But was TVG Watching?

My first shot on camera publicly talking about my selections for an entire race card is now in the books.  If I had a copy of the video, I would post it here for everyone, but I gather that these are not something that Canterbury archives so my debut may be lost for the ages!

I spent quite a bit of time time prepping for my maiden start and I learned a few things.  When you are in a position to tell 5,000 people (plus the folks who may be on-line watching) who you like in a race and why, you tend to be a bit more careful.  I noticed everything: speed, pace, class, time between races, possible trainer intentions, you name the angle and I paid attention to it.  It’s also tough to have a solid opinion on every race.  As a bettor even though you would say, “This is a race I’d just as soon pass than bet”, but as a public handicapper that’s not what you’re there for, so you soldier on and give your opinion.

So how did things turn out?  The stat line was pretty good for my top choices:

8 races, 4 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds or, in horsespeak, 8 – 4 – 1 – 2

A flat $2 wager on each of my top choices to win would have cost you $16 and returned just a touch over $30.  My winners were odds of 8/5, 3-1, 5-1 and 1-1.  Whether you measure your wins in percentage or return on investment, this is a pretty good day.

How did the TV side go?  That could use some work.  The only copy I saw was one my wife took from her iPhone of the computer feed, not the greatest copy in the world, but I was able to pick out that I had too many “ums”, way too many “you knows” and I used the phrase, “keep out of the exotics at your own peril” twice – one time too many. 

I was pretty nervous on the approach to the show but once I got in the “hot tub”, as the box is known at the track, that all disappeared as KQRS personality Mike Gelfand and I got started.  Of course it helps that Mike is a consummate professional, though at one point he threw it over to me as I was drinking water!  I calmly finished my swig and continued on gamely.  In the moment, the silence felt like it lasted forever, but on the replay it didn’t come across all that badly.

The moment I’m most proud of was warning the crowd against what would be the prohibitive favorite, Bigdaddywarbucks, in the sixth race.  The horse was dropping to $5,000 claiming after winning a maiden special weight in his last start.  I’d never seen that before in a horse that did not have an extended layoff.  He was my third choice and I told the crowd that even though he was coming off a nice win from a leading barn, that drop had me concerned enough not to play him on top.  I went with Waverly Charmer, who ran like a champ, won by 2 ½ and paid $13.80 for the win.

In the fifth, where my selection Speedy Butterfly won, my two choices underneath finished off the board BUT I did say that of those two Prairie Meadow shippers I preferred the one that had been running in claiming company rather than the allowance horse because the claiming horse had actually made something of his starts rather than just getting dragged around the track.  Don’t Tell Dad did indeed finish ahead of Friendly Emma.  No money in that, but I was happy that the analysis panned out.  Having the top choice win didn’t hurt either.

The presentation needs some work, though I think not bad for a maiden effort.  Thankfully the analysis was pretty good.  I wonder if the “Ken Rudolph Replacement Search Committee” caught the show?

MTA Awards Banquet

Saturday evening was the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association's annual awards banquet. Traditionally the breakfast and now the last few years, dinner, has been the official bow-tying of the previous season and a launch into the next. The 2010 seasonal champions were officially crowned and the last few days to the countdown of the new Canterbury Park season began in earnest (19 days in case you’re scoring at home).

Carin Offerman, a member of the Board of Directors at Canterbury, gave the official welcome and Dick Day and Jeff Hilger briefed the group on the progression of the racino legislation in St. Paul.

The featured speaker of the evening was Minnesota native and TVG personality Matt Carothers. He spent most of his formative years in Minnesota around Canterbury Downs and, later, Canterbury Park. Carothers cut his on-air teeth after Canterbury re-opened as Canterbury Park and it served as a springboard to larger market jobs and, finally, to his joining TVG where he has been since its inception.

On the air, while always humorous, Carothers can sometimes be so sure in his opinions that it comes across as arrogant. In person, the first word that comes to mind is engaging. One word that doesn’t come to mind when you watch him on the air is humble, but you can use that word – and every synonym for it – when you hear him speak in person. The obvious love he has for his family comes through in every story, especially those featuring his father. He radiates a sincere thankfulness for all he has obtained, and to those who helped him attain it, even though it is owed mostly to his own talent and hard work.

