Bettors poured $492,414 into yesterday’s pick 6 pool, chasing the two-day carryover of $155,701, and one lucky ticket holder — wagering through the Philadelphia Park off-track hub — hit all six, collecting a $432,684 bonanza. The 5-of-6 consolation returned a measly $1,923.
The New York Racing Association has announced its richest stakes schedule ever to open the new millennium. The lineup for the Belmont spring/summer meet through Aqueduct fall features 144 stakes, 109 of them graded, worth $29,875,000. For all of 2000, including Aqueduct winter-spring, NYRA will pay out $34.1 million in stakes money.
The purses for the Belmont Stakes, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup remain at $1 million. Seven stakes have been boosted to $750,000: the Wood Memorial, Metropolitan Handicap, Whitney, Alabama, Flower Bowl, Turf Classic and Beldame.
1ST RACE — In roughly run event, Free Run, 7-2 under Joe Bravo, had anything but a free run. Taken up sharply entering far turn when Alleged The King, Emilio Rodriquez up, bulled through along rail to place him in tight quarters, Free Run dropped several lengths out of it, attempted to rally turning for home but was forced wide in chain reaction as Alleged the King came out into Koutoubia, who bumped Free Run, who then sent Alymets staggering toward parking lot. Alleged the King finished third, was disqualified to seventh. Verdi rallied wide on turn before incident occurred, went on to easy score. Take The Gamble, 3-2 favorite, was rank early, along for second. Koutoubia was pulled up shortly after finish and vanned off with injury to right front ankle.
3RD RACE — Small field, big trouble, and no bravos for Joe Bravo, riding Proposal, who got sandwiched trying to force way between Am Flippy and Ruby Park turning for home, clipped heels and almost went down. Bravo claimed foul; stewards took a long look, let result stand. Valerie’s Dream, so far back early she was in another zip code, finished like female Silky Sullivan to win going away. Balldo held second after dueling with Am Flippy.
5TH RACE — Odds-on False Positive looked like money in bank leading into far turn under “Chop Chop” Chavez but offered no resistance when Mr. Missionary came by on outside turning for home, then stopped to walk after bleeding through Lasix. Mr. Missionary, second-straight for Davis, looked home free midstretch but was all-out to hold off charge of Corpsman.
7TH RACE — Tejano Couture got rail-hugging trip under Herbie Castillo all way around, came up fence in stretch to catch front-running Billy Haggard and prevailed in stiff drive. Billy Haggard tried to come back when passed, battled gamely to wire. Buddha’s Delight looked like winner rallying down center of track but hung.
8TH RACE — Fickle Fanny, eager to go under Robbie Davis, circled horses to take lead on first turn, opened daylight through fast fractions down backside but had nothing left to withstand challenge of Forgiving Monarch, who blew by under Bravo on far turn to win by many. Fickle Fanny easily held second. Tobin’s Prospect, close up early, dropped back while saving ground, came on for show.
PICK SIX
Winning numbers: 2-4-8-2-3-4
One winner receives $432,684
48 consolation (5 of 6) winners
each receives $1,923
No carryover.