Wandering Eyes

The South Island’s reigning champion stable will be out in force when the Grand National Carnival kicks off at Riccarton on Saturday. Michael and Matthew Pitman topped last season’s South Island trainers’ premiership with 54 wins, earning themselves a sixth-place finish overall on the national standings. The father-son duo will be represented by 10 runners on their home track on Saturday, including a three-pronged attack on the $45,000 Christchurch Casino 29th South Island Awards 13 September Open (1200m). That trio includes the nine-race winner Makabar (NZ) (Swiss Ace), who was a star of last year’s carnival with victories on both Saturdays. He won the 2023 equivalent of this race, beating Midnight Runner (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) and Benaud (NZ) (Duelled), then stepped down to Rating 75 company a week later and won again under 60kg. “He was really good in winning those two races during this carnival 12 months ago,” Michael Pitman said. “He’s going into it in good form again this year. I thought he finished his last race off very nicely (fourth at Oamaru on July 21). “He loves wet ground – the heavier, the better. Those are the sorts of conditions we’ll be racing on this weekend, so it’ll suit him.” Epee Beel (Epaulette) came of age as an autumn three-year-old, winning the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m) after placing in the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) and Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m). The daughter of Epaulette was a bold first-up winner in a 1200m Rating 75 at Ashburton on July 4. “I see the bookies have made her favourite for that open sprint on Saturday, so I hope they’re right,” Pitman said. “Realistically you would have to say she’s a strong chance. “Warren Kennedy was very impressed with her performance to win first-up over 1200m. That was a really good effort for a horse that got up over 1600m and 2000m in her last preparation. She’s staying at 1200m second-up on Saturday, but we’ve been very happy with her and we don’t see why she wouldn’t run well again.” The stable’s open sprint trio is rounded out by the 10-year-old Benaud, who will carry just 51kg with apprentice jockey Abdul Najib in the saddle. The Pitman team has Jetstream (NZ) (Ferrando) and Our Sallyann (Shamus Award) entered for the Prowess Selling Now on Gavelhouse Plus 3YO (1200m). “They’re both nice three-year-olds in the making,” Pitman said. “I’d probably slightly favour the filly (Our Sallyann) at this stage of their preparations, and I think track conditions will suit her better. “Having said that, the other horse is by Ferrando, who had a couple of stakes placegetters on heavy tracks during the winter. He was a duffer in the wet himself, but Rogie (Graeme Rogerson) told me that his progeny are handling those sorts of conditions a lot better than he ever did. “We might not be running them in this sort of race if it was somewhere like Dunedin, but we’ll have a go at it on our home track. We’ve run in this three-year-old race a number of times over the years and picked up a few wins, and I don’t think this field looks like the strongest edition of the race. Hopefully we can pick up some of the prizemoney.” Pitman believes there are solid chances throughout the 10-race card. “We’ve got a pretty handy team across the whole meeting on Saturday,” he said. “The Immigrant loves wet ground. The 1200m will be short enough on Saturday, but we decided to go to this race instead of 1600m because it gives us the option of backing up over 1400m next week. “Blanche is a tough, honest mare who’s working really well leading into Saturday. With Proserve, you can forget he ran last start – everything went wrong for him that day.” View the full article

Kenny Rae will start a new chapter in his training career on Saturday, with his successful term in partnership with daughter Krystal Williams having come to an end. Rae has been training since the late eighties, accumulating nearly 400 wins, with 132 of those coming since 2016/17 alongside Williams at Ruakaka. The latter more recently moved to her new base out of Burnham in Canterbury, ultimately sparking a desire to go out on her own. “She’s decided she wants to have a go on her own, she’s been good in partnership but it’s her idea and I support that,” Rae said. “It’s always been a family operation for me, I wouldn’t mind having my other daughter in with me or Lisa again if they wanted. Even if they aren’t working with the horses, they’re always helping with the kids on the farm or at the races. “I’ll still have horses of my own down there that she’ll look after for me. I’ve got 25 here and between my six or seven and her own, she’s got about 15 to 18, so we’ve still got plenty to do. “She will race The Buffer, he’s partly hers as when Richard Bishop passed away he gave him to us. I’m sure he’ll be happy to have her training him, he’ll give her a nice start as you always need one flagbearer going good races.” The Buffer (NZ) (Reliable Man) has been a consistent campaigner for the stable in both islands but has done majority of his racing in the South Island over the past couple of seasons, including wins in the Cromwell Cup (2030m), Ashburton Cup (1600m) and Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m). Back at Ruakaka, Rae is aiming for a strong season opener at his home course on Saturday, with eight runners representing the stable including Tide And Time (NZ) (Time Test) in the Truweld Engineering (1600m). The daughter of Time Test won the 3YO Winter Championship Final (1600m) stylishly last start, and the form stacked up well in defeating impressive next-up winner Sterling Express. “I expected her to go well. Kelly Myers came in after she ran behind Dan Vegas and said she needed a mile, she was going really good races without finishing in the first three. She was making up that much ground,” Rae said. “She’s a lovely filly, it’s up a grade and against the older horses this time but her work has been good. “We’ll give her one shot and if it doesn’t work out she can have a break. We’ll make use of our home track while there are no expenses for our owners. “She’s got a handy draw again, so she should be very competitive.” Speedy mare Illicit Dreams (NZ) (Vancouver) has accepted into the Alibaba’s Flying Carpets Kerikeri Cup (1100m), where she gets in at a light weight (54kg) courtesy of returning stars Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto) and Master Fay (Deep Field) in the mix. “It’s a very good field, she’s got residual fitness and a light weight which is probably the only chance we have got of beating the two top weights,” Rae said. Almanzor filly Simsala (NZ) will commence her career in The Homestead Sports Bar & Bistro (1100m), while Rae also fancies the chances of Richie’s Dream (NZ) (Ace High) in the Kainui Pack & Cool (1600m). “I was very happy with her (Simsala) trial, she went from a reasonably dry track at Ruakaka to a heavy at Avondale and she did everything right,” Rae said. “I think she could go a sneaky race, she’s in her age group and it’s virtually a maiden race taking out the top two. I expect her to go okay, but not winning this time. “I think Richie’s Dream is a very good chance, she was very unlucky fresh-up not to run in the first three then was third last-start. Her work has been outstanding for her. “She was owned by Richard Bishop as well, and when he passed he gave me his half share so I got my sisters and brothers in the ownership. I’ll be either hero or zero because I’ve told them all to come to the races to watch.” Heart Of Alladin (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) and Mischief Managed (NZ) (Derryn) will both take their place in the 17 August – Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders Stakes (2100m), with Zlatna (NZ) (Proisir) and Electric Dream (NZ) (Shocking) completing the team in the Greg Thorpe Blasting & Kerikeri Tile Direct (1300m) and Aotea Electric In Waipapa (1200m) respectively. “Heart Of Alladin was always going to go over ground, to me it’s a race for him to be competitive in,” Rae said. “He’s got a reasonable draw, he’s a bit of an enigma but he’s got a two-year-old’s brain in a five-year-old’s body. I think he’ll develop into a really nice stayer eventually.” View the full article

