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CONTENTS AUGUST 2015

4 From The Publisher

5 The Teaser

Topics that titillate the racing mind.

9 Back to Night School

A look ahead at our August lineup.

11 West Virginia Derby

Preview Jeremy Plonk goes horse-by-horse through the Aug. 1 feature at Mountaineer & undercard hints.

19 Can The Pizza Man Deliver?

Arlington Park analyst Brian W. Spencer looks ahead to Million Day.

24 Head of the Class

Jen Perkins explains the rise of the great 3-year-olds in AQHA racing.

31 Meet Our

Team: Handicapper Jerry Shottenkirk goes under the spotlight this month.

34 Galloping Out:

What will be the next chapter for casino tracks when the cash dries?

3

From the Publisher

The older you get, the more sentimental you get as well. It’s part of the deal. Try and deny it, but it’s true. I know I have. And so we turn to August and I’m not only excited about the racing on the calendar, but actually more excited FOR the people who love these races. I’ve worked in the racing industry more than two decades now and have made a lot of friends. To see their big races this month lights up my outlook because I know how much these races mean to them.

So here’s to all my great friends in the AQHA game, at Mountaineer Park, Arlington Park and the big-time events coming at Monmouth, Saratoga and Del Mar, plus opening day at Remington. Enjoy the great racing festivals you have this month and take a reminder from an old friend: In the process of all the hard work, take at least a few minutes to get lost from your co-workers, wander around the great horses in the paddock and just thank the good Lord for your position in life. Treat it with its due reverence. - JP

Horse Player NOW Magazine Copyright 2015

Horse Player NOW All Rights Reseved

Editor, Publisher, Designer Jeremy Plonk

Contributing Writers Candice Hare Jen Perkins

Brian W. Spencer

Photography Chief Enzina Mastrippolito (Photosbyz)

Contributing Photographers Adam Coglianese/NYRA

Coady Photography Gay Harris/Ruidoso Downs

Four Footed Photos/Arlington Park Reed Palmer/Churchill Downs

4

THE TEASER:

From a new name to an old crime to hunger pains at the Austrian entry box, eventually it will all make sense.

Willful Pulling of the Reins

When asked why he robbed banks Willie Sutton (pictured) got it right, “because that’s where the money is.”

Same goes for track mutuels and fixing races.

Although Teaser hasn’t attempted either gambit, he guesses that fixing a race would be easier than robbing a bank. Even though both are guarded by video surveillance, it’s easier to see when a masked man orders a teller to fill a sack with small bills than it is to tell when a jockey’s trying to get one beat.

A racetrack proverb advises that there are a thousand ways to lose a race. A corrupt jock merely needs to pick one. Knock the favorite out of the money and cash when the longshots come in. What could be easier?

Following an extensive investigation by the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division, three Louisiana jockeys were arrested and charged for their roles in an alleged race-fixing scheme. Troopers cuffed 46-year-old Joseph Patin Jr. of Opelousas, 51-year-old Billy Patin of Opelousas, and 24-year-old LeSean Conyers of Lafayette on charges of Willful Pulling of the Reins and Cheating and Swindling.

Teaser gets the Cheating and Swindling charges, but the Willful Pulling of the Reins is a new one.

Teaser, definition: A male horse used at breeding farms to determine whether a mare is ready to receive a stallion. Also, perhaps the most unfulfilling occupation in the universe.

5

In hundreds of Law and Order episodes, no perp ever has been booked because of it. In fact, if that’s really a crime, there’s a grandstand-full of jocks from coast-to-coast that ought to be in shackles. Not because they’re part of any conspiracy to fix races, but because they needlessly strangle mounts out of the gates. Besides, can you imagine a case of Un-willful Pulling of the Reins?

Allegedly, the three suspects engaged in questionable riding tactics that affected the outcome of a race at Evangeline Downs Race Track and Casino June 19. Through interviews and evidence obtained from track officials, law enforcement determined the jockeys willfully schemed to hold back a favorite to win while utilizing an agent to place unusual bets in an attempt to maximize winnings.

