August, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

HISA: First Claim Voided Due To Medication Positive Met With Confusion, Resistance

Thanks to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's institution of a nationwide Voided Claim rule, a pair of Thoroughbreds have been returned to their original owners after testing positive for a prohibited substance.

Rule 2262 of the HISA Racetrack Safety Rules states that claimed horses will go to the test barn. Claims will be voided if the horse dies, is euthanized, or is vanned off the track, if the regulatory veterinarian determines the horse to have bled, be “physically distressed, medically compromised, unsound, or lame” within one hour of the race, or if the horse tests positive for a prohibited substance.

However, owners dropping a claim will be able to select an option on the claim form if they want the horse regardless of whether the horse is placed on the veterinarian's list, if the horse bleeds, or if the horse has a positive test post-race.

According to stewards' rulings reports issued by the HISA, the first voided claim under these circumstances was that of Pow Pow at Arapahoe Park in Aurora, Colo. The 3-year-old filly won a $3,200 claiming race on July 3, 2022, when conditioned by trainer Stetson Mitchell on behalf of owner Ramseye Mitchell.

Pow Pow was tested as the first-place finisher in that race, and after leaving the test barn was handed over to the winning claimants: trainer John McDonald and owner Ronnie Roberts.

On July 15, the Colorado Division of Racing Events received a confirmed positive test on Pow Pow for the drug albuterol. Albuterol is a prohibited substance in Colorado and a horse is placed on the vet's list for 180 days as a result of the positive test from the primary laboratory.

On July 17, Pow Pow raced at Arapahoe for her new connections. The filly finished seventh and last in a $22,200 stakes race.

A report from Division of Racing Events policy analyst Zach Ceriani indicates that the HISA claim form, which allows owners to decline some voided claim protections, was not in use on July 3 because “it was the first day of the meet and we did not have access to the claim form.”

Roberts was formally contacted via a Certificate of Service, notifying the new owner of the alleged violation and providing information about the split sample policy, which was signed and served on July 20, 2022.

At that point, Pow Pow should have been immediately returned to owner Ramseye Mitchell, but there was a disagreement about whether the horse had to go back.

The next day, July 21, 2022, Mitchell signed a request for a split sample. That is the trainer's right, according to racing regulations in Colorado regarding post-race testing (HISA's prohibited substances rules do not go into effect until January of 2023).

The sample went out to the lab on Tuesday, Aug. 2. The commission was quoted up to six weeks for the return of those test results, after which a hearing will be held to determine a ruling for the positive test (pending appeal).

Meanwhile, despite the supposed 180 days Pow Pow is mandated to be on the vet's list, Equibase lists the filly as working a bullet three furlongs at Arapahoe on July 26, when she would still have been in new trainer John McDonald's care.

According to Division of Racing Events communication supervisor Suzanne Karrer, Pow Pow was placed on the vet's list for 180 days from July 15, 2022, through Jan. 11, 2023. The Division is looking into why PowPow was worked on July 26.

Pow Pow was eventually returned to her original owner's care, moving back into Stetson's barn on July 31.

To date, HISA has not received any information about an appeal of the voided claim for Pow Pow.

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The second voided claim due to a prohibited substance occurred in connection with a race on July 5 at Mountaineer Park in New Cumberland, W.V.

Racing for owner Tracey Wisner and trainer Shane Spiess, Spice It Up finished second in a $15,000 optional claiming race. The 6-year-old was claimed out of that race by trainer Juan Pablo Silva on behalf of Tijuana Racing Stables.

A West Virginia Racing Commission ruling dated July 26 indicates that Spice It Up tested positive for flunixin after that July 5 race. Spiess waived his rights to a split sample and a hearing; the mare was disqualified and Spiess was issued a $500 fine.

In addition, Spice It Up was ordered returned to Wisner's ownership.

The concept of the void claim rule was first introduced in 2006 at the very first Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, which was organized by The Jockey Club. At first, safety experts suggested a good rule would invalidate claims on horses who died in the course of a race or were euthanized on track due to a catastrophic injury. Since then, some jurisdictions have expanded the concept to give claimants the option to void if a horse is vanned off a racetrack with an injury, or situations where a horse is declared by an official veterinarian to be lame after the gallop out or in the test barn after the race.

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Damon’s Mound, Gulfport To Square Off In Saratoga Special

Emerging stars Gulfport and Damon's Mound will look to make the grade in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for juveniles, at Saratoga Race Course.

Cliff and Michele Love's Florida homebred Damon's Mound will provide trainer Michelle Lovell her first starter at Saratoga. Lovell, who was a jockey from 1989-94 and also in 1999, went out on her own as a conditioner in 2003. She will be in search of her first win at the Spa after finishing second on three occasions as a jockey in 1993.