What Coffs Harbour Cup Day 2024 Where Coffs Harbour Racing Club and Function Centre – 62 Howard St, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450 When Friday, August 2, 2024 First Race 12:29pm AEST Visit Dabble Country racing heads to the mid north coast of NSW on Friday afternoon, with the $150,000 Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m) headlining a stacked eight-race program. The rail is in the true position the entire way around, and with nothing but sunny skies forecast in the lead-up, punters can expect the surface to dry out into the Good range prior to the opening event at 12:29pm local time. Coffs Harbour Cup Tip: En Francais En Francais got a pass mark first-up for the David Vandyke barn, hitting the line well at the Sunshine Coast on July 14. The daughter of Puissance De Lune got too far back in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) and was unable to show her usually stunning turn-of-foot on the Heavy 9 conditions. She’s got far superior form on top of the ground to go along with an impeccable second-up record of five starts for two wins and three placings, and provided she can get the gun run from barrier three this time, En Francais should be adding to that tally in the 2024 Coffs Harbour Cup. Coffs Harbour Cup Race 7 – #2 En Francais (3) 7yo Mare | T: David Vandyke | J: Ryan Maloney (56.5kg) Bet with Dabble Best Bet at Coffs Harbour: Jack Duggan Jack Duggan appears ready to peak third-up in the campaign. The Jason Deamer-trained gelding should’ve finished much closer in metro company at Canterbury on July 24 last time out, sitting towards the rear of the field and only getting clear in the final 200m. He was doing his best work late on that occasion, and with the step-up to 2000m ideal as he drops back into country grade, Jack Duggan should be testing this lot when asked for the ultimate effort. Best Bet Race 5 – #2 Jack Duggan (5) 7yo Gelding | T: Jason Deamer | J: Ashley Morgan (58.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Next Best at Coffs Harbour: Cerons Cerons was outclassed last preparation when contesting the Group Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 2, but looks to be returning in supreme order after undergoing a gelding operation. He careered away to score by five lengths in a recent barrier trial at Scone on June 12, signifying he’d be ready for a first-up assault regardless of the destination. This country maiden looks like an ideal placement by the Brett Cavanough barn, and this guy only needs to find the front early under Cobi Vitler to be a major player in the finish. Next Best Race 4 – #1 Cerons (9) 3yo Gelding | T: Brett Cavanough | J: Cobi Vitler (a1.5) (61kg) Bet with Neds Friday quaddie tips for Coffs Harbour races Coffs Harbour quadrella selections Friday, August 2, 2024 2-3-5-8 1-6-11-12-13-14 1-2-6 1-2-4-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

What Belmont Races Where Belmont Racecourse – Saintly Entrance, Burswood WA 6100 When Saturday, August 3, 2024 First Race 12:29pm AWST Visit Dabble Belmont will host a very competitive nine-race program this Saturday afternoon, with racing set to kick off at 12:29pm AWST. The track was rated as a Soft 7 at the time of acceptances, and it is tipped to stay in that range. The rail will be pushed out to the +6m position for the entire circuit, so the track should play favourably to on-speed runners. Best Bet at Belmont: Triple Jay Triple Jay claimed his third win in four starts when defeating Allez Allez at this track and tip on July 13. The five-year-old gelding now steps up in grade, but as he is at peak fitness and in career-best form, he should handle the rise in class well. Brad Parnham will settle Triple Jay outside the leader before releasing the brakes and allowing him to unleash with a strong finish. Best Bet Race 5 – #4 Triple Jay (8) 5yo Gelding | T: Daniel & Ben Pearce | J: Brad Parnham (58kg) +140 with Neds Next Best at Belmont: Sentimental Belle William Pike sticks on Sentimental Belle as the mare chases a hat-trick of wins. Last start, this daughter of Nicconi settled near last and received a saloon passage up the inside rail to run over the leaders and win by 1.3 lengths over 1200m. Although she will rise in grade slightly and stay at 1200m, barrier one will only help the five-year-old’s chances. Next Best Race 7 – #8 Sentimental Belle (1) 5yo Mare | T: Grant & Alana Williams | J: William Pike (56kg) +250 with PlayUp Best Value at Belmont: Border Force Border Force returned from a 17-month spell with a strong performance over 1100m at Northam, where the Sean & Jake Casey-trained gelding was eventually run down by Extreme Love. With that fresh run under his belt, this lightly raced six-year-old gelding will only improve second-up. If Chris Parnham can settle in the box seat and get into clear running at the 300m mark, Border Force can go one better. Best Value Race 4 – #6 Border Force (1) 6yo Gelding | T: Sean & Jake Casey | J: Chris Parnham (56.5kg) +700 with Dabble Saturday quaddie tips for Belmont races Belmont quadrella selections Saturday, August 3, 2024 1-3-4-5 1-7-8-11 2-4-5 2-6-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What Doomben Races Where Doomben Racecourse – 75 Hampden St, Ascot QLD 4007 When Saturday, August 3, 2024 First Race 11:38am AEST Visit Dabble Racing returns to Doomben this Saturday afternoon as the Brisbane Racing Club hosts a very competitive nine-race program. The track was rated as a Soft 5 at the time of acceptances, but with no rain forecast for the rest of the week, a Good 4 surface is expected for the whole meeting. The rail will be pushed out to the +4.5m position for the entire circuit, with the first race scheduled to jump at 11:38am AEST. Best Bet at Doomben: Atmosphere After claiming a strong win on stable debut for Jack Bruce, Atmosphere was run down late over 1350m at this track in his most recent start. Angela Jones allowed this son of Lonhro to roll along out in front, but when she asked him for the ultimate effort, he couldn’t go with the top two. Dropping back to 1200m and Jones retaining the ride are both positives, and with even luck, Atmosphere can return to the winners’ circle. Best Bet Race 4 – #1 Atmosphere (8) 5yo Gelding | T: Jack Bruce | J: Angela Jones (60kg) +240 with PlayUp Next Best at Doomben: Rockribbed Rockribbed returns to Brisbane after receiving a torrid run in the Rockhampton Newmarket last start, where the Tony Gollan-trained gelding was caught wide for the entire 1300m journey. This son of Night Of Thunder heads to Doomben for the first time and gains the services of Ryan Maloney. From barrier two, Rockribbed can settle behind the speed, peel off the leader’s heels at the 400m mark, and finish off strongly over 1350m. Next Best Race 8 – #9 Rockribbed (2) 7yo Gelding | T: Tony Gollan | J: Ryan Maloney (58.5kg) +220 with Neds Best Value at Doomben: Jayanthi Jayanthi returned from a 19-week spell at this track and trip on July 13, rattling home from the back of the field to finish second behind Liquor. This daughter of Hinchinbrook has strong second-up form (4:2-0-0), while the abundance of speed in this field should suit her get-back-and-run-on racing style. If Boris Thornton can find a back to follow around the home turn, Jayanthi’s blistering turn of foot will give her every chance at good each-way odds with online bookmakers. Best Value Race 3 – #14 Jayanthi (7) 6yo Mare | T: Matthew Hoysted | J: Boris Thornton (56.5kg) +700 with Picklebet Saturday quaddie tips for Doomben races Doomben quadrella selections Saturday, August 3, 2024 1-2-7-11 1-2-3-8 5-9-17 6-7-8-12-18 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Bob Baffert-trained Adare Manor has won seven graded stakes, two in 2024, and is going for a second consecutive Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) victory.View the full article

