July, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Brigadier Gerard Honoured With QIPCO Award

Fifty years ago, Brigadier Gerard (GB) (Queen's Hussar {GB}) won the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S., and to commemorate his victory, he was awarded the QIPCO Diamonds & Pearls Award on Wednesday. The Brigadier, as he was known, won an incredible 17 of his 18 starts in the colours of his breeder John Hislop for trainer Major Dick Hern. Among his victories were the 2000 Guineas, St James's Palace S., Sussex S., Goodwood Mile, and Queen Elizabeth II S., as well as the Champion S. (Click here for a video commemorating his achievements.)

Anne Mercer, wife of the late Joe Mercer who was the Brigadier's regular jockey, said, “Brigadier Gerard was Joe's favourite racehorse–a horse of a lifetime. Our family has so many happy memories of the Brigadier and we are delighted that he has now received the QIPCO Diamonds and Pearls award.”

Named the British Horse Of The Century, Brigadier Gerard retired to stand at Egerton Stud in Newmarket and later Hislop's stud at East Woodhay. He sired the 1980 G1 St Leger winner Light Cavalry (GB), as well as the 1981 G1 Champion S. victor Vayrann (Ire). He died in 1989.

Laurence Williamson, Brigadier Gerard's groom, said, “Brigadier Gerard campaigned in an unprecedented 'golden' era. From humble beginnings, out of a half-blind maiden mare of limited ability and a talented but inexpensive sire, anything Brigadier Gerard lacked in breeding, he more than made up for in appearance and performance. His world-class trainer, Major Dick Hern, hailed him as a champion of champions. I will be proud and humbled to be at Ascot when the horse I believe to be one of the greatest racehorses of modern times receives the QIPCO Diamonds and Pearls Award.”

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Asmussen Heavyweights Tune Up For Spa Stakes

Top sophomore colt Epicenter (Not This Time) and Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) highlighted the Saratoga worktab over the last few mornings as each prepares for big-race engagements July 30.

Winchell Thorougbreds' GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. runner-up Epicenter makes his first start of the second half of the season in the GII Jim Dandy S. and went five furlongs over the Oklahoma training track Monday in 1:01.13 in the company of the 3-year-old maiden Flute Master (Gun Runner) (1:03.12).

“Visually impressive is what he is,” trainer Steve Asmussen told the NYRA notes team. “He's an extremely talented horse and he's doing well. His work Monday was as good of a work as I've seen from him, and I've seen some impressive works from him. It's a good time to be doing well.”

J. Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior was last seen overwhelming his competition by five lengths in the June 10 GII True North S. and breezed five-eighths of a mile in 1:00.72 Sunday over the Oklahoma track. The strapping 4-year-old is scheduled to make his next appearance in the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt S.

“It's so rare to have a champion colt be back in training and not only that, his three runs this year have been visually impressive,” Asmussen said. “He had a nice work here on Sunday and we're on target for the Vanderbilt.”

Jackie's Warrior, who defeated 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in last year's GI H. Allen Jerkens S., is also potentially a candidate for the GI Forego S. on the GI Runhappy Travers S. undercard Aug. 27.

“We want more of the same from him. He's 4-for 4 here which is an unbelievable record,” Asmussen said. “His win here in the Allen Jerkens against Life Is Good was as good of a horse race as I've been involved with. It was wonderful to come out on the right side of that.”

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Haskell Lineup: Taiba Installed As 7-5 Favorite, Undefeated Jack Christopher At 3-2

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will look to extend his record for victories to 10 in the TVG.com Haskell stakes after Taiba was installed as the 7-5 morning line for the $1 million, Grade 1 race on Saturday at Monmouth Park following Wednesday's post position draw.

Monmouth Park oddsmaker Brad Thomas pegged the undefeated Jack Christopher as the 3-2 morning line second choice in the field of eight, which expanded with the late entries of local horses King of Hollywood and One Time Willard.

