Month: April 2023

Jockey Of The Week: Reigning Champ Irad Ortiz, Jr. Caps Big Week With Florida Derby Win, Gulfstream Title

Irad Ortiz, Jr., reigning Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Jockey, just keeps rolling along posting impressive wins in a spectacular weekend of racing. Ortiz's four stakes victories, including two graded races, capped six total winners on Saturday. The weekend culminated on Sunday with his fourth leading rider title at Gulfstream Park's Championship Meet.

The panel of racing experts voted Ortiz the honor of Jockey of the Week for March 27 through April 2. 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.

Ortiz started the racing week on Wednesday with three winners, two on Thursday and one on Friday. On Florida Derby Day, Ortiz began his stakes haul aboard Therapist for trainer Mike Maker in the Grade Pan American at 1 1/2 miles on the grass. Therapist broke sixth in the field of eight and tracked the favorite, Master Piece, to the top of the stretch. Therapist passed the tiring Master Piece in the final eighth of a mile to post a ¾-length victory in 2:29.22.

Ortiz next had the call on Marketsegmentation for trainer Chad Brown in the Sand Springs Stake. Off as the favorite in the field of nine, Marketsegmentation overcame a wide trip and a slow pace to just get up in time for the win, completing 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:43.13.

Trainer Todd Pletcher gave a leg up to Ortiz on Steady On in the Appleton Stakes. The duo sat fourth behind a solid pace before tipping outside and racing alongside Churchtown until inching away for the win in 1:34.49 for one mile on turf.

While the Appleton was the fifth win of the day for Ortiz, the best was still to come in the penultimate race of the day, the G1 Florida Derby.

Sent to the post as the overwhelming favorite in the field of 12, Forte, with Ortiz in the irons, had to overcome a bad post and an eventful trip to turn what seemed certain defeat into a defining victory and status as the favorite heading to the Kentucky Derby on May 6. Breaking from post 11, Forte had only two horses beaten as the field straightened down the backside. Approaching the quarter pole, Forte angled eight wide but was still several lengths behind the leader Mage before finding another gear in the stretch to win by a length in 1:49.37.

Ortiz added three wins on Sunday for a total of 15 for the week to lead all jockeys in wins. He will ride the entire 15-day Keeneland meet which begins April 7.

Other contenders for Jockey of the Week were Juan J. Hernandez with a graded stakes win at Santa Anita, Jose L. Ortiz with three stakes wins at Gulfstream, Flavien Prat who won the G1 Arkansas Derby, and Jevian Toledo who posted eight wins for the week.

The post Jockey Of The Week: Reigning Champ Irad Ortiz, Jr. Caps Big Week With Florida Derby Win, Gulfstream Title appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Bloodstock Agents Try Hand in Restaurant Business

Bloodstock agents Sean Feld and Chris Brothers have plenty of experience flipping horses in the sales ring, but this spring they're trying their hand at flipping burgers as they venture into the restaurant business. Last month they took over Charlie Brown's Restaurant and Lounge, a beloved dining staple in Lexington for decades.

Feld and Brothers are longstanding regulars at Charlie Brown's. The cozy, pub-like spot has been in the hands of David Fuller for almost 40 years. When Fuller decided to retire this year, he passed it on to longtime manager and bartender Chris Behler and two of his favorite patrons.

“We had always joked that we would like to own it one day and last summer we were told that we possibly could,” Feld said.

“Dave reached out to us one day and said it was time to pass on the torch,” explained Brothers.  “We were very honored to be given the opportunity. It's a neighborhood institution.”

The restaurant first opened in 1973 and was originally called The Rusty Nail. Feld said that the upstairs was an upscale dining spot and the downstairs was a bar. A dumbwaiter would take food between floors. When Fuller purchased the restaurant with partner Larry Ellington, they concentrated to the first floor and leased out the top floor, where a Mexican restaurant called Papi's is now located.

Now in its 50th year of operation, the atmosphere in the Euclid Avenue hangout is unlike anything else in town. Decades-old books line the walls,  plenty of sofas are interspersed throughout the space and a fire roars in the corner. The pet-friendly patio out back is bustling in the summer.

“This place is special because all ages can come,” said Feld. “We've got the richest people in Lexington coming and we've got students that can't rub two pennies together. It's a hodgepodge of society and everyone has a good time.”

“It's a major part of the community and with Dave on this for 40 years, every inch of this place screams him,” Brothers added. “We wanted to continue his legacy. I think that's why Dave entrusted us with this place. We feel like the people in this community really respect the vibe and the atmosphere, so we don't plan on changing anything. If you're here for this long, if it's not broke don't fix it.”

Popular menu items include the Bacon Cheddar Burger, Emily's Chicken Sandwich and the Roast Beef Sandwich.

