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Updated: 1 week 2 days ago

Risen Star Winner Sierra Leone Made 5-1 Favorite In Pool 5 Of KY Derby Future Wager

Tue, 2024-03-12 12:07

GII Risen Star S. winner Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) was named the favorite for Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. The 'TDN Rising Star' is the 5-1 morning-line choice in the pool that opens Friday, March 15, per a release from CDI. Other top interests in the pool include GII Rebel S. winner Timberlake (Into Mischief), GII Fountain of Youth S. victor Dornoch (Good Magic) and Eclipse champion 2-year-old Fierceness (City of Light).

The lone future wager for the GI Kentucky Oaks also begins Friday with 'TDN Rising Star' and Rachel Alexandra S. winner Tarifa (Bernardini) topping the list of fillies at 8-1.

The post Risen Star Winner Sierra Leone Made 5-1 Favorite In Pool 5 Of KY Derby Future Wager appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Unbeaten Nysos Remains Top 3-Year-Old In NTRA Poll

Tue, 2024-03-12 10:20

GIII Robert B. Lewis S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) remains atop the leaderboard for week 7 as the NTRA's top 3-year-old in a poll released Tuesday. GII Risen Star S. winner Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) edged out Dornoch (Good Magic) for second with Timberlake (Into Mischief), Track Phantom (Quality Road) and Muth (Good Magic) also receiving votes. For the older horses, recent G1 Saudi Cup hero Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) took top honors ahead of National Treasure (Quality Road), Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) and Newgate (Into Mischief).

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New ARCI Chair Calls For Unity And Suggests HISA Reform

Tue, 2024-03-12 10:04

Commissioner Doug Moore, the new Chair of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, made inaugural remarks Monday. Per a release from the ARCI, Moore called for unity amongst the racing industry along with reforms to HISA.

Speaking about how penalties are assessed, Moore noted: “Previously, these fines varied from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, creating an illusion of inconsistent application of the rules. But the fact of the matter is that uniform fines are anything but uniform. Fines were and need to be assessed based on the financial structure of individual tracks. An equal fine assessed to a trainer at a track running for a purse structure of up to $500,000 per day is not the same as one given to a trainer racing where the daily purses are $100,000 per day.”

Moore's full remarks can be viewed on the ARCI website.

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Terrence Frank Honored As Top Rookie At National Horseplayers Championship

Tue, 2024-03-12 09:51

Terrence Frank, the top rookie contestant at the National Horseplayers Championship, will be honored with the James Nace Trophy. The 25th edition of the Championship, presented by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, begins Friday, March 15 and continues through Sunday, March 17.

“Receiving the Jim Nace Trophy is a great honor and a moment II'll cherish, but it's also a reminder of the journey ahead,” said Frank. “The pursuit of excellence doesn't stop with an award; it's an ongoing process of learning, adapting, and thriving amidst the challenges.”

“To all aspiring handicappers, success in this field is not just about making the right calls but also about continuous learning, adaptability, and a genuine love for the sport,” he continued. “Let passion be your guide, and never stop seeking knowledge.”

To sign up for the 2024 NHC Tour, visit the NTRA website.

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HISA Town Hall: Regulatory Reach, Environmental Contamination, Lab Variability and More Discussed

Mon, 2024-03-11 22:44

Trainers Ron Moquett and Dale Romans joined Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) CEO, Lisa Lazarus, on the agency's virtual town hall Monday. Both trainers sit on the HISA Horsemen's Advisory Group.

A good portion of the HISA Town Hall was spent emphasizing the role of the horsemen's advisory group as a vehicle for potential change and modification in HISA's regulatory framework, having driven tweaks to the federal authority's rules on things like pre-race electrolyte use and looser sanctions for positives related to human substances of abuse (more on that lower down).

“There's a lot of conversation right now around veterinary inspections and vet scratches, and how HISA can make a positive impact,” Lazarus added.

“Those are state processes and state judgments. But HISA, we believe, can do some things to make it better for all parties,” Lazarus added. “That's something we're talking a lot about.”

Below are summaries of some of the key portions of the Q&A.

Q: Should HISA's Remit be Broadened to Police the Sales? 

The question of whether HISA should broaden its regulatory reach to encompass the sales has been much discussed ever since Jeffrey Englehart faced a possible two-year suspension after one of his horses tested positive for clenbuterol.

Englehart argued that he did not give the horse the drug and that it had been given prior to the horse's purchase at the OBS auction a few months beforehand. A subsequent segmented hair test revealed that the clenbuterol had indeed been administered before Englehart became the trainer.

In discussing the topic, Lazarus explained that the act is written so that racehorses fall under HISA oversight only when they record their first official workout.

“And that's been interpreted to mean the first published work in Equibase,” said Lazarus. “There's some question about whether or not breeze shows would qualify, and they might, but we haven't got to that point just yet.”

Lazarus further explained that in October, she met with representatives from the three leading sales companies. “And they agreed to work together to come up with an anti-doping program that aligned with HISA, so that there's a sensible journey from weanling, yearling, 2-year-old, and then to horses of racing age.”

Both trainers argued that a strong case could be made for HISA to police the horse sales, though Moquett voiced reservations about the practicalities of such a program, like the possible licensure of parties handling horses in their formative years.

“There's a lot of information [that would need to be] gathered about working with these horses that all of a sudden is require daily… when we eventually get these horses,” said Moquett.

“Once we open that Pandora's Box, now all of a sudden we're going to require people to list who the owners are. You're going to require trainers and the consignors to have a license. You're going to start looking into places you've never looked,” Moquett added.

“I think Pandora's Box should have been opened a long time ago,” Romans responded, before broaching the topic of greater transparency on corrective surgeries performed on youngstock prior to the sales.

Q: Steps Taken to Prevent Environmental Contamination?

Another key area of concern among stakeholders is that of inadvertent contamination through the horse's environment.

“Everyone needs to play a part in making sure that we're delivering a clean and sterile—as sterile as possible—environment,” said Lazarus, before ticking off various points of address, some of which were included in a recent letter to the editor.

She said that the overall cleanliness of test barns—which are overseen by HIWU—has improved since the start of the ADMC program.

“However, when it comes to other common areas like receiving barns, that is something that needs a lot of work,” Lazarus admitted.

As such, the receiving barn is now part of the racetrack accreditation program, she said. HIWU investigators are also performing daily spot checks to determine which racetracks might not be stepping up to the task.

“We now have the opportunity to launch an investigation if we believe that, based on positive tests, there may be a contamination risk at a particular racecourse,” said Lazarus. “We also have mobile testing packs where we can test straw, soil to see whether or not we're finding substances that shouldn't be in a horse's environment.”

Q: Is a Possible 60-day Penalty Still too Onerous for Substances of Human Abuse Violations?

