Suffolk Downs Blog
Learn things about Suffolk Downs that you won't read anywhere else. Various racing personalities, including jockeys, trainers, track handicappers and others contribute on a regular basis.
March 9, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning!
RESULTS 3/8
Mountaineer
In the first race, Saucy Lass was sixth.
In the second, Real Impact was fourth.
In the third, Summer Legacy was seventh.
In the fifth, Yes Imatiger was fourth.
ENTRIES 3/9
Mountaineer
In the eighth race, Jay Bernardini has Way of an Eagle .
Have a great day!
March 8, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 3/7
Aqueduct
In the fifth race, Lulu's Secret was seventh.
Gulfstream
In the second race, Winner Jak was fourth and stablemate Deputy Inspector was eleventh.
Tampa
In the first race, Garlington was fourth.
In the second race, Red Ranger was fifth.
In the fourth race, Mrs. Lovett was seventh.
In the fifth race, Robbie's Express was sixth. In the sixth race, Shadow de Maya was eighth.
In the seventh race, Speeder was fourth, Royal Malibu was seventh, Conduct of Honour was ninth and Ho Ho Ho was tenth.
In the eighth race, Serengeti Storm was eighth.
In the tenth race, Affirmed Action was sixth and Hit Another Gear was tenth.
In the eleventh race, I'm No Choir Boy was eighth and Simplepunch was tenth.
Mountaineer
In the seventh, Lir Jet scratched.
ENTRIES 3/8
Mountaineer
In the first race, Jay Bernardini has Saucy Lass . He also has Real Impact in the second, Summer Legacy in the third, Yes Imatiger in the fifth and Way of an Eagle in the eighth.
Have a great day!
March 7, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning!
RESULTS 3/6
Mountaineer
In the tenth race, Maps Hope was ninth.
Laurel
In the fourth race, Dyn Panell and John Rigattieri teamed up for a victory with Weekend Games. Glenwood Ace was third and Irish Blast was seventh.
In the fifth race, Tootletheflute was fourth.
In the seventh, Rigattieri and Panell made it two for the day with Indy's Honey Gem . Also in that race, Dan's Edith was eighth.
Tampa
In the second race, Exchange the Limit was third.
In the tenth race, Second Glance was ninth.
In the eleventh, Pompano Beach Rose was sixth and LPs Tiger was ninth.
ENTRIES 3/7
Aqueduct
In the fifth race, Joe Signore, Jr. has Lulu's Secret .
Mountaineer
In the seventh race, Jay Bernardini has Lir Jet .
Gulfstream
In the second race, Giuseppe Iadisernia has Deputy Inspector and Winner Jak .
Tampa
In the first race, John Pimental has Garlington .
In the second race, Ernest Poxon, Jr. has Red Ranger .
In the fourth race, Tom McCooey, Jr. has Mrs. Lovett .
In the fifth race, Bobby Raymond has Robbie's Express .
In the sixth race, Bernard Bramante has Shadow de Maya .
In the seventh, Sandra Cataldi has Ho Ho Ho , Bobby Raymond has Speeder and Lloyd Lockhart has Royal Malibu . Also, John Pimental has Conduct of Honour .
In the eighth race, Poxon has Serengeti Storm
In the tenth, McCooey has Affirmed Action and Raymond has Hit Another Gear .
In the eleventh, McCooey has Simple Punch and Poxon has I'm No Choir Boy .
Have a great day!
March 6, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning!
RESULTS 3/5
Aqueduct
In the fifth, Mr. Jolson was fourth.
Laurel
In the second race, Indy's Ahyoka was third.
In the fourth race, Louann's Boot had an open-length victory. Also, Legends Way was fifth.
In the ninth, Amazing Racer was sixth and Crude Load scratched. Tornado Boots was ninth.
Mountaineer
In the first race, Copper Ridge was seventh.
Jay Bernardini made a trip to the winner's circle in the third with Susanne's Honor .
In the eighth, Get Ready Go was third.
Blackfeet scratched out of the ninth.
In the tenth, Simply Fancy was fifth.
Charles Town
In the third, Rearrange remainded consistent with a runner-up finish.
Gulfstream
In the second race, Devilish Mecke was seventh.
In the sixth race, Onwingsandaprayer was eigth.
Sam Houston
In the tenth race, Little Eva M was fifth.
Tampa
In the first race, Ocala Cruise Missile was sixth.
In the sixth race, Out of Spite was sixth. Also, Northern Bayou was eighth and stablemate Triple J Silver was tenth.
In the seventh race, Prima Diva was ninth and Dia Mayo was tenth.
In the tenth race, Another Smokey was fourth.
In the eleventh race, Kris's Special was second.
ENTRIES 3/6
Laurel
In the fourth race, Charles Assimakopoulos has Glenwood Ace , John Rigattieri has Weekend Games and Rafael Ramos has Irish Blast .
In the fifth, David Lezell has Tootletheflute .
In the seventh, Rigattieri has Indy's Honey Gem . In the ninth, Ramos has Nagajuskita .
Mountaineer
In the tenth, Jay Bernardini has Maps Hope .
Tampa
In the second race, Brenda McCarthy has Exchange the Limit .
In the tenth race, Juan Camilo has Second Glance .
In the eleventh, Camilo has LPs Tiger and Sandra Cataldi has Pompano Beach Rose .
Have a great day!
March 5, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 3/4
Laurel
In the second race, A Bit of Madness was third. In the third race, Cold Orient finished first in his first start for the Assimakopoulos barn.
In the fourth race, Courting Elaine was third, Lion's Maddy was fourth and Little Miss Kisses was sixth.
In the sixth race, Mount Wilton was second. Lion by My Side and Lamster scratched.
In the seventh race, Macho's Gold was third.
In the ninth, Destinedtobemine rolled to an eleven length maiden win. Score Now was fourth.
Gulfstream
In the third race, Gimmeawinkpoppy was third.
In the fourth race, Sicilian Honor was eighth.
In the seventh race, Mean Kisser was third. Bandit Nailhead scratched.
In the ninth, Special Jak was ninth.
Tampa
In the first race, Bluegrass Dolly was eighth and Miracle Cat was eleventh.
In the second race, Sara's Hot Shot was fourth Beautiful Insight was sixth and Real Place was eighth.
In the third race, Hunting Money was fourth and Crown Colony was fifth.
In the fourth race, Belladonnaofcourse was ninth.
In the seventh race, Markswayornoway made a big return to form with a game runner-up finish at generous odds. Great Squawk was third, also at a nice price.
In the eighth, Potomac Manor was ninth.
In the ninth race, Technically Wicked put in a tremendous, game performance to prevail against a quality field. She has consistently performed at the highest local level at Suffolk and I'm looking forward to her return. Unfortunately, her match-up with champion Sassy City will have to wait for another day. Sassy City , always a bit high-strung in the paddock and on the track, does not seem to have outgrown those antics yet and was scratched before the race after unseating Carlos Quinones . From what I hear, horse and rider are both okay.
In the tenth race, Tequila's Desire finished sixth. Wonder What Now scratched.
ENTRIES 3/5
Aqueduct
In the fifth race, Karl Grusmark will send out former New England champ Mr. Jolson .
In the ninth race, Mark Tasso has Nicoletti .
Laurel
In the fourth race, Nelson S. Espaillat has Legends Way and Billy Sienkewicz has Louann's Boot .
In the ninth race, John Rigattieri has both Crude Load and Amazing Racer . Also, Sienkewicz has Tornado Boots .
Mountaineer
In the first race, Jay Bernardini has Copper Ridge . He also has Susanne's Honor in the third, Get Ready Go in the eighth, Blackfeet in the ninth and Simply Fancy in the tenth.
Charles Town
In the third race, Rearrange will make another maiden attempt.
Sam Houston
In the tenth race, Wendy Uhacz has Little Eva M .
Gulfstream
In the second race, Charles Fontana has Devilish Mecke .
In the sixth race, Fontana has Onwingsandaprayer .
Tampa
In the first race, John Botty has Ocala Cruise Missile .
In the sixth race, Bernard Bramante has both Northern Bayou and Triple J Silver . Also, Anthony Ryan has Out of Spite .
In the seventh race, Tom McCooey, Jr. has Dia Mayo and Bobby Raymond has Prima Diva .
In the tenth race, Joyce Kielty has Another Smokey . I think he ran a dynamite race on the turf last time out.
In the eleventh race, Lloyd Lockhart has Kris's Special .
Have a great day!
March 4, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 3/3
Laurel
In the first race, Runinthefastlane finished sixth.
In the fourth race, Live Tiger was third and Under Mandate was eighth.
In the sixth race, D'lightful Appeal and Dyn Panell finished first and stablemate Dixielandbandito was third. Classic Guy was seventh.
In the eighth race, Lucky You was fourth.
In the ninth, Bandslammer was seventh and Mighty Elixir was eighth.
Gulfstream
In the fifth race, Dade Babe was third.
In the sixth race, Coraje scratched. His stablemate Winner Jak also scratched out of the ninth race.
Aqueduct
In the sixth race, Titletown Tiger was fourth.
Tampa
In the fourth race, Miss Quack Quack was second. Tiger Jane was tenth.
ENTRIES 3/4
Gulfstream
In the third race, Charles Fontana has Gimmeawinkpoppy .
In the fourth race, Giuseppe Iadisernia has Sicilian Honor .
In the seventh, Fontana has Mean Kisser and George Handy has the great old timer Bandit Nailhead .
In the ninth race, Fontana has Special Jak .
Laurel
In the third race, Charles Assimakopoulos has Cold Orient .
In the second race, Billy Sienkewicz has A Bit of Madness
In the fourth race, Rafael Ramos has Courting Elaine . Also, John Rigattieri has both Lion's Maddy and the game Little Miss Kisses .
In the sixth race, Ramos has Lamster and Rigattieri has both Mount Wilton and Lion By My Side .
In the seventh race, Rigattieri has Macho's Gold .
In the ninth, Ramos has Score Now and Rigattieri has Destinedtobemine .
Tampa
In the first race, Bernard Bramante has Miracle Cat and John Pimental has Bluegrass Dolly .
In the second race, Juan Camilo has Real Place and Brenda McCarthy has Sara's Hot Shot .
In the third race, Lloyd Lockhart has Crown Colony and Anthony Ryan has Hunting Money .
In the fourth race, McCarthy has Belladonnaofcourse .
In the sixth race, Bobby Raymond has Chillin Dylan .
In the seventh, Camilo has Markswayornoway and McCarthy has Great Squawk .
In the eighth race, Pimental has Potomac Manor .
In the ninth race, John Botty has the brilliantly talented Sassy City and Bobby Raymond has the ultra-game Technically Wicked . I love this race and I hope both fillies put in strong efforts.
In the tenth, Bramante has Tequila's Desire and Ryan has Wonder What Now .
Have a great day!
March 3, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
There are no noteworthy RESULTS from yesterday.
ENTRIES 3/3
Aqueduct
In the sixth race, George Saccardo has Titletown Tiger .
Laurel
In the first race, John Rigattieri has Runinthefastlane .
In the fourth, Nelson S. Espaillat has Under Mandate and Rafael Ramos has Live Tiger .
In the sixth race, Rigattieri has Dixielandbandito and D'lightful Appeal . Also, Billy Sienkewicz has Classic Guy .
In the eighth race, Charles Assimakopoulos has Lucky You .
In the ninth, Assimakopoulos has Bandslammer and Ramos has Mighty Elixir .
Gulfstream
In the fifth race, George Handy has Dade Babe .
In the sixth race, Giuseppe Iadisernia has Coraje .
In the ninth, Iadisernia has Winner Jak .
Tampa
In the fourth race, Bernard Bramante has Tiger Jane . Also in that race, Sandra Cataldi has Miss Quack Quack .
In the sixth race, Brenda McCarthy has Torch Me Again .
Have a great day!
March 2, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 3/1
Mountaineer
In the second race, Coach Doug was sixth and Mountaineer cancelled after that race.
There are no noteworthy ENTRIES today.
Have a great day!
March 1, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I just have to keep reminding myself it is almost spring. I am so over this weather.
RESULTS 2/28
Gulfstream
In the third race, Futurazo was third.
In the fourth race, Whitehouse Ridge was eighth.
In the seventh, Cross the Atlantic was eleventh and stablemate Winner Jak scratched.
Sam Houston
In the seventh, My Bird's Wired was fourth.
Tampa
In the second race, Sylvia's Cat was seventh.
In the third race, Prized Dream was sixth.
In the fourth race, Cat Sonata was fourth.
In the fifth race, Speeder scratched.
In the sixth race, Grandma Me Too was seventh and Another Mambo was tenth.
In the eighth race, Finally Remembered was sixth.
ENTRIES 3/1
Mountaineer
In the second race, Jay Bernardini has Coach Doug . He also has Real Impact in the seventh, Yes Imatiger in the eighth and Lir Jet in the tenth.
Have a great day everyone! I am all sorts of excited for the ninth race on Thursday at Tampa . Sassy City vs. Technically Wicked . Oh boy.
February 28, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 2/27
Laurel
In the first race, Sea Foam Blue was seventh.
In the second race, Scorpion Sting was fourth.
In the fifth, Goodness Greatness was fourth.
In the eighth race, Daily Candy was third.
Sam Houston
In the first race, Offlee Wedded Wife was fifth.
Tampa
In the second race, Sandra Cataldi and David Amiss teamed up for a minor upset with Sister Dolores . Also in that race, Jimmy's Palace was fourth and Shetakesthecake was sixth.
In the fourth race, Alarming Afleet was sixth.
In the seventh, Valentine Daisy was third.
In the eighth race, Beijing House was sixth.
In the ninth race, Charming Country was fifth.
In the eleventh race, Desirable Desiree was fifth, Miss Tricky Me was eighth and Second Glance scratched.
ENTRIES
Gulfstream
In the third race, Giuseppe Iadisernia has Futurazo .
In the fourth race, Marcus Vitali has Whitehouse Ridge .
In the seventh, Iadisernia has both Cross the Atlantic and Winner Jak .
Sam Houston
In the seventh race, Wendy Uhacz has My Bird's Wired .
Tampa
In the second race, Bernard Bramante has Sylvia's Cat .
In the third, Lloyd Lockhart has Prized Dream .
In the fourth race, John Botty has Cat Sonata .
In the fifth race, Bobby Raymond has Speeder .
In the sixth race, Sandra Cataldi has Grandma Me Too and Tom McCooey, Jr. has Another Mambo .
In the eighth, Cataldi has Finally Remembered .
Have a great day!
February 27, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 2/26
Laurel cancelled yesterday due to weather.
Gulfstream
In the second race, Miss Gold Indy was eighth.
In the seventh race, Marcus Vitali sent Our Dreamette to a seven length victory.
In the ninth, Very Very Clever was fourth.
Sam Houston
In the fifth, Expect No Equal was seventh.
Tampa
In the second race, Bea Precise and Jill Jellison pulled off a narrow uspset victory.
In the third race, Let it Be Hardyboy was eighth.
In the sixth race, Unshatterable was seventh.
In the eighth race, Arctiz was third.
In the ninth, LP's Tiger was sixth. Pompano Beach Rose scratched.
My buddy Riversrunrylee finished fourth in the tenth after setting a quick pace. He puts in his effort every time and win or lose, he is a horse that deserves a lot of respect.
In the eleventh, Circling the Bases was ninth.
ENTRIES 2/27
Laurel
David Lezell has Sea Foam Blue in the first race.
In the second race, Rafael Ramos has Scorpion Sting
In the fifth, Lezell has Goodness Greatness .
In the eighth race, Billy Sienkewicz has Daily Candy .
Sam Houston
In the first race, Wendy Uhacz has Offlee Wedded Wife .
Tampa
In the second race, Sandra Cataldi has Sister Dolores , Bobby Raymond has Shetakesthecake and Brenda McCarthy has Jimmy's Palace .
In the fourth race, Tom McCooey, Jr has Alarming Afleet .
In the seventh race, McCooey has Valentine Daisy .
In the ninth race, McCooey has former New England champ Beijing House and Bobby Raymond has Charming Country .
In the eleventh race, Juan Camilo has Second Glance and McCarthy has Miss Tricky Me .
Have a great day!
February 26, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 2/25
Aqueduct
In the first race, Cajun Belle was fifth and Jordanna Banana scratched.
In the fourth race, Karl Grusmark and Orlando Bocachica made a trip to the winner's circle with Winitback .
Laurel
In the first race, Fusafast was third.
In the second race, Jackie Lad pulled off a ½-length victory and was claimed. Ivannarun was fifth.
In the fifth, Disguise was second and Travelin John Paul was fifth.
In the sixth race, Hey Mouth was second and Evil Buddha was fourth.
In the ninth race, Jane's Song was fourth.
Gulfstream
In the fourth race, Romanscoliseum was fourth.
In the ninth race, Gator's Tracks was ninth.
Tampa
In the third race, Yamil Rosario was aboard the winner and returned $19.60. Snow Down was fourth.
In the fourth, Busy Roma was third and Ariel's Silver was sixth.
In the fifth, Master Gino was outdistanced and did not finish.
In the sixth race, Entice was eighth.
In the seventh race, Syncopation was ninth.
In the tenth, Bedbug Eddy was fourth. Cosmic Transit and Red Ranger scratched.
ENTRIES 2/26
Laurel
In the eighth race, Charles Assimakopoulos has Lucky You .
In the ninth, Assimakopoulos will send out Bandslammer and Rafael Ramos has Mighty Elixir .
Gulfstream
In the second race, Charles Fontana has Miss Gold Indy .
In the seventh race, Marcus Vitali has Our Dreamette .
In the ninth, George Handy has Very Very Clever .
Sam Houston
In the fifth race, Wendy Uhacz has Expect No Equal .
Tampa
In the second race, Bobby Raymond has Bea Precise .
In the third race, Bernard Bramante has Let it Be Hardyboy .
In the sixth race, Unshatterable is in for Tom McCooey, Jr. .
In the eighth race, John Pimental has the beautifully-bred Arctiz .
In the ninth race, Juan Camilo has LP's Tiger and Sandra Cataldi has Pompano Beach Rose .
In the tenth, Riversrunrylee will try to earn his second victory of the Tampa meet. New England's reigning champion older male is always tough on the lead and I'll certainly be rooting for him today.
In the eleventh race, Raymond has Circling the Bases .
Have a great day!
February 25, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning!
RESULTS 2/24
Laurel
In the first race, Katie's Raven was fourth.
In the second race, Seekingvindication was fifth. Primal Baby scratched.
In the fourth race, Mount Wilton (a son of Graeme Hall! made a trip to the winner's circle. Brother Joey was eighth.
In the fifth, Gold Jolie was fifth.
John Rigattieri had his second win of the day in the seventh race with Indy's Honey Gem . Dyn Panell was aboard.
In the ninth, Soto High was sixth.
Aqueduct
In the fourth race, Casa Pippo was fourth.
Coney Island was fifth in the sixth race.
Gulfstream
In the third race, Rosalba Yankee was seventh.
Tampa
In the first race, I'm No Choir Boy was eighth.
In the second race, Wha Youdoin was eighth.
In the third, Jean the Queen was seventh.
In the seventh race, Laugh a Minute and David Amiss pulled a minor upset for Sandra Cataldi .
In the ninth, Serengeti Storm was sixth.
In the tenth, Mr. d'Or was tenth.
ENRIES 2/25
Laurel
In the first race, Rafael Ramos has Fusafast .
In the second race, Nelson S. Espaillat has Jackie Lad and Billy Sienkewicz has Ivannarun .
In the fifth race, John Rigattieri has Disguise and Sienkewicz has Travelin John Paul .
In the sixth, Rigattieri has both Hey Mouth and Evil Buddha .
In the ninth, Rigattieri has Jane's Song .
Aqueduct
In the first race, Joe Signore, Jr. has Cajun Belle and Mark Tass has Jordanna Banana .
Gulfstream
In the fourth race, Giuseppe Iadisernia has Romanscoliseum .
In the ninth race, former New England champion turf horse Gator's Tracks is in the ninth race for George Handy .
Tampa
In the third race, former New England champion Snow Down will make her Tampa debut after a layoff for John Botty . I think this filly has been beautifully managed and I have to admit, she won me over this summer. I wasn't sold on her as a juvenile but she really showed she had a ton of heart this past season. It is worth noting here that it seems Carlos Quinones has moved his tack to Florida. This talented young rider had a lot of success riding for this barn during our meet.
In the fourth race, Sandra Cataldi has Ariel's Silver and Lloyd Lockhart has Busy Roma .
In the fifth race, Bernard Bramante has Mister Gino .
In the sixth race, Brenda McCarthy has Entice .
In the seventh race, Juan Camilo has Syncopation .
In the tenth race, Botty has Bedbug Eddie , Ernest Poxon, Jr. has Red Ranger and Cataldi has Cosmic Transit .
Have a great day!
February 24, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
There are no noteworthy RESULTS today.
ENTRIES 2/24
Laurel
In the first race, David Lezell has Katie's Raven .
In the second race, Rafael Ramos has both Seekingvindication and Primal Baby .
In the fourth race, John Rigattieri has both Mount Wilton and Brother Joey .
In the fifth, Ramos has Gold Jolie .
In the seventh, Rigattieri has Indy's Honey Gem .
In the ninth race, Rigattieri has Soto High .
Aqueduct
In the fourth race, George Saccardo has Casa Pippo .
In the sixth, Saccardo has Coney Island . I really think both of these horses could be sitting on big efforts.
Gulfstream
In the third race, Giuseppe Iadisenria has Rosalba Yankee
Tampa
In the first race, Ernest Poxon, Jr. has I'm No Choir Boy .
In the second race, Bernard Bramante has Wha Youdoin .
In the third, Brenda McCarthy has Jean the Queen .
In the sixth race, Bobby Raymond has Robbie's Express .
In the seventh, Sandra Cataldi has Laugh a Minute .
In the ninth, Poxon has Serengeti Storm .
In the tenth race, McCarthy has Mr. d'Or .
Have a great day everyone and try to stay dry!
February 23, 2010
Jessica Paquette
Good morning everyone!
There are no noteworthy ENTRIES or RESULTS today, but the next couple of days look very exciting - Snow Down , Riversrunrylee and more!
February 22, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 2/21
Aqueduct
In the sixth race, Emblemosophy finished sixth.
Tampa
In the second race, Brenda McCarthy sent out another winner with Uno Way Calle .
In the fourth race, Garlington was third at a generous price and Mortal Sin finished fifth.
In the sixth, Win Jane's Heart was ninth and Shadow de Maya was tenth.
In the eighth race, Rinaldo's Gold was tenth.
There are no noteworthy ENTRIES today.
Have a great day!
February 21, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! The Derby preps yesterday were certainly interesting. Eskendereya was certainly impressive, but I'm also very interested in Conveyance . I wasn't sold on him before the race, but it was a solid performance and I am a big fan of Indian Charlie as a sire.
RESULTS 2/20
Laurel
In the second race, Blondie's Halos was moved up from third to second via DQ.
In the fourth race, Jackie Lad scratched.
In the fifth, Legends Way was eighth.
In the seventh race, Classic Guy was second at very generous odds. Also in the race, Jersey Moon was fifth, Fifty Seven G was eighth and Jose was twelfth. Dixielandbandito scratched.
In the sixth, Lamster was fifth.
In the tenth race, Halo's Rumble ran a dynamite race to finish first by 4 ¾ lengths. Hot Chile Soup , a local fan favorite, finished eighth and last.
Charles Town
In the seventh race, Way of an Eagle was eighth.
Sam Houston
In the fifth race, Offlee Wedded Wife was sixth.
Tampa
In the fourth race, Dia Mayo finished fourth and Prima Diva was ninth.
In the fifth, Mini Goal was seventh and Entice scratched.
In the eighth race, Royal Malibu was seventh.
In the ninth, Conduct of Honour was seventh and Crown Colony was ninth.
In the eleventh race, EJ Little Boy finished fourth and Potomac Manor was tenth.
ENTRIES 2/21
Aqueduct
In the sixth race, George Saccardo has Emblemosophy .
Tampa
In the second race, Brenda McCarthy has Uno Way Calle .
In the fourth race, John Botty has Mortal Sin and John Pimental has Garlington .
In the sixth race, Shadow de Maya is in for Bernard Bramante and Bobby Raymond has Win Jane's Heart .
In the eighth race, Bobby Raymond has Rinaldo's Gold .
Have a great day!
February 20, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning!
RESULTS 2/19
Aqueduct
Laurel
In the second race, Courting Elaine was a game second, beaten only a neck.
In the third, Dan's Edith was eighth.
In the fifth, Saltinthecity was eleventh.
In the sixth, Nagajuskita was fifth.
In the seventh, Scorpion Sting was eleventh.
In the eighth, Daily Candy was seventh.
In the ninth, Tootlethelfute was third.
Charles Town
In the first race, Copper Ridge was tenth. Lady Alice was ninth in the second and Coach Doug was fifth in the sixth.
Gulfstream
In the sixth, Special Jak scratched.
In the seventh, Zapper won by a head, Bandit Nailhead was ninth and Tigerglider was eleventh.
Tampa
In the fourth race, Cirlcing the Bases ran a huge race to finish second at 22-1.
In the seventh race, Unshatterable was seventh.
In the fifth, Affirmed Action was third and Ho Ho Ho was sixth.
In the sixth race, Awendaw was sixth.
In the ninth, Charming Country was seventh.
ENTRIES 2/20
Sam Houston
Wendy Uhacz has Offlee Wedded Wife in the fifth race.
Laurel
In the second race, John Rigattieri has Blondie's Halos .
In the fourth race, Nelson S. Espaillat has Jackie Lad .
In the sixth race, Ramos Ramos has Lamster .
In the seventh, Espaillat has both Legends Way and Jose and David Lezell has Fifty Seven G . Also, John Rigattieri has both Legends Way and Dixielandbandito . Most notably for me, Billy Sienkewicz has Blazing Sword's little brother Classic Guy .
In the tenth race, Charles Assimakopoulos has Halo's Rumbles .
Charles Town
In the seventh, Jay Bernardini has Way of an Eagle .
Tampa
In the fourth, Tom McCooey, Jr has Dia Mayo and Bobby Raymond has Prima Diva .
` In the fifth, Brenda McCarthy has Entice and McCooey has Mini Goal .
In the eighth race, Lloyd Lockhart has Royal Malibu .
In the ninth, Lockhart has Crown Colony and John Pimental has Conduct of Honour .
In the eleventh, McCarthy has EJ Little Boy and Pimental has Potomac Manor .
Have a good day!
February 19, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 2/18
Gulfstream
In the second race, Quiet Revolution was eighth.
In the fifth race, Sole Runner was tenth and Milwaukee Wolf was eleventh.
In the ninth, Our Sun scratched.
Aqueduct
In the sixth race, Orlando Bocachica rode End of Gulch to victory.
In the ninth, Fujimo was eighth.
Laurel
In the second race, Gold Bid scratched.
In the third race, Tornado Boots was seventh.
In the fourth, Goodness Greatness finished first and Snuck in the Back was tenth.
In the sixth race, Bid Til Included pulled off a game victory, prevailing by a neck.
In the seventh race, Bobcat Brody was seventh.
In the ninth, Sneaky Deeds was seventh.
Charles Town
In the fifth race, Yes Imatiger was tenth.
Tampa
In the third race, LP's Tiger scratched.
In the fourth race, Upper Key was sixth.
In the fifth, Exchange the Limit was sixth.
In the eighth race, Extra Fuse was second.
In the ninth, Mrs. Lovett was fifth.
ENTRIES 2/19
Gulfstream
In the sixth, Giuseppe Iadisernia has Winner Jak .
In the seventh race, Charles Fontana has Tigerglider . Also in that race, George Handy has the wonderful old-timer Bandit Nailhead and Marcus Vitali has Zapper .
Laurel
In the second race, Rafael Ramos has Courting Elaine .
In the third race, Billy Sienkewicz has Dan's Edith .
In the fifth, Ramos has Saltinthecity .
In the sixth, Ramos has Nagajuskita .
In the seventh, Ramos has Scorpion Sting .
In the eighth, Sienkewicz has Daily Candy .
In the ninth, David Lezell has Tootletheflute .
Charles Town
In the first race, Jay Bernardini has Copper Ridge . He also has Lady Alice in the second and Coach Doug in the sixth.
Tampa
In the third race, Anthony Ryan will send out the undefeated and exciting Tommy's Memory . He is a perfect three for three and last time out defeated an impressive field, including the veteran and former New England horse of the year, Blind River Fox .
In the fourth race, Bobby Raymond has Circling the Bases .
In the seventh race, Tom McCooey, Jr. has Unshatterable .
In the sixth, Wayne Sargent has Awendaw .
In the ninth race, Sandra Cataldi has Ho Ho Ho , John Pimental has Conduct of Honour , Raymond has Charming Country (and yes, I'm giving him another shot) and McCooey has Affirmed Action .
Have a great day!
February 18, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 2/17
Aqueduct
In the second race, Joan's Choice was sixth.
Charles Town
In the second race, Simply Fancy was seventh.
In the sixth, Vy Vy Vy was eighth.
Gulfstream
In the sixth race, Gimmeawinkpoppy was ninth.
Tampa
In the second race, Sara's Hot Shot was second and Real Place was sixth.
In the fourth race, Tom McCooey, Jr. sent out Alarming Afleet to a game victory by a neck.
In the fifth, Brisk Tide was sixth and Tequila's Desire was tenth.
In the sixth race, Another Smokey ran a big race to finish third at very generous odds. This guy is one to watch next time on grass. Also in that race, stablemate Drews Honoree was tenth.
In the seventh, Prized Dream was fourth.
In the eighth race, Sand Slider was "outdistanced" and did not finish.
In the tenth, Ahoy Mae Tee was sixth and Out of Spite was ninth.
ENTRIES 2/18
Aqueduct
In the ninth, Mark Tasso will send out Fujimo .
Laurel
In the second race, Charles Assimakopoulos has Gold Bid .
In the third race, Billy Sienkewicz has Tornado Boots .
In the fourth race, Nelson S. Espaillat has Snuck in the Back and David Lezell has Goodness Greatness .
In the sixth race, John Rigattieri has Bid til Included .
In the seventh, Rigattieri has Bobcat Brody . Dyn Panell will be aboard.
In the ninth, he will team up with Carlos Quinones with Sneaky Deeds .
Charles Town
In the fifth race, Jay Bernardini has Yes Imatiger . For whatever reason, that name makes me laugh every time. I think because the first time I saw it, it took a solid minute for me to realize what it was.
Gulfstream
In the second race, Giuseppe Iadisernia has Quiet Revolution .
In the fifth race, Charles Fontana has Milwaukee Wolf and George Handy has Sole Runner .
In the ninth race, Marcus Vitali has Our Sun .
Tampa
In the third race, Juan Camilo has LP's Tiger .
In the fourth race, Lloyd Lockhart has Upper Key .
In the fifth race, Brenda McCarthy has Exchange the Limit .m
In the eighth race, Lockhart has Extra Fuse .
In the ninth, Tom McCooey, Jr. has Mrs. Lovett .
Have a good day everyone!
February 17, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I'm so tired of the snow. I was just about ready to put away my snow boots and take out my flip-flops. I suppose that will have to wait.
There are no noteworthy RESULTS from yesterday.
ENTRIES 2/17
Aqueduct
In the second race, George Saccardo has Joan's Choice .
Charles Town
In the second race, Jay Bernardini has Simply Fancy .
In the sixth, he has Vy Vy Vy .
Gulfstream
In the sixth race, Charles Fontana has Gimmeawinkpoppy .
Tampa
In the second race, Juan Camilo has Real Place and Brenda McCarthy has Sara's Hot Shot .
In the fourth, Tom McCooey, Jr. has Alarming Afleet .
In the fifth race, Bernard Bramante has Tequila's Desire and Bobby Raymond has Brisk Tide .
In the sixth race, Joyce Kielty has both Drews Honoree and Another Smokey .
In the seventh, Lloyd Lockhart has Prized Dream .
In the eighth race, Wayne Sargent has Sand Slider .
In the tenth race, Anthony Ryan has Out of Spite and Sargent has Ahoy Mae Tee .
Have a good day everyone!
February 16, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 2/15
Laurel
In the second race, A Bit of Madness was second, Louann's Boot was fourth, Irish Blast was fifth and Glenwood Ace was sixth.
In the fourth, Indy's Ahyoka was fourth.
In the fifth, Travelin John Paul was third and Bentbutnotbroken was ninth.
In the sixth, Seekingvindication was eighth.
In the ninth, Weathered was sixth.
In the tenth, The Last Bird was second.
In the eleventh, Sea Foam Blue was fourth.
Aqueduct
In the fifth, Nicoletti was ninth.
There are no noteworthy ENTRIES today.
February 15, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! Today is the first day of bringing Gibbs to work with me. I hope he loves the Suffolk Downs press box as much as I do.
RESULTS 2/14
Gulfstream
Marcus Vitali saddled Jazz Nation to victory in the second race.
In the sixth, Targe was third.
Aqueduct
In the ninth, Cajun Belle was eighth.
Sam Houston
My Bird's Wired was sixth in the third ace.
Tampa
In the second race, Fries was eighth and stablemate Exchange the Limit scratched.
In the third race, Swirland was DQ'd from third to fourth. Also, Shetakesthecake was sixth.
In the fourth, Silver Spioke was third and Four Fs and a D was eighth.
In the fifth, Arctiz was seventh.
In the tenth, Hunting Money was seventh.
ENTRIES
Laurel
In the second race, Charles Assimakopoulos has Glenwood Ace . Remember his big upset win a couple of weeks back? Also in that race, Rafael Ramos has Irish Blast and Billy Sienkewicz has both A Bit of Madness and Louann's Boot .
In the fourth, Ramos has Indy's Ahyoka .
In the fifth race, David Lezell has Bentbutnotbroken and Sienkewicz has Travelin John Paul .
In the sixth, Ramos has Seekingvindication in the Marshua Stakes.
In the ninth race, Karl Grusmark has his lovely stakes filly Weathered in the Barbara Fritchie Handicap.
In the tenth, Ramos has The Last Bird .
In the eleventh race, Lezell has Sea Foam Blue .
Aqueduct
In the fifth race, Mark Tasso has Nicoletti .
Have a great day everyone!
February 14, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 2/13
Aqueduct
In the seventh race, Titletown Tiger was fourth.
Gulfstream
In the second race, Rocky Miswaki was seventh and I Love to Say Yes was tenth.
Tampa
In the first race, Rome is Burning was sixth. Regent Star scratched.
In the second race, Mister Gino was scratched.
Sassy City rolled through some very demanding fractions before fading to fifth in the third race.
In the fourth race, Second Glance was tenth.
In the fifth, Scooties was fourth and Cocktail Music was tenth.
In the sixth, V for Vickie was eighth and Another Mambo was eleventh.
In the seventh race, the veteran Speeder was second at 64-1.Stablemate Hit Another Gear was ninth.
Laurel
In the fourth race, Ivannarun was fifth.
In the seventh race, Live Tiger was fifth and Under Mandate was eighth.
ENTRIES 2/14
Tampa
In the second race, Brenda McCarthy has Fries and Exchange the Limit .
In the third, McCarthy has Swirland and Bobby Raymond has Shetakesthecake .
In the fourth race, Tom McCooey, Jr. has Silver Spike and Raymond has the hilariously-named Four Fs and a D .
In the fifth, John Pimental has Arctiz .
In the tenth, Anthony Ryan has Hunting Money .
Aqueduct
In the ninth race, Joe Signore, Jr. has Cajun Belle .
Sam Houston
In the third race, Wendy Uhacz has My Bird's Wired .
Gulfstream
Marcus Vitali has Targe in the second race and Jazz Nation in the sixth.
Have a great day everyone!
February 13, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! Last night, we brought home the newest addition to our family - Gibbs. He is a twelve-week old, mostly black Bull Terrier puppy. I am kind of a boring person, to be honest, and my ideal Friday evening is to spend it at home, watching sports and hanging out with my boyfriend and dog. Our lives were too empty without a dog in it, so we are eternally grateful to Amy Woodman at Skyline Bull Terriers for bringing Gibbs into our lives. He is an awesome puppy and Arnold would have loved him.
I do want to thank everyone for the e-mails and phone calls. The outpouring of kindness and support helped tremendously.
RESULTS 2/12
Gulfstream
In the third race, Mean Kisser was sixth.
In the fourth, Sicilian Honor was fifth and Special Jak was eighth.
Sam Houston
In the third race, Expect No Equal was fifth. My Bird's Wired scratched and is back in for Sunday.
In the ninth, Little Eva M was fourth.
Tampa
In the first race, Let it Be Hardyboy was placed third and I'm No Choir Boy was tenth.
In the second race, More to It was sixth and Moonlit Getaway scratched.
In the third race, Sin Bin was fourth.
In the fifth race, Macho Muchacho seemed to appreciate the sloppy going and pulled a minor upset for Wayne Sargent . Shotgun Sambo was eleventh.
In the sixth race, Chillin Dylan scratched.
In the seventh race, Markswayornoway was eighth.
In the eighth race, Torch Me Again was fifth.
Gulfstream
In the second race, Charles Fontana has both I Love to Say Yes and Rocky Miswaki .
Aqueduct
In the third race, Mark Tasso has Jordanna Banana .
In the seventh, George Saccardo has Titletown Tiger .
Laurel
In the fourth race, Billy Sienkewicz has Ivannarun .
In the seventh race, Nelson S. Espaillat has Under Mandate Also in that race, Rafael Ramos has Live Tiger .
