7th-Meydan, AED82,500, Maiden, 2yo, 1600m, 1:38.92, ft. SHIRL'S BEE (c, 2, Bee Jersey–Shirl's Soul, by Perfect Soul {Ire}) was the subject of some pre-race buzz and turned in a tough debut effort to stamp himself one to watch in next year's 3-year-old events in Dubai. Nicely into stride from gate two, the homebred colt appeared set to challenge for the lead at the rail, but was taken hold of by Pat Dobbs and immediately began to overrace. More settled as they raced past the half-mile marker, Shirl's Bee faced a potentially adverse set of circumstances when between rivals and on his incorrect lead with about 300 meters to race, but he rebroke as soon as he kicked over to his right leg and showed battling qualities from there to best Lahresh (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) by 1 1/4 lengths. “He's very professional at home, a naturally quick horse,” said Dobbs. “He'll get further but I'm not sure if he'll get further yet. He's better looking than his dad [Bee Jersey, who Dobbs also rode].” Shirl's Bee is the seventh first-crop winner for her Fipke homebred sire (by Jersey Town), who made the first four starts of his career for this trainer at this venue, finishing runner-up to Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas in 2017. That same event, to be contested Feb. 10, 2023, could be the next target for Shirl's Bee, who is closely related to Spikes Shirl (Speightstown), MSP, $336,277. The winner is out of an unraced full-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare upsetter Perfect Shirl (Perfect Soul {Ire}), whose 'TDN Rising Star' son Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) won this year's GI Maker's Mark Mile and was the recent runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. Shirl's Soul is the dam of a yearling full-sister to Shirl's Bee and foaled a Speightstown colt earlier this year before being bred back to Bee Jersey. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $13,479. —Alan Carasso
O/B-Charles E Fipke (KY); T-Doug Watson.
A $1.7-trillion omnibus spending bill that includes language that would give the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) more authority over the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) passed in the House of Representatives Friday. Friday's development came one day after the bill passed in the Senate. The bill will next go to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.
The language in the bill relating to HISA is meant to address issues raised by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in November. That court ruled that HISA was unconstitutional because the FTC's powers were limited and that HISA had too big of a role. It is believed that the relevant language in the bill allows the FTC to “abrogate, add to, and modify the rules of the Authority promulgated in accordance with this Act as the Commission finds necessary or appropriate to ensure the fair administration of the Authority, to conform the rules of the Authority to requirements of this Act and applicable rules approved by the Commission, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of this Act.”
While Friday's development was a win for HISA, the battle between pro and anti-HISA forces is far from over and it's unclear what will happen next. However, it appears likely that the National HBPA and other groups fighting HISA will not back down and will continue to challenge the many issues that have been raised in the courts. It's also unclear what steps will now be taken by HISA and the FTC in order to get HISA back on track. Possibilities include asking the Fifth Circuit to reconsider its ruling in light of the fact that the FTC will have more power going forward. It's also possible that the FTC can essentially start the entire process over and ask HISA to resubmit its proposed rules.
Should the Fifth Circuit reverse itself and give HISA the green light to go forward, there are other lawsuits out there that could once again change the direction of the dispute. One is a case in which plaintiffs have made familiar arguments relating to the constitutionality of HISA that has been argued in the Sixth Circuit, which has yet to issue a ruling. Another case is pending in the U.S. District Court of Texas-Northern District, Amarillo Division, which raises several constitutional problems with the law, other than FTC rule-making input. The bottom line is that, from a legal standpoint, nothing yet is certain when it comes to HISA.
After the spending bill passed the house, the NTRA issued a press release celebrating the victory that included comments from several industry leaders.
“On behalf of NTRA members, which include broad representation of every aspect of the Thoroughbred industry, we welcome the successful bipartisan efforts of Congress to reaffirm Congressional support for HISA's mission,” said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. “HISA is critical to our sport and we look forward to working collaboratively with every industry constituency to continue to support the essential role of HISA going forward. We especially want to thank Congressional leadership in Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, and Speaker Pelosi, committee leadership in Chairman Pallone, Chairwoman Cantwell, and Rep. Schakowsky, and our longtime champions Reps. Tonko and Barr and Senators Feinstein and Gillibrand. Finally, I thank the many people from far and wide across the industry who advocated for this law with their elected officials.”
“The Jockey Club is extremely appreciative of the efforts Congress is making in support of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act,” said The Jockey Club President and COO Jim Gagliano. “The Jockey Club has supported nationwide, uniform rules and regulations for Thoroughbred racing for decades through numerous initiatives. HISA is Thoroughbred racing's best solution to greatly improve regulation of the sport and to help ensure our sport is clean and is safe for our athletes–both equine and human.”
