September, 2020 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Phoenix Thoroughbreds Releases Statement

A day after the British Horseracing Authority announced that Phoenix Thoroughbreds had been barred from having runners in the UK, Phoenix released a statement on the matter. It read, “Following Phoenix Thoroughbred’s recent decision to leave UK racing, the British Horseracing Authority have confirmed that there will be a temporary suspension on our runners in the UK whilst a review of our operations are conducted. We are in direct contact with the BHA and are working with them very closely during this review period and see it as a chance to offer transparency after recent damaging media speculation in the UK. Phoenix Thoroughbreds have been proactively communicating with the BHA over their intention to place a temporary stop on our accounts and the governing body have been very supportive during this process. We would like to make it clear again there have been no charges levelled against Phoenix or its CEO Amer Abdulaziz and this suspension comes merely in the interest of the current review.”

As referenced in the statement, Phoenix announced last month that it would cease its operations in the UK on account of “unfair treatment from an industry media outlet.” Phoenix was reportedly barred from running horses in France just days later, a fact that has yet to be confirmed by France Galop. Phoenix Thoroughbreds and its Chief Executive Officer and Founder Amer Abdulaziz Salman have been embroiled in controversy since last November when Abdulaziz Salman was named in a United States federal court trial as being part of a money-laundering operation. He was also accused of stealing €100-million from a sham cryptocurrency he reportedly helped to run.

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Finnick The Fierce Diagnosed With Suspensory Strain, Expected To Fully Recover

Finnick the Fierce (Dialed In – Southern Classic, by Southern Image), who was scratched from the Kentucky Derby last Friday after appearing uneven in his on-track warm-up the day prior, has been found to have a minor strain of his upper suspensory ligament. The injury is not career-ending and requires 30 days of rest before the gelding can resume training.

“We sent Finnick to Dr. Larry Bramlage at Rood and Riddle and he found him to have a slightly enlarged proximal suspensory ligament with no fiber disruption. In layman's terms, it's a strain, not a tear, and his prognosis is good for a full recovery,” said Dr. Arnaldo Monge, DVM, who co-owns Finnick the Fierce with trainer Rey Hernandez.

The gelding is expected to resume full training in October and, if all goes well, his connections are hoping he will make his next start before the end of the year.

“Racing-fit horses don't lose much condition in 30 days, so we're hopeful he can make a start sometime in November or December,” said Monge. “That being said, it's not about a particular race or schedule – it's about the horse. The horse always comes first. That's why, as disappointing as it was to let go of that once-in-a-lifetime dream to run in the Derby, it was an easy decision, because it was about the horse and what's best for him.”

After breaking his maiden at first asking at Indiana Grand, Finnick the Fierce quickly became a fan favorite, running second in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs at age two and third in the G1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park this past May to stamp himself as a legitimate Kentucky Derby prospect in this untraditional year.

Monge, a veterinarian with Hagyard Equine Medical Institute with specialties in reproduction, chiropractic and acupuncture, first came across Finnick the Fierce as a patient when, as a foal, he was presented to Monge with a congenital cataract that was becoming increasingly advanced and needed to be removed.

Monge ended up purchasing Finnick the Fierce as a weanling for $3,000 from his breeder, Paige Gilster, who was a college student at the time, and had the compromised eye removed soon after. He later sold partial interest in the horse to trainer Rey Hernandez, who is often in the irons when the horse gallops in the mornings.

Because of his missing eye, Finnick the Fierce has always had an abnormal gait due to cocking his head to the right to see straight in front of him.

“Rey is a tremendous horseman and has developed Finnick into a smart horse that's confident and full of class. I think it says a lot when you can see the affection his horses have for him,” said Monge. “The injury was very hard to detect, both because it was so slight and also due to Finnick's altered way of going. Even back at the barn on Thursday after he came back from the track, we couldn't immediately identify it, as he cooled out and was walking sound around the shed row. All of us are incredibly thankful for not only Larry Bramlage and his team at Rood and Riddle for their work in diagnosing the suspensory strain, but also the KHRC regulatory veterinarians, who kept their eyes on him and took this so seriously.”

Finnick the Fierce was bred in Kentucky by Paige Gilster's Paige Jillian Blu Sky Stables and currently holds a record of 9-2-1-2 with $191,290 in earnings.

