Wandering Eyes

Pricilla Schaefer, exercise rider for Danny Gargan, gets to ride two Kentucky Derby contenders each morning in Dornoch and Society Man.View the full article

5th-Turf Paradise, $30,000, Msw, 4-25, 2yo, 5f, :59.17, ft, 1 1/4 lengths. DANCING PORKY (c, 2, Honor A. P.–Morning Dance, by Broken Vow) recorded the first worldwide winner for his Lane's End freshman sire Honor A.P. (by Honor Code), who has 80 foals of racing age to his credit. The juvenile, who debuted at Turf Paradise and finished third Apr. 11, was sent off as the 1-2 choice here. Though the colt started slowly, around the far turn he got into gear. Driving down the lane, Dancing Porky crossed the line by 1 1/4 lengths over Just Trust Me (Bodexpress). The winner's dam is responsible for a yearling by Lexitonian and she was bred to West Coast for this season. Sales History: $6,000 Ylg '23 FTCAYR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $21,300. Click for the Equibase.com chart. O-Gordiano Racing Stable and Silva, Jose Luna; B-H & E Ranch (KY); T-Jose Luna Silva. The post Freshman Sire Honor A.P. Gets His First Winner At Turf Paradise appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Daily Racing Form (DRF) writer Dan Illman has been named recipient of the 2024 Old Hilltop Award for covering Thoroughbred racing with excellence and distinction and will be honored May 16 at Pimlico's Alibi Breakfast in the buildup to the GI Preakness S. “I am very honored to receive the Old Hilltop Award from the Maryland Jockey Club,” said Illman, who also serves as executive producer for DRF's video productions. “I fell in love with racing the first time I went to Belmont Park as a child, snuck the Daily Racing Form into my high school classes, and am very grateful to live my dream by covering the sport each day. The last few years of reporting on the Mid-Atlantic region, especially Maryland racing, have been the most rewarding of my career.” For more information and tickets for the Alibi Breakfast, an institution at Pimlico since the 1930s, click here. The post Dan Illman to Receive Old Hilltop Award at Alibi Breakfast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Keeneland will host its April Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale following Friday's 10-race card on closing day of the Spring Meet. The fledgling auction will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET. Keeneland's final race will go off at approximately 5:09 p.m. ET. A total of 134 horses–and still growing–have been catalogued to the one-day sale. “It's an exciting sale,” Keeneland's Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach said earlier this week. “It's kind of a celebration of the end of our race meet and it also kicks off Derby week. This is only the second time that we've held it right after the race meet on closing day. It creates a really positive atmosphere. We'll have live music before and after the sale and we'll also have Grey Goose cocktails and sandwiches from Drake's, a local restaurant. We really liked the vibe that we created two years ago. Last year, we had to pivot to a Sunday sale because OBS's schedule had changed.” Breathnach continued, “Currently, there are about 85 horses in the sale, it's a moving number. It will be right down to the last minute with the number of horses that will go through the ring, but that's right in line with where we were the last two years. We take a lot of pride in selling horses that have run well or won at the meet. Hopefully, we'll have a lot of energy. We've had a lot of people talk about the sale and ask or confirm if we were doing it going back to as early as the turn of the year. We're excited to see how it unfolds.” Highlights from the catalogue include: the 3-year-old gelding Save the Trees (Preservationist) (Hip 131, consigned by Airdrie Stud, agent), an impressive come-from-behind debut winner for the Estate of Brereton C. Jones and trainer Wayne Mackey at Keeneland Apr. 19; the streaking 4-year-old ridgling Uncle Jake (Uncle Mo) (Hip 119, consigned by Vaccarezza Racing, agent), who made it three straight wins with a Keeneland allowance tally for JKX Racing and Vaccarezza Racing LLC at Keeneland Apr. 11; the 3-year-old filly Watchtower (Demarchelier {GB}) (Hip 79, consigned by ELiTE, agent for White Birch Farm), who is unbeaten in two races this year on turf for Peter Brant and Chad Brown at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs; 2023 GII Alysheba S. winner Smile Happy (Runhappy) (Hip 57, consigned by Gainesway, Agent II); 2022 GII Suburban S. winner Dynamic One (Union Rags) (Hip 101, consigned by Highgate Sales, Agent V); and MGSW & MGISP Wit (Practical Joke) (Hip 124, consigned by Gainesway, Agent XV as a stallion prospect). Last year's sale was topped by then 2-year-old Commissioner Dan (Commissioner), who brought $500,000 from Pedro Lanz, bidding on behalf of the Saudi Arabia-based KAS Stable, following a debut win