May, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Kingman’s Schnell Meister Claws Out NHK Mile Cup Victory

Sunday Racing's Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB}) closed late to take the G1 NHK Mile Cup in a bobbing finish on Sunday, his first black-type victory.

Second choice in the wagering at 5-2 behind Group 1 winner Grenadier Guards (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}), the Sunday Racing colourbearer broke well from one of the widest draws and punched the breeze out in the centre of the course while unhurried early. Up front, Pixie Knight (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) led under minimal pressure from Ho O Amazon (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), with Grenadier Guards and Gray in Green (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) just off the leading duo. The first 1000 metres was covered in :56.90. On the bend, Schnell Meister rallied sharply and was within shouting distance of the leaders with a quarter mile to travel. A furlong from home, he still had a couple lengths to find, but unleashed a powerful turn of foot to collar Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) by a nose at the line. Grenadier Guards was third, 2 1/2 lengths back. Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) dumped the rider at the break.

A winner of a Sapporo newcomers' affair in September over 1500 metres and the 1600-metre Hiiragi Sho at Nakayama over a mile on Dec. 19, Schnell Meister ran second in his 3-year-old bow, the G2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen upped to 2000 metres on Mar. 7.

Pedigree Notes
Out of G1 Preis der Diana heroine Serienholde, Schnell Meister is the fourth Group 1 winner by his Juddmonte sire and first in Japan. Kingman's total of black-type winners now stands at 35, with 17 of that number successful at the group level. Broodmare sire Soldier Hollow now has two stakes winners total, both of group class, with Schnell Meister joining G2 Oaks d'Italia heroine Nepal (Ger) (Kallisto {Ger}).

Since foaling Schnell Meister, Serienholde has a yearling colt by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) and she was bred to Duramente (Jpn). The third dam, Salde (Ger) (Alkalde {Ger}), threw several top performers, among them German highweight Saldenschwinge (Ger) (In the Wings {GB}), group winner and MG1SP Saldentigerin (Ger) (Tiger Hill {Ire})-herself the dam of Group 1 winner Salomina (Ger) (Lomitas {GB})–and stakes winners Salden Licht (GB) (Fantastic Light) and Saldennahe (Ger) (Next Desert {Ire}), as well as the MG1SP Saltas (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}).

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
NHK MILE CUP-G1, ¥204,960,000, Tokyo, 5-9, 3yo, c/f, 1600mT, 1:31.60, fm.
1–SCHNELL MEISTER(GER), 123, c, 3, Kingman (GB)
                1st Dam: Serienholde (Ger) (G1SW-Ger, $379,079),
                                by Soldier Hollow (GB)
                2nd Dam: Saldenehre (Ger), by Highest Honor (Fr)
                3rd Dam: Salde (Ger), by Alkalde (Ger)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN.
O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Ger); T-Takahisa Tezuka;
J-Christophe Lemaire. ¥108,822,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
   Rating: C+.
2–Songline (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Kizuna (Jpn)–Luminous Parade (Jpn),
by Symboli Kris S. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn);
¥43,092,000.
3–Grenadier Guards (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Wavell
Avenue, by Harlington. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm
(Jpn); ¥26,564,000.
Margins: NO, 2HF, HF. Odds: 2.70, 15.90, 2.40.
Also Ran: Rickenbacker (Jpn), Lord Max (Jpn), Time to Heaven (Jpn), Another Lyric (Jpn), Land of Liberty (Jpn), Ho O Amazon (Jpn), Rooks Nest (Jpn), Veil of Nebula (Jpn), Pixie Knight (Jpn), Shock Action (Ire), City Rainbow (Jpn), Raymond Barows (Jpn), Gold Chalice (Jpn), Gray in Green (Jpn). DNF: Bathrat Leon(Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart or video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Zedan Stands by Baffert

Amr Zedan, the Saudi Arabian businessman who owns Medina Spirit (Protonico), said Sunday that he believes Bob Baffert is innocent of any wrongdoing in this year's GI Kentucky Derby and will stand behind his trainer.

Baffert informed the media Sunday that Medina Spirit tested positive for the medication Betamethasone, a corticosteroid, after crossing the wire in front in this year's Derby.

“I totally support and believe Bob Baffert,” Zedan told the TDN. “He is a professional beyond belief and he has never administered this drug to this horse at all. Medina Spirit has never been treated with this drug and we hope that the split sample will definitely prove that. Bob Baffert has my support, 100%.”

