June15hpnmag

CONTENTS JUNE 2015

4 From The Publisher

6 The Teaser

Topics that titillate the racing mind.

10 HPNOW Analysts Offer

Their Triple Crown Takes Our entire staff gives personal accounts of now a potential Triple Crown bid affects each.

16 Countdown to the Crown:

Jeremy Plonk takes you through each Belmont Stakes contender with bottom-line analysis.

31 Family Trees:

Expert AQHA handicapper Jennifer K. Hancock looks at the sport’s young sires and what to watch for.

36 Back to Night School

Quick-link summaries to all of our fan education lessons in May ‘15.

41 Meet Our Team:

SoCal analyst Terry Turrell featured this month in season-long profiles.

45 Galloping Out:

Plonk offers a silver lining of what June 7 could mean post-Belmont.

From the Publisher

Slow news days are when the Kardashians move into the lead segment. Thankfully we don’t have to worry about that with a Belmont Stakes looming that will lure 20 million TV viewers and a sellout crowd of 90,000 on pins & needles.

Christmas comes early for horse racing fans on June 6 this year. You may not have been on American Pharoah to win the Derby (my hand raised), and you might have been stubborn and picked against him in the Preakness (again, my hand raised). But the beauty of this handicapping world in which we play is that you STILL don’t have to parimutuelly marry him at Belmont? (Will I or won’t I? Read on …)

One thing’s for sure: You WILL be watching. Some will yearn to see history; others want to crown a legend; even others will be rooting like hell for the 4-horse to get up and round out an exacta or give them the highest possible return in a pick 4 spread leg. Even if you are not a ‘Pharoah phan, there’s still something for everyone. That’s why we play June 6 & always. - JP

Horse Player NOW Magazine Copyright 2015

Horse Player NOW All Rights Reseved

Editor, Publisher, Designer Jeremy Plonk

Contributing Writers Candice Hare

Jeff Nahill Terry Turrell

Brian W. Spencer Jerry Shottenkirk

Brian Nadeau Jennifer K. Hancock

Photography Chief Enzina Mastrippolito (Photosbyz)

Contributing Photographers Reed Palmer/Churchill Downs

Benoit Photos/Santa Anita Adam Coglianese/NYRA

Susie Raisher/NYRA Coady Photography/Oaklawn Park

NBC Sports Group

THE TEASER:

From literally keeping away the masses en masse to being your own boss, eventually it will all make sense.

Go Ask Alice

Depending when you read this column, the Belmont Stakes may have been:

A) A celebratorycoronation of the 12th Triple Crown winner in history.

or …

B) The 38th consecutivedepressing first Saturday in June.

Either way, everyone who wanted to see what would happen (or, more accurately, what did happen) at Belmont Park on June 6 should have been able to do so in person. Sadly, that was not the case. Just how many were turned away at the gate, or didn’t bother to show up at all, no one knows.

In response to what was billed as an awful fan experience for many in attendance at Belmont Park in 2014 to witness California

Chrome’s Triple Crown bid – rail transportation nightmares, traffic jams, food and water shortages, a lack of ushers, tellers and inefficient rest room facilities – the New York Racing Association implemented an assortment of changes for the 2015 renewal. Good idea.

In a 2015 NYRA release providing, ―Important travel information for fans attending the 2015 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival on Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6,‖ fans are ―strongly encouraged to plan ahead and build significant time into their travels to and from Belmont Park … Significant delays

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.

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should be anticipated accessing and exiting the property, with fans encouraged to arrive early and stay late.‖

In other words: allow 2-3 hours to get in and out of the parking lot, or toss a sleeping bag into the back seat just in case you need it. Of course, we embellish. NYRA has had one year to improve on last year’s failure and we assume they rose to the occasion.

However, in addition to aggressively addressing several issues, NYRA suits also limited overall attendance at the track on Belmont Stakes Day to 90,000 people — about 5,000 less fans than showed up for Big Brown’s 2008 Crown bid and about 30,000 fewer folks than were there to see Smarty Jones fall short in 2004!

The theory behind turning away approximately 5,000-30,000 paying customers is that less people in attendance cause less congestion.

Can’t argue with that one.

However, reasoning along a similar line also would clearly suggest that

allowing zero people to attend the Belmont Stakes would solve every issue. The Baltimore Orioles closed their ballpark to fans during a riot-riddled home stand earlier this year and no one seemed to mind. In fact, some Oriole faithful were grateful for the respite.

