ASSINIBOIA DOWNS
The Inside Track | Issue #6 | Dec. 16, 2021
Open daily from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Full immunization and government issued I.D. required to attend Assiniboia Downs.
In this edition . . .
  • What's happening at the Downs?
  • Manitoba's Magnificent 7 Sires
  • A Snapshot in Time
  • Player's Choice Tourney
  • Handicapping Gift Books
  • Photo of The Week
  • Hot Rod Charlie / Loves Only You
  • NFL Week 15 with TravyFootball
  • Cowboy Jack at ASD / Preakness
Do the Downs!
12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS WAGERING BONUSES
  • Earn 1% cash back on all eligible wagers on all tracks Sunday, Dec. 12 through Thursday, Dec. 23. Minimum total wagered $1,000. Maximum deposit $100. ($2.10 payoffs not included.) Wagers must be made on your HPI account to qualify.

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS VLT DRAWS
  • Enter your name at the VLT cage Monday, Dec. 13 through Friday, Dec. 24 for a chance to pick an ornament from the Christmas tree for up to $100 CASH!
  • Draws will be made throughout the day and evening and you must be present to win.
PLAYER REWARDS POINTS EXTENDED - You now 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 handicapping contests.
FREE PHOTO WITH THE GRINCH! LAST ASD SUNDAY MARKET BEFORE CHRISTMAS - Get your free photo with The Grinch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. plus pick up your last minute Christmas gifts! This Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Support more than 60 local vendors. Free admission and free parking!
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL NEXT WEEK - Enjoy turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, Chef's vegetables, stuffing, gravy and more for only $21.95. The plated special will be served in the Clubhouse Wednesday, Dec. 22 and Thursday, Dec. 23 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday, Dec. 24 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations are required. Call 204-885-3330.
NEW YEAR'S EVE GALA - Join us on Friday, Dec. 31 at ASD for our fabulous New Year's Eve Gala hosted by Jeff Molnar from QX104 FM (a variety of music will be played.) Enjoy a delicious buffet (see menu here), prize draws, party favours, late night snack and free coat check. DJ music and dance lights. Tickets $75. Call 204-885-3330. Limited tickets remain - get yours today!
At The Post with G.S. Thompson
Manitoba's Magnificent 7 Sires
Interest in breeding and buying Manitoba-breds is surging!
Manitoba sire Nonios winning the 2012 Affirmed Handicap (G3) at Hollywood Park. Benoit photo.
Meet Manitoba’s magnificent seven stallions! Each of them has a big heart, four legs and a will to win. They were born that way. It’s in their genetics, and it will be interesting to see which combination produces our next version of millionairess Manitoba-bred Escape Clause.

Over 50 thoroughbred foals were born in Manitoba in the spring of 2021, and they were followed by a record-breaking Manitoba CTHS Yearling Sale in August, as breeders and buyers were stimulated by impressive performances from Manitoba-breds and the newly enhanced incentive program. Interest in owning and breeding a homebred in Manitoba has never been higher, and for good reasons!

There are eight $35,000 stakes restricted to Manitoba, Saskatchewan, North Dakota and South Dakota-breds; a rich Canadian Sales Stakes Series; numerous restricted Manitoba-bred races with lucrative purse supplements; Manitoba Breeder and Stallion Awards; and purse supplements are now paid out to Manitoba-breds for the lifetime of their racing careers. Also new for 2022 is a one-time bonus of $2,000 for any Manitoba-bred when they win their first race. 

Manitoba breeders are upgrading their broodmare bands and many plan to breed to their own stallions, which now feature pedigree lines from the best of the breed including Mr. Prospector, Northern Dancer, His Majesty, Seattle Slew, Majestic Prince, Vice Regent, Storm Cat and Secretariat.
Speculating is the only stallion by Medaglia d’Oro standing in Canada. And he's in Manitoba!
Blue Grass Stakes (G1) third-place finisher Kentucky Bear (Mr. Greeley-Tate by Afleet) and Speculating (Medaglia d’Oro-Well Dressed by Notebook), a half-brother to Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Well Armed, stand for Ziprick Thoroughbreds and Fouillard Farm. Contact Cam Ziprick, (204) 821-5456, in Russell, Manitoba.

Affirmed Handicap (G3) winner Nonios (Pleasantly Perfect-Stylish Manor by Touch Gold) and Tyro Stakes winner Vengeful Wildcat (Vindication-Wild Snitch by Forest Wildcat) are standing at Dunroven Farm. Contact Maggie Lawson, (204) 632-7043, in Rosser, Manitoba.

Hay Listen Up (Haynesfield-You’renotlistening by Kennedy Road), a half-brother to Gotham Stakes (G3) third-place finisher Nacho Friend and John B. Campbell Breeders' Cup Handicap winner Your Bluffing, is standing at Goulet Farm. Contact Trevor Goulet, (204) 437-2349, in Vassar, Manitoba.

Man Law (Maria’s Mon-Triple Strike by Secretariat), a half bother to Jersey Shore Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G3) winner Swing and Miss, stands at James Bruce Farm. Contact James Bruce, (204) 767-2210, in Kinosota, Manitoba.

