December, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Chess Chief Seeks Tenacious Repeat, Formful Sprinters Set To Meet In Scherer Memorial On ‘Road To The Derby Kickoff Day’ At Fair Grounds

Don Alberto Stable's Forza Di Oro gets the honors of morning line favorite at 7-2 in the $100,000 Tenacious Stakes Monday at Fair Grounds, but last year's Tenacious exacta returns in the form of Estate of James J. Coleman Jr.'s Chess Chief and Lothenbach's Happy American, who is cross-entered in the $100,000 Buddy Diliberto three races earlier on the card.

The 58th running of the 1 1/16 miles Tenacious will go as Race 13 at 6 p.m. (CT), the last dance on the “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day” card. The spectacular day of racing features the $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes (Race 11) and $100,000 Untapable (Race 12). Those races offer qualifying points (10-4-3-2-1) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks respectively.

The older female counterpart to the Tenacious, the 1 mile and 70 yards $100,000 Joseph E. “Spanky” Broussard Memorial Stakes, will go as Race 3. The $100,000 Richard R. Scherer Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for older runners, is scheduled as Race 9.

Taking on the likes of Olympiad, Life is Good, and Hot Rod Charlie, Chess Chief has not been able to translate his big late kick into a win in 2022. The 6-year-old trained by Dallas Stewart has five wins at Fair Grounds, and he is knocking on the door of $1 million lifetime earnings.

“He's done pretty well this year, but just ran into a lot of real tough horses,” Stewart said. “He's just a real campaigner. He's a hard knocking warrior. He's on for the race. He's training wellk. Worked a good 5/8ths. He loves this place, he's a New Orleans horse.”

Tabbed at 10-1 in the morning line, Chess Chief drew post No. 8 and he retains the services of Rey Gutierrez, who rode him to victory on this date last year.

Chief among those who stand in Chess Chief's way is Forza Di Oro. Previously trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, the 2020 Discovery (G3) winner will make his first start for trainer Brad Cox. The 5-year-old horse has only raced once in 2022, finishing 15 lengths back in the Philip H. Iselin (G3) at Monmouth Park. Earlier in his career when trained by Bill Mott, he ran fifth in the 2021 Woodward (G1) and also finished third to Max Player and Happy Saver in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). Florent Geroux will break aboard Forza Di Oro from post No. 5.

Another top horse entered in the Tenacious Stakes is Jack Wagon Stable's Intrepid Heart. After he finished second in all four starts since transferring into his barn, including last out in the Claiming Crown Jewel at Churchill, trainer Joe Sharp decides to take the blinkers off

Jon Lapczenski and JIL Stable's Mr. Wireless got his nose down in front of pacesetter Here Mi Song and a fast-closing South Bend to win an allowance race over a one-turn mile last out at Churchill Downs. The 2021 Oklahoma and West Virginia Derby winner has won six of his 12 races, three of those coming at the Tenacious distance.

The full field for the Tenacious from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning-line odds):

1. Business Model (Edgar Morales, Brendan Walsh, 15-1);

2. Spa City (Martin Garcia, Eddie Kenneally, 15-1);

3. Intrepid Heart (Adam Beschizza, Joe Sharp, 9-2);

4. Beaver Hat (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Brian Williamson, 30-1);

5. Forza Di Oro (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 7-2);

6. Captivating Moon (Jareth Loveberry, Chris Block, 8-1);

7. Farmington Road (Luis Saez, Cherie DeVaux, 8-1);

8. Chess Chief (Rey Gutierrez, Dallas Stewart, 10-1);

9. Happy American (James Graham, Neil Pessin, 6-1);

10. Five Star General (Corey Lanerie, Grant Forster, 20-1);

11. Gentle Soul (David Cohen, Bret Calhoun, 20-1);

12. Rightandjust (Alex Castillo, Shane Wilson, 20-1);

13. Mr. Wireless (Deshawn Parker, Bret Calhoun, 6-1).

Formful Sprinters To Meet In Richard R. Scherer Memorial

In some ways, Susan Moulton's two-time Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) starter Manny Wah stands out in the field of seven older entered in 17th running of the $100,000 Richard R. Scherer Memorial Stakes, a six-furlong dirt dash for 3-year-olds and up.

Although he edges out the field in class, Manny Wah is winless in six tries on Fair Grounds' dirt track.

Surveillance, owned by Big Chief Racing, Rocker O Ranch, and Keith Desormeaux, is three-for-three over the local oval, and having won the Thanksgiving Classic, he wears the track's older male sprint crown until proven otherwise.

