Mario Pino

Press Release from Laurel Park:

LAUREL, MD. 10-25-06---With a victory aboard Le Cordon Bleu ($6) in today’s 7th race, jockey Mario Pino moved to within 200 victories of 6,000 during his storied career. The 45-year-old ranks 16th on the all-time win list and is the winningest rider at the Maryland tracks.

Now in his 28th season as a rider, Pino has surpassed 200 wins in a year 12 times in his career. Since January 1, 1999 he has visited the winners’ circle 1,881 times.

“When you are having fun at something it goes quickly,” who reached the 5,000 milestone on his 41st birthday in 2002. “It is not easy but I feel young. When I hit 5,000 I never thought about 6,000 but now I am coming up on it. Two hundred is a lot of wins. I hope the next 200 will be the most fun.”

Fourteen jockeys have reached the 6,000-win plateau. Only two active riders, Russell Baze and Earlie Fires, have more career winners than Pino.

The Tipping Point

This week "The Journal", a West Virginia news paper printed an article about the push for table games at the racetracks. The people of West Virginia fear that slot machines in Pennsylvania will hurt business at the slot palaces / racetracks in the state. The article speaks about the possibility of lost revenues and jobs at the hotels, resorts, and casinos.

When I first read the article, it all made sense. The more I thought about it, I started to think........Did they even mention horse racing in the article? The answer, not really. The only speak of the horse industry was about another issue in which the legislature decided to move $11 million from the purses into the states Workers Compensation Debt Reduction Fund (this is a post for another day). So this started me thinking for the last few days.

My thoughts took me back a few years ago when I read Malcom Gladwell's "The Tipping Point." I began to wonder when the scale would tip from "slots benefit racing" to "racing is a burden on the casinos."

At Charles Town, Racing and Slots (in West Virginia) the emphasis is definitelyly not on the horse racing. You walk into a huge slot palace, and have to follow what seems like miles of hallways to find the racetrack. Alan at Left at The Gate wrote about this issue at Yonkers Racetrack in New York. They have slots, but no horse racing (yet). Here in Baltimore, the talk is about adding slot machines to Pimlico Race Couse. Lots of talk about slots, but no talk about adding racing dates. Currently, Pimlico has only 40 days of racing each year. If the state allows Magna to put slots in, do you think wit will be a track with slots, or vice versa?

I have been very ouspoken about allowing slots in Martyland. Now, I think that I should be careful what I wish for. By the time we realize that horse racing has "tipped" it may be too late!

Maryland Racing

A new 15 member panel called "Keep It in Maryland" has been created to better market horse racing in Maryland. This committee came public today with a new positive image of the Maryland horse industry. Members of the committee include Lou Raffetto Jr. (president and COO of the Maryland Jockey Club, the Magna Entertainment Corp. Subsidiary that runs Pimlico and Laurel; Alan Foreman (chief counsel to the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association- a group that represents horse owners and trainers); and Cricket Goodall (executive director of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association). I wonder why these people needed to create a new committee. Don't they already advocate for Maryland racing? Don't they already work together everyday to better Maryland racing? I'll need to do a little more digging in order to figure this one out, but I'm sure it has a lot to do with slot machines.

A Bloodhorse article today on this topic had a few other tidbits of info:

"William Rickman Jr. has stepped up work on a planned Thoroughbred track in Western Maryland called Little Orleans, according to Peter Szymanski, general manager of Ocean Downs, an Eastern shore harness track. Among Rickman's properties are Ocean Downs as well as Delaware Park, an out-of-state Thoroughbred venue that has video lottery terminals. It is widely believed Little Orleans won't be completed without a slots license".

"Maybe (Rickman) knows something we don't " Szymanski stated

Unfortunately, the future of Maryland racing may be determined next Tuesday (election day). I guess we will have to wait and see.

ESPN Commentators to wear jockey silks.

According to this article the commentators for the November 4th Breeders Cup (on ESPN) will appear in jockey silks. Now this is not a tremendous stretch for Jerry Bailey, or even Jeanine Edwards. I think the fun starts when they show Kenny Mayne, and Randy Moss. The full out belly laugh comes in when they turn to Hank Goldberg. I cant wait, this is only going to make the coverage even better!

An Offer Todd Pletcher Can't Refuse

My father and I ran over to Belmont today to catch a few of the races on the all NY-bred card. We agreed that any time Funny Cide runs, it may be the last time to see him, so I had to go. I have never seen him run in person.

Little did I know that he would be outshined in the $250,000 Empire Classic by the horse that came in second. That horse is Carminooch. He is trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Three Amigos Stables which is managed by Carmine Sirico, brother of Sopranos actor Tony Sirico. The Sopranos came out to support their friend, as Michael Imperioli and Steve Van Zandt joined Tony to support the horse out at Belmont. I snapped this picture of Paulie Walnuts interrogating Todd Pletcher before the race.


I hope second place was acceptable to the wise guys or Mr. Pletcher may be wearing cement shoes tomorrow.

