Two year olds take center stage this weekend in stakes race action from tracks around the country, and Virginia residents have two new options on how and where to wager the action.
The Virginia Equine Alliance’s (VEA) first Off Track Betting (OTB) Center opened just over a month ago at Breakers Sports Grille in Richmond. It is conveniently located in the TJ Maxx Shopping Center at 9127 West Broad Street. It is open seven days a week from 12 Noon – 11 PM. And earlier this week, a fourth on line betting company was approved by the Virginia Racing Commission to do business in the Commonwealth. NYRAbets.com is the account wagering arm of the popular New York Thoroughbred racing circuit. Virginia residents have been able to sign up for an account and wager with TVG.com, XPressBet.com and TwinSpires.com, but now have that fourth option available.
Featured stakes on Saturday (December 10th) are a pair of Grade I’s at Los Alamitos, which takes over as the major west coast thoroughbred track until Santa Anita opens December 26th. The $300,000 Cash Call Futurity is for 2 year olds and the $300,000 Starlet is for 2 year old fillies. Both races are at the distance of 1 1/16th miles and will be contested at 5:58 PM and 6:58 PM respectively.
Laurel has a pair of $100,000 stakes for freshmen on Saturday — the Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship at 3:00 PM (race 6) and the Maryland Juvenile Futurity at 4:30 PM (race 9). Gulfstream plays host to six 2 year old stakes the same day — all at the $75,000 purse level. Half are for colts and the other half for fillies. Distances for each trio are at 6 furlongs on dirt, one mile on dirt, and one mile on turf.
Hatteras Bound is shown winning a $30,000 claimer at Laurel December 3rd. Photo by Jim McCue.
Virginia-bred Hatteras Bound, fresh off a victory last Saturday at Laurel, will compete in the Maryland Juvenile Futurity. Owned and bred by Douglas Daniels, the Redeemed colt was best in a nine horse field last week that included CB Bodemeister, who finished third. Hatteras Bound went four wide coming out of the turn in the $30,000, one mile claiming race, charged to the lead and crossed 1 1/4 lengths in front of Tactical Hero.
Finally, Fair Grounds will host the $800,000 Louisiana Champions Day on Saturday. A total of eight stakes will showcase top state-bred horses. Enjoy a great mid-December racing day!
For a complete OTB simulcast schedule, visit www.virginiahorseracing.com.