Trained by Wayne Catalano, the 3-1 morning line second-favorite won October's Phoenix (G2) at Keeneland to earn his second entry to the Breeder's Cup Sprint, where he finished 4th (5th in 2020). A late-runner through and through, Manny Wah consistently fires and in 35 races he has finished in the money 20 times, but only five of those are wins. As a 3-year-old on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail he ran in Fair Grounds' Derby preps series beginning with the Sugar Bowl. He is on the duck over the local dirt track in six tries, but he dazzled all with his late turn of foot when winning the 2021 Kenner in his first ever turf start.

Along for many of Manny Wah's late runs, Corey Lanerie will work with post No.7 to navigate a ground saving late run into a suspect pace set-up given the presence of only one true front runner, Dawn and Scotty Robin's High Cruise who Diliberto tabbed at 20-1 in the morning line.

If you didn't watch Jay Emm Ess Stable's Miles Ahead's last start you'd still be wondering if he can win anywhere but at Gulfstream Park. But he did just that powering home to win the Louisville Thoroughbred Society at Churchill Downs in September. To be fair, his 11 prior wins came only at Gulfstream because that is the only track he raced before being transferred through several different trainers and now is in the hands of Kentucky-based Paul McGee. He was scratched on the track prior to the Bet On Sunshine, a race won by Bango. Six furlongs is this sprinter's specialty and he's drawn favorably with post No. 2. His jockey Martin Garcia rode him to victory at Churchill. Oddsmaker Mike Diliberto crowns Miles Ahead the favorite at 5-2.

Other top horses entered into the Richard R. Scherer Memorial include David Ingordo's lightly raced Tulane Tryst who is seven times in the exacta out of nine runs and enters after firing bullet workout on Dec 10. TEC Racing's Heart Rhythm's form since being claimed by trainer John Ortiz cannot be denied. He finished second to Surveillance in the Thanksgiving Classic after running a new top speed figure when winning an allowance at Keeneland in October. Eight of Tamaroak Partners' Bango's 11 wins have come at Churchill Downs including November's Bet On Sunshine in his last.

The field for the Richard R. Scherer Memorial Stakes from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning-line odds):

1. Bango (Edgar Morales, Greg Foley, 7-2);

2. Miles Ahead (Martin Garcia, Paul McGee, 5-2);

3. Tulane Tryst (Brian Hernandez Jr., Cheire DeVaux, 9-2);

4. Heart Rhythm (Rey Gutierrez, John Ortiz, 6-1);

5. High Cruise (Colby Hernandez, Alberto Antonio, 20-1);

6. Surveillance (James Graham, Keith Desormeaux, 6-1);

7. Manny Wah (Corey Lanerie, Wayne Catalano, 3-1).

Silverbulletday Winner Charlie's Penny Returns For 'Spanky' Broussard Memorial

Pegged as the 7-5 morning line favorite, Lothenbach Stables' Charlie's Penny enters the 58th running of $100,000 Joseph E. “Spanky” Broussard Memorial Stakes on a two-race win streak. The 2021 Silverbulletday winner faces a field of five older fillies going 1 mile 70 yards.

Chris Block trains the 4-year-old by Race Day, who will be traveling two turns for just the second time in her nine-race career. The Minnesota-bred's win streak began with the Bella Notte Minnesota Distaff Sprint Championship at Canterbury Park. Next out she defeated open allowance company at Churchill Downs. Breaking from post No. 5 she will be ridden by Jareth Loveberry.

One of Charlie's Penny's rivals in the Broussard is Farfellow Farms' Moon Swag. Exiting a distant fourth in the Falls City (G3), this Brendan Walsh trainee won her first start off a year-long layoff, beating allowance company going 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland in October. Her first win at two-turns, she defeated Broussard rival Powder River by 2 3/4 lengths. Drawing the rail, the 4-year-old Malibu Moon filly attracts the services of Luis Saez.

The full field for the Sugar Bowl Stakes from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning line odds):

1.Moon Swag (Luis Saez, Brendan Walsh, 5-2);

2. Bow Bow Girl (James Graham, Chris Richard, 8-1);

3. Powder River (Florent Geroux, Norm Casse, 4-1);

4. Lil Kings Princess (Rey Gutierrez, John Ortiz, 6-1);

5. Charlie's Penny (Jareth Lovebery, Chris Block, 7-5).

The post Chess Chief Seeks Tenacious Repeat, Formful Sprinters Set To Meet In Scherer Memorial On ‘Road To The Derby Kickoff Day’ At Fair Grounds appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

‘I’m Just Always Trying To Do Better Than The Previous Year’: Jockey Dylan Davis Relishing Best Season Ever

Just three live race days remain in 2022 to complete a remarkable year of racing action on the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit. To celebrate the season, the NYRA Press Office checked in with a selection of racing personalities to get their reflections on a memorable year.

Jockey Dylan Davis, 28, comes from a racing-oriented family. His father, trainer Robbie Davis, is a retired multiple Grade 1-winning jockey. His sisters – Katie and Jackie – are also jockeys and his brother Eddie is a trainer based on the NYRA circuit.

