all-about-horse-racing.blogspot

Blind Luck Retired; Booked to Bernardini

2012-01-26T15:17:00.000-05:00

By Blood-Horse Staff

Dr. Mark Dedomenico’s Blind Luck, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2010, has been officially retired from racing and booked to Darley stallion Bernardini .

Blind Luck arrived Jan. 24 at John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms near Lexington, Ky.

A champion for Dedomenico, John Carver, Peter Abruzzo, and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, Blind Luck was a graded stakes winner all three years she raced. At 2 she won the Hollywood Starlet (gr. I) and the Oak Leaf (gr. I). As a 3-year-old she captured the Betfair TVG Alabama Stakes (gr. I), the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), the Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I), and a pair of grade II events. Last year at 4 she took the Vanity Handicap (gr. I) and two grade II stakes, including a nose victory over 2011 Horse of the Year Havre de Grace in the 10-furlong Delaware Handicap.

Blind Luck, by Pollard's Vision , placed in two Breeders’ Cup events. She ran third in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) and second in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (gr. I) her championship season. She missed the 2011 Ladies’ Classic after finishing seventh in the Lady’s Secret Stakes (gr. I) Nov. 1 in what was her last start.

Shortly after last year's Breeders’ Cup, Dedomenico bought out his partners' interest in Blind Luck at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale. He purchased her through agent Mike Puhich for $2.5 million from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment.

Blind Luck finished worse than third just once in her career. She was retired with a record of 12-7-2 from 22 starts and earnings of $3,279,520.

Bred in Kentucky by Fairlawn Farm, Blind Luck is the first foal out of the winning Best of Luck mare Lucky One, who is a half sister to graded stakes winner Ethan Man and the dam of a Brazilian group winner.

Bernardini, whose 2012 fee at Darley near Lexington is $150,000, was the leading second-crop sire of 2011.

Once in foal, she will be sent to Dedomenico's Pegasus Training and Rehabilitation Center near Redmond, Wash.

Thoroughbred racing

2012-01-06T12:22:00.002-05:00

Flat racing is the most common form of Thoroughbred racing. The track is typically oval in shape and the race is based on speed and stamina. Within the general category of Thoroughbred flat racing, there exist two separate types of races. These include conditions races and handicap races. Condition races are the most prestigious and offer the biggest purses. Handicap races assign each horse a different amount of weight to carry based on their ability.[11] Beside the weight they carry, the horse is also influenced by its closeness to the inside barrier, the track surface, its gender, the jockey, and the trainer. A typical Thoroughbred race is run on dirt, synthetic or turf surfaces. Viscoride and Polytrack are synthetic substitutes. Thoroughbred races vary in distance, but are usually somewhere between five and twelve furlongs. A furlong is a distance measurement equal to one eighth of a mile, 220 yards[12] or 201.168 metres.

Thoroughbred racing in the United States

In 1665, the first racetrack was constructed on Long Island. It is the oldest thoroughbred race in North America. The American Stud Book was started in 1868, prompting the beginning of organized horse racing in the United States. There were 314 tracks operating in the United States by 1890; and in 1894, the American Jockey Club was formed.[15] The anti-gambling sentiment prevalent in the early 20th century led almost all states to ban bookmaking. Bookmaking is the process of taking bets, calculating odds, and paying out winnings. This nearly eliminated horse racing altogether. When parimutuel betting was introduced in 1908, the racing industry turned around.[16] Horse racing flourished until World War II. The sport did not regain popularity in the United States until horses began to win the Triple Crown. The Triple Crown is a series of three races, consisting of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes.[

New York's top horse in 2011

2012-01-02T11:56:00.002-05:00

By Bob Ehalt

It was former NYRA track announcer Marshall Cassidy who first gave the words meaning and context.

While calling the 1989 Whitney, the normally reserved Cassidy became rather exuberant in detailing Easy Goer’s victory and described him as “New York’s Easy Goer.”

He wasn’t the nation’s horse. That award, specifically Horse of the Year, went to Sunday Silence.

But Easy Goer was indeed New York’s Horse of the Year, especially since he notched his lone victory over Sunday Silence in the Belmont Stakes, right here in New York.

More than two decades later, Cassidy’s words can spark an interesting debate. Havre de Grace seems destined to be named the industry’s Horse of the Year. But was she New York’s Horse of the Year? Taking into account her only two races in the Big Apple -- wins in the Woodward and Beldame -- did she accomplish more in her NY races than anyone else?

Let’s ponder that, shall we?

As in any awards competition, there needs to be criteria to judge the candidates.

In this case, New York’s top races needed to be sorted so that graded stakes victories can be weighed and judged properly.

For starters, the Belmont Stakes has to stand alone and be an A -- the only A. There’s simply no way to top the importance and magnitude of a race that can turn a horse into a Triple Crown champion.

After that, sticking with 3-year-olds, the Travers deserves an A-minus. It’s not the Belmont, but it’s certainly the next best thing.

Behind the Travers, with a B-plus, come the Whitney, the Met Mile and the Jockey Club Gold Cup, followed by the B races: the Woodward, the Beldame, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, the Alabama, and the Wood Memorial.

All of the other Grade 1 stakes are B-minus. Grade 2 stakes rate a C-plus and Grade 3 stakes are a C-minus.

Now let’s put that criteria to work, giving us 2011’s Top 5, which will be delivered in a style borrowed from Dave Letterman, NY’s No. 1 talk show host -- now that Regis Philbin has retired.

5 -- Cape Blanco: He won the Man o’ War and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, both Grade 1 stakes, making him New York’s Turf Horse of the Year by a couple of furlongs. You had to admire the courage he showed in winning the Turf Classic despite suffering a career-ending injury in the race.

4 -- Flat Out: He won the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Suburban, a Grade 2 stakes. He was also second in the Whitney and Woodward and a victory in either one of them would have earned him the No. 1 spot.

3 -- Havre de Grace: Number one in the nation, but only number three in New York. She was a perfect 2-for-2 in New York, winning the Woodward, where she beat the boys, and the Beldame. That gave her two B’s, which is a better than average grade for most horses, but not enough to win this competition.

2 -- Tizway: The key element for him is that the Whitney outweighs the Woodward. They are both Grade 1 stakes contested at Saratoga, but the Whitney, which comes first, seems to draw a better and deeper field on a year-in, year-out basis. He was also an easy winner of the Met Mile, giving him two B-pluses, which would normally be difficult to top.

1 -- Stay Thirsty: And here is your winner, who gets the nod for his consistency in the year’s two biggest races of the year in New York. He won the Travers and was second in the Belmont Stakes which puts him right alongside Tizway and Havre de Grace. What vaults him to the front of the line are wins in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and Grade 3 Gotham. Just to be safe, he was 3rd in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, which is quite impressive for a fifth line on the resume.

Put all of that together and Stay Thirsty ran five times in New York -- more than Tizway and Havre de Grace combined -- and won the Travers and two other stakes, with a second in the Belmont Stakes and a third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, to boot

Stay Thirsty may have loathed Churchill Downs, but in the Big Apple he gets the nod from this corner, as being New York’s Stay Thirsty.

