May, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘I Plan On Being In Kentucky Quite Often’; KHRC Committee Grants Dutrow Trainer’s License

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's License Review Committee on Tuesday granted Rick Dutrow a trainer's license during a meeting in Lexington, Ky.

Dutrow only recently returned from a minimum 10-year ban imposed by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board in 2011. What started out as a 90-day medication suspension was extended to a decade or more for what the regulatory board said was conduct that was “improper, obnoxious, unbecoming, and detrimental to the best interests of racing.” He fought the ban unsuccessfully in court before beginning the suspension in January 2013.

The New York State Gaming Commission, which replaced the Racing and Wagering Board, granted Dutrow a license in February of this year. The New York Racing Association approved his stall application at Belmont Park and Dutrow sent out his first runner and winner, Prince of Pharoahs, on May 6 at the Elmont, N.Y., track.

During a brief appearance via Zoom while accompanied by his attorney, Dutrow told the committee, “I just want to get my license there, bring some horses, start racing there, start winning and losing, just like everybody else.

“I plan on being in Kentucky quite often with my horses,” Dutrow added.

When asked the size of his stable, Dutrow said he has 23 horse at Belmont “but there's a bunch of them on farms I would consider under my care, but it's too many to count.”

Committee member Paul Brooker noted that Dutrow's New York license included conditions, “but it looks like conditions on your personal self, not the horses, for drug testing, etc. Is there something about your personal drug use that caused them to do that?”

Dutrow replied: “Not that I'm aware of.”

Dutrow's biggest win in the Bluegrass State came in the 2008 Kentucky Derby with Big Brown, but other Grade 1 winners there include Court Vision (2009 Shadwell Mile), Kip Deville (2008 Maker's Mark Mile), and Sis City (2005 Ashland Stakes).

The committee considered three other license applications for Standardbred trainer Patricia A. Brewer, driver-trainer David S. Ward, and Francesca A. de la Flor for a Thoroughbred owner's license. Ward's license was approved on condition that he be drug tested prior to licensing and agree to random testing, while Brewer and de la Flor withdrew their applications after questioning by the committee.

The post ‘I Plan On Being In Kentucky Quite Often’; KHRC Committee Grants Dutrow Trainer’s License appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

‘Couldn’t Be Happier With Him’: White Abarrio Works For Dutrow Ahead Of Met Mile

C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable's Grade 1-winner White Abarrio breezed five-eighths in 59.02 Friday at Belmont Park in preparation for the Grade 1, $1 million Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap on June 10 at the same track.

The Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in November at Santa Anita.

Trained by Rick Dutrow, Jr. and piloted through the work by Irad Ortiz, Jr., the 4-year-old Race Day colt was caught by NYRA clockers through splits of 24.30 seconds and 35.72 before galloping out in 1:11.74.

“Irad said he worked good. He was happy with that,” Dutrow, Jr. said. “He's a nice horse. He liked the track and Irad said he was going good. He said he really didn't ask him for anything – just galloping out he just wanted to keep his mind on his business and he couldn't be happier with him. So, I kind of feel the same way.”

White Abarrio, who won the G1 Florida Derby last year, last worked a half-mile in 50.68 seconds on May 21 at Gulfstream Park when in the care of previous conditioner Saffie Joseph, Jr. before being transferred to the Dutrow, Jr. barn last week.

Dutrow, Jr. said that graded-stakes winner Master Piece, who was also transferred to his care from the Joseph, Jr. barn, will miss the G1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Manhattan on Belmont Stakes Day.

“He came in here and had some kind of bellyache,” said Dutrow, Jr. who sent the 7-year-old Mastercraftsman ridgling to the Cornell Ruffian Equine Clinic briefly for evaluation. “He's back now and he looks like a different horse since he's been back. He's happy enough. So, I guess he'll go back to the track in a couple of days. They wanted him to walk for three days here, so he's still under doctor's care which is good.”

Dutrow, Jr. said Master Piece is scheduled to walk the shed row over the next two days before resuming any serious training. Owned by Michael and Julia Iavarone, Nicholas Zoumas, Vapewh, Frank Argano and Ten Twenty Racing, Master Piece made the grade in the Grade 2 Eddie Read in July at Del Mar when trained by Michael McCarthy.

Dutrow, Jr. said Sanford Goldfarb, Matthew Morrison and Crown Stable's stakes-placed New York-bred Prince of Pharoahs came out of his seventh-place finish in Monday's Commentator here in good order.

The 6-year-old American Pharoah gelding provided Dutrow, Jr. with his first victory since returning from suspension when he captured an open-company allowance mile on May 6 at Belmont.

“He looks good. I thought he ran a big race yesterday. He was just in the wrong place, that's all,” Dutrow, Jr. said. “We can re-group and we know not to try that again, but he ran his ass off. I'm happy with that horse.”