OK, you’re right. It’s silly to compare one of 81 Camden Yards home games to the historic / frustrating (choose one) Belmont Stakes — oldest and most

challenging leg of the Triple Crown. Unlike an O’s game, fans are anxious to attend the Belmont Stakes and perhaps witness a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence

(or not).

But, for a sport starving for new fans, why in the world would any decision-maker hosting such a prestigious event ever want to limit attendance? Go ask Alice, when she’s 10 feet tall.

An Inmate Running the Asylum

Gottta hand it to the folks who run California racing; they’re not afraid to be the first to try anything. Governor Jerry Brown has named

But, for a sport starving for new fans, why in the world would any decision-maker hosting such a prestigious event ever want to limit attendance?

jockey Alex Solis to the California Horse Racing Board. Yep, you heard right. Jockey Alex Solis, currently riding at Santa Anita, is now a member of the California Horse Racing Board.

At the last CHRB meeting, chair-man Chuck Winner welcomed Solis to his new job. Solis promptly was named chair of the Jockey, Driver and Welfare Committee and member of the Medication and Track Safety Committee.

Now, Teaser’s plenty OK with Solis serving as a CHRB commish. Good idea, actually. Jockeys have unique perspectives on racing and Solis ought to strengthen the board in areas. Plus, he isn’t just any jock. He’s a Hall of Fame resident!

But couldn’t Governor Brown have waited until the Panamanian star was retired from the saddle before naming him to the state’s most important racing body? What’s next: Active jockeys in the stewards’ stand?

Solis’ appointment came on the heels of actress Bo Derek’s

resignation from the CHRB (told you California’s wasn’t afraid to try anything first) and it is possible Governor Brown (or whoever donated enough money to his campaign to have his ear) wanted Solis in immediately because, like with parking in the Bronx, you never know when another spot

might open up.

Still, having an active rider in a position of authority could create an uncomfortable situation. Let’s say Solis is involved in an inquiry on the track.

How can the stewards, who are hired by the CHRB, fairly adjudicate the issue?

Teaser doesn’t suggest any impropriety, or that Solis or the stewards would not operate as equitably as possible. But was it really necessary to put the CHRB and the stewards in such an untenable position?

Solis’ spot on the CHRB also is a burden for the fans. Now, after a questionable ride, when they cuss him out they’ve got to do it in a respectful manner, ―Hey, Mr. Commissioner, you couldn’t ride in a taxi!‖ - THE TEASER

HPNOW ANALYSTS OFFER TRIPLE CROWN ‘TAKES’

“I hurried to complete my paper route so I could see Canonero II win the 1971 Triple Crown. Barely hit the brakes when I got home, laying the Stingray on its side, leaving the canvas bag hanging from the handlebars and running to get to the TV in time. And it was the first of many

disappointments on Belmont Saturdays. With the exception of those Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed triumphs, it seems that most years have felt the same. Affirmed won the 1978 Triple Crown two weeks after I launched my high school graduation cap high into the air, and there has not been a crown won since then. Hopefully that streak of no-Triple Crown-winner will come to an end this week. It’s about time -- the span between Affirmed and now is 37 years , 12 more than the gap between Citation and Secretariat. And at that time horse racing fans thought THAT was a long wait. It’s time, Pharaoh.”

– “The Dean” Jerry Shottenkirk

“For me personally, having witnessed several near misses up close and personal, I think it would be cool to finally see one. But I'd be lying if I said I think it would do anything for the sport.Would it help? Absolutely. But racing needs a heck of a lot more to happen than one horse winning a Triple Crown, if it's ever going to be on the front

burner again. As for American Pharoah, if he does it, I'll be the first to congratulate him – but the racing snob in me wants to see a truly great horse win the Triple Crown, not a marginally fast one who has had a lot of things go his way this year.” – Brian Nadeau

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HPNOW ANALYSTS OFFER TRIPLE CROWN ‘TAKES’

“Home-based in Southern California since he migrated from training Quarter Horses in Arizona to training Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos to training Thoroughbreds, I have witnessed the progression and success of Bob Baffert since the early 1980s and fortunate to watch the progression of American Pharoah. Baffert knew he had the potential Triple

Crown winner early on in American Pharoah's career, charting out a strategic course via Oaklawn Park to winning the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and he will be rewarded Saturday winning the Triple Crown. American Pharoah winning the Belmont Stakes definitely would be a positive for horse racing...a 3 to 4-week shelf life in today's media world. Will we see American Pharoah as a 4-year-old? NO. Winning the Triple Crown is not enough to cure the multiple problems this great industry faces. Racing lost 3-4 generations with the response from the states, tracks & owners – like shooting a shotgun into the ocean...you hear the noise & see very little results.”

