February, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Rosie Napravnik To Spearhead Feb. 12 ‘New Vocations Day at the Races’ At Fair Grounds

On Saturday, Feb. 12, retired jockey and horse advocate Rosie Napravnik will be on site at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots to spearhead the “New Vocations Day at the Races.” A four-time local riding champion who was instrumental in the opening of the New Vocations facility in Covington, La., Napravnik will join host Joe Kristufek on the live feed during the racing day to help build awareness, promote success stories and inspire donations for Thoroughbred aftercare.

“Before and after my riding career, I've been exposed to a lot of the other things that horses can do, and that's a big part of the reason why I'm so passionate about it and why it's so important to me,” Napravnik said in regards to Thoroughbred aftercare. “I have a lot of experience in the other disciplines and I've seen retired racehorses really excel. I got my first off-the-track Thoroughbred back in 2008 and watching him transform, his potential, his trainability, his eagerness to do something else and to learn new things and please really inspired me. After riding so many of those horses and seeing how much they put out for us on the racetrack, it's just something I can't avoid making a part of my life.”

Held for the first time at Fair Grounds one year ago, the “New Vocations Day at the Races” raised $8,198 in unique donations from fans and people within the industry, including horsemen, horse owners and jockeys.

“We are very excited about the success we had with our first New Vocations Day last year and have been looking forward to another addition,” Napravnik said. “Last year everybody jumped into action, making donations and encouraging others on social media to do so as well. We are very grateful for the HBPA and the horseman in Louisiana for supporting our efforts. Our program continues to expand, and we are excited to share our growth from the past year.”

Napravnik, who won 1,878 races in her ten-year career, retired in 2014 following her Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) win with Untapable. In 2012 she became the first female rider to capture the Kentucky Oaks (G1), guiding Believe You Can to victory, and she won the race again just two years later with Untapable. She is now married to trainer Joe Sharp and together they have two sons, Carson and Tucker.

“Rosie is one of our favorites,” said Fair Grounds senior director of racing Jason Boulet. “It's great to have her back at the Fair Grounds to help shed light on such an important cause and to share her valuable insight with the fans. We look forward to building on last year's success.”

Recognizing the need for expanded Thoroughbred aftercare in Louisiana, Napravnik reached out to New Vocations, the largest racehorse adoption program in the country, in the fall of 2019. With Napravnik taking on a leadership role under the umbrella of New Vocations, they received a start-up grant from the Right Horse and were off and running.

“That grant basically funded almost half of running the program for the first two years,” said New Vocations Thoroughbred program director Anna Ford. “That really helped us get on our feet. Then the Louisiana HBPA stepped in and they have really supported our efforts.”

Since opening their doors in 2019, the Louisiana division of New Vocations has served 140 horses, including 55 last year. There are currently 15 horses in the program.

“Moving into our third year, our Louisiana facility continues to thrive and our team has done a wonderful job with each horse that has entered the program,” Ford said. The continued support from Louisianan HBPA has played a huge role in the facility's success. We are also seeing more and more local owners, breeders and trainers reach out to utilize our services as well as support our efforts. We are grateful to have the Fair Grounds hosting another New Vocations Day at the Races. We hope the event will continue to raise awareness about our Louisiana facility and the services we provide to the racing community.”

On Saturday, February 12, Napravnik will join track announcer John G. Dooley on the pre-race “Fair Grounds Today” show and partner with simulcast host Joe Kristufek during the racing card to provide information on how to donate a horse, how to adopt a horse, and how fans can contribute to the cause. She will also share adoption success stories, which will be supported by video of retired racehorses thriving in their second careers.

“I want to help make sure that horses have the opportunity to do something after racing because they really deserve it,” Napravnik said. “They have so much life ahead of them when their racing career is over. I can't ignore that, especially in a place like Louisiana that has such a high demand for organizations to help bridge that gap.”

In addition to promoting Thoroughbred aftercare awareness, Napravnik will also offer her race-by-race selections via the “expert picks” videos on twinspires.com and the Twin Spires app, and on the simulcast feed.

“During my riding career, I never handicapped to pick the winner, I handicapped to make my horse the winner,” Napravnik said. “But there's a lot of insight I can give on how each of the riders could see the race unfolding and how it might play out from a pace and trip perspective. I truly enjoy being on the show and handicapping the races with Joe so it will be another fun and exciting day as we raise awareness and funds for aftercare in Louisiana!”

