Racing! A look at why Los Alamitos keeps cancelling show bets

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we ready for the middle weekend at Los Al before it’s time to go back to Santa Anita.

So, what is it about Los Alamitos that has it cancelling show betting whenever there is even a whiff of a minus pool? It was especially stark last Saturday when the six-horse Beverly J. Lewis Stakes had no show betting. Actually, if you go back to the Summer meeting, they did it with another six-horse field.

Saturday’s card has three five-horse races and only one of them has show wagering. On Friday, there were two five-horse fields and they had show bets on only one of them.

In its Summer meeting, Los Al cancelled show bets in six races. Three were understandable because there were only four horses. Two of them had five and then there was the aforementioned six-horse race. You’re going to be surprised at who makes that decision.

Ed Allred, the longtime owner of Los Alamitos, offers a good explanation.

“We’ve had a huge problem with minus pools,” Allred says. “They can really nail us. If there is a five or six horse field and suddenly there is a scratch or even two it can lead to very large minus pools. … There’s a guy at Del Mar [which would count as an on-track bet] that is very shrewd. He doesn’t strike very often but when he does he hits us.”

Los Alamitos is doing what it thinks it needs to do to remain the strongest it can financially. Never forget, it rescued year-around racing when Hollywood Park closed.

“Some people like it [the big show pools] but we can’t afford it,” Allred said.

Now the rules on what a track can and can’t do as far as mutuel pools is spelled out in CHRB Rule 1954, which says you have to offer win, place and show wagering in any race with five or more starters unless you get permission from the California Horse Racing Board.

Mike Marten, the communications czar at the CHRB, was quick to offer help on how this works.

“The tracks ask the CHRB executives [Rick Baedeker and/or Jackie Wagner] for permission,” Marten said “In rare instances when the execs are not available, the stewards have the authority to grant the request. [In last Saturday’s stakes race] they did reach one of the execs and permission was granted. These are business decisions by the tracks, so the execs typically honor the request.”

Allred couIdn’t recall the last time the stewards made that decision.

Still, it makes CHRB Rule 1954 more of a suggestion than a rule.

So, who makes the decision on which races go without show betting at Los Alamitos?

“Eddie Burgart does that for us,” Allred said referring to our newsletter contributor and the best quarter-horse announcer — ever.

“He’s Mr. Los Alamitos. I can replace him as an announcer but can’t replace him for all the other things he does for us.”

Burgart delayed his retirement a year and plans to go at the end of 2019.

Allred explained that Burgart looks over all the races at Los Al and those coming in from other tracks and determines which ones could present trouble if there is suddenly a huge bet that the track would lose money on.

“He’s the best handicapper and he really has a good sense for that,” Allred said.

Now, you need to understand that a minus pool is not shouldered entirely by the track. For starters, the track still takes its cut from the bet, but has to pay taxes, the city and other funds. But it is only responsible for the bets made on-track and through the connecting regional off-track sites.

We have one regular reader who liked to make “bridge jumper” show bets through TVG. The ADW suspended his account until he agreed not to make any of those bets anymore. So, it’s not like all the burden falls on the track.

Not everyone plays it like Los Alamitos, which has a very small margin. Santa Anita had a series of minus pools whenever Songbird ran a couple years ago. Joe Morris, who was running the track at the time, said they are in the betting business so he wasn’t going to take that away from fans. But, when Songbird went East, Saratoga cancelled show wagering. (What say you who think The Spa is the greatest thing in racing?)

In the 2016 Woodbine Mile, which coincidentally, the 2018 version is being held Saturday, cancelled show betting because Tepin was such a heavy favorite in a field of eight. But, you can never get mad at our Canadian neighbors.

So, something that seems so simple—why no show betting?—has a back story steeped in accounting that is rather complicated. Still, especially in six-horse fields (with no scratches), I want my $2 across bet to cost me six bucks, not four.

