November, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Marc Holiday Appointed Interim Chair Of NYRA Board As Michael Del Guidice Retires

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced the retirement of Michael Del Giudice from the NYRA Board of Directors. The Executive Committee of the NYRA Board has appointed Marc Holliday to serve as interim chair in advance of a full meeting of the NYRA Board scheduled for December 16.

Michael Del Giudice joined the NYRA Board in 2003 and was appointed Chairman in 2017. From 2015 to 2017, he acted as Chairman of the NYRA Reorganization Board of Directors. During his tenure, NYRA returned to sound financial footing and improved the quality, safety, and integrity of its racing operations. Under the leadership of Mr. Del Giudice, NYRA completed a series of significant capital improvement projects to improve the fan experience and modernize racing, training and backstretch facilities at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.

Beginning in 2013, NYRA embarked on a multi-year campaign to upgrade residential facilities for the backstretch community at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. The level of investment, made to transform existing residential spaces and design and construct new buildings, was unprecedented in NYRA's history. The commitment of Mr. Del Giudice and the NYRA Board of Directors has allowed for the construction of new dormitories at Belmont Park and the renovation of more than 100 residential buildings at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.

Appointed to the NYRA Board in 2014, Marc Holliday has chaired the NYRA Equine Safety Committee since 2015. He is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SL Green Realty Corp (NYSE: SLG), which is New York City's largest owner of office properties. Holliday has served as the SLG CEO since 2004 and became Chairman of the Board in 2019. A graduate of Lehigh University, Mr. Holliday earned a master's in real estate development from Columbia University.

A prominent horse owner and breeder, Mr. Holliday founded Blue Devil Racing Stable in 2006. Most notable among a number of Blue Devil stakes winners is the homebred Come Dancing, who won the Grade 1 Ketel One Ballerina, Grade 2 Ruffian, Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap and Grade 3 Distaff Handicap in 2019 on the NYRA circuit. The popular mare added the Grade 2 Honorable Miss to her ledger last year and is now retired as a broodmare in-foal to Into Mischief.

The organizational structure of the NYRA Board of Directors was established in 2017 according to legislation enacted through the FY 2018 New York State budget, which returned majority control of NYRA back to the not-for-profit organization and dissolved the temporary NYRA Reorganization Board established by the New York State Legislature in 2012.

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Chateau Will Try To Regain Winning Form In Fall Highweight

Michael Dubb's Chateau will carry a co-field high 131 pounds in Sunday's Grade 3, $200,000 Fall Highweight, a six-furlong handicap for 3-year-olds and up at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The 108th renewal of the Fall Highweight, slated as Race 8, is one of three stakes on Sunday's card, along with the $150,000 Autumn Days at six furlongs on the outer turf for fillies and mares; and the $100,000 Tepin for 2-year-old fillies competing at 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf.

In total, the week's slate at the Big A will offer 10 stakes worth more than $1.7 million in purses. First post on Sunday's card is 11:50 a.m. Eastern.

Trained by Rob Atras, Chateau finished seventh last out in a Parx allowance sprint under returning rider Kendrick Carmouche on September 14. However, the 6-year-old Flat Out gelding boasts a tremendous record over the Big A main track with a ledger of 10-5-2-2 for purse earnings of $318,443.

“He likes to run around those turns. The turns are a little sharper at Aqueduct as opposed to Saratoga or Belmont and he really seems to relish the surface. It's the perfect distance for him,” Atras said.

Chateau has enjoyed a productive 2021 campaign, posting a record of 6-2-1-1 led by a score in the six-furlong Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap at the Big A in March. He followed that effort with a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap in April at Aqueduct and a runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Runhappy in May at Belmont.

Chateau worked a sharp half-mile in 47.88 seconds over the Belmont dirt training track on November 14.

“We usually don't breeze him too fast, but he was really strong that day,” Atras said. “We're hoping that's an indication that he's ready to run a big race.”

Carmouche retains the mount from post 1.

Sir Alfred James, trained and co-owned by Norman Cash with Lola Cash, will also carry 131 pounds. The multiple stakes-placed son of Munnings has flourished in his 5-year-old campaign, posting a record of 9-3-2-2 for purse earnings of $310,912.

Claimed for $62,5000 out of a winning effort in an optional-claiming sprint in September at Churchill Downs, Sir Alfred James followed with a fifth in the Grade 2 Phoenix in October at Keeneland ahead of a close third, defeated a neck to Necker Island, in the six-furlong Bet On Sunshine in November at Churchill.

Sir Alfred James enters from a head score over graded-stakes winner Long Range Toddy in a seven-furlong optional-claiming sprint on November 17 at Churchill.

