Arabian Knight, the $2.3 million OBS April purchase who was exceedingly impressive winning his only two starts by 12 3/4 lengths, is off the Kentucky Derby trail, according to a Saturday night statement posted on Twitter by owner Zedan Racing.
The Uncle Mo colt was the 6-1 second choice behind champion Forte in this weekend's Kentucky Derby Future Wager shortly after the Tweet was posted, with $17,688 bet to win on Arabian Knight from a pool of $150,406. This round of the Future Wager continues until 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday, March 12.
“Trainer Tim Yakteen wasn't happy with his last work and we feel it's in Arabian Knight's best interest not to rush and allow him more time to develop,” the statement said. “We know he's a superior talent and our plan is to point him toward a summer and fall campaign.”
Arabian Knight won his first two races for trainer Bob Baffert, taking a seven-furlong maiden race by 7 1/4 lengths on the Breeders' Cup day program at Keeneland last Nov. 5, then rolling to a 5 1/2-length win over a sloppy track going 1 1/16 miles in Oaklawn's Grade 3 Southwest Stakes Jan. 28.
Because Baffert remains banned from Churchill Downs Inc. properties through this year's Triple Crown and his horses are unable to earn Kentucky Derby qualifying points, owner Amr Zedan transferred Arabian Knight to Yakteen in order to comply with eligibility conditions of the Kentucky Derby that required any horses trained by Baffert to move to another stable prior to March 1.
Arabian Knight breezed once for Baffert after the Southwest, going three furlongs in :35.60 at Santa Anita on Feb. 13. The colt didn't work again for 19 days during a rainy period when training and racing at the Southern California track was interrupted because of the wet conditions.
He breezed five furlongs in :59.20 on March 4 after being transferred to Yakteen, then went six furlongs in 1:13.60 on March 9 in his latest move.
Zedan's Medina Spirit finished first in the 2021 Kentucky Derby but was subsequently disqualified after the corticosteroid betamethasone was detected in post-race testing. Zedan and Baffert have been engaged in litigation with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and Churchill Downs over Medina Spirit's disqualification and Baffert's private property exclusion from Churchill tracks.
Bred in Kentucky by Corser Thoroughbreds LLC, Arabian Knight was a $250,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase by Scott and Evan Dilworth, then was consigned by Top Line Sales to the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s April Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, where bloodstock agent and private clocker Gary Young signed the ticket on behalf of Zedan for $2.3 million.
Statement from @ZedanRacing: #ArabianKnight is no longer under consideration for the KY Derby. Trainer Tim Yakteen wasn't happy with his last work & we feel it's in Arabian Knight's best interest not to rush & allow him more time to develop. We know he's a superior talent &… https://t.co/ZxrllmD8F8
— Zedan Racing Stables, Inc (@ZedanRacing) March 12, 2023
The post Unbeaten $2.3-Million Arabian Knight Off Kentucky Derby Trail appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Day two of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) National Horseplayers Championship (NHC), presented by Caesars Entertainment, Horseshoe Las Vegas, and Racetrack Television Network (RTN), finished Saturday with Francis Boustany of Lafayette, La., maintaining his day one lead with a bankroll of $291.20. He will go into Sunday's semifinal round with a $13.20 lead.
This is Boustany's seventh NHC, and this is the most success he's had to date. He acknowledges “it's hard to have two good days, back-to-back and today I had almost the same total as yesterday.” Of tomorrow he says “anything can happen there's lots of good handicappers here. I have a really good total, so it's good to take that with me.”
The NHC field was reduced to the top 10 percent of players after today. The highest 10 cumulative scores after the Semifinals round on Sunday morning will fill out the Final Table. Bankrolls amassed during Day 1, Day 2 and the Semifinals round will roll over to the Final Table, with the 10 finalists settling the NHC score in seven “mandatory” assigned races.
The semifinal field of 78 contains six double qualifiers, Paul Calia, Ed Deicke, Jordan Jayne, John Nichols, James Pauley, and Steven Wells. Jordan Jayne in 52nd place with a bankroll of $179.90, is the final contestant playing for a $1 million bonus opportunity courtesy of Hawthorne Race Course. Three females, Linda Rodriguez, Cara Yarusso, and Christy Moore will be playing in the semifinals.
