Oak Tree Fans Make Big Day Last Longer

Many arrived early, most stayed late and nearly all agreed that Santa Anita was the place to be on Breeders’ Cup day, when the world’s greatest horses were running on horse racing’s richest day at Woodbine in Toronto.

On a clear and breezy day in Arcadia, it didn’t matter that the featured seven races were across the continent in another country--19,475 fans showed up for a betting day that started with the first race from Woodbine at 9 a.m. and continued into the early hours of Sunday morning with the entire card from Hong Kong.

“Those people who stay for the Hong Kong races are a little sick,” said Gerald Pratt, a racing fan from Monrovia, “but this is what Breeders’ Cup is all about.

“It doesn’t matter if the races are live or simulcast. You still feel like part of the races if you’re here with the crowd. I like to get here early to get a feel for the way the track is running.”

Because Oak Tree bettors were part of a California pool, separate from the pool at Woodbine, they had two tote boards to study. It was supposed to benefit California bettors because the takeout from the state (15.63% on win, place and show betting) is lower than the 20.38% takeout in Canada.

“What you really have to look for are big differences in odds,” explained Phil Wallace of Arcadia. “I look for a horse that’s being bet down at Woodbine, while not getting much attention here. Even if it doesn’t look good to me, I’ll bet it because I figure those people in Canada must know something about that horse that we don’t.”

Jeremy Humphrey of Jamaica, however, didn’t see the need to worry about different pools or differences in odds.

“I don’t pay attention to any of that stuff,” Humphrey said. “I just find the horse I like, and bet it big.”

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Despite the smaller takeout, California bettors suffered from being in a separate pool on Breeders’ Cup day.

The winners paid more at Woodbine in four of the seven races, with the biggest difference coming in the Classic, where Alphabet Soup’s upset was worth $41.70 in Canada and only $20.30 in California.

The other differences were small: Lit De Justice paid $10 to win the Sprint at Woodbine, $7.20 in California; Jewel Princess paid $6.80 for her Distaff victory in Canada, $6.30 in California, and Da Hoss paid $18.90 to win the Mile in Canada, $17 in California.

Local players fared a little better in the Juvenile Fillies when Storm Song paid $5.80 in California, $5.20 in Canada; in the Juvenile when Boston Harbor paid $8.10 to win in California, $6.80 in Canada; and in the Turf when Pilsudski paid $30.20 to win in California, $29.40 in Canada.

Oak Tree Notes

Rene Douglas rode four winners at Oak Tree, highlighted by his victory aboard Two Ninety Jones in the $100,000 Louis R. Rowan Handicap, the featured one-mile race on the turf course. Two Ninety Jones made his big move in the stretch to run down front-runner Track Gal and hold off Dixie Pearl by a nose in a blanket finish. Two Ninety Jones paid $36.60 for the victory, which keyed a $332 exacta and a $1,056.60 trifecta. Douglas’ other wins came in the second race with Silver Kite ($26.80), the fourth with Goldside ($4.40) and the seventh with Stach’s Prospect ($9.40). . . . Oak Tree officials prepared well for the anticipated large Breeders’ Cup day crowd. Besides the approximately 300 self-service betting machines, they increased the number of mutuel clerks from 240 to 392. . . . With three wins and two seconds in five starts down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course, Ski Dancer is the horse for the course in today’s $100,000 Morvich Handicap. Post positions from the rail for the 6 1/2-furlong race: Wavy Run, Patrick Valenzuela, 116; Adams Trail, Brice Blanc, 115; Abre Alas, Julio Garcia, 113; Ski Dancer, Alex Solis, 116; Sandtrap, Corey Nakatani, 114; Wild Zone, Eddie Delahoussaye, 116; Comininalittlehot, Kent Desormeaux, 117; and America’s Cup, Laffit Pincay Jr., 114.