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The ironman Perry Outz won again, scoring his 7,142 career win. That victory moved him into the 6th position overall for wins by a jockey – an amazing feat by the legendary Ohio rider.
Outz’ win on Friday at Belterra Park was called by track announcer Ed Meyer.
Vintage 1999 video of the Pick-6 boys from California, featuring well known handicapper and TV personality Christian Hellmers.
Handicapping author Jim Quinn is also featured in this short video segment.
Rest in Peace Forty Niner. The 1988 Haskell was one of Forty Niner’s many great wins. Interviews with Laffit Pincay and Arthur Hancock post race.
“He is a horse that always gives his all,” said Arthur Hancock of Claiborne Farm
Betting favorite Tiz The Law dominated in the 2020 Florida Derby in front of no fans last Saturday. Three runners went very wide around the first turn, including #9 Independence Hall. Fountain Of Youth winner Et Indien was washed out badly pre-race. H got over quickly from his outside post but dueled throughout with the eventual runner-up. He was game to hang on for third in front of my top pick, Governeur Morris, who made a wide run turning for home. If the latter gets up for second, I win an NHC berth, but alas, thanks a lot Governeur…
Huge longshot Shivaree took advantage of his inside post and went right to the front. The son of Awesome Of Course showed a lot by saving some late and outfinishing Et Indien down the lane.
There’s no denying that Sackatoga Stable, of Funny Cide fame, has another nice 3yo in this grandson of Tapit. He has a great horseman in Barclay Tagg in his corner. Gulstream Park’s recap of Tiz The Law’s big win in the Florida Derby.
“He is something special. It would be a lot of fun going to Kentucky in five weeks, but that’s not happening, obviously,” Owner Jack Knowlton said. “Now we get to run some more races. Maybe the Wood will come back in play. Maybe we can do a Travers-Derby double. Right now it’s a blank slate. Nobody knows what’s going to happen where or when with all that’s going on in the country.”
UK correspondent Edward Sadler has a sit-down interview with superstar jockey Frankie Dettori to look back on his incredible year in the saddle in 2019.
A great rider, and by all accounts, a great man, Hall of Fame rider Randy Romero passed away due to serious health issues. He was the regular rider of Personal Ensign, one of the all-time greatest mares and one of the few undefeated champions in history. This was very final race.
Rest in peace, Randy.
The one-and-only Tim Conway passed away today at the age of 85. He was best known for his role in the Carol Burnett television show, but for those of us in the horse racing industry, he was also jockey Lyle Dorf. Here is his skit with Johnny Carson.
Here is a 1988 interview with track announcer Trevor Denman of Santa Anita. Denman sits down for a conversation with comedian Tim Conway, a big fan of horse racing. Conway gives a great tip for new fans at the 1:40 mark of the video. Denman also provides some great insight that is the worth the listen for every horseplayer.
This is the official head-on view of the 145th Kentucky Derby won by Maximum Security … and Country House. Maximum Security was disqualified and place out of the money for interference on the turn for home.
Trainer Bob Baffert has another beast in his barn with the flashy gray Coliseum. It’s extremely hard for a first time starter to win going 7 furlongs, but this was simply a walk in the park for this freakish two year old owned by Godolphin. Barely asked by jockey Joe Talamo, Coliseum exploded when nudged down the stretch run at Del Mar (Nov. 17, 2018) to demolish the competition. It reminded me of Curlin’s incredible debut win at Gulfstream Park.
Coliseum is the son of super stallion Tapit and is out of the stakes winning mare Game Face. She has produced three other winners but yet to have a stakes winner represented. That will soon change if this one stays healthy.
This is currently our #1 horse for the 2019 Kentucky Derby Watch:
Lee Pokoik’s Sippican Harbor is in good shape following her impressive last-to-first, two-length win in Saturday’s Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga, trainer Gary Contessa said Sunday morning.
The 2-year-old filly by Orb won her second straight start after breaking her maiden by 17 lengths on August 12 at Saratoga. The victory came after placing fifth in her debut on grass on July 22 at the Spa.
“She’s good. I’d say a little tired,” Contessa said. “We’re not going back to the turf anytime soon, but I do believe she’s just as good on the grass as she is on the dirt. So, the time may come where she does double duty.”
Sippican Harbor will head to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on November 4 at Churchill Downs and will train right up to the race.
“We’re just going to work, I’m not going to run her again [until Churchill],” said Contessa. “She deserves a break. I ran her 20 days apart to get her ready. Two months to get her to the Breeders’ Cup? Piece of cake.
“I’m definitely excited. I was crushed when she lost on the turf, I didn’t think she could possibly lose, that’s how much I loved her,” he added. “I thought she was phenomenal. Everything she’s ever done, she’s done like a super horse. There’s a little bit of a stigma attached to Orb that he’s throwing grass horses, so I just went with it, and thought ‘oh we got a turf horse here,’ but her dirt works and her turf works were sensational. It’s thrilling to be in this position. It makes getting up in the morning a lot easier.”
The performance by Sippican Harbor was exactly what Contessa said he was hoping to see from his young filly. Now, with two impressive victories from three starts, the questions about her talent have been answered.
“We went to the champagne room and it [race replay] just kept playing and playing and playing. I love the call where he [race-caller Larry Collmus] said ‘and she’s the real deal!’ I love that because that’s exactly what I was thinking at that point. She’s the real deal because going in, I wasn’t positive. You could take a really good boxer and he beats up a chump and he looks really good doing it, but when you throw him in with Mike Tyson and he’s knocked out in the first round. We had to see this to believe it.”
Rich Nilsen is a 17-time qualifier to the National Handicapping Championship (NHC), an event he has cashed in four times. He was the first player to finish in the top 10 twice. A former executive with Brisnet.com & Churchill Downs, Rich is also a graduate of the University of Louisville Equine Business Program.
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