CHRB rebuffs Santa Anita, gives Pleasanton thumbs up
Defying Santa Anita’s dire warnings, the California Horse Racing Board on Thursday approved plans for an autumn thoroughbred season at the Pleasanton fairgrounds in Northern California’s East Bay.
The decision, by a 6-0 vote with one member absent, capped an emotional meeting in Sacramento where the board quizzed proponents of replacing soon-to-close Golden Gate Fields with Pleasanton and scorned Santa Anita and Del Mar executives who claim the sport must consolidate in the south of the state to survive here.
Tensions had risen Tuesday when Craig Fravel, executive vice chairman of 1/ST Racing, which runs Santa Anita for the Stronach Group, said in a letter to CHRB members that the Arcadia track might close if Southern California interests don’t receive more simulcast wagering revenue, which would have happened if Northern California was denied a major meet.
The California Association of Racing Fairs proposed to run a 10-week meet at Pleasanton beginning in October, as well as summer meets for three weeks at Santa Rosa, for four weeks
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at Ferndale and for four weeks at Fresno.
Golden Gate Fields, in Albany, Calif., is scheduled to close for good in June.
“This is a very difficult position for the board to be in. No matter what decision we make, we have half the state mad at us,” CHRB chairman Greg Ferraro said at the outset.
It seemed clear that the board wasn’t swayed — in fact, was angered — by Fravel’s letter warning that Santa Anita’s owners might seek “alternative uses” for its 320 acres if Northern California was thrown a lifeline.
“I think we all took umbrage in the threat contained in your letter the other day,” board member Thomas Hudnut told Fravel.
“It comes across as if, ‘You don’t do it my way, I’m going to take my ball and leave,’ “said board member Damascus Castellanos.
When Fravel said the letter was “not intended to be a threat,” many in the proNorthern California audience laughed.
The board heard from nearly two dozen racing industry employees and members of the public, the vast majority calling for Northern California racing to be given, as one said, “a fighting chance.”
The board had questions about holding 26 racing days at Pleasanton, which has been holding shorter meets coinciding with the Alameda County fair. CARF executive director Larry Schwartzlander and Albany County fairgrounds CEO Jerome Hoban were challenged on issues such as the likely lower race purses at Pleasanton compared to Golden Gate, attracting horsemen and fans for a non-fair season, providing housing for backstretch workers, paying for more horse stalls and adding a turf course by 2025. They said the funding is available for improvements.
“Will we do things differently? Absolutely, it has to be different to be successful,” Hoban said. “Do I think we will succeed? Absolutely.”
The racing board could have put off the decision until an April meeting and gathered more information. But most members, beginning with Brenda Washington Davis, said it was vital to vote Thursday.
Under state legislation, the southern tracks would receive all of the state’s simulcast revenue if there’s no racing hub in the north.
Fravel said that if the Pleasanton plan went through, Santa Anita would begin next week to set purse cuts for the rest of the season that runs to June 16 to try to reduce a $4 million deficit for the past three months.
Today’s first post:
RACE 1
361 —
6 Furlongs (Turf). Maiden Special Weight. 3 year olds. Purse $65,000.
Horse, Jockey
Metro, J. Hernandez 122 4 Worked in 1:001⁄5 2-1 We’re in Trouble, Prat 122 3 Purchased for $65,000 All That Glory, Dettori 122 2 Puts on blinkers
Fast Chaz, Fresu 122 5 Barn entered two
J B Strikes Back, Maldonado 122 1 Rail for initiation Western Power, Laprida 122 6 Son of Liam’s Map
J B STRIKES BACK
Longshot:
RACE 2
362 —
6 Furlongs. Allowance Optional Claiming. Fillies. 3 year olds. Claiming Price $50,000. State bred. Purse $67,000.
Horse, Jockey
Prancingthruparis, Fresu 122 Bella Vienna, L. Contreras 122 Putt for Dough, M. Gutierrez 122 Back On Track, Valdivia 122 Petit Filet, Laprida 122
BACK ON TRACK
Longshot:
RACE 3
363 —
6 Furlongs (Turf). Starter Allowance. 4 year olds and up. Purse $39,000.
Horse, Jockey
Wt PP Comment
Gypsy King, J. Hernandez 124 Del Mar Jerry, Rispoli 124 Fast Giselle, Fresu 119 Neon Lights, Ayuso 124 Incredible Shot, L. Contreras 124 Magnificent Ride, Payeras 124 Kimmer, Laprida 124
INCREDIBLE SHOT
Longshot:
RACE 4
364 —
6 Furlongs. Maiden Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 3 to 5 year olds. Claiming Price $50,000. State bred. Purse $37,000.
