BALTIMORE, 04-03-13—The Maryland Jockey Club today announced that Gabby Gaudet will replace Frank Carulli as the Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park racing analyst after he leaves the company at the end of the Pimlico spring meeting, which begins tomorrow. Gaudet, who will start full-time after Labor Day, will be co-hosting with Carulli on Saturday and Sunday afternoon’s during the meet. The 22-year-old was chosen after a successful on-air audition at Laurel Park on March 23.

“I was very happy the contest was the week it was because I was on spring break and I had time to prepare,” Gaudet said. “Talking to people my age in the industry, I feel like it is pulling to the younger demographic. A couple of my high school and college friends are starting to follow racing on Twitter and are planning on coming to the Preakness and not just for the concerts in the Infield.”

Gaudet’s role will include handicapping between races, with the selections available on Twitter, writing a blog on the Pimlico, Laurel and Preakness websites and producing news of the day/week package for the simulcast signal.

“Gabby was the most well-rounded candidate with a tremendous upside,” said Maryland Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas. “With the role changing from a pure handicapper to someone who can also assist in the social media world and with the website, her ability to write a blog was significant. She will not have to handle Frank’s morning line duties.”

Equibase chart caller Keith Feustle, who has co-hosted the “Today At The Races” pre-race show on the Maryland simulcast signal with track announcer Dave Rodman since the fall 2011, will take over Carulli’s morning line duties beginning with the Laurel fall meet in September. Feustle has been the oddsmaker at Colonial Downs since 2003.

Gaudet, the daughter of longtime conditioners Eddie and Linda Gaudet, is finishing her final semester at Towson University. She will graduate next month with a double major in mass communication and graphic design.

“My mom was very excited and my dad actually got teary-eyed,” added Gaudet. “My mom home schooled me in trailer at Bowie Training Center for a couple of years before I decided to go back to school in 8^th grade, so literally I grew up on the racetrack.”

The St. Mary’s High School graduate wrote for The Saratoga Special newspaper last summer and has been a frequent contributor on Maryland Horse Radio, which airs on CBS Sports Radio (AM 1300) in Baltimore each Tuesday at 6 p.m.

“I am really excited about the opportunity,” Gaudet said. “Frank is a really good handicapper. One of the things I need to focus on is studying the charts and (Daily Racing Form) Formulator. I am going to enjoy the blogging aspect of the job. Not only from a handicapping aspect but also if we have a rider who has a big week. It will be interesting to get to know them better and not from a stat-stand point because that is something that will likely be handled in a press release.”

The 51-year-old Carulli, who has been with the Maryland Jockey Club since January 2002, will be relocating to Las Vegas in July.

“Frank Carulli is one of the top handicappers and morning line makers in the business and he will be missed,” added Chuckas. “He was also extremely helpful during this process with all the candidates and will tutor Gabby during the Pimlico meet. We want to give her as much preparation as possible before she takes over in the fall.”

Thankfully, the Laurel Park winter meet comes to a close on Saturday so that live Maryland racing shifts to Pimlico Race Course on Thursday, April 4th. I happily say, “Good Riddance” to Laurel Park as my Saturday BEST BET and LONGSHOT selections were woeful to say the least, as the record below indicates. It was great meet for the Maryland Jockey Club, but it’s time to pack up the wagons and move the troops to Baltimore for the next two months.

With Pimlico’s 36-day spring meet (Apr. 4^th thru June 8^th), it’s a new beginning. A chance to redeem myself as the plan is to post selections for all 36 live racing days. Here’s what the Maryland Jockey Club is doing at Pimlico on Opening Day to entice fans to enjoy nine (9) exciting chase scenes…

On the national scene, with the Kentucky Derby just five (5) weeks away, there are 3 Derby prep races on Saturday… G2 UAE Derby at Meydan Race Course (Dubai) at 10:22am EDT, G1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park at 6:19pm EDT and the G2 Louisiana Derby Fairgrounds at 6:44pm EDT. To read HOW I SEE IT, click here.

Recapping the previously posted selections at Laurel Park from Saturday, Mar. 23rd had 8 winners from 9 races (6 Top Selection; pay-offs shown in BOLD type) having $2 WIN pay-offs of $4.00 (1st race), $3.00 (2nd), $9.00 (3rd), $3.20 (4th), $4.00 (5th), $5.80 (6th), $7.60 (7th) and $2.20 (8th).

This past Saturday was a perfect illustration of how “snake bit” the BEST BET and LONGSHOT picks were during the Laurel Park meet. Despite having 6 Top Pick winners from 9 races, both BEST BET and LONGHSOT selections were off the board (OTB).

The BEST BET of the Day (12 2-1-0) Nacho Earl (5-1 PT; 7-2 M/L) trailed in the early stages, swung wide at the eighth pole and rallied strongly in deep stretch but was no match for the winner, setting for a runner-up effort and returning $5.60 to PLACE and $2.40 to SHOW.

The LONGSHOT PICK (12 0-0-3) Willieslittletrick (6-1 PT; 12-1 M/L) dueled early with a rival, setting a pressured pace along the rail and tired when entering the stretch, finishing a distant 5th.

For Saturday races the weather forecast calls for a clear skies, meaning the track will be FAST at Laurel Park on Saturday Mar. 30^th, Closing Day. Selections for all races posted are handicapped based on making multi-race wagers such as DOUBLE’s, Pick-3’s and Pick-4’s using all three (3) listed for each race in each leg.

