Month: April 2022

GoFundMe Campaign Launched for Steven Moyer

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched for Steven Moyer, 55, a former trainer and current racing official at Laurel Park, who was seriously injured while doing yard work at his home. Moyer sustained severe burns over 30% of his body in an accident Apr. 19 and is expected to remain in the Intensive Care Unit for several weeks.

A native of Annapolis, Md., he worked for Maurice Zilber in France in his youth, then later for Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito in Kentucky and was a longtime assistant to trainer Jimmy Jerkens in New York and Florida.

The GoFundMe campaign was set up by Elvis Trujillo Jr., a fellow racing official. The initial goal is $10,000. All proceeds from the campaign will go directly to help Moyer and his family pay for medical bills as well as during his recovery. To make a donation, visit the link here.

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Busy Saturday Morning for Kentucky Derby and Oaks Workers

It was an action-packed Saturday morning at Churchill Downs for GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks workers.

At 5:15 a.m., the Brad Cox-trained duo of GI Arkansas Derby winner Cyberknife (Gun Runner) and GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby runner-up and 'TDN Rising Star' Zozos (Munnings) worked six furlongs together in 1:11.20 (1/4) and 1:11.40 (2/4), respectively. At 7:30 a.m., GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. winner Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile), with newly named jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr., worked five furlongs for Cox in 1:01.60 (30/57). “There's a lot of excitement leading into these final Derby works,” Cox said. “You start to get a little anxious as the days near closer to the Derby. Things went very smooth this morning.”

 

The Kenny McPeek tandem of GI Toyota Blue Grass S. runner-up and 'TDN Rising Star' Smile Happy (Runhappy) and GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks S. winner Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb) worked a half-mile together in :48 (28/130).

“I like that this is a home game for us,” McPeek said. “Both Brian [Hernandez, Jr.] and Corey [Lanerie] have been around this oval all their lives, and both are solid journeyman riders. I don't have much concern about them finding their way around there. Both Corey and Brian are due a signature horse, so maybe one of them's got it this week.”

 

Todd Pletcher breezed the trio of GII Wood Memorial S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) (four furlongs in :48.60) (55/130); and GI Curlin Florida Derby runner-up and 'TDN Rising Star' Charge It (Tapit) and Louisiana Derby third Pioneer of Medina (Pioneerof the Nile), who worked a half-mile together in :47.40 (9/130).

“From here, we'll do the usual stuff–like visiting the gate and galloping. We'll be galloping up to the Derby,” Pletcher said.

 

Other Derby horses on the worktab Saturday include: Arkansas Derby runner-up Barber Road (Race Day) (four furlongs in :48.80) (67/130); GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby winner Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway) (six furlongs in 1:13.20) (3/4); and GII Rebel S. winner Un Ojo (Laoban) (four furlongs in :47.60) (14/130). Happy Jack (Oxbow), a distant third in the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, covered a mile in 1:39.60 (1/1) at Keeneland. Florida Derby winner White Abarrio (Race Day) breezed a half-mile in :48.28 between races during an impromptu workout on Saturday afternoon's program at Gulfstream Park. “Wow. That's all I can say is 'wow,'” trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. said. “He worked super.”

 

Four Kentucky Oaks candidates had their final works Saturday morning at Churchill Downs: Bourbonette Oaks heroine Candy Raid (Candy Ride {Arg}) (four furlongs in :48.80) (67/130); GI Central Bank Ashland S. runner-up and 'TDN Rising Star' Cocktail Moments (Uncle Mo) (five furlongs in 1:00.80) (15/57); unbeaten GII Gulfstream Park Oaks winner Kathleen O. (Upstart) (four furlongs in :47.80) (20/130) and GIII Gazelle S. heroine Nostalgic (Medaglia d'Oro) (four furlongs in :48.60) (55/130).

“She's not necessarily a strong morning worker,” Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said of Kathleen O. “So, we're very pleased with what we saw today. I'm excited. We're excited. We got through today and we know she always shows up on race day. This morning was right up there with some of her best. We're glad to be back in Kentucky with her and we're thinking with her running style she'll appreciate the longer stretch here [at Churchill Downs].”

Desert Dawn (Cupid), upset winner of the GII Santa Anita Oaks, worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 (19/53) at Santa Anita Saturday.

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Keeneland Spring Meet Concludes with Record Handle

Keeneland closed its 2022 Spring Meet Friday with all-sources handle in excess of $219 million to establish an all-time meet wagering record for the track, and a third consecutive season of record handle. The Lexington oval offered record average daily purses of $1.147 million, attracting an average of 9.1 starters per race.

“This Spring Meet was unmatched in many measures, most of all the fact that everyone seemed to revel in the energy of having fans back in full force on race days,” said Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin. “Keeneland is a special place because of the support we receive from the Central Kentucky community, our horsemen, handicappers, sponsors, fans and employees. This spring season sets the stage for a huge racing year that continues with the Fall Meet in October and the return of the Breeders' Cup World Championships on Nov. 4-5.”

All-sources wagering (not including whole-card simulcasting at Keeneland) for the Spring Meet totaled $219,284,979, eclipsing the previous record of $181,009,626 set during last year's 17-day Fall Meet. The total represents a 33.16% increase over last spring's record $164,680,229. Average daily all-sources handle was $14,618,999.

A number of individual handle records were also set during the Spring meet. Record single-day all-sources handle of $28,137,728 was set on GI Toyota Blue Grass Day, Saturday, Apr. 9, which featured 11 races including five graded stakes. Wagering on the 11-race card the following Saturday, Apr. 16, totaled $27,304,001 to be the second-highest single-day handle in Keeneland history. Record Pick 4 and Pick 5 wagering also was realized on Apr. 16. The Pick 4 handled a record $1,357,298, exceeding the previous mark of $1,065,002 set on Blue Grass Day 2018. The Pick 5 handled a record $1,539,098 to surpass the $1,485,090 established on 2021's Blue Grass card.

On-track wagering this spring totaled $16,190,832, up 75.52% from last spring's $9,224,273 when COVID-19 limited attendance for the meet. Average daily on-track wagering this spring was $1,079,389.

The Keeneland Turf Pick 3, a wager on the final three turf races each day that was inaugurated last fall, handled a total of $1,543,399, for an average of $128,617 per day.

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James Garfield Off The Mark At Doncaster

Rathbarry Stud's first-season sire James Garfield (Ire) (by Exceed and Excel {Aus}) has his first winner after the filly Lady Bullet (Ire) captured Doncaster's British European Breeders' Fund EBF Maiden S. on Saturday evening. Sent off the 11-4 joint-second favourite for the five-furlong contest, the Alice Haynes-trained bay was professional throughout under Kieran O'Neill and stayed on to gain the advantage inside the final 100 yards en route to a half-length verdict over New Definition (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). The dam, who was runner-up in the G3 Prix d'Arenberg, is kin to the G3 Autumn S. winner Blitzkrieg (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}). Her yearling colt is by Kodi Bear (Ire), sire of her smart 3-year-old colt Ever Given (Ire) who took last year's Goffs UK Premier Yearling S. and was second in the Weatherbys Scientific £200,000 2-Y-O S.

2nd-Doncaster, £7,800, Mdn, 4-30, 2yo, 5f 3yT, 1:01.51, g/f.
LADY BULLET (IRE) (f, 2, James Garfield {Ire}–Lil's Joy {Ire} {GSP-Fr}, by Lilbourne Lad {Ire}) Sales history: £17,000 Ylg '21 GOFFUK; 48,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRE. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $5,297. O-The Three Bullets; B-Rathbarry Stud (IRE); T-Alice Haynes.

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