Tampa
In the first race, John Botty has Rome is Burning and Alejandro Gomez has Regent Star .
In the second race, Bernard Bramante has Master Gino .
In the third race, Botty has New England champ Sassy City . Her last race was, I think, a credible performance against a high quality field and I think she could run a big race here.
In the fourth race, Juan Camilo has Second Glance .
In the fifth race, Brenda McCarthy has Cocktail Music and Tom McCooey, Jr. has Scooties .
In the sixth, McCarthy has V for Vickie and McCooey has Another Mambo .
In the seventh race, Bobby Raymond has Speeder and Hit Another Gear .
Have a great day!
February 12, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone.
RESULTS 2/11
Gulfstream
In the second race, Saratoga Blitz was eleventh.
In the third, Miss Gold Indy was eighth and Sunny Horizon was eleventh.
Tampa
In the first race, Skip the Lightning scratched.
In the second race, Bea Precise was second.
In the third race, Mom Extraordinary was ninth.
In the seventh race, Greeley's Kiss was third and Pink Tights was seventh.
In the eighth, Valentine Daisy was third.
In the ninth race, Granby Bot was fifth and Makeitsnappyhappy was sixth.
ENTRIES 2/12
Gulfstream
In the first race, Grammie's Jammies was fifth.
In the third race, Charles Fontana has Mean Kisser . He also has Special Jak in the fourth.
Also in the fourth race, Giuseppe Iadisernia has Sicilian Honor .
Sam Houston
In the third race, Wendy Uhacz has My Bird's Wired and Expect No Equal . She also has Little Eva M in the ninth.
Tampa
In the first race, Bernard Bramante has Let it Be Hardyboy and Ernest Poxon, Jr has I'm No Choir Boy .
In the second race, Alejandro Gomez has both Moonlit Getaway and More to It .
In the third race, Tom McCooey, Jr. has Sin Bin .
In the fifth race, Wayne Sargent has both Shotgun Sambo and Macho Muchacho .
In the sixth race, Bobby Raymond has Chillin Dylan .
In the seventh race, Juan Camilo has Markswayornoway .
In the eighth race, Brenda McCarthy has Torch Me Again .
In the eleventh race, John Botty has Rubato .
Have a good day everyone!
February 11, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone. I apologize for the blog hiatus this week. On Monday evening, my beloved Bull Terrier, Arnold, was diagnosed with renal dysplasia after showing absolutely no symptoms of kidney failure in the days prior. On Wednesday morning, I had to say goodbye to him. He was only eighteen months old. I am heartbroken beyond words.
RESULTS 2/10
Tampa
In the first race, Cat Sonata was fifth.
In the second race, Ocala Cruz Missile was third.
In the third, Mr. D'or was eighth.
In the sixth race, Beautiful Insight was sixth.
In the ninth race, Syncopation was third in his first start back off of a considerable layoff.
In the tenth race, Jimmy's Palace was fifth.
Gulfstream
In the sixth race, Romanscoliseum was twelfth.
ENTRIES 2/11
Aqueduct
In the first race, George Saccardo will send out Casa Pippo .
In the second race, Saccardo will team up with Orlando Bocachica again with Joan's Choice.
In the ninth race, Joe Signore, Jr. will send out Cajun Belle with Bocachica aboard.
Gulfstream
In the first race, George Handy has Grammie's Jammies , a daughter of Graeme Hall .
In the second race, Charles Fontana has Saratoga Blitz . He also has Miss Gold Indy in the third.
Also in the third race, Giuseppe Iadisernia has Sunny Horizon .
Laurel
In the second race, Billy Sienkewicz has Dan's Edith .
In the fourth race, Rafael Ramos has Scorpion Sting and Sienkewicz has Travelin John Paul .
In the fifth race, David Lezell has Katie's Raven .
In the sixth race, Ramos has The Last Bird .
In the ninth race, Lezell has Sea Foam Blue .
Tampa
In the first race, Juan Camilo has Skip the Lightning .
In the second race, Bobby Raymond has Bea Precise .
In the third race, Bernard Bramante has Mom Extraordinary .
In the seventh race, Sandra Cataldi has Greeley's Kiss and Tom McCooey, Jr. has Pink Tights .
In the eighth race, McCooey has Valentine Daisy .
In the ninth race, Lloyd Lockhart has Makeitsnappyhappy and Ernest Poxon, Jr. has Granby Boy .
February 8, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! First off, congratulations to the Saints. It was an exciting game to watch and though I am a cranky Patriots fan and was still slightly bitter that they crashed and burned this year, I'll admit that the right team won the trophy.
Now that football season is officially over, it's Derby season! And, for the record, 82 days until opening day here!
RESULTS 2/7
Gulfstream
In the third race, Devilish Mecke was fourth.
In the fifth, Deona was second and Onwingsandaprayer was fifth.
Tampa
In the first race, Yamil Rosario guided Swirland to victory for Brenda McCarthy . (These two are doing so well this winter. Brenda had a great meet last season at Tampa and is again very competitive.) In the second race, Yamil rode another winner and swept the early double.
In the fourth race, Ahoy May Tee was sixth.
In the sixth race, Stormin Max was sixth.
In the seventh race, Serengeti Storm was seventh.
In the tenth race, Red Ranger was sixth and Busy Roma scratched.
There are no noteworthy ENTRIES today.
Have a great day!
February 7, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I am a Saints fan for the day and am really looking forward to the game this evening.
If you didn't get a chance to see the Donn yesterday from Gulfstream, do yourself a favor and catch the replay. It was a stunning performance.
RESULTS 2/6
Aqueduct
In the first race, Papa Charlie was eleventh.
In the fifth, Jordanna Banana was eigth.
In the seventh race, Coney Island was thrid.
Sam Houston
In the first race, Offlee Wedded Wife was fourth.
Gulfstream
In the first race, Got that Money was seventh.
Tampa
In the first race, Jean the Queen was sixth.
In the second, Nudara was tenth,
Tigerglider scratched out of the third.
In the fourth race, Yamil Rosario guided Desirable Desiree to a maiden victory.
In the sixth race, Latest Expense was eighth and Prime Diva was tenth.
Special Jak was a scratch in the seventh.
In the eighth race, Charming Country was seventh.
In the ninth, Crown Colony was ninth.
ENTRIES 2/7
Gulfstream
In the thrid race, Charles Fontana has Devilish Mecke . He also has Onwingsandaprayer in the fifth.
Also in the fifth, Marcus Vitali has Deona
Tampa
In the first race, Brenda McCarthy has Swirland .
In the fourth race, Wayne Sargent has Ahoy May Tee .
In the sixth race, John Pimental has Stormin Max .
In the seventh race, Ernest Poxon, Jr. has Serengeti Storm .
In the tenth race, Lloyd Lockhart has Busy Roma and Poxon has Red Ranger .
Have a great day everyone!
February 6, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! While it may be cold and gray today, I am so thankful we are not getting hammered with a snow storm like other states right now.
Though several tracks do appear to have cancelled today due to the storm, there is really fantastic racing today in other parts of the country. The Donn Handicap at Gulfstream is today and in that race is Duke of Mischief . If he can upset Quality Road , he could give Graeme Hall his first Grade 1 winner.
RESULTS 2/5
Gulfstream
In the second race, Deputy Inspector scratched.
In the tenth, Cross the Atlantic was fifth.
Aqueduct
In the fifth race, Lulu's Secret scratched.
In the seventh race, Chief Operator was fifth and Fujimo was sixth.
Tampa
In the first race, Bucks Wink was fourth.
In the third race, Immense Storm was eighth.
In the fifth race, Robbie's Express ran a good race to finish third.
In the eighth race, Royal Malibu was fifth.
In the ninth race, Second Glance was eighth.
In the tenth race, Tequila's Desire was fourth.
ENTRIES 2/6
Gulfstream
In the first race, Marcus Vitali has Got the Money . He also has Deona in the third.
Aqueduct
In the first race, George Saccardo has Papa Charlie .
Orlando Bocachica has mounts in the first, fifth, eighth and ninth races. In the eighth, he will ride Estimator for Karl Grusmark .
In the fifth race, Mark Tasso has Jordanna Banana .
In the seventh, Saccardo has Coney Island .
Sam Houston
In the first race, Offlee Wedded Wife will try to make it two in a row after breaking her maiden (and returning over $100!) last time out for Wendy Uhacz .
Tampa
In the first race, Brenda McCarthy has Jean the Queen .
In the second race, Bobby Raymond has Nudara .
In the third race, Charles Fontana has Tigerglider .
In the fourth, John Pimental has Desirable Desiree .
In the sixth race, Lloyd Lockhart has Latest Expense and Raymond has Prima Diva .
In the seventh race, Fontana has Special Jak .
In the eighth race, Charming Country gets another shot for Bobby Raymond .
In the ninth, Lockhart had Crown Colony .
Have a great day everyone!
February 5, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 2/4
Aqueduct
In the fourth race, Ninety Five was ninth.
Gulfstream
In the second race, Miss Unbridled's was scratched.
In the third, Go Six Go was eleventh.
In the fifth race, Dade Babe was sixth.
In the ninth, Marcus Vitali sent Targe to victory. Strong N Silent finished eighth.
Laurel
In the first race, Security Guard was fifth.
In the second race, Destinedtobemien was second.
In the fourth, Soto High was third.
In the seventh race, Classic Guy finished sixth.
In the eighth race, Halo's Rumble put in a strong effort to finish second, beaten only a nose.
In the ninth race, Tootletheflute was fifth.
Tampa
In the first race, Kathy's N Angel broke her maiden for Bobby Raymond and Jill Jellison . Also in that race, Peplum was eleventh.
In the fourth race, Upper Key was tenth.
In the sixth race, Uno Way Calle was fifth.
Mrs. Lovett scratched out of the tenth race.
ENTRIES 2/5
Laurel
In the first race, Charles Assimakopoulos has Gold Bid .
In the second race, Rafael Ramos has both Courting Elaine and Indy's Ahyoka .
In the fourth race, Ramos has Nagajuskita .
In the fifth, Ramos has Phil C .
In the sixth race, John Rigattieri has both Mount Wilton and Brother Joey . Dyn Panell is named aboard both.
In the seventh race, Rigattieri has D'lightful Appeal .
Aqueduct
In the fifth race, Joe Signore, Jr. has Lulu's Secret . Orlando Bocachica will be aboard.
In the seventh race, Signore and Bocachica will team up again with Chief Operator . Also in that race, Mark Tasso has Fujimo .
Charles Town
In the seventh race, Jay Bernardini has Coach Doug .
Gulfstream
In the second race, Giuseppe Iadisernia has Deputy Inspector .
In the tenth race, Iadisernia has Cross the Atlantic .
Tampa
In the first race, Lloyd Lockhart has Bucks Wink .
In the third race, Sandra Cataldi has Immense Storm .
In the fifth race, Bobby Raymond has Robbie's Express .
In the eighth, Lockhart has Royal Malibu .
In the ninth race, Juan Camilo has Second Glance , making his first start in just over a year.
In the tenth race, Bernard Bramante has Tequila's Desire .
Have a great day everyone!
February 4, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 2/3
Gulfstream
In the third race, Delosvientos finished seventh and last.
In the fourth, Hopefully Lucky was eighth and Romanscoliseum scratched.
In the ninth race, Parky was fifth and Bandit Nailhead had an uncharacteristic off-the-board finish and was seventh. Mean Kisser scratched.
Laurel
In the second race, Hey Mouth was fifth.
In the seventh, Pushed Over was second.
In the ninth, Tornado Boots was third, Amazing Racer was eighth, Score Now was ninth and Rica's Grandsteed scratched.
Tampa
In the fourth race, Fries was fourth and Lizard finished sixth.
In the third race, Circling the Bases was seventh and Gucaipuro was ninth.
In the seventh, Kismet's Boy was ninth.
In the ninth race, Regent Star made a trip to the winner's circle following a 3 ½ length victory. Also in that race, Unshatterable was third.
ENTRIES 2/4
Laurel
In the first race, Rafael Ramos will send out Security Guard .
In the second, John Rigattieri has Destinedtobemine .
In the fourth, Rigattieri has Soto High and Billy Sienkewicz has a favorite of mine, Classic Guy . Classic Guy is a half-brother to my first love in racing - Blazing Sword.
In the eighth race, Charles Assimakopoulos has the lovely filly Halo's Rumble .
In the ninth, David Lezell has Tootletheflute .
Aqueduct
In the fourth race, George Saccardo has first-time starter Ninety Five .
Orlando Bocachica has mounts in the first, fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth races including Davy's Bank and Winitback for Karl Grusmark .
Gulfstream
In the third race, Giuseppe Iadisernia has Go Six Go .
In the fourth, Marcus Vitali has Targe .
In the fifth race, George Handy has Dade Babe .
In the sixth, Vitali has Hemet . Tampa
In the first race, Brenda McCarthy has Peplum and Bobby Raymond has Kathy's N Angel .
In the fourth race, Lloyd Lockhart has Upper Key .
In the sixth race, McCarthy has Uno Way Calle .
In the tenth race, Tom McCooey, Jr. has Mrs. Lovett .
Have a great day everyone!
February 3, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
There are no noteworthy RESULTS today.
ENTRIES 2/3
Aqueduct
Orlando Bocachica has mounts in the second, third, fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth races. In the fifth, he rides Tapits Main Man for Karl Grusmark .
Gulfstream
In the third race, Delosvientos is in for Giuseppe Iadisernia .
In the fourth race, Iadisernia has Romanscoliseum and Hopefully Lucky .
In the ninth, George Handy has the wonderful old-timer Bandit Nailhead , Charles Fontana has Mean Kisser and Marcus Vitali has Parky .
Laurel
In the second race, John Rigattieri has Hey Mouth .
In the seventh race, Rigattieri has Pushed Over .
In the ninth race, David Lezell has Rica's Grandsteed and Rafael Ramos has Score Now . Also, Rigattieri has Amazing Racer and Billy Sienkewicz has Tornado Boots .
Tampa
In the third race, Bobby Raymond has Circling the Bases .
In the fourth race, Alejandro Gomez has Lizard and Brenda McCarthy has Fries .
In the ninth race, Tom McCooey, Jr. has Unshatterable .
In the tenth race, Sandra Cataldi has Gucaipuro and Gomez has Regent Star .
Have a great day everyone!
February 2, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I apologize for the lack of blog yesterday. I was so jet-lagged and exhausted from my red-eye flight that I pretty much spent the day on the couch with my dog. It is amazing how much I missed him while I was away.
There are no noteworthy ENTRIES or RESULTS today.
RESULTS 1/31
Tampa
In the third, Another Smokey was fifth.
In the fourth, Aye Guy was fourth.
In the fifth, Implicator broke his maiden for Alejandro Gomez . Sonofabox was seventh.
In the seventh race, Greeley's Kiss scratched. Shetakesthecake was ninth and stablemate Win Jane's Heart was tenth.
In the tenth, New Day Rising was seventh.
Gulfstream
In the first race, Futurazo was fourth and stablemate Cross the Atlantic scratched.
Have a great day everyone!
January 31, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! First off, congratulations to Brian Troop and all of the contestants in the DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship this weekend. The three playrers from Suffolk - Gerry Oberle, Jamie Sultan and Kim Leisey - all did really well and certainly made their home track proud.
RESULTS 1/30
There were quite a few weather related cancellations yesterday.
Tampa
In the first race, Real Place finished fourth. Beautiful Insight was sixth.
In the fourth, EJ Little Boy was fourth.
In the eighth race, Beijing House was very game and finished third. Really a huge effort from him.
In the ninth race, Southern Yankee was ninth.
In the tenth, Crown Colony was eighth.
Sam Houston
In the fourth race, My Bird's Wired was eighth and Expect No Equal was sixth in the eighth race.
ENTRIES 1/31
Charles Town
In the third race, Jay Bernardini has Coach Doug .
In the seventh, John Rigattieri has Lion by My Side .
Tampa
In the third race, Joyce Kielty has Another Smokey .
In the fourth race, Alejandro Gomez has Aye Guy .
In the fifth, Gomez has Implicator and Tom McCooey, Jr. has Sonofabox .
In the seventh race, Sandra Cataldi has Greeley's Kiss . Also in that race, Bobby Raymond has Win Jane's Heart and Shetakesthecake .
In the tenth, Gomez has New Day Rising .
Gulfstream
In the first race, Giuseppe Iadisernia has both Cross the Atlantic and Futurazo .
January 30, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 1/29
Laurel
It was a very good day for the Suffolk crew at Laurel.
Winston Thompson started the day with a bang with a $139.80 winner in the opener.
In the second race, Macho's Gold won by a length for John Rigattieri .
In the fourth race, Indy's Ahyoka was fifth and Courting Elaine was seventh.
In the fifth race, Blondie's Halos was fourht and Snuck in the Back was eigth.
In the sixth, Bobcat Brody was sixth.
In the seventh race, Dan's Edith was eighth.
In the ninth race, Glenwood Ace put in another good effort and won by 1 3/4 lengths. Weekend Games was third, Ivannarun was eighth and CG's Striker was tenth.
Charles Town
In the second race, Funky Country was ninth.
I'm a Prize was seventh in the ninth race.
Tampa
In the first race, Exchange the Limit was fifth.
In the second race, Finally Remembered and Yamil Rosario made a trip to the winner's circle. LP's Tiger was fifth.
In the third race, Chillin Dylan was fifth.
In the fourth race, More to It was second, Alarming Afleet was seventh and Moonlit Getaway was eighth.
In the seventh race, Riversrunrylee was fifth against a very tough field.
Sam Houston
In the third race, Offlee Wedded Wife broke her maiden for Wendy Uhacz and returned $129.80!
ENTRIES 1/30
Sam Houston
In the fourth race, Wendy Uhacz has My Bird's Wired . She also has Expect No Equal in the eigth.
Aqueduct
In the seventh race, Joe Signore, Jr. has Chief Operator . Also in that race, Mark Tasso has Fujimo .
In the eighth race, Tasso has Jordanna Banana .
Charles Town
In the second race, Jay Bernardini has Simply Fancy . He also has Way of an Eagle in the sixth.
Tampa
In the first race, Juan Camilo has Real Place and Ernest Poxon, Jr. has Beautiful Insight .
In the fourth, Brenda McCarthy has EJ Little Boy .
In the eighth race, Tom McCooey, Jr. has Beijing House . Conduct of Honour is on the also-eligible list for John Pimental .
In the ninth race, Alejandro Gomez has Southern Yankee in the Manatee stakes.
In the tenth, Lloyd Lockhart has Crown Colony . Laurel
In the third, John Rigattieri has Destinedtobemine .
In the fourth, Rigattieri has Prince Kisses .
In the fifth, Rafael Ramos has Scorpion Sting . Rigattieri has D'lightful Appeal and Disguise .
In the sixth race, Rigattieri has Bid til Included .
In the eighth race, Charles Assimakopoulos has Gold Bid .
Have a great day everyone!
January 29, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! So far, Vegas is great. As embarassing as this may be to admit, I may have been in bed by 7pm last night (to be fair, it was 10pm on my time!). I obviously know how to party.
RESULTS 1/28
Charles Town
Coach Doug scratched out of the seventh race along with Fifty Seven G .
Gulfstream
In the second race, Coraje was sixth.
In the fourth race, Gadamis was third.
In the fifth race, Miss Gold Indy was fifth.
In the sixth, Gimmeawinkpoppy was tenth.
In the ninth, Gator's Tracks was tenth.
Laurel
In the first race, Daily Candy won for Billy Sienkewicz .
In the second race, Jackie Lad was second, A Bit of Madness was third, Dude Again was fourth and Legends Way was seventh. Lion by my Side scratched.
In the third race, Louann's Boot was scratched.
In the fourth race, Fusafast was fourth and stablemate Nagajuskita scratched. No Peace at All was fifth.
In the ninth race, Runinthefastlane and Revere Beach Babe were eighth and ninth. Dreaming Prayers was ninth.
Tampa
In the second race, Latest Expense scratched. Sin Bin was seventh.
In the third, Brenda McCarthy had another winner with Torch Me Again .
In the fifth, Extra Fuse was fifth.
In the seventh race, Technically Wicked ran a dynamite race to defeat a quality field. Jill Jellison was aboard.
ENTRIES 1/29
Aqueduct
In the first race, Karl Grusmark has Indian Rush .
Gulfstream
Charles Town
In the second race, Jay Bernardini has Funky Country .
In the ninth race, Bernardini has I'm a Prize .
Laurel
In the second race, John Rigattieri has Macho's Gold .
In the fourth race, Rafael Ramos has both Courting Elaine and Indy's Ahyoka .
In the fifth race, Nelson S. Espaillat has Snuck in the Back and Rigattieri has Blondie's Halos. .
In the sixth race, Rigattieri has Bobcat Brody .
In the seventh race, Billy Sienkewicz has Dan's Edith .
In the ninth race, Charles Assimakopoulos has Glenwood Ace and Rigattieri has CG's Striker and Weekend Games . Also, Sienkewicz has Ivannarun .
Sam Houston
In the third race, Wendy Uhacz has Offlee Wedded Wife .
Tampa
In the first race, Brenda McCarthy has Exchange the Limit .
In the second race, Juan Camilo has LP's Tiger and Sandra Cataldi has Finally Remembered .
In the third race, Chillin Dylan gets another shot. I've bet him every single time, so why stop now?
In the fourth race, Alejandro Gomez has both Moonlit Getaway and More to It . Also, Tom McCooey, Jr. has Alarming Afleet .
In the ninth race, Camilo will send out New England champion Riversrunrylee . I'm super excited. This is a tough field but he shows up every time.
Have a great day everyone!
January 28, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I am off to Las Vegas at the crack of dawn Thursday morning so here it is, Wednesday night, and I'm getting the blog done. I'm (over) packed and ready to go!
Good luck to all competing in the DRF/NTRA Handicapping Tournament this weekend!
RESULTS 1/27
Gulfstream
In the first race, Ski Sky was sixth.
In the second race, Saratoga Blitz was eleventh.
In the fifth race, Tigerglider was seventh.
Tampa
In the second race, Sister Dolores was fifth.
In the third race, Another Mambo scratched.
In the fifth race, Bea Precise was fifth.
In the seventh race, Charming Country was sixth.
In the ninth race, Dixville was ninth.
In the tenth race, Silver Spike was seventh and Busy Roma was tenth.
Laurel
In the first race, Bandslammer was third.
In the second race, Indy's Honey Gem was second and Under Mandate was eighth.
In the third race, War Morning was eighth.
In the eighth race, Handsome Bruno and Dyn Panell pulled off a game victory at generous odds of 11-1.
In the ninth race, Sea Foam Blue was was fifth.
ENTRIES 1/28
Gulfstream
In the second race, Giuseppe Iadisernia has Coraje .
In the fourth race, Iadisernia has Gadamis .
In the fifth race, Charles Fontana has Miss Gold Indy .
In the sixth race, Fontana has Gimmeawinkpoppy .
In the ninth race, New England Hall of Fame trainer George Handy will send out former New England champ Gator's Tracks .
Charles Town
In the seventh race, Jay Bernardini has Coach Doug and David Lezell has Fifty Seven G .
Laurel
In the first race, Billy Sienkewicz has Daily Candy .
In the second race, Nelson S. Espaillat has both Jackie Lad and Legends Way . Also in that race, Sienkewicz has A Bit of Madness and John Rigattieri has both Dude Again and Lion by My Side .
In the third race, Sienkewicz has Louann's Boot .
In the fourth race, Rafael Ramos has both Fusafast and Nagajuskita . Rigattieri has No Peace at All .
In the ninth race, Ramos has Dreaming Prayers and Rigattieri has Runinthefastlane and Revere Beach Babe .
Tampa
In the second race, Lloyd Lockhart has Latest Expense and Tom McCooey, Jr. has Sin Bin .
In the third race, Brenda McCarthy has Torch Me Again .
In the fifth race, Lockhart has Extra Fuse .
In the seventh race, Bobby Raymond has Technically Wicked .
Have a great day everyone!
January 27, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
There are no noteworthy RESULTS from yesterday.
ENTRIES 1/27
Gulfstream
In the first race, Marcus Vitali has Ski Sky .
In the second race, Charles Fontana has Saratoga Blitz .
In the fifth race, Fontana has Tigerglider
Laurel
In the first race, Charles Assimakopoulos has Bandslammer .
In the second race, Nelson S. Espaillat has Under Mandate and John Rigattieri has Indy's Honey Gem .
In the third race, Billy Sienkewicz has War Morning .
In the eighth race, Rigattieri has Handsome Bruno .
In the ninth race, David Lezell has Sea Foam Blue .
Tampa
In the second race, Sandra Cataldi has Sister Dolores .
In the third race, Tom McCooey, Jr. has Another Mambo .
In the fifth race, Bobby Raymond has Bea Precise .
In the seventh race, Raymond has Charming Country . He is a much, much better horse than that last effort.
In the ninth race, Cataldi has Dixville .
In the tenth, Lloyd Lockhart has Busy Roma and McCooey has Silver Spike .
Have a great day!
January 26, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
There are no noteworthy ENTRIES or RESULTS today.
January 25, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I stayed up later than normal last night to watch the Saints game and I am so glad I did. It was a terrific game.
RESULTS 1/24
Aqueduct
In the third race, Mr. Jolson and Orlando Bocachica were third. Also in that racer, Papa Charlie was seventh.
In the sixth race, Emblemosophy scratched.
Charles Town
In the fourth race, Lir Jet was seventh. Get Ready Go was fourth in the eighth race.
Gulfstream
In the fifth race, Jazz Nation clipped heels and lost his rider. Devilish Mecke scratched.
In the sixth race, Zapper was ninth and Privy Seal was twelfth.
Tampa
In the first race, Swirland scratched.
In the third race, the gorgeous Metal Jacket put in a huge effort to win at 8-1 and was claimed.
In the sixth race, Four F's and a D was seventh and I'm No Choir Boy was tenth.
In the seventh race, Macho Muchacho was eighth. Stag Film scratched.
In the eighth race, Tommy's Memory remained undefeated with a one-length victory over the hard-knocking old-timer, Blind River Fox . Sand Slider scratched.
In the ninth race, Eight Faces was fifth, Little Vinnie Boy was ninth and Salsbury was tenth.
In the tenth race, Lizard finished sixth. More to It and Rome is Burning both scratched.
There are no noteworthy ENTRIES today.
Have a great day!
January 24, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 1/23
Laurel
In the first race, Goodness Greatness was third.
In the second race, Bentbutnotbroken was fourth. Scorpion Sting was sixth.
In the third race, Helen Says was eighth.
In the fourth race, Little Miss Kisses put in another game effort to finish third, beaten only half a length.
In the fifth race, Travelin John Paul was ninth and last.
In the sixth race, Ragabash was fourth.
In the seventh race, the Nellie Morse Stakes, Weathered finished a game second. Lucky You was sixth.
In the eighth race, Lion's Maddy was sixth.
In the ninth race, Soto High and Dyn Panell made a trip to the winner's circle.
Charles Town
In the first race, Saucy Lass was seventh. Coach Doug scratched out of the second race.
In the eighth race, Seekingvindication was second.
Tampa
In the first race, Pompano Beach Rose was fifth.
In the second race, New Day Rising was fifth and Sylvia's Cat was seventh.
In the fourth race, Dwight was tenth.
In the seventh race, Granby Boy was second.
In the ninth race, Drews Honoree was eighth.
In the eleventh race, Brenda McCarthy sent out another longshot winner in Miss Tricky Me . The filly returned $49 with Vernon Bush aboard. Miracle Cat was eleventh. ENTRIES 1/24
Gulfstream
In the fifth race, Charles Fontana has Devilish Mecke and Marcus Vitali has Jazz Nation .
In the sixth race, Giuseppe Iadisernia has Privy Seal and Vitali has Zapper .
Aqueduct
Former New England champion Mr. Jolson is in the third race for Karl Grusmark . Orlando Bocachica will be aboard. Also in that race, George Saccardo has Papa Charlie .
In the sixth race, Saccardo has Emblemosophy .
Charles Town
Jay Bernardini has Lir Jet in the fourth and Get Ready Go in the eighth race.
Tampa
In the first race, Brenda McCarthy has Swirland .
Alejandro Gomez has the gorgeous Metal Jacket in the third race.
In the sixth race, Ernest Poxon, Jr. has I'm No Choir Boy . Also in that race, the horse with one of the most amusing names - Four F's and a D will make his career debut for Bobby Raymond .
In the seventh race, Bernard Bramante has Stag Film and Wayne Sargent has Macho Muchacho .
In the eighth race, the obviously talented Tommy's Memory will try to maintain his perfect record. Also in that race, Sargent has Sand Slider .
In the ninth race, Sandra Cataldi has Eight Faces and Salsbury . Also in that race, John Pimental has Little Vinnie Boy .
In the tenth race, John Botty has Rome is Burning and Gomez has Lizard and More to It .
Have a great day everyone!
January 23, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! There is some fantastic news - Suffolk Downs will now be simulcasting from Gulfstream, Laurel, Oaklawn, Fairground, Santa Anita and Golden Gate again! Just in time for the Derby preps.
RESULTS 1/22
Aqueduct
In the fifth race, Coney Island had a rough go of it and hit the gate at the start. He finished sixth.
In the seventh race, Orlando Bocachica guided Hello City to victory.
Laurel
In the first race, Live Tiger was fifth.
In the fourth race, Massecuite was third.
In the fifth race, Hi Poppy was sixth.
In the seventh race, Pushed Over was second by a head. Disguise scratched.
In the ninth race, Jane's Song was third, Miss Jealousy was seventh and On the QB was ninth.
Gulfstream
In the fifth race, Milwaukee Wolf was third and Listowel Boy was seventh. Gimmeawinkpoppy scratched.
Tampa
In the first race, Mortal Sin was sixth.
In the third race, Uno Way Calle was fourth, Unlimited Funds was seventh and Gonna Blow was ninth.
In the fourth race, Barrington Hills was sixth and Shadow de Maya was seventh.
In the fifth race, Robbie's Express was third.
In the sixth race, Sara's Hot Shot was fourth and Beautiful Insight was ninth.
In the seventh race, Deerborough was third and Affirmed Action was seventh. Conduct of Honour scratched.
In the eighth race, Markswayornoway was eighth.
In the ninth race, Serengeti Storm was fifth and Unshatterable was eighth.
In the tenth race, Three Cookies was eighth and Peplum was ninth. Untouchable Lauren was distanced and did not finish.
ENTRIES 1/23
Laurel
In the first race, David Lezell has Goodness Greatness .
In the second race, Lezell has Bentbutnotbroken and Rafael Ramos has Scorpion Sting .
In the third race, Lezell has Helen Says .
In the fourth race, John Rigattieri and Dyn Panell will team up with the consistent and game Little Miss Kisses .
In the fifth race, Travelin John Paul is in for Billy Sienkewicz .
In the sixth race, Ramos has Ragabash .
In the seventh race, Charles Assimakopoulos has Lucky You and Karl Grusmark has Weathered in the Nellie Morse Stakes.
In the eighth race, Rigattieri will send out Carlos Quinones aboard Lion's Maddy .
In the ninth race, Rigattieri has Soto High .
Aqueduct
Orlando Bocachica has mounts in the fifth and seventh races. In the seventh, he will ride Estimator for Karl Grusmark .
Charles Town
In the first race, Jay Bernardini has Saucy Lass . He also has Coach Doug in the second.
In the eighth race, Rafael Ramos has Seekingvindication .
Tampa
In the first race, Sandra Cataldi has Pompano Beach Rose .
In the second race, Bernard Bramante has Sylvia's Cat and Alejandro Gomez has New Day Rising .
In the fourth race, John Botty has Dwight .
In the seventh race, Ernest Poxon, Jr. has Granby Boy .
In the ninth race, Joyce Kielty has Drews Honoree .
In the eleventh race, Bramante has Miracle Cat , John Pimental has Desirable Desiree and Brenda McCarthy has Miss Tricky Me .
Have a great day everyone!
January 22, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 1/21
Laurel
In the first race, Tornado Boots was fifth and Amazing Racer was sixth.
In the second race, John Rigattieri sent Hey Mouth to a one-length victory. Stablemate Evil Buddha was fifth.
In the third race, Katie's Raven was sixth.
In the fourth race, Destinedtobemine was sixth.
Master Gino scratched out of the fifth.
Aqueduct
In the third race, Cajun Belle was fifth.
In the seventh race, Orlando Bocachica and Rocketing Returns finished a strong second.
In the ninth race, Titletown Tiger ran a dynamite race to finish second by a neck at long odds despite a troubled trip.
Gulfstream
In the second race, Onwingsandaprayer was third.
Sam Houston
In the seventh race, Expect No Equal was sixth.
Penn National
In the seventh race, Rearrange was placed third.
Tampa
In the second race, Hemet was sixth.
In the fourth race, Implicator was second and Sonofabox was fourth.
In the fifth race, Jimmy's Palace was tenth.
In the eighth race, Mrs. Lovett was fifth.
In the ninth race, Kathy's N Angel was seventh and Tequila's Desire was eighth.
Sara's Hot Shot scratched out of the tenth race and stablemate Jean the Queen was sixth.
ENTRIES 1/22
Laurel
In the first race, Rafael Ramos has Live Tiger with Winston Thompson .
In the fourth race, Ramos will team up with Dyn Panell with Massecuite .
In the fifth race, Ramos has Hi Poppy .
In the seventh race, John Rigattieri has both Pushed Over and Disguise with Panell and Carlos Quinones .
In the ninth race, David Lezell has On the QB and Rigattieri has Jane's Song and Miss Jealousy .
Gulfstream
In the fifth race, Charles Fontana has Milwaukee Wolf and Gimmeawinkpoppy . Also in that race, Marcus Vitali has Listowel Boy .
Aqueduct
Orlando Bocachica has mounts in the first, fourth, sixth, seventh and ninth races. In the first, he will ride Brightrock for Karl Grusmark .
In the fifth race, George Saccardo has Coney Island .
Tampa
In the first race, John Botty has first-time starter Mortal Sin .
In the third race, Bernard Bramante has Gonna Blow and Brenda McCarthy has both Unlimited Funds and Uno Way Calle .
In the fourth race, Bramante has Shadow de Maya and Tom McCooey, Jr. has Barrington Hills .
In the fifth race, Bobby Raymond has Robbie's Express . This guy ran a big race last time out and if he can put two in a row together he has a big shot.
In the sixth race, McCarthy has Sara's Hot Shot and Ernest Poxon, Jr. has Beautiful Insight .
In the seventh race, McCooey has Affirmed Action , Poxon has Deerborough and John Pimental has Conduct of Honour .
In the eighth race, Juan Camilo has Markswayornoway , a half-sister to New England champ Riversrunrylee .
In the ninth race, McCooey has Unshatterable and Poxon has Serengeti Storm .
In the tenth race, Alejandro Gomez has Three Cookies , Anthony Ryan has Untouchable Lauren and McCarthy has Peplum .
Have a great day everyone!
January 21, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 1/20
Aqueduct
Orlando Bocachica guided Sue the Attorney to victory in the fourt.
Gulfstream
In the second race, Miss Unbridled's was tenth.
Special Jak was fifth in the eighth race.
Charles Town
In the fifth race, Saucy Lass scratched. She is re-entered for Saturday.
In the seventh race, Summer Legacy was seventh.
Tampa
In the second race, Gucaipuro was fifth.
In the fourth race, Garlington finished tenth. Also in that race, Jimmy's Mr. Hicky scratched.
In the fifth race, Immense Storm was sixth.
In the sixth race, Hit Another Gear put in a good effort to finish third. Speeder was eighth and Conrad Crossing was ninth. Affirmed Action scratched.
In the seventh race, Bucks Wink was seventh.
In the ninth race, Delaware Beauty was eleventh.
In the tenth race, Torch Me Again was sixth.
ENTRIES 1/21
Aqueduct
In the third race, Cajun Belle will make her first start since being claimed by Joe Signore, Jr. . She has been on the board in seven of her eighth lifetime starts and though this field looks strong, she could be a filly with a bright future. Orlando Bocachica will be aboard.
In the seventh race, Boca will be aboard Rocketing Returns for Seth Benzel .
In the ninth race, George Saccardo has Titletown Tiger .
Penn National
In the seventh race, the consistent Rearrange will make another maiden attempt.
Laurel
In the first race, John Rigattieri and Dyn Panell will team up with Amazing Racer . Also in that race, Billy Sienkewicz has Tornado Boots in with Carlos Quinones aboard.
In the second race, Rigattieri has Hey Mouth and Evil Buddha .
In the third race, David Lezell has Katie's Raven .
In the fourth race, Rigattieri has Destinedtobemine .
In the fifth race, Master Gino is in for Rafael Ramos .
Gulfstream
In the second race, Charles Fontana has Onwingsandaprayer .
Sam Houston
In the seventh race, Wendy Uhacz has Expect No Equal .
Tampa
In the second race, Marcus Vitali has Hemet .
In the fourth race, Alejandro Gomez has Implicator and Tom McCooey, Jr. has Sonofabox .
In the fifth race, Brenda McCarthy has Jimmy's Palace .
In the eighth race, McCooey has Mrs. Lovett .
In the ninth race, Bernard Bramante has Tequila's Desire and Bobby Raymond has Kathy's N Angel .
In the tenth race, McCarthy has Sara's Hot Shot and Jean the Queen .
Have a great day everyone!
January 20, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
There are no noteworthy RESULTS from yesterday.