1st race – $38,000 Maiden Special Weight for 2 y.o.– 4½ furlongs
#3 – Take Time to Pray (5-2)
#6 – Debt Ceiling (4-1)
#1/1A – New Zone / Searchparty Dolly (7-2)

2nd race – $5,000 Claiming N1Y for F&M 4 y.o. & up – 5½ furlongs
#3 – Prime Mistress (5-1) *** BEST BET ***
#1 – Super Nova Desert (5-2)
#7 – Harbor Fox (2-1)

3rd race – $10,000 Claiming 3 y.o. fillies – 7 furlongs
#1 – Go Money Go (3-1)
#3 – Oxford Lass (3-1)
#5 – Lost Yer Number (8-1)

4th race – $10,000 Claiming 3 y.o.– 5½ furlongs
#5 – Monacacy Warrior  (8-1) $$$ LONGSHOT $$$
#4 – Video Storm (4-5)
#1 – Chi Chi’s Pride  (5-1)

5th race – $5,000 Claiming N3L for 4 y.o. & up – 7 furlongs
#3 – Ram (3-1)
#8 – Singing My Way (2-1)
#4 – Rio Samba (15-1)

6th race – $25,000 Allowance Optional Claiming for 4 y.o.& up – 5½ furlongs
#2 – Regal Revenge  (7-5)
#6 – Never Stop Looking (5-1)
#3 – Itsnottheright (9-2)

7th race – $38,000 Maiden Special Weight for F&M 3 y.o.& up – 5½ furlongs
#8 – Litigious (3-1)
#3 – Smart n Smokin (8-1)
#7 – South Andros (6-1)

8th race – $50,000 Allowance Optional Claiming N1X for 3 y.o. – One mile
#3 – Arrive (9-2)
#8 – Hanky Doodle (5-2)
#7 – Torchrunner (10-1)

9th race – $5,000 Claiming for 4 y.o.& up – 5½ furlongs
#7 – Tennis Racket  (3-1)
#6 – Kincaid  (5-2)
#5 – By Your Side (15-1)

GOOD LUCK!

This is the final entry of my 4 part series to provide thoroughbred horse racing fans a glimpse at the four (4) candidates the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) has selected to be Frank Carulli’s replacement as the on-air television host during Laurel Park and Pimlico Meets. If you read “Part 1”, feel free to skip down to “Now let’s meet…”. If not, the candidates are Ryan Fogelsonger, Dylan Smith, Jacqueline “Jackie” Savoye and Gabrielle “Gabby” Gaudet. Kudos to MJC for seeking to allure the “Gen Y” crowd as the average age of these four finalists for the job is 25½.

Since 2002, Carulli has been the Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park handicapper and racing analyst, but will leave MJC at the conclusion of the Pimlico spring meet (June 8th), relocating to Las Vegas. Considered one of the best in the business in making the Morning Line (Odds), those duties will be handed over to Equibase chart caller Keith Feustle, when live racing resumes in September at Laurel Park. Feustle can be seen on the “Today At The Races” pre-race show on the Maryland simulcast signal with his co-host, track announcer Dave Rodman.

The brain-trust at MJC decided to give each candidate the opportunity to showcase their talent on-air as part of the interview process. So this week (March 20-23) at Laurel Park, each has one day to prove themselves worthy of filling Carulli’s shoes. Gabby Gaudet gets the final on-air say Saturday (Mar. 23rd) as the other 3 preceded her this week. Ryan Fogelsonger did the duties on Wednesday (Mar. 20^th), Dylan Smith followed suit on Thursday (Mar. 21^st) and Jackie Savoye provided her insight on Friday (Mar. 22^nd).

This past Saturday at Laurel Park, I spent a few moments with each of the contenders, to get to know a bit more about them, so I could introduce them to you. All were very impressive and enthusiastic to face the on-air challenge ahead of them. One shared, “It’s kind of weird, this live on-air audition and knowing the other applicants that you’re up against for the job. It feels like American Idol”.

Not quite American Idol because the decision on who will be hired as the new on-air racing analyst is solely an internal (MJC) one. There will be no fan voting, but your feedback is welcomed and should be directed to Mike Gathagan, MJC’s V.P. of Communications at mike.gathagan@marylandracing.com.

I don’t envy the MJC decision-makers. It will certainly be a tough call. I wonder if they would entertain a co-host format? It seems to work at other tracks having two people banter about versus one speaking directly into the camera. Just food for thought.

Now let’s meet…

… Gabby Gaudet, the 22-year-old daughter of longtime conditioners Eddie and Linda Gaudet and younger sister of trainer Lacey Gaudet, is on track (no pun intended) to graduate this Spring from Towson University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication with a minor in Graphic Design.

When your last name is immediately associated with Maryland racing, it’s only natural to feel the pressure to be involved in the family business. ”My Mom and Dad have definitely been extremely influential in my life, not only in horse racing but growing up in general. When I was younger, my Mom home schooled me and my sister throughout middle school, in between the hectic demands of (horse) training. I decided to go back to (a traditional) school for 8th grade, got my exercise riders license when I was 16 to help my parents out during the weekends and summer vacation, and I continued to do that as a part-time job throughout college”, explained Gabby.

Riding horses wasn’t her only athletic talent. Gabby was quite the soccer player and received offers from multiple D-1 schools, but home was where her heart was, which opened doors to combine her college major with her love for horses. “I would say that last winter was really the turning point for me when I decided to get really involved, especially in the media side of horse racing. I began interning for Maryland Horse Radio on Tuesday nights, contributing to Maryland Horse newsletters and participated in a lot of events throughout Preakness season”, recalled Gaudet as she reached into her memory bank of accomplishments.

Stepping out of the shadows of being Lacey’s “little sister” as well as her comfort zone (Maryland), Gabby was able to establish her own identity in New York. “This past summer I got the opportunity of a lifetime to move to Saratoga for the meet and write for The Saratoga Special newspaper. There, I made some really great racing contacts and got to experience racing from a new perspective. I had to interview trainers, owners and jockeys daily and then write articles on them (e.g. pre-stakes/post-stakes interviews, race recaps, and human interest stories). I loved every minute of it”, then added with a snicker, “When my sister (Lacey) came up to visit, people were referring to her as, Gabby’s big sister”.

Recently the petite brunette spoke with ESPN/ABC Sports reporter Jeannine Edwards about facing the camera, saying “Jeannine gave me some really good advice… I can provide my personal insights. The way I see it is that every horse, every trainer, every race has a story. For example, some may look at the program and see a horse that has been laid off for 6 months and wonder why? Having a journalistic background, I‘ll find out as much information about the “story” and report it to the fans”.