While trainer Todd Pletcher was hesitant to commit Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) winner Fierceness to the Aug. 24 Midsummer Derby immediately after the race, an injury that has sidelined stablemate Mindframe appears to have changed that perspective.View the full article

Authoring an encore might be an impossible mission for Cogburn. Let's face it, when you set a North American record in your last start, that's a pretty tough bar to top.View the full article

The Finalists for the 2024 Two Year Old of the Year are: Bellatrix Star Captured By Love Move To Strike Velocious Which one deserves to win? Using a graduated process of elimination - firstly: By Race Performance - Race Wins: Bellatrix Star - All 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th U Prizemoney Career 5 2 1 1 1 0 0 $207,700.00 Captured By Love - All 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th U Prizemoney Career 6 4 0 2 0 0 0 $335,735.00 Move To Strike - All 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th U Prizemoney Career 4 2 1 0 0 1 0 $340,250.00 Velocious - All 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th U Prizemoney Career 6 4 0 1 0 0 1 $922,500.00 Based on race wins it is a tie between Captured By Love and Velocious on 4 wins with Bellatrix Star and Move To Strike on 2 wins each. Although Move To Strike won a Grp 1 arguably both he and Bellatrix Start could be eliminated at this stage. So that leaves Captured By Love and Velocious. By Black Type Performance Captured By Love - All Grp 1 Grp 2 Grp 3 Listed Restricted Listed Unplaced 5 starts 2 x 3rd 2 x 1st 1 x 1st - - 0 Velocious - All Grp 1 Grp 2 Grp 3 Listed Restricted Listed Unplaced 5 starts 1 x 1st 1 x 3rd 0 1 x 1st 1 x 1st 1 Velocious won the Grp 1 Sistema (Captured By Love - 3rd) and the Karaka Millions which is a good argument for her to win the award. However the Karaka Millions is a Restricted Listed race which Captured By Love was ineligible to race in. So would a points system be fairer? The NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year Points System (Note no points for Listed races) RACE TYPE FIRST SECOND THIRD Group 1 12 7 3.5 Group 2 8 4 2 Group 3 6 3 1.5 Captured By Love - All Grp 1 Grp 2 Grp 3 Total 5 starts Points 2 x 3rd 7 2 x 1st 16 1 x 1st 6 - 29 Velocious - All Grp 1 Grp 2 Grp 3 Total 5 starts Points 1 x 1st 12 1 x 3rd 6 0 0 - 18 That gives it to Captured By Love by the near equivalent of 1 Group win at 11 points in front. A System Including the Restricted Listed Race Perhaps that used to determine the Owner of the Year Award. Owner of The Year Award Points are allocated as follows: RACE TYPE FIRST SECOND THIRD Group 1 12 8 6 Group 2 10 6 4 Group 3 9 5 3 RACE TYPE FIRST SECOND THIRD Listed 8 4 2 Maiden 1 Horse Total Points Captured By Love 42 Velocious 33 Again Captured By Love by 9 points nearly the equivalent of a Grp 1 win. If you subtract the Restricted Listed Win points from Velocious the margin is even greater 25 vs 42. Other Factors to Consider: Travel Velocious won at - Ellerslie (2), Te Rapa and Pukekohe Captured By Love at - Trentham, New Plymouth, Matamata and Tauherenikau. Points win to Captured By Love. Most Impressive Performance Velocious - probably her Karaka Millions win. Captured By Love - the Wakefield Stakes in a race record time for the 1100m of 1:02.46. A sectional between the 400m and 200m of 10.29 left the field gasping and she cruised to the line untouched. Conclusion: On most counts it is a clear points win to Captured by Love. The most consistent 2yr old at the top level. Using a fair points based system favoured by the NZ Bloodstock or NZTR and she is a clear winner.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.–Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who has won the GI Travers Stakes three times, could be going for No. 4 in this year's Midsummer Derby Baffert, speaking from his summer base at Del Mar in California, said that one of his 3-year-olds–Parenting (Justify) or Muth (Good Magic) who were both tabbed as 'TDN Rising Stars'–could represent him in the $1.25 million race at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 24. “Potentially,” he said. Parenting, owned by Wathnan Racing, was a $750,000 purchase at the 2023 Ocala 2-year-olds in training sale. He has won all three of his starts, including the listed Affirmed Stakes and an allowance last Sunday where he won by a neck in a race for 3-year-olds and up. “This is a very good horse,” Baffert said. “I was very impressed with what he did. We missed the window with the (GI) Haskell and, luckily, this race was in the book. He got a good education. He could have gotten beat. They double teamed him from everywhere and he handled it well.” Unraced as a 2-year-old, Parenting has won all three of his starts. The allowance race was a mile. The Affirmed Stakes, which he won by 7 1/2 lengths, was 1 1/16 miles and his maiden score, which saw him face 10 rivals, produced a 2 3/4-length victory. “I am not going to rule it out,” Baffert said of the Travers. “Let's see how he comes out it. We have the Travers, we have the (GI) Pacific Classic. And we also have Muth.” Parenting has never raced outside of California; Muth has. Muth hasn't been seen since winning the GI Arkansas Derby on March 30. He was the 8-5 morning-line favorite for the GI Preakness Stakes but was scratched the Wednesday before the race at Pimlico when he spiked a fever. Baffert said it took a while for Muth, owned by Zedan Racing Stables Inc., to recover. “He was really sick,” Baffert said. “We had to keep him on antibiotics for two weeks before he fully got over it. He is getting back slowly. The endgame for both of these horses is that I want them to be ready for the Breeders' Cup. They will let me know when they are ready to roll.” Baffert won the Travers in 2001 with Point Given, 2016 with Arrogate and 2017 with West Coast. He has run three horses since then with Mucho Gusto's third place finish in 2019 the best. He was fifth last year with National Treasure, who is running in Saturday's GI Whitney Stakes. Pletcher Has A Trio For Saturday's Whitney Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will have three chances to win Saturday's GI Whitney Stakes for a record-tying fifth time. Bright Future | Sarah Andrew Bright Future (Curlin), Crupi (Curlin) and 'TDN Rising Star' Charge It (Tapit) will be in the starting gate for Pletcher, who last won the prestigious race for older horses in 2022 with Life Is Good. His other Whitney wins came in 2013 (Cross Traffic), 2007 (Lawyer Ron) and 2002 (Left Bank). John M. Gaver Sr. holds the record