Zedan said he was confident that Baffert will be exonerated and Medina Spirit will remain the official winner of the 2021 Derby.

“This story does not add up,” Zedan said. “I know Bob Baffert as a human being and as a friend and I trust him. I trust him blindly. This will go away and, hopefully, Medina Spirit will get reaffirmed as the 2021 Kentucky Derby winner.”

Should Medina Spirit be disqualified, Zedan will lose the $1,860,000 in purse money that goes to the winner of this year's Derby.

During a news conference he held at Churchill Downs, Baffert said he is not a “conspiracy theorist,” but, at the same time, questioned why he keeps getting positives. The implication was that he had done nothing wrong and that the system is flawed.

“I know one thing for sure, when you are that successful you create a lot of animosity,” Zedan said. “And a lot of issues get stirred up. I am not a believer in conspiracy theories. But this is a tax one pays for being that successful. There is absolutely no upside for anybody to do this. There was no reason to do this. He just finished up with whatever happened in Arkansas, where he was exonerated.”

Zedan said he had no plans to take any legal action of his own.

“I will leave it to Baffert,” he said. “He will take the lead on this. I am very much looking forward to being at the Preakness. I think he will make us proud in the Preakness and show everyone what a great horse he is. This, too, shall pass.”

Zedan has owned horses since 2017 and started off with Doug O'Neill. He had little success until sending his horses to Baffert in 2020. In addition to Medina Spirit, Baffert and Zedan teamed up to win the 2020 GI Del Mar Debutante and GI Chandelier S. with Princess Noor (Not This Time).

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Stronach Group ‘Reviewing Relevant Facts’ Related To Medina Spirit Positive, Colt’s Preakness Entry

In the wake of an announcement by trainer Bob Baffert that Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit has had a post-race positive test for betamethasone, 1/ST Racing and the Maryland Jockey Club released the following statement regarding the status of the horse's entry in Saturday's Preakness.

Churchill Downs Inc. announced earlier in the day that it was immediately suspending Baffert's ability to enter horses at the Louisville, Ky. facility.

Read more about Baffert's announcement regarding Medina Spirit here.

“Integrity in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing is the ultimate priority for 1/ST RACING and the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC). 1/ST RACING has been an industry leader instituting processes and protocols that have led to nationwide medication reform and increased accountability. We are committed to achieving the highest level of horse care and safety standards, and we have a proven track record of pushing those standards forward.

“1/ST RACING and MJC intend to review the relevant facts and information relating to the reported medication positive as a result of the post-race blood sample testing completed by Churchill Downs following the 147^th Kentucky Derby involving Medina Spirit trained by Bob Baffert. We are consulting with the Maryland Racing Commission and any decision regarding the entry of Medina Spirit in the 146^thPreakness Stakes will be made after review of the facts.”

The post Stronach Group ‘Reviewing Relevant Facts’ Related To Medina Spirit Positive, Colt’s Preakness Entry appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Gun Runner Gets First Winner at Churchill

Well-bred Red Run (Gun Runner) ran to 3-5 backing Sunday in the Churchill Downs slop to become the first winner for his freshman sire (by Candy Ride {Arg}). Sporting the same Winchell silks that near $16-million earner and fellow Steve Asmussen pupil Gun Runner did, the chestnut broke in midpack and was ridden along to track from third as second timer Trebbiano (Connect) showed the way. One of several pursuers revving up behind the pacesetter heading for home, Red Run mounted his three-wide bid in upper stretch and outkicked a stubborn Trebbiano late to prevail by 1 3/4 lengths in :59.22. A very green Woodline (Gun Runner) rounded out the trifecta.

Red Run is the first foal out of an unraced full-sister to his connections' champion 3-year-old filly and GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Untapable (Tapit), as well as GISW Paddy O'Prado (El Prado {Ire}). Dam Red House produced another Gun Runner colt last March and was bred back to Copper Bullet for 2021.

Gun Runner, the 2017 Horse of the Year who stands at Three Chimneys–which co-campaigned him–was the leading first-crop sire by yearling average last year at $246,413. He has also led freshmen with more than one sold by 2-year-old sales average this term ($372,000), including a $1.7-million colt at Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream and an $850,000 colt at OBS April.

3rd-Churchill Downs, $99,058, Msw, 5-9, 2yo, 5f, :59.22, sy, 1 3/4 lengths.
RED RUN (c, 2, Gun Runner–Red House, by Tapit) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $57,488. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O/B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.

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