Under a proposed rule change, a first time violation for a positive test concerning a human substance of abuse like cocaine or methamphetamine has been lessened to a maximum 60-days. But is this still too onerous? Should it be closer to something like 14 days?

“Sixty days is really a cap,” said Lazarus, before adding that determining a possible source for the positive test is key to receiving a lesser penalty.

Also important is for stakeholders to illustrate to regulators what steps they've taken to mitigate the chances of inadvertent environmental contamination, like barring staff from urinating in the stalls and requiring them to wash their hands before mixing feed, said Lazarus.

“One of the things that struck me when I visited Ron [Moquett's] stable at Oaklawn is he has a huge poster in his barn that says, 'if you urinate in the stables, you will be fired,'” said Lazarus. “That's something, if Ron has a positive test, that would be a favorable consideration. He's contributing to what we're all trying to do which is reduce the likelihood of anything that shouldn't be in a horse's system getting into a horse's system.”

Moquett followed that up by saying how, “If you get a positive, it's very important you address the definition of how you think it got there” with HIWU.

“Before you get mad and start throwing stuff, the first thing you've got to write is the truth as you first saw it,” Moquett added, emphasizing how feigning ignorance as to the possible source of the contamination won't cut it under the new federal regime.

“Just let them know that you are conscious of the opportunities for a bad test, and that you're doing everything in your power to [prevent it],” Moquett added.

What other steps should be taken in the event of a positive test for a human substance of abuse, or for an atypical finding?

The panelists recommended that responsible parties first reach out to Alan Foreman, the horsemen's ombudsman. Hard-up stakeholders can also take advantage of a panel of pro-bono attorneys.

Not all who apply will be eligible. “But we've never denied anybody who has actually applied for pro-bono counsel to date,” said Lazarus.

Q: Why is HISA Using so Many Different Labs When Lab Variability is Such a Concern?

The TDN reported last year that a variety of differences between the laboratories—from different testing equipment to different testing methodologies to different sets of staff interpreting the results—mean that they can screen for different numbers of substances, and have varying abilities to screen for the same substances, outside of some 300 core analytes.

“The way that law is written, we're required to give the state where the testing takes place the opportunity to put their lab forward,” said Lazarus, adding how, if the lab in question fails to meet performance specifications, HISA is not required to use it.

With the recent news that HISA is no longer using the services of the University of Kentucky's Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, there are now five labs used under HISA's Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) program.

“I think with five labs we can get really consistent results,” said Lazarus. “[But] if we can get down to a point where the samples… [can be processed] by three or so labs, that would be preferable.”

The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) currently conducts the lab accreditation process every two years. HIWU is working to take over that process.

Q: Is HISA Working on a Universal Owner-Trainer license?

Despite HISA requiring stakeholders to apply for a federal license, owners, trainers and other industry participants are still required to apply state-by-state for individual licenses. That might change.

“That is absolutely something on our radar, and we know that that would be a huge benefit to the horsemen,” said Lazarus. “Once we get the fundamentals of HISA in place to deliver it working well, and working smoothly, that is an area we will try to be helpful on.”

The horsemen's advisory group, said Moquett, brings the topic up once every two weeks.

“If this is going to be a truly uniform industry, then it needs to start with the very first thing, which is the licensing,” he said. “I think it's an odd deal we haven't fixed it yet.”

Q: Is the Prohibition of Toe Grabs Warranted?

While HISA generally prohibits the use of toe grabs, it offers an exemption permitting the use of traction devices in the form of either a full outer rim shoe (up to 4 mm in height) or a toe grab (up to 4 mm in height) on hindlimbs on the dirt.

The prohibition on toe grabs, said Lazarus, was based on science and research. “Internationally, toe grabs haven't been allowed for quite a long time,” she added. “The U.S. was the last racing jurisdiction to have regulations around toe grabs.”

When asked if further toe grab allowances should be given when it comes to deeper dirt surfaces, Lazarus argued that the data suggests the prohibition has been successful.

“Probably the racetrack that had the biggest complaints about this rule was Prairie Meadows, and they went from in 2022 a 2.39 [fatalities per 1000 starts rate], a much higher fatality rate. And this year, they were exceptional—they were 1.14,” said Laazarus. “I'm not suggesting the whole reason is to do with toe grabs, but at least the data shows they're not worse off with that rule than they were previously.”

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Chicago Bears Reverse Course, Will Not Build Stadium On Arlington Property

Mon, 2024-03-11 15:54

According to several news reports, the Chicago Bears are now planning to build a new stadium within the city limits of Chicago. The Bears purchased Arlington Park and the surrounding property from Churchill Downs Incorporated in 2021 for $197.2 million and announced plans to build a stadium there. Since the purchase, the Arlington grandstand has been torn down, but the Bears did not start the process of developing the property.

Citing a source, ESPN.com is reporting that the Bears are ready to invest $2 billion in private money into a publicly owned domed stadium and park space that would feature year-round community amenities.

“The Chicago Bears are proud to contribute over $2 billion to build a stadium and improve open spaces for all families, fans and the general public to enjoy in the City of Chicago,” Bears team president and CEO Kevin Warren said in a statement. “The future stadium of the Chicago Bears will bring a transformative opportunity to our region — boosting the economy, creating jobs, facilitating mega events and generating millions in tax revenue. We look forward to sharing more information when our plans are finalized.”

According to ESPN.com, the Bears began exploring options for a new stadium beyond Arlington Heights last summer when they announced that those plans were “at risk” as negotiations over property taxes reached a $100 million impasse.

Should the plans to build a stadium in Chicago come to fruition, it is expected that the Bears will put the Arlington property up for sale.

Dave McCaffrey, the executive director of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, was skeptical that the Bears will actually follow through on the plans to build a stadium within the city limits. He believes the announcement may be nothing more than posturing to get a better deal.

“Even though they made that announcement I don't think Arlington is dead when it comes to building a stadium there,” McCaffrey said. “There are all sorts of political games being played. I don't think the situation is as definitive as they made it sound in that announcement. They are trying to get tax breaks and public funding for a stadium, and the announcement made today is often the sort of thing people do when they are trying to get money.”

McCaffrey said he doesn't foresee any scenario where a new buyer would emerge and construct a racetrack on the site. He noted that the current laws in Illinois do not allow for a racino to be built at Arlington.

“The Bears completely destructed Arlington and all its accouterments, the water tower, the barns, the dorm rooms, the vets offices, every single piece of anything that was built is gone. It's just a piece of vacant land. The amount of money it would take to rebuild a racetrack, barns, dorm rooms and all else that goes into a racing site would be a gigantic investment.”

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Graded-Stakes Winning Jockey Doug Thomas Dead At 78

Mon, 2024-03-11 15:17

Douglas Thomas, a graded-stakes winning jockey who raced primarily at Monmouth Park in the 1970's and 80's, died Mar. 9 at the age of 78, according to an obituary written by his son Robert Thomas and sent by the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association of New Jersey.