for most Whitney victories with five. Bright Future looks to have the best chance of getting Pletcher to the winner's circle as he is 5-1 third choice on the Whitney morning line behind National Treasure (Quality Road, 9-5) and First Mission (Street Sense, 9-2). Bright Future, owned by Repole Stable, has won both of his career starts at Saratoga, including the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup last year. He then finished sixth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic–beaten 3 3.4 lengths–and then was not seen until last month. He won the GIII Salvatore Mile Stakes at Monmouth by 1 3/4 lengths. “He showed last year that he is a legitimate Grade I horse,” Pletcher said outside his barn at the Oklahoma Training Track. “He didn't seem to fire his 'A' race in the Breeders' Cup for whatever reason. I think he fits with the top of the division. I like the way he has trained since (the Salvator Mile) and he seems to like this track. Hopefully he has another move forward in him.” Giddings Savors First Training Win At Saratoga The first one is always the most special. Or so they say. Melanie Giddings, in her second full year as a trainer, finally got to the winner's circle at Saratoga when Scaramanga (Munnings) won Sunday's eighth race, a $30,000 claimer, by a length. It was her first win in 16 career starts at Saratoga spanning two seasons. Melanie Giddings with Gordo | Sarah Andrew “That race was a lot of fun,” Giddings said Wednesday morning at her barn on the Oklahoma Training Track. “There was really no pressure. I own half the horse and we were kind of a longshot (13-1). I thought he had been doing better and, he obviously showed that.” Scaramanga, a 3-year-old New York-bred gelding, was claimed after the race and is now in the barn of trainer Jimmy Ferraro. “That's OK,” Giddings said with a smile. “That's the game.” Giddings was the trainer of Maple Leaf Mel (Cross Traffic), who tragically broke down in the shadow of the wire in last year's GI Test Stakes on Whitney weekend. Giddings, of course, still holds a soft spot in her heart for the brave Maple Leaf Mel, but life moves on. She has 18 horses at Saratoga and another 14 at Belmont Park. And now she has her first winner. What made it even more special was Scaramanga was ridden by her boyfriend, jockey Shaun Bridgmohan. It was his first win at the Spa since Break Even won the Coronation Cup Stakes on July 14, 2019. He had had just 18 mounts over the last two seasons before Sunday's win. “I never found a winner's circle that wasn't special,” Bridgmohan said, smiling, at the barn. “It was even better having Shaun up,” Giddings said. “I don't ever worry when he rides a horse for me. He has had plenty of winners here in the past. He is still a very good rider; he just doesn't ride a lot.” Giddings had two runners on Wednesday's card but was not able to duplicate Sunday. She'll keep trying. “This is a tough place for anybody,” she said. “It doesn't matter … jocks, trainers … it's hard to win here. It was nice to finally get it off my back.” The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Travers Might Have A Baffert Flavor To It appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Three jockeys were transported to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis following an incident in the sixth race Wednesday, July 30 at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The jockeys involved were Yarmarie Correa, Marcelino Pedroza Jr. and Santo Sanjur. Willadean, ridden by Sanjur, fell heading into the first turn, causing two trailing horses, Jack's Summer and Pedroza Jr., and Band of Roses, ridden by Correa, to also fall. All horses returned to their feet and were caught by the outriders following the incident. As a result of the incident, Race 6 was canceled with the remaining starters pulling up before the finish line. Additional ambulances and support staff were called in from the Shelbyville City Fire Department to assist with transportation to Methodist Hospital. The remaining races on the program continued after a short delay at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The post Jockeys Transported to Hospital Following Incident at Horseshoe Indianapolis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Belmont Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) runner-up Mindframe emerged with bone bruising from his latest battle with Dornoch and will miss most of the remainder of the year, according to co-owner Mike Repole July 31.View the full article

By Jonny Turner Lyndon Bond hopes he can produce a special win at Winton as harness racing resumes in Southland today. The Bond stable is a family operation with Lyndon’s wife Aimee and daughter Millie contributing to the team’s great results in recent seasons. Recently the family suffered the loss of Aimee’s father Colin Argyle, whose funeral was held on Wednesday. Bond would dearly love to acknowledge his father in law’s passing with what would be a special victory at Winton. “The old fella left $50 in his back pocket to put on the first one, so we will do that and hope she can get the job done,” Bond said. Bond’s first runner today is Stella Bay in race 1, the Southland Farm Machinery Trot. The mare is overdue a maiden win following a run of consistent efforts. “She has been going well, but she just hasn’t been trotting 100%, so Franksy (farrier Brendan Franks) has made some changes to her shoeing.” “She worked pretty good at Wyndham the other day, so I have been happy with her.” “She has got the ability there, you would think she would be a pretty good chance.” “But there are some other handy ones in there.” “I’d like to think she would be hard to beat, but at the end of the day it is a maiden trot and anything can happen.” Bond also lines up Step It Up A Notch in race 7, the Winton Night ‘N Day Mobile Pace today. The pacer steps back in grade after taking on higher rating bands at Addington recently. “His last run at Addington wasn’t too bad at all … he went out hard.” “He has got the wide draw with Ollie (Kite) on so we will see what he can do.” “It will be interesting, he is up in the ratings now and he has to take on the better ones.” “We will soon see if he can handle it or whether he needs to come back a few points.” Oliver Kite’s junior claim lets Step It Up A Notch race in today’s rating 50-65 event. View the full article

Redemption is the theme for the Aug. 4 West Virginia Governor's Stakes (G3) at Mountaineer Park, as several notable entries attempt to regain their best form.View the full article

A review released July 31 by the office of New York State Gaming Commission equine medical director Dr. Scott Palmer examined 17 equine fatalities at Saratoga Race Course last summer and generated a series of recommendations. View the full article

