Trainer Jeremiah Englehart said Jan. 9 that Bill Parcells’ Three Technique is scheduled to tackle stakes company for the first time in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 24, a mile event that is Oaklawn’s first of four Derby preps at Oaklawn.
Monthly Archives: January 2020
Lys Gracieux Crowned Horse of the Year in Japan
Lys Gracieux has been named 2019 Horse of the Year in Japan in a landslide result, garnering 271 of the 274 votes from Japanese racing journalists. The previous year’s winner, Almond Eye, received only two votes this time around.
Keeneland Sale Tests Depth of Short Yearling Market
The depth of the market for just-turned yearlings will be tested during the Jan. 13-17 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, for which 804 foals of 2019 have been cataloged, representing 43.3% of the 1,856 entries.
Keeneland Sale Tests Depth of Short Yearling Market
The depth of the market for just-turned yearlings will be tested during the Jan. 13-17 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, for which 804 foals of 2019 have been cataloged, representing 43.3% of the 1,856 entries.
Equibase Acquires American Teletimer Timing Assets
Equibase announced Jan. 10 that its wholly owned subsidiary, Axcis Information Network, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the timing assets of American Teletimer Corporation.
Equibase Acquires American Teletimer Timing Assets
Equibase announced Jan. 10 that its wholly owned subsidiary, Axcis Information Network, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the timing assets of American Teletimer Corporation.
Keeneland Sale to Test Depth of Short Yearling Market
The depth of the market for just-turned yearlings will be tested during the Jan. 13-17 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, for which 804 foals of 2019 have been cataloged, representing 43.3% of the 1,856 entries.
Handicapping: Stakes Doubles at Gulfstream, Santa Anita
Dave Litfin analyzes Saturday’s graded stakes.
Veteran Maryland Trainer Smith Wins 2,000th Race
Sweet Home Dixie swept past rivals on the far turn and powered through the stretch to run her win streak to five races and give trainer Hamilton Smith his 2,000th career victory Jan. 10 at Laurel Park.
Bolt d'Oro Sires First Foal
Bolt d’Oro, the multiple grade 1-winning millionaire by Medaglia d’Oro, sired his first reported foal early Jan. 10 when a filly was born at Forever Spring Farm in Kentucky.
Another Year of Change for Pegasus World Cup
With the fourth edition of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1) just two weeks away, change is once again the operative word.
Jolie Olimpica to Make U.S. Debut in Las Cienegas
After starting her career with three easy wins in her native Brazil, Jolie Olimpica is scheduled to make her United States debut in the $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes (G3T) Jan. 11 at Santa Anita Park.
Aiken Training Track Reports Strong 2019 Season
William Gutfarb, newly elected president of the Aiken Training Track’s board of directors and chair of the finance committee, tallied the graduates ‘ year-end results shortly after the Nov.-Dec. 2019 results were posted on the track’s web site.
Omaha Beach Back Galloping For Pegasus After Foot Issue
On the rebound from a minor foot setback, Fox Hill Farms’ Omaha Beach galloped at Gulfstream Park Jan. 10 in preparation for his highly anticipated career finale in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 25.
FanHub Creates New Multisport Mobile Picks and Props Game For Buffalo Wild Wings
FanHub, the largest provider of casual, free to play sports-focused digital gaming platforms in the world, today announced a new multisport collaboration with Buffalo Wild Wings. The collaboration will expand upon Picks & Props, the existing game co-branded with their partner BetMGM, operated by ROAR Digital – a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and GVC Holding. The platform launches as both the NFL Playoffs and the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship between Clemson and LSU come into focus. It is the second time that FanHub and BWW have collaborated on a first-class, user-friendly mobile gaming experience. The multisport Picks & Props game comes after a successful NFL-only version of the game had approximately 300,000 users this fall.
“We are pleased to be able to work with Buffalo Wild Wings and launch what we think will be the standard fan engagement platform for consumers going forward – a simple, multisport user friendly experience that will really grow interest in each day,” said Phil de Winter, Head of Business Development, Americas, FanHub. “People want to be able to have fun and build rewards that have value, and this game does all that for whatever team, league or sport you enjoy.”