Second place leading into the semifinal round on Sunday with a bankroll of $278.00 is Paul Calia. Third place is Gary Fenton with $259.60, fourth place is David Browning with $243.40, and fifth place is Steven Wells with two entries and identical scores of $239.70. The full leaderboard can be found on NTRA.com.
The 2023 NHC winner, who will be named on Sunday at the conclusion of the Final Table, will take home a whopping $800,000, up from last year's grand prize of $725,000, and will be named Horseplayer of the Year at the 2024 Eclipse Awards. Total cash prizes to be offered over the three days are a record $3,115,350, a 33% increase over last year. The 2022 NHC paid out the top 64 finishers. This year, the top 78 finishers will take home prize money. The full prize structure can be found online.
Jude Feld Wins Ninth Annual NTRA Charity Challenge
The ninth annual NTRA/NHC Charity Challenge, presented by NTRA Charities, saw an eclectic group of players compete in an online handicapping contest that benefits charities and mirrors the NHC format. Racetrack announcers, on-air personalities, NHC sponsors, podcast hosts, journalists and other industry representatives compete each year. First place went to Jude Feld, broadcaster for Horse Racing Radio Network and a former trainer, who is also the first repeat winner of the Charity Challenge.
“Playing a contest is so much different than playing daily, because I look for horses that are at least 8-1,” said Feld of winning this year. Old Friends is my favorite charity to support and I supported it the first time when I won in 2020. The great work that Michael Blowen and his staff do to provide care for our retired Thoroughbred friends is so important to me.”
Feld's final accumulated bankroll of $84.40 topped the field for the day. His big win was the second race of the contest, which was Laurel Park's sixth race. Eldest Son won the one mile allowance optional claiming race for which Jude collected $33.60 on his mythical win place selection.
The top ten finishers in the 2023 competition were:
1.    Jude Feld, broadcaster for Horse Racing Radio Network and former trainer
2.    Rachel McLaughlin, Racing Analyst and Production Manager at Horseshoe Indianapolis Race Course
3.    Frank Carulli, Handicapper and Blogger for Xpressbet
4.    Ray Paulick, Publisher of the Paulick Report
5.    Jeremy Balan, Journalist and Sportswriter
6.    Jim Mulvihill, Editor of the BloodHorse Daily
7.    Matt Carothers, Host and Analyst at TVG
8.    Jeff Bratt, Host, Commentator and Handicapper at Woodbine Entertainment
9.    Jay Privman, Retired Daily Racing Form reporter and Eclipse Award Winner
10. Rich Perloff, Host and Analyst at Fan Duel/TVG
This year, the “prize pool” doubled to $10,000 for charity, compliments of NTRA Charities. $5,000 is set to be donated to Jude's choice of Old Friends and an additional $2,500 will be donated to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.  HorseTourneys.com hosted the Charity Challenge and Breeders' Cup provided additional prizes to the Top 3 finishers in the form of credits to their HorseTourneys.com account.
More on This Year's NHC
The NHC, the world's richest and most prestigious handicapping contest, features more than 600 top horseplayers competing for more than $3.1 million in cash and prizes. All qualifiers will received a complimentary four night stay at the Horseshoe Las Vegas and travel reimbursements which total more than $1 million.
The tournament format for the NHC is meant to be the best possible test of overall handicapping ability by picking winners. Players attempt to earn the highest possible bankroll based on mythical $2 Win and Place wagers. Assigned “mandatory” races – eight per day on Day 1 and Day 2, and seven at the Final Table – are announced at least 36 hours prior to each contest day via direct e-mail to players and publicly on Twitter (@NTRA) and NTRA.com.
The NHC field will be reduced to the top 10 percent of players after the first two days. The highest 10 cumulative scores after the Semifinals round on Sunday morning will fill out the Final Table. Bankrolls amassed during Day 1, Day 2 and the Semifinals round will roll over to the Final Table, with the 10 finalists settling the NHC score in seven “mandatory” assigned races.
