Short Field Sizes

[ThreeMustangs]

Today's 7th at Belmont, a 1 1/8-mile Allowance for 3yo+up F&M on the turf, ended up with just TWO runners.
Won by Baby Blythe (American Pharoah) over Chad Brown's Investmentstrategy (Kingman).

To be fair, the race originally had 9 entries. Seven horses scratched—many due to the yielding turf.

[stark]

Today's 7th at Belmont, a 1 1/8-mile Allowance for 3yo+up F&M on the turf, ended up with just TWO runners.
Won by Baby Blythe (American Pharoah) over Chad Brown's Investmentstrategy (Kingman).

To be fair, the race originally had 9 entries. Seven horses scratched—many due to the yielding turf.

David Grening
@DRFGrening
·
Jun 9
Four horses, #s, 5,6,8 and 9 were not administered Lasix within the permitted window of time (1:45 to 2:15 p.m.) thus necessitating they be scratched. The #2 was a stewards scratch due to a licensing issue. #3 was an MTO and #7 didn't ship from Maryland.

David Grening
@DRFGrening
· Jun 9
BEL race 7 is now a match race -- and it's ON the turf.

[Gemini]

Today's 7th at Belmont, a 1 1/8-mile Allowance for 3yo+up F&M on the turf, ended up with just TWO runners.
Won by Baby Blythe (American Pharoah) over Chad Brown's Investmentstrategy (Kingman).

To be fair, the race originally had 9 entries. Seven horses scratched—many due to the yielding turf.

David Grening
@DRFGrening
·
Jun 9
Four horses, #s, 5,6,8 and 9 were not administered Lasix within the permitted window of time (1:45 to 2:15 p.m.) thus necessitating they be scratched. The #2 was a stewards scratch due to a licensing issue. #3 was an MTO and #7 didn't ship from Maryland.

David Grening
@DRFGrening
· Jun 9
BEL race 7 is now a match race -- and it's ON the turf.

Given the current obsession with meds and withdrawal times, how do four horses get missed?

[stark]

Today's 7th at Belmont, a 1 1/8-mile Allowance for 3yo+up F&M on the turf, ended up with just TWO runners.
Won by Baby Blythe (American Pharoah) over Chad Brown's Investmentstrategy (Kingman).

To be fair, the race originally had 9 entries. Seven horses scratched—many due to the yielding turf.

David Grening
@DRFGrening
·
Jun 9
Four horses, #s, 5,6,8 and 9 were not administered Lasix within the permitted window of time (1:45 to 2:15 p.m.) thus necessitating they be scratched. The #2 was a stewards scratch due to a licensing issue. #3 was an MTO and #7 didn't ship from Maryland.

David Grening
@DRFGrening
· Jun 9
BEL race 7 is now a match race -- and it's ON the turf.

NYRA Lasix vet fined for error that resuled in four scratches and a two-horse field
https://www.drf.com/news/nyra-lasix-vet ... orse-field

[MySaladDays]

Let the little guys back into the sport. Give them stalls, limit the stalls for the super trainers. There is no willingness to do that by the big guys.

As a matter of fact, and won't name names here, but there were even some talking heads who seemed to be "overly annoyed" at the attention Rich Strike was receiving as the KY Derby winner..........yet,, I rarely see them complain when it was Baffert, Brown, etc.

Guess what? Fans of horses love the backstories. They love the baths. They love all of it. The human and horse interest stories is what draws people who are not "degenerate gamblers" into the sport.

It gets boring (and not financially lucrative) for even someone like me who LOVES racing, to see the same 5 people win over and over again, or have 2-4 horses in ONE race. That's absurb. We don't need MORE horses at all. I keep a virtual stable with a LOT of horses in it.......and every 6 months I go thru it and have no idea what happened to most of 'em. Where do they all go when they "fail" racing? Don't answer that.

So I just take my wagers elsewhere. There is no shortage of fields in the tracks I play (australia, hong kong, japan).

Finally, ask yourself who and when did "racing to breed not breeding to race" start? Who were the top ones who turned U.S. racing into that direction????

