May, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Changingoftheguard Extends Galileo Record in the Chester Vase

Westerberg and Coolmore's Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) may have face markings in the form of a question mark, but there was no doubting his class in Wednesday's G3 Boodles Chester Vase as the 10-3 chance bounded to an impressive 6 1/2-length triumph and extended sire Galileo's world-record tally of stakes winners to 349 in the day's extended 12-furlong feature. He had previously graduated by six lengths in an April Fools' Day maiden at Dundalk in his fourth start on seasonal return. Ryan Moore, who had made all aboard Ballydoyle's Thoughts of June (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Listed Cheshire Oaks earlier on the card, set out to repeat the dose and was clear of his three rivals passing the judge first time. Allowed a breather as the others took closer order at halfway, the April-foaled bay was stirred into action with a half mile remaining and powered clear under mild urging in the latter stages to easily rout Godolphin's hitherto undefeated New London (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) by daylight for a career high. Adding to Thoughts of June's Listed Cheshire Oaks prize, Changingoftheguard extended the aforementioned new world record for Galileo to 349 and joined an honour roll which has amassed a tally approaching $200-million in stakes earnings for his 12-time champion sire. The April-foaled bay has been installed at ante-post odds of 8-1 second favourite for Epsom's June 4 G1 Cazoo Derby where, in addition to two winners as damsire, he will bid to become a record-extending sixth winner of the Blue Riband for Galileo.

“Aidan [O'Brien] felt that the horse had improved substantially since his win at Dundalk and he felt he was going to appreciate the step up in trip, so we're happy with that,” said Coolmore's Kevin Buckley. “These trials help us see what we've got and where they are and now we know with him. I would presume it's highly likely that he will head to Epsom. Aidan will have to speak to the owners, obviously, but why not? We all love the Derby and we want to win it so the more representation we have, the better. I think he's fairly flexible in terms of the ground. He acted on the all-weather at Dundalk and he handled those [soft] conditions today, so he's versatile. He's just won a trial emphatically and it's a record-breaking 10th Chester Vase for Aidan. We felt he'd improved and we're finding out where we are at the moment so we could not be happier with that performance and the winning distance too. We're in the middle of the trials now, we'll have runners in them all and see where we are after the Dante.”

“He was impressive there and we always thought he'd stay well,” O'Brien said. “He was just chinned in his [Sept. 14] maiden at Punchestown before he then went and won his maiden really well at Dundalk. There was no doubt on our part that he would take a step forward from that and improve for going up in trip. The one thing we weren't sure about today was the [soft] ground when it rained as he's such a fluid mover, but he seems to have handled it fine. We were delighted with the run and I think off the back of that, you'd have to say he'd go to Epsom now.”

Ryan Moore, collecting a record eighth Chester Vase of his own, added, “He was very impressive today. Stepping up in trip suited him and you never know with these 3-year-olds how much they're going to improve as they go up in trip. He beat a well-regarded colt, he's only just beginning to come so we wouldn't be sure what he's going to be yet, but it's a very good performance.”

Charlie Appleby's assistant Alex Merriam conceded the 4-11 favourite New London was undone by the better horse and reflected, “He just never got into it for whatever reason and Will [Buick] said he couldn't put his finger on it. Whether it was the ground or the track, it's back to the drawing board and there are a couple more trials to go. We don't want to blame the track or the ground, we were beaten by the better horse on the day.” Buick added, “The winner piled it on from the front and stayed at it. I'm sure the winner is a decent horse, but this lad has got a lot to learn still.”

Changingoftheguard, the third of five foals, is the lone scorer for GII Honey Fox S. and GIII My Charmer H. victrix Lady Lara (Ire) (Excellent Art {GB}), herself the leading performer out of a full-sister to Listed Hyde S. victor and G3 Criterion S. runner-up Edinburgh Knight (Ire) (Selkirk). His third dam Pippas Song (GB) (Reference Point {GB}), a daughter of G2 Nassau S. winner Dancing Rocks (GB) (Green Dancer), is a half-sister to G3 Prestige S. victrix Glatisant (GB) (Rainbow Quest), who produced G1SW sires Footstepsinthesand (GB) (Giant's Causeway) and Pedro The Great (Henrythenavigator). Descendants of Dancing Rocks also include G1 Yorkshire Oaks third Rockerlong (GB) (Deploy {GB}), MG1SP sire Mahler (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and MG1SP European champion Superstar Leo (Ire) (College Chapel {GB}).

