April, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘We’ll Have To Bring Our ‘A’ Game’: Repo Rocks Ready To Join Elite Ranks In Carter

Double B Racing Stables' Repo Rocks, a leading contender for Saturday's $300,000 Carter Handicap (G1) at seven furlongs, has posted a pair of bullet works at his Parx Racing base since an impressive 3 1/4-length score in the $125,000 Stymie on February 25 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Jamie Ness, the 5-year-old Tapiture gelding worked a half-mile in :47.46 on March 18 and followed on March 27 with a five-eighths effort in :58.36.

“He's been tearing the track up, but he's been doing that for a while now,” Ness said. “He's a horse that likes to train. We train on him pretty strong and as you can see by his workouts, fast horses work fast. We'll give him a little blowout again tomorrow and if everything goes right, we'll be right on track. We're just trying to follow the same path that we followed to the last couple stakes.”

Repo Rocks, carrying a field-high 124 pounds in the one-turn mile Stymie, overcame a troubled trip under regular rider Andrew Wolfsont where he was boxed in behind rivals in third position before finding a way out late in the turn to best Grade 1-placed Miles D.

Ness said a good result next weekend could propel Repo Rocks to the $1-million Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) on June 10 at Belmont Park which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in November at Santa Anita Park.

“If he runs good on the weekend and comes out of it well, that would definitely be in play,” Ness said. “The owner is from the area, so I want to run him up there as much as possible.”

Repo Rocks is undefeated in four starts since joining the Ness stable, taking the Let's Give Thanks in November and Blitzen on January 4 at Parx ahead of an 8 1/2-length score in the seven-furlong Toboggan (G3) on January 28 at the Big A that garnered a 111 Beyer Speed Figure. Wolfsont, who earned his first graded score in the Toboggan, has piloted Repo Rocks throughout the four-race all-stakes win streak and will retain the mount.

Ness, a perennial leading trainer Parx, won the training title at the recently concluded Laurel Park winter meet. He has previously chased Grade 1 glory with Ghost Hunter [11th, 2017 Arlington Million] and Sneaking Uponyou [6th, 2010 Nearctic at Woodbine], but said he is hopeful that Repo Rocks is capable of landing him a fourth career graded score as a trainer.

“This is a Grade 1 and it's not an easy race. We'll have to bring our 'A' game and hopefully we have him ready for that,” Ness said. “He's prepared and I think he's shown that he's capable of performing at that level. I'm just looking forward to it – no jitters. I'm just hoping everything goes right from now until when they open up the gates, and may the best horse win.”

Bred in Virginia by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, III, Repo Rocks boasts a record of 8-6-6 from 33 career starts and purse earnings of $639,621.

The post ‘We’ll Have To Bring Our ‘A’ Game’: Repo Rocks Ready To Join Elite Ranks In Carter appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘It’s A Good Problem To Have’: Astras Has Plenty Of Stakes Options For Excelsior Victor Law Professor

Twin Creeks Racing Stables' Law Professor has plenty of options moving forward following his 4 1/4-length score in the Excelsior on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Law Professor overcame some eager moments through the first turn with a trio of contenders battling for the lead, but was able to track a swift pace set by Keystone Field before making a two-to-three-wide move under jockey Manny Franco and edging clear in the stretch.

Trainer Rob Atras reported the 5-year-old Constitution gelding was in good order following his impressive score in the nine-furlong test for older horses, where he equaled a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He cooled out well, and jogged nice this morning. He's sound and he ate up everything, so that's what you want to see,” Atras said.

Atras credited Franco for exercising good judgement aboard Law Professor, who he has now piloted to two stakes victories.

“Manny got him relaxed and in a good rhythm,” Atras said. “You could tell he was ranging up and finished up well. There were a couple of anxious moments going into that first turn, but Manny did a great job.”

Saturday's win was Law Professor's fourth lifetime stakes conquest, and third while under Atras' tutelage. He captured the January 7 Queens County over the local surface, which also produced a 98 Beyer. In his debut for Atras, he won the restricted Tapit in September over the Kentucky Downs lawn. While under the care of Michael McCarthy, he captured the off-the-turf Santa Anita Mathis Mile (G2) in December 2021.

Law Professor entered the Excelsior off a third-place finish to next-out graded stakes winners Last Samurai and West Will Power in the Razorback (G3) on February 18 at Oaklawn Park.

Atras said he would nominate the talented dark bay to multiple stakes events, including the nine-furlong $1-million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) on April 22.

“[Oaklawn Park Racing Secretary] Pat Pope called me up and said, '22 days, $1 million!' We'll nominate and take a look,” Atras said. “I would have to talk to Randy [Gullatt] from Twin Creeks about it. He would have to agree, and I would have to look at the race and think we would have a chance to win or at least be very competitive. It's tough and expensive to ship.”