The stories about old Canterbury Downs were hilarious. Carothers recalled the early years when, “in the days before simulcasting, gamblers actually moved to Minnesota to bet races at Canterbury Downs.” The combination of enthusiastic wagering with a general lack of betting sophistication was simply too hard to resist, so up would swim the sharks and feast on the newbies.

Carothers was generous with his time and answered every question put to him. He came early and stayed late. The question on everyone’s mind was “Who do you like in the Derby?” I like to answer that right now with, “Who don’t you like?”

Given all the recent defections and the horses drawing in, Carothers said that anyone with a decent three year old has to be looking at this year’s Derby and thinking they have a shot. Because of that “this year you’re going to have mile and a sixteenth synthetic horses trying to win the Derby!” His early favorite, absolutely open to change given the length of time before the race: Shakleford. I would tune in to TVG later this week, though, just to be sure.

The awards were presented and several winners had back to back winning years including Win Willy as the top Minnesota owned horse; Bet Your Boots followed up his championship two year old season with a triumph in the two year old colt/gelding category; and Bella Notte returned to claim older filly and mare honors. All three will also be back this season trying for three-peats!

The stallion awards were given out to a pair of repeaters as well. Demidoff took home the top Minnesota Stallion award while Gold Fever was the Thoroughbred Times Stallion award winner. A complete list of winners is at the bottom of the page.

The evening was rounded off by Gary Speich, landscape businessman and horse owner, detailing the Fillies Race for Hope and Dr. Jennifer Selvig, DVM and Annie Ringwelski, Directors of the Minnesota Retired Racehorse Project.

The Fillies Race for Hope is going to be a full day of filly and mare racing at Canterbury Park topped off by the $75,000 Lady Canterbury Stakes. The day will honor those that have fought the battle against breast cancer and combine that with a fun and active day at the races. Sponsorships are available for this event with all proceeds going to benefit the Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Foundation, an organization that helps underserved or financially distressed individuals or families touched by breast cancer (much in the same way that the Cystic Dreams Fund does for families touched by cystic fibrosis). Circle the date on your calendar – July 31. It promises to be a memorable day.

The Minnesota Retired Racehorse Project is a relatively unknown yet extremely valuable resource in the racing community. Founded in August of 2009, the MRRP has directly placed or assisted in the sale of over 50 retired racehorses! All of this is accomplished strictly by volunteers. The organization is run on donations alone and 100% (yup, all of it!) is used directly for the horses. Many of us know that it takes a small fortune to keep a horse in training, but did you know that only a fraction of that can help retrain a horse for a new career or rehab it from injury? A $100 donation would feed a horse for a month. Even $5 would purchase a bale of hay. The MRRP recently received their 501(c)3 designation from the IRS so each and every contribution is tax deductible. A small live auction, run expertly by Jay Dailey, raised over $700 Saturday night, but more help is needed. Racing season is almost underway and their services are always in demand by summers end. I hope you’ll take a moment and click on the link and visit. Dr. Jen, Annie and their staff are doing all they can, but need your help, too.

So it was a night of awards and of giving back; a nod to the past and hope for the future. Canterbury Park opens in 19 days – I hope to see you there…all summer long.

2010 Minnesota Awards

2-year old filly – ESPRIT DE BLEU (Blue Valley Farms LLC breeder/owner)

2-year old colt – BLACK TIE BENNY (Barbara Rehbein breeder/owner)

3-year old filly – HUNTER’S TIGER PAW (Joel & Kris Zamzow breeder/owner)

3-year old colt – BET YOUR BOOTS (Richard Bremer & Cheryl Sprick breeders/owners)

Older filly/mare – BELLA NOTTE (Art & Gretchen Eaton breeders/owners)

Older colt/gelding – NOMOREWINEFOREDDIE (Wind N Wood Farm breeder; Anthony Didier owner)

Broodmare of the Year – MASQUERADE STAR (Joel & Kris Zamzow owners)

Minnesota Stallion Award – DEMIDOFF (Mohamed El Deeb of Cross Creek Farm owner)

Thoroughbred Times Stallion Award – GOLD FEVER (Jeff & Karen Greseth owner)

Minnesota Owned Horse – WIN WILLY (Jer-Mer Stables, LLC owner)

TOBA Award – Jeff & Deb Hilger

Charles Bellingham Award – Jeff & Deb Hilger

No Claiming Crown in Minnesota This Year

The 2011 edition of the Claiming Crown, a partnership between the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeder's Association, will be held at the Fair Grounds, or more accurately these days, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, in Louisiana, leaving Canterbury Park for the only the third time in its thirteen year history. Past editions have also been contested at Ellis Park and Philadelphia Park.

