July, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Maryland Horsemen Encouraged To Use New Online Injury Reporting Form

In response to suggestions made during a recent meeting on racing surfaces, stakeholders have retooled an online Injury Reporting Form designed to provide the Maryland Racing Commission and Maryland Jockey Club with real-time data with the goal of rapidly responding to track issues when they crop up.

Attending veterinarians and trainers are being asked to submit the online form for horses that are injured during training and racing at Laurel, Pimlico Race Course and the Maryland State Fair at Timonium. Similar to information compiled in 2020 on bleeding after race-day Lasix was banned for 2-year-olds racing in Maryland, the data will be strictly confidential and monitored by the MRC.

The Injury Reporting Form is available at http://mdhorsemen.com/report

Trainers are urged to work with their veterinarians to ensure injuries—minor or serious—are promptly reported.

Information required on the form includes the trainer's name; horse's name; horse's age; horse's sex; the track where the injury occurred; the date of the injury; the location of the injury (barn, track and where on the track, or other); the veterinarian's name; the type of injury (soft tissue, fracture or other); whether the injury is new or recurring; which diagnostics were performed, if any; and the diagnosis and related comments.

“We want people to know this not an effort to place horses on the vet's list,” said Dr. Libby Daniel, MRC Equine Medical and Welfare Director. “This is about identifying problem areas on the track or problems with the surface itself. That is the main goal of this form.”

MJC Acting President Mike Rogers said receiving injury information promptly is extremely important when it comes to identifying potential issues with racing surfaces. “The data helps us identify problems and modify maintenance practices if necessary,” he said. “We're clearly trying to look for trends.”

For additional information, contact MRC Executive Director Mike Hopkins at 410-428-2391 or mike.hopkins@maryland.gov.

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Weekend Lineup Presented By BetMakers: International Flavor In Belmont Turf Invitationals

International challengers abound in this weekend's Grade 1 turf contests for 3-year-olds at Belmont Park, and the home team's challenge is far from lacking as well. Five European challengers are entered among 13 starters in the G1 Belmont Derby Invitational, while the fillies' race drew an additional five overseas entrants in the field of 10.

Earlier on Belmont's Saturday card, the G2 Suburban features an interesting lineup of older dirt talent, including First Captain and Dynamic One.

Delaware Park offers up the prestigious Delaware Handicap on Saturday, topped by prep-race winner Miss Leslie.

The summer derby season continues with the G3 Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis, highlighted by the one-week turnaround of favorite Rattle N Roll, and the listed Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows, for which the morning-line favorite in the field of 10 is Todd Pletcher trainee Major General.

Prairie Meadows' card also includes the G3 Iowa Oaks and G3 Cornhusker, which drew fields of eight and six, respectively.

Also worth noting that the weekend includes the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket, in which Royal Ascot winner Perfect Power faces Australian challenger Artorius among a field of 14.

Here's a quick look at some of this weekend's graded stakes:

2:32 p.m. – Grade 2 Suburban Stakes at Belmont Park

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will seek to build on his recent graded stakes success at Belmont when he saddles Dynamic One and Untreated in the $400,000 Suburban (G2). Dynamic One exits a one-length victory in the listed Blame on June 4 at Churchill Downs, where he recorded a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure. Untreated strives for his first win since capturing a pair of one-turn mile tests over the winter at Aqueduct. The 4-year-old Nyquist bay arrives in fair form, finishing a pacesetting third in the G3 Pimlico Special in May, which came on the heels of a close second in the Excelsior on April 2 at Aqueduct.

First Captain, a last out winner of the G3 Pimlico Special, will aim to become the first horse to secure the Pimlico Special-Suburban double since Invasor [2006] and Mineshaft [2003], who were both named Horse of the Year following their respective campaigns.

Max Player will attempt to be the first horse to sweep back-to-back editions since Effinex in 2015-16. Soundly beaten in both of his starts this year, the son of Honor Code will attempt his first trip to the winner's circle since capturing last year's Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga.

Suburban Entries

3:30 p.m. – Grade 2 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park

Miss Leslie tops Saturday's 85th renewal of the $500,000, Grade 2 Delaware Handicap, which has attracted a field of seven. In her most recent effort, Miss Leslie notched a half-length victory in the local prep, the 1 1/16-mile $150,000 Obeah Stakes on June 8. Previously, the 4-year-old daughter of Paynter won the mile and seventy-yard $106,000 Serena's Song at Monmouth Park by 4 ½-lengths on May 8. The Kentucky-bred trained by Claudio Gonzalez has career record of nine wins, three seconds and two thirds from 21 starts with $565,650. She is unbeaten at Delaware Park.

Battle Bling will be looking to turn the tables on Miss Leslie. In her last, she ran second to Miss Leslie as the 4-to-5 favorite in the Obeah Stakes. Previously, Battle Bling was fourth in the G1 La Troienne over 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs on May 6. The 4-year-old daughter of Vancouver trained by Rob Atras has a career record of thee wins, seven seconds and a third from 17 starts with earnings of $315,617.

