Racing! Why Kentucky Downs has big purses

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we congratulate longshot winner of the E.B. Johnston, 80-1 shot Shades of Victory.

My mention of Kentucky Downs and its monster-sizes purses on Saturday begged a question that probably needed an answer. Where did all that purse money come from?

The answer is called historical horse racing, which in its simplest explanation, is what you would get if you bred video of past races to a slot machine. It has pumped a lot of money into purses.

Let’s backtrack. Kentucky Downs runs only races five days a year and only has a turf course, which measures 1 5/8 miles. It has the largest daily purses of any track in the U.S., averaging about $2 million a day. It also has the lowest takeout of any track in the U.S. It’s consistently rated as the best track to bet by the horse players organization.

It’s also about 35 miles from Nashville, which is in a state that doesn’t have racing. Admission is free. Parking is free. (Although you can pay for better of both.)

So, what’s not to like?

Now, back to historical racing. Kentucky Downs has 750 of those machines. You don’t know the names of the jockeys, trainers, track or any other information about the race you are going to bet. You are given some past performance information or you can have the machine handicap the race for you or you can just pick random numbers. There are all kinds of different games.

There is a race every five or six minutes feeding what the gambler wants most—action.

Here’s a tutorial from another Kentucky track, Red Mile, which runs harness racing. Just click here.

Detractors of historical racing (or those that aren’t getting this money) say it is casino gambling and should not be allowed at a race track. Its proponents (those who are getting the money) say it is pari-mutuel wagering, making it fair game.

Anyway, according to Matt Hegarty of the Daily Racing Form, handle has gone “from $413 million in fiscal year 2016 to $654 million in the first 11 months of the 2018 fiscal year.”

And that’s why the purses are so large. In fact, Kentucky Downs sent some money to a couple of the other tracks in Kentucky. Would California tracks like to have historical racing? Of course. Will they? Of course not. In California, changes to rules, regulations and who’s in control of the gambling money, move at a pace that makes a snail look like a cheetah.

Well, that’s where all that Kentucky Downs purse money comes from. The track has two days left, today and Thursday.

Los Alamitos review

Saturday was the meet’s only two-stakes day and both had some quality horses. One outcome was expected, and one was not.

Gas Station Sushi ran most of the $75,000 Beverly J. Lewis Stakes in front and pulled away down the stretch to win the six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies by six lengths.

Gas Station Sushi, trained by Richard Baltas and ridden by Mario Gutierrez, paid $4.20 and $2.60. There was no show wagering, even though there were six fillies in the race. Steph Being Steph was second and Best of Me was third.

“I had the opportunity to work her at Del Mar last week and that gave me a lot of confidence,” Gutierrez told Bob Mieszerski of Los Alamitos. “I thought there would be a little more speed, but she broke really well and I just went on with it. This is a very nice filly.’’

She may be headed to the Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 20.

In a terrific game effort down the stretch, 80-1 shot Shades of Victory won the $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes by a head. It was for Cal-breds going a mile. B Squared and Edwards Going Left gave their best but still couldn’t catch the Reed Saldana trained and owned colt.

Shades of Victory, ridden by Martin Pedroza, went to the lead and never gave it up down the long Los Alamitos stretch. He paid $162.60, $43.80 and $7.60. It was the second highest win price since daytime racing returned in 2014. The record belongs to Devils Triangle of $185.80 set in 2016.

B Squared was second and Edwards Going Left was third. Ten-year-old Soi Phet finished sixth in the seven-horse field.

“Down the stretch I was just hoping he would hold on,’’ Saldana said. “[Pedroza] rode a great race.

“We decided to run him here because a race at Del Mar didn’t fill, so it worked out great. I thought the distance would be to his benefit. One of the reasons I claimed him was because he had a won a race at Sacramento last year where he showed a lot of fight just like he did today.’’

