Wandering Eyes

Three Chimneys Farm's homebred Guarana remained undefeated in three starts July 21 when she led every step of the $485,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

It may or may not have been the hottest Haskell Day ever, but it certainly wasn’t the first time the race had been run amid blistering heat. That’s what happens when you race horses in late July or early August. It was a pretty rough day when Forty Niner (Mr. Prospector) won the 1988 GI Haskell S. by a nose over Seeking the Gold (Mr. Prospector). According to the charts, it was 94 degrees when the first race began and it likely got hotter as the day went on. (On Saturday, it was 96 degrees when the first race went off). But the two degrees in temperature is not what separates those two days. Thirty-one years ago, that it was a very hot day was not an issue. I read as many stories as I could find on the race and not one even mentioned the weather. When the 2019 Haskell was completed, some two hours and 42 minutes after its original post time, Monmouth had somehow navigated through a day that neared crisis proportions, all because it was a hot day. The first race was delayed by 38 minutes, six races were cancelled and the racetrack sat empty for about four hours before racing continued amid hopes that it would cool down a couple of degrees. When racing resumed a little after 6 p.m., only the stakes races that were left on the card were held. All of this was proceeded by a phone call from New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy to Monmouth’s de facto CEO Dennis Drazin. Murphy had heard from those screaming about the supposed cruelty of asking horses to race under such conditions and he was well aware of the firestorm surrounding the sport. He did not want the headline on the stories written about one of the most important sporting events in his state being all about a horse or two dying in the heat at Monmouth Park. That bears repeating: a state governor actually got involved in the decision over whether or not a racetrack should or should not hold a scheduled day of racing. Should Monmouth have cancelled the entire card a few days earlier, like so many other tracks in the East had done? Should they have just kept going after the second race, the last one held before the delay, particularly when you consider the early double went off without a hitch? Did they do the right thing by delaying the card and holding the Haskell while the sun was setting on the Jersey Shore? Considering that no horses broke down during the day and there were no reports of any suffering any severe heat-related problems, arguably Drazin picked the right choice among his many options. But that was only a footnote when you consider what this day was really all about, that horse racing in 2019, post Santa Anita, is facing a level of scrutiny far beyond anything it has ever faced before. And it cannot afford to make any mistakes. “Five years ago, if we had this heat, nobody would have said a word or asked us to cancel and we wouldn’t have canceled,” Drazin said. Several weeks before the Haskell, Drazin had already had an encounter with animal rights protestors at a racetrack and saw the level of devotion some have to bringing the sport down. “It seems like there’s no place that I go that there aren’t PETA people that are protesting,” he said. “I went to Royal Ascot for the first time this year and when we were walking in we saw this PETA person who was protesting and carrying a sign. The person I was with had brought their kids. She came right over to us and said, ‘How can you bring your children in to see this?’ It has become part of the culture.” A new culture that is: “The truth of the matter is there will always be breakdowns in racing, but there wasn’t a lot of public scrutiny about it,” he said. “But now, because of what happened at Santa Anita, there is heightened attention when it comes to people paying attention to horse racing. Look at that Real Sports show they had on HBO with Bryant Gumbel. Look at everything that PETA keeps saying and doing. It’s a big issue with the public that has all of us concerned because we want to protect the industry. Do I think PETA, in and of itself, can take the industry down? No. But people need to be sensitive to doing the right things.” If you look at things that way, maybe the animal rights activists have done racing a favor. Way back in 1988, was it the right thing to do to hold the Haskell card on such a hot day and not come up with some sort of outside-the-box plan like Monmouth did this year? And what about the 1991 Monmouth Oaks, where the temperature was 95? On the same day, they ran a $500,000 race at Rockingham Park called the New England Classic. A wire service report of the race noted that it was 100 degrees with “high humidity.” I know. I was at Rockingham that day and, looking back, they never should have run. Though it’s very difficult to know where to draw the lines and what issues are real and what are not, the industry, as Drazin said, does need to be sensitive to doing the right things. Take that approach and nothing bad can come from that. Things were a lot easier for horse racing on that sweltering day when Forty Niner nosed out Seeking the Gold in the Haskell. People may long for a time when you could run a race on a hot day and not have protestors, calls from a governor and media there more interested in whether or not there would be a calamity than the story of who won the Haskell. But those days are long gone and they are never coming back. Fate was on Monmouth’s side Saturday as management tried its best to make decisions based on the best interests of the horses while also realizing the tremendous pressures that came with the possibility of something going terribly wrong on the racetrack. They took a risk by running, one I would not have taken if the call were left up to me. But in the end, it all worked out fine. Still, with everything that went on, it was a tough day for the sport. You don’t have to like it. But you had better get used to it. The post Op/Ed: The Stress, Anxiety and Craziness of Haskell 2019: Welcome to Racing’s New Normal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2019 G1 Investec Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who ran second to stablemate Sovereign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on June 29, will take part in the July 27 G1 King George V and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. at Ascot, O’Brien confirmed to Racing Post on Sunday. O’Brien told Racing Post, “The plan is to run Anthony Van Dyck on Saturday–we’re happy with him. Sovereign, who won the Irish Derby, is on a break and won’t be running and neither will Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is also on a break. Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Norway (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) are all entered and are possible runners, although we won’t be finalising plans until later in the week.” At Ascot, the Derby victor will face dual Arc heroine Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), as well as recent G1 Prince Of Wales’s S. victor Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). The post Anthony Van Dyck to Return in King George appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

