Wandering Eyes

With victories in his past four two-turn turf starts, including back-to-back stakes this spring at Santa Anita Park, Neptune's Storm brings plenty of momentum into his graded stakes debut in the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap (G3T) Aug. 4 at Del Mar. View the full article

Hawthorne Race Course will not run a spring Thoroughbred meet in 2020 because the afternoon races will conflict with the large-scale reconstruction of the track’s grandstand and clubhouse that will transform the plant into a racino. Earlier this summer, Illinois legalized slot machines, table games and sports betting at the state’s commercial pari-mutuel tracks. The Blood-Horse first broke the story on Thursday, but TDN obtained additional details about the project from both Hawthorne and Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (ITHA) officials. “The beginning of the construction is going to be in January, and there’s too much loud work that has to be done on the outside and the inside in terms of cutting steel and those types of things,” said Tim Carey, Hawthorne’s president and general manager. “It’s a one-off, one-time event, and we have every indication of being up and running [Thoroughbreds] from October through December. “We have 400,000 square feet under roof, so we are going to gut the whole building,” Carey continued. “There are going to be 1,200 full gaming positions, as well as a poker room, a 10,000 square foot sports book, and we’re going to re-do and re-design the racing [areas].” Hawthorne’s night harness racing dates during the construction period will not be disturbed, Carey said, because the day’s work will be completed before the evening cards start. “The horsemen’s perspective is one of recognition that this is what has to be done in order for the sport to get better in Illinois,” said David McCaffrey, the ITHA’s executive director. “So we’re looking at it in a way of short-term pain, long-term gain. “Make no mistake, this is going to create a hardship for all sorts of trainers, grooms and backstretch workers,” McCaffrey continued. “We’re going to bite the bullet, but it’s the medicine that we have to take to get better.” McCaffrey said it was “good news” that Hawthorne has offered to keep backstretch housing open to Thoroughbred licensees during the construction period, because Illinois is one of the few states that allows families to live on racetrack backstretches. Being able to stay at Hawthorne now means some families won’t have to take their children out of the local school district in the middle of the year. And Hawthorne will offer modified stabling to some Thoroughbred outfits. “Even though we have harness racing at that time, some of [the Thoroughbred outfits] will be able to stay,” Carey said. “We have some bigger barns where they can stay, but [instead of training on the track] they walk or jog their horses a little bit instead of going to a farm or something like that.” McCaffrey said the ITHA would “encourage Arlington to open their backstretch as soon as possible” for the 2020 meet that is scheduled to start Apr. 27. “With no [racing] surface here in Chicago essentially from December until May, I’m positive that they’re going to come to the realization to open as soon as possible to protect their meet,” McCaffrey said. And what about the prospect of Arlington—which has a synthetic racing surface—racing earlier in the year to fill the six-month gap in the Illinois calendar? Did that topic come up in planning discussions? Carey said it did, but that it won’t happen. “We have a dates agreement with Arlington and the horsemen, so there’s no chance of that,” Carey said. McCaffrey said that if those discussions did happen, the ITHA wasn’t in on them. “Listen, we’re a horsemen’s association, and we’re made to feel like it,” McCaffrey said. “Arlington never called us before the deadline of [Wednesday] and Hawthorne called us [Wednesday]. So we had no input. “In a perfect world, it would seem to me that racetracks and horsemen’s associations would sit in a room and try to make each other’s lives easier,” McCaffrey continued. “But it doesn’t happen. I’m not saying we had any legal requirements to be included. It would just be idyllic if that happened. [Not being included in advance planning discussions] disappoints me, but it doesn’t surprise me.” McCaffrey was asked how many outfits he expects will leave to race elsewhere instead of hunkering down to wait it out while Hawthorne rebuilds. “To the extent that a certain percentage leaves, practically every one of them will intend to come back,” McCaffrey said. “An Illinois trainer who’s waited for this moment for 10 years is not going to move out of the state permanently because of a three-month hardship.” The post Hawthorne Won’t Race 2020 Spring Meet to Allow for Racino Construction appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