Turf racing returns for Monday's “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day” card at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, La. With the portable rail set at 34 feet, starters will be limited to eight runners for the $100,000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial and the female counterpart, the 1 1/16 miles $100,000 Blushing K.D. (Race 6). With the same parameters, racing will return to the turf on Dec. 31 for the runnings of the $100,000 Pago Hop and the $100,000 Woodchopper. If all goes well, as is expected, Fair Grounds will continue to run limited turf races starting Jan. 5.
With a first post of noon CT for a 13-race card, “The Road to the Derby Kickoff Day” card features the $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes (Race 11) and $100,000 Untapable (Race 12). Both races offer the last chance for Kentucky Derby and Oaks dreamers to earn qualifying points (10-4-3-2-1) as 2-year-olds.
Lothenbach Stables' Fair Grounds Stakes (G3) winner Captivating Moon gets the morning-line oddsmaker Mike Diliberto's blessing as the favorite in an overdrawn field of eleven older males in the 17th running of the Diliberto Memorial. There's little drop off from the top as the race named after the beloved New Orleans sportscaster has five foes tabbed between 3-1 and 4-1; eight between 3-1 and 6-1.
Trained by Chris Block, Captivating Moon has only won once in the past two years, coming from last to first over a yielding course in the 2021 Fair Grounds (G3) at boxcar odds of 43-1. The 7-year-old by Malibu Moon did, however, win the 2019 edition of the Buddy D over a sloppy main track. Jareth Loveberry takes the reins and will be breaking from post No. 5.
Chief among his competitors in the Buddy D is the 3-time graded stakes winner Spooky Channel, owned by NBS Stable. Not seen since October of 2021 when he won the Sycamore (G3) at Keeneland, the English Channel 7-year-old trained by Jason Barkley suffered a setback last December when training for this race and had to scratch.
“Spooky is coming off the layoff,” Barkley said. “We've had him ready for a month and have just been waiting for the turf course to open up. He gallops strong and he's passing the eye test in the mornings. I think he is the best horse in the race. He wants to go a little further (than 1 1/16 miles), but it's a great starting spot.”
Tabbed at 4-1 in the morning line, Spooky Channel gets the services of James Graham and will begin his return to the races from post No. 6.
Stablemate Bizzee Channel is making his second start for the Barkley barn since being transferred from Lacy Gaudet by owner Baron Racing Stables.
“Bizzee is doing really well,” Barkley said. “We took the blinkers off for this race, and I like that move for him because he can get too aggressive and then not finish. Hopefully he'll relax off the lead, in there. If he's on the lead, that's fine, but he runs best just off the leaders.”
Adam Beschizza will ride the graded stakes winner for the first time, breaking from post No.4
Other top horses entered into the Buddy D Stakes include Jerry Romans Jr. and Hamilton Smith's English Tavern who is three-for-five at the distance and Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch's Spanish Kingdom who finished second in the $394,000 Tapit Stakes at Kentucky Downs last September.
Here is the complete field for the Fern Creek from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):
AE Happy American (James Graham, Neil Pessin, 7-2).
My Racehorse Stable and Spendthrift Farm's A Mo Reay headlines a field of eight older fillies and mares entered in Monday's 15th running of the $100,000 Blushing K.D. Stakes, going 1 1/16 miles on the Stall-Wilson turf course.
Trained by Brad Cox, the 3-1 morning line favorite has made only two starts on the grass, most recently finishing fifth in the Pebbles (G3), two lengths back from the Chad Brown French-bred Faith In Humanity. Recently transferred from Todd Pletcher's barn, the 3-year-old has posted four morning workouts since arriving at Fair Grounds, including a 5-furlong 1:00.80 bullet on Dec 10. Florent Geroux will guide the Uncle Mo filly from post No. 6.
One of A Mo Reay's main rivals in the Blushing K.D. is the Godolphin homebred Lake Lucerne. Though the Brandan Walsh trainee is winless in 2022, she has started in four graded stakes, including her last out fifth to Dalika in November's Cardinal (G3) at Churchill Downs. Slated at 7-2 by morning-line oddsmaker Mike Diliberto, the 5-year-old mare by Dubawi will break from post No. 7 with Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard.
Other top horses entered into the Blushing K.D. Stakes include Susan Moultan's Jack Bishop stakes-winner Oliviaofthedesert trained by Wayne Catalano and Dream Big Racing's Carpe Vinum who makes his first start for trainer John Ortiz after being transferred from Phil D'Amato's barn.