ENTRIES 1/20
Aqueduct
Orlando Bocachica has mounts in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh races. In the fourth, he will be aboard Weefc for Karl Grusmark .
Gulfstream
In the second race, Charles Fontana has Miss Unbridled's . He also has Special Jak in the fifth race.
Charles Town
Jay Bernardini has Saucy Lass in the fifth and Summer Legacy in the seventh.
Tampa
In the second race, Sandra Cataldi has Gucaipuro .
In the fourth race, Brenda McCarthy has Jimmy's Mr. Hicky and John Pimental has Garlington .
In the fifth race, Cataldi has Immense Storm .
In the sixth race, Tom McCooey, Jr. has Affirmed Action . Also in that race, John Pimental has Conrad Crossing and Bobby Raymond has both Speeder and Hit Another Gear .
In the seventh race, Lloyd Lockhart has Buck's Wink .
In the eighth race, Pimental has Potomac Manor .
In the ninth race, McCarthy has Delaware Beauty .
In the tenth race, McCarthy has Torch Me Again .
Have a great day everyone!
January 19, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I stayed up way past my usual bedtime to watch the Eclipse Awards last night and, like everyone else, I was anxiously anticipating Horse of the Year. I do think both fillies were just tremendous in 2009 and a valid case could have been made for either one to get the main honor.
I am just so excited for racing this year. With both of them poised for a return, it is an exciting time to be a racing fan.
RESULTS 1/18
Aqueduct
In the second race, Joan's Choice finished seventh.
Laurel
In the first race Sneaky Deeds was fourth and Hot Brew was sixth.
In the third race, Jersey Moon was fifth.
In the fourth race, Go Luv was seventh.
In the fifth race, Phil C was fifth.
In the sixth race, Nagajuskita was fifth.
In the eighth race, Swing Music was third.
In the ninth race, Travelin John Paul was third and Fifty Seven G was fifth.
Gulfstream
In the third race, Our Sun was second.
In the fourth race, Delosvientos finished seventh and last. I hope he comes in sharper second start back.
In the sixth race, Cross the Atlantic was fifth.
There are no noteworthy ENTRIES today. Have a great day everyone!
January 18, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! The weather is absolutely miserable today. I am so ready for it to be summer.
RESULTS 1/17
Aqueduct
In the seventh race, Jordanna Banana was eighth.
In the eighth race, Yet Again finished sixth.
Charles Town
Coach Doug scratched out of the fifth.
Gulfstream
In the sixth race, Quiet Revolution was third and Mean Kisser was eleventh.
Tampa
In the second race, Swirland finished fifth, Upper Key was tenth and Miracle Cat scratched.
In the seventh race, Awendaw was eighth.
In the tenth race, Cat Sonata was fourth.
ENTRIES 1/18
Laurel
In the first race, Rafael Ramos has Hot Brew and John Rigattieri has Sneaky Deeds .
In the third race, Rigattieri has Jersey Moon .
In the fourth race, Rigattieri has Go Luv .
In the fifth race, Ramos has Phil C .
In the sixth race, Ramos has Nagajuskita .
In the eighth race, Rigattieri has Swing Music . A fun fact- her margin of victory of eighteen lengths in one of her wins at Suffolk was the largest margin of victory of the meet.
In the ninth race, David Lezell has Fifty Seven G and Billy Sienkewicz has Travelin John Paul .
Gulfstream
In the third race, Marcus Vitali has Our Sun .
In the fourth race, Giuseppe Iadisernia will send out his stakes winner, Delosvientos , most recently seen running a game second to Riversrunrylee .
In the sixth race, Iadisernia has Cross the Atlantic .
Aqueduct
In the second race, George Saccardo has Joan's Choice . Orlando Bocachica will be aboard.
Boca also has mounts in the fifth and seventh races.
January 17, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 1/16
Laurel
In the third race, Score Now was fifth. Frankly Frank was seventh.
In the fifth race, Adopted Arrival was ninth.
In the sixth race, Southern Twister ran a dynamite race to pull off the victory. I'm a bit disappointed he was claimed as he most likely won't be back at Suffolk this summer. Also in that race, Brother Joey was fourth.
In the eighth race, The Last Bird was second.
Aqueduct
In the ninth race, Chief Operator finished eighth.
Gulfstream
In the second race, Saratoga Blitz scratched.
Rocky Miswaki was ninth in the fourth race.
Tampa
In the first race, Skip the Lightning was eighth in his first start off of a layoff. Aye Guy was ninth.
In the second race, Pensiveness scratched. Metal Jacket was second.
In the third race, No Passing Zone was eighth. Unlimited Funds scratched.
In the fifth race, Boston West End scratched. Arctiz was ninth.
In the sixth race, Granby Boy was sixth.
In the eleventh race, LP's Tiger was fourth.
ENTRIES 1/17
Charles Town
In the fifth race, Jay Bernardini has Couch Doug
Aqueduct
Orlando Bocachica has mounts in the first, third, fifth and eighth races. In the eighth race, he will ride Yet Again for Karl Grusmark in the Affectionately Stakes.
In the seventh race, Mark Tasso has Jordanna Banana .
Gulfstream
In the sixth race, Charles Fontana has Mean Kisser and Giuseppe Iadisernia has Quiet Revolution .
Tampa
In the second race, Bernard Bramante has Miracle Cat , Brenda McCarthy has Swirland and Lloyd Lockhart has Upper Key .
In the ninth race, Bramante has Tequila's Desire .
In the seventh race, Wayne Sargent, Sr. has Awendaw .
In the tenth race, John Botty has Cat Sonata .
Have a great day everyone!
January 16, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 1/15
Laurel
In the first race, Rafael Ramos sent out Killarney Bay with Winston Thompson aboard to a victory.
In the second race, Macho's Gold stumbled and lost his rider.
In the third race, Zavata's Trick was third.
In the seventh race, Go Angel Go was a game second behind Dyn Panell and Prince Kisses . Legends Way finished sixth and A Bit of Madness was seventh.
In the eighth race, Bid til Included was fifth.
In the ninth race, Tootletheflute was sixth.
Tampa
In the first race, Implicator was second and Red Ranger was fifth.
In the second race, Sandra Cataldi and Yamil Rosario teamed up for a victory with Finally Remembered .
Real Place scratched out of the third race.
In the fourth race, Circling the Bases gave the Bobby Raymond barn their first win of the meet. Aye Guy scratched.
In the fifth race, Regent Star was fifth.
In the sixth race, Greeley's Kiss was second. Mini Goal finished fifth.
In the seventh race, Strong N Silent finished fourth. More to It was fifth.
In the ninth race, Latest Expense was eleventh.
In the tenth race, Chillin Dylan was seventh and Silver Spike was eighth.
Aqueduct
In the ninth race, Fujimo was ninth.
Sam Houston
In the seventh race, Offlee Wedded Wife was fifth.
ENTRIES 1/16
Aqueduct
Joe Signore, Jr. has the beautifully-bred Chief Operator in the ninth.
Orlando Bocachica has mounts in the first, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth races.
Laurel
In the third race, Rafael Ramos has Score Now and John Rigattieri has Frankly Frank ..
In the fifth race, David Lezell has Adopted Arrival .
In the sixth race, Charles Assimakopoulos has Southern Twister and Rigattieri has Brother Joey .
In the eighth race, Ramos has The Last Bird .
Gulfstream
Charles Fontana has Saratoga Blitz in the second race.
In the fourth race, he has Rocky Miswaki .
Tampa
In the first race, Juan Camilo has Skip the Lightning , a longshot I am kind of interested in today. Aye Guy is in for Alejandro Gomez .
In the second race, Pensiveness is in again for Gomez along with Metal Jacket .
In the third race, Gomez has No Passing Zone and Brenda McCarthy has the speedy Unlimited Funds .
In the fifth race, Bernard Bramante has Boston West End and John Pimental has the well-bred Arctiz .
In the sixth race, Ernest Poxon, Jr. has Granby Boy .
Juan Camilo has the consistent LP's Tiger in the eleventh race.
Have a great day everyone!
January 15, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 1/14
Aqueduct
Orlando Bocachica brought home the winner of the first race.
Karl Grusmark's filly Weathered added another stakes victory to her resume in the Darlin Momma Stakes .
Grusmark and Bocachica teamed up in the ninth race for a runner-up finish with longshot Winitback
Laurel
Mighty Elixir scratched out of the first race.
In the second race, Blondie's Halo won for John Rigattieri . Snuck in the Back was seventh.
In the third race, Weekend Games was third, Glenwood Ace was fourth and CG's Striker was fifth. Brogue finished seventh and Louann's Boot rounded out the field in eigth. Irish Blast scratched.
In the fifth race, Last Vindication finished second.
In the eighth race, Bobcat Brody was eighth.
Gulfstream
In the fifth race, Targe was fourth.
Sam Houston
In the eighth race, Little Eva M was fourth.
Charles Town
Lion by My Side finished third in the seventh race.
Tampa
In the second race, Sir Classic Chris was second, Exchange the Limit was fourth and Moonlit Getaway was ninth. Mom Extraordinary scratched.
In the third race, Devilish Mecke was fifth, Southrnhospitality was seventh and Salsbury was eighth.
In the fourth race, Rubato ran a really good race to finish fourth. She looked absolutely beaten once she didn't get the lead and I was impressed by how she came back again. Also in that race, Bea Precise was seventh.
In the fifth race, Another Mambo was fifth.
In the seventh race, Another Smokey was seventh.
In the ninth race, Crown Colony finished seventh.
ENTRIES 1/15
Aqueduct
Mark Tasso has Fujimo in the ninth race.
Orlando Bocachica has mounts in the fourth, sixth and seventh races.
Laurel
In the first race, Rafael Ramos has the beautifully-bred Killarney Bay .
In the second race, John Rigattieri has Macho's Gold .
In the third race, Ramos has Zavata's Trick .
In the seventh race, Charles Assimakopoulos has Go Angel Go and Rigattieri will team up with Dyn Panell with Princes Kisses . Also in that race, Billy Sienkewicz has the well-bred A Bit of Madness .
In the eighth race, Rigattieri will send out Bid til Included . I thought this guy showed a lot of potential in his career debut and I think he has a bright future.
In the ninth race, David Lezell has Tootletheflute .
Tampa
In the first race, Alejandro Gomez has Implicator and Ernest Poxon, Jr. has Red Ranger .
In the second race, Sandra Cataldi has Finally Remembered .
In the third race, Real Place is in for Juan Camilo .
In the fourth race, Gomez has Aye Guy and Bobby Raymond has Circling the Bases .
In the fifth race, Gomez has Regent Star .
In the sixth race, Cataldi has Greeley's Kiss and Tom McCooey, Jr. has Mini Goal .
In the seventh race, Charles Fontana has Strong N Silent and Gomez has More to It .
In the ninth race, Lloyd Lockhart has Latest Expense .
In the tenth race, McCooey has Silver Spike and Raymond has Chillin Dylan .
Have a great day everyone!
January 14, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 1/13
Gulfstream
In the third race, Milwaukee Wolf was victorious for Charles Fontana .
In the sixth race, the fantastic old gelding Bandit Nailhead put in another credible performance to finish third. Also in that race, Parky was fifth.
Aqueduct
In the third race, Mr. Jolson finished fifth for Orlando Bocachica and Karl Grusmark . In the fifth race, those two teamed up for a third place finish with Thunder Reigns .
Charles Town
Storm Door finished fifth in the fourth race.
Laurel
In the first race, Uvada was fourth.
In the third race, Fusafast put in an encouraging debut and finished third.
In the fifth race, Dude Again finished second and Jackie Lad was third. Ivannarun finished tenth.
In the sixth race, Seekingvindication was sixth.
In the ninth race, Goodness Greatness was eighth. Also in that race, Dan's Edith finished twelfth and last.
Tampa
In the first race, Three Cookies was eleventh.
In the second race, Gimmeawinkpoppy was fourth.
In the fourth race, Stormin Max was seventh.
In the fifth race, Kismet's Boy was fifth.
In the seventh race, Sister Dolores finished second. Also in that race, Barrington Hills was fifth, Dixville was seventh and Shadow de Maya was eighth.
Technically Wicked scratched out of the eighth race.
Southrnhospitality scratched out of the tenth race.
ENTRIES 1/14
Laurel
In the first race, Rafael Ramos has Mighty Elixir .
In the second race, Nelson S. Espaillat has Snuck in the Back and John Rigattieri has Blondie's Halos .
In the third race, Charles Assimakopoulos has Glenwood Ace , Billy Sienkewicz has Louann's Boot, and Espaillat has Brogue . Also, Rafael Ramos has Irish Blast and John Rigattieri has both CG's Striker with Dyn Panell and Weekend Games . Pretty much an entire field of Suffolk horses and people!
In the fifth race, Ramos and Winston Thompson will team up with Last Vindication .
In the eighth race, Rigattieri has Bobcat Brody .
Charles Town
John Rigattieri has Lion by My Side in the seventh race.
Sam Houston
In the eighth race, Wendy Uhacz has Little Eva M .
Gulfstream
Marcus Vitali has Targe in the fifth race.
Aqueduct
Karl Grusmark has his lovely stakes filly Weathered in the eighth race, the Darlin Momma Stakes.
Orlando Bocachica has mounts in the first, sixth, seventh and ninth races.
Tampa
In the second race, Brenda McCarthy has Exchange the Limit . Also in that race, Bernard Bramante has Mom Extraordinary and Alejandro Gomez has both Sir Classic Chris and Moonlit Getaway .
In the third race, Sandra Cataldi has Salsbury . Also in that race, Charles Fontana has both Southrnhospitality and Devilish Mecke .
In the fourth race, John Botty will send out the speedy Rubato and Bobby Raymond has Bea Precise .
In the fifth race, Tom McCooey, Jr. has Another Mambo .
In the seventh race, Joyce Kielty has Another Smokey .
In the ninth race, Lloyd Lockhart has Crown Colony .
Have a great day everyone!
January 13, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
ENTRIES 1/12
Laurel
In the first race, Rafael Ramos and Winston Thompson will team up with Uvada .
In the fourth race, Ramos has Fusafast , a first-time starter with some serious pedigree. Though I'm not totally wild about the Fusaichi Pegasus offspring, his dam was a Group 1 winner in England. Interesting debut runner.
In the fifth race, Billy Sienkewicz will make his first start of the season at Laurel for Charles River Racing with the speedy Ivannarun . Also in that race, John Rigattieri has Dude Again and Nelson S. Espaillat has Jackie Lad .
In the sixth race, Ramos has Seekingvindication .
In the ninth race, David Lezell has Goodness Greatness and Sienkewicz will team up with Winston Thompson with Dan's Edith .
Aqueduct
Mr. Jolson is in the third race for Karl Grusmark . Orlando Bocachica will be aboard the former New England champion. Boca also has mounts in the fifth, sixth and seventh races.
Charles Town
Rafael Ramos has Storm Door in the fourth race.
Gulfstream
In the third race, Charles Fontana has Milwaukee Wolf .
In the sixth race, New England Hall of Fame trainer George Handy will send out the wonderful old gelding Bandit Nailhead . Also in that race, Marcus Vitali has Parky .
Tampa
In the first race, Alejandro Gomez has Three Cookies .
In the second race, Charles Fontana has Gimmeawinkpoppy .
In the fourth race, John Pimental has Stormin Max .
In the fifth race, Lloyd Lockhart has Kismet's Boy .
In the seventh race, Bernard Bramante has Shadow de Maya . Also in that race, Sandra Cataldi has Dixville and Sister Dolores and Tom McCooey, Jr. has Barrington Hills .
In the eighth race, Bobby Raymond has Technically Wicked . I like her a lot if this race comes off the turf.
In the tenth race, Fontana has Southrnhospitality .
Have a great day everyone!
January 12, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! We have no noteworthy ENTRIES or RESULTS today. However, tomorrow looks very interesting so check back then!
January 11, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone. There is no exclamation point in my greeting today because I am still beside myself over that travesty of a football game yesterday. Unbelievable.
RESULTS 1/10
Aqueduct
Ninety Five scratched out of the second race.
Orlando Bocachica rode the winner of the fifth race, Marina Market .
In the seventh race, Papa Charlie was seventh.
Charles Town
In the sixth race, Funky Country jumped a fallen rival and lost his rider in the process. I hope everyone involved came back okay.
Tampa
In the first race, I Love to Say Yes was fifth and Sylvia's Cat was seventh.
In the third race, Lizard was seventh.
In the fifth race, both Willsheorwon'tshe and Miss Gold Indy scratched.
Sassy City finished fourth against a seriously tough field in the seventh race.
In the eighth race, Conduct of Honour finished fourth and Charming Country was seventh.
In the ninth race, Eight Faces was seventh.
In the tenth race, Cat Sonata was sixth. Rinaldo's Gold scratched.
Have a great day everyone!
January 10, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning! Playoff football and some fantastic racing - what more could a girl ask for?
RESULTS 1/9
Charles Town
In the second race , Jay Bernardini sent out Way of an Eagle to a runner up finish. In the sixth race, he made a trip to the winners' circle with Get Ready Go .
Laurel
In the second race, Disguise was second and Stellar Ambition was third.
In the fifth race, Spaghetti finished sixth.
In the sixth race, Handsome Bruno was sixth.
In the ninth race, Soto High was fourth.
Tampa
In the first race, Desirable Desiree was second, Miss Tricky Me was fourth and Miracle Cat was ninth.
In the fourth race, Jimmy's Palace was eleventh.
In the ninth race, Busy Roma was tenth.
In the tenth race, Beijing House ran a huge race to finish second. Deerborough finished ninth.
In the eleventh race, the horse with the name that makes me laugh, Fries pulled off an upset victory for Brenda McCarthy and Vernon Bush , returning $74! Also in that race, Gonna Blow was sixth, and Uno Way Calle was eleventh.
Gulfstream
In the third race, Ski Sky was fourth.
ENTRIES 1/10
Charles Town
Jay Bernardini has Funky Country in the sixth race.
Aqueduct
George Saccardo has first-time starter Ninety Five in the second and the talented Papa Charlie in the seventh.
Tampa
In the first race, Bernard Bramante has Sylvia's Cat and Charles Fontana has I Love to Say Yes .
In the third race, Lizard is in for Alejandro Gomez .
In the fifth race, Fontana has Miss Gold Indy and Giuseppe Iadisernia has Willsheorwon'tshe .
Despite her disappointing effort last week, Sassy City gets another chance in the seventh race for John Botty . This isn't a barn that runs their horses back on short rest frequently so I'm guessing (and hoping) last Saturday's race was a fluke. This is a seriously tough field, but she gets a cutback in distance and a jockey change and she also may show improvement simply by having a race over the track.
In the eighth race, Charming Country will make his seasonal debut for Bobby Raymond . I like this guy - he is big, gorgeous and when he is "on", he is super tough.
In the ninth race, Sandra Cataldi has Eight Faces .
Botty also has the talented Cat Sonata in the tenth race. Also in that race, Bobby Raymond has Rinaldo's Gold .
Have a great day everyone!
January 9, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!RESULTS 1/8
Laurel
In the second race, Revere Beach Babe was sixth.
In the third race, Indy's Honey Gem was third, Live Tiger was fourth and Under Mandate finished ninth.
In the fifth race, Helen Says was fifth, Marivett was seventh and Snuck in the Back was tenth.
In the sixth race, Dreaming Prayers was ninth.
In the seventh race, Massecuite was ninth.
In the eighth race, Swing Music was fourth.
In the ninth race, Borsa was seventh.
Gulfstream
Akonite was eleventh in the third race.
Tampa
In the first race, Buck's Wink was fifth. Lloyd Lockhart's other entry for the day, Prized Dream , scratched out of the ninth race.
Ocalca Cruz Missile finished seventh in the fourth race for John Botty .
Pink Tights was fifth in the fifth race.
In the sixth race, Dances was eighth.
Aqueduct
Fujimo finished eleventh in the ninth race.
ENTRIES 1/9
Charles Town
Jay Bernardini has Way of an Eagle in the second race and Get Ready Go in the sixth.
Laurel
Rafael Ramos has Stellar Ambition in the second race. John Rigattieri has Disguise .
In the fifth race, Rigattieri has Spaghetti . (Fries is at Tampa, today, too. Now, where's Taco ?)
In the sixth race, Rigattieri will send out Handsome Bruno .
He also has Soto High in the ninth.
Gulfstream
Marcus Vitali has Ski Sky in the third.
Tampa
Bernard Bramante has Miracle Cat in the first, John Pimental has Desirable Desiree and Brenda McCarthy has Miss Tricky Me .
McCarthy also has Jimmy's Palace in the fourth race.
In the fifth race, Pimental has Potomac Manor .
In the ninth race, Lloyd Lockhart has Busy Roma .
In the tenth race, Ernest Poxon, Jr. has Deerborough back in after an impressive victory last time out. Also in that race, Tom McCooey, Jr. has Beijing House who looks like a big threat if he gets in.
Bramante has Gonna Blow in the eleventh race and McCarthy has Uno Way Calle and Fries .
Aqueduct
Former New England champion juvenile Mr. Jolson is on the also-eligible list in the ninth race for Karl Grusmark . Orlando Bocachica will be aboard and also has mounts in the first, sixth and eighth races.
Have a great day everyone!
January 8, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 1/7
Aqueduct
In the fifth race, Lulu's Secret was seventh for Joe Signore, Jr. .
In the sixth race, Jordanna Banana was tenth for Mark Tasso .
Laurel
In the first race, Destinedtobemine was third for John Rigattieri .
In the second race, Hot Chile Soup ran a dynamite race to pull off the victory by ¾ of a length for Rafael Ramos and Winston Thompson . I'm very disappointed she was claimed from this race because she seems like she was finally starting to "get it". I'll be rooting for her wherever her new connections go with her. Her rival, Little Miss Kisses put in another good performance and finished third, beaten only a length.
In the third race, Libby's Indian put in a good effort to finish second for Charles Assimakopoulos .
In the fifth race, Pushed Over was fourth and Scorpion Sting finished eleventh.
In the sixth race, Mount Wilton finished sixth.
In the ninth race, On the QB was sixth for David Lezell .
Gulfstream
In the first race, Southrnhospitality scratched for Charles Fontana . Also in that race, Giuseppe Iadisernia's Futurazo finished ninth.
In the fourth race, Listowel Boy was tenth for Marcus Vitali .
Tampa
In the second race, Torch Me Again was a game second for Brenda McCarthy Also in that race, Stag Film finished fifth for Bernard Bramante , Immense Storm was sixth for Sandra Cataldi and Shotgun Sambo was eighth for Wayne Sargent.
In the third race, Metal Jacket was fourth in a good effort for Alejandro Gomez .
In the fourth race, New Day Rising was fifth and Richie London was sixth.
In the seventh race, Kathy's N Angel finished fourth for Bobby Raymond . The winner was a filly I had been following for quite some time - Ready to Mambo . She is out of a full sister to one of my all-time favorites, Blazing Sword .
In the eighth race, Ho Ho Ho was sixth.
In the ninth race, Juan Camilo's Markswayornoway finished seventh and last.
ENTRIES 1/8
Laurel
In the second race, John Rigattieri has Revere Beach Babe .
In the third race, Rafael Ramos has Live Tiger , Rigattieri has Indy's Honey Gem and Under Mandate is in for Nelson S. Espaillat .
In the fifth race, Ramos has Marivett , Espaillat has Snuck in the Back and David Lezell has Helen Says .
In the sixth race, Ramos has Dreaming Prayers .
In the seventh race, Massecuite is in for Ramos .
In the eighth race, the very talented Swing Music is in for Rigattieri .
In the ninth race, Lezell has Borsa .
Gulfstream
In the third race, Giuseppe Iadisernia has Akonite .
Tampa
In the first race, Lloyd Lockhart has Buck's Wink .
In the fourth race, Ocala Cruz Missile will come out for John Botty .
In the fifth race, Tom McCooey, Jr. has Pink Tights .
In the sixth race, Wayne Sargent has Dances .
In the ninth race, Lockhart has Prized Dream .
Sam Houston
Wendy Uhacz has both My Bird's Wired and Expect No Equal in the sixth. In the ninth, she has Little Eva M .
Aqueduct
In the ninth race, Mark Tasso has Fujimo .
Have a great day everyone!
January 7, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 1/6
Laurel
In the first race, Charles Assimakopoulos sent out Gold Bid to a narrow maiden victory.
In the third race, Katie's Raven finished seventh for David Lezell and Jane's Song was eighth for John Rigattieri .
In the fifth race, Brew for the Band and Carlos Quinones finished third.
In the sixth race, Rafael Ramos and Winston Thompson made a trip to the winners' circle with Ragabash .
In the seventh race, D'lightful Appeal and Dyn Panell prevailed by a head. Also in that race, Bentbutnotbroken was fifth and Master Gino was ninth.
Gulfstream
In the fourth race, Jazz Nation won for Marcus Vitali . Romanscoliseum finished tenth for Giuseppe Iadisernia . Aqueduct
Orlando Bocachica started off the day with a bang with a gate-to-wire longshot win in the first race, returning $35.20. Rounding out the exacta was Nick Zito's Gold Cup Kid who made his career debut at Suffolk .
Tampa
In the first race, Win Jane's Heart finished fourth for Bobby Raymond .
In the third race, Rare Red Birds was placed second for Sandra Cataldi and Implicator was placed third for Alejandro Gomez .
In the fourth race, Gucaipuro finished tenth.
In the fifth race, Boston West End scratched.
In the sixth race, Beautiful Insight ran a huge race to finish second for Ernest Poxon, Jr. . Also in that race, Brenda McCarthy sent out Sara's Hot Shot to a fift place finish and Real Place finished seventh for Juan Camilo .
David Amiss guided home Sam C to victory in the ninth race. Amiss seems to be doing quite well this season at Tampa.
In the tenth race, Bernard Bramante's Wha Youdoin finished ninth.
ENTRIES 1/7
Aqueduct
Orlando Bocachica has mounts in the first, fifth, sixth and seventh races. He will be aboard Lulu's Secret for Joe Signore, Jr. in the fifth. Her last race was her worst in recent memory but I simply think she is a better horse than that.
In the sixth race, Mark Tasso has Jordanna Banana .
In the seventh race, a favorite of mine, East Coaster is making her New York debut. Her full brother, Mount Wilton is in at Laurel today.
Laurel
In the first race, John Rigattieri and Dyn Panell will team up with Destinedtobemine .
In the second race, Hot Chile Soup and Little Miss Kisses will renew their budding rivalry. Last time out, Dyn Panell and LMK got the victory but both of these fillies seem to be really flourishing at Laurel .
In the third race, the highly regarded Libby's Indian will try to break her maiden for Charles Assimakopoulos .
In the fifth race, Rafael Ramos has Scorpion Sting and Rigattieri has Pushed Over .
Carlos Quinones will ride Mount Wilton (a Graeme Hall baby! for Rigattieri . In the ninth race, On the QB is in for David Lezell .
Gulfstream
In the first race, Charles Fontana has Southrnhospitality and Giuseppe Iadisernia has Futerazo .
Marcus Vitali has Listowel Boy in the fourth. Tampa
In the second race, Bernard Bramante has Stag Film , Brenda McCarthy has Torch Me Again , Wayne Sargent has Shotgun Sambo and Sandra Cataldi has Immense Storm .
In the third race, Alejandro Gomez has the gorgeous Metal Jacket .
In the fourth race, Bramante has Richie London and New Day Rising is back in for Gomez .
In the fifth race, Wicked Smile is in for Bramante .
In the seventh race, Bobby Raymond has Kathy's N Angel .
In the eighth race, Cataldi has Ho Ho Ho .
In the ninth race, Juan Camilo has Markswayornoway . I give them credit for trying the turf last time with her, considering her older brother Riversrunrylee has had such success on it. However, she seems to have made it clear in two turf starts she is not a grass horse. She is very talented and this looks like a good spot for her.
An exciting day of racing today! Enjoy everyone.
January 6, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 1/5
Philadelphia Park
Chief Operator finished eighth in the seventh race.
ENTRIES 1/6
Laurel
In the first race, Charles Assimakopoulos has Gold Bid .
In the third race, David Lezell and Carlos Quinones will team up with Katie's Raven . Also in that race, John Rigattieri has Jane's Song with Dyn Panell .
In the fifth race, Rigattieri has Brew for the Band .
In the sixth race, Rafael Ramos will send out Ragabash with Winston Thompson .
In the seventh race, Ramos has Master Gino , Rigattieri has D'lightful Appeal and Lezell has Bentbutnotbroken .
Gulfstream
In the fourth race, Marcus Vitali has Jazz Nation . Also in that race, Giuseppe Iadisernia has Romanscoliseum .
Tampa
In the first race, Bobby Raymond has Win Jane's Heart .
In the third race, Sandra Cataldi has Rare Red Birds and Alejandro Gomez has Implicator .
In the fourth race, Cataldi has Gucaipuro .
In the sixth race, Juan Camilo will send out Real Place .
In the fifth race, Bernard Bramante has Boston West End .
In the sixth race, Brenda McCarthy has Sara's Hot Shot and Ernest Poxon, Jr. has Beautiful Insight .
In the ninth race, Cataldi has Immense Storm .
In the tenth race, Bramante has Wha Youdoin .
Have a great day everyone!
January 5, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
There are no noteworthy RESULTS from yesterday.
ENTRIES 1/5
Philadelphia Park
In the seventh race, Joe Signore, Jr. has the beautifully-bred Chief Operator . He seems to be primed for a big effort here.
Have a great day!
January 4, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend. Like most Patriots fans, I spent a good portion of yesterday staring at my television in disbelief about what happened to #83. I have this really neat, framed side-by-side photo of him and Randy Moss from the opening day game against the Jets from 2007 and the thing I find the coolest about that picture is that it is from before we knew how special he was and the impact he would have on the team.
There was, however, one big bright spot yesterday. That race was the fourth at Tampa when I got to see New England champion Riversrunrylee go gate to wire and pull off a big victory. He started 2010 with a bang.
RESULTS 1/03
Gulfstream
In the first race, Coraje finished fourth for Giuseppe Iadisernia .
Tampa
In the first race, Alejandro Gomez sent out the well-bred More to It to victory. His stablemate, Moonlit Getaway finished seventh and last. Also in that race, Unlimited Funds finished third for Brenda McCarthy and John Botty's Rome is Burning finished fourth.
In the third race, Bernard Bramante sent out Tequila's Desire to a third place finish and Ginger Lemon finished fifth for the Botty barn. Also in that race, Sin Bin was sixth for Tom McCooey, Jr. .
In the fourth race, Riversrunrylee took the lead early and never looked back, winning his six-year-old debut by ½ a length for Juan Camilo and Pedro Gonzalez . This made me super happy. He has been such a pleasure to watch develop over the past couple of years.
In the fifth race, Ernest Poxon, Jr. and Yamil Rosario teamed up for an impressive victory with Granby Boy . Chillin Dylan showed some improvement and finished fourth at a big price for Bobby Raymond . I really think he'll get the job done soon and is one to watch for a possible hefty price.
In the sixth race, Jordano Tunon and Lynne Scace finished second with Celebration Dance .
ENTRIES 1/4
There are no noteworthy entries today.
Have a great day everyone!
January 3, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 1/02
Laurel
In the first race, Score Now finished third and Frankly Frank was seventh.
In the second race, Nagajuskita was fourth for Rafael Ramos .
In the fourth race, Sneaky Deeds was fourth and Courting Elaine was fifth.
In the fifth race, Jersey Moon was second and Fifty Seven G finished eighth.
In the sixth race, Legends Way finished sixth. Lion by my Side scratched.
In the seventh race, Halo's Rumble was sixth and though I didn't see the race, the chart is a bit troubling so I do hope everything is alright with this filly.
Tootletheflute scratched out of the ninth race.
Calder
Saratoga Blitz finished seventh in the third race.
Aqueduct
In the first race, North Bend finished seventh.
In the sixth race, Coney Island finished seventh.
Sam Houston
In the fourth race, Offlee Wedded Wife finished seventh.
Tampa
In the second race, No Passing Zone was sixth.
In the third race, Delaware Beauty was fifth.
In the fourth race, Circling the Bases finished fourth.
In the fifth race, Deerborough pulled off the victory at 10-1 for Ernest Poxon, Jr. . Speeder was fifth and Conrad Crossing finished sixth.
In the seventh race, Sir Classic Chris was fourth and Exchange the Limit finished tenth.
Sassy City never fired in the eighth race and finished seventh and last, much to my disappointment.
In the tenth race, Hit Another Gear was fifth.
In the eleventh race, Swirland finished fourth Upper Key finished eighth.
ENTRIES 1/3
Tampa
In the first race, John Botty has Rome is Burning, Brenda Mccarthy has Unlimited Funds , and Alejandro Gomez has More to It and Moonlit Getaway .
In the third race, Botty has the talented Ginger Lemon . Also in that race, Bernard Bramante has Tequila's Desire and Tom McCooey, Jr. has Sin Bin .
The fourth race is the highlight of the day for me. Juan Camilo will send out New England champion Riversrunrylee . Rylee is one of my favorite horses to watch run. You can always count on where he will be - out front. He gets the lead not with the frantic intensity of one dimensional speedballs, however. He seems to do it so effortlessly and that is why he has been so successful. I can't wait for him to be back at Suffolk this year so we can continue our Friday morning visits.
In the fifth race, Ernest Poxon, Jr. has Granby Boy and Bobby Raymond has Chillin Dylan . I like this little guy and I think his effort last time out was decent enough to make him a contender at another big price.
Gulfstream
I'm wishing announcer Larry Collmus a fantastic opening day.
On the card, Giuseppe Iadisernia has Coraje in the first race. Giuseppe was a welcome addition to the Suffolk backside this past season and I am glad to see him back in the entries.
Have a great day everyone!
January 2, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! It is absolutely miserable out there today. Unfortunately for me, my dog seems to think snow is the best thing ever, so I spent plenty of time braving the elements on our morning hike today. I'm defrosting in the press box, very much looking forward to some fantastic racing today and extremely jealous of all of our friends at Tampa and Gulfstream right now.
RESULTS 1/01
Laurel
In the first race, Rafael Ramos and Winston Thompson finished second with Killarney Bay .
In the second race, Nelson S. Espaillat's Snuck in the Back was sixth.
In the fifth race, Phil C finished fifth.
In the seventh race, No Peace At All finished sixth for John Rigattieri and Bandslammer finished ninth for Charles Assimakopoulos .
Charles Town
In the seventh race, John Rigattieri sent out Go Luv to an eighth place finish.
In the eighth race, Storm Door finished sixth for Rafael Ramos .
Calder
In the opener, Charles Fontana sent Gimmeawinkpoppy out for a ½ length victory.
In the second race, Special Jak finished fourth and Epic Sal was sixth in the eleventh race.
Aqueduct
In the sixth race, Titletown Tiger finished fourth for George Saccardo .
In the seventh race, Rocketing Returns ran a big race to finish second at generous odds for Orlando Bocachica and Seth Benzel .
ENTRIES 1/02
Laurel
In the first race, Rafael Ramos has Score Now . John Rigattieri has Frankly Frank .
In the second race, he will team up with Winston Thompson with Nagajuskita .
And in the fourth, those two will team up with Courting Elaine , who looks like she might be getting a bit of a class break here. Also in this race, Rigattieri and Panell will team up with Sneaky Deeds .
In the fifth race, David Lezell has Fifty Seven G and Rigattieri has Jersey Moon .
In the sixth race, Nelson S. Espaillat has Legends Way and Rigattieri has Lion by My Side .
In the seventh race, Halo's Rumble is in for Charles Assimakopoulos . I like this filly - she physically reminds of a little keg of dynamite. She isn't very big, but she is robust and pre-race gets extremely keyed up.
In the ninth race, Lezell and Carlos Quinones will team up with Tootletheflute . Winston Thompson also has a mount in this race.
Hawthorne
In the eighth race, Odin Londono, Jr. has S.M.W. Kaitlyn .
Penn National
In the seventh race, the very consistent Rearrange gets another shot at his maiden.
Sam Houston
In the fourth race, Wendy Uhacz has Offlee Wedded Wife .
Aqueduct
In the first race, Mark Tasso has the wonderful, hard-knocking North Bend . I imagine he will be a big price here and though it looks like a tough spot, he is so game and so honest I find him hard to throw out.
In the sixth race, George Saccardo has Coney Island , a lightly raced colt I think highly of who put in a monster effort at a big price last time out.
Also on the card, Orlando Bocachica has mounts in the fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth races.
Calder
In the third race, Charles Fontana has Saratoga Blitz .
Tampa
In the second race, Alejandro Gomez has No Passing Zone .
In the third race, Brenda McCarthy has Delaware Beauty .
In the fourth race, Bobby Raymond has Circling the Bases .
In the fifth race, John Pimental will send out the always-tough grass horse Conrad Crossing . Also in that race, Ernest Poxon, Jr. has Deerborough and Bobby Ramond has the veteran Speeder , a two-time winner on the Tampa lawn.
In the seventh race, she and David Amiss will try to pull off another upset with Exchange the Limit . (Remember him? He paid over $100 last time out.)
In the eighth race, John Botty will send out New England champion Sassy City for her four-year-old debut. She will try the grass for the first time today in what I think is an interesting choice for her. She is a brilliantly talented filly and if she decides she likes the turf, she looks like a big contender here. One of my favorite memories of the racing meet centers around this filly, actually. In her last race of the season, her fans made "Sassy" buttons for the occasion and brought them to the track. I think it is so awesome that a horse does not have to be a Grade 1 super star to capture the hearts of fans.
