Tag Archives: Larry Rivelli

Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs opinions for Saturday, Nov. 26 (Opening day)

Preview: The start of a new meet at Tampa Bay Downs and there is one big change to watch: three-time leading jockey Antonio Gallardo is riding in New York this winter so there will be a new top dog. Veterans Daniel Centeno (not riding today), Ronnie Allen Jr., Dean Butler and Fernando De La Criz bare watching. Newcomers to watch are Angel Cruz plus Edwin Gonzalez and Albin Jimenez. The latter two have agent Mike Moran, who was Gallardo’s agent so he has the connections. Also keep track of where the winning horses last ran because horses come from all over for this meet.

Race 4: #7 Supermans Cape (8-1): This colt has been away for more than a year and if there is any trainer can get them ready off such a layoff it’s Larry Rivelli, who is 27% with horses off a 90-plus day layoff. A son of Cape Blanco, he should enjoy the turf.

Race 6: #3 Huntstown (8-1): This gelding had a second over this turf course earlier this year and fits nicely with this group. Ran mainly against Indiana-breds this summer, but no worries about that. He has the best late pace rating from Brisnet.

Race 7: #2 Bluegrass Kid (6-1): This gelding has won over the track before and loves the 6-furlong distance with four wins. Has the top early pace rating and trainer Benny Feliciano is 29% with shippers. On top of that comes out of a key race which has produced two next out winners.

Race 11: #2 Nightbar (4-1): We’ve already extolled the virtues of trainer Larry Rivelli off a long layoff. Now add in a horse that won his first two races over this track plus the fact that the gelding comes out of a race in March that produced three next out winners.

Good luck

@Jeff_Nahill On Twitter

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Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs opinions for Wednesday, March 9

Preview: Trainer Gerald Bennett tore it up last week and is the leading trainer but even if he stays hot it’s likely we won’t get a good price on him.

 

Race 3: #1 Gold Value (12-1)

Trainer Joe Arboritanza is very good at horses cutting back in distance and at this level anything can happen so why not go with a price?.

                              

Race 5: #6 Fifth Moon (3-1)

This mare has only run once in her career and trainer Larry Rivelli is 27% with horses off a 90-plus day layoff plus leading jockey Antonio Gallardo jumps on.

                                

Race 9: #8 Trapnall Hall (3-1) 

This gelding has been overmatched so he is sent north to face easier for trainer Jason DaCosta, who employs leading rider Antonio Gallardo.

 

Race 10: #8 Fehsenfeld (9-2) 

The gelding is making his third race off the layoff and may be ready for his best effort. Is transferred to trainer Mandy Ness’ barn and Antonio Gallardo, who has won two races for her, jumps on.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs opinions for Sunday, Feb. 28

Preview: Mediocre card due to the five-day racing weeks. Jockeys Dean Butler and Daniel Centeno won twice on Friday’s card and might be hitting a hot spell. Centeno came back to win twice on Saturday, but leading rider Antonio Gallardo at the natural hat trick.

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Race 1 – Tam

#4 Vita Desiderata (7-2) 

This old boy might have gotten fit over the Turfway Park oval and shipped down to cash. He has two big works over the Tampa track for trainer Joe Woodard, who employs Daniel Centeno. They are a 20% combination at the meet.

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Race 5: #1 Swagbag (8-1)

This gelding is shipping up from Gulfstream Park after showing a bit of speed in his last race. Since that race two of the next three horses to run have come back winners so looks like a key race.

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Race 10 – Tam

#5 Pidgeon (2-1) BEST BET

Trainer Larry Rivelli is 30% with horses going a route of ground for the first time. On top of that this is a daughter of City Zip, which produces plenty of turf winners. Jockey Daniel Centeno, who is 38% with Rivelli, stays aboard.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs opinions for Wednesday, Feb. 10

Preview: Not a great card, but hopefully they will be back on the grass after a full week not on the green stuff. On the jockey front, leading rider Antonio Gallarado had a bad week with just two winners. Ronnie Allen Jr. had seven winners followed by Daniel Centeno and Fernando De La Cruz with five each.

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Race 3: #1 He’s the Dude (turf only) (6-1)       

They tried to get this gelding on the grass in his debut, but it was taken off and trainer Larry Rivelli claimed him out of that effort. Rivelli is 28% with horses off a 90-day layoff or longer.

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Race 5: #5 Calm (turf only) (15-1)

Another filly that set to debut on turf but it was rained off. Trainer Dane Kobiskie is 24% first time turf and brings her up from Gulfstream Park West and drops her into a maiden claimer for the first time. The 3-year-old is also coming out of a race that has produced four next out winners.

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Race 6: #1 Lisa’s Secret (5-2)

Trainer Kathleen O’Connell has had a big meet and this filly comes out of a key race. O’Connell is 30% with jockey Antonio Gallardo, who is due to have a big day.

 @Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs for Saturday, Jan. 30

Preview: Sure hoping the turf course is dried out from Wednesday and Thursday rains or this could be a bad card. Check the weather report and morning scratches.

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Race 6: 14 Punchyourlitesout (12-1)

Must draw in to the main body of the race, but if he does, watch out. This colt finished seventh in his first race in more than two years. Trainer Larry Rivelli drops him more than two levels, a move he is 33% with. Also, jockey Daniel Centeno keeps the mount.

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Race 9: #4 Ringold (6-1)              

This gelding has been running in South Florida and ends up here in the Larry Rivelli barn, which is 24% with horses first time. Look for improvement here.

