Month: April 2021

Saturday’s Insights: $1.5M Curlin Colt Debuts at Belmont

1st-BEL, $90K, Msw, 3yo, 7f, 1:00p.m.
Trainer Shug McGaughey unveils West Point, Siena Farm, Bobby Flay and Woodford Racing's FIRST CAPTAIN (Curlin), a $1.5 million purchase at the Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Select sale last summer. The colt is the first foal out of GSW & GISP America (A.P. Indy), a homebred for the Iron Chef. The 3-year-old sports a bullet four-furlong work in :48 1/5 at Payson Apr. 10, and most recently, registered a :48 4/5 (28/63) for the same distance at Belmont Apr. 17. Also suiting up for the first time is Shadwell's MAHAAMEL (Into Mischief). A $700,000 KEESEP buy, the Todd Pletcher trainee is out of Grade III winner Hot Stones (Bustin Stones), a half to Hot Mist (Tonalist), who won on debut last season. TJCIS PPs

7th-SA, $61K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6f, 7:12p.m.
Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine and West Point's FLIGHTLINE (Tapit) takes off for John Sadler Saturday. Bred by Summer Wind, the colt realized a $1-million final bid at last summer's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. Out of Grade III winner Feathered (Indian Charlie), who also hit the board in the GI Frizette S., GI Starlet S. and GI American Oaks, the bay posted a sharp five-furlong work Apr. 18, stopping the watch in 1:00 2/5. Feathered, a $300,000 OBSMAR buy, was purchased by Summer Wind–in foal to War Front–for $2.35 million at KEENOV in 2016. MONEY MIKE (Into Mischief), a KEESEP graduate, makes his first start for the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Racing and Stonestreet Stables. The $600,000 yearling purchase is the first foal out of MGSW Ahh Chocolate (Candy Ride {Arg}) and comes into this off several speedy works, including the latest a five-furlong move in 1:00 1/5 at Santa Anita Apr. 17. Simon Callaghan sends out SECRET WEAPON (Candy Ride {Arg}), a $650,000 KEESEP purchase. Campaigned by Qatar Racing and his breeder Peter Blum, the chestnut gets the services of Umberto Rispoli for this unveiling. TJCIS PPs

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Report: Sunland Park Management Hired To Run Ruidoso Downs

According to a report in Quarter Horse Track magazine, the owners of Ruidoso Downs racetrack and casino in Ruidoso, N.M., have hired the management team at Sunland Park to run the track best known as being the home of the All American Futurity.

All American Ruidoso Downs Inc., which purchased Ruidoso Downs from R.D. Hubbard in 2017, consisted of four partners: Johnny Trotter, John Andreini, Stan Sigman and Chicho Flores. The dynamics of the ownership team changed after Andreini passed away in 2018 and Sigman died in December 2020.

The change will put Sunland Park general manager Rick Baugh in a similar position at Ruidoso, according to Quarter Horse Track. Sunland, which is owned by the family of the late Stan Fulton, did not race this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Jeff True, who was hired as president and general manager when All American Ruidoso Downs Inc. bought the track, said he was notified on Thursday of the change and will not be retained in any capacity. True developed a number of policies designed to increase the integrity of racing at Ruidoso, which had been scarred by numerous drugging scandals prior to coming onboard.

“I enjoyed my time at Ruidoso,” True told the Paulick Report. “It's been an honor and a privilege to take care of this special place. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into it and I think Ruidoso is set up for success following a tough time because of COVID-19. It will do well.”

Ruidoso Downs is scheduled to open on May 28.

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Japan’s France Go De Ina Heading Stateside For Preakness

For the first time since 2016, the Preakness Stakes will have a contender from Japan in the starting gate, according to Kate Hunter on Twitter. The 3-year-old France Go de Ina, trained by Hideyuki Mori, is planning a trip to the United States to contest the middle leg of the Triple Crown.

The Kentucky-bred son of Will Take Charge out of the Curlin mare Dreamy Blues was a $100,000 yearling purchase at the Keeneland September sale. He broke his maiden at second asking in Japan, and won a weight-for-age contest before traveling to Dubai for the UAE Derby.

France Go de Ina finished sixth that day after breaking poorly. The colt will enter quarantine on April 27, and fly to the U.S. on May 5.

The post Japan’s France Go De Ina Heading Stateside For Preakness appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Gainesway Steps Up, Plucks Grade II Winner Out of Fonner Park

Conquest Big E (Tapit), an 8-year-old with a win in the 2018 GII Gulfstream Park Mile S. on his record, was acquired privately Friday by his breeder, Gainesway Farm, with the expressed intent of retiring the gelding.

A day earlier, Conquest Big E's story was making the rounds on social media, with many worried that his well-being was in jeopardy. He was entered in a $3,500 claimer Friday at Fonner Park, which was to be his first start since he failed to complete the course in a June 19, 2020 claimer at Prairie Meadows. He was bought by Gainesway prior to the race and was scratched.

According to Gainseway General Manger Brian Graves, Conquest Big E will be sent to Remember Me Rescue in Burleson, Texas, where he will be retrained for a second career. Remember Me is operated by Donna and Dallas Keen.

“I'm not on social media, but I received a text from a friend Thursday night that there was some buzz on social media about this horse,” Graves said. “We would take care of any horse like that that we knew about. When we found out about this, we made a call. It wasn't the easiest thing to get done, but at the end of the day we were able to get it done.”

Conquest Big E scored the biggest win of his career in the Gulfstream Mile, where he defeated GI Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming (Bodemeister). At the time, he was owned by Donna Hurtak and trained by Daniel Hurtak. Some eight months later, on November 18, 2018, Conquest Big E won a allowance/optional claimer at Gulfstream Park West, but his form soon started to deteriorate. He would go on to lose his next nine starts, many of them by a dozen lengths or more.

Conquest Big E won six of 34 career starts for earnings of $434,875.

Graves said he reached out to co-owner and trainer Wayne Hille and arranged to buy the horse. Gainesway paid him $3,500, the claiming price he was set to run for, plus the amount he would have earned had he won the race that had a $5,000 purse.

Graves said that many of the social media posts had exaggerated the horse's condition.

“At first appearance, he looks to be sound,” he said. “There is a very good chance for this story to have a happy ending. This is a beautiful horse and I don't see any reason why he won't go on to a second career. The best we could tell, the social media posts were way too negative. He looked to be well cared for and didn't appear to be in terrible condition at all. He was sound for racing. He should make a nice sport horse.”

Graves said that Gainesway bought the horse because it was the right thing to do.

“All of us are in this business because we love horses,” he said. “When they reach a certain level like this, there's a rosier future for them doing something else, like being a show horse or an event horse. When you can be helpful with a transaction like this and help ease somebody else's situation with a, relatively speaking, small financial decision, it's an easy thing to do.”

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