– Terry Turrell

“Nine times since I've been a racing fan has a horse had a chance to complete the Triple Crown, and nine times they have failed. I don't see a Triple Crown win by American Pharoah fundamentally changing the game's popularity in the long-term, but it is always

something I have wanted to see. This is a special horse whose brilliance is worthy of a Triple Crown title, and as a racing fan I'll be desperately pulling for him just as I have all of the other hopefuls before.” – Brian W. Spencer

HPNOW ANALYSTS OFFER TRIPLE CROWN ‘TAKES’

“In my lifetime, 10 horses have won the first two legs of the Triple Crown and none of them were able to win the Belmont. When I attended the Kentucky Derby earlier this year, I never knew we'd have a potential Triple Crown winner on our hands just a few weeks later. Should American Pharoah win, I'll

feel privileged to have been able to see the beginning of such an important historical three-race span in the history of the sport.”

– Candice Hare

“If American Pharoah wins the Triple Crown, it

would be great for the sport, but I'm not sure what

it's long-term implications would be. It might have a

short-term effect, but I think getting younger

people interested in the sport starts at home.

Take your children and grandchildren to the track to show

them what a beautiful sport it is, beside the betting aspect. I

didn't get into the sport until my early 20s (in the early 1980s), so

I don't remember Affirmed winning the Triple Crown. This would

be a real thrill. Wish I was there, because Belmont is only Triple

Crown race I haven't attended.”

– Jeff Nahill

HPNOW ANALYSTS OFFER TRIPLE CROWN ‘TAKES’

While I don't think a Triple Crown will be a miraculous

panacea for the sport, I do think it would be a positive

reinforcement of horse racing. Best of all, I think

American Pharoah can do it. Not only does the colt

have the rare combination of speed and physical

mechanics – he has one of the most efficient strides I've seen –

but he's got the right mind. Watching the horse interact with

a multitude of racing fans through the past weeks at

Churchill, Pimlico and back to Churchill, he's been

amazing. He poses for photos, eats carrots off the nose of Miss

Kentucky, playfully & gently takes the cap off a photographer.

When he steps on the track, he's all business. Human athletes

and reality TV stars could take some lessons. American Pharoah is

the whole package and will be the best shot we've seen in a long

time to win the Triple Crown, and I'll be rooting for him.

“From 2005 through 2011, I skipped the Belmont, because, frankly, the racing fan in me felt wronged by Smarty Jones’ defeat & I didn’t want to go back. It was the most stinging sports day of my lifetime & I let it bother me for way too long. Time heals all wounds, and business brought me back to Belmont

in 2012. I haven’t missed one since, and I realize now how fortunate I am to witness a part of history…whether it’s a horse I’m rooting for (Smarty Jones) or not (Big Brown). Not that American Pharoah needs my pledge pin, but I’m A-okay with him joining the game’s most exclusive club. And I’m also cool with anyone trying to beat him at 2-to-5.” – Jeremy Plonk

By Jeremy Plonk

Wouldn’t the irony be sweet if the

10th season of Countdown to the

Crown actually ended with the

countdown reading zero? As the

clock ticks toward the June 6

Belmont Stakes,

American Pharoah’s

place in history

becomes closer to

realization. What

stands before him

– as it has for his

predecessors and

current rivals – is

the challenge of the

mile and one-half distance

at Belmont Park.

As written in Countdown a week

ago, American Pharoah’s likelihood

of success rates on an equal plane

with Smarty Jones in 2004 and

only behind Spectacular Bid in ’79

of all contenders since Affirmed

made history 37 years ago.

But even with comparables in his

historical favor, the here and now

has been a cruel

sidekick to many

who have teased

the trick. There

are no tap-in

putts over Big

Sandy. Rivals

won’t give the

crown away

without a skirmish.

Cinderella may have

fit the glass slipper, but the

prince who earns these three

jewels must be capable of carrying

the tradition for centuries.

