Month: May 2022

Stradivarius Still A Force To Be Reckoned With

Twenty career wins, 18 in group company. Those that wrote off Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) had to think again on Friday as Bjorn Nielsen's legendary chestnut popped up to keep his unbeaten tag on York's Knavesmire intact with a third G2 Paddy Power Yorkshire Cup. Travelling with all the gusto of his earlier days, the 6-4 favourite who was largely dogged by unsuitable ground and a dash of bad luck in 2021 sliced between younger rivals heading to two out with the crowd in raptures. Taking the measure of long-time leader Thunderous (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) soon after, he ended up towards the stands which he has come to own down the years and was clearly idling en route to a snug length success. In doing so, he surpassed the record of group wins in Europe previously held jointly with Cirrus Des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top {Ire}).

“My mouth is a bit dry–I'm emotional,” Frankie said as he prepared to parade the 8-year-old in front of the doting audience on his Yorkshire farewell. “Great. He actually surprised me, as he took me into the race very quickly. He pulls himself up in front, but I had no choice. The Gosdens are master trainers and changed his work and routine to keep him interested, worked him from the front and the back, taken him to different places, just to get him motivated as he's been going on those gallops for six years. I thought we had him fit, but until you try you don't know because he looks after himself. He looked the same as he usually does, travelled with zest and showed a good turn of foot and then he pulls up in front, but we know he does that. I will miss him dearly when he's retired–I'm trying to hold back the tears.”

John Gosden added, “He's totally unique. He was on his hind legs when we were saddling him, every time he saw a filly he started showing off but he came over here and he was a professional as ever. If the ground is not heavy, the plan is to go back to Ascot. It's like Desert Orchid, these horses do capture the imagination because they have longevity. To be the leading group-winning horse of all time in Europe, that takes some doing. Let's hope we can get to Ascot and the ground's not too deep, I think if he had this ground he'd take a lot of beating.”

Listing all of Stradivarius's achievements is unnecessary, but the staggering total of pattern races includes 17 at either this or group 1 level with the only group 3 coming in last year's Sagaro S. when connections changed tack. Whether that decision contributed to his subsequent reversal looking for a fourth Ascot Gold Cup will never be known, but his stable were keen to go back to basics for his preparatory run this time. With better luck in running last June, he possibly would have been second behind the now-absent Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) and it could be that given his preferred lively surface that is enough in 2022.

His owner-breeder remembers the staying greats all the way back to the likes of Sagaro, Ardross and Le Moss, but was not being drawn on comparisons with his star of the present. “You can never really compare different eras–he might have won a lot more races than them, but they were great and I loved watching those horses when I was young,” he said. “I think what we've done well with him is to keep him running in England and France rather than taking him to the Middle East or Australia. The wheels can come off when you do that and that is why he has endured so long.”

“Everyone wants to stand fast horses now and people get afraid of getting beaten so that they lose value, so the pressure is on to retire but I've obviously never been under as much pressure to retire him. He's probably worth as much in prizemoney than at stud. We're focusing on nothing more than the Gold Cup, especially as he's an eight-year-old,” Nielsen added. “The day will come when he's off the bridle and doesn't do it, so it's one race at a time.”

Stradivarius descends from the richly-talented Wildenstein distaffer Pawneese (Ire), deservedly crowned Horse of the Year in England in 1976 when she was also the champion 3-year-old filly in her native France. Her wins in the G1 Epsom Oaks, G1 Prix de Diane and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond S. remain the stuff of legend, while her family also includes a chestnut like this winner who also wowed onlookers. Nureyev's Peintre Celebre was the brilliant winner of the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1997, having already annexed the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Grand Prix de Paris. Stradivarius was the last foal out of Private Life (Fr) (Bering {GB}), who acted as a vessel for no small measure of this dynasty's magic.

