January, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Jan. 23 Insights

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

INTRIGUING GROUP OF COLTS DEBUT ON PEGASUS UNDERCARD

6th-GP, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 7f, 2:04 p.m.

This salty Pegasus World Cup day maiden special is littered with firsters with big pedigrees and big price tags, including a half-brother to undefeated Triple Crown hero Justify (Scat Daddy) named STAGE RAIDER (Pioneerof the Nile). After RNAing for $950,000 at KEESEP, the bay will carry the colors of breeder John Gunther and will be saddled by Chad Brown. In addition to Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male Justify, Stage Raider is also a half to the ill-fated GSW The Lieutenant (Street Sense) and their dam is GSP Stage Magic (Ghostzapper).

Todd Pletcher unveils a $1.05-million son of Curlin in Shadwell Stable's Ghazaaly. The chestnut's second dam is MSW & MGSP Alternate (Seattle Slew), who is the dam of Grade I winner Higher Power (Medaglia d'Oro), MGSW millionaire Alternation (Distorted Humor) and SW & GSP Interrupted (Broken Vow). This is also the family of Canadian Horse of the Year and MGISW Peakes and Valleys (Mt. Livermore). Pletcher also saddles first timer Traveller (Tourist) for the powerhouse team of WinStar Farm and China Horse Club. Out of GSW Purely Hot (Pure Prize), the dark bay is a half to Grade I-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Eight Rings (Empire Maker).

Godolphin homebred Prevalence (Medaglia d'Oro) makes his career bow here for trainer Brendan Walsh. The bay is a half to GSW Estihdaaf (Arch) and SW Libreta (Girolamo). His second dam is GSW Sahara Gold (Seeking the Gold), who is responsible for MGISW Better Lucky (Ghostzapper), GSW Sahara Heat (A.P. Indy) and SW Final Frontier (Ghostzapper). This is also the family of GI Breeders' Cup Sprint heroine Desert Stormer (Storm Cat).

WS Farish snagged Marching (Liam's Map) for $285,000 at KEESEP and he debuts here for Shug McGaughey. Out of MSP War Tigress (War Chant), he is a half to GSW War Heroine (Lonhro {Aus}). TJCIS PPs

BAFFERT UNVEILS PRICEY INTO MISCHIEF

2nd-SA, $61K, Msw, 3yo, 1m, 4:03p.m.

Bob Baffert sends out the latest in his line of expensive and well-bred 3-year-olds in $650,000 KEESEP buy FENWAY (Into Mischief). Owned by the partnership known as the “Avengers,” the bay boasts a typically speedy Baffert worktab, most recently going a best-of-76 five furlongs in :59 1/5 at Santa Anita Jan. 17. He hails from the family of stakes winners Key to the Cat (Tale of the Cat) and Miss Catalyst (Mr. Greeley). TJCIS PPs

CALHOUN UNVEILS WELL-RELATED TAPIT

9th-OP, $82K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 6:17p.m.

Bret Calhoun sends out homebred first timer FORCE OF NATURE (Tapit) for Gary and Mary West in this event. Out of Canadian champion Milwaukee Appeal (Milwaukee Brew), she is a full-sister to MGSW Actress. Fox Hill Farm's Windmill (Street Sense) also makes her first trip to the post for trainer Larry Jones here. She is out of a full-sister to GISW Visionaire (Grand Slam); and a half-sister to GISW Tara's Tango (Unbridled's Song); GSW & MGISP Scarlet Strike (Smart Strike); and GSW Madison's Luna (Tapit). TJCIS PPs

The post Jan. 23 Insights appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Trio Of Off-Track Thoroughbreds, Now Police Horses, To Present Colors At Pegasus World Cup

Three retired Thoroughbreds who have excelled at second careers as members of mounted police units in South Florida will help present the colors before the singing of the national anthem Saturday at the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational at Gulfstream Park.

Tizrobertcharles and Guidoinaspeedo, both members of the Davie Police Department's Mounted Patrol Unit, and Rockaway, a member of the City of Coral Gables mounted unit, will help present the colors before the playing of Saturday's anthem on Pegasus World Cup Day featuring the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational (G1) and $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Championship Invitational (G1).

“Gulfstream Park focuses on racehorse aftercare to provide one time competitors a meaningful second career,” said Mike Lakow, Vice President of Racing at Gulfstream Park. “We welcome these athletes back to the track alongside local equestrian law enforcement. The Stronach Group supports accredited programs so these horses can be retrained, rehomed and retired to caring homes.”

Tizrobertcharles, retrained at the Florida Thoroughbred Retirement and Adoptive Care (TRAC), was adopted by the Davie unit by former trainer and Officer Gary Cortolillo. An 11-year-old son of Bwana Charlie who won his seventh and final start, Tizrobertcharles patrols the town daily and has attended several special events. 'Charlie' has a soft eye and a great mind.

Officer Mark Groeneveld, 'Charlie's' partner, has been an officer for 21 years and joined the mounted unit in 2019.

Katie Schmit, farm manager and trainer at TRAC, says retired Thoroughbreds can be retrained for lesson horses, therapy horses, trail, pleasure and show and performance horses.

“What makes OTTBs so incredibly special in my eyes is their impeccable work ethic and desire to please,” she said. “They are meticulously bred to win and thus have an inherent need to feel successful. The exposure they receive at such a young age gives them a huge step up when their racing careers are over. When we match their second careers with their personalities, they truly take it from there. They thrive on learning new things and have a love for adventure. We have seen them graduate from our organization and excel in every area imaginable, from simply bringing a smile to their owner's face each morning, to the most demanding athletic pursuits.”

