Racing! Checking in with the TVG handicappers

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we get ready for two more days of racing.

It’s been a long time since we’ve done this in the Monday newsletter, but let’s take a look at how the TVG handicappers did Sunday on this long holiday.

Well, not sure this has happened before, but, by my count, no TVG handicapper hit a bet that it gave to its customers. In fact, if you would have turned over your bankroll to them it would have cost you $457.50. Happy new year.

Now, when you just check in every once in a while, you may not find the day that they are on fire. And, if you were to deconstruct their bets, you might find some real gems. But the culprit, as I see it, is TVG’s insistence of offering up big horizontal bets that are intended to keep you watching. That’s especially crazy when you understand that TVG is really just an ADW disguised as a broadcast channel.

OK, enough about that. Here are the totals:

--Vic Stauffer, betting Golden Gate, Laurel, Portland Meadows, Sunland and Turf Paradise, lost $204. (Note: Vic, next time one of your bosses says this is your lineup say, no thanks, if you can.)

--Matt Carothers, betting Aqueduct, lost $54.

--Kurt Hoover, betting Santa Anita, lost $50.

--Ron Ellis, betting Santa Anita, lost $40.50.

--Caleb Keller, betting Golden Gate and Gulfstream, lost $39.

--Rich Perloff, betting Aqueduct, lost $36.

--Gabby Gaudet, betting Gulfstream, lost $34.

Who goofed, I’ve got to know?

It’s me. Not sure how I did it, but completely had the conditions on the American Oaks wrong in Sunday’s newsletter. It was for 3-year-old fillies going 1 ¼ miles on the turf.

Santa Anita review

The most surprising thing about Giza Goddess winning the $75,000 Blue Norther Stakes for 2-year-old fillies going a mile on the turf is why there was a stewards’ inquiry. She did shift out a little on Colonial Creed but, in the end, didn’t look like the outcome was altered. Well, it didn’t matter as there was no change in the finish.

Giza Goddess was rated nicely and went to the lead in the stretch and gamely held on to win by half-a-length. She is trained by John Shirreffs and was ridden by Bryce Blanc. Giza Goddess paid $13.20, $6.40 and $4.00. Colonial Creed was second and Thriving was third.

“I think switching to the turf is what moved her up,” Shirreffs told Mike Willman of Santa Anita. “It has made all the difference with this filly. It was nice to be able to run back again at a mile, but beating maidens is one thing and beating winners is another…I was wondering if she would settle well today, and she did.”

It’s sad to report that Psychedelicat, a 4-year-old gelding, was euthanized when he suffered a left front leg injury in the fifth race. Jockey Mario Gutierrez pulled him up on the backstretch but the damage was too great to repair.

In the ninth race, Media Tone unseated jockey Evin Roman. The Eclipse Award winning jockey (as an apprentice) walked to the ambulance so the presumption is everything was OK. The horse was rounded up without incident.

Santa Anita preview

Monday’s New Year’s Eve card is not going to keep you lingering around at the track instead of celebrating elsewhere. It’s eight races, starting at 12:30 p.m., with no stakes and three allowance races. The field sizes are good and half the races are on the turf.

Of the three allowance races, the one with the biggest purse ($67,000) is the third, for Cal-bred 3-year-olds and up going a mile on the turf. The favorite is He Will, at 5-2, for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and jockey Kent Desormeaux. He is winless in four tries but has been running at a stakes level. His best this year is a fourth in a black type stakes.

Second favorite is King Abner who will be running his 14^th race this year. He has won four of them including the last two at the allowance level. Phil D’Amato and Tyler Baze team up to run this horse.

Here are the field sizes, in order, 11 (3 also eligible), 8, 7, 7, 10, 7, 10, 14.

Bob Ike’s SA pick of the day

FIFTH RACE: No. 9 North County Guy (7-2)

Improving gelding from the Richard Baltas stable crushed Cal-breds over this downhill layout two months ago and should be very tough to deny as he steps up to try open allowance company off a steady work pattern. He completely dominated his foes like a horse that will win right back for a red-hot trainer who won three races yesterday (along with three seconds).