Delaware Handicap Entries

4:06 p.m. – Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational at Belmont Park

A competitive field featuring three contenders from the barn of Chad Brown and five invaders from Europe lead a 10-horse field assembled for Saturday's Grade 1, $700,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational for 3-year-old fillies going 10 furlongs over the inner turf at Belmont Park.

Brown's trainees include: Consumer Spending, who has won both of her starts this year at stakes level; McKulick, who boasts three graded stakes placings in four lifetime starts; and Haughty, who brings a consistent 4-2-0-2 record to the Belmont Oaks, exiting her first stakes victory in the Penn Oaks on June 4 at Penn National.

Five fillies by way of Europe have crossed the Atlantic Ocean in search of Belmont Oaks accolades representing three countries, including Ireland's dual group stakes winner Agartha for trainer Joseph O'Brien. Internationally acclaimed trainer Aidan O'Brien, the father of Joseph, will seek his third Belmont Oaks victory when sending out Group 1-placed Concert Hall.

Trainer Charlie Appleby will looking to build on his recent success in shipping horses to high caliber wins in North America with With The Moonlight, and representing France in the Belmont Oaks are Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Know Thyself and Hot Queen from the yard of Pia Brandt.

Belmont Oaks Entries

5:12 p.m. – Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational at Belmont Park

Godolphin's Irish homebred Nations Pride will look to continue a tremendous run of form in North America for trainer Charlie Appleby when he takes on an international field of 13 Saturday in the $1-million Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational. Nations Pride exits an eighth-place finish in the Cazoo Epsom Derby (G1) June 4 which came five weeks after a seven-length romp over subsequent Derby runner-up Hoo Ya Mal in the 10-furlong listed Newmarket Stakes.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien will be represented by the promising Stone Age, a Galileo colt who ran a strong second as a maiden in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in October before graduating in March at Navan in his seasonal debut. Stone Age followed with an eye-catching score in the Group 3 Derby Trial at Leopardstown over 10 furlongs before finishing sixth last out in the 12-furlong Epsom Derby as the second choice.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will be in search of a third Belmont Derby score following wins by Finality [2002] and Take the Points [2009] when he sends out graded-stakes winners Emmanuel and Grand Sonata. Emmanuel, by More Than Ready, made a winning turf debut last out with a gate-to-wire score in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Pennine Ridge on June 4 at Belmont.

Grand Sonata launched his campaign with a pair of stakes scores on the Gulfstream turf, capturing the one-mile Dania Beach on New Year's Day and the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Kitten's Joy in February. He returned in April to finish a close second to Belmont Derby-rival Sy Dog in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Transylvania before a deep-closing third last out in the nine-furlong Audubon on June 4 at Churchill Downs.

Owner and trainer Ken McPeek will saddle a pair of Kentucky Derby (G1) alumni in Tiz the Bomb and Classic Causeway.

Belmont Derby Entries

6:40 p.m. – Grade 3 Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis

King Ottoman went from being a footnote as the workmate of champion Echo Zulu to the headline when he captured Lone Star Park's $300,000 Texas Derby on Memorial Day. Now the Steve Asmussen-trained 3-year-old colt can take another step toward building his resume in the Indiana Derby.

Brad Cox trainee Best Actor captured his debut at Oaklawn Park at 1 1/16 miles, then took an off-the-turf, one-turn mile allowance race at Churchill. He's the 4-1 third choice in the field of 10 behind 5-2 favorite Rattle N Roll (who won last Saturday's off-the-turf American Derby at Churchill) and 7-2 Actuator, a “buzz” horse since romping in a very fast-run maiden race.

After winning the American Derby with Rattle N Roll, McPeek raised the possibility of running back in the Indiana Derby or the Iowa Derby, whose field had been drawn that morning. While he wanted to see how Rattle N Roll bounced out of the race, McPeek on Wednesday declared it all systems go to run in the Indiana Derby, for which Rattle N Roll is the 5-2 favorite in a field of 10. Regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount.

Indiana Derby Entries

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‘It’s All About The Horses’: Riley Mott Plans To Launch Training Career This Fall

Riley Mott, son of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who has served as his father's assistant trainer for the past eight years, plans to go out on his own later this year. The younger Mott, who took out his training license in Florida this past winter, hopes to begin running horses in his name this fall.

Born in Hollywood, Fla., 30-year-old Mott grew up on the racing circuit his father traveled, spending springs and summers in New York and winters in Florida.

“I learned from an early age that training horses wasn't just a business, but a lifestyle,” said Mott. “I walked my first horse when I was six years old and immediately developed a love for the game.”

As he grew up, Mott continued to gain experience working in his father's barn, rubbing horses, walking hots and doing whatever he could to gain experience and responsibility. Eventually he was running the shed row and, in 2014, officially earned the title of assistant trainer, a position in which he still serves.