The native of Manhasset, New York, has enjoyed his best season in 10 years of riding, posting career bests this year in wins [192] and purse earnings [$13,067,692]. In March, he captured his first riding title by notching 63 victories at the 2021-22 Aqueduct winter meet.

With only three race days remaining in 2022 at Aqueduct, Davis could add to a tremendous season as he currently leads all riders with 183 wins on the NYRA circuit in 2022 – an 11 victory advantage over his nearest rival, Manny Franco. In addition, Davis is currently in second place at the Big A fall meet, which concludes on December 31, with 28 wins, just two scores shy of the leading Kendrick Carmouche.

His graded stakes triumphs this year came aboard Glass Ceiling [Grade 3 Distaff at Aqueduct and Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie at Laurel Park] as well as with Boppy O. [Grade 3 With Anticipation at Saratoga Race Course].

Davis lives in Garden City with his wife Sara and their two children, Michael and Demi.

After years of riding year round on the New York circuit, how important was it to win a riding title?

Davis: “It means a lot. It was the first title I've ever had and to be able to see everything come together meant a lot to me. I stuck it out with Mike Migliore, my agent throughout the years on the NYRA circuit. To be able to accomplish that feels great when you work so hard at something. There are no words to describe it, but I feel very honored and grateful.”

This has been your best year in terms of wins and earnings. In a year of so many accomplishments, who do you attribute most of the credit to?

Davis: “All the horses. And again, my agent. He took me on when I was ready to leave New York and he saw something in me and pushed me further than I thought I was ever going to go. He's always believed in me and always pushed me. He said that one day I'm going to be there, I just have to work hard and that's what we're doing now. Everything kind of fell into place this past year, so I'm just continuing to hope for the best and push for a better year. I felt like me and Mike working hard together every year and putting ourselves in the right position has been highly instrumental. I have other mentors, my father, and all the owners and the trainers that believed in me and trusted me to ride their horses and then it's my job to get the job done.”

Towards the end of last year, you captured your first Grade 1 aboard Mutamakina in the E.P. Taylor at Woodbine. Did that give you the momentum you needed to have a year like this?

Davis: “Oh yes, of course. I always have big goals of being a part of that elite group of Grade 1 caliber jockeys. I feel like I'm not quite there yet, so I'm still trying to push myself to get into that group. But that Grade 1 really helped me a lot because I had a trainer like Christophe Clement, who believed in me in that category and I was able to get the job done. To get that first one was good, and it boosted my confidence. I had Flavien Prat [aboard Kalifornia Queen] on my inside that day and Joel Rosario [aboard La Dragontea] on my outside closing hard, so to beat them that day felt great and boosted my confidence.”

You come from a very racing-oriented upbringing. How influential has your father been from the beginning?

Davis: “Even before I started riding, he's taught me a lot. I've had a lot of mentors throughout my career, but my dad really set the tone early on. Even in my first year of riding, he was calling me every day and we were reviewing tapes. Not so much today, he says I'm riding great, but I've always told him, 'You've got to tell me something, I need to hear some criticism' because I like that. I always try to push myself. But he says I'm riding great, I just need to keep on pushing.”

This year, Saratoga reintroduced the Wilson Chute. How did it feel from a rider's perspective?

Davis: “I like it because some horses don't want to go the full two turns and seven furlongs might be too much of a sprint for some of them. It's nice to have some variables when you come off the turf with different distances to choose from.”

Any rides that you were most proud of?

Davis: “I won with Miss Dracarys [in the Forever Together on November 20 at Aqueduct], for the same owners as Mutamakina, Al Shira'aa Farms. I've had a lot of success with them. I've won some stakes all through the year, Grade 2s and 3s, but every win is special.”

Do people tell you that your riding style is similar to that of your father's?

Davis: “I hear that a lot. I was young when my dad retired, so I can only go off tapes or YouTube to be able to watch him. I don't remember dad riding that much. I've never actually tried to mimic his style, I just ride what's comfortable for me and how I feel in the saddle and people say I look like my dad, so I guess that's just genetics. I think it's pretty cool.”

What are your goals for 2023?

Davis: “To win more titles and Grade 1s. I'm just always trying to do better than the previous year and stay healthy.”

The post ‘I’m Just Always Trying To Do Better Than The Previous Year’: Jockey Dylan Davis Relishing Best Season Ever appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Nationwide Equine-Based Training Available For Individuals Affected By Memory Loss

The Connected Horse Facilitator Training Academy, based in the Bay Area of California, has opened its barn doors to individuals and stables wishing to learn more about how horses can help people affected by memory loss and dementia, as well as their caretakers.

The organization is the first to offer nationwide, in-depth, evidence-based training to guide unmounted interactions between participants and horses. The training involves in-person and virtual sessions.

