Month: May 2022

Dylan Davis reached 1,000 career victories with a stylish late-rallying finish aboard Heels Together in Race 5 on Friday at Belmont Park. Davis guided the Christophe Clement-trained filly from off the pace to break her maiden by two lengths over the main track.

“It feels great. Obviously, I couldn't have done this without the horses, my agent Mike Migliore and my supporters – countless trainers and owners to get me here,” Davis said. “It feels really special. I love doing this and I love the game.

“I wasn't really keeping track of the number I was at,” Davis added, with a laugh. “Mike kept telling me I was getting closer and closer and I just keep doing what I'm doing.”

Davis executed a patient ride aboard Heels Together in the $40,000 maiden claimer, settling in fifth-of-eight down the backstretch before swinging her five-wide in the turn and giving a strong ride down the stretch to pick off rivals and complete the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:20.50 over the fast main track. Heels Together, a 4-year-old Hard Spun bay owned by Hoolie Racing Stable, paid $8.90 for a $2 win ticket.

Davis, a 27-year-old native of Manhasset, N.Y., teamed up with Clement to earn another milestone when guiding Mutamakina to victory in the 2021 E.P. Taylor at Woodbine to secure the first Grade 1 win of his career.

“Christophe is a trainer that really pushed me along through the tougher circuit here,” Davis said. “He gave me a lot of opportunities. What I needed is someone with the support like him to help get the job done.”

The son of accomplished jockey and current NYRA circuit trainer Robbie Davis, Dylan Davis began his riding career in 2012 at Saratoga Race Course and guided his first winner, Soldier Sam, to victory in a claiming race in September of that year at Suffolk Downs. His first stakes win came aboard Henny Jenney in the Inaugural on May 11, 2014 at Presque Isle Downs just two weeks before piloting Tell All You Know to a stakes coup in the Honor the Hero at Canterbury Park.

Davis celebrated a breakout year in 2018, earning a trio of Grade 3 victories in the Soaring Softly aboard Nootka Sound for his first career graded win, the Toboggan aboard Great Stuff and the Westchester on Tale of Silence. He earned nine other stakes victories that year, all of them at NYRA tracks.

He recorded a record year in 2021 for earnings [$9,493,444] when he visited the winner's circle 130 times from 927 starts. Davis' Grade 1 triumph aboard Mutamakina in the E.P. Taylor came that October with a stalking trip and a well-timed ride to take the lead and hold off the late-charging La Dragontea by a neck for Clement. Davis also earned two other graded wins aboard Mutamakina in 2021, taking the Grade 2 Dance Smartly at Woodbine and a repeat win in the Grade 3 Long Island at Belmont.

This year, Davis earned his first riding title when he posted 63 wins at the 2021-22 Aqueduct winter meet, finishing nine wins the better of Trevor McCarthy. The meet included three four-win days for Davis and victories in six stakes races for total purse earnings of $3,411,574.

Other graded stakes wins at NYRA for Davis include the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap [Pat On the Back, 2019], the Grade 3 Withers [Max Player, 2020], the Grade 3 Futurity [Second of July, 2020], the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm Handicap [Gibberish, 2021], and the Grade 3 Distaff Handicap [2022, Glass Ceiling].

Davis said Pat On the Back and Mutamakina stand out among his 1,000 winners.

“Pat On the Back was my first special horse and following him, Mutamakina,” Davis said. “The horses always give me 100 percent. Every horse is meaningful because every horse tries their best and runs their heart out. I'm thankful for every horse.”

The post ‘It Feels Really Special’: Dylan Davis Rides 1,000th Winner Friday At Belmont appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Photographer Patrick Smith and writer Mike MacAdam will be among the honorees at the Alibi Breakfast May 19 at Pimlico Race Course.

Smith will receive the Jerry Frutkoff Award for the best Preakness picture of 2021 while MacAdam will receive the David F. Woods Award for best Preakness story.

The Alibi Breakfast began in the 1930s on the porch of the old Pimlico Clubhouse and features a gathering of media, owners, trainers, jockeys, horsemen and fans to celebrate the Preakness and gain interesting and humorous race predictions.

Smith is a staff photographer based in Baltimore for Getty Images. This is his second consecutive win, and third overall in the Frutkoff.

“There is nothing like being able to travel the globe covering the world's biggest sporting events for Getty Images, but it's always magical covering Preakness Stakes in my own backyard,” Smith said. “Being on the rail with guidance from my colleague Rob Carr of Getty will always be special as he's taught me so much about this exciting sport. This honor is always shared with him.

“During the 2021 Preakness, I was camped on the head-on position. As I watched Flavien Prat guide Rombauer through the field and gain momentum, I know he'd rejoice with an iconic moment if he crossed the finish first – and he did.

“One of the greatest moments in sport is defeating the favorite. This historic image defines that and makes viewers feel the jubilation of the moment.”

MacAdam, turf writer and sports columnist for the Daily Gazette in Schenectady, N.Y., is a native of Rochester, New York who was first exposed to horse racing in 1987 and has provided daily live coverage of the Saratoga meet. MacAdam's story, written on deadline, was entitled: “Preakness Winner Rombauer Runs Out of the Baffert Shadow.”

In 2012, MacAdam won the Joe Hirsch Memorial Writing Award for Belmont Stakes coverage. He recently was named Sportswriter of the Year by the New York Press Association for the second time in the last three years, finished first in the sports column writing category of the New York New Publishers Association writing contest in 2020 and has been recognized over the years by the New York State Associated Press Association.

“It's a gross understatement to say what an honor it is to be recognized by the Maryland Jockey Club with the David F. Woods Award,” MacAdam said. “Writing stories about horse racing is never anything less than a fascinating and rewarding challenge. Thanks again to the MJC for this wonderful award, and to the Gazette for maintaining a commitment to racing coverage on a broad scale beyond our [rightfully] hyperlocal profile. Mostly, though, thanks to our readers for being a passionate audience.”

Tickets to the Alibi can be purchased at: https://www.tixr.com/groups/preakness/events/alibi-breakfast-42730

The post Photographer Smith, Writer MacAdam Among Honorees At Pimlico’s Alibi Breakfast appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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