Pimlico turf handicap series opener delayed a week

The first leg of the turf starter handicap series that was to begin Saturday at Pimlico has been pushed back a week because the turf course is not yet in racing condition.

The three-leg series for horses who have started for $5,000 claiming or less in 2014-15 will increase in distance from a mile to 1 1/16 miles to 1 1/8 miles. The purses are $25,000 in Round 1, $30,000 in Round 2, and $35,000 in the final round. There will be separate divisions for males and females.

The trainer who finishes the series with the most points will receive a $2,500 bonus. Second is worth $1,500 and third, $1,000. Horses will earn 10 points for a win, seven for a second, and five for a third. All others will receive one point for starting.

Horses finishing first, second, or third in the first two legs of the series will have preference to get into the final leg.

The idea for the series came from Sal Sinatra, general manager of the Maryland Jockey Club, who ran a similar series when he was the director of racing at Parx.

Pletcher, Repole have runner

Trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole will have a rare non-stakes starter at Pimlico on Friday when Nonna’s Boy goes in a $42,000, first-level allowance sprint.

Nonna’s Boy made three starts last year as a 2-year-old. He won a Belmont Park maiden sprint in the mud in his debut, then finished fourth, beaten two lengths, in the Grade 3 Sanford at Saratoga and seventh in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special.

Nonna’s Boy is a Repole homebred by Distorted Humor. Repole raced the dam of Nonna’s Boy, Nonna Mia, who won 2 of 7 starts and $127,150. She finished third in both the Grade 1 Frizette and Grade 3 Tempted in 2009. Nonna’s Boy’s second dam is Holy Bubbette, whose best foal is Holy Bull and Nashua stakes winner Cairo Prince.

Nonna’s Boy wintered at Palm Beach Downs with Pletcher and has worked 10 times since January.

Repole has won with his last two Maryland starters. On Feb. 16 at Laurel Park, he won the Grade 3 General George Handicap with Misconnect. Last May at Pimlico, he won the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan with Stopchargingmaria.

Pletcher doubled up on Black-Eyed Susan Day. In addition to sending out Stopchargingmaria, he won the Grade 3 Pimlico Special with Revolutionary.

HRTV to cover Penn Challenge

The Penn National Gaming tracks of Charles Town, Penn National Race Course, and Zia Park will team with HRTV for the eighth straight year to provide coverage of the five remaining events in the Penn Gaming Racing Challenge.

The five events are Charles Town Classic Day on April 18; the Grade 3, $500,000 Penn Mile card on May 30; the Grade 3, $350,000 Charles Town Oaks on the Race for the Ribbon program Sept. 19; and Zia Park’s Land of Enchantment Day and the Holiday Racing Festival at Penn National, both of which are held on Thanksgiving Eve, Nov. 25.

While not a part of the Racing Challenge series, HRTV also will provide coverage of the West Virginia Breeders’ Classics on Oct. 10.

“The last eight years has produced a partnership between HRTV and the Penn National Gaming tracks that’s turned into a staple of our event-day coverage,” said Erich Zimny, vice president of racing at Charles Town.

Wagering changes at Parx

Parx Racing will make several changes to its wagering format beginning Saturday.

The minimum wager on trifectas will be lowered from $1 to 50 cents. Ten-cent superfectas will be available on every race beginning Saturday. Currently, superfectas are only offered on two races a day.

The late daily double will now be offered on the final two races, regardless of how many races are on the card.