We’re rolling along with another edition of The Special this week, with all eyes on Las Vegas for the National Horseplayers Championship and the NTRA/NHC Charity Challenge presented by NTRA Charities. More on each of those below, plus we recap some big doings in the jockey world and look ahead of Big Red’s birthday celebration.
Paul Halloran at the NHC
Paul Halloran, a longtime and valued contributor to all things ST Publishing and The Special, qualified for this weekend’s National Horseplayers Championship by winning the Grade 1 Gamble on a trip to Kentucky last spring. He set his sights for Las Vegas from there and we’re pulling for him to take it down.
Check out what Paul had to say about the opportunity, and how it ties together with a project he’s been working on for the last several months.
NTRA/NHC Charity Challenge
While Paul Halloran competes for the real cash – and even more accolades – other members of ‘Team Saratoga Special’ will test their handicapping skills in the annual NTRA/NHC Charity Challenge presented by NTRA Charities.
The Charity Challenge consists of eight races, some overlapping with Saturday’s mandatory races in the NHC. Joe Clancy, Sean Clancy and Tom Law are in the field, along with several other racing “celebrities.”
The contest features prizes of $10,000, with $2,500 donations to both the Permanently Disabled Jockeys’ Fund and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance in the name of the winner and a $5,000 donation to the winner’s charity of choice. Breeders’ Cup has also committed credits to be used at HorsePlayers.com.
The races in the Charity Challenge, if you want to follow along:
- Gulfstream Race 4, 2:37 p.m. ET
- Tampa Race 7, 3:24 p.m.
- Laurel Race 9, 4:32 p.m.
- Aqueduct Race 8, 5:02 p.m.
- Santa Anita Race 5, 6:02 p.m.
- Gulfstream Race 12, 6:36 p.m.
- Golden Gate Race 7, 7:53 p.m.
- Santa Anita Race 9, 8:08 p.m.
Alvarado wins 2024 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award
Good news for a good guy, with word coming this week that Junior Alvarado would receive the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award from his peers. Here’s the release from Santa Anita Park:
Jockey Junior Alvarado has won the 2024 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award via nationwide vote of his fellow riders, capping off one of the most compelling stories in racing history.
The award, which has been presented annually by Santa Anita Park since 1950, honors riders whose careers and personal character earn esteem for the individual and for the sport of Thoroughbred racing. It is widely regarded as one of the most cherished honors given to a jockey as each year’s winner is determined by a vote of their peers.
In 2023, Junior Alvarado garnered national attention as the regular rider of Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish. Over two season Alvarado guided Cody’s Wish to seven stakes victories in nine starts including two Breeders’ Cup Dirt Miles. On a steady upward trajectory at age 37, Alvarado, a Venezuela native, most recently piloted Senor Buscador to victory in the world’s richest race, the Grade 1, $20 million Saudi Cup.
A son of Venezuelan based jockey Rafael Alvarado, Junior Alvarado broke his maiden near Caracas at age 19 on Dec. 30, 2005. Alvarado immigrated to the U.S. in 2007 and rode his first stateside winner at Gulfstream Park in mid-February that year. After being Arlington Park’s leading rider in 2009, he relocated permanently to New York in 2010. He registered his 1,000th win at Saratoga four years later. In 2016, he was a close fourth in the Kentucky Derby with Moheymen his first Triple Crown race. He registered his 2,000th victory at Gulfstream in January 2023.
With 2,117 career victories going into March, Alvarado’s top horses include Olympiad, winner of the 2022 Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes; Art Collector, winner of the 2023 Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational; Just F Y I, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita and, of course, fan favorite Cody’s Wish.
Junior Alvarado and his wife, Kelly, have three children, Adrian, Adalyn and Axel. Alvarado will be honored with the Woolf Award in a winner’s circle ceremony at Santa Anita this spring.
Named for the late Hall of Fame jockey who gained national acclaim by winning the inaugural Santa Anita Handicap in 1935 aboard Azucar, and later by piloting the immortal Seabiscuit to victory over Triple Crown Champion War Admiral in match race at Pimlico Race Course in 1938, the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award has been won by some of the greatest names in the history of the sport.