“With this next phase of Picks and Props, we continue our great partnership with FanHub and press forward in building out a top tier, free-to-play experience for our guests,” said Brandon Gill, Director of Experience and Gaming, Buffalo Wild Wings. “In addition to new features and sports, we continue to build a unique and seamless experience connecting our guests to our betting gaming partner, BetMGM.”
Going all the way through the Super Bowl, Picks & Props will run daily contests on a variety of sports, offering a private jet to six games of the winner’s choice through a partnership with Wheels Up. Throughout the game, contests can be based on NFL, NBA, NCAA Football, NCAA Basketball or NHL games. The multisport version of the game will also continue to have integrated odds and betting functionality for New Jersey-based users through the BWW and BetMGM partnership.
The co-branded game displays live BetMGM odds to all users so that they can make picks based on real lines and props. Users in New Jersey can place bets and get a pre-filled parlay bet slip based on their predictions.
The top weekly winners win free wings for a year that can be redeemed at any Buffalo Wild Wings location. Certain days will see the addition of a Blazin’ Bonus Question that offers users a massive amount of points if they correctly pick the underdog compared to the favorite. Scoring a perfect contest will unlock a streak points multiplier, giving users the best possible chance to get a high scoring week. The final contest will be published for the Super Bowl on February 2.
The latest partnership with Buffalo Wild Wings follows the success of similar global sporting platforms and brands, which have embraced digital games and fan experiences as an entry point for the engagement of millions of new fans. FanHub’s partners, from the NFL and Major League Baseball to the AFL and the ATP, have enjoyed a world class delivery of innovative digital sport experiences that have been seamless and beyond reproach. Even more growth for these products and more are coming in 2020.
Australia beat Britain in ATP Cup thriller down under
Great Britain were beaten by Australia in the ATP Cup quarter-finals after one of the greatest knockout doubles tennis matches in recent years in Melbourne.
With the crucial quarter-final pitching the ‘pommies’ against the hosts, the best of three clash kicked off with two singles matches. The first saw Kyrgios completely dominate Cameron Norrie as the hot-head turned charity drive hero won 6-2, 6-2 with barely a breaking of breath, winning in just 72 minutes.
The second game, however, was a complete contrast, as Dan Evans took Alex De Minaur to three thrilling sets as he triumphed over the higher-ranked player. Evans, who had already beaten the world number 11 David Goffin that set Britain on their way to a victory over Belgium in the Group Stage, was in fine form again, winning 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), two tie-breaks the crucial sets that gave Britain the leveler.
It took three and a half hours, but Evans did it in the end, feeding off the partisan Australian crowd to rise above the cheers for De Minaur.
College Football Championship game betting preview
History will be made on Monday night at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans when top-ranked LSU, in a de facto home game, faces No. 3 Clemson in the College Football Playoff national championship game. The CFP debuted in the 2014 season and neither a No. 1 nor No. 3 has ever won the title. LSU is a 6.5-point favorite. It is 5-1 ATS in its past six neutral-site games as a favorite.
Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com
The top seed is 0-3 in the game, including No. 1 Alabama losing last year to No. 2 Clemson. The No. 3 has played in the title game once, with No. 3 Georgia losing in overtime to No. 4 Alabama following the 2017 season. In addition, no team has repeated in the CFP era as Clemson aims to do. It also won the title following the 2016 campaign. LSU aims for its first national title since the 2007 season, when it beat Ohio State also in New Orleans.
This is a matchup of Tigers who also nickname their home stadiums Death Valley: Clemson’s Memorial Stadium and LSU’s Tiger Stadium. The two teams got here in very different fashion.
First Foal a Filly for Army Mule
Army Mule, undefeated in three starts and winner of the 2018 Carter Handicap (G1), sired his first foal Jan. 8 at Hill ‘n’ Dale Canada.
Spiced Perfection Seeks Route Success in La Canada
After carrying her speed a mile in winning the Go For Wand Handicap (G3), Spiced Perfection gets a further test of stamina when she faces grade 3 winners Queen Bee to You and Horologist in the 1 1/16-mile La Canada Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Jan. 11.
Calhoun Readies Silver Dust, Digital, By My Standards
One year ago and 17 races into his career, Tom Durant’s talented underachiever Silver Dust was still in search of a breakthrough stakes victory. Fast forward a year and Silver Dust is now a two-time graded stakes winner.