July, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Pletcher Leaning Toward Alabama With Dominant CCA Oaks Winner Nest, Travers ‘Not Completely’ Ruled Out

Repole Stables, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House's Nest earned a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure for her dominating performance in Saturday's Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

Ridden to victory by Irad Ortiz Jr., Nest broke the best in the field of five after her two inside foes, Butterbean and Society, stumbled at the break. Society vied for the lead in the first quarter mile, but Nest was soon the pacesetter with Secret Oath pressing to her outside. The two matched strides in the turn and opened up on their rivals, briefly living up to the race's billing as a rematch after Secret Oath bested Nest in the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Nest would not be denied this time, making it look easy and opening up a 4 1/2-length advantage on her tiring rival at the stretch call. She romped down the stretch with little urging from Ortiz and was wrapped up at the sixteenth pole, coming home an eye-catching 12 1/4-length winner for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

“She came out of it excellent – very good,” said Pletcher. “It was very impressive. She had kind of been touting herself that she was coming into the race in great shape and I'm delighted to see her run to the race she was training [for]. I'm very pleased.”

Pletcher said Nest showed her professionalism when the setup of the race was altered as the Steve Asmussen-trained Society stumbled.

“We figured Steve's filly would be on the lead and that we would try to break well and establish some position in the first turn, which we were able to do,” said Pletcher. “So, she was never really able to take a breather the whole way, but she fended off a strong challenge from Secret Oath and looked good.”

Nest, who finished second behind stablemate Mo Donegal in the Belmont Stakes (G1), could make another appearance against males in the $1.25 million Runhappy Travers (G1) on August 27, though Pletcher said it's likely she'll stick with fillies and try the 10-furlong, $600,000 Alabama (G1) on August 20.

“We're leaning towards [the Alabama]. I had a brief conversation [with her owners] though and we did not completely rule out the Travers,” said Pletcher. “She showed she can hold her own against [males] and we know the mile and a quarter suits her. So, we'll keep it in the back of our mind. I'd say all things being equal, we'll probably see her in the Alabama.”

The post Pletcher Leaning Toward Alabama With Dominant CCA Oaks Winner Nest, Travers ‘Not Completely’ Ruled Out appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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How Professionals Handle Three Common Hoof-Related Lamenesses

Dr. Raul Bras, CJF, a podiatrist at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, and Paeden Underwood, CJF, who works primarily in the Pacific Northwest, offer insight to The Horse on how to address three tricky hoof conditions that have the potential to be debilitating unless addressed correctly: laminitis, thrush, and podotrochlosis (commonly called “navicular”).

Laminitis

A horse suffering from laminitis can be in extreme pain as the tissues that suspend the coffin bone in the hoof capsule become inflamed and possibly even separate from the bone. When Bras deals with a laminitic horse, the first thing he does is identify what brought on the laminitic episode and begin non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs).

Next Bras uses NANRIC Ultimate shoes on the laminitic horse's hooves. These shoes have a wedge designed to allow blood supply access to the affected hoof area and to relieve pressure on the deep digital flexor tendon.

If laminitis is caught in its earliest stages, Bras will recommend cryotherapy, where the hooves are submerged in an ice slurry for a minimum of 72 hours. This will decrease coffin bone rotation. Bras prefers to use venograms to assess the blood supply within the foot and to anticipate what changes are coming. He compares the images he takes throughout the course of treatment.

Bras says the key to managing laminitis is to catch it early and be aggressive in treatment, which can include therapeutic shoeing and regenerative therapies. He has had success in getting many performance horses back into the competition ring.

Thrush

Thrush is a bacterial condition that can be painful and compromise the hoof's internal structures. Underwood had a horse in his care with a severe case of thrush in all four feet down to the deep central sulcus, almost to the live tissue. The horse was in significant pain.

Underwood suggested management changes like adding extra bedding to the stall and keeping the horse from turnout on muddy fields. The owner applied antibacterial mastitis cream to the frog for five weeks. He stresses that clear communication is imperative in caring for horses with potentially severe hoof care issues.

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Podotrochlosis

Podotrochlosis, a degenerative condition of the navicular bone and the soft tissues in the back of the horse's hoof, is often alleviated with preventative therapeutic shoeing. For the best possible outcome, Bras recommends horse owners call a vet and farrier at the first sign of heel pain.

To treat a horse with podotrochlosis, Bras takes X-rays to assess coffin bone angles and how these align with the fetlock and pastern. If soft tissues are involved, he recommends the horse receive advanced diagnostics like an MRI. From there Bras develops a shoeing plan that protects the navicular and heel area; releases the tension and forces on those structures. He often uses a rockered shoe. He also takes care to adapt the horse's shoeing to align with the surfaces on which it will work and the discipline in which it is ridden.

Bras may also inject the coffin joint and navicular bursa with corticosteroids or advise shock wave therapy over the heels.

Though every case should be treated individually, these two professionals have had very good luck treating these once-condemning conditions. They both note that it's imperative that the horse-care team, including owner, veterinarian and farrier, maintain open lines of communication to keep the horse feeling its best.

‘He Ran A Really Gallant Race’: Baffert Pleased With Taiba’s Determined Haskell Performance; Winner Cyberknife Possible For Travers

By Lynne Snierson, Monmouth Publicity staff

Taiba may not have won the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) Saturday at Monmouth Park, but the performance of the Zedan Racing Stables colorbearer in the $1-million race gave his connections plenty to be excited about nevertheless.

“He ran a really gallant race and we were happy with the way he ran. We would have loved to have won it, but he ran a great race and he came out of it really well,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday morning about his colt's loss by a head to Cyberknife.