An earner of over $21 million over the course of his career, the Canadian native retired in 1997 having made over 18,000 starts with a win total in excess of 2,000 races. Many of his winner's circle photos took place at tracks across New Jersey and New York. In particular, a stretch from 1977-1981 saw him amass 690 wins from 5,514 starts and garner nearly $7 million in earnings as one of the top riders at tracks like the Meadowlands.

According to his obituary, Thomas was named the leading apprentice at Aqueduct in 1968, a year in which he collected almost $1 million in earnings.

The Meadowlands, a track where Thomas regularly rode | Sarah Andrew

While riding at Monmouth, Thomas lost a total of three years in the irons because of injuries, which included a broken back–twice–a broken shoulder, a broken wrist, a hyperextended thumb resulting in a fracture, and a multi-fractured orbital bone that caused permanent vision damage, according to his family.

As Thomas told the TDN, “I would say that he is the Evil Knievel of racing because he always kept getting up, no matter what.”

His most serious injury occurred in 1990, when he was struck in the head by a trailing horse after being unseated. A year later, Thomas was back in the saddle. “He was, perhaps, one of the physically and mentally toughest jockeys of all time,” his son wrote of his father.

Thomas is survived by his wife, Jane Johnson; his son, Robert; and a former wife, MaryAnn.

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Jonathan Wong Still Searching For First Win In Louisiana

Mon, 2024-03-11 14:47

Trainer Jonathan Wong, who was hit with a two-year suspension by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) for a metformin positive, has resurfaced in Louisiana, where he has 15 horses at a private training center but has yet to visit the winner's circle. Wong sent out his first starter in Louisiana on Feb. 13. But the same trainer who had one of the biggest stables in Northern California has struggled there, sending out just five horses without a winner.

The plaintiff states of Louisiana and West Virginia won a preliminary injunction in federal court in July that will keep the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) Authority's rules from being implemented in those two states until a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of HISA gets decided in full. Because he was not under a suspension issued by the Louisiana Racing Commission, Wong is being allowed to compete in the Bayou State.

Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Inc., did not give Wong any stalls but is allowing him to race.

Wong did not start a horse between July 1 and Feb. 13, when he sent out his first Louisiana runner, Desoto's War (Warrior's Reward). He has made just four starts at Fair Grounds and one at Delta Downs.

According to one of his owners, Brent Malmstrom, who is helping with Wong's legal fight, Wong had 141 horses before he was suspended.

Malmstrom and Wong have maintained that the trainer is innocent because the positive for the drug, which is used in humans to treat Type II diabetes, was a matter of environmental contamination.

Wong did not return phone calls from the TDN seeking comment.

“Jonathan Wong may have done some things in the past,” he said. “I can't speak to that. All I can speak to is this: he didn't do this. We don't know where the drug came from. It's odd that at point in time when all this happened almost half of the metformin positives occurred at Horseshoe Indianapolis.”

The horse that tested positive was Heaven and Earth (Gormley) and the positive was found after the filly won a June 1 maiden special weight race at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Malmstrom acknowledged that this has been a difficult situation for Wong.

“The sad thing about this whole thing is that this cost him his marriage,” he said. “He's got four little children. He's doing whatever he can to survive as I, along with our lawyers, work on the legal side to figure out how to get relief.”

Malmstrom said that most of the horses Wong trained before the suspension have been sent to other trainers.

“He lost his entire business,” he said. “The bulk of the horses he has in Louisiana are mine. I don't turn my back on people when they're at their lowest point in life. Louisiana has been incredibly welcoming and we thank them. People deserve an opportunity to defend themselves and should have the right to earn a living while they are defending themselves. That's a fundamental thing.”

The Fair Grounds meet ends on March 24. Malmstrom said that after Fair Grounds closes Wong will focus on the meet at Evangeline Downs, which opens April 7.

Wong has been training since 2014 and has 1,194 career wins. His best year came in 2021, when he saddled 236 winners and won at a rate of 23%.

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Resurgent OBS March Sale Opens Tuesday

Mon, 2024-03-11 14:07

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, the first of the spring's juvenile auctions, kicks off Tuesday with bidding on the first of 853 catalogued lots beginning at 11 a.m. The OBS March sale, which transitioned from a select to an open sale in 2015, was held over three days for the first time since 2014 in 2023 and again returns in that expanded format in 2024 after a power-packed renewal a year ago.

“I was really impressed by the number of people who were here watching the breeze show,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “The quality of horse flesh is as good a March sale as we have had in a long time. We seem to say that every year, but the consignors seem to outdo themselves every year and bring better horses. There is a lot of activity on the grounds right now. Horses looked good at the breeze show and they look good at the barns as well. So we are excited about the sale.”

There were five seven-figure juveniles sold at the 2023 March sale, led by subsequent Grade I winner Muth (Good Magic), who sold for $2 million to Zedan Racing Stables. There were 24 horses who sold for $500,000 or more at the auction, double the number from 2022. Those numbers reflect the end result of the auction's change from a select to an open sale, according to Wojciechowski.

“We opened up the March sale about five or six years ago and took it away from being a select sale and made it an open sale,” Wojciechowski said. “I think people now appreciate and understand that March is a larger catalogue. That the guy that thought he was going to get priced out of the market when it was a select sale, now it has been demonstrated over enough years that they can come buy a horse in their price range and be happy with the results. Not only did we need the buyers to see that, but the sellers did as well.”

The OBS April Spring Sale had become much more of a destination sale over the last several years, but Wojciechowski said top-level horses are gravitating back to the March sale.

“When we originally opened it up, some of those [top] horses may have gotten scared and thought they couldn't participate in March,” he said. “I think they are seeing the pendulum swings back and forth and a lot of them went to April. April is a great sale and those horses do good in April, but over the last couple of years, some guys who have made the commitment to send them to March have been rewarded for it. I think they can kind of see, not unlike April, there is something for everyone, both buyers and sellers.”

During last week's under-tack show, a pair of juveniles by first-crop sires shared the fastest furlong time of :9 3/5: a filly by Vekoma (hip 448) consigned by Wavertree Stables and a colt by Tiz the Law (hip 529) consigned by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds.

A filly by Win Win Win (hip 788) consigned by Ocala Stud turned in the under-tack show's fastest quarter-mile breeze of :20 1/5.

With plenty of activity around Ocala Stud's Barn 4 over the weekend, the operation's David O'Farrell is looking for a competitive market this week.

“We weren't really planning on a busy show day, but we were busy showing horses throughout the day,” O'Farrell said Saturday. “I think traffic will be fine. I am optimistic about the sale, there are some really nice horses on the grounds. I think the previous sales have shown that the market is pretty darn good and I think it'll be a good horse sale.”

