Month: April 2022

Trainer Suspended Two Years After Horse Dies From Clenbuterol Overdose

Stewards in New Jersey have issued a two-year suspension and a $5,000 fine to trainer Cody Wade Axmaker after they say one of his horses died from an overdose of clenbuterol.

At a hearing held in December, stewards determined that Axmaker had a jug of clenbuterol which may have been labeled as aloe vera juice on the Monmouth Park property and directed staff to give a dose of aloe vera to a horse in his care named Wishful on May 4, 2021. Axmaker told The Blood-Horse's Byron King that Wishful initially showed symptoms of colic but seemed to improve before she was discovered dead in her stall on or about May 9. He indicated his 14 other horses were dosed with the substance also, but recovered after receiving acepromazine and fluids. Those horses were required to clear testing for clenbuterol before being permitted to race after Axmaker said he reported the incident to an investigator at Monmouth.

The ruling indicates that a necropsy revealed the horse died “of symptoms consistent with an overdose of the drug clenbuterol.”

Among other codes, the ruling also cited Axmaker for violating N.J.A.C. 13:70-14A.8, which states that no one other than a licensed veterinarian shall have “any drugs not possessed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, nor any contraband drug or unauthorized prescription legend drugs, nor any hypodermic syringes or needles, or any other instrument which may be used for injection, unless the injectable device is possessed for self-administration, and further provided that the individual possessing such device promptly notify the State Steward: 1. That he is in possession of such device; and 2. Of the chemical substance to be administered.”

The ruling made reference to the clenbuterol appearing in a “jug,” but the Food and Drug Administration-approved oral syrup version of the drug, sold under the trade name Ventipulmin, is typically sold in the United States in containers sized 100 mL or 330 mL. When queried about the substance in a social media message, Axmaker said the drug was “clenbuterol not Ventipulmin” and did not respond to further questions about whether the version he used was the federally-approved version or sourced in some other way.

According to a Facebook post, Axmaker said the jug was stored in his trailer and unloaded mistakenly by his staff as he hauled in horses and equipment for the start of the Monmouth meet.

“Sometimes accidents happens and unfortunately a life was lost because of it. Anyone that knows me knows my horses are like my family to me and the last thing I want to do is hurt them,” Axmaker wrote. “Last May I headed for Monmouth which was an 18-hour straight haul. I had half of my stable already there with two of my employees. We unloaded my horse trailer as the rain was falling. We had a group of people unloading my belongings into the tack rooms. A container of clenbuterol I used at other tracks to clean up lungs I had stored in my horse trailer was accidentally unloaded and later that evening was misjudged for aloe vera juice by one of my employees as I left them responsible for feed time that day. Which I never do, but after an 18-hour straight haul all you want to do is rest. One of my 15 horses who received this ended up colicking and was treated heavily for days and later lost her life because of this. I feel horrible this all happened as my employee who administrated it did as well.

“Now I'm facing the consequences of a two year sentence and a $5k fine for a complete accident I did not commit! Just so all you know the truth.”
According to Equibase, Axmaker is a multiple stakes placed trainer who also started horses last year at Tampa Bay Downs, The Meadowlands, and Delaware Park. Previously, he has been based at Turf Paradise and was a leading trainer at Arizona Downs.
Axmaker is appealing and has requested a stay of suspension, which is scheduled begin May 7 and run through May 6, 2024.

The post Trainer Suspended Two Years After Horse Dies From Clenbuterol Overdose appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Derby Bubble Presented By Kentucky-Breds: Did Mo Donegal, Taiba, Or Zandon Soar Highest With Signature Wins?

The Kentucky Derby is fast approaching, which means it's time for detailed looks at the horses that could fill the starting gate with Andrew Champagne of Catena Media and The Saratogian's Pink Sheet.

Check the Paulick Report every week for updated rankings that include news, notes, and opinions on the 3-year-olds that figure to take center stage.

The 100-point Kentucky Derby preps have come and gone. All that's left on the road to the Run for the Roses is Saturday's Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, which serves as a last resort for connections with horses on the outside looking in.

