March, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Insight Outcomes: Clairiere Looks Poised for a Big 2022

Only two races were profiled this week and they featured opposite ends of the spectrum: a returning Grade I winner and a colt just kicking off his career. One is slated to face a champion next while the other will meet winners for the first time. However, they have a common thread as both are by Hill 'n' Dale's leading sire Curlin.

Wednesday's Insights: GISW Clairiere Returns at Fair Grounds

7th-Fair Grounds, $56,000, Alw (NW3$X)/Opt. Clm ($80,000), 3-16, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:43.21, ft, 6 1/2 lengths.

After closing out her 2021 campaign with a close-up fourth and a 102 Beyer Speed Figure in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 6, CLAIRIERE (f, 4, Curlin–Cavorting {MGISW, $2,063,000}, by Bernardini) had no problem getting back on track in an optional allowance at Fair Grounds, only the second time in her 11-race career she hasn't competed in a Grade I or Grade II race. The Steve Asmussen trainee was last early, tipped wide into the lane, and won easily under a nearly motionless Joel Rosario ride despise switching to her wrong lead and lugging in. If the effort is indicative of her campaign to come, Clairiere will be a force to be reckoned with in 2022.

The Stonestreet homebred–already a winner of the GI Cotillion S. and GII Rachel Alexandra S., as well as on the board in five other graded events–got a 96 Beyer for the race, identical to the numbers for the 2022 debuts of other division leaders Letruska (Super Saver) and As Time Goes By (American Pharoah). Both Clairiere and Letruska, who was named Eclipse champion older female for 2021, are targeting the $1-million GI Apple Blossom S., slated for Apr. 23 at Oaklawn.

Clairiere is the first foal for Cavorting, a $360,000 purchase as a weanling for Stonestreet at the 2012 Keeneland November sale. She won the 2015 GI Test S., the 2016 GI Ogden Phipps S., and the 2016 GI Personal Ensign S., as well as three Grade II events. Cavorting's fifth dam was Goofed (Court Martial {GB}), who was best known as the dam of Lyphard (Northern Dancer). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Saturday's Insights: Pletcher Unveils Pair of Curlin Colts

9th-Gulfstream, $53,000, Msw, 3-19, 3yo, 1m, 1:35.48, ft, 4 3/4 lengths.

How often have we seen a Hall of Fame trainer send out a pair of contenders, only to have the longer price of the two come home the winner? Such was the case with Todd Pletcher's BRIGHT FUTURE (c, 3, Curlin–Sophia's Song {SW & GSP, $155,892}, by Bellamy Road) Saturday. Both Bright Future and Gasoline (Curlin) were making their career debuts, with Gasoline setting the pace until collared by his stablemate, who won in a visually impressive performance. Gasoline–the first foal out of 2016 GI Frizette S. winner Yellow Agate (Gemologist)–held for third.

Bright Future was one of 15 yearling colts purchased in partnership between Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable at the 2020 Keeneland September sale, not including a $1.2-million colt with additional partners. Four of those 15–or five of the 16 if including the $1.2-million colt, who is as yet unnamed–were by Curlin, with Bright Future the second from the bottom of their Curlin purchases in terms of price at $350,000.

The other debuter in the field was Bill Mott's Dual Threat (Into Mischief), a George Krikorian homebred who got bumped at the start. Mott isn't known to crank up his first-time starters, so it's safe to say he'll likely benefit from the experience. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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UK Racecourses To Plant Over 700 Trees For Queen’s Green Canopy

British racecourses are doing their part in the Queen's Green Canopy initiative with the goal of planting more than 700 trees by the end of 2022.

The Queen's Green Canopy, which marks her Platinum Jubilee, invites people from across the UK to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”. A total of 23 British racecourses have confirmed their participation, with the official tree-planting season taking place between October and March, and then beginning again in October through to the end of the Jubilee year.

Ascot Racecourse and the Crown Estate jointly planted 70 oak trees adjacent to the Royal Procession route along Duke's Lane in Windsor Great Park on Tuesday. Each tree will be dedicated to one of 70 local schools on May 10th, one for each year of Her Majesty's reign.

Her Majesty's Representative and Chairman at Ascot, Sir Francis Brooke, Bt, said of the project and the racing industry's contribution, “It is fantastic that the racing family has come together in such numbers to be part of this very worthwhile initiative. The last of our 70 trees were planted this morning, at a location in Windsor Great Park on the route of the Royal Procession. We are much looking forward to welcoming the schools in May for what will be a very special day.”

The Jockey Club will be planting more than 500 trees this year as part of the project across their 15 racecourses and three training grounds. Cheltenham, Epsom Downs, Aintree and Sandown Park are amongst the courses to be planting trees to commemorate the event across The Jockey Club's sites, who have been working with local experts to ensure the trees to be planted are both local and sustainable with the individual climates of each racecourse or location.

