Category: Horse Racing

Kentucky Derby: Mystik Dan wins in a photo finish by a nose in close 3 horse finale

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Sierra Leone with jockey Tyler Gaffalione (2), Forever Young with jockey Ryusei Sukai, and Mystik Dan with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr at the finish line at Churchill Downs in the 150th Kentucky Derby Race at Louisville Kentucky on Sat May 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

The 150th running of the Kentucky Derby was won by a nose by Mystik Dan in a spectacular photo finish on Saturday evening that was one of the most exhilarating in recent memory. Entering at 18-1 odds, Mystik Dan crossed the finish line just before Sierra Leone and Forever Young, who finished third in the Run for the Roses.

Mystik Dan and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. dashed along the rail and had a short lead while head-on with Sierra Leone and undefeated Japan-bred Forever Young.

Sierra Leone bumped Forever Young three times during the critical stretch, but jockey Ryusei Sakai did not claim foul. “Around the far turn, my horse was so game being up on the inside,” recounted Hernandez. “I came through a really tight spot and we kind of climbed up on top of the rail a bit. When he shot through that spot and was able to cut the corner and I asked him to go for it, he shot off. I was like, ‘Oh man, we have a shot to win the Kentucky Derby.’”

The crowd of 156,710 at Churchill Downs were held in suspense for afew minutes as stewards reviewed the finish – and finally announced Mystik Dan as the official winner. “This is unbelievable,” said Hernandez while still mounted on Mystik Dan after the thrilling finish. “That was the longest few minutes I’ve ever felt in my life, waiting for them to hang that number up… It’s hard to put into words.”

Mystik Dan ran the 1 1/4 miles in 2:03:34 and paid $39.22 to win. It was the 26th time in the history of the legendary race that it was decided by the length of a neck or shorter. Hernandez and trainer Kenny McPeek had won the Kentucky Oaks on Fridayalso at Churchill Downs.

They are the second tandem to win both. McPeek commended Hernandez on “an amazing job”. “I mean, just a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant jockey in-ride,” said McPeek even before the official decision was declared. “Brian’s amazing. Probably one of the most underrated riders in racing. But not anymore.”

Twenty thoroughbreds competed in the first leg of the Triple Crown, with Sierra Leone and Fierceness considered the early favorites. Sierra Leone returned $6.54 and $4.64, while Forever Young paid $5.58 to show. The second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, takes place at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on May 18.

Kentucky Derby 2024 final finishing order:

1. Mystik Dan

2. Sierra Leone

3. Forever Young

4. Catching Freedom

5. T O Password

6. Resilience

7. Stronghold

8. Honor Marie

9. Endlessly

10. Dornoch

11. Track Phantom

12. West Saratoga

13. Domestic Product

14. Epic Ride

15. Fierceness

16. Society Man

17. Just Steel

18. Grand Mo The First

19. Catalytic

20. Just a Touch

Jessica Kwong is covering the Triple Crown for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Golden Gate Fields podcast with Augie Mesenburg: After extension is this it for Golden Gate Field race track

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Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze, right, riding Two Step Cat crosses the finish line to win his 10,000th race at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif., Jan. 1, 2008. Golden Gate Fields announced that it has extended horse racing and instead of closing in October 2023 will close July 2024. (AP file photo)

Horse Racing podcast with Augie Mesenburg:

#1 Augie, how encouraging has it got to be for horse racing fans, employees, and front office staff that Golden Gate Fields in Albany/Berkeley has extended it time instead of closing up shop in October extending it to June?

#2 Augie, I know I asked you off the air but is there anyway you see that Golden Gate Fields can avoid closing it’s doors permanently or is 1st Racing set on closing the long time track down.

#3 Aidan Butler the Chief Executive of Golden Fields said the track will be applying for race track dates for the summer of 2024.

#4 Butler and First Racing said it’s certain that July will be the last month of horse racing at Golden Gate Fields if there is no miracle to save the track.