Here is the complete field for the Blushing K.D. Stakes from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning line odds):
Island Hideaway (Adam Beschizza, Karl Broberg, 6-1);
Mo Clare's (Jareth Loveberry, Chris Block, 8-1);
Wave of Goodness (Mitchell Murrill, Armando Hernandez, 8-1);
Carpe Vinum (Rey Gutierrez, John Ortiz, 7-2);
Oliviaofthedesert (Corey Lanerie, Wayne Catalano, 5-1);
A Mo Reay (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 3-1);
Lake Lucerne (Brian Hernandez Jr., Brendan Walsh, 7-2);
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 the memorable year.
Rasi Harper and Maurice Davis launched The Real Players Inside the Backstretch channel in 2021 and reached new heights this year, traveling across the country to document the stories of backstretch workers.
Their interview with Jerry Dixon, Jr., groom of this year's Kentucky Derby-winner Rich Strike, has generated more than 475,000 views on YouTube. During Belmont Stakes week, they conducted an interview with Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York, and in September the duo enjoyed a journalistic role reversal when their inspirational work was profiled in the New York Times.
Harper and Davis, who own and operate Boss Builders & Outreach Barbershop in Schenectady, N.Y., visited a number of tracks this year, including Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Fair Grounds, Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park and Woodbine Racetrack. Racing fans can enjoy their content on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
What was your favorite interview this year and why?
Harper: “It has to be Jerry Dixon, Jr. When we got to Churchill, I interviewed him on the Thursday before the race and he was so excited and so happy. He loved Rich Strike. It wasn't even about the Derby for him. He was just a horse guy, who loved what he does.
“For him to win, was amazing. I don't think even he thought he could win. It was a real longshot. That interview was so organic, it wasn't even about the Derby, it was about him as a horseman. For him to win the whole thing at 80-1 was wow…miracles do happen.”
Why do you think people enjoy your content?
Harper: “It's just real and it's organic. It's not a media marketing scheme. I think talking to the real players on the backside was overdue. There are so many hard-working people back there and when you look at Saratoga, for instance, there are so many barns, but they only really cover the top few people winning races.
“I think it's overdue in racing that we celebrate the people. It's not that the industry doesn't know these stories. People know the stories that are in the industry, but for the mass audience, it's new stories to them.”
After having conducted hundreds of interviews, have you discovered a common theme that brings backstretch workers to the sport?
Harper: “It's all horse, all passion and all love for the animal. Nobody told me any sad stories about money. Of all the hundreds of interviews, no one complained about that. These guys would do it for free.
“There's something addictive about that lifestyle. I'm hooked now, too. The camaraderie back there, I can't explain. The same thing that brings them to the game, brought me to the game.”
Which interview subject surprised you with their storytelling ability?
Harper: “It's between a horseman named Roy Seales from the Virgin Islands and Robbie Davis. Roy had a tone to his voice when he spoke that you just knew you were speaking to backstretch royalty. He knows so much about the game and you just knew that if this guy had a shot with some horses that he could be just as big as the guys that we love, the big guys. If he had the horses, he could be a force.
“Robbie – he's just the ultimate storyteller. When he's telling a story, you can visualize it as he's talking. You can see yourself in the story in that moment. He embraced the Real Players right from the beginning. I went to his barn unknown and he gave me those stories Day One. He didn't have to warm up to me, he was already warm. You hit Robbie with a question and he just takes you there. You have to root for guys like that.”
Why is it critical to document the stories of the backstretch workers?
Harper: “I feel like these stories are important. When I went to the Hall of Fame this year and I interviewed people, you realize there's only five or six African Americans inducted as far as jockeys go and nobody told the stories of the backside.
“It just fell in my lap that I'm documenting oral histories with people on the backside that are just as important as any legendary jockey and any legendary trainer. If you ask Steve Asmussen, if you ask Bob Baffert, if you ask Chad Brown, they all say the same thing – without the guys on the backstretch, there's no horse racing and not just a little bit, period!”
Should there be space in the Hall of Fame for backstretch workers?
“I think it's overdue. It's a major piece of bringing horses to the winner's circle. You can't do it without them.”
What comes next for The Real Players Inside the Backstretch in 2023?
Harper: “We want to hit more tracks. I've seen [footage of] the Japan Cup and that crowd got me motivated. I have to get to that. I'd love to get to the Dubai World Cup and I just want to keep grinding and growing the platform.”