G1SW Pretty Pollyanna (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) will bid for a second Group 1 victory at Deauville next month in the Prix Maurice de Gheest on Aug. 4. Michael Bell’s filly claimed top-level honours in the Prix Morny at the Normandy circuit last summer. The daughter of Oasis Dream emerged with plenty of credit when runner-up in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas on her seasonal reappearance–and although she then finished down the field in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot, she bounced back to be fourth in last weekend’s G1 July Cup at Newmarket. Bell said, “It was a very good run in the July Cup, and the plan is the Maurice de Gheest. She obviously likes Deauville, and that is the plan as we stand. The unfortunate thing in the July Cup was that she missed the break so badly. That didn’t help–and although I’m not saying she would have beaten the winner, she would have been two or three lengths closer. The post Pretty Pollyanna Bids for Maurice de Gheest appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Aug. 22 G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks is one of the options under consideration for G1 Investec Epsom heroine Anapurna (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Having run out an impressive winner of the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial in May, the daughter of Frankel claimed Classic glory with a narrow success at Epsom–since which she has enjoyed a mid-season break. Trainer John Gosden has a strong batch of top-class fillies this year–with dual Arc heroine Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) supported by Anapurna, Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Saturday’s G1 Kerrygold Irish Oaks winner Star Catcher (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), among others. The Clarehaven maestro will be keen to split his aces, where possible, and connections of Anapurna are happy to wait and see where she fits in. Mark Weinfeld, of owners Helena Springfield, Ltd., told Sky Sports Racing, “We’re looking at the Yorkshire Oaks as a possibility, the [Sept. 15 G1] Prix Vermeille and possibly the race at Ascot at the end of the year [the Oct. 19 G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies’ And Mares’ S.) We’ll have to see closer to the time what we do.” The post Anapurna Camp Eyeing Several Options appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Three Chimneys Farm's homebred Guarana remained undefeated in three starts July 21 when she led every step of the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Frankie Dettori's message to Simon Crisford before the Darley Prix Robert Papin (G2) July 21 was "Leave it to me," and the rider's confidence paid off as A'Ali eased to victory at Deauville under a jockey riding the crest of a wave. View the full article

Jockey Alfredo Juarez Jr. earned his 3,000th Thoroughbred win at Albuquerque Downs July 20 as the veteran rider piloted Vangilder to victory in the $70,000 Charles Taylor Derby for 3-year-olds. View the full article