at Keeneland. Keeneland sold 67 horses through the ring for $6,743,000, good for an average of $100,642 and a median of $70,000, at last year's auction. Recent graduates of the April Sale include: Carmel Road (Quality Road) ($260,000 '23 KEEAPR), winner of the 2024 King Faisal Cup in Saudi Arabia; 2023 GIII John B. Connally Turf Cup S. winner Scarlet Fusion (Curlin) ($110,000 '22 KEEAPR); and last weekend's Danger's Hour S. winner Spirit of St Louis (Medaglia d'Oro) ($280,000 '23 KEEAPR). “There's really a market for ready-made animals,” Breathnach said. “The claim box has been popular and busy the whole meet. There are a lot of people that are looking for horses that are ready to go on with. We've had a lot of support and interest from Saudi Arabia and they'll be live and active again. They like dirt horses and hopefully we have some of what they want.” The post Keeneland’s April Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale Follows Friday’s Closing Day Card appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Peter Stennett and jockey Vanessa Arnott are all smiles after five-year-old gelding New Entrerprise made it back to back wins at Fannie Bay on Anzac Day. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (Fotofinish Racepix) Darwin apprentices Emma Lines and Jade Hampson, as well as senior rider Sonja Logan, have enjoyed plenty of headlines this season. Lines was the Alice Springs Cup Carnival’s leading rider. Hampson represented the NT with distinction in the National Apprentice Race Series. Logan, last season’s top rider in the Alice Springs and Provincial Premierships, is never far from the spotlight. The trio continue to leave their mark in Darwin and Alice Springs. On Anzac Day, it was one other senior female jockey who had their moment in the sun, with Vanessa Arnott landing two winners at Fannie Bay. The day didn’t start well for Arnott, with Patrick Johnston’s Gelata remaining idle in the gates. It only got better for the experienced hoop with victory aboard Motivated Miss ($5.50) over 1200m (BM54) for trainer and partner Jason Manning before saluting on Peter Stennett’s New Enterprise ($2.70) over 1600m (0-64). It was Arnott’s first double since Noir De Rue and Motivated Miss prevailed last July during the Darwin Cup Carnival. Back from a spell, Motivated Miss shared the early lead before making a winning move at the 600m. The four-year-old mare led comfortably in the home straight before overcoming Gary Clarke’s Captain George ($1.50) by 1.2 lengths, with Manning’s fast-finishing Kirakat ($19) third. New Enterprise, who has now had 24 Darwin starts since March last year, jumped from a wide gate before joining Phil Cole’s Supermo ($11), who held the fence, out in front passing the 1200m. The five-year-old gelding by Anacheeva was two lengths clear at the 400m before sealing the deal after Arnott got him home over 1300m (0-64) six days ago. After six wins and seven minor placings for Stennett, New Enterprise finished 4.7 lengths clear of Supremo and Chris Pollard’s Bart’s Bullet ($11), who was last turning for home. After last Friday’s treble, Clarke and Jarrod Todd had two wins with Desarmer ($1.65 fav) over 1300m (Class 2) and Wolfburn ($2) – third in last year’s Darwin Cup – in an open 1200m handicap. Desarmer, a five-year-old gelding by Turn Me Loose, made it two wins from as many starts since arriving from Victoria when he led throughout when toppling stablemate Nassau County ($7) and Cole’s Whitten ($4.20) by 3.4 lengths. Wolfburn, the son of Snitzel, is back for a third Darwin campaign, and after sharing the early lead with Chole Baxter’s Swing With Junior ($4.80) and Angela Forster’s Zoumist ($5) he eventually flexed some muscle at the 300m. The 2022 Darwin Guineas and 2023 Toyota Cup winner, defeated Swing With Junior and Clarke’s Siakam ($5.50) by 3.5 lengths. Husband Tom and wife Sonja Logan were justifiably pleased when four-year-old mare Canada Bay ($3.20), a recent NSW purchase, impressed first up with an emphatic 3.5 lengths win over 1100m (0-58). The daughter of Vancouver was in front by the 1000m and was in no danger of defeat, with Jo Banks’ Sweet Cheval ($9.50) and Cole’s Lord Fenrir ($4) filling the minor placings. Horse racing news View the full article

The 2024 season at Woodbine will consist of 129 race dates and runs through Dec. 15. ​The first two weeks of the meet will have racing held on Saturday and Sunday.View the full article

