It was business as usual the morning of Dec. 27 for Bob Baffert, less than 24 hours after Charlatan demolished his rivals with a 4 1/2-length victory in the Runhappy Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park, the final grade 1 race of 2020.
Category Archives: Gambling
Accused Poker Cheater Mike Postle Remained a Part of Our Lives Throughout 2020
Mike Postle continued to make headlines around the poker world this past year. But those who hoped he would receive justice for allegedly cheating at the poker table were disappointed.
Mike Postle may have cheated, but the courts never held him accountable for his alleged act. (YouTube)
In September 2019, Veronica Brill made some bold accusations about Postle. She claims the Northern California poker pro cheated numerous times during Stones Live streams. The accused cheater instantly denied the allegations and has since maintained his innocence.
But the bulk of the poker community sides with Brill, a former friend of Postle’s who also appeared often on Stones Live.
Chrono Genesis Caps Year of Female Dominance in Japan
It was the year of COVID-19, few fans in the stands and logistical challenges but, in Japanese racing, 2020 also was the year of the fillies and mares.
Charlatan Returns With Dazzling Malibu Victory
It took Charlatan nearly eight months to return to the races, but when he did, he brought his career full circle and reminded everyone of why he created such a fuss earlier in the year.
Santa Anita Sets Record Opening Day Handle
With an 11 race-card that included six stakes, all run in idyllic weather conditions, Santa Anita Park set an all-time opening day record pari-mutuel handle of $23,003,159 Dec. 26.
Kiss Today Goodbye Pulls Off San Antonio Surprise
Blowing past the dueling leaders in the final furlong, John Sondereker’s Kiss Today Goodbye powered to a half-length victory in the $200,500 San Antonio Stakes (G2) with fellow 3-year-old Idol taking second in the Dec. 26 stakes at Santa Anita Park.
Eres Tu Makes the Grade in Allaire du Pont
Edward Seltzer and Beverly Anderson’s homebred Eres Tu kept her perfect comeback season intact and became a graded stakes winner in the process with a one-length triumph Dec. 26 in the $150,000 Allaire du Pont Stakes (G3) at Laurel Park.
Suffolk Suspends On-Site Simulcasting
Suffolk Downs will suspend on-site simulcast operations beginning Dec. 28 and through at least Jan. 15 due to an increase of COVID-19 positives in the Boston area, the track announced Dec. 26.
Kiss Today Goodbye Pulls Off 15-1 San Antonio Surprise
Blowing past the dueling leaders in the final furlong, John Sondereker’s Kiss Today Goodbye powered to a half-length victory in the $200,000 San Antonio Stakes with fellow 3-year-old Idol taking second in the Dec. 26 stakes at Santa Anita Park.
Colonel Liam Eyes Pegasus Turf Bid After Tropical Park
Robert and Lawana Low’s Colonel Liam overwhelmed nine rivals in the $75,000 Tropical Park Derby Dec. 26 at Gulfstream Park, making an emphatic case for inclusion in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1T).
Duopoly Turns Back Sharing in American Oaks
A filly on the improve, Duopoly upset grade 1 winner Sharing with a frontrunning two-length score in the $302,500 American Oaks (G1T) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park.
Harpers First Ride Wins Fourth Stakes in Native Dancer
Harpers First Ride put the finishing touches on an outstanding season by dismissing a bid from Cordmaker at the top of the stretch and rolling home a 3 1/4-length winner in the $100,000 Native Dancer Stakes Dec. 26 at Laurel Park.
Fair Maiden Upsets La Brea
Godolphin homebred Fair Maiden was a 20-1 outsider in the $300,000 La Brea Stakes (G1) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park, but the 3-year-old Street Boss filly was full of run.
Smooth Like Strait Takes Mathis Brothers Mile
Smooth Like Strait resumed winning ways and notched his third graded victory of the year in the $201,000 Mathis Brothers Mile Stakes (G2T) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park, handing a three-quarters-of-a-length defeat to Storm the Court.
Damian Salas Awaits Winner of US WSOP Main Event Final Table
Damian Salas has already done his part in reaching the heads-up portion of the WSOP Main Event. He now awaits his foe, as he shoots for a world title.
Damian Salas has an opportunity to avenge a past defeat. (Image: Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Salas won the final table at King’s Casino in the Czech Republic on Dec. 15 for $1,550,969. He beat out a field of 674 players, all who paid $10,000 to enter (or won a satellite), in a tournament that began on GGPoker.
Despite having won the GGPoker WSOP Main Event portion, the Argentinian still isn’t poker’s world champion. Salas will await the winner of the WSOP.com Main Event final table, which is set to be played on Monday at the Rio in Las Vegas.
Danon the Kid Preserves Perfect Record in Hopeful
Danon the Kid heads for the 2021 Japanese classics with a perfect record and full of promise after besting 14 rivals, several of them previously undefeated, in the Dec. 26 Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Nakayama Racecourse.
Dubai World Cup Purse to Remain at $12M; Undercard Cut
The purse for the March 27 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) has been retained at US$12 million, but purses for the remaining eight races on the undercard have been reduced, the Dubai Racing Club announced Dec. 26.
Multiple Grade 1 Winner Will's Way Dies at 27
Will’s Way, winner of the 1997 Whitney Handicap (G1) and 1996 Travers Stakes (G1), died Dec. 24 at Old Friends at Cabin Creek in Greenfield Center, N.Y., Old Friends announced Dec. 25. He was 27.
Poker Predictions for 2021: Will COVID-19 Force Another WSOP Cancellation?
What does the upcoming year have in store for the poker world? After COVID-19 put us all on tilt in 2020, we can only hope for a more prosperous year, starting with the return of major live tournaments.
Will the 2021 WSOP in Las Vegas take place, or will COVID-19 win again? (Image: WSOP.com)
I made some predictions for 2020 a year ago, but I won’t spend much time revisiting them, simply because most of our picks were based on live tournament play. Given that only a few major tournaments ran in 2020 due to COVID-19, there’s really no point in rehashing the poker year that wasn’t.
Instead, we’ll move forward to what will hopefully be a better year for us all.
Merry Christmas
May the spirit of Christmas fill your heart with peace, love, and joy.Lottery Post, Holiday, Christmas