And what are your thoughts? Who would you crown as New York’s Horse of the Year?

Handicapping

2011-12-28T11:01:00.001-05:00

Handicapping, in sport and games, is the practice of assigning advantage through scoring compensation or other advantage given to different contestants to equalize the chances of winning. The word also applies to the various methods by which the advantage is calculated. In principle, a more experienced player is disadvantaged in order to make it possible for a less experienced player to participate in the game or sport whilst maintaining fairness. Handicapping also refers to the various methods by which spectators can predict and quantify the results of a sporting match.

The term handicap derives from hand-in-cap, a popular 17th-century lottery game, where players placed their bets in a cap.[1] Handicapping is used in scoring many games and competitive sports, including Go, chess, Croquet, golf, bowling, polo, basketball, and track and field events. It also serves to foster wagering on horse racing events. Often races, contests or tournaments where this practice is competitively employed are known as Handicaps.

The term is also applied to the practice of predicting the result of a competition, such as for purposes of betting against the point spread. A favored team that wins by less than the point spread still wins the game, but bets on that team lose.

Strike the Gold, Kentucky Derby winner of 1991, dead

2011-12-21T09:25:00.000-05:00

Glenye Cain Oakford, Daily Racing Form

Strike the Gold, the 1991 Kentucky Derby winner who became a successful sire in Turkey, died Wednesday after having a heart attack, the Jockey Club of Turkey’s longtime adviser Jean-Pierre Deroubaix confirmed Thursday.

Strike the Gold, by Alydar, was 23. He died at the Jockey Club of Turkey’s Karacabey Pension Stud Farm. He had stood in Turkey since 1999.

“He collapsed and fell,” Deroubaix said. “The vet succeeded in waking him up. When he fell he broke his fetlock.”

Veterinarians euthanized the horse.

Deroubaix said that Strike the Gold had developed laminitis earlier in the year but was doing well before the heart attack. “The problem was his age,” he said. “The laminitis was a bit difficult to manage but not a real problem. The horse was doing very well. He was successful in Turkey, a good sire year after year. Nothing exceptional, but he was producing year after year, very good horses.”

FREE PICKS PARX Monday, 12/19/2011

2011-12-19T10:59:00.002-05:00

1st 3-Hadrian's Image, -4 - 5
2nd 7-Seaside Fortune, -2 - 1
3th 5-Haydens Hero, -3 - 6
4th 3-Knockout Punch Kid, -2 - 7
5th 9-Billysingssinatra, -6 - 5
6th 3-Eze Does It, -4 - 10
7th 3-Touch Screen, -2 - 7
8th 1-Westover Wildcat, -10 - 8
9th 5-Kat's Hope, -1 - 9

FREE PICKS AQEDUCT Sunday 12-18-2011

2011-12-18T09:51:00.000-05:00

1 - HEPATOLOGIST, Daucus Carota, Corofin
2 - BRILLIANT AUTUMN, Really Bullish, Marvelous Margaret
3 - HE CAN RUN, Kid Wando, Perfect Trippi
4 - MOB WIFE, Cayman Smile, Raw Moon
5 - TRULEE SCRAPPIN, Hillswick, Mannington
6 - SAUCY JADE, Ready to Party, Cranberry Queen
7 - TIZ THE ARGUMENT, Marion Ravenwood, Ima Jersey Girl
8 - NORMAN ASBJORNSON, San Pablo, Socialsaul
9 - TROPOIN, Launch N Relaunch, Bucky, Adams Rides Again

FREE AQUEDUCT PICKS Friday 12/16/2011

2011-12-16T11:02:00.001-05:00

FREE AQUEDUCT PICKS Friday 12/16/2011

Race 1: 7 Dubai's Connection---SPELL CHECK---R Clever Cat

Race 2: 5 Runnin Bayou---RUNNIN BAYOU---Mightylover

Race 3: 1 Red's Round Table---Joyous Music---Flying Train

Race 4: 7 Digital---JoeFaulkner---Eurosensation

Race 5: 7 My Piano Man---WINAHOLIC---Tap Attack

Race 6: 5 Mill Branch Millie---TANGLEWOOD TALE---Cameo Lady

Race 7: 6 Stealth Missle---ONA FROZENROPE---Call the Ball

Race 8: 1 One Last Dance---CASH FOR CLUNKERS---E Z Passer

Race 9: 6 Indymoolah---QUITE A FEAT---Out by Tomorrow

Aqueduct - Saturday 10th December 2011

2011-12-10T09:06:00.001-05:00

Race 1 Claiming Stakes 1m 110yds
Guaranteed prize money: $43,000
Declared runners: 12
Turf
1-Stud Muffin
2-Good Prospect
3-Gimme Credit

Handicapping Tournaments Aplenty at Fair Grounds Meet

2011-12-05T13:15:00.001-05:00

by Jim Mulvihill, Communications & Pari-Mutuel Marketing Manager | October 13, 2011

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots has added two new handicapping contests to the schedule for its upcoming 140th Thoroughbred Racing Season, including the first-ever Fair Grounds NHC Superqualifier on Dec. 17, with an unprecedented 10 berths to the DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship on the line.

Fair Grounds will give away a grand total of 12 NHC seats in December, as two additional berths will be the top prizes in an online Claiming Crown Handicapping Contest administered by TwinSpires.com on Dec. 3. Fair Grounds will host its first Claiming Crown, the annual showcase for racing’s blue-collar heroes, that afternoon.

Also this meet, the Twin Spires Club VIP Handicapping Contests return on Jan. 7, Feb. 4 and March 3. The $250 winner-take-all affairs are restricted to Twin Spires Club Gold and Platinum VIPs and are free to enter for those top players.

Additional information and rules for all of Fair Grounds’ upcoming handicapping contests can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com/Tournaments.

140th Thoroughbred Racing Season Handicapping Contests

Dec. 3 – Claiming Crown Contest on TwinSpires.com

The Claiming Crown Contest is presented online in partnership with TwinSpires.com. Entry fee is $200, or qualify in $25 “satellite” tournaments on any of the three days prior. Submit $2 win and place wagers on designated races from the Claiming Crown Day card. Order of finish is determined by highest total winnings. Top two finishers earn berths to the DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (including travel and lodging). Third through fifth place earn berths to the Horse Player World Series. All of the top five finishers receive $300 to go toward travel expenses.

Dec. 17 – NHC Superqualifier

The Fair Grounds NHC Superqualifier Handicapping Contest is a “real money” handicapping contest. Players put up a $300 entry fee plus a $150 live money bankroll. Contestants must wager exactly $5 Win/$5 Place/$5 Show ($15 total) on one horse in each of 10 consecutive races at Fair Grounds. The player with the largest bankroll after the final Contest race is the winner. The Top 10 finishers receive automatic berths to the $2 million DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship, Jan. 27-28, at Treasure Island Las Vegas. If the Contest attracts 150 or more entries, the Top 20 finishers will receive a portion of a cash prize pool that could be as high as $63,000.