By Mike Love Mid Canterbury reinsman Gerard O’Reilly could offer punters some value at tonight’s ANZAC weekend race meeting at Addington. O’Reilly steers six chances, the first of those in race 2 the Airpark Canterbury Mobile Trot, where he teams up with Bruce Negus and consistent trotter Buffy Northstains ($8.50FF). “She went nice last start. I haven’t driven her before. She’s probably my best each way chance of the night,” O’Reilly said. She’s drawn well at 5, over 1980 metres. The three favoured in the market are Judy J ($3.20FF), What The Bell ($5.50) and Miss Yo ($6.50). Race 3, the Kevin McCormack Decorating LTD Pace for the maidens, O’Reilly pilots the Ivan Court-trained Westburn Abby ($31.00FF). The four-year-old Sir Lincoln mare has been sixth and eighth in her two career starts so far. “There’s a couple of nice ones in there so she will need to find more to be competitive.” Drawn one and two respectively, Miki’s Courage ($1.70) and Biggles ($4.80) dominate the market. O’Reilly teams up again with Court to drive Bondi Lustre ($12.00FF) in race 5 the Fahey Fence Hire Mobile Pace. The six-year-old Sunshine Beach mare produced her usual honest effort last time, and comes up with a handy draw tonight. “With the draw if she can keep in the first four or five all the way she’ll be a nice each way chance.” Arguably O’Reilly’s most intriguing drive of the night comes in race 9 the Tyre General ‘About Now’ Fillies and Mares Trot, where Sonoma Tyron ($7.00FF) will step out for new trainers Robert and Jenna Dunn. She was formerly trained by O’Reilly’s brother Patrick. “She’s a nice wee mare. Patrick sent her up there, he thought she might be sore somewhere and benefit from the beach work. She’s got a good sprint on her so she should be a top 3 chance.” O’Reilly trains and drives the consistently honest Bettor Be Sharp ($13.00FF) in race 10 the New Zealand Bloodstock Weanling Sale 23 May Mobile Pace. “The draw doesn’t help, but he’ll give a good account of himself. He will just need a lot of luck.” Capping off the night in race 11 the Gold Band Taxis Mobile Pace O’Reilly will team up with fellow Ashburton trainer Simon Adlam and Itz All Fired Up ($13.00FF). The Art Major gelding was able to crack his maiden win last start on the grass at Methven, and is up in grade tonight. “It’s a bit of a step up but the 2600m will suit him because he just keeps going. He should get a nice run and be a top four chance.” Racing commences from 4.34pm. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Barry Purdon has been training great horses long enough to know tonight’s $110,000 Dawson Harford Taylor Mile could look very good, or very bad, for Merlin after just 200m. Purdon and training partner Scott Phelan have three reps in the Group 1 sprint at Alexandra Park but most eyes will be on Merlin, the last-start $1million Race by Grins winner and maybe the best pacer in the country. Merlin has drawn one on the second line in the glamour sprint and if the horse he follows out, Republican Party, holds the lead and Merlin is sitting in the trail after 200m this is his race to lose. But if Republican Party gets crossed, most likely by Kango or ironically Merlin’s stablemate Sooner The Better, then Merlin could be locked away three back on the markers waiting for a gap. Gaps rarely appear in major Alexandra Park mile races. “That about sums it up,” says Purdon. “We couldn’t be happier with him and the way he has come through the Race by Grins, he just seems to handling it all perfectly. “But for this race so much depends on what happens around him and in front of him. “I think Republican Party has some gate speed and being a mile I am sure he will want to use it but there is a big difference between being in the trail and three back and needing luck.” Purdon thinks Sooner The Better also find himself in a sticky position tonight because he could burn plenty of energy early and set the race up for a swooper but if he goes back he has no chance. The Taylor Mile is that type of race, often has been, with those in the marker pegs dominant unless somebody does something stupid and even though Kango will be long odds to win if he leads he could easily pace 1:52 and those coming wide will be flat keeping up. The most obvious swooper is Don’t Stop Dreaming, who nearly ran down a parked out Merlin over a mile two starts ago but was clearly outgunned by him in the Grins. His trainer Mark Purdon says Don’t Stop Dreaming is working well and is still the stable’s No.1 seed over Self Assured, even though the latter has barrier 2. “So much will depend on the early pressure for them both,” says Mark, who is Barry’s brother. The problem with betting against the glamour four-year-olds is nailing the horse who can beat them with all the likely options having doubts: Self Assured (age), Republican Party (form), Speak The Truth and Better Eclipses (bad draws). Later in the night two old trotting mates from Victoria will resume a long forgotten rivalry in the $60,000 Lone Star Alexandra Park Lyell Creek Trot. Just Believe is the undoubted king of Trans Tasman trotting but five years ago he had to bow twice to race rival tonight All Cashed Up, who was a star three-year-old when he was trained in Victoria. All Cashed Up was sent to New Zealand because he trotted better right-handed and has returned to something like his best form just in time for his first meeting in 18 months with his old adversary. The problem