As you may expect given the results of this past weekend, there are some pretty major shifts in these rankings.

Let's dive right in!

Kentucky-bred contenders will be highlighted in red, and will receive additional analysis into their breeders, broodmares, and auction histories. Pedigree notes are written by Joe Nevills.

#1: Epicenter

Pedigree: Not This Time – Silent Candy (by Candy Ride)

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Kentucky Derby points: 164

Epicenter didn't just win the G2 Louisiana Derby. He did it in exactly the right way. He showed he could rate just off the speed, even taking some dirt in his face going up the backstretch. When called upon, he swooped past the front-runners and had plenty left late. It was as perfect a final prep as the connections could've hoped for, and he may very well be your Kentucky Derby favorite.

Epicenter was bred in Kentucky by Westwind Farms, out of the Grade 3-placed stakes winner Silent Candy. He sold for $260,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Westwind Farms bought Silent Candy pregnant to Scat Daddy for $130,000 in 2014.

#2: Taiba

Pedigree: Gun Runner – Needmore Flattery (by Flatter)

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Trainer: Tim Yakteen

Kentucky Derby points: 100

An unraced maiden less than six weeks ago, Taiba emerged as a possible Kentucky Derby favorite with a win in Saturday's G1 Santa Anita Derby. He topped stablemate Messier and San Felipe winner Forbidden Kingdom and did so in professional fashion, looking like anything but a lightly-raced 3-year-old going two turns for the first time. Can a horse with just two starts under his belt win the Kentucky Derby? We'll find out in just a few short weeks.

Taiba was bred in Kentucky by Bruce Ryan, out of the 14-time stakes-winning Flatter mare Needmore Flattery. The dam was a homebred for Ryan and Tim Hamm's Blazing Meadows Farm. Taiba sold as a yearling for $140,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, and he later brought $1.7 million at the following year's Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Selected 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale.

#3: Zandon

Pedigree: Upstart – Memories Prevail (by Creative Cause)

Owner: Jeff Drown

Trainer: Chad Brown

Kentucky Derby points: 114

I took Zandon out of the rankings last week due to an influx of 100-point horses. It had nothing to do with Zandon's talent or potential, but he needed to run well in the G1 Blue Grass to make the field. In rallying from way back beneath a masterful ride from Flavien Prat, he did just that and showed a lot of the traits one looks for in a potential Derby horse. Brown has yet to win the Derby, and this may be one of the better chances he's had to date.

Zandon was bred in Kentucky by Brereton C. Jones of Airdrie Stud, and the colt is the first foal to race out of the unraced dam. Zandon sold as a yearling for $170,000 from the Airdrie Stud consignment.

#4: Messier

Pedigree: Empire Maker – Checkered Past (by Smart Strike)

Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable, and Siena Farm

Trainer: Tim Yakteen

Kentucky Derby points: 40

I can't ding Messier too much for losing to Taiba in the Santa Anita Derby. He wasn't far off a pretty fast pace, and he was 10 lengths clear of that day's third-place finisher. It's entirely possible he needed the race off of a brief freshening, and as nice as it would've been to win it, it was another Derby that's long been the main goal for these connections. In running second, Messier punched his ticket to that dance, and he'll have every chance to turn the tables on his stablemate in that event.

#5: White Abarrio

Pedigree: Race Day – Catching Diamonds (by Into Mischief)

Owner: C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable

Trainer: Saffie Joseph, Jr.

Kentucky Derby points: 112

White Abarrio jumped up a few spots after his win in the G1 Florida Derby, where he topped Charge It, Simplification, and Classic Causeway, among others. He's never lost at Gulfstream Park, and if his Florida form travels to Kentucky with him, he'll have every chance to give his young trainer his first Kentucky Derby victory.

White Abarrio was bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm, and he is the first foal out of the Into Mischief mare Catching Diamonds. He sold as a newly-turned yearling for $7,500 at the 2020 OBS Winter Mixed Sale. Spendthrift purchased Catching Diamonds as a yearling for $425,000.

