Join now & win money today! Get Started

Northfield Track Announcer Ayers Ratliff’s free handicapping tips are provided for our IdaBet.com players.

Remember, due to their draw schedule, picks are made in advance and do not account for scratches or late driver changes.

From the “Ayers Above” TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 5

Race 1: 3- Work That Magic – Looks to be successful in here if she minds her manners. 5- Herbinator – Drops in class and looks to be tough. 1- Ciro – Could add some value from the rail. 2- Tymal Bling – Draws well and should get a good trip.

Race 2: 2- Pickwick – Was a winner last time out and could strike again tonight. 5- Here Comes Hudd – Receives class relief and could be tough at this level of competition. 1- Zebs Cam Bo – Could be tough from the rail. 6- Twinkle Like Astar – Could add value to the exotics.

Race 3: 5- Skyway Jaguar – Was a winner last time out and could strike again tonight to start the Pick 5. 1- Carbon Footprint – Looks to have a presence from the rail. 3- Patient ID – Made the ticket in three of his last four starts and looks to be right there again tonight.

Race 4: 2- Midnight Gambol – Draws into a race where several could win; this on gets the slight call over the others to get the job done in here. 7- Windsun Stetson – Looks to be tough in here despite the poor post draw. 6- Einsteins Best – Could add value to the ticket. 5- The Kop – Has as good of a shot as any in here to complete the Superfecta.

Race 5: 2- Scarlet Cat – Won two of his last three races and could strike again tonight. 1- Only Live Once – Should be tough from the rail. 4- Gotta Go B B – One of several in here that is worthy of strong consideration. 5- Gleneagles – Looks to be in the thick of the action.

Race 6: 6- Muscolo – Moves to the Burke barn and that has been a winning move for many. 2- Dew In The Desert – Draws well and should get a good trip. 4- High Blue – Looks to be tough in...

For our IdaBet players, here are the Wednesday Picks for Monticello. Good luck!

1ST RACE: 6-1-5-2

2ND RACE: 3-1-2-4

3RD RACE: 2-6-1-7

4TH RACE: 5-1-2-4

5TH RACE: 6-3-5-1

6TH RACE: 5-3-1-4

7TH RACE: 3-6-1-2

8TH RACE: 4-7-6-1

We wanted to let our valued IdaBet.com players know that Delta Downs will have a first post of 5:40 pm CT on Wednesday, December 6th.

Have a great day everyone and thanks for choosing IdaBet.com!

Dec 4, 2017

Pole-assigned Thisjetsabookin’ (Jordan Stratton, $11.60) needed every bit of a perfect pocket trip Saturday night (Dec. 2^nd), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $40,000 Open Handicap Pace.

It was 11-10 favorite Caviart Luca (George Brennan) as the only leaver, working around Thisjetsabookin’ before a :27.2 opening quarter-mile. After a :56.1 intermission, The Real One (Pat Lachance) took out of fourth. He engaged the leader in and or of a 1:24.2 three-quarters, actually poking his noggin in front.

While Caviart Luca and The Real One were just about in synchronized step entering the lane, Thisjetsabookin’ was patiently awaiting his turn. He ducked inside, making it a three-way scrum. The short route was the best route, as Thisjetsabookin’ won by a neck in 1:52.4…matching his season’s-best effort.

The Real One won the battle, but lost the war, with Caviart Luca, Orillia Joe (Brent Holland) and Bakersfield (Greg Merton) rounding out the payees.

For third choice Thisjetsabookin’, 5-year-old Jereme’s Jet gelding owned by William Emmon and trained by William Adamczyk, it was his fifth win in 19 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $61, with the triple returning $177.

Sunday matinees continue tomorrow (Dec. 3^rd), with first post of 11:45 AM.

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

Happy wagering from IdaBet.com!

Dec 4, 2017

For our IdaBet players: In a performance that could only be described as overwhelming, Chumlee A made a bold backside move after being parked out from the start to win by as many as he wanted in the $10,000 Open Handicap Pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Dec. 2).

Major Trick (Kevin Cummings), Lucky McTrucky (Drew Monti) and Chumlee A (Larry Stalbaum) all left the gate and wanted to cut the mile, but only one could do it. So Major Trick grabbed the pylons and parked out Lucky McTrucky while Chumlee A settled in second-over in the outer flow. The top two horses fought tooth, fang and claw through swift early fractions of :27.1 and :55.4 and neither one would relent.

With the same leading order headed around turn three, Stalbaum tired of following and tipped Chumlee A three-deep past the five-eighths pole as the group motored up the backside and by the three-quarters cleared, and the route was on. Chumlee A was in overdrive and opened up distance between himself and the rest of the field with every stride. Stalbaum sat chilly from the top of the lane home as Chumlee A continued to pour it on of his own volition, eventually ending the six-length route in 1:54.

It was the third straight win both in North America and at Batavia Downs for Chumlee A ($3.20) and it established a new lifetime mark for the Somebeachsomewhere progeny. Chumlee A is owned by Mark Jakubik and Kim Asher, who also does the training.

The 

For our IdaBet players:

Three weeks after an easy win in her dirt debut, Majestic Heat became a graded stakes winner on the surface with another decisive victory in the $201,035 Bayakoa Sunday at Los Alamitos.

After dispatching of fellow California breds by 3 ¼ lengths going seven furlongs in the Betty Grable Nov. 12 at Del Mar, the 5-year-old Unusual Heat mare prevailed by 2 ½ lengths when stretched to 1 1/16 miles in the Grade II, which was run Sunday at Los Alamitos for the first time since 2014.

Reserved off the quick early pace set by eventual runner-up Champagne Room, Majestic Heat began to rally wide nearing the stretch under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, easily collared the leader  and went on to her seventh victory in 16 starts.

The 3-1 third choice in the field of eight, Majestic Heat, who is owned by Bardy Farm, Ron McCauley and co-breeder Madeline Auerbach and trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, completed the distance in 1:42.15 and paid $8, $4.20 and $3.40. She’s earned $530,329.

Champagne Room, the 2016 2-year-old filly champion, returned $3.80 and $3.20 as the 5-2 second choice. She finished 3 ¼ lengths in front of 9-1 shot Madame Stripes, who paid $5 to show.

Completing the order of finish were Bernina Star, Pacific Wind, the 5-2 favorite, Street Surrender, Shenandoah Queen and Constellation.

An off-the-board effort in the Grade II Goldikova on turf – a surface on which she has won five of 14 – Nov. 4 at Del Mar is what inspired Mandella to try Majestic Heat on the dirt eight days later in the Grable.

“I’ve always had it in my mind to try her on dirt,’’ said Mandella. “I mentioned it to (Auerbach), but just never quite did it. I thought she didn’t run at all (in the Goldikova) and she came back the next day and looked like a horse who hadn’t run.

“I had nominated her to the (Grable), so I decided to put her in there and see what happens. We do that a...