“Working my way from the ground up in our system was valuable experience for me because it allowed me to earn the respect of my coworkers,” said Mott, who attended the University of Kentucky and majored in economics. “One of the best pieces of advice I've ever received is not to ask someone to do something in the barn that you can't do yourself. It's important to show those you are leading that you're willing to jump in and work just as hard as they are.”

The elder Mott, one of the most accomplished trainers in North American racing history, has created a legacy that few can rival. Since taking out his trainer's license at age 15 and notching his first wins before he'd graduated high school, Mott worked his way up the ranks, exercise riding and working as a longtime assistant for fellow Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg before going out on his own in 1978.

Over the years, Mott has logged wins in 10 Breeders' Cup races, as well as numerous Grade 1 races. His trainees have included Champions Cigar, Royal Delta, Tacitus, Yoshida, Elate, Close Hatches, Favorite Trick, Drosselmeyer, Theatrical, Tourist and Country House (among others), and he has received the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer three times.

“Following in my dad's footsteps is something I think about every day. I hold him in such high regard both personally and professionally,” said the younger Mott of his father. “I often use his accomplishments as motivation to step up my game as both a horseman and a human.”

As Riley Mott has developed as a horseman under the guidance of his father, he has developed a keen eye and feel for soundness of equine athletes.

“We check every leg on every horse before training begins each day, and we put a big emphasis on jogging each horse up prior to training. Between that and monitoring closely how they're moving while on track, it gives us a great baseline on each individual horse and allows us to detect the slightest clinical changes in their legs or difference in their gait,” said Mott. “This has allowed me to develop a pretty well-trained eye.”

Mott says that several of his father's owners have offered to support him with horses and he has also started to pick up new clients as he prepares to venture out on his own.

“I have learned so much from working under the boss and everyone else in our operation, but by far the most important lesson I've learned from him is that no matter what, it's all about the horses,” said Mott. “You strive to look out for your owners' best interests and provide a healthy working environment for your staff, but to do that you must do right by your horses. You do that, and the rest will follow.”

Mott, along with his wife, Megan, and their nine-month-old daughter, Margot, live in Saratoga, N.Y. in the summer months but plan to move to Hot Springs, Ark., for the upcoming Oaklawn meet in November, and then move on to Kentucky for the rest of the year.

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Vince Gabbert, Megan Devine Join Ellis Park Team For 2022

Ellis Park has announced three new team members for their historic 100-year race meet: Vince Gabbert as interim Director of Racing, Megan Devine as Paddock Analyst and Simulcast Host, and Allie Sclafani as Race Marketing Coordinator. The 100-year race meet runs from July 8 to August 28 in Henderson, Kentucky.

Vince Gabbert is a 14-year veteran of the industry, having served as Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Keeneland Racecourse from 2009 to 2022. Gabbert had previously worked as Deputy Chief of Staff to the governor and a Regional Director of Public Finance for Ross, Sinclaire & Associates. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science and government from the University of Louisville in 1998 and studied at its Louis D. Brandeis School of Law from 1998 to 2001.

“The opportunity to work at Ellis Park and be a part of the continued momentum for Kentucky racing is extraordinary. I am very much looking forward to being a part of the 100-year celebration and working with the horsemen and staff to help deliver a wonderful race meeting,” said Gabbert. “We're excited about this year and the product we're offering. The track has made several improvements to benefit the horses, the horsemen, and the fans. With the horseplayers in mind, we're also dropping the Pick 5 takeout to 15%.”

Megan Devine, a native of Long Island, graduated from the University of Louisville's Equine Industry Program in 2014. Devine previously worked as On-Air Talent for TVG, Santa Anita Park, XBTV, America's Best Racing, Horse Racing Radio Network, TwinSpires, ESPN Louisville, Turfway Park, Kentucky Downs, Sky Racing World, and Ellis Park.

“Ellis Park was one of my first On-Air positions in horse racing back in 2016. Since then, I've had the great pleasure of working for several television channels, racetracks, and other media outlets worldwide,” said Devine. “I'm excited to take what I have learned over the last 6 years and bring it back to my position at Ellis Park. Being around the horses has always been my favorite part of the job. That's part of the reason I moved back to Kentucky in 2020. I'm thrilled for the opportunity to be an On-Air Paddock Analyst at a race meet once again.”

Allie Sclafani has worked with TVG and three racetracks in Kentucky. She returned to Ellis Park in June of 2022 to help manage all race-related marketing efforts, including Admissions, Sponsorships, Simulcast, Advertising, Events, etc.

Sclafani has already spent time at the “Pea Patch” track,

“I was at Ellis in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. At that point, we were just trying to keep her doors open. We came together then just like we're coming together now for her 100th year of racing. That's what small tracks like Ellis do. Despite all odds, we make it out together,” said Sclafani. “We're grateful to be moving forward, without restrictions, for the historic 2022 meet.”

Ellis Park will conduct live racing Friday through Sunday, from July 8 to August 28. First post will be 12:50 PM Central Time.

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