11/29 (HAW): Hawthorne Gold Cup H. (G2)
 

As discussed with Marcus Hersh last week, Hawthorne enjoying a surprisingly strong meet and the G2 Gold Cup Saturday looks like it will lure 9-12 solid citizens.. Runner participation at the stand from several unexpected sources like Ohio, CBY & PID have boosted field size which has boosted handle. Things have been so much better than in recent years, HAW announced a 10% purse increase for the last condition book. The meet runs through January 3rd..

Probable
Abraham
Code West
Effinex
Ever Rider
Fordubai
Hattaash
Mister Marti Gras
Red Rifle
Street Spice

Possible
Call Me George
Midnight Aria
Hope for Today
Indy Awesome

I get what Hersch was trying to say, but the purse increase was a gonna happen regardless because of how bad they slashed purses.

Maidens were running for 20k, where last year they ran for 24k I think, so they are still below what they were last year, even with the increase.

Couple people told me though that they started betting it again because the pools have been surprising large, and they think the 20 cent variety is what has triggered that.

8th (5:20) Hawthorne Gold Cup H. (G2)

1 1/4 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $250,000

1 Abraham Rocco J S Jr 117 L
2 Hattaash Russell S 114 L
3 Red Rifle Geroux F 116 L
4 Cary Street Mena M 121 L
5 Ever Rider (ARG) Pennington F 121 L
6 Effinex Arroyo A S 114 L
7 Street Spice Perez E 113 L
8 Call Me George Esquivel E 115 L
9 Fordubai Ocampo I 116 L
10 Mister Marti Gras Thornton T 115 L
11 Midnight Aria Felix J E 115 L

When I started following that circuit in the mid 80s, purses were bigger. Shocking how low they've become.