Thursday, November 10 2011
ON-TRACK HANDLE, ATTENDANCE, AND ACCOUNT WAGERING INCREASE, ALL-SOURCES HANDLE DECREASE
ELMONT, N.Y. – On-track handle and NYRA Rewards account wagering demonstrated huge gains during the 2011 Belmont Park fall meet and attendance also increased, while all-sources handle declined from last year.
On-track wagering on NYRA races during the Belmont fall meet totaled $41,656,097, up 45.4 percent over last year’s total of $28,656,204, while attendance increased 4.6 percent to 133,369 compared with 127,540 during last year’s meet, which was 35 days. The 2011 Belmont fall meet was scheduled for 37 days but only had 35 full days of racing, one day that was canceled after three races due to weather, and another that was canceled prior to the start of racing due to weather.
Monday, November 07 2011
CALIBRACHOA REMAINS UNBEATEN AT AQUEDUCT WITH BOLD RULER VICTORY
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Calibrachoa captured his fifth race in as many starts at Aqueduct Racetrack with a victory in Sunday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Bold Ruler Handicap.
Making his first start at the Big A since March, Calibrachoa prompted pacesetter Rule by Night through opening fractions of 22.29 and 45.25 seconds, claimed a narrow lead at the quarter pole, and shook clear of his rivals in the stretch to prevail by 2 ¾ lengths over Sangaree.
Sunday, November 06 2011
BOISTEROUS SPARKLES IN LIVELY RED SMITH VICTORY
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Boisterous wrapped up his 4-year-old campaign on a high note Saturday afternoon at Aqueduct Racetrack, coming from off the pace and rolling to a two-length victory over Bold Hawk in the 52nd running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Red Smith Handicap.
The victory was the second straight in a graded stakes for the Phipps Stable homebred, coming three weeks after his half-length triumph in the Grade 3 Knickerbocker at Belmont Park.
Friday, November 04 2011
ARENA ELVIRA TAKES TURNBACK THE ALARM IN BIG A OPENER
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Arena Elvira notched her third straight victory and first in a graded stakes Friday afternoon, pulling away to a 6 ¾-length triumph in the Grade 3, $100,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap, the opening-day feature at Aqueduct Racetrack.
With Junior Alvarado in the irons, the 4-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper tracked Banker’s Buy through an opening quarter-mile in 25.17 seconds and a half in 50.71, then moved alongside the pacesetter on the far turn. Straightening for home, Arena Elvira began opening up through the stretch under a hand ride and hit the wire in 1:51.59 for the 1 1/8 miles.
NEW YORK TO THE BREEDERS’ CUP: HAVRE DE GRACE
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – In 91 previous editions of the Grade 1 Beldame at Belmont Park, 41 winners have gone on to year-end divisional honors, with one – Lady’s Secret – earning Horse of the Year honors.
A quarter-century later, 2011 Beldame winner Havre de Grace will be bidding to earn the right to be called the nation’s top racehorse when she takes on 10 males Saturday in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.
CAIXA ELETRONICA, CALIBRACHOA FORM STRONG ENTRY IN BOLD RULER
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Stablemates Caixa Eletronica and Calibrachoa will take on five opponents on Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack in the Grade 3, $100,000 Bold Ruler Handicap at seven furlongs.
Caixa Eletronica and Calibrachoa faced each other in Belmont Park’s Grade 1 Vosburgh Invitational on October 1, with the former closing from last to finish third and the latter racing evenly to finish fifth.
Wednesday, November 02 2011
GRASSY SEEKS REPEAT IN BIG A’S RED SMITH HANDICAP
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While stablemates Gio Ponti and Winchester have been grabbing most of the headlines, Claiborne Farms and Adele Dilschneider’s Grassy hasn’t exactly been quiet.
One year ago, the gray son of El Prado notched his first graded stakes victory with a late charge to take the Grade 2 Red Smith Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack. Saturday, after six subsequent starts that included a third, two seconds and a win in the Grade 2 Bowling Green Handicap at Belmont Park, Grassy is back to defend his title in the 52nd running of the Red Smith.
NEW YORK TO THE BREEDERS’ CUP: MY MISS AURELIA
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Owner Barbara Banke knows something about talented fillies. It was just two years ago that she and her late husband Jess Jackson, along with Harold McCormick, campaigned 3-year-old Rachel Alexandra to four consecutive Grade 1 victories, including three against males, en route to Horse of the Year honors.
This year, Banke finds herself with a special 2-year-old, the morning-line favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, My Miss Aurelia, whom she co-owns with George Bolton. The undefeated Smart Strike filly was bred by and runs in the burgundy and gold colors of Stonestreet Stables, Banke and Jackson’s nom de course, and is named for Bolton’s mother, Aurelia.
NEW YORK TO THE BREEDERS’ CUP: IT’S TRICKY
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Some things get easier with the passage of time. Dealing with the temperamental It’s Tricky is not one of them.
But for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, the extra effort has been worth it.
TIZ MIZ SUE HEADLINES TURNBACK THE ALARM ON BIG A OPENER
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Thoroughbred racing returns to Aqueduct Racetrack Friday afternoon with the simulcast of Day 1 of the Breeders’ Cup and the 16th running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap for fillies and mares headlining the eight-race live card.
Tiz Miz Sue, most recently third to Ask the Moon in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga Race course, returns to action as the 6-5 morning-line favorite for the 1 1/8-mile Turnback the Alarm, which will be run as the fourth race on the card, with a special first-race post time of 1:15 p.m.
Tuesday, November 01 2011
NEW YORK TO THE BREEDERS’ CUP: SHKSPEARE SHALIYAH
ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Doodnauth Shivmangal, a native of Guyana, has a unique metaphor for the Breeders’ Cup.
“In cricket terminology, this is the World Cup,” said Shivmangal.
NEW YORK RACING MOVES TO BIG A ON NOVEMBER 4
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Thoroughbred racing action moves to Aqueduct Racetrack on Friday, November 4, with opening weekend featuring the simulcast of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships from Churchill Downs and exciting live racing action.
Racing fans can cheer on their favorite New York horses and watch and wager on all the Breeders’ Cup action on Friday, November 4 and Saturday, November 5. Admission to the Big A is free, with admission gates opening at 11 a.m. First race post time on Friday is 1:15 p.m. On Saturday and most days thereafter, first race post time is 12:20 p.m.