The Jockey Club's Chief Executive, Nevin Truesdale said, “We are thrilled to be playing our part in The Queen's Green Canopy initiative to mark the Platinum Jubilee of our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen.

“We will be planting trees right across our racecourses and training grounds and our teams have been working hard to ensure the projects we are undertaking will enhance their surroundings for years to come.

“In doing so we hope they will reflect the extraordinary and long-lasting contribution The Queen has made to our sport and the country more widely.”

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MATCH Series Returns in 2022

The Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships Series (MATCH) returns for a 9th season with a $2.2 million stakes schedule that spans April 16 through Oct. 3 and more than $400,000 in bonus money for owners, trainers and breeders. The Series, a competition among horses in four divisions, is designed to identify the best horses, and their owners and trainers, in the Mid-Atlantic region. It will be contested this year at Laurel Park, Hollywood at Penn Gaming, Colonial Downs and Parx, with Parx hosting this year's Championship Day.

Horses competing in MATCH earn points based on participation and order of finish in each series race, and the leading point-earners in each of the series divisions, as well as the owner and trainer of the overall points leader, win lucrative bonuses. The four divisions are 3-Year-Olds and Up Sprint—Dirt; Filly and Mare Sprint—Dirt; 3-Year-Olds and Up Long—Turf; and Filly and Mare Long—Turf. There will be five stakes in each division for a total of 20.

“MATCH is very popular with the horsemen in the Mid-Atlantic and we are grateful for the horsemen's organizations and tracks who continue to support and promote the Series,” said Alan Foreman, creator of MATCH and Chairman of the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.

“The stakes program at Parx in recent years has grown in monetary value, stature and interest, and we continue to look for opportunities to create event days for our on-track patrons and our growing simulcast audience,” said Joe Wilson, Chief Operating Officer of Parx Racing. “Hosting the MATCH Series Championship Day on a Monday afternoon this year fits in with those objectives.”

“We are very excited to participate this year and host Championship Day,” Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association President Sal DeBunda said.

“Colonial Downs is honored to host four MATCH Series stakes worth a total of $600,000 for 2022,” said Jill Byrne, Vice President of Racing Operations for Colonial. “The value of these races was certainly recognized again last season with top multiple stakes winners such as Cordmaker and Just Might providing popular victories here in Virginia.

The bonus money distribution for 2022 offers up to $92,500 per division and $30,000 for the overall champion by points. For each division, first place pays $30,000 to the owner and $15,000 to the trainer; for second, $20,000/$10,000; and for third, $10,000/$7,500. For the overall champion, the owner receives an additional $20,000 and the trainer $10,000.

The 2021 champion was Hillwood Stable's Cordmaker, who competed in all six legs of the Series. The gelding won three MATCH stakes, collected 49 points and earned his connections $60,000 in bonus funds.

The Maryland Horse Breeders Association, Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association and Virginia Thoroughbred Association have each agreed to offer $5,000 bonuses to breeders based on the performances of horses in the series for a potential total of $30,000. Pennsylvania and Virginia will recognize the top male and female state-bred runners by overall points earned, while Maryland will award bonuses to the top Maryland-bred and Maryland-sired runners by overall points earned.

The 2022 participating organizations are the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, Pennsylvania THA, Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, Parx Racing, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, 1/ST Racing, Maryland THA, Laurel Park, Maryland Horse Breeders Association, Colonial Downs, Virginia HBPA and Virginia Thoroughbred Association.

For further information, contact Alan Foreman at 410-336-0525; David Richardson at 410-984-2770; or Tom LaMarra at 859-492-8365

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Racing Welfare Partners With ROA

Racing Welfare and the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) have formalised their long-standing relationship within the UK racing industry, which will allow greater scope for collaboration and to share key messaging and opportunities. The ROA logo will now also be visible on all Racing Welfare uniform.

Charlie Liverton, Chief Executive Officer, ROA commented, “On behalf of the ROA and our members we are thrilled to announce a formal partnership with Racing Welfare. There is a natural synergy in our ambition to protect and promote the health of everyone in the horse racing industry. Moreover, this represents a genuinely exciting opportunity to foster a closer relationship between owners and racing staff.

“Owners recognise the vital role that racing staff play and understand the importance of safeguarding their health, welfare and well-being, and therefore working together to deliver this partnership is of critical importance to the ROA. The retention and recruitment of racing staff is vital for the industry and we look forward to partnering with Racing Welfare to help and support them in this key area.”

Racing Welfare Chief Executive Dawn Goodfellow welcomed the move, saying, “We are delighted to be partnering with the Racehorse Owners Association, which will afford us the opportunity to align more closely with one of the industry's key bodies. There is a clear synergy in that both organisations have the interests of racing's people at their heart, and the benefits of connecting racing's staff members and owners more closely cannot be underestimated.

“We are grateful for the support of the ROA going forward and are pleased to extend our services to their members, who are equally important to the wellbeing of racing as the workforce involved with making their days at the races possible.”

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