Jan. 7, Feb. 4 and March 3 – Twin Spires Club VIP Handicapping Contests

During the live Thoroughbred Racing Season, Fair Grounds offers up free contests open exclusively to Platinum and Gold Twin Spires Club VIPs. Contests are held in the Gold Room and cash prizes total $250 every month.

Mr. Ryder Likely Choice in Tropical Turf

2011-11-29T09:35:00.000-05:00

By Blood-Horse Staff

Trainer Christophe Clement may have the one to beat in the Tropical Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Calder Casino & Race Course Dec. 2 with Brushwood Stable’s 4-year-old colt Mr. Ryder following a strong, third-place effort last out in the Oct. 15 Knickerbocker Stakes (gr. IIIT), beaten less than a length on yielding turf at Belmont Park.

The 1 1/8-mile Tropical Turf, which drew a field of nine, is the seventh race on the card and is slated for 3:08 p.m.

Mr. Ryder, a chestnut son of Giant's Causeway —Saudia, by Gone West, was purchased for $800,000 at the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale. He won three straight before the Knickerbocker– allowance races at Belmont and Monmouth Park and the July 16 Sussex Stakes at Delaware Park–all on turf.

Bred in Kentucky by Ben Walden and H. Sexton, Mr. Ryder holds an overall career record of 5-0-1 from nine starts, for earnings of $175,480.

Jockey Joe Bravo, who was aboard for the Knickerbocker, has the return riding assignment for the Tropical Turf. Toting 118 pounds, Mr. Ryder will break from post 6.

Trainer Todd Pletcher also has a viable contender with Black Rock Stable’s 3-year-old Silver Medallion. The son of Badge of Silver , who will be ridden by Javier Castellano and was also assigned 118 pounds in the Tropical Turf Handicap, finished a game third last out in the Nov. 3 Commonwealth Turf (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs after a runner-up effort in an allowance race at Woodbine in early October in his first start for Pletcher.

Silver Medallion was trained last winter by Steve Asmussen, winning the Eddie Logan Stakes on turf at Santa Anita and the El Camino Real Derby (gr. III) on the Tapeta synthetic track at Golden Gate Fields in February. He went on to finish fourth in both the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) and the Lexington Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland in April before heading to the sidelines until the Oct. 7 Woodbine allowance race.

Bred in Kentucky by Brereton Jones, Silver Medallion is out of the Stalwart mare Another Vegetarian and is a half brother to grade I victor Sweet Talker. He has a career mark of 3-2-1 from 10 starts and earnings of $306,603.

Certain to attract attention while making his stakes debut will be Frank Calabrese’s 6-year-old gelding Chosen Empire. Jockey Elvis Trujillo was named to ride the son of Empire Maker for trainer Nick Canani.

Chosen Empire, a $30,000 claim at Gulfstream Park in April, has won all four of his starts since by clear margins on the turf at Calder, Saratoga, and Monmouth Park. Most recently, he posted a 2 ½-length victory in an allowance optional claiming race at Calder Oct. 7.

Completing the field for the Tropical Turf are Stormy Lord, winner of the May 29 Connaught Cup Stakes (Can-IIT) and three other stakes at the Canada track this year; Tannersville, who captured the Our Dear Peggy Stakes on the Calder dirt Sept. 10; other Canadian invader Hollinger, a dual stakes winner in 2009; and Mobilizer, Perfect Footprint, and Grove Hall, who are all looking for their first black-type scores.

$100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap (gr. III, Race 7, 3:08 p.m.), 3YOs and up, 1 1/8 Miles (Dirt)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Grove Hall (FL), E O Nunez, 112, R R Rodrigue
2. Mobilizer (ON), J Sanchez, 116, R L Attfield
3. Perfect Footprint (KY), J Rodriguez, 116, D J Figueroa
4. Stormy Lor (ON), J Stein, 121, I Black
5. Tannersville (FL), L Jurado, 116, H Collazo
6. Mr. Ryder (KY), J Bravo, 118, C Clement
7. Silver Medallion (KY), J Castellano, 118, T A Pletcher
8. Chosen Empire (KY), E Trujilo, 116, N Canani
9. Hollinger (ON), P Lopez, 117

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/66382/mr-ryder-likely-choice-in-tropical-turf#ixzz1f6ZwEGxY

Rapid Redux racks up 20th in a row, sets modern mark

2011-11-22T14:49:00.000-05:00

Robert L. Cole Jr.'sRapid Redux made short work of just three rivals in Monday night's8TH race at Mountaineer to record his 20th consecutive victory, surpassing the modern North American mark of 19 straight wins shared by Zenyatta and Peppers Pride. A credit to trainer David Wells, the prohibitive 1-9 favorite led every step of the way, delivered the coup de grace turning for home, and won as rider Deshawn Parker pleased by an easy four lengths.

Rapid Redux's list of prospective rivals kept shrinking as the historic moment approached. Three were early scratches after the initial entries appeared, including his entrymate Zio Tony, Jemaru and It's About Image.

Three more were withdrawn from the starter allowance on Monday -- Copper Forest, the 8-1 second choice on the morning line; Disco Indy, the 12-1 third choice; and Lil Skeletol. Nearing the gate, yet another foe fell by the wayside when Spiritwood was a late scratch by the veterinarian.

As if sensing the importance of his assignment, or wanting to prolong the drama for the fans hanging on his every move, Rapid Redux refused to load. He went in partially, only to stop short. Parker brandished the whip as an incentive, but Rapid Redux wouldn't take up his position until he was good and ready. Finally, the front of the gate was opened, and he eventually obliged.

Quickest into stride from the outside post, Rapid Redux went straight to the lead and angled over on Sunshine Bo entering the first turn, appearing to tighten him up in the process. But Sunshine Bo recovered to play a pace-prompting role. Lady on Fire settled in third, and Sunshine Kid trailed.

Rapid Redux was effortlessly gliding over the muddy, sealed track as he reeled off fractions of :24 3/5 and :48 4/5. Sunshine Bo tried to turn up the pressure, but he was a spent force approaching the far turn, and Rapid Redux started to pull away.

Then Lady on Fire made her bid to stand athwart history and yell stop. Track announcer Peter Berry described her rally as "representing Zenyatta and Peppers Pride," referring to her intent to preserve her fellow distaffers' place in the record book.

But her sharp move on the far turn made little impact on Rapid Redux, who simply increased his margin at the top of the stretch. From there it was just a victory procession as he finished the mile in 1:40 under wraps, remaining perfect from four starts at Mountaineer. He handed Parker his third straight winner, and fourth overall, on the night.

Lady on Fire held second by two lengths from Sunshine Kid. Sunshine Bo brought up the rear, another 11 lengths back.

Rapid Redux rewarded his fans with $2.20 and $2.20, except for those who might have kept their tickets as a souvenir. There was no show wagering.

Since being claimed by his current connections for $6,250 at Penn National in October 2010, Rapid Redux has now captured 21 of 22 starts at a variety of venues around the Mid-Atlantic region. His only loss in that time frame came in his second outing for the Wells barn, when he backed up to eighth in a starter allowance a year ago, also at Penn National. Wells revealed that Rapid Redux displaced his palate that day, and a minor throat operation corrected the problem. Following Monday night's victory, he has amassed $342,229 in earnings from his overall 40-26-1-1 record.