Admittedly, when this 55-year-old @HorseRacingNut read about Frank Carulli’s planned departure via MJC’s MArch 13th press release, I was miffed that the conditions of this competition seemed, to use a horse racing term, “restricted”. Quickly convincing myself that ol’ GQ was about 30 years too old to be considered for the on-air Racing Analyst position, and couldn’t agree more with Gabby who stated, “I love that the MJC is getting young people into the sport. I really think it’s a great idea. I’m very passionate about horse racing and I want to bring all ages and all backgrounds (as many people as possible) in and show them what makes this sport so special”.

To describe Gabby Gaudet in one word, it would be Charm. She possesses an infectious smile that can light up a room. Not a bad quality to have when thousands of horseplayers will be hanging on every word you utter before they head to the betting window.

This is Part 3 in my 4 part series to provide thoroughbred horse racing fans a glimpse at the four (4) candidates the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) has selected to be Frank Carulli’s replacement as the on-air television host during Laurel Park and Pimlico Meets. If you have already read “Part 1”, feel free to skip down to “Now let’s meet…”. If not, read on. The candidates are Ryan Fogelsonger, Dylan Smith, Jacqueline “Jackie” Savoye and Gabrielle “Gabby” Gaudet. Kudos to MJC for seeking to allure the “Gen Y” crowd as the average age of these four finalists for the job is 25½.

Since 2002, Carulli has been the Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park handicapper and racing analyst, but will leave MJC at the conclusion of the Pimlico spring meet (June 8th), relocating to Las Vegas. Considered one of the best in the business in making the Morning Line (Odds), those duties will be handed over to Equibase chart caller Keith Feustle, when live racing resumes in September at Laurel Park. Feustle can be seen on the “Today At The Races” pre-race show on the Maryland simulcast signal with his co-host, track announcer Dave Rodman.

The brain-trust at MJC decided to give each candidate the opportunity to showcase their talent on-air as part of the interview process. So this week (March 20-23) at Laurel Park, each has one day to prove themselves worthy of filling Carulli’s shoes. On Friday (Mar. 22^nd), Jackie Savoye will put her personal handicapping touch on display as will Gabby Gaudet on Saturday (Mar. 23rd). Ryan Fogelsonger and Dylan Smith completed their on-air “audition” on Wednesday (Mar. 20th) and Thursday (Mar. 21st), respectively.

This past Saturday at Laurel Park, I spent a few moments with each of the contenders, to get to know a bit more about them, so I could introduce them to you. All were very impressive and enthusiastic to face the on-air challenge ahead of them. One shared, “It’s kind of weird, this live on-air audition and knowing the other applicants that you’re up against for the job. It feels like American Idol”.

Not quite American Idol because the decision on who will be hired as the new on-air racing analyst is solely an internal (MJC) one. There will be no fan voting, but your feedback is welcomed and should be directed to Mike Gathagan, MJC’s V.P. of Communications at mike.gathagan@marylandracing.com.

I don’t envy the MJC decision-makers. It will certainly be a tough call. I wonder if they would entertain a co-host format? It seems to work at other tracks having two people banter about versus one speaking directly into the camera. Just food for thought.

Now let’s meet… 

… Jackie Savoye, currently an assistant trainer for Dale Capuano. The 25-year-old South River High School graduate did on-air work a couple years ago at Gulfstream Park with Alyssa Ali and Caton Bredar. She followed that by teaming up with TVG’s Paul Lo Duca and Christina Oliveras (now with HRTV with last name of Blacker via marriage) at Monmouth Park during their Million Dollar Meet, conducting off-camera interviews.

Horses have been a big part of Jackie’s life for as long as she can remember, “I started riding at a young age at pony camps then got involved in the Annapolis pony club and took up foxhunting almost full time. That’s such a fun event. At 18, I went to work for Jason Cole in southern Maryland breaking babies. That provided such a great foundation of learning the racehorses and bringing them up. Jason sent me to Bowie (race track training center) to learn to gallop and from there I worked for Gary Capuano and the Gaudet’s (Eddie and Linda). I was hired by Dale in the spring of 2008 and he sent me all over the east coast with strings for him”. 

The handicapping aspect of the job does not intimidate her in the least, “I can apply my knowledge of horse racing and what I have learned in the claiming game to handicapping. I work for a top claiming trainer and one of the best horseman and businessman I know in this business. I see a lot of different horses come in and out of the barn, so I’ve learned how to train and understand why and where Dale enters them”.

Savoye isn’t shy when it comes to expressing her thoughts on how to attract her peers to the Sport of Kings, pointing out, ”Being young and involved in thoroughbred racing is such a great opportunity for anybody. It’s a fun sport and the young crowd doesn’t realize it, which is where one of us comes in. I can relate to college kids who want to come out and enjoy a day at the races. Show them maybe a small bet and why they would pick that horse. We need fun things at the track to attract a younger group. Things like live bands, contests, and let’s face it… beer drinking!”.

The horse racing community is filled with hard working individuals and families whose work day begins long before the sun comes up and ends long after it sets. For ”Gen Y” individuals like these four (4) applicants, that means not much of a social life outside of their horse racing family. There also seems to be a special bond among them, as they are all “in the same boat’, but enjoying every minute of it.

“It’s a very exciting job opportunity and I do hope I get it”, Jackie said with guarded optimism, then revealed, “Gabby (Gaudet) is actually my roommate. She’s a great person and very smart. So if she got the job I would be very happy for her”. Talk about being in a tough situation, well that’s only half of it, as she continued, “My other roommate is my best friend, Lacey, who happens to be Gabby’s big sister”.

To describe Jackie Savoye in one word, it would be Poise. Seeing her ability to handle her equine “children” in the paddock and immediately refocus her attention to the anxious owner, indicates to me that the lights and camera will not test her nerves, but rather make her shine.

This is Part 2 of my 4 part series to provide thoroughbred horse racing fans a glimpse at the four (4) candidates the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) has selected to be Frank Carulli’s replacement as the on-air television host during Laurel Park and Pimlico Meets. If you’ve already read “Part 1”, feel free to skip down to “Now let’s meet…”. If not, on read. The candidates are Ryan Fogelsonger, Dylan Smith, Jacqueline “Jackie” Savoye and Gabrielle “Gabby” Gaudet. Kudos to MJC for seeking to allure the “Gen Y” crowd as the average age of these four finalists for the job is 25½.