Los Alamitos preview

Sadly, Sunday is the last 1 p.m. start of the meeting, instead the track is opting for the let’s-see-how-much-traffic-we-can-get-into start of 2 p.m. on Thursday. It’s a nine-race card, with eight of the races at 5 ½ furlongs. Seven of the races are claimers.

The feature, at about 5 p.m., is an allowance/optional claimer for fillies and mares going, you guessed it, 5 ½ furlongs. The favorite is the 6-year-old Conquest Flatterme at 2-1. She’s had a good year winning three of seven, but all of hose wins are claimers. She finished second last out in an allowance at Del Mar on Aug. 5. Vladimir Cerin is the trainer and Stewart Elliott is the jockey.

The second favorite, at 5-2, is Diamondsandpearls, who is only 3. She has run only two races, winning her first, a maiden special weight, and finishing fourth in the Sorrento Stakes last out. Joe Talamo picks up the mount on the Bob Baffert-trained filly. Mike Smith rode her the first two races, but he took a few days off after an autograph session for charity at Kentucky Downs on Thursday. Anyway, with Smith being the primary rider, you know they think a lot of her.

Big Races review

A look at graded stakes or races worth more $100,000 or more on Saturday.

Kentucky Downs (1): $130,000 maiden special weight, fillies 2-years-old, 1 mile on turf. Winner: Unapologetic Me ($10.60)

Kentucky Downs (2): $130,000 maiden special weight, 3 and up, 6 ½ furlongs on turf. Winner: Taxman ($7.40)

Belmont (4): $100,000 Allied Forces Stakes, 3-year-olds, 6 furlongs on turf. Winner: World of Trouble ($3.90)

Kentucky Downs (3): $140,000 allowance, 3 and up, 6 ½ furlongs on turf. Winner: Linburgh’s Kitten ($14.40)

Finger Lakes (6): $117,000 Aspirant Stakes, NY-bred 2-year-olds, 6 furlongs. Winner: La Fuerza ($2.50)

Finger Lakes (7): $117,000 Lady Fingers Stakes, NY-bred fillies 2-years-old, 6 furlongs. Winner: Sassy Agnes ($7.70)

Kentucky Downs (4): $130,000 maiden special weight, fillies and mares 3 and up, 6 ½ furlongs on turf. Winner: Angel of Mischief ($6.80)

Kentucky Downs (5): $140,000 allowance, 3 and up, 1 5/16 miles on turf. Winner: Campaign ($7.80)

Kentucky Downs (6): $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint, 2-year-olds, 6 ½ furlongs on turf. Winner: Moonlight Romance ($5.20)

Woodbine (8): $100,000 La Lorgnette Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 1 1/16 miles. Winner: Shamrock Rose ($7.20)

Kentucky Downs (7): Grade 3 $500,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 mile on turf. Winner: Insta Emma ($15.40)

Hastings (3): $100,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity, BC-bred fillies 2-years-old, 6 ½ furlongs. Winner: Dancin Shoes ($2.90)

Kentucky Downs (8): Grade 3 $450,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint, fillies and mares 3 and up, 6 ½ furlongs on turf. Winner: Ruby Notion ($8.20)

Gulfstream (11): $100,000 Sheer Drama Stakes, Fla-bred fillies and mares 3 and up, 7 furlongs. Winner: Starship Bonita ($18.80)

Kentucky Downs (9): Grade 3 $500,000 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint, 3 and up, 6 ½ furlongs on turf. Winner: Proforma ($17.60)

Kentucky Downs (10): Grade 3 $750,000 Kentucky Turf Cup, 3 and up, 1 ½ miles on turf. Winner: Arklow ($15.80)

Hastings (7): $100,000 British Columbia Oaks, fillies 3-years-old, 1 1/8 miles. Winner: Here’s Hannah ($3.80)

Hastings (8): Grade 3 $150,000 British Columbia Derby, 3-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles. Winner: Sky Promise ($4.70)