O'Farrell said strong results on the racetrack should lead to return buyers at the sales. In addition to Muth, multiple graded stakes winner Nysos (Nyquist) and Ocala Stud-bred GIII Holy Bull S. winner Hades (Awesome Slew) also sold in Central Florida last year.

“The 2-year-old sales graduates have performed really well this year,” O'Farrell said. “Basically, 2-year-old purchases have performed really well and our runners are our best advertisement. I don't see any reason that the market isn't going to be very good.”

Despite O'Farrell's optimism, consignor Eddie Woods is expecting to see some familiar patterns emerge at the March sale.

“It's going to be the same old story,” Woods said. “Top end, all the way, they will bring all the money. And you just have to hang on to your hats with the rest of them, I think. There will be some people there for other horses, but that's just the way the sales have been the last couple of years–not just the 2-year-old sales, all sales.”

The March catalogue also includes 40 horses who are part of the dispersal of the racing stock of the late Bob Lothenbach. Consigned by de Meric Sales, Niall Brennan Stables, Tom McCrocklin and Ocala Stud, the group galloped at last week's under-tack show.

Lothenbach passed away last November and the dispersal of his stock began at Fasig-Tipton last month with a digital sale of racing age horses followed by a selection of broodmares and short yearlings at the company's Winter Mixed Sale.

“There are some nice quality horses in there, no doubt,” said Wojciechowski. “The fact that they galloped here, I don't think is having any connotation negative or otherwise other than understanding the situation. Everyone understands the situation under which [the dispersal] is occurring.”

The March sale will be held Tuesday through Thursday with sessions beginning each day at 11 a.m.

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National Museum Of Racing To Celebrate Secretariat’s Birthday With Children’s Event

Mon, 2024-03-11 12:34

Secretariat's birthday will be celebrated Saturday, March 30 with a special children's event hosted by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, NY. The afternoon, which will run concurrently with the final day of the Museum's exhibit celebrating the 50th anniversary of Secretariat's Triple Crown, will feature a showing of the 2010 Disney film starring Diane Lane along with a variety of children's activities. Fans are welcome to an Easter egg hunt and will have the opportunity to color silks and design a birthday card. The event, which will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will be included with the cost of regular Museum admission.

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Star-Studded Fields Announced For Dubai World Cup Meeting

Mon, 2024-03-11 10:37

Five returning champions and one previous champion highlight the prospective fields for the Dubai World Cup meeting to be held at sprawling Meydan Racecourse in Dubai Saturday, Mar. 30. The connections of 106 horses from no fewer than 12 racing jurisdictions have accepted invitations to the eight Thoroughbred races on a $30.5-million program that begins with the $1-million Dubai Kahayla Classic for the Purebred Arabians and concludes with the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup.

The main event has attracted a field of 15 that is led by its defending champion Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), one of 24 runners set to ship in from Japan for the meeting. Looking to become the first 7-year-old World Cup winner since Gloria de Campeao (Brz) back in 2010 and just the third overall, the recent G1 Saudi Cup runner-up is joined by three compatriots, including last year's G2 UAE Derby hero Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits). The American challenge numbers five and is topped by Saudi Cup upsetter Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) and GI Santa Anita H. hero Newgate (Into Mischief) for four-time World Cup winner Bob Baffert, while the exciting Kabirkhan (California Chrome) has been the talking horse of the Dubai International Racing Carnival and the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge victor will have his supporters to become a first World Cup winner for perennial leading trainer Doug Watson. Laurel River (Into Mischief) won the G3 Burj Nahaar over a mile on Super Saturday Mar. 2, but opts for the World Cup over the Godolphin Mile for trainer Bhupat Seemar.

The $6-million G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, won in imperious fashion by Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) last March, was the second highest-rated race in the world in 2023, and if the field assembled for this renewal is any indication, it could go one better. A likely field of 12 has been revealed, fully 10 of which have succeeded at Group 1 level, and features a mouth-watering clash between G1 Betfred Derby, G1 Irish Derby and GI Breeders' Cup Turf hero Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Japanese Triple Tiara winner Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}). Japan is also represented by 2022 Sheema Classic victor Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), while Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is set to make her first appearance beyond the borders of the UK and is one of four on the evening for John and Thady Gosden. Godolphin sends out Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), impressive in taking out the Listed HH The Amir Trophy in Qatar last month.

Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) also represents the Clarehaven operation as he goes in search of an unprecedented fourth victory in a row in the G1 Dubai Turf, where he squares off with G1 Arima Kinen hero Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), the would-be 2023 favourite who was scratched leading up to the race. Also in the field is Lord North's hard-knocking stable companion Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}); Godolphin's progressive G1 Jebel Hatta winner Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}); treble elite-level scorer Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) for Aidan O'Brien; and Hong Kong's Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), victorious in this year's G1 Stewards Cup at Sha Tin.

Godolphin's Siskany (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) will look to avenge a tough defeat in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup, where he'll surely face a stiff challenge from recent G3 Longines Red Sea Turf H. winner Tower of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and runner-up Enemy (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}); G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup conqueror Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}); and G2 Yorkshire Cup winner Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {GB}).

Danyah (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) proved a somewhat unlikely winner of the 2023 G1 Al Quoz Sprint for local trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri and will have to dig deep if he is to defend against the Jamie Osborne-trained veteran Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal), a recent winner in Qatar; the nails-tough US raider Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed); Annaf (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), so game up the rail to scoop the G2 1351 Turf Sprint Feb. 24; Hong Kong's G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup winner California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}); and the 3-year-old fillies Star of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) and Frost At Dawn (Frosted).

America's Sibelius (Not This Time) will have Ryan Moore back in the saddle as he defends his title in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen against the likes of G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint winner Remake (Jpn) (Lani) and the locally trained Tuz (Oxbow), while Isolate (Mark Valeski) is certain to face a strong challenge from Saudi Cup close third-placegetter Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming), who drops back in trip for the G2 Godolphin Mile.

The G2 UAE Derby features a budding star in the form of the Yoshito Yahagi-conditioned Forever Young (Jpn), a son of 2016 Dubai Turf hero Real Steel (Jpn), whose undefeated run includes a razor-thin victory in the 1600-metre G3 Saudi Derby Feb. 24. G3 UAE 2000 Guineas winner Mendelssohn Bay (Mendelssohn) and Listed Al Bastakiya S. scorer Killer Collect (Collected) front the local challenge, while Ballydoyle is set to be represented by G3 Tyros S. winner Henry Adams (Ire) (No Nay Never). The Derby offers 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Click here for the full fields.