“I love the Bacon Cheddar Burger,” said Brothers. “It's one of the best burgers in town. I'm also a big fan of the Patty Melt and then we have soups that are made daily.”

Both Feld and Brothers plan to stay involved in racing.

Feld is the managing director of Climax Stallions and Feld Family Racing and is also the founder of At The Sale and Foal Adventure. He can now add line cook to his resume.

As for Brothers, who owns Xavier International Bloodstock and is the co-founder of StableDuel, he said he plans he stay at the front of the house.

“The cooking part, I would probably eat too much of it,” he said with a laugh. “I got fired from my uncle's restaurant when I was a kid for eating the bread coming out of the oven. So I'm better in the front, but the beauty of having two of your best friends as partners is we back each other up with everything we do and we have no problem getting dirty. We have no problem cooking or cleaning tables or anything. I like continually challenging myself and starting something new, so when this opportunity came around it was actually perfect because I was wanting a little change of pace.”

With the Keeneland race meet starting on Friday, the new restauranteurs said that they hope Charlie Brown's will flourish as a hangout spot for the equine community in Lexington.

“It's a great place to watch horse racing,” said Brothers. “You'll always have someone at the bar that has a Form or an iPad out betting on some horse. And it's all ages.”

“When I was cooking the other night,  a bunch of my horse friends came in and took up about a quarter of the bar,” Feld said. “It's a great spot to hang out whether you like horses or not. We're excited with Keeneland coming up and hoping we'll get a bunch of people before, during and after the races. We actually had a bunch of people here to watch the Dubai World Cup and hopefully down the line we'll have a Royal Ascot party or two as well.”

Visit Charlie Brown's Restaurant and Lounge's website for the full menu and hours here.

The post Bloodstock Agents Try Hand in Restaurant Business appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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New Vocations to Auction Derby and Oaks Box Seats

New Vocations is currently auctioning off six all-inclusive box seats to this year's Kentucky Oaks and six all-inclusive box seats to the Kentucky Derby. The seats were donated by Churchill Downs, Inc.

The box for both Oaks and Derby day is located in Section 324 and the Oaks seats have an estimated value of $4,188 and the Derby seats have an estimated value of $6,282.

All reserved seating is all-inclusive (food, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages) and access to offsite parking at the Kentucky Fair and Expo Center is available, subject to space availability.

Online bidding (click here) will close at 8 p.m. Apr. 12. All proceeds benefit New Vocations' mission to rehab, retrain and rehome retired racehorses.

The post New Vocations to Auction Derby and Oaks Box Seats appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Freshman Sire Calyx Off The Mark In France

Coolmore resident Calyx (GB) (Kingman {GB}) became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when Patrice Cottier trainee Classic Flower (GB) (Calyx {GB}–Crown Of Flowers {GB}, by Garswood {GB}) subdued eight rivals over 5 1/2 furlongs in Wednesday's €23,000 Prix de la Cote Bleue at Salon-de-Provence. Finding a comfortable slot behind the leading trio through halfway after an alert getaway, the 6-5 favourite loomed large off the home turn and required minimal coaxing in the closing stages to easily account for Aquila Volante (Fr) (Gleneagles {Ire}) by a half-length.

1st-Salon de Provence, €23,000, Mdn, 4-5, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:09.76, g/s.
CLASSIC FLOWER (GB) (f, 2, Calyx {GB}–Crown Of Flowers {GB}, by Garswood {GB}) was swiftly away and settled into a smooth rhythm behind the leading trio through halfway in this unveiling. Looming large off the home turn, the 6-5 favourite was shaken up to launch her challenge entering the final furlong and kept on strongly under minimal coaxing in the closing stages to easily account for Aquila Volante (Fr) (Gleneagles {Ire}) by a half-length, becoming the first winner for her first-crop sire (by Kingman {GB}). Classic Flower is the first of two reported foals out of a half-sister to MGSP Listed Pipalong S. and Listed Bosra Sham Fillies' S. victrix Bahia Breeze (GB) (Mister Baileys {GB}), herself the dam of G2 Ridgewood Pearl S. winner Beshaayir (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) and the dual stakes-placed Brioniya (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). The March-foaled chestnut's dam is also kin to the dam of the dual stakes-placed Rock On Baileys (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) while Brioniya threw Listed Grand Prix de Marseille third Bakhchisaray (Fr) (Motivator {GB}). Hailing from the family of Preakness-winning US champion Tom Rolfe (Ribot {GB}), Classic Flower is half to a yearling filly by Oasis Dream (GB). Sales history: 45,000gns Wlg '21 TATFOA. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €11,500. Video, sponsored by TVG.

O-Jean-Etienne Dubois & Ecurie Hunter Valley; B-Petches Farm Ltd (GB); T-Patrice Cottier.

The post Freshman Sire Calyx Off The Mark In France appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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