Hall of Famer Mike Smith, who rode Taiba, said after the race that when they were down on the inside in the field of eight, he couldn't get the son of 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner running and had to swing him to the outside. From that point Taiba picked it up and rallied, got his head in front at the eighth pole, and battled with Cyberknife, who was charging up the rail under Florent Geroux, to the wire.

“I thought I was going to win,” Smith said.

Baffert, who was watching the race from Southern California, concurred.

“I thought he was going to win. It was tough to come up short because I really thought when he made that move and put his little head down, he was going to get there. He's all racehorse,” said Baffert. “He's a gutsy little guy. I think he just didn't see that horse (Cyberknife) down there. It was great ride by Florent. Flo stayed back there and cut the corner.

“Mike had him in a spot to win and we just came up short. Cyberknife got a great trip. He was stuck down there and he was not happy being stuck behind horses. I was really worried at about the three-eighths pole. Mike said that when he got him out in the clear he just kicked in.”

Baffert was looking to extend his record to 10 wins in the Haskell with Taiba.

Cyberknife, winner of the Arkansas Derby (G1), added a second top-level triumph to his resume with the Haskell win in track record time of 1:46.24 for the 1 1/8 miles. He had post position 1; Taiba started from post 2. Baffert thought Taiba's chances might have been compromised by the draw.

“I think the post position, if he had been outside and a little bit in the clear, it might have made a difference. Maybe not. Those are three top horses,” Baffert said of Cyberknife, Taiba, and dual Grade 1 winner Jack Christopher, who finished third as the 7-10 favorite.

What also may have been to Taiba's detriment is his relative inexperience. He won the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in just his second start and next was no factor in the Kentucky Derby 20-horse field while Baffert was serving a 90-day suspension and Tim Yatkeen had taken over the training. Taiba didn't come back into Baffert's care until earlier this month.

“The Kentucky Derby was a complete toss out. He's lightly raced. We're still learning more about this horse. Because I was just getting back, I could have used maybe one more breeze into him,” said Baffert. “He ran his race. I think he's maturing. He's just going to get better and better. He has a big heart. He's all racehorse.”

The $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) remains the goal for Taiba, who will depart Monmouth to be flown back and reunite with Baffert on Tuesday. At this stage Baffert hasn't mapped out the schedule.

“The mile and a quarter (Breeders' Cup distance) isn't going to be any problem for him. We haven't really figured out a plan yet. It's too early to tell. We'll get him back here to Del Mar and he'll tell me when he's ready to roll,” said Baffert.

Cyberknife, meanwhile, now a two-time Grade 1 winner and the only 3-year-old other than third-place finisher Jack Christopher in the division to have won multiple Grade 1s, was no worse for wear and departed the Monmouth Park backstretch at 5 a.m. (ET) Sunday morning to rejoin trainer Brad Cox's Saratoga division.

Cyberknife, who like Taiba is a son of Three Chimneys Farm resident sire Gun Runner, qualified for his guaranteed spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic with his Haskell win, and if all goes well for both colts, a rematch with Taiba at Keeneland on November 5 is looming.

“We've got to get there. I don't want to get too far ahead. We'll let him enjoy the Saratoga weather, like everyone else and hopefully, we'll march forward,” said Cox. “We do feel like he's a horse that can continue on and I do feel he's a horse that's capable of getting a mile and a quarter.”

Cyberknife is under consideration for the Runhappy Travers (G1) at Saratoga on August 27 and could give Cox back-to-back wins in the “Mid-Summer Derby” as he won the 2021 edition with Essential Quality. His 2022 Haskell win with Cyberknife was his second straight as he won the 2021 edition with Mandaloun.

The post ‘He Ran A Really Gallant Race’: Baffert Pleased With Taiba’s Determined Haskell Performance; Winner Cyberknife Possible For Travers appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Jack Christopher to Cut Back in Distance for Allen Jerkens

Jack Christopher (Munnings), who suffered his first career loss when third in his two-turn debut in the GI TVG.com Haskell S. at Monmouth Park Saturday, is expected to cut back to one turn in the Aug. 27 GI H. Allen Jerkens S. at Saratoga next time out.

“The horse ran really well and I thought he had a good trip,” trainer Chad Brown said. “He got a little quick on the final turn when they moved from [the half-mile in] :46 into [three-quarters in] 1:09. That probably emptied him a little bit. But all in all, it looked like it was a little too far. I was a little disappointed that he couldn't kick on through the lane, but he tried hard. We just shipped him up to Saratoga. As long as he comes out of the race okay, I'll cut him back and point to a race like the Allen Jerkens.”

Despite the Haskell loss, Brown enjoyed a productive day at the Jersey Shore Saturday, winning four straight graded races on the card.

“I was proud of all the horses and my team to have them all ready on a big day like that,” Brown said. “There's a lot of moving parts to get it done and they did fabulous. I'm proud of them all.”

Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) earned his first U.S. victory following a pair of Grade I placings in the GI United Nations S. and could make his next start in the Aug. 27 GI Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Invitational.

“He got the trip we were looking for and he's been a work in progress. He looks to be continually improving and he finished off his race well on Saturday,” Brown said. “He shipped up here today, so we'll see how he bounces out of it, but surely, I would like to point to [the Sword Dancer].”

Brown added that Search Results (Flatter), winner of the GIII Molly Pitcher S., could be “possible” for the Aug. 27 GI Personal Ensign S.

The post Jack Christopher to Cut Back in Distance for Allen Jerkens appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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