Sunday’s result: Flip the Coin Jan (5-1) battled on the lead before tiring late to finish third in the first race.

Bob Ike is a Partner/VP of Horsebills.com (here's a video) and the proprietor of BobIkePicks.com (full-card picks, 3 Best Plays and betting strategy).

Big races review

A look at graded stakes or races worth more $100,000 or more on Sunday.

Aqueduct (7): $100,000 Bay Ridge Stakes, NY-bred fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Winner: Split Time ($8.00)

Final thought

Always looking to add more subscribers to this newsletter. Can’t beat the price. If you like it, tell someone. If you don’t like it, then you’re probably not reading this. Either way, send to a friend and just have them click here and sign up. Remember, it’s free, and all we need is your email, nothing more.

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

Now, here are the stars of the show, Sunday’s results and Monday’s entries.

SHADOW SPHINX chased outside then alongside a rival, came out leaving the hill and four wide into the stretch, bid three deep in midstretch under some left handed urging, gained the advantage nearing the sixteenth pole and won clear. MOVE OVER (GB) pulled his way along outside and steadied briefly at the right hand curve, chased outside then alongside a rival, also came four wide into the stretch and gained the place. FLIP THE COIN JAN dueled between horses then inside, came out a bit into the stretch, ought back in midstretch and just held third. KRIS' WILD KAT sped to the early lead off the rail, dueled four wide then outside a rival down the hill, fought back between horses in midstretch and was edged for the show. ARTIE B GOOD between horses early, chased outside then alongside a rival, came out crossing the dirt and steadied off heels three deep into the stretch and bested the others. ZESTFUL broke a bit slowly, settled just off the rail, angled to the inside in the stretch and lacked the needed rally. CRAZY UNCLE RICK bobbled at the start, stalked outside a rival to the stretch and did not rally. RAVEN CREEK bumped at the start, went up inside to duel for the lead then stalked along the rail down the hill and weakened. BAHAMIAN broke out and bumped a rival, saved ground chasing the pace, hopped then stumbled badly onto the dirt crossing and also weakened. IMPETU had speed between foes to duel for the lead then stalked outside a rival, came three deep into the stretch and also weakened. The stewards conducted an inquiry into the run crossing the dirt before ruling BAHAMIAN was the cause of his own trouble. Rail on hill at 14 feet.

PORTAL CREEK sped to the early lead off the rail then three deep, stalked outside a rival, bid alongside the pacesetter on the turn, took the lead into the stretch and won clear under urging. TIME FOR SUZZIE broke in a bit, steadied three deep nearing the five eighths pole, stalked just off the rail then outside a rival, continued a bit off the fence into the stretch and was clearly second best. SECRET MANEUVER settled off the rail then angled to the inside for the turn, came out into the stretch and picked up the show. QUEEN CARMELITA bobbled at the start, went up between horses to gain the lead, inched away and angled in on the backstretch, set the pace inside then dueled along the rail on the turn and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. AT THE MARGIN stalked a bit off the rail then outside a rival on the turn and weakened in the drive. TOP HAT TANTRUM had speed inside then saved ground stalking the pace, came out some in the stretch and had little left for the drive.

LADY NINJA had speed between horses then dueled outside a rival, put a head in front into the turn, inched away leaving the turn and drew clear under urging then a hold late. STURDY ONE four wide early, stalked outside a rival then off the rail on the turn, came out some into the stretch and bested the rest. COPY BEGONE between rivals early, stalked off the rail, came out into the stretch and lacked a rally but held third. BRAGGING RIGHTS dropped back off the rail early, angled to the inside on the turn, came out into the stretch and did not rally. RED SHELBY went up inside to duel for the lead, tugged on a short advantage, tried to get out some nearing the turn, fought back early on the bend and weakened in the stretch.

