July, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Letruska Ascends To The Top Of NTRA Thoroughbred Poll

St. George Stable's 5-year-old mare Letruska has ascended to the No. 1 position in the latest NTRA National Thoroughbred Poll, ending the 14-week reign of Godolphin's 4-year-old Mystic Guide, who was defeated Saturday in Belmont's Grade 2 Suburban.

Letruska, trained by Fausto Gutierrez, has won four of five starts this year. She made a big name for herself when defeating last year's older dirt female champion Monomoy Girl in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park in April, and then swept the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park on June 5 and the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs by 5 ¾ lengths on June 26. A bay daughter of 2010 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, Letruska has 11 first-place votes and 302 points, moving up from second place last week.

Godolphin's 4-year-old Maxfied is now in second place with six first-place votes and 266 points. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Maxfield dominated the June 26 Grade 2 Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs with a powerful 3 ¼-length win to improve his overall record to seven wins in eight starts.

Fellow Godolphin runner Mystic Guide lost a hard-fought battle to Max Player by a neck in the Suburban over a sloppy track in his first start since winning the Dubai World Cup on March 27. Trained by Mike Stidham, Mystic Guide received nine first-place votes and 260 points while falling to third place in this week's poll.

Klaravich Stables' 4-year-old gelding Domestic Spending, the only turf horse in the top 10, rose from fifth to fourth place this week with seven first-place votes and 224 points. Trained by Chad Brown, Domestic Spending won the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes at Belmont on June 5.

Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's 4-year-old Silver State, unbeaten in four starts this year, dropped from fourth to fifth place. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Silver State, winner of the Grade 1 Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont on June 5, has one first-place vote and 222 points.

Godolphin's third star in the top 10 is the 3-year-old Essential Quality, winner of the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets. Trained by Brad Cox, Essential Quality is in sixth place with two first-place votes and 197 points.

Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go, also trained by Cox, turned in one of the top performances of the year last Friday evening when he won the Grade 3, 1 1/8-mile Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap by 10 ¼ lengths. Winner of the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park in January, Knicks Go (129 points) rose from ninth to seventh place.

The 4-year-old Gamine (83 points), last year's champion female sprinter, was another sparkling winner over the holiday weekend. Owned by Michael Lund Petersen and trained by Bob Baffert, Gamine captured Monday's Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos by 10 lengths, improving her record to three for three this year, and remaining in eighth place in the poll.

George E. Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds Corp's Max Player rose from 23rd to No. 9 following his determined win in the Suburban at 11-1. Trained by Asmussen, the 4-year-old Max Player (69 points) won his first race of the year in three starts.

Spendthrift Farm LLC and Madaket Stables' 6-year-old Monomoy Girl rounds out the top 10 with 58 points. A two-time winner of the Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff, Monomoy Girl, also trained by Cox, won this year's Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes at Oaklawn.

The NTRA Top Thoroughbred polls are the sport's most comprehensive surveys of experts. Every week eligible journalists and broadcasters cast votes for their top 10 horses, with points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. All horses that have raced in the U.S., are in training in the U.S., or are known to be pointing to a major event in the U.S. are eligible for the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll. Voting in the Top Thoroughbred Poll is scheduled to be conducted through Nov. 6.

The full results for the NTRA Thoroughbred Polls can be found on the NTRA website at: https://www.ntra.com/ntra-top-thoroughbred-poll-july-6-2021/

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Princess Grace Determined Off The Layoff In Dr. James Penny Memorial

Making her first start since winning the G2 Mrs. Revere Stakes at Churchill Downs in November of 2020, John and Susan Moore's homebred Princess Grace was a determined winner of Tuesday's Grade 3 Dr. James Penny Memorial Stakes at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Penn. The 4-year-old daughter of Karakontie, sent off as the even-money favorite, saved ground early then out-dueled Madita to the finish to win by a neck. Joe Bravo rode Princess Grace to victory for trainer Mike Stidham, completing 1 1/16 miles over the firm turf in 1:41 flat.

Longshot Glamorous Thunder grabbed the lead at the start and pulled away by two lengths through fractions of 23 1/5 seconds for the opening quarter and 47 3/5 seconds for the half. Platinum Paynter and Madita were steady in their pursuit, while Bravo held Princess Grace at the rail in fourth in the early going.

Rounding the far turn, Bravo steered Princess Grace around the tiring frontrunner before resuming her charge up the rail into the stretch. She hooked up with the duo of Platinum Paynter and Madita at the head of the lane. Madita and Princess Grace pulled away from Platinum Paynter by the eighth pole, and that pair dueled all the way to the line with Princess Grace pulling off the win by a neck in the final few strides. Madita had to settle for second, while Platinum Paynter checked in third. Amniarix was fourth.

Bred in Kentucky by her owners, Princess Grace is the first foal out of the multiple stakes-placed Silent Name mare Masquerade. She won on debut as a sophomore last year over Colonial Downs's turf course, then won an allowance next out on the turf at Monmouth Park. Princess Grace next ran second in the G3 Valley View at Keeneland on turf, before finishing out her 2020 campaign with the win over dirt in the off-the-turf edition of the G2 Mrs. Revere. Overall, the filly's record stands at four wins from five starts with earnings over $320,000.

