiden claimers like these, O’Neill seems to run them into form rather than trying to win early, and Born to Cus seems to be going in the right direction.
I will bet $400 to win on #5 Gifted Student at odds of 2/1 to 9/1 only. Also, I will take $200 to win on #14 Quality Plus at 3/1 or more, but if he is bet below that then I’ll put the $200 on #12 I Want My Money instead, also at 3/1 or better.
Finally, if #13 Born to Cus goes off at 6/1 or better, then I’ll put $100 on him.
Saturday, Hollywood Park Race 10 — post time 5:30 pm
June 20, 2009 — maidenking
Maiden King conquers So. Cal. maiden races
Maiden special weight, 5-1/2 furlongs, 2 year-olds
Possible overlays Morning line
#3 Paddy’s Prayer 5/1
#4 Zero Manners 20/1
#5 Seattle Ruler 12/1
#8 Ranger Heartley 6/1
#1 Amore Di Aleyna 6/1
#10 Deputy Max 20/1
#1A Summers at Delmar 6/1
My strategy is to play against #6 Alfarabi, #11 Zip Quick and most likely #3 Paddy’s Prayer. According to the morning line maker, these three colts all figure to be bet from 9/5 to 5/1 and my figures show that these types of horses are terrible wagers at low odds in this type of race.
Instead, I will spread and try to catch a price. None of the second-time starters except #11 Zip Quick ran too strong of a Beyer Speed Figure in their debuts. Mike Harrington trains #5 Seattle Ruler and that one has the quickest first quarter mile, however several of the others either hopped at the start or were off slowly in their first races.
Many times, horses who had trouble at the start in their debuts will comeback and run much better with a good break. First-time starters #3 Paddy’s Prayer, #4 Zero Manners and #10 Deputy Max look like decent wagers, but only if their odds are right.
I will bet $150 to win on both #5 Seattle Ruler and #8 Ranger Heartley at 4/1 or more, and any of these first-time starters but only at odds of 10/1 to 19/1: #3 Paddy’s Prayer, #4 Zero Manners, #10 Deputy Max and #12 Google Me.
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Maiden King 