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Open Letter to the Industry: Lisa Lazarus on Contamination

Mon, 2024-03-11 08:53

Like many of you, I read Rusty Arnold's open letter about his positive test with interest, and carefully considered the concerns that he identified. Also, like many of you, I am privileged to personally know, and respect Rusty, so I do not take his criticisms lightly. Rusty identified some of the challenges inherent in administering an equine anti-doping and medication control (“ADMC”) program that is efficient, effective, and fair. However, it is important to note that those same challenges existed long before HISA and HIWU came onto the scene. In fact, there is no difference whatsoever between the prohibition of, and the testing for, Tramadol (the substance found in Rusty's horse) pre- and post-HISA, nor for the application of the trainer responsibility rule. There is a difference in the sanction, however, which is less severe under HISA. But more importantly, HISA is doing, and will continue to do, whatever it takes to help make our ADMC Program as effective and fair as it can be.

Let me start by laying out the relevant history of Tramadol, an opioid analgesic, in horseracing. Tramadol has always been a prohibited substance under ARCI rules; it was originally a Class A penalty and was changed to Class B in March 2016. In fact, Carol Cobb, a Kentucky trainer, was ordered to serve a 180-day suspension in 2021 for Tramadol (the violation arose prior to March 2016.)   Every international racing jurisdiction bans Tramadol. Under FEI rules (sport horses), Tramadol is classified as a doping–not medication–substance, and a positive test yields a presumptive two-year ban. Under HISA, Tramadol is a Class B violation because HISA's ADMC Committee recognized that there are legitimate indications for the use of Tramadol in a horse outside of a race.  A Tramadol positive now comes with a 15-day suspension, which can be reduced to seven days if the trainer accepts the consequences without a legal challenge (which is what Rusty opted to do in this case). HIWU testing specifications for Tramadol are consistent with TOBA's Graded Stakes testing which were in place prior to the implementation of the HISA ADMC Program. Kentucky samples were previously tested to the TOBA standards, as the KHRC did not distinguish between stakes and non-stakes races when testing for Tramadol. So, put simply, nothing has changed regarding the treatment of Tramadol in Kentucky, except that HISA has a more lenient sanction than previously applicable to Kentucky trainers.

One of two things is true for any substance: it either has a legitimate, medically justified use in Thoroughbreds and is permitted to be administered properly–or it doesn't, regardless of whether it's been proven to enhance performance. If a substance has no legitimate therapeutic use, then as an industry we need to ensure these substances are not permitted in a horse's system–whether intentionally or unintentionally. In addition, while horsemen's fears are understandable, in truth the risk of “contamination” causing a positive test is exceedingly low.  Nonetheless, HISA firmly believes that maintaining a backstretch free of contamination is a responsibility that must be shared amongst all racing stakeholders, and not fall exclusively on horsemen's shoulders.

So, what are HISA and HIWU currently doing to help protect horsemen from the risk of contamination?

 The Atypical Findings Policy: This program applies to environmental contaminants (e.g., ractopamine, caffeine) and hormones that the horse can produce on its own (e.g., testosterone). The full list of Atypical Findings substances can be found here. HISA Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program Atypical Findings Policy – HIWU.  If any of those substances are detected in a horse's sample, HIWU recognizes that they may likely be the result of contamination, and an investigation is initiated to determine the likely source or cause of the positive test. If HIWU is satisfied that the likely source of the positive was contamination, the trainer is never charged with a violation, and it is never made public.  Since HIWU took over testing nine months ago, there have been 35 positive tests suspected of being environmental contamination and only two have been pursued as violations. The public has not heard of these positive tests, because they are disposed of confidentially; in short, it's a successful program.

Inadvertent Transfer of Human Drugs of Abuse: This is a modification that HISA made in response to a request from the Horsemen's Advisory Group. This separate protocol applies to a list of substances including cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, and oxycodone, and is included in the revised rules sent to the Federal Trade Commission.[1] If any of those drugs are detected in a horse's sample, the expectation is that it is likely inadvertent human transfer, and, assuming that the new rules are approved, the ineligibility period will be capped at 60 days (unless of course there are concerns, based upon the available evidence, that the drug may have been intentionally administered.). While HISA awaits the approval of the new rules, HIWU is putting any cases that would result in a shorter ineligibility period under the new rules on hold so that horsemen who have such cases now will be able to benefit from the proposed rule change if it is approved.

All Track Accreditation Visits Now include Cleanliness and Protocol Reviews related to Receiving Barns: Beginning in 2024, once HISA became alerted to Horsemen's concerns, these receiving barn reviews were added as a mandatory requirement at all HISA track accreditation visits.

What are HISA and HIWU planning to do to further protect Horsemen from the risk of contamination?

Random Use of Mobile Drug Test Pouches: Prior to Rusty Arnold's letter, HISA had purchased a significant number of Mobile Drug Test Pouches and is engaging in discussions with HISA's Racetrack Accreditation team and HIWU on how these tests might be deployed under a protocol that would further assist HISA in reducing contamination risk from the backside.

Daily Monitoring by HIWU Investigators: Also previously planned, HIWU investigators stationed at racetracks will employ a daily “to do” list each morning beginning on March 14, which will include the monitoring of common areas for horses, such as receiving barns, for cleanliness.

Continually Review Testing Levels to Address Contamination Issues: As an integral part of HISA's Laboratory Harmonization Initiative, the laboratories continually review testing levels for harmonization, contamination risk, and to ensure consistency with the goals of the ADMC Program.

What can horsemen do to help?

If you See Something, Say Something: As an industry, we are all in this together. We need to know when horsemen observe contamination risks at racetracks if we are to be effective. Please email HISA at keepitclean@hisaus.org with any photos or concerns and we will follow them up immediately. We will keep the source of all such communications strictly confidential.

Maintain a Strict Policy against Urination in the Stables:  We understand that trainers cannot be everywhere and see everything. But your employees should know that urinating in the stalls is prohibited and, if they do, there will be serious consequences.  To be most effective, this should come with reminders to employees to apply hygienic practices, especially handwashing.

If You Can Afford Them and the Racetrack does not Provide Them, Install Webcams in Your Barns: HISA encourages the installation of cameras whenever and wherever possible for an additional layer of risk protection.  HISA will be working to promote more widespread use of cameras at racetracks.

Use Best Efforts to Avoid Hiring Drug Users in Your Barn:  We understand that this may not be obvious when you hire someone, but you should at least have a policy in your stables of avoiding the knowing hiring or retention of drug users.

In sum, HISA and HIWU are fully committed to a fair and effective ADMC program that minimizes the risk of holding anyone without fault accountable for an anti-doping or controlled medication rule violation. If everyone does their part as listed above, we believe that goal is attainable. The HISA ADMC Program will always prioritize the inherent integrity of the program by treating everyone, no matter their stature, the same. We will never allow personal views, or the reputation of any individual racing participant, to supplant what the laboratory reports or related science dictates. (In fact, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act prohibits HISA/HIWU from taking any trainer's pre-HISA history–good or bad–into account.) Having the regulator decide who are the “good” guys and who are the “bad” guys, would completely undermine the integrity of any program, and make HISA's mandate entirely futile.

