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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”-SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 9

Race 1: 6- Tame The Dame – Draws into a race where several could win; this one gets the slight call over several others to get the job done in here. 7- Tiger’s Sue – Has two wins in a row but starts from the far outside. 2- KJ’s Foxy Lady – Draws well and looks to make the ticket. 3- Carlina Hanover – Should not be overlooked as a solid contender in here.

Race 2: 2- Diamondtequilashot – Could be successful upon coming to Northfield. 3- Missevil – Made the ticket in all three of her most recent races and looks to be right there again tonight. 5- Miss Two Punch – Finished third last time out and could post a similar effort again. 6- Wuzzup Tonight – Could add value to the exotics.

Race 3: 5- Where Are We – Gets the top-call the start tonight’s Pick 5. 1- Official Treasure – Looks to be tough from the rail. 6- My Marisa Clair – Could make the ticket despite starting from the far outside.

Race 4: 3- Raiders Lastchance – Finished second in three of her last four starts; could step-up tonight to get the job done. 4- Miss Explosion – Another that looks to have a big shot in here. 1- Beamer N Bud – Could be tough from the rail. 5- Kelly Blue Chip – Has as good of a shot as any in here to complete the Superfecta.

Race 5: 5- HSLB Michelle – Could be successful upon coming to Northfield. 1- Viewish – Looks to be tough from the rail. 4- Skyway Sonoma – Drops in class and looks to be tough in here. 7- Alliart – Could add value to the exotics.

Race 6: 2- Excellent Chance – Just missed last time out; looks to return to her winning ways.4- Caviart Scarlett – Has the ability to be prominently...

Some insights into tomorrow’s racing program for our IdaBet players:

(no live racing Sunday, but next Sunday wraps the season @ 11:30 AM).

1^ST RACE – (5) BORDER CONTROL A returns to his high-end level after being sacrificed last handful of tries. Figures more than good enough for this gang.

4^TH RACE – (4) TERROR TIME A can be someone’s holiday gift, arriving from Philly with sale price. Out-of-town lines suggest he’s not far-fetched in here.

6^TH RACE – (6) THE REAL ONE won the battle (against No. 4 here), but lost the war (to No. 5 here) in last week’s pacing feature. Taken to exact revenge.

7^TH RACE – (3) SPORTY SPOOK A tends to be inconsistent with these, but seemingly sees a bit softer at this level. Surmise he can go, though demand value.

8^TH RACE – (3) PANCHESTER UNITED was four-eyeballed in last effort, offering enough late interest to force us to stay. Could get put in play from here.

9^TH RACE – (4) RODEO ROCK found himself in tight a week ago, needed place to pace sitting three-hole to lane. Always threat going against same-age set.

11^TH RACE – (5) SUNFIRE BLUE CHIP did miss more than three weeks prior to last try across river and short. Done too much good work here to ignore.

——

$2 +/- (thru Tue., Dec. 5) – 319 wins [inc. 2 dead-heats] ($2,383.60)

from 1,453 ($2,906) selex (-$522.40, should have parental warning)

highest-priced winner – GYPSY LEATHER ($57.50)

lowest-priced winner – GREAT VINTAGE/FUNKNWAFFLES ($2.20 each)

BY FRANK DRUCKER,

Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

Happy wagering and good luck from IdaBet.com!

Del Mar’s backstretch area has provided safe haven for more than 800 horses escaping a wind-blown, fast-moving fire that ripped through the North County area of San Diego Thursday.

The first group of horses arrived at the Del Mar Fairgrounds late Thursday afternoon and vans continued to flow in throughout the night. By Friday morning more than 800 head – both Thoroughbreds and other breeds — had been bedded down in the 40-plus barns located on the grounds that are capable of holding as many as 1,600 horses. Other animals, including goats and pigs, also were brought on board to the 350-acre Fairgrounds.

Approximately 250 of the 450 horses that had been stabled at the San Luis Rey training center just over 30 miles to the northwest of Del Mar had been moved to the Fairgrounds after that facility was hit directly by the fire with as many as 30 horses deaths reported and several of their barns burned. There were reports of a few human injuries, but no deaths at the Bonsall location.

The Southern California Equine Foundation’s hospital located on the Del Mar backstretch was to be opened and manned later today.

Del Mar has received a huge outpouring of individuals offering to aid the rescued animals and many of them are being put to work with the animals in the stable area.

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and 22nd District Agricultural Association officials have an ongoing list of needs for the horses and individuals involved that is posted on their website. It can be found at 

Dec 8, 2017

DONATIONS SOUGHT TO HELP THOSE IMPACTED BY SAN LUIS REY DOWNS TRAINING CENTER FIRE; ‘GO FUND ME’ ACCOUNT CREATED AND MUCH-NEEDED CLOTHING FOR DISPLACED WORKERS TO BE COLLECTED AT SANTA ANITA

The Stronach Group (TSG), in conjunction with Santa Anita Park and The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, has established a GoFundMe account page to help pay for hospital and rehabilitative costs incurred by those injured in yesterday’s devastating Lilac Fire, which engulfed San Luis Rey Downs Training Center in northern San Diego County. Additionally, Santa Anita is now in the process of collecting clothing items for the dozens of stable workers who were forced to flee yesterday’s flames.

The fire, fueled by fierce Santa Ana winds, was first reported at approximately 11:30 a.m. PT near Interstate 15 and state Route 76, to the east of San Luis Rey Downs. The resulting conflagration at the training center, which housed nearly 500 Thoroughbreds, has resulted in numerous injuries, equine and human, as well as an undetermined number of equine deaths.

Due to the heroic efforts of workers and first responders, all remaining horses have now been evacuated from San Luis Rey Downs, with the majority now stabled at Del Mar, which is 35 miles to the south.

All of us here at IdaBet.com pray for everyone’s safety (humans and animals alike) during this difficult time.

Please donate what you can.

Los Alamitos Race Course has cancelled its live daytime Thoroughbred racing program scheduled for Friday, Dec. 8.

The decision to cancel the daytime racing program was made due to the tragic fire that swept through the San Luis Rey Downs training center in San Diego County. Several barns were destroyed by the fast-moving flames and an unknown number of horses did not survive.

“This is a tragic blow to the California Thoroughbred racing industry and of great sorrow to everyone,” said Jack Liebau, vice-president of the Los Alamitos Racing Association. “We express our sympathy to the owners, trainers and caretakers of the horses victimized by this tragic event. We salute those who so bravely attempted to safeguard horses at San Luis Rey Downs in face of the swiftly approaching fire as well as those who transported horses to Del Mar under hazardous conditions and those who went to Del Mar to aid the horses moved there.”