Will the crown fit the reigning 2-

year-old champion at age 3? We

count down his chances and foes:

MUBTAAHIJ

BOTTOM LINE: Didn’t see quite enough life in Derby to make him jump some of the others. NOT ON MY TICKETS. Fair win odds 15-1.

Prep Notes

• Pretty good run in full-field Derby in terms of a clean trip anddidn't do enough with it; even-grinding 8th with no excuse.

Prep Notes

• 2-time winner at 1-3/16 miles in Dubai in a 3-week span inMarch, taking Al Bastakiya and United Arab Emirates Derby.

Prep Notes

• 5: 4-1-0 at Meydan and 3: 0-0-0 in his other worldwide junkets in England and America. A horse-for-course only?

Style

• As trainer Mike de Kock predicted, the American brand ofearly speed was faster than he offers. Will chase midpack.

Schedule

• Not since Afleet Alex's 2-a-day training sessions have we seena Triple Crown contender do this much. Won't lack fitness.

X-Factor

• Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. was leading rider at both Belmont Parkmeets in 2014 and knows the oval exceptionally well.

TALE OF VERVE

BOTTOM LINE: Preakness runners haven’t come back well in Belmont of late and pace set-up tougher this time than last. NOT ON MY TICKETS.

Fair win odds 30-1.

Prep Notes

• Rallied 10 lengths in slop to finish a distant Preakness 2nd toAmerican Pharoah. Only closer despite slow come-home split.

Prep Notes

• Visually sharp Keeneland route maiden breaker April 23 instart 6 that garnered a huge 114 BRIS late pace figure.

Prep Notes

• Underachieved at Fair Grounds in MSW ranks all winter-springbut hinted at talent. Company lines at FG didn't advance.

Style

• A one-run closer in most attempts, but he nearly got up going7F at Kee at 2. Not as far back in Belmont as Preakness.

Schedule

• His inability to graduate in MSWs now comes around to helphim as he hasn't been banging with heavyweights all year.

X-Factor

• 3rd Dallas Stewart trainee to blow up T-Crown place price in 3years, but Golden Soul & Commanding Curve flopped at Bel.

FRAMMENTO

BOTTOM LINE: Not keen on an exacta shot, but 3rd or 4th feels possible. Very fringe EXOTICS CONTENDER. Fair win odds 30-1.

Prep Notes

• Advanced from 16th to 10th in Kentucky Derby, but closedonly 2 lengths total and actually lost 2 lengths back in lane.

Prep Notes

• Blue Grass 4th looks less impressive given 5: 0-0-0 recordsince by top 3 (Carpe Diem, Danzig Moon, Ocho Ocho Ocho).

Prep Notes

• Beaten 12-1/2 lengths by Frosted in Holy Bull and 8-3/4lengths by that rival in Kentucky Derby -- needs even more.

Style

• Showed more pace earlier in career BEFORE adding blinkersin his last 3 starts and becoming a 1-run plodder.

Schedule

• Nick Zito employs the Birdstone blueprint from 2004 after aDerby dud, resting up for Belmont. Freshened at Saratoga.

X-Factor

• Hall of Famer Mike Smith takes mount and rides closers well.4 of his last 5 Belmont Stakes rides ran top 3 with 2 wins.

KEEN ICE

BOTTOM LINE: He’s going to get the 1-1/2 miles and he never embarrasses himself. EXOTICS CONTENDER. Fair win odds 12-1.

Prep Notes

• 7th at 45/1 in Kentucky Derby, 1 of only 3 horses to gainmore than 5 lengths on American Pharoah the final 1/2 mile.

Prep Notes

• Mild Louisiana Derby bid not nearly as visually inspiring as hisRisen Star 3rd. Fair Grounds crew hasn't starred in Crown.

Prep Notes

• Consistent grinder stayed equal or gained ground in stretch inall 7 career starts at a mile or longer, all 94-104 BRIS late figs.

Style

• Fast pace or slow, he's never been closer than 4 lengths early& that bid at GP was his worst; they'll take back even at 12F.

Schedule

• Continued to work exceptionally well at Churchill Downs afterDerby as he did going into it; perfect season, timing-wise.

X-Factor

• Sire Curlin was a 2-time Jockey Club Gold Cup winner and '07Belmont Stakes runner-up in his 3 career starts at Belmont.