for All Cashed Up, and all of Just Believe’s rivals tonight, is the champ has gone up about three new levels in the last two years since joining the Tubbs/Sugars stable. So he should join a very short list of great Australian trotters who have won on their Alexandra Park debut. Michael Guerin’s picks for tonight : R4: Paramount Kiwi (3) should lead and win again with Princess Sadie (4) the only real danger. R6: There wasn’t much between stablemates Youretheonethatiwant (2) and I’m Sandra Dee (5) last Friday but their stable is confident the former is the better. R7: Really tricky as tactics will dictate result. If Merlin trails he probably wins, if he doesn’t Don’t Stop Dreaming is the best swooper. But a “be careful” race. R9: Just Believe should win so take the $1.25 as your anchor in all multis. View the full article

Long known for his skill in training turf horses, Phil D'Amato is making the most of an opportunity with the 3-year-old dirt horse Stronghold, winner of the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and pointed to the Kentucky Derby (G1) May 4 at Churchill Downs.View the full article

Del Mar is projecting more than $26.6 million in total purses over the course of the eight-week meeting, the seaside track's 85th summer session. The seaside track will offer $7.875 million in stakes purses, including six grade 1 stakes.View the full article

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A portion of any purse money earned in the May 4 GI Kentucky Derby by Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), winner of the GI Blue Grass S. and expected to be one of the favorites for the American Classic, will benefit the Backside Learning Center (BLC)'s initiative “Purses for a Purpose.” In addition, should the 'TDN Rising Star' win the Derby, co-owner Brook Smith has promised an additional $100,000 to the BLC. Smith, who recently joined the TDN Writers' Room, is a Louisville resident and long-time supporter of the BLC, which is a non-profit aiming to provide support and resources for racetrack workers and their families. Funds earned by Purses for a Purpose program go straight to the BLC. “We're so fortunate to have Brook Smith advocating for the BLC's mission as we work directly with the backbone of the horseracing industry,” said BLC's Executive Director Sherry Stanley. “Now that the BLC has a horse in the Derby, we hope this gives more exposure to the community making it all happen.” In addition to Smith, Sierra Leone, a $2.3-million yearling purchase at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga sale in 2022, is also owned by Peter M. Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Westerberg. “I have a challenge,” said Smith. “If we can get 150 owners, and 150 horses for that matter, and they pledge to donate 1% of purse winnings with these 150 horses, that moves a bigger needle than people realize. And it means a lot, the thought that the owners think about the backside, and those who support it.” For more information about the BLC and Purses for a Purpose, visit backsidelearningcenter.org. The post Sierra Leone’s Derby Earnings Will Benefit BLC appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ribble Farms, Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver, Kenneth Fishbein, and Dave Fishbein's Honor Marie drilled an eye-catching five-furlong bullet in :59 1/5 at Churchill Downs April 25, his final work before the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1).View the full article

It will be a bittersweet day at Golden Gate Fields April 27 as the $175,000 San Francisco Mile Stakes (G3T) is slated to be the last stakes race ever held at the track that opened in 1941.View the full article

Juliet Kagno will serve as The Jockey Club steward for the remainder of Aqueduct spring meet and for the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet while Dr. Ted Hill will assume the steward position during the Saratoga summer meet. View the full article

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club has scheduled a 31-day/39 stakes program topped by its premier offering–the 34th running of the $1-million GI FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic slated for Saturday, Aug. 31. Del Mar is also projecting a total purse distribution of more than $26.6 million over the course of the eight-week season. The shore oval's 85th summer session staged alongside the blue Pacific opens Saturday, July 20 and races ahead to Sunday, Sept. 8. The Pacific Classic will be the highlight of a rich afternoon that will feature five graded stakes, including the GII Del Mar H. and the GII Del Mar Mile. All told, there will be $7,875,000 in stakes purses available, notable among them six Grade I presentations. Along with the Pacific Classic, the other Grade Is are the Bing Crosby S. (July 27); the Clement L. Hirsch S. (Aug. 3); the Del Mar Oaks (Aug. 17); the FanDuel Racing Del Mar Debutante (Sept. 7), and