It was the best opening day since 1998: More than 14,500 people turned out at Suffolk Downs on Saturday to catch the first day of live racing at the track in nearly six months.
—
Trainer John Rigattieri returned to his winning ways at Suffolk, with three wins on opening day (four, actually, but Tri Like the Devil was disqualified in the ninth). Favorites dominated, winning seven out 10, as did early speed — seven races were won wire-to-wire and two more by horses near the pace.
—
Our good friend Bill at RacingFigures.com is posting Suffolk Downs ratings again this year — mostly for Monday cards, but occasionally for Tuesday (this calendar displays specific dates). The speed ratings Bill did last year were a great supplement to past performances, often identifying horses that ran very well at the track, and the sheets are free to download. Be sure to check out the site: Ratings for several other US tracks, such as Philadelphia and Hollywood, are available as well.
Posted by JC in Suffolk Downs on 05/07/2006 @ 6:30 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
“Their horses had gotten here. They had survived bruised hooves, pulled muscles, ulcers, fever — a medical dictionary worth of ailments — as well as their own bad races in weekend after weekend of prep races. They were Kentucky Derby horses.
“They had earned their yellow workout saddle cloths with their names embroidered on them and a stall beneath the famous twin spires of Churchill Downs. They had a place in the starting gate of what has come to be known as the greatest two minutes in sport.
“Their owners and trainers had survived, too. The best and the worst, however, were still in front of them …” — From “The Race for the Triple Crown,” by Joe Drape
Posted by JC in Racing, Readings on 05/06/2006 @ 8:00 am / Tagged Favorites, Kentucky Derby / Follow @railbird on Twitter
In advance wagering on today’s Derby, Barbaro is the early favorite at 5-1. Lawyer Ron is 9-1, and morning line favorite Brother Derek is 10-1. Well, a lot of people have been jumping off his bandwagon. Sweetnorthernsaint’s wagon, though, is getting crowded. He’s 7-1 in early wagering, and more and more people seem to be coming out in his favor, like Rick Bozich (“He’ll outrun Barbaro, Point Determined and Jazil today to win a Derby that many trainers are calling the most competitive in years“) and Tim Rice. I suppose the emerging consensus on ‘Saint should make me feel confident of my top pick; instead, it’s making me nervous. If the horse is this obvious, what have I overlooked that makes him a throwout? But these are the kind of second thoughts I can’t indulge on Derby morning. I’ve done my handicapping, I have something of a betting strategy. So long as there are no scratches or a sudden rainstorm to turn the track into mud, I should probably stick to my picks …
Posted by JC in Racing on 05/06/2006 @ 7:55 am / Tagged Kentucky Derby / Follow @railbird on Twitter
