May, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Saffie Joseph-Trained Lord Miles Under Consideration For Preakness Stakes

Saffie Joseph trainee Lord Miles is under consideration for the Preakness Stakes, despite being scratched from the Kentucky Derby by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission after two of Joseph's trainees suffered instances of sudden death in the week leading up to the Run for the Roses.

Owner/breeder Peter Vesgo told the Thoroughbred Daily News that Lord Miles will work Friday morning, after which a decision will be made on whether the colt will target the Preakness or the Belmont Stakes.

The two ill-fated Joseph trainees were among seven equine fatalities in the days leading up to the Kentucky Derby. “Sudden death” means that the horse's cause was not immediately apparent and did not seem to be due to external trauma or musculoskeletal injury.

Joseph trainee Parents Pride collapsed and died after failing to finish a race on April 29, and Chasing Artie suffered a similar fate after finishing last, beaten 28 ¾ lengths, in a May 2 turf sprint. Joseph trained the horses for Ken Ramsey.

Read our reporting about those two fatalities, and the challenges with diagnosing sudden deaths here.

KHRC officials released a statement following their decision to scratch all Joseph-trained horses: “For the betterment of racing, the health and welfare of our equine athletes, and the safety of our jockeys, all horses trained by trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. are scratched effective immediately and until further notice. This action is taken after consultation with Mr. Joseph, and includes Lord Miles who was entered into the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby.”

Churchill Downs also suspended Joseph indefinitely.“Given the unexplained sudden deaths, we have reasonable concerns about the condition of his horses, and decided to suspend him indefinitely until details are analyzed and understood,” said Bill Mudd, President and Chief Operating Officer of CDI. “The safety of our equine and human athletes and integrity of our sport is our highest priority. We feel these measures are our duty and responsibility.”

Nonetheless, Vesgo believes Joseph will be able to run Lord Miles in either Maryland or New York, depending on which scenario is the best timing for the horse.

“The horse had nothing to do with any of this,” Vesgo told TDN. “I know they are waiting for the results of the necropsies of the horses that passed away for Saffie. There are those two and five others that passed away. But none of that has anything to do with Lord Miles.”

Vesgo detailed the stewards' decision from his viewpoint:

“We had been waiting for years to get a horse that would take us to the Kentucky Derby,” the owner told TDN. “My family, my daughters, my grandchildren were all there. We chartered a plane and got there. We arrived and then got the news we were scratched. We never heard from Churchill Downs. We only heard from the trainer. I tried calling the stewards and I didn't get any answers out of them. They took away our tickets. The treated us like crap. We were given 18 tickets in a suite and they took them all away.”

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Woodbine: ‘Rebel’ With A Jacques Cartier Cause

Red River Rebel will face seven foes in the Grade 3 $150,000 Jacques Cartier Stakes, Sunday at Woodbine.

A six-furlong main track event for 4-year-olds and upwards, the Jacques Cartier marks the first start of the season for the 5-year-old son of Reload.

Bred in Ontario by Denny Andrews and Northern Dawn Stables, who also share ownership, Red River Rebel arrives at his latest engagement off a fifth-place finish, just 2 ½ lengths behind the winner, in the six-furlong Grade 2 Kennedy Road Stakes last November.

Trained by Krista-Cole Simpson, the gelding boasts a record of 4-0-2 from 15 starts and $203,617 (U.S.) in purse earnings.

“I took over [as trainer] this winter. He's a nice horse, very tall and big. He's a good boy. At first, I was told he was a little difficult to ride, but I get on him in the morning and I have no problems. He likes to train, rest, have his lunch, and then sleep. It's a pretty good routine he's got going.”

Red River Rebel has had a steady work tab heading into Sunday's tilt, including a five-furlong breeze in 1:00.20 over the Woodbine main track on May 5.

“He's had some really solid works underneath him. We're very happy with the works and how he's come out of them. Morning or afternoon, he always shows up.”

Red River Rebel launched his career on October 23, 2020, finishing third in a race won by former Cole-Simpson trainee Candy Overload (also a 5-year-old son of Reload), who will contest the Jacques Cartier.

One race later, Red River Rebel turned the tables on Candy Overload when the former won the Frost King Stakes, and the latter was third.

“He's beaten Candy Overload and Candy Overload has beaten him, so it certainly makes for an interesting storyline. They both have different running styles. 'Candy' likes to come from last, and 'Rebel' likes to be in the mix from the start.”

Cole-Simpson has developed a strong bond with Red River Rebel, a connection with the chestnut that others in her barn have yet to duplicate.

“When I'm around, he's very kind to me. I can kiss him on the face, hug him, and he's lovely. But when the boys come around, he knows, and he'll snap at them and do other stuff. They'll ask, 'How come you just kissed him and he's trying to bite us?' I don't know what it is, but I guess he's just very smart. I also got Keveh [jockey, Nicholls] back because he rode Candy Overload, so he's pretty excited for this opportunity.”

Other starters include last year's Jacques Cartier winner and 2022 Sovereign Award finalist (champion male sprinter) Arzak, and graded stakes winner Ironstone, who was a Sovereign finalist in the 3-year-old male category.

Newly minted Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Pink Lloyd won the race four straight times, from 2017-20. Essence Hit Man netted the natural hat trick from 2011-13.

The Jacques Cartier goes as race seven. First post is 1:10 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action with HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app.