The Godolphin European fleet has been stronger than ever this year, as evidenced by their six stateside graded stakes wins in the last two months. Eternal Hope will look to continue that momentum in the Aug. 1 Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga.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. Thursday's Observations features a daughter of American Pharoah and G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Tapestry (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 17.20 Goodwood, Mdn, £60,000, 2yo, f, 7fT DREAMY (IRE) (American Pharoah) is an eye-catching newcomer for Ballydoyle, being a daughter of the G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Tapestry (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). From the stable that won this with Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2016, the Niarchos colour-bearer faces a field stacked with potential including the fellow newcomer Ghaiyya (GB) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Mascalls Stud's half-sister to Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}) trained like those staying stars by the Johnston stable. The post Ballydoyle’s Daughter Of Tapestry Debuts At Goodwood appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Jockey Club will rebrand its wholly-owned commercial subsidiaries–The Jockey Club Information Systems, The Jockey Club Technology Services, and InCompass Solutions Inc.–under a single commercial brand called TJC Innovations, according to a late afternoon Wednesday press release from the organization. “To more efficiently meet the evolving demands of customers looking for comprehensive datasets and solutions that span the entire breadth of our businesses from breeding to racing to sales to retirement, TJC Innovations can service the customer with one call,” said James L. Gagliano, president and COO of The Jockey Club. “In addition, a growing segment of the market is seeking more diverse and robust datasets to support big data applications such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. TJC Innovations has the raw data and expertise to work with the customer to ensure their unique demands are met.” As part of the rebranding, TJC Innovations also announced three initiatives. TLore TJC Innovations executed an agreement to purchase the TLore Management LLC (TLore) business, a leading provider of racing stable management services and products to trainers in North America. Tracy Attfield, principal owner of TLore, said, “I am thrilled to become a part of The Jockey Club team and look forward to working alongside their industry-leading technology group to continue to build out the TLore platform and grow market share.” “We are excited to bring Tracy on board to help materialize her vision of creating the industry-leading, feature-rich platform for trainers to manage their racing stables, share content with clients, and transact business directly with racing offices leveraging the speed and convenience of their mobile devices,” said Gagliano. Attfield will continue to provide customer support and engagement while working closely with the professional software development team at TJC Innovations to continue to develop new tools to assist TLore's customers in more efficiently conducting their business. Halo TJC Innovations will supply North American Thoroughbred data to Halo for its AI initiative. “The Jockey Club is pleased to work with Halo and other entrepreneurs as they seek to use AI technology to develop predictive tools and unlock the power of data,” said Gagliano. Halo founder and CEO Neil Sands said, “We want to introduce the power of artificial intelligence and big data technology to the Thoroughbred industry to help people turn data into actionable information for decision making and prediction. As the official source for North American Thoroughbred data backed by a renowned technology group, The Jockey Club was our preferred choice, and we look forward to working with them for our data needs.” Database Modernization Initiative TJC Innovations recently launched a comprehensive project to modernize and expand The Jockey Club databases for growth and future initiatives utilizing an Amazon Web Services partner, Mission Cloud Services. The cloud environment is expected to provide efficiencies with administration and enable accelerated time to market for customers increasingly seeking larger and more complex datasets to power next generation applications that rely upon AI and machine learning. “While we have built several of our more recent products and services using cloud computing, this partnership with a leading Amazon partner will thoroughly modernize our database, which has served us well as the backbone of all of our data-focused companies,” said Gagliano. “Through a comprehensive set of tools and training programs to guide technical and support teams, the official racing, pedigree, and breeding databases for North America will soon reside in a strong, secure cloud foundation with unlimited cloud computing and innovative technologies available to meet the increased demand for the foreseeable future.” The post Jockey Club Commercial Subsidiaries Reorganized As TJC Innovations appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

TDN Rising Star Mindframe (Constitution), runner up in both Grade I attempts, will be sidelined because of bone bruising through the remainder of this year, according to DRF Wednesday. Campaigned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, the Todd Pletcher trainee was sent to Ocala, Florida earlier this week and was examined by Dr. John Madison. With the defection of Mindframe, Repole also indicated that recent GII Jim Dandy Stakes winner Fierceness (City of Light) is a possibility to run in the Aug. 24 GI Travers S. “He's clear go to back into training in 60 days,” Mike Repole told DRF. “If Todd and I want to give him 90 days we can do that. In all honesty, we were probably skipping the Travers anyway with him. He's had four incredible races in about 3 1/2 months.” Following a jaw-dropping 13 3/4-length win at Gulfstream in March, Mindframe returned to gallop home a winner in a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer on the Kentucky Derby undercard. A half-length shy of victorious Dornoch (Mage) in the June 8 GI Belmont Stakes in Saratoga, the Maryland-bred colt finished in the same spot behind that rival in the GI Haskell Stakes at Monmouth July 20. The post Mindframe Sidelined Due to Bone Bruising appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

“My friends thought I was nuts when I got back into the horse business,” says Maynard Thompson. “But when those babies are about three to five days old, and you take them outside and turn them loose for the first time, every one of them thinks he's the toughest thing out there. And if that doesn't put a smile on your face, you're not breathing.” Which is why Thompson perseveres on 15 acres of gently undulating terrain, a few miles south of Tama on the Iowa River. “I'm 71 years old, and supposed to be retired,” he says. “But I still fool with the horses. That's all I've got anymore, is the horses. Some cats, couple of dogs. But I am just an old Iowa farm boy that likes horses.” There's obviously something in the blood. His father used to tell him about traveling a Percheron stallion around as a kid, spring and early summer. And his uncle had a flair for horses, too. “He was one of those types that if he heard of one in the neighborhood that was kind of an outlaw, he had to go trade for him,” Thompson says. “Because he just wanted to prove to everybody that he could make that horse work.” Maynard Thompson with his granddaughters | Joyce Schmitz Well, that will seem a familiar trait by the time we are done. But one step at a time. When they put the interstate straight through the family farm, about 20 miles farther south, his brothers opted to go off to college. A couple became mechanical engineers. “They liked cars and stuff,” Thompson says. “If I took a car apart, I would put 10 pieces back together and have 50 left over. But the cows and the horses, I got along a lot better with them. I always liked being with the livestock.” So for most of his life Thompson would make no more claim for himself than being “a hired man for a farmer.” Then, when Prairie Meadows reopened in the late 1990s, he decided