the Del Mar Futurity (Sept. 8). “We're extremely pleased with the racing program we're offering this summer,” said Del Mar vice president and racing secretary David Jerkens. “Our horsemen and horsewomen have been extremely supportive of our race meets and we look forward to working with them on another successful season.” Del Mar will be the host track for this year's renewal of the Breeders' Cup Friday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 2. The post $1-Million Pacific Classic Tops Del Mar’s Summer Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2nd-Keeneland, $77,839, Msw, 4-25, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:03.29, fm, neck. INTO DIAMONDS (c, 2, Into Mischief–Diamond Sparkles {GSP}, by War Front) was overlooked by the betting public at odds of 6-1 for his debut here. The bay settled mid-pack up the backstretch as the tone was set by fellow firster Cheval de Guerre (Caravaggio). Trying to get involved around the far turn, the colt fanned four wide at the top of the lane and uncorked a bid to catch the leader. With a final push just the before the wire, the homebred got up in time to graduate. The first registered foal for his dam, the winner has a yearling half-sister by Quality Road. Diamond Sparkles was purchased for $500,000 by Pin Oak Stud during Keeneland November with that filly in utero. Into Diamonds's third dam, Irish and English G1 winner Quarter Moon (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), is a full-sister to Irish G1 winner Yesterday (Ire). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $45,260. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O/B-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Gary Barber (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. #12 Into Diamonds wins on debut in R2 at Keeneland under @iradortiz for trainer Mark Casse! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/JT48XkkBMK — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) April 25, 2024 The post Juvenile Into Diamonds Graduates At First Asking Over Keeneland Turf appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Samantha Randazzo will no longer serve as The Jockey Club steward at New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) racetracks, the Jockey Club announced Thursday. The move was made with immediate effect. Current NYRA safety steward Juliet Kagno will fill the vacancy for the remainder of NYRA's Aqueduct spring meet and for the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet from May 2 to July 7. Former Jockey Club steward at NYRA Dr. Ted Hill will assume the steward position during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga from June 6-9 and during NYRA's annual summer meet at Saratoga from July 11 through September 2. During this interim period, The Jockey Club will conduct an international search for candidates for the steward at NYRA position. Parties interested in the position can reach out here. The post Jockey Club Steward To Change At NYRA Tracks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Keeneland April Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale supplemented a pair of juvenile fillies to its catalog Thursday. Kiss Cam (Mastery) and Vodka With a Twist (Thousand Words) join 132 other horses selling at 6:30 p.m. Friday night following the closing day of racing. Kiss Cam, consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency as agent, debuted second in maiden special weight company April 18 while Vokda With a Twist, consigned by Ballysax Bloodstock agent, ran fourth beaten just two lengths in her own maiden special weight race April 24. The enhanced digital catalog is available for viewing here. The post Pair Of Juveniles Added To Keeneland April Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A Kentucky Court of Appeals judge on Wednesday denied a motion by Amr Zedan's incorporated racing stable that would have conferred “emergency” status on his legal quest to get 'TDN Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic) into the GI Kentucky Derby despite a ban by Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI) against the colt's trainer, Bob Baffert. Technically, the Apr. 24 order by Judge Jeff Taylor didn't decide Zedan's appeal of a lower court's denial of a temporary injunction in full. But from a practical standpoint, it appears that time has all but run out on that appeal being decided before Saturday's entry time for the Derby. After deciding that that case does not meet legal standards for “emergency” adjudication, Taylor wrote that the case will now be assigned to a three-judge panel “in accordance with this Court's customary procedures.” As of 1 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, no hearing date had been posted on the court's electronic docket. The “case status” section stated that the appeal is “ready to be assigned to motion panel.” In his 12-page order, Taylor wrote of