7th-Laurel, $46,000, Msw, 8-1, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1:23.95, ft. ARRIFANA (f, 3, Curlin–Vaulcluse {SW}, by A.P. Indy) entered this unveiling with a very upbeat worktab over the Fair Hill all weather, and was backed down to 17-10 favoritism facing a field of foes who had mostly had their fair share of chances. Breaking a bit outwardly from her wide draw, the bay dropped back to sit second last while always well off the inside. She began to pick off foes into a :46.84 half, briefly seemed to idle, but found another gear while advancing rapidly out wide into the stretch. Nobody could muster any kind of serious response to Arrifana from there, and she galloped home as she pleased to cruise home 10 lengths the best. Hunting Season (Pioneerof the Nile) completed the exacta. The winner is half to Lukes Alley (Flower Alley), Ch. Older Horse-Can, GISW, $795,122, and fillies by Empire Maker born in 2018 and 2019. Dam Vaulcluse, a track record breaker going an extended mile on the Tampa dirt in her third win from as many starts, was purchased for $600,000 at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton November sale in foal to Lookin At Lucky. She was bred to War Front this season. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $22,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O/B-Gunpowder Farms LLC (KY); T-Kelly Rubley. The post Curlin Filly Cruises to Impressive First-Out Tally in Maryland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) farm at the Wallkill Correctional Facility recently celebrated its 35th anniversary. The perennial partnership sealed in 1983 paved the way for off-track Thoroughbreds as therapeutic learning partners for all people but most notably for men and women who have suffered PTSD, have substance abuse issues, anger management problems and many other issues that might land a person in prison. Pasture sound-only Thoroughbreds find sanctuary and a critically important career in the TRF’s renowned program. Older horses are respected and revered for their lives and contributions to the program. The program teaches advanced horse care as well as empathy, life-skills, communications skills and the importance of humane treatment of animals. Farm Manager James Tremper retired in 2018 after 35 years. Filling his boots was not going to be easy. Kelsey Kober took on the challenge and she has found success in all aspects. Diana Pikulski caught up with Kober to talk about her first year on the job. DP: Did you grow up in this area and around horses? KK: I grew up here in the Hudson Valley and I started riding horses at age seven. That is when I started taking riding lessons. DP: Are off-track Thoroughbreds new to you? KK: Off-the-track Thoroughbreds are not new to me. My first exposure to them was at the farm where I rode as a kid in Gardiner, NY. In addition to having off-track Thoroughbreds, they broke and trained Thoroughbred racehorses. I used to love riding in the outdoor area and watching the racehorses being ponied and warmed-up for training. DP: Did you have a background in corrections before coming on board at Wallkill? KK: I am the third generation of my family to work in corrections. My nana worked 17 years for the department and my father currently has 31 years with the department. I started my career in corrections by volunteering for two and half years before joining the department. So, corrections has always been a part of my life. DP: What is your favorite part of the day on the TRF farm? KK: My favorite part of my day is being able to work and be around 51 beautiful horses day in and day out. I love to go to the top of the farm and look over the farm and see the mountains and the horses grazing so peacefully. I am truly blessed to be a part of such a wonderful program. DP: Is there anything that surprises you about the relationship between the men and the horses? KK: I am still surprised by the depth of the stabilizing effect that the horses have on the men. The horses are such gentle creatures and you see how they allow the men to let down their ‘wall’. It is interesting to see how some men are more able than others to let go of their emotional blocks. I love seeing how much the therapeutic aspect of the training can affect the men and the work they do with the horses on a daily basis. DP: What changes have you made at the farm since coming on full time? KK: I’ve made a few small changes to the program. I switched over to a local feed company, Poulin Grain, and we found a balanced grain that works with our climate in the Hudson Valley and it seems better suited for our horses. I received a wonderful donation of a new run-in-shed to be able to make another field available for four more horses to call home. I also have been working in conjunction with the TRF’s farm in Saratoga to promote adoptions. Last year four horses from Wallkill served as ambassadors in Saratoga and found adoptive families which was extremely exciting for me. DP: Tell me about a typical day for the men at TRF Wallkill. KK: A typical summer day at Wallkill starts with the men feeding all the horses and cleaning and refilling water troughs. We also do a small practical lesson every day which be wound treatment, or haltering and leading a horse. Then, we move on to either unloading hay or mowing the grass. This is in addition to the more regimented curriculum. DP: The herd is aging. Is there a special lesson for the men in caring for the older horses? KK: I have two men that work with what we call our old timers paddock. The two men that care for this field are usually men that have been in the program the longest or have horse experience. These horses are on special diets and they need to be watched carefully especially when eating. The men are able to learn the how the horses’ nutritional needs change as they age and the importance of adjusting our regiments to suit their needs. DP: I know that all of the horses are special in their own way. But, is there one who you would like to bring to the attention of the Thoroughbred racing industry as representative of the specialness of the breed? KK: All of the horses at Wallkill hold a special place in my heart. Each and every one of them has their own personality and quirks to them which makes it even more special. I have had the opportunity to connect with so many of my horses on the farm that is extremely hard to just pick one. I would like to talk about Quick Call who turned 35 in February. He is still doing a fantastic job living his best life. He comes in everyday to eat and trots right out for a drink after eating. He is a big napper which sometimes makes us nervous. Quick Call definitely gets some extra attention around Wallkill with being the oldest horse and doing so well in his racing career (earned $807,817 in 86 starts). I have told others in the past that I believe the reason he has done so well in his life is all the love and attention he receives. The farrier was in recently and expressed to me that Quick Call’s joints are still as if he was a 20 year old which I believe to be impressive. For more information about the TRF, go to www.trfinc.org or call 518-226-0028. Diana Pikulski is the editor of the Thoroughbred Adoption Network. The post Q&A with Kelsey Kober, TRF Wallkill’s New Manager appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Whitney Stakes (G1) is part of the "Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In—Presented by America's Best Racing," broadcast schedule. View the full article

Tears will give away to cheers of appreciation as Marylou Whitney will be celebrated for a lifetime in which she touched the lives of a multitude of people in an unforgettable manner. View the full article

The New York Racing Association, Inc. will welcome a dozen of the sport’s top jockeys back to Saratoga Race Course for the sixth annual Jockey Legends Day, presented by Fasig-Tipton, Sunday, August 4. Top riders scheduled to attend include Angel Cordero, Jr., Robbie Davis, Ramon Dominguez, David Erb, Earlie Fires, Sandy Hawley, Richard Migliore, Laffit Pincay, Jr., Nick Santagata, Jose Santos, Gary Stevens and Jorge Velasquez. The riders will be honored with a special video tribute and ceremony in the winner’s circle following races four, five and six. The legendary jockeys will also participate in a special autograph session from noon to 1 p.m. at the Jockey Silks Room Porch. Autographs will be available with a suggested donation to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys’ Fund. Jockey Legends Day is part of the Fasig-Tipton Festival of Racing, which celebrates the rich partnership between NYRA and Fasig-Tipton as a prelude to Fasig-Tipton’s annual Saratoga sales at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion. The post Jockey Legends Day, Presented by Fasig-Tipton, Returns to Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

5th-Laurel, $40,000, Msw, 8-1, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:03.21, fm. KING OF EGYPT (c, 2, American Pharoah–Prof. McGonagall, by Storm Cat), hailing from a productive turf family and looking to become the seventh winner for his Triple Crown-winning freshman sire (by Pioneerof the Nile), dueled and drew off as a 5-1 shot Thursday. Chasing favored fellow firster Chapalu (Flatter) from the two path with another foe perched to his outside, the bay poked a head in front at the head of the lane and edged clear under confident handling late to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths. King of Egypt is a half to It’s Tea Time (Dynaformer), GSW & GISP, $470,226; and to Ultra Brat (Uncle Mo), MGSW & GISP, $478,299. A daughter of GISW Rootentootenwooten (Diesis {GB}), dam Prof. McGonagall has a yearling colt by Uncle Mo and a foal colt by Munnings. She most recently visited Candy Ride (Arg). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $22,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Alex G. Campbell, Jr.; B-Alex G. Campbell, Jr. Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-H. Graham Motion. The post Another Winner for American Pharoah at Laurel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Empire 6, a jackpot-style multi-race wager replacing the traditional Pick 6, will be launched at Saratoga by The New York Racing Association, Inc. Featuring a $0.20 bet minimum and 20% takeout, the Empire 6 will be added to the wagering menu beginning Wednesday, Aug. 7 and continue through the remainder of the 2019 meet at the Spa. If one unique ticket exists, then 100% of the net pool, plus the jackpot carryover if applicable, will be paid to the winner. If there is no unique wager selecting the first-place finisher in all six races, then 75% of the day’s net pool will be distributed to those who selected the first-place finisher in the greatest number of races. The remainder will be added into the jackpot and carried to the next day’s Empire 6. The Empire 6 will offer mandatory payout days Sunday, Aug. 18 and Monday, Sept. 2, closing day at the Spa. “The Empire 6 provides the potential for large payouts with small bets. That makes it attractive to the everyday horseplayer,” said Tony Allevato, President of NYRA Bets. “Bettors have gravitated to this style of wager and we are pleased to be able to offer it at Saratoga along with the benefit of two mandatory payout days during the meet.” The existing NYRA Pick 6 wager will conclude with a mandatory payout on Saratoga Derby Day, Sunday, Aug. 4. The post NYRA to Launch Empire 6 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today’s Observations features a half-sister to MG1SW Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). 