Month: September 2022

New Mexico Racing Commission Doing Its Own Investigation Of Jockeys After WaPo Story On Bush Racing

The New Mexico Racing Commission is conducting its own investigation into jockeys accused of participating in unsanctioned racing. In early August, the Washington Post published an investigative feature detailing the horrors of bush racing at a track in Georgia, where the Post reported horses were given injections immediately before races, horses ran with no pre-race examinations by veterinarians, illegal betting took place, and jockeys openly carried buzzers.

Some investigative work was done by representatives of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and later by Post reporters directly. PETA has since called for sanctions on what the organization claims are licensed jockeys documented participating in bush races at the Georgia facility.

PETA has alleged it has identified riders Bryan Candanosa, Alex Carrillo, Eduardo Nicasio, and Rodrigo Vallejo as riding at bush tracks while carrying electric shock devices known as buzzers.

NMRC executive director Izzy Trejo told the Paulick Report Sept. 1 that the commission is conducting its own investigation into the allegations, but proof of participation is limited.

“We are currently doing our own investigation after finding that the pictures utilized by PETA in the Washington Post article were merely photos taken from Facebook pages and not much more information than that,” said Trejo. “Although they do have a video that we need to look at.

“The jockeys in question did ride at Ruidoso a week and a half ago and we had an enforcement team there to scrutinize the jockeys with metal detection wands, as well as the pony people, the assistant starters, the valets, the jockey quarters, and the starting gate itself  (all the nooks and crannies). Nothing was found but we will continue to investigate these suspect jockeys.”

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Weekend Lineup Presented By NYRABets: Holiday Bonanza

A jam-packed three days of racing awaits bettors this Labor Day weekend, with five “Win and You're In” races for the Breeders' Cup World Championships topping the docket. It is also closing weekend at Saratoga, but opening weekend at the lucrative Kentucky Downs meet.

Perhaps the most exciting of those contests will be the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar, in which the undefeated Flightline will take on a field of five for his first test over the 1 1/4-mile distance. The two-time Grade 1 winner has been installed as the 1-5 morning line favorite.

In Saratoga Springs, a field of eight line up for the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, including four trainees from Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher's barn: Dynamic One, Americanrevolution, Keepmeinmind, and Untreated. First Captain and Olympiad also line up in what should be a fairly well-matched bunch.

The other “Win and You're In” races are as follows: G2 Flower Bowl Saturday at Saratoga, G2 Del Mar Handicap Saturday at Del Mar, and the G3 Green Flash Handicap on Sunday at Del Mar.

Kentucky Downs' Saturday card features three stakes races, topped by the $1 million Mint Million (G3). There are two more stakes on Sunday, headed by the $750,000 Dueling Grounds Derby (G3).

Juveniles will get their chance to shine at Saratoga later on, with the fillies in the G1 Spinaway on Sunday and males in the G1 Hopeful on Monday.

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

Saturday

5:09 p.m. – Grade 2 Flower Bowl Stakes at Saratoga

The Grade 2, $600,000 Flower Bowl will feature a rematch of the top-four finishers from the G2 Glens Falls as George Krikorian's multiple Grade 1-winner War Like Goddess will attempt a second victory in Saturday's 1 3/8-mile inner turf test for older fillies and mares. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, War Like Goddess is following a similar campaign to last year, arriving at the Flower Bowl once again from a win in the Glens Falls last out on Aug. 6.

The Flower Bowl is a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf in November at Keeneland, providing the winner a berth into the 1 3/16-mile contest for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.

Flower Bowl Entries

5:45 p.m. – Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will unleash a competitive quartet for Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup field, a prestigious 10-furlong test for 3-year-olds and upward offering a “Win and You're In” spot in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic in November at Keeneland.

Leading the Pletcher quartet is Dynamic One, who captured the G2 Suburban on July 9 at Belmont Park over returning rivals First Captain and Untreated. Reigning New York-bred Horse of the Year Americanrevolution returns to his native state for the first time since capturing the G1 Cigar Mile presented by NYRA Bets on Dec. 4, 2021, at Aqueduct Racetrack. The 4-year-old Constitution chestnut has made both of his starts this year at Churchill Downs, finishing fourth in the Blame in June off a six-month layoff and second in the Grade 2 Stephen Foster on July 2.

After a successful debut for Pletcher last out, Keepmeinmind will seek his first graded stakes victory since a maiden-breaking performance in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club in November 2020 at Churchill Downs. Previously trained by Robertino Diodoro, the son of Laoban competed in nothing but graded stakes events last year with his best finishes taking place when third in the G3 Ohio Derby and a game second to dual champion Essential Quality in the G2 Jim Dandy at the Spa. He was beaten a half-length in both races.