Additionally, Joseph Patin, Jr. and Billy Patin were arrested on warrants for the Unnatural Stimulation of Horses (possession of hand-held electronic shocking

device) in two separate races while competing in Evangeline Downs’ races July 4.

Teaser doubts the latter charges will stand. After all, it’s a basic American right on the Fourth of July to ignite fireworks!

Don’t know if ‘priors’ come in to play in Louisiana like they do on Law and Order, but if they count for anything, Billy Patin’s got an uphill struggle. He was suspended in 1999 after stewards at Oaklawn

Park ruled that he carried an illegal electrical device while riding 30-1 longshot Valhol to victory in that year’s Arkansas Derby. Television coverage showed a black object appearing to

fall from Patin’s hand, and an Oaklawn Park tractor driver later found a device – batteries wrapped in electric tape with prongs on each end – on the ground in that area.

Patin was suspended for the remainder of 1999 by stewards and the Arkansas Racing Commission extended his suspension to May 2004.

Don’t know if ‘priors’ come in to play in Louisiana like they do on Law and Order,

but if they count for anything, Billy Patin’s got

an uphill struggle.

6

It’s a shame that there apparently are at least four individuals involved in the race-fixing scheme, because one of them is liable to turn state’s evidence and sing like Andrea Bocceli. The chances of any equine accomplices cutting a deal and testifying for the prosecution are minimal.

Guilt and innocent are a slippery slope. Even Jack McCoy knows that. Take a gander at the head-on race replay of the race in question, originally uploaded by Paulick Report, and see if you can spot any Willfull Pulling of the Reins.

Vet, Steward, Stakes … White, Wheat or Rye

There basically are three types of scratches in racing:

Veterinarian—when a licensed veterinarian determines that a horse is not healthy enough to race.

Steward—when something is wrong with a horse, owner or trainer’s paperwork, licensing, etc.

Stakes—when a horse is entered in a stakes race and connections exercise the option to scratch.

Last month at an Austrian track, a novel excuse for an approved scratch—actually three of them—was born when trainer Bryce Stanaway demanded that a trio of his runners be scratched from an afternoon’s card.

Trainer Stanaway already had started two unplaced runners on

the afternoon when he got into a row with a Pakenham Racing Club Official over a sandwich. When Stanaway’s request for one was denied, he demanded that his

remaining three runners be scratched. Two entries were removed from the afternoon’s final race and one came out of the penultimate dash.

Based on Teaser’s observation of the quality of food at most North American racetracks, there’s a better chance in the States of an irate trainer scratching horses because they delivered his sandwich! - THE TEASER

7

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AUGUST 4 PLAYING ON A

SPECIFIC BUDGET

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AUGUST 11 VISUAL

HANDICAPPING

Watch live racing action in real-time with our

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AUGUST 18 TOTEBOARD

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AUGUST 25 APPLYING

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Who has the advantage underneath

them, and how can you capitalize?

NEXT: SEPT 1 D. WAYNE LUKAS 80th BIRTHDAY

We salute the all-time great with a mini-

documentary of his life and times.

9

MOUNTAINEER

PUTS ITS BEST

FEET FORWARD

AUGUST 1

By Jeremy Plonk

ew cards in America pack as

many as the 9 stakes races

that comprise West Virginia

Derby Day on Aug. 1 at

Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and

Resort. The all-in mentality literally

applies here as the track’s entire

2015 stakes schedule compresses

into a single showcase afternoon.

When most think “Mountaineer,”

they think blue-collar horses

running under the lights. But for

one, all-important marketing

opportunity each year, the daylight

shines on star stakes horses at the

West Virginia panhandle venue on

the banks of the Ohio River.

Despite a thunderstorm that saw

17 scratches on the card and turf

races lost, last year’s West Virginia

Derby Day handle topped $2.8

million. In fact, handle on the 9-

race stakes bonanza has topped $2

million every year since going to

the all-stakes, 9-race format in

2005. A record $3.2 million was bet

in 2009 when Kentucky Derby

winner Mine That Bird brought

added attention to the card.

Last year’s West Virginia Derby saw

a trio of Grade 2 winners throw it

down in a 1-2-3 finish that will be

tough to duplicate for excitement.

