Castellano, Loooch Racing, Maker top Penn Gaming Racing Challenge

After the 23 stakes worth in excess of $5 million in purse money that comprise the Penn Gaming Racing Challenge were completed on Wednesday night, the only leading rider the series has known since its inception in 2014 once again reigned supreme in 2017 as Javier Castellano sits on top of the series standings at its conclusion for a fourth consecutive year.

Castellano's 102 points placed him 21 ahead of runner-up Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Castellano won the most lucrative event in the Penn Gaming Racing Challenge when he took the $1,250,000 Charles Town Classic (G2) for the second straight year and third time overall when Imperative got the job done in the 1 1/8 mile test. On the same Charles Town Classic day card, Castellano won the $150,000 Sugar Maple aboard Mia Torri and was later second in the $500,000 Penn Oaks (G2) with Big Score in June.

Ortiz won three races on Penn Mile day including the aforementioned Penn Mile on Frostmourne, Mountainview Handicap with Matt King Coal and Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup with Bold Thunder. Irad wasn’t the only Ortiz brother to win a trio of stakes on a single day in the series as his brother Jose notched a hat trick of his own down at Sam Houston on Houston Ladies Classic Day with Unbridled Mo in the Houston Ladies Classic (G3), Bigger Picture in the John Connally Turf Cup (G3) and in the Frontier Utilities Turf Sprint aboard Partly Mocha.

Jose Ortiz finished in fifth, 5 points behind Ricardo Santana, Jr. and 4 points behind Luis Saez who rounded out the top five.

Imperative’s victory in the Charles Town Classic was also the key performance that propelled Loooch Racing’s owner Ron Paolucci to his first win in the Penn Gaming Racing Challenge as an owner. Loooch Racing served as the primary owner of not only Imperative, but also for War Story, the third place finisher in the Charles Town Classic.

Loooch Racing edged out Lady Sheila Stable by 6 points for the top spot.  Lady Sheila Stable campaigned Charles Town Classic runner-up and Mountainview victor Matt King Coal.

Godolphin, the only owner in the series to win two races finished third while Trin-Brook Stables and 2014 Penn Gaming Racing Challenge leading owner Ken & Sarah Ramseycompleted the top five in the owner standings. Godolphin won the Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Distaff with Moiety and the $200,000 Zia Park Derby with Cedartown.

Trainer Mike Maker captured his second title as leading trainer in the Penn Gaming Racing Challenge after winning it two years ago due in large part to his sweep of the top three spots in the John Connally Turf top when he saddled not only winner Bigger Picture but also runner-up Oscar Nominated and third place finisher Greengrassofyoming.  Maker also sent out Partly Mocha to his triumph on Houston Ladies Classic day.

Maker finished tied in points with Steve Asmussen who had a good showing on Zia Park’s Land of Enchantment card when he sent out Iron Fist to take the Zia Park Championship and Untrapped and Ever So Clever to runner-up efforts in the Zia Park Derby and $300,000 Zia Park Oaks.  However, Maker won the tiebreaker of total earnings in the series as his runners brought in $285,750 in earnings versus $220,000 for Asmussen.

Todd Pletcher checked in third amongst trainers, ahead of Linda Rice as well as Jorge Navarro and Justin Evans who tied for fifth.  Pletcher’s win in this year’s Penn Gaming Racing Challenge came with Unbridled Mo in the Houston Ladies Classic.

The Penn Gaming Racing Challenge, inaugurated by Penn National Gaming in 2014, ties together 23 stakes races worth more than $5 million purse money at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, Sam Houston Race Park, and Zia Park. The Challenge includes tie-ins between groups of races in the series, as well as bonuses and prizes that include free nominations, refund of entry and starter fees, and trips to the PNGI owned M Resort in Las Vegas. 

All owners, trainers, and jockeys who participate in the unrestricted stakes on the designated event days will receive two points. Additionally, points are awarded for top-five finishes in varying scales, based on the value or grade of the race. The additional points range from the 25 received as a result of a win in a grade II, to one (1) point for a fifth-place finish in an unrestricted stakes race worth between $50,000 and $75,000.

At the end of the Challenge, the owner, trainer, and jockey with the most points each receive two round-trip airfare tickets and a three-night stay at the 390-room M Resort located on South Las Vegas Boulevard in Las Vegas. In addition to the travel rewards, the owner and trainer accumulating the most points at the end of all seven events will have their entry and starting fees refunded in any unrestricted stakes race run at a PNGI Thoroughbred track in 2018, with the exception of Penn National itself.

The first event in the 2018 Penn Gaming Racing Challenge will again take place at Sam Houston on January 28 when it plays host to the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic and $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup.

Source: Penn National Gaming, Inc. (PNGI)