Since 2002, Carulli has been the Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park handicapper and racing analyst, but will leave MJC at the conclusion of the Pimlico spring meet (June 8^th), relocating to Las Vegas. Considered one of the best in the business in making the Morning Line (Odds), those duties will be handed over to Equibase chart caller Keith Feustle, when live racing resumes in September at Laurel Park. Feustle can be seen on the “Today At The Races” pre-race show on the Maryland simulcast signal with his co-host, track announcer Dave Rodman.

The brain-trust at MJC decided to give each candidate the opportunity to showcase their talent on-air as part of the interview process. So this week (March 20-23) at Laurel Park, each have one day to prove themselves worthy of filling Carulli’s shoes. On Thursday, Dylan Smith gets her chance to wooo Maryland horseplayers with her handicapping prowess. Then on Friday (Mar. 22nd) it’s Jackie Savoye’s turn and Gabby Gaudet completes the on-air superfecta on Saturday (Mar. 23rd). Ryan Fogelsonger completed his “audition” on Wednesday (Mar. 20^th).

This past Saturday at Laurel Park, I spent a few moments with each of the contenders, to get to know a bit more about them, so I could introduce them to you. All were very impressive and enthusiastic to face the on-air challenge ahead of them. One shared, “It’s kind of weird, this live on-air audition and knowing the other applicants that you’re up against for the job. It feels like American Idol”.

Not quite American Idol because the decision on who will be hired as the new Racing Analyst is solely an internal (MJC) one. There will be no fan voting, but your feedback is welcomed and should be directed to Mike Gathagan, MJC’s V.P. of Communications at mike.gathagan@marylandracing.com.

I don’t envy the MJC decision-makers. It will certainly be a tough call. I wonder if they would entertain a co-host format? It seems to work at other tracks having two people banter about versus one speaking directly into the camera. Just some food for thought.    

Now let’s meet…

… Dylan Smith, 24, has been working as an assistant for trainer Dickie Small since graduating from Kennedy High School in the Washington D.C. suburbs in 2006.

“(I’m) definitely a track-oholic and horse-oholic”, Smith proudly declared. “I am at the races all day, every race day. I gallop in the morning, then shower in the girl’s jocks room where I then get scratches, study, and make my final picks for the day. Next I listen to Talking Horses in NYRA then watch Dave (Rodman) & Keith (Feustle) at Laurel and jot down their opinions. I’m at the races for the full card. Afterwards I go home where I watch more races from across the country until I fall asleep”.

When asked at what age did she catch the horse racing bug, Dylan reflected, “I learned when I was very young, couldn’t have been older than 6 or 7, how to read a program and (Daily Racing) Form from my Dad. He started bringing me to the track when I was little…and I was obsessed even then. My Dad really gets the credit for bringing me to the track and getting me hooked. He always answered questions and just watching what he looked at on paper and how he bet taught me so much”.

Not only does Smith understand horses physically and the art of handicapping, but she also has strong opinions on what horseplayers want from a track handicapper. With The Form tucked under her arm, the slender blonde explained, “I hang around and learn from the people that bet a lot of money. I see firsthand where they like to put their dollars and what they look for when making their selections. I think it is a huge advantage to know how to bet because the ultimate goal for the track handicapper is to get money into the bettor’s pockets (giving them the ability to play more races, which increases the tracks handle). I can dig up useful information that I know a lot of people would be interested in hearing when putting together a ticket. People don’t want a repeat of what you can see in The Form. They want you to go the extra mile to find what they can’t see”.

Though she’s short on media experience, Dylan has certainly done her homework in preparation for Thursday’s on-air debut. “I watch Frank (Carulli) very closely and have been working with him for months trying to pick up on everything he does. He’s very good at morning line odds, and he really takes a lot of time and does lots of research when making his picks”. Smith sought assistance outside of Maryland, adding, “I also got to spend a day with NYRA’s Andy Serling who was great. He is just fantastic and does all his homework. He’s prepared every day and gave me some good pointers”.

To describe Dylan Smith in one word, it would be Horse-oholic. By her own admission, “It’s a little obsessive, but I literally watch all tracks and all types of horses (Harness and Quarter, too). I don’t like to miss any action at any track in the country. I have a non-existent social life outside of the track because I am so wrapped up in the racing world. It may sound pitiful, but I love it and wouldn’t have it any other way”. Not so pitiful from my point of view because she seems to be a terrific asset to the Maryland horse racing community.

This is Part 1 in my 4 part series to provide thoroughbred horse racing fans a glimpse at the four (4) candidates the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) has selected to be Frank Carulli’s replacement as the on-air television host during Laurel Park and Pimlico Meets. They are Ryan Fogelsonger, Dylan Smith, Jacqueline “Jackie” Savoye and Gabrielle “Gabby” Gaudet. Kudos to MJC for seeking to allure the “Gen Y” crowd as the average age of these four finalists for the job is 25½.

Since 2002, Carulli has been the Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park handicapper and racing analyst, but will leave MJC at the conclusion of the Pimlico spring meet (June 8^th), relocating to Las Vegas. Considered one of the best in the business in making the Morning Line (Odds), those duties will be handed over to Equibase chart caller Keith Feustle, when live racing resumes in September at Laurel Park. Feustle can be seen on the “Today At The Races” pre-race show on the Maryland simulcast signal with his co-host, track announcer Dave Rodman.

The brain-trust at MJC decided to give each candidate the opportunity to showcase their talent on-air as part of the interview process. So this week (March 20-23) at Laurel Park, each will have one day to prove themselves worthy of filling Carulli’s shoes. First up on Wednesday (Mar. 20^th) is Ryan Fogelsonger. Dylan Smith will tackle the Thursday (Mar. 21^st) card, Jackie Savoye will be on-air Friday (Mar. 22nd) and Gabby Gaudet gets a crack at the Saturday (Mar. 23rd) card.

This past Saturday at Laurel Park, I spent a few moments with each of the contenders, to get to know a bit more about them, so I could introduce them to you. All were very impressive and enthusiastic to face the on-air challenge ahead of them. One shared, “It’s kind of weird, this live on-air audition and knowing the other applicants that you’re up against for the job. It feels like American Idol”.