We hope by outlining our program and explaining how trainers can contribute, you will see that we take this issue seriously. HISA and HIWU always welcome constructive industry feedback on our programs as we continue to refine processes and protocols. Feedback can be submitted directly to HISA at feedback@hisaus.org or to the Horsemen's Advisory Group here at horsemenadvisory@hisaus.org.  Please don't hesitate to continue to provide feedback and suggestions of any nature, so that we can work together to reach the important goals that are in the common interest of all industry stakeholders.

 

[1] The full list includes the following substances:  i) Cocaine/Benzoylecognine; (ii) Methamphetamine; (iii) Methaqualone; (iv) Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA); (v) Methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA); (vi) Methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA);(vii) Oxycodone; (viii) Phencyclidine (PCP); and (ix) Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

 

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Newgate, Hopkins Confirmed For Dubai World Cup Night

Sun, 2024-03-10 21:43

The lightly raced Newgate (Into Mischief), last-out winner of the GI Santa Anita H. Mar. 3 and Hopkins (Quality Road), narrowly second when last seen in the Feb. 10 GIII Palos Verdes S. at Santa Anita, will ship to Dubai for the G1 Dubai World Cup and G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen Mar. 30, respectively, SF Bloodstock's Tom Ryan confirmed in a message Sunday.

An $850,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, Newgate won the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. last February before being sidelined for 11 months. Runner-up to subsequent Palos Verdes winner Big City Lights (Mr. Big) in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance Jan. 6, the bay completed the exacta behind Newgrange (Violence) in the GII San Pasqual S. three weeks later and was most recently up in the final jump to win the Big 'Cap by a head. Trainer Bob Baffert is a four-time winner of the World Cup, most recently with Country Grammer (Tonalist) in 2022.

The commonly owned Hopkins will make his second consecutive appearance in the Golden Shaheen, after finishing fourth, beaten just one length, behind Sibelius (Not This Time) in last year's contest. A $900,000 KEESEP yearling, Hopkins was off 10 1/2 months following his overseas trip, returning to be runner-up after setting a fast pace in a Jan. 19 allowance at Santa Anita and he led deep into the final furlong of the Palos Verdes before being mugged on the money by Big City Lights. Hopkins breezed a half-mile in :47.80 (13/92) at Santa Anita Mar. 9.

Ryan indicated that he and his partners are still in the process of firming up riding assignments.

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Domestic Product Gives Complexity Filly a Big Update at OBS March

Sun, 2024-03-10 17:57

When Domestic Product (Practical Joke) bullied his way through traffic to get his nose in front in the GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby Saturday, he not only earned valuable qualifying points to the GI Kentucky Derby, he also provided a timely update for his half-sister who is scheduled to sell during the first session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales' Company's March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale Tuesday.

“She's been very popular today, let's put it that way,” Becky Thomas said of the filly from the first crop of Complexity (hip 276) after a long day of showing Sunday in Ocala.

Thomas's Sequel Thoroughbreds bred the daughter of Goods and Services (Paynter) and she is consigned under the Sequel Bloodstock banner.

The tote delay that caused the Tampa Bay Derby post time to be pushed back a half-hour did, at least, allow Thomas to get home in time to watch the race.

“I was afraid he was not going to be able to move around because he was in tight there at the end,” Thomas said. “Those kind of horses are so impressive because he obviously had so much horse left, he just needed to be able to go. So it was very, very cool.”

Even before Domestic Product's win at Tampa Bay, Thomas was impressed with his 2-year-old half-sister, who worked a furlong during the OBS under-tack show in :10 flat and had shown even more promise when training over the dirt.

“I really love her on dirt,” Thomas said. “She was a filly that I slated for Maryland May [Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale] and I moved her up here because she was training so good. She's got a really quiet demeanor, so I originally put her for May because she is a big, stretchy filly and I thought I would give her a little bit more time. They kind of tell you when you start breezing them who needs to move up and who might need to move down. But she's been really solid.”

The dark bay filly is one of 19 juveniles by Complexity to work last week ahead of the OBS March sale. The son of Hill 'n' Dale stallion Maclean's Music won the 2018 GI Champagne S. and 2020 GII Kelso S. He stands at Airdrie Stud for a fee of $12,500.

“I am a Maclean's Music fan,” Thomas explained. “I ended up buying a share in [his sons] Drain the Clock and I bred to Jackie's Warrior. I am a John Sikura disciple. When you have those horses who have shown such brilliance and have been a Grade I-siring stallion like him, I really like those kind of horses. And this filly is a big tall leggy, two-turn looking filly that's got a lot of parts. You can see why she can go so fast and you can also see why she should go two turns.”

The large number of juveniles by Complexity in the March catalogue came as no surprise to Thomas.

“We are a land of pinhookers and if we actually bought horses, it's because all of us like the shape of them,” she said. “The fact that there are that many in here and so many of them are pinhooks, they are the type the pinhookers like. They look quick.”

Thomas purchased Goods and Services with the Complexity filly in utero for $37,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November sale.

“I couldn't be at that sale, but [bloodstock agent] Andrew Cary and my assistant Carlos Manresa sent me the link to her,” Thomas said. “So we decided to try on her. But it was all because of Andrew and Carlos.”

The 2-year-old is the mare's last foal.

“Unfortunately, she has passed away,” Thomas said of the mare. “We bred her to Drain the Clock and she was in foal, but she was really very laminitic. Unfortunately, even through our podiatrist, we were not able to keep her comfortable. This is the only baby we got out of her.”

The three-day OBS March sale begins Tuesday at 11 a.m.

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Win Win Win Filly Ties OBS Under-Tack Record

Sat, 2024-03-09 19:43

An Ocala Stud-bred and -consigned filly from the first crop of GI Forego S. winner Win Win Win (Hat Trick {Jpn}) equaled the record time for a quarter-mile breeze over the SafeTrack surface at the OBS sales grounds, covering the distance in :20 1/5 during the fourth and final preview for next week's OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds In Training.

“It wasn't a real surprise,” said Ocala Stud's David O'Farrell. “She prepped very well last week, did it very easily and she's just a really, really good filly. She's got 'it'–she's got that 'it' factor. You really don't know exactly what you have until the final prep.

“She's powerful, very classy and very good-minded,” he continued. “She came back to the barn after her breeze and just cooled out beautifully. She never turned a hair, she's very quiet and just great to be around. Every time you ask her for work, she lays it down for you. We were high on her at the farm, but when we got over here it completely translated. She's the real deal, she's fast.”