#6: Smile Happy

Pedigree: Runhappy – Pleasant Smile (by Pleasant Tap)

Owner: Lucky Seven Stable

Trainer: Ken McPeek

Kentucky Derby points: 70

Similar to Messier, who maintains a high spot despite losing to Taiba, I can't knock Smile Happy too much for his runner-up finish in the Blue Grass. He was wide around both turns and close to the pace on a day where Keeneland's main track wasn't kind to early speed. He still ran well, but was just second-best on the day. We know Smile Happy likes Churchill Downs, and the Derby will be the third start of his form cycle. He has every chance to be sitting on his best race when it matters most.

Smile Happy was bred in Kentucky by Moreau Bloodstock International Inc. and White Bloodstock LLC, out of the winning Pleasant Tap mare Pleasant Smile, whose four starters are all winners, also including the stakes-placed Wilko Rum, by Wilko. Smile Happy sold as a weanling for $175,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November Sale, and later brought $185,000 at the Keeneland September Sale.

#7: Charge It

Pedigree: Tapit – I'll Take Charge (by Indian Charlie)

Owner: Whisper Hill Farm

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Kentucky Derby points: 40

Charge It made just the third start of his young career in the Florida Derby, which doubled as his first try around two turns. He ran in spurts, but did enough to finish second and sew up a spot in the Kentucky Derby field. Several accomplished horses finished behind him on Saturday, and given his inexperience, he's certainly got the potential to move forward. Add in the presence of Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, and you have a runner that merits plenty of attention.

Charge It is a Kentucky homebred for Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm, out of the Indian Charlie mare I'll Take Charge. Pope bought the dam as a yearling for $2.2 million at the 2013 Keeneland September sale.

#8: Mo Donegal

Pedigree: Uncle Mo – Callingmissbrown (by Pulpit)

Owner: Donegal Racing

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Kentucky Derby points: 112

Mo Donegal returned to the scene of his best win to date Saturday and did himself one better. The winner of last year's G2 Remsen added the G2 Wood Memorial beneath a perfectly-timed move from jockey Joel Rosario, who ran down Early Voting in the shadow of the wire. Rosario likely won't be aboard in Kentucky, but likely rider Irad Ortiz, Jr., is as good a replacement as one can hope to find at this stage.

Mo Donegal was bred in Kentucky by Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stables. He brought $250,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September sale.

#9: Cyberknife

 

Pedigree: Gun Runner – Awesome Flower (by Flower Alley)

Owner: Gold Square LLC

Trainer: Brad Cox

Kentucky Derby points: 100

Cyberknife punched his ticket to Kentucky with a win in the G1 Arkansas Derby. Unlike heavy favorite Secret Oath and runner-up Barber Road, Cyberknife had a clean trip and made the most of it. His record looks far better if you toss the dud he ran in the G3 Lecomte, and just a few weeks after having no 3-year-olds on the Derby leaderboard, Cox now has a pair in the field.

Cyberknife was bred in Kentucky by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, out of the Grade 2-placed stakes winner Awesome Flower, who the Ramseys claimed for $30,000 at Gulfstream Park in 2012. The colt sold for $400,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Sale.

#10: Early Voting

Pedigree: Gun Runner – Amour d'Ete (by Tiznow)

Owner: Klaravich Stables

Trainer: Chad Brown

Kentucky Derby points: 50

Early Voting did everything but win in the Wood Memorial. While he made the lead, he had to work to get there, and he still had nearly enough to repel the challenge of Mo Donegal. These connections once skipped the Derby with a lightly-raced horse that went on to win the Preakness (Cloud Computing, in 2017), but as Brown noted in an interview with DRF's David Grening, the owner/trainer tag team had another Derby horse that year (Practical Joke).

Early Voting was bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm, and he sold as a yearling for $200,000. Three Chimneys bought Amour d'Ete, a half-sister to top sire Speightstown, as a yearling for $1.75 million.