Trainers like Steve Asmussen, John

F

11

Sadler, Mike Maker and

Larry Jones filled the

Derby program with

class.

Asmussen has taken

particular shine to the

WV Derby, winning the

race 5 times from 10

starters and never once

saddling the morning line

or post-time favorite.

Last year, his Tapiture

overcame a tough trip to

edge Candy Boy in a thrilling

renewal (pictured). Tapiture

joined past Asmussen stablemates

Real Dandy (’05), Zanjero (‘07),

Soul Warrior (’09) & Macho Macho

(’12) among those to scale the

‘Mountain’s biggest race.

But there’s a noticeable absence

from the Asmussen barn in the

2015 West Virginia Derby, while no

shortage of top-name stables

remain in the mix. Todd Pletcher

entered 3 runners, including

Tommy Macho, Stanford and

Madefromlucky, though Stanford is expected to scratch and remain at

Saratoga.

Dallas Stewart has Preakness

runner-up Tale of Verve set to go

from his Kentucky homebase and

should vie for favoritism. Jockey

Robby Albarado, who won the WV

Derby two years ago aboard fellow

Bluegrass shipper Departing, picks

up the mount at Mountaineer.

The Hall of Fame tandem of trainer

Jerry Hollendorfer and jockey Mike

Smith team up with rising player

Iron Fist. Smith was a close-up

third in this race in ’09 when

aboard Kentucky Derby winner

Mine That Bird.

Eddie Plesa directs Souper Colossal

on path from Monmouth, and

Eddie Kenneally raids from

Kentucky with Iowa Derby champ

Bent on Bourbon, who looks to make it back-to-back derbies.

12

Let’s take a look at the WV Derby

field for 2015, horse-by-horse, with

an eye on whittling the contenders.

NOT ON MY TICKETS

THIRTYSILVERPIECES: Former

Wesley Ward/Ramsey runner was

claimed for $25,000 at Keeneland

off a big drop-and-win and has

picked up minor stakes checks

twice since then to reward the

investment. Continues to work well

at Thistledown for high-percentage

local barn, but his inability to stay

the trip and class in the Ohio Derby

doesn’t bode well here.

ALL I SEE IS GOLD: Top 3YO at

Thistledown is drawn well inside to

show his customary speed, though

his pedigree boasts milers top and

bottom with Purge and Forestry.

Distance and class concerns, but

veteran Mario Pino aboard is a

master on the front.

WAR STORY: He seems to have

gone backwards since the winter at

Fair Grounds. Ohio-based owner

Ron Paolucci has moved the horse

from Tom Amoss to the OH/WV

barn of Jeff Radosevich. He’s never

found a comfort level for his best.

The good War Story (pictured)

factors with a solid pace set-up,

but he’s difficult to trust.

BENT ON BOURBON: Off 3 straight

wins, he’ll be bet solidly in the WV

Derby and has the right kind of

pressing style to be in the mix. But

I was very off-put by the quality of

this year’s Iowa Derby, a race that

almost had to be won by a fresh

face like Bet On Bourbon

(pictured below) based on the

stakes veterans who lined up. The

Iowa Derby has been a solid lead-

in to this race. I’m rolling the dice.

13

EXOTICS CONTENDERS

TALE OF VERVE: Deep-closing style

may be compromised a bit over

what figures to be a speedy main

track on Mountaineer’s biggest day.

Gets WV Derby-winning rider

Robby

Albarado

(pictured)

and that

helps. Fluky

track in the

Preakness

monsoon

makes his biggest resume builder

difficult to rate. Regardless of what

you think of his ability, he likely will

be over-bet based on that third

Saturday in May runner-up. He will

appreciate the class relief from the

Triple Crown, but not necessarily

the pace. Minor share.

MADEFROMLUCKY: Trainer Todd

Pletcher entered three in the WV

Derby, but is expected to scratch

Stanford for a race at Saratoga the

same weekend. He’ll also be

represented by Competitive Edge

in Sunday’s G1 Haskell at

Monmouth. It’s good to be the

king, right? It’s worth nothing that

Pletcher is 0-for-8 in the WV Derby

all-time with 3 runner-ups and

notably lost the race with G1

Arkansas Derby champ

Overanalyze in 2013.

