Horse Racing Capsules: Lookin At Lucky not-so-lucky at Haskell draw
OCEANPORT, N.J. (AP) — Bob Baffert has been psyched all week, confident his Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky is ready to run another huge race in the $1 million Haskell Invitational on Sunday.
Then came the post position draw.
"Bob, he drew No. 1," Monmouth Park track announcer Larry Colmus told the trainer during a conference call Thursday.
"I think his name jinxed him all his life," a dejected-sounding Baffert replied. "Thanks for the call ... you guys just ruined my morning."
It's easy to see why Baffert's confidence might be shaken. The last time Lookin At Lucky left from the No. 1 post was in the Kentucky Derby, where he was promptly roughed up by other horses twice, nearly went down once, but managed to finish sixth.
In the Preakness, the 3-year-old colt drew lucky No. 7, had a new rider in Martin Garcia replacing Garrett Gomez, and enjoyed a perfect trip in his three-quarter length victory.
"His biggest problem in races is the draw," Baffert said of his bay colt who has won twice from the rail and once from the No. 2 post. "He's the most poorly drawn horse I've ever had. Sometimes he overcomes it and sometimes he doesn't, but he's a really good horse."
Despite the unfavorable post, Lookin At Lucky is the 5-2 morning-line favorite over Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and rising star Trappe Shot. Both are 3-1 in what shapes up as one of the deepest fields in Haskell history.
Rounding out the field of eight 3-year-olds are Derby runner-up Ice Box (9-2), Preakness runner-up First Dude (6-1), Withers winner Afleet Again (12-1) and 15-1 long shots Uptowncharlybrown and Our Dark Knight.
"It's really a blend of all the horses that had been running great in the classics, plus the new shooters," Super Saver's trainer Todd Pletcher said.
Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito sends out Ice Box and Our Dark Knight.
"This is the toughest Haskell I've seen," he said.
Trappe Shot, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, comes into the 1 1/8-mile Haskell with a four-race winning streak, including the Long Branch at Monmouth, but is running in his first graded stake.
"He's the 'now' horse," McLaughlin said, "but he's never run against Grade 1 horses. We do know he likes the track, and he should handle the distance."
Super Saver, meanwhile, comes in after a lackluster eighth-place finish in the Preakness. Pletcher said his colt has been training extremely well, has put on weight, and looks "in great form." Super Saver leaves from the No. 6 post and will be ridden by Calvin Borel.
The winner likely will become the leading contender for 3-year-old male champion, with the Travers at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 28 the next big race on the calendar.
Baffert is bidding to become the first trainer to win the Haskell four times. He's currently tied with Jimmy Croll and Sonny Hine. Baffert has won with Point Given (2001), War Emblem (2002) and Roman Ruler (2005).
"I've always had a lot of success there and I like going back to where we've had a lot of success," Baffert said.
This will be the first Haskell to feature the Derby winner against the Preakness winner. Last year, Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra beat Belmont winner Summer Bird. In 2008, Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown took the Haskell.
N.J. harness racing supporters rally to save sport
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Harness racing in New Jersey isn't going to die without a fight.
That's the message the head of the state's harness racing industry told about 150 supporters of the sport who attended an informational meeting in the paddock at the Meadowlands Racetrack on Thursday night.
The gathering came less than a week after Gov. Chris Christie backed a task force report recommending that the state revitalize Atlantic City and its casinos while pulling the plug on state support of horse racing.
Tom Luchento told harness trainers, drivers and horsemen at the racetrack that while the Hanson Report was difficult to swallow and offered racing unacceptable options, racing was not going to go quietly.
The head of the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey called for members to unite and attend a meeting of the New Jersey Gaming Summit in Atlantic City next week.
"Notwithstanding the governor's report prepared by Jon Hanson, we are not folding, fading or leaving," Luchento said. "Let me dispel the rumors. We are not done here. We are not close to closing the doors here or at Freehold."
About 10 people at the meeting either spoke or posed questions to Luchento, with a couple wondering why the state refused to allow slot machines at the track.
"This is it," trainer George Anthony said. "This is the battle for survival and the horsemen at this point have to unite. I think we have been divided for many years and now the time has come to show the people of New Jersey that this decision and this report is bogus."
Dr. Karyn Malinowski, director of Rutgers' Equine Science Center, said the loss of racing would have dire effects on the state.
Malinowski said horse racing is the economic driving engine of agricultural business in the state, generating $1.1 billion annually, with $780 million coming directly from racing.
If racing died, much of the 57,000 acres of land now devoted to the industry would be lost, she said.
"The bottom line, you have $160 million in taxes, $115 million due to racing, 57,000 acres, 700 farms, 7,000 jobs and $780 million gone from the state of New Jersey if racing leaves New Jersey," Malinowski said.
Hall of Fame driver John Campbell was angry with both the report and the governor's decision. He said pressure has to be applied to politicians to get them to support racing.
"This is not a lost cause," Campbell said. "There is a lot of potential here if we can change the culture of the grandstand food and services and upgrade our technology. There is a lot of room for potential and they are not giving us the opportunity to do that."
Earlier Thursday, Christie met with 12 lawmakers who represent Monmouth and surrounding counties that form the heart of New Jersey's horse racing industry. The area is home to Monmouth Park race track and picturesque farms for thoroughbred and standardbred horses.
A legislator who attended the meeting said the governor urged those with a vested interest in the viability of the racing industry to devise a plan for long-term survival that doesn't include state subsidies.
That plan would include additional off-track wagering parlors, which each bring in an estimated $7 to $8 million a year, and renegotiated contracts with companies that provide the broadcast signal for races from other states, according to the lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was private.
Mike Gulotta, the owner of Deo Volente Farms, believes racing can be successful with the harness track in private hands.
"I think privatization is the key to returning the Meadowlands to its position of pre-eminence as the world's greatest harness racing venue," he said.
-- Tom Canavan
Beau Choix wins Quick Call Stakes at Saratoga
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — Beau Choix wore down Lonesome Street and Lighthouse Sound in the stretch to win the $70,000 Quick Call Stakes for 3-year-olds by a head Thursday at Saratoga.
Javier Castellano rode Beau Choix for trainer Barclay Tagg, covering a mile over a firm turf course in 1:35.57 to earn $42,000 for owners Belle Meadow Farm and Lael Stable. Beau Choix paid $6.80, $4.10 and $3. Lonesome Street paid $8.60 and $5.70 and Lighthouse Sound paid $7.10 to show.
The Quick Call was one of two stakes on the Saratoga card. Earlier, favored Devil by Design and jockey Kent Desormeaux took a 2½-length win in the $70,000 Lucy Scribner Stakes for fillies and mares and earned $42,000 for owners Eurowest Bloodstock and Tony Chedraoui.
Devil by Design paid $4.30, $3.10 and $2.60. Runner-up Southern Accents paid $6.90 and $4.30. Worstcasescenario paid $4 to show.
Holding Her Ground wins at Del Mar
DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) — Holding Her Ground led gate-to-wire in winning Thursday's $59,000 feature by 1¼ lengths at Del Mar.
Ridden by Christian Santiago Reyes, Holding Her Ground ran six furlongs in 1:09.65 and paid $54, $20.40 and $4.40 as the longest shot in the field of six older fillies and mares at 26-1.
Fund Raiser returned $4.20 and $2.80 as the 9-5 favorite, while Heartless Vixen paid $3 to show.
