Month: March 2023

Perfectly-Timed Rebel Rally Nets James Graham Jockey Of The Week Title

James Graham usually rides at Fair Grounds this time of year, but when a shot at a start in the Kentucky Derby is on the line, he happily makes the journey. Despite a lack of familiarity with the Oaklawn track, Graham and his mount Confidence Game timed their rally perfectly to score an upset win in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2).

For Graham's surprise win, the panel of racing experts voted the journeyman Jockey of the Week for Feb. 21 through Feb. The award recognizes jockeys for riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.

Trainer Keith Desormeaux gave a leg up to Graham on Confidence Game in the G2 Rebel Stakes, a race offering the winner 50 points toward a start in the Kentucky Derby. Off at odds of 18-1 and facing a talented 11-horse field that included multiple stakes-winning or stakes-placed colts, Confidence Game raced in mid-pack until the final turn. Graham guided Confidence Game three-wide then five-wide into the stretch to win by a length in 1:44.21 over a track rated as sloppy, paying $39 to his backers.

“He sort of lost his mind in the paddock, so I was worried until he got on the track,” said Desormeaux. “James (Graham) got him to settle down out there.”

“I was able to settle him down when we were warming up so he got back in the things mentally,” said a clearly excited Graham. “The outrider had to pick me up. I'm hoping he can carry me all the way to the Derby!”

With the win, Confidence Game currently sits at the top of the Kentucky Derby point standings.

Graham has ridden Confidence Game in six of his seven starts. Next stop for Confidence Game could be a return trip to Oaklawn for the Arkansas Derby on April 1 or to stay at Fair Grounds, his home track, for the Louisiana Derby on March 25.

Graham, a native of Dublin, Ireland, currently is in third place in the Fair Grounds standings where he has won four leading rider titles.

Other contenders for Jockey of the Week included Samy Camacho who won 11 races to lead all jockeys for the week, Harry Hernandez with a stakes win at Turf Paradise, Jareth Loveberry with two stakes wins at Fair Grounds, and Irad Ortiz, Jr. who won five races on Feb. 24.

The post Perfectly-Timed Rebel Rally Nets James Graham Jockey Of The Week Title appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Breeders’ Cup, PNC Bank Renew And Expand Multi-Year Partnership

Breeders' Cup Limited and PNC Bank announced a renewal and expansion of their partnership through 2024, solidifying PNC Bank's role as the official banking service provider and credit card processor of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which takes place this year at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, Nov. 3-4.

Under the agreement, PNC Bank becomes the name-in-title partner of the $1 million PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, which will be run on Nov. 4 at this year's World Championships.

“PNC Bank has been a wonderful partner to the Breeders' Cup and we feel incredibly confident in the future of our work together,” said Drew Fleming, Breeders' Cup President and CEO. “As Breeders' Cup continues to provide a world-class, luxury experience throughout World Championships weekend, we're delighted to have best-in-class partners like PNC Bank expanding their commitment to the Breeders' Cup.”

In addition to becoming the name-in-title partner of the PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, PNC also will be the title partner of the PNC Bank Clubhouse at Santa Anita, which includes exclusive clubhouse signage, logo inclusion on all Clubhouse tickets and a branded photo opportunity for all Clubhouse guests. PNC Bank will be fully integrated into the 2023 Breeders' Cup social media campaign, which showcases behind-the-scenes footage of the preparation leading up to the Breeders' Cup World Championships weekend, and will run several television spots on NBC's broadcast of the World Championships.

PNC Bank also will be the presenting partner of a kick-off event welcoming racing participants, guests, and the community to the World Championships on Friday, Nov. 3. Consumer promotions such as ticket giveaways and other ticketing communications are part of the expanded deal.

“We look forward to our continued relationship with the Breeders' Cup as we continue to expand our now coast-to-coast main street bank model,” said Lou Cestello, head of PNC's regional markets and regional president of Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania. “This year at Santa Anita Park, and as announced yesterday, next November at Del Mar, our Greater Los Angeles and San Diego Regional Presidents Todd Wilson and Alan Prohaska and their local market teams look forward to celebrating the rich history and tradition of this prestigious event.”

The Breeders' Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Grade 1 races with purses and awards totaling $31 million, annually draw the world's best horses, trainers, and jockeys to compete in the sport's year-end championship, which will be televised live by NBC Sports.

The $1 million PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint will be run at seven-eighths of a mile on the main track. Last year's race winner, Goodnight Olive, was voted the 2022 Champion Female Sprinter at the Eclipse Awards.

The 2024 World Championships will take place at Del Mar in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 1-2.

The post Breeders’ Cup, PNC Bank Renew And Expand Multi-Year Partnership appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Goffs UK Release Doncaster Breeze-up Catalogue

The catalogue for the Goffs UK Doncaster Breeze-up Sale, of which last year's Royal Ascot winners Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) and Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) are graduates, was released on Wednesday.

The breeze takes place on Monday, April 24, at Doncaster racecourse, with the sale taking place the following day at 10am.

There are 209 lots catalogued with many notable standouts on pedigree at least. Lot 2 is a Too Darn Hot (GB) half-brother to Group 2 winner Aljamaaheer (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) while lot 3 is a sister to the Group 2 winner Sovereign Debt (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

This sale is responsible for seven Royal Ascot winners in as many years which is why Goffs have utilised the clever marketing of a roulette wheel with the heading, 'Bet On Red,' illustrating the strong chance buyers have of snapping up a top-class two-year-old.

Goffs UK Managing Director, Tim Kent, commented, “For longer than any European breeze-up this sale has been turning heads on the international stage and never more so than in recent years given its outstanding recent performance at Royal Ascot.

“As a result, demand from vendors for places this year has been at an all-time high and that has led to a brilliant catalogue of breezers with a strong sire profile which looks well-placed to continue the sale's unrivalled Royal record. As Europe's first breeze-up it is also a first choice for so many and deservedly so.”

The catalogue features the progeny of a number of young and performing sires with the likes of Acclamation (4), Advertise (5), Ardad (2), Blue Point (4), Calyx (5), Dandy Man (9), Dark Angel (4), Exceed And Excel (2), Harry Angel (4), Havana Grey (11), Inns Of Court (7), Invincible Army (4), Invincible Spirit (4), Kodiac (9), Land Force (8), Mehmas (11), More Than Ready (2), Night Of Thunder (3), Saxon Warrior (2), Showcasing (4), Sioux Nation (8), Soldier's Call (6), Showcasing (4), Ten Sovereigns (7), Too Darn Hot (2) etc. all represented.

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