Month: February 2022

Full to Air Force Blue Breaks Maiden and Track Record

4th-Gulfstream, $53,000, Msw, 2-13, 3yo, f, 1m 70y (AWT) (off turf), 1:45.10, ft, head.

AMERICAN HEROINE (f, 3, War Front–Chatham {MSP, $156,431}, by Maria's Mon) debuted on the turf at this venue Jan. 2 without Lasix, producing a closing kick which carried her five wide into the lane but also to third place within a length of winning. With this race coming off the turf, she broke well and secured a forward position as the 8-5 chalk. The $1.05 million KEESEP score glued herself to the early lead from second on the outside until the far turn, where she tugged her way to the front. Leading a cavalry charge home, Tyler Gaffalione kept his filly's mind on running and despite a huge closing move from Mitigation (Into Mischief), American Heroine had just enough left to hold on by a head in a photo finish. The final time of 1:45.10 is a new track record on the all-weather.

One of six full-siblings, including Air Force Blue, Hwt. Colt-Ire, Hwt. Colt-Eur, MG1SW-Ire, G1SW-Eng, $844,919, the victress is her dam's sixth overall winner from nine to start. Chatham's offspring have always brought interest at Keeneland September: Schon Meer (Arch) bringing $475,000 in 2011; Bugle (War Front) for $400,000; Air Force Blue hammering for $490,000 to M V Magnier; Soleil de Paris (Lemon Drop Kid) for $535,000; and the 2-year-old Sir Blue Eyes (War Front) going for a cool $1 million last year to Lynnhaven Racing. The dam was a shrewd $190,000 purchase by Arthur Hancock for Stone Farm in 2009 at Keeneland November and is expecting a foal this year by a perennial top-sire in Curlin. Sales history: $1,050,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $37,100. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

O-Stone Farm and Augustin Stable; B-Stone Farm (KY); T-Christophe Clement.

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Reylu Gutierrez To Regain Mount On Barber Road For Oaklawn’s Rebel

Reylu Gutierrez will ride Barber Road in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds  at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark., on Feb. 26, trainer John Ortiz said Saturday morning. The 1 1/16-mile Rebel is Oaklawn's third of four Kentucky Derby points races.

Gutierrez had ridden Barber Road in four of his first five career starts, including a runner-up finish in Oaklawn's first Kentucky Derby points race, the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at one mile Jan. 1. Eight-time Oaklawn riding champion Ricardo Santana rode Barber Road in his last start, the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) Jan. 29, because Gutierrez was at Gulfstream Park to ride Chess Chief in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1). Barber Road finished second in the Southwest, which was Oaklawn's second Kentucky Derby points race.

Although Gutierrez is based at Fair Grounds, he's already ridden six winners at the 2021-2022 Oaklawn meeting, including four for Ortiz in high end allowance or maiden special weights events.

“Reylu Gutierrez's got the mount back,” said Ortiz, who trains Barber Road for former Walmart executive William Simon (WSS Racing). “He is committed all the way through the Kentucky Derby. We really appreciate Ricardo's ride last time out, but we want to keep it loyal and committed to the owner. I think it's just better for the horse. Reylu's won with him twice.”

Barber Road returned to the work tab Feb. 8, covering five furlongs in 1:02.80. Barber Road breezed with stablemate Silent Disco.

“Just sat off the horse,” Ortiz said, describing Barber Road's work. “I think the other horse is doing pretty good right now and was more of a target. They both came home pretty strong and I was very happy to see Barber Road willing and strong and sharp as usual.”

Ortiz said Barber Road is scheduled to work five furlongs Tuesday morning and return with an easy half-mile leg “stretcher” Feb. 21, the day post positions are drawn for the Rebel. The Rebel will offer 85 points to the top four finishers (50-20-10-5, respectively) toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. Barber Road ranks 16th on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard – the race is limited to 20 starters – with eight points after collecting four in the Smarty Jones and Southwest, according to Churchill Downs.