Upper Mesa Falls (Stay Thirsty-Saratoga Lady by Deputy Minister), who is by a Travers Stakes (G1) winner out of a mare that is a half-sister to Flying Childers Stakes (G2) winner Saddad and Grade 3 stakes winners Gaily Egret and Nite Light, stands at Walkowski Thoroughbreds. Contact Dean Walkowski, (204) 761-1221, in Brandon, Manitoba.

There’s something for everyone in the above bloodlines -- a mix of speed, stamina, courage and class that will soon be making its mark in Manitoba -- if it hasn’t already.

Spring breedings and late night love matches are now being planned.
Call the Cops, a son of Manitoba sire Vengeful Wildcat, winning the 2021 J. W. Sifton Stakes at ASD. Jason Halstead photo.
A Snapshot in Time
Who holds the record for the largest margin of victory at Assiniboia Downs? On September 6, 1981 Gordie Marsh’s Drumbuie ran his heart out on one of the sloppiest tracks ever seen at the Downs. His margin of victory was an impressive 23 lengths! It may not have been the 31-length drubbing that Secretariat laid on his competition in the 1973 Belmont Stakes, but it was a still a very convincing win. Photo courtesy of ASD Track Historian Bob Gates.
Capper's Corner
Handicapper of the Year Championship Saturday
Gift Ideas - Top Five Handicapping Books
Multiple stakes winner Miss Imperial, shown here winning the Polynesian Kitty Stakes at ASD this summer, was claimed from trainer Murray Duncan at Oaklawn Park last Sunday for $50,000 by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Jason Halstead photo.
Handicapper of the Year Championship Saturday

The final Player’s Choice Handicapping Tournament of the year goes this Saturday and at least five of our best handicappers have a shot at the Handicapper of the Year title, the Trip for Two to Las Vegas or $2,500 cash that goes with it, and bragging rights for an entire year. Second place is worth $500 and third place takes home $250.
 
Alan Twerdochlib (259 points) currently leads Stewart Hayek (246), Jeff Rozmus (246), James Werry (241) and Scott Anderson (239) by a narrow margin in the Handicapper of the Year Standings. First place in Saturday’s contest is worth 51 points with the player's best seven tournament scores counting towards Handicapper of the Year. There is also $1,750 in cash available to win for all players.

Should be quite a battle!
Gift Ideas – Top five Handicapping Books
Whether you’re a veteran handicapper or just starting out, the handicapping books below should be considered required reading. Disregard the publication dates, these books have all stood the test of time. They’re written by successful bettors, and you can tell. All would make perfect gifts for the handicapper in your life – or yourself!

Handicapping 101 by Brad Free
One of the best handicapping books ever written. Professional handicapper Brad Free covers the important handicapping basics including form, speed, pace, class and condition, and follows up with a discussion of secondary factors. Free is an actual bettor, and it shows in his writing. He knows his stuff. Highly recommended.

The Winning Horseplayer by Andrew Beyer
Andrew Beyer builds on the strategy of speed handicapping that he detailed brilliantly in Picking Winners by introducing the concept of trip handicapping. Through an unbeatable combination of case studies and lively anecdotes, Beyer shows the smart bettor how to combine past performance data with an understanding of trips, track bias, and pace. This advanced guide to handicapping offers a generous dose of the wit and wisdom that have made Beyer a legend in the sport.
 
A revised and updated third edition of the classic Betting Thoroughbreds, this book has been one of the standards in the industry for handicapping excellence for decades. The newest edition covers recent industry changes, including synthetic surfaces, super trainers, wagering syndicates, computer software programs and more.
 
Expert Handicapping by Dave Litfin
Litfin's approach to analyzing thoroughbred races focuses on certain recurring situations in which an observant handicapper can gain a clear betting edge, either by backing under-bet horses on the verge of improvement or by going against false favourites. The system Litfin uses to prepare for betting the races and finding overlays is also used by Brad Free, author of the aforementioned Handicapping 101. Recommendations don’t get any better than that.
 
Thinking about becoming a professional horseplayer? Beyer’s account of his $50,000 year at the races offers a rare, unromanticized look at the world of professional gambling. For horseplayers who have dreamed of beating the races, Beyer proves that the dream is, sometimes, attainable. There are no gimmicks here. Beating the races takes work, but this entertaining story proves it can be done.
 
Reading the books above and applying what you learn will not only make you a much better handicapper, it will also give you an edge on the crowd.
 
And that’s money.
Photo of the Week
Besties having lunch at Randy Premachuk's farm in East Selkirk.
Retired 10-year-old Manitoba-bred stakes mare Smoke Show (above right) was recently seen giving 5-year-old mare Real Good Deal some racing strategy tips over lunch at Randy Premachuk's farm in East Selkirk.
 
Premachuk, co-owner of Dave's Quick Print, retired Smoke Show in 2014 and gave the daughter of Going Commando-Frances Cat by Tactical Cat a "forever home" on his farm. "She still had a zest for life," said Premachuk. "I could see it in her eyes."
 