5.20 Deauville, Mdn, €27,000, 2yo, f, 7 1/2fT BIONIC WOMAN (IRE) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) is a full-sister to the G3 Killavullan S. winner and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas third Blue de Vega (Ger) who cost Godolphin 800,000gns at the Tattersalls October Book 1 Sale. Andre Fabre introduces the bay who encounters another newcomer in Jam and Mam (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Ecurie Amazingteam’s half-sister to the G1 Prix de Diane winner Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) who races for Henri-Francois Devin. 5.45 Galway, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, 7fT ALPINE STAR (IRE) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) attempts to build on an encouraging debut third in that Leopardstown maiden in which the G3 Silver Flash S. winner Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G3 Anglesey S. third Soul Search (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) were in front and Tuesday’s scorer Petite Mustique (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was behind. The Niarchos Family’s half-sister to the outstanding fellow Jessie Harrington-trained four-times Group 1 winner Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) sets a decent standard in this median auction maiden. The post Observations: Aug. 2, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Michael Behrens has very suddenly–and a bit unexpectedly, he admits–found himself in a position to be buying a significant amount of bloodstock. Behrens is the co-founder of MyRacehorse, the micro-shares syndicate that acquires partnership interests in racehorses then slices those assets into far smaller investment opportunities that generally cost below $400 per share and usually equate to one-tenth of one percent of ownership in a race-ready horse, all training costs included. The firm barely existed a year ago and only bought its first 2-year-old at auction this March. Yet Behrens told TDN a recent strategy switch from building a crowdfunded stable with mid-caliber stock to assembling a more elite equine portfolio with six-figure-valued horses has been so well received by individual investors that MyRacehorse now projects to triple its current roster of 35 micro-partnerships by acquiring interests in 100 total horses over the next year. “It took awhile to catch on,” Behrens said. “I think people were being cautiously optimistic to see if we could deliver what we promised on the micro-share platform. When we first started, we were buying horses valued on average around $30,000. Then halfway through our pilot, we started increasing it to $100,000, and we got more and more positive feedback. As we kept increasing quality, we saw that our growth and quality were perfectly correlated. “Consumers said that it was exciting to be part of horses for such a low level. But we heard over and over the idea of potentially having the ‘Big Horse’ is what they really wanted to be a part of,” Behrens continued. “And the fact that we are able to break these types of horse investments down into micro-percentages, it gives people access to what was once inaccessible. “So we said, ‘Let’s just go big. Let’s really get into the top end and see if that continues.” At this point in MyRacehorse’s career arc, “top end” equates to the 2-year-old Wayne O (Into Mischief), a $750,000 FTSAUG purchase that the syndicate bought a 60% interest in from Spendthrift Farm earlier this summer. The colt, a half-brother to GISW Restless Rider (Distorted Humor), debuts in a Saturday maiden special weight at Saratoga for trainer Steve Asmussen. Here’s an example of the demand that is driving MyRacehorse toward more expensive bloodstock: On July 25, when shares of Wayne O first became available for purchase on the MyRacehorse app ($95 for a hundredth of one percent of ownership, which includes a separate $600 per-share bonus if the horse ever wins a Grade I), individual investors purchased $103,000 worth of Wayne O shares in the first 30 minutes. The new investor limit was reached within four days, selling out all of the colt’s micro-shares. “Even a couple of weeks ago, I had no clue we were going to start getting involved with $700,000 and $800,000 purchases like Wayne O and the next deal I’m working on,” Behrens said. “But we’re now intending to spend about 75% of our budget on higher-end 2-year-olds.” To get a detailed sense of how MyRacehorse works, check out TDN’s original article on the company from June 2018. There have been a few minor pricing and protocol tweaks, but those changes have been updated on the company’s FAQ page. Behrens (a marketing executive who’s developed direct-to-consumer strategies for both start-ups and Fortune 500 companies) and co-founder David Kandasamy (a technology specialist who worked as