Kent Desormeaux now plays the role of potential spoiler after bidding for Triple Crowns in 1998 (Real Quiet) and 2008 (Big Brown).

MATERIALITY

BOTTOM LINE: John Velazquez at Belmont and an early pace presence should strike fear into the favorite. But he just feels short of top prize.

EXOTICS CONTENDER. Fair win odds 6-1.

Prep Notes

• Closed 5-1/4 lengths over last 1/2 mile of Kentucky Derbyafter seemingly blowing it at start. What might have been?

Prep Notes

• 3-for-3 at Gulfstream in a tight squeeze from Jan. 11 debut 'tilKy Derby starting gate. Little margin for error because of that.

Prep Notes

• Lackluster return tries by Upstart in Ky Derby and Ami'sFlatter in Marine at Woodbine cloud his Fla Derby form some.

Style

• Confirmed pace player simply missed break in Louisville. Fullyexpect him to be on the lead in Belmont or pressing 'Pharoah.

Schedule

• Light resume played against him at Churchill, but works backinto his favor for freshness now. Similar to Dunkirk (Bel, 2nd).

X-Factor

• Sire Afleet Alex was a blowout Belmont Stakes winner andgame Champagne 2nd over Bel track in 2 local appearances.

Will Materiality’s front-running Florida Derby tactics be back in the Belmont

and change the dynamic in his rematch with American Pharoah? Click the replay to watch his signature score.

Pletcher & Velazquez have hoisted a Belmont trophy over their home track.

FROSTED

BOTTOM LINE: Clearly the most likely upsetter to American Pharoah if the favorite doesn’t deliver his A-game. WIN CONTENDER. Fair win odds 7-2.

Prep Notes

• Rallied 7-3/4 lengths for 4th in Kentucky Derby, the mostground made up by any horse on American Pharoah in race.

Prep Notes

• Visually impressive rally to win Wood Memorial in race afterthroat surgery with a strong come-home time & late BRIS fig.

Prep Notes

• Worth noting a very solid 2nd over Belmont main track during2YO campaign & graduated as soon as he got more distance.

Style

• Capable of being on front or close to it based on Fountain ofYouth, but he likely tries to sit 3rd/4th and aim for Pharoah.

Schedule

• Aggressive workout placement at Belmont in company withMet Mile contender Tamarkuz. Building toward a solid effort.

X-Factor

• Belmont Stakes-winning tandem of McLaughlin (Jazil '06) &Rosario (Tonalist '14) and now he has the home-field edge.

Photo: Susie Raisher/NYRA

MADEFROMLUCKY

BOTTOM LINE: I was warming up to him before Derby and his style really plays to Belmont. Serious EXOTICS CONTENDER. Fair win odds 8-1.

Prep Notes

• Liked his professional win in Peter Pan in all-important startover the Belmont surface ... also was first Castellano pairing.

Prep Notes

• Tried American Pharoah at Oaklawn when running 4th in ArkDerby & 2nd in Rebel to no avail with different pace tactics.

Prep Notes

• Worked poorly at Churchill in the week leading up to theDerby and Pletcher pulled the plug wisely. Benefits now.

Style

• One-paced grinder whether it's 4-1/2 furlongs at age 2 or routing 9 furlongs at age 3 in 1-turn and 2-turn scenarios.

Schedule

• He's been in serious race mode since last December without abreak and comes in as a new shooter to the Triple Crown.

X-Factor

• Among the Belmont Stakes players, only he and Frosted have a race over the track ... and 'Lucky owns a G2 score at that.

PHOTO: Susie Raisher/NYRA

AMERICAN PHAROAH

BOTTOM LINE: A gambler may not like him at 2-5 to do two newthings (distance and surface), but it’s also fair to say he’s the most likely WIN CONTENDER by a sufficient margin. Fair win odds 6-5.

Prep Notes

• Toyed with Preakness foes as previously reliable foes failed tohandle weather/track; exaggerated margin, but impressed.

Prep Notes

• Kentucky Derby win was big-time gut check in which workedharder than many expected. Preakness waltz helps now.

Prep Notes

• Romping scores at Oaklawn in Rebel & Arkansas Derby got some form flattery following Madefromlucky's Peter Pan win.

Style

• We haven't learned about his ability to handle pace pressure (only passed 3 horses in his career). He'll be 1st-2nd again.