#5 Augie, you had the chance to work with everyone at the track over the years the jockeys, trainers, owners, fans, front office people and from their perspective how surprising did this news come and how dependent are the employees on working at Golden Gate Fields?

Augie Mesenburg was a former employee at Golden Gate Fields and is a business representative for the Golden Gate union employees

Arcangelo wins Belmont, trainer becomes first female to win third leg of the Triple Crown

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Trainer Jena Antonucci, center, hoists up the August Belmont Trophy alongside jockey Javier Castellano, right, and owner Jon Ebbert, left, after their horse Arcangelo won the 155th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 10, 2023, at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. (AP News photo)

History was made at the 155th Belmont Stakes on Saturday, with the first female trainer to win the third leg of the Triple Crown.

National Treasure, whose trainer is the controversial Bob Baffert and won the Preakness Stakes, had an early lead in the race in Elmont, New York. National Treasure held a full length lead at one point, then Arcangelo trained by Jena Antonucci caught up alongside.

Arcangelo, who had 8-1 odds in the race, pulled ahead in the final stretch and comfortably claimed the victory. 

It was the first time that a horse with a woman trainer, Antonucci, 47, has won the race. 

“If you can’t find a seat at the table, make your own table,” she said. 

“Build your team and never give up.”

Antonucci broke through the glass ceiling in a sport dominated by a small number of trainers. 

“I want to thank you everyone for the opportunity. A dream come true,” said Castellano. “My first Belmont Stakes win.”

Arcangelo’s victory added to jockey Javier Castellano’s success. Castellano has won the Preakness Stakes two times and in May won his first Kentucky Derby riding Mage.

“I just believed in my horse, and the horse gives us that confidence,” said Jon Ebbert of Blue Rose Farm, which owns Arcangelo. “It’s a great team. We’re just the best together.”

Forte, who had 2-1 odds entering the race, came in second. Tapit Trice, who had 5-1 odds, finished third.

Baffert’s National Treasure wound up finishing sixth in the field of nine.

The Belmont Stakes is a 1 ½ mile race, which is the longest in the Triple Crown.

Here is the order of finish as well as the payouts for the top three:

1. Arcangelo $17.90, $7.20, $4.90

2. Forte x, $4.30, $3.30

3. Tapit Trice x, x, $4.10

Headline Sports podcast with Stephen Ruderman and Augie Mesenburg: Belmont Stakes and the dangers to horses lives; Nuggets can put it away on Monday night; plus more

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National Treasure trains ahead of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Friday, June 9, 2023, at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Stephen Ruderman and Augie Mesenburg:

#1 Stephen tonight is the Belmont Stakes a the third of the three big horse races but the talk and focus going into tonight’s Belmont has been about that eight horse that had died last month at Churchill Downs at the Kentucky Derby. Is this part of the sport of the dangers of the sport or the care for the horse have just taken a dive in the last year or so.

#2 The Denver Nuggets chalked up another win against the Miami Heat and are up 3-1 in the series it just looks like a series where the Nuggets are just cruising and they could wrap this NBA Finals up Monday night in Denver.

#3 Tuesday night will mark a historic night in Oakland A’s history as they will be holding a reverse boycott to show MLB that the A’s do have fan support and that the fans are not at fault for the A’s having to leave Oakland for Las Vegas. Tuesday could be the day that the Nevada Legislature could vote on the $380 million in tax credits to help for Tropicana ballpark on the Vegas strip.

#4 The San Francisco Giants are coming off a sweep in Denver against the Colorado Rockies and opened this three game series with the Chicago Cubs with a 3-2 loss on Friday night. The Giants sit in third place 6.5 games back of the first place Arizona Diamondback coming into Saturday night’s game.

#5 The Oakland A’s put together their longest win streak of the season at three straight taking the last two games of the three game series in Pittsburgh and taking the first game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday and it may not set the world on fire but you can feel the incentive in the A’s clubhouse.

