Outside Post Not an Issue for No Jet Lag
Simon Callaghan is not concerned over drawing the outside post for No Jet Lag in Saturday’s Grade II Arcadia Stakes at one mile on turf. Au contraire.
“It’s a good post,” the trainer said. “It means he’s going to load late, and the plan with him is to take him back and not get involved early, get him to relax. I’m happy with the post.”
No Jet Lag’s four U.S. starts have all been at one mile on turf. He won the City of Hope Mile Stakes at Santa Anita last October and was fifth after stalking the pace last out in the Grade II Sir Beaufort Stakes Dec. 26.
“He’s training well, we’re happy with him, and he seems ready,” Callaghan said.
The Arcadia field: Procurement, Drayden VanDyke, 12-1; Vagabond Shoes, Victor Espinoza, 6-1; Unbridled’s Note, no rider, 8-1; Si Sage, Martin Garcia, 20-1; Regally Ready, Mike Smith, 6-1; Tom’s Tribute, Gary Stevens, 6-1; Suggestive Boy, Joe Talamo, 4-1; Winning Prize, Rafael Bejarano, 7-2; and No Jet Lag, Corey Nakatani, 6-1.
Peace and Justice was scratched.
SANTA ANITA HOME OF CARRYOVER KING
If Santa Anita is the King of Carryovers, then Rick Hammerle is the Carryover King. Take it from no less an authority than private clocker Gary Young, who, as a player for over 30 years, has won all or part of more than 200 of the wildly exotic wagers requiring bettors to select six consecutive winners in quest of lottery-type bonanzas.
It’s a gamble with an adrenaline rush that has changed the face of racing, especially in Southern California, where the clime is always bright and the time is always right. Through 23 racing days, there have been nine Pick Six carryovers at Santa Anita this meet, the latest one worth $70,422 into Friday. With racing for the first time extending through June 29, assuredly there are more to come.
“Hammerle is the Carryover King,” Young said, bestowing a new nickname on “Hammer,” Santa Anita’s Racing Secretary who, along with his crack staff, is responsible for putting together attractive and challenging racing cards at The Great Race Place.
“It‘s great to have carryovers,” said Young, who began his clocking career in 1978 at Calder Race Course. “My friends and I were talking about the days before intertrack wagering and ADW (advance deposit wagering). When there was a carryover back then, especially on a weekend, you would have to fight to get through the crowds in the grandstand at Santa Anita or Hollywood.
“It was unbelievable, because everyone was concentrated in one place. It’s a different kind of excitement today, because you’re watching on HRTV, where Laffit (Pincay III) and those guys do a good job telling you how many combinations are still alive and other information.
“But is it like it was when there was a carryover on a weekend and there were 40,000 people at the race track? Not quite, but it still is the only bet out there that can really, really, really change your life.
“If you get lucky and hit a Pick Five for maybe 20, 30 thousand, unfortunately, that doesn’t go as far as it used to. But you could win a hundred thousand if you hit a Pick Six.
“The Pick Six has been cannibalized somewhat by the Pick Five and the Pick Four and other exotic wagers, and quite frankly, the Pick Six is more difficult to hit. Plus, it’s not as long between drinks when you can play a 50 cent Pick Five instead of a $2 Pick Six.
“You don’t have to be a Stanford grad in mathematics to figure out that you have a whole lot more horses involved in one bet than the other. But the Pick Six has kind of defined my gambling career. I’ve been lucky to have had a piece of over 200 of them in my life.”
Asked what it may have netted, Young was his usual candid self.
“Put it this way,” he said. “There has been a lot more expense than there’s been profit. When gambling was a really, really high priority in my life, it was what you lived for.
“There would be certain days when there were maiden races I liked or workout horses I had clocked that maybe the rest of the world didn’t know about, like they do today because of the technology. Those were days when I felt I had a chance to go out and hit the Pick Six.
“It made you feel like you were on top of the world.”
TALAMO READY FOR SUPER BOWL PARTY HANDICAP SUNDAY
Joe Talamo is looking forward to Sunday and not just because of “The Big Game.”
The 24-year-old rider, third in Santa Anita’s standings with 18 wins through Thursday, rides Depreciable for trainer Jeff Mullins in Sunday’s sixth race, aptly dubbed The Super Bowl Party Starter Handicap, a nine furlong grass race for older horses.
“He won well at Hollywood and ran really hard last time when he was second by a nose,” Talamo said of the 6-year-old gelded son of Smart Strike. “He just got real unlucky. The winner just got up the last part. But a mile and an eighth should be right up his alley.”
As for his “Big Game” pick, Talamo said, “I like Denver, just because Mark Glatt likes Seattle.”
Fans at Santa Anita on Sunday can enjoy “The Big Game” matching the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks, and partake of bargain eats as well. Not only is general admission to the track Sunday just a buck, but beers, sodas and hot dogs are also available at a dollar apiece. Early first post time is 11 a.m. Gates open at 9 a.m. With Promo Code YARD, fans can get the following for only $10: all you can eat buffet; half-priced drinks and $1 beers; seating area in Sirona’s; and your first drink included. Visit santaanita.com/events for further information.