This feature provides a capsule look at three horses who are heating up on the Triple Crown trail and three horses whose chances for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve are not quite as strong as they were a week or two ago. In this edition, the focus is the previous week of prep races. With the action on the Derby trail heating up, this column will now appear regularly to analyze to biggest movers approaching the first leg of the Triple Crown.
Month: March 2021
MATCH Series to Return in 2021
The Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships (MATCH) Series, which was forced to go on hiatus in 2020 because of regional COVID-19 restrictions, will return this year under a two-state schedule put together by horsemen and racetracks in Maryland and Virginia to bridge the gap until the full Series is restored in 2022.
The Series, the only one of its kind in racing, will run from May 14 at Pimlico Race Course through Dec. 26 at Laurel Park, and will feature 24 stakes–20 of them in Maryland and four at Colonial Downs in Virginia–valued at $2,750,000 million. There will be four divisions, all of them on dirt, and $282,000 in bonus money.
“This is a tremendous demonstration of support and cooperation by the Maryland and Virginia horsemen and racetracks, and I am deeply appreciative of their desire to maintain the MATCH brand through these difficult times for racing'” said MATCH creator Alan M. Foreman. “This should be a really fun and competitive Series.”
“Maryland's horsemen have always believed in the vision of MATCH and been enthusiastic supporters of the Series from day one,” commented MTHA Executive Director David Richardson. “We are thrilled to join with our friends in Virginia to renew this innovative concept for 2021 with the goal of a full rebirth in 2022.”
Click here for the 2021 schedule.
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Bullet Breezer Leads Big One-Two for Nyquist at Fasig Gulfstream
A Nyquist colt (hip 28) who breezed a bullet furlong in :9 4/5 at Gulfstream Monday was popular as expected in the track's paddock on Wednesday, bringing $2.6 million early in the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale from agent Jamie McCalmont, acting on behalf of Coolmore's M.V. Magnier. Consigned by Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables, Inc., the Feb. 4 foal was a $160,000 Fasig-Tipton Select Showcase buy. His third dam is GISW Victory Ride (Seeking the Gold). Coolmore bought the Gulfstream sale's top two lots in 2019, including $3.65-million Cezanne (Curlin).
The next horse through the ring, also a Nyquist colt (hip 29), went for $900,000 to Spendthrift Farm and West Point Thoroughbreds. A :10 2/5 breezer, the $400,000 KEESEP yearling was consigned by Eddie Woods, agent for complete dispersal of the estate of Paul Pompa, Jr.
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Turfway’s Winter Handle Up 36 Percent; Corrales, Ward Wrap Up Meet Titles
A stout 36.5 percent increase of all sources handle, along with a rise in starters per race, topped Turfway Park's 38-day Winter/Spring meet that opened Jan 1. and concluded Saturday.
Turfway Park's meet saw overall handle grow to $81.7 million, a $21.9 million increase from 2020. All sources handle per day was up 32.9 percent. The average field size topped 9.8 horses per race compared to 2020's 9.7 starters per race.
“We can't thank our owners, trainers, jockeys and horseplayers enough for supporting our meet,” Turfway Park's General Manager Chip Bach said. “Our team put together a competitive racing product that appealed to horseplayers nationwide. The positive feedback from the installation of our Tapeta surface was universal from trainers and jockeys. Through Churchill Downs Incorporated's continued investment to renovate Turfway Park, we are looking forward to the future of horse racing in Florence.”
Six live racing days were cancelled due to inclement weather at Turfway Park. However, five of those days were made up by adding an additional race day each week.
Jockey Gerardo Corrales (177-40-27-23—$655,831) had a 23 percent win clip during the meet and led all riders. He finished seven victories ahead of second place Rafael Bejarano, who had 33 wins. A graduate of the Laffit Pincay Jockey School, Corrales' meet was capped by a victory aboard Outadore in the $65,000 Animal Kingdom Stakes on the undercard of the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3).
Trainer Wesley Ward's victory with Like the King in the $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) were among his 21 wins at the meet. He had an outstanding 38 percent win clip with purse earnings of $410,997. Ward topped the trainer standings, 21-12, nine wins in front of Bill Morey, who relocated to Kentucky in 2019 from California.
“Kentucky is the epicenter for sales and racing,” Morey said. “We had a fantastic meet at Turfway and really enjoyed running over the Tapeta surface.”
Augustin Stable led the owner standings with eight wins through 20 starts. All eight victories were ridden by jockey Chris Landeros. They finished two wins in front of Small Town Paddock, who recorded six wins through nine starts. They were one win in front of Live Oak Plantation's five wins from eight starters.
A trio of horses recorded three wins at the meet: Richard Alderson's Till Then, who won two of his races under former owner Augustin Stable and Small Town Paddock's Floroplus and Kynance (IRE).
Like the King Stamps Ticket to Kentucky Derby with Victory in Jeff Ruby Steaks
M Racing Group's Like the King stamped his spot in the starting gate for the Grade 1, $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve with his victory in the 50th running of the $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks, the premiere race of Turfway Park's meet.
Trained by Ward, Like the King earned 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby for his one-length win in the Jeff Ruby Steaks. Jeff Ruby Steaks day also featured a victory by Godolphin's Adventuring in the $150,000 Bourbonette Oaks (Listed). She was awarded 50 points towards a spot in the April 30, $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Racing in the Commonwealth of Kentucky will shift to Keeneland on Friday for their Spring Meet, which runs through April 23. Kentucky Derby Week at Churchill Downs will begin April 24 and their Spring Meet will run through June 26.
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