Madefromlucky has a similar

grinder’s style to Overanalyze and

that hasn’t been the best of recipes

in this race historically. Outfitted

with an outside post position and a

style that could see him hung wide

on the turns, Madefromlucky merits

respect, but a risk-reward factor

that puts him on the exotics edge.

WIN CONTENDERS

SOUPER COLOSSAL: Speedy War

Front colt (pictured above) has

never missed the exacta except for

a failed bid in last fall’s G1

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Patient

Eddie Plesa barn has brought him

along nicely this year with some

turf sprints before a good second

in the Long Branch at Monmouth

routing on dirt. Stablemate Mr.

14

Jordan stays home to tackle

American Pharoah in the same-

weekend G1 Haskell. Difficult post,

but speed-intense rider Paco Lopez

should be sending from the bell

and cross over most of the field. If

he gets into rhythm without

significant ground loss, project him

the best of the quality speed in this

field and to be difficult to catch.

IRON FIST: Son of red-hot sire

Tapit has won his last two going a

mile at Santa Anita and returns for

his first stakes engagement since

finishing third behind American

Pharoah in last year’s G1 Del Mar

Futurity. For Mike Smith to give up

a big day at Del Mar, it says a lot

about his chances. Recall this duo

of Jerry Hollendorfer (pictured)

and Mike

Smith’s last trip

to West Virginia

– a nightmare in

the Charles

Town Classic

when Shared Belief was injured.

Iron Fist’s 3 races in 7 weeks in

May-June look nicely spaced out to

build a foundation for this

additional distance, though it’s fair

to question his damside pedigree

for 1-1/8 miles. West coast shipper

Candy Boy missed by a zot in this

race last year and Bob Baffert has

had multiple successes here

coming from California, so the the

geography shouldn’t play against

him if he’s good enough.

TOMMY MACHO: On a Belmont

Stakes Day card loaded with 3YO

races at all levels, he was the one

who caught most onlookers’ eyes

with an impressive allowance

score. While his class rise in the G3

Dwyer was not met with success, a

third-place finish behind unbeaten

rising superstar Speightster and

reigning BC Juvenile winner Texas

Red was hardly a smack to the

reputation. Todd Pletcher had

many options this weekend and

this placement seems the most

intelligent and well-meant of all the

horses he could run between the

15

Curlin, Jim Dandy, Haskell and

West Virginia Derby. Tommy

Macho should be forward

throughout and turn out to be a

major second-half of the year

player for a barn that could use an

injection in the handicap division.

He’s my best bet of the day at

Mountaineer on Saturday.

Some undercard notables:

Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Work

All Week headlines the Senator

Robert L. Byrd Memorial at 6

furlongs…

Commanding Curve, runner-up in

the 2014 Kentucky Derby, is part of

a deep and talented field in the

West Virginia Governor’s Stakes at

1-1/16 miles on the main track…

Undercard Handicapping Tips:

Look for an exceptionally fast

track by local standards and

for speed horses to fare well.

Kentucky-based shippers have

dominated the 2-year-old

stakes, particularly the

Mountaineer Juvenile for the

colts/geldings.

Stick to pure dash specialists

in the 4-1/2 furlong

Chairman’s Cup, a race where

shippers from Charles Town

can display their speed and fit

better than in other spots

from across the state.

Get Jeremy Plonk’s full-card stakes

picks for WV Derby Day only in the

Aug. 1 edition of the BUZZ Report.

-HPN

AUG-1 MNR STAKES SCHEDULE

$750k West Virginia Derby (3yo, 9f)

$200k WV Governor’s Cup (3up, 8.5f)

$100k Byrd Memorial (3up, 6f)

$100k President’s Cup (f/m, 1m70y-T)

$100k Speaker’s Cup (3up, 1m70y-T)

$100k Chairman’s Cup (3up, 4.5f)

$100k Secretary of State (f/m, 6f)

$100k Byrd Memorial (3up, 6f)

$100k Mountaineer Juvenile (2yo, 6f)

$100k Mnr Juvenile Fillies (2yof, 6f)

16

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CAN THE PIZZA MAN DELIVER?