Rapid Redux has a nicer pedigree than most denizens of starter allowance races. Bred by Fortress Pacific Equine in Kentucky, the son of Pleasantly Perfect is a half-brother to stakes winner Be Like Mike and the Grade 3-placed Sacred Journey, both by Unbridled's Song. His dam, the Storm Cat mare Thiscatsforcaryl, is a full sister to stakes victress Cat Affair, and she hails from the family of Group 1 Australian Oaks runner-up French Lady and Grade 1 Santa Ana Handicap heroine Annual Reunion. His fourth dam, the winning Love of Learning, is a full sister to the influential sire Halo and a half-sister to Hall of Famer Tosmah.

Sold for $85,000 at the 2007 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Rapid Redux began his career with trainer Kelly Breen. He broke his maiden in his second try, and managed to finish a distant third in the 2008 Tyro Stakes. But after several bad defeats, he was dropped into claiming company, where he descended the ladder until being scooped up by Cole and Wells.

Rapid Redux's eligibility for starter allowances will expire at the end of this calendar year. He was reportedly pre-entered in the December 3 Claiming Crown at Fair Grounds, but it is uncertain whether his connections will pursue that path

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/handicapping?source=http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/article.cgi%3Fid=25327%26print=true%26header=bh#ixzz1eSvLe4S3

Uncle Mo Retires from Racing

2011-11-14T11:41:00.002-05:00

Sired by Indian Charlie out of Playa Maya, Uncle Mo was foaled in Kentucky on 10 March 2008, going on to compete undefeated in his two-year-old season in 2010. This spirited American champion thoroughbred racehorse gathered quite a following during his relatively short career, and many were saddened by the news that Uncle Mo is to retire from horse racing. The decision was made when blood tests revealed an elevated count of the enzyme gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) – a condition which is likely to escalate with the rigors of training and racing. While this is not a recurrence of the liver disease that plagued Uncle Mo earlier this year, causing him to miss out on the Triple Crown series, it nevertheless puts him at risk of ill health and liver damage, so his retirement is deemed to be in his best interests.

Uncle Mo had raced to victory in five of his eight career starts and bagged US$1,606,000 in earnings. Uncle Mo's debut race at Saratoga on 28 August 2010, saw the colt thundering along the turf to complete six furlongs in 1:09.21 and beating the runner-up by 14 ¼ lengths. He went on to win the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Racetrack with a final time of 1:34.51, equaling Seattle Slew's record and clocking up the second fastest result in the 61 one-mile Champagne history. Proving his wins were no flash-in-the-pan, Uncle Mo took first place in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs with a 4 1/4 lead.

With the liver being one of the organs that is able to regenerate itself, under proper care Uncle Mo can remain in good health. Moreover, the fact that his condition is non-hereditary opens up opportunities for him to pass on his excellent speed capabilities, agreeable disposition and superb conformation to his offspring. Faced with the reality that Uncle Mo will no longer be winning lucrative races, his owner Mike Repole was reported as saying that he considered himself lucky to own a horse like Uncle Mo. Revealing the close relationship between horse and owner, Repole said: "He's probably given me more thrills visiting him on a Sunday morning than he has when he raced. Uncle Mo will always be part of my life."

Churchill Downs – Mrs. Revere Stakes

2011-11-11T11:17:00.002-05:00

Fillies on the Turf

The feature race on Saturday at Churchill Downs is the 21st running of the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere stakes. The turf race drew a field of twelve led by morning line favorite Marketing Mix.

Marketing Mix, for trainer Tom Proctor, drops out of a second place finish to Together in the Grade 1 QEII Cup at Keeneland. In the QEII Cup, Marketing Mix tracked the early pace and made good run, but could not hold off the late charge of the Euro-filly Together.

Marketing Mix was three lengths clear of the third place filly and is the one to beat on Saturday.

Hungry Island is another filly dropping out of a Grade 1 having run in the Garden City at Belmont Park. Hungry Island was fourth that day behind top fillies Winter Memories, Theyskens’ Theory and More Than Real.

Prior to the Garden City, Hungry Island won four straight races in New York, including the Grade 2 Lake Placid at Saratoga.

Louvakhova is an interesting filly making her second start in the U.S. for trainer Marty Wolfson. Louvakhova was uber-impressive in her debut taking a $69,000 turf stakes at Calder by four lengths. Her comment line “drifted out badly stretch” doesn’t do the run justice. A better line would have been, “stalked, when asked drew off.”

Bizzy Caroline and Smart Sting should take wagering action and run for top connections. Bizzy Caroline exits a second place finish as the favorite in the Grade 3 Valley View at Keeneland, which was her first race off a two-month layoff. Bizzy Caroline is two-for-two over the Churchill lawn including a victory in the Grade 3 Regret in June.

Smart Sting is coming off a short layoff for trainer Roger Attfield and must be taken seriously based on the runs of Woodbine horses in the Breeders’ Cup. Smart Sting won the Grade 3 Selene on the synthetic main track at Woodbine in her last, but was second in a Grade 3 prior to that.

Another filly coming down from Woodbine in New Normal, who has not run since winning a $100,000 stakes race at Woodbine in June. Last year New Normal won the Grade 3 Natalma at Woodbine and was eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Completing the field are long shots Groupie Doll, Holidaysatthefarm, Sea Level Drive, Don’t Tell Sophia, Trac N Jam and Tourmaline.

Post time for the Mrs. Revere is 4:37 ET and is the third leg of the late pick-4

Tuesday Classic Contender Report

2011-11-02T09:38:00.000-04:00

By Jessica Chapel

Edited Breeders' Cup Classic contender news compiled by the BC Notes Team:

Drosselmeyer – The 2010 Belmont Stakes winner was on the track for a “short gallop” Tuesday morning and was pronounced fit and ready by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

Flat Out – The Jockey Club Gold Cup winner returned to the track Tuesday morning and jogged two miles under exercise rider Otto Aguilar after walking the shedrow on Monday following his Sunday breeze. Trainer Scooter Dickey reported that the 5-year-old son of Flatter was fresh and on the muscle.

“He got mad because we didn’t let him gallop,” Dickey said. “He went one round and started on the next round, and he started giving the rider a little trouble, just getting into the bit and wanting to go. So he’s fine.”

Flat Out will get his way on Wednesday, when he is expected to gallop about 1 1/2 miles.

Game On Dude – The 4-year-old Classic contender boarded a flight from California to Louisville Tuesday morning. Trainer Bob Baffert, Game On Dude is expected to go to the track along with his other contenders Wednesday morning.

Havre de Grace – One day after giving his star pupil a “D” for her 5f workout in 1:02 Monday, trainer Larry Jones upgraded it to a “B or B+.” In fact, Havre de Grace was feeling so good Tuesday morning that Jones took her to the track to jog in the chute and she was dragging Cindy Jones around the barn as she walked her.

