Oaklawn Has Record Handle, Gulfstream Only Track on Easter

If you are still playing racing on the few tracks that have stayed in business, albeit without fans, and you like longshots, then Saturday was for you.

Starting at Gulfstream Park (incidentally the only track in action this Easter Sunday), the first three winners on the day were 73 to 1, 34 to 1 and 36 to 1, setting up a $14,000 Pick 3 payoff.

Two races later the Pick 5 ended and had a $500,000 payoff for a 50 cent base wager.

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At Oaklawn Park, $17 million was wagered on the card of racing, a record for the track and a number that could be broken in three weeks time on its biggest day of racing, the Arkansas Derby card on May 2.

Tampa Bay Downs had wagering of $6.8 million compared to $3.8 million on the same day last year, both days without stakes races.

Today Gulfstream offers 12 races, mostly claiming events and Canadian trainers Roger Attfield and Nick Gonzalez are in action.

The majority of racetracks in Canada and North America remain in a holding pattern while the deadly COVID-19 virus tears through the world.

Oaklawn Stakes recaps – Top Older horse Tom’s D’Etat, by Canadian bred Smart Strike, rules

The two Grade 1 winners and top-two betting favorites finished as expected with 4-5 choice Tom’s d’Etat prevailing by three-quarters of a length over Improbable in Saturday’s $150,000 Oaklawn Mile.

Ridden by Joel Rosario, Tom’s d’Etat settled well off the pace early as Pioneer Spirit took the field through early fractions :22 4/5 and 46 for the first half mile with several rivals in hot pursuit. The winner came five wide into the stretch and once he had his target in site, was able to run down Improbable for the victory, while covering the mile distance in 1:35 4/5 over a wet fast track. Bankit closed from last to get third.

“Now that we’re talking post-race, I couldn’t be any more happy with exactly how it turned out,” trainer Al Stall Jr. said via phone. “The type of race he had, and the way Joel (Rosario) rode him to save a little bit to keep us on the upward part of the curve. That’s the hottest word in America right now. We don’t want to flatten the curve with this horse.”

Unraced since his victory in the Clark Handicap (G1) at Churchill Downs last November, Tom’s d’Etat improved his record to 10 wins from 17 career starts and now has earned $1,326,572 for owner G M B Racing. The 7-year-old Smart Strike horse returned $3.60, $2.80 and $2.40.

Allied Racing Stable, LLC.’s Mr. Big News made some big noise with his 46-1 upset in Saturday’s $200,000 Oaklawn Stakes and has now earned an automatic berth to both the $750,000 Arkansas Derby (G1) May 2 and $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (G1) at a yet to be determined date.

Unhurried early, Mr. Big News raced near the back of the 13-horse field under jockey Gabriel Saez while Gold Street, who overcame post 13, grabbed the early lead through fractions of :22 and :45 2/5 for the first half-mile. In similar fashion to Tom d’Etat’s winning move in the Oaklawn Mile two races earlier, the winner came wide into the stretch and easily collared the pacesetter before holding off the late-charging Farmington Road. Taishan, who had raced close to the pace, held on for third. The winning time was 1:49 4/5 over a sloppy track.

“He warmed up good and was on the muscle,” Saez said. “He didn’t break as sharp as I wanted, so I just let him be, let him get into his own rhythm. When he hit the backstretch, he started moving and I said ‘OK Buddy. Go on with it.’ I kept track of the leaders. When we got to the top of the stretch, I swung him out into the clear and he found a different gear. He got the job done. I’m really pleased with that.”

Farmington Road and Taishan also receive automatic berths to the Arkansas Derby. Basin finished fourth and was followed by Shoplifted, Digital, Coach Bahe, Gold Street, Background, Something Natural, 2-1 favorite Thousand Words, who was fractious in the paddock and stumbled badly at the break, Flap Jack and Sir Rick.

Mr. Big News, by Giant’s Causeway, improved his record to 2-1-0 in six career starts and has now earned $167,053. The longshot returned $95.60, $24.80 and $10.80.