Join Stephen Ruderman for the MLB podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

148th Preakness Stakes 2023: Finding a winner of Preakness nothing but a National Treasure

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National Treasure, right, with jockey John Velazquez, edges out Blazing Sevens, with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., to win the148th running of the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 20, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

A horse trained by controversial Bob Baffert, National Treasure, won the 148th Preakness Stakes in Baltimore on Saturday.

National Treasure took an early lead and held it for most of the race at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. He held off Blazing Sevens’ late surge, and pulled ahead just before the finish line. Blazing Sevens came in second, and this year’s Kentucky Derby winner Mage came in third. National Treasure’s finishing time was 1 minute, 55:12 seconds.

Baffert has now won eight Preakness Stakes and has 17 Triple Crown victories.

It was the first Preakness win for Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, and marked his sixth Triple Crown.

National Treasure won hours after another one of Baffert’s horses, Havnameltdown, hurt his left front ankle in an undercard race and was euthanized while still on the track.

“We’ve been totally wiped out after (Havnameltdown) got hurt, so the emotions of this game, there’s so many responsibilities a trainer has: employees, horses, jockeys, safety,” said Baffert.

“And then, to win this – losing that horse really hurt, but I’m happy for (Velazquez). He got the win. I have a great team, I got my boy with me.”

Emotional, Baffert said, “I’m sorry, but it’s been a very emotional day.”

Baffert recently received multiple suspensions, including for his horse Medina Spirit, which won the 2021 Kentucky Derby but tested positive for an anti-inflammatory drug. Medina Spirit died in December of that year after a workout. The 148th Preakness Stake was Baffert’s first Triple Crown race in two years.

2023 Preakness Stakes results:

  1. National Treasure
  2. Blazing Sevens
  3. Mage
  4. Red Route One
  5. Chase the Chaos
  6. Perform
  7. Coffeewithchriss

149th Kentucky Derby report: Comeback horse Mage wins first of three in the Triple Crown

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Mage, second from left, with Javier Castellano aboard, wins the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 6, 2023, in Louisville, Ky. (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

Mage came from behind to win the 149th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday evening and give Venezuelan trainer and owner Gustavo Delgado his first win in the first leg of the Triple Crown.

The Run for the Roses began with Verifying and Kingsbarns fighting for the lead. About halfway through, Mage broke off from the middle of the pack and passed both of them. Mage held off challenges from Angel of Empire and Two Phil’s. Two Phil’s finished second and the favorite, Angel of Empire, came in third.

Jockey Javier Castellano, who was winless in 15 past Kentucky Derby runs and finally claimed victory in his 16th, said he knew Mage had it in him.

“He’s a little horse with a big heart,” said Castellano. “It was the dream trip for any jockey.”

Castellano added about his journey: “I never gave up and tried hard. It took me a while to get there but I’m very blessed to be here,” he said.”

Mage had 15-1 odds and finished with an official time of 2:01.57 in his second career win in four starts. He was not a favorite to win, even after champion 2-year-old Forte dropped out.

Five horses were scratched from the race, bringing the field to 15, the smallest since the 2020 Derby that was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Delgado said he believed Mage could win as he advanced in the race.

“When he started moving, when started making his move, I felt very confident,” said Delgado. “He was right there, when Javiar started to ask him, I knew.”

Asked if Mage will race in the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore on May 20, Delgado said, “Give me a couple days at least!”

Mage has the opportunity to be the first horse to win at Pimlico Race Course after a Kentucky Derby, since 2018 when Justify achieved both victories.

