Older handicap horses bring real fun to horse racing

By RICHARD ENG SPECIAL TO THE LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

9 years ago

Hoppertunity (1), ridden by jockey Martin Garcia, wins the $500,000 Clark Handicap horse race ahead of Constitution (7) ridden by jockey Javier Castellano, and Protonico (6) ridden by Joe Bravo, Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. (Garry Jones/AP)

Groom Salvador Rangaz washes Kentucky Derby hopeful Hoppertunity after a morning workout at Churchill Downs Monday, April 28, 2014, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Effinex and jockey Mike Smith (8) lead Melatonin and jockey Joseph Talamo (2) at the 1/16 pole of the stretch in the Oaklawn Handicap horse race at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., Saturday, April 16, 2016. Effinex won the race as Melatonin placed second. (AP Photo/David Quinn)

The 3-year-olds are the glamour division in horse racing. But I think the older handicap horses are far more valuable to the sport.

We have gone over the fact that American Pharoah, despite winning the Triple Crown last year, has not had much of a lasting effect. I have equated it to if Bryce Harper retired after this season. Thanks, and see you later.

It is the handicap horses that in past years were the sport’s major heroes. Horses such as Kelso, Forego and John Henry were geldings that returned year after year in Grade 1 races and in doing so built a loyal following.

We are lucky to have horses such as 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome still racing at age 5. Champion mare Beholder is still competing at 6. Maybe to some tiny degree, the pendulum will swing back to racing as a career first, breeding shed second.

Which brings us to the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on Saturday. California Chrome is passing this race to prepare for Del Mar. But the best of the rest of the Southern California handicap division will go.

The three most recognizable names are Melatonin, Hoppertunity and Hard Aces.

Melatonin is a 5-year-old gelding, so he fits the mold of a horse who can potentially build a following. He won the Santa Anita Handicap at 16-1 odds. Then to prove he was no fluke, he ran second to Effinex in the Oaklawn Handicap.

He is physically and mentally mature. With the swift way he has been working for trainer David Hofmans, he is the horse to beat in the Gold Cup.

Hoppertunity has done a lot in earning $2.8 million lifetime. But the races that have gotten away are what frustrate his trainer, Bob Baffert.

For example, the races Hoppertunity has lost by a length or less include the Clark, Fayette and last year’s Gold Cup to Hard Aces.

His last start was a fast closing third to California Chrome in the $10 million Dubai World Cup. He remains a key player who can win the big race at anytime.

Hard Aces won the Gold Cup last year but has been winless since.

POKER BILL

California horse racing could see an infusion of up to $57 million should an internet poker bill pass the California Assembly. The bill would allow card rooms and certain Indian tribes to apply for and operate intrastate online poker.

Most horse racing factions are behind the bill, as the money would be earmarked for purses. That’s great. I’m still waiting for the first state to use some of this “found” cash to lower the tax on horseplayers, namely lowering the takeout. Lower takeout spurs more betting handle. And we know the trickle down theory has never worked in horse racing.

GOLD CUP BETTING CHALLENGE

I am a big proponent of handicapping tournaments, and there won’t be a bigger one than at Santa Anita on Saturday and Sunday in the Gold Cup Betting Challenge. Santa Anita will pay a player $1 million should he win it this weekend and win the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge on Nov. 4 and 5.

Richard Eng’s horse racing column is published Friday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. You can get his Santa Anita picks by emailing him at rich_eng@hotmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick