Peter Rotondo picked a good time to go to work for 1/ST Racing. The company's new Senior Vice President of Racing and Wagering joined a team who is ready to put on an extravaganza this weekend at Santa Anita.
It's called the California Crown and consists of three races, the GII $750,000 John Henry Turf Cup, the Grade II $750,000 Eddie D. Stakes and the $1 million GI California Crown Stakes. Meant to be Santa Anita's version of the Pegasus World Cup, the day will also include entertainment meant for the Gen Z set with several musicians set to take the stage.
To talk about the California Crown and a new betting menu at Santa Anita, Rotondo joined this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keenenland. He was the Guest of the Week.
“This was always in the back of our minds,” Rotondo said. “California deserves a huge marquee event. There are some other big events. But not like this one. This year is the kickoff and we're coming in strong.”
When asked by Randy Moss if the day was about more than racing, Rotondo replied.
“It is and that's the whole point,” he said. “That's what the Pegasus is. I'll talk about the Pegasus to some of the most cranky and hardened people I know and they tell me that the Pegasus is the most fun event. And now the racing has gotten up to a certain level. It's got a spot on the calendar in late January, not only in racing, but in Miami lifestyle. This is basically a run at that. It's about fusing both together, lifestyle, the entertainment and the races.”
Another new twist at Santa Anita at the fall meet is a new betting menu, highlighted by a return of the traditional $2 Pick Six. There will also be a $5 late double and a $3 late Pick Three.
“We have tweaked the autumn racing menu,” Rotondo said. “The Pick Six is now a $2 Pick Six. They started with the jackpot Pick Six, then went back to the traditional format, but it was a $1 wager. That will be for the whole meet. On California Crown day you have three great races in a row. There will be some special wagers on the day, including an all stakes Pick Five. These are player friendly bets with a 15 percent takeout. Look at what is happening with sports betting and their apps. There's all types of wagers, including prop bets. We have to make our wagering menu a little bigger.”
In our breeding spotlight section, we examined WinStar stallion Constiution.
Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, West Point Thoroughbreds, WinStar, XBTV.com and Hubbard Feeds, the team of Randy Moss, Zoe Cadman and Bill Finley, reviewed the major races from last week, zeroing in on the GI Cotillion Stakes and the GI Pennsylvania Derby, as well as the problems with the Parx turf course.
They also reviewed the latest victory by super marathoner Next (Not This Time) and debated whether or not he should go to the Breeders' Cup. Moss and Cadman said no. Finley was a resounding yes.
The trio also handicapped the three California Crown races as well as the GII Woodward Stakes, a race that will have only four starters, and the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. Moss was very confident that Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) would win the race named for the former columnist of the Daily Racing Form.
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