Justify to Coolmore

In a move that rivaled the Breeders’ Cup choice of sites as the biggest non-secret of the year, WinStar Farm announced that Justify will stand at Coolmore Farm.

“After much deliberation with all the partners, we’ve decided to accept Coolmore’s offer to stand Justify,” Elliott Walden, president, CEO and racing manager of WinStar Farm, said on its website. “As you can imagine, this is a bittersweet moment for all of us connected to this special horse who gave us the ultimate thrill of a lifetime. We believe strongly in Justify as a stallion and the ownership group has retained breeding rights. We look forward to supporting him at Ashford Stud.”

No purchase price was announced but it is estimated to be in the $70 million range.

Los Alamitos review

Just a Smidge showed some real heart down the stretch and another gear in the final strides to win Friday’s feature, a $45,000 allowance/optional claimer for fillies and mares going one mile. She had the lead most of the race but started to look vulnerable down the stretch from an advancing Whirling, but then she found more and won by 2 ½ lengths.

Just a Smidge paid $5.80, $2.80 and $2.40 for trainer Bob Baffert and Assael Espinoza. Whirling finished second and Pacific Strike was third.

Los Alamitos preview

The fields are pretty thin for Saturday’s nine-race card starting at 2 p.m. There is one race with seven horses, three with five and all the rest with six. One of the five-horse races is the $100,000 Barrett’s Debutante for 2-year-old fillies who came out of the Barretts’ sale. The distance is 6 ½ furlongs.

The favorite is Square Peggy at 7-5. She runs for Brian Koriner and will be ridden by Tiago Pereira. She has only run two races, winning her maiden special last time out by 1 ½ lengths at Del Mar. The second favorite, at a close 8-5, is Naughty Tiger for Edward Freeman and Ruben Fuentes. She has won two of her three races, a maiden special at Santa Anita and the California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Assn. Stakes at Del Mar. She won that race by 1 ¼.

Need to point out the race has no show wagering.

Here are the field sizes, in order: 5, 6, 5, 6, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7.

Big races preview

A look at graded stakes or races worth more $100,000 or more on Saturday. All times PST.

12:42 Woodbine (6): $100,000 Sweet Briar Too Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 6 ½ furlongs. Favorite: Code Warrior (2-1)

1:16 Parx (8): $100,000 Roamin Rachael Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Liz’s Cable Girl (2-1)

1:21 Churchill Downs (8): $100,000 Open Mind Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Vertical Oak (7-5)

1:48 Woodbine (8): Grade 1 $800,000 Woodbine Mile, 3 and up, 1 mile on turf. Favorite: Delta Prince (5-2)

1:53 Churchill Downs (9): $100,000 Locust Grove Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Blue Prize (2-1)

2:26 Churchill Downs (10): Grade 3 $150,000 Iroquois Stakes, 2-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Tight Ten (2-1)

2:27 Woodbine (9): Grade 2 $250,000 Canadian Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/8 miles on turf. Favorite: Inflexibility (2-1)

2:53 Belmont (9): Grade 2 $400,000 Sands Point Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles on turf. Favorite: Barkaa (3-1)

2:57 Churchill Downs (11): Grade 2 $200,000 Pocahontas Stakes, fillies 2-years-old, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Serengeti Empress (5-2)

3:02 Woodbine (10): Grade 3 $125,000 Bold Venture Stakes, 3 and up, 6 ½ furlongs. Favorite: Pink Lloyd (1-1)

3:36 Woodbine (11): Grade 1 $300,000 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes, 3 and up, 1 ½ miles on turf. Favorite: Hawkbill (2-1)

3:58 Los Alamitos (5): $100,000 Barretts Debutante Stakes, fillies 2-years-old. Favorite: Square Peggy (7-5)

Jose Contreras LRC play of the day

EIGHTH RACE: No.5 Midnight Miracle (2-1)

She broke fast, dueled with the betting favorite and put her away while opening up impressively down the stretch to win easily. That was a nice improvement for her first start for this barn and she now enters in a protected race where she can’t be claimed. She will be tough to beat if she improves again.

