Week seven of the free-to-enter Road to Kentucky Handicapping Contest continues Saturday in the Canterbury Racebook. The feature track is Gulfstream Park. Those hoping to enter the contest should note the 10:30 a.m. start time and contest entry deadline. Post times at Gulfstream can be a moving target and this extra-early start is no exception. Early birds enter the contest! Action in the Racebook starts at 7 a.m. anyway with the Saudi Cup card getting underway. See below for details on that event. Contest entry cards will be available at 10 a.m.
The $400,000 Fountain of Youth, an important stepping stone to the Kentucky Derby that almost assuredly places the winner in the Derby field of 20, has attracted 12 three-year-olds including the 2-1 morning line favorite Dennis’ Moment, unseen since stumbling and finishing last as the betting choice in the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. The Fountain of Youth is race 14 on a 14 race program. For R2K contest purposes, the Derby prep provides double points in the mythical $20 WPS scoring system.
Check out the weekly winners and overall contest leaders by clicking here.
2020 Canterbury Park Handicapper of the Year
One expects to see the surname Meyer in the top 10 of the Handicapper of the Year standings but it has for years been associated with the given name Bruce, six-time winner of HOY honors. Bruce Meyer is currently off the board but Adam Meyer, via second and third place finishes in weekly R2K contests, is tied for second with three points, just one behind Ron Hafner, the 2010 winner.
Handicapper of the Year points are awarded weekly in various contests. More information can be found HERE.
Stevens Nears 5,000th Win
Jockey Scott Stevens, a longtime member of the Canterbury Park Hall of Fame, is approaching his 5,000th career thoroughbred victory. Stevens, 59, is currently riding at Turf Paradise in Phoenix where he is second in the standings. He has 4,995 career thoroughbred wins and is named on two horses Saturday and three on Sunday.
Stevens’ overall win total, adding in recognized quarter horse, Arabian, and mixed breed races is 5,160, not including the countless times he out rode brother Gary in the backyard of their Idaho home in his youth. Scott recorded his first thoroughbred win at Les Bois Park in 1976.
Racing from Saudi Arabia Friday and Saturday
Two days of racing, Feb. 28 and 29, from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will be simulcast in the Racebook with the line-up listed below. Saturday is the $29.2 million Saudi Cup Day with $20m alone the purse for the Saudi Cup. Midnight Bisou will take on the boys, including 3-year-old Maximum Security, in the 1800 meter race that also attracted McKinzie and Mucho Gusto. Daily Racing Form has been providing extensive coverage of the Saudi Cup including THIS STORY by correspondent Brad Free.