HorseRacing Central October 17, 2008

HANDICAPPING WITH THE BEST

They will gather from near and far at Hastings Racecourse early Sunday morning and be ready for the first race at Belmont at 10 a.m. when the popular DRF/NTRA Handicapping contest clicks into gear. It is designed to be the ultimate qualifying experience for horseplayers attempting to gain a berth in the National Championship Contest in Las Vegas next January where the prize purse is expected to surpass $1 million.

The top three finishers in the one-day competition at Hastings will be heading to the Red Rock Casino in Vegas. Each contestant on Sunday will make eight wagers on selected races and will also have seven optional plays where they can wager on races from Hastings, Belmont, Woodbine, Santa Anita, Keeneland and Golden Gate.

The 15 total mythical $2 Win & Place wagers are tallied up with the three highest totals declared the winners for the all-expense paid trips to Las Vegas.

WHAT’S ON TAP

Woodbine

There are two stakes races on Saturday’s program at Woodbine with the first being the $150,000 Franfreluche (12:35 p.m.) for 2-year-old Ontario-bred fillies going six furlongs. K.K. Sangara’s recent acquisition Stranger Things will be one of the favourites. She was third in the $125,000 Victoria Queen Stakes last time out. Also on the card is the $100,000 River Memories (1:34 p.m.) for fillies and mares at a mile on the E.P. Taylor turf course.

Santa Anita

The feature event Saturday at Santa Anita oddly enough will not be the $75,000 Jack Goodman Stakes (4:30 p.m.) but instead, a special tribute to some of the greatest jockeys of all-time. How is this for a lineup of legends: Dee Dee’s Legacy (Jerry Bailey), Tribal Chief (Sandy Hawley), Swift Demand (Pat Day), Kalookan Event (Jacinto Vasquez), Scandalous (Gary Stevens), Waafi (Chris McCarron), Major Smoke (Julie Krone) and Stathy (Angel Cordero Jr.).

It’s a seven furlong allowance race (2:00 p.m.) that fans won’t want to miss. The morning line favourite at 5-2 is Jerry Bailey but after my chat with Pat Day a couple of weeks ago in Jerome’s, he says the fittest rider is Angel Cordero Jr., who still works a lot of horses as he secures mounts for John Valazquez. Angel is his agent.

Also at Belmont this weekend is New York Cup Day with more than $1 million up for grabs for the best New York-bred talent. Seven stakes races will be staged and they’re all available via simulcast.

The countdown continues to the 25th Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita Oct. 24 & 25 with 14 races encompassing two days. Advanced wagering for the Saturday card begins Friday at 10 a.m. at all wagering outlets throughout B.C.

BEHIND THE SCENE WITH WOLSKI

Tommy Wolski and his talented staff from the “Sport of Kings” show on Citytv at 11 a.m. Saturdays certainly do get “behind the scene” and this week’s show is a perfect example. Watch for an exclusive interview with Mr. Ross McLeod, Chairman and CEO of Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, owners of Hastings Entertainment Inc. Mr. McLeod talks openly about what lies ahead for the future of the industry.

EXCITING SHOWDOWN AT FRASER

The $100,000 Clash of the Pacific final is set for Fraser Downs Friday (Oct. 17) in the ninth race of a 12-race card and it promises to be a good old-fashioned western showdown.

Classy Character goes for his fifth consecutive victory at Fraser against defending champion Grand Bend Turbo, both winners a week ago in the two $25,000 Clash of the Pacific second leg splits. Classy Character went gate-to-wire in a career best 1:52 while Grand Bend Turbo won his division in 1:52.3. Talk about close!

B.C. BREEDERS STAKES

Qualifying legs for the rich BCSBS Breeders Stakes begin next week (Oct. 23) with the first of two legs for 2-year-old fillies, colts and geldings. The 3-year-olds (Mary Murphy fillies) and Robert Murphy (colts) go the following night, Oct. 24. Second legs will run Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 with the BC Breeders Classic Day set for Tuesday, Nov. 11 with more than $400,000 in purses. It will also be the day for the inaugural $100,000 Mary Murphy 3-year-old BC Breeders Filly Stakes Final and the $100,000 3-year-old Robert Murphy Colt & Gelding Stakes. The 2-year-old BC Breeders Stakes finals carry purses of $50,000.

EXCLUSIVE TO HORSERACING CENTRAL SUBSCRIBERS

We want to acknowledge our HorseRacing Central readers & subscribers by offering a share of a $1,000 draw at the end of October, 2008. $500 will go to our first ballot drawn with $250, $150 and $100 available in that order. This special HRC offer is for members and subscribers only. Members can enter by filling out this coupon and dropping it off at an HPI Centre at Hastings or Fraser Downs.

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