June, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Things Are Moving Again’ In Kentucky For Veteran Rider David Cohen

Veteran rider David Cohen has been very active in the recent mornings on the backside of Churchill Downs working several horses for outfits such as Whit Beckman, Robertino Diodoro, D. Wayne Lukas and Dallas Stewart.

“I decided to stay at Oaklawn until the end so it was a little slow to get going at Churchill since I missed Keeneland,” said Cohen, who was inducted in the 2021-22 class of the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. “We've started to pick up business the last week or so and things are moving again. I just have to keep working hard and grinding away.”

Cohen is one of only a few Jewish jockeys in the country. One of the most notable is Walter Blum, who was inducted into racing's Hall of Fame in 1987 and won the 1971 Belmont Stakes aboard Pass Catcher.

In 2014, Cohen suffered a fractured leg which set him back several years until his fulltime return in 2018. The 37-year-old jockey has ridden primarily in New York and the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. for the majority of his career but has found a new home on the Kentucky circuit under the representation of Doug Bredar.

One of Cohen's mounts Saturday is Grade 1-placed Ava's Grace in the $200,000 Shawnee Stakes at Churchill Downs. The two-time winning 4-year-old filly finished second in last year's $600,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn and enters the race from a third-place finish in last month's $750,000 La Troienne presented by Signify Health (G1). In both races she was defeated by Shawnee Stakes heavy 3-5 morning line favorite Pauline's Pearl.

“She seems to be coming into the race in good shape from the La Troienne,” Cohen said. “We're excited about her chances.”

The Shawnee Stakes will go as Race 7 on Saturday's 11-race card dubbed as “Stephen Foster Preview Day.” First post is 12:45 p.m.

Here is the complete field for the Shawnee from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

Temper Time (Ricardo Santana Jr., Dale Romans, 20-1)
She's All Wolfe (Francisco Arrieta, Donnie K. Von Hemel, 15-1)
Ava's Grace (Cohen, Robertino Diodoro, 7-2)
Army Wife (Tyler Gaffalione, Mike Maker, 9-2)
Pauline's Pearl (Luis Saez, Steve Asmussen, 3-5)
Crazy Beautiful (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek, 6-1).

The post ‘Things Are Moving Again’ In Kentucky For Veteran Rider David Cohen appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Tuesday On Friday: Oaks Win Gives Aidan O’Brien Record 41st British Classic

Aidan O'Brien is one of the greatest modern day trainers and he now holds the record for most British Classics of all time. Tuesday gave him his 41st British Classic after clinching an exciting renewal in the Cazoo Oaks this Friday at Epsom Downs.

O'Brien surpassed John Scott's record of 41 wins, registered between 1827 and 1863.

“It's an honor for me to be in this position,” O'Brien told racingpost.com. “Everybody puts in so much work, literally day and night, so it's unbelievable for the whole team to be able to enjoy a win like this.”

Clear favorite, Emily Uphjohn, appeared to slip out the starting stalls and was consequently left at the back of the field. Despite an extraordinary recovery throughout the race, the favorite was held off by the Ballydoyle filly on the line.

Frankie Dettori nurtured Emily Upjohn into the race and opted for the stands side, and appeared to head Tuesday inside the final furlong. However, Ryan Moore's mount bounced back to fight off her rival and win by a short head.

Coolmore homebred Tuesday, a daughter of Galileo out of the multiple Group 1-winning mare Lillie Langtry (Danehill Dancer), also celebrated her third birthday on the day of her Epsom Oaks triumph. Prior to the classic win, she had finished third in the QIPCO 1,000 Guineas and second in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.

“She's still a baby and was running in Classics before she was three,” O'Brien said. “It goes to show what kind of a filly she is and she's maturing all the time. She's very special and has an unbelievable pedigree. What she did today was classy and it's possible there's still more to come from her.”

It's TUESDAY's day

She beats favourite EMILY UPJOHN to win the @Cazoouk Oaks #CazooDerby pic.twitter.com/edG3AVJqmX

— Epsom Downs Racecourse (@EpsomRacecourse) June 3, 2022

The post Tuesday On Friday: Oaks Win Gives Aidan O’Brien Record 41st British Classic appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Unbeaten Sensation Flightline ‘Ready to Go’ for Met Mile

The unbeaten sensation Flightline (Tapit) has been cleared for takeoff.

Last seen making it a perfect three-for-three with a gaudy 118 Beyer Speed Figure in Santa Anita's GI Runhappy Malibu S. Dec. 26, Flightline will launch his highly anticipated 4-year-old campaign in the GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H. on the completely stacked GI Belmont S. undercard June 11.

“We're at that stage where he's all ready,” trainer John Sadler said. “He's doing really well. He hasn't missed a beat. We just have to get to next week and get a decent ship in to New York. He'll be there midday Tuesday. He's ready to go.”