Hip 788 is the latest foal out of their homebred Unanimity (Union Rags), whose own dam Lady Discreet (Boundary) was acquired by Ocala Stud for $45,000 in foal to Phone Trick at the 2004 OBS Fall Mixed Sale.

A daughter of 1995 GI Alabama S. heroine Pretty Discreet (Private Account), Lady Discreet is a half-sister to Grade I-winning sire Discreet Cat (Forestry), GISW Discreetly Mine (Mineshaft) and SW/MGISP Pretty Wild (Wild Again). For Ocala Stud, Lady Discreet produced MSW & MGSP Courtesan (Street Sense), the stakes-winning and stakes-producing Chary (Montbrook) and The Shady Lady (Quality Road), the unraced dam of undefeated GIII Holy Bull S. winner Hades (Awesome Slew) and SW Devious Dame (Girvin).

The second-fastest quarter-mile move Saturday was turned in by the Pick View LLC-consigned hip 686, a first-crop son of Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}) out of the Irish stakes-placed So Stylish (Johannesburg), who stopped the clock in :20 2/5. Bred by Mt. Brilliant Farm & Ranch, hip 686 was purchased by Pick View for $40,000 at Keeneland September last fall.

A day after a pair of horses shared the :9 3/5 bullet for one-eighth mile breezes, no fewer than seven juveniles shared top honors when working in :9 4/5 Saturday. They include:

  • Hip 670, a Catalina Cruiser half-brother to SP Motown Mischief (Malibu Moon) from Coastal Equine LLC (Jesse Hoppel);

 

 

  • Hip 780, a Bolt d'Oro filly whose dam Troublesome (Into Mischief) produced MSW Amidst Waves (Midshipman) from the draft of Wavertree Sales Inc (Ciaran Dunne);

 

 

  • Hip 825, a New York-bred, May-foaled colt by Goldencents and a half-brother to SW Treasure King (Treasure Beach {GB}) from the consignment of Cesar Loya Training & Sales;

 

 

  • Hip 844, a filly from the first crop by Instagrand (Into Mischief) out of a half-sister to Grade I-winning juvenile Noble's Promise (Cuvee) and from the family of GISW Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) from the Eddie Woods draft.

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‘Rising Star’ Kinza Proves A Dominating Winner of the Santa Ysabel

Sat, 2024-03-09 18:36

Saturday's GIII Santa Ysabel S. proved yet another walk in the park for Michael Lund Petersen's 'TDN Rising Star' Kinza (Carpe Diem), who treated her seven other rivals to a front-running beating while not asked for anything close to her best. It was a second straight win in the race for Petersen, who sent out fellow Fasig-Tipton Midlantic acquisition and 'Rising Star' Faiza (Girvin) last year.

The 1-2 chalk to add to her facile two-length victory in her two-turn bow in the GIII Las Virgenes S. going a mile Feb. 10, the $350,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic breezer won the break, but had some company early in the form of Las Virgenes third She's a Tempest (Connect), who prompted through an opening quarter in a strong :22.52. Kept honest enough down the backstretch, Kinza got the opening half-mile in :45.98, but looked to be doing it willingly enough and under a long rein from Juan Hernandez. Asked to extend a bit at the three-furlong pole, with She's a Tempest now under a ride, Kinza kicked farther in front off the final corner and Hernandez had plenty of time to take a look at the infield board to see just how much he had in hand.

It was a fourth Santa Ysabel in succession for trainer Bob Baffert and his ninth overall.

“I think she was just feeling a little fresh and now she knows she was going to race, so she was feeling a little hot,” said Hernandez. “I didn't want to go that fast in the beginning, I wanted to go nice and easy. I just let her go, I didn't want to fight her, she was really comfortable. I felt the pace fast earlier, so I said, 'I'm just going to wait I'm not going to move.' I was just checking making sure no one got too close to me and when she switched leads that's when she picked it up again and gave me another gear, she is a nice filly.”

The New York-bred Kinza, also a $17,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Mixed weanling and $30,000 OBS October yearling, was made a no-brainer 'Rising Star' on debut when streaking away to score by 7 1/2 lengths over six furlongs Dec. 29.

Pedigree Notes:

One of 13 worldwide stakes winners and three graded winners for her sire from five crops of racing age, Kinza is out of a half-sister to the stakes-placed Mylastfirstkiss (Flatter). The last-listed produce for Secret Wonder is a 2-year-old filly by Instagrand.

Saturday, Santa Anita Park
SANTA YSABEL S.-GIII, $101,500, Santa Anita, 3-9, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:44.16, ft.
1–KINZA, 124, f, 3, by Carpe Diem
             1st Dam: Secret Wonder, by Quality Road
             2nd Dam: Maxinkuckee Miss, by Langfuhr
             3rd Dam: Wini Jones, by Seeking the Gold
($17,000 Wlg '21 FTNMIX; $30,000 Ylg '22 OBSOCT; $350,000 2yo '23 EASMAY). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-JD Business Ventures LLC, Brushy Hill Stable & Carpe Diem Syndicate (NY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $159,000. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Where's My Ring, 120, f, 3, Twirling Candy–Mapit, by Tapit. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($100,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Michael McMillan; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Val Brinkerhoff. $20,000.
3–She's a Tempest, 120, f, 3, Connect–Hurricane Tiz, by Tiznow. O/B-SAYJAY Racing, LLC & Beerman Family Trust (KY); T-Steve Knapp. $12,000.
Margins: 5, 1 1/4, 2HF. Odds: 0.50, 20.30, 13.80.
Also Ran: Ultimate Authority, Shiloh's Mistress, Nay V Belle, Pacific Rose, Ifuaintfirsturlast.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

Born in Schuylerville, coasting in Arcadia! Kinza, bred by JD Business Ventures, Brushy Hill, & Carpe Diem Syndicate & foaled at Schuylerville Thoroughbred Farm, is 3-for-3 and a 2-time GSW! @JJHernandezS19 on the #NYbred for Michael Lund Petersen, Baffert in the G3 Santa Ysabel. pic.twitter.com/OJsfqwCzcN

— NYTB (@nytbreeders) March 9, 2024

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Klaravich’s Domestic Product Wins Wild Tampa Bay Derby

Sat, 2024-03-09 18:14

In a GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby delayed more than 30 minutes due to a tote issue plaguing much of the East Coast, Klaravich Stables homebred DOMESTIC PRODUCT (c, 3, Practical Joke–Goods and Services, by Paynter) won in a wild scramble at the finish. Recent GIII Sam F. Davis S. winner No More Time (Not This Time) was nosed out for the win and held second over recent Swale S. third Grand Mo the First (Uncle Mo), while pacesetter Good Money (Good Magic) just missed the board. The final time for the 8 1/2 furlongs was 1:45.47 in a race where the top five finishers all earned qualifying points on a scale of 50-25-15-10-5 for the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

As the Tampa Bay Derby runners circled for about 30 minutes in the saddling paddock prior to the race as the extent of the tote outage became apparent, officials at Tampa Bay Downs finally opted to run the Kentucky Derby points race as a non-wagering event. The final race on the card, scheduled to be run after the Tampa Bay Derby, was canceled altogether.

