http://blog.bobikepicks.com Daily wrap up, observations and commentary Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:45:07 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en A group of about a dozen Southland trainers showed up at Santa Anita on Monday to discuss the track's racing surface with owner Frank Stronach. After the announcement Jan. 18 that Santa Anita would replace its existing synthetic Pro-Ride track at the end of the current meet, trainers were anxious to ... http://blog.bobikepicks.com/2010/03/02/santa-anita-wont-scratch-surface-by-art-wilson-san-gabriel-valley-tribune/   Wow, and I thought my bank account was in disarray. Raise your hand if you think the California horse racing industry could get any more messed up than it already is today. Didn't think so. Let's start with two of the licensed Advance Deposit Wagering companies. I'm no genius, but it seems to me ... http://blog.bobikepicks.com/2009/10/16/horse-racing-owners-trainers-should-join-forces-by-art-wilson-san-gabriel-valley-tribune/ DEL MAR — As much as racing at Del Mar is about the beach atmosphere, the pageantry and the beauty of thoroughbreds racing at 40 mph, it's really about the action. That would be the betting action. It's the toteboard, the trip to the window and then collecting on the winning ticket ... http://blog.bobikepicks.com/2009/08/14/favorites-finally-finding-the-winners-circle-by-ed-zieralski-san-diego-union-tribune/ Okay, so maybe my Derby analysis wasn't so great. Fortunately, I wasn't alone. While I thought one of the four favorites (three after the early morning scratch of I Want Revenge) would win, I had picked Mine That Bird to finish last. Like someone said to me later, "Turn the paper ... http://blog.bobikepicks.com/2009/05/15/rachel-alexandras-preakness/ Last year's Derby was easy. Big Brown stood out a mile over 19 overmatched 3-year-olds. This year's Derby, however, is another story altogether. Whether you're betting at a racetrack, simulcast facility or online, true horseplayers are playing the Derby. Even the most casual racing fan puts at least a few ... http://blog.bobikepicks.com/2009/05/01/one-of-four-will-win-derby/ In many ways, this year's Kentucky Derby, just 11 days away, will be a horse of a different color. The actual two minutes of racing should not be a departure from the past. There will be a large field. The start will be a cavalry charge. The best horse may or ... http://blog.bobikepicks.com/2009/04/21/he-doesnt-want-to-be-a-nag-about-horse-racing-but-by-bill-dwyre-la-times-columnist/ I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist, but what I saw yesterday at Santa Anita is most disturbing. As the horses loaded into the gate for the seventh race, the Grade 3 San Simeon Handicap, MR GRUFF was listed at 4/1 on the tote board. After breaking cleanly and getting to ... http://blog.bobikepicks.com/2009/04/19/late-odds-drops-have-to-stop/ It's tough enough trying to handicap the Kentucky Derby without the added guessing game of whether the synthetic horses can successfully transfer their form to dirt. There's no doubt Pioneerof the Nile, the Empire Maker colt who gave trainer Bob Baffert his record fifth Santa Anita Derby victory April 4, should ... http://blog.bobikepicks.com/2009/04/19/gearing-up-for-the-kentucky-derby-by-art-wilson-san-gabriel-valley-tribune/ The changes for the 2009 season at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club are coming fast and furious. Track officials will go before the California Horse Racing Board next month to drop Monday racing, cutting its 43-day meet to 37 days. And on Sunday, officials said they plan to revamp their stakes ... http://blog.bobikepicks.com/2009/03/31/del-mar-track-plans-more-changes-by-jeff-nahill-north-county-times/ Bill Strauss arrived for his staff meeting Monday morning to find a mint julep stationed at his seat. Independently, Strauss' brother Jeff received a gift basket containing the same cocktail's key components: bourbon and mint. This was neither a coincidence nor a conspiracy, but sure symptoms that Kentucky Derby Fever has again ... http://blog.bobikepicks.com/2009/03/07/derby-dreams-gallop-in-horse-owning-brothers-heads-by-tim-sullivan-union-tribune-columnist/