Which connections went increasingly with the "chemists" and "chemical trainers"? .......and owners gave their horses to those guys, instead of someone like Jack van Berg, who figured it out, refused to go in that direction, and then was no longer given any "good stock" by owners?

As for Lasix, Lasix isn't a PED but it can be a masking agent for "other stuff". And the rest of the world has no problem racing w/out it.. Like Gai Waterhouse said "it just requires good horsemanship".

Ask Clement, Motion why they don't have medication suspensions. Clearly, it's not rocket science to time these things correctly. Yet, "some trainers" seem to do it over and over........and over again. Maybe they need to get out of the sport.?? If they can't manage a barn, horses, personnel. I keep up with the Rulings, there are too many good trainers to name, but besides Clement and Motion others seem to do a good job like Dan Blacker, Sherriffs, McGaughey, Mark Hennig, Sheppard, Kimmel, Atfield, etc.

[stark]

SHUVEE STAKES (GRADE 2)

1 Exotic West Kentucky 4/F Javier Castellano120 Gary Sciacca 12-1
2 Crazy Beautiful Kentucky 4/F Julien R. Leparoux 124 Kenneth G. McPeek 8-1
3 Malathaat Kentucky/B 4/F John R. Velazquez 124 Todd A. Pletcher 4-5
4 Clairiere Kentucky 4/F Joel Rosario 124 Steven M. Asmussen 1-1

[Diver52]

SHUVEE STAKES (GRADE 2)

1 Exotic West Kentucky 4/F Javier Castellano120 Gary Sciacca 12-1
2 Crazy Beautiful Kentucky 4/F Julien R. Leparoux 124 Kenneth G. McPeek 8-1
3 Malathaat Kentucky/B 4/F John R. Velazquez 124 Todd A. Pletcher 4-5
4 Clairiere Kentucky 4/F Joel Rosario 124 Steven M. Asmussen 1-1

That's called "small but select" in New York. In California it's called "pathetic."

[stark]

Upcoming 4th race at Saratoga, The Honorable Miss Handicap, 6F $200,000.

1 M/L:2 Frank's Rockette Mott William I 121 Prat Flavien

2 M/L:1/2 Bella Sofia Rodriguez Rudy R 125 Saez Luis

3 M/L:12 Amadevil David Olochuck 117 Ortiz Jose L

4 M/L:4 Kimari Ward Wesley A 123 Rosario Joel

[stark]

Upcoming 4th race at Saratoga, The Honorable Miss Handicap, 6F $200,000.

1 M/L:2 Frank's Rockette Mott William I 121 Prat Flavien

2 M/L:1/2 Bella Sofia Rodriguez Rudy R 125 Saez Luis

3 M/L:12 Amadevil David Olochuck 117 Ortiz Jose L

4 M/L:4 Kimari Ward Wesley A 123 Rosario Joel

I think that one of the reasons for the short fields in stakes races like this is the NO LASIX rules. One of these was willing to give it a try.....

Mike Welsch
@DRFWelsch

The vets reported Amadevil, who was vanned off following conclusion of Honorable Miss, bled through both nostrils.

[Miss Woodford]

Upcoming 4th race at Saratoga, The Honorable Miss Handicap, 6F $200,000.

1 M/L:2 Frank's Rockette Mott William I 121 Prat Flavien

2 M/L:1/2 Bella Sofia Rodriguez Rudy R 125 Saez Luis

3 M/L:12 Amadevil David Olochuck 117 Ortiz Jose L

4 M/L:4 Kimari Ward Wesley A 123 Rosario Joel

I think that one of the reasons for the short fields in stakes races like this is the NO LASIX rules. One of these was willing to give it a try.....

Mike Welsch
@DRFWelsch

The vets reported Amadevil, who was vanned off following conclusion of Honorable Miss, bled through both nostrils.