Rounding out the Pletcher contingent is Untreated. While he is the only Jockey Club Gold Cup contender without a graded stakes win, the son of Nyquist came close in his last three starts, when a pacesetting third in the Suburban and finishing three-quarters of a length behind Dynamic One. He showed early speed when third in the G3 Pimlico Special on May 20 and was beaten 1 1/4 lengths.

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey will seek his fifth Jockey Club Gold Cup victory with dual graded stakes winner First Captain. Second in the Suburban beaten a nose, the 4-year-old son of 2007-08 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner and Hall of Famer Curlin captured the G3 Pimlico Special two starts back going 1 3/16 miles under returning rider Luis Saez.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott will saddle four-time graded stakes winner Olympiad, who will strive to make amends following a distant fourth in the G1 Whitney on Aug. 6 at Saratoga.

Three-time graded stakes winner Tax will seek his first win at Saratoga since capturing the 2019 G2 Jim Dandy for trainer Danny Gargan. The 6-year-old gelded son of Arch made his first start in a year and a half with a wire-to-wire victory in the last out Battery Park on July 9 at Delaware Park.

Completing the field is Chess Chief for trainer Dallas Stewart, who finished a last-out third in the Alydar on Aug. 4 at Saratoga.

Jockey Club Gold Cup Entries

6:31 p.m. – Grade 3 Mint Million at Kentucky Downs

Godolphin's Pixelate heads a field of nine older horses as the 5-year-old horse returns to Kentucky Downs Saturday to defend his victory in last year's $1 million, Grade 3 WinStar Mint Million. Pixelate, who is based at trainer Michael Stidham's stable at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland, has raced once this year, finishing third by a total of a neck in a stakes at Laurel. He ended his 4-year-old season with two close seconds in New Orleans.

8:30 p.m. – Grade 1 TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar

Hronis Racing and partners' undefeated Flightline has been made the 1-5 favorite against five rivals in Saturday's 32nd running of the $1-million TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar. The 4-year-old son of Tapit, an impressive winner of his four starts so far, including a pair of Grade 1 scores, drew Post 5 in the compact field. However, the Pacific Classic will be Flightline's first attempt at 1 1/4 miles; the furthest he's raced thus far has been one mile.

Those ready to give the 2022 favorite a go are Commonwealth Thoroughbreds or Winstar Farm and Zedan Racing Stables' Country Grammer (Post 2); C R K Stable's Express Train (Post 4); Jay Em Ess Stable's Extra Hope (Post 1); Fox Hill Farms and Siena Farm's Royal Ship (Post 3), and Steve Moger's Stilleto Boy (Post 6).

The TVG Pacific Classic is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” race, meaning the winning horse has a guaranteed spot, with all fees paid, in the $6-million Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be held at Keeneland in Kentucky on Nov. 5.

Pacific Classic Entries

9:00 p.m. – Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at Del Mar

Heywoods Beach and Tizamagician square off again in the G2 Del Mar Handicap, part of the excellent card on TVG Pacific Classic Day at Del Mar Saturday. But this time they'll go at it on the grass.

The two met on opening weekend in the G3 Cougar II, run on the main track at Del Mar. The two dueled throughout much of the 1 ½ mile race with Heywoods Beach coming out on top at the end and Tizamagician finishing a game second. The year before it was Tizamagician walking into the winner's circle and Heywoods Beach finishing third in the Cougar II.

The Del Mar Handicap is far from being a two-horse race. Trainer Michael McCarthy will bring his G2 Eddie Read winner Master Piece to the party.

The G2 Del Mar Handicap is also a “Win and You're In” race for the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Del Mar Handicap Entries

Sunday

5:57 p.m. – Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga

Naughty Gal headlines a talented field of 10 juvenile fillies in Sunday's 131st running of the Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway, part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen qualifying incentive on the road to the Breeders' Cup in November at Keeneland, at Saratoga Race Course.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas will look to become the winningest trainer of the race when he saddles Naughty Gal against nine rivals, including Kaling, trained by Lukas mentee and fellow Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, who is tied with Lukas with six Spinaway wins. Naughty Gal [post 4, Jose Ortiz] graduated impressively at second asking, taking a six-furlong maiden event by 9 1/4-lengths at Churchill Downs. The daughter of Into Mischief immediately followed by making the grade in the 6 1/2-furlong Adirondack on August 7 at the Spa, defeating third place finisher and returning rival Sabra Tuff.