For those who would like to contribute a financial donation to the Louisiana chapter of New Vocations and support the Fair Grounds Day at the Races with Rosie Napravnik, visit https://horseadoption.org/donate and click the button with Rosie's picture on it in the top row.

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Ginger Brew Placegetters Rematch in Sweetest Chant

Ginger Brew S. placegetters Ocean Safari (Temple City) and Opalina (Optimizer) face off yet again in the GIII Sweetest Chant S. Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Owned by Soldi Stable and Ohana Racing, Ocean Safari looked home free in the stretch after coming in four wide, but was out-kicked late by Alittleloveandluck (Arrogate) to miss by a half- length in the Ginger Brew Jan. 1. She graduated at second asking in a local turf test in September and was third next out in an optional claimer on the synthetic in October.

Romping by 12 lengths to earn her diploma at third asking in a state-bred event over a yielding course here in September, Opalina rallied from well back to be fifth in Keeneland's GII Jessamine S. Oct. 13 and completed the trifecta in the Ginger Brew.

“She was kind of too anxious, a little too nervous in the receiving barn,” trainer Roderick Rodriguez said of the filly's last effort. “That was the first time she did that and I think that's what did her in. She was a little flat at the end, but she ran OK. The main thing is, she came out of it good and is doing very good. I think she'll be fitter this time.”

Ambitieuse (Medaglia d'Oro) closed well to be third first-out Nov. 19 on a firm Aqueduct turf course. Graduating on Gulfstream Park's all-weather track Dec. 29 at 8 1/2 furlongs, the Graham Motion trainee will make her 2022 bow in this first stakes try.

“She's a horse that we've always liked. We wanted to get her going earlier than we did, but she broke her jaw and it took time to get over that. It was a freak thing, and she's perfect now,” Motion said. “I thought her first race was good and then she ran another good race on the Tapeta to break her maiden. She's had a bit of time since then and we're excited to get her going.”

Breaking from the rail, Nostalgic (Medaglia d'Oro) stormed home to a 7 3/4-length graduation in her career bow on the dirt at Belmont Oct. 22 and was last seen finishing fourth in the GII Demoiselle S. Dec. 4 on the main track at Aqueduct. Trained by Bill Mott, who won last year's Sweetest Chant, the Godolphin homebred will be making her first start on turf in this contest.

The post Ginger Brew Placegetters Rematch in Sweetest Chant appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Tiz the Bomb Running For Churchill’s Backside Learning Center

Owner Brook Smith admits that his wager–a $10,000 Derby Future Wager bet on Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb) at 10-1–was not the smartest bet he's ever made. But that's not the point. The bet was meant to raise awareness for the Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs and, who knows, perhaps make over $100,000 for an organization that is meeting the many needs of the track's backstretch workers.

Smith, who operates the Rocket Ship Racing, LLC, stable, has been a longtime supporter of the backstretch center and helped spearhead the “Purses For a Purpose” program in which owners donate a percentage of their earnings to the Churchill facility. But he wanted to do more. Inspired by Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, who is known for his charitable nature and for making large bets on races and sporting events, Smith made the $10,000 bet on Tiz the Bomb, who races Saturday at Gulfstream in the GIII Holy Bull S., in the second round of the Derby Future Wager. Should he win the GI Kentucky Derby, the payoff will be $114,000, all of which Smith will donate to the Backside Learning Center.

“We as Thoroughbred owners are in unique spot,” Smith said. “We need to do everything we can to support the industry and support those that are there in the trenches. That's what is beautiful about racing. Yes, it's nice to win big races once in a while, but it's also going out to the track in the mornings and seeing the dedication and care from these people. It's not an easy life to live on the backside and have young families on the backside. The Backside Learning Center covers a lot of bases for those folks in that community. I was shocked when I heard how small their annual budget was. They are scratching quarters together.”

The Backside Learning Center is just one of several initiatives Smith supports, among them programs that work to better the lives of those living in Appalachia.

The seeds for the bet were planted when McIngvale bet $10,000 on Smile Happy (Runhappy) in the first round of the Derby Future Wager at 8-1. McIngvale chose Smile Happy because he is by Runhappy, who he owned and promotes relentlessly.

Smith does not own any part of Tiz the Bomb, but the colt came onto his radar when he bought Tiz the Bomb's half-sister, Bel Rosso (Free Drop Billy), for $180,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings sale.