By Brian W. Spencer

Arlington International Racecourse will play host to the International Festival of Racing on Saturday, August 15, showcasing the most prestigious races, richest purses, and biggest stars anywhere on the Illinois racing calendar.

Storylines are always abundant at the International Festival, and perhaps no story this year could wind up being bigger than Midwest

Thoroughbreds’ The Pizza Man. The Illinois-bred runner by champion turf sire English Channel began his career the way most Illinois-breds do, in the sometimes humble maiden ranks in Chicago. That race, on the final day of 2011, was anything but humble as it spawned the career of The Pizza Man and also included future Grade 1 winner King David.

The Pizza Man's success story has been a beacon of hope in his

19

hometown, where the current state of Illinois racing can at best be described as “uncertain,” but after capturing his second consecutive running of the Grade 3 Stars and Stripes in front of a thundering hometown crowd, his connections reiterated their plan to chase the big one this year – taking aim at the best in the Grade 1 Arlington Million. Should The Pizza Man prove victorious, it would surely cement his spot among the best Illinois-breds of all time as well as laying claim to one of the most inspiring stories in the state's racing history.

The Pizza Man, and more broadly the International Festival of Racing, are reminders of this game's greatness in an otherwise dire time in Chicago, and that offering of hope and inspiration for local racing fans cannot be undersold.

The star power of Million Day extends well beyond the home team's brightest hope, as the European contingent figures to be imposing as always, led by The Corsican, who is likely to make the trip for the Million. His three-race winning streak was snapped last time out, but he ran on

courageously for fourth in his first attempt against Group 1 company when chasing Free Eagle and The Grey Gatsby home in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. Despite having never tallied a Group victory across the pond, The Corsican may wind up being one of the biggest players in the day's feature event.

While each of the Festival races wind up being playable, one of the more intriguing battles should play

out in the Secretariat, a 10-furlong test for sophomores. Red-hot Force

the Pass will again meet Divisidero, and those two will face off against the top two from the local prep,

the American Derby. Those runners, World Approval and Crittenden, put on a show down the stretch last month and appear to have upside.

World Approval's regal pedigree left him big shoes to fill, but he has done so admirably in recent starts. The half-brother to Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Miesque's Approval and full-brother to BC Mile runner-up Za Approval seems to just be putting things together and ran a huge race in the local prep, while

20

Crittenden, racing in the regal Godolphin Blue, showed an impressive turn of foot. With bigger names coming in and a likely European impact at the entry box, the top two in the local prep may offer overlaid prices on the board.

The Grade 1 Beverly D. may lure recent Group 1 winner Amazing Maria from overseas and could provide and interesting rematch from her most recent race in which she beat none other than 2014 Beverly D. champ Euro Charline (pictured below), whose

connections have made clear their desire for a repeat bid.

If that pair were to show up in the entries, the Beverly D. would seem to be the race in which to rely on the most talented Europeans on top, as they both appear to tower over those who raced in the local prep, the Modesty Handicap. Walk Close and Mango Diva both turned in encouraging efforts in that Grade III tune-up, but they would appear to have their hands full with the Euro class the aforementioned pair would bring.

21

Rounding out the main four races that comprise the International Festival of Racing is the newly minted Grade 3 American St. Leger. The 1 11/16-miles turf marathon appeared to be an easy playground for globetrotting turfers after Dandino and Jakkalberry made short work of the first two editions, but The Pizza Man's victory in last year's renewal suggested the home team can hang tough with our best.

While this year's local prep winner was once again The Pizza Man, he likely won't be back to defend his St. Leger title, and that could leave an interesting look to Calvados, who ran third behind The Pizza Man and Roman Approval in the Stars and Stripes. While Calvados was not able to reel in the leaders in late stretch, there is a fairly easy argument to make that he would have been the winner were it not for a brutal go of things behind the leader in deep stretch. With a clean trip, he could be the horse to watch in this year's American St. Leger.