Spinaway Entries

6:31 p.m. – Grade 3 Dueling Grounds Derby at Kentucky Downs

Graded-stakes winners Grand Sonata and Ready to Purrform head an overflow field for Sunday's $750,000 Big Ass Fans Dueling Grounds Derby on the third day of racing at the FanDuel Meet at Kentucky Downs. The 1 5/16-mile turf race will be run as a Grade 3 stakes for the first time.

Trainer Todd Pletcher will try to win the Dueling Grounds Derby for the third time with Whisper Hill Farm's Grand Sonata, winner of the Grade 3 Kitten's Joy and another turf stakes at Gulfstream Park over the winter. While he didn't fare well in his last start in the Saratoga Derby (G1), Grand Sonata finished fourth – losing by a total of a length at 32-1 odds — in the Belmont Derby (G1) the race before.

Donegal Racing's Ready to Purrform, trained by Brad Cox, comes into the Dueling Grounds Derby off victory in Saratoga's Grade 2 Hall of Fame Stakes.

Dueling Grounds Derby Entries

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Del Mar: Pacific Classic Day Offers Five Stakes, Mandatory Pick 6 Payout

Highlighted by the $1-million, Grade 1 TVG Pacific Classic led by superstar Flightline, Del Mar will present a smashing five-stakes card Saturday that also features a trio of Grade 2 stakes on the grass and nearly $2.5 million in total purses, making it the richest racing day outside of the Breeders' Cup in the track's 83-year history.

Besides the 32nd edition of the TVG Pacific Classic, which will see five high-line stakes horses take on the undefeated 1-5 morning line favorite Flightline in Del Mar's premier offering, there are a trio of $300,000 Grade 2 contests drawing milers, marathoners and 3-year-old aces, as well as a $125,000 dirt test for sophs as the warm-up act for the big boys that follow.

The TVG Pacific Classic is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” race that gives the winner a guaranteed entry – with all fees paid – to the $6-million Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland on November 5. Additionally, the $300,000 Del Mar Handicap Presented by the Japan Racing Association at a mile and three eighths on the lawn also is a “Win and You're In” presentation, this one giving a guaranteed paid admission into the $4-million Breeders' Cup Turf on the same November 5 program.

Del Mar's Saturday 11-race program – starting with a first post of 1 p.m.  PT – also will present a mandatory payout on its popular Pick 6 bet that is sure to draw in handicappers who like to take a swing at potential large payoffs. Top it all off with sea breezes and sunshine as the standard order of the day at the seaside oval and it all adds up to the most exciting afternoon of the 2022 summer season.

The star of the day will be Hronis Racing and partners' Flightline, the big 4-year-old colt by top sire Tapit who has gone four-for-four in runaway style in his ever-blooming career, including a pair of Grade 1 scores on both coasts. Patiently handled by veteran trainer John Sadler – the winner of three of the last four TVG Pacific Classics – Flightline has drilled remarkably well at Del Mar this summer giving every indication that the best might be yet to come as he tries the classic distance of a mile and one quarter for the first time. The “big horse” will be reunited with his regular rider, Flavien Prat, who will jet in from his current racing headquarters in New York for the race, which is scheduled to go off at approximately 5:50 p.m.

Set to tackle Flightline are five quality stakes horses. They are Zedan Racing Stables and Winstar Farm's Country Grammer, Fox Hill Farms or Siena Farm's Royal Ship, C R K Stable's Express Train, Steve Moger's Stilleto Boy and Jay Em Ess Stable's Extra Hope.

The Del Mar Handicap, the track's oldest stakes race, is being offered for the 83rd time as Race 11 Saturday. Heading the lineup for the marathon is Diaz-Valdez, Baalbek or Don Alberto's Master Piece, winner of the Eddie Read Stakes earlier at the Del Mar meet. He'll once again have Abel Cedillo in the tack for trainer Mike McCarthy.

The 36th running of the $300,000 Del Mar Mile is also on the agenda as Race 7. The Grade 2 special is headed by Anastasi, Ukegawa or Valazza's Hong Kong Harry, topping a field of 10 turfers.

Also on the afternoon's roster is the 78th running of the $300,000 Caesars Sportsbook Del Mar Derby for 3-year-olds at nine furlongs on the grass. Likely favorite in the affair that goes as Race 9 is Little Red Feather Racing and Madaket Stable's Balnikhov, the winner of the Oceanside Stakes locally on opening day. Trainer Phil D'Amato once again has assigned turf specialist Umberto Rispoli to handle the Irish-bred gelding.