Here is the official order of finish and their lengths behind the winner

1. Mage

2. Two Phil’s (1)

3. Angel of Empire (1 1/2)

4. Disarm (4 1/2)

5. Hit Show (6 1/4)

6. Derma Sotogake (8)

7. Tapit Trice (9 1/4)

8. Raise Cain (10)

9. Rocket Can (11)

10. Confident Game (14 1/2)

11. Sun Thunder (16 3/4)

12. Mandarin Hero (20 1/4)

13. Reincarnate (24 1/2)

14. Kingsbarns (25 1/4)

15. King Russell (25 1/2)

16. Verifying (54 3/4)

17. Jace’s Road (55 1/4)

18. Cyclone Mischief (55 1/2)

154th Belmont Stakes winner Mo Donegal’s exciting victory a 5-2 favorite

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Mo Donegal (6), with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. up, crosses the finish line to win the 154th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race on Sat Jun 10, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

The Belmont Stakes favorite, Mo Donegal, won the 154th running of the race on Saturday evening with an official time of 2:28:28.

Mo Donegal entered as a 5-2 favorite, and initially trailed We The People, who entered at 7-2. We The People lead the pack for roughly the first mile but fell to fourth place. Mo Donegal was in the middle and Skippylongstocking was second and trying to take the lead. But Mo Donegal surged from fifth place to first to take the crown.

It was his Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher’s fourth time winning the Belmont Stakes. Pletcher won Belmont in 2007 with Rags to Riches, with Palace Malice in 2013 and with Tapwrit in 2017.

In addition to winning with Mo Donegal, Pletcher’s other trainee Nest came in second place.

Owner Mike Repole said “this is my Derby.”

“This has been a dream that I’ve had for 40 years,” said Repole. “This is the biggest goal I had in my racing life, and I just accomplished it, and I ran 1-2.”

The Belmont betting favorite has won the race more than 42% of the time in the history of the running.

“I’m always going to be Mike from Queens,” Repole said. “This is New York’s biggest race, and to win it here, with family, friends, I’m sort of overwhelmed.”

Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike came in sixth place. Saturday was the first time that three different horses won the Triple Crown races in four straight years.

Here are the Belmont Stakes results and payouts:

1 – Mo Donegal WIN: $7.20 PLACE: $3.80 SHOW: $3.00 2 – Nest PLACE: $5.30 SHOW: $4.10 3 – Skippylongstocking SHOW: $5.60

Finishing order: 

  1. Mo Donegal
  2. Nest
  3. Skippylongstockin
  4. We the People
  5. Creative Minister
  6. Rich Strike
  7. Barber Road
  8. Golden Glider

The Election has been decided Early Voting wins the Preakness

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Jose Ortiz atop Early Voting wins the 147th running of the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 21, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

A favorite among politicians, Early Voting won the 147th Preakness Stakes race at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Saturday evening.

Ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz, Early Voting edged out the favorite, Epicenter, who came in second, and Creative Minister who took third. Early Voting followed the leaders for much of the running before taking first in the final turn and finishing 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Epicenter. Epicenter came in second, just as he did in the Kentucky Derby.

Early Voting won five years after his trainer Chad Brown and owner Seth Klarman won the race with Cloud Computing.

“We thought he needed a little more seasoning, the extra rest would help him,” said Klarman. “He was pretty lightly raced – only three races before today. And as it turned out, that was the right call. We wanted to do right by the horse, and we’re so glad we waited.”

Early Voting, with a 1:54:54 winning time, paid $13.40, $4.60 and $3.60. Meanwhile, Epicenter paid $2.80 and $2.40. Creative Minister paid $4.20.

Early Voting’s team originally planned for him to try to take the lead. However, when Armagnac took the lead held Early Voting back as Epicenter ran inside the rail.

“I was never worried. Once we had a good target, I actually preferred that,” said Brown.

“We were fine to go to the lead, but I thought down the back side it was going to take a good horse to beat us. And a good horse did run up on us near the wire and it was about the only one that could run with us.”

It is Early Voting’s third win in four career races taking the $900,000 winner’s share of the $1.65 million purse.

“Early Voting is the winner of the Preakness and deserves all the credit for doing so, and nothing but,” Epicenter’s trainer Steve Asmussen said.

