4 15 4 LIVE MONEY RAINBOW POOL OVER $1.5 MILLION ASHLEYLUVSSUGAR SEEKS SECOND TURF CLASSIC WINIn his last 21 races, Ashleyluvssugar has run in stakes 20 times, 16 against open company, winning six, including four Grade II events. Not too shabby for an eight-year-old California-bred gelding that might be long in the tooth but not short on class.Saturday, the son of Game Plan goes for his second victory in the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic presented by City National Bank, having won it in 2017.“He’s full of vim and vigor and still acts like he wants to run,” trainer Peter Eurton said of the durable bay, earner of $1,393,039 in a 30-race career, of which he has won 10. “As long as he’s healthy, which he is, he’ll continue to run and compete at this level.”The Turf Classic is one of four stakes Saturday showcasing California-breds, the others being the $$150,000 Sprint, the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint and the $100,000 Turf Sprint Stakes.TWO EDDIES ON COURSE FOR CAL CUP TURF SPRINTEddie Truman hopes the buck stops with a good post position for Teacher’s Treasure in Saturday’s $100,000 California Cup Turf Sprint Stakes for three-year-olds at about 6 ½ furlongs on the downhill grass course.The chestnut gelding by Square Eddie-Corissa’s Birthday makes his stakes debut and his second start on turf after running third on Santa Anita’s unique venue on New Year’s Day when breaking from the No. 2 post position.“I think he’s going to move a couple lengths forward off that race, especially if he draws an outside post,” Truman said. “The two hole is such a disadvantage coming down the hill.”Edgar Payeras has ridden Teacher’s Treasure in each of his four races, winning one, with one second and two thirds. “He just lost his ‘bug’ and he’s been riding at Los Al, but he’s always worked this horse for me and my owners love him,” Truman said of the 24-year-old native of Guatemala.“The horse is a homebred so he’s kind of a Cinderella story. The owners are Larry Samovar and his wife, Carolyn, who campaign as Academic Farms. They’re from Ramona and I’ve been with them 35, 40 years.“We’re big supporters of the Cal-bred program, and to finally get this mare to Square Eddie has really showed she can produce a good horse.”D’AMATO COULD RUN THREE IN F&M TURF SPRINTPhil D’Amato plans to enter Barbara Beatrice, S Y Sky and possibly Lovely Linda in Saturday’s $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint for older fillies and mares at about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course.S Y Sky returns on a seemingly short turnaround, having run second as the 7-10 favorite on Jan. 10.“That was kind of the game plan for S Y Sky as long as she came out of the race good,” the trainer said of the five-year-old Grazen mare owned and bred by Nick Alexander. S Y Sky has never been out of the money in eight starts and favored in seven them, four at odds-on.“With all the weather we’ve been dealing with, and not being able to train them too hard, her last race was kind of a blessing. She’s doing well. She breezed this morning (four furlongs in 48.60) as did Barbara (four furlongs on the training track in a bullet 48 flat), and they should be ready to go.”Joe Talamo rides S Y Sky, while Tiago Pereira pilots Barbara Beatrice for the 20th time in what will be her 21st career race. Pereira rode her in her first race way back on Jan. 11, 2015, then three more before Talamo ended the skein, but has been on the seven-year-old gray daughter of Grazen bred by D’Amato for her last 15 races in a row.SANTA ANITA GUARANTEES $2 MILLION SINGLE TICKET RAINBOW PICK 6 JACKPOTAlong with one dollar beers and sodas, fans have a guaranteed $2 million Single Ticket Rainbow Pick Six Jackpot today, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at Santa Anita.With Santa Anita guaranteeing a $2 million Rainbow Six Jackpot up until a designated mandatory payout (pending CHRB approval) on Feb. 2, a cascade of “new” money continues to pour into the popular 20 cent minimum wager, evidenced by Sunday’s “new” money handle of $520,286, which helped to create a total live money Rainbow Six pool of $1,540,495.For the third consecutive