*UPDATE* Just checked the scratches and changes and Tampa is off the turf. Clearly John Botty pays more attention to the weather than I do. Very sharp.
In the tenth race, Hit Another Gear will try to step forward off of his last race for the Raymond barn.
In the eleventh race, Bernard Bramante will send out Miracle Cat . Also in that race, Lloyd Lockhart has Upper Key and Brenda McCarthy has Swirland .
A fantastic day of racing, really. Have a great day everyone!
January 1, 2010
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Happy New Year everyone! And of course a big happy birthday to all of the Thoroughbreds that turned a year older today.
RESULTS 12/31
Calder
In the first race, Milwaukee Wolf finished second for Charles Fontana . Gimmeawinkpoppy scratched and is in today.
In the third race, Marcus Vitali sent out Zapper to victory while Fontana's Tigerglider finished tenth.
In the fourth race, Parky finished fifth for Vitali and Devilish Mecke finished sixth for Fontana .
In the sixth race, Miss Unbridled's finished fifth.
Tampa
In the opener, Garlington finished sixth for John Pimental and Yamil Rosario .
In the fourth race, Regent Star finished fourth for Alejandro Gomez .
In the seventh race, Lynne Scace and Jordano Tunon teamed up for victory with Sweet Apple Betty .
In the eighth race, Jean the Queen finished sixth for Brenda McCarthy . ENTRIES 1/01
Laurel
In the first race, Rafael Ramos has the well-bred Killarney Bay with Winston Thompson aboard.
In the second race, Nelson S. Espaillat has Snuck in the Back .
In the fifth race, Ramos has Phil C .
In the seventh race, Charles Assimakopoulos will sent out Bandslammer. Also in that race, John Rigattieri has No Peace At All with Carlos Quinones named to ride.
Calder
Charles Fontana has Gimmeawinkpoppy in the first, Special Jak in the second and Epic Sal in the eleventh race.
Charles Town
John Rigattieri has Go Luv in the seventh race.
Rafael Ramos has Storm Door in the eighth race.
Aqueduct
George Saccardo has Titletown Tiger in the sixth race.
Orlando Bocachica has mounts in the second, fifth, seventh and ninth races. In the ninth, he will be riding Rocketing Returns , an impressive local winner, for Seth Benzel .
Have a great day everyone. I hope 2010 is filled with happiness, health and a ton of winners.
December 31, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! So, yesterday I was excited to see Sassy City pop up in the entries for next year. Today, I got the notice that Riversrunrylee is entered for January 3 (which means I'll have football and one of my local favorites all in one day)! 2010 looks great already.
Looking back on 2009, it was a tremendous year to be a racing fan both on the national and local levels. Nationally, we had super stars coast to coast. On the local scene, I really enjoyed our local stars. It has been amazing watching Riversrunrylee develop into the sensational racehorse he is now and his short-lived rivalry with the gorgeous Bridled Quest was very thrilling. We were also treated to Sassy City , a filly with what seems like sky-is-the-limit potential and saw Nijinsky Bullet beat the boys on opening day.
RESULTS 12/30
Aqueduct
Casa Pippo finished sixth in the opener for George Saccardo .
In the fourth race, Lulu's Secret finished tenth for Joe Signore, Jr. .
Charlestown
In the second race, Snuck in the Back scratched for Nelson S. Espaillat and is entered for January 1 at Laurel .
In the third race, Lir Jet finished ninth for Jay Bernardini .
In the fourth race, The Last Bird made a step forward and finished second for Rafael Ramos and Winston Thompson .
Storm Door scratched out of the ninth and is entered for January 1.
Tampa
In the first race, LP's Tiger put in a good effort to finish second for Juan Camilo and Pedro Gonzalez .
Technically Wicked ran second in the third race against a tough field for Bobby Raymond .
In the fourth race, Lizard finished fifth for Alejandro Gomez
In the sixth race, Eight Faces finished fifth for Sandra Cataldi , Little Vinnie Boy was sixth for John Pimental and John Botty's Answer My Question finished eighth.
In the seventh race, Arctiz finished fifth. Also in that race, Hunting Money finished tenth for Anthony Ryan .
In the ninth race, Tom McCooey, Jr. sent out Barrington Hills to a tenth place finish.
In the tenth race, Bea Precise made a big step forward to finish second at generous odds and New Day Rising was fifth.
ENTRIES 12/31
Calder
Charles Fontana has Milwaukee Wolf in the first race along with Gimmeawinkpoppy .
In the third race, he has Tigerglider and Marcus Vitali has Zapper .
In the fourth race, Fontana has Devilish Mecke and Vitali has Parky .
In the sixth race, Fontana has Miss Unbridled's .
Charles Town
In the second race, David Lezell has Fifty Seven G .
Rafael Ramos has the talented filly Uvada in the sixth race. Winston Thompson will be aboard.
Aqueduct
Orlando Bocachica has mounts in the fifth, sixth and ninth races.
Tampa
In the first race, John Pimental and Yamil Rosario will team up with Garlington .
In the fourth race, Alejandro Gomez has Regent Star .
In the eighth race, Brenda McCarthy has Jean the Queen .
Have a great day everyone and wish everyone a wonderful 2010!
December 30, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I cannot believe 2009 is almost in the books. I had a fantastic year and I hope 2010 is every bit as exciting.
I did get a very pleasant surprise in my e-mail this morning. On January 2, Sassy City , one of the most exciting Suffolk horses of 2009, will make her four-year-old debut at Tampa . Now that is the perfect way to kick off the new year.
RESULTS
No noteworthy results from yesterday.
ENTRIES 12/30
Aqueduct
Looks like a full day for Orlando Bocachica . He has mounts in all nine races, including three for Nick Zito .
In the first race, Boca will be aboard Casa Pippo for George Saccardo . This filly is extremely consistent, very honest and comes in fresh. I have to say at a morning line of 20-1 she looks quite live here.
In the fourth race, Joe Signore, Jr. will send out Lulu's Secret , another nice mare coming in fresh. She is 0 for 4 on the inner track but she is one I never through out entirely.
Tampa
In the first race, Juan Camilo will team up with Pedro Gonzalez with LP's Tiger .
In the third race, Technically Wicked returns to a surface she has been very successful on and looks like a big contender for Bobby Raymond and Jill Jellison . In the fourth race, Alejandro Gomez has Lizard . In the sixth race, John Botty has Answer My Question . Also in that race, Sandra Cataldi has Eight Faces and John Pimental has Little Vinnie Boy .
Pimental also has the beautifully-bred Arctiz in the seventh race against Anthony Ryan's promising Hunting Money .
In the ninth race, Tom McCooey, Jr. has Barrington Hills .
New Day Rising is back again in the tenth race for Gomez . Also in that race, Bea Precise will try to improve off of a fifth place finish against similar last time out.
Charles Town
In the second race, Nelson S. Espaillat has Snuck in the Back .
In the third race, Jay Bernardini has Lir Jet .
In the fourth race, Rafael Ramos has The Last Bird . This guy looked like the real deal in his local maiden win.
In the ninth race, Ramos also has Storm Door .
Have a great day everyone!
December 29, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! It is absolutely freezing this morning. I am so ready for spring to be here.
RESULTS 12/28
Mountaineer
Jay Bernardini sent out Vy Vy Vy to victory in the first race.
In the fourth race, Summer Legacy finished sixth.
Calder
In the fifth, Our Sun scratched for Marcus Vitali .
In the sixth race, Charles Fontana sent out Strong N Silent to a six length victory. His entry mate, Mean Kisser finished third.
In the seventh, Hemut was seventh for Vitali .
There are no noteworthy ENTRIES today and a reminder that Suffolk Downs is closed for simulcasting today.
Have a great day!
December 28, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I hope everyone had a great weekend.
RESULTS 12/27
Charles Town
In the second race, Email finished ninth for Jay Bernardini .
Rafael Ramos's Mighty Elixir was a scratch in the fifth race and he sent out Hot Brew to an eighth place finish in the ninth .
Mountaineer
In the sixth race, Real Impact finished second for Jay Bernardini .
Calder
Marcus Vitali sent out Nana's Appeal to victory in the fourth race. His other entry, Hemet , scratched.
Tampa
In the first race, Shadow's Pet finished eleventh for Bernard Bramante .
In the second race, he sent out Shadow de Maya to a fourth place finish.
In the third race, Brenda McCarthy sent out Uno Way Calle and Dinner Backstage to seventh and ninth place finishes. Pensiveness finished eleventh for Alejandro Gomez .
In the fifth race, Another Mambo finished tenth for Tom McCooey, Jr. .
In the sixth race, Royal Malibu was fifth for Lloyd Lockhart .
In the eighth race, Dwight and David Amiss finished fourth for John Botty .
In the tenth race, Cat Sonata ran a big race to just miss the maiden win by a neck for Eighth Note Stable . Silver Spike finished third for McCooey and Red Ranger was tenth for Ernest Poxon, Jr. .
ENTRIES 12/28
Calder
In the fifth race, Marcus Vitali has Our Sun . Hemet is entered for the seventh race.
Charles Fontana has both Mean Kisser and Strong N Silent in the sixth race.
Mountaineer
In the first race, Jay Bernardini has Vy Vy Vy . He also has Summer Legacy in the fourth.
Have a great day everyone!
December 27, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! One thing I am thoroughly enjoying is reading and listening to the big debate about whether Horse of the Year should go to Zenyatta or Rachel Alexandra. I can't remember a time in recent years when the HOTY debate was so passionate and both candidates so deserving. 2009 was a great year to be a racing fan.
RESULTS 12/26
In the first race, Rinaldo's Gold scratched.
In the fifth race, Robbie's Express ran a huge race at odds of over 80-1 to finish second. Also in that race, Tiger Willie finishe fifth for Brenda Mccarthy.
In the seventh race, Untouchable Lauren was eighth for Anthony Ryan .
In the eighth race, Granby Boy was eighth for Ernie Poxon, Jr. and he sent out Serengeti Storm to an eighth place finish in the ninth race.
In the eleventh race, Kathy's N Angel finished fifth and Mrs. Lovett was ninth.
Calder
I Love to Say Yes finished ninth in the third race for Charles Fontana .
Aqueduct
Mr. Jolson was fourth as a big longshot in the first race for orlando Bocachica and Karl Grusmark .
ENTRIES 12/27
Charlestown
In the second race, Jay Bernardini has Email .
In the fifth race, Rafael Ramos will send out Mighty Elixer .
In the ninth, he has Hot Brew .
Mountaineer
Real Impact is in the sixth race for Jay Bernardini .
Calder
In the fourth race, Marcus Vitali has Hemet and Nana's Appeal .
Tampa
In the first race, Bernard Bramante has Shadow's Pet .
In the second, Bramante has Shadow De Maya .
In the third race, Pensiveness is back in for Alejandro Gomez . Also in that race, Brenda McCarthy has both Dinner Backstage and Uno Way Calle .
In the fifth race, Tom McCooey, Jr. has Another Mambo .
In the sixth race, Lloyd Lockhart has the Royal Malibu .
In the eighth race, John Botty has Dwight . This son of Volponi really amuses me. He is such a big horse and when he runs, he still doesn't seem quite to know what to do with his long legs.
In the tenth race, Botty will send out the promising two-year-old Cat Sonata and McCooey has Silver Spike . Also in that race, Ernest Poxon, Jr. has Red Ranger .
December 26, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. I'll be honest, after just two days away from the track I was itching to get back to the office today.
ENTRIES 12/26
Aqueduct
Orlando Bocachica looks to have a busy day in New York today with mounts in the first, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh races. Most notably, he is aboard 2008 New England champion juvenile Mr. Jolson in the first for Karl Grusmark . He looks to be a big price and is certainly in-form right now.
Tampa
In the first race, Rinaldo's Gold returns to the dirt and will try to redeem himself after a poor turf experiment last time out for Bobby Raymond . I pretty much threw out my win ticket on him three strides out of the gate in that last race - he looked like he wanted nothing at all to do with the grass. I do think there is some ability there, though.
In the fifth race, Brenda McCarthy will send out Tiger Willie and Bobby Raymond will saddle Robbie's Express .
In the seventh race, Anthony Ryan will team up with David Amiss with Untouchable Lauren . Amiss has been off to a sharp start at Tampa and has won with two of four starters.
In the eighth race, Ernest Poxon, Jr. has Granby Boy .
In the ninth, Poxon will send out Serengeti Storm in a two-year-old allowance race.
In the eleventh race, Tom McCooey, Jr. has Mrs. Lovett . This filly is talented but green and her last effort was encouraging. Also in that race is Kathy's N Angel for Bobby Raymond who figures to be a main contender.
Calder
Charles Fontana has I Love to Say Yes in the third race.
Have a great day everyone!
December 24, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I hope you all enjoy any holiday festivities you have planned over the next couple of days.
RESULTS 12/23
Tampa
In the third race, Lloyd Lockhart's first time starter Dream Wonder was twelfth.
In the fourth race, New Day Rising was fourth for Alejandro Gomez .
In the fifth race, Markswayornoway answered the question about whether or not she likes the turf- I'm guessing that is a no with her eighth and last place finish.
In the sixth race, Tre Cool scratched.
In the eigth, Beijing House ran a dynamite race first back off of a layoff to finish second for Tom McCooey, Jr. .
In the ninth, Shetakesthecake was eighth for Bobby Raymond . Sister Dolores finished tenth for Sandi Cataldi and her entrymate Greeley's Kiss scratched.
In the tenth, Desirable Desiree finished third.
Calder
In the second race, Rocky Miswaki was seventh for Charles Fontana .
Hawthorne
In the third race, S.M.W. Kaitlyn finished fourth for Odin Londono, Jr. .
Penn National
In the ninth race, the very consistent Rearrange finished third.
Happy Holidays!
December 23, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! A reminder that Suffolk Downs is on holiday break through Friday.
There are no noteworthy RESULTS from yesterday.
ENTRIES 12/23
Tampa
In the third race, Lloyd Lockhart has first-time starter Dream Wonder with Janio Cruz aboard.
In the fourth race, New Day Rising is back in for Alejandro Gomez after a very strong runner-up finish on the 16th.
In the fifth race, Juan Camilo and Pedro Gonzalez will team up with Markswayornoway , a half-sister to New England champ Riversrunrylee . I had a great conversation with Juan over the summer about this filly and he has really taken his time with her, letting her mature and figure it all out at her own pace. I think he spots his horses really well and though her only other grass start was pretty uninspiring, I think she is interesting in this spot.
In the sixth race, Tom McCooey, Jr. has Tre Cool .
In the eighth race, McCooey will send out former New England champion juvenile Beijing House . Yamil Rosario will be aboard. This gelding has been on the shelf since a very impressive local win in May but has been working exceptionally well leading up to this race.
In the ninth race, Sandy Cataldi has Sister Dolores and Greeley's Kiss , two very nice grass fillies. Also in that race, Bobby Raymond has Shetakesthecake .
In the tenth race, John Pimental has Desirable Desiree .
Calder
In the second race, Rocky Miswaki is in for Charles Fontana .
Hawthorne
Odin Londono, Jr. has S.M.W. Kaitlyn in the third race.
Penn National
Lori Lockhart has Nu Wonder in the ninth race.
Charles Town
Jay Bernardini has Way of an Eagle in the second and Hope for Joy in the third.
Have a great day everyone!
December 22, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I am off for another day of research at the Boston Public Library. It is amazing looking through such old newspapers .
Just a reminder that Suffolk Downs is closed for simulcasting today through Friday. RESULTS 12/21
Calder
Onwingsandaprayer finished second for Charles Fontana in the eighth race.
There are no noteworthy ENTRIES today.
Have a great day!
December 21, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! Just a reminder that Suffolk Downs will be closed from December 22-25.
RESULTS 12/20
Calder
In the first race, Special Jak finished second for Charles Fontana .
In the second race, Saratoga Blitz was fourth.
In the fifth race, Elegance Noted scratched.
In the sixth race, Targe was fourth for Marcus Vitali .
In the seventh race, Tigerglider finished seventh.
In the eighth race, Our Sun scratched.
Sam Houston
Expect No Equal was second for Wendy Uhacz .
ENTRIES 12/21
Calder
In the eighth race, Charles Fontana has Onwingsandaprayer .
Have a great day!
December 20, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! Due to the weather, Suffolk Downs will be closed today so my plan involves football, TVG and hot chocolate.
RESULTS 12/19
Laurel
Cancelled due to the weather.
Tampa
In the third race, the Alejandro Gomez trained pair of Pensiveness and No Passing Zone finished third and seventh. Fries finished sixth for Brenda McCarthy .
In the sixth race, Sir Classic Chris finished second, Unlimited Funds finished sixth, Rome is Burning finished tenth and Mom Extraordinary finished twelfth.
In the tenth race, Bobby Raymond has his first win of the meet and Tommy’s Memory improved his record to a perfect two for two. David Amiss was aboard and this horse looks like one to really keep an eye on.
Calder
Miss Gold Indy finished second in the twelfth race for Charles Fontana .
Turfway
Oceans of Honey finished tenth in the Gowell Stakes for Odin Londono, Jr. .
Sam Houston
My Bird’s Wired finished seventh in the fourth race for Wendy Uhacz .
ENTRIES 12/20
Sam Houston
Wendy Uhacz has Expect No Equal in the eighth.
Calder
In the first race, Charles Fontana has Special Jak . He has Saratoga Blitz in the second, Elegance Noted in the fifth and Tigerglider in the seventh.
Marcus Vitali has Targe in the sixth and Our Sun in the eighth.
Have a great day everyone!
December 19, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! The racing looks very exciting today from coast to coast.
RESULTS 12/18
Tampa
In the first race, David Amiss and Running on Clouds were fourth. Hats off to the top two finishers in that race- they both put in tremendous efforts proving once again that a race doesn't need to be a Grade 1 stakes event to be thrilling.
In the third race, Sylvia's Cat and Lucie Herkova finished eighth and last for Bernard Bramante .
In the fourth race, Hold 'em or Fold 'em finished third.
In the seventh, Robbie's Express finished seventh for Bobby Raymond .
In the eighth race, On the Vineyard finished second as the favorite.
In the ninth, Deerborough finished sixth.
In the tenth, Shadow's Pet finished tenth.
Laurel
In the first race, Disguise and Carlos Quinones were second for John Rigattieri .
Last Vindication finished fourth in the second race for Rafael Ramos .
In the fifth race, Libby's Indian put in an encouraging debut and finished second for Charles Assimakopoulos .
In the seventh race, the game Little Miss Kisses held off Hot Chile Soup by 3/4 of a length. Both fillies put in fantastic efforts. Also in that race, Gramatic was sixth.
In the ninth race, Tootletheflute was fourth for David Lezell .
Penn National
Though East Coaster was claimed from George Handy last time out, she is a big favorite of mine and I was rooting for her. She certainly didn’t disappoint and was much the best, winning by over ten lengths.
Calder
Southrnhospitality finished sixth for Charles Fontana in the third race.
In the fifth race, Marcus Vitali made a trip to the winner’s circle with Richie London . Ski Sky , his other horse in the race, finished fourth.
Sam Houston
Offlee Wedded Wife finished fifth for Wendy Uhacz . ENTRIES 12/19
Laurel
In the first race, John Rigattieri has Soto High .
In the second race, Southern Renegade is in for Rafael Ramos and Jersey Moon is in for Rigattieri .
In the fourth race, Charles Assimakopoulos has Bandslammer up against the Ramos -trained Nagajuskita .
In the fifth race, Nelson S. Espaillat has Snuck in the Back .
In the sixth race, Killarney Bay tries winners after breaking his maiden last time out. Also in that race, Rigattieri has Evil Buddha .
Tampa
In the third race, Alejandro Gomez has Pensiveness and No Passing Zone back in. Also in that race, Brenda McCarthy has Fries . Earlier in the week, Brenda had a winner that returned over $100.
In the sixth race, John Botty has the game Rome is Burning . Also in that race, Bernard Bramante has Mom Extraordinary and Alejandro Gomez has Sir Classic Chris . The speedy Unlimited Funds is also in that race.
In the tenth race, Tommy’s Memory will make his first start for Bobby Raymond . This guy broke his maiden impressively at first asking at Finger Lakes and looked like the real deal.
Sam Houston
Wendy Uhacz has My Bird’s Wired in the fourth race. Affectionately known around the barn as “Big Bird” , he really is a cool horse. I was very skeptical about him coming back off of a very long layoff but he ran great in all of his local starts.
Calder
Charles Fontana has Miss Gold Indy in the twelfth race.
Turfway
New England champion juvenile filly Oceans of Honey will make her second start against stakes company in the Gowell Stakes. Undefeated for Odin Londono, Jr. , this filly could not have been more impressive in her maiden win locally.
Have a great day everyone!
December 18, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 12/17
Tampa
Stag Film finished eleventh in the fifth race for Bernard Bramante .
Penn National
In the sixth race, Sweet Candy Ride scratched for Lori Lockhart .
Calder
In the sixth race, Light Event was fifth for Marcus Vitali .
Laurel
In the third race, Carlos Quinones piloted Dude Again to victory for John Rigattieri . His other part of the entry, Weekend Games finished seventh. Legends Way was second in that race for Nelson S. Espaillat and Jackie Lad finished fifth.
In the fifth race, Frankly Frank finished sixth.
In the seventh race, Brother Joey put in an uncharacteristic performance and finished ninth and last.
In the eighth race, Bid Til Included benefited from a DQ and moved up from third to second.
In the ninth race, Under Mandate finished sixth for Nelson S. Espaillat .
ENTRIES 12/18
Tampa
In the third race, Bernard Bramante has Sylvia's Cat . He also has Shadow's Pet in the tenth.
In the seventh race, Bobby Raymond has Robbie's Express.
In the eighth race, Lynne Scace has the 2007 Collegian Stakes winner On the Vineyard . This talented guy is also a half brother to the brilliant Vineyard Haven .
In the ninth race, Ernest Poxon, Jr. has Deerborough .
Calder
In the third race, Charles Fontana has Southrnhospitality .
Marcus Vitali has both Richie London and Ski Sky in the fifth race.
Sam Houston
Wendy Uhacz has Offlee Wedded Wife in the fourth.
Laurel
In the first race, John Rigattieri has Disguise .
In the second race, Rafael Ramos will send out the highly regarded Last Vindication , last seen running fourth at Suffolk after an impressive maiden win.
In the fifth race, Charles Assimakopoulos will debut Libby's Indian , a filly I have been very interested to see pop up in the entries. She was originally entered a little while ago and the weather came up treacherous that day. Now I don't know the reason they scratched her, but I always prefer to see a young horse debut on a day with milder weather. The first racing experience can be scary enough for them, why add crazy weather in the mix?
In the seventh race, three very talented local fillies will square off. Charles Assimakopoulos has the lovely daughter of Graeme Hall and New England champ Formatic, Gramatic . John Rigattieri has the very game Little Miss Kisses with Dyn Panell . Rafael Ramos will send out fan-favorite Hot Chile Soup and Winston Thompson , coming in off of a dynamite Laurel debut last time out.
In the ninth race, David Lezell has Tootetheflute .
Have a great day everyone!
December 17, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! The Suffolk Downs group had a fantastic day at Tampa yesterday. One of my favorite parts about playing Tampa, especially early in the meet, is that the horses shipping in from Boston tend to get extremely overlooked.
RESULTS 12/16
Tampa
In the third race, Bea Precise and Jill Jellison finished fifth. Also in that race, Rubato was eighth.
In the fourth race, Barrington Hills finished sixth. Also in that race, Jimmy's Palace was seventh while Shadow de Maya was eleventh.
In the fifth race, Tom McCooey, Jr. sent out Sin Bin to a ninth place finish.
In the sixth race, Chillin Dylan finished fifth for Bobby Raymond .
In the seventh race, Exchange the Limit and David Amiss went gate to wire for Brenda McCarthy and paid a whopping $102.60! Brenda had a terrific meet last year at Tampa and is definitely a trainer to watch.
In the ninth race, Juan Camilo sent out Real Place ($34.40!) to a game victory of Alejandro Gomez's New Day Rising . Also in the ninth race, Beautiful Insight finished seventh.
In the tenth race, Wha Youdoin finished eighth.
Laurel
In the second race, John Rigattieri sent out Destinedtobemine to a runner-up finish.
In the fourth race, Macho's Gold was fifth.
In the fifth race, Blondie's Halos was second.
In the seventh race, David Lezell sent out Goodness Greatness to a fifth place finish.
In the eighth race, Swing Music put in a solid effort to finish third.
In the ninth race, Meadow Skipper was eighth for Nelson S. Espaillat .
Charles Town
In the sixth race, Coach Doug was third for Jay Bernardini .
In the seventh, Rigattieri sent out Go Luv to a sixth place finish.
Hawthorne
S.M.W. Kaitlyn scratched out of the ninth race for Odin Londono, Jr.
ENTRIES 12/17
Tampa
In the fifth race, Bernard Bramante has Stag Film .
Laurel
In the third race, John Rigattieri has a tough entry of Dude Again and Weekend Games . Also in that race, Nelson S. Espaillat has Jackie Lad and Legends Way .
In the fifth race, Rigattieri has Frankly Frank with Carlos Quinones .
In the seventh, he has the very talented Brother Joey . Dyn Panell will be aboard.
In the eighth, Bid Til Included is in for Rigattieri . In his only local start, this two-year-old left a very positive impression with me. He is really good-looking and looks to be the type to improve with age.
In the ninth race, Nelson S. Espaillat Under Mandate .
Penn National
Lori Lockhart has Sweet Candy Ride in the sixth race.
Calder
Marcus Vitali has Light Event in the sixth race.
Have a great day everyone! There are some really exciting horses in the entries over the next couple of days so stay tuned!
December 16, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! Is it too early to start counting down the days until May? I am completely over the cold weather and really, really miss being able to look out the press box window in the morning and see horses on the track.
ENTRIES 12/16
Tampa
In the first race, Invisible Cove is in for Marty Provost . The gelding broke his maiden at Suffolk in October.
In the third race, Bobby Raymond and Jill Jellison will team up with Bea Precise . This filly seems to do well fresh and could be a live longshot here. Also in that race, John Botty has the speedy Rubato .
In the fourth race, Brenda McCarthy will send out Jimmy's Palace with Yamil Rosario aboard. Also in that race, Bernard Bramante has Shadow de Maya and Tom McCooey, Jr. will send out Barrington Hills , an impressive maiden winner in her last start.
In the fifth race, McCooey will send out the experienced juvenile Sin Bin . In the sixth race, Bobby Raymond will send out Chillin Dylan . I like this gelding a lot and though he needs to make a step forward, I'm rooting for him.
Local runner Capulet is in the seventh race against Exchange the Limit and David Amiss .
In the ninth race, Juan Camilo will send out his first starter of the Tampa meet with Real Place . Regular rider Pedro Gonzalez is aboard. Also in that race, Alejandro Gomez has New Day Rising and Beautiful Insight is in for Ernest Poxon, Jr. .
In the tenth, Bernard Bramante has first-time starter Wha Youdoin .
Charles Town
Jay Bernardini has Coach Doug in the sixth race.
In the seventh, John Rigattieri has Go Luv .
Hawthorne
Odin Londono, Jr. has S.M.W. Kaitlyn in the ninth race.
Laurel
In the second race, John Rigattieri has Destinedtobemine with Dyn Panell aboard.
In the fourth race, Rigattieri has Macho's Gold .
In the fifth race, Panell and Rigattieri team up again with Blondie's Halos .
In the seventh race, David Lezell has Goodness Greatness with Carlos Quinones aboard.
In the eighth race, Rigattieri will send out the extremely consistent and talented Swing Music .
In the ninth, Nelson S. Espaillat has Meadow Skipper .
Have a great day everyone!
December 15, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! Just a reminder that Suffolk Downs is closed for simulcasting today.
RESULTS 12/15
Mountaineer
In the fourth race, Bold Ballado was ninth for Jay Bernardini .
In the sixth, Lucky Laguna was fourth.
Calder
In the third race, Onwingsandaprayer was fourth for Charles Fontana . His other entrant on the card, Southrnhospitality scratched out of the eighth race.
In the sixth race, Jazz Nation scratched for Marcus Vitali and Nana's Appeal was fourth.
There are no noteworthy entries today so have a great day everyone!
December 14, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend. I took my dog to the Bull Terrier Club of New England's annual holiday party yesterday and had a great time. Combine that with an afternoon full of football and I have nothing to complain about.
RESULTS 12/13
Mountaineer
In the fifth race, Way of an Eagle finished fifth for Jay Bernardini . In the sixth race, Copper Ridge was seventh. Belladonnaofcourse scratched out of the third.
Calder
In the fifth race, Gimmeawinkpoppy moved up to third via disqualification for Charles Fontana . In the seventh race, Zapper finished fourth for Marcus Vitali .
Sam Houston
In the first race, Little Eva M finished sixth and last for Wendy Uhacz . In the seventh race, Expect No Equal was also sixth.
ENTRIES 12/14
Mountaineer
Jay Bernardini has Bold Ballado in the fourth and Lucky Laguna in the sixth.
Calder
Charles Fontana has Onwingsandaprayer in the third and Southrnhospitality in the eighth. Marcus Vitali has both Jazz Nation and Nana's Appeal in the sixth.
Have a great day everyone!
December 13, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! Even though the Suffolk crowd didn’t fare quite as well as I had hoped yesterday at Tampa, it was still a great card and a really enjoyable day of racing to watch.
RESULTS 12/12
Tampa
In the first race, Pensiveness put in a dynamite effort to finish second for Alejandro Gomez . His other entry, No Passing Zone was ninth.
In the second, the pair of Gomez horses, Metal Jacket and Regent Star finished next to last and last.
In the third race, Answer My Question was seventh for John Botty and Little Vinnie Boy and Yamil Rosario finished eleventh.
In the fifth race, Rinaldo’s Gold and Jill Jellison were tenth and last. I thought he would put in a better effort than he did but he didn’t look even a little bit comfortable on the turf.
In the seventh race, Hit Another Gear was ninth.
In the eighth race, Serengeti Storm and Unshatterable finished eighth and ninth.
In the eleventh race, Kathy’s N Angel put in a good effort to finish second for Bobby Raymond . Mrs. Lovett also put in a good run and was fourth.
Aqueduct
In the ninth race, Coney Island rebounded in a huge way and was a good third for George Saccardo despite a rough trip.
Laurel
In the second race, Borsa finished fourth and Puttingonthemist was sixth.
In the third, Snuck in the Back finished third at huge odds.
In the fourth race, the usually consistent Bill’s Jewell was never able to recover from an awkward break and finished fifth. The filly that won, Divine Plan had a handful of races at Suffolk back in 2008 and is absolutely gorgeous.
In the fifth, Indy’s Ahyoka and Winston Thompson were fourth for Rafael Ramos .
In the seventh, Jersey Moon and Dyn Panell were fourth, five lengths clear of Fifty Seven G in fifth.
In the ninth race, On the QB was sixth.
Charles Town
Get Ready Go was fourth in the second race for Jay Bernardini .
Mountaineer
Jay Bernardini sent out Watralsoutherncure to a tenth place finish in the second and Vy Vy Vy was third in the third. Yes Imatiger was first and got the maiden win in the fifth race.
In the sixth race, Jordanna Banana was fourth for Mark Tasso and Fujimo ran a good race to finish second.
Calder
In the fourth race, I Love to Say Yes was fifth for Charles Fontana . Miss Gold Indy was eighth in the seventh and Tigerglider was eighth in race eight. The entry of Mean Kisser and Strong N Silent finished fourth and fifth in the twelfth race.
ENTRIES 12/13
Mountaineer
Jay Bernardini has Belladonnaofcourse in the third, Way of an Eagle in the fifth and Copper Ridge in the sixth.
Calder
Charles Fontana has Gimmeawinkpoppy in the fifth and Marcus Vitali has Zapper in the seventh.
Sam Houston
Little Eva M looks to continue her winning ways in the first race for Wendy Uhacz . This filly really seems to have hit her best stride.
Expect No Equal is in the seventh race.
Aqueduct
Orlando Bocachica has mounts in the third, fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth races.
Have a great day everyone!
December 12, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I am very excited about opening day at Tampa Bay Downs today and am very jealous of everyone that is there enjoying the warm weather and sunshine.
RESULTS 12/11
Laurel
In the first race, Jane's Song was third for John Rigattieri and Miss Nimble was sixth for Rafael Ramos .
In the second race, Disguise was fourth.
In the fifth, Rigattieri sent out Soto High to a fifth place finish.
In the sixth race, Mount Wilton was fourth and Nelson S. Espaillat sent out Brogue to a seventh place finish.
In the seventh race, Pushed Over was third and Bentbutnotbroken finished eighth.
Charles Town
Rafael Ramos sent out La Monda to a runner-up finish in the seconr race.
Calder
In the third race, Rocky Miswaki was fifth for Charles Fontana . In the fourth race, he sent out Devilish Mecke to a game runner-up finish. Parky was fifth in that race for Marcus Vitali .
ENTRIES 12/12
Laurel
In the second race, David Lezell has Borsa and John Rigattieri has Puttingonthemist .
In the third race, Nelson S. Espaillat has Snuck in the Back .
In the fourth race, New England champion older mare Bill's Jewell looks to be a big contender.
In the fifth race, Rafael Ramos will send out Indy's Ayhoka . This mare is all sorts of honest and spent the majority of her Suffolk career in the shadow of local superstar Nijinsky Bullet .
In the seventh race, Rigattieri has Jersey Moon and Lezell has Fifty Seven G .
In the ninth race, On The Q B will try to break her maiden.
Aqueduct
In the ninth race, George Saccardo has Coney Island . Although his New York debut was a bit uninspiring, I'm not giving up on this one yet. He is still inexperienced and seemed quite anxious before the race, so I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt and saying he simply had an off day. There is some genuine ability there.
Orlando Bocachica has mounts in the fifth and ninth races.
Mountaineer
In the second race, Jay Bernardini has Watralsoutherncure . He also has Vy Vy Vy in the third and Yes Imatiger (the name of this horse makes me laugh every time) in the fifth.
Also at Mountaineer , Mark Tasso has Jordanna Banana in the sixth and Fujimo in the ninth.
Charles Town
Jay Bernardini has Get Ready Go in the second.
Calder
In the fourth race, Charles Fontana has I Love to Say Yes .
In the seventh race, he has Miss Gold Indy . Also in that race, Marcus Vitali has Zapper .
In the eighth race, Tigerglider is in.
In the twelfth race, Fontana has both Mean Kisser and Strong N Silent .
Tampa
In the first race, Alejandro Gomez has Pensiveness and No Passing Zone . Bernard Bramante and Lucie Herkova will team up with Gonna Blow .
In the second race, Gomez has Regent Star with Jean Claude Medina aboard. Good to see Medina back in action after getting injured over the summer.
Gomez also has a favorite of mine, Metal Jacket in that race.
Bramante has Mom Extraordinary in the second race. Another local horse, Capulet is also in.
In the third race, the respected John Botty barn makes their Tampa debut with Answer My Question . Though not the model of consistency, this gelding did have a big upset win on closing day.
Also in that race, John Pimental has Little Vinnie Boy .
In the fifth race, Bobby Raymond and Jill Jellison will team up with second-time starter Rinaldo's Gold . I think this colt has a lot going for him in this spot and is one of the reasons I stopped at an ATM on my way in to work today. First time lasix, first time turf and his career debut was not a bad one.
In the seventh race, Raymond will send out Hit Another Gear , a horse with a history of success on the lawn at both Tampa and Suffolk . Very, very tough field though.
In the eighth race, Tom McCooey, Jr. will send out the very talented juvenile Unshatterable . His local maiden win was a very impressive one over a quality field.
Also in that race, Serengeti Storm will come out for Ernie Poxon, Jr. .He had several very game, encouraging local efforts.
In the eleventh race, Bernard Bramante has a first time starter in Tequila's Desire .
In that race, Bobby Raymond has second-time starter Kathy's N Angel who put in a very encouraging debut as the favorite in the fall locally.
Mrs. Lovett will make her second career start for Tom McCooey, Jr. . This filly is absolutely lovely but very green.
Have a great day everyone!
December 11, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! Tomorrow is opening day at Tampa and I am super excited to see so many familiar names, both human and equine, in the entries.
RESULTS 12/10
Laurel
The Suffolk Downs gang did a really good job yesterday. I was really happy to see good showings by so many horses and people.
In the first race, Gold Jolie and Zavata's Trick were fourth and fifth for Rafael Ramos .
In the third race, the John Rigattieri pair of Brew for the Band and D'lightful Appeal were second and third with Carlos Quinones and Dyn Panell aboard.
In the fourth race, Winston Thompson and Uvada were fourth.
In the fifth race, CG's Striker and Dyn Panell put in a strong effort and prevailed by a length after pressing the pace early.
In the seventh race, Charles Assimakopoulos sent out Southern Twister to a 1 ¼ length victory over stablemate Go Angel Go . I really, really like Southern Twister . Legends Way was fourth for Nelson S. Espaillat .
In the eighth race, Massecuite finished third for Rafael Ramos after setting the pace.
In the ninth race, Killarney Bay broke his maiden by three lengths with Winston Thompson aboard. Amazing Racer was eighth for Rigattieri .
Aqueduct
Orlando Bocachica was third in the fourth and fifth races.
Calder
In the first race, Charles Fontana sent out Milwaukee Wolf to a third place finish. I Love to Say Yes scratched out of the sixth race and Special Jak was sixth in that race.
Marcus Vitali sent out Light Event to a runner-up finish in the fourth race.
