October, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Essential Quality Finishes No. 1 In Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings

Benefiting from Grade 1 victories in the Belmont Stakes and the Runhappy Travers Stakes, Godolphin's 3-year-old Essential Quality has finished No. 1 in the final voting of the 2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, a weekly poll of the top 10 horses in contention for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). This year's Longines Breeders' Cup Classic will be run at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 6 as the final race of the 38^th Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Trained by Brad Cox, Essential Quality earned 290 votes, and finished four votes ahead of stablemate Knicks Go, who had 286 votes in second place. Last year's TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) winner and Champion 2-Year-old Male, Essential Quality has won five of six starts this year, with his only defeat being a fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Korea Racing Authority's 5-year-old Knicks Go had been in first place in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings until Essential Quality overtook him two weeks ago.

Also trained by Cox, Knicks Go has won four races in 2020, including the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park and the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga in August, in which he earned an automatic starting position into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. Knicks Go won his final prep for the Classic on Oct. 2 when he registered a 4-length victory in the Lukas Classic (G3) at Churchill Downs. In addition to Essential Quality, two other 3-year-olds finished in the top four.

Roadrunner Racing, William Strauss, Boat Racing and Gainesway Stable's Hot Rod Charlie finished in third place with 269 votes. Trained by Doug O'Neill, Hot Rod Charlie won the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) on Sept. 25 in his most recent race.

Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit, who won Santa Anita's Awesome Again (G1) on Oct. 2, accumulated 189 votes to finish in fourth place.

Godolphin's 4-year-old Maxfield finished in fifth place with 168 votes. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Maxfield earned an automatic starting position in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic when he captured the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs in June.

George E. Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds Corp's Max Player, who won two Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races in the Longines Classic Division this year, finished in sixth place with 150 votes. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Max Player was victorious in the Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park in July, and followed up that score with a triumph in The Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga on Sept. 4.

Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector finished in seventh place with 142 points for trainer Bill Mott. Art Collector was a frontrunning winner of the Woodward Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park on Oct. 2 in his final tune-up for the Classic.

Prince A A Faisal's 4-year-old Mishriff (IRE) finished in eighth place with 67 votes. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Mishriff gained an invitation to the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic when he won the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York Racecourse in England on Aug. 18.

The John Sadler-trained Tripoli finished in ninth place with 50 votes. Owned by Hronis Racing, Tripoli secured a free berth in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic when he won the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar in August.

St. Elias Stable's Dr Post rounded out the top 10 with 38 votes. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the 4-year-old Dr Post finished third in the Woodward Stakes.

FINAL Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings – Oct. 12, 2021*

Rank	Horse	Votes	First-Place Votes	Previous Week
1	Essential Quality	290	14	1
2	Knicks Go	286	12	2
3	Hot Rod Charlie	234	1	3
4	Medina Spirit	189	1	4
5	Maxfield	168	1	5
6	Max Player	150	0	6
7	Art Collector	142	1	6
8	Mishriff (IRE)	67	2	9
9	Tripoli	50	0	10
10	Dr Post	38	0	10

*Note – The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

The 2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be run at 1 ¼ miles on the main track, is limited to 14 starters. The race will be broadcast live on NBC.

The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings were determined by a panel of leading Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers, and members of the Breeders' Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. A list of voting members can be found here.

In the Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.

The post Essential Quality Finishes No. 1 In Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Claiborne Acquires Breeding Rights to Met Mile Winner Silver State

Claiborne Farm has acquired the breeding rights to multiple graded stakes winner Silver State (Hard Spun–Supreme, by Empire Maker). He will stand at the Paris, Ky., farm upon his retirement from racing.

The 4-year-old son of Hard Spun has won seven of 13 career starts, hitting the board in 12 of those starts, and has made over $1.9 million. In 2021 alone, he is 4-1-1 from six starts and has made over $1.6 million.

“We are very excited to stand Silver State in 2022,” said Claiborne's Walker Hancock. “Danzig is one of the legends of Claiborne, and we anticipate his legacy continuing through his grandson, Silver State.”

Silver State is being pointed toward this year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar Nov. 6, after earning a “Win and You're In” berth by winning the GI Metropolitan H. this June. In the stallion-making Met Mile, he defeated three Grade I winners, including Knicks Go (Paynter), a four-time Grade I winner who has captured the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S.

The highlight of his career thus far is a six-race winning streak spanning 2020 and 2021, which included wins in the listed Fifth Season S. and Essex S. at Oaklawn Park, the GII Oaklawn H. and culminating in his signature Met Mile triumph at Belmont.

“He's a tremendous physical,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “Everyone that's been around this horse is struck by his presence. He really must be seen to be believed.”

Ron Winchell of Winchell Thoroughbreds, who co-owns Silver State with Willis Horton Racing, added, “For any horse to win six races in a row, especially when those victories included races as well-regarded as the Oaklawn H. and Met Mile, is pretty incredible and puts him in a special category. Looking ahead to his stud career, we couldn't be more excited about Silver State finding a home at Claiborne. We're looking forward to supporting him with our mares and can't wait to see his offspring.”

A product of the vaunted Stonestreet Farm breeding program, Silver State is out of the Grade III-placed stakes-winning Empire Maker mare Supreme, and he hails from the family of GI Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos. He sold for $450,000 as a yearling at the 2018 Keeneland September sale.

An advertised stud fee will be announced at a later date.