GIZA GODDESS three deep into the first turn, stalked outside a rival then alongside the runner-up nearing the second turn, bid outside the pacesetter on that turn to gain the advantage a quarter mile out, inched away into the stretch and held gamely under left handed urging. COLONIAL CREED between horses early, angled in on the first turn then stalked just off the rail, was in a bit tight behind the winner into the second turn, continued just off the inside to the stretch and finished willingly. THRIVING (GB) fanned out into the first turn, chased outside a rival then off the rail on the second turn, came three wide into the stretch and edged a rival for the show. LADY PRANCEALOT (IRE) saved ground off the pace, came out and was in tight off heels in upper stretch, came out again and finished with some interest but was edged for third. COURTEOUS had speed between horses then inched away and angled in on the first turn, set the pace inside, dueled along the rail on the second turn and nearing the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. SPLASHY KISSES was rank toward the inside then came out and steadied off heels into the first turn, pulled inside then just off the rail leaving the backstretch, drifted out some on the second turn to be three wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. CEDARS OF LEBANON (IRE) pulled between horses and steadied into the first turn, stalked just off the rail then outside a rival on the second turn and into the stretch and could not offer the necessary response in the drive. DATA STORM KITTY saved ground stalking the pace throughout and weakened in the stretch. Following a stewards' inquiry and a claim of foul by the rider of the runner-up against the winner for alleged interference into the second turn, no change was made when the stewards ruled the incident was minor and did not alter the original order of finish.

IMPRESSION sent along four wide to the early lead, angled in on the first turn and set the pace inside, kicked clear on the second turn and held on gamely under urging. SUPER DUPER COOPER stalked three deep on the first turn and four wide on the backstretch, continued off the rail leaving the second turn and a bit wide into the stretch and finished well. ODYSSEY EXPLORER saved ground off the pace, came out into the stretch and bested the others. GAIN GROUND bobbled some at the break, went up four wide into the first turn then stalked three deep between foes on the backstretch, continued outside a rival on the second turn and weakened. ELWOOD J angled in and saved ground stalking the pace to the stretch and also weakened. RHETTBUTLER between horses early, went up three deep leaving the first turn, stalked between horses, dropped back just off the rail on the second turn and gave way. RONTON four wide into the first turn, chased off the rail, dropped back into and on the second turn, was pulled up into the stretch and walked off. PSYCHEDELICAT stalked inside then between horses leaving the first turn, was pulled up early on the backstretch and vanned off.

ANUKET prompted the pace four wide, took a short lead a quarter mile out, continued four wide into the stretch and drew clear under urging and steady handling late. MISS AVA'S UNION stalked inside, came out on the turn and five wide into the stretch, drifted in and gained the place. BIZWHACKS pressed the pace three deep between horses on the backstretch and turn and into the stretch and bested the others. CHERISHED settled outside then off the rail, came four wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. BLUE MOONRISE bobbled at the start, went up between horses early then dueled inside, fought back on the turn and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. TWICE GOLDEN had good early speed and dueled between horses, fell back a bit off the rail leaving the turn and weakened. EMRATA chased off the rail, swung out into the stretch and lacked a further response. HAPPY TUNE dropped back and came off the rail on the backstretch, angled in on the turn, came out in the stretch and failed to menace.

DISCO CAT sped to the early lead off the rail, angled in and set the pace inside, dueled along the fence on the turn, fought back under urging in the stretch and held gamely. CAPTAIN N. BARRON stalked off the rail then bid between horses on the turn, battled outside the winner through a long drive and continued gamely but could not get by. BARTLETT HALL a step slow to begin, chased inside, came out into the stretch, split rivals in midstretch and finished willingly. DOHENY BEACH bobbled at the start, settled outside then four wide, came three deep into the stretch and bested the others. SERVE ME A DOUBLE stalked inside, came a bit off the rail on the turn, angled back in for the stretch and lacked the needed rally. ON THE RIGHT chased between horses, bid three wide between foes on the turn and weakened in the drive. EMOTIONAL RIDE broke a bit slowly, angled in and stalked between horses then three deep leaving the backstretch, bid four wide on the turn and into the stretch and also weakened. ARNO'S MANE MAN chased between horses, dropped back off the rail on the turn and lacked a response in the stretch. CONVERSATE between horses early, settled a bit off the rail to the stretch and did not rally. SANTA FE BLAZE chased off the rail, angled in on the turn, continued inside in the stretch and lacked a further response. JIMMY THE BULL chased a bit off the rail then briefly between foes nearing the turn, dropped back on the turn and gave way.