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#11: Simplification

Pedigree: Not This Time – Simply Confection (by Candy Ride)

Owner: Tami Bobo

Trainer: Antonio Sano

Kentucky Derby points: 74

Simplification finished third behind White Abarrio and Charge It in the Florida Derby, and in an age where many top 3-year-olds will have two preps under their belts, it's impressive to see four here. He won the G2 Fountain of Youth and Mucho Macho Man and was second in the G3 Holy Bull.

#12: Zozos

Pedigree: Munnings – Papa's Forest (by Forestry)

Owner: Barry and Joni Butzow

Trainer: Brad Cox

Kentucky Derby points: 40

Zozos ran well when second in the Louisiana Derby. He set a legitimate pace under pressure, and while he was no match for Epicenter, he held second and secured enough points to get him to Kentucky. The pedigree doesn't exactly scream “a mile and a quarter,” but the 1 3/16-mile distance of the Louisiana Derby didn't seem like too much of a problem. With only three starts under his belt, he may have more room to improve.

Zozos is a Kentucky homebred for Barry and Joni Butzow, out of the winning Forestry mare Papa's Forest. The Butzows purchased Papa's Forest as a yearling for $57,000 at the 2011 Keeneland September sale, and she made $233,593 on the racetrack.

#13: Barber Road

Pedigree: Race Day – Encounter (by Southern Image)

Owner: WSS Racing, LLC

Trainer: John Ortiz

Kentucky Derby points: 58

There's something to be said for a horse that just doesn't run a bad race. With the exception of his debut, he's never been worse than third, and that includes five starts in stakes company. He salvaged second behind Cyberknife in the Arkansas Derby, and in doing so, he earned enough Derby points to make the field.

Barber Road was bred in Kentucky by Susan Forrester and Judy Curry, out of the unplaced Southern Image mare Encounter. The mare was a $1,000 purchase out of the 2015 Keeneland November Sale by Scott Conlee, who bred Encounter's future foals in partnership with Forrester and Curry until the latter two acquired full ownership. Barber Road sold as a weanling for $15,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November Sale.

#14: Tiz the Bomb

Pedigree: Hit it a Bomb – Tiz the Key (by Tiznow)

Owner: Magdalena Racing

Trainer: Ken McPeek

Kentucky Derby points: 110

All systems appear “go” for Tiz the Bomb to try dirt again on the biggest stage possible. After an early-season misfire, he won back-to-back Derby preps over Turfway Park's synthetic surface, including the G3 Jeff Ruby Steaks (now a 100-point prep). He's got tons of talent, and the distance shouldn't be an issue given his pedigree…but can he run on dirt?

Tiz the Bomb was bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm, out of the winning Tiznow mare Tiz the Key. McPeek, acting as agent, purchased Tiz the Bomb for $330,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale. Spendthrift bought Tiz the Key as a yearling for the same price at the 2012 Keeneland September Sale.

#15: Morello

Pedigree: Classic Empire – Stop the Wedding (by Congrats)

Owner: Blue Lion Thoroughbreds, Craig Taylor, and Diamond T Racing

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Kentucky Derby points: 50

Morello lost all chance at the start of the Wood Memorial and ran last in that event. It was his first start around two turns, and while it's easy to say the race is a throw-out given his poor break, he also didn't do anything to answer the question, “can he go long?” His connections haven't ruled out a spot in the Derby, though, and he'd be safely in the field should they chart a course for that event.

Morello was bred in Kentucky by Robert B. Tillyer and Dr. Chet Blackey, out of the Congrats mare Stop the Wedding. The colt sold as a weanling for $140,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November Sale, then he brought $200,000 at the following year's Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling Sale. In 2021, Morello sold for $250,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Stop the Wedding was an $11,000 purchase, pregnant to Cairo Prince, by Tillyer at the 2020 Keeneland January Sale.

