Oaklawn report
Posted on Sunday, June 22, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Sports/229373/
Belmont bet nets $ 60, 000
Big Brown’s bust was a boon for one bettor.
Bobby Geiger, Oaklawn Park’s director of gaming and wagering, said an unidentified Arkansan at the Hot Springs track for off-season simulcasting recouped about $ 60, 000 when Big Brown’s Triple Crown hopes were dashed during the Belmont Stakes on June 7 at Belmont Park in New York.
About 30 minutes before the race, Geiger said the fan covered every betting combination by boxing the entire field in a $ 2 Superfecta wager.
In Superfectas, bettors are trying select the top four finishers in exact order.
Boxing the entire Belmont field (nine horses ) in a $ 2 Superfecta cost the bettor $ 6, 048, Geiger said.
“Needless to say, when Big Brown ran out of the top four, the bettor was seeing dollar signs,” Geiger said.
Big Brown, the 3-10 favorite, was eased approaching the quarter pole as 38-1 long shot Da’ Tara recorded a wire-towire victory.
That triggered Superfecta payoffs of $ 48, 637 (6-4-8-9 ) and $ 47, 309 (6-4-9-8 ).
Anak Nakal and Ready’s Echo dead-heated for third to create two Superfectas.
The gross payoff of $ 95, 946 was reduced to approximately $ 65, 000 following mandatory withholding of federal and state taxes, Geiger said.
“It was a good bet,” said Geiger, who handled the transaction by writing the fan a check. “If Big Brown doesn’t run out of the top four, I’m not sure the bettor would have turned a profit.”
Tournament talk Tournament director Jason Milligan said he believes rising fuel prices and timing likely contributed to a 28. 1 percent decline in entries for the third annual Daily Racing Form / National Thoroughbred Racing Association qualifying handicapping tournament last weekend at Oaklawn.
The tournament, which was held in August the previous two years, drew 110 handicappers, 43 fewer than 2007.
The second day of this year’s tournament fell on Sunday, Father’s Day.
“We were just trying to make a change,” Milligan said. “You take a chance.”
Since there are more than 50 tournaments across the country, Milligan said he hoped Oaklawn’s qualifier would be more attractive earlier in the year. The NTRA approves tournament dates but allows host venues to set their own rules, Milligan said. Oaklawn’s entry fee also was raised to $ 350, a $ 50 increase over last year. Milligan said he plans to run a cost analysis for hints on why tournament entries fell. “Overall, it was a good tournament,” Milligan said. “I just don’t know how to explain the loss of entries right now.” Phil Cleek of Sherwood earned the $ 7, 000 first prize, and a berth in January’s national tournament in Las Vegas, by topping the field. Also earning a trip to the national tournament were runner-up Kenneth Arthur of Bismarck and Amy Brantley of Little Rock, who finished third.
Talk Derby to me The early returns on the $ 1 million Grade II Arkansas Derby on April 12 at Oaklawn are not pretty. The 13 starters are a combined 0 for 20 in subsequent starts, including four dismal performances in Triple Crown events.
“After five years of having a champion come out of the race, you’re due for a down turn,” said David Longinotti, Oaklawn’s assistant general manager / racing. “It was an incredible run.”
From 2003-2007, the Arkansas Derby yielded Saint Liam, Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, Lawyer Ron and Curlin, all eventual Eclipse Award winners.
Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex and Curlin— all Arkansas Derby winners — also combined for five Triple Crown victories between 2004-2007.
But this year’s winner, Gayego, finished 17 th in the Kentucky Derby and 11 th in the Preakness.
Arkansas Derby runner-up Z Fortune finished 10 th in the Kentucky Derby.
Tres Borrachos, third in the Arkansas Derby, ran ninth in the Preakness.
Indian Sun, fourth in the Arkansas Derby, did return to finish a close second in the Grade III Will Rogers Handicap last month at Hollywood Park.
King’s Silver Son, ninth in the Arkansas Derby, was euthanized (bone and ligament damage ) following a May 31 allowance race at Woodbine in Canada.
Two other horses, Liberty Bull and Shekinah, have yet to start again after finishing 12 th and 13 th, respectively, in the Arkansas Derby.
Trainer Tom Amoss said Liberty Bull is being freshened and will resume training July 1.
Shekinah has had two published workouts this month at Churchill Downs. Isabull, who finished sixth in the Arkansas Derby, has resumed training at Arlington Park after a threeweek freshening in Kentucky, co-owner Alex Lieblong of Conway said. Lieblong said Isabull underwent throat surgery to correct a breathing problem following a last-place finish in the Grade III Lone Star Derby on May 10 at Lone Star Park.
Final furlong Abraham Again, the first reported starter sired by champion Smarty Jones, finished eighth in a maiden race for 2-year-olds June 13 at Hipodromo de las Americas in Mexico City. … Among the unstarted 2-year-old colts owned by Alex and Joann Lieblong of Conway are Silent Money (by Holy Bull ) and Dirt Farmer (Silver Deputy ). Dirt Farmer was named for the Grammy-Award winning album of the same name by Arkansas musician Levon Helm. … On Wednesday, the Lieblongs purchased a Jump Start colt for $ 77, 000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s June sale of 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age. At the same sale, Oaklawn owner Charles Cella purchased a 2-year-old Proud Citizen colt for $ 95, 000 and trainer Bob Holthus of Royal (Garland County ) purchased an Even the Score colt for $ 47, 000. … June handle on Instant Racing, the electronic pari-mutuel game that allows fans to wager on previously run horse races, is running 17 percent ahead of the corresponding period last year, said Bobby Geiger, Oaklawn’s director of gaming and wagering.