The post Claiborne Acquires Breeding Rights to Met Mile Winner Silver State appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Dubawi’s Eldar Eldarov A New Rising Star at Nottingham

KHK Racing's 2.7-million guineas October Book 1 purchase Akhu Najla (GB) (Kingman {GB}) ran second for Roger Varian in his Leicester unveiling Tuesday and the partnership was back in action with £480,000 Arqana@Doncaster Breeze-Up graduate Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who powered to 'TDN Rising Stardom' in the second division of Wednesday's British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden S. at Nottingham. The 13-8 favourite tanked forward from a slot in rear to track the leaders in fourth after the initial exchanges of this debut and crept closer once into the home straight. Looming large on the bridle soon after passing the three-furlong marker, he assumed control approaching the two pole and stretched clear in impressive fashion to easily account for Janoobi (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) by a geared-down five lengths.

Eldar Eldarov is the third of five foals and second scorer out of Listed Prix de Liancourt, Listed Prix Zarkava and Listed Prix de la Pepiniere winner All At Sea (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). He is a half-brother to Listed Rothesay S. third A La Voile (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), a yearling colt by Roaring Lion and a weanling filly by Study of Man (Ire). All At Sea is one of five black-type performers produced by G1 Deutschlandpreis, G1 Rheinland-Pokal and G1 Preis von Europa victrix Albanova (GB) (Alzao), herself a full-sister to dual G1 Champion S. heroine Alborada (GB). The February-foaled bay shares his second dam with last month's G1 Preis von Europa winner Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

2nd-Nottingham, £7,000, Mdn, 10-13, 2yo, 8f 75yT, 1:47.87, g/s.
ELDAR ELDAROV (GB), c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: All At Sea (GB) (MSW-Fr, $133,622), by Sea the Stars (Ire)
2nd Dam: Albanova (GB), by Alzao
3rd Dam: Alouette (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
(£110,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR; £480,000 2yo '21 ARQDEA). 1ST-TIME STARTER. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $5,137. O-KHK Racing Ltd; B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Roger Varian. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Dubawi’s Eldar Eldarov A New Rising Star at Nottingham appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Research Update: Cellular Mechanisms Of Laminitis

An international group of researchers recently proposed a theory to explain the cellular pathways involved in the development of laminitis, including the role of apoptosis, a normal process of self-destruction that helps eliminate damaged, superfluous, or unwanted cells. Unfortunately, their data showed that apoptosis did not influence the development of laminitis. Had their hypothesis held, however, targeted treatments for laminitis may have followed.

Laminitis is the painful separation of the lamellar layers of the hoof, which often results in profound lameness, prolonged and expensive supportive care, and possible euthanasia. Despite extensive research in this field, many of the underlying mechanisms associated with the development of laminitis remain unclear.

[Story Continues Below]

The abovementioned theory proposed that sepsis-related laminitis, such as that induced by carbohydrate overload and black walnut exposure, involves apoptosis of cells that bind the lamellar layers of the hoof. The integrity of those cells helps suspend the third coffin bone inside the hoof. Researchers suggested that apoptosis occurs early in the disease process, even before signs of lameness manifest. Specifically, they proposed that exaggerated inflammation occurring with the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream could serve as a source of free radicals, which are known to induce apoptosis.

To test their theory, the researchers used hoof samples from horses subjected to carbohydrate overload or exposed to black walnut extract. Both models induce lamellar inflammation and sepsis. “When the researchers counted inflammatory and apoptotic cells microscopically, no increase in apoptosis was observed during either the development phase of laminitis or at the time of lameness onset,” relayed Whitehouse.

Though disappointing, these results sent researchers back to the drawing board in search of other mechanisms that contribute to the development of laminitis.

Meanwhile, horse owners must continue to employ management and nutritional strategies that keep horses safe from the ravages of laminitis. “In addition to avoiding management triggers, ensure horses have adequate nutrients to support the well-being of all body systems, including the integumentary system, which includes skin, hair, and hooves,” explained Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a nutrition advisor for Kentucky Equine Research.

“To dodge potential nutrient shortages, all horses should receive a fortified feed suitable for their energy needs,” she said. This feed may come in the form of a traditional textured or pelleted concentrate or it may come as a balancer pellet, which is often useful for horses that can maintain their weight on forages alone.

Horses with compromised hooves may require additional support in the form of a high-quality hoof supplement. “A comprehensive hoof supplement provides more than just biotin to foster hoof growth and integrity. In addition to diet, routine management such as trimming or shoeing plays a vital role in maintaining and achieving hoof health that will also serve the horse well in the face of a laminitis episode,” Whitehouse explained.

Chronic inflammatory conditions, like laminitis, often respond to supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA and EPA. The omega-3s found in certain marine-derived products, like EO-3, are more available to horses than those found in plant-based sources.

^*Catunda, A.P.N., G.E.S. Alves, F.O.P. Leme, A.M. Carvalho, B.S. Leise, P.J. Johnson, and R.R. Faleiros. 2021. Apoptosis in epithelial cells and its correlation with leukocyte accumulation in lamellar tissue from horses subjected to experimental sepsis-associate

Reprinted courtesy of Kentucky Equine Research. Visit ker.com for the latest in equine nutrition and management, and subscribe to Equinews to receive these articles directly.

The post Research Update: Cellular Mechanisms Of Laminitis appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post