Hopefully more will follow the example of leading American jumps trainer Keri Brion who runs no-Lasix in nearly her entire barn and has remarked how nicely horses recover after long workouts and races when they aren't dehydrated. Or Kate Dalton, who took last week's AP Smithwick winner Down Royal off Lasix 6 starts ago and it turned her career around for the better.

[stark]

Saturday at the Spa....

THE ALFRED G. VANDERBILT (Grade I) - $350,000
Non-Lasix race pursuant to 4043.2 (7)(e)(5) Lasix not permitted within 48 hours of post time
Purse $350,000 (Up to $42,400 NYSBFOA) Six Furlongs
A HANDICAP FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.

1 Kneedeepinsnow Ch.g.6 117 Santana, Jr., R Ten Strike Racing Shirer, Matt
2 Willy Boi B.g.4 120 Sutherland, C Cosgrove, B Delgado, Jorge
3 Ny Traffic Gr/ro.h.5 121 Ortiz, Jr., I Fanelli, J Joseph, Jr., Saffie
4 Jackie's Warrior B.c.4 127 Rosario, J Robison, J Asmussen, Steven
5 Long Range Toddy(O) Dk B/ Br.h.6 117 Saez, L Zenith Racing Stewart, Dallas
6 Doc Amster(O) B.h.5 116 Castellano, J Staggs, R Delgado, Jorge

THE JIM DANDY (Grade II) - $600,000
Non-Lasix race pursuant to 4043.2 (7)(e)(5) Lasix not permitted within 48 hours of post time
Purse $600,000 (Up to $54,400 NYSBFOA) One Mile And One Furlong
FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.

1 Western River(O) Gr/ro.c.3 118 Santana, Jr., R September Farm, LLC Brisset, Rodolphe
2 Epicenter B.c.3 122 Rosario, J Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC Asmussen, Steven
3 Tawny Port(O) Dk B/ Br.c.3 120 Ortiz, Jr., I Peachtree Stable Cox, Brad
4 Early Voting Dk B/ Br.c.3 124 Ortiz, J Klaravich Stables Brown, Chad
5 Zandon Dk B/ Br.c.3 124 Prat, F Drown, J Brown, Chad

[WarBiscuit]

Saturday at the Spa....

THE ALFRED G. VANDERBILT (Grade I) - $350,000
Non-Lasix race pursuant to 4043.2 (7)(e)(5) Lasix not permitted within 48 hours of post time
Purse $350,000 (Up to $42,400 NYSBFOA) Six Furlongs
A HANDICAP FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.

1 Kneedeepinsnow Ch.g.6 117 Santana, Jr., R Ten Strike Racing Shirer, Matt
2 Willy Boi B.g.4 120 Sutherland, C Cosgrove, B Delgado, Jorge
3 Ny Traffic Gr/ro.h.5 121 Ortiz, Jr., I Fanelli, J Joseph, Jr., Saffie
4 Jackie's Warrior B.c.4 127 Rosario, J Robison, J Asmussen, Steven
5 Long Range Toddy(O) Dk B/ Br.h.6 117 Saez, L Zenith Racing Stewart, Dallas
6 Doc Amster(O) B.h.5 116 Castellano, J Staggs, R Delgado, Jorge


THE JIM DANDY (Grade II) - $600,000
Non-Lasix race pursuant to 4043.2 (7)(e)(5) Lasix not permitted within 48 hours of post time
Purse $600,000 (Up to $54,400 NYSBFOA) One Mile And One Furlong
FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.

1 Western River(O) Gr/ro.c.3 118 Santana, Jr., R September Farm, LLC Brisset, Rodolphe
2 Epicenter B.c.3 122 Rosario, J Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC Asmussen, Steven
3 Tawny Port(O) Dk B/ Br.c.3 120 Ortiz, Jr., I Peachtree Stable Cox, Brad
4 Early Voting Dk B/ Br.c.3 124 Ortiz, J Klaravich Stables Brown, Chad
5 Zandon Dk B/ Br.c.3 124 Prat, F Drown, J Brown, Chad

The Vanderbilt: Long Range Toddy hasn't won a race in years. Not sure why he is still running, although he is a millionaire just from hanging around. Oh wait - I do know why he is still running - Dallas Stewart.

