April, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Decision Pending On Kentucky Oaks Start For Busher Winner Shidabhuti

Peter Brant's graded stakes-placed Shidabhuti, who was last seen finishing third in the Grade 3 Gazelle on April 8 for conditioner Chad Brown, had her first work back on Saturday over the Belmont Park main track, covering a half-mile in :49.92 in company with stakes winner Occult.

With Shidabhuti on the outside, the pair completed their exercise just after 6 a.m. (ET) under dense clouds with a handful of other horses on-track.

Shidabhuti, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Practical Joke, earned 50 qualifying points towards the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 5 at Churchill Downs for her victory in the Busher Invitational victory on March 4 over a muddy and sealed main track. She earned an additional 30 points when third in the Gazelle, giving her enough total points to be guaranteed a place in the Oaks starting gate.

Despite her ensured eligibility, Brown said he is still finalizing a decision on the filly's Oaks status.

“The work went fine and I will speak to Mr. Brant Sunday about it, see how she comes out of the work, and make a decision from there,” said Brown following the breeze on Saturday.

The Kentucky Oaks will feature a maximum field of 14, and several stars are still on the outside looking in, including reigning champion 2-year-old filly and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Wonder Wheel, who would need one defection to make it into the starting gate.

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Maryland Racing Commission Sets Special Meeting To Discuss Laurel Surface

The Maryland Racing Commission has scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday, April 25, to discuss the Laurel Park racing surface and other related issues.

The meeting will be held at 11 a.m. (ET) at Laurel. The only agenda item listed is Laurel Park.

Live racing was suspended at Laurel beginning Friday, April 21. The April 22-23 programs were scrapped, and due a lack of entries the program scheduled for Thursday, April 27, was canceled. The Maryland Jockey Club intended to take entries for Friday, April 28, at Laurel after rejecting a request from the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association to move live racing to Pimlico Race Course ahead of the scheduled May 11 opening day of the spring meet.

The MTHA and Maryland Horse Breeders Association on April 22 sent a letter to top state officials discussing the situation and requesting that the MRC authorize former Maryland track superintendent John Passero to examine the Laurel dirt surface and make recommendations. The MTHA asked MJC to do so, but it declined.

The MRC, which is charged with protecting the health and welfare of equines and racing participants, has statutory authority to bring in consultants when needed.

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Kentucky Derby Update: Rocket Can Turns In ‘Nice, Steady Work’ At Churchill Downs

Frank Fletcher Racing Operation's Rocket Can completed his penultimate workout prior to the $3-million Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 6 when he cruised five furlongs in 1:01 Sunday morning at Churchill Downs.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott was aboard his trusty pony while watching Rocket Can break off six lengths behind stablemate Game Warden. Rocket Can completed early splits of :12.20 and :36.60 with regular exercise rider Guelser Cardona in the saddle. He finished even with his stablemate at the wire and galloped out several lengths in front through six furlongs in 1:14.20.

“It was a nice steady work,” Mott said of the Into Mischief colt, who was bred by Woodford Thoroughbreds. “He worked fast last week and I was just looking for a good, steady work this week. He galloped out well and stayed within himself.”

Rocket Can, the winner of the Holy Bull (G3) Feb. 24 and runner-up in the Fountain of Youth (G3) March 4, will enter the Derby following a fourth-place finish in the Arkansas Derby (G1) April 1.

“It maybe was a little bit of a wide trip in the Arkansas Derby,” Mott said. “The one thing that race told me is he still has more to give in the tank. I don't think he's quite learned to give it his all. That's what you get this time of year with 3-year-olds, but they can improve quickly. He's got a lot of route pedigree on his bottom side being by Tapit. We added blinkers in today's work and will for the race. Hopefully, that will help him go past horses when he runs up beside them.”

Less than one minute before Rocket Can began his work, Albaugh Family Stable and Castleton Lyons' Florida Derby (GI) third-place finisher Cyclone Mischief completed five furlongs in 1:01 with exercise rider Tammy Fox in the saddle. Cyclone Mischief needs three defections to make the Derby field.

“I hope we can get him in the Derby,” trainer Dale Romans said. “I thought he worked great this morning.”

Cyclone Mischief completed splits of :12.20, :24.20, and :36.20. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:14, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

While it was a busy morning for Rocket Can and Cyclone Mischief, Kentucky Derby favorite Forte had an easy morning in Barn 39 where he walked the shedrow. This is the first time trainer Todd Pletcher has been stabled in Barn 39 where 1988 Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors was stabled.

As of Sunday morning there are 13 Kentucky Derby contenders within the Top 20 field that are stabled at Churchill Downs: Angel of Empire (Barn 22), Confidence Game (24), Continuar (JPN) (Q1), Derma Sotogake (JPN) (Q1), Disarm (38), Forte (39), Hit Show (22), Kingsbarns (39), Rocket Can (19), Sun Thunder (6), Tapit Trice (39), Verifying (22), and Wild On Ice (43).

The next arrivals are scheduled to be Blazing Sevens, who will van from Keeneland on Monday afternoon and Mage, who will van from Gulfstream Park on Sunday afternoon and arrive Monday.

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Is Steaming Or Soaking Hay Best For An Equine With Allergies?

Hay can be hard on horses with allergies; the dust they inhale can wreak havoc on sensitive respiratory tracts.

Though both steaming and soaking hay can be beneficial in removing dust, only steaming also removes the bacteria and mold that can also be present in hay, Dr. Kelly Vineyard tells The Horse. Soaking hay can actually increase bacteria loads found in the hay. The longer the hay is soaked, the more bacteria proliferate.

Though steaming decreases mold, the clinical results of feeding steamed hay over soaked hay have been inconsistent, so additional management changes, including medical treatments as recommended, should take place to keep the horse comfortable.

Commercially available steaming units are easy and safe to use; all that's needed is an outlet and a hose to connect the steamer. Many units can handle an entire bale of hay at a time; they heat the hay to 212 degrees F, which can take between 60 and 90 minutes.

If horse owners or caretakers don't have access to a steamer, soaking hay can reduce dust. One effective method is to submerge a full haynet in a large muck tub filled with water for 30 to 60 minutes. Drain the net for 5 to 10 minutes, discard the water and feed the hay immediately to prevent excessive bacterial growth.