Speed on the lead was the place to be……..10 of the 18 thoroughbred races conducted at Portland Meadows this past week were won in wire to wire fashion, with 6 of the 9 races on Monday being won wire to wire. With only two winning favorites that day, surely speed was the place to be, no matter what horse it was. On Wednesday four out of the nine races were won wire to wire with three additional races being won by stalkers. Clearly the story of this week in terms of handicapping the races was to be close up to the pace or right on it. There were a couple of closing winners, one in a route and one in a sprint on Monday, and the same on Wednesday, one sprint closer and one route closer……..Post positions seemed to play pretty fairly on both days with 5 winners from the inside post positions, five winners from central posts, and 5 winners from outside post positions……..In the two Quarter Horse races conducted on Monday March 15th, Carry on Cappy closed in the final yards to get up from a central post position. Easily a Smash Hit upset the 2nd race after a sharp start and held off Lightnin Storm Cloud who was rallying late.
Crispin finishes atop the weekly rider standings………Joe Crispin once again topped the rider standings for the week with 4 wins from 15 starts, along with 2 seconds and 4 thirds. Three of the four victories were aboard horses that were less than even money. Cherokee Cole at 5/2 was his longest priced winner. Luis Torres had three wins during the week, all on Wednesday, including Coronas at Delmar who won the Governor’s Speed Handicap at 9.40 to 1. Here are the Thoroughbred riders standings for the week: (Starts—Wins—Seconds—Thirds)
1. Joe Crispin, 15-4-2-4
2. Luis Torres, 15-3-5-2
3. Troy Stillwell, 12-2-3-2
4. Robert Burney, 14-2-1-2
5. Jose Zunino, 9-2-1-0
6. David Lopez, 9-1-2-0
7. Jorge Rosales, 7-1-1-0
8. Javier Matias, 3-1-1-0
9. Jessica Gilbert, 3-1-0-0
10. Mario Gutierrez, 2-1-0-0
Hollendorfer keeping his lead with just a few starters………Jerry Hollendorfer remains atop the trainers standings after he produced 2 winners from just 3 starts, and maintained a 1 win lead in the trainer standings over Jonathan Nance who had 2 wins from 12 starters this week. Nance also had 6 second place finishes during the week. Hollendorfer has 44 wins from 86 starts (51%) while Nance is presently at 43 wins from 215 starts (20%). Trainer Jim Penney is now a perfect 3 for 3 at the Portland Meadows meet, all three of those wins coming from Seven Torrents who once again was impressive in winning the $18,000 Willamette River Stakes. Here are the trainer standings for the week:
1. Jonathan Nance, 12-2-6-2
2. Jerry Hollendorfer, 3-2-0-1
3. Sue Gilmour, 6-1-2-1
4. Carlos Moreno, 4-1-1-0
5. Kristine Shortridge, 2-1-1-0
6. Nick Lowe, 4-1-0-1
7. Mark Jones, 4-1-0-0
8. Cliff Balcom, 3-1-0-0
9. Ben Root, 2-1-0-0
10. Robbie Baze, 2-1-0-0
Favorites not as strong this week as normal, some good prices…….Favorites won 33% of the thoroughbred races and 30% of all races during the week at Portland Meadows. There were two $40 or more win horses during the week as well five horses who paid over $20 to win. Here are the high payouts for the week at Portland Meadows ($2 payouts):
Biggest win:
$49.80, Race 10, Monday March 15
(#4) Harmony’s Pipsqeek
Biggest Exacta:
$442.60, Race 6, Monday March 15
(#7) RW Dustys Girl—(#5)AJ’s Equus
Biggest Trifecta
$2,435.60, Race 10, Monday March 15
(#4) Harmonys Pipsqeek—(#5) Smart Demand—(#6) Bold Inquisitor
Biggest Superfecta
$5,928.60, Race 5, Wednesday March 17
(#11) Bold Reward—(#5)Amadreamer—(#9)Works Lika Bullet—(#2)Mr. Baquero
Biggest Daily Double
$147.60, Races 10/11, Monday March 15
(#4)Harmonys Pipsqeek—(#4) Winning Bold
Biggest Pick 3
$454.00, Races 9 through 11, Monday March 15
(#2)Any Wager—(#4)Harmonys Pipsqeek—(#4)Winning Bold
Biggest Pick 4
$846.20, Races 6 through 9, Wednesday March 17
(#7)Seven Torrents—(#3)American Avenue—(#4) Coronas at Delmar—(#4)Newport Topper
Total Handle for Monday March 15, 2010
$779,380 for an 11 race card
Total Handle for Wednesday March 17, 2010
$822,963 for a 9 race card
Largest Single Race Handle for Monday March 15,2010
Race 8, $121,870
Largest Single Race Handle for Wednesday March 17, 2010
Race 7, $181,708