“She’s ready to get it on,” said Larry Jones. “It would have been a long time between now and Saturday if we hadn’t taken her to the track this morning. It’s the first time we’ve ever had to do that with her.

“After going home and watching the workout, I realized it was a good workout. (Jockey) Gabriel (Saez) didn’t even move on her. I even sent (owner) Rick (Porter) a text saying that I thought it was a really good work. We know she’s fit enough.”

Headache – Claimed for $25,000 in September of 2009, Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey’s Classic contender Headache has proven to be quite a purchase. He won only two of his first 14 starts for the current connections, but has flourished of late by capturing three of his last four outings, including the Cornhusker in June at Prairie Meadows and most recently the Hawthorne Gold Cup.

“He’s always had talent,” trainer Mike Maker said of the 5-year-old gelded son of Tapit. “He’s just been a slow learner. He was a bit of a hanger earlier in his career, and would just have one excuse after another. Now he seems to have gotten over that bad habit and figured it out. He can win by a wide margin when he’s much the best, like he did at Churchill (in May by 7 1⁄2 lengths), or win a tough battle like he did in the Hawthorne.”

Ice Box – After shipping from New York on Monday, Ice Box had an easy gallop under exercise rider Carlos Correa at Churchill Downs Tuesday morning.

Prayer for Relief – Zayat Stables’ 3-year-old Prayer for Relief will not run in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic after developing a fever.

Rattlesnake Bridge – Rattlesnake Bridge is scheduled to fly to Kentucky on a flight that departs from New York Tuesday afternoon. He has drawn post seven with jockey Calvin Borel as a Classic longshot. “He’s going to get a serious pace in there,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said.

Ruler On Ice – Trainer Kelly Breen sent the 2011 Belmont Stakes winner to the track early for a 1 1/2 mile gallop before catching a flight back to his home base in New Jersey. He will return to Louisville again Wednesday night.

“He’s training great,” said Breen from the airport. “I’m very pleased with him. I’m just trying to get him to the best spot I can where everything else is out of my control.”

So You Think – The Aidan O’Brien-trained Classic challenger So You Think is expected to arrive in Louisville on Tuesday evening.

Stay Thirsty – One of two Classic entrants from Repole Stable, the Bernardini 3-year-old galloped 1 1/4 miles at Churchill Downs on Tuesday.

“He’s doing well here,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, who has won six Breeders’ Cup races but is 0-for-9 in the Classic. “He ran a decent race (third) in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, but I don’t think he liked the off going that much that day.”

To Honor and Serve – The son of Bernardini will be taking on elders for the second time this season and could be one of the more attractive longshots despite drawing the outside post in a field of 13.

“I think he’s already proven himself as a top 3-year-old,” said Mott, who gave the colt four months off after a minor injury during the Triple Crown preps in Florida. “He’s come back very well. His last two races have been very good. The question is whether he’s ready to take on older horses, and we hope he is. He’s a much improving horse.”

The Pennsylvania Derby winner, one of the field’s confirmed front-runners, galloped Tuesday on the main track.

Uncle Mo – The 5-2 morning-line favorite walked the shedrow Tuesday morning, two days after his final breeze for his second attempt to beat older horses. Untested at the Classic distance of 1 1/4 miles, the Indian Charlie colt beat elders in the one mile Kelso at Belmont in his last start.

“He’s in excellent shape,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He really seems happy here. He’ll gallop tomorrow morning.”

Photos from the works at Churchill Downs on Tuesday:

Santa Anita to host 2012 Breeders' Cup

2011-10-30T10:47:00.002-04:00

By Staff
Bloodhorse

As expected, Breeders' Cup Aug. 10 announced that Santa Anita Park in California will serve as the 2012 host site of the two-day World Championships.
Santa Anita hosted the event in 2008-09. The 2012 World Championships, set for Nov. 2-3, will be its sixth time as host site.
The announcement was made during a luncheon in Los Angeles. Breeders' Cup officials earlier said the 2012 host site would be selected from a pool of three tracks: Santa Anita, Belmont Park, and Churchill Downs.
Churchill will host the World Championships for the second consecutive year and record eighth time Nov. 4-5, 2011.
Breeders' Cup officials said Aug. 10 the decision "followed a lengthy review process by the Breeders' Cup Host Site Selection Committee." An announcement on the 2012 host site was said to be forthcoming in June, but it never materialized.
In early July published reports stated Santa Anita's selection was a done deal even though the New York Racing Association had made a pitch for Belmont to host the 2012 event.
"We are thrilled to bring back the Breeders' Cup to Southern California, which is always a strong draw for horse racing fans from around the world and where the Breeders' Cup has always been embraced by the community," Breeders' Cup president and chief executive officer Craig Fravel said in a statement. "Santa Anita Park is a world-class racing venue that will once again provide a spectacular setting for two days of the best in international racing."
Fravel, formerly of Del Mar, was hired as Breeders' Cup chief in July. He replaced Greg Avioli, who went to work for Stronach and is said to have lobbied hard for Santa Anita to get the Breeders' Cup.
"Hosting the Breeders' Cup is important to the California horse racing industry and it is an honor for Santa Anita to be chosen as host of the Breeders' Cup for the sixth time," said Frank Stronach, chairman of The Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita. "Our team looks forward to the challenge of building on the success of 2008 and 2009 with the 2012 Breeders' Cup."
The Breeders' Cup was awarded to Santa Anita even though the track doesn't yet have the 2012 fall dates in Southern California. The California Horse Racing Board indicated those dates won't be awarded until this fall.
Santa Anita, as the Los Angeles Turf Club, will host the dates this year, but for decades Oak Tree Racing Association held the dates at Santa Anita.
NYRA president and CEO Charles Hayward indicated the association was prepared to host the 2012 World Championships.
"Congratulations to Santa Anita, but we are disappointed that Belmont Park was not selected to host the 2012 Breeders' Cup World Championships," Hayward said. "The event was most recently held at Belmont in 2005, and since then, two different tracks -- Churchill Downs and now Santa Anita -- have hosted the Breeders' Cup three times.
"We remain hopeful that Belmont will remain a serious option for the 2013 Breeders' Cup."
The Breeders' Cup generated more than $60 million in economic impact in the Los Angeles area in both 2008 and 2009, officials said.
Over the past five years the World Championships has experienced growth, expanding from eight to 15 races, increasing prize money from $14 million to $26 million, and growing total wagering from $140,332,198 to $173,339,131.

Ultimate Breeders' Cup Handicapping Package

2011-10-25T09:20:00.001-04:00

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Tips To Consider When Wagering On A Horse

2011-10-24T12:50:00.001-04:00

FITNESS
Before a horse can be considered, it should be determined that he's physically fit enough to be at or near his best. Athletes become fit via two avenues, competition and training. Examine the dates of prior last races, found at the far left of the past performance line. The more recent races he has, the more certain of his fitness.
If he's been away from the races for two months or more, examine morning training workouts shown underneath the last past performance line. It is generally understood that fitness is best derived by a combination of competition and training. The longer the layoff, the more difficult the comeback. Make a final determination and if deemed fit, go to the next variable. If not, eliminate.

