June, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Former Colonial Downs Owner Proposes New Eastern Kentucky Quarter Horse Track

Revolutionary Racing, which revived Thoroughbred racing at Virginia's Colonial Downs in 2019, is proposing to build a Quarter horse track and Historical Horse Racing casino in the eastern Kentucky city of Ashland in Boyd County.

Larry Lucas, chairman of Revolutionary Racing, was joined by several others in making a presentation to the Kentucky Horse Racing Board at its regularly scheduled monthly meeting. Revolutionary Racing plans to seek the final racetrack license available in the state and it would be the only Quarter horse track.

While few details about the casino were discussed, Lucas said Revolutionary Racing plans to spend $55 million on the project and that it would create 200 full-time jobs in addition to short-term construction jobs.

“We believe a racing license is a privilege and not a right,” Lucas said before outlining the alliances his company has built with the Kentucky Quarter Horse Racing Association and community leaders in Ashland, part of the Tristate Area that borders Ohio and West Virginia and has a combined population of approximately 350,000.

Prentice Salter, president and CEO of Revolutionary Racing Kentucky, estimated the track and HHR facility would handle $500 million annually (all but $4.5 million to $6 million of which would be wagered on slots-like HHR machines). From that, Salter estimated the company would generate $50 million in revenue, $10 million in earnings and contribute $1 million in tax revenue.

Racing would be conducted on 2,300-foot straightaway that would accommodate races up to 660 yards over a 100-foot-wide surface. Plans call for construction of barns and on-track facilities over two phases and the track would eventually build a show horse arena.

Revolutionary Racing officials would not commit to a specific number of racing dates or races per year, saying it would depend on the available inventory of Quarter horses.

Lucas and Revolutionary Racing led a revival of Virginia Thoroughbred racing with their $20-million purchase in partnership with Peninsula Pacific of Colonial Downs. The purchase was made at the same time the Virginia lawmakers passed enabling legislation for Historical Horse Racing machines at Colonial Downs and an OTB network throughout the state. Peninsula Pacific eventually bought out Revolutionary Racing and Colonial Downs was sold earlier this year as part of a package to Churchill Downs Inc. for $2.5 billion.

Historical Horse Racing would be the key component to building an Ashland track, though few details on that part of the business were discussed during the informational presentation to the KHRC.

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Guilfoil Leaving Kentucky Horse Racing Commission For HISA Post

Marc Guilfoil, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, has joined the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) as director of State Racing Commission Relations.

In the role, Guilfoil will direct outreach to and collaboration with state racing commissions on the implementation of HISA's Racetrack Safety and Anti-Doping and Medication Control Programs.

Tom DiPasquale, a HISA consultant, has been performing in the role on an interim basis and will continue to do so until July 15 to facilitate a smooth transition.

“Marc is a respected leader in the racing industry with years of state racing commission experience, and I trust that his expertise, relationships and professionalism will serve HISA well as we continue to work closely with state racing commissions to implement the new federal law,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “I also want to thank Tom DiPasquale for his incredible work over the last several months as HISA has prepared to go into full effect this summer; he has been an invaluable contributor to HISA's implementation plan.”

“I want to thank the governor and the state of Kentucky for the opportunity to serve the state as executive director,” said Guilfoil. “It's been both an honor and a privilege. I am looking forward to helping HISA achieve national uniform safety and integrity standards.”

Guilfoil began his work at the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission in 1988 and was promoted to executive director in 2016. He had previously served as the commission's director of racing and as deputy executive director of the commission.

Guilfoil is a Kentucky native and graduated from the University of Kentucky with a B.S. in agriculture.

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Equibase Analysis: Tawny Port Ready For Rebound In Ohio Derby

Saturday's Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown Racino drew a field of eight, with three horses last seen in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May.

Among that trio the best finish was obtained by Tawny Port, who ended up seventh in the 20 horse field, beaten four and three-quarter lengths at the end. Classic Causeway checked in 11th in the Derby, with White Abarrio finishing 16th in the field of 20. Prior to that, Tawny Port won the G3 Lexington Stakes while White Abarrio won the G1 Florida Derby. Classic Causeway won the G2 Tampa Bay Derby in March before an 11th place finish in the Florida Derby.

Among the rest, Ethereal Road skipped the Derby and just won the Sir Barton Stakes five weeks ago so may be ready for another top effort. Barese won the Gander Stakes in February before a fifth place finish in the G2 Wood Memorial, followed by a third place effort in the NY Stallion Stakes. Droppin G's is winless in his last four races including a fourth place effort, beaten 14 lengths, in the G3 Matt Winn Stakes two weeks ago. Brigadier General and Pineapple Man round out the field, each with just a maiden win to their credit.

Analysis and top contenders:

Tawny Port won the first two starts of his career, then finished fifth in the Risen Star Stakes. Following a career best 102 Equibase® Speed Figure earned when second in the Jeff Ruby Steaks in April, the colt earned enough points for a Kentucky Derby start with a win in the Lexington Stakes three weeks before the Derby. After starting 14th in the Derby, Tawny Port continually passed horses to get to fifth with an eighth of a mile to run but ran evenly thereafter, ending up seventh and just under five lengths from the winner. The 100 figure earned in that effort is tied for the best last race figure in the field with Ethereal Road.