The post ‘Couldn’t Be Happier With Him’: White Abarrio Works For Dutrow Ahead Of Met Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Sammes Tabbed Epsom GM, Crespi Named Goodwood Racecourse Director

Tom Sammes has been appointed as the new General Manager of Epsom Downs Racecourse while James Crespi returns as the new Racecourse Director of Goodwood Racecourse after eight years away from the Goodwood Estate.

Sammes, 33, has been employed as Head of Strategy at The Jockey Club since September 2021, leading commercial strategic projects as well as planning to drive long-term revenue growth for the business. A graduate of Bristol University, he worked previously in similar roles in golf for the PGA European Tour and the Ryder Cup.

He takes up his position at Epsom Downs, effective immediately, working alongside Crespi ahead of the latter's move to Goodwood Racecourse in mid-June, after the conclusion of The Derby Festival.

James is no stranger to West Sussex having previously spent 10 years at the Goodwood Estate working across the motor sport and music events before becoming General Manager at Goodwood Racecourse. After a spell as Chief Operating Officer at West Wittering Estate PLC, Crespi became the General Manager of Epsom Racecourse as part of The Jockey Club.

Crespi, who is replacing the outgoing Jon Barnett, will take up his position June 19.

The post Sammes Tabbed Epsom GM, Crespi Named Goodwood Racecourse Director appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Kentucky Derby Runner Reincarnate To Skip Belmont Stakes, Target Travers Stakes

While Grade 1 Preakness Stakes winner National Treasure is ramping up for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, stablemate Reincarnate will skip the “Test of the Champion” with the ultimate objective being the G1, $1.25 million Travers on Aug. 26 at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Reincarnate was most recently 13th in the G1 Kentucky Derby for trainer Tim Yakteen, who conditioned the son of Good Magic through his last three starts. He was previously third in Oaklawn Park's G2 Rebel and G1 Arkansas Derby.

Both Reincarnate and National Treasure are owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Waves Edge Capital, Jay A. Schoenfarber, and Catherine Donovan.

“He'll redirect to the Travers. It'll fit him well and will give him some time to fill up again out of the Derby,” said Tom Ryan, racing manager for the ownership group. “It feels like he's getting bigger and stronger with time. We all want everything to happen tomorrow, but if you're patient with these horses and give them the chance to be able to be what they can be, it's amazing how they can repay you.”

Ryan said he was unsure as to when or if Reincarnate would race leading up to the Travers.

Bred in Kentucky by Woods Edge Farm, Reincarnate was purchased for $775,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is out of the stakes-winning Scat Daddy mare Allanah.

National Treasure won't be the large ownership group's only starter on Belmont Stakes Day. Ryan reported that Grade 1 Carter-winner Doppelganger will return to the Empire State for the G1, $1 million Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap for trainer Brittany Russell. The Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in November at Santa Anita.

Owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable and Siena Farm, the 4-year-old Into Mischief colt is unbeaten since joining the Maryland-based Russell's stable, capturing a pair of allowance events at Laurel Park before shipping to Aqueduct for his Carter conquest.

A debut maiden winner at two for Baffert, he finished second last year in the 1 1/16-mile G2 San Felipe and third in the 1 1/16-mile G3 Affirmed – both at Santa Anita.

“He's a spectacular physical son of Into Mischief with a great pedigree,” Ryan said. “He had some 2-year-old form. He's a horse that had some bone bruising at a time in his career when we just needed to stop on him. We gave him all that time he needed. The Carter is a bear of a race, but the horse is doing well and he's definitely improved from race to race and we're excited about it.”

Ryan also reported that the ownership conglomerate which campaigns National Treasure will go three deep in the Grade 1, $400,000 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun for sophomores going seven furlongs with Fort Bragg, Gilmore, and Fort Warren.

Fort Bragg was a last-out second to General Jim in the G2 Pat Day Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs following a pair of fifth-place finishes in the G2 San Felipe and G1 Florida Derby.

Gilmore, who was a closing third in the Pat Day Mile, ran second in the G3 Bay Shore at Aqueduct two starts back for trainer Brendan Walsh. His lone win was a four-length victory going one mile in December at Los Alamitos for Baffert.

Fort Warren, a distant third in the G2 San Vicente in January at Santa Anita for Baffert, defeated winners going six furlongs on May 19 at Pimlico for Russell.

“They're three nice colts,” Ryan said. “Fort Bragg – it feels like he's potentially the top of that trifecta, but Gilmore is a nice horse, too. He's a horse that comes from off the pace. He's really learning and improving with each start. Fort Warren ran very well at Pimlico on Preakness weekend. He came out of that race well. We always felt like, despite the fact that he's by Curlin, that he's more a sprinter, miler type.”

The post Kentucky Derby Runner Reincarnate To Skip Belmont Stakes, Target Travers Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post