With the Grade 3 Pucker Up, a key prep for the Grade I Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland, also being moved to Million Day, the International

Festival of Racing never fails to offer competitive fields and excellent wagering opportunities while giving Illinois racing fans a day they quite rightly deserve.

- HPN

Arlington Park and Fair Grounds paddock racing analyst Brian W. Spencer contributes his daily horses to watch for both tracks year-‘round in the Horse Player NOW BUZZ Report!

And be sure to check out Caton Bredar’s full-card picks for Arlington Million Day in the Aug. 15 edition of the BUZZ!

22

http://www.horseplayernow.com

Head of the Class: Quarter Horse Sophomores Return to the Winners’ Circle

By Jen Perkins

In the summer, when many 2-

year-old Thoroughbreds are just

making the first starts of their

careers, 2-year-old American

Quarter Horses already are hard at

work and busy racking up

hundreds of thousands of dollars in

earnings. For both breeds, summer

is also the time for last year’s

talented 2-year-olds to defend their

titles at age 3.

Tres Friends (pictured) won the

July 19 $1 million Rainbow Futurity

(G1) at Ruidoso Downs, narrowly

defeating the winner of the

Ruidoso Futurity (G1), First Valiant

Sign. This race was not the first

million-dollar race of the year for

Quarter Horses, nor was it even

the first million dollar race of the

weekend; Ruidoso hosted the $1

million Rainbow Derby (G1) on the

previous day.

While the Rainbow Futurity was a

full field of new faces and future

household names, the field of 3-

year-olds in the Rainbow Derby

looked remarkably familiar.

24

Rematch of Champions

The winner of the 2015 Rainbow

Derby was Kiss My Hocks, a

striking colt who also won the 2014

Ruidoso Futurity (G1), and ran

second in the 2014 Rainbow

Futurity (G1). He was named AQHA

Champion 2-Year-Old for 2014. It

took him a race to get into form in

2015, but the fan favorite has

returned, and if possible, looks

better than last year. He earned

the celebratory black-flip from

jockey G.R. Carter (pictured).

25

No one shied away from Kiss My

Hocks in the Rainbow Derby,

including fastest qualifier

Bodacious Eagle. He is no stranger

to the Ruidoso gate; in 2014, he

competed in all three Grade 1

Ruidoso Downs futurities: the

Ruidoso, the Rainbow, and the

prestigious All American. To

complicate things further, Jess

Walkin Thru, 2014 Champion 2-

year-old filly, also qualified.

To create the Thoroughbred

equivalent of this race, imagine

Champion 2-Year-Old Male

American Pharoah meeting up with

Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Take

Charge Brandi and Mr Z, who, like

Bodacious Eagle, competed in

three Grade 1 events as a 2-year-

old. For good measure, add

several runner-ups from the Triple

Crown prep races and make the

purse the same as the Haskell –

now you have the Rainbow Derby.

As incredible as the purses and

fields were for the Rainbow races,

the best of 2015 may be yet to

come.

Quarter Horse Racing –

Lucrative at Any Age

The All American Futurity, held on

Labor Day each year, became the

first race of any breed to offer a

purse of $1 million in 1978. In

recent years, the purses have

continued to grow, and the purse

for the 2015 running of the race is

$3 million. In addition, 2-year-old

horses can run for seven figures in

the Heritage Place Futurity, the

Texas Classic Futurity, and in three

different futurities at Los Alamitos.

With this money available for

young horses, it is easy to assume

that Quarter Horses begin and end

at this level, but the real superstars

of the sport continue into their 3-

year-old campaigns and beyond.

For older horses, there are

plenty of options that are big

on prestige and have a purse

to match, such as the

Champion of Champions (G1)

and the Remington Park

Invitational Championship

(G1). The AQHA Racing Challenge

program was designed specifically

to help encourage and support

horses of all ages race across the

country.