CLASS
Class in Thoroughbred racing can be defined by saying that class is the quality of competition a horse can compete favorably against. Look at the prior conditions under which the horse has raced. Regardless of any other variable, a horse cannot be expected to win without having shown a past ability to do so against similar competition. If he has not shown the past ability, he can be considered a throw-out, unless he's rapidly improving and won his last race with enough authority to move up in class against tougher competition. If he's fit and can compete against the competition, move to the next variable.

DISTANCE
Through either breeding, conformation, running style, or training techniques, horses generally do better at certain distances. Few are versatile enough to handle short and long races effectively. Examine all races listed to determine if he's done well at the designated distance. If he's a proven competitor at today's distance, continue to consider him, and eliminate him if he's had numerous opportunities without success. He may show a potential to handle the distance, but can't be overly well regarded without proof. Remember, never expect a horse to do something he's never done before.

POST POSITION
The Post Position Draw, a random drawing done after entries for a race are taken, can often turn a potential winner into a dead loser, and vice-versa! Track biases exist at many tracks, favoring inside or outside post positions. Check post position statistics listed in programs or Lone Star Today to see if certain posts appear better than others. As a general rule, far outside posts in bulky fields in sprints (10 or more) can prove more challenging. The two inside posts in big fields can also be detrimental. Early speed is preferable for both inside and outside posts because without it, outside horses lose ground and inside ones get trapped. A horse's running style and the post position are directly correlated. In longer, two-turn-races, inside posts are almost always preferred. The shorter the two-turn race, the more it favors inside. If it can be determined that the post will not be a detriment, move on. But a horse can be thrown out if it is determined his chances will be badly compromised by post position.

2010 Breeders' Cup Classic

2011-10-23T16:27:00.001-04:00

2009 Breeders' Cup Classic

2011-10-23T16:25:00.004-04:00

Horse Racing History.......

2011-10-21T12:06:00.000-04:00

Oct. 20, 1923: Zev, winner of the 1923 Kentucky Derby, defeated England’s hero Papyrus, winner of the 1923 Epsom Derby, in a $100,000 match race at Belmont Park. The race, the International Special, marked the first time an English champion had been sent to the U.S. to race. For his victory, Zev was awarded $80,000 and a gold cup valued at $5,000. Public interest in the race was so great that it was broadcast on the radio—a first. Within two days, films of the race were distributed at movie theaters in New York City and,eventually, across the nation.

Oct. 20, 1954: Bill Shoemaker rode his 2,000th winner, Florence House, at Tanforan.

Oct. 20, 2007: Ten-year-old McDynamo won the Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase for the fifth consecutive year at the annual Far Hills Race Meeting in Far Hills, N.J.

Oct. 21, 1961: Eddie Arcaro won the Jockey Club Gold Cup for a record tenth time. His mount, Kelso, won the Gold Cup five straight years, 1960-64, setting the mark for most consecutive victories in a stakes race.

Oct. 22, 1945: El Lobo and Featherfoot became the first Thoroughbreds to be transported by airplane. They were flown from Los Angeles to San Mateo in a twin-engine Budd transport plane piloted by Maj. William Hoelle of the Flying Tiger Line, who landed the plane in the parking area at Bay Meadows. On Oct. 27, El Lobo won the Burlingame Handicap at Bay Meadows, proving that horses could fly (and win).

Oct. 22, 1955: A rare triple dead-heat for first took place at Mexico’s Caliente in the eighth race. Stormsorno, Chance Speed and Beaufair were the three winners.

Oct. 22, 1964: Jockey Bill Shoemaker won the 5,000th victory of his career aboard Slapstick at Aqueduct Race Track.

Oct. 22, 1973: Secretariat was flown to Woodbine Racecourse, where he would compete in his final career race, the Canadian International Championship Stakes.

Oct. 24, 1877: Congress adjourned to see a race between Parole, Ten Broek and Tom Ochiltree, which was held at Pimlico.

Oct. 24, 1953: Tom Fool won the Pimlico Special Stakes by eight lengths, capping a perfect four-year-old campaign with 10 stakes wins in as many starts. The Special was his fourth consecutive race run as a non-betting exhibition. Tom Fool was voted Horse of the Year for 1953, edging out Native Dancer, who lost only one of his 10 stakes races that year, the Kentucky Derby.

Oct. 24, 2008: Breeders’ Cup conducted its first all-female card, with the colts and geldings races all being held on the second day of the two-day event at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

Oct. 25, 1870: Pimlico, the nation’s second-oldest Thoroughbred racetrack, began its inaugural meet.

Oct. 25, 1947: After winning the Gallant Fox Handicap at Jamaica, a former $1,500 claimer, Stymie, became the world’s leading money-winning Thoroughbred, with earnings of $816,060. Stymie raced two additional years and retired in 1949, at age eight, with lifetime winnings of $918,485.

Oct. 25, 2003: Trainer Richard Mandella set a single-day record winning four Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships races at Santa Anita. Mandella saddled Halfbridled to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies; Action This Day in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile; Johar to a dead-heat win in the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf; and Pleasantly Perfect in the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, Powered by Dodge. The Johar dead heat with High Chaparral in the Turf markedthe first dead heat in Breeders’ Cup history. And in guiding Halfbridled to victory, jockey Julie Krone became the first woman to ride the winner of a Breeders’ Cup flat race.

Oct. 26, 1949: Bill Shoemaker rode to his first stakes victory, the George Marshall Claiming Handicap at Bay Meadows, aboard a five-year-old horse named Al.

Oct. 26, 1990: Jockey Julie Krone rode her 2,000th career winner, aboard John Forbes-trained Rainbow Quartz, at The Meadowlands.

Oct. 26, 1996: The Breeders’ Cup was held outside the U.S. for the first time, at Woodbine Racecourse in Toronto, Canada. At Woodbine, Jenine Sahadi became the first female trainer to saddle a Breeders’ Cup winner when she sent Lit de Justice to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Oct. 27, 1870: Preakness won the Dinner Stakes at the newly opened Pimlico Racecourse. In 1873, the first Preakness Stakes, a race was named in his honor, was held at Pimlico.

Oct. 27, 1990: Bayakoa (ARG) became the second horse to win two consecutive Breeders’ Cup Championship races. Both of her victories came in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Oct. 27, 2001: Tiznow, 2000 Breeders’ Cup Classic champion and Horse of the Year, won the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Classic for a second straight year, outdueling European sensation Sakhee in the stretch at the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Belmont Park. Total wagering on the 10-race program was $104,145,186, the second highest Breeders’ Cup total in history, just behind the 2000 total of $108,603,040.

Oct. 27, 2001: Participants in the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships donated more than $2.7 million from their purse earnings to the NTRA Charities - New York Heroes Fund, established to benefit the children and spouses of the firefighters, police officers, emergency workers and other victims who perished in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Sheikh Mohammed’s Dubai-based Godolphin stable, which pledged 100 percent of its Breeders’ Cup earnings to the Heroes Fund, donated approximately$2.5 million on the day, thanks in part to wins by two of his horses, Fantastic Light and Tempera.