Schedule

• Baffert keeping him at Churchill was par for the conditioner, who did the same plan/preps with Silver Charm, Real Quiet.

X-Factor

• He's won 3 races in 5 weeks (35 days between Ark Derby andPreakness). No one knows if he'll handle 12F or Bel surface.

JEREMY PLONK’S 2015 BELMONT STAKES PICKS

WIN: AMERICAN PHAROAH

PLACE: MADEFROMLUCKY

SHOW: FROSTED

Spring and summer in American Quarter Horse racing are filled with futurities prepping the freshman class for their run at the world’s richest purse for 2-year-olds, the All American Futurity.

This year, the Labor Day classic at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico will feature a record $3 million purse, and horsemen will be preparing their sprinters at tracks across the country leading up to the mid-August trials.

When handicappers open up a

program featuring Quarter Horse

races and see almost non-existent

past performance lines for first-

time starters, instead of heading

for the concession line while

waiting for a more favorable

betting opportunity, let’s look at

ways to decipher clues in order to

find a winner.

The American Quarter Horse

Association, the sprinters’

equivalent to the Thoroughbreds’

Jockey Club, is the world’s largest

equine breed registry and also

provides many free statistics that

can be beneficial to handicappers.

At the AQHA website, you can

find statistics on the leading

horsemen and sires.

Analyzing pedigrees of first-time

starters is my go-to handicapping

tool, and AQHA is my favorite free

source of information. While the

American Quarter Horse industry

revolutionized the breeding

industry with syndicating stallions,

the practice does make it more

difficult to determine a stallion’s

class and demand based solely on

breeding fees. Many syndicated

stallions’ breeding fees are private

treaty and therefore not easily

evaluated. There are some all-

time leading stallions that

jump off the page such as Mr

Jess Perry, First Down Dash

and Corona Cartel – who also

are notably the top-three leading

broodmare sires of 2-year-old

earners in that order. But each

spring there are new names that

join the list of the elite, and if you

are an astute handicapper, you

might pick up on a trendsetter that

leads you straight to the winner’s

circle.

Using AQHA’s Sires of 2-Year-Old

Money Earners list, you will see

stallions highlighted with a pound

sign indicating that this is their first

crop of runners. It’s important to

use the 2-year-old list to find these

up-and-coming sires as they only

have freshmen runners and they

can get buried in the overall sires

of money earners list. When mining

for helpful data, it’s always

preferable to drill down to the most

relevant information. AQHA does

not recognize races in which a 2-

year-old starts prior to March 1;

competes against older horses; or

is allowed to compete at a distance

greater than 440 yards prior to

September 1 with the exception of

the trials and finals for the West

Texas Futurity and the Mardi Gras

Futurity, which are exempt from

the March 1 rule. On June 1, there

are only three months of data on

2-year-old racing, which could be

diluted if you add the additional

two months that horses 3-years-old

and older were competing.

As of May 15, five stallions with

their first crop of starters are

perched on the top-25 list of

leading sires of 2-year-old money

earners. At No. 8, Good Reason

SA has seven winners in 2015. His

first crop included 76 foals, and his

top runner to date is Send Me

Good Candy, who has earned

$124,564. Good Reason SA has

two stakes-placed runners.

Ranking 11th on the list is

Dominyun, a 2008 stallion with

46foals in his first crop, six of

which are winners. Next on the list

is Freighttrain B at No. 12. The

2008 stallion sired 67 foals in his

first crop and six are winners at the

track. The Louisiana Cartel has

been garnering attention with his

17th position. The 2007 stallion

sired 56 foals in his first crop and

currently has a stakes-placed

runner. At No. 22, One Sweet

Jess has sired four winners from

his first crop that included 106

foals. The 2008 stallion also has a

stakes-placed runner to his credit.

An example of a first-time starter lighting the board is Nucky, who at press time was ranked fourth in the AQHARacing/Horseplayernow.com poll. Trained by Mike Joiner, who is known for developing young runners, Nucky was the fastest qualifier to the Grade 2 West Texas Futurity at Sunland Park after winning his debut by three- quarters of a length. He repeated his dominating performance when he won the West Texas final in April. The gelding is by freshman sire Dominyun.

