Derby Winner Nyquist Heads Home to California for R & R
 
The Third Jewel of racing’s Triple Crown, the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes, will serve as the marquee race among many stakes races as part of Belmont Park’s Racing Festival Saturday, June 11.
 
At Turf Paradise doors will open at 8:00 am with the first Belmont simulcast scheduled for 8:35 am. The Belmont Stakes itself is scheduled for 3:26 pm. All of Belmont’s races, including races from other tracks across the country, will be simulcast at Turf Paradise and at all 65 in-state OTB facilities.
 
There is no admission or parking fee at Turf Paradise.
 
Other stakes on Belmont Day are: the $500,000 Wood Stevens (G2), $1,000,000 Ogden Phillips (G1), $150,000 Easy Goer, $1,000,000 Manhattan, (G1) $1,250,000 Metropolitan Handicap (G1), $300,000 Jaipur (G3), $700,000 Just a Game (G1), $400,000 Brooklyn Invitational (G2) and $700,000 Acorn (G1)
 
True, there will be no Triple Crown winner this year: Nyquist won the Kentucky Derby (G1), defeating Exaggerator and then Exaggerator won racing’s Second Jewel, the Preakness (G1) Stakes, with Nyquist finishing third. So, no grudge-match showdown between the two colts in the Belmont. Following the Preakness, Nyquist developed a fever and a low white-cell blood count. Given the grueling 1 ½ miles of the Belmont Stakes, it made no sense for Nyquist, who would be losing valuable training, to show up if he’s not at 100%.
 
However, given the exceptional menu of stakes on Belmont day, no one should leave disappointed.
 
The Belmont Stakes itself should come up with a strong field to contest the Preakness winner. Exaggerator himself will get plenty of action, given that he is by Curlin, who is bred to run all day. The colt should have no trouble handling the 1 ½ Belmont Stakes. After coming from way behind in the Derby, Exaggerator showed in the Preakness he can race closer to the pace and still have another gear when hitting the stretch.
 
Cherry Wine, who nosed out Nyquist for the place in the Preakness, showed he belonged with the current crop of 3-year-olds. A one-run, deep closer, Cherry Wine can only improve upon his Preakness effort, even though his come-from-behind running style does not conform to most close-to-the-pace Belmont winners.
 
Stratavari, the lightly raced colt who finished fourth in the Preakness, is scheduled to take another run at his more accomplished peers. Also Lani, the temperamental and highly unpredictable colt from Japan, who finished ninth in the Derby and fifth in the Preakness, should find himself in the Belmont starting gate along with several others, like Creator (13th Derby) and Suddenbreakingnews (5th Derby), Brody’s Cause (7th Derby). Destin, Mo Tom and Governor Malibu.
 

2,000 Local Race Fans Will Be At Turf Paradise To Watch Simulcast

Can Nyquist do it? Horse racing fans at Turf Paradise will be watching and wagering.

The undefeated colt, who won the Kentucky Derby, arrived on Monday evening at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course, the host of the Preakness.
 
Turf Paradise is hosting a Preakness watching party Saturday, May 21 where fans can be part of a potential history-making sports event.
 
At Turf Paradise doors will open at 7:00 am on Preakness Day, Saturday May 21st.
The first Preakness simulcast is at 7:30 am.
The Preakness is scheduled for 3:45 pm.
OTB’s will open at 9:30 am.
Advanced wagering for Preakness Day’s entire card will take place at approximately 4pm Friday.
 
The air-conditioned Clubhouse, Turf Club and Players’ Club will be open at Turf Paradise. There is no admission charge or seat charge at the Clubhouse. The Grandstand will be closed. The Turf Club and Players Club will offer an all-day buffet for $25 per person. The Clubhouse will offer a limited A La Carte menu. For reservations or more information please call 602 375 6472.

Last year American Pharoah became the first horse to win the Triple Crown since 1978. There have only been 12 Triple Crown winners. Sir Barton was the first horse to accomplish the feat in 1919
 
The third race in the prestigious series is the Belmont Stakes which takes place June 11th. Turf Paradise is also hosting a Belmont watching party.
 