GUARANA (f, 3, Ghostzapper–Magical World, by Distorted Humor) proved two turns and nine panels was no problem as she ran to heavy favoritism to go three-for-three in Saratoga’s GI Coaching Club American Oaks Sunday. Seizing the lead without trying particularly hard for it, the 1-5 chalk clicked off splits of :24.27, :49.49 and 1:13.58. She seemed to be idling a bit approaching the stretch, but responded willingly to Jose Ortiz’s encouragement to open up at the top of the lane. Point of Honor (Curlin) kicked on and made a race of it–and Guarana shifted out abruptly at one point–but the chalk righted the ship and found the line a length clear in 1:49.65. Rider Javier The owner of the runner-up lodged an objection against the winner, but no change was made as Point of Honor’s momentum never seemed to slow. Longshot Off Topic (Street Sense) rounded out the trifecta. ‘TDN Rising Star’ Guarana romped in her sloppy Keeneland sprint debut Apr. 19 before besting GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Serengeti Empress (Alternation) by six lengths in the GI Acorn S. at Belmont June 8. This was the first win in the prestigious Coaching Club for the Chad Brown barn. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0. O/B-Three Chimneys Farm (Ky). T-Chad C Brown. The post Ghostzapper’s Guarana Gets the Distance in CCA Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

by Richard Edmunds, courtesy TDNAus/NZ Sun Marshal (Aus) (Sepoy {Aus}), a 23-1 outsider, starred in a rain-soaked Singapore Derby at Kranji on Sunday, heading a quinella for ex-pat Australian trainer Lee Freedman and delivering a first domestic Group 1 win for jockey Joe Azzopardi. 23-year-old West Australian jockey Joe Azzopardi played his part brilliantly in the S$1-million feature, bringing Sun Marshal across from a wide gate for a perfect run just behind the leaders. Sun Marshal surged to the lead in the straight, and despite tiring in the wet ground over the last 150 metres, he held on grimly to beat his fast-finishing stablemate and 2018 Singapore Guineas hero Mr Clint (NZ) (Power {GB}) by a neck. King Louis (Aus) (Medaglia d’Oro) ran on well for third. “What a buzz,” said Azzopardi, who began his Singapore riding stint in April of this year. “I’m nearly lost for words. My parents are great supporters of mine, and they would have torn the house down back home–my sister too [fellow jockey Chloe].” While Sun Marshal was an upset winner, Azzopardi was confident he was riding a genuine contender. That confidence only grew after the first 200 metres of the race. “It panned out perfectly,” he said. “They went hard in front, and we were able to get a good run one off the fence. The horse trucked up and took the lead, and he was really strong in the fight to the line, just like I knew he’d be.” Pedigree Notes: Sun Marshal is the 13th black-type winner for Darley’ Sepoy and is a half-brother to 3-year-old Light Exceed (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who carried the Evergreen Rich silks to a maiden victory at Kembla Grange July 11. Sun Marshal’s dual stakes-placed second dam is a full-sister to the outstanding stallion Fastnet Rock (Aus) and is herself responsible for SP Emotional Circus (Aus)-a daughter of Sepoy’s sire Elusive Quality-and MGSP Twirl (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}). Dam of a weanling filly by Sizzling (Aus), Mysterious Light was covered by the late Sebring (Aus) in September 2018. (Pedigree Notes by Alan Carasso) Read the full race recap in Monday’s TDNAusNZ. Sunday, Kranji, Singapore SINGAPORE DERBY, S$1,000,000 (£587,834/€654,950/A$1,043,681/US$734,922), Kranji, 7-21, NH/SH4yo, 1800mT, 1:49.10, yl. 1–SUN MARSHAL (AUS), 126, g, 4, by Sepoy (Aus) 1st Dam: Mysterious Light (Aus), by Fantastic Light 2nd Dam: Cirque Du Soleil (Aus), by Danehill 3rd Dam: Picadilly Circus (Aus), by Royal Academy 1ST STAKES WIN. (A$200,000 Ylg ’16 MMGCYS). O-Sun Bloodstock Racing Stable; B-Evergreen Rich Pty Ltd (NSW); T-Lee Freedman; J-Joe Azzopardi; S$595,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Aus, 16-5-3-4, US$618,910. *Formerly Han Xin (Aus). 2–Mr Clint (NZ), 126, g, 4, Power (GB)–Victoria Belle (NZ), by Zabeel (NZ). (NZ$52,500 Ylg ’16 NZBJAN; NZ$90,000 2yo ’16 NZBRTR). O-Oscar Racing Stable; B-Sir Patrick & Lady Hogan; T-Lee Freedman. S$212,500. 