The Insider – Assiniboia Downs

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Vol. 13 No. 46 (Issue #664)

By Ivan Bigg

Weekly Horseplayer Report and Fun Stuff

(If this column looks askew in your email, click here for an online version.)

Ivan is on holidays
His regular column will resume next Thursday

ON THE ROAD: ESCAPE CLAUSE AT DEL MAR TOMORROW

Will Schnell keep smiling?

Owner/trainer Don Schnell's smile said it all when Escape Clause won the Kathryn Crosby Stakes two weeks ago. Will Manitoba's super filly double up at Del Mar tomorrow in the Red Carpet? (San Diego Union-Tribune photo)

Dubbed a “Cinderella” filly by U.S. writers after she won the $75,000 Kathryn Crosby Stakes at 18-1 two weeks ago, Manitoba’s Escape Clause looks for her 10th win in a row in the $100,000 Red Carpet Handicap, 1 3/8-miles on the turf, in race 6 at Del Mar tomorrow. Post position 9; morning line: 5-1. First post 1:00 p.m.

Happy Thanksgiving to our U.S. neighbours!

NOTE EARLY SCHEDULE TOMORROW

10:25 a.m. Laurel
10:30 a.m. Churchill
10:50 a.m. Aqueduct
11:00 a.m. Fair Grounds
11:05 a.m. Gulfstream West
1:00 p.m. Del Mar. See balance of schedule here.

FREE BREAKFAST SANDWICH to the first 50 at the track starting at 9 a.m. See if you don’t agree it’s the best breakfast sandwich you’ve ever tasted: egg, sausage or bacon and cheese on a toasted English muffin. Warm to the touch, it’s comfort food that will kick off a great morning of racing action!

Also, enjoy the special which includes a hot turkey sandwich served open faced with fries smothered with turkey gravy for only $10. Cranberry sauce available upon request.

And watch NFL football on big screens in the Race Book including:

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Click to enlarge

Eggs Benedict

CHEF GERARDO LAUNCHES NEW BREAKFAST MENU TOMORROW! Includes free coffee. Choose from: At the Post - $7.95 (two eggs, bacon or sausage, hashbrowns and toast), Breakfast Sandwich - $5.95, Omelets - $10.95, Stuffed Hash Brown (shredded potato stuffed with cheddar cheese, onion and bacon and topped with two eggs) - $11.95, Breakfast Wrap - $6.95, Hot Oatmeal - $3.95, Classic Eggs Benedict - $11.95. Eggs Benedict Florentine - $11.95, Belgian Waffles - $6.95, Pancakes - $6.95, Grilled Cinnamon Bun - $2.95, Muffin - $1.95

PLAY “3 FOR THE MONEY” THIS SATURDAY to win $150 in wagering vouchers. Predict the winners of the first three legs of the late pick-4 at Churchill. The headliner on the card is the Kentucky Jockey Club stakes, a prep race for the 2019 Kentucky Derby. Look for entry ballots and program pages in the Race Book.

Official stations of horse racing.
Click to listen

Enter free VLT tournaments every Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m.

DO THE DOWNS

What tracks are running in November? Find out here.
What are today’s $$$ carryovers? See them here.
Want to follow sports in the Race Book? Jets, NFL. ASD subscribes to NHL League Pass - watch any NHL game any day!

FREE VLT TOURNAMENTS: Enter in the Club West Gaming lounge every Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Get into the draw for 10 chances to win $20 in free VLT spins. Top winner from each night participates in a month-end finale for more spins and $250 in prize money.

EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT: $10 buy-in poker in the clubhouse on the second level. Registration from 8:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Game starts at 8:30 p.m. Maximum of 60 players. No late registration. Royal Flush progressive jackpot for tomorrow, Friday, is $18,495.

ROCK THE MIC: SING WITH A LIVE BAND! Channel your inner rock star at ASD on Thursday, Nov. 22. Registration 6 p.m.; music and dancing (large dance floor) starts at 7 p.m. Half-price wine will be featured! Cover charge: $7. Enjoy the prime rib buffet in the Terrace Dining Room and receive $2 off your cover charge. Just show your receipt at the admission entrance.

Tips ’n’ Tricks

with Marshall Posner

New Handicapping Tools

Recently there have been a couple of new products/services introduced by the DRF and Equibase. For starters, you can now receive a regular email from DRF called “The Morning Line”. This is an email that outlines all of the major headlines for that day of racing including links to related stories, free PPs to the race of the day, and links to any big news items from the industry (see image here). It’s a great way of staying up to date with what’s going on at some of the major tracks, horses and trainers. To sign up to receive your copy just go to www.drf.com and create a member account. This will also give you free access to the DRF Plus articles.

DRF has also recently introduced an upgrade to their classic PPs to make them interactive. If you prefer to handicap on your tablet or computer, you can now make electronic notes directly in the PPs (view image here). You can also elect to view the lifetime races for any horse as opposed to just the previous 10. And, the Closer Look race analysis is provided at the top of the first page. The interactive PPs do not cost any more than the original ones and you can always print these if you like as well. You can learn more about these new PPs here - https://play.drf.com/#/.

Lastly, Equibase has introduced an email called the “Daily Insights”. This short email provides a look at each day’s top performers including yesterday’s horses as well as ones running on that day. If you’re looking for spot plays, this could be for you. Register for this email service at www.equibase.com.

Got a question for Marshall? Email theinsider@ASDowns.com

THE BEST OF BOB: How ASD almost scooped American Pharoah halter

Did you know that a would-be benefactor in Fargo with deep roots at the Downs nearly pulled off the coup of bringing the halter of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah to Assiniboia Downs? Who is he? Read Bob’s behind-the-scenes details here. (First published in May, 2016)

DATES TO CIRCLE

Next tournament goes this Saturday

Tomorrow: Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. Free breakfast sandwich to the first 50 at the track. New breakfast menu introduced.
Friday, Nov. 23: Storied $500,000 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs
Saturday, Nov. 24: Bigg returns to host “I won big” workshop 10:30 a.m.; Player’s Choice horseplayer tourney 12 p.m.; Kentucky Derby prep race at Churchill Downs (Kentucky Jockey Club stakes)
Saturday, Dec. 1: Kentucky Derby prep race (the Remsen) at Aqueduct
Thursday, Dec. 6: Chanukah-themed prime rib buffet featuring Chanukah dishes, pasta bar, salad bar and dessert bar. Reserve at 204-885-3330 ext. 0.
Thursday, Dec. 13: Certified Angus prime rib buffet, additional entrees, pasta bar, salad bar and dessert bar. Reserve at phone number above.
Thursday, Dec. 20: Traditional Christmas-themed prime rib buffet, pasta bar, salad bar and dessert bar. Reserve at the phone number above.
Thursday, Dec. 27: Certified Angus prime rib buffet, additional entrees, pasta bar, salad bar and dessert bar. Reserve at phone number above.
Monday, Dec. 31: New Year's Eve Gala hosted by 94.3 The Drive's Tom and Kerri, eight strolling food stations, music by Nu Frequency, photo booth, party favours late night snack. Tickets are $49.95 and can be purchased from the General Office or call Samantha at 204-885-3330 (ext. 0)

A delicious toasty warm breakfast sandwich and
coffee will be waiting for you tomorrow morning!