CITY OF LIGHTS is off to stud at Lane’s End Farm following his smashing win in the 3rd PEGASUS WORLD CUP (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday – VANESSA NG PHOTO – HORSE-RACES.NET
One thing about the PEGASUS WORLD CUP SERIES created by Frank Stronach and daughter Belinda, it is becoming a glitzy and glamorous event in the swanky town of Miami. High energy visitors combined with plenty of entertainment and food ensured a buzzed crowd at Gulfstream Park on Saturday despite dreary weather.
Getting the sport and big event days into the mainstream media and on social network platforms is the key for the Pegasus and there are indications that it is heading in the right direction.
On-track handle for the 12 races was $4.123 million, flat with last year’s on-track handle of $4.131. Total handle, despite the conditions was $37.786 million, down 10 per cent from 2018.
“It was an incredible day of racing and entertainment,” said Gulfstream’s General Manager Bill Badgett. “There was a great energy throughout the building and, despite the conditions and the three races being taken off the turf, the day was a great success and continues building on The Stronach Group’s modernization of Thoroughbred racing. We want to thank the fans, the horsemen, and the performances of all our athletes. We look forward to the coming weeks of the Championship Meet with more incredible races and entertainment.”
The card of racing and the quality of horses has been top notch which allows the traditionalists to revel in a super day of racing whether they are on-track, at a telethreatre or at home.
CITY OF LIGHTS‘ dominant victory was expected by many since the colt’s speed figured to be rewarded in the slop. ACCELERATE ran a brave race to finish 3rd and both are now off to stud. Canadian owned SEEKING THE SOUL ran a super race for owner Charles Fipke to charge from far back to be second.
Attempting to decipher just how much influence these big racing days has on growing the sport’s fan-base and, just as importantly, new horse owners, is difficult. There is no question that newcomers to horse racing thought the day was the bomb, with Snoop Dog and Mark Ronson taking care of post-race entertainment. Luring the 25-40-year-old set to horse racing is the goal although it was hard to find much on social media from stars such as Snoop Dog, Dennis Rodman and the like of their day at the track
The Stronach family has put up plenty of time and money into making this race, and also its Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, into mainstream events. Belinda Stronach’s daughter, Nicole Walker, an accomplished show jumper, is also now on board as managing events for the Stronach Group (see story below).
Meanwhile, wagering on horse racing will be explosive this week with two tracks having big carryovers in Pick 6 wagers with mandatory payouts on the wager coming this weekend.
Both Gulfstream and Santa Anita (also a Stronach track) are carrying over big amounts for the Pick 6 and as long as one single winning ticket is not hit, fans will have a chance to share in large pots on the weekend.
Rainbow Six mania is about to overtake Santa Anita, as The Great Race Place steams toward the popular 20 cent Single Ticket Jackpot wager this coming Saturday, Feb. 2.
With a crush of $450,982 in “new” money over the weekend, Sunday’s total live money Rainbow Pick Six Jackpot pool reached $1,817,578. And, with Santa Anita guaranteeing another $2 million Jackpot on both Thursday and Friday, it seems certain there will be a $2 million live money pool on Saturday, which track officials project could balloon to a total mandatory payout pool of more than $20 million.
With six consolation winning tickets on Friday each worth $19,448.60, there were 36 consolation winners Saturday, each returning $5,226. While there were once again no single ticket winners on Sunday, 75 consolation tickets with six winners each paid $3,199.90, resulting in an average daily consolation payout through 20 racing days of $7,893.20.
First post time for an eight-race card on Thursday is at 12:30 p.m. Approximate post time for Thursday’s third race, the beginning of the Rainbow Six, is at 1:30 p.m. PT.
In heavy rain, CITY OF LIGHTS reigned – VANESSA NG PHOTO – HORSE-RACES.NET
Lightly raced BRICKS AND MORTAR charged to victory in the first Pegasus Turf worth $7 million for Klaravich and Bill Lawrence and trainer Chad Brown. – VANESSA NG PHOTO
MEDIA STUFF
MEDIA STUFFBELINDA STRONACH, daughter NICOLE WALKER on MODERNIZING HORSE RACING
“We recognize that we are competing with every other form of entertainment but know that a day at the races is an experience like no other!” – Belinda Stronach
America’s Best Racing noted its Top Tweets from Pegasus day.