The other stakes on the card is the $125,000 Shared Belief Stakes run at a mile on the main track for 3-year-olds. The horse to beat in that one is SF Racing, Starlight Racing, et al's Armagnac, who races out of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's barn and will be handled by Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez. It goes as Race 4 with a 2:30 post.

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Rob Atras Wins Kentucky Downs Debut As Law Professor Takes Opening Day Tapit Stakes

Twin Creeks Racing Stable moved Law Professor from California because of the greater options offered with more racetracks in the East and Midwest. It proved a good move as the 4-year-old Constitution gelding won his first start for New York-based trainer Rob Atras, taking Thursday's $400,000 FanDuel Tapit Stakes on opening day of the FanDuel Meet at Kentucky Downs.

“It was incredible. I couldn't believe it,” Atras said by phone of winning his Kentucky Downs debut. “I never expected to win first time at that track.”

With Julien Leparoux aboard, Law Professor pushed the pace set by Megacity, with Spanish Kingdom taking over after six furlongs. Law Professor took the lead at the eighth pole and edged away in the final strides from the tenacious Spanish Kingdom, who drew into the race off the also-eligible list to finish second by a half-length at 15-1 under Gerardo Corrales.

“We just thought there were some better opportunities on the East Coast,” said Randy Gullatt, manager and co-owner of Twin Creeks Farm and Racing Stables with Steven Davison. “I thought this was a good opportunity. He was fit and acting like he was ready to run. So we took a shot.”

Atras said he'd always been “enthralled with that place.”

“Watching races, they're kind of wild to watch,” he said. “You think you've got a grasp on them turning for home, but you're not really sure your horse has horse. It's just so different than a regular dirt race or turf race (camera) pan shot.”

Law Professor covered the mile and 70 yards over turf in 1:38.10 after fractions of 22.23 seconds, 44.91, 1:09.00 and 1:33.90 for the mile. He returned $21.10 to win. The $1 tri returned $3,616.72, with the $1 superfecta paying $17,557.72.

“He broke well,” Leparoux said. “At some point I thought I was going to be on the lead. But I saw Tyler (Gaffalione on Megacity) kind of pressuring to be there. So I just took back off of him and followed him around there. He traveled very nice, which is something you really need on this track. I found a spot to get going in the stretch, and he went all the way to the wire.

“I didn't feel like anybody was coming on very fast; we kind of stayed the same. But the main thing was during the race he traveled very nice, where some horses kind of bobbled. He won very nicely today.”

Atras acknowledged being concerned about the pace.

“Turning for home, I wasn't sure if we had enough horse because the fractions looked really fast to me,” he said. “But Julien was really smart and backed off the pace a little bit. He tucked him in and then he went down the rail and then the (camera) angle changed. I thought we had a shot, but I couldn't quite tell because the angle was really tough for me to read. All of a sudden as the camera angle kind of went more to the traditional pan shot, they were still there. Julien was going left-handed and riding him and he was still there.”

California invader Shadow Sphinx and jockey Joe Rocco were another three-quarters of a length back in third, with Floriform fourth. Favored In Love, last year's Tapit winner, finished fifth, followed by Ramsey Solution, Souper Dormy, Skyro, New Year Surprise and Megacity.

Peace Achieved, winner of the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile in 2019, was pulled up on the far turn with a possible non-displaced fracture of the long pastern bone in his left foreleg. He was transported to a Lexington clinic for evaluation.

Law Professor's first 10 races were with California-based Michael McCarthy. Unraced at 2, Law Professor ended last season with victory in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Mathis Mile that came off the turf. In three prior starts this year, he was second in the Grade 2 San Pasqual on dirt, fifth in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe on turf and then getting time off after he was last during a troubled trip in the Grade 3 Oaklawn Mile.

The Kentucky-bred gelding now is 4-1-1 in 11 starts, earning $516,440 with the $237,800 payday.

“He's coming off of a freshener and I think that's what he needed,” Gullatt said. “He was training well. You never know how they're going to handle Kentucky Downs. It's a different turf course. We took the shot and it paid off.”

The Tapit was restricted to horses that had not run a stakes in 2022. Last year In Love used his victory as a springboard to another victory in the Grade 1 Keeneland Turf Mile. Asked if that $1 million race, now called the Coolmore Turf Mile, was in play, Gullatt said, “We were just focused on this race. We'll see how he comes back, and we'll talk with Rob and try to figure it out.”

Betting on the 10-race card was $9,695.501.76.

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