Horse, Jockey
Whimsical Heir, Dettori Fiamina, Prat
Ryder’s Candy, Frey Donita Rose, S. Gonzalez C Her Beauty, Laprida
DONITA ROSE
Longshot:
RACE 5
365 —
1 Mile (Turf). Maiden Special Weight. 3 to 5 year olds. State bred. Purse $65,000.
Horse, Jockey
Wt PP Comment
Wt PP Comment
Rhino, Rispoli 126 Bert’s Prospect, T. Baze 126 Run Bryce Run, Fresu 118 Hot Legs Romolo, M. Gutierrez 126 Defensor Fortis, D. Herrera 126 Maxville, R. Gonzalez 126 Toppers Wager, S. Gonzalez 126 Thegingerbreadman, Valdivia 126
DEFENSOR FORTIS
Longshot:
Wt PP Comment
Wt PP Comment
126 118 126 118 126 2 Game win on grass 4 Went all the way 3 Turf to main track 5 New rider aloft 1 Beat one at 40-1 7 5 4 1 3 6 2 3 M. Glatt comebacker 2 Threat in weak race 4 Missed 14 chances 1 481⁄5 spin at SLR 5 Inside to outside 3 2 5 6 8 4 1 7
Merits slight edge Easy score on dirt Mare vs. the boys Won by a whisker Chased top choice Winner at night Looking elsewhere
Returns a gelding Blinkers back on Figures in the hunt Had lead, outfinished Back in six days Lacked any rally Rehearsed in 482⁄5 Beat two on dirt
Odds
5-2 7-2 5-1 8-1 12-1
Odds
7-5 2-1 7-2 8-1 12-1
Odds
9-5 5-2 7-2 6-1 10-1 15-1 15-1
Odds
2-1 9-5 4-1 6-1 12-1
Odds
4-1 5-2 9-2 5-1 10-1 10-1 15-1 20-1
RACE 6
366 —
11⁄16 Mile. Allowance Optional Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 4 year olds and up. Claiming Price $50,000. Purse $67,000.
Horse, Jockey
Lisa’s Nonno, Fresu 124 4 Runner-up at 2-1
Big Novel, Prat 124 1 The primary danger Gila, Desormeaux 122 2 Benefit from last Professors’ Pride, Maldonado 124 5 Ages since cashed Belleo’s Forest, Ayuso 124 3 Seems least likely
GILA
Longshot:
RACE 7
367 —
1 Mile (Turf). Allowance Optional Claiming. 4 year olds and up. Claiming Price $20,000. State bred. Purse $67,000.
Horse, Jockey
Enjoy It Strait, Prat 122 6 Tom and Jazzy, Desormeaux 124 3 Moogie Son, J. Hernandez 122 4 Dick Best, Frey 122 2 Red Cross Knight, Maldonado 124 10 Rodrigoknows, Pereira 124 1 Ferrariano, Ayuso 124 9 Hapi Hapi, Maldonado 124 8 Bronko Nagurski, Kimura 122 5 Worse Read Sanchez, M. Gtrrz 124 7
RODRIGOKNOWS
Longshot:
RACE 8
368 —
11⁄16 Mile. Maiden Claiming. 3 to 5 year olds. Claiming Price $20,000. Purse $23,000.
Horse, Jockey
Hardmoneymuchachos, Ayuso 126 6 Well clear when 2nd Dark Marcus, Kimura 126 5 Back to main track Chrome to Riches, R. Gonzalez 126 7 Lowered in price Sense, T. Baze 118 9 Disappointed at 11-10 Dangerous Game, Laprida 126 8 Goes long, hood on Thank You Honey, L. Contreras 126 2 474⁄5 drill on tab
Tapit Down, J. Rodriguez 126 1 Chased top choice Fast Investment, Alsagoor 121 4 Filly versus males Running for Cosi, R. Ramirez 126 3 Hard to envision
DANGEROUS GAME
Longshot:
RACE 9
369 —
1 Mile (Turf). Starter Optional Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $50,000. Purse $38,000.
Horse, Jockey
Marinas Tina, Fresu 126 Weemissgrammy, J. Hernandz 126 Adelie, Kimura 126 English Danger, Van Dyke 118 No Way It’s Today, T. Baze 126 Princess Snow, Smith 118 Ankyrah, H. Berrios 126 Asian Matriarch, Rispoli 118 Deficit Maja, Pereira 118 NO WAY IT’S TODAY ENJOY IT STRAIT (7) DANGEROUS GAME (8) PRANCINTHRUPARIS (2) 3/ 126;
Longshot:
BEST BET:
BEST CHANCE BET:
MOST PROBABLE WINNER:
Wins (previous day/meet): Money Won (previous day/ meet): Money Bet:
The SCNG is publishing the consensus box online at least 24 hours in advance of each day’s racing. See sgvtribune.com/ sports/horse-racing before each racing day to get top three selections in each race, including best bets of the day, from our panel of handicapping experts Bob Mieszerski, Ed Wilson, Terry Turrell and Kevin Modesti.
$16.80/$602.10;
Wt PP Comment
Wt PP Comment
Wt PP Comment
Wt PP Comment
3 1 2 7 4 5 6 8 9
Has won on grass Both wins on SA turf Prefers to nibble Number came down Jock’s 1st call
Lands inside box Sidelined long time Blinkers come off Not off latest
Split field at 23-1
Clicked in return 5-2 Had to need last 4-1 Completed exacta at 5-1 7-2 Posted 8-1 upset 6-1 Distant 3rd at 10-1 10-1 Wired maidens Feb. 24 10-1 Outfinished by ‘Star 15-1 First time on turf 15-1 ‘Blossom won in Ariz. 15-1
$688, 344 races.
Odds
9-5 2-1 9-2 5-1 15-1
Odds
5-2 9-2 7-2 5-1 8-1 10-1 15-1 15-1 20-1 20-1
Odds
5-2 2-1 4-1 5-1 10-1 10-1 15-1 20-1 20-1