If the Breeder's Cup was set up for the rarefied gentry of thoroughbred racing, then the Crown was set up to honor the heroes that make up the meat of every day race cards in North America, the claiming horse and connections. I know for my humble band of enthusiasts it was a goal for us last season until Tabby Lane faltered after moving north. It's an exciting event to be a part of and for the work-a-day owners and trainers it could very well be the culmination of their season with the ability to race for more money than they ever have before.

While the event is tremendous, I can't say that I'm sad to see it go. Without "alternative gaming" as slots are euphemistically called, Canterbury has had to cut dates and purses (albeit to a lesser extent than many places). Because the Crown isn't self sufficient, Canterbury has also had to fund the balance of purses and I can't imagine that the day is particularly profitable given the outlay. Having TVG on site is great and it really is hard to put a price tag on being the center of the North American racing world for a day - especially when we really would not be otherwise. But with the economy only slowly rebounding and still no slots at the track, I am a bit selfishly glad that this money will go back into local racing.

At least for this season.

Diplo Looks to Break Maiden on Sunday

The road to the Triple Crown marches on, but across the country, thousands of racehorses that have no chance of being in Louisville the first Saturday in May are still loading into starting gates and hoping to be late bloomers. One of those heading to post on Sunday is our friend Diplo at Santa Anita. After a few weeks off, Diplo is back in action taking on a full field of 11 other maiden three year olds going seven furlongs over the Pro-Ride in a $32,000 Maiden Claiming race. Here is how the field breaks down:

1 Bog Wags (Glatt/Espinosa): Dropping in from two subpar efforts in MSWs. Didn't turn many heads, but these droppers can always step up against lesser.

2 Dr. Tong (Stein/Atkinson): Was as close as he's ever been last out at this level, but was still beaten by 5 horses and 6 1/4 lengths.

3 Jenary Joe (Robbins/Flores): 1st time starter (Ronton-Dear Delilah-Expelled) has shown little in his workout pattern to indicate he's ready to strike first out.

4 Summers At Delamar (Canani/Talamo): A very solid closing second place finish last out at this level after dropping in from MSW. The extra half furlong may help. Should be dangerous.

5 Chimu (Garcia/Quinones): Lost rider last out coming off an improved second effort at this level. If all is OK upstairs, should be in the mix.

6 Outrageous Fortune (Puype/Stherland): The other 1st timer in the group (Event of the Year-Half Moon Bay-Bertrando), but he's out of a barn that hits 11% 1st timers and 20% the first time entered in a MCL. Workout pattern is solid. Should be ready to fire.

7 Sky'squickscore (Stute/Rosario): Both attempts at this level have been solid but not spectacular. Looks like the added half furlong is going to be a hindrance rather than a help.

8 DIPLO (O'NEIL/BEJERANO)

9 Warren's Mr Lucky (Guitterez/Amadore): Has shown little that predicts anything but a back of the pack finish in here.

10 Iotabgray (Powell/Pedroza): Hasn't started since a flat effort at Del Mar last summer. Workout pattern is fine, but nothing to recommend here.

11 Manogold (Cerin/Reyes Santiago): Given the trouble involved last out, his debut wasn't as bad as it looks. Works leading into this are solid and trainer is firing at 25% in second time maiden starts. Could be a nice price.

12 Bettingonthefly (Fanning/Smith): All three tries this year have been an ever closer second. Could be the extra half furling is all he needs. Loses Talamo this time, though.

Can our boy win this race? Yes, he absolutely can. He has improved every start while moving up in class each time. He drops back now to what should be his comfort zone and is fit and healthy. TVG's wags last out wondered if Diplo has the will to win given that he's picked up a check every outing but can never seem to make it to the top. We'll see on Sunday as all indications point to this being his beast chance so far to join the ranks of the winners. A big field never helps and there are certainly some real contenders in here, but I believe he can finally break through this time and chalk up his first (hopefully of many) wins. Best of luck Diplo - come home safely!