Friday, York, Britain
PADDY POWER YORKSHIRE CUP-G2, £175,000, York, 5-13, 4yo/up, 13f 188yT, 2:58.33, gd.
1–STRADIVARIUS (IRE), 132, h, 8, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
     1st Dam: Private Life (Fr) (MSP-Fr), by Bering (GB)
     2nd Dam: Poughkeepsie (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
     3rd Dam: Pawneese (Ire), by Carvin II
(330,000gns RNA Ylg '15 TATOCT). O/B-Bjorn Nielsen (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Frankie Dettori. £99,243. Lifetime Record: 3x Hwt. Older Horse-Eur at 14f+, 3x Hwt. Older Horse-Eng at 14f+, MG1SW-Eng & G1SP-Fr, 33-20-4-4, $4,267,854. *1/2 to Persian Storm (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), Hwt. 3yo-Ger at 9 1/2-11f, MGSW-Ger, $121,198; 1/2 to Rembrandt Van Rijn (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), GSP-UAE, $167,081. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Thunderous (Ire), 129, g, 5, Night of Thunder (Ire)–Souviens Toi (GB), by Dalakhani (Ire).
(70,000gns Ylg '18 TAOCT). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing – George Stubbs; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (IRE); T-Charlie & Mark Johnston. £37,625.
3–Tashkhan (Ire), 129, g, 4, Born To Sea (Ire)–Tarziyna (Ire), by Raven's Pass.
(€11,000 2yo '20 GOFAUT). O-Mr P Boyle; B-His Highness the Aga Khan's Studs S.C. (IRE); T-Brian Ellison. £18,830.
Margins: 1, 2, NO. Odds: 1.50, 8.50, 8.50.
Also Ran: Search For a Song (Ire), Max Vega (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Tampa Bay Downs: Strong Numbers For 2021-2022 Season Generate Optimism

Tampa Bay Downs posted significant gains in most major categories during the 2021-2022 season when compared to the 2018-2019 (pre-pandemic) meet – including average daily all-sources wagering handle and total purse money paid to horsemen.

Although the increases weren't as eye-popping when lined up against 2020-2021, Peter Berube, the track's Vice President & General Manager, finds much to be encouraged by as the Oldsmar oval strengthens its position as one of the nation's most popular winter Thoroughbred simulcast signals.

“Our Thoroughbred racing product has been very well-received, both by Tampa Bay area fans and the simulcast market throughout the country,” said Berube, who attributed the increases in large part to the ongoing upgrade in the quality of racing and the attractiveness of the turf program.

“The Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby card (on March 12) generated almost $21 million in wagering, which represented a 36 percent increase from the previous record of $15.2-million set last year and was the most of any racetrack in the country that day.”

In evaluating the success of the meet, Berube compared the final figures to both the 2020-2021 season and the 2018-2019 numbers.

This season's total live all-sources handle for 89 days of racing was $401,467,564, a 1.72-percent increase from last season and 18.62 percent above the 2018-2019 mark. Total live on-track handle of $16,324,991 was a whopping 23.41 percent above last season and 2.98 percent over 2018-2019.

Wagering handle per starter was $64,317, up 10.19 percent from last season and 28.08 percent from 2018-2019. The average handle per race was $488,998.

Berube said behind-the-scenes efforts by numerous key players was pivotal to the track's rising popularity.

“The Racing Office, led by (Racing Secretary) Allison De Luca, does a fantastic job of putting together highly competitive cards and making owners and trainers aware of all Tampa Bay Downs has to offer,” Berube said. “Our track maintenance crew, headed by Tom McLaughlin, takes a backseat to no one in maintaining both surfaces to a level of excellence. (Director of Group Sales) Nicole McGill and her staff continue to come up with creative ways to attract new fans, which is essential for our continued growth.”

A crowd of 7,756 attended Saturday's season-ending Kentucky Derby Day card, which featured nine “live” Tampa Bay Downs races generating more than $4.7-million in total wagering. Most of the fans remained afterward to watch the Derby, won by 80-1 shot Rich Strike, on the jumbo video board in the infield.

“It's gratifying for all of us to see the tremendous enthusiasm for horse racing on major race days like the Kentucky Derby and the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby,” Berube said.

Thoroughbred racing will return to Tampa Bay Downs on June 30 and July 1 for the 10th annual Summer Festival of Racing.

Tampa Bay Downs paid out $18,204,465 in purse money in 2021-2022, up 8.02 percent from 2020-2021 and 17.03-percent from 2018-2019. The average daily purse distribution of $204,545 is a track record.

“Racing is an expensive undertaking, and the costs associated with participating have risen over the last several years,” Berube said. “For us to continue to grow our product, we need to keep focusing on ways to increase wagering, which drives the increase in purse money.”