John McKee retains the mount from post 6.

Stronach Stables' homebred Green Light Go will look to recapture the form of his spectacular juvenile campaign for trainer Jimmy Jerkens.

The now 4-year-old Hard Spun colt won 2-of-3 juvenile starts in 2019, including a win in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special ahead of a runner-up effort to Tiz the Law in the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont.

Green Light Go made just two sophomore starts, both at Gulfstream Park, finishing third in the Grade 3 Swale and second in the Roar. He was transferred to Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer for the first four starts of his current campaign, posting an optional-claiming win in April traveling 1 1/16-miles at Oaklawn Park. The colt made his most recent effort in the care of trainer Mike Doyle when sixth in the six-furlong Grade 3 Vigil on August 1 at Woodbine.

Green Light Go has posted five consecutive bullet breezes at Belmont in preparation for the Fall Highweight, including a three-furlong blowout in 36 flat Wednesday morning over the dirt training track. Green Light Go, who adds blinkers, will carry 129 pounds when exiting post 2 under Dylan Davis.

Rounding out the field are Smooth B [post 3, Manny Franco, 126 pounds], Hopeful Treasure [post 4, Mychel Sanchez, 128 pounds], Wendell Fong [post 5, Trevor McCarthy, 129 pounds], Rough Entry [post 7, Luis Saez, 128 pounds], and War Tocsin [post 8, Dexter Haddock, 127 pounds].

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Mutamakina, La Dragontea Meet Again In Long Island

Trainer Christophe Clement sends out a strong trio of contenders in defending winner Mutamakina, graded-stakes winner La Dragontea and graded-stakes placed Sorrel in Saturday's 64th running of Grade 3, $400,000 Long Island at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Clement, a three-time winner of the 12-furlong inner test for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, notched the exacta last year when Mutamakina slid up the rail and collared pacesetting stablemate Traipsing in the last strides to the wire.

En route to Saturday's engagement, Mutamakina captured a pair of graded stakes triumphs at Woodbine Racetrack in Canada going 10 furlongs.

Following a prominent score in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly on September 24 over firm ground, Mutamakina squared off against La Dragontea in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor on October 17 fending off a late confrontation from her stablemate to win by a neck.

Mutamakina has been training forwardly since her last victory according to Clement, logging a four-furlong move in 50.10 seconds Saturday over the Belmont turf.

“She's been training very well. I'm very happy with her,” Clement said. “She's a top-class mare. She's never trained so well than when she came back from Canada. Her last couple of works have been remarkable and I'm excited to run her back.”

Owned by Al Shira'aa Farms, Mutamakina is out of the Danehill mare Joshua's Princess whose second dam was 1995 European Horse of the Year and Breeders Cup Mile winner Ridgewood Pearl.

Dylan Davis is 3-for-3 aboard the 5-year-old Nathaniel bay mare, who will break from post 7.

Since finishing second to Mutamakina in the E.P. Taylor, La Dragontea was sold to Rosemont Stud at the Keeneland November Sale for $1,375,000 but has remained in Clement's barn. She is slated to shuttle to Australia next year.

“I'm delighted that she's back in the barn. She'll go to Australia for next year we'll try to do the best we can with her,” Clement said.

La Dragontea made up considerable ground in the E.P. Taylor, where she was last at the top of the stretch before weaving her way through traffic and coming up just shy of victory. Prior to her last start, the 4-year-old Lope de Vega dark bay filly shipped to Woodbine and displayed stalking tactics when capturing her first stakes win in the Grade 2 Canadian on September 18 over good going.

A two-time winner on the NYRA circuit this season, La Dragontea made her North American debut a winning one in a 1 ¼-mile Belmont allowance on May 7, leading through every point of call under little urging in the stretch drive. She was a troubled sixth in her next effort cutting back to 1 1/16 miles five weeks later at Belmont.

“She was very impressive in her debut in America winning her allowance at Belmont,” Clement said. “We were very unlucky the time after that getting boxed in. She's a very good filly and she never stops improving.”

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano will ride from post 4.

Rounding out Clement's contingent is Sorrel, who makes her first start since a troubled third to subsequent Grade 1 winner War Like Goddess in the Grade 3 Orchid on March 27 at Gulfstream Park.

Owned by George Strawbridge, Jr.'s Augustin Stable and James Wigan, the 4-year-old Dansili dark bay secured three straight victories for English conditioner Sir Michael Stoute overseas prior to transferring to Clement.

“She ran very well that day, she could have won with a better trip,” Clement said of her Orchid effort. “We gave her plenty of time and she's come back well.”