Big races preview

A look at graded stakes or races worth more $100,000 or more on Sunday. All times PDT:

11:25 Kentucky Downs (1): $130,000 maiden special weight, 2-year-olds, 1 mile on turf. Favorite: Bizzee Channel (3-1)

11:55 Kentucky Downs (2): $140,000 allowance, fillies and mares 3 and up, 6 ½ furlongs. Favorite: Queen’s Fate (4-1)

12:25 Kentucky Downs (3): $100,000 starter allowance, 3 and up, 6 ½ furlongs on turf. Favorite: Maniacal, Belgian (7-5 entry)

12:55 Kentucky Downs (4): $100,000 starter allowance, 3 and up, 1 mile and 70 yards on turf. Favorite: Aquaphobia (5-2)

1:25 Kentucky Downs (5): $100,000 starter allowance, 3 and up, 1 mile and 70 yards on turf. Favorite: Peru (2-1)

1:58 Kentucky Downs (6): $100,000 starter allowance, fillies and mares 3 and up, 6 ½ furlongs. Favorite: Kirby’s Penny (3-1)

1:58 Woodbine (8): $100,000 Belle Mahone Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Gamble’s Ghost (7-5)

2:18 Belmont (8): $100,000 Royal Delta Stakes, NY-bred fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Divine Miss Grey (2-1)

2:30 Kentucky Downs (7): $145,000 allowance/optional claimer, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 mile and 70 yards. Favorite: Summer Luck (7-2)

3:02 Kentucky Downs (8): $300,000 Dueling Grounds Oaks, fillies 3-years-old, 1 5/16 miles on turf. Favorite: Pamina (3-1)

3:33 Kentucky Downs (9): $400,000 Dueling Grounds Derby, 3-year-olds, 1 5/16 miles on turf. Favorite: Captivating Moon (3-1)

4:03 Kentucky Downs (10): $130,000 maiden special weight, 3 and up, 1 mile on turf. Favorite: Love Sick Kitten (4-1)

Jose Contreras LRC play of the day

FOURTH RACE: No.4 Take Charge Lucky (5-1)

There’s no legitimate proven speed in this field and that’s why I’m taking a gamble with Take Charge Lucky in this spot. Although there's not much to learn on the dam side given that this will be her first foal to race, the barn can get them ready to win first out and they tab a hustling rider with Agapito Delgadillo for this one. The local bullet workout from the gate could indicate this gelding will try to steal this race on the front end.

Saturday’s result: Steph Being Steph played tough down the stretch but Gas Station Sushi was too much, leaving Steph Being Steph with second.

Jose Contreras is an excellent handicapper and well known on social media and familiar to racing fans watching on TVG. You can follow him on Twitter at @losponies or check him out at his website.

Ed Burgart LA play of the day

FOURTH RACE: No. 3 Favorita First (8-5)

I’m not wild about the 8-5 morning-line price I assigned to this filly but she worked like a really good horse. In her last two drills, she broke fast, displayed a smooth stride and galloped out strong. It is rare to see a 2-year-old turn in a rapid 12.1 gate drill when working alone like Favorita First did. She is paid into the Golden State Million and Los Alamitos Two Million trials and I look for Cruz Mendez to let her roll and get conditioning to stretch out another 100 yards in her next out.

Final thoughts

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Any thoughts, you can reach me at johnacherwa@gmail.com. You can also feed my ego by following me on Twitter @jcherwa

And now the stars of the show, Saturday’s results and Sunday’s entries.

KALUHLA had good early speed and dueled outside then took a short lead alongside the runner-up on the turn, inched away into the stretch, drifted to the inside in the drive and held under urging. LOVE YOUR LIFE also had good early speed and dueled inside, angled off the rail a sixteenth out and came back on outside the winner. ROCK N DOC pulled his way between horses to stalk the pace, continued just off the rail on the turn and into the stretch and bested the others. ATOMIC ACTION saved ground stalking the pace, came a bit off the rail in the stretch and did not rally. CHIN TU broke a bit slowly, chased off the rail, angled in some approaching the turn and lacked a response in the stretch. PROUDTOBESICILIAN stalked three deep then outside a rival on the turn and three wide into the stretch and lacked a rally.