Mirroring trends at the majority of North American racetracks, the average field size per race dropped from 8.27 horses a race last season to 7.86. Berube said the decline in average field size is primarily attributable to a steady drop in the size of the North American foal crop, from 28,420 in 2010 to an estimated 19,200 in 2021.

With horses getting harder to come by, more Tampa Bay Downs horsemen than ever chose to restock their stables through claiming races, which allow them to purchase horses for a pre-set price. An all-time Oldsmar oval record of 351 horses were claimed (131 more than last season) at a total cost of $3,970,000.

About 30 percent of the horses claimed were sought by multiple horsemen, resulting in “shakes” (drawing the winning claims slip out of a box) to determine the new owner.

On the racetrack, 3-year-old colt Classic Causeway won both the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes and the G2 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby to earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, in which he finished 11th. Undefeated (6-for-6) turf specialist Bleecker Street, a 4-year-old filly, won both the G3 Endeavour Stakes and the G2 Hillsborough Stakes, returning to competition last Friday at Churchill Downs to capture the G3 Modesty Stakes presented by TwinSpires.

Apprentice jockey Madeline Rowland, an 18-year-old from Landenberg, Pa., became a virtual overnight sensation, winning 34 races while completing her high school education online. She finished in ninth place in the track standings. Known to family, friends – and now, an adoring following – as Maddie, she was named the Salt Rock Tavern Jockey of the Month in April and concluded her season by riding four winners on Kentucky Derby Day.

Samy Camacho was the track's leading jockey with 85 winners, good for his second consecutive title and third in the last four years. Gerald Bennett captured his seventh consecutive training title and eighth overall with 36 victories.

The top owner entering the Summer Festival of Racing (the June 30 card, for record-keeping purposes, is officially the final day of the 2021-2022 meet) is Endsley Oaks Farm with 24 victories. Endsley Oaks, in Brooksville, Fla., is owned by Bob and Jill Jones.

Three horses are tied with the most victories at the meet, with four apiece: 3-year-old filly Katies a Lady, owned by Terry E. Davie and trained by Kathleen O'Connell; 10-year-old gelding Native Hawk, owned and trained by Juan Arriagada; and 6-year-old gelding Tony Small, owned by Mark Hoffman and trained by Maria Bowersock.

The post Tampa Bay Downs: Strong Numbers For 2021-2022 Season Generate Optimism appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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NSA: Snap Decision Chasing Repeat Victory In America’s Longest Hurdle Stake

This Saturday's $150,000 Iroquois in Nashville was supposed to be a showdown between steeplechasing's brightest stars, Bruton Street-US' Snap Decision and Buttonwood Farm's The Mean Queen, whose rivalry last fall drew worldwide media and fan attention. But even though an injury to the Eclipse-Award winning “Queen” has put their battle-of-the-sexes rematch on hold, a stellar field, with international flavor, has been assembled for what promises to be an intriguing 81st renewal of America's longest hurdle stake.

The Iroquois, scheduled to go off at 3 p.m. Central Time as the fourth of six races at Percy Warner Park, has drawn a field of seven, led by Snap Decision, who has finished second three straight times after his record-tying nine-race winning streak was snapped by The Mean Queen in the Lonesome Glory Stakes at Belmont Park in September. Most recently, Snap Decision, trained by Jack Fisher and ridden by Graham Watters, was narrowly upset by Hudson River Farm's Iranistan in the $75,000 G2 Temple Gwathmey at Middleburg last month.

Iranistan, who broke on top and led throughout, got a 14-pound break in the weights in the Gwathmey, which was contested under handicap conditions. In the Iroquois, all the runners will carry 158 pounds. Iranistan, who has captured four of his last five starts, is in the field as well, and gets the services of champion Irish jockey Davy Russell for trainer Keri Brion.

British training legend Nicky Henderson, who captured the 2019 Grand National at Far Hills with Brain Power, returns to the States, this time with Anthony and Mark Speelman's Pistol Whipped, a Class 2 National Hunt winner. Nico de Boinville, who piloted Brain Power at Far Hills and boasts more Grade 1 winners than any other active British jockey, has the mount.

Snap Decision's stablemate, 2020 Eclipse Award winner Moscato, who put in a solid effort in the Gwathmey following a 20-month layoff from a tendon injury, is likely to improve off of that effort. Jamie Bargary, who rode the 11-year-old for the first time at Middleburg, again gets the call.