a product development executive at Netscape, AOL, and Yahoo) spent the year before the firm’s launch grinding away at legal due diligence to make sure the offerings on MyRacehorse were in compliance with securities laws. After operating for the first year as a pilot program in which only California residents could purchase micro-shares, on July 14 MyRacehorse received Securities and Exchange Commission permission to begin accepting investments from 43 states (Texas, Nevada, Arizona, Alabama, Nebraska, Florida and Washington are the holdouts, but the firm expects several of those will be available soon). “A few weeks ago we exited being available in California only, and this past Saturday alone we had 100 new people become owners in one day,” Behrens said. “Business has just been crazy-phenomenal in terms of word of mouth. “As new owners enjoy the experience, they’re sharing it with others,” Behrens continued. “How fast people are adopting the micro-shares platform is amazing. It doesn’t take a lot of people. It’s the power of the crowd. People are starting to take notice that we have a lot of purchasing power because we bring people together to do this.” Behrens said the decision to upgrade horseflesh was overwhelmingly based on customer feedback. “What we heard [from micro-investors] is we want 2-year-olds and we want the opportunity to participate in big races,” Behrens said. “So we started with a modest budget of like a couple hundred grand, and OBS March was the first time we went to a sale and started looking for partners. We picked up a Jimmy Creed filly that we liked for $65,000 in partnership with Cardinal Hill Racing. It sold phenomenally [on the micro-shares platform]. So we went back in April.” At OBSAPR, MyRacehorse bought interests in three more juveniles, partnering separately with owners Joey Platts and Slam Dunk Racing to combine for $360,000 worth of purchases. At OBSJUN the firm partnered with Winning Move Stable for another $100,000 colt. Around the same time, MyRacehorse also started scouting for in-training graded stakes prospects. After Street Band (Istan) won the GII Fair Grounds Oaks, Behrens landed a piece of her for “a hefty valuation.” She subsequently ran sixth in the GI Kentucky Oaks, but became the syndicate’s first graded stakes winner on July 13 when she scored in the GIII Indiana Oaks. Simultaneously, Behrens began negotiating to acquire partnership interests in two juveniles Spendthrift bought as yearlings. One was Wayne O. The other, Tizamagician (Tiznow), is a $150,000 FTSAUG colt who ran second in his July 27 Del Mar debut. Behrens said 140 of the syndicate’s micro-owners showed up to cheer him on. “Our trainer, Dick Mandella, told [Spendthrift owner] B. Wayne Hughes, ‘I can’t believe I got a standing ovation for running second,'” Behrens said. “Wayne actually came out to watch the race with us, and customers wanted to meet him to thank him for the opportunity to partner on a really good horse. It was a special day.” Right now there are five open micro-partnership opportunities available on MyRacehorse (30 others are sold out). All are 2-year-olds valued between $180 and $320 per one-tenth of one percent share. Behrens said MyRacehorse intends to keep acquiring horses as long as the demand for micro-shares warrants further buying. “When [potential partners] started seeing us on tickets at the OBS sale, people started calling us,” Behrens said. “So yeah, we’re buying aggressive. The idea of being a major player in buying graded stakes-quality horses of racing age, buying into a percentage of horses that were high-priced yearlings, and going to the 2-year-old sales and hitting the hammer more aggressively, that is where our focus is going to be, and that’s absolutely what you’ll see from us going forward.” Behrens said that even though eventually acquiring horses as yearlings might have some appeal, the firm isn’t quite prepared to invest in horses that are a year away from being race-ready. “The yearling sales, we are just not ready for yet,” Behrens said. “But we are starting to consider that because many of our customers understand there’s the possibility to do a little bit better on ROI if we acquire horses earlier, especially if we’re open to [pinhooking] them. But that’s just a little bit premature for us right now. We’d like to focus on getting horses that are closer to racing, and get a few more trips to the winner’s circle under our belt.” The post Building a 100-Horse Stable, One Micro-Share at a Time appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hawthorne Race Course will not conduct live Thoroughbred racing in the spring of 2020 while it builds casino and sports-betting facilities, leaving a nearly four-month gap in the Chicago-area schedule. View the full article