Sweetnorthernsaint

The Mike Trombetta trained Sweetnorthernsaint ran an easy seven furlongs today in the 8th at Laurel Park. The three horse allowance / optional claiming race (4 horses scratched) was the joke at Laurel today. Sweetnorthernsaint paid $2.10 for the win, and the exact a whopping $2.80, the time 1:23.70. The most enjoyable part of the race was third place finisher Itsallaboutlou, ridden by Dane Kobiskie. Trainer Nick Capuano gave the instructions to just gallop around the track. Itsallaboutlou finished over 70 lengths behind the winner, and over 66 behind second place finisher terrific Tom. Best part for Capuano, the horse collected over $3300.

I hope to see Sweetnorthernsaint run locally again, but next time I would like to see some horses step up.

Photos of Rosie

Bug Boys favorite Jockey Anna "Rosie" Napravnik rode Due to victory in the Maryland Million Classic Saturday at Laurel Park. Below are two great photos from Christopher T. Assaf of the Baltimore Sun

Maryland Million Wrap-Up

-Due carried Rosie Napravnik from last to first and scored an upset victory in the $250,000 Maryland Million Classic. Napravnik, Maryland’s leading rider, won three races on the 12-race card. A crowd of 24,836 attended the running of Maryland’s Day At The Races, second best total in the 21-year history of the event. Handle figures on the live card were $4,897,708, also the second most in the history of the event. Due is trained by Dale Capuano. The 5-year-old gelded son of Rinka Das won the 1-3/16th mile race by 2 ¼ lengths in 1:58.38. Diamond David finished second and Evil Storm was third. Due paid $21.80. Today was the swan song for 3-10 post time favorite Cherokee’s Boy, who is retiring to stud. Cherokee’s Boy, with Travis Dunkelberger, led early, gave up the lead entering the far turn, fought back in the stretch but finally gave way and finished off the board. His off the board finish triggered large payoffs in the show position. Due paid $21.80, $8.80 and $12. Diamond David paid $16.20 and $22.20. Evil Storm paid $18.20. The exacta paid $280.80 and the triple $2,403.60.

-Jeremy Rose made all the difference when he held Smart And Fancy together to win the $150,000 Maryland Million Oaks. He held off a determined assault by For Kisses and (Bug Boys favorite) Rosie Napravnik to win by a half-length. It was the third Maryland Million win on the afternoon for Rose. The 27-year-old rider now has eight Maryland Million wins, tied for fourth overall with Julie Krone and Mark Johnston. Anthony Dutrow trains Smart And Fancy. The daughter of Not For Love won the Maryland Million Lassie in 2005. She went to post as the 6-5 favorite and paid $4.60. Dutrow has now saddled seven winners on “Maryland’s day At The Races”, which places him in a second place tie with King Leatherbury and Dale Capuano, one behind leader Bill Boniface. Her winning time was 1:37.34 for one mile on the main track. Smart And Fancy is now six for nine lifetime. She won the Beautiful Day Stakes at Delaware Park in July and placed in the Twixt Stakes in August.


-Private Scandal became the third Not For Love offspring to win a race on today’s Maryland Million card when he came outside a group of runners at the top of the lane and drew off to win the $150,000 Capital Bank Maryland Million Turf. Jockey Horacio Karamanos moved Private Scandal wide down the backstretch and sent the six-year-old around eight horses at the top of the lane in the 1-1/8 mile race. They completed the distance in 1:47.56 and won by 2-1/4 lengths. D.J.’s Hero Came in second and Quantico Joe finished third. The winner paid $8.60. He is trained by Peter Bazeos.


-Spectacular Malibu, making her second lifetime start, gave strong indication that she’ll be making waves in the future when she raced to a 3-3/4 length victory in the $125,000 Maryland Million Lassie. Spectacular Malibu is a grey-roan daughter of Malibu Moon and grand-daughter of Spectacular Bid. She’s trained by Mike Trombetta at Laurel and was ridden by Julian Pimentel. Spectacular Malibu covered the seven furlong distance in 1:25.3. Expected Pleasures made a late run to take second and Paying Off was third. Co-favorites Akronism and What Time It Is were both off the board.


-Debbie Sue bounced her way through traffic and bounded away under jockey Jeremy Rose to a big win the $150,000 Maryland Million Ladies. Debbie Sue won by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:47.63 for the nine-furlong distance. Sticky got up in the last jump to nip Rowdy for second. She paid $15.Debbie Sue is a 5-year-old Citidancer mare, and is trained by Hamilton Smith.

-Ironton trained by Scott Lake won the $150,000 Maryland Million Sprint. Ironton and jockey Jeremy Rose had to survive a claim of foul before they would be awarded the winner’s trophy, but it was Two Heros, racing close to the winner, who was bothered by Love’s Strong Hart and not Ironton. In the end Ironton was declared first, post time favorite Celtic Innis was second and Love’s Strong Hart third. The winner paid $6.80 and completed the six panel distance in a impressive 1:09.54 winning by 6 ¼ lengths.

