Behind every horse at this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve was an owner or a group of owners whose dreams were realized once the gate doors opened for the 149th run for the roses. Three high-profile owners, in particular, got to experience the thrill of having a horse in the race for the first time.
Month: May 2023
French 2,000 Guineas Fancy Isaac Shelby Sold To Wathnan Racing
Leading French 2,000 Guineas fancy Isaac Shelby (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) has been sold to the Qatari-based Wathnan Racing in a deal that was brokered by Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock.
Isaac Shelby won the G3 Greenham S. in the colours of Manton Thoroughbreds on his reappearance at Newbury last month, after which, his trainer Brian Meehan revealed that he would sidestep Newmarket in favour of the French Classic at ParisLongchamp.
The colt remains firmly on course for Sunday's race and will represent an exciting first European runner for Wathnan Racing, which was crowned the leading stable in Qatar last season following heavy investment at the autumn horses-in-training sales in Britain and France.
A tight-lipped Brown commented on Wednesday, “Isaac Shelby is a very exciting colt. He has displayed a very high level of ability with the obvious highlight his comfortable win in the Greenham at Newbury last time. He is a lovely-looking individual with plenty of scope and class–he displays the best attributes of his sire.”
Isaac Shelby's Greenham S. victory was achieved in dramatic circumstances as short-priced favourite and subsequent 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) dislodged Frankie Dettori upon leaving the stalls.
But Isaac Shelby could not have been more impressive in pulling three lengths clear from his nearest rival on the day and is expected to be sent off one of the leading fancies in the market on Sunday.
TDN Europe understands that Sean Levey, who has ridden Isaac Shelby in all four of his races to date, will retain the ride.
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Chad Brown Sued Over Alleged Domestic Violence Incident
Trainer Chad Brown has been sued in New York State Supreme Court in Saratoga County over an alleged domestic violence incident during the Saratoga race meet in 2022, according to the Schenectady (NY) Gazette. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday morning by the same woman in the incident, and alleges that Brown “intentionally attacked her, physically violently assaulting, battering, pushing, and striking her,” then pushing her down a flight of stairs, choking the plaintiff and “pushing her violently out the front door.” Brown was arrested August 17, 2022 and charged with a misdemeanor charge of obstruction of breathing. He later pled guilty to a reduced charge of harrassment, a violation. The story was also reported by the Albany-area NPR station.
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New York Times: Forte Has Pending Drug Positive From 2-Year-Old Season
Eclipse Award-winning colt Forte has a drug positive still pending from his juvenile season, according to a report May 9 from the New York Times.
The Times' Joe Drape reported that two sources close to the situation say the positive is from a post-race test taken after Forte's win in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga in September. Drape's sources indicated the substance in question was “used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation” but was not specifically named.
Adjudication of the positive has dragged on, and now trainer Todd Pletcher is scheduled to have a hearing on the matter Wednesday. A spokesperson for the New York State Gaming Commission told Drape the delays were “sought by the trainer's counsel.”
After his win in the Hopeful, Forte went on to capture the G1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland, followed by the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, earning him the 2022 Eclipse Award for Champion 2-Year-Old Colt.
Although he had been projected as the morning-line favorite in the G1 Kentucky Derby, Forte was scratched the morning of the race by Kentucky state veterinarians after his connections said he had been battling a foot bruise for several days. His status for the Preakness remains in doubt, because a veterinary scratch triggers an automatic entry to the vet's list for 14 days and requires a workout and blood test for removal from the list.
Read more at the New York Times
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