Guidoinaspeedo is a 9-year-old son of Maryland-bred Meadow Monster who also won once in seven starts while racing in the Mid-Atlantic. 'Buddy,' as he's affectionately called, has been with the mounted unit since 2015.

Officer Richard Spradling, 'Buddy's' partner, has been an officer since 2007 and joined the mounted unit in 2019. Spradling has an equestrian background, having ridden Criollo horses in Argentina.

Rockaway, a retired Thoroughbred who raced 10 times in South Florida, is the first documented police horse in Coral Gables in nearly 90 years. Rockaway, who served as a flag horse at Bergeron Rodeo, enjoys the attention he receives from the public. His partner is Officer Ashley Sheran.

Lt. Dan, a 15-year-old Quarter Horse who has been with the mounted unit since 2018, will join Tizrobertcharles and Guidoinaspeedo. Officer Angela Creel is Lt. Dan's partner and has been with the unit since 2016. Lt. Dan will serve as the flag bearer.

Drako, a 21-year-old Belgian-Quarter horse cross, will also join the group. Sergeant Chad Bishop will partner with Drako, formerly a member of the Miami-Dade mounted unit. Bishop has been an officer since 1997. He is currently the K9 sergeant as well as a mounted unit sergeant.

The post Trio Of Off-Track Thoroughbreds, Now Police Horses, To Present Colors At Pegasus World Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Golden Sixty Back To Work at Sha Tin

Exiting an imperious victory in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile Dec. 13, Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) goes in search of his 12th consecutive victory and 15th from 16 starts overall when he takes on a field of mostly familiar faces in Sunday's G1 Stewards' Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse.

Winner of seven straight during the 2019/2020 season, including a sweep of the 4-year-old Classics, the Queensland-bred gelding has yet to be tested in four runs this term and his Hong Kong Mile success came at the expense of the re-opposing Southern Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) and the race's defending champion Admire Mars (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}). It's all systems go for Golden Sixty, who figures to jump as a money-back proposition.

“He was a bit keen when he started back (after being freshened up), but after that he had a grass gallop (Jan. 19)–he was fine and [Friday morning] he was good again,” trainer Francis Lui, who celebrated his 62nd birthday earlier in the week, told the HKJC notes team. “I asked [jockey] Vincent [Ho] to give him an easy gallop and he just wanted to go.”

On the comeback trail is Rise High (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), a close third to Win Bright (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) in the 2019 G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m), but unraced since. Sunday's trip is well short of his best, but Caspar Fownes, who will also saddle Southern Legend, is looking for a tightener into the Feb. 21 G1 City Hong Kong Gold Cup, where he is likely to see Golden Sixty again, only on a more level playing field.

“Obviously, you're up against a champion, a superstar in Golden Sixty, but as long as we can just run a nice race first-up, then we'll head to the Hong Kong Gold Cup with him,” Fownes said.

Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}) is likely to go favoured in Sunday's other top-level event, the Centenary Sprint Cup over 1200 metres. The likeable gray won the G2 Jockey Club Sprint in November and was the $21 (11-10) chalk on international day, but could do no better than seventh behind Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), as the ageless Jolly Banner (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) charged home for second at better than 80-1. Wishful Thinker (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) also ran with credit in the Sprint, rallying from last to finish fourth, beaten 0.75l at boxcar odds.

WATCH: Golden Sixty wins his 11th straight race in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile

The post Golden Sixty Back To Work at Sha Tin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

New York Racing Association Plans 202 Live Race Dates In 2021

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has announced the 2021 NYRA racing calendar, which calls for 202 live race days at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course.

Live racing is currently being conducted at Aqueduct, where the 2021 winter meet continues through Sunday, March 28. Following the conclusion of the 2021 winter meet, the 11-day spring meet will open on Thursday, April 1 and conclude on Sunday, April 18.

For the complete 2021 Aqueduct stakes schedule, inclusive of both winter and spring meets, visit: https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/stakes-schedule/.

Stakes schedules for upcoming meets will be announced at the appropriate time.

Following the conclusion of the 2021 Aqueduct spring meet, live racing will shift to beautiful Belmont Park for a 48-day spring/summer meet, which is highlighted by the 153rd running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 5. The 2021 spring/summer meet will run from Thursday April 22 through Sunday, July 11. Live racing will generally be conducted 4 days per week throughout the spring/summer meet, Thursday-Sunday.

The 40-day summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course will open on Thursday, July 15 and continue through Labor Day, Sept. 6. Following opening weekend, racing will be conducted 5 days a week with the exception of the 6-day closing week. The summer meet is anchored by the 94th running of the Whitney on Aug. 7 and the 152nd running of the Travers on Aug. 28.

Following the conclusion of the 2021 summer meet, live racing will return to Belmont for a 28-day fall meet, which will open on Thursday, Sept. 16 and continue through Sunday, Oct. 31. Live racing will generally be conducted 4 days per week throughout the fall meet, Thursday-Sunday.

Racing returns to the Big A on Friday, Nov. 5 for an 18-day fall meet that will run through Sunday, Dec. 5. The Aqueduct winter meet will then begin on Thursday, Dec. 9 with the 2021 schedule to conclude on Dec. 31.

To mitigate risk and reduce the spread of COVID-19, New York state currently requires all racetracks to operate without spectators in attendance and with a series of health and safety guidelines in place. A limited number of owners licensed by the state are currently permitted to attend live racing on the day their horse is entered.

For additional information, visit NYRA.com.

The post New York Racing Association Plans 202 Live Race Dates In 2021 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post