Everybody loves big tournaments and big prize pools. But exciting poker takes place at all levels, all around the world, live and online. Here’s a smattering of big victories, hand selected by our CardsChat News team, for the week ending Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021:
(Image: GGPoker)
Justin Bonomo
$10K Super MILLION$
Out of action since having leg surgery in mid-November, Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano is set to launch his comeback Feb. 17 at Gulfstream Park.
Trainer Michael McCarthy left all future race options in play for Rombauer, who accomplished a scintillating triumph in the Feb. 13 El Camino Real Derby.
Colour of Light, whose dam Violante is a half sister to Anabaa Blue, is set for her debut in the mile fillies’ novice stakes at Kempton Racecourse Feb. 16. She is trained by Charlie Appleby.
Out of action since having leg surgery in mid-November, Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano is set to launch his comeback Feb. 17 at Gulfstream Park.
The two-day Arqana February Sale looks set to present buyers with a broad range of opportunities as the diverse catalog comprises horses-in-training, broodmares, fillies, 2-year-olds, and yearlings from the flat and National Hunt spheres.
Overnight purses at Sam Houston Race Park have been increased for the remainder of the 2021 Thoroughbred meet. The adjustment will be implemented Feb. 17 and continue through the conclusion of the racing season April 3.
Tampa Bay Downs has moved the $100,000 Turf Dash Stakes and $100,000 Lightning City Stakes from Saturday, Feb. 20 to Sunday, Feb. 21, the track’s vice president and general manager Peter Berube announced Feb. 14.
Due to a winter storm in the Mid-Atlantic region, Laurel Park has canceled the Feb. 14 nine-race program.
Phil Hellmuth is the early favorite in what could be an epic heads-up poker match against Daniel Negreanu, assuming they actually play. But neither player has yet to agree to the match.
Will Phil Hellmuth and Daniel Negreanu actually play heads-up? (Image: assopoker.com)
Negreanu recently finished off a losing heads-up battle against Doug Polk in which he dumped $1.2 million to his long-time rival. But he showed off some surprising heads-up skills against arguably the best heads-up player ever. He was more competitive than many expected.
Hellmuth, however, wasn’t so impressed with the GGPoker ambassador’s game. He criticized the strategy implemented by Negreanu’s coaches. After hearing the critical comments, Negreanu offered up a challenge to the 15-time WSOP bracelet winner.
Rombauer, unraced since finishing fifth in the Nov. 6 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), showed off his latest new dimension with a last-to-first rally in the $101,350 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields Feb. 13.
Bred to excel, Stonestreet Stables’ homebred Clairiere put her class on display Feb. 13 when she reeled in favored Travel Column to win the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes Presented by Fasig-Tipton (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course.
Trainer Bob Baffert swept the first three spots in the $202,000 Santa Monica Stakes (G2) Feb. 13 at Santa Anita Park, with HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud’s Merneith leading home two stablemates to capture her first graded victory.
An injury to 3-year-old filly Charlie’s Penny kept trainer Chris Block and owner Bob Lothenback of Lothenbach Stables out of the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Feb. 13. So they simply had to win another graded race on the card instead.
Juddmonte Farms’ Mandaloun all but wrapped up a spot in the Kentucky Derby (G1) by capturing the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course.
Maxfield was unhurried by jockey Florent Geroux early in the $200,000 Mineshaft Stakes Feb. 13 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, but powered to the front down the stretch and pulled away to remain undefeated in five career starts.
British-bred veteran Royal Performer, by the late Cheveley Park stallion Medicean, provided quite an upset by landing the Feb. 13 Herbie Dyke Stakes (G1) at Te Rapa.
Leinster came through as the 2-5 favorite when racing Feb. 13 in the sixth race at Gulfstream Park, where the Rusty Arnold-trainee added the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes (G3T) to his growing list of graded-stakes victories.
Leinster came through as the 2-5 favorite when racing Feb. 13 in the sixth race at Gulfstream Park, where the Rusty Arnold-trainee added the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes (G3T) to his growing list of graded-stakes victories.
The Thoroughbred Owners of California board of directors has unanimously elected Gary Fenton as the new chairman of the organization, replacing outgoing chairman Nick Alexander, who stepped down after five years in the role.