JC / Railbird

Suffolk Downs Archive

Suffolk Notes

At today’s Massachusetts Gaming Commission meeting, state racing director Jennifer Durenberger told the panel that Suffolk Downs’ request to cut planned live racing on Thursday, July 4, and Tuesday, July 9 and 16, due to the current horse shortage, has been approved. The dates will be made up in October, and Tuesday racing is now scheduled to begin on July 23 — maybe there’ll be more horses on the backstretch by then.

Durenberger also reported on the new 5% withholding requirement on winning wagers of more than $600 that went into effect this May. There are no hard numbers yet on how many bettors have been affected, or what the hit has been to handle, but Durenberger did note that when New Hampshire enacted a similar tax in 2009 (it was repealed in 2011), the state’s simulcasting handle declined by approximately 20% in 2010-2011 — during the same period, national handle declined 8.6% and Massachusetts simulcasting handle declined by 4.8% — and expressed concern that the tax was making Massachusetts racing unattractive to horseplayers. “It’s a chilling effect based on tax evasion,” said commissioner James McHugh, taking issue with a lack of “institutional pressure” on bettors to report winnings below the current IRS thresholds. Commission chair Stephen Crosby recognized a real flaw with the new requirement: “Not being able to offset your winnings with your losings seems crazy,” he said. So it is! May a legislative remedy pass quickly — representative Kathi-Anne Reinstein of Revere attached an amendment striking the withholding to a supplemental budget bill that was passed by the Massachusetts House last week and is now before the Senate.

Tammi Piermarini has opened a significant lead in the jockeys standings with 19 wins and $202,884 in earnings through racing yesterday. Four of those wins came for trainer Michael Catalano, who’s 5-for-5 so far this meet. Three came with K Girl’s Dream, who’s won three straight since June 3.

6/28/13 Addendum: See Durenberger’s prepared remarks, included in the June 27 meeting packet (PDF).

6/30/13 Addendum: Via the NEHBPA, the revised 2013 racing schedule (PDF).

Posted in Suffolk Downs on June 27, 2013

Suffolk Notes

Week three of the 2013 Suffolk Downs meet begins with riders Tammi Piermarini and Andria Terrill in close competition for the #1 spot on the jockey standings — Terrill is ahead by one in number of wins, with 11 from 34 starts, while Piermarini is ahead in earnings, with more than $110K from 10 wins to Terrill’s $95K. Jacki Davis is running in third on both counts. Watch out for Jill Jellison and Dyn Panell when it comes to the exotics — both have single-digit win numbers, but both are also on live horses, with Jellison finishing in the money in nine of 12 starts, and Panell doing so with 10 from 14.

After a slow start (only three claims in the first six days of racing) claiming picked up on Saturday, with two horses changing barns. Jet Pack, winner of race six, making his second start of the meet, went to trainer Ambrose Pascucci, making his second claim of the meet — his first was Broadway Hat, off trainer David Jacobson on opening day. (Broadway Hat came back to run second last Wednesday.) Real Gone, winner of race nine, went to Tito Rivera.

A short horse population means a lot of quick turnarounds (more horses are expected to arrive at Suffolk Downs after Colonial Downs closes its meet on July 13), but only K Girl’s Dream has put together back to back wins, returning from a claiming win on June 3 to take an allowance on June 10. That makes the 4-year-old filly unbeaten in 2013. Jimmy the Germ has put together two straight sixth-place finishes since June 5 — a record that’s earned the grey gelding the honor of being the first CANTER New England listing this meet. Looking for an OTTB? This guy is ready for a second career.

Multiple New England champion Beijing House makes his first start of the meet today in race eight — if he wins, it’ll be his first time in the winner’s circle since June 2012 at Suffolk Downs. He’s done no better than third in nine starts since, and is entered for a $20K tag in the AOC.

Posted in Suffolk Downs on June 17, 2013

Opening Day

Suffolk Downs opens for 2013 on Saturday with a nine-race card that drew the usual assortment of horses who spent the winter racing in Florida or Maryland, and those who are making their first starts since Suffolk closed for the season in October. A small band of New York shippers also appear in the entries — trainer David Jacobson sends two, Christophe Clement one.

Jacobson’s first starter is Broadway Hat in race two, a five-furlong maiden claimer. A $220,000 purchase by Todd Pletcher at the March 2012 OBS sale, the Ready’s Image colt is making his $5,000 tag debut after going winless in seven starts — he finished second first time out last May, and second again in his third start on January 21, which is when Jacobson claimed him for $25,000. He ran back six days later and finished seventh. He comes into Saturday’s race off three starts, the last a maiden $16,000 at Belmont on Sunday in which he finished fifth (one of the few races Jacobson hasn’t won recently), and he’s 8-5 on the morning line. I’m going to bet that Broadway Hat finishes second again, maybe to Let’s Be Glad, who’s only winless in five races and has been running steadily at Gulfstream and Pimlico since his first start in January.

Temecula Creek, coming off two wins since May 18 at Belmont, is entered for Jacobson in race eight, a $20,000 OC/N2X going six furlongs that also includes the 2011 New England juvenile male champion Mighty One. He’s coupled with stablemate Gold Bear; both look overmatched.

Race six is the meet’s first turf race, and it’s a two-turn maiden special weight. Elusive Son makes his first career start for Clement off a string of solid works. He’s an $80,000 Keeneland September purchase, a colt by Elusive Quality out of the graded-stakes winner Go Go. She’s had four prior winning foals, the most impressive being the stakes-placed Miss Mittagong. As impeccable as Elusive Son’s credentials are for a Suffolk grass start, though, Caristo looks like an interesting longshot prospect in the same race — the John Botty trainee is making his third start, his first on the turf, a promising switch for a son of Langfuhr out of a dam who won and was stakes-placed on the Belmont turf.

Posted in Suffolk Downs on May 31, 2013

Suffolk Weekend

A food truck festival, a $100,000 stakes race, and the CANTER Showcase made this past weekend a big one for Suffolk Downs …

The crowd on the Suffolk apron, early Saturday afternoon. That mass of people stretching along the back? In line for the grilled cheese truck.

The biggest race of the year was also the best race of the year, with #2 It’s Me Mom (inside) out-bobbing favored #11 Nicole H at the wire in the six-furlong $100,000 Robert O’Malley Stakes. The final time was a swift 1:09.67 after an opening quarter in :21.17 and a half in :43.63.

It’s Me Mom, Willie Martinez up, entering the winner’s circle.

Leading rider Tammi Piermarini after finishing fourth on #9 D’Wild Ride in the Robert O’Malley Stakes.

Mr. Meso, local favorite, recently retired champion, and new racetrack pony, taking a break after the Saturday feature.

Fall colors and a beautiful sunset at Suffolk Downs on Saturday.

CANTER New England held its sixth annual Showcase on Sunday morning. Dozens of people turned out to see more than 70 horses available for sale. Here’s Krabby Patties, making a great impression with her rider.

After taking his turn through Showcase, O’Malley met a potential buyer.

Kappy charms the Showcase crowd. (He sold.)

Posted in Suffolk Downs on October 24, 2011