December, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

First-Timers Can Aid Justify In Freshman Sire Battle

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses. While much of the local focus will be on the 14 runners entered across the four races that comprise the Longines Hong Kong International Races, Sunday's action at home includes the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies:

Saturday, December 10, 2022
6th-NKY, ¥13,400,000 ($98k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
LAP STAR (c, 2, Justify–Guest Suite, by Ghostapper) looks to give his first-crop sire (by Scat Daddy) a winner on the competitive JRA circuit for the third week running. A $400,000 Keeneland September acquisition by trainer Hideyuki Mori on behalf of owner Susumu Fujita, the Feb. 5 foal is a half-brother to GIII Lecomte S. winner Guest House (Quality Road). The dark bay colt is out of a winning daughter of Grade III winner Welcome Surprise (Seeking the Gold), who sadly passed away this year, and the third dam includes the likes of A.P. Indy, Summer Squall and Court Vision. This is also the family of this year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies third Raging Sea (Curlin). B-Hartmut H Malluche & Silesia Farm (KY)

Sunday, December 11, 2022
4th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($98k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
DONA SWEAT (f, 2, Justify–No Sweat, by Blame) is the first foal out of her twice stakes-placed dam, who was purchased by Ashview Farm for $300,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November sale before visiting this stallion for her first covering. A $425,000 graduate of last year's KEESEP sale, Dona Sweat is a granddaughter of MSW & MGSP Coolwind (Forest Wildcat), herself the dam of GIII Iowa Derby winner Looking Cool (Candy Ride {Arg}). The filly's third dam is Grade III heroine Scoop (Gone West). B-Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stables (KY)

11th-HSN, HSN Juvenile Fillies-G1, ¥123m ($903k), 2yo, f, 1600mT
AIM IN LIFE (f, 2, Kitten's Joy–Elisheva, by Smart Strike) debuted victoriously over course and distance Oct. 15 (video, SC 2) and gave a solid account of herself when sixth facing winners for the first time Nov. 27. The North Hills homebred is the first produce from her dam, a daughter of champion Believe (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), whose G1 Sprinters' S.-winning son Gendarme (Kitten's Joy) breaks from the eight hole in Sunday's G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. Believe is also responsible for MSW & G1SP Faridat (Kingmambo) and SW/GSP Fiducia (Medaglia d'Oro). B-North Hills Co Limited (KY)

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Jason Servis To Change Plea; Hearing Set for Friday

Trainer Jason Servis has been granted a change-of-plea hearing, which will be held Friday at 11 a.m. before Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil of United States District Court (Southern District of New York)., in which he is expected to plead guilty for his role in the highly publicized racehorse doping scandal.

Originally indicted in March of 2020, Servis represents the last domino to fall in the doping scandal that also involved trainer Jorge Navarro and more than two dozen others and sent shockwaves through the industry. Servis had appeared ready to fight the charges in court and had hired a high-profile attorney in Rita Glavin, who represented former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo when he faced allegations of sexual harassment. Servis's trial had been set to begin Jan. 9.

It was revealed last week that Servis and his attorney had begun the process of negotiating with prosecutors when a request was filed to the court asking for additional time to file motions prior to Servis's scheduled court date.

“The Government and counsel for defendant Jason Servis are currently in discussions regarding a potential pre-trial disposition, which may obviate the need for trial,” wrote United States Attorney Damian Williams in his letter to the court.

Servis was originally charged with three counts of felony drug misbranding. Some eight months after the original indictment was released, the charge of mail and wire fraud conspiracy was added in a superceding indictment. The maximum sentence under federal guidelines for that charge is 20 years.

It won't be known until Friday's hearing what charges Servis will plead guilty to. Like Servis, Navarro entered into a plea agreement with the government, pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit drug adulteration or misbranding. He was sentenced to five years in prison. Unlike Servis, Navarro was never charged with conspiracy, which could mean that Servis will face more than five years.

In a related development, Alexander Chan, a veterinarian who had worked for Servis and was scheduled to be tried alongside the barred trainer in January, also changed his plea and plead guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit drug misbranding or adulteration. He will be sentenced April 13. Chan had also been facing three felony charges related to drug adulteration, misbranding, along with wire fraud conspiracies.

That Servis might be acquitted at trail always seemed like a longshot. The federal government had compiled numerous intercepted phone conversations between Servis and others in which he discussed his doping routines with Chan, Navarro and another vet, Kristian Rhein. When Rhein pled guilty in August of 2020 he implicated Servis. Rhein was sentenced to three years.