3–King Louis (Aus), 126, g, 4, Medaglia d’Oro–Run For Roses (Aus), by Danehill. O-Royalty Racing Stable; B-Gooree Park Stud Pty Ltd (NSW); T-Ricardo Le Grange. S$107,500. Margins: NK, 1HF, 1. Winner’s Odds: 23.00. Also Ran: What’s New (NZ), Sacred Croix (NZ), Heliosphere (Aus), Beau Geste (Aus), Circuit Mission (Ire), Elite Quarteto (Brz), Glasgow (Aus), Eye Guy (Aus), Quarter Back (Jpn), Super Dynasty (Aus), Destroyer Eclipse (NZ), Nimble (Aus), Magic Wand (Aus). Scratched: Threeandfourpence, Gold Strike (Ire), King’s Speech (NZ). Click for the Singapore Turf Club chart. The post Derby Triumph for Freedman and Azzopardi appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Stepping up from a June 5 debut second at Ripon to garner Royal Ascot’s June 20 G2 Norfolk S. in his only other start last time, Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa’s A’Ali (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) maintained a rich seam of form and justified odds-on favouritism with a snug victory in Sunday’s G2 Darley Prix Robert Papin at Deauville. The bay was steadied at the break and settled off the pace towards the rear through halfway in the straight 5 1/2-furlong dash. Making smooth headway out wide inside the final quarter mile, the 3-5 pick kept on strongly under mild urging in the closing stages to prevail by an ultimately comfortable 3/4-of-a-length from My Love’s Passion (Fr) (Elvstroem {Aus}). “He showed an impressive turn of foot there so we might come back here for the [Aug. 18 G1] Prix Morny and that is under strong consideration,” revealed trainer Simon Crisford. “He’s really straightforward, a very easy colt to deal with and he has a nice turn of foot. Luckily, he has all the right attributes and is a very good racehorse. I think a really hard-run five furlongs is a really good trip for him and six [furlongs] shouldn’t be too much of a problem either. He’s in the [Aug. 23 G1] Nunthorpe S. [at York], but I’m not sure he should be taking on the likes of Battaash at this stage of his career. He’s also in the [Aug. 9 G1] Phoenix S. [at The Curragh], and the Morny, and he’ll take in one of those Group 1 races next time.” A’Ali is the second and latest foal bred from Motion Lass (GB) (Motivator {GB}), herself a half-sister to MG1SP G3 Darley S. victor Enforcer (GB) (Efisio {GB}) and Listed Gleaming S. runner-up Canaveral (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}). A’Ali’s third dam Willowy Mood (Will Win), herself a dual Grade III winner, is kin to the stakes-winning duo Chillon (Pass the Tab) and Transgogo (Transworld) and to Antoinetta (Inverness Drive), who in turn is the dam of five black-type performers headed by MGSW GIII Tropical Park Derby victor Ok By Me (With Approval) and GIII Royal Palm H. winner D J’s Rainbow (Tom Rolfe). Sunday, Deauville, France DARLEY PRIX ROBERT PAPIN-G2, €130,000, Deauville, 7-21, 2yo, c/f, 5 1/2fT, 1:04.38, g/s. 1–A’ALI (IRE), 128, c, 2, by Society Rock (Ire) 1st Dam: Motion Lass (GB), by Motivator (GB) 2nd Dam: Tarneem, by Zilzal 3rd Dam: Willowy Mood, by Will Win (£35,000 Ylg ’18 GOUKPR; £135,000 2yo ’19 GOFBRE). O-Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Simon Crisford; J-Lanfranco Dettori. €74,100. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 3-2-1-0, €138,789. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–My Love’s Passion (Fr), 125, f, 2, Elvstroem (Aus)–Amber Two (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB). (€10,000 Ylg ’18 AROCT). O-Passion Racing Club; B-Patrick Chedeville (FR); T-Yann Barberot. €28,600. 3–Jolie (Fr), 125, f, 2, Power (GB)–Elettra (Fr), by Literato (Fr). O-Torsten Raber & Janina Burger; B-Enrico Ciampi & Paul Nataf (FR); T-Andrea Marcialis. €13,650. Margins: 3/4, 1 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 0.60, 26.00, 6.10. Also Ran: Fan Club Rules (Ire), Istanbul (Ire), Classy Moon, Rayong (GB), Fantastic Diamond (Fr), Salar Island (Ity), Dutch Chop (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Society Rock’s A’Ali Triumphs in the Robert Papin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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In the 72nd running of the Grade 3, $150,000 Oceanport Stakes, Skeedattle Stable's Just Howard made his first trip over the Monmouth Park turf course a winning one in the $142,500 Oceanport Stakes (G3T) July 20. View the full article