to buy the odd Quarter Horse—and found that to be “just a good way to go broke.” The final straw was when he sent a favorite mare to be bred, and she died in an accident. “I just sold out then,” he recalls. “All the horses, the saddles, hauler, everything. Figured I'd never owned another horse in my life. But you never lose the itch, and in 2019 it got so it was a pretty good scratch. So I bought three mares from Texas. And the day they came up, it was 55 below zero here. It was January and, the guy who delivered them, I tried to talk him out of it. He said, 'It's the only weekend my boy can come with me.' And when they got here, with that windchill factor, they couldn't believe that anybody could live in that kind of weather.” One of the mares had herself only recently changed hands, in foal to Flat Out at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale, for just $1,000. “My idea was, I was keeping none of the babies,” Thompson says. “They were strictly going to be sold. Well, the girlfriend and I fell in love with her filly, we called her Flat Out Stormin. And she's now made over $200,000 up at Prairie Meadows.” Another of the mares had similarly made a bare $1,000 at the November Sale, in foal to an unproven Constitution. Unfortunately she died shortly after foaling. But her baby was one that Thompson did return to Keeneland, as a short yearling. Consigned by Ballysax, and buoyed by Constitution's first juveniles, he made $135,000. “To me, that was hitting the lottery,” Thompson marvels. “I mean, I didn't know there was that much money.” But it now turns out that Thompson had done something more remarkable still, in between, at the 2019 November Sale. He was on his way home when Connie Brown, who helps him at the sales, called about a Flatter mare in the dregs of the auction: Hip 4424. Though only nine, Applelicious was making her seventh appearance in a sale ring. How typical of the way commercial breeding operates! She had been an $11,500 weanling; pinhooked as a $50,000 yearling; and made $120,000 as a Timonium 2-year-old. But she failed to win in nine starts, once managing second in a maiden claimer, and her price had been steadily dwindling as various people tried to eke a few dollars out of her pregnancies. Her first foals had been plainly sired, with her latest weanling–a Firing Line colt–selling at the same auction for $18,000. “Connie said she probably wasn't going to cost me a lot,” Thompson says. “And that she wouldn't hurt me any. Connie knows what I like: those big Quarter Horse types, not those tall greyhounds. And she knows what I can spend too. So I told Connie to buy her.” Applelicious cost only $2,000, but this time things did not appear to work out so well. Two of the three mares he shipped up from that sale “got in a real scuffle” and both aborted. And then, the following year, they lost her first Iowa-bred foal. Nakatomi | Sarah Andrew In the meantime, however, her Firing Line colt was coming to life. Resold to Marc Detampel as a yearling for $25,000, he had won on debut for Wesley Ward at the Keeneland Spring meet and later that year added the Bowman Mill Stakes. Racing for a new partnership after a $205,000 transfer through the HRA Sale at Fasig-Tipton, last year he reached the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint with four graded stakes placings to his credit. He added a fifth when beaten just a couple of lengths by champion Elite Power, secured another elite podium in Dubai, and last weekend made his Grade I breakout with success in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes. For this son of Applelicious, of course, is none other than Nakatomi. And suddenly the $2,000 mare is hot property. He's been urged to try a digital sale, though at present he's leaning to sending her back to Keeneland in November. She's 14, admittedly empty this year, but duly primed for an early cover–and there's more in her pedigree than might be expected, in terms of explaining Nakatomi: her half-sister by Maria's Mon is the graded stakes-placed dam of four stakes scorers, including GI Clement L. Hirsch Stakes winner Lady of Fifty (After Market). Significantly, moreover, Nakatomi is the image of his mother. “If you were 100 yards away, you could switch horses and nobody would know,” Thompson says. “It has been exciting, following Nakatomi along. I thought it was a big deal last year, when he ran at the Breeders' Cup. I know I got lucky here. Like I said, I'm just an old Iowa farm boy. I don't know what she's worth–but I do know she's worth a hell of a lot more since last Saturday.” Whatever happens next, Thompson has meanwhile made his own contribution to the Applelicious story, with a show of exactly the same maverick belief that made him purchase a $2,000 reject in the first place. For Nakatomi has two Iowa-bred siblings. The first, a 2-year-old filly by Timeline, is training at Prairie Meadows. “I'm not a big believer in trying to get a lot out of a 2-year-old, but she has some motor on her,” Thompson said. “The trainer is very, very happy with her. He just gets this gleam in his eye. 'Next year,' he says, 'you've got something special.'” And then there is a young colt by a stallion that Thompson stands himself. Prince of War finished down the field as favorite for his only racetrack appearance, but he's a half-brother by Cairo Prince to Instagrand. He was another find at the November Sale, a year after the one that produced Applelicious. As usual, Thompson had asked Connie Brown to take a look, and she loved him too. “There's one thing wrong, Maynard,” she said. “You can't afford this horse.” “Well,” he replied. “It doesn't cost me anything to watch him go in.” In the event, he made a single unanswered bid. When he called her, Brown thought Thompson was kidding. “You didn't buy that horse! What did you give for him?” He had cost $450,000 as a yearling; Brown thought him still worth six figures. Thompson had paid $12,000. “And his oldest babies are 2-year-olds now,” he reports. “I took three of his daughters to this Iowa sale last year, and they all looked the part. Some friends came up and said, 'If these babies can run anything like they look, you hit a goldmine on that stallion.' He has no race record, obviously, so people don't like that. But like I told them, 'If he'd won $1 million, he wouldn't be here.' So he's going to have to prove it himself, this no-name, shot-in-the-dark-stallion. But I think this mare's baby is awful nice myself.” Nakatomi | Sarah Andrew Of course, Thompson has the option of keeping the colt to promote Prince of War at the track–while either cashing out the mare, or setting a reserve that leaves him the option of a foal share to a top Kentucky stallion. “I can part with the mare if I have to,” Thompson admits. “It's the baby that's bothering me, because I think he's kind of special. So that's where the dreaming part comes in. Maybe he's the big-time horse that'll prove your stallion, and show you had the right idea when you bought him.” He hasn't forgotten something his dad always used to say: “If you buy something, always be able to give it a better home than where it's been.” “And some of these horses you see down in Keeneland, there's no way I could do that,” he admits. “They're so beautiful, not a hair out of place. So I tell you what, it's kind of hard on the sleep at night. I go to bed about 10 o'clock and at two in the morning I'm still awake thinking. I've had some friends say, 'Keep the mare, Maynard, she's what everybody wants from this game.' But maybe she's worth more than I should be fooling with.” But the bottom