The 55th edition The Haskell, to be contested at 1 1/8 miles, is a “Win and You're In” race as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series and guarantees the victor an all-fees paid spot in the starting gate for the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland Nov. 5.

Baffert last won the Haskell in 2020 with Authentic.

“I don't think about records. I just think about sending a good horse there and I've sent some really great ones,” said Baffert. “I hope this guy is the same type of horse I've been bringing up there. We know he's very talented.”

Taiba, a $1.7 million purchase and the son of 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner, won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in only his second outing and finished 12th in the Kentucky Derby last time out while being handled by Tim Yatkeen while Baffert was serving a 90-day suspension.

“We know he's lightly raced but I feel he's doing really well,” Baffert said. “I wanted to watch him train. I wasn't really convinced he was going to the Haskell. He breezed really well. He's a big, strong heavy horse who won't light it up in the mornings, but I was surprised what he did first out (to breeze). I let him dictate if he was ready or not. I wasn't going to throw him into the deep end of the pool.

“I would have liked an extra week with him. But he's doing really well. He has speed and he doesn't get tired. The two turns won't be a problem for him. The Kentucky Derby was a tall order for him. I don't know what happened in the Derby. I wasn't around. The Haskell is a great race and there are some really good horses in here. I hope the horse shows up.”

Taiba will be piloted by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, a three-time Haskell winner. Most recently, Smith won the Haskell with Authentic, who went on to earn Horse of the Year honors.

As for strategy when the gates open, Baffert said, “He has to break well. Then it's going to be up to Mike.”

Jim Baake, Gerald Ibister, Coolmore and Peter Brant's Jack Christopher, who is undefeated in four career outings and seeking his second straight top-level win, will be trying two turns for the first time while going beyond a mile for the first time as well.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, who won the 2018 Haskell with Good Magic, has awarded the return call on the son of Munnings to Jose Ortiz. The 2017 champion rider piloted Good Magic to his Haskell win and has partnered with Jack Christopher in all of his races, including their 2021 victory in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont.

In addition to Jack Christopher and Taiba, Grade 1 winners in the competitive field of eight include Arkansas Derby winner Cyberknife, who is trained by two-time Eclipse winner Brad Cox, and the Saffie Joseph, Jr.-conditioned White Abarrio, the winner of the Florida Deby.

Howling Time, who comes from the barn of Eclipse Award winner Dale Romans, and the locally-based Benevengo, One Time Willard, and King of Hollywood round out the field.

With Cyberknife, Cox is attempting to win back-to-back Haskells. In 2021 he captured the trophy with Juddmonte's homebred Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun, who was elevated to first place by disqualification.

“I'm not sure how close I am to getting to the bottom of this horse,” Cox said. “He is a Grade 1 winner and a multiple stakes winner, and he has improved. There's more left in the tank. We're going to have to see the best Cyberknife in order to win this race. It's a very, very good race. If this horse can bring his last race and can move forward just a little bit, I think he's major, major player.”

In that last contest, the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs at 1 1/16 miles, Cyberknife sat right off the heels of Howling Time as that colt set all the fractions and then he prevailed in a deep stretch battle to get his nose in front at the wire.

“He's trained great. After the last two races he's trained better and better. He was a little bit behind physically but now he's not,” said Romans said of Howling Time. “I don't think we have to have the lead or take a hold with him. Joe (Talamo) is a quality rider and he knows what's he doing. I think we can just sit in our spot and, hopefully, we can run by them in the lane.”

The Haskell field from the rail out with riders and odds: 1 – Cyberknife, Florent Geroux, 6-1; 2 – Taiba, Mike Smith, 7-5; 3 – One Time Willard, Paco Lopez, 30-1; 4 – Howling Time, Joe Talamo, 10-1; 5 – King of Hollywood, Nik Juarez, 30-1; 6 – White Abarrio, Joel Rosario, 5-1; 7 – Jack Christopher, Jose Ortiz, 3-2, and 8 – Benevengo, Angel Rodriguez, 20-1.