OAKLAWN PARK IN ARKANSAS OPENS
Huge crowds at Oaklawn Park on the weekend
The first three days of the 57-day Oaklawn Park meeting in Hot Springs Arkansas lured 48,00 fans to the track over those days.
Canada’s leading trainer NORM MCKNIGHT won a race on each day including a starter allowance with 2017 Prince of Wales Stakes winner Cool Catomine.
FOALS ARE ARRIVING
Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in King, ON welcomed a filly by Kantharos – Back Off by Put It Back on Jan 24. Tova Kane and Brian Morgan (shown) and Glenn Sikura (photographer) brought her into the the world. The filly’s dam is a half sister to Grade 2 winner Bucchero
Norse Ridge Farm welcomed one of its first foals of the season on the weekend with this colt by WE MISS ARTIE – GRANNY BROUGHTON, by Sky Mesa. Owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, the colt is by Plate Trial winner We Miss Artie; photo courtesy Catherine Mucklestone (at right)
CONQUEST TSUNAMI CONTINUES TO ROLL
In a completely dominant performance, owner Gary Barber’s Ontario-bred Conquest Tsunami made every pole a winning one as he cruised to a 4 ¼ length victory in Sunday’s $70,000 Clockers’ Corner Stakes under Drayden Van Dyke. Trained by Peter Miller, the 7-year-old Stormy Atlantic gelding got 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course in 1:11.02, which is just a quarter second off of the track record of 1:10.73.
“My first time on him,” said Van Dyke. “Pete said to try and make the lead. I watched film and know that last time on the hill, Cistron (today’s runner-up)…went ding-dong with him on the lead and they went a little faster than I did today.
“Today, I was able to get an easy lead, well not necessarily easy, but when he’s able to be alone he relaxes better, puts his ears up, and then he kicks on better.”
Most recently third in the Grade II Palos Verdes Stakes going six furlongs on the main track Jan. 19, Conquest Tsunami, bred by Ted Burnett’s Josham Farms and Yvonne Schwabe and produced from the El Corredor mare Classic Neel, was off as the 7-5 favorite as he returned to turf in a field of nine older horses and paid $4.80, $3.40 and $2.80.
A winner of the Grade III Daytona Stakes over the course on Feb. 24 of last year, Conquest Tsunami now has three wins from five tries down the hill. With the winner’s share of $43,620, he now has earnings of $783,031 and an overall mark of 30-9-4-5.
“His time was awfully fast!” said Miller. “He liked that one week turn around. He was doing so well, Gary Barber and I, we’re not afraid to do that with the right horse, right situation, and sound horse. If (the horse) has lots of energy and feels good, let’s go!”
Conquest Tsunami was one of dozens of horses injured in the 2017 San Luis Rey Downs barn fires and at one point, it was thought the now 7-year-old was lost in the blaze. But he was eventually found and he has made a stunning return to racing. He has earnings approaching $800,000.
OCALA BREEDERS’ SALE – HORSE OF RACING AGE/WINTER MIXED
Jan 29-30
Plenty of Canadians are in Ocala, Fla this week to shop at the Winter Mixed and Horses of Racing Age sale at OBS.
Ontario-breds in sale:
158 3/7/2012 M Hidden to Win Philanthropist Chartreux ON T-Square Stud LLC, Agent I
185 1/29/2010 M Rejoiceful Corinthian Ethan’s Car ON T-Square Stud LLC, Agent I
213 2/8/2016 C Red Revenge Trappe Shot Miss Olive Oil ON Jose Munoz 15
252 5/9/2016 C Keep Your Word Broken Vow Arabis ON Sam-Son Farm 13
267 2/2/2014 G Everglow Awesome Again Brave Destiny ON Sam-Son Farm 13
279 3/28/2017 F Curlin Dance Again ON Sam-Son Farm 13
613 1/24/2007 M Maux Money Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) Bail Money ON Beth Bayer, Agent
