September, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

New Historical Horse Racing Gaming Hall Opens In Southeastern Kentucky

The Mint Gaming Hall Cumberland officially opened Thursday, Sept. 1 in Williamsburg, Ky., right off Exit 11 on Interstate 75, bringing historical horse racing gaming to southeastern Kentucky.

The venture is the sister project of Cumberland Run harness track, which is being built in nearby Corbin. The Mint Gaming Hall Cumberland and Cumberland Run are co-owned by a group headed by Kentucky Downs' managing partners Ron Winchell and Marc Falcone with the Keeneland Association as a minority partner.

“This is another part of our commitment to Kentucky and to Kentucky horse racing, tourism and economic development,” Winchell said. “The Mint Gaming Hall has created jobs and will provide entertainment options, especially in the evening for visitors enjoying the area's outdoor beauty and recreation during the day. It also will provide strong purse funding for Cumberland Run, which is an important step in bringing back Kentucky's standardbred industry to national prominence.”

The Mint Gaming Hall Cumberland opened with 450 HHR gaming terminals. It has the same local-time hours as the other “The Mint” properties in Franklin and Bowling Green: opening at 9 a.m. Eastern and closing the following morning at 5 a.m., with the exception of being open around-the-clock Thursday until 5 a.m. Monday.

The Mint Gaming Hall Cumberland features the Midnight Bourbon Bar and has live entertainment. The property is offering a variety of local food options until The Backyard Race and Sports Grill opens in mid-September. When open, The Backyard will offer both restaurant and patio dining. Simulcast wagering on horse racing is available and sports are shown on a variety of large televisions.

“The Mint Gaming Hall Bowling Green has been wildly successful since opening late last year, and we used that as our blue print in Williamsburg,” said Henry Graffeo, general manager of The Mint Gaming Hall Cumberland. “Our goal is to build a facility that serves a variety of interests, from gaming, to live music entertainment, to betting horses and watching sports. We think The Mint Gaming Hall Cumberland is an ideal addition to southeastern Kentucky, complementing existing enterprises and providing another lure to the local area. We're thrilled with how the community has embraced us, even before we opened.”

Cumberland Run's 2022 harness dates will be held for the second year at The Red Mile in Lexington while the Corbin track is being built. The meet begins in late October.

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Michael Ballezzi, Longtime Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Executive, Passes

The Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (PTHA) is saddened to share news of the passing of Michael P. Ballezzi, who served as the organization's executive director for 25 years prior to his retirement last year. Ballezzi, age 76, passed away on Wednesday, August 31.

“We've lost not only a great horseman, but also a great friend and leader,” said Salvatore DeBunda, president of the PTHA board of directors. “Mike dedicated 25 years of his life to championing the well-being and care of equine athletes, as well as championing the interests of horsemen at Parx racetrack and across Pennsylvania. When he retired, Mike left behind an incredible legacy at the PTHA.”

“Mike Ballezzi's impact on Pennsylvania racing, horsemen, and our retired race horses will live on for many years to come,” said Jeffrey Matty, executive director of the PTHA. “But his impact extends far beyond the policies and programs he championed. He touched so many people on and off the track on a personal level, and that may be his greatest legacy.”

One of Ballezzi's most significant accomplishments, Turning for Home, was an outgrowth of his deep commitment to the health and well-being of our retired racehorses. Since Turning for Home's creation in May 2008, the non-profit has placed more than 3,200 former Parx racehorses in new homes and racing careers. The non-profit is now considered by many as the gold standard for track-based racehorse retirement programs.

Ballezzi served as executive director of the PTHA in February 1996 through December 2021 and served as an owner director on the PTHA's board of directors. During his tenure, Ballezzi played an integral role in shaping Pennsylvania's horse racing industry as a fierce advocate for passage of the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act (Act 71 of 2004). The legislation legalized slot machines in the Commonwealth and set aside a percentage of the revenues to bolster racing purses and breeding incentives, as well as provide health and pension benefits to individuals in the racing industry. Mike was also instrumental in negotiations with Parx Racing management that led to significant capital investments in the backstretch, including dorm renovations and the construction of new barns.

At Parx, he also created the Horsemen's Purchasing Association which provides horsemen on the backstretch of the track with bedding, feed, supplements and equipment at supply-discounted prices. In 2000, he spearheaded the creation of The Granny Fund — named in honor of Catherine “Granny” Youmans, the mother of PTHA Oofice manager and long-time personal secretary to Ballezzi, Connie Youmans – which provides scholarships to Parx stable employees to continue their education in college and night classes.

A graduate of Widener Law School, Ballezzi was also an attorney and previously served as a District Justice in Delaware County, Pa., from 1983-1998. He has been a licensed Thoroughbred owner since 1973, is a former trainer, and currently races under the name of Balmora Farm. He was named 2008 PTHA Man of the Year and he was inducted into the Parx Racing Hall of Fame in 2014.

In addition to serving as executive director of the PTHA, Mike was elected nine times as owner/director of the PTHA board of directors. He also served as a member of the national THA board of directors and was recognized in 2020 by the national Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association for outstanding service to the racing industry. He was honored in 2019 by Parx when they named the M.P. Ballezzi Appreciation Mile in recognition of his service to all horsemen and women who are Parx racing.

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Be Your Best Reigns Supreme In Saratoga’s P.G. Johnson S.

