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Racing’s Biggest Problem, And The Solution: Jacob West

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In a new TDN series, we are asking industry participants what racing’s biggest problem is, and what the solution to that problem is.

What do you think is racing’s biggest problem?

I believe our number one issue is not having a national racing and stakes calendar that focuses on marketing our marquee race days and showcasing the best our sport has to offer.

What is the solution?

I believe the first Saturday of every month should be similar to what we just experienced with the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.

Those first Saturdays should be almost like mini-Breeders’ Cup, Derby, and Belmont days. Some could be on the East Coast and some on the West Coast, with a race card that includes a race for every division on every surface. The goal would be to create major racing days that fans can look forward to throughout the year.

We manage to captivate the general public through the lead-up to the Kentucky Derby, and we hold their attention through the Preakness because it’s only two weeks later. Then we lose them again after the Belmont Stakes, all in the hope that they’ll come back to watch and bet on the Breeders’ Cup in the fall.

We need to make our Breeders’ Cup events our Super Bowl. But we also need more marquee events throughout the year to help bridge the gap between the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup season.

I feel like if we had more marquee or “Super Saturday” events, we could keep fans and bettors more engaged throughout the year and give them more opportunities to follow the sport. Instead, we run races too close to each other, and they end up cannibalizing one another for entries.

By concentrating more of our major races onto nationally promoted race days, I think we could maintain more momentum throughout the season and create a clearer narrative for fans to follow.

A total overhaul of the racing calendar is what I think we need in our sport to grow it and captivate viewers, bettors, and fans. More marquee events throughout the year would keep the spotlight on the sport and give people a reason to stay engaged with racing beyond the Triple Crown season and carry that momentum all the way through to the Breeders’ Cup.

Emma Hunter is a first-year trainee in the Godolphin Flying Start program. She is a native of Cork, Ireland. The first horse she ever foaled was Noble Yeats, winner of the 2022 Grand National, who was bred by her family.

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Six Speedy Fillies For The Week of June 15-21

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A perfect mix this week: three dirt and three turf, three stakes and three allowances.

6–AMBERGLEN (IRE), CD, 6-19, Allowance, 1 1/8m (turf)
Beyer Speed Figure- -89 (video)
(f, 3, Night of Thunder {Ire}–Sea Empress {Ire}, by Sea the Stars {Ire})
O-Stonestreet Stables. B-Sunderland Holding (IRE). T-Brad Cox. J-Irad Ortiz Jr.

This was a huge step forward for Stonestreet’s 320,000gns ($430,301) yearling buy at Tattersalls October, as her previous high Beyer in three starts was 67. Ortiz immediately put her in forward mode from her outside post and she cleared to the rail by the first turn, setting the pace for the first time in her career then drawing away to a five-length victory as the 3-2 favorite.

5–CLOE, CD, 6-21, Allowance, 5 1/2f (turf)
Beyer Speed Figure– 89 (video)
(f, 4, Tiz the Law–Nuhood, by Smart Strike)
O-Lugamo Racing Stable. B-Crosshaven Bloodstock (Ky). T-Mike Maker. J-Tyler Gaffalione.

Her unraced dam is a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Marathon winner Eldaafer, but sprinting appears to be her groove. She’s a stakes-winner at five furlongs at Gulfstream, was second to eventual Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Shisospicy in the GII Music City Stakes at Kentucky Downs last fall, and won here by 1 3/4 lengths at odds-on. Owner Luis Gavignano owns a string of McDonald’s franchises and operates Ocala-based Lugamo Racing Stable with sons Luis Jr. and Andres.

4–ECLATANT, CD, 6-20, GII Chicago Stakes, 7f
Beyer Speed Figure- -89 (video)
(f, 4, Into Mischief–Downside Scenario, by Scat Daddy)
O/B-Stonestreet Stables (Ky). T-Brad Cox. J-Irad Ortiz Jr.

Lightly raced Eclatant is obviously capable of much faster than this, but Cox appeared to cautiously ease up on her training somewhat after her sensational 109 Beyer in the GI Madison Stakes preceded by 104 in an allowance. This Grade II was really just busy work to keep her progressing toward the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint back at Keeneland, yet she still kicked into overdrive late to get up at the wire.

3–CASH CALL, CD, 6-19, Allowance, 6f
Beyer Speed Figure– 90 (video)
(f, 4, McKinzie–D’Fashion, by D’Wildcat)
O-Bill Childs. B-Brent & Beth Harris (Ky). T-Bob Baffert. J-Florent Geroux.

The $600,000 Ocala 2-year-old returned to the winners circle for the first time since her victory last June in the GIII Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita. She had only started twice in between, finishing fifth in the GI Test Stakes at Saratoga and third in her comeback race in March in California. She’s a half-sister to Laurel stakes winner Strategic Dreams, whose Beyers topped out at a modest 75, but her dam’s half-brother is Express Tour, a Godolphin graded winner from 25 years back.

2–MOPO, LRL, 6-20, Jameela Stakes, 6f (turf)
Beyer Speed Figure–90 (video)
O-Mopo Racing. B-Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Brooke Bowman and Rebecca Davis (MD). T-Phillip Capuano. J-Forest Boyce.

Longshot Gift of Gab had all the momentum at the sixteenth pole, but Mopo dug in gamely and wouldn’t let her past to prevail at 9-10 odds against Maryland-breds in her first stakes start. She began her career with six runner-up finishes in eight starts but now has won two of her last three–and this was easily her best Beyer yet.

1–NERAZURRI, TDN, 6-20, Lady Jacqueline Stakes, 1 1/8m
Beyer Speed Figure–93 (video)
(f, 4, Protonico–Beautiful Liar, by Candy Ride {Arg})
O-Michael Eiserman. B-Porta Pia Stables (Ky). T-Mark Casse. J-Flavien Prat.

Privately purchased last fall by Eiserman, Nerazurri was overshadowed at Oaklawn this winter by Casse stablemate Nitrogen yet flashed considerable talent in two restricted stakes victories. She came up lacking against Grade I competition in the Apple Blossom Handicap and La Troienne Stakes, but her 4 3/4-length romp as a big favorite in this easier spot should restore her confidence.

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