The New York Gaming Commission completed a key procedural step Monday in the state’s complicated bidding process for licensing mobile sportsbook operators. Last week, the commission informed applicants that they had five business days to amend their initial “pricing matrices” to conform with the state’s “final tax rate matrix.” Bidders have until 5 p.m. ET to modify their preferred tax rate scenario within the applications. Based on the matrix released by the commission last week, the final tax rate for successful applicants could be as high as 64% on a licensee’s online gross gaming revenue. Sen. Joseph Addabbo, chair of the Senate’s Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee, is still hopeful that the Empire State will go live with mobile sports betting before the Super Bowl.

Breeders’ Cup pre-entry lists revealed

Over the last four years, trainer Brad Cox has been on a tear at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, notching seven victories over the span. Though Cox captured four wins last year, he has yet to capture the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, the signature event of the two-day world championships. Cox will pack a formidable one-two punch in this year’s Classic, though, with Whitney Stakes winner Knicks Go and Belmont Stakes winner Essential Quality. The trainer is expected to enter both horses when the Breeders’ Cup pre-entry list is unveiled on Wednesday.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is also expected to enter Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit in the Classic. While Medina Spirit tested positive after his Derby win for betamethasone, a banned corticosteroid, Churchill Downs has still not disqualified the horse from the first leg of the Triple Crown. Baffert was suspended by Churchill Downs and the New York Racing Association, however, in light of the positive test. The Breeders’ Cup announced on Oct. 18 that Baffert’s horses could compete at the world championships on Nov. 5-6, but under enhanced testing protocols…

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