In addition to its three presenting sponsors ― Caesars Entertainment, Horseshoe Las Vegas and RTN ― the NHC is supported by official partners Daily Racing Form, EquinEdge, Four Roses Bourbon and Race Lens.
Interested spectators will have the ability to watch and listen to the action unfurling at the NHC all weekend in multiple places. Rachel McLaughlin, Racing Analyst at Horseshoe Indianapolis, will be hosting the NHC broadcast which will be available on all NTRA social media platforms. Additionally, At the Races with Steve Byk will broadcast live on SiriusXM satellite radio (Sirius 219; XM 201) from the Horseshoe Las Vegas and online at www.stevebyk.com daily, from 9-12 a.m. ET/6-9 a .m. PT on Friday and Monday, with bonus NHC coverage at www.SteveByk.com/listen-live-SiriusXM slated for 2-8 p.m. ET/11 a.m.-5 p.m. PT) next Friday-Sunday. America's Best Racing and Hawthorne will also be streaming live from the event.
To sign up for the NHC Tour, go to www.ntra.com/membership.
The post NHC Day Two: Francis Boustany Retains Narrow Advantage; Jude Feld Wins Charity Challenge appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
California Retirement Management Account (CARMA), a nonprofit organization that provides funding for the retirement of Thoroughbred racehorses in California, has announced the addition of two new board members. Amy Zimmerman and Jay Privman have been appointed to the board to fill vacancies left by the resignation of Candace Coder-Chew and the untimely passing of Howard Zucker late last year.
Amy J. Zimmerman is a renowned sports TV producer who has had a successful career in TV and horse racing. She has worked with all four major networks as a live sports producer, oversees horse racing coverage for NBC, and has won numerous awards, including the 2014 Old Hilltop Award and the 2011 Penny Chenery Distinguished Woman in Racing Award. Currently, she serves as the Senior Vice President at Santa Anita Park, where she has been on staff since 1986.
Jay Privman is a revered horse racing journalist who has been covering the sport for over 35 years. He recently retired from the role of national correspondent at Daily Racing Form and has covered major races like the Triple Crown and the Breeders' Cup. Privman has also covered racing on television for CBS, ESPN, Fox, and NBCSN. In 2021 Jay was inducted into the Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, and this past January was presented with a Special Eclipse Award for Career Excellence at the 52nd Annual Eclipse Awards.
“We are thrilled to welcome Amy and Jay to the CARMA Board of Directors,” said Billy Koch, President of CARMA. “Their vast knowledge and experience in the horse racing industry will be invaluable to our organization as we continue to provide funding for the dignified retirement of our equine athletes.”
The organization would like to express gratitude to Candace Coder-Chew for the invaluable contributions she made during her tenure. Candace joined the CARMA board in 2011 and became a member of the Executive Committee in 2014. She served as board president from 2019 to 2022. Although she has retired from the board, Candace's dedication to helping retired racehorses continues through the Champions Retreat aftercare facility that she and her husband, Matt Chew, established in Idaho.
In addition, the organization seeks to honor Howard Zucker, a previous board member who played a significant role in advancing CARMA's mission before his unexpected passing in late 2022. Zucker will always be remembered for his passion for Thoroughbred racing and his deep commitment to the well-being of retired racehorses. He was instrumental in expanding CARMA's core funding, spearheading the effort to include trainers and jockeys in the purse contribution program, which was implemented in October 2019. Zucker had served on the board since 2009 and held various leadership positions in the organization throughout his tenure. He was elected board President in 2015 and held that position until the end of 2019.
“With the addition of Amy and Jay to the CARMA Board of Directors, our organization is well-positioned to continue its mission and be a leader in the horse racing industry when it comes to aftercare,” said Lucinda Lovitt, CARMA Executive Director. “I know they will bring their expertise and unique perspectives to the table, helping to guide our efforts to provide a better future for retired racehorses in California.”
For more information and to donate to CARMA at any time, visit CARMA4horses.org or contact Lucinda Lovitt at (626) 574-6622 or lucinda@carma4horses.org.
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