FIELD FOR THE JACQUES CARTIER

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Ready for a Fight – Emma-Jayne Wilson – John Charalambous

2 – Arzak – Kazushi Kimura – Michael Trombetta

3 – Red River Rebel – Keveh Nicholls – Krista Cole-Simpson

4 – Old Chestnut (S) – Declan Carroll – Martin Drexler

5 – Ironstone – Rafael Hernandez – William Armata

6 – Ice Chocolat (BRZ) (S) – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse

7 – Candy Overload – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse

8 – Anarchist – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll

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Gulfstream: Triple Crown-Winning Jockey Steve Cauthen Hoping For Return To Royal Ascot With Holding the Line

Should Holding the Line be victorious in Saturday's $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile at Gulfstream Park, the Irish-bred colt would earn an automatic berth in one of six races for 2-year-olds during the annual Royal Ascot meeting that has provided his owner with so many memories that will last a lifetime.

Steve Cauthen, best known in the U.S. for guiding Affirmed to a Triple Crown sweep in 1978 at the age of 18 before going on to become one of Europe's most dominant jockeys, owns Holding the Line, who will face nine other 2-year-olds in Royal Palm Juvenile, a five-furlong turf dash that will be co-featured with the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies, a five-furlong turf sprint for 2-year-old fillies, on Saturday's program.

The inaugural runnings of the Royal Palm Juvenile and Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies will each provide the winner with an automatic entry into a Royal Ascot race June 20-24, as well as a $25,000 equine travel stipend for shipping from the U.S. to England, in addition to the winner's share of a $100,000 purse.

Holding the Line, who is trained by 12-time Royal Ascot winner Wesley Ward, has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite for his career debut in the Royal Palm Juvenile.

“It would be fantastic [to return to Royal Ascot with Holding the Line]. That's the whole point why I got the horse – to try to do that,” Cauthen said from Kentucky. “It's not that easy. They have to be ready and right to get over there, but I was excited when I read about Gulfstream having the qualifying races. It's exciting to run in it, and hopefully we're good enough to maybe get the job done.”

Cauthen will always be affectionately remembered as 'The Kid' who became the youngest jockey to sweep the U.S. Triple Crown when he guided Affirmed to victories in the Kentucky Derby (G1), Preakness Stakes (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) in 1978. Before making history during the 1978 Triple Crown at 18 years of age, Cauthen was named 'Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year' following his 1977 apprentice campaign, during which his mounts earned a then-record $6 million in purses.

In 1979, due to increasing difficulties maintaining a proper riding weight, Cauthen ventured to England, where he became a three-time champion and rode the winners of 10 English Classics, as well as enjoying considerable success at Royal Ascot, where he rode seven winners in 1987 and captured the Royal Ascot Gold Cup (G1) with Gildoran in 1984 and Paean in 1987.

“I won pretty much every race they run through the years. I've had a lot of fun there and success. It's like Saratoga. It's like a condensed Saratoga. Just the stakes races run in five days. The best of the best from all over – France, Italy, Germany. Anybody who's good enough wants to be there,” said Cauthen, who retired in 1992 at the age of 32. “The Queen owned Ascot, so that makes it special. I was there last year and saw the new stands. It was very impressive. It's always been great; it's just getting even better. They never stop trying to improve over there.”

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez has been named to ride Holding the Line.

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Fixed Odds Horse Racing Set To Expand With Launch Of MonmouthBets Mobile App

BetMakers Technology Group, a global leader in wagering technology, announced Thursday the groundbreaking launch of MonmouthBets, the first legal and regulated mobile application for fixed odds betting on horse racing in the United States.

Approved by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, MonmouthBets is set to take wagers from customers ahead of Monmouth Park's opening day on Saturday, May 13.

The desire for fixed odds wagering on horse racing is resounding, based on a recent survey commissioned by BetMakers. The survey determined that 83 percent of U.S. horseplayers polled want a fixed odds betting option alongside the established pari-mutuel wagering system.

BetMakers initially debuted retail fixed odds for the New Jersey market in 2022 at Monmouth Park, following years of international success with its wide array of betting solutions. The company, through its initial client MonmouthBets, is to offer fixed odds wagering on thoroughbred horse racing in New Jersey.

“With last year's retail offering setting the foundation, we are excited and honored to bring fixed odds betting to horseplayers through our MonmouthBets digital platforms,” said BetMakers CEO Jake Henson. “Fixed odds betting will help to form a healthy betting ecosystem for horse racing in New Jersey and beyond, with the transformative potential to provide a massive benefit to the entire racing industry.”

Along with the significant interest in fixed odds from American horseplayers, survey results also revealed two-thirds of U.S. sports bettors polled would be more likely to wager on horse racing if fixed odds were available.

“We're excited about the prospect of being able to offer fans the ability to wager online, as easily and conveniently as they now do with sports betting, through this innovative app for fixed odds horse racing,” said Dennis Drazin, CEO and Chairman of Darby Development LLC, operator of Monmouth Park. “We believe it will attract new customers, drive growth and increase handle significantly.”

In addition to betting on Monmouth Park's races, which run through September 10, New Jersey horseplayers can place fixed odds wagers on races at other North American tracks, initially including Tampa Bay Downs, Canterbury Park, Delaware Park, Hawthorne Race Course, Emerald Downs, and Century Mile, along with the all-turf “Monmouth at Meadowlands” meet that begins September 15.

MonmouthBets is available via app download, in person at Monmouth Park or online at MonmouthBets.com, for New Jersey customers 18 and older.

About BetMakers

BetMakers Technology Group Ltd is a leading provider of racing and betting solutions that monetize horse racing for stakeholders. BetMakers provides licensed betting operators, rights holders, racing authorities and bookmakers with solutions for every stage of the racing and betting life cycle across both fixed odds and tote betting markets. For more about BetMakers' advanced solutions for racing and betting, visit www.betmakers.com.

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