Hawthorne Race Course will not conduct live Thoroughbred racing in the spring of 2020 while it builds out casino and sports-betting facilities, leaving a nearly four-month gap in the Chicago-area schedule. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY–Horsemen and fans of New York racing are well familiar with the name Gary Gullo. The veteran trainer is consistently potent with claiming types and can get the right horse ready to win first out of the box. On the national scene, his name is much less recognizable, but that changed this year at Saratoga, when he had the distinction of being leading trainer after day one of the elite meet. He’ll look to build on that honor when he starts two juvenile fillies in Sunday’s GII Adirondack S. at the Spa, an opportunity he carved out by going back to what paid the bills when he first started training nearly 40 years ago. “It was great, it really was, it makes things work out for the entire meet,” Gullo said of his opening day two-bagger, which included debutante Big Q (Big Brown), one half of his Adirondack pair. “After that, everything seems to run good. This is a tough place here, especially for me, not having those top horses like other guys got. So winning those two races was really good for the morale of the barn.” Gullo started out at the racetrack as a 12-year-old, working before school for his father, blue-collar trainer Tom Gullo, who conditioned over 300 winners in his career. Gary went out on his own in 1980, and has built a steady presence on the ultra-competitive New York circuit through hard work and decades-long relationships with his owners. In 1986, he took his first trip to the Ocala 2-year-old sales, where he began to bring back cheaper purchases who became success stories for the barn, allowing Gullo to establish his reputation as a capable horseman with a sharp eye for talent. Eventually, however, he phased out that part of his program when the juvenile auctions became more popular and attracted bigger and bigger buyers, most of whom were only interested in pure speed. “It was different back then,” Gullo said of his early trips to Ocala. “They weren’t really working them that fast and it was a different game. You could buy a nice horse for $20,000, but as time went on, people started looking more into the speed of the horses, how fast they galloped out, they had videos, so it became harder.” Gullo gradually shifted his auction activity to yearlings, but didn’t have the results he was looking for. “We bought yearlings, but we really didn’t do that well with the ones we were buying,” he said. “I’m not really good with them and not really qualified, to be honest, to buy yearlings. They just don’t work out for me. There’s too much going on, too much time, then you have to hope they don’t get hurt, and it was a little frustrating. With 2-year-olds, I can buy them and bring them right to me, and they’re more under my control.” So, this spring, he went back to what he knew best and returned to Ocala for the OBS April Sale with a specific budget, determined to recreate the magic he experienced early in his career. He and loyal client Anthony Melfi, principal of Bob Petersons Stable, set a $100,000 budget per horse and made a plan to bring back four or five prospects. They bought four, for a combined $245,000, the most expensive of which was a flashy filly from the first crop of Bayern who hammered for $80,000 after breezing a furlong in :10 1/5. Gullo retained a stake in the chestnut, named Miss Peppina, and Long Island and New Jersey car dealership owner Frank Bellavia, who’s had horses with Gullo since 1984, bought in as well. She debuted going 5 1/2 furlongs July 3 at Belmont and, after, an alert break, got shuffled all the way back to eighth under Joel Rosario. That was no matter for the talented filly though, as she showed professionalism and a sharp turn of foot to rally to a two-length score going away. “I thought she ran really good,” Gullo said. “She was way back there and got caught on the inside. What was nice about it was once she got going, he really didn’t even hit her, he just tapped her on the shoulder and she took off. She went from eighth to second real quick.” Miss Peppina has drilled twice at Saratoga since the debut win, going five furlongs in 1:01.60 (11/38) July 21, followed by an easy three-eighths in :38.89 (31/35) July 28 to cap preparations for the 6 1/2-furlong Adirondack. “She’s got a great mind and nothing rattles her,” Gullo said. “She does everything right and is training great. I think the 6 1/2 is going to help her too. She’s going to run the best that she can. Whether it’s enough to beat those horses, I don’t know, but she’s going to do the best she can do so far.” The other half of Gullo’s uncoupled entry, Dutchess Views Farm’s homebred Big Q, also rallied from well back to graduate first out. With the scarcity of allowance races available for juveniles, Gullo admits that her placement is a bit ambitious while hoping to get a black-type placing. “I’m just taking a shot with Big Q,” he said. “I think the added distance is going to help her too, and if she could run third in there, that would be great.” Regardless of what happens in the Adirondack, Gullo has made a splash this year by going back to his initial bread and butter. And while he doesn’t expect to hang consistently with the top barns bankrolled by seemingly unlimited budgets, he knows that getting two horses to a graded stake at Saratoga is an accomplishment within itself. “To me, $100,000 is a lot of money, but for the sales, that’s the low end and it’s tough to be competitive in New York with those horses,” he said. “You’ve got to look for horses that fall through the cracks a little bit. I’ve been doing it for a long time, and this year, I believe we’ve done well.” The post Gullo, Increasing 2YO Presence, Brings Two-Pronged Adirondack Attack appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: ANTONY BECK Over the past few days, I have read with interest the letters from Allison Bishop and Dermot Ryan about the important role that Visit Horse Country plays in introducing new people to our sport. I would like to add my voice to the conversation. Each day, as the sun rises over the Bluegrass, we direct our full attention to nurturing our horses. We make this investment in hope that the horses we care for will sire or foal the next big winner or that the next race will be a steppingstone on their path toward greatness. Thoroughbred racing is, as anyone who participates knows, a dedicated lifestyle. We can all agree that Thoroughbred racing is more than just a sport. Now is the time to focus on the sport aspect of racing and begin building, engaging and retaining our essential fan base. As we work diligently toward changing the perception of our cherished sport, we need to continue to build a positive image. The idea of introducing new fans to the sport is why I, and Gainesway, support Visit Horse Country. The programs and tours provided have proven effective in the pursuit of new fans while deepening the loyalty of current fans. I encourage you, respected industry leaders and participants, to join me in support of Visit Horse Country. Gainesway has been a member of Visit Horse Country since the organization was founded. The need to open our gates to the public as a fan development tool seemed obvious. Along the way, we have learned that this organization and the shared efforts of our membership have powerful effects. If the goal is to engage fans, it works. If the goal is to create new fans, it works. If the goal is to offer experiences so compelling that guests are moved toward deeper participation or even ownership within the industry, it works. In the last few years of Visit Horse Country’s development, we have hosted several visitors at Gainesway. All were eager to view Tapit or other favorite stallions, learn the history of the land, hear our family’s story, and immerse themselves within what we consider hallowed ground. Earlier this year during the week of Derby, we were pleased to host a private group who came to us through Visit Horse Country. We were able to welcome and host them with a more unique and elevated experience. Offering a glimpse into the beginning stages of entering the winners circle through regularly scheduled tours and private experiences is powerful for our community and sport. Together we can leverage the best of our industry assets in support of a proven and effective fan development tool. Gainesway is committed to the future and longevity of the Thoroughbred industry. We are actively allocating resources to hospitality and farm visits. By offering more regular tours and elevated experiences, we hope to grow the enthusiasm and interest for the sport. The post Antony Beck: Horse Country. It Works appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Moon Colony (Uncle Mo) and Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), one-two across the line in the GII Penn Mile S. June 1, lock horns again in Friday’s GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. at Saratoga. Moon Colony turns back to a mile after setting a pressured pace and tiring to ninth in the GI Belmont Derby Invitational S. going 1 1/4 miles July 6. “I think the cut back to a mile will be good for him,” trainer Mark Casse said. “He’s already well proven at a mile, so I think that the Hall of Fame suits him quite nicely.” Casa Creed, a narrow winner over subsequent Belmont Derby victor Henley’s Joy (Kitten’s Joy) in the Kitten’s Joy S. earlier this term at Gulfstream, was a good third in the Manila S. downstate July 4. Award Winner (Ghostzapper) got tagged late by a neck after showing the way in Delaware’s GIII Kent S. July 6 going 1 1/8 miles. The post Penn Mile Rematch in Hall of Fame appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Concrete Rose (Twirling Candy), an authoritative heroine of the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. July 6, looks to add the second leg of NYRA’s inaugural Turf Tiara to her resume in the $750,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational at the Spa Friday. The talented dark bay has won five of six career starts, including this term’s GIII Florida Oaks at Tampa Mar. 9 and GIII Edgewood S. at Churchill Downs May 3. Her lone defeat-an eighth-place finish in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf–came over the very well-documented saturated going at Churchill Downs last fall. She breezed four furlongs around the dogs over the Oklahoma turf in :49 (4/53) July 27 (XBTV Video). “Right now, she is [the best 3-year-old turf filly in the country], but we’re halfway through the year and hope we continue on,” trainer Rusty Arnold said. “I think the mile and three sixteenths [distance] is well within her ability.” Happen (War Front), a narrow victress of the seven-furlong G3 Coolmore EBF Athasi S. over soft going at The Curragh May 6, makes the trip across the pond for Aidan O’Brien. She receives first-time Lasix following a sixth-place finish in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 21. Olendon (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), runner-up at 17-1 in the G1 Saxon Warrior Prix Saint Alary at Longchamp May 26, was a disappointing eighth in the Belmont Oaks. She receives first-time blinkers and Lasix in this first start for trainer Chad Brown. The post ‘Rose’ Headlines Saratoga Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hawthorne Race Course will not conduct live Thoroughbred racing in the spring of 2020 while it builds out casino and sports-betting facilities, leaving a nearly four-month hole in the Chicago-area schedule. View the full article