Atlantic Friends Racing's Historic Heart takes a big jump in class in the Iroquois, but has shown plenty of heart in his three U.S. starts following a career in Europe. Sent off as the favorite in his debut last October, he took the Harry Harris four-year-old hurdle stakes at Far Hills, then just missed against Riverdee Stable's City Dreamer in the AFLAC Supreme novice stakes at Callaway Gardens. He came back to win his 2022 bow, the Carolina Cup novice stakes, rallying after the final fence to win going away. Leading NSA rider Parker Hendriks has the mount.

Also in the field is Irv Naylor's Amschel, who chased The Mean Queen and Snap Decision in major races last year, and completed the season with a close second to Iranistan in the Noel Laing Stakes at Montpelier. He was fourth in the Gwathmey. Barry Foley rides for trainer Cyril Murphy. Gill Johnston's Brianbakescookies, who won the 2021 Queen's Cup, had his best finish in open competition in the G2 David Semmes Memorial last year, when he set the pace and tired to finish third. His only attempt in a Grade 1 came in the Lonesome Glory, where he finished off the board.

There are five other races on the card, which along with the Iroquois, offers total purses of $360,000.

Seven runners are expected to face starter Stirling Young in the $75,000 Green Pastures Sport of Kings novice stakes at 2 ¼ miles, including exciting newcomer Boulette, who races for Paul and Molly Willis and trainer Keri Brion. The 4-year-old Irish-bred is two for two since joining the NSA circuit, romping in an optional claiming allowance at Aiken in March, and winning a handicap for horses rated at 120 or less by 10 lengths at Tryon in April. Metahorse Racing, Blue Streak Racing, and CFC Racing's Going Country, another up-and-coming Irish-bred trained by Brion, broke his hurdle maiden at Tryon, won an allowance at Middleburg, and loomed a menacing threat to take the $50,000 G2 David Semmes Memorial at Great Meadow last week, when he was forced off course. Irv Naylor's Scorpion's Revenge was a sharp second to Going Country, beaten a length, at Middleburg. Leipers Fork Steeplechasers' Drewscourt comes into the race off of a hard-fought score in an optional claiming allowance at the Queen's Cup, where he trailed the leader by as many as 15 lengths before unleashing a furious rally. Port Lairge and Holwood Stable's Decisive Triumph was a good third in the Carolina Cup, and ran a tremendous race in the Queen's Cup, where he raced in a hotly contested pace on the front end throughout, and only grudgingly gave way to Irv Naylor's French Light at at the wire. Local ownership group Del Rio Racing will be represented by Recent Revelations, who had nine top-three finishes in 23 starts overseas before coming to the U.S. last year. After five starts on the flat, at Belmont Park, Saratoga, and Laurel, Sonny Via's Welshman made his hurdle debut for trainer Jack Fisher at Foxfield recently, and promptly broke his maiden by nine lengths.

The third stake on the card is the $50,000 Margaret Currey Henley for fillies and mares at 2 ¼ miles, which has attracted five entries. Joseph Fowler's stunning gray, Down Royal, won three of four starts last year including the Randolph Rouse at Colonial Downs and Peapack at Far Hills for trainer Kate Dalton and rider Bernie Dalton. She was a solid second to The Mean Queen in last year's Henley. Metahorse Racing's Kicking Myself, trained by Brion, made an auspicious career debut at Middleburg, overpowering nine competitors to break her maiden with authority. Champion European trainer Gordon Elliott, of dual English Grand National winner Tiger Roll fame, is no stranger to the NSA or Nashville, and he saddles Burning the Evidence in her American debut for Del Rio Racing. A winner of three of her last four starts, and with six top-three finishes in seven career outings, Burn the Evidence will be ridden by Davy Russell, who also piloted the great Tiger Roll. Lightly raced Cup of Aiken, who runs in the colors of Ashwell Stable LLC for trainer Leslie Young, turned heads with her 10-length maiden blowout at the Carolina Cup Races. Beverly Steinman's Eve's City was third in last year's Peapack and Randolph Rouse Stakes. She was an allowance winner at Montpelier last fall, but in two starts this season has yet to finish.

The remainder of the card includes the $25,000 Bright Hour Handicap for horses rated at 115 or less at 2 ¾ miles; the $40,000 George Sloan & John Sloan Sr., maiden hurdle at 2 ¼ miles; and the $25,000 Mason Houghland memorial allowance to be run over Percy Warner Park's brand new timber course.