line is that he has put himself in a win-win situation, and should be proud of what he has done. After all, he's similarly confounded expectations with other mares that nobody wanted. Whatever he decides, he has earned the right to his own decision–and, above all, to enjoy the ride. “My daughters think I'm crazy for working at it as hard as I do,” Thompson says. “But it seems to me, the old farmers that I knew, they quit, they were going to move to town and relax… And, hell, in three months they were dead of boredom. They'd worked hard all their lives and then suddenly had nothing to do. “Last year I had to have major back surgery. I went out to do chores one morning, and I'm taking steps eight inches apart. I'm all bent over. I got tears running down my face. I mean, I was a hurting unit. So we go to the surgeon, and he wanted to do it right away. And I said, 'I can't.' And my daughters were with me, and my girlfriend, and they all said, 'Why ever not?' I said, 'I've mares going to have babies. And I got to get those mares bred back.' “So I suffered through it, and then went and had the surgery. And for the first three months I thought, 'I don't know if this is the smartest decision I ever made.' But hell, I'm getting along pretty good for an old man. And with these horses, there's always something to look forward to.” The post $2,000 Mare In Iowa Hits Grade I Update appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The older Emily Upjohn will need to defeat top-tier younger rivals Opera Singer and Elmalka as she bids for her third group 1 career victory.View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.–Just over seven weeks ago, National Treasure (Quality Road) made his claim as the best older in the country when he rolled in the GI Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga Race Course. Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, National Treasure dominated five others on the way to a 61/4-length win. What can he do for an encore? We'll find out Saturday when Baffert saddles National Treasure–the 9-5 morning-line favorite–in the 97th running of the $1 million GI Whitney Stakes at the Spa. The race is a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar in November. Baffert doesn't ship a horse across the country unless he thinks he has a big chance. And National Treasure certainly has that. He arrived in Saratoga on Tuesday. “We are in the business to have these top-quality horses,” Baffert said by phone from his summer base at Del Mar in California. “There are a lot of expectations, coming out of my barn, when you have a horse like that. That's why we are in the business, to play at that level. The same goes for all those other big trainers back there.” Owned by SF Racing, LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan, National Treasure is at the top of several lists when it comes to the older male division. He has had just three starts this year but has two big wins. Beside the Met Mile, he also won the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park in his first start as a 4-year-old. What followed was a fourth in the Group 1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “His Pegasus was terrific,” Baffert said. “We shipped him probably a little bit too soon (to Dubai), but we had to take a crack at it.” In the Met Mile, National Treasure had little resistance as Flavien Prat let his mount do his thing. Baffert is not too concerned about the added distance in the Whitney. That race is 1 1/8 miles. The Pegasus World Cup Invitational was also run at 1 1/8 miles. In three other attempts at the distance in his career, National Treasure has finished fourth in all of them. It's no secret that National Treasure does his best running on the front end–“pace makes the race,” Baffert said–and that is likely where he'll be in the Whitney. “We are going to stretch his speed out a little bit further and see if he can handle it,” said Baffert, who won back-to-back editions of the Whitney in 2019 with MCKinzie and 2020 with Improbable. There are 11 other signed up to challenge National Treasure, three of them from Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. He will saddle Bright Future (Curlin, 5-1), Crupi (Curlin, 15-1) and Charge It (Tapit, 30-1). “I think (the division (is pretty wide open),” Pletcher said outside his barn on the Oklahoma Training Track. “National Treasure is certainly the divisional leader, but I don't think he has a death grip on it.” Last year, National Treasure only won once in seven tries, but it was a big one. He went gate-to-wire to win the GI Preakness Stakes and then finished the year with four straight Grade I races. He was sixth in the Belmont Stakes, fifth in the Travers Stakes and fourth in the Awesome Again before closing the season with a gut-wrenching loss by a nose to Cody's Wish in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Losing that race might have done more for National Treasure than winning the Preakness. Heading into 2024, National Treasure got on more people's radar. Of course, it has helped that the brown colt, who went for $500,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton New York Yearling Sale, has won some major races. “He was a whisker away from beating Cody's Wish,” Baffert said. “He has always been a good horse, but people didn't pay attention to him. Once you win a sexy race like the Pegasus or the Met Mile, you start getting paid attention to.” The post Baffert Hoping for a Saratoga Encore with National Treasure appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2nd-SAR, $100K, Msw, 3yo/up, 5 1/2fT, 1:44 p.m. ET. LSU Stables's LETTER PERFECT (Audible), a $425,000 OBS March breezer (:10) from the Eddie Woods consignment in 2023, kicks off his career–weather permitting–sprinting on the grass for Christophe Clement. Letter Perfect, previously a $140,000 FTKJUL yearling, was the highest-priced colt from his sire's first crop to change hands at the 2-year-old sales in 2023 and the third most expensive from 44 sold overall. He is the first foal from his winning dam Syllable (Super Saver). TJCIS PPS The post Thursday’s Insights: Clement Unveils Pricey Son of Audible at the Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. Among this week's rulings, two trainers have been issued short suspensions. Trainer Jonathan Thomas has been stepped down for five days and fined $4,000 for breaching the intra-articular injection rule, barring such joint injections within 7 days of a timed and reported workout. Trainer Fernando Abreu has been suspended for seven-days and fined $1,000 after one of his trainees, Scat Tu Tap, tested positive for two controlled substances: Magnesium Sulfate, which can be used as a calming agent in horses, and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory Methylsalicylate. NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the HIWU “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 07/30/2024 Licensee: Fernando Abreu, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on July 31, 2024; a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Pending medication violation for the use or attempted use of Magnesium sulfate and Methylsalicylate–Controlled Medications (Class B and C respectively)–during the race period from an event dated 6/16/24. Date: 07/30/2024 Licensee: Rodolphe Brisset, trainer Penalty: A written Reprimand (per 9/26/23 HISA Guidance). Admission. