Blue Point Off The Mark At Kempton

Darley's Kildangan Stud resident Blue Point (Ire) (by Shamardal) was off the mark with his first crop on Easter Monday as Salem Rashid Bin Ghadayer's Action Point (Ire) struck at the first time of asking at Kempton for the Archie Watson stable. Confidently supported as the 11-10 favourite for the five-furlong Racing TV/EBF Restricted Novice S., the bay was quickly into stride to track the leader closely under Hollie Doyle and when committed two out stayed on strongly to score by 1 1/4 lengths from Ponga (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}).

“He is naturally very speedy and he is a laid-back type,” his jockey commented. “He is a lovely rangy colt. We usually send a few early types out, but he has a bit of scope. We are renowned for training them to know their jobs and be quick, but this is actually quite a talented horse and it has all come very naturally to him. He was just having a look around in front and he took the bend quite awkward. I'd say when we get him on the grass he will be even better.”

The dam is an unraced full-sister to the listed-winning sprinter Excelette (Ire), who is in turn responsible for the Listed Roses S. and Listed Dragon S. scorer and G2 Flying Childers S. and G3 Cornwallis S. runner-up Well Done Fox (GB) (Acclamation {GB}). Also a half to the dual group-placed Rapid Applause (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) and to the dam of the G2 Gimcrack S. runner-up Devilwala (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) from the family of the G2 Kings Stand S. and G2 Temple S. winner Bolshoi (Ire) (Royal Academy), her yearling colt is by Ghaiyyath (Ire).

1st-Kempton, £9,900, Novice, 4-10, 2yo, 5f (AWT), 1:00.66, st/sl.
ACTION POINT (IRE) (c, 2, Blue Point {Ire}–Khaleesi Wind {Ire}, by Exceed And Excel {Aus}) Sales history: 45,000gns RNA Ylg '22 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $6,641.
O-Mr Salem Rashid Bin Ghadayer; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (IRE); T-Archie Watson.

 

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Hernandez, D’Amato Top Santa Anita Standings

Juan Hernandez was the leading rider and Phil D'Amato topped the trainer's list at Santa Anita's 43-day Classic Meet, which concluded Sunday. Tim and Mark Cohen's Rancho Temescal and Red Baron's Barn were the meet's leading owners.

Hernandez, a 31-year-old native of Veracruz, Mexico won four races on opening day and never slowed down, adding two races on closing day Sunday to give him 63 victories for the meet, more than double that of runner-up Flavien Prat's 31.

In the all-important stakes-won category, it was Hernandez leading Prat 13 to 11, helping him to top all riders by purse money-won with $4,672,374.

D'Amato won 32 races, five better than Bob Baffert and D'Amato finished with 11 stakes wins, second to Baffert's 12.

A 57-year-old native of San Pedro, CA, D'Amato earned his third consecutive Classic Meet (formerly Winter/Spring) title and his fourth overall at Santa Anita.

The Cohen family's Rancho Temescal and Red Baron's Barn won 13 races, five of them stakes.

Santa Anita's first-ever Hollywood Meet will open Apr. 21 and run through June 18.

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Hall of Fame Jockey Bill Shoemaker: A Racehorse’s Best Friend

Did a racehorse have a better friend? At 4 feet, 11 inches tall and 98 pounds, it didn’t look like Bill Shoemaker could muscle a few sacks of groceries, let alone control a head-strong Thoroughbred a dozen times his weight. Still, Shoemaker personified that mysterious bond between horse and rider. He communicated with an innate light touch on the reins, coaxing the horse into the action, gentling it with his hands.

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