The Jim Dandy: Western River wins an allowance at CD, so Brisset throws him into the deep end of the pool. Epicenter will come in 2nd - that's his deal now. I'll go with Early Voting as winner here.

WarBiscuit

[Tessablue]

Jackie's Warrior likely scared off whtever's left of the sprint division, and the Curlin cannibalized the Jim Dandy (still seems an odd choice to run them on the same weekend). Happily, eight other races on Saratoga's Saturday card range in size from nine to 16 entries.

[stark]

Saturday at the Spa....

THE JIM DANDY (Grade II) - $600,000
Non-Lasix race pursuant to 4043.2 (7)(e)(5) Lasix not permitted within 48 hours of post time
Purse $600,000 (Up to $54,400 NYSBFOA) One Mile And One Furlong
FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.

1 Western River(O) Gr/ro.c.3 118 Santana, Jr., R September Farm, LLC Brisset, Rodolphe
2 Epicenter B.c.3 122 Rosario, J Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC Asmussen, Steven
3 Tawny Port(O) Dk B/ Br.c.3 120 Ortiz, Jr., I Peachtree Stable Cox, Brad
4 Early Voting Dk B/ Br.c.3 124 Ortiz, J Klaravich Stables Brown, Chad
5 Zandon Dk B/ Br.c.3 124 Prat, F Drown, J Brown, Chad

Scratch the one, Western River.
Paul LoDuca on TV says......"It's the best 4-horse field we've ever seen!

[BaroqueAgain1]

"Paul LoDuca on TV says......"It's the best 4-horse field we've ever seen!"

Consider the source.
Although the four horses left in the field are good, IMHO the results could depend more on riders' tactics.

[sweettalk]

Saturday at the Spa....

THE JIM DANDY (Grade II) - $600,000
Non-Lasix race pursuant to 4043.2 (7)(e)(5) Lasix not permitted within 48 hours of post time
Purse $600,000 (Up to $54,400 NYSBFOA) One Mile And One Furlong
FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.

1 Western River(O) Gr/ro.c.3 118 Santana, Jr., R September Farm, LLC Brisset, Rodolphe
2 Epicenter B.c.3 122 Rosario, J Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC Asmussen, Steven
3 Tawny Port(O) Dk B/ Br.c.3 120 Ortiz, Jr., I Peachtree Stable Cox, Brad
4 Early Voting Dk B/ Br.c.3 124 Ortiz, J Klaravich Stables Brown, Chad
5 Zandon Dk B/ Br.c.3 124 Prat, F Drown, J Brown, Chad

Scratch the one, Western River.
Paul LoDuca on TV says......"It's the best 4-horse field we've ever seen!

is he struggling with amnesia or...

[BaroqueAgain1]

He's just Paul being Paul. For as long as he's been working as an on-track analyst, he does seem to have a problem absorbing racing history or horse terminology. Still describes horses as being "OUT of" a stallion.

[sweettalk]

He's just Paul being Paul. For as long as he's been working as an on-track analyst, he does seem to have a problem absorbing racing history or horse terminology. Still describes horses as being "OUT of" a stallion.

yeah that's a fair point. not our best talking head if i'm being polite

[BaroqueAgain1]

The short fields are having consequences.

Shine Again Scrapped Due to Insufficient Entries
Including July 30 races, last seven Saratoga dirt stakes have averaged 5.14 horses.
The numbers crunch for starters in dirt stakes at Saratoga Race Course claimed a victim when the $135,000 Shine Again Stakes drew just one entrant was not carded as scheduled Aug. 3. The race was offered as an "extra" for racing Aug. 4 and again did make the racing program.
Read more: https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... nt-entries

[stark]

Worth repeating somewhere here.....

Andy Serling
@andyserling

Why are tracks that adhered to the "no Lasix in Graded Stakes" edict punished because other tracks continue to allow Lasix in Stakes and yet keep their Gradings? Whatever your opinion on Lasix, this hardly seems fair.