September, 2020 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Sept. 19 Insights

SATURDAY’S RACING INSIGHTS:

By Christie DeBernardis

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

WELL-BRED CURLIN COLT DEBUTS IN NY

6th-BEL, $63K, Msw, 2yo, 1m, 3:36 p.m.

St. Elias Stable homebred KNOWN AGENDA (Curlin) makes his career bow in this spot for Todd Pletcher. The chestnut is out of GISW Byrama (GB) (Byron {GB}), who is a half-sister to GSW Klammer (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). He enters off a pair of bullet works, most recently covering a half-mile in a best-of-29 :48 2/5 on Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track Sept. 14. His entry-mate Likeable (Frosted) makes his second attempt after missing by a head in an off-the-turf event at the Spa Aug. 22. Out of SW Dashing Debby (Medaglia d’Oro), the $350,000 KEESEP purchase is a half to SW & MGISP Dawn the Destroyer (Speightstown) and MSW Bronze Star (Tapit). Also making his second start here is $900,000 KEESEP purchase Engrave (Flatter), who completed the exacta in his Saratoga unveiling Aug. 15. He is a half-brother to MGISW Beach Patrol (Lemon Drop Kid). Their dam is a half to MGSW Hurricane Bertie (Storm Boot) and a full to MGSW & GISP Allamerican Bertie (Quiet American). TJCIS PPs

BELMONT BABY RACE LITTERED WITH INTRIGUING PEDIGREES

7th-BEL, $633K, Msw, f, 2yo, 1mT, 4:08p.m.

Shug McGaughey unveils the latest Stuart Janney homebred in ISLAND TREASURE (Speightstown). Out of MGSW Hit It Rich (Smart Strike), she is a half to GSP Profiteer (War Front). His second dam if GSW Cuando Puede (Lord at War {Arg}). This is also the family of MGISW Honey Ryder (Lasting Approval) and MGSW Dominus (Smart Strike). Klaravich Stables went to 130,000gns at TATOCT for Amortization (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who debuts here for Chad Brown. Her second dam is English and French Highweight Sulk (Ire) (Selkirk). Barclay Tagg saddles another firster in Kerry Girl (Pioneerof theNile), a daughter of GSW & GISP Caroline Thomas (Giant’s Causeway). Her second dam is GISW Bit of Whimsy (Distorted Humor). TJCIS PPs

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Weaver Pays Over $400K In Earnings, Civil Penalties Related To Labor Laws, H-2B Visa Program

Trainer George Weaver has agreed to pay $325,431 in owed wages to employees and $99,567 in civil penalties related to violations of labor and immigration laws, according to a report by The Miami Herald Friday.

A federal judgment states 59 employees will receive $2,548 each in what the government said was unpaid overtime pay. A portion of the penalties assessed to Weaver were for incorrect timekeeping practices, according to the report.

Several New York-based trainers have come under scrutiny by federal agencies for their employment practices in recent years, particularly timekeeping. Federal standards require employers to have an accurate timekeeping method and pay employees hourly, with a change in rate for overtime pay; this is not typically the method of payment for backstretch employees, who are more commonly paid a flat rate based on the number of days, weeks, or horses worked.

The U.S. Department of Labor also assessed penalties for what it said were violations of the federal H-2B visa program, including adherence to the program's minimum wage standards, charging employees for costs related to utilizing the program, and trying to discourage employees from reporting to federal investigators or cooperating with the proceedings.

In 2019, the Saratoga Institute on Equine, Racing, and Gaming Law touched on the topic of H-2B and wages law in an effort to correct common misconceptions about the federal requirements. You can read more about how those issues impact racing employers from our reporting here.

Read more about the recent Weaver settlement at The Miami Herald

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‘Long Distance’ Setting The Mood Taking A Step Up Into Belmont Oaks

Paul Pompa Jr.'s Setting the Mood will make a steep step up in class when she takes on stakes action for the first time in Saturday's Grade 1 Belmont Oaks.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Setting the Mood arrives at her stakes debut off a second place finish in a Saratoga allowance event going 1 3/8 miles over the inner turf, where she was brushed coming out of the gate, controlled the pace throughout most of the journey but was a head short of victory to Cap de Creus. The sophomore daughter of second-crop stallion Lea displayed stalking tactics in her prior effort going 1 ¼ miles at Belmont Park, sitting third before taking command in the stretch, but was passed by Hungry Kitten.

Still in search of her first triumph on grass, Setting the Mood broke her maiden in an off-the-turf event at Gulfstream Park in May.

“She's definitely a long distance filly,” Pompa, Jr. said. “She ran well in her last start. It's a short field, so it made sense for Todd to put her in there. We'll see how much talent she has.”

Setting the Mood will be squaring off against recent Saratoga Oaks-winner Antionette as well as Group 1-placed European invader Magic Attitude.

“There is a first time European in there, but it's a short field,” Pompa, Jr. said. “Todd and I talked about it and sometimes you just have to take a shot. If she hits the board, she has a Grade 1 placing on her resume. If she gets lucky, she wins the whole thing.”

Setting the Mood will break from the rail under jockey Luis Saez, who will attempt to replicate his winning form from Saratoga, where he rode nine stakes winners and finished fourth in the standings with 45 wins.

“She had the rail the last time and she got bottled up, so we'll have to be a little more aggressive,” said Pompa, Jr. “He's a top rider and a good human being. He always does well on my horses.

Last Saturday, Pompa, Jr.'s multiple graded stakes winner Regal Glory added another high level stakes win to her ledger when taking the Grade 1 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf on September 16. The Chad Brown-trained daughter of Animal Kingdom notched her first victory since dead-heating with Varenka in last year's Grade 2 Lake Placid at Saratoga.

While Regal Glory successfully scored another stakes win, Turned Aside was fifth as the beaten favorite in the Grade 3 Franklin-Simpson on September 16 at Kentucky Downs.

“Regal Glory can run on anything and she's a classy filly,” Pompa, Jr said. “Turned Aside didn't like the track at all. Going downhill, he was out of his element and he still only lost by 2 ½ lengths. When you go to Kentucky Downs, some horses love it and other don't like it. He was the favorite and the second and third choices ran at the back.”

Pompa, Jr. said he would regroup with trainer Linda Rice regarding a next start for Turned Aside, who won the Grade 3 Quick Call at Saratoga in his previous start.

“We'll see how he comes it and we'll speak to Linda and pick a spot for him,” Pompa, Jr. said. “One thing is that if he comes out it well, he probably gained a lot of fitness going up and down those hills.”

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Au-Dela Des Pistes To Benefit On Arc Weekend

Au-dela des Pistes, France’s re-training and re-homing organization, will benefit from a pair of initiatives on Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend Oct. 3 and 4.

Modeled after the Breeders’ Cup Pledge, owners, trainers, breeders and jockeys associated with runners on Arc weekend can opt to donate a percentage of their earnings over the two days to the charity.

Additionally, all ticket sales for the Sunday program will be donated to Au-dela des Pistes. The crowd is limited to 5,000 racing professionals and their guests.

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