The post Finnick The Fierce Diagnosed With Suspensory Strain, Expected To Fully Recover appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Maryland-Bred Yearling Show Champion Brings Six Figures At Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase

This year's Maryland Horse Breeders Association Yearling Show champion, a Bernardini filly out of the Not For Love mare Mystic Love, sold for $100,000 at Fasig-Tipton's Selected Yearlings Showcase, held Sept. 9-10 in Lexington, Ky.

The second foal for her multiple stakes-winning dam Mystic Love, the bay filly was consigned by Bill Reightler for GreenMount Farm and purchased for $100,000 by Frank Brothers, agent for StarLadies and Mathis. She was offered as Hip 267 at the Yearlings Showcase.

Bred by GreenMount in partnership with Godolphin, the filly won Class IV (for Maryland-bred fillies by out-of-state sires) at the yearling show, before going on to be crowned champion by judge Michael Matz. She was shown by Sabrina Moore, co-owner and manager of GreenMount, who also accompanied the filly to the sale.

“She was a nice mover,” Matz said following the yearling show. “She just had an overall look. I thought she was well-made and pretty well balanced.”

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Anothertwistafate Dominates Grade 3 Longacres Mile

Anothertwistafate made a triumphant return to action Thursday evening at Emerald Downs, returning from a 16-month layoff and powering to a 4½-length victory over Five Star General in the 85th running of the $100,000 Longacres Mile (G3).

Ridden by Juan Gutierrez at 118 lbs, Anothertwistafate ran the mile in 1:34.10 and paid $4.40, $2.80 and $2.60 as the betting favorite. Blaine Wright is the winning trainer for owner Peter Redekop of Vancouver, B.C.

It is the first Mile victory for Wright and Redekop—runner-up the last two years with Alert Bay and Anyportinastorm—and third Mile victory for Gutierrez, who swept both stakes Thursday and is just 13 wins from tying Gallyn Mitchell's all-time track record of 1,419 wins.

Stalking early fractions of :22.71, :45.21 and 1:08.74 set by Papa's Golden Boy, Anothertwistafate took command three deep into the stretch and drew off to win with total authority. It was the colt's first start since a 10th in the 2019 Preakness and capped a superb training job by Wright, 46, who brought Anothertwistafate into the race off a series of works at Golden Gate Fields.

“The first thing is to congratulate Mr. Peter Redekop and my entire crew here and at Golden Gate,” Wright said. “A Lot of people have asked me if this is the best horse I've trained, and he's been hot and cold with some health issues, but he's a very nice horse.”

Wright also praised Gutierrez who previously won the Mile on No Giveaway in 2005 and The Great Face in 2007.

“The race worked out just the way we scripted it this morning, Juan (Gutierrez) did a great job.” Wright said. “When we couldn't bring our rider (to Emerald Downs) there was no hesitation to ride Juan. He rode his 2,000th winner this year and is a great speed rider on this track. He fit this horse perfectly.”

A Kentucky-bred by Scat Daddy, Anothertwistafate earned $55,000 to push his career bankroll to $358,505. His overall mark is 4-2-0 in eight starts, including a victory in the El Camino Real Derby and seconds last year in the Sunland Derby and Keeneland's Lexington Stakes.

Canadian shipper Five Star General, ridden by two-time Kentucky Derby winning jockey Mario Gutierrez at 122 lbs, finished a clear second and paid $3.20 and $2.60 as second choice in the wagering. The runner-up is owned and trained by Glen Todd, giving Vancouver owners the top two finishers in the 2020 Mile.

The Press, a 46 to 1 long shot ridden by Jennifer Whitaker at 114 lbs, rallied for third and paid $4.60 to show. Whitaker won the 2008 Mile on Wasserman and remains the only woman rider ever to win the race.

Elliott Bay, winner of the Mt. Rainier Stakes last month, rallied from last to finish fourth and was followed by Papa's Golden Boy, Makah Lane, La Waun, Hollywood Heat and Take Charge Deputy.

Eddie Martinez, rider of Elliott Bay, claimed foul against The Press, alleging interference into the backstretch, but the stewards made no change in the order of finish.

He's the Reason, 5 to 1 third choice on the morning line and stablemate of Five Star General, was scratched earlier in the day.

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