George Krikorian's homebred filly Mucho Unusual showed off her tremendous turn of foot July 20, going from last to first to claim the $201,755 San Clemente Stakes (G2T) over one mile at Del Mar. View the full article

Woodbine invader Seek and Destroy was able to seize another graded stakes victory when she took the CA$130,000 (US$99,775) Ontario Colleen Stakes (G3T) July 20 at the Toronto oval. View the full article

Gary and Mary West's Maximum Security returned to graded company with a vengeance July 20, winning the $990,000 TVG.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park. View the full article

Danielle Johnson made the best possible return to raceday riding after an injury enforced nine-month break away from the track when she guided talented three-year-old Bobby Dazzler to victory at New Plymouth on Saturday. Johnson has been on the side-lines since mid-November when she sustained three fractures to her collar bone in a race fall at Ruakaka. Sporting a metal plate and six screws in the troublesome injury, Johnson had built up her fitness in recent months with plenty of gym work, runn... View the full article

Despite constant speculation over the past few months, Cambridge trainer Tony Pike is adamant he is no closer to confirming whether he will establish a satellite stable in Australia next season or not. Pike admits the buzz around the venture has ramped up in recent weeks but while he is considering his options, nothing has been put in place as yet. “I’ve been questioned about the situation a fair bit in the last three months but at this stage there is nothing to report,” Pike said. “It i... View the full article

Trainer Graeme Rogerson believes his talented galloper More Wonder is ready for a break-out season in 2019/20. The Mossman gelding won twice during his three-year-old campaign but looked unlucky not to register a victory at the highest level, finishing in the top five on four separate occasions at Group One level. “I think he is a very good horse who didn’t get a lot of luck in those bigger races,” Rogerson said. “He probably should have won a Group One but the way he is coming up for hi... View the full article

A couple of New Zealanders are at the coalface helping develop an exciting new venture in China. Des Friedrich, who has a wealth of Australasian experience in thoroughbred administration, and Robbie Hewetson, a former assistant trainer, have been employed to help with the racing management of a state-of-the-art racecourse at Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia. Friedrich, who has been appointed the CEO of Racing, and Hewetson, the Senior Racing Steward, arrived at Hohhot on May 8 and the venue... View the full article