day, there will be a 10-race card today. Accordingly, the 20 cent Single Ticket Rainbow Pick Six will begin with race five, which has an approximate post time of 2:03 p.m. PT. For additional racing information and specifics on Santa Anita’s 20 cent Single Ticket Rainbow Pick Six, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.LATEST CONTENT FROM XBTV:MCKINZIE (OUTSIDE) WORKING WITH SHOW ME DA LUTE (INSIDE) MARLEY’S FREEDOM WORKING 5 FURLONGS FOR TRAINER BOB BAFFERTFAHAN MURA WORKING AHEAD OF THE PEGASUS WORLD CUP TURF INVITATIONAL NEXT SHARES WORKING AHEAD OF THE PEGASUS WORLD CUP TURF INVITATIONAL HEAVENHASMYNIKKI PREPARING FOR THE SAM HOUSTON F&M CLASSIC NEXT SUNDAY GAME WINNER WORKING 4 FURLONGS FOR TRAINER BOB BAFFERTACCELERATE’S FINAL PREP AHEAD OF THE PEGASUS WORLD CUP INVITATIONALCATAPULT’S FINAL WORK AHEAD OF THE PEGASUS WORLD CUP TURF INVITATIONALPATH TO PEGASUS: EPISODE 1PATH TO PEGASUS: EPISODE 2PATH TO PEGASUS: EPISODE 3“QUICK QUESTIONS” WITH RICHARD MANDELLA“SHEDROW STROLL” WITH BAFFERT’S FLOR DE LA MAR FINISH LINES: Flor de La Mar ran to her notices Sunday, winning her debut race by five lengths under Joel Rosario for Bob Baffert. A $500,000 daughter of Tiznow owned by Godolphin LLC, she paid $2.40 to win. “It was perfect,” Baffert said. “Rosario just sat on her and taught her how to rate off a horse, then finished up. It was a good schooling race for her.” Baffert would not commit to her next race, saying, “I’m taking my time with her. I just want to set her up for the Kentucky Oaks (May 3). That’s the plan.” As to undefeatedGame Winner’s four furlong workout Sunday in 48.60, Baffert said, “He’s right on schedule (for the San Felipe Stakes on March 9).” Monday morning, Baffert sent Santa Anita Handicap candidate McKinzie seven furlongs in 1:25.40. It was one of 258 recorded workouts, 56 on the training track . . . Santa Anita will be dark for live racing Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and resume live action Friday, Jan. 25 at 12:30 p.m. There will be simulcast racing on Thursday with free general admission and free parking. Admission gates open at 10:30 a.m. 1 63% Richard Baltas49 $391,415 31% 8 Win% 21% Richard Mandella14 16% 22 Peter Miller47 55% $669,250 $136,892 17 $102,611 58% 9 $379,448 13% 52% $455,722 TrainerMts TRUMAN HOPES TO ‘POST’ TURF SPRINT WIN 9% 12 $626,872 44% ITM% Mike Smith29 14 5 4 34% 17% 1 12% D’AMATO HAS THREE FOR F&M TURF SPRINT $170,718 1 5 Agapito Delgadillo25 4 8% 4 $460,210 9 3rd $472,720 7 Rafael Bejarano52 Ruben Fuentes43 1st 6 45% Heriberto Figueroa75 John Sadler33 51% ASHLEYLUVSSUGAR STILL SWEET ON RACING 7% 11 1 43% $204,314 5 1 1st 4 $251,080 21% SANTA ANITA STATISTICS 15 $477,349 10 3 42% 6 Martin Pedroza28 33% 8 15 6 $393,873 52% 43% Tyler Baze85 4 Geovanni Franco66 7 4 15 9 1 3rd 9 7 $567,860 44% $317,011 6 J. Keith Desormeaux27 5 17% $457,869 $91,194 13% JockeyMts 4 2nd $172,257 Joseph Talamo59 2nd 56% $209,838 4 5 Flavien Prat81 49% 6 42% 5 $80,456 Money Won 14% Assael Espinoza46 11 8 Doug O’Neill55 13 4 12 18% 15% 23% 6 6 18% 46% 21% 2 $594,791 40% Win% 41% 14% Joel Rosario85 15% 20% Jerry Hollendorfer39 5 4 27% 6 14% Steve Knapp22 Edwin Maldonado28 7 24% 41% $153,539 Jeff Mullins24 Bob Baffert31 William Morey24 6 5 5 8 5 4 26% 7 7 44% Kent Desormeaux39 9 14% 13 9 33% ITM% Drayden Van Dyke57 $1,013,602 10% 10 (Current Through Sunday, Jan. 20) Money Won Tiago Pereira48 66% 6 $140,650 4 4 4 4 3 $1,361,946 $395,555 18% 42% Mark Glatt23 6 $456,713 6 4 32% 4 7 1 29% 5 59%
VETERAN TRACK EXPERT WILL BEGIN SANTA ANITA INSPECTION THURSDAY
VETERAN TRACK EXPERT WILL BEGIN SANTA ANITA INSPECTION THURSDAY Arcadia, CA – March 6, 2019 – Highly respected track man Dennis Moore will begin extensive testing and a thorough review of the one-mile main track at Santa Anita tomorrow.Mr. Moore and Dr. Mick Peterson of the Racing Services Testing Lab will do additional testing of the track to ensure track consistency and uniformity for both training and racing. At the same time, Santa Anita is conducting a comprehensive evaluation of all existing safety measures and current protocols.