Wednesday, Chester, Britain
BOODLES CHESTER VASE S.-G3, £110,000, Chester, 5-4, 3yo, c/g, 12f 63yT, 2:43.36, sf.
1–CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Lady Lara (Ire) (MGSW-US, SW & MGSP-Eng, $781,203), by Excellent Art (GB)
2nd Dam: Shanty (GB), by Selkirk
3rd Dam: Pippas Song (GB), by Reference Point (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Westerberg, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-B V Sangster (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £62,381. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-0, $90,298. *349th stakes winner for sire. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–New London (Ire), 128, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Bright Beacon (GB), by Manduro (Ger). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £23,650.
3–Savvy Victory (Ire), 128, c, 3, New Bay (GB)–Highlands Queen (Fr), by Mount Nelson (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£240,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-Julian Hui; B-Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Sean Woods. £11,836.
Margins: 6HF, 6, HF. Odds: 3.33, 0.36, 20.00.
Also Ran: Berkshire Rebel (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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From the TIF: The Future of Derby Futures & Modernizing Betting

The speed of legal sports betting's expansion across America in the last four years has surprised even the most bullish advocates. On any given day in a majority of states, Americans can bet on just about any outcome in the world of sports.

The next point in a game of tennis. The total runs in the next inning of a baseball game. The number of corner kicks for a team in a soccer match.

But if you legally wanted to bet on the Kentucky Derby other than the day before or day of the race, you have but a few weekends to place pari-mutuel bets, in limited pools, and through underdeveloped advanced deposit wagering.

Churchill Downs offered five opportunities to bet Derby futures for its 2022 edition, to be run this coming Saturday. Win and exacta pools were available, as well as a bet on the winner's sire and the sires of the exacta finishers. Total handle across all of the Derby-only pools was $1.88 million. An Oaks/Derby double future was offered and handled less than $85,000.

Roll back the clock to 2002 and Derby future betting was just three pools over three weekends with win betting only. Total handle that year was a combined $1.5 million which when adjusted for inflation, equates to about $2.36 million today. Despite additional pools and dates, interest measured by inflation-adjusted handle is down about 20%.

Sports betting is not legal in Kentucky at present, but that would not preclude Churchill Downs from striking future deals with operators in states that permit fixed-odds betting on racing.

The opportunity for the Kentucky Derby and its qualifying series to dominate the landscape in coming years is strong. While pari-mutuel futures on the big race have stagnated, a far more diverse market of fixed-odds opportunities should be within reach.

Click here to read the rest of this piece from the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation.

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Thoughts of June A World Record 348th Stakes Winner For Galileo

Aptly-named Aidan O'Brien trainee Thoughts of June (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) finished behind Above The Curve (American Pharoah) tackling one mile at Leopardstown in her juvenile season closer last October and again when that reopposing rival attained TDN Rising Star status over the same course and distance last month. Sent postward at odds of 7-1 for Wednesday's Listed Weatherbys Bloodstock Pro Cheshire Oaks at Chester, she gained some measure of revenge to shed maiden status in game fashion. Thoughts of June was quickly into stride and led passing the judge first time, but required encouragement to remain in control with a half mile remaining. Under increased pressure thereafter, she dipped into plentiful reserves in the home straight and was driven out inside the final furlong to withstand the late threat of 5-4 favourite Above The Curve by a neck for a career high in this G1 Epsom Oaks trial. Thoughts of June's win thrust Galileo beyond Danehill, becoming a world-record 348th stakes winner for her sire.

Indeed, thoughts are of June, specifically Epsom's June 3 G1 Cazoo Oaks, and she now rates as a general 14-1 ante-post chance for that Classic. “I think we have to be thinking of Epsom,” Coolmore's Kevin Buckley confirmed. “Aidan [O'Brien] will have a chat with the owners, which include our partners Moyglare Stud, but I think on that performance we'd have to head to Epsom. Aidan always felt that stepping her up in trip would be to her liking, he thought she'd handle it round the bends here and Ryan [Moore] was very happy. We made plenty of use of her at Leopardstown last time and it was always the plan to do that today, but she's fairly versatile I would imagine. We'll have to see what else happens in the trials. We were very happy with Tuesday in the Guineas and she seems to have come out of it well. We're looking forward to June.”

The trainer concurred. “We've always liked her a lot and I loved her run the first day back at Leopardstown behind Joseph's filly [Above The Curve],” he added. “I thought she'd come forward from that and she clearly did. She got a great ride from Ryan and they are obviously two very good fillies as Joseph's ran a great race too. We'd been thinking of the Oaks for her and that was the reason for sending her to Chester, to see if she'd handle it and it was going to teach her plenty. I haven't had chance to speak to Ryan, but she seemed to handle the [soft] ground fine and seems versatile.”

Thoughts of June is the latest of three foals, all by Galileo (Ire), and second winner produced by GI Del Mar Oaks heroine and six-time elite-level placegetter Discreet Marq (Marquetry), herself kin to three black-type performers headed by dual stakes-winning full-brother Too Discreet, and who was acquired by the Moyglare operation for a whopping $2.4-million at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's 2014 November fixture. The April-foaled grey's stakes-winning second dam To Marquet (Marquetry), who also ran second in the GIII Tempted S., is a daughter of three-time stakes victrix Pretty Momma (Concorde Bound). Pretty Momma, in turn, is a half-sister to MGSW sire Unreal Turn (Unreal Zeal) and Shananie's Boss (Shananie), who saluted four times at black-type level, and hails from the family of GI Oaklawn H. and GI Arlington Classic-winning sire Lost Code (Codex).