Not quite American Idol because the decision on who will be hired as the new on-air racing analyst is solely an internal (MJC) one. There will be no fan voting, but your feedback is welcomed and should be directed to Mike Gathagan, MJC’s V.P. of Communications at mike.gathagan@marylandracing.com.

I don’t envy the MJC decision-makers. It will certainly be a tough call. I wonder if they would entertain a co-host format? It seems to work at other tracks having two people banter about versus one speaking directly into the camera. Just food for thought.

Now let’s meet…  

… Ryan Fogelsonger, 31, currently a journeyman jockey, winner of 1,303 races in his career, captured eight (8) riding titles at the Maryland tracks, and was the 2002 Eclipse Award winning apprentice. He has not ridden since early November when he suffered a concussion during a spill. But this gig does not require riding skills, and Ryan is thankful for that, as he views this opportunity as his chance to start a second career.

“Let’s face it. I’m 31, I don’t have a college degree and this (horses) is all I know.”, Fogelsonger stated with a boyish grin.

Well no sheepskin can compare to the energy level and love he has for horses, which didn’t start until age 18. Ryan explained, “I was a track star in high school. One day a buddy of mine said, “You’re the perfect size to be a jockey. I know a trainer… maybe you should talk to him…”. So he agreed and added, “What was supposed to be a 15 minute talk turned into two (2) hours… and the rest is history”. The trainer who met with him that day was Dale Capuano.

When asked what his favorite riding memory is, Ryan took a few moments to search into his memory bank, shook his head and stated, “Just riding horses who loved to run and being a part of it”.

Ok, so we know he can ride and loves horses. So do the other three (Dylan, Jackie and Gabby). But can he command the attention of the horseplayer, looking for “short-term investment” (aka wagering) advice? The answer: No doubt! His confidence borders on cockiness, and he expressed his fondness for being in the spotlight, something he’s ready to tackle on Wednesday as the on-air guest handicapper at Laurel Park.

To describe Ryan Fogelsonger in one word, it would be Confident. After all, when first asked about this opportunity to showcase his on-air and handicapping talent, he exclaimed, “I’m going to kill it”!

Today I proudly unveil my very own “Funnie”, which obviously has a Maryland theme. This equine drawing masterpiece was a collaborative effort of yours truly and Marcy “Mel” Leonard of Daily Racing Funnies. The turnaround time on my order was amazingly quick, her attention to detail is first-rate, and willingness to let you “have it your way” results in a unique piece of horse racing memorabilia, one can call your own.

Mel’s work has been featured in many areas of HRN as well as on her Twitter account @dailyracefunies. Her drawings are timely, especially during this rapid fire time of year (i.e. Derby Trail), and guaranteed to bring a smile to all who see them. They are certainly a welcome diversion from the stress of keeping up with this fast-paced industry, while also being informative by capturing a major storyline in a single frame drawing. Thanks Mel for bringing the “funnie” side of horse racing to life. 

Recapping the previously posted selections at Laurel Park from Saturday, Mar. 9th had 8 winners from 11 races (4 Top Selection; pay-offs shown in BOLD type) having $2 WIN pay-offs of $3.00 (1st race), $5.00 (2nd), $3.80 (3rd), $15.60 (4th), $4.00 (5th), $6.80 (8th), $5.60 (10th) and $18.20 (11th).

The BEST BET of the Day (10 2-0-0) Star Destiny (7-2 PT; 3-1 M/L) was three-wide chasing the leaders early, but failed to threaten as he weakened under strong encouragement, finishing 4th.

The LONGSHOT PICK (10 0-0-3) Pool Party (3-1 PT; 6-1 M/L) set a pressured pace along the rail, held on gamely when entering the stretch, but yielded in the final furlong, salvaging SHOW and returning $2.40.

For Saturday races the weather forecast calls for a overcast skies with 70% chance of showers, which makes handicapping  this card tricky. It’s guess-work on whether the track will be FAST or SLOPPY at Laurel Park on Saturday Mar. 16th . As of 10am, the track is listed as FAST. Selections for all races posted were handicapped based on making multi-race wagers such as DOUBLE’s, Pick-3’s and Pick-4’s using all three (3) listed for each race in each leg.

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1st race – $5,000 Claiming for F&M 4 y.o.& up – 1 1/16 miles
#5 – Forty Days  (7-5)
#4 – My Name Is Ralphie  (15-1)
#2 – Angels Concerto (5-1)

2nd race – $7,500 Claiming N3L for F&M 4 y.o.& up – 6 furlongs
#2 – True Chick  (9-2)
#4 – She’s Behaving (5-2)
#7 – Time Marches On  (20-1)

3rd race – $7,500 Claiming N3L for F&M 4 y.o. & up – 1 1/16 miles
#5 – Trippi’s Wish (8-5)
#1 – Lady Geegee (2-1)
#7 – Skips Prospect (6-1)

4th race – $25,000 Starter Allowance for 3 y.o. fillies – 7 furlongs
#1 – Ek Haseena (8-5)
#4 – Sea Lady  (6-1)
#5 – Curly (8-1)

5th race – $50,000 Optional Claiming N1X for 3 y.o.– One mile
#4 – Keep Momma Happy (6-1) $$$ LONGSHOT $$$
 #2 – Indian Bucks  (3-1)
#6 – Wry Me  (10-1)

6th race – $25,000 Optional Claiming N2X for F&M 4 y.o.& up – 6 furlongs
#1 – West Coast Lady (4-1)  *** BEST BET ***
 #7 – Zero Yield (7-2)
#2 – Grammy Pat  (7-2)

7th race – $5,000 Claiming N1Y for 4 y.o.& up – 1 1/8 miles
#8 – Changing Funds (3-1)
#1 – Hurricane Creek (7-2)
#6 – Silent Shot (15-1)

8th race – $125,000 Harrison E. Johnson Memorial Stakes for 3 y.o & up – 1 1/8 miles
#4 – Norman Asbjornson (4-1)
#3 – Koh I Noor (9-5)
#1 – Eighttofasttocatch (9-2)

9th race – $8,000 Maiden Claiming for F&M 3 y.o. & up – 7 furlongs
#6 – Pure Anticipation  (7-5)
#7 – Tale of the Dragon  (6-1)
#2 – Nashly Love  (3-1)

On the Derby Trail… Rebel Stakes @ Oaklawn Park, Race 10:
#1 – Tresaury Bill   -  #10 – Super Ninety Nine   – #2 – Carve

GOOD LUCK!