--Deliver The Roses, the only female in the field, upset ten horses and geldings to win the $100,000 Maryland Million Turf Sprint. The daughter of Same Day Delivery was part of a scramble for the lead. She raced in second just outside the leader to the turn and wrested control heading into the stretch. Deliver The Roses and jockey Erick Rodriguez won by 1-3/4 lengths over speedy Tommie’s Star. Bingobear, the 4-5 post time favorite, never mounted a threat and finished fifth. Deliver The Roses paid $43. She covered the five furlong distance in 55.91. Bobby Leaf trains the six-year-old mare for owner Paul Hartman.

-Rosie Napravnik sent Clifton Park to the lead, then looked back only once as they sped to victory in the $125,000 Maryland Million Nursery, the fourth race on the 12-race program. Clifton Park, a son of Allen’s Prospect, Napravnik had a mount in every race on today’s card. On Thursday she said, “Last year I was excited about riding on Maryland Million day. This year I am going to be excited about winning on Maryland Million day.” They won by 2-1/2 lengths. Crypto Prime rallied to take second. Man In Grey chased the leader into the turn but tired to finish third. Clifton Park paid $6.60 as the post time favorite. The colt is a perfect three for three lifetime for trainer Bruce Jackson. Napravnik rode him last time when they won the Oliver’s Twist Stakes at Laurel against fellow Maryland-breds.

-Five-year-old Silmaril, a local favorite, scored her seventh lifetime stakes victory this afternoon, she put away post time favorite Yolanda B. Too to win the $150,000 Baltimore Examiner Maryland Million Distaff. Chris Grove trains the daughter of Diamond. Ryan Fogelsonger guided her under the finish line in 1:23 for seven furlongs on the main track. Yolanda B. Too, with Jeremy Rose, finished second, 3-1/4 lengths behind the winner. Immune To Gloom rallied to take third. Silmaril paid $5.60 as second choice in the wagering. Her previous claim to fame was a victory in last year’s Pimlico Breeders’ Cup Distaff (Grade III) over champion Ashado. She won the 2004 Maryland Million Oaks at Pimlico.

Maryland Million Day

Don't forget.....Today is the Maryland Million.
This will be the last time you get to see million dollar winner Cherokees Boy before he is retired to stud.
This should be a great day of racing. I will have a full report tonight on this great day for Maryland racing.
It will all be broadcast on HRTV, so don't miss it!

How the slots killed Maryland racing.

John Scheinman of the Washington Post wrote a good article about the problems facing the Maryland breeding industry. I often write about the 600 pound gorilla that is looming in Pennsylvania, but I think a few more people may read his articles. As John points out, the slot machines in Pennsylvania will lead to the demise of the Maryland horse industry. On behalf of all the concerned racing fans in Maryland, I thank you John for getting the word out.

The People of Belmont

Here are a few pictures of the non-equine stars at Belmont Park this past Saturday:

A happy Jim Scatuorchio after English Channel won the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.


John Velazquez with his kids walking to his wife in the Winner's Circle after the same race.
Someone gave Kiaran McLaughlin a cell phone after Henny Hughes won the Vosburgh (I think it was John Ferguson). I wonder if it was Sheik Rashid on the other end of the line?

And here of course is Todd Pletcher after taking all of the money and surpassing his own earnings record. He stuck around until he answered every question from every reporter and then answered the questions that the small crown was calling out.

Julien Leparoux - Photos

If you are a fan of Julien Leparoux, then you must check out this link.. New York photo journalist David Brabyn, has some awesome photo of the 22 year old Frenchman. Spend a day in the life of Julien through the photos of David Brabyn.

Maryland Million

The Maryland Million, a 12-race showcase for the offspring of Maryland-based stallions that will be held on October 14 at Laurel Park, has attracted 167 pre-entries.. (Click here to download all the PP's for free).

Post positions will be drawn on October 11 for the program, which will be headlined by the $250,000 Maryland Million Classic Stakes, a 1 3/16-mile race for three-year-olds and older. The 12 races are worth a combined $1.48-million.

Television broadcaster Jim McKay originally proposed the Maryland Million concept and remains chairman of the board. Since first being held in 1986, 188 stallions have been represented in Maryland Million races.

Anna Napravnik Radio Commercial

The Maryland Jockey club has actually done something smart. While driving in the car today I heard "Hi, I'm Anna Napravnik, Marylands leading jockey". Being the huge fan that I am, it caught my attention. It was a radio ad inviting people out to The Maryland Million. I was so thrilled to hear this ad. The Maryland Jockey Club is actually putting the jockeys up in front, and helping them develop a marketable personality. Now lets hope young Anna gets some good mounts, and picks up some of those huge Maryland purses.

Who designs this stuff?

When the 2007 Preakness logo was unveiled earlier today, I was happy that it was better than the abstract Kentucky Derby logo. I do have some issues with this Preakness logo. First, the Preakness colors have always been black and gold (like a Black Eyed Susan), not blue and gold. Second, the one that really gets under my skin....Why does the official logo need to say "A MAGNA ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE". If chairman Frank Stronach had actually been to Pimlico recently, he would agree that it is an experience, but he probably would not put his company name on it.

Green Monkey Update

The photos below have not be authorized by Todd Pletcher, so don't tell him.

The photos show the Green Monkey hanging around the training track, in his stall and paddock, and enjoying some hay.
At this rate, he will never make it to the races!