Watch: New York-Bred It’s A Gamble Wins Barbados Gold Cup

New York-bred It's a Gamble made a successful foray to the island nation of Barbados last weekend and came away with a victory in the $214,000 Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup at the Garrison Savannah Racetrack in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Recognized as a Barbadian Grade 1 event and contested at 1,800 meters on the turf, the Barbados Gold Cup also made its return after not being run in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sent off as the 5-2 co-favorite in the field of nine under Jalon Samuel, It's a Gamble won by three quarters of a length over Tallahatchiebridge with So Suave another 1 1/4 lengths back in third. The 5-year-old son of English Channel won in 1:50.2 over the firm ground.

Bred by Ron Lombardi and out of the Yes It's True mare Yes It's Pink, previously raced for his breeder's Mr. Amore Stable. He went 3-2-3 in 21 starts, including a victory over open company in the 2021 Jersey Derby at Monmouth Park, and earned $260,437 in the U.S. It's a Gamble was claimed out of his prior start before the Barbados Gold Cup for $35,000 at Gulfstream Park in mid-January by trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and Paraiso Investments.

It's a Gamble won his debut during the 2020 meet at Saratoga Race Course before adding an allowance-optional score later that year at Aqueduct. He also placed in two stakes on the NYRA circuit – and won the Jersey Derby – as a 3-year-old.

It's a Gamble won the Barbados Gold Cup for owner Mark Goodridge and trainer Rommell Lovell. The victory also marked Samuel's sixth victory in the race, along with scores aboard Dancin David (2012), Dorsett (2016 and 2017), Sir Dudley Digges (2018) and Night Prowler (2020).

The winner of three of her 13 starts with just two off-the-board finishes, Yes It's Pink was claimed at Belmont Park by Lombardi for $50,000 in October of 2013 and raced three more times before retirement.

Joining the Mr. Amore broodmare band, Yes It's Pink's first foal was an unraced New York-bred colt named Always Will. Her second foal, the New York-bred Verrazano mare Misty Tate is 7-1-5 in 28 starts – the most recent in early January at Laurel Park – with earnings of $200,021.

Itsalittlebitfunny, a 4-year-old New York-bred gelding by Algorithms, won his debut for Mr. Amore and Breen; and Yes It's Pink's fifth foal, the 3-year-old New York-bred Union Jackson filly, has made two starts for Mr. Amore and Breen this year at Aqueduct.

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HISA Issues Notice On Bisphosphonates: Owners Encouraged To Consider Screening Before March 27

In advance of the anticipated effective date of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's (HISA) Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program on March 27, 2023, the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) calls the Thoroughbred industry's attention to regulations regarding the presence and use of bisphosphonates in Covered Horses.

Bisphosphonates are a class of medication prescribed for managing clinical signs associated with navicular syndrome in horses four years old or above. They also have a history of extra-label use in younger horses. Bisphosphonates may be detected in samples from treated horses for months to years after administration.

The ADMC Program regulations categorize bisphosphonates as a Banned Substance, meaning that they are prohibited from being administered to, or present in, Covered Horses at any time. Covered Horses that test positive for bisphosphonates under the ADMC Program are subject to lifetime ineligibility, and associated Covered Persons may incur an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.

Given the prolonged detection period for bisphosphonates and the fact that their use is permitted in other racing jurisdictions internationally:

HIWU will not pursue disciplinary action against Covered Horses or their associated Covered Person(s) for the presence of bisphosphonates if the Covered Person(s) can provide documentation (e.g., medical records or a positive test result) to HIWU of the administration or presence of bisphosphonates prior to the implementation date of the ADMC Program. In accordance with HISA's requirements for Covered Horses, all medical records, including any relevant test results, must be uploaded to the HISA portal. Additionally, due to the variability of bisphosphonate detection through laboratory analysis, all bisphosphonate findings detected under the ADMC Program will undergo thorough review regardless of the alleged timing of administration.

If owners or horsemen have concerns that their horses may have been administered bisphosphonates prior to March 27, including prior to a sale at public auction domestically or internationally, HISA and HIWU advise them to consider bisphosphonate screenings for these horses before the ADMC Program takes effect.

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act does not enable HISA's ADMC Program to be enforced retroactively for actions occurring prior to its implementation. The detection of administrations from prior to March 27 that violate respective state rules in effect during that time period will be referred to the relevant state regulatory authorities.

While bisphosphonates continue to be permitted in Thoroughbred racehorses in international jurisdictions, any Covered Horse proven to have been administered bisphosphonates after the March 27th implementation date will be subject to lifetime ineligibility, and associated Covered Persons may incur an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.

For questions about the use of bisphosphonates and other substances on the ADMC Prohibited List, stakeholders are encouraged to reach out to HIWU Chief of Science Dr. Mary Scollay at mscollay@hiwu.org.

The Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) was established in 2022 by Drug Free Sport International to administer the rules and enforcement mechanisms of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's (HISA) Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program. The ADMC Program will create a centralized testing and results management process and apply uniform penalties for violations efficiently and consistently across all American Thoroughbred racing jurisdictions that HISA governs. HIWU will oversee testing, educate stakeholders on the new program, accredit laboratories, investigate potential violations, and prosecute any such violations. For more information, please visit hiwu.org.

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Record Last Chance/First Chance Participation; NHC Begins Friday With 779 Entries

The final chance to qualify for the 2023 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) yielded a record 28 seats into this weekend's contest which begins Friday morning at the Horseshoe Las Vegas. Five berths to #NHC2023 were guaranteed, with an additional spot added for every 20 entries beyond 140. Thursday's contest saw a record 752 entries, a more than 40% increase above last year's previous record of 532. Another 159 entries played for 6 NHC berths for 2024 NHC.

A retired history teacher and day camp owner from New York, George Novick finished on top of the field. “I use the pick and pray approach, and had all my races selected before coming today. I'm very excited to play through the weekend.” Novick hasn't attended an NHC since back when it was held at Treasure Island. He owns one horse with a partner and calls this his hobby.

The top three finishers shared in a cash prize pool equal to 30% of entry fees, with the balance of entry fees going to the NHC prize pool. In addition to the NHC seats, Novick took home $56,400, Kris Andaur earned $37,600 for second, and Michael Caposio got $18,800 for third. Full leaderboard results can be found here.

Kicking off Friday, the NHC, presented by Caesars Entertainment, Horseshoe Las Vegas, and Racetrack Television Network (RTN), is the world's richest and most prestigious handicapping contest. This year's competition will feature 779 entries competing for an estimated $3.2 million in cash and prizes. All qualifiers received a complimentary four night stay at the Horseshoe Las Vegas and travel reimbursements which total more than $1 million.

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.

On Saturday, the NTRA will also host an invitation-only online tournament, the 9th Annual NHC Charity Challenge, presented by NTRA Charities. The invitation-only field is slated to compete for the $10,000 charitable prize pool, with $5,000 set to be donated to the winner's charity of choice and an additional $2,500 will be donated to each the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. HorsePlayers.com hosts the online event.

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.

To sign up for the NHC Tour, go to www.ntra.com/membership.

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