The Derby Trail stretches from coast to coast this weekend. First making a stop in Florida for the Tampa Bay Derby then onward to southern California for the San Felipe Stakes, both contested on Saturday (March 9th). Winner of each race will earn 50 Derby system points, which just might be enough to secure a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate on the first Saturday in May, for the first leg of the Triple Crown.

The $350,000 Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs race course is contested at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt track. It’s race 10 on the card and features a field of 9 runners, including the lightly raced, but much hyped 4-5 Morning Line favorite #6 –  Verrazano. The More Than Ready colt is 2 for 2 with an impressive 16 length victory over #1 – Eton Blue (20-1), in his last start at Gulfstream.

The rest of the field are no pushovers. #2 – Purple Egg (10-1) is a perfect 3 for 3 in making his 3 y.o. debut. The Sam F. Davis winner #9 – Falling Sky (10-1) and runner-up #5 – Dynamic Sky (4-1) are back for Round 2. Other Gulfstream Park invaders include G2Hutcheson Stakes winner #3 – Honorable Dillon (6-1), #7 – Offlee Fast  (30-1) 2^nd a neck to another Derby contender Capo Bastone, while another undefeated (2-for-2) colt, #8 – Park City (12-1) tries two-turns for Starlight Stable, who also owns reigning 2 y.o. champ, Shanghai Bobby.

HOW I SEE IT: Offlee Fast, Verrazano and Falling Sky will try to get first run into the clubhouse turn and guarantee a swift, early pace. At this point if Verrazano gets the upper hand heading into the backstretch, he’ll be tough to reel-in. But if he is pressed, look for the Purple Egg and Honorable Dillon to secure a nice stalking position, ready to make their run entering the stretch. Trainer Nick Zito is desperate for a Derby horse, so his hopes lie on Eton Blue, 2^nd to Verrazano last time out, but sheds 4 lbs. for this contest, and could be heard from in deep stretch along with Park City and making his 3-year-old debut #4 – Java’s War (12-1).

Tampa Bay Derby PLAY: #5 – (Dynamic Sky) $10 WIN, $20 PLACE; $2 Ex Box 3-5-6

The $300,000 Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park is race 7 and scheduled for a 3:35pm PST Post Time. Eight (8) 3 year-olds will travel 1 1/16^th miles over the natural dirt track.

The Morning Line favorite is #2 – Flashback (8-5), gate to wire winner of the G2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes. He’ll take on the Delta Jackpot and Sham Stakes victor #3 – Goldencents (2-1). Both have the same running style… quick from the gate and on or near the early lead. This tactic could be the undoing of both colts if at least one is not quite in top condition. It’s far from being a two horse race because #5 – Hear the Ghost (6-1), bred to go long gets his first chance to go beyond 6 furlongs in his third career start, while #6 – Tiz a Minister (12-1) a CA-bred, is a deep closer making his 10^th career start after winning the CA Breeders’ Champion Stakes on Jan. 26th gets Garrett Gomez back in the irons.

Others in the field are #1 – Carving (15-1) looking to rebound from his 4^th place finish in the G3 El Camino Real Derby; #4 – Kochees (15-1) adds blinkers after being 4^th in a stacked, one mile Optional Claiming race won by Super Ninety Nine (won Southwest Stakes next out) and runner-up was Code West (who ran 2^nd in Risen Star Stakes next out); #7 – Salutos Amigos (6-1) who will help push Flashback and Goldendcents early and  #8 – Omega Star (6-1) the only gelding in the field, 2^nd to Tiz a Minister in his last outing.

HOW I SEE IT: A speed duel between Falshback and Goldencents, with Carving, Kochees, Hear the Ghost and Salutos Amigos in the second flight while Tiz a Minister and Omega Star have the best view of the field until the far turn, when the real racing begins. Look for Kochees and Hear the Ghost to begin their assault on the front-runners while the two trailers begin to pick up their hoofs, finally getting out of 2nd gear. By mid-stretch we’ll find out who is more game, Flashback or Goldencents, as one will surely weaken in the final furlong. Flashback will really need to be special to hold off the late run from Hear the Ghost, Kochees and Tiz the Minister. Whether he is special will be answered at approximately 3:37pm PST.

San Felipe PLAY: #5 – (Hear The Ghost) $10 WIN, $20 PLACE; $2 Ex Box 4-5-6 (Go Big or Go Home!)

Recapping the previously posted selections at Laurel Park from Saturday, Mar. 2^nd had 6 winners from 9 races (4 Top Selection; pay-offs shown in BOLD type) having $2 WIN pay-offs of $3.20 (1st race), $3.80 (3rd), $9.00 (4th), $15.60 (6th), $2.80 (8th) and $4.40 (9th).

The BEST BET of the Day (9 2-0-0) Legally Included (7-2 PT; 5-1 M/L) was bumped at the break and settle way off the pace. Saving ground along the rail rallied from last (6^th) entering the stretch, engaging a rival at the eighth pole and was game to the wire to win by a neck, returning $9.00 to WIN, $4.40 to PLACE and $3.60 to SHOW.

The LONGSHOT PICK (9 0-0-2) Our Favorite (8-1 PT; 15-1 M/L) lacked speed early in the contest, was hung 6 wide on the turn and only showed little interest for a minor share losing SHOW money by a head and a nose, finishing  5th.

For Saturday races the weather forecast calls for a clear skies, meaning the track will be FAST at Laurel Park on Saturday Mar. 9^th. Selections for all races will be posted after scratches are announced (approximately 10am EST). Selections for all races posted were handicapped based on making multi-race wagers such as DOUBLE’s, Pick-3’s and Pick-4’s using all three (3) listed for each race in each leg.