With AQHA allowing mares to

produce multiple foals through

embryo transfer technology,

stallion owners can breed their

best mares to young stallions

hoping to quickly prove a stallion’s

prodigy at the track. Referencing

the aforementioned leading

broodmare sires list might help a

dam jump off the page, too, in

your handicapping.

Of course don’t forget to look for

leading sires of 2-year-old money

earners. The top three as of May

15 are Ivory James, PYC Paint

Your Wagon and Corona Cartel.

Ruidoso Downs’ historic summer season began Memorial Day weekend with 32 trials for the Grade 1, $750,000 Ruidoso Futurity. The final will run June 7, and while there won’t be any first-time starters in the Ruidoso Futurity, there will be plenty of races leading up to the All American trials with youngsters getting their first start.

Jennifer K. Hancock is a member of the

American Quarter Horse Association’s Wrangler

Racing Aces Fan Education team. Her resume

includes working as a racehorse groom in

college, the press box coordinator at Sam

Houston Race Park, the editor of The American

Quarter Horse Racing Journal and currently as

a freelance writer and marketer at her own

Lone Oak Marketing.

2014 leading sires of 2-year-old Quarter Horse

money earners:

1. Walk Thru Fire

2. PYC Paint YourWagon

3. Tempting Dash

4. One FamousEagle

5. Volcom

6. Corona Cartel

7. Apollitical Jess(freshman sire in ‘14)

8. Heza Fast Dash

9. First Moonflash

10. Ivory James

This issue we review classes from:

MAY 2015 Since 2011, Night School has been teaching novice and expert handicappers alike in the finer points of playing the races. Through live chats, videos and radio simulcasts, the best in the industry have shared their expertise free with horseplayers. In each issue of Horse Player NOW Magazine, we go “Back to Night School” with a look at some of the high points of past lessons.

The 2015 Night School season hit the start of the Triple Crown campaign with 4 lessons in May. Weeks 9 and 11 on the season were live chat Q&As for the pending Kentucky Derby and Preakness editions. Our 2 radio sessions for the month included some of our biggest guests ever.

Week 12: When to Bet More … Bet Less (Plus a Ky Derby 141 review)

Week 13: Racing from the Outside (How racing is perceived and covered by national media.)

AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE Q-RACING

JOURNAL TO FOLLOW AMERICA’S

FASTEST ATHLETES!

Week 12

Guest “A good friend of mine always tells me you have to go for the „greed‟ play. When you like a horse to win, forget you‟re alive in the pick 3 and pick 4; you‟ve got to fire.”

Week 13

Guest “There‟s something romantic about (horse racing) – at it‟s best – that draws people in that can‟t even read a Racing Form.”

Week 13

Guest “I‟m an old fuddy-duddy journalist in that way. I‟ve been temped to bet every race we‟ve covered, but I can‟t bring myself to … If I would‟ve bet the (Derby) trifecta, I would have hit it …”

Week 13

Guest “It‟s like playing fantasy sports, you‟re investing a certain amount of money ... and we see how that has exploded and attacked many demographics of young people.”

Week 13

Guest

“I‟ve learned something from mixed martial arts … go in with the 'no apologies necessary' attitude. If you don‟t like the sport, don‟t watch the sport.”

COMING THIS MONTH IN NIGHT SCHOOL! TUESDAYS, 8:30 PM ET

CLICK FOR MORE Visit Horseplayernow.com for the racing industry’s FREE national online fan education program.

JUNE 2 BELMONT STAKES HANDICAPPING

Ask the experts all your key questions

about the final jewel in the Triple Crown.

JUNE 9 NEWBIE NIGHT AT THE RACES

Our Summer Semester begins with the basics

during live racing action from Mountaineer.

JUNE 16 BET TYPES

– WHEN AND WHY?

We teach how to tackle an actual card from Mountaineer in

terms of pools & plays.

JUNE 23 PACE/RACE

SHAPES

Dissect the past performances to see

how the race may play out in real time.

JUNE 30 JOCKEY-TRAINER

COMBOS

We get inside the human element with

live statistical handicapping.

MEET OUR TEAM: TERRY TURRELL

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

of the Horse Player NOW staff by introducing you to our west coast analyst

Terry Turrell, who has been with our site since its inception.

professional writer,

handicapper, and racing

official since 1965, Terry

Turrell was the official track

morning line maker for Western

Harness during its heyday at

Hollywood Park

(1969-79) and has set

the official lines at Los

Alamitos and Del Mar.