TOPAZ TIME had speed four wide then angled in and dueled outside a rival, kicked clear on the second turn, drifted out some into the stretch and drew off under some left handed urging, took a slight awkward step inside the sixteenth pole and won clear. INLAND EMPIRE stalked off the rail, came three wide into the stretch and edged a rival late for the place. LETHAL LEGACY stalked off the rail then just off the fence, came out into the stretch and just lost second. LOOKING AT THELAKE chased just off the rail then outside on the backstretch and second turn, came four wide into the stretch and lacked a rally. REINAHERMOSA saved ground stalking the pace throughout and weakened. SUGARATSUNDOWN pulled a bit then angled in and dueled inside, dropped back and came out some on the second turn and gave way.

LUCKY STASH stalked outside, came three deep into the stretch, took the lead outside the runner-up, inched away and drifted out under left handed urging a furlong out and won clear. JABBER NOW broke out onto a foe, saved ground stalking the pace, bid inside leaving the turn, took a short lead in upper stretch, came off the rail past midstretch and was clearly second best. COCO LOCO MAMA bobbled at the start, chased between foes then off the rail, came three wide into the stretch and just got the show. LUCKY HAND bumped and squeezed back at the start, settled inside, moved up leaving the turn, came out in upper stretch and was edged for third on the line. WHATYOUCISWHATUGET broke in a bit, stalked three deep then angled in off the rail on the turn and into the stretch and lacked a rally. SWISS CHALET sped to the early lead, set the pace a bit off the rail, dueled outside the runner-up leaving the turn and between foes into the stretch and weakened. LUV IS ALL U NEED broke in and bumped a rival, stalked off the rail, came out three wide into the stretch, drifted inward past midstretch and also weakened. TIZ INTRIGUING chased between foes early then outside on the backstretch and turn, came four wide into the stretch and had little left for the drive.

HERUNBRIDLEDPOWER had speed outside then dueled outside a rival, inched away under urging in the stretch, kicked clear and held. PRINCESS KENDRA stalked outside a rival, came four wide into the stretch, drifted in under left handed urging while moving up some in the drive, had the rider lose the whip past the eighth pole and closed the gap to the winner some. ASEM a bit slow to begin, went up inside to duel for the lead, fought back on the turn and in upper stretch and just held third. ADIOS CALI had speed inside the winner then stalked a bit off the rail, came out some in the stretch and was edged for third. PEAKED tried to rear and hopped to be off slowly, went up just off the rail to chase the pace, came three wide into the stretch and lacked a further response. The stewards conducted an inquiry into the start before ruling PEAKED was the cause of her own trouble.

GRANDMA NETA bumped at the start, stalked a bit off the rail then inside, bid along the rail in the stretch, drifted out under left handed urging while gaining the lead to bump with the runner-up nearing the sixteenth pole and gamely prevailed. WHATA FLIRT broke out a bit, stalked off the rail, came three wide into the stretch, took the lead in upper stretch, drifted in under right handed pressure and bumped with the winner approaching the sixteenth pole and was outgamed. GRANDMA GERTRUDE chased outside or off the rail, came three wide into the stretch and bested the others. OMERTA pulled her way to a clear early lead and set the pace a bit off the rail, was between horses into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. DERBY TREASURE stalked outside then angled in a bit off the rail on the turn and weakened in the drive. CLARE'S GLARE saved ground chasing the pace throughout and also weakened. HONEY HONEY settled outside a rival or off the rail, came three deep into the stretch and did not rally. MUSKRAT LOVE broke out and bumped the winner, chased just off the inside, split horses into the stretch and lacked a further response. MALENA saved ground off the pace, cut the corner into the stretch and was not a threat. The stewards conducted an inquiry into the stretch run between the top pair but made no change when they ruled both runners contributed to the contact between them.