ENTRIES 12/11
Laurel
In the first race, Rafael Ramos will send out Miss Nimble for another maiden attempt. Also in that race, John Rigattieri has Jane's Song .
In the second race, Rigattieri has Disguise .
In the fifth, Soto High and Dyn Panell are the 8/5 morning line favorites.
In the sixth race, Mount Wilton , a wonderful son of Graeme Hall will try to improve off of a third-place finish last time out. He didn't have the best of trips that day and he looks to be in a good spot here. Also in the race is Brogue who has been on the shelf since a third-place finish at Suffolk in July.
In the seventh race, David Lezell will send out Bentbutnotbroken and John Rigattieri has Pushed Over .
Charles Town
In the second race, Rafael Ramos has La Monda .
Calder
Marcus Vitali has Parky in the fourth and Zapper in the seventh.
Charles Fontana has Rocky Miswaki in the third and Devilish Mecke in the fourth.
Have a great day everyone!
December 10, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! The wacky weather yesterday caused quite a few cancellations and it appears that Hawthorne will be cancelled again today according to Equibase.
RESULTS 12/09
Laurel
Though the first race wound up being a three-horse field due to scratches, I was amused to see that it was an all-Suffolk field. The old warhorse, Let Me Be Frank was an easy winner over Hi Poppy and Adopted Arrival .
Libby’s Indian scratched out of the second race.
In the fourth race, Handsome Bruno got the win and Brother Joey scratched for John Rigattieri .
In the sixth, Rigattieri sent out No Peace at All to a third place finish. Bandslammer was fourth for the Assimakopoulos bar.
In the seventh, Phil C was fifth for Rafael Ramos .
Storm Door was third in the eighth race.
In the ninth race, Bentbutnotbroken and Brew for the Band both scratched. Snow Hill was third for Rigattieri .
ENTRIES 12/10
Laurel
In the first race, Rafael Ramos has Gold Jolie and Winston Thompson and Zavata’s Trick with Carlos Quinones .
In the third race, John Rigattieri has another stacked entry of D’lightful Appeal and Brew for the Band .
In the fourth race, the highly regarded Uvada will try to recapture the brilliance she showed in her maiden win.
In the fifth race, Rigattieri has CG’s Striker .
In the sixth, Massecuite will go for the maiden win for Rafael Ramos .
In the seventh, Charles Assimakopoulos has a powerhouse entry of Southern Twister and Go Angel Go . Nelson S. Espaillat has Legends Way in that race.
In the ninth race, Rafael Ramos will send out Killarney Bay and John Rigattieri has Amazing Racer .
Aqueduct
Orlando Bocachica has mounts in races two, four, five and nine. In the second race, he has the mount on St. Augustine for Nick Zito .
Calder
Charles Fontana has Milwaukee Wolf in the first and both I Love to Say Yes and Special Jak in the sixth.
Marcus Vitali has Light Event in the fourth.
Have a great day everyone!
December 9, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! It is a very snowy New England day today so a safe drive to anyone that is traveling anywhere today. I have yet to brave the roads but I did take on the elements first thing this morning to take a long hike in the woods with my dog.
RESULTS 12/08
Mountaineer
Jay Bernardini sent out I’m a Prize to a maiden victory in the first race.
ENTRIES 12/09
Laurel
In the first race, Rafael Ramos will send out Hi Poppy and David Lezell has Adopted Arrival .
The second race is the most interesting to me. Charles Assimakopoulos has first-time starter Libby’s Indian . This filly is a daughter of freshman sire Indian Ocean and I have been impressed by what I have seen so far. He is also the sire of New England champion juvenile filly Oceans of Honey . Anyhow, during one of my trips wandering around the backside, I saw this filly getting a bath and got to talking about her and her sire with John Assimakopoulos and he told me they had high hopes for this one.
In the fourth race, John Rigattieri has the formidable pair of Handsome Bruno and Brother Joey . Dyn Panell is named to ride both.
In the sixth race, Rigattieri and Panell are teaming up with No Peace at All . Charles Assimakopoulos has Bandslammer in that race.
In the seventh race, Rafael Ramos has Phil C .
In the eighth race, Storm Door will try to move forward off of his dull Laurel debut for Rafael Ramos . I do think this is a track that horses can show significant improvement second time over it, so he gets another shot today.
In the ninth race, David Lezell has Bentbutnotbroken and John Rigattieri has Snow Hill and Brew for the Band .
Hawthorne
Odin Londono, Jr. has Texas Mike in the first.
Have a great day everyone!
December 8, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! Yesterday, I finally was able to send out the press release announcing the New England Turf Writers 2009 champions and award winners. I think it is a deserving group of horses and people and cannot wait to get to work putting together the awards dinner in the summer.
Riversrunrylee, Sassy City and Dadsfourwheeldrive are some of my favorites and I am thrilled to be able to reward them for spectacular seasons.
For a full list of award winners, check out the New and Notes page.
RESULTS 12/07
Calder
In the third race, Our Sun scratched for Marcus Vitali . In the fifth race, he sent out Nana's Appeal to a third place finish. Charles Fontana's entry, Southenhospitality scratched out of that race.
Mountaineer
Jay Bernardini sent out Funky Country to a fourth place finish.
ENTRIES 12/08
Mountaineer
Jay Bernardini has I'm a Prize in the first race.
Have a great day everyone! Just a reminder, Suffolk Downs is closed for simulcasting today.
December 7, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I was bundled up like the little kid from A Christmas Story on my hike with the dog this morning. It is definitely winter here in New England. The racetrack looks gorgeous with snow in the infield, but I can't imagine braving the elements and racing in this like we did years ago.
RESULTS 12/06
Aqueduct
Orlando Bocachica finished sixth aboard Thunder Reigns for Karl Grusmark in the fourth race. He was eighth in the fifth race and his mount scratched out of the ninth.
Calder
Marcus Vitali sent out Targe to a fourth place finish in the eighth race.
ENTRIES 12/07
Calder
In the third race, Our Sun will try to rebound off of his last race for Marcus Vitali . Nana's Appeal is in the fifth for Vitali and Charles Fontana has Southrnhospitality in that race.
Mountaineer
Jay Bernardini has Funky Country in the second race.
There isn't much going on today but later in the week there are some really exciting races from Laurel !
Have a great day!
December 6, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I had a blast taking my dog on a hike through the snow today. I’ll admit, I absolutely despise winter but the first couple of snowfalls are nice.
RESULTS 12/05
Laurel
In the second race, Revere Beach Babe was seventh for John Rigattieri .
In the fifth race, Stellar Ambition pulled off a big victory and gave Rafael Ramos and Winston Thompson a trip to the winners’ circle.
In the eighth race, the Squan Song Stakes, Lucky You put in a very good effort to finish fourth, beaten just a length for the win. Lion’s Maddy was two lengths behind in fifth.
Aqueduct
In the first race, Weefc and Orlando Bocachica were sixth for Karl Grusmark.
Finger Lakes
Mr. Jolson earned another victory in the fourth race for Karl Grusmark .
Hawthorne
Point S.O.S. was eighth in the second race for Odin Londono, Jr. .
Mountaineer
Jay Bernardini sent out Saucy Lass to an eighth place finish in the fourth race. In the sixth, Real Impact finished first but was disqualified and placed fourth.
In the fifth race, North Bend finished sixth for Mark Tasso .
Meadowlands
Al Lloyd finished sixth for Lloyd Lockhart .
Calder
Gimmeawinkpoppy was sixth for Charles Fontana .
ENTRIES 12/06
Aqueduct
Orlando Bocachica has three mounts today. He will ride Thunder Reigns in the fourth for Karl Grusmark and has mounts in the fifth and ninth races.
Calder
Marcus Vitali has Targe in the eighth race.
Have a great day everyone! I’m planning on a relaxing Sunday of going to the gym, watching football and baking homemade Christmas cookies for my dog. Yes, my dog.
December 5, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! As I was walking into the building today, I took the long way up to the press box and wandered through the empty grandstand. I am always amazed by the history here. The banners that hang throughout the grandstand with the silks and names of former Mass Cap winners are one of those things I see every day so I rarely stop and really look at them. It is like looking at a who's who of some of the all-time greatest horses in history.
RESULTS 12/04
Laurel
In the first race, Fifty Seven G finished fourth after setting the pace for David Lezell . Babalo was sixth for Rafael Ramos .
In the second race, Weekend Games and John Rigattieri won. Nelson S. Espaillat's Jackie Lad was third and Glenwood Ace was fifth for Charles Assimakopoulos .
In the sixth race, Legends Way was fifth.
In the seventh race, John Rigattieri sent out Indy's Honey Gem to a runner-up finish. Live Tiger was fifth for Rafael Ramos . Under Mandate was tenth.
In the eighth race, the John Rigattieri pair of Bobcat Brody and Macho's Gold were fourth and fifth.
In the ninth, Snuck in the Back was tenth,
Aqueduct
2009 leading rider Orlando Bocachica had an excellent day at the Big A.
In the second race, he guided longshot Love of Life to victory and returned $21.60.
In the sixth race, Glenridge Stable's Chief Operator put in a very strong effort to finish third. It was a big effort from him for trainer Joe Signore, Jr. .
Bocachica picked up a longshot mount in the ninth race and was third.
Calder
Charles Fontana had two horses entered and both Milwaukee Wolf and Miss Gold Indy scratched.
Marcus Vitali sent out Richie London to a fourth place finish in the seventh race and Light Event was sixth in the tenth.
Penn National
In the ninth race, Rearrange put in another commendable performance to finish second for Craig Stable . Lori Lockhart's Nu Wonder was sixth.
Hawthorne
Majestic Bill pulled off a maiden win for Odin Londono, Jr. . The barn also sent out Speaking Out to a ninth place finish in the sixth.
Sam Houston
Expect No Equal was seventh for Wendy Uhacz .
ENTRIES 12/05
Laurel
In the second race, Revere Beach Babe is in for John Rigattieri . Carlos Quinones will be aboard.
In the fifth race, Rafael Ramos and Winston Thompson are teaming up with Stellar Ambition .
In the eighth race, a very competitive field of thirteen will square off in the Squan Song Stakes .
Lucky You comes out for Charles Assimakopoulos and will try to move forward off of a mediocre effort last time out. This six-year-old mare has been strategically campaigned throughout her career and when she puts in her best effort, she can be incredible. Back in 2008, she prevailed by a neck over Nijinsky Bullet and three-year-old champion Shorty Puffs in one of the most memorable races of the year.
John Rigattieri will send out Lion's Maddy from the outside post. This filly comes into this race off of three consecutive Suffolk Downs victories, winning two on dirt and one on the grass. I'll admit I wasn't sold on this filly at first, but her upset win over Courting Elaine and Technically Wicked was very impressive.
Aqueduct
Orlando Bocachica has mounts in the first, third and ninth races. In the third, he teams up with Karl Grusmark with Weefc .
Finger Lakes
Karl Grusmark has former New England champion juvenile Mr. Jolson in the fourth race.
Calder
Marcus Vitali has Targe back in in the eighth race and Charles Fontana has Gimmeawinkpoppy in the tenth race.
Hawthorne
Point S.O.S. is in the second race for Odin Londono, Jr. .
Meadowlands
Al Lloyd is in the fifth race for Lloyd Lockhart .
Mountaineer
Jay Bernardini has Saucy Lass in the fourth and Real Impact in the sixth.
Also at Mountaineer , Mark Tasso has the wonderful gelding North Bend in the fifth race. This gelding is as game as they come and I thought it was very cool that they claimed him back after they lost him in the middle of the meet. I know horse-racing is a business and claiming is part of the game but it makes me happy to see people do get attached to their horses and want them back.
Have a great day everyone!
December 4, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 12/03
Laurel
In the third race, Veer was third for John Rigattieri . Lion By My Side scratched out of that race and won the seventh race at Charles Town instead.
In the eighth race, Halo's Rumble was fourth for Charles Assimakopoulos .
In the ninth race, David Lezell's Tootletheflute was fourth.
Hawthorne
Informal Dress was sixth in the second race for Odin Londono, Jr. .
Meadowlands
Al Lloyd scratched out of the second race for Lloyd Lockhart and is reentered for Saturday.
Penn National
Sweet Candy Ride was fifth for Lori Lockhart .
Calder
Onwingsandaprayer scratched out of the fourth race for Charles Fontana .
Sam Houston
Offlee Wedded Wife was seventh in the second race for Wendy Uhacz .
ENTRIES 12/04
Aqueduct
Joe Signore, Jr. has the insanely well-bred Chief Operator in the sixth with Orlando Bocachica aboard for Glendridge Stable . This gelding actually has very solid inner-track form and looks like a very live longshot.
Bocachica also has a mount in the second race.
Laurel
In the first race, Rafael Ramos and Winston Thompson will team up with Babalo . Also in that race, David Lezell will send out Fifty Seven G with Dyn Panell .
In the second race, Charles Assimakopoulos has Glenwood Ace and Nelson S. Espaillat has Jackie Lad . Also in that race, John Rigattieri has Weekend Games .
In the sixth race, Nelson S. Espaillat has Legends Way .
In the seventh race, Ramos will send out Live Tiger and Rigattieri has Indy's Honey Gem . Both fillies have had a month off since strong performances at Suffolk . Also in that race, Espaillat has Under Mandate .
In the eighth race, John Rigattieri has two formidable entrants in Bobcat Brody and Macho's Gold . Dyn Panell will ride Bobcat Brody and this gelding has been on the board in all four starts since joining this barn.
In the ninth race, Snuck in the Back is in for Nelson S. Espaillat .
Penn National
In the ninth race, Nu Wonder is in for Lori Lockhart against the consistent Rearrange .
Calder
Charles Fontana has Milwaukee Wolf in the third and Miss Gold Indy in the fifth.
Marcus Vitali has Richie London in the seventh and Light Event in the tenth.
Hawthorne
Odin Londono, Jr. has Majestic Bill in the first and Speaking Out in the sixth.
Sam Houston
Wendy Uhacz has Expect No Equal in the fourth.
Have a great day everyone!
December 3, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! Today is actually looking like it has some potential to be a gorgeous day.
I was glancing over the workouts from Tampa yesterday and saw that local star and fan favorite Sassy City had a workout for John Botty . I cannot wait to see what this filly does as she matures.
RESULTS 12/02
Laurel
In the first race, Katie's Raven was fifth for David Lezell .
In the second race, Marivett was fifth for Rafael Ramos . She looked like she was going to run a huge race, then just came up flat.
In the fifth race, Gramatic put in a good effort to be third for Charles Assimakopoulos .
In the sixth race, John Rigattieri sent out Destinedtobemine to a third place finish and in the seventh race, Evil Buddha was sixth.
In the ninth race, Helens Says was sixth and Under Mandate scratched.
Aqueduct
In the fifth race, Papa Charlie was eighth for George Saccardo .
Hawthorne
S.M.W. Kaitlyn was seventh in the ninth race for Odin Londono, Jr. .
ENTRIES 12/03
Laurel
In the third race, John Rigattieri has both Veer and Lion By My Side entered. Lion By My Side is also entered at Charles Town today.
Halo's Rumble is in the eighth race for Charles Assimakopoulos . Her last effort at Laurel was very sharp and this powerhouse of a filly looks to be in a good spot here.
In the ninth race, David Lezell will send out maiden Tootletheflute .
Aqueduct
Orlando Bocachica has mounts in the fourth and fifth races.
Calder
Charles Fontana has Onwingsandaprayer in the fourth race. Though her two Florida starts have been dull, she did have very competitive local form throughout the meet.
Meadowlands
Lloyd Lockhart has Al Lloyd in the second race.
Penn National
Lori Lockhart has Sweet Candy Ride in the sixth race.
Hawthorne
Odin Londono, Jr. has Informal Dress in the second race.
Sam Houston
Wendy Uhacz has Offlee Wedded Wife in the second race.
Have a great day everyone!
December 2, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I am pleased that I used my day off in a productive manner and have managed to accomplish nearly all of my Christmas shopping. I love getting it all out of the way before the stores become too chaotic.
RESULTS 12/01
Mountaineer
Hope for Joy was third in the sixth race for Jay Bernardini .
ENTRIES 12/02
Laurel
In the first race, Carlos Quinones will be aboard Katie's Raven for David Lezell .
In the second race, Marivett will make her Laurel debut for Rafael Ramos . Regular rider Carlos Quinones remains aboard and he does seem to be an excellent fit for this filly. I really, really like her. There is absolutely nothing extraordinary about this filly - she is a complete Plain Jane. However, she is really an honest, game little filly and over the past couple of years she has really grown on me.
In the fifth race, Gramatic comes out for Charles Assimakopoulos . This filly is a daughter of my buddy Graeme Hall out of New England champion Formatic . She broke her maiden at Laurel in February and won two of her three Suffolk Downs starts very impressively.
In the sixth race, John Rigattieri and Dyn Panell will team up with Destinedtobemine . Also in the sixth race, Carlos Quinones will be aboard Should Be Dancin' for Michael Gorham . A belated congratulations to Michael Gorham on earning his 1,000th career victory back on November 27.
In the seventh race, Rigattieri also has Evil Buddha .
In the ninth race, David Lezell has Helen Says and Nelson S. Espaillat has Under Mandate .
Hawthorne
In the ninth race, the consistent S.M.W. Kaitlyn will make her first start for trainer Odin Londono, Jr. .
Aqueduct
In the fifth race, the highly regarded Papa Charlie will try to return to form for trainer George Saccardo . Orlando Bocachica will be aboard (and also has mounts in fourth and ninth races). Papa Charlie was introduced to me back in 2008 before his first start as George's "secret weapon" and he lived up to the hype, breaking his maiden at first asking impressively. Though his form tailed off a bit at the end of the meet this year, he had several monster efforts early in the meet and may have benefited from having a bit of time off since the meet ended.
Have a great day everyone!
December 1, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! What a frustrating football game last night.
Just a reminder to everyone that Suffolk Downs is closed for simulcasting today and will be closed for the remaining Tuesdays this month. This gives me a day off to finish up my holiday shopping!
RESULTS 11/30
Mountaineer
Jay Bernardini sent out Honor the Sword to a runner-up finish in the fifth and Regal Fling to a ninth place finish in the ninth.
Finger Lakes
Everblazing was eighth in the fourth race for Hector Sarmiento .
Meadowlands
Lloyd Lockhart had two starters yesterday. Bucks Wink was seventh in the opener and Secret Jazz was fifth in the third race.
ENTRIES 12/01
Mountaineer
In the sixth race, Jay Bernardini has Hope for Joy .
Have a great day everyone. There are a ton of interesting entries over the next couple of days.
November 30, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! Yesterday, I spent some time going through the recent workouts from Tampa Bay Downs and there were so many familiar names! I can't wait for their meet to begin so I can see some of our local stars back in action again.
RESULTS 11/29
Aqueduct
Coney Island was sixth in the first race for George Saccardo . This colt seemed a bit agitated going into the gate and considering that he only has two starts, he is still a bit green and may have had an off day. I haven't given up on this one yet and intend to back him again in his next start.
Casa Pippo scratched out of the ninth race.
Mountaineer
In the first race Yes Imatiger was third for Jay Bernardini . In the fourth race, Lir Jet was fourth.
Hawthorne
Odin Londono, Jr. sent out Goli's Lady Doll to a seventh place finish.
ENTRIES 11/30
Meadowlands
Lloyd Lockhart has Bucks Wink in the first race and Secret Jazz in the third.
Mountaineer
Jay Bernardini has Honor the Sword in the fifth and Regal Fling in the ninth.
Have a great day everyone! I can't wait to get home tonight and watch the Patriots take on the Saints.
November 29, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I'm looking forward to a fantastic day of hanging out in the press box, working on some projects with racing and football on in the background. It seriously cannot get any better.
RESULTS 11/28
Laurel
In the second race, Hi Poppy was fifth for Rafael Ramos .
In the fourth race, Little Miss Kisses put in another competitive effort for the John Rigattieri barn.
In the fifth, Hot Chile Soup ran a dynamite race to be second, beaten only a neck. This was her first effort where she really seemed to fight back and show she had the heart to match her natural ability, so I'm really pleased with this one.
Mountaineer
Jay Bernardini sent out Copper Ridge to an eighth place finish in the first race and Way of an Eagle to a sixth place finish in the third.
Hawthorne
Unfortunately, Midship Mambo did not finish and was vanned off for Odin Londono, Jr. so let's hope for the best there.
Calder
Ski Sky was sixth in the third race for Marcus Vitali .
I Love to Say Yes was seventh in the tenth race for Charles Fontana .
Finger Lakes
Judge Margaret was much the best in the eighth race for Karl Grusmark .
One other result I missed from Friday was a huge effort from Little Eva M at Sam Houston for Wendy Uhacz . It was the second win in a row for this filly and she was one that did show a lot of promise at Suffolk .
ENTRIES 11/29
Aqueduct
In the first race, George Saccardo has Coney Island , a very impressive maiden winner in his second career start. George does a very nice job bringing along young horses and though this colt gets a class test today, I think he is a live longshot.
In the ninth race, Saccardo has Casa Pippo on the also-eligible list. Orlando Bocachica is named to ride and he also has the mount on another filly in that race.
Mountaineer
Jay Bernardini has Yes Imatiger in the first and Lir Jet in the fourth.
Hawthorne
Odin Londono, Jr has Goli's Lady Doll in the fourth race.
Have a great day everyone!
November 28, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 11/27
Laurel
In the second race, Gold Jolie was fifth for Rafael Ramos and Winston Thompson . Those two also teamed up for a seventh place finish with Ragabash in the eighth race.
In the seventh, Brother Joey scratched, leaving Handsome Bruno and Dyn Panell in for John Rigattieri . He finished fourth.
In the ninth race, Dyn Panell and John Rigattieri were fifth with Softly Spoken . Meadow Skipper was eighth in that race.
Hawthorne
Not the best day for the Odin Londono, Jr. barn . In the first race, Loose Lips was ninth. True Jazz was ninth in the sixth race. Secretly Taken and Dakota Max were both tenth in the eighth and ninth races.
Finger Lakes
Karl Grusmark sent out two winners from two starters with Tapits Main Man and Indian Rush .
Calder
Alejandro Gomez had three starters entered - Metal Jacket, Sir Classic Chris and More to It . All three scratched.
In the eighth race, Marcus Vitali sent out Jazz Nation to a fifth place finish.
Aqueduct
In the third race, Rocketing Returns and Orlando Bocachica were fifth for Seth Benzel .
Weathered was eighth in the Top Flight Handicap.
ENTRIES 11/28
Laurel
In the second race, Rafael Ramos has Hi Poppy . Hi Poppy was made semi-famous when Butch Stearns came to Suffolk Downs to try his hand at race-calling. Hi Poppy’s duel with Whoopi Again wound up being one of the most memorable races of the meet.
In the fourth race, the talented and game Little Miss Kisses is in for John Rigattieri .
In the fifth race, Hot Chile Soup is making her Laurel debut. The barn does seem to be off to a slightly shaky start in Maryland could be in a good spot to give them a breakthrough local victory. She is a naturally athletic, talented individual and still seems to be figuring it all out.
Finger Lakes
Karl Grusmark has Judge Margaret in the eighth race. She had a pair of dull efforts at Suffolk over the summer but this well-bred filly really seems to have hit her stride in New York- she’s been first or second in all six recent starts.
Calder
In the third race, Marcus Vitali has Ski Sky .
Charles Fontana has I Love to Say Yes in the tenth.
Mountaineer
Jay Bernardini has a pair of entries today. Copper Ridge in the first and Way of an Eagle in the third.
Hawthorne
Odin Londono, Jr. has Midship Mambo in the ninth race.
Have a great day everyone! There are some really exciting races in the next couple of days, so stay tuned.
November 27, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday.
RESULTS 11/26
Laurel
In the first race, Jane's Song and Dyn Panell were fifth for John Rigattieri .
Bill's Jewell was again the model of consistency in the second race with a game runner-up finish despite a slow start. Carlos Quinones was aboard for David Lezell .
In the third race, Soto High was second for John Rigattieri .
In the fifth race, Southern Twister was a game third after having an absolutely awful trip. He clipped hills, checked sharply and still showed a lot of class to rally for third.
Also in that race, Nelson S. Espaillat's Jackie Lad was fifth.
In the seventh race, John Rigattieri had another runner-up finish with Jersey Moon .
In the eighth race, Little Miss Kisses scratched and is back in for Saturday. That left Swing Music and Courting Elaine , two very talented fillies for John Rigattieri and Rafael Ramos . Swing Music put in another big effort and was second, giving Rigattieri three seconds from four starters on the card. Courting Elaine didn't fare quite so well and was sixth.
In the ninth race, Borsa was sixth and Snuck in the Back was eighth.
Aqueduct
Risky Gamble was sixth for Joe Signore, Jr. and Orlando Bocachica . This filly is much more effective on turf, so this performance can't really be held against her.
Calder
In the fourth race, Zapper was fourth for Marcus Vitali .
In the fifth race, Miss Unbridled's was ninth for Charles Fontana .
In the sixth race, Mean Kisser ran a huge race to finish second at monstrous odds. Also in that race, Fire Striker was a good fourth.
In the eighth race, Southrnhospitality was seventh and Our Sun was tenth and last.
ENTRIES 11/27
Laurel
In the second race, Rafael Ramos is sending out one of my favorite blue-collar fillies in Gold Jolie . There is absolutely nothing flashy about this filly but she is really honest and her form seems to be back.
In the seventh race, John Rigattieri has a loaded pair in Handsome Bruno and Brother Joey . Dyn Panell is named to ride both so it will be interesting to see who he stays aboard if both remain in.
In the eighth race, the highly regarded Ragabash will try to make it two in a row after breaking her maiden impressively at first asking in November for Rafael Ramos . Winston Thompson will be in the irons.
In the ninth race, John Rigattieri has Softly Spoken and Nelson S. Espaillat has Meadow Skipper .
Finger Lakes
Indian Rush , a very impressive juvenile winner at Suffolk Downs in 2008, is in the eighth race for Karl Grusmark . He also has Tapits Main Man in the fifth.
Hawthorne
Odin Londono, Jr. looks to have a busy day with four starters on the card.
In the first race, he has Loose Lips .
In the sixth, True Jazz will try to return to form. Though her present form is lackluster, she has popped up and surprised me enough times to never completely overlook her.
In the eighth, he has Secretly Taken and in the ninth, Dakota Max .
Aqueduct
In the third race, Orlando Bocachica will ride the beautifully-bred Rocketing Returns for Seth Benzel . His local start this fall was very impressive and could have been a big confidence boost for this naturally talented individual. 12-1 morning line? Love it.
Also at Aqueduct, Karl Grusmark has Weathered in the Top Flight Handicap.
Calder
In the sixth race, Metal Jacket is in for Alejandro Gomez . As I've mentioned in previous blogs, I am a big fan of this gelding.
In the eighth race, Gomez has Sir Classic Chris and More to It . Marcus Vitali has Jazz Nation in that race.
In the tenth race, Charles Fontana has Special Jak .
Have a great day everyone!
November 26, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I have a lot to be thankful for in my life and as a racing fan, this year gave me a lot to be thankful for as well. Nationally, there were superstars that turned in one breathtaking performance after another. And locally, we had our stars as well. Small tracks have star power, too, and we had horses like Riversrunrylee, Nijinsky Bullet, Delosvientos and rising starlet Sassy City .
RESULTS 11/25
Laurel
In the first race, no excuses for Miss Nimble . She ran the same type of race that she ran in her previous two local starts and finished a well-beaten seventh.
In race two, Rafael Ramos and Winston Thompson teamed up for a fifth place finish with La Monda .
Not much better in the third race with Babalo . He was seventh.
In the fourth race, the Charles Assimakopoulos trained Gold Bid was third.
In the fifth race, Macho’s Gold scratched for John Rigattieri . His other entry, Pushed Over was fifth.
In the sixth race, Massecuite put in the strongest performance of the day for the Ramos barn with a very game runner up finish.
In the seventh race, The Last Bird was fifth.
Charles Town
Legends Way was seventh for Nelson S. Espaillat .
ENTRIES 11/26
Aqueduct
Risky Gamble is in the fifth race for Joe Signore, Jr. . Orlando Bocachica will be aboard and though this filly figures to be a big price, she has pulled off several major victories and I wouldn’t throw her out.
Laurel
In the first race, John Rigattieri will send out two-year-old filly Jane’s Song . This filly does have some natural ability and appears to be maturing.
In the second race, of the stars of the Suffolk Downs meet returns to the races. Bill’s Jewell was on the board in all of her local starts and this big mare has performed well at Laurel in the past. Carlos Quinones will be aboard her today.
In the third race, Dyn Panell and John Rigattieri have Soto High .
In the fifth race, one of my favorite local horses is in. Southern Twister is in for Charles Assimakopoulos . This gelding didn’t have the most consistent 2009 season, but he is a very talented individual. He is also one of those horses that always seems to have, for lack of better words, swagger. Jackie Lad is also in that race for Nelson S. Espaillat .
In the seventh race, Dyn Panell and John Rigattieri have Jersey Moon .
The eighth race is insanely competitive. Courting Elaine is in for Rafael Ramos and Winston Thompson . This big, athletic filly has performed well on both turf and dirt and during the Suffolk meet looked like a star on the rise.
Also in that race, John Rigattieir has a loaded pair in rival stablemates Little Miss Kisses and Swing Music . Both fillies swapped off victories early in the meet before Swing Music really took control, putting in several strong efforts at Laurel as well.
In the ninth race, Nelson S. Espaillat has Snuck in the Back and David Lezell has Borsa .
Calder
In the fourth race, Marcus Vitali has Zapper .
In the fifth, Charles Fontana has Miss Unbridled’s and in the sixth, he has Mean Kisser .
Also in the sixth race, Alejandro Gomez has More to It .
In the eighth race, Our Sun comes out for Marcus Vitali and Fontana sends out Southrnhospitality .
Have a great day everyone and enjoy your holiday!
November 25, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! My mood is heavily influenced by the weather but even on a gloomy, rainy, cold day I couldn't help but be in a good spirits this morning. There are some really interesting races today and I still can't quite wrap my head around the fact that I get to come to the racetrack every single day for "work". There are some days that are less fun than others, but never has this job felt like work.
RESULTS 11/24
Email was a well-beaten seventh in the seventh race for Jay Bernardini .
ENTRIES 11/25
Laurel
Starting out in the first race, Rafael Ramos has Miss Nimble . I find this filly interesting. She was well-regarded by her connections before her first start, but from two races at Suffolk she really showed little. She gets lasix for the first time today, which may help, but my main observation with this filly is that she is just TINY. She moved nicely in the mornings but just looked very immature physically. She should be a huge price and this barn does do a top-notch job with the babies.
In race two, La Monda is making her first start for Rafael Ramos after breaking her maiden last time out at Calder . Winston Thompson will be aboard.
In race three, Ramos and Thompson are teaming up again with Babalo . His form is inconsistent but he has had plenty of time off since that last, dull effort.
In the fourth race, Charles Assimakopoulos will send out Gold Bid with blinkers off today to try to break his maiden. This gelding actually has finished first twice before and was DQ'd from both victories.
In the fifth race, John Rigattieri has a loaded pair with Pushed Over and Macho's Gold . Carlos Quinones will ride Pushed Over and this colt did have a pair of strong efforts at Suffolk against allowance company.
In the sixth race, Ramos will send out Massecuite to his first start off a layoff. He had two efforts in the spring, including a good runner-up finish at Aqueduct, and does seem to have some ability. He worked well at Suffolk in the fall.
In the seventh race, The Last Bird will try to make it two in a row after a commanding maiden-breaking performance in October. Physically, this colt was an absolute standout in the paddock that day and Closing Argument really seems to be generating some buzz as a freshman sire.
Charles Town
Legends Way is in the eighth race for Nelson S. Espaillat . He had several very game efforts at Suffolk this past season and looks more appealing stretching back to two turns after being a bit off his game sprinting last time.
Aqueduct
In the seventh race, Orlando Bocachica will be aboard Pavlov's Dog .
Have a great day everyone!
November 24, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone!
RESULTS 11/23
Finger Lakes
Karl Grusmark had a good day yesterday, saddling two winners from two starters. New England champion juvenile Mr. Jolson went gate to wire and won by five lengths, returning $11.60. In the sixth race, Rosalie's Dance broke her maiden in front-running fashion for owner and breeder Joseph Dirico .
Mountaineer
In the ninth race, Lucky Laguna won as the favorite for Jay Bernardini .
ENTRIES 11/24
Mountaineer
In the seventh race, Email is in for Jay Bernardini .
A quiet day for entries, but tomorrow should make up for it as there are quite a few interesting, exciting horses entered at Laurel , Aqueduct and Charles Town .
Have a great day everyone!
November 23, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I hope everyone had a great weekend. There is nothing I enjoy more on a Sunday then camping out on the couch for the day, switching between TVG and NFL Redzone (best channel ever).
RESULTS 11/22
Calder
In the fourth race Charles Fontana's Saratoga Blitz was a well-beaten ninth.
In the fifth race, both Sir Classic Chris and Pensiveness scratched for Alejandro Gomez . So far, from four starters, all four have scratched though it appears Metal Jacket and Sir Classic Chris are entered again for Friday.
Marcus Vitali had two starters yesterday. Parky was seventh in the fifth race and Targe was fifth in the seventh race.
ENTRIES 11/23
Finger Lakes
Former New England champion juvenile Mr. Jolson is in the second race for Karl Grusmark .
Mountaineer
Lucky Laguna is in the ninth race for Jay Bernardini .
There may not be a whole lot going on entry-wise today but the rest of the week looks very exciting. Southern Twister, Bill's Jewell, Little Miss Kisses, Swing Music, The Last Bird, Courting Elaine and Risky Gamble are just a handful of the fantastic entries later in the week.
Have a great day!
November 22, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I'm ready for another great Sunday full of football and racing.
RESULTS 11/21
Laurel
In the second race, Hot Brew and Winston Thompson put in a game effort to finish second.
In the third race, Killarney Bay was fifth for Rafael Ramos . The John Rigattieri trained entry of Tornado Boots and Rob the Sandman were fourth and eighth.
Southern Renegade was sixth in the fifth race. Fifty Seven G was eighth.
Storm Door my pick of the day, was sixth and last. He didn't appear to have any real excuses.
In race seven, D'lightful Appeal was second, beaten only a neck. Bentbutnotbroken was tenth in that race.
In the eighth race, C G's Striker put in a solid effort to finish third.
Calder
Rocky Miswaki was seventh for Charles Fontana . In the eleventh race, his Unbridled Heat was second.
In the eighth race, both Metal Jacket and Lizard were scratched for Alejandro Gomez .
Finger Lakes
Shirley Law was eighth for trainer Karl Grusmark .
Meadowlands
In the fourth race, Sweet Candy Ride was fourth for Lori Lockhart .
In the fifth race, Lloyd Lockhart's Busy Roma was seventh and in the seventh race, Al Lloyd was also seventh.
Hawthorne
Goli's Lady Doll was ninth for Odin Londono, Jr and Point SOS was scratched.
ENTRIES
Calder 11/22
Charles Fontana has Saratoga Blitz in the fourth and Alejandro Gomez has Sir Classic Chris and Pensiveness in the fifth race. Also in the fifth, Marcus Vitali has Parky and in the seventh race, Targe is in.
Not a busy day for the local gang on the entries front today, but the upcoming week looks very exciting.
Have a great day!
November 21, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I am really excited about today's races all throughout the country. I can't think of a better way to spend my Saturday than hanging out in the press box, working on some projects with several televisions in the background tuned in to assorted tracks.
RESULTS
Laurel 11/20
In the third race, Dad's Image ran a dynamite race to finish second, beaten only half a length at generous odds. This guy was frequently overlooked at Suffolk this season and had several big efforts, so it wouldn't surprise me if he does the same thing this winter. Adopted Arrival and Dyn Panell were seventh in that race.
In the fifth race, John Rigattieri saddled his first of two winners on the card with Snow Hill . In the eighth race, Bobcat Brody was third and in the ninth race, Dude Again and Carlos Quinones were victorious. The other part of the entry in that race, Dixielandbandito and Dyn Panell were fourth.
Calder 11/20
Tigerglider and Robert Serrano were tenth and last for Charles Fontana .
Mountaineer 11/20
Gliding Princess was sixth.
ENTRIES
Laurel 11/21
Both Rafael Ramos and John Rigattieri look to have very busy days today.
In the second race, Ramos and Winston Thompson will team up with Hot Brew . She drops back down after a fifth place finish behind horses like Sassy City and Bill's Jewell so really, no shame in finishing behind those ladies. She isn't super consistent but she does have some back class and is interesting in this spot.
In the third race, Rigattieri has a pair of first-time starters for owner Frank Bertolino . Rob the Sandman will have Carlos Quinones aboard and Tornado Boots gets Dyn Panell . Rafael Ramos is sending out Killarney Bay with Winston Thompson aboard. This well-bred gelding will carry the familiar silks of Stronach Stables in his first start for a tag.
In race five, Southern Renegade comes out for Ramos and Thompson after a pair of third-place finishes at Suffolk . David Lezell is sending out Fifty Seven G .
In the sixth race, the very interesting Storm Door will make his second start off of a six-month layoff. This gelding was highly regarded at the beginning of the meet and lived up to the hype with a very impressive victory on opening day. Unfortunately, he was sidelined for the remainder of the meet and in his first start back on closing day, he put in a commendable effort but came up short. He looked like a horse that simply needed a race and I think he could be sitting on a big effort.