“As horse lovers first and foremost, we are deeply saddened by the losses experienced over the past several weeks. The loss of just one horse is one too many. While we can’t prevent every injury, we can’t overemphasize that the health and welfare of the horses and jockeys is our top priority,” said Tim Ritvo, Chief Operating Officer, The Stronach Group, the owners of Santa Anita Park. “The track will be closed for live racing and training until our outside experts confirm the soundness of the track and let us know that it is safe to resume racing.Mr. Moore has more than 46 years of experience working with racing surfaces in CA and worldwide, served as Santa Anita Track Superintendent from 2014 until his retirement this past Dec. 31. Currently employed as Track Superintendent at both Del Mar and Los Alamitos, Moore was chiefly responsible for providing Santa Anita with the “El Segundo sand” which was installed here to universal acclaim in 2014. The son of a track superintendent, Moore grew up in racing, and in addition to his father, Bob, his brother Ron has also served in the same role at various tracks in California.The Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory has been a pioneer in creating a Maintenance Quality System, which utilizes both daily measurements and enhanced techniques and technologies to manage racing surfaces with a goal of creating a consistent and safer racing surface.Officials at Santa Anita Park have been in constant communication with the California Horse Racing Board and key stakeholders who fully support our decision to close the track while we conduct additional testing of the track, review current protocols and existing safety measures. All horses who stable at Santa Anita will remain on site, and Santa Anita will remain open to the public for simulcast.Press Contacts:Tiffani Steer, Tiffani.Steer@stronachgroup.comMike Willman, Mike.Willman@santaanita.com
No excuses for Kangaroos: Woods
The Kangaroos are training at St George’s Park National Football Centre, the home of the England Football Association, which opened in 2012 and boasts state-of-the-art facilities.”They’ve got 14 fields here, the recovery centre’s unbelievable, the gym’s crazy. It’s just – I’ve never been a part of anything that looks this amazing,” Woods said.”So we’ve got some really good resources to use, so we’ve got to back it up and play some good footy now.”It’s just crazy being here. The things we’re surrounded by, it’s unbelievable.”Woods missed Australia’s 26-6 win over New Zealand in Perth earlier this month due to his wedding, but is expected to be recalled when the Four Nations begins this weekend.The Wests Tigers skipper and NSW Origin star may have five Tests to his name so far but still admits he is in awe of some of the talent in the Kangaroos squad.”You look around and you see the likes of Johnathan Thurston, Cameron Smith, Greg Inglis, Matty Scott – it’s just crazy. You’re playing the best of the best,” he said.”So you sit there and pinch yourself some days but then again you’re thinking, ‘well I’ve got a job to do here as well’.”So I’m really looking forward to each game, and can’t wait to play with the boys.”Australia takes on Scotland on Saturday morning (6am AEDT) to kick off the 2016 Four Nations, with England facing New Zealand in the early hours of Sunday morning, Australian time.
Media Watch: Lifeline for Dave Taylor, Knights recruits unleashed
Having been axed by the Toronto Wolfpack last week for breaking curfew, the man dubbed ‘Coal Train’ will be hard pressed finding an NRL contract.But the Ipswich Jets are prepared to take a gamble on the former Queensland Origin forward who’s played 181 NRL games with four clubs.Jets coach Shane Walker told NRL.com Taylor would be welcome at the Queensland Cup club.Walker runs a recruitment company and says he would find Taylor a job and even help him to buy a house to get his life back on track.“You can be at an NRL club on a minimum wage, or play at the Jets and have a job and earn equally as much without the demands,” Walker said.“Some of those sort of things we could help provide for Dave if that’s what he wants. We’d certainly be prepared to have a yarn to him.”Walker has spoken previously about Taylor and the possibility of him becoming a star five-eighth for the Jets.