“We generally don't spend that kind of money,” he said. “We usually spend in the $100,000 range. But she was just so impressive coming into the ring.”

The more of Tiz the Bomb he saw the more he liked. After winning the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile and the GII Bourbon S., he was a fast-closing second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

“I do like the horse as a a handicapper, though I won't call myself a handicapper,” he said. “The second-place finish in the Juvenile Turf and the move the horse made was just crazy impressive. I believe he is special. If he takes to the dirt like I think he is going to, I think we'll be talking about him being one of the Derby favorites after Saturday.”

Like McIngvale, Smith is a bit of a character. His graying hair flows down his back and his inner circle includes celebrities like Emeril Lagasse. He figures if McIngvale can be called “Mattress Mack” he can be called “Bourbon Brook.” He is a part-owner of two bourbon distilleries, Castle & Key Distillery and Barrell Craft Spirits.

“I'm not going to say that I'm Mattress Mack, but I thought 'why let him have all the fun?'” he said.

He has never met McIngvale but says he “wouldn't mind stirring it up” with him.

“If he's back at the betting windows I'll be back at the betting windows too,” he said. “This will not be the last bet like this that I make.”

He'll have a better idea after the Holy Bull if he made a good bet or not.

“The reality is, with any of these horses in the future bets, they all should be 50-1 because one bad step and it's over,” Smith said. “It may seem foolish to bet the kind of money I did on a future wager but I hope it can raise awareness for the Backside Learning Center. And they could wind up getting a lot of money out of this. It is all for a good cause.”

The post Tiz the Bomb Running For Churchill’s Backside Learning Center appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Hot Rod Charlie Makes Flying Start To Dubai Campaign

In bringing their star colt to Dubai in mid-January, to prep over the track for the $12million Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup, the team behind Hot Rod Charlie was following a tried and tested route.

Curlin, successful in 2008, and California Chrome in 2016, both arrived from the US and took in local preps before winning the big one. Now, Doug O'Neill's Hot Rod Charlie has taken the first step along the same road, winning Group 2 Maktoum Challenge Round 2 [Presented by Longines Record], over 1 3/16 miles, 100 meters short of the (1 1/4-mile) World Cup trip.

He didn't have it easy, however. Ridden by William Buick, deputizing for Flavien Prat, the son of Oxbow broke well from his post in three and made the lead, but was pushed all the way by Al Nefud, ridden by Ryan Moore. Turning for home, there was a brief moment when that rival threatened, but when asked for his effort, Hot Rod Charlie responded in spades. He eventually crossed the line, ears pricked, 5 1/4 lengths clear of Al Nefud, who made a fine Group race debut for trainer Bhupat Seemar.

“Doug and his team said he's a very versatile horse,” Buick said of Hot Rod Charlie. “He can run a mile, a mile and a quarter. He's got enough pace for a mile and he can be on the pace. He's a real joy to ride and he's a very intelligent horse. He really responds to the message you give him.

“From where we were drawn in three I thought we would be on the pace and if something wanted to go crazy then we'd let them go. But it was smooth – he ran hard and I was very happy with what he did. He's adapted very well to coming over here and obviously, the team had him in great shape.

“I was confident that he would respond for me but obviously when Al Nefud put the pressure on we turned it on. In these good dirt races you never get them handed to you that's why you need a good horse like this.”

With part-owners Patrick O'Neill and Bill Strauss in Dubai to cheer on Hot Rod Charlie, trainer O'Neill was relieved to get the first part of the job done.

“It's been such a great journey; let's hope there are more chapters to come,” said the dual Kentucky Derby-winning handler. “We took a little different approach with him; we didn't train him too hard going into this. However, we knew we had plenty of time to get him ready for the Dubai World Cup.

“He's a horse who is just loaded with class. It was a strong field tonight, but William rode him with a ton of class and a ton of confidence.

“He wasn't really expecting to go to the front but he said he [Hot Rod Charlie] 'just pulled me there and he was comfortable doing it. The pace wasn't overly hot and he kicked on when he needed to.

“Next stop; the end of March, for sure.”

Hot Rod Charlie's win was the second of the night for O'Neill, who allayed some nerves thanks to the success of Get Back Goldie in the six-furlong Oud Metha Stakes [Presented by Longines Master Collection], on dirt.