Major flat owner joins the NSA community

If you check out the entries for the second race, the Sloan maiden hurdle, and notice the connections and turquoise and pink silks of the number three horse, first-time starter Montmartre d'Ange, they might ring a bell. The gray, 4-year-old French-bred son of Montmarte is owned in part by Sol Kumin's Madakat Stable (along with Paul and Molly Willis, and CFC Stables).

Kumin, 47, races under the Madaket name and also is involved in numerous partnerships with many of Thoroughbred racing's most prominent owners. His roster of horses includes some heralded recent names including Triple Crown winner Justify, Monomoy Girl, Lady Eli, Midnight Bisou, Yoshida, Whitmore, Mind Your Biscuits, Authentic, Exaggerator, and Catholic Boy.

So how did Kumin come to be involved with a jumper?

“I have a friend named Paul Willis from Boston that has been raving about Keri (Brion) and he owns jump horses and trains with her. I started doing some diligence on her operation and I liked what I saw and learned. I plan to send her a few flat horses as well to train.

“I love horses and I love racing. I truthfully don't know much about jump racing, but I feel like I am in good hands and will ease my way in and see if it's enjoyable. I expect it will be.”

And at Willowdale: A feast for timber and hurdle runners

While Iroquois is a major race meet filled with pomp and pagentry, the beauty of the Willowdale Races in Kennett Square, Pa., rests with its relaxed country-fair atmosphere.

Seven races worth $120,000 are on tap, with the eponymous $35,000 Willowdale Steeplechase timber stake at 3 ½ miles anchoring the event. The feature has drawn only three starters, but two are coming off of wins only a week ago. Ballybristol Farm's Andi'amu, trained by Leslie Young, was a dominant 26-length winner of the prestigious $100,000 Virginia Gold Cup at soggy Great Meadow last Saturday, which capped a remarkable comeback for the 12-year-old after a 20-month layoff following a tendon injury. Hot new jockey Freddie Procter, who has won with six of his 11 mounts this spring, will be aboard the 2019 timber champion as he was for the Gold Cup.

Also being wheeled back on six-days rest is Irv Naylor's Withoutmoreado, trained by Kathy Neilson and ridden by daughter Skylar McKenna. Withoutmoreado turned on the jets in the $25,000 Winterthur Bowl timber allowance last Sunday, pulling away by 11 lengths. This is his first attempt in stakes company. Neilson will also be represented by Nancy Reed's Awesome Adrian. Awesome Adrian has been sharp in his two 2022 outings, finishing a close second to Road to Oz in the Grand National Stakes in Maryland in April, which followed an allowance score at Cheshire to start the season. Eric Poretz rides.

The remainder of the card consists of two timber and four hurdle events. The co-feature is the $20,000 Landhope Cup overnight handicap for horses rated at 110 or less at 2 ¼ miles. The field of eight is led by QR Stables' Criticize, who graduated from the maiden claiming ranks in Aiken in March and went on to finish second in a race in this company at Foxfield. Wendy Hendriks' Embrace the Grind was six and a half lengths behind Criticize in that race, and tries again. Mimi Voss' Bella Coola was in the field, too, and failed to menace. Mason Hardaway Lampton's Three O One, a maiden claiming winner at Charleston in November, hasn't been a factor in two efforts in this ratings class in 2022. Riverdee Stable's Twenty Years On beat Three O One at Callaway Gardens in a maiden claimer in the fall, and was competitive at this level at Tryon in April, finishing second best to Brownland Farm's Jump Ship. Irv Naylor's Island Nation did not finish in his U.S. debut in a 110 handicap at Foxfield, following 19 starts in England. After a career on the flat in the Mid-Atlantic region, Matthew T. Groff's Bold Quest got a perfect trip in a maiden claimer at the Queen's Cup and won with ease.

Post time for both meets is 1 p.m., though Iroquois is in the Central Time zone, meaning a 2 p.m. start for those on the East Coast.

For Iroquois entries, click HERE.

For Willowdale entries, click HERE.

If you are not attending the races in person, be sure to sign up to watch the live stream via the NSA's website. The live stream is sponsored by Brown Advisory, Charleston's Post & Courier, and the Virginia Equine Alliance.

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