Eddie Jones faces train abuse
Jones is reported to have travelled standard class from Edinburgh to Manchester on Sunday, watching Manchester United take on Chelsea at Old Trafford before later continuing his journey to London.It is claimed Jones faced both physical and verbal abuse from others on the train and the Australian says he will review his future transport arrangements.”I try and do the right thing by the fans but if that happens then you’ve got to have a look at your own safety,” said Jones. “I never knock back a request for a selfie unless I’m racing to somewhere. I did a lot.”For me to travel on public transport, I thought was OK. I’m a human being. I don’t consider myself any different from anyone else. But I’ll make sure I won’t in future. It’s as simple as that. I can’t, because it was shown on Sunday what happens when I do.”That’s the world we live in. It wasn’t comfortable. It was a bit of both [physical and verbal]. After a loss, no I wouldn’t [catch a train again]. It’s part of the challenge.”When I came to England, I knew there were going to be challenges. As an Australian coaching England, there were always going to be challenges and that’s just one of them.”Asked whether he was surprised by the incident, Jones added: “Massively, but that’s the world we live in.”I don’t want to get into it, guys. I don’t want to make a big deal about it. It’s over and done with. We march on – we’ve got a game against France.”England face France in Paris on March 10. Photo Getty Images. Caption: England coach Eddie Jones
Maroons name State of Origin I team
1. Billy Slater2. Valentine Holmes3. Greg Inglis (c)4. Will Chambers5. Dane Gagai6. Cameron Munster7. Ben Hunt8. Dylan Napa9. Andrew McCullough10. Jarrod Wallace11. Gavin Cooper12. Felise Kaufusi13. Josh McGuireInterchange:14. Michael Morgan15. Josh Papalii16. Coen Hess17. Jai ArrowCoach: Kevin WaltersGreg Inglis is the new Queensland captain, succeeding Cameron Smith, who announced his retirement from representative football earlier this month after 42 Origins for Queensland and 56 Test matches for Australia.Inglis has 30 Origin appearances to his name and has scored a record 18 tries.Don’t be fooled by claims Maroons are Origin underdogsInglis to lead Maroons with actions like BeetsonIt’s a new-look Queensland team with Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk all retiring from the representative scene, with Ben Hunt and Cameron Munster the new halves combination and Andrew McCullough starting at hooker.McCullough and forwards Felise Kaufusi and Jai Arrow will make their Origin debuts in game one before a crowd expected to be in excess of 80,000, with more than 55,000 general public tickets having already been sold.”I’m really excited for those players and what they can do now. It’s their Maroon jumper,” coach Kevin Walters said.Walters described halves Hunt and Munster as “the future of the Maroons”.One young gun to miss selection is Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga, with Michael Morgan preferred in the bench utility role.”No doubt he’s going to play for Queensland one day, just when that is I guess that’s in the hands of the football gods,” Walters said of Ponga.Broncos captain Darius Boyd missed selection after 28 Origin games for Queensland, with Valentine Holmes and 2017 player of the series Dane Gagai preferred on the wings, while veteran front-rower Matt Scott also missed out after 22 appearances for Queensland, with Dylan Napa and Jarrod Wallace preferred as starting props.”The worst part of my job is ringing those players (like Darius Boyd and Matt Scott) and letting them know they’re not in the team,” Walters said.”Scotty’s been playing good footy for the Cowboys but we just thought it was the best interests of the team to leave him out.”Matt Scott for mine needs to play some more football yet. I said to him by no means is he out of the picture and he can play a role in this Origin series.”He’s been playing some good football for the Cowboys but we just felt that it’s in the best interests of the team, for game one, to go without him.” Queensland selector Gene Miles acknowledged the combination of Origin’s all-time leading try-scorers Inglis and Boyd but argued Holmes’s form was more compelling.”Darius Boyd was disappointed but Valentine, some of the tries he scored in last year’s games still stay with me and just at the moment we feel he’s the best option for us on the left wing,” Walters added.”I am concerned about the goal kicking but Valentine’s kicked, Cameron Munster kicked and Ben Hunt has kicked some goals this year so we’ll be right.”‘The series opener at the MCG is expected to be played before a crowd in excess of 80,000, with more than 55,000 general public tickets having already been purchased.Witness Australia’s greatest sporting rivalry when Origin comes to the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday, June 6. Tickets available at NRL.com/tickets.