PURE XENA (f, 2, Warrior’s Reward–Pure Desire, by Gold Legend) turned heads when hammering for $370,000–over 82 times her sire’s $4,500 stud fee–at OBS April, and did so again with a devastating first-out romp Saturday at Del Mar to earn ‘TDN Rising Star’ honors. Originally a $7,500 weanling purchase at Keeneland November, the bay turned into a $160,000 Fasig-Tipton July yearling and more than doubled that price tag after breezing a quarter-mile in :20 4/5 in Ocala. Backed to 11-5 second favoritism here off a half-mile work at Santa Anita in :47 4/5 (5/54) July 13, the Jay Em Ess Stable colorbearer broke a bit outwardly and was hustled to duel with favored Save the Story (Will Take Charge) through a :22.27 quarter. Briefly appearing to be turned back by that rival midway around the turn, she re-rallied to take control at the top of the lane and drew off powerfully with every stride thereafter to score by a dozen lengths over longshot Gold Included (Goldencents) in :58.95. Sales History: $7,500 Wlg ’17 KEENOV; $160,000 Ylg ’18 FTKJUL; $370,000 2yo ’19 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,600. O-Jay Em Ess Stable; B-Shelby Lane Farm (KY); T-Brian Koriner. The post Expensive Warrior’s Reward Filly Rolls to ‘Rising Stardom’ in Del Mar Unveiling appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

OCEANPORT, N.J.–At the end of the day, which came a lot later than anyone had planned on, the story Saturday at Monmouth Park was a lot more than Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) winning the GI Haskell Invitational. In fact, the Haskell almost seemed like an afterthought to what was undoubtedly among the stranger days in the history of the sport. With a massive heat wave blasting the eastern portion of the country, several tracks decided to cancel. But for Monmouth, with its signature race as part of the card and NBC in town to televise the Haskell, this was no ordinary day at the races. Dennis Drazin, who heads the management team that runs the track, decided to hold the card. For most of the day, the temperature was about 96 degrees with a heat index of 107. “When some of the other racetracks closed, in particular Saratoga, that put more pressure on the situation,” Drazin said. “That put more focus nationally on the heat and the issues facing racing. People were saying, ‘All the other tracks had closed, why are you guys staying open?’ That led to a conversation about venues. Saratoga, Delaware, Laurel (three tracks that did not race Saturday), those tracks are in-land. Here we have an ocean breeze. To me, it was different circumstances. All the vets, every state vet and every private vet, we consulted with, along with weather people, they all use the same formula to judge the weather. It basically consists of temperature plus humidity, minus wind. They come up with a number, and it’s either safe or unsafe to race. We were told it was safe to race.” When it came to safety, it turned out to be the right decision. No horses broke down during the card and there were no reports of any horses in distress after they had raced. “I don’t think it is too bad,” said jockey Paco Lopez. “There’s a little breeze. I come from Florida and ride in the hot weather all the time. I don’t think today is a big deal. I’ve ridden on hotter days than today. Yes, definitely, they made the right decision to race today. None of my horses had any problems. Nothing happened to them.” So the card went on, but there were some bumps in the road. Plenty of them, in fact. The first race was delayed by 38 minutes. During that time Drazin was on the phone first with someone who was in direct contact with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and then with Murphy himself. Drazin said Murphy wanted reassurances that racing under such conditions was not dangerous. As Drazin and Murphy spoke, about 14 PETA protestors stood outside the track expressing their outrage that Monmouth was running. “Ultimately, I spoke to Governor Murphy and he was very kind about the whole thing,” Drazin said. “He’s supportive of racing and always has been. He quite frankly said that I have the expertise to make the decisions and that he doesn’t. He relied upon my judgment and the state regulators, the racing commission and the state vets to try to do what’s right. He just wanted to make sure that I was evaluating everything with the understanding that even if it’s got nothing to do with the heat, if there was a problem we are under the national spotlight and would have had a big problem on our hands. “Had the governor picked up the phone and said, ‘I don’t want you to race,’ I would have done exactly what the governor said. And I told him so.” The first two races went off without incident, but then the card was abruptly stopped. Drazin, with hopes that it would cool off later in the day, decided to halt all racing until 6 p.m. and run only the remaining stakes races on the card. Six races were cancelled. The Haskell did not go off until 8:11 p.m. The scene during the delay was an eery one. The atmosphere at the Haskell is usually festive and the track is jammed. Instead, the few people who were willing to stick out the heat delay huddled in the few air conditioned rooms at the track. For a few hours, it almost appeared that the track was closed. There was barely a human in plain sight. “We always had a backup plan and that was waiting until six and just running the stakes,” he said. “All the vets thought that it would cool off by then and we’d be well below the point where the heat index meant dangerous conditions.” The races resumed at 6:03 p.m. with the GIII Oceanport S., which was originally scheduled for 1:14 p.m. The Haskell went off at 8:11, two hours and 42 minutes after its regularly scheduled time. That meant that NBC’s scheduled broadcast of the race turned into a Haskell “preview show.” The craziness didn’t stop after Maximum Security crossed the wire in front as the stewards posted the inquiry sign. He did appear to come over on King For a Day (Uncle Mo) on the far turn. Could he possibly be taken down in both the GI Kentucky Derby and the Haskell? There was contact, but, the stewards decided it was not enough for there to be a change in the order of finish. The race was still run under difficult conditions. It was 93 with a heat index of 104 when the field left the gate. And thus ended a difficult day for Monmouth Park. It lost the NBC spotlight, wound up with a much smaller than normal crowd, many of whom went home after the delay was announced, and lost millions in handle. “We would have been the only one in the Northeast running,” Drazin said. “With New York being closed, and several other tracks closed, we would have been the only signal out there with an outstanding card. Conservatively, we would have done record numbers; we would have exceeded $20 million in handle. (The all-sources handle was $8,566,664). With the takeout, how much we would have handled on the track, and with the food and admission, we probably took a $4 million, $5-million hit. At the end of day, even though it’s my responsibility to fiscally manage this place, if it comes to whether we’re going to lose money, but in doing so are going to protect the horses and jockeys, I’m going to chose to protect the horses and jockeys. That’s why we pushed back the races.” Sunday’s forecast is for another scorcher on the Jersey Shore. Monmouth Park has already canceled the card. That was the only easy decision anyone at Monmouth had to make all day. The post Severe Heat Among Issues, But Monmouth Holds Haskell Card appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Heat index is predicted to surpass that of July 20. View the full article