However, the most lucrative time

to run as a Quarter Horse may

actually be as a 3-year-old. Derby

purses are on the rise, in some

instances, dramatically:

26

2006 Purse

2015 Purse

Pct. Increase

Ruidoso Futurity $500,000 $750,000 50.00%

Rainbow Futurity $625,000 $1,000,000 60.00%

All American Futurity $1,900,000 $3,000,000 57.89%

Ruidoso Derby $200,000 $815,180 307.59%

Rainbow Derby $268,335 $1,067,907 297.98%

All American Derby $406,299 $2,300,000 466.09%

It is a classic chicken and egg

question: do purse increases

encourage bright 2-year-olds to

return to the track as 3-year-olds,

or does the presence of returning

champions put pressure on tracks

to increase purses to attract the

best horses?

However you look at it, the theory

of supply and demand is at play.

Purses for the big three derbies at

Ruidoso have increased more than

the futurities in the last 10 years.

In the case of the All American

Derby, the projected purse for

2015 is over 5 times the size of the

purse 10 years ago in 2006. In

2015, the purse for the Ruidoso

Derby was actually higher than the

futurity version of the same race.

Filling these races is nearly as

competitive as qualifying for the

futurities – there were ten trials to

determine the field for the 2015

Rainbow Derby.

Returning Champions

It is safe to assume that Champion

2-Year-Old and Triple Crown

winner American Pharoah will also

be named Champion 3-Year-Old,

among other honors. Few

Champion 2-Year-Old

Thoroughbreds have returned to

repeat the title the next year; in

the last 10 years, the only other

Thoroughbred to do so was

Beholder, Champion 2-Year-Old

Filly in 2012 and Champion 3-Year-

old Filly in 2013.

There always will be stars of any

breed who are retired early to

begin a new career at stud, but

many freshmen Quarter Horses

return to the track. Since the first

running of the All American

Futurity in 1959, 18 winners have

not only returned to race the next

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year, they have been honored as

Champion 3-year-olds, and four All

American Futurity winners have

continued to earn Champion titles

as 4-year-olds or older.

Of the horses that have won the All

American Futurity, 19 have

returned the following year to

compete in the All American Derby,

and six have pulled off the All

American Double.

All American Futurity-All

American Derby Winners

AA Futurity

AA Derby

Ochoa 2011 2012 Dm Shicago 2004 2005

A Delightful Dasher 1999 2000 Winalota Cash 1995 1996 Ronas Ryon 1986 1987 Higheaster Jet 1980 1981

Looking back at the fields

for the derbies in recent

years, so many talented

horses return from the

previous year that it

becomes extremely

difficult for a futurity

winner to repeat as a

derby winner. Each year,

the derby fields look

stronger, and the number

of talented 3-year-olds returning to

the track make repeating difficult.

In the last 10 years, only three

winners of any of the Ruidoso

futurities have returned to win one

or more of the derbies:

Heartswideopen in 2007-2008,

Ochoa in 2011-2012, and now Kiss

My Hocks (pictured below in her

recent Rainbow Derby score).

Heartswideopen completed the

Ruidoso Futurity-Ruidoso Derby

Double; she also won the All

American Futurity, the Rainbow

Derby, and just missed in the All

American Derby. Ochoa pulled off

the All American Futurity-All

American Derby Double on his way

to earning $2.7 million and being

recognized as an AQHA Supreme

Race Horse.

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As the 3-year-old division becomes

increasingly competitive, true

champions will face even more

difficult tests. Jm Miracle, winner of

the 2014 All American Futurity, has

returned to race in trials for both

the Ruidoso and Rainbow Derby

but has yet to qualify against this

tough division. Trendi, last year’s

winner of the Rainbow Futurity,

also tried and failed to qualify for

the Rainbow Derby.

Watch for these horses, the

Rainbow field, and more to take

on Kiss My Hocks in the All

American Derby trials in August as

the fields take shape for the All

American Futurity and Derby.

Enjoy trials live on Q-Racing Video

(www.qracingvideo.com), or watch

the replays to help with your trip

handicapping.

Jen Perkins has been a member of the Wrangler Racing Aces fan education program from the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) since 2010. She completed the Race Track Industry Program at the University of Arizona and has been involved in Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing as an owner, breeder, and handicapper for over 20 years.