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Lakota Territory on 6/3/24. Date: 07/29/2024 Licensee: Juan Carlos Avila, trainer Penalty: Nothing. Withdrawal of Equine Controlled Medication charge for an alleged intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout. Date: 07/29/2024 Licensee: Carlos Martin, trainer Penalty: A fine of $3,000. Admission. Explainer: Intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on the horse Autumn on 6/27/24. Date: 07/29/2024 Licensee: Jonathan Thomas, trainer Penalty: 5-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on July 30, 2024; a fine of $4,000. Admission. Explainer: Intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on the horse Esme on 12/13/23. Date: 07/25/2024 Licensee: Gerald James, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Hercules, who raced, was pulled up and ambulanced off at Churchill Downs on 6/7/24. Date: 07/24/2024 Licensee: Aaron Shorter, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Business as Usual on 6/18/24. Pending ADMC Violations 07/31/2024, Emmanuel Tzortzakis, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Cannabidiol (CBD)–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from The Gatekeeper, who won at Parx Racing on 6/26/24. 07/31/2024, Richard Dutrow Jr., trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)– Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Dame Cinco, who won at Aqueduct on 6/21/24. 07/30/2024, Paul Aguirre, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Never Not Once on 6/24/24. 07/30/2024, Isidro Tamayo, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone– Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Lilly's Journey on 5/11/24. 07/26/2024, Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone– Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Return Fire, who won at Delaware Park on 6/20/24. 07/26/2024, Miguel Hernandez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Frisco Frills, who won at Emerald Downs on 6/16/24. 07/25/2024, William Pribble, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Metformin–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Moringa, who finished fifth at Churchill Downs on 6/29/24. 07/24/2024, Johnny Collins, trainer: Pending intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on the horse Greatest Dancer on 7/7/24. 07/24/2024, Michael Tomlinson, trainer: Pending intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on the horse Beaver State on 7/6/24. 07/24/2024, Neil Drysdale, trainer: Pending intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on the horse Love Alive on 7/4/24. 07/24/2024, Eric Foster, trainer: Pending intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on the horse Publius on 7/3/24. Violations of Crop Rule One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race. Belterra Angel Serpa – violation date July 25; $500 fine and one-day suspension Delaware Park Ederik O. Robles – violation date July 25; $250 fine and one-day suspension Hawthorne Gregory Romero – violation date July 25; $250 fine and one-day suspension Thistledown Jhorma Cespedes – violation date July 25; $250 fine and one-day suspension The TDN also publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky. Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where. CALIFORNIA Del Mar Jeremy Laprida – violation date July 27; seven-day suspension for careless riding NEW YORK Saratoga Eric Cancel – violation date July 26; three-day suspension for interference The post Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings – July 25 – 31 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainers Edward O'Grady and Jessica Harrington have led the tributes to leading owner and breeder Dermot Cox following the death of the successful businessman on Tuesday. A pillar of the community in Kildare, Cox owned many leading lights over jumps, including Cheltenham Festival hero Back In Front and Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Tranquil Sea. Father to David of Baroda Stud, Cox played an instrumental role in the development of Punchestown racecourse. He has been attributed to being the driving force behind forging and developing relationships with overseas trainers, the fruits of which were on show when the Nicky Henderson-trained reigning Champion Chaser Sprinter Sacre lit up the track with victory over Sizing Europe in 2013. His role within the track was acknowledged this year when Cox, along with champion national hunt trainer Willie Mullins and leading owners Sean and Bernadine Mulryan, were inducted into Punchestown's hall of fame. Harrington supplied one of Cox's most recent big-race wins, the family's homebred mare Madam Bovary, who landed a valuable handicap chase under Robbie Power at that same meeting. She said, “Dermot was just a lovely person–great fun to be around. He lived life to the full. I know he was a great sportsman and loved his hunting and shooting as well. He obviously loved his racing and something that was also dear to his heart was the Kildare Hunt and Punchestown races–he absolutely loved Punchestown.” Along with Back In Front and Tranquil Sea, O'Grady sent out 2002 Troytown Chase winner Takagi on behalf of Cox, who the trainer described as “a real sportsman.” O'Grady said, “Back In Front, Tranquil Sea and Takagi-we had many great days. Dermot loved his hunting, racing, shooting, rugby and generally loved his sport. He was a real sportsman. If I had to think of our best day together, perhaps it would be Tranquil Sea winning the Paddy Power at Cheltenham [in 2009]. That was a superb race. Obviously winning the Supreme Novices' in 2003 with Back In Front would also have to rank up there as well. You'd have to describe a man like Dermot as a complete sportsman.” Away from racing, Cox ran a successful cash and carry business [Cox's Cash & Carry] in Newbridge, which was sold in 2022. He lived at Rosetown Stud, which is beside his son David's Baroda Stud, of which he is understood to have been immensely proud of. But it was his exploits at Punchestown that were revered among those who knew him best on Wednesday, including racecourse manager Conor O'Neill, who said days like Sprinter Sacre winning at the festival wouldn't have been possible without Cox. “On behalf of all at Punchestown, we extend our deepest condolences and sincerest sympathies to the Cox family,” O'Neill said. “Dermot played an instrumental role at Punchestown for many years. He was a former vice chairman of Punchestown racecourse, he was a proud member of the Kildare Hunt Club and was also a master of the Kildare Hunt Club. His significant contribution to the track was acknowledged at this year's festival. “He leaves behind him a number of legacies and played a pivotal role in establishing a tradition of UK-trained horses coming to Punchestown after Cheltenham. He created that tradition-more or less single-handedly to be fair to him-and also played a massive role in the redevelopment of the racecourse in 1998. He is a massive part of Punchestown's history, there is no doubt.” Husband to the late Ann, and much loved father of David, Louise, Aoife and Patrick, Cox is also survived by daughters-in-law Tamso and Vicky, son-in-law Kevin, and grandchildren Dermot, India, Isla, Sarah, Patrick, Louis and Tiger. Reposing at his residence (W12 FC89) for friends and family on Friday from 2pm to 6pm. Funeral on Saturday to arrive at St. Conleth's Parish Church, Newbridge for 11am Mass. Burial afterwards in St. Conleth's Cemetery, Newbridge. Funeral Mass in celebration of Dermot's life may be viewed online at https://newbridgeparish.ie/parish-church. The post Tributes Flow For Cheltenham Festival-Winning Owner Dermot Cox appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article