However, Tawny Port is facing much easier competitors than Ethereal Road and that is the deciding factor in giving this colt top billing in the Ohio Derby. Tawny Port has an additional advantage over Ethereal Road as he can race about fourth in the early stages, which may be the best position to be in because up to three horses (Classic Causeway, Pineapple Man and Brigadier General) should set or press the pace from the onset. Best of all, Tawny Port attracts North American leading jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. to ride.

Ethereal Road was going to run in the Kentucky Derby until a last minute withdrawal one day before the race. Prior to that the colt finished second in the Rebel Stakes in February with a 90 figure then two races later improved to 94 when fourth behind Tawny Port in the Lexington Stakes. Entering the non-graded Sir Barton Stakes instead of the Preakness two weeks following the Derby, trainer D. Wayne Lukas appeared to have made the right choice with Ethereal Road as he rallied from fifth with a quarter mile to run to draw off by nearly five lengths, earning a career-best 100 figure in the process. That figure continued an improving pattern begun in January so there is a strong possibility this colt could run the best race of his career to win the Ohio Derby.

White Abarrio made his mark on the road to the Kentucky Derby earlier this year when winning the Holy Bull Stakes and Florida Derby in succession, earning 102 then 100 figures. In the Kentucky Derby, White Abarrio found himself much further back in the early stages than he had ever been, as he was 10th after a quarter mile and 12th after a half-mile had been run. He was also five to nine paths wide for most of the race, so fading to from 14th to 18th in the stretch was potentially to be expected. Finding an easier field in the Ohio Derby and with the tactical speed to take the lead if need be or to sit off another horse or horses who may want the lead at the start, White Abarrio has potential to rebound to his best performances of the year which would make him competitive in this situation.

The rest of the field, with their best Equibase Speed Figures, is Barese (97), Brigadier General (99), Classic Causeway (104), Droppin G's (92) and Pineapple Man (84).

Win Contenders:
Tawny Port
Ethereal Road
White Abarrio

Ohio Derby – Grade 3
Race 11 at Thistledown
Saturday, June 25 – Post Time 5:35 PM E.T.
One Mile and One Eighth
Three Year Olds
Purse: $500,000

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Returning From Surgery, Jockey Edgard Zayas ‘Extremely Hungry’

Edgard Zayas was riding a wave of momentum into the 2021-2022 Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park last December when he had to make a tough decision.

The 28-year-old South Florida-based jockey, who had enjoyed a breakout 2020-2021 Championship Meet that was followed by Spring/Summer and Fall Meet titles, opted to undergo shoulder surgery that would sideline him for the remainder of Gulfstream's prestigious winter session.

“It was really, really frustrating, because I was expecting to have a really good Championship Meet, and it started out amazing,” said Zayas, Gulfstream's most dominant rider for the past several years. “It was really frustrating watching horses that I was riding regularly win. It was like, 'That could have been me.'”

Six months after undergoing shoulder surgery on his left shoulder, the Rio Grande, Puerto Rico native will return to action Friday at Gulfstream Park, where he is scheduled to ride in three races on the 10-race Happy Hour program that will get under way at 2:55 p.m.

“I'm extremely hungry, to be honest,” Zayas said. “For this meet, it's a little late, but I'm just going try to pick up some nice babies and build up my business again and get prepared for the winter.”

Zayas, who has been galloping and breezing horses for the past few weeks, could have put off the inevitable surgery and continued riding last winter, but he is confident he made the right decision and is happy that his shoulder issues are behind him.

“It was an injury that happened in the middle of last year. It was dislocated. Towards the end of the year, it dislocated again. I went and got it checked out and I decided to get surgery on it,” Zayas said.

“It took a lot longer than I thought it would. The doctor didn't think it was that bad until he went in and saw it was a little worse than we thought,” he added.

During recovery and rehabilitation, Zayas got to spend some quality family time with his wife, Ashley, and daughters, Lillian (5) and Lilah (18 months).

“To be honest I really enjoyed it, but it got to the point where I was ready to get back to work. At the beginning it was a little nice, but after a couple of weeks, it was frustrating,” he said.

Zayas has ridden 1930 winners since venturing to South Florida to launch his career in late 2012, benefitting from early mentoring from Hall of Famers Angel Cordero and Edgar Prado. He was an Eclipse Award finalist for outstanding apprentice jockey in 2013 after riding more than 200 winners and notching a Grade 1 victory aboard Starship Truffles in the Princess Rooney at Calder.

Zayas, who has gone on to ride more than 200 winners in six of nine complete years of his career, is named to ride Ralph Nicks-trained first-time starter Flag Woman in Race 3, Antonio Sano-trained Don't Get Khozy in Race 7, and Saffie Joseph Jr-trained Li Li Bear in Race 8.

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