March 9 Venue Ideas

[JolyB]

Last Saturday's venue of Gulfstream was a no-brainer (something I've been told I'm good at). This Saturday offers a few more alternatives.

Aqueduct offers several stakes, including the Gotham, which probably will have a very full field. Tampa Bay offers its best racing card of the year, including the Tampa Bay Derby and the Florida Oaks. Turfway Park also has their best card of the year, although that may be a dubious distinction for a card highlighted by the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks (yes, that's the correct spelling).

The one that I think would be our best choice is at Santa Anita for "Big Cap" day, featuring the Santa Anita Handicap and including the Kilroe Mile and the Derby qualifying San Felipe. While the San Felipe will probably have a small field, it is projected to include the two top Baffert 3 year olds in Game Winner and Improbable. Jerry Hollendorfer's Gunmetal Gray is also expected. Santa Anita has cancelled its Thursday card in anticipation of heavy rains, but are planning to be ready to go on Saturday.

Right now I'm leaning toward selecting the full card at Santa Anita, but would welcome any comments you might have. I know that some might want to do every one of the Derby qualifying races, but I'm not excited about that choice - perhaps we could do that when we get to the 100 point qualifiers on the first weekend of April and the qualifying points really matter.

[RUFFIAN]

SANTA {THE TRACK NOT THE CLAWS} HAS MY PAWS UP

HOPEFULLY
THE RAIN AND BREAKDOWNS BOTH HAVE STOPPED

[cal828]

New York, Florida, California all good for me. I guess it's possible for a "monster" to come out of Turfway, but I don't think we've seen one that had much of an influence on the KD since Animal Kingdom.

[Real Quiet]

Santa Anita sounds good to me.

[Plenilune]

I'm going to admit that Santa Anita has me very anxious for both equine and human safety. At least they have brought back Dennis Moore to help bring the track back up to safe standards.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-rac...ack-consultant

[ElPrado]

Santa Anita has cancelled racing indefinitely, due to another fatality on the main track this morning.

[Plenilune]

Originally Posted by ElPrado

Santa Anita has cancelled racing indefinitely, due to another fatality on the main track this morning.

http://live.drf.com/nuggets/47243-sa...g-indefinitely

"Ritvo said racing will not be held this weekend, and declined to speculate on a date of resumption."

I am grateful they are taking this approach. The safety situation is out of control there and they need to do right by the horses and the jockeys.

[JolyB]

I'm so glad that management is doing the right thing to get to the bottom of the problem. For them to cancel one of their biggest race days of the year demonstrates how seriously they are treating this issue.

[DonGuido]

Tampa Bay with maybe 7-8 selected races and adding the SA Kilroe and San Felipe to keep the contest to 9-10 races. Just a thought??? Your call JB . . YOU ARE THE MAN!!! Well, didn't read the post on no racing at SA this weekend. Now it's really your call JB.

[cal828]

Originally Posted by Plenilune

I'm going to admit that Santa Anita has me very anxious for both equine and human safety. At least they have brought back Dennis Moore to help bring the track back up to safe standards.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-rac...ack-consultant

I hope that Mr. Moore can get a handle on it and stop it from happening. Much as I love the sport, a catastrophic breakdown can make you wonder whether you should find something else to do with your time. I could never be a trainer. The first time it happened, I be off to find a new job.