The heat was definitely on in the Monmouth Park homestretch July 20 as War Story and Bal Harbour dueled to the wire in a thrilling renewal of the $199,000 Monmouth Cup (G3). View the full article

MUCHO UNUSUAL (f, 3, Mucho Macho Man–Not Unusual, by Unusual Heat) stayed unbeaten on turf and picked up her first graded stakes win with a last-to-first rally in the GII San Clemente S. Saturday at Del Mar. A second-out victress last fal at Santa Anita, the George Krikorian homebred was runner-up as the favorite in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies S. there Nov. 2 before fading to fourth at odds-on in a state-bred optional claimer in her sophomore bow Jan. 27. Switched to turf in the California Cup Oaks Feb. 18, the bay went wire-to-wire to pull to upset at nearly 11-1, and repeated by a head in an open optional claimer June 16. Made a lukewarm 5-2 chalk here, she dropped back to trail the 10-filly group as a pair of longshots duked it out through sharp fractions of :22.72 and :46.50. The field began to bunch up midway around the far turn, and longshot Apache Princess (Unusual Heat) made a bold, four-wide bid to take control at the top of the lane. That one went clear past the eighth pole, where Mucho Unusual emerged as the only danger, and the Tim Yakteen trainee kept charging under Joel Rosario to just get up by a neck in 1:34.66. Lifetime Record: 7-4-2-0, $372,680. O/B-George Krikorian (CA); T-Tim Yakteen. The post Mucho Macho Man Filly Rallies From Last to Stay Perfect On Grass in San Clemente appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article