1st race – $8,000 Maiden Claiming for 3 y.o.& up – 1 1/8 miles
#2 – Delirious Tide  (5-2)
#5 – Ridley Creek Road  (2-1)
#6 – Big Phil (5-1)

2nd race – $10,000 Claiming for 3 y.o.– One mile
#4 – Ronello  (5-2)
#5 – Royale Jacob (5-1)
#2 – Some Way Some How — SCRATCHED —-
#3 – Cobbler’s Mark (10-1)

3rd race – $5,000 Claiming N2L for F&M 4 y.o. & up – 5½ furlongs
#1 – Pool Party (6-1)  $$$ LONGSHOT $$$
#5 – Gail’s Stormy (2-1)
#4 – Lookin for Me (4-1)

4th race – $25,000 Maiden Claiming for F&M 3 y.o. & up – 1 1/16 miles
#5 – Irish Moon (5-1)
#3 – Timeless Testament  (8-1)
#6 – Slew’s Flash (7-2)

5th race – $10,000 Maiden Claiming for 3 y.o. fillies – 6 furlongs
#1 – Belle of the West (2-1)
#4 – Pure Anticipation  (3-1)
#2 – Fireblossom  (10-1)

6th race – $38,000 Maiden Special Weight for 3 y.o.– 6 furlongs
#6 – Star Destiny (3-1)  *** BEST BET ***
#7 – Terrific Trio  (4-1)
#3 – Kennesaw Mountain (8-1)

7th race – $5,000 Claiming N2Lfor F&M 4 y.o.& up – 6 furlongs
#11 – Buttertart (5-1)
#2 – Richbelle (8-1)
#1 – Super Cami (6-1)

8th race – $10,000 Claiming for 4 y.o. & up – 1 1/16 miles
#2 – Bubbling Springs  — SCRATCHED —-
#5 – Snap It  (3-1)
#1 – Who Dat Boy  (6-1)
#6 – Radio Relay (4-1)

9th race – $40,000 Allowance N1X for 4 y.o. & up – 5½ furlongs
#6 – Bullet Catcher  (2-1)
#3 – Dogwoods Barto  (6-1)
#1 – Gotogo  (8-1)

10th race – $150,000 Private Terms Stakes for 3 y.o – 1 1/8 miles
#7 –  Dynamic Strike (5-2)
#10 – Seventeenohsix (5-1)
#6 – Mr. Palmer (5-1)

11th race – $5,000 Claiming N2L for 4 y.o. & up – 5½ furlongs
#2 – Chombo  (2-1)
#1 – Awesome Life  (7-2)
#5 – Hard Rock Delite  (10-1)

GOOD LUCK!

Progress. Webster defines progress, “positive development, usually of a gradual kind, toward achieving a goal or reaching a higher standard”.  In the 40+ years that I’ve been an enthusiastic thoroughbred horse racing fan, there has been plenty of progress. Racing surfaces, medications, jockey and horse equipment, tote systems and types of wagers have all been part of the progress in terms of safety and the quality of the horse racing product.

From a fans standpoint, there has been progress on many fronts. Information is one example. Now there are multiple sources from where one can obtain Past Performances (PPs) instead of just one. The PPs provide additional statistics such as jockey win percentages at a specific tracks’ meet and YTD, with a trainer for the current meet and YTD; a trainers’ win percentage with “Shippers”, “3^rd off Layoff”, “1^st time Blinkers” and so on. A horses’ record on a fast dirt track v. off track v. turf v. synthetic surfaces is at your fingertips, unlike yesteryear when one needed the memory of an elephant to recall if Port Conway Lane liked an off track or not. The only hint was seeing an asterisk (“*”),”X” or an X inside a circle, to the right of the horse name, which indicated his/her prowess on an off track. Are you old enough to remember those?

A true speed rating used to require simple addition of the Speed Rating plus Track Variant. Now anyone under the age of 35 thinks Beyer (or Bris) Speed Figures are “bible” and find it impossible to pick winners without them. Same is true with Tomlinson (or Bris) Pedigree numbers. Fractions were measured in 5^th’s, not 100^th’s of a second and unless you were at the track to witness every race ever run, you didn’t have a clue if any of the top 3 finishers of a given race came back to win their next start.

Even with all of this progress, there is a one aspect of thoroughbred horse racing that, until now, had fallen by the wayside, an equine cartoonist. For 53 years (1955-2008) Pierre Bellocq aka “Peb” was the staff cartoonist for the Daily Racing Form. This French-American’s cartoons and caricatures earned him recognition worldwide. As a kid in the 60’s when my Dad would buy “The Form”, I’d look forward to seeing his work on the cover of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes editions. But that ended in December 2008.

Enter Marcy Leonard, aka “Mel”. In my humble opinion, Mel fills the void left when Peb retired. Thanks to social media, Twitter to be specific, I recently discovered Mel which led me to Daily Racing Funnies DOTCOM (www.dailyracingfunnies.com). The website features all of Mel’s equine drawings. From Aqueduct to Woodbine and many tracks in between, her gallery is impressive considering she didn’t draw her first (equine) “Funnie” until 2011.

In an effort to give Mel’s “Funnies” exposure they truly deserve, I offered to use them in my blogs. After trading numerous emails of negotiating (not really) with Mel and her better half Rick, we settled on a “relationship” which is basically an old-fashion, “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine” arrangement. Because after all, GQ wants, needs and deserves (tongue in cheek) more exposure too.

It is my hope that you will join me in welcoming Mel into OUR horse racing inner circle and $upport her (and my) passion for this sport we all love, as she expresses it through art for our enjoyment.

My BEST BET of 2013: The Daily Racing Form or Bloodhorse come knocking on Mel’s door with contract in hand, leaving GQ out in the cold. Dooooohhhhhllllll!!!!!!

* Daily Racing Funnies are courtesy of Mel should not to be copied or produced and distributed without Mel’s written consent.

On Saturday at Laurel Park the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) will host a “Champions” Handicapping Tournament limited to 250 entries. Entry fee is $100 plus a $200 tournament bankroll.