three key issues that factored into his decision not to give emergency relief: 1) That Baffert himself was not a party to the lawsuit and/or its appeal; 2) That a federal court had already established a precedent in 2023 by denying a Baffert-initiated request to end the CDI ban, and 3) That Zedan Racing Stables had plenty of time-some 10 months before the 2024 Derby-to decide if it wanted to switch trainers to make horses Derby-eligible. “Any action taken by this Court to allow Zedan to participate in the Derby with Baffert as his trainer would eviscerate CDI's suspension of Baffert, without Baffert ever appearing before this Court,” Taylor wrote. “On its face, that would be totally unfair and unjust for CDI and the other owners who have complied with CDI rules for entry of horses into the Kentucky Derby. “As it stands, Muth is ineligible for nomination to the 150th Kentucky Derby because his trainer, Baffert, is presently suspended by CDI. Since Baffert is not before this Court to contest his suspension and is otherwise an indispensable party to this action, we decline to grant it the requested extraordinary emergency relief,” Taylor wrote. “To do otherwise would also affect Baffert' s rights, which are not 'separable from those of parties before the court.' The instant case may also be perceived as a collateral attack on the disciplinary action taken by CDI against Baffert, which has been litigated extensively in the courts,” Taylor wrote. “[A] federal court in Kentucky upheld the validity of Baffert's suspension by CDI in a final judgment entered in May of 2023. That judgment was not appealed. Accordingly, 'a federal court judgment is entitled to full faith and credit in the state courts,'” Taylor wrote. Taylor wrote that, “despite the effort at artful pleading by Zedan, the denial of Muth as a Kentucky Derby participant by CDI is inextricably intertwined with CDI's banning of the horse's trainer, Baffert, at its racing facilities. And to grant Zedan the relief requested would clearly undermine or evade the adjudication by the federal court in favor of CDI by a non-party to that action.” CDI had barred Baffert from its properties shortly after the 2021 Derby, which the now-disqualified, Zedan-owned, Baffert-trained Medina Spirit won while testing positive for betamethasone. Baffert's ban was initially just supposed to last for two Derbies. But in July 2023 CDI extended the penalty through 2024. Taylor addressed Zedan's claim that his stable relied upon a 2021 public statement by CDI that Baffert's suspension would be for two years only when Zedan subsequently spent approximately $14-million on seven auction purchases, allegedly thinking that Baffert would be allowed to train them in the 2024 Derby. Taylor wrote that “Zedan was aware of the dilemma it faced with having Baffert as the trainer of its horses on July 3, 2023. Zedan's failure to take any legal action to address the issue until April of 2024 certainly mitigates against any irreparable injury alleged to have been suffered by Zedan. Any harm incurred by Zedan would have been self-inflicted by its own conduct.” Zedan could opt to push the appeals process further by asking for a last-gasp appeal in the Kentucky State Supreme Court, but that option seems highly unlikely with the Apr. 27 entry time for the Derby looming within 48 hours. A public relations firm that has been acting as a spokesperson for Zedan Racing Stable's legal efforts issued a press release on Thursday that stated, “We are disappointed with the single judge decision of the Court of Appeals, and saddened that our horse Muth, one of the fastest three-year-olds in the country, will be denied the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity he earned to contend in the 150th Run for the Roses and, potentially, the Triple Crown. “Filing this lawsuit was the last thing we wanted to do. That is why [Zedan] reached out to the Churchill Downs CEO this past December and January to attempt to resolve this issue amicably. Zedan Racing Stables was compelled by its substantive business interests to take legal action to secure Muth's rightful opportunity to run in the Kentucky Derby. “We hope that Churchill Downs will follow up on [the lower court's] request that both sides work out an ongoing agreement in order for Bob Baffert to once again bring horses to Churchill Downs' tracks,” the stable's statement concluded. Tonya Abeln, CDI's vice president of communications, emailed the following statement in response to a TDN query for comment on the judge's order: “CDI is pleased with the Kentucky Court of Appeals' Order issued [Wednesday]. We remain focused on the horses and connections who qualified to compete in this year's Kentucky Derby, and we look forward to welcoming another champion into the history books as we celebrate the milestone 150th running of this extraordinary tradition.” Zedan himself also commented via his PR firm: “I had the pleasure of speaking