In the seventh race, John Rigattieri and Dyn Panell will team up with D'lightful Appeal . At Suffolk , he was very competitive against substantially tougher company. He does appear to have lost a step but seems well spotted here. I really like this gelding - he is huge and still looked like he could develop a bit more. Also in this race, Bentbutnotbroken will be aboard for David Lezell .
In the ninth race, Panell will be aboard C G's Striker for Rigattieri . This guy is a three-time winner at Laurel and difficult to overlook wherever he is.
Calder 11/21
In the fifth race, Charles Fontana has Rocky Miswaki with Robert Serrano aboard. Her last race at Suffolk was very dull, but she does have a sharp late kick when she fires.
In race eight, Alejandro Gomez will send out a competitive pair in Metal Jacket and Lizard . Metal Jacket will be making his first start since being claimed from trainer Wayne Marcoux and this is a horse that really grew on me throughout the meet. He is absolutely gorgeous and has a "look at me" type of attitude. He would often put on a show in the paddock, bucking and playing around like a horse that just felt very good. Looks aside, he is also a very honest, very fast racehorse. Lizard has the advantage of having experience over the Calder surface. He has been on the board in half of his starts there and jockey Kerry Bryan will be aboard.
Finger Lakes 11/21
Shirley Law will make her second start at Finger Lakes and second for trainer Karl Grusmark after spending the Suffolk meet with Billy Sienkewicz .
Meadowlands 11/21
Lori Lockhart will send out Sweet Candy Ride in the fourth race and her father, Lloyd Lockhart has Busy Roma in the fifth and Al Lloyd in the seventh.
Hawthorne 11/21
Odin Londono, Jr. has Goli's Lady Doll in the fifth and Point S.O.S. in the ninth.
Aqueduct 11/21
Orlando Bocachica will ride French Transition in the fifth.
Have a great day everyone! And as always, feel free to drop me a line at jpaquette@suffolkdowns.com
November 20, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! There are a lot of exciting races coming up in the next couple of days.
RESULTS
Aqueduct 11/19 Yet Again and Orlando Bocachica were fourth in the Love is Eternal Stakes, beaten five lengths for trainer Karl Grusmark .
Meadowlands 11/19
In the third race, Osterville put in a good effort to finish third for Larry Mason . He is an honest little horse.
In the seventh race, the Lloyd Lockhart trained Royal Malibu was seventh.
Hawthorne 11/19
True Jazz was sixth and last for Odin Londono, Jr. . Bummer. I really like this filly.
Laurel 11/19
Rafael Ramos and Winston Thompson teamed up for a runner-up finish with Uvada . The John Rigattieri pair of Revere Beach Babe and Runinthefastlane finished sixth and eighth in that race.
In the eighth race, Mount Wilton and Carlos Quinones were third. Lion By My Side and Dyn Panell , the other half of the entry, finished seventh. Preacher Buck was last and eased.
Finger Lakes 11/19 Anthony Ryan sent out the good-looking Hunting Money to a third place finish. It was a good effort considering he had a very awkward break.
Calder 11/19
Our Sun was third, beaten only half a length for trainer Marcus Vitali in the fifth race. In the eighth race, the Vitali trained Nana's Appeal was fifth.
ENTRIES
Aqueduct 11/20
Orlando Bocachica has a mount in the second race aboard longshot Love of Life .
Laurel 11/20
In the third race, two local horses will square off. Dad's Image comes out for Nelson S. Espaillat and Adopted Arrival and Dyn Panell go to post for David Lezell .
John Rigattieri has quite a few starters today. In the fifth race, he has Snow Hill in. In the eighth race, Dyn Panell will be aboard Bobcat Brody as he tries to shake the bridesmaid role after a trio of runner-up finishes. In the ninth race, Dude Again and Dixielandbandito come out as a formidable entry with Carlos Quinones and Panell in the irons.
Calder 11/20
In the third race, Marcus Vitali is sending out Richie London . In the fifth, Charles Fontana has Tigerglider .
Mountaineer 11/20
Gliding Princess , a daughter of New England champion mare, Sword Princess, is in the second race for Jay Bernardini .
Saturday's entries are very exciting as well. I am most looking forward to Storm Door making his second start off of a substantial layoff at Laurel . He is 8-1 (!!!) morning line and I think could be a huge value.
Have a great day everyone!
November 19, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! I just got in from taking my dog for a hike in the woods and mornings like this are when I really love fall in New England. It is a gorgeous day.
RESULTS
Laurel 11/18
In the first race, the John Rigattier trained Weekend Games won by a neck. Irish Blast with Winston Thompson aboard for Rafael Ramos was third. Glenwood Ace didn’t fare quite so well and was fifth and last.
Also at Laurel, Veer and Dyn Panell were fourth in the seventh race.
Hawthorne 11/18
Majestic Bill put in a good showing for Odin Londono, Jr. and was second, beaten only a length. Lusty King scratched out of his race.
ENTRIES
Laurel 11/19
In the third race, a trio of talented fillies will compete for Rafael Ramos and John Rigattieri . Both barns have a reputation for success with young horses. Ramos will send out the highly regarded Uvada and Rigattieri has a tough pair in Runinthefastlane and Revere Beach Babe .
In the eighth race, John Rigattieri will send out a formidable entry of Mount Wilton and Lion By My Side . Carlos Quinones and Dyn Panell will be aboard. I really, really like Mount Wilton and always root for the Graeme Hall babies. I also find it amusing how little he resembles his full sister, East Coaster . She looks like a typical Graeme Hall kid while this guy looks like he fell off the family tree – he is much bigger and stockier. But, both are runners.
Also in that race is Preacher Buck for Jennifer Shannon . This gray gelding was very impressive throughout the Suffolk meet despite a demanding campaign and seems to be the type that really puts in 110% every time.
Meadowlands 11/19
Osterville is in the third race for Larry Mason . Though his last race of the Suffolk meet was a bit flat, he was very well campaigned and this gelding is a dangerous combination of both game and fast.
In the seventh race, the six-figure Royal Malibu is in for Lloyd Lockhart .
Finger Lakes 11/19
Hunting Money is in the sixth race for Anthony Ryan . His starters seem to be coming out very ready to run at Finger Lakes and this guy was all sorts of impressive breaking his maiden against a slightly softer field.
Aqueduct 11/19
2009 leading rider Orlando Bocachica is in the Love is Eternal Stakes for Karl Grusmark . This filly is a half sister to New England champion Carlow and very talented.
Calder 11/19 Our Sun and Nana’s Appeal are both back in for Marcus Vitali after scratching out of recent starts.
Tomorrow and Saturday there are a bunch of really exciting entries, especially at Laurel. I’ll go into details on them tomorrow! Have a great day!
November 18, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! On my way to work this morning, I received a fantastic text message informing me that Sing Me Back Home , the fan-favorite old warhorse, is was dropped off at his new home at the TRF Second Chances at Plymouth County Sheriff’s Farm. He is an amazing horse with a ton of personality and class and I am so happy he gets to have a "happily ever after".
RESULTS
Finger Lakes 11/17
What a Trippi ran a great race. He was fourth, but it was a close finish and he missed the win by under a length despite having virtually no pace to run at. I was also really pleased with how good he looked physically. There is a great quote from Jenine Sahadi from (I think) the press conference prior to the 2000 Santa Anita Derby that really has stuck with me. "Win or lose, I love my horse."
ENTRIES
Laurel 11/18
In the first race, the Charles Assimakopoulos trained Glenwood Ace will try to earn his fourth consecutive victory but the classy Irish Blast for the dynamic duo of Rafael Ramos and Winston Thompson looks very tough. Also in that race, Weekend Games comes out for John Rigattieri . There is your trifecta - just box the Suffolk guys!
In the seventh race, Rigattieri is also sending out an entry of Lion By My Side and Veer . Dyn Panell is named on both, but Lion By My Side is entered for Thursday as well so it seems possible she will scratch.
Also today at Laurel , Carlos Quinones will ride Should Be Dancin' for Mike Gorham in the sixth and Winston Thompson will ride the aptly-named New Englander in the third.
Hawthorne 11/18
Majestic Bill and Lusty King are in the second and seventh races for Odin Londono, Jr. .
Tomorrow, there are a bunch of very interesting entries at Laurel, Finger Lakes, Hawthorne, Aqueduct, Meadowlands and Calder so stay tuned.
Have a great day everyone!
November 17, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Good morning everyone! Last night, the New England Turf Writers Association held their fall meeting and selected our champions for 2009. I will have a press release in the coming days announcing our award winners. Very, very exciting. Also, I have been elected president of the organization! I am honored to be a part of a group with such history and, looking at past presidents, I have some big shoes to fill.
RESULTS
Finger Lakes 11/16
Anthony Ryan sent out first-time starter Tommy's Memory to a very impressive debut win. He broke slowly and showed a good deal of professionalism and natural ability to quickly gain the lead and never look back. He won by over nine lengths and returned $11.40. Also, Justice T put in a good showing later on the card to be fourth.
ENTRIES
Finger Lakes 11/17
What a Trippi is in the second race today. I can't wait to see him. He is such a funny (and I mean funny both as amusing and as odd) little horse.
Yesterday, I covered a bunch of really exciting entries for 11/18 and 11/19 at Laurel, Aqueduct, Hawthorne and Calder . I'll recap tomorrow and Thursday but now I'll get into some other interesting entries later in the week.
Meadowlands 11/19 Larry Mason will send out Osterville in the third race. This gelding is as honest as they come and has a lot of natural speed. His local form was very solid and though his last race of the season was a bit uncharacteristic, his connections have done a great job spotting him and he should be coming into this race ready for a big effort.
Also at the Meadowlands on Thursday, Lloyd Lockhart will send out Royal Malibu in the seventh race. This lightly-raced gelding was a six-figure purchase and had a strong allowance win in his most recent start.
Finger Lakes 11/19
Hunting Money is in the sixth race for Anthony Ryan . This big, gorgeous gelding got some time off and got a class drop for his very impressive maiden win back in October. He has the looks and there is some ability there.
Mountaineer 11/20
Jay Bernardini will send out the beautifully-bred Gliding Princess in the second race. She is a daughter of New England champion mare Sword Princess and though she doesn't seem to have quite inherited her mother's ability, she is capable of a big effort and she does get a substantial class break here.
Calder 11/20 Tigerglider is in the fifth for Charles Fontana .
Calder 11/21
Rocky Miswaki is in the fifth race for Charles Fontana . This filly has shown she can be very game on several occasions.
Also on Saturday at Calder , Alejandro Gomez will send out two starters in the eighth race that I very much liked when they were based locally. Metal Jacket was a favorite of mine and will be making his first start since being claimed This gelding is just a physically an outstanding looking horse. He is also really enjoyable to watch in the paddock as he seems to be quite a handful and very full of himself. Several times this year when he was with trainer Wayne Marcoux , he would come into the paddock bouncing and playing around, obviously just a horse that felt very good. His stablemate in the race is Lizard with jockey Kerry Bryan . This gelding was successful at Suffolk and has also proven himself at Calder in the past.
Enjoy your day! I'll be glued to the television up here in the press box rooting on my little buddy Trippi today!
November 16, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
This blog is slightly later than normal because I stayed up far too late watching football last night. And boy, was that game worth the missed sleep (please note the sarcasm there). Anyhow, this week is shaping up to be very exciting from an entry-standpoint and though we have no noteworthy results today, let's dive into boatload of entries for so far for the week!
ENTRIES
Finger Lakes 11/16
David Amiss and Anthony Ryan are teaming up with two entries today. In the first race, Tommy's Memory a first time starter that trained at Suffolk for much of the meet will make his career debut. In race five, they send out the ultra-consistent Justice T .
Laurel 11/18
On Wednesday, Charles Assimakopoulos will send out the extremely consistent Glenwood Ace . This gelding has three consecutive victories going into this race and certainly proved me wrong as the meet came to a close. I had originally thought he was the type that was always the bridesmaid but he seems to have decided he likes winning. His biggest competition may come from Rafael Ramos and Winston Thompson with the speedy and classy Irish Blast . I think the Ramos horses will offer a big value at Laurel at first because they may get overlooked by more familiar names.
Also on Wednesday at Laurel , Jon Rigattieri is sending out three starters with Dyn Panell named to ride both Veer and Lion By My Side in the seventh. It will be interested to see which one he chooses if both run. Lion By My Side is also entered for Thursday so that may answer that question.
Laurel 11/19
There are a ton of exciting things happening on Thursday. In the third race, a trio of talented two-year-old fillies face off for two of the leading Suffolk Downs trainers. Rafael Ramos will send out the highly-regarded Uvada and though her two starts since breaking her maiden were dull, they did come against males and she may benefit from being back against her own gender. John Rigattieri sends out a tough entry of Revere Beach Babe and Runinthefastlane , both impressive maiden winners. Carlos Quinones , a young jockey who did exceptionally well in his first season at Suffolk , will be aboard Runinthefastlane while Dyn Panell is with Revere Beach Babe. Both jockeys do very, very well for this barn.
Also on Thursday, Mount Wilton will try to make it four in a row. This gelding is by Graeme Hall out of a mare named Eastlynne and, in one of my favorite days of the meet, both he and his full sister East Coaster both won races at Suffolk . Graeme Hall is one of my all-time favorites and I am so pleased he has turned out to be such a successful, versatile stallion.
Aqueduct 11/19
Yet Again is back in the entries and she looks to be very competitive in the Love Is Eternal Stakes for Karl Grusmark and 2009 leading rider Orlando Bocachica . She is a half sister to New England champion Carlow .
Hawthorne 11/19
True Jazz is back in the entries on Thursday in an attempt to make amends after a disastrous start blew her chances last time for Odin Londono, Jr. . Her form is pretty inconsistent but she is one that I really like and root for.
Also on Wednesday at Hawthorne , Londono is sending out Majestic Bill and Lusty King .
Calder 11/19
Our Sun and Nana's Appeal are both back in for Marcus Vitali after being scratched out of their most recent starts.
Of course, of all of these entries, the one that matters most to be is What a Trippi in the second at Finger Lakes on Tuesday. Maybe this Christmas he will be under the tree?
Have a great day everyone! Feel free to send me feedback at jpaquette@suffolkdowns.com
November 15, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
There are a lot of exciting entries at Laurel later in the week. I mentioned some yesterday and to not be redundant, I will recap them closer to the actual race dates.
RESULTS
Laurel 11/14
The Suffolk Downs crew was well represented on Saturday. In the second race, Halo’s Rumble was second, beaten only ½ a length despite a slow start. It was a strong effort from her for Charles Assimakopoulos and she went off at generous odds, too. In the sixth race, John Rigattieri and Dyn Panell teamed up for a good runner-up finish with Brother Joey . At one point, he had a three-length lead and though he wasn’t able to hold on, it was a game effort from him.
Aqueduct 11/14
Mr. Jolson was seventh for trainer Karl Grusmark .
Meadowlands 11/14
E Z Trail was sixth for Lloyd Lockhart .
Calder 11/14
The Marcus Vitali trained pair of Light Event and Zapper finished tenth and fourth respectively. Elegance Noted was third for Charles Fontana .
Finger Lakes 11/14
Rob the Banker was eighth for Anthony Ryan .
ENTRIES
A lot of very fun horses have popped up in the entries for Wednesday and Thursday at Laurel Park including Uvada and Mount Wilton . Those will get detailed closer to the actual race date.
Finger Lakes 11/16
Anthony Ryan and David Amiss have two interesting entries. In the first race, they have Tommy’s Memory , a three-year-old first time starter that trained steadily at Suffolk all season. Then, in the fifth race, the veteran Justice T will compete.
Have a great Sunday everyone! I’ll be spending the day switching between TVG and football!
November 14, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
No better way to spend a rainy, fall afternoon than at a racetrack. I would prefer to have live racing to amuse me today, but simulcasting will do.
The most interesting entry to appear in my inbox yesterday was for a horse that technically is no longer a local. What a Trippi , former New England champion and equine love of my life, is entered for Tuesday at Finger Lakes . My standard response for the past couple of years when asked what I want for Christmas/birthday/etc has been "What a Trippi". He is currently with trainer Mike Lecesse and I really like the way he has campaigned my little buddy.
RESULTS
Laurel 11/13
Sledge Hammer had an awkward break and finished sixth and last for Charlie Assimakopoulos . Better luck next time. Finger Lakes 11/13
An excellent ride by Jill Jellison aboard Real Gentleman for trainer Jacqueline Faulk resulted in an upset maiden win with a nice payout - $17.20! They were not quite as successful in the fourth race with the favored Dumpster Diver .
Aqueduct 11/13 Unfortunately, Risky Gamble scratched. Looking forward to her making it back into the entries.
Calder 11/13 More scratches. Both Our Sun and Nana's Appeal scratched for trainer Marcus Vitali .
Philadelphia Park 11/13 Tomorrow's Gal , two for two since returning off of a long layoff for owner Craig Stable , was a game second.
ENTRIES
Laurel 11/14
Halo's Rumble , a very exciting, very fast filly, will be in the second race for Charlie Assimakopoulos . Like I mentioned yesterday, I really like this filly but feel she is the type to either key on top or throw out entirely. Also today at Laurel , Rigattieri and Panell team up with Brother Joey in the sixth race. If the weather there is close to what we have here, I imagine there will be an off track and this guy performed very well over an off track here recently. He is making his first start at Laurel but has a ton of back class.
Laurel 11/18
Glenwood Ace , one of the most consistent local competitors, comes into this race off of three consecutive victories for Charlie Assimakopoulos . His Maryland form early in his career was excellent and this guy seems to be really improving as he gets older. He will face another very consistent local horse in that race in the Rafael Ramos trained Irish Blast . This gelding had very solid local form and is one with a ton of back class. I think it is interesting that Ramos has moved his stable to Maryland for the winter and wish him a lot of success down there. Winston Thompson , the go-to rider for the stable, seems to have moved his tack there as well.
Also at Laurel on Wednesday, Rigattieri is sending out three. Weekend Games in the first and Veer and Lion By My Side in the seventh. Dyn Panell is named on both in the seventh.
Finger Lakes 11/14
Mr. Jolson , New England's champion juvenile of 2008, is in the fourth for trainer Karl Grusmark .
Meadowlands 11/14
E Z Trail is in the fourth for Lloyd Lockhart .
Calder 11/14
Marcus Vitali is sending out Light Event in the first against the Charlie Fontana trained Elegance Noted and Zapper in the twelfth.
Have a great day everyone!
November 13, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
It really feels like winter outside today! I am very jealous of all of the members of our Suffolk Downs family that are either in Florida or heading that way. I'm really looking forward to Tampa Bay Downs opening because then a lot of familiar faces will start popping back up in the entries ( Riversrunrylee I miss you!).
RESULTS
Laurel 11/12
Not a whole lot of exciting things went on yesterday. Both Little Miss Kisses and Lion By My Side both scratched for Rigattieri and Dyn Panell .
Meadowlands 11/12
Golden Gator was fifth and claimed from Florence Gemma Siravo . He now joins the barn of Juan Serey .
Calder 11/12
Targe caught a super tough field for Marcus Vitali and finished ninth.
ENTRIES
Aqueduct 11/13
Today, providing she gets in off of the also-eligible list, Risky Gamble has a major shot for trainer Joe Signore, Jr. . She has been on the board in her last three starts on the grass at Belmont and even had an upset win that returned $93.50. Her connections do a great job finding the right spot for her and again, if she gets in she is a live longshot here.
Laurel 11/13
Today, Sledge Hammer will try to make it two in a row after an upset maiden win. Blinkers coming off seemed to make all the difference in the world last time for the Charles Assimakopoulos trained son of Drewman.
Laurel 11/14
Tomorrow at Laurel , the very exciting filly Halo's Rumble will be in the second race. This filly is such a little powerhouse and a lot of fun to watch, though a word of advice to those wagering on her- she really does seem to be an all-or-nothing type.
Also tomorrow at Laurel , Rigattieri and Panell team up with Brother Joey in the sixth race. Though winless since October of 2008 and making his Laurel debut, this gelding has routinely kept company with the best local horses.
Finger Lakes 11/13
Fan-favorite local jockey Jill Jellison has two mounts for trainer Jacqueline Faulk . In race two, there is the speedy Dumpster Diver , recently second against local allowance company. In the fourth, Real Gentleman will try to break his maiden.
Calder 11/13
Two strong contenders come out today for Marcus Vitali . In the seventh race, there is Our Sun , a drop-dead gorgeous son of Stormin Fever. I really like this guy and he is extremely consistent, though he does have a tendency to hang a bit which could explain why he is still eligible for NW2L. In the eighth race, Nana's Appeal comes in fresh after having over a month off since a strong allowance win locally back in September. Also at Calder , apprentice Robert Serrano has been picking up some live mounts. This young rider won his first career race at Suffolk this fall. Charlie Fontana , a regular both locally at and Calder, has Miss Unbridled's in the first and Special Jak in the fifth today.
Have a great day everyone!
November 12, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Southern Rainbow could not have been more impressive with a nine-length victory at Laurel Park for Charlie Assimakopoulos . He paid $11, too!
Love Me Back and British Event both scratched, so I would imagine they would be popping back into the entries soon.
Today at Laurel , John Rigattieri and Dyn Panell will send out Little Miss Kisses in the fourth. These two, from two starters yesterday, were first and second, and do as well in Maryland as they do here. Little Miss Kisses is a super-game, honest filly that performed well throughout the season.
Tomorrow at Laurel , Sledge Hammer will try for a repeat performance of his maiden win.
And on Saturday, Halo’s Rumble , one of the most highly regarded three-year-old fillies at Suffolk this year, will go to post in the second race. This filly is such a physically outstanding looking individual and is brilliantly fast. She was one of my favorites to watch train in the mornings because she is such a natural athlete. Also on Saturday, Brother Joey will take on a tough field in the sixth race.
Yesterday, I mentioned True Jazz was running at Hawthorne for Odin Londono, Jr. . Unfortunately, that didn’t go very well. She stumbled badly at the start, losing her rider in the process. Hopefully she came out of it okay and we will see her in the entries again soon.
At Aqueduct , though at this point does not look likely they will draw in, certainly keep an eye out for 2009 leading rider Orlando Bocachica and Yet Again in the Sabin Stakes. Though that talented filly has never raced at Suffolk, she has local connections.
Tomorrow at Aqueduct I am certainly hoping Risky Gamble draws in for Joe Signore, Jr. . This filly has been well-spotted and has proven several times this year she is capable of gigantic efforts.
Today at the Meadowlands , the hard-knocking, blue-collar Golden Gator will compete in the first race for Florence Gemma Siravo .
And finally, at Calder , Marcus Vitali has a handful of local horses in the next couple of days. Today, the very impressive Targe is in the eighth race. Tomorrow, Our Sun , one of the most dependable local turf horses, will be in the seventh and the talented Nana’s Appeal in the eighth.
Enjoy , everyone! And keep me posted if I have missed anyone at jpaquette@suffolkdowns.com
November 11, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
With the 2009 racing season in the books, it has been only four days and I am already in some serious live racing withdrawal.
I'm going to guess I am not the only one and with that will launch my off-season project. As often as possible, I plan on blogging about the whereabouts and goings-on of our local stars, both equine and human.
Starting off at Laurel Park
Today, Charlie Assimakopoulos is sending out a loaded group, including two former New England champions. In the third race, British Event is on the also-eligible list. In the eighth and featured race, reigning champion older male Southern Rainbow looks very live and has been very successful in Maryland in the past. In the ninth race, Love Me Back looks to be a bit more of a longshot.
Tomorrow, Little Miss Kisses , one of the most consistently impressive fillies locally this year will come out for the dynamic combination of John Rigattieri and Dyn Panell . These two are as impossible to overlook in Maryland as they are at Suffolk.
On Friday, impressive local maiden winner Sledge Hammer is in the second race for the Assimakopoulos barn.
Today at Hawthorne , True Jazz tackles $6,000 claiming company in the first race. Though her form is inconsistent, she is a lovely filly and very capable if she fires. Her form showed big improvement as the meet progressed here this season and in her third start over the surface out there she could move forward.
This is just the beginning. As more trainers and jockeys start popping up in various places, I expect this to project to grow! If you have any word on what certain jockeys and trainers are up to, please send me an email at jpaquette@suffolkdowns.com
September 4, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Nijinsky Bullet, reigning New England Horse of the Year, has been retired from racing.
She came to Suffolk the same year as I did, 2006, and I have had the pleasure of watching her develop into a tremendous racehorse. Over the years, she became a favorite of mine because of both her accomplishments on the racetrack and her personality in the stall.
The national horseracing scene has Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra, two unbelievable, brilliant fillies. Smaller tracks have their stars, too.
As a three-year-old, she broke her maiden in her second local start and went on that summer hold her own against some of the better allowance mares on the grounds. Though she was competitive and obviously talented, she wasn't anything special. Yet.
When she returned to Suffolk as a four-year-old after an inconsistent season at Tampa, it was like looking at a different horse. Physically, she had blossomed over the winter and it was clear immediately she was going to be a force to be reckoned with. In her first start of the meet that year, she finished second by a head to champion Bedazzler after a terrible trip and in that race showed a level of class and tenacity she hadn't shown before. She went on to win three of her seven local starts that year and finished on the board in all of them, enough to earn her championship older mare honors for the year.
She returned in 2008 somehow even better than the year before. She kicked off her season with an authoritative win over the best mares on the grounds. After that, she had a handful of competitive efforts against the boys and on the grass, a surface she never altogether cared for. In the My Fair Lady Stakes on Independence Day, she dueled with stakes winner Salty Response and somehow pulled off the victory by a bare nose. The duo were over fifteen lengths clear of the rest of the field. I have two photos from that race hanging in my apartment - one is the win photo, a gift from her jockey at the time Deudis Pena-Mora. The other is a candid shot from when she was stepping into the winner's circle - her blinkers off, mud covering every inch of her face except where the blinkers were. I love the contrast between the two photos -one is every bit champion racehorse, the other just a cute photo of one of my favorite horses.
After that race, she had an easy eight-length victory over a quality group of mares. Then, in the race that would ultimately decide Horse of the Year, she tackled one of the most competitive fields of males assembled that year. She handed champion Hold on Smokey a rare defeat and cemented her status as the best horse on the grounds.
Now, here we are in 2009. She began the meet with a resounding win over the boys on opening day and looked poised for another big season. It wasn't meant to be this year. Her next three starts were dull at best and I wondered if the champ had hung up her horseshoes for good. In what would be her final start, she showed she still had the heart of a champion and ran on gamely for second despite an eventful trip.
I have spoken to her owner, Jose Acero of Aurora Springs Stable, on many occasions about how special his mare is. He has always had her best interests in mind and he and his trainer Rafael Ramos, have always done what is right by their horses. I know he is as excited as I am about her new career as a broodmare.
I can't wait to find out who she will be bred to and hope someday I get to talk about her babies on the track here.
June 12, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
I can't believe how quickly the first month of the meet went. It seems like just yesterday that it was Opening Day and now the Triple Crown is in the history books and we are approaching mid-June (though it certainly doesn't seem it with all of this rain).
There have been quite a few horses, some new to Suffolk Downs and some not, who have really stood out and impressed me this year. Here is my "Horses to Watch" list.
Bridled Quest has a million dollar pedigree, being a half brother to multiple G1 winner Heritage of Gold and by Unbridled's Song, one of the more popular stallions. On paper, I was very interested in seeing this guy but it was in person that he really blew me away. I am not normally a fan of offspring of Unbridled's Song (I find many of them too tall and delicate looking for my taste) but this horse is a handsome, sturdy-looking fellow. He easily dispatched of a talented field of older males and I am anxiously awaiting his next trip to the races. This horse endeared himself further when I popped into the barn to take some photos of him for our Facebook - he has personality for days.
Dadsfourwheeldrive finally proved me right last week. He debuted here last year as a three-year-old and was extremely impressive physically. He looked good breaking his maiden and then always seemed like he was on the verge of that big, breakthrough victory. It didn't happen last year but he returned to Suffolk looking even bigger and better than before. And this time, there was a new plan - grass! He ran well in his turf debut and followed that up with a smashing allowance win. I had faith in this guy and I really like being right.
Ruflirtingwithme is an unraced three-year-old filly trained by Joe Signore, Jr. that is preparing for her racing debut. This filly fascinates me. She was schooling in the paddock one racing afternoon and she was such a physical standout, all eyes were on her instead of the horses in the paddock actually racing that day. I was so curious, I found out her name and looked up her pedigree. A little interesting, nothing extraordinary. Her sire has been successful from an extremely limited crop of runners (4 to race, 3 to win). So, my next step was to watch her on the track. I found out when they were planning to send her out and went to see how she moved. This filly is just a natural athlete. She covers a lot of ground and does so effortlessly. Of course, with first time starters, you never know until they actually race, but she is a horse I am very excited about.
In My Chamber is a promising Mass-bred colt trained by Billy Lagorio. This guy is still a maiden but I think should show big improvements this year. He tried grass in his most recent start and while the experiment should hardly be called a failure, it didn't seem to be his surface of preference either. He is really an outstanding looking individual and certainly showed hints of serious talent last year.
Fondant lived up to the high praise she had been given by John Assimakopoulos prior to her local debut. This lightly raced filly could not have been any more impressive in her first race in Boston and her next race is eagerly anticipated. I think the group of fillies and mares we have right now is just unbelievably competitive. Fondant, Boken Lady, Halo's Rumble, Snow Down, Technically Wicked, Extra Fuse and of course, the champion mare Nijinsky Bullet.
Nijinsky Bullet is certainly not a new horse to watch but no list about exciting horses at Suffolk Downs would be complete without her. She is such a powerhouse of a mare and though that brilliance does not seem to translate to other tracks, I am more than happy to have her here all summer for all of us locals to enjoy. I have had the opportunity to be around some truly special horses - the kind of horses that just seem to know how good they really are - and she has that air to her.
This is just a short list. As the meet goes on, I'm sure many more horses will catch my eye. That is the best thing about my job - there's always something to be excited about.
Requiem for a Wiseguy
T.D. Thornton, Track Announcer
The press box at Suffolk Downs has had an eerie feeling of emptiness since the meet started three weeks ago. For the first time in some 30 years, a racing season got underway without Jim Bishop manning his cluttered corner desk next to the betting machine, where the corkboard is layered in decades of yellowed clippings, photographs, and abstract tidbits of salty racetrack humor.
The mood became even more somber on May 25, when word filtered through the press box that Jim died at home in his sleep after a tenacious six-month battle with pancreatic cancer. The only consolation was that the veteran turf writer and ace handicapper would no longer be suffering, and that one of the truly great guys in New England racing was at peace.
"Bish," 56, was the last link to the old-school heyday of horse racing media. A lifelong Revere resident, he started as a go-fer at Suffolk in the 1970's, back when the track's media lounge was brimming with reporters and the electric typewriter was considered cutting edge. As he acquired a cult-like following for his cryptic ability to pick winners in print, Bish patiently taught press-box basics to new generations of staffers. He underscored to college interns the importance of treating retired media members with dignity, and whenever one of the old guard would drop in, Jim made sure the gent got a place to sit, a free lunch, and a program (perhaps discreetly circled with Bish's best bet.)
Bish was a wiseguy's wiseguy, and he had the driest, blackest sense of humor I've ever encountered at the racetrack. His stark, candid wit was coupled with an imposing physical presence, and I recall being intimidated the first time I met him, at Rockingham Park in 1991. A hulking, bespectacled man (I would later learn that Bish was once a lineman on a football team that played against prison inmates), Jim said barely three sentences to me that first afternoon. But after a week or so, I learned that when Bish did speak, what came out of his mouth was either hilarious, profound, or both. For anyone fortunate enough to work with him, Bish's off-the-cuff verbal insights about the wacky world of the racetrack were reason enough to come to the races each day.
When it came to betting, Bish favored early speed and respected back class. He ended racetrack debates with an emphatic "Fuggedaboudit," and in the midst of press box chaos, could always be counted upon to utter a laconic "Don't worry 'bout nothin'." Bish refused to have his photo taken, never wore a sportcoat to work, and only grudgingly wore a tie once a year, on MassCap Day. We had to pull aside the new kids who worked in the press box to tell them if Bish growled "Get away from me," it really meant that he liked you.
Jim almost never took a vacation, and when he did, it was usually to another racetrack. In the 1990s, the press box gang began making an annual pilgrimage to Saratoga. Someone would score coveted front-row seats, but Bish thought the fancy dress code for the clubhouse boxes was ridiculous, so he opted for a spot by himself at the Jim Dandy Bar, where he could spread out his Racing Form and smoke cigarettes. Eventually, the rest of us would drift back there too. What good was a front-row spectacle if it wasn't peppered by Bish's caustic, raucous witticisms?
Starting in the 1980s, Jim worked as the Suffolk oddsmaker, provided expert selections for the Boston Globe, and later wrote the analysis for the track's expanded daily program. For a while, he was the region's Equibase chartcaller, peering intently at every race through binoculars and watching countless replays. As a Suffolk publicist, he was the guy who wrote that nice reply note and dropped a few season passes in your envelope when you wrote to the track.
Despite his gruff exterior, and in addition to his duties of dealing with the media, Bish was a true gentle giant who was at his best politely answering the daily deluge of press box calls from everyday fans. In an era when racetracks have precious few staffers to speak one-on-one with customers, Jim would patiently explain to countless elderly ladies how to make $2 show bets. Over the years, he built up quite a following of "regulars" who would phone every day, often people in veterans' homes or nursing homes. Bish's favorite was Sammy, the blind, jive-talking, old timer whose strategy was to bet every 9-to-2 shot in the morning line.
Presumably, these callers wanted racing information. Instead, Bish gave them what they really needed: Someone to talk to, a bit of his time and respect, and a reason to keep looking ahead to the next day of racing.
Support Suffolk Downs - May 7
Chip Tuttle, Chief Operating Officer
What a fantastic start to the 2009 season! Thousands of people came out for Opening Day of the live racing season last Saturday and we're looking forward to a fun, exciting summer.
For 75 years, Suffolk Downs has been a vital part of our community. Unfortunately, the economy is in poor shape, and we're not immune to its effects. One reason is that we face a lot of competition from resort-style casinos in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Now, we're not afraid of competition, it's just that we'd love to be able to have a world-class resort here as well, with all the amenities people love, including first-class restaurants and concert seating.
Expanded gaming in Massachusetts will help preserve our racetrack. Sign up now to bring our dollars home and support the future of Suffolk Downs.
In 2008, Massachusetts residents visiting resort-style casinos in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maine:
-Spent nearly $1 billion on gaming
-Generated over $200 million in revenue for their state treasuries
-Helped fuel an industry that supports 19,000 casino jobs in Connecticut
We can't afford to lose that revenue, or those jobs. It's time for Massachusetts to benefit from the gaming our residents are already doing.
Will you sign up now to show your support for expanded gaming in Massachusetts?
With your help, we can bring our dollars home.
Sincerely,
Chip Tuttle
Chief Operating Officer
Suffolk Downs
Opening Day - May 2
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
We had a dead heat, a battle of the sexes and an all over beautiful day of racing.
Opening Day was perfect.
The race for leading rider is already off to an exciting start with Winston Thompson and Orlando Bocachica each winning three to kick off the meet. New faces in town, Laurent Beaucamp and Jordano Tunon, each won a race on the card so these new jockeys could be names to watch further on in the meet.
The highlight of my day was the amazing, incomparable Nijinsky Bullet. She is an absolute superstar and a horse that New England racing fans can really get behind. I was by the rail watching the race and everyone down there was blown away by her performance. Turning for home I was getting a little worried, to be honest, then I remembered that this is a mare that simply will not lose. Southern Rainbow was game in defeat and I can't wait to see this potential rivalry continue this summer.
As for the Kentucky Derby? What a shocker. But it's the fun kind of shocker and the connections seemed to having a great time just enjoying the ride to the big day. I bet they're having even more fun now.
April 30, 2009
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
As the 2009 racing season is set to begin, I am back to blogging and back home at Suffolk Downs. I was born and raised in Massachusetts, but there is nowhere in this state that feels more "home" to me than Suffolk.
Every chance I've had in the past weeks, I've been wandering around the backside catching up with some old friends (human and equine!) and making some new ones. There are quite a few new faces this year and I look forward to getting to know them all.
The next few days are filled with deep, exciting races from Churchill Downs (Oaks! Derby! Zenyatta! Oh my!) but on Saturday, my attention will be focused here. A rivalry is being renewed in our opening day feature and I could not be more excited. Two-time champion older mare Nijinsky Bullet is back on her favorite surface and tackling the boys, most notably champion older male Southern Rainbow. These two horses met twice last year, each with one victory. It is a rivalry I hope we get to see several more times this year because when both of them are their best, they are really a joy to watch.
I have had the pleasure of visiting both horses recently and both look absolutely phenomenal. Nijinsky has a that certain attitude and swagger that the good horses always have. They have both been training very well leading up to this and it will be an exciting way to kick off the live racing season.
I was watching workouts by the rail this morning and got to chatting with John Assimakopoulos, trainer of Southern Rainbow, and he had nothing but praise for his competition but also glowed with when talking about his own star. His horse had three big wins at Laurel over the winter and seems to be getting better and better with age.
John also let me know that another champ, British Event, is nearing her return to the races as well. She is an amazing, classy mare and another I can't wait to see pop up in the entries later in the summer. Her record from last year really doesn't reflect how special she is - she caught monster out-of-towners in the stakes races and really held her own.
Below is my Kentucky Derby analysis. Enjoy and as always, questions and comments are welcome at jpaquette@suffolkdowns.com and be sure to follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jmpaquette.