Breaking from post 8, Sorrel will be ridden by Manny Franco.

Trainer Chad Brown will send out Orglandes, who recaptured her winning form last out when taking the Zagora on November 7 at Belmont. The 5-year-old daughter of Le Havre ended 2020 on a winning note when making up a dozen lengths to win the Grade 3 Red Carpet last November at Del Mar.

Brown eyes his third Long Island score, having previously saddled Goldy Espony [2015] and Lady Paname [2018].

Eric Cancel will ride Orglandes from post 2.

Four-time Long Island winning trainer Graham Motion sends out Flaxman Holdings' Harajuku, who will seek redemption following a seventh-place finish in the Grade 2 Sands Point at nine furlongs on October 16. The effort was the first under Motion's tutelage for the daughter of Deep Impact, who previously raced in France for trainer Andre Fabre. She made her North American debut when third in the 11-furlong Jockey Club Oaks Invitational in September at Belmont.

“She just got run off her feet a bit,” Motion said of her last effort. “I had questioned shortening her up a bit and obviously the result wasn't what we were looking for. This distance is more of what she wants to do.”

Harajuku will leave from post 3 under Junior Alvarado.

Completing the competitive field is Summer In Saratoga [post 1, Luis Saez] – a last out winner of the Grade 3 Dowager at Keeneland, stakes-placed Candy Flower [post 5, Kendrick Carmouche], and multiple graded-stakes paced Luck Money [post 6, Trevor McCarthy].

The Long Island is slated as Race 9 on Saturday's 10-race program, which also features the $150,000 Discovery, the $150,000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship, and the $100,000 Central Park. First post is 11:50 a.m. Eastern.

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Rockemperor Tabbed As Morning-Line Favorite In Hollywood Turf Cup

Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables, Dubb, Kisber and Caruso's Rockemperor will go favored in Friday's headliner at Del Mar – the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup – a Grade 2 crucible for 3-year-olds and up that has attracted seven long-winded competitors and will be contested at a testing mile and one half on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

The marathon will be run for the 40th time (the first 32 editions were conducted at now-closed Hollywood Park) on the holiday weekend nine-race card as the 7th Race and will reward its winner with $150,000.

Rockemperor, an Irish 5-year-old horse by the Danehill sire Holy Roman Emperor, comes into the headliner off a troubled trip in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 6. The bay horse could only finish eighth of 14 that afternoon but he's been a steady sort throughout his career with 15 in-the-money placings in his 21 starts. He's currently sporting a bankroll that reads $954,404 and either a first- or second-place finish Friday would make him a racing millionaire.

Rockemperor is trained by eastern kingpin Chad Brown, who has been a regular participant in the fall turf stakes at Del Mar in recent years and the conditioner has nabbed the saddle services of Del Mar's leading rider, Flavien Prat, for the Friday journey.

Here's the complete lineup for the feature from the rail out with riders and morning line odds:

Amerman Racing's Award Winner (Juan Hernandez, 12-1)
William and Suzanne Warren, Jr.'s Friar's Road (Umberto Rispoli, 3-1)
Agave Racing Stable or Sam-Son Farm's Say the Word (Kent Desormeaux, 4-1)
John M.B. O'Connor's Astronaut (Victor Espinoza, 8-1)
Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable or Gary Barber's Cupid's Claws (Abel Cedillo, 12-1)
The Ellwood Johnston Trust, Timmy Time Racing, et al's Acclimate (Ricky Gonzalez, 4-1)
Rockemperor

Acclimate also ran in the BC Turf, but finished far back in the field. The 7-year-old gelding by California sire Acclamation is a seven-time winner of $633,872. He was beaten only a whisker in the mile and one-quarter John Henry Turf Cup at Santa Anita on October 2 in his race before his Breeders' Cup try. He's conditioned by Phil D'Amato.

Friar's Road was just a nose behind Acclimate in the John Henry in his most recent attempt. The 4-year-old Quality Road colt works out of the barn of trainer Mike McCarthy and appears to have found a home running long on the grass.

Say the Word, a 6-year-old gelding by More Than Ready, has purse earnings of $672,792. He was a fast-closing third in the Hollywood Turf Cup last year. D'Amato trains him, also.

Astronaut was victorious in the Del Mar Handicap at 11 furlongs on turf on August 21. The 4-year-old colt is by Quality Road and races out of the barn of conditioner John Shirreffs.

Last year's Hollywood Turf Cup was captured by Donegal Racing, Bulger and Coneway's Arklow, who set a stakes record of 2:26.31 in the process.

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