Representative Paul Tonko, a New York Democrat, said Aug. 1 that he expects a subcommittee hearing on the Horseracing Integrity Act of 2019 this fall. View the full article

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Kokura, Niigata and Sapporo Racecourses: Saturday, August 3, 2019 4th-KOK, ¥9,550,000 ($88k), Maiden, 3yo, 1700m MONUMENT KING (c, 3, Creative Cause–Overvalued, by Forest Grove) cost Shadai Farm $500K at Keeneland September in 2017, easily the most expensive of his sire’s 30 yearlings reported as sold that year. Well beaten in a single try on grass to kick off his career, he is bred to be much better on the dirt, as his dam was a four-time stakes winner over the surface in Western Canada and is a half-sister to Our Majesty (Majesticperfection), runner-up in the 2017 GIII Miss Preakness S. B-Brereton C Jones (KY) Sunday, August 4, 2019 3rd-SAP, ¥9,550,000 ($88k), Maiden, 3yo, 1700m BEST MAGIC (c, 3, Speightstown–Glinda the Good, by Hard Spun), a half-brother to Eclipse Award-winning juvenile and MGISW Good Magic (Curlin), was dispatched the 17-10 favorite for his Nakayama debut this past January and just failed by a nose to fellow US-bred Maria’s Heart (Shanghai Bobby). A $200K KEESEP yearling turned $700K OBS April breezer, the dark bay is out of a MSW & GSP dam who is a half-sister to GSW & GISP turf distaffer Take the Ribbon (Chester House), SW & GSP Flash Forward (Curlin) and SW & GSP Flash Mash (Smarty Jones). Third dam Gils Magic (Magesterial) produced GISW Magical Maiden (Lord Avie) who in turn bred GISW Miss Houdini (Belong to Me). B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY) 7th-NII, ¥9,550,000 ($88k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m DOVER TESORO (c, 3, Union Rags–Miss Emilia, by War Front) has one racetrack appearance under his belt, a solid fourth going this distance at Nakayama Apr. 7 (see below, gate 1). Produced by a half-sister to French SW & GSP War Officer (Grand Slam), SW Doo Lang (Pulpit) and MGSP Danceland (Tapit), the April foal hails from the female family of G1SW War Command (War Front) and GSW Naval Officer (Tale of the Cat). Offered in utero, but bought back on a bid of $195K at KEENOV in 2015, the April foal was a $135K KEENOV weanling and 210K gns ($288K) Tattersalls October yearling. B-Chadds Ford Stable LLC (KY) 11th-NII, Leopard S.-G3, ¥76m ($703k), 3yo, 1800m AVANCE (c, 3, Uncle Mo–Above Heaven, by Mr. Greeley) has finished out of the top three just once in five starts and exits a handy victory going this trip at Hanshin June 8. The colt’s dam is an unraced daughter of 2007 GI Alabama S. victress Lady Joanne (Orientate), herself a half-sister to 2011 GI Preakness S. hero Shackleford (Forestry), MGSWs Baghdaria (Royal Academy) and Afleeting Lady (Afleet Alex) and SW & GSP Stephanoatsee (A.P. Indy). B-Dr Masatake Iida (KY) The post Notable US-Breds in Japan: Aug. 3 & 4, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Whitney Stakes (G1) is part of the "Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In--Presented by America's Best Racing," broadcast schedule. View the full article

The New York Racing Association Inc. will welcome a dozen of the sport's top jockeys back to Saratoga Race Course for the sixth annual Jockey Legends Day, presented by Fasig-Tipton, Sunday, August 4. View the full article

A little more than a week after receiving a preliminary injunction allowing him stalls and entries at Del Mar, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer will send out two-time grade 1 winner Vasilika in the $200,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2T) Aug. 3. View the full article

The Jockey Club announced Aug. 1 that its Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing will feature international perspectives as well as communications strategies in times of crisis and measures that may improve the Thoroughbred industry. View the full article

There was a surprise in Thursday’s G1 Qatar Nassau S. as the 5-year-old Japanese representative Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) arrived late to beat Mehdaayih (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in a thrilling edition of the Goodwood contest. Settled with one behind early by Oisin Murphy, the 2017 Shuka Sho heroine who was sixth in the June 19 G1 Prince of Wales’s S. at Royal Ascot enjoyed a dream run up the rail in the straight to catch the long-time leader Mehdaayih in the last 75 yards and score by 1 1/4 lengths, with Rawdaa (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) a length back in third. 1–DEIRDRE (JPN), 133, m, 5, Harbinger (GB)–Reizend (Jpn), by Special Week (Jpn). O-Toji Morita; B-Northern Farm (JPN); T-Mitsuru Hashida; J-Oisin Murphy. £340,260. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Jpn, G1SP-HK & UAE, 25-8-4-3, £3,537,997. The post Nassau Surprise As Deirdre Wins for Japan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article