Servis's performance-enhancing drug of choice was allegedly SGF-1000, purported to be a performance-enhancing drug intended to promote tissue repair and increase a racehorse's stamina and endurance beyond its natural capability. The government charged that Servis administered SGF-1000 to “virtually all of the racehorses under his control.” The list includes Maximum Security (New Year's Day), who was first under the wire in the 2019 GI Kentucky Derby before being disqualified for interference.

The evidence included a conversation between Servis and Navarro in which Servis recommended SGF-1000 to his fellow trainer and said, “I've been using it on almost everything.”

In the original indictment it was charged that Servis and his co-conspirators “concealed the administration of PEDs from federal and state government agencies, racing officials, and the betting public by, among other things, concealing and covertly transporting PEDs between barns where Servis's racehorse were stabled, falsifying veterinary bills to conceal the administration of SGF-1000, and using fake prescriptions.”

Servis's sentencing may be the final chapter in a scandal that has hovered over the industry for nearly three years. With Chan having changed his plea and Servis about to do the same, the cases covering all the individuals originally indicted will have been adjudicated. Every person involved will have either pled guilty or been convicted in court.

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Alex Eade Named Large Independent Racecourses Secretary General

Alex Eade has been named the successor to Charles Barnett as the next Secretary General of the Large Independent Racecourses. Barnett is due to retire after six years in the post. Eade begins his new role in the new year and has previously been General Manager at Goodwood Racecourse for five years (2015-2019). He also spent six years at Betfair, latterly as Director of Sporting Affairs. Eade is currently Group Commercial Director at Lloyd Webber Theatres, Ltd.

Bridget Guerin, Chairman of York Racecourse, said, “Firstly, I would like to thank and pay tribute to Charles Barnett, who has undertaken the role of Large Independents Secretary General since 2016 as part of a distinguished career of service to the sport. On behalf of the Large Independent Racecourses, I would like to welcome Alex to the role. Following an extensive process which included excellent candidates, Alex's combination of racing, betting and commercial experience and passion for the sport shone through.”

Eade added, “I have been a racing fan since childhood and thoroughly enjoyed working within this fabulous sport during my time at Goodwood. I am therefore absolutely delighted to be returning and honoured to be taking up this role.”

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Keeneland Supplements 69 Horses To 2023 January Horses of All Ages Sale

Keeneland has announced that 69 horses – including Seasons, a Grade 1-placed daughter of Tapit and millionaire Winter Memories – have been supplemented to the 2023 January Horses of All Ages Sale. The auction will cover four sessions from Jan. 9-12, 2023.

Additional supplements will be considered until sale date.

Seasons, a 4-year-old filly, is cataloged as a racing or broodmare prospect and consigned by Darby Dan Farm, agent. Her dam, Winter Memories, is a Grade 1 winner by El Prado (IRE).

Other supplements to Book 1 of the January Sale include:

– Quick (GB), a Grade 3 winner who is carrying her first foal by Medaglia d'Oro. By Olympic Glory (IRE) out of The Giving Tree, by Rock of Gibraltar (IRE), Quick is consigned by Vinery Sales, agent.

– A yearling filly from the first crop of Belmont (G1) winner Tiz the Law who is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Avenge and to Liguria, winner of the Dec. 3 Jimmy Durante (G3) at Del Mar. Out of Lerici, by Woodman, she is consigned by Gainesway, agent.

– Bold Connection, a 2-year-old stakes-placed daughter of Uncle Mo who is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Sweet Loretta. Out of Ithinkisawapudycat, by Bluegrass Cat, Bold Connection is consigned as a racing or broodmare prospect by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

– Snowy Winter, by Elusive Quality, who was a listed winner and Group 1-placed in Europe and is in foal to Gun Runner. Out of Pamona Ball, by Pleasantly Perfect, she is a half-sister to North American graded stakes winner Pamina and to multiple stakes winner Hieronymus. Snowy Winter is consigned by Eaton Sales, agent.

– Snowy Winter's yearling colt by American Pharoah. Foaled in March, the colt is Snowy Winter's second foal. He is consigned by Eaton Sales, agent.

Additional supplements include yearlings by such stallions as Justify, McKinzie, Not This Time, Twirling Candy and Vekoma and mares in foal to stallions including Constitution, Ghostzapper, Good Magic, Justify, Liam's Map, Maclean's Music, Not This Time and Yaupon.

With these supplements, the total number of horses cataloged to the January Sale is 1,578.

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