Epicharis Belmont Bonus

[richiebee]

If Epicharis wins the Belmont Stakes, he will receive a $1 million bonus in addition
to the winner\'s share of the purse. Wondering if NYRA took out insurance against
this possibility, much the way auto dealerships insure for the eventuality of a
golfer at an outing winning a new vehicle by virtue of \"aceing\" a designated hole
(there are actually companies which specialize in this type of insurance).

Expecting to hear plenty about Epicharis from the Board\'s resident expert on
Japanese racing, Tavasco.

[Chas04]

I threw down on Snow in the Derby. If this horse was a mix of Arrogate & Pharoah I still wouldn\'t put a penny on him.

[legendbets]

I like Epicharis running style for Belmont, and I do think he\'s interesting being a fresh horse that was perhaps targeting this race all along but he may be too slow.  He definitely had the better trip than Thunder Snow in the UAE Derby, and that was light figure wise.

[Tavasco]

A couple of critical assertions on this subject.

1. Most will not believe Epicharis is, in fact, not a Japanese word. Rather it c/b a reference to a woman of great character although dubious behavior and associations.               Background Link

2. Lani is not the only horse who has not won another race after running in the Kentucky Derby. Most as in.... a lot, of the Kentucky Derby participants never win another race. Whitmore not withstanding.

So skipping the KD was strategic, both a practical and superstitious move designed to give connections max probability of taking down the Belmont Bonus.

Just look what Epicharis did to Thunder Snow , ahem, who is still bouncing. Wondering if Gormley\'s a go for \"The Test Of Champions\" if so, c/b turns into a match race of sorts.

Early line of 15/1, I\'ve bet worse at shorter. Gotta go watch \"The voice from the stone\" again.

[ajkreider]

The two horses in the UAE that appeared to want a bit more ground, Thunder and Master Plan, ran an XX in the Derby and 20 lengths behind the Peter Pan winner, respectively.  Both were coming off plenty of rest.  Pass.

[Fairmount1]

\'bee,

I am certain you are aware of the Smarty Party bonus that was triggered upon his Rebel, Ark Derby, Kentucky Derby Triple.  I have often wondered if part of their insurance was also to place a significant sum to win on him in the win pool on Derby Day to cover the costs of the policies.  Here is the article that gives a tiny bit of details but nothing on the actual policy costs.  

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2004/05/04/smarty-move-5-million-bonus-paid-insurance/96b31c43-5517-4afb-aef8-b6f8563afd97/?utm_term=.e553684fcd9f

[legendbets]

4-1 offering on Epicharis right now OddsChecker

[Tavasco]

NYRA may have bet $200 in a promotional effort to build up some interest in a race which is a little weak on story lines so far.

[richiebee]

Tavasco Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> NYRA may have bet $200 in a promotional effort to
> build up some interest in a race which is a little
> weak on story lines so far.


Story lines? STORY LINES??!! (A Pledge Pin?!?)

Maybe we should bring back Johnny and Tara?

Just give me a big field and a decent betting race. The undercard should be
swell. Maybe Gormley, who I thought was making a Kafkaesque metamorphosis into a
stalker, will come back with brilliant speed in the Belmont.

Mark Casse says he still has a fresh horse. Didn\'t work him after the KD.
Doesn\'t sound like he plans to do much with him between now and Belmont day.

I thought CE would be empty after a rough KD trip. Just shows that a guy sitting
at a keyboard 1000 miles away from the horse doesn\'t know as much as the people
who touch the horse every day. What a shock. And before anybody gets offended
(there\'s a lot of that going around), the guy at the keyboard is me.

(TV NOTE: R Dreyfuss a much better Bernard L Madoff than R DeNiro.)

[Chas04]

Lov me some Gormley if he makes the gate.

[ajkreider]

Agree about Dreyfuss.  That was a much more entertaining telling of the story.

[jimbo66]

Maybe the worst bet in the history of horse racing.  

Good luck to anybody taking 4-1 on that horse.

YOu will need it.

[Chas04]

Ain\'t that the truth. Just read the Filly & Mare BC race was pounded w Japanese $ for N Record. Those pools are insane. Here\'s 2 hoping they unload on this horse in a few wks.