About Jon White

(from HRTV.com)

     Jon White became the first on-air personality hired by HRTV when it began in 2002. He has been a commentator for the network ever since. Jon also was the first host of an on-site HRTV broadcast at the 2003 Preakness Stakes. Along with his work for HRTV, Jon is the morning-line maker at Santa Anita, where he also provides paddock commentary for the track’s simulcast network. He made the official morning lines for the 2009 Breeders’ Cup when the event was held at Santa Anita.

     In 1979 at the age of 24, Jon was hired as a steward for the Washington Horse Racing Commission, making him the youngest steward in the history of racing in America. He also has worked as a steward in Idaho in the 1990s and in California in 2010.

     Jon’s racing career began with the Daily Racing Form in 1974. While with the Racing Form for a total period of 24 years, he worked at tracks all over the nation, including a stint as a columnist at Bowie Race Course in 1980. His background is further enriched by having spent one year (2000) as Media Relations Manager at Lone Star Park and by having participated in the sport for three years as a licensed Thoroughbred owner.

     In 1993, Jon began his television career at Santa Anita. He provided paddock commentary for the track's simulcast network for all of the 1993 Breeders’ Cup races held at Santa Anita. Jon also was co-host of Fox Sports Northwest’s telecast of the Longacres Mile (the biggest race in the Pacific Northwest) at Emerald Downs for three years (2001-2003). In 2003, he received the Mark Kaufman Media Award from the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association for “excellence in reporting on the Thoroughbred industry.

The Grade II General George Handicap (Monday, Feb. 20)

1. EIGHTTOFASTTOCATCH looks like a good play to me if he starts around his 7-2 morning line. I think that's a good number on a horse who is coming off a 4 3/4-length win in the Jennings Handicap at Laurel on Dec. 3. He earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure in the Jennings. What I also like about Eightofastocatch is he's getting six pounds from Toby's Corner and two from Caixa Eletronica. If Eightofastocatch runs another triple-digit Beyer, I think he has a good chance to be posing for pictures after the General George.
 
2. CAIXA ELETRONICA certainly is a contender. He finished third in the Grade III Toboggan Stakes at Aqueduct on Feb. 4. In November, Caixa Eletronica finished fifth in the Grade I Cigar Mile at the Big A. The Cigar runner-up, Hymn Book, won the Grade I Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 11. Calibrachoa, third in the Cigar Mile, took the Toboggan.
 
3. TOBY'S CORNER hasn't been under silks since he won the Grade I Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 9, 2011. Can he win this race despite the layoff? Yes. It certainly helps that he has a very good trainer in Graham Motion, who had 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom ready to win an allowance/optional claiming race on the turf Saturday at Gulfstream Park in his first start since the June 11 Belmont Stakes. But I'd rather try to beat Toby's Corner in the General George considering he is 3-1 on the morning line and must tote top weight of 121 pounds while coming off the bench.

The Grade II Barbara Fritchie Handicap (Saturday, Feb. 18)

1. C C'S PAL is my choice to take the 2012 Fritchie. She's coming into this race off back-to-back wins at Aqueduct for trainer Rick Dutrow. C C's Pal took the Garland of Roses on Dec. 3 at the Big A and the Ladies Handicap at that track on New Year's Day. (Third)
 
2. NICOLE H, like C C's Pal, is seeking her third straight victory. Trained by Mike Hushion, Nicole H took Aqueduct's Interborough on New Year's Day and Correction on Feb. 4. Nicole H is running back quicker than C C's Pal. Nicole H also must concede three pounds to C C's Pal. (Second)
 
3. AQUITANIA finished third in Nicole H's Interborough. But it's not as if Aquitania disgraced herself. She lost by only two lengths. (Fourth)
 

The John B. Campbell Handicap (Saturday, Feb. 18)

 1. JIMANATOR won a Grade III race as recently as Nov. 23 when he captured the Fred W. Hooper Handicap at Calder. Most recently, he ran third in the Evening Attire at Aqueduct on Jan. 28, edging Heart Butte for the show. (Won $8.60)
 
2. HEART BUTTE tries to regain his winning ways after finishing fourth, three-quarters of a length behind Jimanator, in the Evening Attire at the Big A. Heart Butte had reeled off four consecutive victories going into the Evening Attire. (Third)
 
3. THUNDER LORD could prove a tough customer. He ran third in an allowance/optional claiming race at Aqueduct on Jan. 28, but his Dec. 31 performance at Parx makes him dangerous in the Campbell. In the Auld Lange Syne at Parx on Dec. 31, Heart Butte won by a scant nose over Thunder Lord, with Jimanator 3 1/2 lengths farther back in third. (Second)

The Maryland Racing Media (Saturday, Feb. 11)

1. ACTING HAPPY, from the high-percentage Rick Dutrow barn, is my choice to win this race. Granted, she hasn't started since finishing second at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 16, 2011. But despite the long layoff, I'm not going to go against a filly who was good enough to finish third and lose by only two lengths against Blind Luck and Havre de Grace in the Grade I Alabama at Saratoga in 2010. (Fourth)
 
2 LACIE SLEW also has a high-percentage trainer in Peter Walder. Lacie Slew is coming off a third in an allowance/optional claiming contest at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 22. If Acting Happy isn't up to the task of coming off the bench to win this race, Lacie Slew has a very good chance to be posing for pictures after the Maryland Racing Media Stakes. (Won $5.20)
 
3. BALTIMORE BELLE likewise has a high-percentage trainer in Michael Trombetta. Baltimore Belle is the only one in this race to have ever won on the main track at Laurel, giving her something of a home court advantage. Indeed, she's a three-time stakes winner on the dirt at Laurel. (Scratched)

The Marshua (Saturday, Feb. 4)

1. DANCE TO BRISTOL, winner of the Pandera Stakes on a wet track at Aqueduct on Dec. 7 before finishing fourth in the Ruthless Stakes there on Jan. 14, is my choice to win the Marshua. A sharp five-furlong drill at Laurel on Jan. 29 (five furlongs in :59) appears to have her primed for a good performance. (Won $3.60)

2. DOUBLE THE ENERGY reeled off three straight wins before finishing second to Dancing Ann in an allowance sprint at Laurel on Jan. 16. It really would not be surprising if she regains her winning ways in the Marshua. (Fourth)

3. DEFY GRAVITY bore out into the lane and finished fourth as an 11-10 favorite in the aforementioned Jan. 16 allowance sprint at Laurel won by Dancing Ann. Can Defy Gravity beat Dance to Bristol? Absolutely. In fact, Defy Gravity’s already done that. Dance to Bristol finished second to Defy Gravity in the Smart Halo Stakes at Laurel on Nov. 19. (Third)

The Dancing Count (Saturday, Jan. 28)

1. BEGGARTHYNEIGHBOR is coming off a maiden win on Aqueduct's inner track on New Year's Day. This looks like it's a good spot for him to make his stakes debut. (WON $5.40)

2. COSTAS FIFTIETH has finished at least third in four of his last six starts. Trainer Dale Capuano has indicated the game plan is for Costas Fiftieth to go right to the front and have him lead for as long as he can. (Fifth)

3. TRIPPI'S SECRET rolled to a five-length victory in an allowance/optional claiming sprint at Charles Town on Dec. 16. He looks capable of proving a tough customer with these. (Second)

 Upcoming Stakes Races

Saturday, February 25 - Miracle Wood Stakes
Saturday, March 3 - Wide Country Stakes
Saturday, March 10 - Conniver Stakes
Saturday, March 17 - Private Terms Stakes
Saturday, March 24 - Harrison E. Johnson Memorial Stakes

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