Oct. 27, 2001, Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel saw his 0-for-38 streak in Breeders' Cup races come to an end when Squirtle Squirt won the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Oct. 28, 1972: Secretariat, sent off at odds of 1-10, won the Laurel Futurity by eight lengths at Laurel.

Oct. 28, 1973: With jockey Eddie Maple substituting for Ron Turcotte, who was sidelined by a suspension, Secretariat concluded his racing career with a 6 1-2-length victory in the Canadian International Championship Stakes at Woodbine Racecourse. It was his second victory in as many tries on the turf.

Oct. 28, 1983: Jacinto Vasquez had his 4,000th career winner, aboard Sunshine O’My Life, at Aqueduct.

Oct. 28, 2000: Laffit Pincay Jr., then the world’s winningest rider, gained his 9,000th career victory aboard Chichim in the $150,000 California Cup Distaff at Santa Anita Park.

Oct. 29, 1948: Calumet Farm’s three-year-old Citation entered the Pimlico Invitational Special Stakes unopposed and won in a walkover, earning $10,000 for galloping the 1 3-16 mile course in 1:59 4-5. Another great Calumet runner, Whirlaway, also won the Special in a walkover in 1942.

Oct. 29, 1955: Charlie Whittingham and Bill Shoemaker scored their first stakes victory as a trainer-rider team with Mister Gus in the William P. Kyne Handicap at Bay Meadows.

Oct. 29, 1998: Triple Crown winner and 1970s icon Secretariat was selected as one of 15 subjects to be honored with a commemorative postal stamp in 1999.

Oct. 30, 1937: Sir Barton, the first American Triple Crown winner, died at age 21. After an undistinguished career as a sire, Sir Barton was sent to the U.S. Army’s Remount Division in Nebraska, and then to a ranch in Wyoming, where he remained until his death.

Oct. 30, 1988: After the blinkers on his mount, Roaring River, worked loose, jockey Francisco Torres grabbed them and placed them between his teeth to keep his hands free for riding. Roaring River won the race, at Hawthorne, by three lengths.

Oct. 31, 1944: The saddle cloth numbers of the first five race winners at Jamaica corresponded to the number of the race in which each horse started.

Oct. 31, 1964: Seven-year-old Kelso won his fifth consecutive Jockey Club Gold Cup, a record. In each of those races, Kelso was the odds-on favorite.

Oct. 31, 1987: Jockey Chris Antley became the first rider to win nine races in a single day. He rode four winners from six mounts at Aqueduct and five winners from eight tries during The Meadowlands’ evening program.

Oct. 31, 2002: Hall of Fame jockey Julie Krone returned to race riding after a two-year absence. She finished fifth aboard both of her mounts on the day at Santa Anita Park.

Oct. 31, 2003: Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel broke D. Wayne Lukas’ North American single season earnings record of $17,842,358 set in 1988 after saddling Golden Rahy to victory in the seventh race at Santa Anita.

Oct. 31, 2007: Trainer Scott Lake registered the 4,000th win of his career when he saddled Hickory Trick to victory in the 8th race at Penn National.

Nov. 1, 1944: Racing returned to Hollywood Park after a three-year hiatus, which followed the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Nov. 1, 1938: Before a crowd of 40,000 spectators, Seabiscuit, under jockey George Woolf, defeated odds-on favorite War Admiral in the Pimlico Special, run as a winner-take-all match race with a purse of $15,000.

Nov. 1, 1947: Man o’ War died at Faraway Farm, Lexington, Ky. He lay in state for three days before being ceremoniously buried on Nov. 4.

Nov. 2, 1968: The John Nerud-trained Dr. Fager, carrying 139 pounds, won the last race of his career, the seven-furlong Vosburgh Handicap at Aqueduct, by six lengths. Dr. Fager was subsequently named champion handicap horse, champion sprinter, turf champion and Horse of the Year.

Nov. 2, 1985: Trainer D. Wayne Lukas won his first Breeders’ Cup race, the Juvenile Fillies, with Twilight Ridge, whose entrymates Family Style and Arewehavingfunyet finished second and eighth, respectively.

Nov. 2, 1991: Arazi unleashed a powerful move on the far turn at Churchill Downs to capture the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by five lengths over Bertrando.

Nov. 2, 2008: Broodmare of the year Better Than Honour (dam of Jazil and Rags to Riches, the 2006-07 Belmont Stakes winners, respectively) was sold for a record $14 million at the Fasig-Tipton sale in Lexington, Ky.

DUTROW RECEIVES 30-DAY STAY

2011-10-18T10:29:00.000-04:00

Judge Richard Giardino has granted trainer Rick
Dutrow Jr. a 30-day stay of the judgement handed
down by the New York State Racing and Wagering
board last week. The decision followed a 30-minute
hearing in Schenectady County Supreme Court Monday
morning. In a unanimous decision Oct. 12, the
three-member NYSRWB voted to
revoke Dutrow's trainer's
license, effective Oct. 18. He
was also banned from the
grounds of all tracks in the state,
fined a total of $50,000 for two
incidents at Aqueduct Racetrack
in November 2010, and barred
from reapplying for a license
until 2021. The stay permits
Dutrow to continue to operate
his business while his attorneys
prepare and file papers for the appeal. If the appeal is
accepted, his attorneys will ask for another stay while
the case moves through the legal system. Dutrow did
not attend the hearing. Assistant Attorney General
Adrienne J. Kerwin, representing New York State,
argued against the stay. The New York Racing
Association issued a response to inquiries about
Dutrow receiving the stay, saying, AThis matter is
pending before the court. When the court makes its
determination, NYRA will abide by that decision.
DUTROW ATTORNEY OUTLINES CASE Saying that
the 10-year license revocation amounted to Aa death
penalty@ for the 52-year-old trainer's business,
Dutrow's attorney, Michael L. Koenig, specifically
requested a 30-day stay rather than the normal
120-day window to file an appeal. Koenig said that he
will argue in his appeal that the sentence was unfair
and that there was a conflict of interest involving
NYSRWB Chairman John Sabini that prevented Dutrow
from receiving due process.
According to Koenig, the conflict of interest stems
from communication between Edward Martin, president
of the Racing Commissioners International and a former
executive director of the NYSRWB, and Sabini, the
chairman of the New York board and an RCI officer.
Martin wrote to Sabini, requesting that New York
regulators consider revoking Dutrow's license. Koenig
contends that, as the result of Martin's request, there
was a conflict of interest that prevented Dutrow from
being treated fairly. ABecause that happened at the
beginning, it infected this proceeding from the very
beginning,@ Koenig said. AThe minute the RCI sends a
letter to Chairman Sabini, the minute one board sends a
letter to his other board, you have an infection of the
entire process from the get-go. We believe that is
significant. We believe it is a violation of due process,
and we believe the courts are going to find that.
Koenig also said that the penalties that Dutrow
received were Agrossly disproportionate@ to the
violations at Aqueduct, and that his past should not
have come into play and used as a reason to revoke his
license.
AHe was originally suspended for 30 days and 60
days with the underlying charges,@ Koenig said. AIt is
only when he decided to appeal those suspensions that
they brought the order to show cause seeking to revoke
his license. I think it is patently unfair. We have argued
that below and we're going to argue it again.
Giardino remarked that a stay would not undermine
the integrity of the regulatory system, but cautioned
Koenig, Anot to use it as a delaying tactic to get to the
next racing season.
Koenig assured the judge that the appeal would be
filed on time, adding, AWe're very satisfied with the
judge's decision. We are satisfied that we received 30
days, because Rick Dutrow is not looking to delay a
resolution of this case. We are ready to move forward.
We just want to make sure that we have a fair and
meaningful opportunity to do so. That's why we were
very comfortable saying that we can do this within 30
days. We're comfortable with the case, we're
comfortable with the facts and we are looking forward
to bringing this to the courts.

