September, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Transfer of Claimed Horse in NY Results in Penalties for Potts, Chichakly

The claim and subsequent transfer of a horse within the prohibited 30-day time frame mandated by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) has resulted in a 30-day suspension and $2,000 fine for trainer Wayne Potts and a $2,000 fine without suspension for trainer Amira Chichakly.

DRF.com's Dave Grening first reported the story Monday. His story quoted Potts as explaining that he had ownership clients wanting to claim a horse out of the second race at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 4, but that Potts told them he couldn't because he had already made a commitment to another owner who wanted to claim a different horse out of the same race.

Since a trainer is only allowed to make one claim per race in New York, Potts said he gave the clients Chichakly's contact information. According to the DRF story, Chichakly agreed to try and make the claim and was able to buy Mach One by dropping a $20,000 slip for owners Frank Catapano and Nicholas Primpas.

Three days later, that horse was transferred from Chichakly to Potts. Potts told DRF there had been an owners' misunderstanding about not being able to transfer a claimed horse within 30 days. Chichakly said in the same story “she was unaware that she was claiming the horse with the idea it was going to be moved to another trainer.”

Chichakly has appealed the fine and has been granted a stay until the matter is fully adjudicated.

According to the NYSGC ruling, Potts waived his right to appeal, and in exchange, 10 days of his suspension will be stayed providing he has no violations of the same “restricted transfer” rule within the next year. His 20-day banishment runs Sept. 30 through Oct. 19.

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Post Position Leads Baffert To Scratch Medina Spirit From Pennsylvania Derby

Medina Spirit has been withdrawn from Saturday's Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing, owing to his outside post position, trainer Bob Baffert told the Albany Times Union's Tim Wilkin on Tuesday.

The son of Protonico drew the ninth post in a 10-horse field.

Baffert will also scratch Grade 3 winner Private Mission from the G1 Cotillion Stakes on the same card, and point her toward the G2 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Oct. 3.

“I don't like to put them on a plane unless I feel real good about it,” Baffert told Wilkin. “Medina looks good, I just don't like the way the race was setting up. I feel part of my success is knowing when to run and doing what's right for the horse.”

The Pennsylvania Derby would have been Medina Spirit's second race back from a summer layoff, following a win in the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 29. Prior to his three-month break, Medina Spirit won the Kentucky Derby from the #8 post, then finished third in the Preakness Stakes.

Baffert said Medina Spirit would be redirected to face older competition in the G1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 2. If he performs well in the prep race, he will be pointed toward the Breeders' Cup.

Medina Spirit was installed as the 2-to-1 morning line favorite for the Pennsylvania Derby. In his absence, favoritism will likely fall on Hot Rod Charlie, a multiple classic-placed Grade 2 winner who most recently finished first in the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park, but was disqualified to last for his role in unseating the rider from Midnight Bourbon, who he will face again on Saturday at Parx.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is not going to ship Medina Spirit to @parxracing for Pennsylvania Derby. “I don't like the way he drew,” Baffert said about the No. 9 post

— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) September 21, 2021

Baffert also said Private Mission, who was going to run in the Cotillion at @parxracing, is also staying in California

— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) September 21, 2021

Baffert said Medina Spirit will be pointed to the Grade I, $300,000 Awesome Again at Santa Anita on Oct. 2 Private Mission to the Grade III, $200,000 Zenyatta on Oct. 3. “If they run well, they will go the Breeders' Cup,” Baffert said.

— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) September 21, 2021

Bob Baffert on pulling Medina Spirit from Pa Derby: “I don't like to put them on a plane unless I feel real good about it. Medina looks good, I just don't like the way the race was setting up. I feel part of my success is knowing when to run and doing what's right for the horse.”

— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) September 21, 2021

The post Post Position Leads Baffert To Scratch Medina Spirit From Pennsylvania Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Del Mar Boosts Fall Meet Overnight Purses 20%

Del Mar's eighth fall meeting–starting Wednesday, Nov. 3–will offer horsemen/women a 20% blended raise in overnight purses compared to last year, as well as a continuation of the popular 'Ship & Win' program that has amplified field size and year-round horse population at the track and in the state, Del Mar announced Tuesday.

The 15-day stand, which will run through Sunday, Nov. 28, includes the 38th edition of the Breeders' Cup World Championships Friday, Nov. 5 and Saturday, Nov. 6.

“Our summer meet was extraordinary on all fronts,” said track vice president and racing secretary David Jerkens. “Our racing was just about the best we've ever seen here and our 'Ship & Win' program continues to give Del Mar–and California racing–a tremendous boost.”

Among the all-inclusive increases in purse values during the upcoming four-week session will be the following:

Maiden Special Weight races jump from $57,000 to $70,000.
First-level allowance races rise from $59,000 to $72,000.
$16,000 claimers will now race for $30,000 instead of $26,000.

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Injury Flare-Up For St Mark’s Basilica

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has “backed off” five-time Group 1 winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) after the 3-year-old once again exhibited soreness in the area of a minor injury he sustained this summer.

St Mark's Basilica missed the G1 Juddmonte International at York last month after a cut on a hind leg caused by a thrown shoe became infected, and although the dual French Classic and G1 Eclipse S. winner returned to win the G1 Irish Champion S. 10 days ago, he has since been sore in the area of the old wound.

Of St Mark's Basilica's future, O'Brien said, “There's no decision yet–he's not back in full work yet. He did start back with some canters, but he was a little bit sore on that wound that he had. Because of that, we've just backed off him again and we haven't made any decisions. That's where we are at the moment.”

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