#16: Un Ojo

Pedigree: Laoban – Risk a Chance (by A.P. Indy)

Owner: Cypress Creek Equine

Trainer: Ricky Courville

Kentucky Derby points: 54

Un Ojo had a very rough trip in the Arkansas Derby, and he's got a set of staples in his left shoulder to show for it. His connections are still hopeful he'll be ready for the Derby. Should he be in good shape leading up to the race, his upset win in the G2 Rebel means he'll have more than enough points to go postward.

#17: Slow Down Andy

Pedigree: Nyquist – Edwina E (by Square Eddie)

Owner: Reddam Racing

Trainer: Doug O'Neill

Kentucky Derby points: 60

Best known for topping Messier in the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity last year, Slow Down Andy punched his ticket to Kentucky with a win in the G3 Sunland Park Derby. Even though, “who did he beat in New Mexico?,” is a very valid question, it's worth noting O'Neill has won the Derby twice. He conditioned Hot Rod Charlie to a second-place finish a season ago.

#18: Tawny Port

Pedigree: Pioneerof the Nile – Livi Makenzie (by Macho Uno)

Owner: Peachtree Stable

Trainer: Brad Cox

Kentucky Derby points: 40

Saturday's a big day for team Tawny Port. Just two weeks after running second in the Jeff Ruby Steaks, he'll go postward for the Lexington needing a top-four finish to secure his spot in the Kentucky Derby field. While he's run well in three starts at Turfway (with two wins prior to running second to Tiz the Bomb), his lone try on dirt to date was a distant fifth behind Epicenter in the G2 Risen Star.

Tawny Port was bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, out of the Grade 2-placed stakes winner Livi Makenzie. The colt sold to Fort for $430,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. WinStar Farm bought Livi Makenzie as a broodmare prospect for $190,000 at the 2014 Keeneland November Sale, and the operation sold her pregnant to Always Dreaming for $30,000 at the same sale in 2020.

#19: Crown Pride

Pedigree: Reach the Crown – Emmy's Pride (by King Kamehameha)

Owner: Teruya Yoshida

Trainer: Koichi Shintani

Kentucky Derby points: 100

With his win in the Group 2 UAE Derby, Crown Pride ensured himself a spot in the Kentucky Derby field. Given the focus on stamina and longevity within the Japanese breeding program, it seems likely they'll win a Derby at some point. I'm just not sure this is the year that happens.

#20: Summer Is Tomorrow

Pedigree: Summer Front – Always Tomorrow (by Badge of Silver)

Owner: Michael and Negar Burke

Trainer: Bhupat Seemar

Kentucky Derby points: 40

The connections of the UAE Derby runner-up have said they're planning to ship to Kentucky, since their colt has enough points to make the field. He's won two of seven starts in Dubai ahead of his trip to the U.S., and based on his current resume, it's tough to see him as anything other than the longest of longshots.

Summer Is Tomorrow was bred in Kentucky by Brereton Jones of Airdrie Stud, out of the winning Badge of Silver mare Always Tomorrow, who Jones bought for $20,000 at the 2015 Keeneland January Sale. The colt initially sold as a weanling for $25,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November Sale, and he later brought $169,743 at the 2021 Arqana Deauville Breeze Up Sale.

The post The Derby Bubble Presented By Kentucky-Breds: Did Mo Donegal, Taiba, Or Zandon Soar Highest With Signature Wins? appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Bloodlines Presented By Mill Ridge Farm: Embarrassment Of Riches Continues To Build For Gun Runner On Triple Crown Trail

Over the weekend of April 9 and 10, leading second-crop sire Gun Runner (by Candy Ride) picked up his fourth Grade 1 winner and 11th stakes winner when Taiba remained unbeaten in two starts with a victory in the Santa Anita Derby.

“Come on, Frank, don't we have anything else to write about?”

“Not really, Ray. Gun Runner is setting the pace among young sires and is going to lead all sires if one of his 3-year-olds picks off a classic or two. What more do you want, maybe have the horse run for the Senate?”

“That's a long-term consideration, but how about something newer, fresher than your weekly homage to the great god 'Gun'?”