Alvarado was joined on this year’s Woolf ballot by fellow finalists Alex Birzer, Julien Leparoux, Edwin Maldonado and Rodney Prescott.
Handicapper’s Corner
The handicappers are back, even though there isn’t a Kentucky Derby points race this week. We’ll head to Hot Springs, Arkansas, for Oaklawn Park’s Whitmore Stakes Day card. What better place to get things on track for the final weeks of March and a good push into the early part of spring.
Jessica Paquette continues to set the pace and leads the group with nine winners from 37 races, one ahead of John Shapazian.
Here are the picks for Saturday at Oaklawn:
John Shapazian (8/37):
1-Creme de la Chrome, Good Heart, Big Swede.
2-Ocean Bird, Differently, Texas Hottie.
3-Gucci Boy, Happy Tears, Musical Maestro.
4-Cravensworth, Asymmetric, Work Order.
5-Taxed, American Rockette, Backyard Money.
6-Palmetto Devil, Violent River, Dancin Rocket.
7-Blue Squall, Brooklynn Drew, Asternia.
8-Haulin Ice, Sthenic, No Coincidences.
9-Tejano Twist, Ryvit, Ninja Warrior.
10-Rocket Can, Heroic Move, Secret Pocket.
11-Q’s Your Mamma, Runninthestreets, Sparkly.
Tom Law (4/37):
1-Happymac, Crème de La Chrome, Tiger Dad.
2-Ocean Bird, Texas Hottie, Predicting.
3-Musical Maestro, Gucci Boy, Nofurtherquestions.
4-Cravensworth, Broberg entry, Quick Buck.
5-Taxed, American Rockette, Palacein.
6-Violent River, Chrome Candy, Palmetto Devil.
7-Xtreme Diva, Asternia, Brooklynn Drew.
8-No Coincidences, Appealing Addie, The Girl In Red.
9-Ryvit, Tejano Twist, Osbourne.
10-Rocket Can, Heroic Move, Harlocap.
11-Sparkly, Runninthestreets, Wildwood Queen.
Charles Bedard (7/37):
1-Drifter, Tiger Dad, Good Heart.
2-Ocean Bird, Differently, Boogie On.
3-Nofurtherquestions, Gucci Boy, Musical Maestro.
4-Quick Buck, Asymmetric, Broberg entry.
5-Hypersport, Palacein, American Rockette.
6-Dancin Rocket, Chrome Candy, Violent River.
7-Xtreme Diva, Brooklynn Drew, Blue Squall.
8-Sthenic, Haulin Ice, Ms Carroll County.
9-Ryvit, Jaxon Traveler, Tejano Twist.
10-Heroic Move, Lucky Boss, Rocket Can.
11-Q’s Your Mama, Wildwood Queen, Runninthestreets
Rob Whitlock (4/25):
1-Drifter, Happymac, Tiger Dad.
2-Ocean Bird, Texas Hottie, Boogie On.
3-Trabrs Creed, Gucci Boy, Musical Marstro.
4-Cravensworth, Broberg entry, Quick Buck.
5-Taxed, Backyard Money, American Rockette.
6-Dancin Rocket, Violent River, Chrome Candy.
7-Xtreme Smoke Show, Brooklyn Drew, Xtreme Diva.
8-No Coincidences, The Girl In Red, Appealing Addie.
9-Ryvit, Ninja Warrior, Tejano Twist.
10-Rocket Can, Alejandro, Heroic Move.
11-Aloha Baby, My Julia, Queen Mallard.
Jessica Paquette (9/37):
1-Happymac, Drifter, Tiger Dad.
2-Ocean Bird, Boogie On, Texas Hottie.
3-Musical Maestro, Gucci Boy, Happy Tears.
4-Asymmetric, Cravensworth, Mo Tap.
5-American Rockette, Always Angels, Backyard Money.
6-Chrome Candy, Palmetto Devil, No Mo Whining.