As of noon on Friday, there are still openings. One can register at Laurel Park on Saturday starting at 9am. Tournament participants receive complimentary parking, admission, a multi-signal program and lunch buffet. Prizes will be awarded for  first ($5,000) through tenth ($300) places, with the top 3 finishers receiving automatic qualification for the February 2014 Coast Casinos Horseplayer World Series in Las Vegas. For more information contact Diana Harbaugh at 301-470-5432 or diana.harbaugh@marylandracing.com.

The Derby Trail heads north to the The Big Apple for its only legitimate prep race of the weekend, on Saturday (March 2nd) for the $400,000 Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct race track. The Gotham Stakes is contested at 1 1/16 miles on the inner dirt track. It features a field of 12 runners, 7 of whom have previously run in a graded stakes while 3 others take a big jump after scoring their maiden victory last out. In 59 previous runnings of the Gotham, only Secretariat (1973) has managed to win both the Gotham and Kentucky Derby.

The Morning Line favorite is #11 – Overanalyze (5-2), last seen winning a head-bob decision over Normandy Invasion in the G2 Remsen at Aqueduct in November. The latter ran a troubling 5^th in last weekends Risen Star Stakes at Fairgrounds in NOLA. A solid 3-1 second choice is #7 – Vyjack, undefeated in 3 career starts, all at Aqueduct. One of three Kiaran McLaughlin’s runners, #8 – Elnaawi (8-1) stands a good chance based on the amount of lip service he’s getting from industry experts. No surprise here due to the fact he’s #19 on GQ’s Derby Double Dozen posted here on Feb. 9th, when no one else even gave him a mention.

Though the G3 Withers Stakes winner Revolutionary will skip this dance and point to the G1 Wood Memorial, four (4) other Withers starters will answer the bell in the Gotham… #2 – Champion Boy (30-1; 5^th in Withers), #3 – Escapefromreality (6-1; 2^nd), #5 – Amerigo Vespucci (20-1; 4^th) and #6 – Siete de Oro (15-1; 3^rd).

HOW I SEE IT: With the likelihood of a FAST track (only 20% chance of precipitation) and the Big A dirt surface playing “fair” (i.e. not speed favoring like a certain track located in south Florida), it appears the best horse, with a clean trip will win. So is Overanalyze the best horse? Not necessarily on Saturday, but a quick, early pace would certainly help his cause, and he just might get it. #1 – Now and Then,  #4 – Ore Pass (12-1), #6 – Siete de Oro,  #7 – Vyjack and #10 – West Hills Giant (20-1) will see to that. When the real racing begins at the head of the stretch, expect #3 – Escapefromreality (6-1) and #8 – Elnaawi (8-1) to make their presence known while the favorite, Overanalyze finds his best stride in the final furlong. But will it be enough to get to the Winners Circle? Well do you think Johnny Velazquez took the mount, leaving warm, sunny Florida for chilly New York just because he could also see a Broadway show?

The Gotham PLAY: #11 – $10 WIN, $20 PLACE; $2 Ex Box 3-8-11

Recapping the previously posted selections at Laurel Park from Saturday, Feb. 23^rd had 8″chalky” winners from 9 races (1 Top Selection; pay-offs shown in BOLD type) having $2 WIN pay-offs of $3.80 (1st race), $6.60 (2nd), $4.00 (4th), $6.00 (5th), $6.40  (6th), $7.80 (7th),$2.40 (8th) and $5.20 (9th).

The BEST BET of the Day (8 1-0-0) Sweet Julianna (5-2 PT; 5-2 M/L) dueled between rivals to the quarter pole, kept on to mid-stretch but weakened in the final furlong, finishing 4^th.

The LONGSHOT PICK (8 0-0-2) Libertytown Lass (19-1 PT; 10-1 M/L) racing without blinkers was outrun early, but  mustered a nice rally in deep stretch to get SHOW money, returning a handsome $7.20 to SHOW.

For Saturday races the weather forecast calls for a clear skies, meaning the track will be FAST at Laurel Park on Saturday Mar. 2^nd. Selections for all races posted were handicapped based on making multi-race wagers such as DOUBLE’s, Pick-3’s and Pick-4’s using all three (3) listed for each race in each leg.

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1st race – $25,000 Maiden Claiming for 3 y.o.– 5½ furlongs
#1 – Raven’s Dance  (9-2)
#6 – Star Destiny (2-5)
#2 – Press One  (15-1)

2nd race – $7,500 Claiming N2L for 4 y.o. & up – 6 furlongs
#6 – Lacrosse Moon (5-1)
#3 – My Seby (2-1)
#1 – Esson  (7-2)

3rd race – $38,000 Maidens for 3 y.o. fillies – 1 1/16 miles
#3 – Golden Joop (5-2)
#1 – Everything Matters (7-2)
#4 – Moon Legacy (4-1)

4th race – $25,000 Maiden Claiming for F&M 3 y.o. & up – 1 1/16 miles
#1 – Legally Included (5-1)   *** BEST BET ***
#5 – Hypatia’s Sky  (9-5)
#6 – Chanterelle (7-2)

5th race – $5,000 Claiming N2Y for 4 y.o. & up – 1 1/16 miles
#7 – My Piano Man (3-1)
#2 – Dixie Emperor  (8-1)
#10 – Tea Tott  (20-1)

6th race – $40,000 Maiden Claimng.for 3 y.o. – One mile
#6 – Bolt Action (5-1)
#2 – A Street  (20-1)
#1 – Indian Companion (3-1)

7th race – $5,000 Claiming for 4 y.o.& up N1Y or N4L – 1 1/16 miles
#6 – Changing Funds (6-1)
#8 – Hanson Heights (2-1)
#7 – Pics Good Boy (15-1)

8th race – $150,000 Caesar’s Wish Stakes for 3 y.o.fillies – One mile
#1–  Walkwithapurpose (1-1)
#6 – Sense of Reality (5-1)
#5 – Seven Stars (4-1)

9th race – $5,000 Claiming N3L for F&M 4 y.o. & up – 5½ furlongs
#6 – Our Favorite  (15-1)      $$$ LONGSHOT $$$
#7 – Bubbie Hon  (4-1)
#1 – Smoky Opal  (7-5)

GOOD LUCK!