with Alex Rankin, the Chairman of Churchill Downs, and I congratulated him on the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby and wish him and racing fans around the world a competitive, captivating, and safe race. I look forward to bringing Muth to the [GI] Preakness [S.].” The post Ky Appeals Court Denies Zedan ‘Emergency’ Relief for Muth’s Derby Eligibility appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group 1 winner Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) and 12 other Yeguada Centurion horses have transferred to the stable of Maurizio Guarnieri as of Thursday evening, Jour de Galop reported. The baker's dozen were formerly listed in training with Christopher Head. Speaking to the French publication, Head said, “I was notified Thursday morning of the departure of the horses for Maurizio Guarnieri's stable, with transport planned for the evening. I savored every minute spent with the Yeguada Centurion horses. I [will] only have good memories of this valuable experience for the rest of my training career.” Big Rock, a homebred for Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals's operation, skipped home a winner of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on QIPCO British Champions Day in October. He holds an entry in the May 18 G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. at Newbury. This move follows the removal of high-class filly and multiple Group 1 winner Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) and several other Yeguada Centurion horses to group-class trainer Guarnieri in January. The post Big Rock Among Thirteen More Yeguada Centurion Horses To Move From Head To Guarnieri appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has affirmed an earlier Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) arbitration panel ruling against trainer Jonathan Wong, suspending him for two years and fining him $25,000 for a 2023 post-race metformin positive. Metformin is a type 2 diabetes drug that HISA has classified as a banned substance. Wong will now take the case to federal court, according to the trainer's long-time owner, Brent Malmstrom. This would make it the first HISA-related medication violation case to work its way up to the federal court level. “If anyone thinks I have enjoyed spending over $510,000 litigating this, they would be mistaken, but to think we will stop now is misguided. I look forward to our ability to force discovery, take depositions, force accountability, and allow this case to be properly adjudicated,” wrote Malmstrom. In his written ruling dated April 22, FTC chief administrative law judge D. Michael Chappell agreed with the plaintiffs that HISA had departed from the anti-doping medication control (ADMC) program's standards or protocol in key instances. Nevertheless, Chappell determined that “there is no basis presented by Appellant to support a conclusion that the resulting sanctions were 'arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.” HISA and the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) had no comment on the FTC decision. Though banned from operating in jurisdictions that fall under HISA's authority, Wong operates a stable out of Evangeline Downs, in Louisiana, a state that currently falls outside of HISA legal purview. The ruling marks the latest twist in a case involving a drug that appears to be playing an out-sized role in the organization's anti-doping crusade. Metformin ranks as the nation's third-most-prescribed human medicine, according to the consumer healthcare website Healthgrades, with more 20 million patients taking it. As a banned substance under HISA, a metformin positive comes with a possible maximum two-year suspension and $25,000 fine. The Wong-trainee Heaven and Earth (Gormley) broke her maiden at Indiana Grand on June 1 but subsequently tested positive for metformin. As a matter of protocol at that time, HIWU initially provisionally suspended Wong at the beginning of June when the A sample returned a positive finding for Metformin. The HISA Authority subsequently announced that it had modified the rules surrounding provisional suspensions. Under the revised provisions, responsible parties who request B Sample confirmation following a positive test for a banned substance would no longer face a provisional suspension until the B sample findings are returned. In Wong's case, he was notified on Aug. 9 that the B Sample confirmed the Metformin positive. Though Wong was technically permitted to return to training for a brief period while the B sample was being processed, he explained at the time that his owners did not wish to transfer the horses back with the B Sample results expected imminently, and effectively has not trained since July 2. Earlier this year, a HISA arbitration panel imposed on Wong the maximum possible sentence for such a violation. The two-year period of ineligibility retroactively started July 1, 2023, when