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Race 10: #1 Lighthouse Sound (turf only) (9-2)

This gelding is 2-for-2 at the meet and trainer Darien Rodriguez decided to claim him to go for the hat trick. Rodriguez is 38% first off the claim and leading jockey Antonio Gallardo keeps the mount.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs opinions for Sunday, Jan. 24

Preview: Races were rained off the turf on Friday and Saturday. There are three turf races on this card and later on the card so hopefully they stay on the turf as they have larger fields.

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Race 2: #2 Tonite Tonite (7-2) 

This 5-year-old has broken his maiden but was disqualified. He now shows up at Tampa under trainer Rashern Creque, who is 36% with horses the first time he has them.

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Race 9: #5 Fancy Man (5-2)

This 4-year-old is coming out of a winning effort at Keeneland and is now in the Dale Bennett barn, which is having a good meet. Bennett is 21% with horses off a 90-plus-day layoff and he’s 35% with jockey Pablo Morales.

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Race 10: #2 He’s the Dude (8-1) 

This gelding was claimed at Arlington Park last June by trainer Larry Rivelli and hasn’t been seen since. Rivelli is 28% with horses off a layoff of more than 90 days. You can be sure this one will be fit.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs opinions for Saturday, Dec. 26

 

Preview: After getting shut out on Sunday, jockey Antonio Gallardo won four times on Wednesday to get back in the groove. Again the rail isn’t the place to be in the starting gate with a 2% winning percentage in 52 dirt sprint races. Toss for now.

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Race 3: #1 Cathedro (3-1)

Trainer Larry Rivelli continues to unvield these horses that have been turned over to him by trainer Wesley Ward and owned by Carolyn Wilson. This gelding has been away more than 90 days and Rivelli is 29% with that kind.

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Race 4:  #7 All Call (turf only) (4-1) 

Here’s another Larry Rivelli horses, but with a twist. Rivelli claimed this 4-year-old at Hawthorne for HIMSELF. This gelding has an 8-3-3-0 turf record. Rivelli puts leading rider Antonio Gallardo on board and they are 1-for-1 at the meet.

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Race 9:  #4 Dame Street (5-1)

Trainer Jamie Ness isn’t known for winning with first-timer starters but he’s done it three times in the last few years here, including once on Wednesday. Antonio Gallardo was aboard that one and he rides here this daughter of Street Sense. Overall, Ness is 26% with first-timers.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs opinions for Friday, Dec. 11

Jockey Antonio Gallardo is off and running with eight winners. Jockey Daniel Centeno is a master on the turf as shown in two wins on Wednesday. Think Inkling will be tough to beat in last but we’re never going to get the morning-line of 9-5 on this Del Mar turf winner. Would be a single for me in all horizontal wagers.

 

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Race 1: #4 Gimmedapurse (9-2) 

Trainer Jason DaCosta is 36% with horses coming off a 46 to 90-day layoff and he is 34% with jockey Fernando De La Cruz. This filly has won twice over this track in four tries and she holds the Brisnet top class rating.

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Race 4: #4 Fancy Henry (9-2)

This gelding makes his debut in the Larry Rivelli barn after racing in the Wesley Ward silks and Rivelli is 26% with horses the first time in his barn. He is also 3-for-7 with jockey Ronnie Allen Jr.

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Race 5: #4 Orcus (3-1) 

Another horse first time with trainer Larry Rivelli as owner Carolyn Wilson has obviously given him a string to run here. This colt drops into a maiden claimer for the first time and Rivelli is 29% with horses off a 90 plus day layoff.

 

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Pimlico, Triple Crown

Pimlico Race Course opinions for Saturday, May 16

The Pimlico is here and I’m not going to try to re-invent the wheel. I still think the West Coast horses are the best so here are my picks:

#8 Firing Line (4-1)

#1 American Pharoah (4-5)

#2 Dortmund (7-2)

#5 Tale of Verve (30-1)

Comment: I’m sticking with Firing Line and hope jockey Gary Stevens can get him to switch leads down the lane this time.

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Here are some other races on the card:

Race 1: #7 Mafia Muscle Man (turf only) (6-1)

Trainer Larry Rivelli is based in Chicago, yet he picks this spot for this 2-year-old to make his debut. He also owns the colt and the sire Lewis Michael is 15% with first-time turfers. Rivelli is 27% with first-timers and gets Javier Casellano to ride. Play an exacta box with #8 FINNEGAN (6-5), who is supposed to be trainer Wesley Ward’s next big Ascot thing.

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Race 3: #10 Chiropractor (7-2)

Trainer Tom Proctor is going to have a barn on the East Coast based near Pimlico and starts this Kitten’s Joy first-timer on the turf, where the sire is 17% first-time turf. One of Proctor’s West Coast jockeys, Drayden Van Dyke, rides, but they have been cold lately.

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Race 6: #2 Hooligan (4-1)

Trainer Wesley Ward is almost an automatic play in a 5-furlong turf sprint and here he gets jockey John Velazquez aboard (22% together).

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Race 9: #1 Bocaouva (8-1), #8 Watsdachances (6-1), #9 Token of Love (5-1).

One of the toughest races on the card, BOCAOUVA had a ton of trouble in her last race and drawing the No. 1 hole here is no bargain. Will use all three in all vertical bets.

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Race 10: #7 Gimme Da Lute (3-1)

Trainer Bob Baffert is an amazing 39% with horses going sprint-route-sprint and that’s what this 3-year-old does after finishing third to Competitive Edge in the Pat Day Mile on Derby Day.

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Race 12: #10 Manchurian High (turf only) (15-1)

Jockey Gary Stevens doesn’t need to ride every race so he must have gotten a good story on this gelding to ride for little-known trainer Lilli Kurtinecz. The 7-year-old has won twice over this Pimlico turf course and will be charging down the lane. He also comes out of a key race with three next out winners. This is one of tougher races on the card so go for a price.

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