People affected by memory changes may struggle with anxiety, depression, and a sense of disconnection, while their caretakers may feel apathetic, isolated or hopeless. The Connected Horse Program addresses the affected person and their caretaker together.

The program was designed with input from the University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Alzheimer's Disease Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, and the Center for Equine Health. Stanford University School of Medicine and the Red Barn Leadership Program also had input in program development.

Initial studies have shown that program participants feel more supported and self-aware; they also report reduced anxiety and depression and better sleep. The program offers effective, non-pharmaceutical tools to improve the lives of people living with dementia and memory issues.

In-person training sessions will take place in March 2023 in Minden, Nevada; additional training will be offered throughout the year. The training includes 16 hours of continuing education credits for those involved in the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH). It also offers educational resources, coaching, evaluation tools and recertification.

Connected Horse also offers Virtual Barn and Sensory Engagement Kits, which creates a virtual “day at the barn” for those who can't attend in person or for those who would like additional at-home tools for engagement and mindfulness.

‘It’s Going To Be Tough’: Joseph Gearing Up For Championship Meet Title Defense At Gulfstream

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. followed up Top 10 finishes in the 2021 national standings in both races won and purse earnings with a breakthrough 2021-2022 Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park, during which he dethroned perennial titlist Todd Pletcher with a meet-leading 58 wins.

To finish off his career-best achievement in style, Joseph saddled White Abarrio for a victory in the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) April 2.

The 35-year-old Barbados native takes personal pride in capturing his first Championship Meet title, having endured through much leaner times a few years ago to reach the top of the standings at Gulfstream's winter meeting.

“All glory to God. You feel like you're going to break and not go on. I look back to 2019, 2018. The worst meet we had was in 2018. There was a hurricane and they moved us from the barn to a tent. We went through that meet at Gulfstream like 3-for-48,” Joseph said. “It was the biggest struggle I had in my life. Six months later, everything started going right, and now we're here.”

Joseph isn't about to rest on his laurels as he prepares to defend his title against Pletcher and many of the country's top trainers during the new Championship Meet that gets underway Dec. 26.

“It's going to be tough. You know he's a champion, so he's going to come back stronger than ever. It's going to be tough, but we're going to give it a try, obviously,” Joseph said. “We obviously want to win, but running second to Todd is no disgrace, but we're going to try to give him a run for his money.”

Pletcher was a role model for a young Joseph, a third-generation horseman in Barbados.

“I used to come here on holidays when I was 15, 16, 17 and go to the races and see Todd Pletcher. He's somebody you look up to the way he carries himself, and he can train a Breeders' Cup sprinter all the way to a mile-and-a half race. He trains any kind of horse. That's who I always looked up to my whole life,” Joseph said. “To actually beat him is quite remarkable. You dream about it, when it becomes reality, it puts it into perspective. It's like 'Whoa!' It makes you show a lot of gratitude. It only happens when you have all the great horses and owners. That's the most important thing, along with a great staff that does all the work.”

Joseph had early success in Barbados, where he became the youngest trainer to sweep the country's Triple Crown with Areutalkintome in 2009 at the age of 22. He ventured to South Florida two years later with lofty goals.

“We came here naïve, young – crazy in a way, because I came here saying, 'I'm going to be the best.' When reality sets in, nobody cares who you are – nobody knows who you are. When we came here, we had eight, 10 horses,” Joseph said. “We were winning races with a good percentage, but when you only have eight or 10 horses, you aren't going to win more than 12 races a year. No one notices you.”

Frank Calabrese, a highly successful owner/breeder who led Championship Meet owners' standings from 2009 to 2013, took notice of Joseph just when his career needed a boost.

“We got a little traction when we started claiming horses and we could turn them over faster and have more repetitive winners. Five or six years in, the model wasn't working. It wasn't going to be sustainable, and then Frank Calabrese came along. If there's anyone that can help turn around a career, it's definitely him,” Joseph said. “I still talk to him at least once a week. He definitely stabilized us. He had 16 horses, all good-looking horses. I took him from 16 down to four. We got rid of 12 right away that I didn't think were his kind, and we started claiming horses. We built the stable up to 15 or 20 for him.

“That gave me stability and increased our percentage to a higher level. That's what people notice. People notice the percentages. Unfortunately, you have to build your percentages up. With him, to be able to run the horses in spots where they should win, you get a higher percentage. Then, people say, 'He's winning,' and want to jump on the bandwagon. From then, we started picking up owners from referrals. “

Joseph understands he will need the horsepower to defend his Championship Meet title against the likes of Hall of Famer Pletcher.

“We have amazing owners. Owners make trainers. There's no two ways about it,” Joseph said.

The post ‘It’s Going To Be Tough’: Joseph Gearing Up For Championship Meet Title Defense At Gulfstream appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post