Given his dual surface versatility, the $200,000 Fort Marcy (G2) on May 6 going nine furlongs on the turf at Belmont Park could also be a viable option for Law Professor. The previous day at Belmont offers the $175,000 Westchester (G3) going a one-turn mile over the main track, which would mean a cut back in distance.

“It wouldn't be out of the cards,” said Atras, when asked of a return to grass. “But he's running so well on dirt right now, we kind of want to keep him there. He's run some good numbers on grass as well though.”

Atras expressed no interest in the $250,000 Brooklyn (G2) on June 10 at Belmont Park, citing its 12-furlong distance.

“I don't know if a mile and a half is him. I like more of a two-turn mile and an eighth for him,” Atras said. “We'll probably nominate out of town and just try to pick the best spot. If we're going to ship, we want to go somewhere where we can win, not just run for second or third.

“It's a good problem to have,” Atras continued. “It's nice to have a horse like this where you have options and you have to think about these things.”

Law Professor, a Kentucky homebred, is out of the Ghostzapper mare Haunted Heroine – a dual stakes winner on turf. His second dam Mona Mia produced Grade 1-winning turf millionaire Celestine.

The post ‘It’s A Good Problem To Have’: Astras Has Plenty Of Stakes Options For Excelsior Victor Law Professor appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Headshaking And Head Injury: Is There A Connection?

Headshaking in horses is a frustrating condition and can be more than an occasional flip of the nose. The action can escalate to the point that the horse becomes dangerous to handle: he may throw his head up violently or strike at his face.

It's not clear why a horse might become a headshaker, but many cases are believed to be in response to pain in the trigeminal nerve. Other causes for headshaking include poorly fitting tack, dental disorders, nasal congestion, ear ticks or mites, guttural pouch issues, masses in the nasal passages, and equine protozoal myelitis, among others.

Dr. Nadine Ogden and colleagues from the Leahurst Equine Hospital at the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom found that two cases of headshaking and hypersensitivity at the clinic were the result of head injuries. These injuries involved the infraorbital branch of the trigeminal nerve.

The first case was an 8-year-old Warmblood which presented to the clinic with headshaking and pain upon palpation of the face. The gelding began headshaking the same time the owners found a small wound on his face, which was thought to be self-inflicted.

Ten days before going to the clinic, the horse began to rub his muzzle and flip his head both at rest and while working. An X-ray was completed while the horse was at the clinic and showed a small bone fragment next to the infraorbital nerve.

The horse was sedated and the fragment was removed. He showed no signs of headshaking immediately after the surgery, but clinical signs returned once the horse went home. He returned to the clinic five weeks later because of continued headshaking. An X-ray determined that some bone fragments remained. This time the horse was put under general anesthesia and the bone fragment was surgically removed.

Six months later, the gelding was neither sensitive nor headshaking.

A second headshaking case involved a 6-year-old Welsh mare that was sent to the clinic after the sudden onset of muzzle rubbing. The mare also struggled to eat for 12 hours.

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Imaging found a nondisplaced comminuted fracture of the right hemi-mandible. The fracture line and bone fragments were lying on the mental nerve. The mare was given pain medication and tapering anti-inflammatories to make her more comfortable as the fracture healed.

The mare was showing reduced headshaking and muscle rubbing four months after diagnosis and the onset of treatment.

The researchers note that differentiating injury-induced headshaking from idiopathic headshaking is important in both the horse's treatment and prognosis. Long-term follow-up is needed, they conclude.

Coronation Cup Eyed for Emily Upjohn Comeback

John and Thady Gosden's Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will possibly return in Epsom's G1 Coronation Cup June 2 as her first start since capturing the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. Oct. 15. She was initially set to return in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan but missed the opportunity having not come to hand as quickly as liked and returns to Epsom after being narrowly denied when sent off the 6-4 favourite for the Oaks at the Surrey venue last year.

“She ran a huge race in the Oaks when just beaten there and had a nice swansong (at Ascot) at the end of last year,” Thady Gosden told Racing TV's Luck On Sunday. “She was heading towards Dubai but with the cold weather in the spring, it didn't quite work out. Obviously she would have been taking on Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) which would have been an interesting one. The Coronation Cup would be a nice early one to start with if she's ready in time, but we'll see how she is and she'll tell us.”

Another star filly from the Gosden string staying in training as a 4-year-old is G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois winner Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who could head to Newbury on May 20 for the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S., with all the top mile races on her radar this term.

“She's wintered well and is in good order, enjoying her training and looks great,” continued Gosden. “She is obviously a top-class miler and all these mile races will be the ones for her. She is certainly an independently minded filly. She has plenty of character but is exceptionally talented.”

A return to Royal Ascot could be on the cards for three-time G1 Dubai Turf winner Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). The 7-year-old could bid to repeat his G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes success of 2020 when running on home soil this summer.

“He had a slightly curtailed one last year and it was fantastic to get him back for the Dubai Turf–it was a good team effort there,” Gosden said. “He won the Prince of Wales's Stakes two years ago and he is a horse you could look towards that with.”

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