While he presently

covers the Southern

California

Thoroughbred circuit

for Horse Player NOW

and the L.A. Daily News, and the

Los Alamitos AQHA action for the

Long Beach Press Telegram, Turrell

has also been the public

handicapper for the Long Beach

Press-Telegram, San Diego Union,

Los Angeles Daily News, Escondido

Times-Advocate and the Orange

County Register. Fans on

ESPN.com have enjoyed Terry’s

live chats in recent years as well.

Turrell’s handicapping style is

predominantly based on careful,

personal observation; the

notion that class will

always prevail; and

isolating value.

“Handicapping is so

much more than

numbers and statistics,”

says Turrell. “Until you

can duplicate human

personalities, horses and riders,

along with racing luck, and shove

them all into a computer, I will

stick with 'observation' as the

number one factor for success at

the windows.”

Recently, he’s turned his focus to

handicapping tournaments, and he

A

counts his multiple tournament

wins, including his two Sun Coast

Challenge victories, and being a

finalist in the 2006 DRF/NTRA

National Handicapping

Championship, among his

tournament career highlights.

A graduate of Long

Beach State University,

Turrell currently

resides in Sunset

Beach, CA, and his

sons Tim, Toby, and

Jeff have followed in

his footsteps in having

successful careers in

the horse racing

industry.

He’s had the privilege of seeing

many great races throughout his

lifetime, but in addition to naming

Charlie Whittingham as his favorite

trainer, both Eddie Delahoussaye

and Bill Shoemaker as his favorite

jockeys, and the great Dr. Fager as

his favorite racehorse, he names

Native Diver vs. Viking Spirit in the

American Handicap as one of the

most memorable races he’s

witnessed.

And as far as spending a day at the

track goes, for him, nothing beats

watching the races with a hand-

carved sandwich and a cold brew.

When asked to describe today’s

state of racing, Turrell said, "The

most significant problem in racing

today is medication, and

the lack of a consistent

medication standard

for all states. There will

always be racing;

however, greed and a

poor product,

weakened by small and

cheap fields, too much

racing and the lack of a

solid game plan for the U.S. must

be rectified." – HPN

Catch Terry’s selections daily in the

HP NOW BUZZ Report for all

SoCal Thoroughbred tracks + Los

Alamitos Quarter Horse action!

You can follow Terry on

Twitter @TerryTurrell

FOLLOW HORSE PLAYER NOW’S

COUNTDOWN TO THE QUEEN’S PLATE

EACH WEEK BEGINNING APRIL 10

LIVE RACING CHATS WITH THE NIGHT SCHOOL PROS

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS, MAY 27 – DECEMBER 2, 6:15 PM ET START

FULL-CARD ACTION, FREE VIDEO & BRISNET.COM PAST PERFORMANCES

The Day After.

June 6 promises to be an amazing day around the ovals from coast-to-coast, not just at Belmont Park where all eyes will be on American Pharoah. Our collective heart rate will rise as post time approaches whether you’re in the backyard at Belmont, at an OTB in Chicago or watching with a craned neck at a monitor from Santa Anita Park. Those tuned in at home on NBC Sports also will feel sweaty palms. We’re all-in when it comes to seeing a part of history.

Then will come June 7. Now what? How does an industry react to success or failure? How do the individuals associated with the horse handle their new-fangled status as living legends; or as we saw with Steve Coburn a year ago, their potential crushing defeat of emotions in the spotlight?

Come Sunday, we return to issues of integrity, a game with a takeout higher than economically feasible for many of its hardcore players, and dwindling field sizes from which to make those wagers. But it doesn’t have to remain that way.

American Pharoah’s result won’t change the business of horse racing unless the business men and women of horse racing get inspired to do something. And that may very well be the silver lining.

Left to its own devices, change has been slow in horse racing. Part of the reason is you can’t maneuver the Titanic like a Maserati. There will be factions of industry fat cats who are happy, and others jealous, if American Pharoah finds success. At the track level, though, ‘Pharoah may inspire. Smarty Jones changed a state’s perception of horse racing in Pennsylvania. Granted, we screwed up the golden eggs handed us in the Keystone State and haven’t improved the product.

But great horses do inspire action, and there are likely executives in board rooms all over the US needing a reason to get excited about going to work again in the racing industry. What if American Pharoah re-inspires them? – JP

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