In addition to Barber Road, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said he will “definitely have something” for the Rebel, a race he's won a record eight times. Baffert won the 1 1/16-mile Southwest with unbeaten Newgrange, who beat Barber Road by 1 ½ lengths. Newgrange returned to the work tab Saturday at Santa Anita, covering 3 furlongs in :37.60.

Other potential Rebel starters include Smarty Jones winner Dash Attack for trainer Kenny McPeek, Southwest third Ben Diesel for trainer Dallas Stewart and Chasing Time, a 7 ¾-length first-level allowance winner at 1 mile Jan. 14 for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

The Rebel is the final major local prep for the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles April 2.

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Sir Mark Todd Under Fire As Video Emerges

Dual Olympic gold medal-winning equestrian and licensed trainer Sir Mark Todd has become the subject of much criticism after a video showing him repeatedly striking a horse with a tree branch emerged on social media.

The video, from 2020, shows the New Zealand native striking a reluctant horse some 10 times when it baulked at a water crossing.

“I wholeheartedly apologise to the horse and all involved for my actions in this video clip,” Todd said in a statement.

“One of the main things I preach is about establishing a mutual respect between horse and rider, and that patience and kindness is the best way to get results.

“I believe this is one of the main attributes, along with a great empathy with animals, that has enabled me to have a long and successful career in eventing. I am very disappointed in myself that I did not adhere to that in this case.”

The British Horseracing Authority has been made aware of the video and released a statement of its own, saying: “The footage seen this weekend of Sir Mark Todd hitting a horse with a branch has rightly caused anger and upset within the equestrian community and beyond. His behaviour, for which he has apologised, fell a long way short of the standards of care we expect of licensed individuals and that we know is provided to the overwhelming majority of horses in training in Britain every day. The BHA is looking into the incident.”

Todd won Olympic gold in 1984 and 1988 and was knighted for services to equestrian sport in the 2013 New Year Honours.

 

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R Adios Jersey Disqualified From Charles Town Oaks For Flunixin Positive; Owners To Appeal

R Adios Jersey, who finished first by 3 1/4 lengths in the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks last Aug. 27 at Charles Town in West Virginia, has been disqualified from the win due to a positive test for the anti-inflammatory flunixin, also known by its brand name, Banamine. Flunixin is a Class 4 drug with a Category C penalty designation under Association of Racing Commissioners International guidelines.

The ruling was issued Feb. 10 following a Feb. 1 stewards hearing.

The Adios Charlie filly's owners, Averill Racing LLC and ATM Racing, will forfeit the first-place purse of $230,400 and be placed last. Trainer Georgina Baxter has been fined $1,000.

With the disqualification, Stonestreet Stables LLC's Pauline's Pearl will be elevated to the win, with Allworthy second, and Caramel Swirl third.

Anthony Mattera of ATM Racing said the ruling will be appealed.

According to the ruling, Industrial Laboratories reported the positive finding at a level of 1,121 ng/ml, well above the permissible limit of 5 ng/ml. A split sample requested by Baxter confirmed the presence of flunixin at a level of 985 ng/ml. DNA testing requested by Baxter matched the blood sample with the DNA on file for R Adios Jersey.

The ruling states that “the trainer admitted to the treatment of the horse 'R Adios Jersey' with flunixin or ketophen and thought the treatment was done within the withdrawal guidelines and dosing specifications … to avoid a positive.”

Mattera said the horse was “pre-raced” 48 hours before the Charles Town Oaks with ketophen, not flunixin. He added that R Adios Jersey was stabled in a barn with horses from a Charles Town trainer and that records showed that two horses in nearby stalls were treated with flunixin when R Adios Jersey was there.

Stewards listed several mitigating circumstances, one of which states that Baxter “has no violations in this class category in the last 365 days.” According to the MyFloridaLicense.com website, Baxter has had six complaints filed against her for Class 4 medication violations since August 2018, most recently on Nov. 5, 2020. Baxter received a 15-day suspension and $1,500 fine for a methocarbamol positive detected in Alabama Slammer after a maiden claiming victory at Gulfstream Park West Nov. 5, 2020.

R Adios Jersey has finished first in all six of her starts, most recently in the FTBOA City of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 11. The Charles Town Oaks was her only graded stakes start.

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