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Rood & Riddle’s Hats Off Day Offers Free Admission To Kentucky Horse Park On July 31

Presented by Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, Hats Off Day on Saturday, July 31st celebrates the impact of the horse industry with a day of free admission to the Lexington-based Kentucky Horse Park. Now in its 18th year, Hats Off Day offers family-friendly activities which begin at 3:00 p.m. including horse and pony rides, interactive educational booths, and a Grand Prix show jumping competition. Free hats, provided by area horse farms and businesses will be distributed at the entrance, while supplies last!

Sponsored by Central Bank and other industry leaders, Hats Off Day is the only day of the year that admission to the Kentucky Horse Park is free, and serves as a fundraiser for the Kentucky Equine Adoption Center and the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation. More than $1.11 million has been raised for worthy organizations in Kentucky since the inaugural event in 2003.

“The Kentucky Horse Park provides our state with a beautiful backdrop to learn about Kentucky's signature industry,” said Dr. Tom Riddle, founder of Hats Off Day and co-founder of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. “Hats Off Day allows families to get up-close-and-personal with these majestic animals.”

Hats Off Day is delighted to welcome the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) back as a sponsor. KEEP has been a leader in promoting the horse industry including spearheading the movement this year supporting the preservation of historical horse racing in Kentucky.

Stadium activities on Hats Off Day begin at 6:45 p.m. with a demonstration by Long Run Woodford Hounds and the celebration of the Kentucky Horse Park's Mustang Troop. Additionally, the Rood & Riddle Comeback Award will be presented. This annual award honors an outstanding horse that has experienced a medical condition, was treated by Rood & Riddle veterinarians, and then returned to greatness. Previous winners include Thoroughbred two-time Horse of the Year, Wise Dan; Kentucky Derby winner and two-time Horse of the Year, California Chrome; show jumper, Cyklon 1083; Lexington mounted police horse, Yoder; and Saddlebred World Champion, Tempt Me. The theme of this year's event is “The Beauty of the Show Hunter,” a fitting tribute to the 2021 Rood & Riddle Comeback Award winner, Celtic Fire, a highly successful show hunter.

Beginning at 7:30 p.m., the featured entertainment of the event is the $50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix show jumping competition, a 25-year-old tradition that draws internationally known horses and riders.

Hats Off Day is one of the many ways Rood & Riddle supports Kentucky's equine industry. Through veterinary service, educational opportunities and seminars and community support, Rood & Riddle impacts the entire state with initiatives that strengthen the equine industry.

For more information on Hats Off Day, including the event schedule, visit the event's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/hatsoffday.

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Woodbine’s Jim Lawson To Be Inducted Into Burlington Sports Hall Of Fame

Woodbine Entertainment proudly congratulates Jim Lawson on his induction into the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2021.

Lawson is being inducted as an athlete and builder due to his immense contributions to hockey, football and horse racing, alongside Sean Foley (builder, golf), Carol Angela Orchard (builder, gymnastics), Dr. John Kendall (athlete/ builder, running), and Don Lovegrove (builder, media).

In addition to his current role as Chief Executive Officer for Woodbine Entertainment, Lawson has been heavily involved in sports his entire life as both an athlete and executive.

As a hockey player who grew up in Burlington, Ontario and graduated Aldershot High School, Lawson played 'AAA' midget hockey and was drafted by the Ottawa 67's before receiving a scholarship offer to play at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Lawson was then drafted by the National Hockey League's Montreal Canadiens and played for the Nova Scotia Voyageurs of the American Hockey League.

Following his playing career, Lawson began practicing law and quickly started his calling as a builder in Canadian sports. This eventually led to his appointment in 2013 as the first independent Chair of the Canadian Football League's Board of Governors, where he held the position for seven years and served as Interim Commissioner twice. In 2019, Lawson was awarded the CFL's prestigious Commissioner's Award which is presented to an individual who has demonstrated dedication and made a significant contribution to Canadian Football.

“Jim is a great example of someone who has become a better person and a great leader through the lessons he learned as a talented athlete,” said Bob Young, the long-time owner and caretaker of the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats. “In turn he has been able to make remarkable contributions through Canadian Football, the Horse racing industry, and a myriad of other projects that have made Burlington, Ontario, and Canada a better place. Thank you Jim.”

In 2012, Lawson was appointed as Chair of Woodbine Entertainment's Board of Directors, before being named CEO in 2015, a position he still holds today.

“If there is anybody who deserves this recognition, it's Jim. He's always been so gracious with his time, and an amazing contributor to both Canadian sport and the communities in which its played,” said John Fielding, who sat on Woodbine Entertainment's Board of Directors for 17 years. “The contributions he's made to the horse racing industry are unparalleled, he's just done an amazing job leading Woodbine and the sport of horse racing in Ontario.”

The Burlington Sports Hall of Fame Induction ceremony will be celebrated with a reception on Tuesday, October 26th at the Burlington Golf & Country Club. Tickets are $60 per person. For more information, please contact Wayne Heslop at wayne.heslop@cogeco.ca.

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