Month: December 2022

De Sousa, Marquand Share Longines IJC Title

Coronavirus dictated that it wasn't exactly business at usual at Happy Valley Racecourse for the staging of Wednesday's Longines International Jockeys' Championship. But there was a return to at least some semblance of normalcy, as a crowd of about 11,000 fans filed into the stands and into the beer garden to watch Silvestre de Sousa finish level with Tom Marquand to cause a dead heat for just the third time in the history of the event. The duo shared HK$700,000 (£73,544) in prize money.

COVID-19 had already resulted original IJC invitees Yuga Kawada and Jye McNeil being sidelined for the meeting, and the virus claimed a third would-be participant Wednesday when France's Mickael Barzalona tested positive. Zac Purton was a warm favourite to bag a third IJC, but at the end of the day, he struck out, and the competition saw a different jockey win each of the four legs, forcing a countback to decide the winner–or, in this case, winners.

Vincent Ho, who will team up with Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) for a three-peat attempt in Sunday's G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile, struck in the first leg of the sequence driving the 8-1 chance Handsome Rebel (Aus) (Denman {Aus}) to a narrow victory over Faribault (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) (video) for trainer Jamie Richards.

Derek Leung took Barzalona's place in the IJC and made the most of the opportunity in the second leg, scoring by a short head astride 135-pound topweight Win Win Fighter (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) after favoured Royal Pride (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) slashed through one off the fence and looked on his way to victory (video) for McNeil's replacement Hugh Bowman. In was another feather in the cap for the homegrown Leung, whose previous crowning moment came aboard Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) in the 2017 Hong Kong Mile.

Neither Marquand nor De Sousa had pointed heading into the third of the IJC races, but that changed when Marquand's 11-1 chance Winning Dragon (Chi) (Ivan Denisovich) pegged back longshot Red Majesty (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}), who was well-rated from the front by Lyle Hewitson–subbing for Kawada–but just failed to see it out at nearly 40-1 (video).

With as many as nine chances heading into the finale, it was De Sousa who capitalized from close range on Adios (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), just holding off a late surge from Red Lion (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) (video), a two-time winner and seventh in the Brittania H. at Royal Ascot this year for trainer Andrew Slattery when racing as Finach McHugh (Ire). Red Lion would have made Australia's Jamie Kah–who took a Class 3 handicap earlier in the evening for Douglas Whyte–the outright winner on the occasion of her 27th birthday, but the event was declared a tie, as both Marquand and De Sousa posted fourths in other legs of the series. Ho's best finish outside of his was a fifth-place effort, while Leung's next best was a sixth.

“To finish joint-top with Silvestre is pretty epic,” said Marquand, who finished tied for second behind Zac Purton here 12 months ago. “He's been champion jockey back home, he works so hard and is someone you look up to in the weighing room. It's a huge honour and sometimes you have to pinch yourself that these things are happening.”

Marquand's wife Hollie Doyle, third in the final IJC race after being under a COVID cloud until she was cleared to participate Tuesday, closed the Happy Valley meeting with a 9-1 upset of the Class 2 United Kingdom H. (1800m) on Spirited Express (Aus) (No Nay Never).

De Sousa, winner of the 2018 IJC, said: “I'm just delighted. It's my second time winning and I finished placed another time. In the last leg I just felt the crowd and although it was a long last half furlong, thank God he got his head down and we gave it everything.”

 

 

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Tyler’s Tribe Back On Lasix, Favored For Friday’s Advent Stakes

Four-time stakes winner Tyler's Tribe was preparing to work Saturday morning at Oaklawn when his maintenance breeze was unexpectedly delayed several minutes because outriders were trying to corral a loose horse on the track.

Kylee Jordan, the regular rider of Tyler's Tribe, improvised during the delay just after the second surface renovation break, steering the gelding into the Larry Snyder Winner's Circle across from the finish line to chill.

An omen?

“I hope so,” Jordan said.

Five weeks after a noteworthy hiccup in a previously spotless career, Iowa-bred sensation Tyler's Tribe tries to return to the winner's circle in the $150,000 Advent Stakes for 2-year-old sprinters Friday at Oaklawn.

Probable post time for the 5 ½-furlong Advent, which highlights the first of a record 68 scheduled racing dates at Oaklawn in 2022-2023, is 3:46 p.m. (Central). First post 12:30 p.m., with the Advent going as the eighth of nine races.

The projected nine-horse Advent field from the rail out: Count de Monet, Santo Sanjur to ride, 117 pounds, 15-1 on the morning line; C. J.'s Storm, Nik Juarez, 117, 30-1; Too Much Info, Cristian Torres, 117, 12-1; How Did He Do That, Isaac Castillo, 119, 12-1; Tyler's Tribe, Kylee Jordan, 124, 3-5; Happy Is a Choice, David Cabrera, 117, 9-2; Frosted Departure, Francisco Arrieta, 124, 15-1; Alto Road, Luis Quinonez, 117, 20-1; and Wild Mule, Angel Rodriguez, 119, 6-1.

Co-owned and trained by Tim Martin of Hot Springs, Tyler's Tribe won his first five career starts, all dirt sprints at Prairie Meadows in Iowa, by a combined 59 ¾ front-running lengths before the wheels fell off in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) Nov. 4 at Keeneland.

Tyler's Tribe led early, began to back up on the turn, was eased in the stretch and then vanned off after bleeding. On a scale of 1 to 5, Martin called the bleeding incident, “a 5.”

“It was bad,” Martin said.

Tyler's Tribe was racing without Lasix for the first time last month (it is prohibited in the Breeders' Cup), but will be able to compete on the anti-bleeder medication Friday.