Picky, picky.

Well, the last two Grade 1 winners by Gun Runner are out of mares that have extensive racing careers. The dam of Arkansas Derby winner Cyberknife won a half-dozen stakes; the dam of Taiba won 14 stakes, mostly in Ohio-bred company, but earned $732,103 from 17 victories in 39 starts over four seasons of campaigning from ages two through five.

The mare's name is Needmore Flattery (Flatter), and she was bred in Ohio by Bruce Ryan and Blazing Meadows Farm, which is the racing and breeding entity of trainer Tim Hamm.

Hamm said that Needmore Flattery “was a really talented filly. Bruce and I had worked together for 15 years, maybe more, and right at the end of the mare's racing career, he wanted to buy me out. So I sold her in a private transaction.”

Ryan raced the mare for two more starts, then bred her first and second foals: an unraced Uncle Mo colt and Taiba. In 2019, Ryan sold Needmore Flattery at the 2019 Keeneland November sale to Leopoldo Fernández Pujals's Yeguada Centurion for $195,000. Exported to France, Needmore Flattery produced a filly by Uncle Mo there in 2020.

Needmore Flattery is one of three stakes winners from Kiosk (Left Banker), whom Ryan and Hamm acquired prior to her racing career that began in 2002. For the partners, Kiosk won four races, was stakes-placed five times, and earned $115,649 from 31 starts.

That's a useful regional racehorse, but as a producer, Kiosk was even better. Although Needmore Flattery was the broodmare's best performer, she also produced a full sister, Flatter Her Again, winner of the Southern Park Stakes at Mahoning Valley, and a half-brother, Kiosk's Cause (Noble Causeway), who won the Hoover Stakes at Belterra.

Each generation of this family produced a stakes winner until Kiosk exceeded expectations with three and a fourth foal who was stakes-placed. Of these, Needmore Flattery showed the most versatility and consistency, and with her son Taiba, there has come a sparkling improvement in speed and class.

A $140,000 sale at the Fasig-Tipton fall sale in October 2020, Taiba came from the Buckland Sales consignment and sold to Hartley/de Renzo Thoroughbreds. Hartley/de Renzo put the colt in training and brought him to the Fasig-Tipton March sale in south Florida in March 2021. Breezing a furlong in :10 1/5, Taiba looked good throughout the work, then again when showing back at the barn, and the solidly constructed chestnut brought $1.7 million, the second-highest price of the auction.

Gary Young, agent for Zedan Racing Stables, selected the colt and signed the ticket, and the chestnut colt went into training with the Bob Baffert operation in California. Taiba debuted on Mar. 5 as an odds-on favorite at Santa Anita and won by 7 1/2 lengths in 1:09.97 for the six furlongs.

Shifted to the barn of trainer Tim Yakteen when Baffert began serving a suspension, the Santa Anita Derby was the colt's second start.

Taiba is the 21st stakes winner for Flatter (A.P. Indy) as a broodmare sire.

A.P. Indy is broodmare sire of Nest (G1 Ashland), and his son Bernardini is broodmare sire of Speaker's Corner (G1 Carter). A.P. Indy's son Flatter made the weekend a trifecta for the A.P. Indy line as broodmare sires of G1 winners. In addition over the weekend, A.P. Indy's son Pulpit is the broodmare sire of Mo Donegal (G2 Wood Memorial), and the latter's son Tapit is broodmare sire of Nostalgic (G3 Gazelle Stakes). Bernardini was broodmare sire of a second graded winner (Matareya, G3 Beaumont). Those are just the graded winners with A.P. Indy-line broodmare sires.

As sires, Tapit's son Cupid had G2 Santa Anita Oaks winner Desert Dawn, and Tapit's son Constitution sired G3 Distaff Handicap winner Glass Ceiling. There were multiple stakes placings for the members of this line as sires or broodmare sires.

The post Bloodlines Presented By Mill Ridge Farm: Embarrassment Of Riches Continues To Build For Gun Runner On Triple Crown Trail appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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