7-Tx Women For Arts, Blue Squall, Asternia.
8-Haulin Ice, No Coincidences, The Girl In Red.
9-Ryvit, Tejano Twist, Osbourne.
10-Rocket Can, Harlocap, Secret Pocket.
11-Sparkly, Miss Mo Mesa, Q’s Your Mama.
By the Numbers
1 million: Dollars in purse increases for both the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Breeders’ Cup Turf, bringing their respective total values to $7 million and $5 million.
3,013,550: Dollars in prizes over the three days of the National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas. The winner receives $800,000 and the top 77 finishers earn some cash.
4,998: Wins for jockey Scott Spieth through Thursday.
999: Wins for trainer John McCaslin through Thursday.
884: Entries for this weekend’s National Horseplayers Championship, including The Special’s Paul Halloran.
Secretariat birthday celebration at Hall of Fame
Looking for a reason to get the kids out of the house as late winter folds into spring in the Northeast? How about trekking to National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs to celebrate Secretariat’s birthday?
The Hall of Fame has a variety of children’s activities and a special showing of the Disney film Secretariat scheduled for Saturday, March 30. The celebration will coincide with the
final day of the Museum’s exhibition “A Tremendous Machine: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown.” The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is included with the cost of regular Museum admission.
In honor of Secretariat, who was born March 30, 1970, in Virginia, the Museum will present a variety of fun activities for kids, including:
• An “Easter Egg” scavenger hunt through the Museum with a prize;
• A build-your-own trophy station;
• A station to dress up like a real jockey, and to color your own silks;
• Wish Secretariat a happy birthday by designing your own birthday card;
• Light refreshments and sweet treats will be served throughout the event.
Additionally, the Museum will be screening the popular film Secretariat in its Hall of Fame. Guests are welcome to come in and watch the movie. The film will begin at 11 a.m. There will also be a raffle for a swag bag of incredible Secretariat goodies that any fan of Big Red will love.
Jockey of the Week
Plenty of rider news in this week’s Special, with Tyler Gaffalione earning the Jockey of the Week title for his performance at Tampa Bay Downs last weekend. Here’s the release from the Jockeys’ Guild:
This time of year, jockeys may leave their winter racing base for mounts in Kentucky Derby prep races around the country and top jockey Tyler Gaffalione is no exception. Travelling to Tampa Bay Downs for their signature day of racing, Gaffalione picked up two graded stakes wins including the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby, the only Derby prep race of the weekend and on a day that proved to be most unusual. His two graded stakes wins led the panel of racing experts to vote Gaffalione Jockey of the Week for March 4-10.
The weekly award recognizes jockeys for riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys’ Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.
Riding for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., Gaffalione was aboard Skippylongstocking in the Grade 3 Challenger. Off as the favorite in the field of six, Skippylongstocking broke from post position three and tracked the pacesetter, Impacto up the backstretch before given his cue around the far turn. Overtaking the leader at the quarter pole, Skippylongstocking easily held off Sherlocks’ Jewel through the stretch to post a 2 1/2-length win.
“We were a little concerned that we would be the only speed,” Gaffalione said. “My horse jumped out well, the outside horse put a little bit pressure, my horse relaxed and we were able to let him go and he got into a great rhythm.”
Just after the running of the Grade 3 Florida Oaks is when things took a turn for the bizarre as the tote board froze and stayed that way for nearly an hour. In the meantime, the 10 entrants in the Tampa Bay Derby were headed to paddock for saddling where they remained for more than 30 minutes when the decision was made to run the Kentucky Derby points race as a non-wagering event.
Gaffalione was given a leg up by trainer Chad Brown on Domestic Product in the Tampa Bay Derby. Racing midpack, Gaffalione tipped Domestic Product wide off the turn. The duo joined a cavalry charge down the stretch determinedly chasing Good Money to the wire for the win by a short neck.
Not only was Gaffalione riding in his first Tampa Bay Derby but he followed in his father’s footsteps as Steve Gaffalione won the 1989 Tampa Bay Derby aboard Storm Predictions.