“It's really special,” said Lovell. “I've been there a few times and rode a handful of races there many moons ago, so I had the experience of being on the track and being in awe of the beautiful place that it is. But this is a whole new look and I'm really looking forward to it.”

Damon's Mound, by Girvin and out of the multiple stakes-placed Stroll mare San Antonio Stroll, broke slowly in his July 2 debut sprinting six furlongs at Churchill Downs under returning rider Gabriel Saez. He tracked four wide before taking command through a half-mile in 45.49 and drew off to a 12 1/2-length score in a final time of 1:09.84.

“We knew he was good, but we didn't know he'd win like he did because he did it in hand so easily,” said Lovell of the winning effort that garnered an 84 Beyer Speed Figure.

Lovell said the slow start wasn't unexpected.

“The only thing he struggled with in the morning was getting away from the gate fast, but as soon as he got out he was up on his feet,” Lovell said. “So, it wasn't a surprise but he did gather himself and get on the bridle and put himself right in the race easily. Even on the gallop out, he widened.”

Damon's Mound was prepared in Florida by David O'Farrell at Ocala Stud – where Girvin stands – before joining up with Lovell.

“I had communication with the owner for months in advance that he was going to send me a 2-year-old and every time he checked in, which was pretty much monthly, he'd tell me he's doing good and on track and that he's a nice colt,” Lovell said. “When he showed up at the barn, he looked like a very nice individual and he's just been awesome. He's been fun to train and watch develop.”

Damon's Mound has breezed four times at Colonial Downs out of his debut win, including a bullet five-eighths in 58.40 on July 23.

“The fast works were in hand. He's pretty push button anyway,” Lovell said. “He always does everything really easily. He hasn't been asked for anything yet. We'll find out Saturday as he'll probably have to be asked now running against some really nice horses.”

When prompted that it would be a good story should Damon's Mound provide Lovell her first Spa win in her first attempt, the conditioner remained cautiously optimistic.

“I hope it's a great story,” said Lovell, with a laugh. “I think he'll run well. I'm excited about him. I have a lot of confidence in him. He's a nice colt.”

Damon's Mound will leave from post 2.

William Heiligbrodt, Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm and Whispering Oaks Farm's Gulfport has won both career starts, including a 12 1/4-length score last out in the Bashford Manor on July 4 at Churchill Downs. The $275,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Yearling Sale purchase made every pole a winning one in the six-furlong test, stopping the clock in 1:09.25 while easily besting returning rival Owen's Leap to garner a field-high 91 Beyer.

The Uncle Mo colt is trained by Steve Asmussen, who is one win shy of fellow Hall of Famer James G. Rowe Sr.'s record six wins in the prestigious test which was inaugurated in 1901. Asmussen's Saratoga Special victors include Cuvee [2003], Kodiak Kowboy [2007], Kantharos [2010], Copper Bullet [2017] and Jackie's Warrior [2020].

Gulfport is out of the Unbridled's Song mare Fame and Fortune, who is a full sister to 2013 Grade 1 Whitney winner Cross Traffic.

Joel Rosario, who will pilot Gulfport from post 4, has notched 10 graded stakes wins this summer at Saratoga and is one win shy of the meet record of 11 graded scores currently shared by Hall of Famers Javier Castellano and John Velazquez.

Valenzan Day, trained and co-owned by Rudy Rodriguez with Celeritas Racing, is the most experienced entrant with a record of 3-1-0-1.

The Khozan colt made his first two starts at Belmont Park, graduating in May in a five-furlong maiden special weight before running third in the 5 1/2-furlong Tremont. He enters from a troubled ninth last out in the six-furlong Grade 3 Sanford on July 16 at the Spa where he lost his footing at the start from the outermost post 12 and never threatened.

Trevor McCarthy picks up the mount from post 3 aboard Valenzan Day, who adds blinkers.

Lea Farms' Super Chow, by Lord Nelson, posted a gate-to-wire score in his July 2 debut sprinting five furlongs at Gulfstream Park for trainer Jorge Delgado. The $75,000 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase, who was piloted by Chantal Sutherland, covered the distance in 58.49 to garner a 66 Beyer.

Luis Saez has the call from the inside post.

Rounding out the field is Michael McLoughlin's Owen's Leap, a debut maiden winner in May at Churchill Downs for trainer Tom Amoss, who entered Wednesday with 3,999 career wins.

The Bolt d'Oro colt, a $175,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, enters from a distant second to Gulfport in the Bashford Manor.

The Spa's leading rider, Irad Ortiz, Jr., will pilot Owen's Leap, who adds blinkers, from post 5.

The Saratoga Special is slated as Race 4 on Saturday's 11-race card which also features the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave, offering a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Mile, in Race 10. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present daily coverage and analysis of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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Regal Glory Prepares To Take On Male Rivals In Fourstardave

After beating some of the best in her division in three starts this year, Peter Brant's Regal Glory will face males for the first time in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave over the inner turf at Saratoga Race Course.