With several high profile defections, the 135th Kentucky Derby got even more complicated. I still believe that Quality Road is the star of the bunch and hopefully will get his chance to shine later on in the year.
MR. HOT STUFF does only have a maiden win to his credit, but this colt made a huge leap forward in the Santa Anita Derby. Experience could be a major issue here, but trainer Eoin Harty is not the type of trainer to enter a horse for the sake of having a Kentucky Derby starter. Though it did take this colt several races to break his maiden, he is a very talented individual that does appear to be improving with each start. This will be his first start over a conventional dirt track, but his full brother Colonel John did make the synthetic to dirt switch smoothly last year, finishing a credible sixth in the 2008 Kentucky Derby and going on to take the Grade 1 Travers. Godolphin's DESERT PARTY is one of two horses making the trip from Dubai and both he and his stablemate, Regal Ransom, look primed for big efforts. Those two have been knocking heads overseas all spring and both seem to have acclimated very well to Churchill Downs. Desert Party has been one of the big buzz horses in the past week in Kentucky, largely because of his very impressive workout on Saturday which was second in time only to his stablemate's bullet of :59 1/5. This may be the strongest pair Godolphin has sent over to date. I WANT REVENGE is the very logical favorite. This colt has done everything the right way and his April 28 bullet workout was visually impressive. However, I think his combined efforts in his past two races were so big that he has to bounce eventually and he could prove to be a vulnerable favorite. PIONEEROF THE NILE is coming out for a trainer that is certainly no stranger to the Kentucky Derby winners' circle. Bob Baffert seems confident that this son of Empire Maker will make a smooth synthetic to dirt transition and this colt's workouts have indicated that, as well. He seems to be getting over the track very well and
November 8, 2008
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Today is the final day of our 2008 live racing season and, as always, I wish it could go on forever. I am terrible with goodbyes, even temporary ones, and saying goodbye to the people and the ponies never gets any easier.
I went to the barns this morning, armed with carrots, to say goodbye to my friend What a Trippi for the winter. I am convinced he knows how much I like him because, though he isn't know around the barn for exactly being a sweetheart, he is nothing but a gentlemen with me. He tolerates the kisses in exchange for carrots. He is a little, quirky oddball and funny enough, those words have been used to describe me on occasion. We "get" each other.
This meet has been an amazing one and I am sad to see it end. In addition to all of the highlights on the track such as Commentator's brilliant Mass Cap triumph, I am also so proud of what Suffolk has done off the track.
Over the course of the past several days, Suffolk Downs has been forced to act on its anti-slaughter policy. Those in charge have stepped up to the plate and made it known to the industry that our policy enacted earlier in the meet was not just lip service or a gimmick for good press - we mean business.
While it is unfortunate that ignorance and irresponsibility have led some to put our policy to the test, there are many individuals who have accepted responsibility for both themselves and others. With no motive except the good of the horses, people like Lorita Lindemann are a beacon of light on the backside of a racetrack.
Walk through Lorita's barn at Suffolk and you will see it full of horses, most of which are not her own. They are there until they are adopted or placed in a foster home and she works tirelessly to ensure that they are cared for and comfortable. It doesn't matter whether they are a stakes winner or a lifetime maiden; they all deserve to be treated with respect and care. The world would be a better place with more people like Lorita in it.
As always, any comments or questions are welcome at jpaquette@suffolkdowns.com. Thank you to everyone for a fantastic meet and I will be counting the days until the first Saturday in May!
October 26, 2008
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Yesterday, all eyes were on the world’s greatest racehorses in the Breeders’ Cup. Today, the focus shifted in a different direction. Canter New England’s third annual Suffolk Showcase was held today and though the skies were gray at first, the weather quickly turned beautiful.
These horses may not be world beaters and, due to age or wear and tear, they may not be as productive on the racetrack as they once were but their connections are dedicated to ensuring a happy ending for them. Though they may not have been destined for greatness on the racetrack, they could be wonderful as eventers, lesson ponies or just a best friend to a little girl.
The turnout was fantastic and there were many enthusiastic people looking for their next eventing champion or simply a pleasure horse. One by one, many familiar faces were brought out and paraded to potential new owners. Christmas Away, a fan favorite, looked wonderful and more than ready for a new career.
One of the best parts of today was seeing just how attached many of the trainers are to their horses and how proud they are to bring them out and show them off. Phebe Young tacked up her sweet, little mare Laced Up and rode her down, much to the appreciation of the crowd. This mare has had quite a career at Suffolk Downs, breaking her maiden in 2002 (!!) and going on to win fourteen races. At nine years old, she’s done being a racehorse and ready to make a little girl very happy. Phebe has had this horse for seven years and obviously wants the best for her friend.
One of the misconceptions about ex-racehorses is that they can be temperamental and hard to handle. Bobby Raymond proudly showed off a picture of The Mount, a handsome son of Capote, with a delighted six-year-old girl on his back. I can personally say that of all the horses I showed as a little girl, the one I had the most fun with and learned the most from was an ex-racer nicknamed Jag. He was so patient, kind and willing and I owe a lot of my ability in the saddle to him.
No trip to the backside is safe without a visit with What a Trippi. I took a picture of him with my cell phone and sent a text-message to my mother with a note “For Christmas, I want a pony.” Some things don’t change.
I was so pleased with the turnout today, not only of potential buyers but with Canter volunteers. They don’t care whether a horse is a stakes winner or a twenty plus start maiden. They just want what’s best for each horse.
Quite a few horses found homes today. Fan-favorite Ennscho is on his way to be a trail horse and live happily ever after.
I love happy endings.
As always, questions or comments are welcome at jpaquette@suffolkdowns.com. Also, be sure to check out http://www.canterusa.org/newengland/ for more information.
October 24, 2008
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
When I was younger and long before anyone was remotely interested in my opinion, I would always smuggle past performances in to class with me, sit in the back row and write lengthy analysis about the big races under the guise of note taking. This is why I can tell who won the 1997 Calder Derby (Blazing Sword, for the record) and struggle through pesky things like Algebra.
Anyhow, here are race-by-race ramblings. Enjoy.
FILLY & MARE SPRINT
Indian Blessing is the obvious one to beat here. She has been beautifully campaigned and watching her mature this year has been a treat. She has had a full campaign this year and with a win here could be a serious contender for her second Eclipse Award. Zaftig has the distinction of being one of only two fillies to hand Indian Blessing a defeat and though this filly has been sidelined since June, there is no denying her obvious talent. This is an ambitious comeback spot for this filly but that bullet work at Santa Anita last week is an encouraging sign. Ventura comes out of a game effort against the boys on the grass at Woodbine. Bobby Frankel has all the tools to have a big two days and one of his biggest guns may be this honest, and possibly overlooked, filly. She has won at this distance over a synthetic track before and her two workouts at Santa Anita both look promising. Besides, the Breeders' Cup just isn't complete for me without seeing those Juddmonte silks in the winner's circle at least once.
JUVENILE FILLY TURF
Now I make no attempt at hiding my absolute obsession with Graeme Hall, but when he retired to stud I was not entirely sure how well he was going to do. He wound up being a pleasant surprise, siring horses that have turned out to be incredibly versatile including Guadalcanal, a winner at a mile and a half on the grass. That brings me to Emmy Darling . She is going to be a big price, and rightfully so as she has regressed off the promise she showed over the summer. No excuses in the Del Mar Debutante. I do think the switch to grass is an interesting one and what better day that Breeders' Cup to look for a total bomb? Freedom Rings is another filly in this race that interests me. Though she is still a maiden, she showed a good deal of professionalism in the G3 at Belmont and I just have a world of respect for trainer David Donk, especially with turfers. Heart Shaped is a half sister to G1 winning juvenile, A P Valentine and is part of the strong group representing trainer Aidan O'Brien. This filly has all the tools and the pedigree to be a big success.
JUVENILE FILLIES
Persistently has left a positive impression in all four of her starts and she was compromised by a colorful trip behind the sensational Sky Diva in the Frizette. She should get the desired pace scenario here but traffic is always a concern with her running style in a field this size. Stardom Bound has home-track advantage here and the buzz around this filly has been about as big as she is. She is another deep closer so the same apprehension with the Phipps filly applies but she has been nothing but dominating on the West Coast. Pursuit of Glory has the pedigree for Breeders' Cup success. Her granddam is the incomparable Serena's Song, who's duel with Flanders in the 1994 Juvenile Fillies was one for the record books.
FILLY AND MARE TURF
Wait a While is just so hard not to like. This mare has been well-campaigned throughout her career and with her tactical speed, she should get the ideal trip. It also doesn't hurt that she is a perfect three for three on the Santa Anita turf. Halfway to Heaven seems to be the strongest of a very tough group of European invaders in this spot. She is a three-time Group 1 winner this season and two of her three losses this year (the third being to superstar Zarkava) did come over yielding courses. Folk Opera is three-for-three at this distance and while I have some questions about several fillies wanting to go this far (including possible favorite Forever Together ) there are no questions that this filly will run all day. Her win at Woodbine was sharp and figures to set her up well for a big effort.
LADIES' CLASSIC
Zenyatta has been nothing short of sensational in all eight starts and this is her race to lose. She is the star of the show and she knows it, shown by her notorious attitude both in the paddock and on track. Regardless of her antics, she turns it on effortlessly in a race and she proved in the spring she can win out of California. I know that doesn't have much bearing on this race but it adds to her storied resume. Ginger Punch is the reigning champion and has shown this year not only a champion's talent, but a champion's heart. She hates to lose and though Zenyatta is all sorts of brilliant, this mare will give everything she has to deny her the championship. Music Note is the only three-year-old filly in the race. She defeated a hopelessly overmatched field in the Gazelle last out but this filly is obviously special and will represent the sophomores well. It is worth nothing that her stablemate Cocoa Beach has been generating a ton of buzz after that October 18 bullet and her record (10 starts, 8-1-1) is hardly one to overlook.
MARATHON
Sixties Icon looms very tough in this spot as he is a true distance horse. 1 1/2 miles is his ideal distance and though this is his first start on a surface other than turf, he has given no indication he shouldn't adapt. He is apparently done most of his training over Polytrack and handled it well. Muhannak is another European invader, this one with back to back wins over the Polytrack overseas. His current form is strong and he is a proven commodity at this distance as well. Cedar Mountain has been on the board in all four US tries on the turf, though he did win over the polytrack in Great Britain. He has been on the shelf since July but has run well off a layoff in the past.
Of course, there is a giant void in this race without Evening Attire, even though the odds of him going west were slim. What a cool horse.
TURF SPRINT
Remember Diabolical ? He's been a stakes horse in the US since he was a juvenile and since being purchased by Godolphin has gone on to reestablish himself as a formidable opponent on the turf as well. I think he's an interesting horse in this spot and his last race in Europe was his best yet. Fleeting Spirit is one of two fillies taking on the boys in this spot but she, though lightly raced, has flashed outright brilliance in several of her victories. She held her own against some very tough European competition and may fly under the radar here. Mr. Nightlinger is going to have some company out front but it is hard to discount his five-race win streak and just how good he has been since switching to the grass.
MILE
Goldikova is the leading lady of this race, with a pair of Group 1 wins under her belt against some of the best of Europe. She also ran into superstar Zarkava earlier in the year with a respectable second and third. The other mare in this race may pose a big threat as well. Precious Kitten is the accomplished half sister to the remarkable Kitten's Joy. Her front-running effort at Keeneland was decent but she did come up slightly short. It was her first start back off a layoff so she gets the benefit of the doubt that she will come in sharper today. Whatsthescript has flourished since switching barns and his last three efforts make him a real contender. He is proven over this particular turf course and that alone could work in his favor today and he does seem to be training forwardly and getting good at the right time.
DIRT MILE
The Dirt Mile, won by Corinthian in its inaugural running last year, has attracted a deep group of horses. This field of twelve, headlined by synthetic specialist Well Armed , looks to be no means be the walkover it was last year. While Well Armed has been an absolute win machine this year and appears to be as consistent and game as you could ask for (loved how hard he fought in the Pacific Classic), there are several options in this spot that may offer a better price. Lewis Michael has been the underachieving older brother of champion and Breeders' Cup juvenile winner Dreaming of Anna and is campaigned by the same connections. (Those connections, as a side note, also campaigned one of my all-time favorite fillies, Silver Maiden, and her halter plate has been proudly attached to my key-ring since I got my license). This horse has struggled to really find his niche and a mile on a synthetic track seems perfect for him. His win at Del Mar may have been a breakthrough race for him and he could be sitting on a career best race. Though I am admittedly not much of a numbers girl, his Beyer numbers are more than competitive with this field. Another interesting horse in this field is Albertus Maximus. This colt has shown notable improvement in each start since joining the Vladimir Cerin stable and could capitalize on a possible pace collapse.
JUVENILE
Square Eddie looked very strong at Keeneland in his US debut and figures to continue to improve off of that effort as he apparently was no where near cranked to 100% for it. In the 2004 Juvenile, one of the two tickets I cashed that day was with Wilko, also owned by J. Paul Reddam. Midshipman has been highly regarded since his maiden win and ran a credible race in the Norfolk. He showed last out this distance is within his grasp and the distance is a big question mark for several horses in this race. It is also worth keeping in mind that this is his home track and he has been training very well leading up to this race. Bushranger is one of the more intriguing horses in this race and has back to back Group 1 wins to his credit. He is obviously very talented and the questions with him will be the distance and the surface.
JUVENILE TURF
Bittel Road has a fantastic turn of foot and has shown great acceleration in his past two races. A son of the versatile sire Stormy Atlantic, he could be one of Pletcher's biggest shots to take home a trophy. Westphalia is a logical threat after his Group 2 win last out. The O'Brien barn is loaded as usual this year and this colt looks very promising. Skipadate has played the bridesmaid in his last two, just narrowly losing to Bittel Road and the interesting Grand Adventure . I actually really like the Skip Away babies on the grass and though I am not wild about his October 19 workout, he has shown enough ability and heart to make him an upset candidate.
SPRINT
I have been touting First Defence enthusiastically since I opened my e-mail to see that eye-popping workout appear in my stablemail. I've thought really highly of this colt throughout his career and was also a big fan of his dam, Honest Lady, second in this race in 2000. His last race was simply too atrocious to be true and though he will need his best effort for this one, he may be primed for it. In Summation is a proven force over synthetic surfaces and his last three efforts have all been solid. His biggest strength in this spot is his ability to come from off the pace as it looks like Black Seventeen, Fabulous Strike, Fatal Bullet and possibly others may slug it out on the front end. There is no arguing that Midnight Lute is brilliantly fast. His win in the Sprint last year was one of the more visually impressive of the day. He has had only two starts since then, neither of them showing quite the imposing presence he possessed in 2007. However, his workouts have been sensational leading up to this race and he is the reigning champion.
TURF
I'll come out and say it, I just adore Better Talk Now . What a fabulous old warhorse. I just think it is incredible that here it is, 2008, and I'm writing about the same horse that won in 2004.He and Red Rocks bailed me out on Breeders' Cup day in 2006 and he made my day in 2004. He may not be quite the horse he was, but he is capable of tapping into that magic one more time. Red Rocks looked very strong defeating Better Talk Now and the great Curlin in July. He's been on the shelf since but has been working steadily and has fired very well off a layoff before. Fitness isn't the question and he is an big contender in his third Breeders' Cup appearance. Soldier of Fortune has been keeping company with Europe's best and should be a major player in this race. The big question mark with the European shippers is how they handle the trip and the West Coast temperature.
CLASSIC
The defection of Big Brown may have dampened the Classic for some, but in my mind the big star was always Curlin. He has had his share of critics, but to quote the Patriot's star, Randy Moss, "...all you haters, keep hatin'!" This magnificent horse has been an absolute treat to watch for the past two seasons. He has matured, both physically and professionally, into one of the greatest stars of this generation. I remember working as a teller at Rockingham Park and looking up just as he was turning for home in his maiden win and being blown away. He has danced every dance and as a racing fan, it has been a pleasure to sit back and enjoy the ride. Casino Drive is the biggest question mark of the day. Is he a freak? Or, is he another nice horse in way over his head? One thing is clear and that is his prep race on October 12 was visually impressive. He was never asked and never even came close to extending himself. He'll have to extend himself against this group and we'll see what he's really made of. Now if there was ever a horse bred for Breeders' Cup success, that would be Champs Elysees. His dam, Hasili, has produced Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf champions Banks Hill and Intercontinental, along with G1 winners Dansili, Heat Haze and Cacique. He is an accomplished grass horse but also has had one of his best efforts in this country over the synthetic track at Santa Anita in March. Nice workout on October 20, as well.
To anyone that read this far, thank you! As always, questions and comments are more than welcome at jpaquette@suffolkdowns.com Make sure to check out Pat Lamberty's analysis below.
Breeders' Cup Friday
Pat Lamberty
FM Sprint
Magnificence (20/1) won both of her races as a three-year-old in 2007 very impressively. She looks to be rounding back into form for this race, although she could be better on conventional dirt compared with synthetic surfaces. Nonetheless, she should get a nice pace setup as this race is loaded with speed and she does her best running from a tactical position. Zaftig (8/1) looks to be in an ambitious spot now making her first start since winning the Acorn over Indian Blessing on Belmont Stakes Day in June. She has never run over a synthetic surface, but worked well at Santa Anita last week and Jimmy Jerkens would not bring her all the way to California unless he thought she was coming up to the race in tremendous form. Indian Blessing (2/1) has been kept on the East Coast for the majority of her 2008 campaign, so one must question if Baffert thinks she is more suited for conventional dirt. She will get pressured on the lead in the early stages of this race and is the horse to beat, but a tough one to support in the win spot at what is expected to be a short price.
FM Juvenile Turf
Heart Shape (15/1) will have to overcome a very difficult outside post, but she is trained by Europe’s most successful trainer Aidan O’ Brien, a master at getting young horses to develop early. This Storm Cat filly is making her first start beyond six-furlongs, but she has looked like a horse that will benefit from a longer trip. Live at a big price. Consequence (8/1) carries the famed Phipps colors for trainer Shug McGaughey. This filly was beaten as the favorite in her last race, but she had a wide trip and might have been the best horse in the race. Don’t think we have seen her best and the barn is known for getting horses to improve with each start. Saucy Evening (9/2) broke her maiden on the turf and she has shown the ability to quicken nicely in her races. The distance does not look to be an issue and she now adds blinkers for Graham Motion, a respected turf conditioner.
Juvenile Fillies
Stardom Bound (2/1) has been a true professional in all four of her career races, displaying the ability to rate off the pace before coming with a solid run through the stretch. Her running style and affinity for the racing surface at Santa Anita makes her the horse to beat in a field where the other leading contenders still look questionable. Sky Diva (7/2) has won both of her career races in untested fashion and her victory in the Frizette was done with little urging. Being by Sky Mesa from an Unbridled mare, she could very well have more depth and looks a solid contender for the win. Persistently (15/1) was forced to alter course multiple times in her prep race and that certainly compromised her chances. She seems like a horse that will appreciate the added distance and trainer Shug McGaughey is the most successful trainer of fillies in the history of the Breeders’ Cup.
FM Turf
Halfway to Heaven (4/1) has won three Group I races in Europe this season, including a victory in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood in England going this distance of 1 ¼ miles. This three-year-old filly is a classic winner overseas and she gave a scare to Zarkava in May when finishing just 3 ½ lengths behind one of the best horses seen ever in Europe. Folk Opera (10/1) could get an uncontested lead in this race and she was an impressive winner of the prestigious EP Taylor three weeks ago at Woodbine. This filly has also faced the best in the world and she is confirmed at this distance. Wait A While (3/1) is undefeated from three races over the Santa Anita turf course, but she has not faced company this tough in those races.
Distaff
Zenyatta (3/5) is undefeated from nine races in her career and she gets the advantage of racing in her base of Southern California. She continues to train well and is proven over the ProRide surface at Santa Anita. She looks to be more talented than the challengers and will be tough to beat as the shortest horse on the Friday Breeders’ Cup program. Music Note (4/1) is one of the leading three-year-old fillies in what is a very deep division this season. Her only loss from five starts this year came going 1 ¼ miles in Alabama, which may be a touch beyond her ideal distance. Cocoa Beach (8/1) has been impressive winning both of her races since coming to North America from Dubai. She defeated Ginger Punch in her most recent start looks to be coming into this race in improving form.
October 18, 2008
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Today was the second of our two DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship qualifying tournaments. These contests are always a lot of fun, not only for the participants but for me as well. I really look forward to them because they give me a chance to essentially hang out and talk horses with a group of knowledgeable handicappers. There are usually quite a few familiar faces as the same people come back time after time, all vying for the top spots and a trip to Vegas.
The tournament started off with a bang when Stormy's Smile pulled a huge upset in New York at 75-1. Only four people were smiling after that race and after that, the contest was really for 5th-10th place and of course, bragging rights. Mark Lambley was one of the top four and he remained on top, winning the qualifying spot with a bankroll of $254.40.
The big longshot may have deflated a few participants but for the most part, the mood remained upbeat throughout the day. Eric Torres, a regular that always seems to have a good time, enjoyed his best placing today and wound up fifth. He seemed genuinely excited about that placing and his enthusiasm was contagious.
These tournaments are a lot of fun for everyone, both experienced handicappers and those just starting out. As the 75-1 bomb proved, both the best and worst part about horse racing is the sheer unpredictability of it.
The local racing today certainly wasn't lacking, either. You want to see a memorable racehorse? Watch a replay of any of Little Tara's many wins. She took on the boys today and this little mare is just such a joy to watch. She is pocket-sized for one thing and when she runs, she carries her tail so high she is impossible to miss. Though she is small in stature, her heart is as big as they come.
Jockey Cliff Dooley had quite a day as well. Not only did he ride a Little Tara to a big victory, his friend Bankin Cash gave everything he had to hold off the fabulous old gelding Sing Me Back Home. Those two horses, joined in the trifecta by a back-in-form That's the Fact Jack, are a wonderful group of honest, blue-collar runners. Racing needs more of them.
As always, comments or questions are more than welcome at jpaquette@suffolkdowns.com
October 9, 2008
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
"What a cool horse. He always comes through for me."
That was Cliff Dooley after he rode Bankin Cash to victory in Tuesday's sixth race. Bankin Cash may not be a champion or a world-beater, but he is an honest, blue-collar type of racehorse and made my day to see a jockey so fond (and appreciative) of his mount.
We have an interesting jockey colony at Suffolk Downs. Before I came here, I viewed jockeys from a statistical standpoint only. I admired their athletic achievements, praised or criticized certain rides and respected the demanding nature of their sport. But, that was it.
In the past three years, I've really gotten to know our local jockeys as people and that has added a whole new dimension to the sport for me. As the meet is starting to wind to a close, the question most frequently asked throughout the day is "Where do you go next?" I stay locally, but the majority of the horsemen and jockeys scatter throughout the country. I used to only keep tabs on where my favorite horses wound up when the meet ended, but now I scan entries and results to keep an eye on the trainers and jockeys as well.
The Suffolk jockey colony also has a fascinating mix of both younger jockeys and seasoned veterans. We've gotten to see some very promising young riders get their feet wet here at Suffolk in the past few years and I think they really benefit from being able to learn from the likes of Winston Thompson, David Amiss and Tammi Piermarini.
Tammi was forced to miss some time this year due to an injury, but she was back in the saddle as quickly as possible. I remember speaking to her several days after the injury over the summer and she was already raring to get back on the track. She is one of the fiercest competitors around and always impossible to count out, as evidenced by the 40-1 score aboard Act Won on Monday.
One young rider at Suffolk I am continually impressed with is Deudis Pena-Mora. He rides one of my favorite local stars, Nijinsky Bullet, and when he speaks about her, his entire face lights up. Speaking of the lovely Mrs. Bullet, she's back in action this Saturday and I am very excited.
I have gotten some questions about whether or not we will be adding a "comments" feature to this blog. Some fun changes are in the works, but for now feel free to e-mail me at jpaquette@suffolkdowns.com with any questions or comments.
October 2, 2008
Visiting British track announcer MARK JOHNSON takes a look at Sunday's Prix de l'Arc De Triomphe (Gr1) at Longchamp
This year's Prix de l'Arc (due off at 10.40 am Eastern and shown live here at Suffolk Downs when simulcast wagering will be available) is an outstanding clash of both the generations and the sexes.
Favorite will be the only filly in the 17 strong line-up, the Aga Khan's brilliant 3-y-o ZARKAVA. Last month she extended her unbeaten career record to six races (including four Grade 1 events) when taking the Prix Vermeille (Gr1) over this exact course and distance.
She is, without doubt, one of the very best fillies we have seen in Europe for many years but that doesn't make her the predicted short priced "good thing" many will have you believe. She has never raced against the boys before, the field she beat in the Vermeille was not a stellar one and, most worryingly, she was very slow to jump from the gates last time.
Like so many top class horses she knows she is good and, by all accounts from France, ZARKAVA is now being something of a madam at home on the gallops - either refusing to jump off in her work or working in a lackluster fashion.
In the Vermeille she got away with blowing the beginning, sweeping wide into the straight and deep closing in the final quarter mile. Against this Arc opposite she cannot afford that luxury. If she wins racing worldwide will be heralding one of the greats but she is not a workingman's price at the betting windows.
I was lucky enough to call home DUKE OF MARMALADE in the International Stakes (Gr1) at Newmarket in August - his fifth straight Grade 1 win this year - and as officially the top rated turf horse currently racing worldwide he must have every chance. However it has already been a tremendous training effort by Aidan O'Brien to keep this horse winning in the top grade all season and this may be a race too far. He certainly was not as devastating when winning at Newmarket as he had been earlier in his campaign.
Many European observers believe that Aidan O'Brien's best chance (he has four runners in all) comes in the shape of last year's fifth SOLDIER OF FORTUNE who appears to have been specifically trained for this race. Winner of the Coronation Cup (Gr1) at Epsom on his comeback in June, his only subsequent start came when runner-up behind his old adversary YOUMZAIN (last year's Arc runner-up and runner-up in the Coronation Cup) in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Gr1). He certainly must be on everyone's short list.
Other older horses to consider include Prix Foy (Gr2) winner ZAMBEZI SUN and the horse he narrowly beat in that Longchamp race SCHIAPARELLI. The latter is the only Godolphin runner in the race and is therefore the mount of Frankie Dettori.
Only four of the 17 runners are 3 year-olds but I am still looking to the classic generation to lift this year's prize. I have been very taken by the Prix du Jockey-Club (Gr1 - the French Derby) and Prix Neil (Gr2) winner VISION D'ETAT all year and although he never wins his races by big margins (it was just a nose last time) he is a real street fighter.
Like ZARKAVA he is likely to come from off the pace but, unlike his female rival, he has the physical presence to get himself out of trouble. The fact he is trained by a little know conditioner (even in Europe) Eric Libaud means he is a remarkably big price for an unbeaten, Derby winning, six from six career horse.
Quite simply this year's Arc is a high class and intriguing European Fall Championship. The winner, who ever he is she may be, will quite rightly be heralded as a star.
Picks: 1st VISION D'ETAT 2nd SOLDIER OF FORTUNE 3rd ZARKAVA
October 2, 2008
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
Yesterday, I got to spend the day with Angel Cordero, Jr., Pat Day and Laffit Pincay, Jr. They were in town to kick off the Breeders' Cup Legends Tour and my job was to essentially hang out with three of racing's biggest stars all day. My job is rough, isn't it?
It was truly an honor to spend the day with these men and listen to them reminisce about the times they spend riding some of the best horses in history. All three have such different personalities but it is obvious there is a deep mutual respect and camaraderie amongst them.
I brought them down to the jock's room and they were greeted with a warm reception. There is a bond among jockeys, regardless of the level at which they compete. No one understands the daily routines and struggles of a jockey better than these three men.
I never imagined that I would be sitting in the Turf Club having lunch with three of the greatest jockeys of all time. As I sat there, talking with Laffit about weight-lifting, nutrition and our mutual habit of putting Splenda on everything, I was reminded yet again how fortunate I am to be a part of the greatest sport in the world.
September 20, 2008
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
What a day.
Commentator was a true star.
Standing by the rail as they were loading into the gate before the big race, I was blown away by the sea of people and the excitement in the air.
Everyone was there to see a star, and they certainly saw one when Commentator rolled home looking like the two-time Grade 1 winner that he is.
One of the highlights of the day for me came when Palmer's Approach, bred by Nick Zito's wife Kim, broke his maiden in a big way. Kim's enthusiasm was infectious. It made my day to see a woman that is around the best horses in the world on a daily basis as excited by a maiden winner as she would be by a Classic winner. Her love of the horse and the sport is obvious from miles away.
The big race was everything a big race should be. He romped and, back in the winner's circle, he looked like he could do it again.
Walking back to the press box, I stopped to chat with one of my favorite regulars.
He summed it up better than I can.
"See? There's life here at Suffolk Downs. This track has so much going for it."
September 19, 2008
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
There is no better cure for the common cold than visiting some high quality horses first thing in the morning.
As my luck would have it, I have an ill-timed cold and have felt less than 100% the past couple of days. The mix of the crisp almost-autumn air and the increasing excitement wound up being the best possible medicine this morning.
Two of the big horses for the Mass Cap, Dr. Pleasure and Cuba, are already on the grounds and I went to pay them a visit.
Dr. Pleasure, accompanied by the always-friendly Donna Ward, was as sharp as could be this morning. He stuck his head out and once he realized no one had anything he wanted, he was content to go back into his stall and relax. I was a big fan of his mother, Beautiful Pleasure, so it's a treat for me to see him here for the second year in a row.
Michelle was also at the barn to get some photos of the big horses and eventually we managed to coax Dr. Pleasure out with peppermints. He's a very clever horse and has personality for days.
Cuba, several stalls down the shed row, perked up immediately when he noticed Michelle's camera. He was ready for his big close up and hammed it up for us.
Commentator will be arriving later today. I'm sure I'll have more to report then.
September 18, 2008
Jessica Paquette
Jessica Paquette, Racing AnalystThe field is set for this weekend's Mass Cap and though it may not be a massive field, there is no lack of star quality.
Commentator is a brilliant racehorse and, unlike so many of high profile horses of the past few years, he has been a star for years. At seven years old, he is as good, if not better, than he has ever been.
His triumph over Saint Liam in the 2005 Whitney was one of the most stirring performances of the year. He showed that day that there was more to him than just blistering speed - he had heart, too. There was no heart-pounding stretch battle in this year's installment of the Whitney. Commentator was never tested and put on a dazzling front-running show for the fans at the Spa that day.
Hats off to Tracy Farmer and Nick Zito for the patience and sportsmanship they have shown with this horse. As a racing fan, it is a rare pleasure to get to see the same horses competing at the highest level year after year.
I don't believe it is simply because he is a gelding that he has remained in training. Tracy Farmer and Nick Zito campaigned another high-profile horse that did have value at stud, Albert the Great, past his three-year-old season.
One of my fondest memories in racing goes back to the Breeders' Cup Classic in 2001. I was at Belmont Park with a group of my girlfriends and we thought that it would be fun to make signs for our favorite horses.
My sign? "Albert (is still) the Great".
And so is Commentator.
September 17, 2008
Jessica Paquette
Jessica Paquette, Racing AnalystOne of the most amazing parts about Mass Cap week is all of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes in preparation for our biggest day.
For the past week, everyone at the racetrack has been working around the clock to get everything just right for the big day. Walking across the catwalk to the press box several mornings ago, I was blown away by the flurry of activity going on below me. It was extremely early in the morning and all the track maintenance guys looked as if they had already been busy for hours. Flowers were being planted, fresh coats of paint applied and all of the odds and ends were being perfected.
The racing office also have been working hard to get the best possible fields assembled for the day. Commentator is the obvious star of the show, with his illustrious record and dazzling speed but the entire card looks to be a remarkable one. I got to bring out my inner Vanna White for the post position luncheon and was pleased to see that though Commentator looks tough, there may be a David in the field ready to take on Goliath.
The highlight of the undercard for me is Nijinsky Bullet in the Drumtop Stakes. She is our local heroine and I believe she will represent the local horses well against some very tough stock coming in. This is her racetrack and I think she knows it.
Horses start arriving tomorrow. I will be making a trek to visit and will report back.
August 31, 2008
Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst
It is an exciting time to be a racing fan in New England.
This year, New England racing fans have gotten to see horses ship into Suffolk Downs from some of the premier racing outfits in the country. High profile trainers like Nick Zito and Christophe Clement have been sending horses to race not only in our big events but in our maiden races and claiming races as well.
On Saturday, racing fans were treated to a horse with an impressive pedigree and an even more impressive $9.7 million dollar price tag. Jalil, an impeccably bred son of Storm Cat, made his United States debut in Saturday's $50,000 for Godolphin Stables.
When he walked into the paddock, all eyes were on him. I was standing in the middle of the paddock and looked around for a moment and was blown away but how many people were pressed against the glass looking into the paddock from inside. Everyone wanted to see what a nearly ten-million dollar horse looked like and on looks, he did not disappoint.
Though Jalil did not deliver in the race, his United States debut was hardly a flop. He boasts an impressive grass pedigree and we may see him down the line in some major races on both the lawn or synthetic track.
With all the buzz surrounding Jalil, three-time Canadian champion Judith's Wild Rush flew under the radar. I have followed this fantastic horse since he was a juvenile so I was very excited to see him come race at my home track. After the race, jockey Orlando Bocachica described him as "a pro" and he certainly is.
This seven-year-old has made fifty three starts and with his determined win in the Waquoit Stakes yesterday is now racing's newest millionaire. Hats off to a game, blue-collar competitor that to me is the epitome of what a racehorse should be.
Another horse that deserves some recognition is Riversrunrylee. This gelding was the very definition of heart yesterday and is one horse that never seems to get the credit he deserves. After setting the pace yesterday, he dug in and battled back against the big gray and though he couldn't pull the upset, he really impressed me with how hard he tries.
The highlight of the day for me, however, came in the sixth race. Nijinsky Bullet, New England's reigning champion mare, took on the boys and established herself as the best horse on the grounds.
She is the perfect example of what amazing things time and patience can do for a horse. I remember her as a three-year-old here in 2006 and though she was a nice, talented filly she was just that - nice. Nice is not a word to describe her anymore. Spectacular, brilliant, amazing seem better fitting now.
I went to the barn this morning with carrots in tow to congratulate her on a job well done. Her efforts yesterday seem to have taken little out of her- she was bright eyed, energetic and determined to get every last carrot I had. When I was younger and would have certain favorite racehorses, for the most part they were a world away. I feel so blessed that now when I have favorites, they are just a five-minute walk away and I can go give them kisses and carrots whenever I please.
The Mass Cap is now just a few weeks away. We got a preview as to just how amazing that day is going to be yesterday.
August 11, 2008
Jessica Paquette
Jessica Paquette, Racing AnalystThere is a certain fairy-tale element to the racetrack. Even after being around racing for years now, I still view it at times with the eyes of a child. I fall hopelessly in love with these big creatures and the whole racing world still holds magic to me. There are heroes and villains and each day at the track a whole new story unfolds.
This Sunday was one of our "Family Fun Days" at the track and I was thrilled to see so many children around. There was one little girl in particular who was standing by the paddock fence and I recognized the look in her eyes - she was totally in awe of the horses and the whole sport. It was her first day at the track and I'm guessing it will not be her last.
I always joke that I got hooked on racing when I was a kid because one day my mom took me to the track and after that I refused to leave. I remember being probably no more than five years old at Rockingham Park and falling in love with horses and this sport. That led to riding lessons and horse shows, but I was always led back to the racetrack.
I remember sitting in front of my television watching Silver Charm win the Kentucky Derby in 1997 and wanting so badly to be a part of that magical, exciting world. Every morning as I pull into the Suffolk parking lot I am reminded that this all became possible because of the vision of Kids to the Cup founder, Trudy McCaffery, a woman who believed that youth is the future of this sport. I learned a lot from Trudy over the years, and would love to continue her mission to encourage young people in this sport.
May 23, 2008
Jessica Paquette
Jessica Paquette, Racing AnalystWhen I was younger, my best friend and I would find our way onto the backside of Belmont Park and visit our favorite horses. It was then that I fell in love with the backside- it is a world within itself and, especially in the mornings, abuzz with activity.
I went to the Suffolk barns this morning with a mission. Several days ago, while sitting in the press box watching morning workouts, I saw a little chestnut zoom on by and I recognized her immediately as Awesome Chic. It isn't every day that you look out the window and see a graded stakes filly galloping past. Needless to say, I was very excited to pay her a visit. I must admit that my shoe choice was a poor one today. Five-inch red stilettos have no place in a barn and got several laughs as I teetered by.
She looks fantastic. When I got to her stall, she was comfortably lying down and just could not be bothered to stand up and say hello. She knows just how special she is. I also was curious about what is next for her. She will be spending most of the summer here at Suffolk and will be prepping for the big filly stakes at Saratoga.
Though she didn't fare as well as we all had hoped in the Kentucky Oaks, I was told that she simply did not handle the track that day. Churchill Downs is notorious for being a love it or hate it sort of racetrack and apparently she fell in the latter category. What really matters is that she came home sound and will be ready to tackle the big girls again at the Spa.
A trip to the backside isn't complete without a visit with my buddy What a Trippi. I am shamelessly in love with this gelding and was thrilled to get to hang out with him for a little while. Though he isn't what one would call a "people person", he was on his best behavior today and I have decided that he likes me as much as I like him. He is making his seasonal debut on Monday in the ultra-competitive $50,000 Rudy Baez Stakes and there will be no one cheering louder.