Be Your Best made the most of a picture-perfect trip when debuted over this same track and distance July 31, sitting off the pace and powering home late to score by 3 1/4 lengths en route to a 'TDN Rising Star' nod. Bumped up to stakes company in just her second start, Be Your Best broke as the 6-5 choice and sat closer to the frontrunners this time, racing wide into the first turn in pursuit from third. Settled into a good stride against the hedge up the backstretch, she saved ground around the far turn before angling out two wide to challenge Recognize for the front. As room there closed, she tipped back to the rail in mid stretch and rallied through a tight spot inside to take command with a furlong to run. Whichwaze was closing behind but Be Your Best was already well clear for the 3 3/4-length win.

“The filly was so easy to ride,” said winning jockey Jose Ortiz. “She did whatever I asked her to do. She relaxed well and had a beautiful turn of foot turning for home. The rail opened up and she gave it to me. I feel like she didn't give me 100 percent – she was playing with her ears passing the wire. She's happy and Horacio [De Paz] has done an amazing job with her.”

Out of a full-sister to GSP Bay of Plenty and a half-sister to GISP Fortify (Distorted Humor), Be Your Best hails from the extended family of MG1SW Flagbird (Nureyev) as well as GISW & GI Longines Kentucky Oaks runner-up Little Belle (A.P. Indy). She is her dam's last reported foal. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

P. G. JOHNSON S., $150,000, Saratoga, 9-1, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:45.67, gd.
1–BE YOUR BEST (Ire), 122, f, 2, by Muhaarar (GB)
                1st Dam: Kamakura, by Medaglia d'Oro
                2nd Dam: Kotuku (GB), by A.P. Indy
                3rd Dam: Flagbird, by Nureyev
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Michael J. Ryan; B-St. Croix
Bloodstock (IRE); T-Horacio De Paz; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $82,500.
Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $140,250.
2–Whichwaze, 120, f, 2, Cross Traffic–Deherewego, by Dehere.
($4,500 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $15,000 Ylg '21 OBSOCT).
1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Tina Casse; B-Old Chapel Farm LLC (VA);
T-Mark E. Casse. $30,000.
3–Recognize, 122, f, 2, Bolt d'Oro–Avendesora, by
Majesticperfection. ($270,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $190,000 RNA
2yo '22 OBSAPR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Sequel Racing & Cypress
Creek Equine; B-Sequel Stallions NY & Lakland Farms (NY);
T-William I. Mott. $18,000.
Margins: 3 3/4, HF, NO. Odds: 1.35, 19.20, 10.90.
Also Ran: Idea Generation (Ire), Pachuca, Damaso, Lady Jasmine, Indian Spideroo. Scratched: Leave No Trace.

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Pearce Handed 1,950-Day Suspension After Six Out-Of-Competition Positives

In a ruling dated Aug. 29, officials in Pennsylvania suspended Parx trainer Penny Pearce a total of 1,950 days and fined her $23,500 after six of her horses were found positive for clenbuterol on out-of-competition tests (OOCT).

The penalties stem from a June 22 inspection of Pearce's barn at Parx, when samples were pulled from her horses. A search also revealed hypodermic needles, syringes, and unnamed injectable substances, according to the ruling.

The clenbuterol positives came from Mischievous Jones, Musamaha, Relativlea, Call Me GQ, Market Maven, and an unnamed horse.

Pearce claimed Mischievous Jones in the gelding's maiden victory at Parx on June 15 on behalf of JKX Racing. That horse has not run since.

Musamaha was claimed by Pearce on May 25 from a maiden claiming race at Parx, where she finished fourth, and saddled by Pearce in her maiden victory June 28 at Parx. There, Musamaha was claimed by trainer Michael Pino for Bing Cherry Racing.

Relativlea ran for Pearce at Parx on June 11 and then debuted for trainer Bobbi Anne Hawthorne in a claiming race on July 11. Her owner of record for both starts was Edward Ridge.

Call Me GQ won a Parx claiming race for Pearce and owner JKX Racing on June 13, and was then saddled by Hawthorne on behalf of JKX on July 12. By his most recent race — another claimer on Aug. 31 — he was in the barn of Kim Graci.

Market Maven's last start was in last year's Grade 2 Wood Memorial, where Pearce saddled him for owner Gregory Gordon.

Each OOCT positive was assigned a separate and escalating suspension, with the first being 30 days, the second 60 days, etc. since stewards considered that multiple positives were an “aggravating circumstance.” They used the same system for fines for each positive, with the first being assigned a $2,500 fine, the second $5,000 and so on.

Pearce was suspended another 60 days for the presence of the needles, syringes, and injectables.

The suspension is scheduled to begin Sept. 11, 2022 and conclude Jan. 12, 2028. The fines are due on Sept. 11.

Alan Pincus, attorney for Pearce, told the Paulick Report she plans to appeal. Pincus declined further comment.

She will also have the right to request a stay of suspension while the appeals process plays out.

In June last year, this publication reported that former trainer Ramon Preciado, who had his owner and trainer licenses revoked in Pennsylvania, had been licensed as a groom and was working for Pearce. State stewards ordered Preciado's licenses revoked in December 2016 after one of his runners was positive in a post-race test for clenbuterol. They rejected his application for a stable employee license in 2018, but granted him one in 2021.

Pearce had been on track to log one of her most successful years as a trainer since taking out her license in 2012, with 23 winners from 84 starts thus far, making for a 27% win percentage. In 2021, she finished the year with 23% wins and stable earnings of $1,048,481. Her runners have brought in $738,149 so far this year.

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