Robin Goodfellow’s racing tips: Best bets for Thursday, July 15
Sportsmail's racing expert Robin Goodfellow dishes out his tips for Thursday's meetings at Hamilton, Leicester, Chepstow, Worcester and Epsom Downs.
Month: July 2021
Half to Novellist Debuts at Leopardstown
Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a daughter of the late Galileo (Ire).
5:30 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, f, 8fT
MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) debuts for Zhang Yuesheng and Jessie Harrington and is a 305,000gns Book 1-bought half-sister to the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., G1 Grosser Preis von Baden and G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud hero and sire Novellist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}). She meets Ballydoyle's Madonnadelrosario (Ire) (Caravaggio), a half-sister to the G1 Prix Morny and G2 Coventry S.-winning sire The Wow Signal (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and to the G3 Naruo Kinen winner and G1 Takarazuka Kinen runner-up Unicorn Lion (Ire) (No Nay Never) who was fifth on debut here last month.
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Baffert Prevails In Suit Over NYRA Suspension
After hearing attorney arguments on July 12, a U.S. District judge has ruled in favor of trainer Bob Baffert's motion for a preliminary injunction against the New York Racing Association. Judge Carol Bagley Amon of the Eastern District of New York determined on July 14 that NYRA's suspension of Baffert should not have taken place without some sort of hearing allowing him to address the organization's accusations against him.
NYRA notified Baffert ahead of the Belmont Stakes that it was suspending his ability to enter horses in races or have stall space at its racetracks due to his recent history of medication violations, the conflicting statements he provided to media around the Media Spirit scandal, and Churchill Downs' suspension of the trainer.
Amon determined that the exclusion of Baffert from the Saratoga meet caused him significant harm, particularly as he was able to demonstrate several owners had withdrawn horses from his stable or planned to, based on the inability to start them in races there. She pointed out that the organization's suspension of Baffert had no time limit on it and was left open-ended with a final suspension length potentially coming some time after Aug. 11.
Although NYRA was asserting its private property rights in the case, Amon said the organization is closely entwined enough with the state that its suspension of Baffert constituted a state action, thereby requiring due process.
As to Baffert's history of recent drug violations in other states, Amon pointed out that NYRA has not taken similar actions against other trainers with similar records.
“…As uncontested data show, NYRA has permitted numerous trainers to race at NYRA this season who have medication violation histories comparable or more serious than Baffert's,” the ruling read. “These data belie NYRA's claim that integrity or safety demand the exclusion of someone with a violation record like Baffert's.”
Amon concluded that Baffert was entitled to notice and a pre-suspension hearing from NYRA or, in lieu of that, a prompt post-suspension hearing, although the organization did suggest it would allow the trainer to submit written arguments after informing him of the suspension.
“Numerous rules and regulations already safeguard the interests NYRA argues for here, and enjoining this suspension of Baffert will not prevent the continued enforcement of those rules,” Amon wrote. “The hardships that Baffert would suffer absent an injunction weigh heavily on the other side of the scale. The suspension is indefinite, and NYRA concedes at most that Baffert's claims might 'be decided within the year.' But the 2021 Saratoga meet is a one-time opportunity.
“…I am sensitive to NYRA's concerns about Baffert's involvement in the events surrounding Medina Spirit's Kentucky Derby performance, and the fear that history might repeat itself in New York. But for the reasons stated, the actual and substantial harm that Baffert will suffer absent an injunction outweighs the speculative harms that NYRA raises.”
Read the ruling here.
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Faith’s House Opens in Saratoga
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – With just minutes to spare before rain started falling Wednesday afternoon, the ceremonial ribbon cutting was completed to formally open Faith's House, the new child care center at Saratoga Race Course.
The 4,500-square foot building is located across Union Avenue from the track next to what was long known as the Jockey Y and more recently as the Backstretch Recreation Center. It is named for the late mother of Michael Dubb, the Long Island developer, Thoroughbred owner and driving force behind the project of the Belmont Child Care Association (BCCA). Dubb and his wife, Lee, underwrote the approximately $1-million cost of construction. Faith's House is open from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily during the Saratoga meet to care for the young children of backstretch workers, trainers and racetrack employees. The BCCA operates Anna House, which opened at Belmont Park in 2003.
Faith House, which accommodate 35 children, from infants to 5-year-olds, began operations on Sunday.
BCCA president Libby Imperio said that Faith's House provides more hours of daily child care than is available at Anna House.
“We did this in order to accommodate that the parents of all of our children work two jobs here at Saratoga Race Course, in the morning with the horses and in the afternoon, helping and serving the track people over at the clubhouse,” she said. “It is an amazing opportunity for them to provide extra care and money for their family. So we are here to provide for them and their children and their families.
“We are so happy to bring the most amazing working, proven system of child care and early education to Saratoga. Our program in Belmont has been incredibly successful. We expanded our program during the COVID and welcomed back our graduating students. So they were there all this year with their zooming into their classrooms, but with individual tutors at Belmont Child Care. They never fell behind during the school year. And we are incredibly proud of that. We're looking forward to bringing the same excellent care and education here to Saratoga.”
After introducing several state and local officials who make remarks praising the endeavor, Imperio said that it took 13 years to bring Faith's House from idea to completion. She called Dubb “the man of the hour” and praised him for his leadership.
“I appreciate the kind words, Libby, but this is not Mike Dubb,” he said. “This is this board. This is you. This is everybody who has supported the Belmont Child Care association for the last 20 years.”
Dubb said that the often unseen people who care for the horses that are at the center of the sport, need the resources that are being provided by the BCCA downstate and now at Saratoga.
“One thing we know, those of us who are familiar with the backstretch, is that the people who are out there are working incredibly long hours in incredibly difficult, cruel conditions,” he said. “And they're chasing the American dream just the way my mother Faith's father chased the American dream. Yes, I'm a guy. I have a hammer and nails, and I know how to build things. I'll take that, but that's me. This doesn't happen without the entire support of this great board. All of the people, the advisory board, the Saratoga committee, all of the people. It's just phenomenal.”
Imperio said during the ceremony that Faith House was a dream come true and Dubb repeated those words later.
“As a builder, I feel like I would be somewhat remiss if I didn't take advantage of my talents in construction,” he said. “I know there's a need for day care. I feel like I had the ability to organize it and get it done and fortunately to be involved in financing it. You know, I almost feel like it was my responsibility to deal with it.”
Dubb said he was a racing fan when he was introduced to the now-retired Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, who told him about a movement to build a day care center at Belmont Park.
“I met with people back then and organized the whole process and got the building built down there,” Dubb said. “It was only after I built the building that I started meeting other owners and trainers and I decided to dip my toe in the water in Thoroughbred ownership. And, as you can see, I don't do anything small.”
In the years since, Dubb has become one of the most successful Thoroughbred owners in the country.
Dubb said construction on Faith's House began in early 2020 with a goal of having it completed by the start of the Saratoga season in July. The COVID-19 restrictions delayed completion for a year, but Faith's House was ready for this 153rd season of racing in Saratoga Springs.
As he stood under cover by the front door out of the rain, Dubb said that the BCCA has been able to deliver difference-making services for the backstretch community.
“A lot of times we get the kids at infancy, literally six weeks,” he said. “And when they graduate in cap and gown, just like a building, we give them a great foundation. And when you have a great foundation, you can build a great future. And that's what we're all about.”
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