“In the stretch, that horse on the outside was kind of leaning on him, I felt if I could get him free, I had plenty of horse,” Gaffalione said. “He’s still young, he’s still learning but I was very proud he went and got that horse at the wire.”
As for the races …
Gulfstream Park. Race 1. 1:10 p.m. Plenty left in the Championship Meet and the day starts with a 1-mile maiden featuring runners from Todd Pletcher (Whiskey N Soda, Secret Crush), Bill Mott (Bandoola, Reynolds Channel) and Saffie Joseph Jr. (Come To Papa, Dilger).
Gulfstream. Race 3. 2:08. Riley Mott, in the midst of a strong meet, sends out Beeline in $100,000 Hutcheson against the likes of Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint runner-up Valiant Force, Limehouse Stakes winner Ship To Shore and Inaugural Stakes winner Patriot Spirit.
Oaklawn Park. Race 5. 3:04. Taxed, winner of last year’s Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan, takes on Florida shipper American Rockette in $141,000 allowance-optional at 6 furlongs.
Fair Grounds. Race 4. 3:15. Proven turf sprint stakes winner Just Might takes a drop into allowance-optional company and goes back to the grass in what figures to be prep for bigger spots this spring back in Kentucky.
Laurel Park. Race 7. 3:32. The $75,000 Not For Love, restricted to Maryland-bred or Maryland-sired older horses at 6 furlongs.
Fonner Park. Race 4. 3:57. The $25,00 Orphan Kist for Nebraska-bred fillies and mares.
Aqueduct. Race 6. 4:00. Ghalia Princess, second in the Ruthless, looks to make amends at odds-on in the $100,000 Cicada Stakes. Short field of five also includes Ruthless third Value Area and stakes winner Miss Harriett.
Laurel. Race 8. 4:02. The $75,000 Conniver, similar conditions as the Not For Love but for fillies and mares and at 7 furlongs.
Oaklawn. Race 7. 4:10. Xtreme Diva, winner of two straight include the Dixie Belle, takes on five others led by Blue Squall, Asternia and Xtreme Smoke Show in the $200,000 Purple Martin.
Laurel. Race 9. 4:32. The third of three stakes, the $100,000 Harrison E. Johnson Memorial for older horses at 1 mile. Nimitz Class makes his second start back in the Mid-Atlantic after the Pegasus in January. He’ll be tough at this level on his best day.
Santa Anita Park. Race 3. 4:59. The $100,000 Pasadena for 3-year-olds going 1 mile. Stay Hot comes in off back-to-back wins on the grass while Lord Bullington looks to follow up on Eddie Logan score at the same distance.
Fair Grounds. Race 8. 5:15. Gun Party, son of Curlin out of Carinia Mia, finished second in debut at 10-1 and won’t be near that price here in 1 1/16-mile maiden for Steve Asmussen. But another son of Curlin, Cornishman, could help the price off back-to-back seconds for Godolphin and Brad Cox.
Oaklawn. Race 9. 5:23. The featured Grade 3 Whitmore, named for the king of Hot Springs and fan favorite. Ron Moquett, who trained Whitmore throughout his career, tries to take it down with Osbourne from the rail, while Tejano Twist and Ryvit loom a powerful presence to his immediate outside.
Oaklawn. Race 10. 5:54. Grade 3 winner Rocket Can, off since finishing ninth in last year’s Kentucky Derby, makes his return in 1-mile allowance-optional with a purse of $141,000.
Fonner. Race 9. 6:22. The second stakes of the day for Nebraska-breds, the $25,000 Ogataul with a field of 10.
Santa Anita. Race 8. 7:36. The Chosen Vron, 8-for-10 at Santa Anita and riding two-race win streak after good try in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, stands out in the Grade 3 San Carlos.
Turfway Park. Race 6. 8:25. B G Warrior blasted the field in the Wishing Well and now she looks to add the $125,000 Queen to resume. A dozen others, plus one on the AE list, take her on in 6-furlong stakes.