May 17, 2008
Jessica Paquette
Jessica Paquette, Racing AnalystLet's start by making something clear - I am not a morning person. That being said, it takes something big to get me out of bed at the crack of dawn. It takes something even bigger to get me happily out of bed that early.
I find no better way to start my day than getting to the track around 7am and sitting up in the press box, coffee in hand, watching morning workouts. To me, that is my favorite part of the racetrack. I've had the pleasure of watching morning workouts at Santa Anita, Gulfstream, Calder, Belmont and Saratoga but my favorite track to watch them at is Suffolk Downs.
There is a quiet serenity to the morning workouts. And while they do not have the race day excitement, there is a different sort of intensity to them. You see the young horses, bouncing all around the track, feeling good and just taking in all of the new sights and sounds. You also see the old pros, going about their morning business. Watching a seasoned horse breeze in the morning is amazing. There is no race day scenario pushing them, no horse on their outside fueling that competitive fire. The competition is with themselves and you can really see it- their ears are pinned and they are putting forth 100% effort because they simply enjoy running.
As an athlete myself, I find another sort of appreciation for morning workouts. The day of the race is of course when all the hard work pays off. A race, to me, isn't always won on that day. Sometimes it is won through the early mornings and the rigorous training leading up to that point.
May 10, 2008
Jessica Paquette
Jessica Paquette, Racing AnalystThere are small things about the racetrack that make me really happy. Little things that go unnoticed to the casual observer but give me those "I can't believe I get paid to be here" moments.
I was sitting by the paddock, watching the horses come in for an early race on the card when I looked over to see a groom having a full-blown conversation with his horse. He was clearly giving his charge a pep talk and I overheard things along the lines of "You can do it today!" I smiled to myself at the small gesture that spoke volumes. After the race, the horse didn't run very well but on the walk back, I saw that same groom affectionately patting his neck. It isn't always about winning.
The horses are the stars of the show here. Flirt for Fame, a Massachusetts-bred, rolled home impressively today against a tough field of fillies and mares. She looked amazing in the post parade and seems to have really grown into herself. Speaking of Mass-breds, I saw New England superstar Ask Queenie work out the other morning and can't wait to see these two ladies meet up again soon.
May 4, 2008
Jessica Paquette
Jessica Paquette, Racing AnalystAfter a long winter, Opening Day is finally here! It is so exciting to see so many familiar faces and quite a few new ones, as well.
Despite the less than ideal weather, the entire racetrack was abuzz with excitement by the time the first post drew near. Finally, the 2008 racing season was about to begin!
There were several horses on the Suffolk card I was excited to see, some I had followed for a while and some were new faces in town.
The first horse to catch my eye on the day was a first-time starter named Boken Lady. This filly stumbled at the start and took a few moments to really get her legs under her again. Then, showing class and professionalism one would not always expect from a first-time starter, she made a big run to finish second. This is a filly that I intend to keep an eye on throughout the meet and am interested in how she develops.
The next horse on the day was Watchtower. This horse has arguably the best pedigree on the grounds, being by the brilliant Dubai Millennium out of a Group I winning mare. I am, admittedly, a pedigree junkie and have logged an alarming amount of hours researching lineage. Anyhow, Watchtower showed his class yet again and rolled home much the best.
The best thing about racing at Suffolk Downs is that it allows someone like me, a racing fan, to get attached to these horses and follow them. The big Grade I kind of horses are great but all too often are retired much too soon. How many times have we seen a talented three-year old retired that would have been even better at four?
Electric Mountain, in the ninth race, showed exactly why sometimes, good things happen when a horse gets some time to mature. Electric Mountain, a handsome son of Mt. Livermore bred by Mr. & Mrs. Roy Jackson of Barbaro fame, showed flashes of potential throughout the meet last year. Something, however, just wasn't "clicking" with the colt. His four-year old season at Suffolk Downs started with a bang on Saturday. Looking physically even better than the year before, Electric Mountain ran like a complete professional and has stamped himself as a force to be reckoned with this summer.
There are plenty of things to be excited about this year at Suffolk Downs. With purse increases and an expanded stakes program, the racing looks to get even better as the meet goes on.
We have it pretty good here in Boston right now. We have the Celtics to be excited about, the Red Sox to be excited about and, most importantly, we have Suffolk Downs to be excited about.
2007 Blog Archive
November 8, 2007
Jessica Paquette
Jessica Paquette, Racing AnalystAs the meet winds to a close, I have found myself getting a bit nostalgic and reminiscing about some of the highlights of the meet. Of course, when I sat down to write about them, I wound up overwhelmed as 2007 was quite a year.
Here they are, in no particular order:
1. OPENING DAY
Opening day, and the Kentucky Derby, fell a day before one of the biggest days of the year for me - the 2007 NPC New Englands Bodybuilding competition. I was touched by how supportive everyone from the gang in the press box to the horsemen and jockeys were about my upcoming competition. The blur of excitement of both opening day and the Derby helped keep the nerves about the following day at bay. The mood at Suffolk Downs on Opening Day was incredible, as well. Big changes and big things were going to happen this year and everyone could feel it.
2. TURF WRITERS AWARDS DINNER
In July, the New England Turf Writers Association holds a dinner and awards ceremony for the previous year's award winners. This year's ceremony was a special one for me because it was the first year I had had a say in the voting. My job of the evening was to essentially be the New England racing equivalent of Vanna White and hand out the awards and it was great to be able to honor some New England racing legends, including trainer Bill Perry, who received the Sam McCracken Award for lifetime achievement.
3. HANDICAPPING TOURNAMENTS
I love these days. We held our annual DRF/NTRA Handicapping Tournaments this year on August 4th and October 20th and both days were a great time for all involved. I like to think I'm a reasonably astute handicapper and am absolutely blown away by how well a handful of regulars do at these contests. I think these tournaments are a really fun day because they give me a chance to chat horses and spend some time with a knowledgeable group of horseplayers. October 20th's tournament was particularly special for me because one of my best friends and another former Kids to the Cup member, Jackie, was visiting me for the weekend from Pennsylvania.
4. THE HORSES
I am a sentimental fool and will be the first to admit it. I got into this sport because I love horses and that hasn't changed one bit. When handicapping, I try to remain as objective as possible, but there are certain horses that I have absolutely fallen in love with over the past couple of years. This year in particular, there have been a few loves both old and new that have made this season so memorable. I'll just list the top four to spare the readers because I could go on and on and on and on for pages.
1. Storm of the Year - my "big hoss" here in East Boston. I followed this little guy since he was foaled as I was a huge Event of the Year fan and followed his entire first crop. I've gotten to watch Storm run for quite a few years here at Suffolk and am thrilled to report his racing career has ended and he is now living happily on a farm in New Hampshire thanks to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. It makes me very happy to see a horse like this get a happy ending.
2. Let Me Be Frank - How could he not grow on you? This game gelding is a throwback to racehorses of a different era. He ran 22 times throughout the meet and though he did not win every start, he showed up and ran his race almost every time. He really earned my respect and admiration throughout the meet. I get frustrated when the top horses retire after a handful of starts and horses like 'Frank' really let me enjoy being a racing fan.
3. What a Trippi - I remember watching his career debut on a rainy, nondescript afternoon and being extremely impressed by his presence in the paddock. Sometimes horses just have that intangible something extra and he has it. It was quite a ride watching him throughout the meet as he rose through the ranks and established himself as one of the meet's top three-year olds.
4. Christmas Away - I have been widely teased in the press box for being a sucker for the old class horses and this was the guy that started that teasing. Christmas Away is a horse I've followed since he was a stakes horse in New York as a two-year-old and throughout the years, I've become quite a fan.
5. FRED FOLEY
Fred Foley is hands down one of the greatest people I have ever met. He works as the clerk of scales and also works with trainer Paul Thornton. One of the best things about Fred is how obvious it is how much he loves the horses - his eyes light up when he talks about this filly that he's worked with or that colt that he rode. Last year, he was injured pretty badly while exercise riding. This year, against the odds and with unfailing good spirits, he worked his way back to riding horses again. He is an absolute inspiration.
6. THE MASSCAP
No list could be complete without the big day on it. The day itself and the entire week leading up to it was like nothing I've ever experienced. I felt like I was a part of something BIG. Suffolk Downs and all involved stepped up to the plate and really made the revival of the MassCap one for the ages. The excitement in the air as I made my way around the track was electric - you could visibly see how happy everyone was to have the big race back.
The 2007 live racing season was a memorable one for everyone here in East Boston. I hope you all enjoyed the meet as much as I did. See you next year!
September 25, 2007
Christina Olivares
Christina Olivares, TVG Host/ReporterWell, I just got back from Boston. What a city! We had a great time covering the Mass Cap. I've always heard that Boston is a true sports town but to see it first hand made me a believer. They are passionate about the racing at Suffolk and it was wonderful to be in an environment where the crowd cheered as the horses came on to the track, and there was a genuine roar from the crowd when the gates sprung open for the big race.
Brass Hat was a very deserving winner of the Mass Cap. And after meeting the Bradley family, I couldn't be happier for them. Owner Fred Bradley is a true southern gentleman...a horseman from Alabama who's passion for this sport began years ago. Son William "Buff" Bradley proved that he knows his horse and can train with the best of them. Brass Hat was entering the Mass Capp off two terrible efforts in the Woodward and the Whitney. Buff Bradley was widely quoted as saying that the horse didn't like the Saratoga track. A possibility. BUT, could he also have been feeling the effects of the trip overseas to Dubai AND the monster race he ran at Churchill when breaking a track record??? More likely. There were many questions as he went into the gate. But Brass Hat redeemed himself with his winning performance, and vindicated the words of his trainer. It was an emotional winners circle because the Bradley's knew that their horse was back. This was the real Brass Hat. The Brass Hat that they bred, foaled, and who had taken them all over the world.
An interesting story: I asked Fred Bradley how William got the nickname "Buff." He said that young William was galloping racehorses in Alabama by the age of 9. William was naturally shortened to Bill and when he began riding the tougher horses it evolved to "Buffalo Bill." The next step was just "Buff" and it stuck. Buff Bradley...he just sounds like a horse trainer.
Congratulations Bradley Family!
September 25, 2007
Buff Bradley
Buff Bradley, Trainer of Brass HatComing to Suffolk Downs was a great experience for both my father and myself. We arrived on Thursday early afternoon and went to the track to see how Brass Hat had shipped in, then back to our room to check in. That evening, Sam Elliott (a steward) and his wife Judy, along with stakes coordinator Tom Creel picked us up and toured us through Boston. We ended up at a nice Italian restaurant called Lucia, where we met up with COO of Suffolk Downs Chip Tuttle, Racing Secretary Jimmy Pambianchi, Track Announcer Larry Collmus, and VP of Marketing and Communications Christian Teja. We had a great meal and the stuffed lobster was outstanding. We had a fun time that night swapping stories as we got to know these fine people.
The next morning, we went to the track to watch Brass Hat train and met quite a few of local trainers and press. That evening we were picked up at the hotel by a trolley and taken down to State Street where we went to a high rise overlooking the city for the BIG MassCap Party and it was grand. All the lobster, crab claws and shrimp you could eat were on the table when we got there, so when dinner came around later, I was full and realized I had only eaten appetizers! The party was amazing! We caught a ride home by another fine person in Paul Halloran, a local writer.
On Saturday, MassCap Day, we went to the track early to see Brass Hat and help give him a bath and a walk. That morning we met Susan Walsh, another steward of Suffolk Downs, who loved Brass Hat and offered a home after his racing career. At that point, I informed her that he was never leaving the farm he was born on. However, it is nice to have those kind of people in the business that want to see retired racehorses (and not just speaking of Brass Hat) get a good home after they retire from their racing careers. That afternoon speaks for itself, as the crowd was magnificent in support of such a great event. Brass Hat went on to win the MassCap and showed that he is still a top handicap horse. The crowd cheered loudly as he was brought back to the winner's circle and then again while being led back to the barn area. That night, we went back to Lucia for a celebration meal with Chip, Sam, Christian, Larry, Pat Lamberty and Rowland Hoyt. Another story-swapping event with a few drinks.
Instead of flying back home the next morning to Kentucky where I live, my father and I got to go the Patriots game, as Suffolk Downs was able to come up with some tickets. I am a Patriots fan and have Brady, Moss and Welker on my fantasy team. Needless to say, I am doing well in fantasy football this year. It was a nice day and we enjoyed the company of Tom and Michelle Creel and a few others from the racing office. One thing is for sure, we sure met some wonderful people and I hope that we are able to come back next year. My father and I (along with Brass Hat, groom Willie Woods, and driver Jim Doss) are very sincere in saying that we enjoyed the trip and all the people we met along the way.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Richard Fields
Richard Fields, Largest shareholder of Suffolk DownsToday's historic return of the MassCap marks a new chapter for thoroughbred racing at Suffolk Downs. In addition to hosting over 19,000 guests to view the Sport of Kings, today included a landmark performance by Brass Hat, and a significant victory for jockey Willie Martinez, trainer Buff Bradley, and owner Fred Bradley.
At Suffolk Downs, we are fortunate to be in one of the greatest sports markets in the world, and the return of the MassCap signals our intention to continue bringing both existing and new fans to enjoy a world-class entertainment experience in thoroughbred racing.
As I have said before, this race is just the beginning of our team's commitment to thoroughbred racing in Massachusetts. I'd like to thank the employees, trainers, jockeys, owners, and guests who made this day such a success, and look forward to seeing everyone again soon here at Suffolk Downs.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Christian Teja
Christian Teja, V.P. of Marketing and CommunicationsThe excitement continues to build as the MassCap horses have begun to arrive.
Brass Hat arrived from Kentucky on Wednesday, while Dr. Pleasure and Palladio got to Boston on Thursday.
They are all being stabled in our newly renovated barn, which has drawn many compliments from our out-of-town guests.
I went to the backstretch this morning to see Brass Hat gallop. He went on the track at around 8:40, right after the renovation break. Local trainer Brenda McCarthy had the opportunity to ride him. Needless to say, she was very excited about it.
Brass Hat's owner Fred Bradley and his son William "Buff" Bradley, Brass Hat's trainer, seem to be enjoying themselves in Boston, having visited the North End for dinner on Thursday night with friend Jim Doss, who drove the trailer from Kentucky to Boston.
Morning-line favorite Fairbanks and veteran Evening Attire are both due in this afternoon.
September 20, 2007
Jessica Paquette
Jessica Paquette, Racing AnalystAfter all of the planning and anticipation, MassCap week is finally here. This is the first time I have been involved with a race of this magnitude in this capacity and it has been an amazing experience.
The horses have started arriving, as Grade I winner Brass Hat is already on the grounds, resting comfortably in our newly renovated stakes barn. I understand Dr. Pleasure is on his way.
Yesterday was the post position draw and I was happy with the quality field we attracted. The big race is shaping up to be extremely competitive and the entire card is just extraordinary. I sat up last night going through the card race by race and was impressed by the depth of all the races. As both a racing fan and handicapper, I'm very excited for Saturday.
The All-Stakes Pick 4 starts in the seventh race with the $45,000 Collegian Stakes and one of my favorite local horses, What a Trippi, looks poised for a big effort. This son of Trippi has yet to be worse than second from six starts and this is a horse that has gotten better and matured with each start. This bay gelding also has a tendency to get a little hot and worked up after a race, so I hope the ocean breeze keeps the temperature comfortable.
The big race, the $500,000 Mass Cap, is the tenth race of the card and features a competitive field of eight. As a press box staffer, I know you're supposed to remain neutral, but it's tough not to root for the gallant gelding, nine-year-old Evening Attire.
Seven years ago, I remember standing by the rail at Saratoga in the rain and watching a two-year old break his maiden by a bare nose after an eventful start. I was fifteen years old and that horse was Evening Attire. I vividly remember watching him walk back after the race and he was so obviously pleased with himself for figuring out what that whole racing thing was about. And figure it out he certainly did - his career has covered eight years and includes numerous triumphs. Though he may not have an actual Eclipse Award to his credit, he is a champion in every sense of the word.
September 14, 2007
Larry Collmus
Larry Collmus, Track AnnouncerNow that the Monmouth racing season is over, it's nice to be back in Boston and calling at Suffolk Downs again. Of course, with that said, I'm writing this from my place in Monmouth Beach, NJ.
The next couple of months will be kind of crazy for me, but also a lot of fun. For the most part, my schedule is calling the races at Suffolk on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Then hopping in the car and driving down to New Jersey to call the races at the Meadowlands on Thursday night. It's about a 3 1/2 hour ride. I'll then stay at my place near Monmouth (about 50 minutes from the Meadowlands) and drive back to the Meadowlands for Friday night's action.
On Saturday afternoon, after my workout at the gym, I'll head back to Boston to my place in the North End. Sunday will be the day to relax and watch the Pats and the Red Sox.
I guess I could try to take a plane or train, but I'm used to doing the drive and it's the most convenient option.
This week will be different because it's MassCap time and I'll be in Boston all week long.
Unfortunately I have jury duty in Boston on Monday, so I'll miss Monday's card. Luckily, my man T.D. Thornton has things covered. He's the only "backup" announcer who calls more than the "regular" announcer does. Hopefully I'll only miss the one day.
Wednesday I'm hosting the Press Conference for the MassCap Post Position Draw. We do it up in the Topsider Room and after we assign the post positions, I'll interview the trainers that have horses in the MassCap.
I think we're going to get a deep competitive field this year. I'm excited about it. Suffolk has been playing a commercial showing some of the previous MassCaps and it brings back great memories. After a couple of years without the race, it's a thrill to have it back.
I'm also looking forward to the Breeders' Cup at Monmouth Park on Oct 26 and 27. People ask me this all the time, so here's how it works: Trevor Denman will call the three Breeders' Cup races on Friday and the seven BC races on Saturday and I'll do the undercard. It will be the first time I've worked with Trevor since I was the announcer at Golden Gate Fields in the late 80's.
Even though I won't be calling the Breeders' Cup, I'll still be involved and will have a great view of the races.
That's all for now. It's time to get back in the car and head up to the Meadowlands for tonight's card. See you at the MassCap!
August 30, 2007
Pat Lamberty
Pat Lamberty, Racing AnalystI am a lucky guy. My summers are spent between Boston and Saratoga.
While in Saratoga, the local racing scene is still very much on my mind.
Here are a few observations from the season and how they relate to the local racing scene.
August 3 - Trainer Ambrose Pascucci ships Suffolk-based Kick Up Your Heels to Saratoga for a victory over maiden special weight competition, returning $27.40 for the victory. This horse raced in the colors of prominent owner Flying Zee Stables. It is nice to see such a respected owner support New England racing.
August 26 - One of the sharpest turf trainers in New England lit up the toteboard at Saratoga when Dr. Rico paid $65 to win on the grass for Tom McCooey and owner Joe DiRico.
New England grass horses are starting to get recognized as live longshots in Saratoga. Watching the handicapping shows on the OTB channel, the analysts are mentioning how the days of live New England shippers are back.
August 27 - My first stop on the computer in the morning: Daily Racing Form. The recap story on Street Sense's victory in the Travers had positive information on the possibility of him running in the MassCap.
The following was taken directly from DRF...
Nafzger mentioned five possible races for Street Sense's next start, though during his explanation of what kind of race he was looking for, he seemed to narrow it down to two. Nafzger mentioned the Super Derby and Massachusetts Handicap, both Sept. 22; the Kentucky Cup Classic and Hawthorne Gold Cup, both on Sept. 29; and the Jockey Club Gold Cup. He also said there is a small chance Street Sense could simply train up to the BC Classic.
Nafzger said he would prefer to run Street Sense next against older horses and at 1 1/8 miles, meaning the Massachusetts Handicap or the Kentucky Cup Classic are the logical choices. The Massachusetts Handicap is appealing because under the conditions of the race Street Sense is eligible for a $200,000 bonus in addition to the $300,000 first-place prize.
Great news that we're in the mix! Could the best horse in America win the MassCap again? Suffolk Downs was blessed to have Cigar and Skip Away do just that not too long ago. For now, we'll have to wait and see.
Stay tuned for more updates. I will be reporting on any developments over the next week.
Wednesday, August 22
Jessica Paquette
Jessica Paquette, Racing AnalystPreparing for a day of paddock previews begins the night before, usually at my gym. Tuesday night I brought the past performance sheets for Wednesday with me to the gym, scattering them about on the treadmill. I'm an avid fitness enthusiast so any opportunity to mix my two loves is welcome. Once the cardio is done, I feel like I have a pretty good idea about the day's card.
Wednesday morning begins bright and early. I'm up around the same time as the sun and back at the gym, past performances in tow. I leave the gym with definitive picks for the day.
After I make the commute to East Boston, it's back to studying and preparing for our pre-race show, Suffolk Downs Today, with our fellow handicapper, Tim. Tim and I have a very similar sense of humor (though we rarely agree on horses) and get along well off camera, so I always enjoy doing the show with him.
Once the pre-race show is wrapped, it's time for me to make my way downstairs to do the paddock previews all day. It never ceases to amaze me how fortunate I am to be paid to do something I love. There is nothing like standing by the rail and watching a field of horses gallop by- it doesn't matter if they are bottom level claimers or grade one caliber animals. I think they're all magnificent.
Proving that there is never a dull day at the racetrack, even on a nondescript Wednesday afternoon, Angel Vasquez Jr. pilots home Diablo Reigns in the second race, returning $95.40. Angel is one of my favorite jockeys here and I was thrilled to interview him after the race, though my interviewing skills are a work in progress.
As hard as I try not to, I will admit I do get pretty attached to a lot of these horses. When you see the same horses run on a regular basis, I really think it's impossible not to develop a little fondness for them. I feel like if I ever stop falling in love with these animals, it's time for me to look for a different line of work. In the sixth race, I was really happy to see Wynn's Whim run a big race. Her last outing was really troublesome. Physically she looked great but she behaved uncharacteristically poor in the paddock and at the gate. She wanted nothing to do with racing that day and it worried me to see a horse I liked act that way. Well, the real Wynn's Whim showed up today and she showed up in a big way, drawing off by six and a half lengths to prove that even horses have inexplicable bad days.
Between races, I like to sit in the scale house and chat with the various cast of characters that come in and out throughout the day. It is a little family down there and that is one of the things I value most about working at a smaller racetrack. Everyone knows everyone and there is a great sense of camaraderie and a great deal of horsing around, as well. I came back into the room after the seventh race to find my cell phone missing in action. I scoured the room, finding nothing but smirks from my coworkers. Eventually, the red face and snickering gave the culprit away and I found my phone after much laughter.
That reminds me of another amusing scale house story, actually. Last summer during my first few weeks doing the paddock show, I decided to step on the jockey's scale between races and see what I was weighing in at. If you look up gullible in the dictionary, you may find my picture. As I stepped on it, unbeknownst to me, resident prankster Chris stepped on it behind me and my weight shot up a solid 40 lbs. They still laugh about the horrified expression on my face to this day.
In our feature, Thatsthe Fact Jack ran a huge race, notching his fourth win at Suffolk for the season. This is a horse that has really blossomed since coming to Suffolk and obviously loved this track. I know the feeling.
Mark Johnson
Tuesday, August 7Mark Johnson, regular visiting British Announcer, is on the last leg of a whistle-stop racing tour.
"Have binoculars, will travel"...that's always been my creed, but these past two weeks have been hectic even by British track announcer standards.
Over the pond it's not unusual for track announcers (we're called "racecourse commentators" in Britain) to travel upwards of a 1,000 miles a week as our turf-only tracks tend to race, on average, just a single day or two at a time. The longest continual meets we have are only five days - Royal Ascot being one of those rarities. So we drive, or sometimes fly, hundreds of miles a day often just to call 6 or 7 races.
The last two weeks have not been typical - but wow - what a blast!
Saturday 28th July - In the morning, leave my home in South West London, and drive to the ancient English city of Salisbury to call a six race evening card. Salisbury is a beautiful city (tiny even by British standards) with one of the most historic cathedrals in the country. However it isn't too pretty today as there is rain in air and low cloud swirling - it’s even difficult to pick out the spire of the cathedral through the gloom.
The track at Salisbury is "different" to say the least. Five of the six races are sprints over a virtually straight track, however one race - the fifth - is a long distance race run over 1m6f. They can't use a starting gate for this race as the horses start right on the winning line and there is no way to get any starting gates on or off the track - so the race starts by an elastic tape being released across the track. The runners then proceed the wrong way up the home stretch before turning left off the home stretch at the 3/8th pole and then race around a loop before rejoining the long home stretch with about 6 furlongs to run.
After the last race, at about 9:00pm in the evening, it's an hour drive to Southampton on the South coast of England to stay in a hotel.
Sunday 29th July - An early start to catch the 8:00am plane from Southampton to the island of Jersey. Jersey is the biggest of the British Channel Islands. The Channel Islands are about 100 miles South of England where the Atlantic Ocean becomes the English Channel and, although they are part of the United Kingdom, they are actually much nearer to France.
Jersey is only about 20 miles long by 10 miles wide but does have a racetrack - called Les Landes (pronounced "Lay Lond") in the Northwestern most corner of the island. It is a mile round and hosts 9 racing days each year. All single day meets which comprise of five races. Each day of racing starts with a hurdle race and then is followed by 4 flat races.
Amazingly there are about ten trainers based on the island each year, training from just one horse up to about 16 horses for the leading barn and the racing is competitive, if low grade.
Once again there are no starting gates - all the races are started by tape - which can lead to some interesting starts for the 5 1/2 furlongs sprints - the shortest trip run at Les Landes.
There is no announcer's booth as such at present as a new grandstand is currently being built. So it was a case of standing on the earth mound, with a wooded lectern in front, and (at least of the first two races) in full golfing waterproofs, calling them home.
This was Jersey Derby Day and the big race - the most important race of the Jersey season - drew a field of six. It is a Derby run at 1 1/2m for 3yrs and upward (not just 3 year-olds) and the field featured two dual winners of the event. It was a great race with 5 of the field in line at the 3/16ths but eventually a 7/1 shot (Carr Hall was his name) beat the favourites.
Monday 30th July - "R & R" on Jersey followed by dinner with some good racing friends.
Tuesday 31st July - Fly back to Southampton and then drive back to London. Return home to find my cable TV box has "expired".
Wednesday 1st August - Domestic jobs and plenty of American racing "homework".
Thursday 2nd August - Another early start as I'm on an early flight from London Heathrow to Miami International. It's a 9 hour flight (watch "300" and "A Night in the Museum" as well as doing some racing home work). Land at about 2:30pm (Eastern). Once checked into my hotel (right on the 3/8th pole of Calder Racecourse) it's time to walk round to the Grandstand, even though it's a dark day at the track, and say hi to everyone in the Press box.
As resident Calder announcer Bobby Neuman is having a week's vacation, I've been invited to call the live Calder racing weekend - Friday, Saturday & Sunday. After two Sam Adams back at the hotel, I'm asleep!
Friday 3rd August - As American "Eastern Time" is 5 hours behind the time currently in Britain I awake at 4am (9am therefore for my body clock). It's time to start coloring in my jockey silks colors on my race sheets - I have a little rubber stamp in the outline of a jockey which I put next to the name/number of each horse to help me learn the names/colors of each horse in each race.
I'm at the track by 9:45am and getting the announcer's booth set up and making sure I have all the information I need before the live action starts. Once the National Anthem has been played and you've announced the scratches and changes for the day, there is little time to do much else but learn the colors and call the races.
I feel nervous and a little extra pressure than usual as post time for the first race approaches...although I've called about hundred races in America before (as well as five Epsom Derbys and the Grand National in England) this will be my first full card announcing in America - indeed it's the first time a British announcer will have ever called a full card in America. Hey, I'm carrying the standard for my country!
By the way Trvor Denman is South African and Mike Wrona is Australian if you were wondering! They are not British.
Saturday 4th August - 10 races down on Friday and now a 13 race card on Saturday - the most races I have ever called live in one day. Because of the extreme heat over the weekend (about 95 degrees) the post parades are shortened which makes the announcer's job harder as you only get a few minutes to look at the horses live and learn the colors.
Sunday 5th August - 11 more races today and I get a real lump in my throat as Calder's All Star Bugler Wally McMurray plays "Rule Brittania" as part of the final call to post of the day. 34 race calls in 3 days - luckily I think they went ok without a major hitch and after another couple of beers I'm asleep by 8:30pm!
Monday 6th August - Another early start as this time I'm flying from Fort Lauderdale to Boston. I couldn't make a stateside trip without coming up to see all my friends here in Boston and in particular at Suffolk Downs. Once landed and checked into my hotel I quite literally jog around Orients Heights and down to Suffolk Downs so I can be here for the last 3 races. Luckily it stopped raining for my mad sprint!
Tuesday 7th August - A trip to visit announcer T D Thornton "off duty."
Wednesday 8th August - Back to the track to guest with Jessica on the pre-racing show and some of the paddock previews and then up to the announcer's booth to call a couple of races. The flight back to London leaves tonight...I will sleep on the plane.
Friday night I'm back presenting the evening racing show on Racing UK...don't ask me where I am after that...I'll take one week at a time.
Wednesday, August 1
Paul Weizer
Suffolk Downs Handicapping TournamentBy Paul Weizer, former Suffolk Downs qualifier and 3-time qualifier overall for DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship
Handicapping tournaments are the best bet in racing. These contests provide an answer to the biggest obstacle to making money at the races: overcoming the takeout. In fact, many tournaments, including the one at Suffolk Downs this Saturday, return 100% of all entry fees to the contest players. Factor in the free gifts and lunch and you have a game with a positive payback for players.
Further, many contests offer very large prizes. Realistically, most horseplayers can't go to the track and expect to leave with a four, five, or even six figure profit for the day. However, in handicapping contests, someone always does. The Suffolk Downs contest is limited to 300 players (although will not likely reach that number). Based on 300 entries, prize money is paid to the top 10 people with the winner's share being $9,000. Not a bad day at the races. Even more importantly, the top two players will join me (I qualified in an online contest in April) at the National Handicapping Championship at the Red Rock Casino and Spa in Las Vegas this January for a chance at the estimated $500,000 top prize.
While not the most challenging format out there, the Suffolk Downs contest is always on my calendar based on its simplicity and value. For people new to handicapping contests, this is a perfect format to give things a try. In the Suffolk Downs contest, players are required to make mythical $2 Win/Place wagers on one horse in each of fifteen pre-selected races from around the country. The winner is the player who amasses the largest mythical bankroll based on their 15 wagers. All selections must be turned in prior to the first race of the tournament. This means that players cannot know the odds of the horses they will play and will not know much about how the tracks are playing that day. Accordingly, the strategy for this format is much different from that of other tournaments. This tournament doesn’t require any money management or tournament savvy. Just handicap fifteen races and make as much money as possible.
The key to doing well in this type of contest is to understand your ultimate goal. This is not a contest to see who has the most winners at the end of the day. It is a contest to see who has the highest bankroll. Just like a real day betting the races, the idea is to make money. The added challenge to this format is that players need to make more money than approximately 200 others without knowing the true odds of any horse in any race. Basic strategy in this type of contest format is to go for long shots in any race where a case can be made for one. In recent years, it has taken a final bankroll ranging from a low of $103 to a high score of $115 to win this contest. To get to that number, it is much easier to hit one or two long price horses than it is to hit eight or ten short price ones. Keep in mind that one 20-1 winner returns the same amount of money as ten 2-1 shots. Ask yourself, which is easier to do? Further, it is key to find horses that will separate your entry from the pack. It is far more important to find the long shot that few players will have than to hit the low priced obvious contender that most will play. Sometimes this type of horse will come in. More often they will not (they call them long shots for a reason). However, if they do come in for you on Saturday, you will be handsomely rewarded.
Having qualified for the National Handicapping Championship three times, I can tell you that there is no more exciting event in the world. Having qualified at three different venues, I can tell you that no one treats their players better than the people at Suffolk Downs. What other form of entertainment allows you to put up $60 for a chance to win up to $9000 and an all expense paid trip to Las Vegas for the chance at half a million dollars? After this contest, we know for sure that for two lucky players, Saturday night this dream will be a reality.
Wednesday, July 25 - A Day Calling the Races
Pat Lamberty
Pat Lamberty, Suffolk Downs Racing Anaylyst
Yesterday I changed duties for the day from being the racing analyst to track announcer while T.D. Thornton was off signing copies of his book in Saratoga.
I approached the day with both excitement and a slight sense of nervousness. I have called a few races at Suffolk, but certainly don't feel 100% comfortable being up on the roof.
As post time approached for the first race, I was having trouble remembering some of the names. I found that the short-term memory needed for the job does improve as the day progresses. Larry Collmus has an amazing ability to memorize names in a short period of time, but if you ask him later that night who won the say the fifth race it doesn’t come out as quickly as one would think. I found this to be the case as well when my friend Rob called later in the night asking about a race and I could not remember who won for about two minutes.
The first and second races were the most difficult. In the booth, there are two buttons: one for the national anthem, the other for the bugle when the horses come onto the racetrack.
When leading the horses onto the track for the first race, I hit the wrong button and had to wait for the national anthem to play through the song's entirety. It was quite funny, but also embarrassing. The three minutes I had to wait for the music to stop seemed like an eternity. What to say? I went with...
America salutes the horses on the track for the first race...now five minutes to post.
There was some malfunction before the first race and the race was hand-timed. As I was looking for the fractions on the tote board and they were not there it does mess with the subconscious and you find yourself calling the race, but wondering if you should address there are no fractions. After the race, there was a stewards' inquiry as well, thankfully the numbers didn't changes because I was washed out at this point.
The second race was for two-year-olds going four-furlongs. This was somewhat tricky because there are probably no more than five races all year run at that distance, so knowing where the fractions would be recorded was a little tricky.
I got through the double and relaxed on the microphone a little bit. Jockey Clifford Dooley came up to have a laugh for a couple of races later in the day and it made me feel more at ease to have someone else there to pass the idle time.
I can see why he is a jockey and I am not. He had a chicken caesar salad for lunch and I had a steak and cheese and fries.
Interestingly, it was a mixed day for Dooley. He is just about to finish a five-day suspension for a riding infringement and was in the booth when Arrested Gatorgirl came rolling late for an upset win. Dooley would have been aboard, and while I am sure he was happy for the horse it must be tough to be at the track and see a horse you have a relationship win.
The remainder of the races went quickly and I found my short-term memory getting better as the day went on.
I was especially pleased with my call of Theatrical Talent's victory in the eighth race. He was passed by a 2-5 shot Elninodemisijos and looked beaten in the final 30 yards, but I could tell Elninodemisijos was idling on the lead and that Pedro Gonzalez and Theatrical Talent were going to come back and make it real close.
I was happy that I had been descriptive with the action as it unfolded and got a very close finish correct.
All said though, the best part of the day for me came just after the last race. I went down to the jockey's room to catch up with the boys and all the riders and valets serenaded me with the national anthem. Luis Garcia seemed especially delighted with my mixup. He has a great laugh and sense of humor. It would not be nearly as fun without Garcia in the room.
For those that have not been to the jockey's room, it is lots of laughs and enjoyment, but not a place for those with thin skin. Think about it, in no other sport do the competing teams return to the same locker room, but in racing, it happens throughout the country with riders.
At that point, my day came full circle. I did not have to be on camera for the day so I passed on the shirt and tie in favor or shorts and an Arsenal soccer jersey. It all came full circle after the boys sang for me. I got to applaud them as well, just like a footballer would in Europe at the end of the match.
July 22, 2007
Jessica Paquette
Jessica Paquette, Suffolk Downs racing analystEvery now and then a horse will pop onto the scene and really surprise me, not only by his talent but by his tenacity as well. What a Trippi, George Saccardo's promising three year old, has done just that.
I remember his East Boston debut vividly. When I had been handicapping the night before, I was impressed by his worktab and his sire, Trippi, had always been a horse I had liked in his racing days so I made a note to check him out the following day. The day did not turn out nearly as nice as I had hoped weatherwise - it was rainy, windy and overall a pretty miserable day. He was very overlooked at the betting windows and I remember being perplexed by that watching him in the paddock. He looked like a racehorse, through and through. He also strongly resembled his sire.
Trippi was a horse I had the pleasure of spending some time with during his racing career. During his three-year-old campaign I was a frequent haunt in Todd Pletcher's barn. As often as I could, I'd drive down to Belmont and pay the barn a visit, mostly to see the equine love of my life, Graeme Hall. When visiting Graeme Hall, Todd also would let me meander around the shedrow and visit his other stars, including, at the time, Trippi. Trippi was a little horse with a ton of personality. I remember him being extremely playful and would stick out his tongue for whomever was around to play with.
Anyhow, enough wandering down memory lane - back to What a Trippi. The sloppy going did little to deter him and he made a very sharp rally to finish second behind another talented colt, Electric Mountain. I was impressed and looked forward to his next trip to the races. He did not disappoint and won easily, solidifying my opinion about him. He turned the tables on Electric Mountain in their next race, showing a professionalism and maturity beyond his three lifetime starts. His first attempt around two turns did not wind up a winning one, but sometimes a young horse learns as much from defeat as from victory.
When I saw him entered for Saturday, I was excited. He had done nothing to disappoint in his previous four starts and I expected a big effort from him. One of the things I like most about Suffolk Downs is our group of "regulars" that have been racing here for years. That being said, it is also refreshing to see a young horse burst onto the local scene with a world of potential like What a Trippi has. On Saturday, he came flying through on the rail to just make it in time at the wire. He is a just such a fun horse to watch run - he obviously enjoys being a racehorse and, even more, enjoys winning.