Also ridden by Buick, the homebred son of Goldencents came with a late run from the back of the field in the 3-year-old contest, denying Little Afrodite, who looked booked for first place under Ray Dawson.

“All credit to William Buick; what a great ride he gave Get Back Goldie,” said O'Neill. “[Assistant] Leandro Mora and the rest of the crew worked hard to get the horse to settle in.”

Despite this win being over the sprint trip, O'Neill has lofty plans for the colt, for whom this was the first win on dirt.

“We're dreaming big time here. As long as the horse stays injury-free, the UAE Derby is definitely a dream target for him”, he added. “It's a little bit ambitious but he's built that way.”

It was a night to remember for Buick, who also landed the closing Group 2 Balanchine Stakes [Presented by Longines Evidenza] on Creative Flair for his regular boss, Charlie Appleby.

A Listed winner last season, the 4-year-old was making her UAE debut and was always close to the pace from her wide draw in nine. She then showed plenty of tenacity to hold off the late-closing Pevensey Bay, looking to follow up her Cape Verdi win and Dubai Love.

It was a fourth Balanchine in a row for Appleby, who was absent due to being in the UK. It was left to Buick to sum up the race, and he praised his filly's bravery.

“That was her first run for a while, but she's all heart and she deserved that,” he said.

“She's got some good form in Europe and she ran some good races in America towards the end of last year. I don't know whether going to the States again will be the plan.”

One race that didn't go Buick's way was the Jumeirah Classic, over a mile on turf. He rode the Appleby-trained New Science, sent off the hot favourite due to some strong UK form. However, it was stablemate Sovereign Prince who took the win, his second in Dubai, making the most of race fitness for a smooth length and a quarter win under James Doyle. Mr Professor, trained in the UK by Alice Haynes, was second, with New Science a non-threatening third.

“He won the trial for this race which he did nicely,” said Doyle. “It was a bit of a bunched finish, but he hadn't run for some time so he definitely stepped forward from that. Going into this race we felt he would be a better horse today than he was in the trial.”

Hot Rod Charlie might not have been the only World Cup aspirant to win on the card, as Hypothetical put forward his case with a dominant win in the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes [Presented by Longines Conquest.]

Fourth in last year's World Cup, Hypothetical was virtually pulled up on his reappearance last month but was back to his best here. Ridden by Mickael Barzalona, winning this race for a record third time, the Salem Bin Ghadayer-trained 5-year-old put up a fine front-running display and saw off the closing Strongconstitution, by 3 1/4 lengths.

“We didn't know which horse to follow so we decided to make it (the running) on our own,” said Barzalona. “I'm glad to see him going the right way again. I think he's a lot more mature now, so he could go back over ten [furlongs] but he's very professional over a mile.

“For sure, the Dubai World Cup will be a very hard race but we've first got to see how he runs on Super Saturday.”

On a brilliant night for team O'Neill, they collected another silver medal in the 1 3/16-mile Al Bastakiya Trial [Presented by Longines SaintImier], on dirt. Their Kantaro D'Oro looked like he'd made a winning move under Antonio Fresu but was passed close home by Withering, who was given a patient ride by Adrie De Vries and collected a first win at the seventh attempt.

De Vries passed the credit for the win to trainer Fawzi Nass, saying: “He wasn't the fastest away, but he jumped a little better than last week. He traveled nicely into the race. I was hands full into the turn and I was just looking for the gaps.

“All credit to Fawzi, because it was my choice to run him in a maiden and he said he would stay, he had a lot of faith in the horse. Good job.”

Unlucky there, Fresu had earlier picked up a win of his own when Rajeh ran out the convincing winner of the opening G1 Maktoum Challenge Round 1 [Presented by Longines Dolce Vita] for Purebred Arabians.

Making just his second local start after racing in Qatar, the Musabbeh Al Mheiri trainee traveled on the pace and easily dispatched the chasing Dergham Athbah.

The winner was greeted by owner Basil Masoud Sakeh Al Kasbi, who said: “When I bought this horse the plan was to bring him to Dubai with the ambition being to go for the Group 1 races. One of the goals has been achieved today and we're looking forward to more wins.

“We have a lot of hope in this horse and the Dubai Kahayla Classic is the dream.”

The Carnival resumes next Friday, February 11th, when the G2 Singspiel Stakes and G3 UAE 2000 Guineas are the features.

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