Martin said he also considered Tyler's Tribe for the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at 1 mile Jan. 1 at Oaklawn, but decided to pass because Lasix is prohibited in Kentucky Derby points races.

An appearance in the Advent, Martin said, was contingent on a clean endoscopic examination following Saturday's breeze. Tyler's Tribe, in his second local work, covered 3 furlongs in :37.60 over a good-rated surface. He also worked a half-mile in :50.20 over a muddy strip Nov. 25.

“Two times I scoped him,” Martin said Wednesday morning. “I worked him twice and scoped him twice and he was good. If he had anything, I wouldn't run him. But he's clean and looked good.”

From the first crop of millionaire Grade 1 winner Sharp Azteca, the physically imposing Tyler's Tribe crushed his competition at Prairie Meadows. He won his 4 ½-furlong debut June 20 by 16 ¾ lengths and toppled open company in two stakes races, including a 15 ½-length romp in the $100,000 Prairie Meadows Freshman Aug. 27.

Tyler's Tribe earned a career-high 94 Beyer Speed Figure for his runaway victory in the 6-furlong Prairie Meadows Freshman. That speed rating, through Tuesday, ranked as the co-eighth-highest in the country this year for a 2-year-old in a sprint race, according to Daily Racing Form. Tyler's Tribe owns other Beyers of 90, 89 and 86, figures that also tower over his Advent rivals.

“I like him,” said Martin, who races Tyler's Tribe with Iowan Thomas D. Lepic. “I like him wherever he's at (post position). He gets out really good, so I like him in the race. There's a lot of speed, but we're speed. He's fast on dirt. He acts like he handles the track really good.”

Tyler's Tribe, a $34,000 yearling purchase, has earned $306,294 for Lepic and Martin, the latter seeking his first career Oaklawn stakes victory in open company. Martin, in 2017, saddled Racer to victories against state-breds in the $100,000 Nodouble Stakes and $100,000 Arkansas Breeders' Stakes. Martin has 144 victories overall at Oaklawn, the first coming in 1984.

The Advent is the first of a record 45 stakes races scheduled to be run during the 2022-2023 Oaklawn meeting that ends May 6. Corresponding to a December opening for the first time in Oaklawn history, the Advent debuted in 2021 and was the first stakes race for 2-year-olds at Oaklawn since 1973.

The post Tyler’s Tribe Back On Lasix, Favored For Friday’s Advent Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Steeplechasing Stalwart Dick Ogden Passes At Age 92

Richard McAllister Ogden, a familiar face on the National Steeplechase Association circuit who went on to become a steward, passed away on Nov. 30 at age 92 at Paoli Hospital in Pennsylvania.

Known as Dick to his many friends, the West Chester resident was passionate about racing and spent many afternoons at Parx and Delaware Park. He enjoyed steeplechasing and was an NSA member who became a steward, officiating at many meets. Another one of his joys including watching his granddaughter Devon participate in horse shows. Golf was an avid interest, too, and Dick was a golfer of the year at Coatesville Country Club.

Born May 28, 1930 in Marshallton, Pa., Dick was the son of Even Lewis and Edith McAllister Ogden. He was married to the late Jane Ann Ogden for 58 years

He was a 1949 graduate of West Chester High School, then joined the U.S. Navy, serving aboard the USS Enrico. After the Navy he became a founding partner in Chester County Opticians, a career that lasted many years.

Dick is survived by his children, Diane Williams and her husband, Geoffrey; Susan Cappello and her husband, Paul; grandchildren Devon Arsalan, wife of Dr. Amir Arsalan; Afton Cordoba, wife of Tim Cordoba; Dana Cappello; Vincent Cappello; and great granddaughter, Carter Cordoba.

A celebration of Dick's life will be held in the Spring.

Read Dick's full obituary here: https://www.foundsferyo.com/obituaries/Richard-M-Ogden?obId=26502591

The post Steeplechasing Stalwart Dick Ogden Passes At Age 92 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Surgery Not Always The Answer For Kissing Spines

Katelin Parsons is a barrel racer who had enjoyed competing with an off-track Thoroughbred named Monkey for six months when he was diagnosed with kissing spines. 

Under veterinary guidance, Parsons had Monkey's back injected and began a specific set of exercises designed to increase his core strength, reports Horse Nation. 

Parsons noted that while she was diligent in performing the prescribed rehab, she was not as attentive to how her horse was moving during the exercises; she did not ensure that Monkey had his hind end engaged or that he had self-carriage.

When Parsons didn't see the anticipated improvement from the rehabilitation plan, she then elected to have a surgical procedure completed on Monkey's back to correct the areas at which the spinous processes were touching.

Though she chose to perform surgery on her horse when she felt all other options were exhausted, Parsons now regrets that decision. Parson said she followed the post-surgical protocol religiously, but Monkey was still lame behind when he returned to work. Parsons turned him out to pasture, convinced the gelding would never be sound again to ride. 

A friend also dealing with kissing spines suggested to Parsons that diligent work on a lunge line – encouraging correct body shape and use – may help Monkey's condition. Parsons read books, listened to podcasts, and taught herself to recognize correct posture and movement. She began working with Monkey, walking and trotting him on the lunge for three months. 

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By using himself correctly, Monkey built up his muscles and his kissing spines resolved: he was sound. Eighteen months after surgery, Parsons was able to ride Monkey again. 

She said that had she been taught about proper body shape and self-carriage, she may have been able to avoid surgery. She encourages all horse owners dealing with kissing spines to investigate how they ride and work with their horse before electing surgery, because learning how to work a horse correctly may eliminate the need for a surgical intervention.

Read more at Horse Nation. 

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