Flightline has won his first three career starts–all in Southern California–by a combined margin of a staggering 37 1/2 lengths. A no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star' on debut in Arcadia Apr. 24, he followed up with another jaw-dropping victory in an optional claimer at Del Mar Sept. 5, good for a 114 Beyer Speed Figure.

He dominated his six rivals in front-running fashion by 11 1/2 lengths while making his stakes debut in the Malibu. Distant third-place finisher Stilleto Boy (Shackleford) has since finished third in both the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. and GI Santa Anita H. and captured the GII Californian S. Apr. 30, respectively.

After suffering a minor setback in February, Flightline was forced to miss an intended start in the GII San Carlos S. at Santa Anita Mar. 5.

“He was going for a race in March and he had a little bit of a hock issue,” Sadler said. “We did the diagnostics on him and it didn't show anything too severe. It's just that he needed a little time. The timing was bad, but it was nothing that should compromise him going forward. We gave him a little time to get over that and now he's training lights out. If you look at his work pattern, it's really in good shape.”

Flightline has posted eight breezes since returning to the worktab Apr. 10. He covered five furlongs in :59.80 (2/23) beneath regular rider Flavien Prat at Santa Anita May 30. He is slated to breeze again Sunday before heading to the Big Apple.

“My assistant Juan Leyva has spent a lot of time with him,” Sadler said. “He works and gallops him. With him, it's always like, 'How do you ride a hurricane?' Juan's been working with him and getting him to relax. We had the time to do it, but it's not like we're doing anything different. It looks like he's a lot more settled in the mornings now. And we've got him going off nice and easy in his works, too. I'm really pleased.”

He added, “We'll probably go a half in :48 on Sunday and then come on over.”

The Met Mile will mark Flightline's first start beyond seven furlongs. Streaking Godolphin homebred Speaker's Corner (Street Sense), a visually impressive winner of the GI Carter H.; and GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Aloha West (Hard Spun) are also expected to line up for the highly coveted stallion-making race.

“I think he'll love it,” Sadler said of the added distance. “Sometimes, the misconception is that with really fast horses, the farther they go, they're not as good. But if you've watched any of his races, he looks like nothing but a fresh horse at the wire. And it's a one-turn mile, so it should really be well within his wheelhouse.”

Sadler continued, “The harder questions are some of the stuff we haven't answered yet. How does he ship, new environment and those kind of things. But as far as all the things I can control, I couldn't be more pleased.”

Campaigned in partnership by the powerhouse line-up of Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, breeder Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, Flightline brought $1 million as a yearling at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga. He is out of the GSW & MGISP mare Feathered (Indian Charlie), a granddaughter of MGISW Finder's Fee (Storm Cat). Feathered brought $2.35 million from Summer Wind at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale.

“It would be tremendous–there's no question about the stallion potential of this horse and what this race would mean for him,” Sadler said. “Also for his cache, it would be great to win outside of California. We're excited. I'm not going to get too excited though because we've got a ways to go. But right now, he's doing beautifully.”

Races like the GI Whitney S. at Saratoga Aug. 6 or GI TVG Pacific Classic S. Sept. 3 could be in play this summer for Flightline with a long-term eye on the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland Nov. 5.

Sadler concluded, “Sky's the limit. I've never had one like this horse.”

The post Unbeaten Sensation Flightline ‘Ready to Go’ for Met Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Colic Surgery In Foals: More Optimism For Positive Outcomes May Be Warranted

Owners of foals needing an operation for obstruction of the small intestine should be optimistic about the outcome, a new study shows. Knowledge of colic surgery survival rates is important to horse owners making surgical decisions.

Dr. Sara Erwin reviewed the records of surgical colic cases from five academic referral hospitals in the United States to directly compare foal and adult horse survival rates following colic lesion surgery. In the past, lower survival rates have been reported in foals than adults when the affected horse has severe colic lesions which obstruct small intestine blood flow.

The scientists assessed 41 cases of foals six months and younger and 105 cases of adults between two and 20 years old. They discovered that 24 of 25 foals (96 percent) and 66 of 75 adults (88 percent) who recovered from surgery for a strangulating obstruction survived to be discharged from the hospital.

The researchers noted that this could be related to case selection prior to referral or surgery or decisions made during surgery.

Sixteen foals had to be euthanized during their surgery (39 percent); 30 adults (28.6 percent) were euthanized during their procedure.

The scientists concluded that short-term survival in foals did not significantly differ from adults with comparable colics, so more optimism for colic surgery in foals may be warranted. The team notes that the study was limited by small sample size, lack of long-term follow up and incomplete medical and surgical records.

Read the full study here.