Real Good Deal won four races last year including two at ASD. She has now earned over $50,000 and it’s hoped she can increase those earnings in 2022 for Claim to Fame Racing Stable, which includes David Blake, Cristin Parks, Chris Trubyk and Premachuk.
 
Racing or no racing, you know Real Good Deal will have a comfortable retirement and maybe even a new career when she's finished racing, thanks to Premachuk, who now has Smoke Show, Real Good Deal, Big Apple Baby and Going Once on his farm. He also took on a rescue horse.
 
"These horses are so good to us," said Premachuk. "They deserve a life after racing. It's nice that we can do something for them when their racing careers are over, and I really enjoy it. I like spending time with them."

Do you have an interesting photo you would like showcased in an upcoming newsletter? Email your photos to theinsidetrack@ASDowns.com.
In The News
Hot Rod Charlie gallops at Del Mar before the 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic. Eric Kalet / Paulick Report photo.
Horse racing fans have chosen Hot Rod Charlie, the gutsy 3-year-old colt who was a force along the Triple Crown trail, as the winner of the 2021 Secretariat Vox Populi Award. Created by Secretariat's owner Penny Chenery, the award annually recognizes the horse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the general public and gained recognition for thoroughbred racing. More from the Paulick Report here. Also well worth a read is Steve Haskin's story, Travels with Charlie.
Northern Farm-bred Loves Only You surges between rivals to win the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (G1) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Hong Kong Jockey Club photo.
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) winner Loves Only You, who was bred by the same Northern Farm that purchased Manitoba-bred Escape Clause, ended her career with a gutsy come from behind victory in the $3.8 million LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (G1) at Sha Tin on Sunday. More from the Canadian Thoroughbred, including an exciting replay of the race, here.
Road to the Kentucky Derby 2022
  • Dec. 17 - Springboard Mile - Remington
  • Dec. 26 - Gun Runner - Fair Grounds
  • Jan. 1 - Smarty Jones - Oaklawn
  • Jan. 1 - Jerome - Aqueduct
  • Jan. 1 - Sham - Santa Anita

Full list of Kentucky Derby prep races here
Carryover Watch & Programs
Mandatory Payout
There will be a mandatory payout on the Woodbine Mohawk Park Standardbred Jackpot Hi-5 on Thursday, December 23. The jackpot carryover currently sits at $454,917 following the Monday (Dec 13) race card. You will have one final opportunity to hit the entire jackpot tonight before the mandatory payout date of December 23, as the wager will be suspended if not won tonight.
"I Won Bigg" Betting Group - Saturdays at ASD
The "I Won Bigg" betting group meets every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in the ASD Clubhouse. Leading the discussions are veteran handicappers Ivan Bigg and Larry Liebrecht. The group will be playing Tampa Bay again this week. $20 buys you a share in this week's ticket. Email Larry at larry@ampereelectric.ca for more information.
NFL Week 15 with TravyFootball
Cardinals over Lions (Sunday afternoon): Two teams headed in opposite directions. The Cardinals had a chance to be the first team to clinch a playoff spot last week against the Rams, unfortunately the Rams had other ideas and pulled off a 30-23 upset. Now Arizona will have yet another chance against the lowly Detroit Lions to lockdown that playoff spot. The Cardinals may have the best record in the league right now, but they definitely are not striking fear into any of their opponents. All three off their losses have come at home, which shows that opposing teams are not afraid to go into their building and knock them around. 
 
Texans over Jaguars (Sunday noon): This will probably be the WORST game of the season between the two worst teams in the league. The Texans are a mess, the Jags are a mess, and both will go through some major off-season shake ups. First overall draft pick, QB Trevor Lawrence is having a less than spectacular season after being labelled the “saviour” of the Jacksonville franchise. But when he has no talented players around him, a coach who doesn’t seem like he wants to be there, and fans who show up to games with garbage bags on their heads, that doesn’t give him much to look forward to on Sundays. 
 
Bills over Panthers (Sunday noon): The Bills almost came back from being down 24-3 at halftime against Tom Brady and the Bucs last week. Josh Allen did everything he could, but just couldn’t close the deal in overtime. Buffalo went from the top of the AFC East to now fighting just to make the playoffs after losing two games in a row. A trip to Carolina to face the clawless Panthers should do the trick to get the Bills back in the win column. After the game last week Allen was seen in a walking boot, he suffered a sprained foot, so that’s an injury to keep an eye on, but based on his post game conference, he sounds like he will be good to go. 
 
A shout out to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for capturing the Grey Cup once again over the Hamilton Ticats! 
 
LAST WEEK’S PICKS: 2-1
The Best of Bob
by ASD Historian Bob Gates

Did you know? Before Cowboy Jack made the big-time with his Aloma's Ruler win in the 1982 Preakness Stakes, he got his "underage" start to racing at the Downs in the summer of 1980. Bob has the Cowboy's story here. (from May 2018)
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