The final race of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, takes place on June 11.

—

Striking it Rich: Long shot horse Rich Strike wins 148th Kentucky Derby

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Rich Strike gets to the finish line and beats the odds with jockey Sonny Leon at the 148th Kentucky Derby on Sat May 7, 2022 ( photo by Michael Clevenger and Christopher Granger Courier Journal)

By Jessica Kwong

The 80-1 long shot, Rich Strike, won the 148th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

The favorites of the race appeared to be on their way to win, but in the final few paces, Rich Strike raced inside and overtook Epicenter and Zandon. Epicenter took second, and Zandon came in third.

Into the last turn, Rich Strike was trailing in the 17th position. But as Epicenter and Zandon competed for the lead, Rich Strike ran by the rail and sailed to victory. Rich Strike is one of the longest-odds horses to win the Kentucky Derby.

“I about fell down in the paddock when he hit the wire,” Rich Strike’s owner Dawson said. “I about passed out.”

Rich Strike would not even have raced in the Derby, had it not been for Ethereal Road’s scratch just before the entry deadline on Friday morning.

“We found out about 30 seconds before the deadline on Friday,” Dawson said. “It put us in the race and really we always felt if we just got in we’ve got a shot.”

Dawson was preparing to train for the Belmont Stakes – but things took an unexpected turn for the best.

“We proved it today,” Dawson said.

Rich Strike’s win was the biggest odds upset since 1913, when 91-1 long shot Donerail became the champion. He earned $1.86 million for his second career victory. It was trainer Eric Reed’s first Derby horse.

The Derby field looked very different than it has for many years, notably because of trainer Bob Baffert’s absence. The six-time Derby winner is serving a two-year suspension since his horse Medina Spirit tested positive for a prohibited substance. Medina Spirit’s victory was stripped. Two of Baffert’s former horses competed: Messier and Taiba.

The Kentucky Derby is first of this year’s Triple Crown. Next is the Preakness Stakes on May 21, and finally, the Belmont Stakes on June 11.

—

Knicks Go tops three year old competition for $6 million purse at the Breeders Cup in Del Mar

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Knicks Go in front of the pack for the winner of the 2021 Breeders Cup Classic at Del Mar on Sat Nov 6, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

Knicks Go defied age and beat a trio of three-year-old top horses including controversial Kentucky Derby champion Medina Spirit in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday in Del Mar.

The five-year-old with 3-1 odds, ridden by Joel Rosario and trained by Brad Cox, set the pace and finished with a 2 3/4-length victory. Knicks Go covered 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.57, coming within three-fifths of a second of the record at Del Mar Racetrack for that distance.

“He broke really sharp,” Rosario said. “He looked like he was really enjoying what he was doing. I could see his ears, he was so relaxed.”

Knicks Go paid $8.40 to win on a $2 wager. It was his fourth consecutive win and boosted him in the running for the Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year.

“Speed is very dangerous,” Cox said.

Embattled trainer Bob Baffert’s Medina Spirit, who failed a drug test after the Derby, came in second. Medina Spirit is expected to be tested for the anti-inflammatory which is legal, but after the race week. Baffert currently does not face any charges.

Belmont Stakes winner Essential Quality, the 9-5 favorite, finished third. Essential Quality is retiring due to his stallion value.

The hometown hero Hot Rod Charlie, who enjoyed “Let’s go Chuck” chants leading up to the race, came in fourth.

The Breeders’ Cup classic had only eight horses because Express Train had swelling in his right hock in the morning and was scratched.

Last year, Knicks Go won all three of his races, including the G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. In January, the Maryland-bred Paynter colt won the G1 Pegasus Invitational.

While Baffert’s horse came in second in the classic on Saturday, his horse Corniche won the $2 million Juvenile on Friday. Corniche became a horse to watch in next year’s Derby, but it remains to be seen who will train him since Baffert is banned from the race for two years amid the Medina Spirit controversy.