Wong's initial provisional suspension was first imposed. The panel's ruling also set the case up for review anew before the FTC. In his appeal, Wong made several claims that the way the blood and urine samples in the case had been processed were a departure from the “rules and standards” of HISA's drug testing program, and that these departures rendered the test results “inadmissible.” Judge Chappell agreed that some of these “departures” from the ADMC program's rules and regulations indeed occurred, including how HISA failed to “document the chain of custody” of the samples between the time of collection and shipment to Industrial Laboratories for testing. Chappell also agreed that Brendan Heffron, lab director at the University of Illinois Chicago Illinois (UIC) where the B samples were sent for confirmation testing, failed to “decant” the urine sample according to the ADMC rules. Chappell disagreed with the assertion that the findings did not undergo “independent review” by two certifying scientists. Even though one of the certifying scientists conducted his review well after UIC reported its test result to HIWU in contrary to ADMC rules, “there is no evidence to support a conclusion – implied by Appellant – that UIC altered the laboratory package after Benoit's review and prior to certifying the result,” Chappell wrote. In an unusual turn of events in the case, the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory at the University of California, Davis, conducted “Further Analysis” on the A blood sample sent to Industrial Laboratories, and on what remained of the B urine sample processed by the Chicago lab. Wong argued that ADMC rules required such further analysis to have been conducted by UIC—the laboratory that conducted B sample analysis—rather than by the UC Davis Lab. Chappell rejected this argument by stating that Wong had failed to make this assertion in arbitration, and that “Appellant has failed to rebut the presumption that the analyses of the A and B samples conducted by Industrial and UIC were valid in detecting the presence of a banned substance. In this context, whether the further analysis conducted by UC Davis failed to comply with applicable testing rules is immaterial.” In his ruling, Chappell concluded that Wong “has failed to meet his burden of establishing that the demonstrated departures from applicable testing standards or protocols could reasonably have caused the AAF. Therefore, pursuant to ADMC Rule 3122(c)-(d), the test results are presumed valid and the departures are not a defense to the possession violation.” In his written statement, Malmstrom pointed to the parts of the judge's ruling identifying where sample processing procedures had deviated from the stipulated rules. “Better stated, HIWU can issue a fine/suspension but not follow the stated rules, leading you to that conclusion,” Malmstrom wrote. Because of the possible severity of metformin-related sanctions and its ubiquity in the environment, the drug has been at the heart of several controversial cases that have led some to question whether HIWU is deploying too strict an enforcement approach to the drug. In justification of its stance, HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus told the TDN earlier this year that “we do have intelligence that metformin is being used intentionally” as a performance enhancer. According to Malmstrom, the challenge “we and every other trainer face” is the difficulty in proving the root source of adverse analytical findings, especially in ship-in scenarios. “We have all read about the disproportionate number of tests returning from situations where the trainer shipped their horses to various locations,” Malmstrom wrote, pointing to his “letter to the editor” from last July. “Due process isn't a scenario where some rules can be followed while others can be ignored. Under the current regulations, you can have your entire economic livelihood taken from you through no fault of your own,” Malmstrom wrote. “Trainers are not omnipresent and can't always control everything,” he added. “Why are trainers the only ones subject to transparency? Given that environmental contaminations continue to be significant events, a better solution that shares responsibility is needed.” The post FTC Affirms Wong Suspension and Fine, Case Heads to Federal Court appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Star router Next and the speedy No Nay Mets are among the top contenders in two of Churchill Downs' featured stakes races May 1 leading up to Kentucky Derby (G1) weekend.View the full article

Kentucky Derby (G1) favorites Fierceness and Sierra Leone will open as the second and third choices behind Muth in the Preakness Future Wager when the final pool opens April 26.View the full article

Jevian Toledo, four-time leading rider at Laurel Park, had minor surgery to repair a dislocated collarbone suffered during a spill April 21.View the full article