ENGLISH DANCER angled in and dueled inside, put a head in front off the rail into the stretch, inched away past midstretch and held on gamely under urging. CORDIALITY pulled along the inside stalking the pace, came out in midstretch and surged between foes late. PULPIT RIDER saved ground stalking the pace, came out into the stretch and finished willingly three deep on the line. CHEEKABOO settled off the pace inside, cut the corner into the stretch and bested the rest along the fence. IPPODAMIA'S GIRL three deep early, dueled outside the winner, fought back in midstretch and weakened late. LEMOONA four wide into the first turn, chased three deep then outside a rival, came four wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. TAMMY'S WINDOW settled outside a rival then a bit off the rail into the stretch and could not summon the necessary response. JAZAALAH pulled her way between horses then stalked outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch and weakened. LIGHTNING DOVE chased between horses or outside a rival, came out some in the stretch and also weakened. ONE FAST BROAD four wide into the first turn, stalked three deep or outside a rival, came out four wide into the stretch and also weakened.

AMUSE stalked a bit off the rail, waited off heels in upper stretch, came out in midstretch, rallied to the front under some left handed urging a sixteenth out and won clear. DULCE RIDE pressed the pace four wide then stalked into and on the turn, came four wide into the stretch, re-bid between foes past the eighth pole and edged rivals for second three deep on the line. EXUBERANCE settled off the rail then inside, went around a rival past midstretch and went up the fence for the show. SPEND SPEND SPEND a step slow to begin, stalked between foes then bid between rivals to duel for the lead, took a short advantage into the stretch, inched away in midstretch, could not match the winner in the final sixteenth but gave ground grudgingly to the others. FAMILY GIRL dueled three deep between foes then three wide on the turn and into the stretch, drifted in some and weakened. OOZLE chased off the rail, came three wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. ZUSHA settled off the inside, swung four wide into the stretch and also lacked the necessary late kick. UPPERCUT had good early speed and dueled inside, fought back on the turn and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. TODOS SANTOS broke slowly, settled off the rail, came a bit wide into the stretch and was not a threat. MEDIA TONE stumbled at the start and lost the rider. The stewards conducted an inquiry into the start before ruling MEDIA TONE was the cause of her own trouble.

APACHE PRINCESS chased outside then off the rail, was fanned six wide into the stretch, rallied under urging then had the rider lose the right rein outside the sixteenth pole, made the lead in deep stretch and won clear under a hold late. UNICORN settled off the inside, came three wide into the stretch, angled out in upper stretch and gained the place late. POSIT dueled inside, inched away leaving the hill, came off the rail into the stretch, kicked clear, could not match either of the top pair late but held third. GEMAGINE stalked a bit off the rail, came out leaving the hill, was fanned five wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. HARMLESS dueled three deep then stalked outside a rival, drifted four wide into the stretch, drifted in through the drive and weakened. HAUGHTY GIRL broke a bit slowly,, angled in and chased inside, came out a bit into the stretch and could not offer the necessary response. KITTYHAWK LASS settled outside a rival chasing the pace, came out into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. GALLANTLYSTREAMING (IRE) stalked inside then a bit off the rail leaving the hill and into the stretch and weakened. TWINKLE DREAM dropped back off the rail then angled in leaving the hill, came out some in the stretch and was not a threat. MIND FOR MISCHIEF dueled between horses then angled in and stalked inside, was in a bit tight leaving the hill and weakened. Rail on hill at 14 feet.