SPIN TO WIN FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS IN THE CLUBWEST GAMING LOUNGE - Enter at the VLT cage every Friday & Saturday for a chance to Spin the Wheel for up to $100 Cash! Draws will be made throughout the afternoon and evening.

HOLIDAY MONDAY SPIN TO WIN - Spin to Win draws continue on Louis Riel Day Monday, Feb. 21. Enter at the VLT cage and your name may be drawn to Spin the Wheel for up to $100 cash. Draws will be made every 30 minutes starting at noon.

TUESDAYS ARE TREMENDOUS IN FEBRUARY - 5% cash back on all eligible wagering every Tuesday in February. Minimum wagered $100 (each Tuesday). Maximum deposit $25 (each Tuesday). Wagers must be placed on HPI account to qualify. ($2.10 payoffs not included).

LOUIS RIEL CASH BACK BONUS - Earn 3% cash back on all eligible wagering holiday Monday, Feb. 21. Minimum wagered $100. Maximum deposit $25. Wagers must be placed on HPI account to qualify. ($2.10 payoffs not included).

FRIDAYS: 8 oz. top Sirloin steak charbroiled and seasoned with our smoky dry rub. Served with vegetables and choice of mashed potatoes or french fries. Every Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. $24.95. Reservations are not required.

SATURDAYS: Smoky charbroiled St. Louis ribs with our signature BBQ sauce. Served with vegetables and choice of mashed potatoes or french fries. Every Saturday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. $24.95. Reservations are not required.

PLAYER CHOICE HANDICAPPING TOURNAMENT - $1,750 is up for grabs in Saturday's Player's Choice Handicapping Tournament. The deadline to enter is tomorrow (Friday, February 18) at 4 p.m. Click here for rules and entry form.

PLAYER REWARDS DEADLINE - You have until February 28, 2022 to use up your old Player Rewards points. Points can be used for program and DRF purchases from the kiosks, food and beverage purchases or entry into monthly handicapping contests.

The son of Florida Derby (G1) winner Unbridled’s Song out of Colleen Stakes winner Regal Miss Copelan always had enough pedigree to make it as a stallion locally. Not only is he a winning half-brother to multiple graded stakes winner Rockport Harbor, but his pedigree made the news again last year when a daughter of his dam’s half-sister Patti’s Regal Song, Maracuja, won the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) for former local trainer Rob Atras.

Going Commando's daughter Escape Clause (inside) takes North America's richest race mare, Midnight Bisou, to a nose decision in the 2019 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park. The best race ever run by a Manitoba-bred, and one of the gamest performances you'll ever see. Escape Clause was coming back at the wire. Click image to watch the replay. Coady Photography.

“I’ve always believed you have to get them started yourself,” said breeder Cam Ziprick, who partnered on Going Commando with Charlie Fouillard. “If you’re buying a stud, you have to buy a bunch of good mares too. And that’s what they tell all the guys when they’re trying to get a stallion started.

“You buy the mares, you foal them out, you get them to the sale looking good and you promote them yourself. Any additional mares you pick up from the outside are just a bonus. If you’re going to be successful you have to do it on your own terms. That way you have some control over what the foals look like and what types of mares you breed.”

The money is in the Manitoba breeding bonuses according to Ziprick, but it takes a lot of investment, both time and money, to earn these bonuses.

“You have to go for quality over quantity and control the whole process all the way up to the Manitoba CTHS Yearling Sale,” said Ziprick. “They have to be prepped properly. We’ve been very lucky to have success, but it’s required a substantial investment. Of all the breeding bonuses we’ve received over the years, most have come from our own mares.

“Our horses probably get four gallons each of grain per day, as well as good hay. If you leave the table full every day, you’re going to put weight on. And big paddocks for the young horses are so important. We have huge pastures for the mares and foals both at our place and at Charlie’s place. They have so much room to run, just like they have in Kentucky. That’s why they build such good bone and stay sound.”

“This year could be another great crop for him,” said Ziprick. “We sold some really high-end Going Commando yearlings at the Manitoba CTHS Yearling Sale last year.”

But who can answer our last question? From the Magnificent 7 sires currently standing in Manitoba (See The Inside Track #6 for list), who is the heir apparent to Going Commando?

Money Secrets at the Racetrack is an amazing money-management manual that exposes the myths that prevent players from winning, and explains how to make an odds line that you can use to exploit the crowd's errors.

Reminder: Handicapping Contest this weekend! Enter by 4 p.m. Friday.

Do you have an interesting photo you would like showcased in an upcoming newsletter? Email your photos to [email protected].

Champion Midnight Bisou, the fabulous race mare that defeated Manitoba-bred superstar Escape Clause by a nose in the 2019 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1), recently delivered her first foal, a colt by Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner and champion sire Curlin. The colt has a striking resemblance to his mother. Could he grow up to face one of Escape Clause's foals and turn the tables? Just imagine... More from the Blood Horse here.

Until we get past Saturday’s tantalizing Risen Star Stakes, confusion will reign over the Derby Trail. It says a lot about the state of this year’s Derby Trail when the most informative race took place last year. Sit tight for another week. That’s when the fireworks begin. Steve Haskin always has an excellent in-depth analysis of the contenders on the road to the Kentucky Derby. Read his Derby Dozen at Secretariat.com.