Most recently the runner-up to Hades (Awesome Slew) in the GIII Holy Bull S. Feb. 3, Domestic Product broke outward at the Tampa Bay Derby start, bumped slightly, and was unbothered as jockey Tyler Gaffalione eased into a covered-up position midpack while keeping his mount under a strong hold. Domestic Product's stablemate, fellow Chad Brown trainee Good Money, showed the way through tepid :25.25 and :51.14 early fractions as Gaffalione continued to ask Domestic Product to wait. Tipped wide off the turn, the winner joined a calvary charge bearing down on Good Money with the photo showing mere inches between Domestic Product and No More Time, as Grand Mo the First and Good Money also made noise as part of the final fray.

It was the first Tampa Bay Derby win for both Brown and Gaffalione, as well as for Klaravich Stables. Inaugurated in 1981 with a current purse of $400,000, the Tampa Bay Derby has featured one victor to date (Street Sense, 2007) who went on to win the roses on the first Saturday in May in Louisville.

Prior to his Holy Bull second last month, Domestic Product–an open-daylight winner in a nine-furlong maiden special weight Oct. 27 at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet–finished an unheralded seventh in the GII Remsen S. Dec. 2. The Remsen is proving to be a key race, as the winner, Dornoch (Good Magic), won last week's GII Fountain of Youth S.; the runner-up, 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), won the Feb. 17 GII Risen Star S.; and the third-place finisher, Drum Roll Please (Hard Spun), won the Jerome S. in his last start in January. Domestic Product's first start since, that runner-up trip in the Holy Bull, involved a bumpy start and a six-wide bid in which he outslugged Eclipse champion 2-year-old Fierceness (City of Light).

Pedigree Notes:

The first stakes winner out of a daughter of the late Paynter, Domestic Product is by Coolmore America's Practical Joke, the continent's current-leading fourth-crop sire of 2024 by both earnings and black-type winners. A son of Into Mischief, Practical Joke has 25 career graded winners and 37 stakes winners worldwide.

Unraced Goods and Services, the Tampa Bay Derby winner's dam, sold at the 2021 Keeneland November sale for $37,000 to Railway Street when Domestic Product was a weanling. The mare produced a 2022 filly by Complexity in New York, aborted to Honest Mischief for 2023, and was bred to Drain the Clock for this term.

Due to the tote outage, the official chart is not yet available. It will be added as soon as possible.

O/B-Klaravich Stables, Inc. (Ky.); T-Chad Brown; J-Tyler Gaffalione.

 

#5 DOMESTIC PRODUCT wins the tight photo in the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3). He earns 50 points on the @SpendthriftFarm Road to the Kentucky Derby for trainer Chad Brown with @Tyler_Gaff in the irons. Domestic Product is sired by @CoolmoreAmerica's Practical Joke. pic.twitter.com/1q3IqJgMDh

— TVG (@TVG) March 9, 2024

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American Pharoah’s Waskesiu Makes The Grade In Florida Oaks

Sat, 2024-03-09 17:08

Sent off a lukewarm favorite at 5-2, Chiefswood Stable's homebred 3-year-old filly WASKESIU (f, 3, American Pharoah–Finn's Girl, by Bernardini) sat a perfect ground-saving trip just behind the speed, tipped out in the lane and finished determinedly for a maiden stakes success in Saturday's GIII Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs. Winner of her turf debut at Aqueduct Nov. 18 and a slow-starting third in the Jan. 6 Ginger Brew S., the Ontario-bred took advantage of her low draw in gate four to tuck in at the fence to take the shortest way around the Olsdmar oval as triple-digit longshot A Primera Vista (Competitive Edge) cut out the running through fractions of :23.18 and :47.92. Waskesiu traveled strongly around the turn and was right on the back of the leaders nearing the stretch, just waiting for the gaps to appear. Pointed at daylight with about a furlong and a half to run, Waskesiu knuckled down to deliver her challenge and was along in the final few strides to become a 44th worldwide stakes winner and 26th graded/group winner for American Pharoah. The final time for the mile and a sixteenth was 1:42.04. O/B-Chiefswood Stables Limited (ON); T-Bill Mott.

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Gulfstream Boosts Spring/Summer Purses

Sat, 2024-03-09 16:03

Overnight purses for the upcoming Spring/Summer Meet at Gulfstream Park will be increased in all categories from open handicaps to $6,250 claiming races with conditions.

Open handicap purses will rise from $60,000 last season to $74,000; $6,250 claiming races with conditions will jump from $17,000 to $20,000; open allowances will be $10,000 higher than 2023 levels, ranging from $61,000 to $63,000; entry-level allowances for Florida-breds will increase from $43,000 to $48,000; maiden special weight races will increase by $10,000 to $60,000; maiden special weight races for Florida-breds will go up from $40,000 to $48,000; maiden races for $12,500 claimers will get a boost of $6,000 to $25,000; starter allowance purses will increase from $3,000 to $9,000 (from $25,000 to $49,000); and the purse for a $50,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds will jump by $9,000 to $44,000.

“With the increased purses, grass racing, and our workers compensation program, Gulfstream is now the summer place to be,” said Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (FTHA) President Joe Orseno. “We are able to offer better purses and we hope this will encourage trainers and owners to keep horses at Gulfstream Park through the non-championship meet. A big thank you to 1/ST management and the FTHA purse committee for negotiating this competitive purse structure.”

Gulfstream will race four days a week from April to June and three days a week from July to November with turf racing throughout the spring and summer.

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First Mares Bred To Darley’s Cody’s Wish, Proxy Scanned In Foal

Sat, 2024-03-09 15:35

New Darley America's stallions, champion Cody's Wish (Curlin) and Proxy (Tapit), have had their first mares scanned in foal.

Among the first mares bred to two-time GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and recent Eclipse Award winner Cody's Wish is Kite Beach (Awesome Again), who is responsible for 'TDN Rising Star' and GII Rachel Alexandra S. victress Tarifa (Bernardini).

Proxy, a homebred son of the versatile Panty Raid (Include) who won the 2022 GI Clark S. and was third in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic, has gotten several mares in foal in his first month of covering, including Bursting in Air (Violence), a half-sister to 12 winners from 13 to race, including Grade III-winning juvenile Exfactor (Exchange Rate) and SW Market Magic (After Market). This is also the female family of top sire Good Magic (Curlin).

Cody's Wish is serving his first book of mares for a fee of $75,000, while Proxy's introductory stud fee is $25,000.

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