August, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Bolshoi Ballets Looks to Take Second Leg of Turf Trinity

GI Belmont Derby hero Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) looks to secure the second leg of NYRA's Turf Trinity Saturday in the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S. Capturing the G3 Ballysax S. in April, the Aidan O'Brien trainee followed suit with a dominant score in the G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial a month later. Well-beaten as the favorite in the G1 Cazoo Derby June 5, the Coolmore runner rallied to a good-looking score at Belmont July 10 under Ryan Moore, who returns Stateside for this event.

“It's a good opportunity for him,' said T J Comerford, traveling assistant to O'Brien. “He's doing well and came back here in good order. Aidan and the team are very happy with him at the moment. If he runs to his last race, he should be right there again.”

Charlie Appleby saddles another worth a hard look in Godolphin's Secret Protector (War Front). The $800,000 KEESEP buy won a Meydan allowance in February and was runner-up in both the Feilden S. Apr. 13 and Newmarket S. May 1. The bay enters off a third in the G3 Hampton Court S. June 17 at Royal Ascot.

Another strong European contender is Cadillac (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). Victorious in the G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile S. in September, the bay was fifth in the G1 Dewhurst S. in October and finished fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf S. Nov. 6. He enters off a victory in the G3 ARM Holding International S. June 26.

Leading the U.S. contingent is Natalie Baffert and Debbie Lanni's Du Jour (Temple City). The $280,000 OBSAPR purchase won a trio of grass races for Bob Baffert, including the GII American Turf S., and was transferred to Bill Mott for the Belmont Derby, where he finished fourth, after his previous trainer was temporarily banned from entries at NYRA. Baffert won an injunction to return to racing at NYRA, but the colt remains in Mott's care for this event.

Also worth a mention is GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. victor King Fury (Curlin), who tries turf for the first time here after finishing a close second in the GIII Ohio Derby last out June 26. The hulking chestnut was originally scheduled to run in last weekend's GII Jim Dandy S., but was forced to miss that event as his trainer Ken McPeek's barn was under quarantine. Without many options left to prep for the GI Runhappy Travers S., King Fury resurfaces in this test.

“We're really using this race as a prep for the Travers, which is something that Catholic Boy (More Than Ready) pulled off. So that will be interesting,” McPeek said. “I think he'll handle the grass just fine. He's a lovely horse. So hopefully, it's one step and a big one for him.”

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Champion Jockeys Featured in NY Chaplaincy Roundtable

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy (NYRTCA) will host a 2021 edition of a roundtable discussion featuring retired riders Ángel Cordero, Jr., Chris McCarron, Richard Migliore, and Jorge Velásquez on Wednesday, Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. ET. Entitled “Champions Talk,” the event will be moderated by retired NYRA announcer Tom Durkin and will be shown on TDN's YouTube channel, the NYRTCA's YouTube channel, and Facebook live @race.ny, as well as in other locations.

The conversation, which ranges from the serious to the humorous, will primarily be reflections about the riding careers of the four jockeys who collectively won more than 25,000 races. It was recorded at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga sales pavilion in late July with approximately 150 attendees. In addition, current rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. was honored for his support of the NY Chaplaincy.

“We are extremely grateful to everyone who attended, contributed, or participated in this unique event,” said Humberto Chavez, the NYRTCA executive director and lead chaplain. “They all helped raise much-needed funds that will improve the quality of life for our backstretch community.”

The discussion was produced by the Patty Wolfe Media Group. For more information or to make a contribution, visit www.rtcany.org or contact Eleanor Poppe at info@rtcany.org.

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Lukas and Romans to Meet for Public Talk at Ellis

Ellis Park will host “a conversation” between Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and Eclipse Award-winning trainer Dale Romans Saturday, Aug. 14. Called “D. Wayne and Dale: A Conversation,” the event will see the two charismatic personalities interview each other, tell stories, and take questions from the public. Third generation Henderson horseman John Hancock will introduce the pair.

“We wanted something special for the public as a prelude to Ellis Park Derby Day,” said Jeff Inman, Ellis Park's general manager. “Wayne is on the short list for the all-time great trainers, and we're fortunate that for the first time he's stabled with us this summer. We want our fans to get the chance to not just see him saddling a horse or in the winner's circle, but really up close and personal. The same is true with Dale.”

The conversation will take place at 11 a.m. CT in the Ellis Park beer garden pavilion. Admission is free. Commemorative postcards will be available for fans to get autographs, with donations accepted to benefit Second Stride.

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Lukas, Romans To Exchange Stories, Interview Each Other At Ellis Park

Tri-State horse-racing and sports enthusiasts can enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience watching legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas and Kentucky stalwart Dale Romans exchange stories, interview each other, and take questions from the public on Saturday Aug. 14 at Ellis Park.

“D. Wayne and Dale: A Conversation” is set for 11 a.m. Central in the Ellis Park beer-garden pavilion. The free event kicks off a big weekend at the track, with the RUNHAPPY Ellis Park Derby and four other stakes taking place Aug. 15.

The public and media members will have the opportunity to ask questions after Lukas and Romans' unscripted conversation. Commemorative postcards will be on hand for fans to get autographs, for which donations will be accepted to benefit Second Stride, a TAA-accredited aftercare facility that retrains and adopts out retired racehorses for second careers.

John Hancock, the third generation Henderson horseman alternately described as the Mayor or Godfather of the Ellis backstretch, will introduce Lukas and Romans.

Lukas is often called the most transformative trainer in horse racing's modern era, meshing a corporate-focused business approach with a tireless work ethic to the inexact science of training horses.

His first of four Kentucky Derby victories came in 1988 with Winning Colors, only the third filly to wear the roses. Lukas' 14 Triple Crown victories (including six Preaknesses and four Belmonts) were a record until Bob Baffert surpassed the mark. Lukas remains the only trainer to sweep the Triple Crown races in one year with two different horses. His 20 Breeders' Cup victories remain a record, as do his 25 individual horses voted Eclipse Award champions.

The Lukas “training tree” is the most comprehensive in American racing and includes his former assistant Todd Pletcher, who this year follows his mentor into the Hall of Fame. Lukas' former assistants' former assistants also are of note, headlined by Brad Cox, who worked for Lukas' one-time assistant Dallas Stewart, and Michael McCarthy, who worked for Pletcher.

The life-long Louisvillian Romans grew up not far from Churchill Downs and spent summers at Ellis Park with his dad, owner-trainer Jerry Romans. Diagnosed at an early age with severe dyslexia — Romans prefers the term “learns differently” — the fractional times of races helped him learn math and race charts and the Daily Racing Form helped him learn to read. Lynn Romans refused to let her son fall between the cracks, making a deal with him: “Just get through high school and be the best horse trainer you can be.” That led Romans to replacing Bill Mott, who held the record for 31 years, as Churchill Downs' all-time winningest trainer in 2017. Romans now is No. 2 behind record-setting trainer Steve Asmussen.

“These aren't just two of the best trainers in racing, but two of the best story-tellers,” said Marty Maline, executive director of the Kentucky HBPA. “With Wayne and Dale going one-on-one, there's no telling where this impromptu conversation will go.”

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