Friday’s result: Chickatini stayed close through most of the race but faded in the stretch to finish fourth.

Jose Contreras is an excellent handicapper and well known on social media and familiar to racing fans watching on TVG. You can follow him on Twitter at @losponies or check him out at his website.

Ed Burgart’s LA play of the day

FOURTH RACE: No. 3 One Ruthless Eagle (2-1)

This well-regarded 2-year-old from the Justin Joiner barn hopped up and came away very slow when fifth in last Rainbow Futurity trial nine weeks ago. He finished out with good energy and was flattered when the winner MM Fourinthemorning returned to captured the futurity finals. He is now back with maidens and need only break clean to get the money.

Final thought

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Any thoughts, you can reach me at johnacherwa@gmail.com. You can also feed my ego by following me on Twitter @jcherwa

And now the stars of the show, Friday’s results and Saturday’s entries.

JAY MAKES US LAUGH settled outside, chased three wide on the turn, came out further then rallied strongly from the outside and collared leader inside sixteenth marker to prove best. FOUR GAELS forced the early issue while three deep, gained lead midway on the turn, continued on same path into the lane, edged away but could not hold the winner late. JOEJOE'S KINGDOM tracked leaders early while inside winner, angled out some in upper stretch and gamely gained the show. TIZ POINT between rivals early while pressing the pace, came out some leaving the turn and was out finished for third while between foes. STONEYS MR CRUISER had good early foot from along the rail, remained inside but weakened in the final eighth.

DON'T PASS dueled outside a rival down the backstretch and on the turn, inched away from that rival nearing the furlong marker, and drew clear through the final furlong while off the rail. VEILED HEAT was bumped hard at the start, chased off the rail and between horses on the turn, kept to her task through the lane and was up for second in the final yards. EURASIA dueled inside the winner on the backstretch and around the turn, could not match that foe in the final furlong and was edged for second in the final yards. QUEEN SHELLY ANN bobbled at the start then came in and bumped a rival, was rank between horses on the backstretch, came into the stretch three wide and weakened in the final furlong. BABY ICE stalked a bit off the rail on the backstretch, saved ground around the turn, remained inside through the lane and did not offer a bid. I ADORE YOU chased on the outside on the backstretch and three deep on the turn, came into the stretch three wide and weakened.

BRAGGING RIGHTS stalked from the inside then between rivals, came three wide into the stretch, split rivals nearing three-sixteenths marker, gained lead then drew clear under urging. FASHION FAIR tracked pace from the inside then two wide, was between foes in upper stretch then responded to right handed urging and powered away from others. GARRULOUS GAL bumped at the start, moved up three wide and gained advantage into the turn, continued off the rail and could not match top pair in the drive. COMPLETE DISCREET bobbled in bit of slow start, pulled her way up three wide, chased four wide on the turn then five wide into the stretch and did not threaten. SAPODILLA bumped with outside foe leaving the gate, forced the early pace inside, remained along the rail and weakened. GET YOURSELF HOME had good early foot along the fence, continued on the rail to the stretch and also weakened. GAMEZAPPER chased either three or four wide to the stretch and faded from the outside.

HAYNE'S PAL contested the early pace while three abreast, gained lead early on the turn, continued on same path to the stretch and edged away from inside rival under right hand urging. CAPTAIN WALKER dueled then forced the pace from along the rail, remained inside through the stretch and went willingly to the wire. ROCKIN MY MOJO was antsy in the gate then bumped hard with inside rival at the start, chased three wide around the turn, angled over to mid stretch then drifted back out nearing the wire and held third. VALLEY BOY was fractious prior to the start, raced slightly off the rail into and around the turn, came out some in the stretch and missed third. FANDAREL DANCER bumped hard with outside rival leaving the gate, tucked in behind dueling leaders, remained inside and weakened. UR ALL PLAYN CATCH was also fractious in the gate, reserved outside early, raced four wide into and on the bend, remained wide and was no threat. REBEL ON THE RUN dueled then pressed the pace from between rivals and inside the winner, drifted out leaving the turn and weakened.