Breeders Cup Juvenile Sprint Contender's

2011-10-14T11:51:00.003-04:00

Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint
Distance: 6 furlongs
Conditions: 2 Year Olds
Purse: $500,000
Post Time: 4:10pm EDT

Horse Trainer Jockey

Exfactor>> Bernard Flint>> Calvin Borel>>

Flashy Lassie: Garry Simms: Kent Desormeaux:

I'll Have Another: Doug O'Neill: Julien Leparoux:

Jack's in the Deck Robin Graham Sheldon Russell

Power World Neil Howard Edgar Prado

Say a Novena Edward Plesa Jr. Rafael Bejarano

Team Six Mark Shuman Angel Serpa

Trinniberg Bisnath Parboo CornelioVelasquez

Vexor John Kimmel David Cohen

Dutrow's License Revoked for 10 Years

2011-10-13T09:49:00.000-04:00

By Tom Precious

New York regulators revoked Rick Dutrow’s license for at least 10 years and fined him $50,000 for what they said has been a pattern of rules violations by the controversial trainer.

The three-member State Racing and Wagering Board reduced a far more serious penalty as proposed by the hearing officer in the case: lifetime revocation of his license.

Dutrow, who one board member said has been cited for violating various racing rules in nine states and 15 different tracks, is also barred from being on the grounds of any racetrack in New York during the 10-year period.

“Let this be a lesson to other people in the business,” said board chairman John Sabini.

Sabini said Dutrow “has repeatedly violated rules in jurisdictions across the country and a license is a privilege and not a right.”

But board member Daniel Hogan said providing a sunset period to the revocation is “more appropriate” than a lifetime ban for Dutrow.

Hogan said that while Dutrow loves the sport of racing, “He loved winning more and he wasn’t above breaking rules to win.”

Dutrow declined to comment after the hearing. But his lawyer, Michael Koenig, promised an appeal to the state courts; a hearing on a stay of the suspension is scheduled for Oct. 17 in state Supreme Court in Schenectady, which is where the racing board is headquartered. Dutrow’s lawyers have four months to file an appeal.

“We look forward to challenging this in the courts, which will not have the biases or conflicts of interests that infected the Racing and Wagering Board in this case," Koenig said. “This decision is vindictive, heavy-handed and, most importantly, contrary to the facts, contrary to the evidence, and contrary to any notion of fundamental fairness or due process."

He said all the witnesses in the case, including racing board employees, testified that Dutrow “had a positive overall character and was good for the sport."

Koenig particularly zeroed in on Sabini, the racing board chairman. The lawyer had formally asked Sabini to recuse himself from the case because he is a member of the Racing Commissioners International, the same group that asked the racing board to revoke Dutrow’s license. He called it a "remarkable'' conflict of interest.

Dutrow could face problems in other states if, as often can happen, they defer to New York’s action against the trainer.

“The Racing and Wagering Board structure and process allows them to play prosecutor, judge and jury. No fair decisions can result from such a stacked process," Koenig said.

Originally, Dutrow was hit with a 90-day suspension after officials found the painkiller butorphanol in a urine sample from Fastus Cactus, who finished last Nov. 20 in the third race at Aqueduct, and a subsequent discovery of hypodermic needles in a Dutrow barn.

The racing board later upped the penalty to a full revocation of his license, saying that the controversial trainer is a “person whose conduct at racetracks in New York State and elsewhere has been improper, obnoxious, unbecoming, and detrimental to the best interests of racing."

Dutrow has still been training horses, as permitted, during his appeal of the board’s proposed punishment.

The trainer has steadfast denied the board’s most recent allegations against him, and said he wasn’t even in the state when the drug was found in the urine sample of one of his horses last year.

“I wouldn’t do something improper with any of my horses,” Dutrow said back in June. “I’ve done really good in the game…and I wouldn’t risk that for anything."

Besides denying the charges, Dutrow’s lawyer has claimed his due process rights were violated by the racing board. Chief among the claims by Michael Koenig, his lawyer, is connections between racing board chairman John Sabini, who is on the board of the Racing Commissioners International, and the group’s president, Ed Martin.

A former top official at the New York racing board, Martin urged Sabini to revoke, and not just suspend, Dutrow’s license, noting that the trainer has a long history of problems, including 69 rule infractions in different states since 1979, including a 2005 case when he continued training during a suspension period.

The board’s hearing officer in the case, Clemente Parente, recommended to the board that Dutrow never be allowed to train again in New York, and that he pay $50,000 in fines for the two violations from last fall.

Sabini said the 10-year suspension begins next week, giving time for Dutrow-trained horses already entered in races to run. “If we have even a smell of third party training here,” Sabini said of Dutrow’s conduct during the suspension period, “we’re not going to look kindly on it.”

Board member Charles Diamond said Dutrow’s conduct has been “inconsistent with the best interests of racing.”

He called a permanent revocation, however, “too severe” and proposed the 10-year ban instead.

Beyond the findings from the incidents last November in Dutrow's barn at Aqueduct, the racing board detailed what it called his "violation-laden history,'' including suspensions for drug violations in New York and Kentucky and falsified license applications in three states since 1979. His license was suspended earlier this year in Kentucky.

In his 17-page report to the board, Parente, the hearing officer, noted the character witnesses who testified on Dutrow's behalf, including Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr., and horse owners Kenneth Page and Samantha Siegel. But he said the testimony was "seemingly inconsistent'' with Dutrow's past violations of equine rules.

Based on previous violations, as well as the two incidents from November, Parente said that Dutrow "is a person whose conduct at racetracks in New York state is detrimental to the best interests of racing and his character and general fitness are such that his participation in pari-mutuel racing is inconsistent with the public interests, convenience and necessity and with the best interests of racing generally.''

Alex Waldrop, president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, said the action taken in Dutrow's case “is a clear indicator that regulators will not tolerate a pattern of disregard for the rules of racing by a licensee.

“Integrity is an indispensable part of Thoroughbred racing,” Waldrop added, “and all participants must abide by this principle in order to retain the privilege of participation.”

Read the entire hearing officer's report here.

Blind Luck to be Sold at Keeneland November

2011-10-12T08:57:00.003-04:00