Turf Paradise opened its doors in 1956 and is Arizona’s first sports franchise at 19th Ave and Bell. Live racing resumes October 15th. Until then, the air conditioned Clubhouse remains open where fans can watch and wager on simulcast races across the country and around the world.
 

With Blue Bomber winning the $27,500 Hasta la Vista Handicap, the traditional final race of the season, Turf Paradise closed out its 60th season of racing.
 
Natasha Coddington and Blue Bomber ($6.20) led every step of the way of one mile and seven-eights Hasta La Vista with Pacific Nights finishing second a neck behind the winner and La Swift third in the field of ten.
 
Owned by Jim McFadyen and trained by Robertino Diodoro Blue Bomber covered the marathon distance in 3:11.25.
 
One race earlier, the filly McKenzie Honey ($7.60) with Martin Bourdieu aboard upstaged the boys in winning the $53,558 ATBA Sales Stakes. Yo Y Me finished second and Grass and Cactus third in the field of ten 2-year-olds.
 
Owned by Barbara Eakin and trained by Jonathan Nance, McKenzie Honey covered the five furlongs in 59.19.
 
Meet Leaders
Scotts Stevens won his second consecutive leading rider’s title with 118 victories. For Stevens, 55, it was his eighth title overall.
 
Robertino Diodoro captured his third leading trainer’s title with 109 wins. Diodoro set the record for most win in a meet with 128 in 2014.
 
Charles Garvey, a main client of Diodoro, took down his third owner’s title with 58 winners.
 
The Karl Krieg-owned, Valerie Lund-trained Absolutely Cool was voted Horse of the Meet.
 
Simulcasting will continue throughout the summer with live racing returning October 15.

America’s most famous horse race, the Kentucky Derby to be run this Saturday and Sunday’s Hasta la Vista Handicap, bring Turf Paradise’s 60th racing season to a close this weekend.
 
Saturday’s Run for the Roses
Churchill Downs’ $2 million Kentucky Derby, celebrating its 141st renewal, is expected to attract a capacity field of 20 horses with a tentative post time of 3:24 pm. The one mile and one- quarter classic for 3-year-olds will be simulcast on track at Turf Paradise and at all 65 OTB sites throughout Arizona.
 
On track, gates will open at 7:15 am with Churchill Downs’ first simulcast at 7:30 am. The first live race is set for 11:30 am.
 
The first 5,000 fans will receive a free Kentucky Derby commemorative glass listing the names of the previous 140 Kentucky Derby winners. Free multiple bounce inflatables will be available for the kids. The traditional Derby drink, the mint julep, will be available.
 
Grandstand admission on Derby Day is $5.
 
Sunday’s Closing Day
A regular post time of 1:25 pm will be in effect closing day. Grandstand admission will be free.
 
Two stakes will highlight closing day’s nine-race card: The $35,000-added ATBA Spring Sales Stakes and the $25,000-added Hasta la Vista Handicap.
 
ATBA Sales Stakes
A field of 11 two-year-olds will line up for this 5 furlong test, which will go as the eighth race.  The 11 entrants are divided among three fillies and eight colts and geldings. All 11 came out of one of two April 19 trial races which produced two winners, French General and the filly McKenzie Honey.
 
Trainer Dan McFarlane, who’s won this race the last two years and three years overall, will be represented by the Rocky Bar filly Spotlight Gal and Jack Mormon.
 
Hasta la Vista
The traditional final live race on the last day of the race meet, and one of the longest turf stakes in America at one mile and seven-eights, the Hasta la Vista, which is celebrating its 60th running, attracted a field of 10 marathoners.
 
The question is: Can Blue Bomber do it again?
 
In the April 2nd Wildcat Handicap at 1 3/8 miles (turf) Blue Bomber opened up a 20-length lead and went on to win the traditional Hasta la Vista prep by two lengths.
 
Also entered is Sir Searsucker, who finished second to Blue Bomber in the Wildcat.