Scott, JT fire Cowboys to win over Brisbane
The Cowboys’ superstars have spearheaded a two-way clinic to gain revenge over the Brisbane Broncos 27-14 in front of 21,340 fans in Townsville Friday night.But that very excellence is likely the cause of worry for Cowboy fans entering the Origin period as it gives them a taste of what they will be missing in the coming weeks with the absence of their stars.The home side received a major scare in the 25th minute when Johnathan Thurston left the field with concussion concerns, but he soon picked up where he left off – having hands in everything including the game-securing field goal which ricocheted fortuitously off the right goalpost.After a lacklustre first half, the Broncos found some spark out of the sheds, winning the territory battle and finding life when Bent Hunt crossed for his first of two second-half tries.With the Cowboys threatening close to the line late in the game JT threw an intercept straight to the hands of Brisbane centre Jack Reid who all but ran the length of the field before being chased down by Wright and Morgan. But the subsequent play had the Cowboys scrambling back, with Copley Hunt for his sixth try of the season.Hunt bagged his double, hitting an Andrew McCullough ball at pace and zigzagging his way through three Cowboy defenders to reach out and plant the footy and the game was well and truly alive.But it was Thurston in the mix again, setting up interchange Ethan Lowe running an inside line – with an ensuing field goal and a last minute runaway try to Kostjasyn making the result a formality.The Cowboys’ defensive mettle was on show in the opening minutes when a barnstorming Matt Gillett was stopped spectacularly over the line by a one-on-one tackle from fullback Michael Morgan.And minutes later, it was the Cowboys peppering the visitors’ line on the back of powerful Matt Scott running – the Test prop amassing 151 metres by the half.Thurston’s timing was on point following concerns he was out of position at five-eighth, working the inside ball and all but scoring on two separate occasions before a third inside ball found Scott who rumbled over an out of position to crash over.The pressure kept coming and was too much for Brisbane, giving up their second score in the form of a professional penalty against Corey Parker.After winger Daniel Vidot made a meal of a regulation high ball the Steeden found itself in the hands of Cowboys winger Curtis Rona. Noticing multiple left-side overlaps on the Cowboys counter-attack, the veteran Parker gave away a marker penalty against Brent Tate, Thurston subsequently taking the easy two points.The Cowboys’ domination continued off the restart when Thurston had his second line break assist, hitting Morgan running a good angle on the left side who showed some toe to set up centre Kane Linnet who crossed untouched on the inside.But that’s when North Queensland collectively held their breath. After being first to his own kick return, Thurston awkwardly met Dale Copley head first and subsequently left the field but would return with two minutes left in the half – much to the delight of the Townsville crowd.The Broncos then found some spark, winning the territory battle and looking to salvage some respect from a treacherous first half, but it was stonewalling defence taking the Cowboys into the sheds with a 14-0 advantage.North Queensland Cowboys 27 (Scott, Linnett, Lowe, Kostjasyn tries; Thurston 5 goals, field goal) def Brisbane Broncos 14 (Hunt 2, Copley tries; Parker 1 goal) at 1300SMILES Stadium. Half-time: Cowboys 14-0. Crowd: 21,340.
All or nothing for Hunters
The winner of this game books the second spot in the grand final and will meet the Townsville Blackhawks next weekend.The Jets will have the momentum and are coming off a big 54-26 over last year’s champions, the Northern Pride last week.For the Hunters, they know how to beat Jets having defeated them twice this season, winning 40-28 in round 13 and 32-14 in round 22.The game will kick off at 3pm.The team: 1. Stargroth Amean 2. Oti Bland Tony 3. Noel Zeming 4. Edward Goma 5. Adex Wera 6. Israel Eliab (c) 7. Ase Boas 8. Henry Noki 9. Wartovo Puara 10. Esau Siune 11. Nickson Borana 12. Kato Ottio 13. Timothy Lomai 14. Warren Glare 15. Atte Bina 16. Willie Minoga 17. Thompson Teteh 18. David Lapua 19. Roger Laka .
Manus and Madang qualify for Besta Cup grand final
Manus defeated Central team Koupa 3 thanks to a one point difference in the penalty shootout to grab a spot in the grand final. The defending champions were leading at half time 2-1 but Koupa bounced back in the second half to draw 3-3 at full time which forced the game into extra time.However both teams beefed up defence to prevent each other from scoring as the game moved into a penalty shootout where Manus was able to score five goals while Koupa only scored four.Manus is hoping to retain the title when they take on Madang who had an easy win over home team LFA 1-0.In the womens finals, Port Moresby Soccer Association will take on Lahi in the grand final which gets underway tomorrow.
Eagles use match to assess talent
“The trial match was important for us to see what we can deliver at this stage and where we can improve as we trim down the squad,” Eagles coach James Kops said after the match on Saturday.Tigers defeated the Eagles 24-16 at Rabiamul Oval in Mt Hagen.Kops said he has a crop of juniors with huge potential coming up through the local competitions and is now part of the Eagles process. “We have young and raw talents in camp that were given the opportunity in the match against the Tigers,” said Kops, who is a former Eagles and Kumuls flyer.”Tigers is a quality team with much experience and they have trained well for the season and the trial enabled us to know our strengths and weaknesses to work on before the season begins.”Kops added that the core of the team from last year is in the squad, and the club will look at how the new recruits will feature in the final squad.Eagles will host Waghi Tumbe when the season begins on April 17.Meanwhile, Tigers coach Stanley Tepend said his boys will have another trial match against an Eastern Highlands side before the Digicel Cup challenge commences.The Tigers will be on bye on April 17.