Be sure to check out the weekly AQHA Racing/Horseplayernow.com National Polls for 2-year-olds and the older horses to keep up with the game’s top stars!

All American Futurity Trials: August 21-22, 2015

All American Derby Trials: August 23, 2015

29

http://www.brisnet.com

MEET OUR TEAM: JERRY SHOTTENKIRK

Editor’s Note: We continue a season-long series spotlighting the members

of the Horse Player NOW staff by introducing you to racing analyst and

Night School “Dean” Jerry Shottenkirk.

A published

handicapper and

oddsmaker since

1978, Jerry

Shottenkirk is

currently the official

track morning line

maker at Remington

Park. He’s covered the

Oklahoma City track in

some capacity since its 1988

opening and also currently

produces the "Top Shot" selections

for the on-track crowd at

Remington Park.

To many Horse Player NOW fans,

he’s better known as the Night

School “Dean,” having moderated

the fan education program’s live

chat interaction since its debut in

2011. The role of the “Dean” was a

long-kept secret in the early years

of Night School, creating much

speculation and fun banter. In

episode 100 of the program,

Shottenkirk’s identity was revealed

for the first time.

Having written sports, business,

and features for various

newspapers since 1976, he has

won two National Sprint Awards

from the American Quarter Horse

Association and various first-place

awards from the Associated Press

31

in Nebraska and Oklahoma, the

Society of Professional Journalists,

the Oklahoma Press Association

and the Oklahoma Thoroughbred

Association.

In addition to his writing, he was

the winner of 1992 Comchek

National Handicapping Challenge at

Remington Park, defeating the top

nationally published handicappers

& horse racing authors in the

United States.

Shottenkirk names trip notes, rider

changes, and replays among the

keys to his handicapping style

when he’s looking over races, often

from Remington Park, Gulfstream

Park, Oaklawn Park, and

Woodbine.

“Few things in this sport can be

taken for granted and they don't

run every day. Take educated,

well-researched chances. Go home

happy,” says Shottenkirk about

betting the races.

Gary Stevens and Eddie

Delahoussaye are Shottenkirk’s

favorite jockeys and he names Ron

McAnally, Charlie Whittingham, and

Carl Nafzger as his favorite

trainers. His favorite horses are

Afleet Alex, Spectacular Bid,

Sunday Silence, and Unbridled. He

names Sunday Silence’s Kentucky

Derby win in 1989 as his most

memorable race attended.

For Shottenkirk, the best food at

the track was bratwurst with kraut

from the Ak-Sar-Ben Race Track

and Coliseum in Omaha, Nebraska.

Catch Jerry’s selections daily in the

HP NOW BUZZ Report, year-

round for Oaklawn & Woodbine, as

well as the AQHA Race of the

Week on our website!

You can follow Jerry on Twitter

@jlshottenkirk

32

http://www.horseplayernow.com/buy-products

If an offer seems to good to be true, most often it is. That’s one of the oldest and most accurate axioms, yet still so easy to buy into.

Casinos have propped up horse racing establishments for more than a decade now, and we’re not just talking about tracks like our featured Mountaineer this month or those in New Mexico and far away, dusty locales.

Racing in New York, after all, feels the bump of the casino money at Aqueduct and it’s significant. Maidens on the NYRA circuit run for $90,000 some days and, to be candid, that’s simply ridiculous. The money grab in purse accounts has been nothing short of a free handout.

Don’t get me wrong; if they’re giving out money, no one is shamed for stepping up and earning it. The owners and trainers at casino-driven tracks have broken no laws or done no wrong. They’re still running for the money.

But in doing so, the overall game has not been helped. I’m not an advocate of the political spin doctors who say, “If you think it’s bad now, you should see how bad it would have been had we not taken this action.”

Now we’re seeing actions in states like West Virginia and my native Pennsylvania where the politicos are re-thinking the way casino money is handed out to racing establishments. The well has run dry in many of these places and big changes loom.

Big-event days at casino tracks give us a chance to look hard at the best the track can offer. Now what will be the next step? Without an influx of casino money, a reduction in race dates not only seems inevitable, but practical and what the marketplace is asking for.

34

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