Wednesday, Chester, Britain
WEATHERBYS BLOODSTOCK PRO CHESHIRE OAKS (FOR THE ROBERT SANGSTER MEMORIAL CUP)-Listed, £87,500, Chester, 5-4, 3yo, f, 11f 75yT, 2:31.64, sf.
1–THOUGHTS OF JUNE (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Discreet Marq (GISW-US, $1,268,972), by Discreet Cat
2nd Dam: To Marquet, by Marquetry
3rd Dam: Pretty Momma, by Concorde Bound
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Moyglare Stud Farm, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Moyglare Stud Farm (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £49,621. Lifetime Record: 4-1-2-0, $68,983 *348th stakes winner for sire.
2–Above The Curve, 128, f, 3, American Pharoah–Fabulous (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Joseph O'Brien. £18,813.
3–Typewriter (Ire), 128, f, 3, Gleneagles (Ire)–On Location, by Street Cry (Ire). (19,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; 26,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs Fitri Hay; B-Castle Farm Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £9,415.
Margins: NK, 3 3/4, 2HF. Odds: 7.00, 1.25, 9.00.
Also Ran: Moon de Vega (GB), Hello Jumeirah (GB), Wynter Wildes (GB), Night Battle (Ire), Improvise (Fr), Morning Poem (GB). Scratched: Makinmedoit (Ire).

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Letter to the Editor: Positive Changes Coming Out of Pennsylvania, by Bryan Langlois, DVM

Over the past few months there have been stories about various State Racing Commissions doing or not doing things for the good of the sport. The Triple Crown season always brings more of a spotlight on the sport and, most times, how there is no progress being made. Quietly, however, one State Racing Commission has been making positive strides in improving the safety, welfare, and integrity of the sport and industry. That state is Pennsylvania.

There perhaps has not been a more public vocal critic of the Racing Commission than myself over the last few years (a look back at my public comments at meetings will show this). However, I must say that the changes being announced, implemented, and backed up with action are extremely pleasing to see. The issues that have plagued the industry (and Pennsylvania has often been called the prime example of these issues by many) are not something that are going to be solved overnight. It is going to take time and effort to do this. What the Pennsylvania Racing Commission has finally done is taken a good, hard look in the mirror and identified specific areas that need to be addressed and changed. That started with the Committee on Equine Welfare and Safety that the Commission created. The Committee came out with 11 “action items” that were going to be implemented in various stages of time (anyone familiar with the process to get regulations passed in Pennsylvania knows of the length of time it takes) with the goal of improving the safety of the horses, the safety of the participants, and the integrity of the sport in the public's eye.

It is one thing to just come out and say you are going to do something. It is quite another to do it, and, so far, the Commission has backed up its words with action. At each monthly meeting Thoroughbred Bureau Director Tom Chuckas gives a detailed a report on where each of the action items sits in the implementation process as well as a review of any enforcement actions taken. It is evident from what is reported at the meetings, such as barn and vehicle searches turning up syringes and medications that should not be there, “jog up” inspections of horses in various barns (leading to a few being flagged for closer inspection and one being placed on the vet's list), and an increasing number of Out of Competition Tests being done each month, that the Commission and its investigative team are taking this task very seriously and letting the public know it.

I know there are those out there that will still say the tracks in Pennsylvania are a cesspool and the Commission has no idea who the real cheaters are and such. Well, for those that claim to have all this inside info on the cheaters and what they are doing, a special “integrity hotline” has been created that allows you to leave this information anonymously. The number for this hotline is (717) 787-1942. You must leave a detailed message, and someone will only contact you back if you specifically request it. Otherwise, the calls will be investigated based on the message left. So far, 20 calls have been placed to the hotline with eight being completely resolved and 12 still being investigated. Yes, we would all like to know all the details of these investigations and who was investigated (myself included), but we also must realize that information does have to remain private for these things to work properly. So as the old saying goes, “If you see something, say something.”

A person who makes poor lifestyle choices for decades of their life is not going to turn everything around and have the effects of those choices disappear after a month at the gym. The same is true of this sport. It has taken decades for this industry to get to where it is, and it is going to take more time than any of us would like to right the ship properly. Some agencies and tracks continue to turn a blind eye to things and hope it will all be OK or offer lip service about change with no evidence to back it up. Pennsylvania is finally taking the right steps to bring integrity and safety back to the sport, and Director Chuckas and the Commission are to be commended for their efforts so far. I look forward to the continuation of these positive developments.

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