JUST A SMIDGE dueled outside a rival down the backstretch, inched away from that foe on the second turn, turned back a bid in upper stretch and remained clear to the wire under urging. WHIRLING stalked outside a rival down the backstretch, moved up under urging on the second turn, bid outside the winner at the top of the stretch, was turned back by that foe but was clearly second best. PACIFIC STRIKE stalked inside a foe on the backstretch, fell back on the second turn, came out in the stretch, was no threat for major awards but gained third. CHICKATINI broke in and bumped a rival at the start, dueled inside the winner down the backstretch and on the second turn and weakened through the lane. ONLINE REQUEST was bumped at the start, chased on the outside and did not threaten.

JIMMY THE JUICE pressured the early pacesetter, moved alongside that rival on the turn, gained lead three wide nearing the stretch, turned back outside rival in the drive and edged away late under steady hand pressure. BURN ME TWICE advanced from the outside on the turn, loomed four wide entering the stretch, bid outside winner in upper stretch, was turned back but comfortably held the place. TOWARDS THE LIGHT between rivals and inside winner leaving the backstretch, remained bit off the rail to the stretch, came out further in mid stretch and gained minor award. HE'S VERY RARE quickly sped to short lead from the inside, resisted briefly inside winner on the turn, came two wide into the lane, weakened some late and lost the show. AIR POCKET chased from off the rail, was three wide on the turn, swung out five wide into the stretch and did not threaten. COUNTRY ROAD stalked from the inside, remained along the rail into and through the stretch and weakened. BANZE NO OESTE (BRZ) was slow into stride, angled over early, raced slightly off the fence thereafter and did not menace.

RANSOMED set pace from the inside into the backstretch, dropped back some on the second turn, shifted out, came four wide into the lane, re-rallied and surged past inside rivals approaching three-sixteenths marker and powered away. AWARD IT caught on five path and widest of all into first turn, moved up outside on the backstretch, dueled four wide on the second turn, gained advantage three wide into the stretch, had no response for the winner in the drive and held the place. PLASTERED moved up between to engage leaders briefly on the backstretch, lost contact with lead pack into second turn, came out bit on the last turn then five wide into the stretch and was along late for third. GIRL DOWNSTAIRS was four wide into initial turn, bid four abreast midway on the backstretch, battled inside runner-up on the second turn and into the stretch then weakened in the final eighth from the inside. NIGHT TIME INC (ARG) reserved from the inside, angled out on the second turn, came five wide into the stretch but did not threaten. BELIEVE INDEED caught between foes and three wide early, joined leader three deep in middle stages, forced issue inside leaders on the second turn, was along the rail into the stretch then weakened.

IPRAY chased between foes or two wide to second turn, angled four then five wide into the stretch, steadily closed under left handed urging while coming in bit through the lane and collared leading dup in the final yards. PRINCESS KENDRA was taken to the rail early, tracked pace from the inside into the lane, bid then gained slim advantage past eighth marker but could not stave off the winner. BLONDY'S REWARD quickly sped to the front, set uncontested pace while slightly off the fence, retained cushion while two wide into the stretch, overtaken inside eighth marker, battled outside rival but gave ground in final yards. TODOS SANTOS hopped in an awkward start, trailed from well off the rail, angled six wide leaving the last turn and came in some through the lane. RYDER'S STARLIGHT chased three wide early, was four wide around the last turn, came out further entering the stretch and failed to menace. LOB CITY stalked while bit off the rail, continued on two wide path and lacked needed late response. HONOR MAKER tracked pace from off the rail, remained three wide into and around the last turn and gave way readily in the stretch.