SHADES OF VICTORY sped to the early lead, set the pace inside then a bit off the rail, fought back under left handed urging between foes through the final furlong and held on gamely. B SQUARED stalked inside then a bit off the rail, came out in the stretch, bid three deep in the drive and continued willingly but was outgamed. EDWARDS GOING LEFT a half step slow to begin, pulled between horses then stalked between foes, angled in leaving the second turn, bid inside in the stretch and went willingly to the end. GRECIAN FIRE three deep on the first turn, chased outside, came four wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. EL HUERFANO four wide on the first turn, stalked three deep to the stretch and could not offer the necessary response between foes late. SOI PHET angled in and saved ground chasing the pace throughout to no avail. TOUCHED BY AUTISM stalked outside a rival then between foes, came three deep into the stretch and weakened.

MARRAZANO bobbled slightly at the start, dueled three deep then outside a rival on the turn, took the lead in upper stretch, kicked clear under urging and proved best. MS MO MONEY stalked a bit off the rail, came three deep into the stretch and bested the others. TIZ A SHARPIE chased outside then off the rail, came four wide into the stretch, drifted in and edged a rival for the show. FABULOUS STAR settled outside then off the inside, angled in for the turn, swung three deep into the stretch, drifted to the inside in the drive and was edged for third. QUEEN OF THE TRACK stalked the pace outside then three deep on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and was outfinished for a minor award. HURLEY bobbled after the start, chased between horses then off the rail, came four wide into the stretch and lacked a rally. NORWEGIAN had good early speed and dueled inside, dropped back on the turn and weakened. RANEEM dueled between horses then inside on the turn and into the stretch, then weakened. MISS DIALED chased outside or off the rail, angled in outside a rival on the turn and gave way. BORUSSIA a bit slow to begin, saved ground off the pace to the stretch and had little left for the drive.

GAS STATION SUSHI dueled three deep between horses then off the rail into the stretch, inched away then drew off under a steady hand ride and a hold late. STEPH BEING STEPH pressed the pace four wide then outside the winner into the stretch and was clearly second best. BEST OF ME broke out a bit and bobbled slightly, chased outside then off the rail, came four wide into the stretch, drifted in and just held third. BROOME dueled between horses, fell back outside a rival into the stretch, drifted to the inside in the drive and was edged for the show. RAYYA broke a bit slowly, saved ground chasing the pace, came out into the stretch and weakened. WICKED STORM had good early speed and dueled inside, fought back on the turn, fell back into the stretch and also weakened.

MR. CLASS stalked five wide then four wide leaving the turn and into the stretch, shifted out from the left handed whip while taking the lead in midstretch, was between foes a furlong out, came out again late and gamely prevailed. THREE AY EM chased off the rail, circled five wide into the stretch, was forced out in midstretch, bid outside and continued willingly. SILENT ALARM stalked the pace inside, came out in upper stretch, bid inside the top pair but off the rail in the drive and also went on gamely to the end. AGRONOMO stalked three deep between foes, was in a bit tight midway on the turn, angled in leaving the turn and lacked a rally. BOISTEROUS BOY close up stalking the pace four wide between horses then between foes leaving the turn, came three wide into the stretch and did not rally. MAGIC BRO settled outside a rival on the backstretch and turn and lacked the needed late kick. TRANSLUCENT had speed between foes then set the pace a bit off the rail, drifted out into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. MR BINGLEY stalked between rivals on the backstretch and turn, came three wide into the stretch and weakened. LAUCALA ISLAND broke a bit slowly and was squeezed back, settled off the pace inside, cut the corner into the stretch and lacked a further response. Following a stewards' inquiry, MR CLASS was disqualified and placed second for interference in midstretch.