The one-mile turf test is a Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” qualifier, offering the winner an automatic entry into the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile on November 5 at Keeneland.

Trained by four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, the 6-year-old Animal Kingdom chestnut mare captured each of her three victories this year over different turf courses. Following a triumphant 2022 commencement in the Grade 3 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational on January 29 at Gulfstream Park, she registered a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure with a one-length victory over stablemate Shantisara in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley in April at Keeneland. She enters off a win in the Grade 1 Longines Just a Game on June 11 at Belmont Park over next out graded stakes winners Wakanaka and stablemate In Italian.

Regal Glory has consistently worked over the Oklahoma training turf, breezing in company with multiple graded stakes winner Technical Analysis. Both horses completed their five furlong moves in 1:00.29 seconds on August 7 – the second fastest of 20 recorded works at the distance.

Boasting an overall record of 19-12-4-0 and earnings of $2,111,009, Regal Glory has won at graded stakes level seven times. Unbeaten in a trio of starts at the Spa, she won the Grade 3 Lake George and Grade 3 Lake Placid in 2019 before returning two years later to win the De La Rose.

“She's having a great year – the best year of her career. At age six, she's been a pleasant surprise,” Brown said. “She's in great form and she's run well at Saratoga before so that gives me a lot of confidence.”

Regular pilot Jose Ortiz will ride Regal Glory from post 3.

Regal Glory's biggest challenge may come from stablemate and Juddmonte homebred Masen [post 4, Flavien Prat]. The 4-year-old Kingman gelding made his North American debut as the favorite in the Grade 1 Maker's Mark Mile on April 15 at Keeneland, missing by a slim margin to Shirl's Speight. A winner of his last two starts traveling one mile over the Belmont Park Widener turf course, Masen captured the Seek Again on May 22 before securing a graded stakes win in the Grade 3 Poker on June 18.

LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stable's Casa Creed, a dual Grade 1-winning millionaire, arrives off a repeat victory in the Grade 1 Jaipur on June 11 at Belmont. He has finished third in the last two runnings of the Fourstardave for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, a four-time Fourstardave winner. The 6-year-old son of Jimmy Creed will attempt his first Spa win since taking the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in August 2019.

Luis Saez will pick up the mount from the inside post.

Hall of Famer Mark Casse, who saddled turf distaffer Got Stormy to two non-consecutive victories in the Fourstardave [2019 and 2021], sends out graded stakes winner Get Smokin [post 5, Javier Castellano] for owners Ironhorse Racing Stable, BlackRidge Stables, T-N-T Equine Holdings and Saratoga Seven Racing Partners.

The four-time winner was second twice at graded stakes level this year, making his 2022 debut when a frontrunning second in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay on February 5 at Tampa Bay Downs. After an international engagement when a distant 16th in the Group 1 Al Quoz Turf Sprint on March 26 at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, he was a narrowly beaten second in the Grade 3 Arlington on June 4 at Churchill Downs. He arrives from a fourth-place finish to City Man in the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple on the Spa's opening weekend.

Completing the field is George Sharp's Front Run the Fed, a last out stakes winner for trainer Caio Caramori. Previously conditioned by Chad Brown, the 6-year-old son of Fed Biz made his 2022 debut a winning one in Colonial Downs' Van Clief on July 18.

Irad Ortiz, Jr will have the call from post 2.

The Fourstardave is carded as Race 10 on Saturday's 11-race program, which also includes the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special in Race 4. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

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Cross Traffic Filly Runs to the Buzz At Saratoga

6th-Saratoga, $88,000, (S), Msw, 8-10, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11.48, ft, 5 lengths.
MAPLE LEAF MEL (f, 2, Cross Traffic–City Gift, by City Place), named after trainer Jeremiah Englehart's assistant trainer Melanie Giddings, entered this unveiling with a reputation that preceded her, and garnered 3-5 favoritism in this state-bred affair. Quick to the front from mid-pack, the $150,000 EASMAY purchase (:10.2) set the tempo against the fence and expanded her gap at each point of call as Spinning Colors (Hard Spun) chased in vain. In much of a one-horse race from the far turn on, Maple Leaf Mel stayed clear under a hands-and-heels ride, cruising home to win by five lengths over Security Code (Frosted), who led the rest of a strung-out field. A half-sister to Eddie's Gift (El Corredor), SP, $167,950, Maple Leaf Mel has a yearling half-brother by Brody's Cause who, is her dam's last reported foal. Sales History: $18,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $150,000 2yo '22 EASMAY. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $48,400. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-August Dawn Farm; B-Joe Fafone (NY); T-Jeremiah C. Englehart.

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