Post time for the Haskell, which will be televised by CNBC and TVG, is approximately 5:45 PM and will be run as the 12th of 14 races on the card. First post on Haskell day is at noon.

The supporting card offers four additional graded stakes: the $600,000 Grade 1, United Nations; $400,000 Grade 3 Monmouth Cup; the $400,000, Grade 3 Molly Pitcher Stakes, and the $200,00, Grade 3 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes.

Gates open at 9 a.m. for the Haskell day card. Parking is free.

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‘Help Them The Way They’ve Helped Me’: Clear Stars Stable TAKE2’s July Donor Of The Month

Thoroughbred owner Michael Sternklar, founder of Clear Stars Stable, has owned and raced horses in New York since 2005. Coming into the sport as a novice, he has spent the last 18 years learning about the business, including the importance of thoughtful Thoroughbred retirement and retraining. For his $5,000 contribution to the TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program's 10th Anniversary celebration, Sternklar is recognized as TAKE2's July's “Donor of the Month.”

TAKE2, founded in March of 2012, set a goal of raising $10,000 a month for 10 months in honor of its milestone anniversary. With the generous help of previous “Donors of the Month” Len Green and the Green Group, TAKE2 competitor Patricia Hurter, Empire Racing Club's Kyle Emmich, and the New York Thoroughbred Breeders and New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund, the campaign is ahead of its goal. Many more Thoroughbred lovers have contributed, raising more than $48,000 with 10 days to go before the half-way mark.

When Sternklar decided to get involved in racehorse ownership, he asked his friend, artist Michael Geraghty, for a trainer recommendation. Geraghty suggested Rick Schosberg, who for the last decade has led the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association TAKE THE LEAD retirement program, and Schosberg and Sternklar have worked together ever since.

“I wanted to throw myself into it and learn everything I could,” said Sternklar. “And Rick said, 'This game needs young owners, and I'm here to teach you.'”

Sternklar stressed from that first meeting that he wanted to do things “the right way,” establishing ownership groups that care about the horses and putting the horses' health first.

“Our group couldn't be more supportive,” he said, “when it comes to giving horses down time or retiring them. We embrace what Rick has always wanted to do: we want to win, but we want to do it the right way.”

Together, Clear Stars and Schosberg have campaigned dozens of horses, with the trainer often an ownership partner. They purchased New York-bred Myfourchix for $90,000, and the Henny Hughes filly went on to win more than $300,000 and the Seeking the Ante Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

In 2005, the focus on Thoroughbred aftercare was not what it is today. But when Clear Stars' That'srightofficer was done racing in 2009, the relationships in the business that Sternklar had chosen and cultivated accelerated his commitment to horses when they are done racing.

Purchased from the consignment of Niall Brennan, agent, for $60,000 as a two-year-old, That'srightofficer is a graded stakes placed New York-bred by Officer that earned $230,000 and retired in 2009.

“Niall and his wife Stephanie have a program in which they'll take back horses they sell and find them good second homes,” he said. “I thought that was the coolest thing. He became a jumper and I think he earned some awards.”

In 2006, Sternklar and Schosberg claimed a three-year-old out of Maria's Mon (a horse Schosberg had trained) at Aqueduct Race Track. In his eighth start for his new connections, a second-place finish at Saratoga in 2007, Bold Mon sustained a career-ending injury. He became part of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation program at Wallkill Correctional Facility, a state-accredited vocational program in horse care and management for the inmates.

“He was there for about 11 years,” said Sternklar, “and I saw him two years ago, when he was in Saratoga as part of a TRF showcase. He had spent over a decade helping people who need help.”

Sternklar aims to retire horses while they are still sound enough to be retrained for another career, and he wants to be a vocal advocate for retirement programs.

“There's no better way for me to spend my money,” he said of his donation. “I care a lot about the animals, and the least I can do is help them the way they've helped me. I've talked about it in interviews and other opportunities. I think it's good for people to hear that owners are supporting these programs.”

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