Month: May 2023

After Two Sudden Deaths, Trainer Saffie Joseph Plans To Scratch Five Churchill Entrants; Lord Miles Remains In Kentucky Derby

Over the first two days of racing at Churchill Downs this year, two horses from the barn of trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. suffered “sudden deaths,” meaning their cause was not immediately apparent and did not seem to be due to external trauma or musculoskeletal injury.

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.

The attention ahead of the track's biggest event prompted track management to release a statement, reassuring fans that it will “continue to press for answers.”

Joseph scratched his lone entrant at Churchill on Wednesday, May 3, and the Daily Racing Form reports that Joseph now plans to scratch all his other entrants at the Louisville, Ky. track this week, except for Kentucky Derby runner Lord Miles.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission told DRF that it approved Joseph's request to scratch both of his entrants for Thursday and Friday's cards, Concrete Glory in the third race on Thursday, and Lady Emily Kathryn from the first race on Friday.

Joseph told DRF he also plans to scratch three of his seven entrants on Saturday, though he'll be leaving Kentucky Derby entrant Lord Miles in the entry box.

All the scratched horses were stabled with Joseph's string at Keeneland, as were the two horses to suffer sudden deaths, the trainer said. Joseph added that he ordered bloodwork on all his horses at Keeneland, but that preliminary results showed no abnormalities.

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.

The post After Two Sudden Deaths, Trainer Saffie Joseph Plans To Scratch Five Churchill Entrants; Lord Miles Remains In Kentucky Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Schwabe, Grant Appointed to Woodbine Committees Board of Directors

Woodbine Entertainment announced the addition of long-time Thoroughbred breeder Yvonne Schwabe and perennial leading Standardbred owner and breeder Brad Grant to committees for its Board of Directors. Schwabe will serve on the Thoroughbred Racing Committee, while Grant joins the Standardbred Racing Committee.

Schwabe, a breeder for over 25 years and is the owner of Persley Den Farms in Acton, Ontario, notably bred 2013 Queen's Plate winner Midnight Aria. In addition to her successful breeding operation, Schwabe is a former director and current Funding Chair for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. She has also served on several other industry boards and committees, including as a former Ontario and National Director of the CTHS and as a Steward of the Jockey Club of Canada.

Grant has been the leading Woodbine Standardbred owner for six of the last seven seasons and currently sits atop the standings for 2023. He was also named 2022 Owner of the Year by the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) and has owned several prominent horses in recent years, including Bulldog Hanover and Atlanta. Grant has also been recognized by the industry for his philanthropy, receiving the 2018 USHWA Humanitarian Award.

The post Schwabe, Grant Appointed to Woodbine Committees Board of Directors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Summer Targets For Pyledriver Revealed

Multiple Group 1 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) will make his long-awaited return in the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot in June, according to Chris Grassick, who trains with William Muir.

A winner of the 2021 G1 Coronation Cup and 2022 G1 King George and Queen Elizabeth S., the 6-year-old entire races for the La Pyle Partnership. Various setbacks have kept Pyledriver away from the races after his King George victory last July.

Grassick said, “He's cantering back and William has done the entry for the Hardwicke, so that's the plan. Touch wood, everything is looking lovely, he looks great and strong.

“I think from there we would be going to the King George and after that it would be just how he comes out of each race. He remains in good form and hopefully if he remains as good as last year, then we will have a big year again.

“He's slowly becoming a bit of a fan favourite. He's developing a bit of a following now because he comes back year in, year out, so hopefully he can keep going and get the results he deserves both for himself and the owners.”

The post Summer Targets For Pyledriver Revealed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Partnership Off To Flying Start With No Nay Never Rising Star In France

Craig Bernick and Haras d'Etreham's hitherto untested 2-year-old filly Les Pavots (Ire) (No Nay Never–Sparrow {Ire}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) was hammered down to 5-2 favouritism at the tills for Thursday's €30,000 Prix des Closeaux at Chantilly and returned home with a 'TDN Rising Star' badge after making all for an impressive success in the straight six-furlong newcomers' test. Breaking smartly to seize an immediate lead, she was in command throughout and kept on powerfully under pressure inside the final quarter-mile to easily outclass Freville (Fr) (Gleneagles {Ire}) by 3 1/2 lengths in taking fashion. Les Pavots becomes the seventh 'TDN Rising Star' for No Nay Never (Scat Daddy) and joins an honour roll which includes Ten Sovereigns (Ire) and Little Big Bear (Ire).

Nicolas de Chambure told TDN Europe that the partnership (Haras D'Etreham and Craig Bernick) had privately purchased three yearling fillies from Coolmore last year, one of which was Les Pavots.

“We do all these deals through Hubie De Burgh and it was a big team effort with Hubie and Craig to buy those fillies from Coolmore,” de Chambure said. “It's the first one of the three to race, and it's a great start to that partnership.”

The other fillies were also by No Nay Never, one out of Believe'N'Succeed (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) making her a half-sister to Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the other is out of G1 Irish Oaks winner Bracelet (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}).

“Coolmore breed such brilliant horses, and it was great to be able to buy some of those well-bred fillies with long-term plans,” he added. “The filly out of Believe'N'Succeed is with Fabrice Chappet and the Bracelet filly is with Christophe Ferland.”

Les Pavots is the fifth of six foals and fourth scorer from as many runners produced by G3 Ballyogan S. third Sparrow (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), herself out of G3 Middleton S. victrix and G1 Oaks second All Too Beautiful (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). All Too Beautiful, in turn, is a daughter of storied matriarch Urban Sea (Miswaki). The March-foaled chestnut is a half-sister to G1 Cox Plate and G1 Tancred S. hero Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), dual stakes-winning G3 Gordon S. and G3 N E Manion Cup placegetter Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and a yearling colt by Camelot (GB).

1st-Chantilly, €30,000, Mdn, 5-4, unraced 2yo, 6fT, 1:11.84, g/s.
LES PAVOTS (IRE), f, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Sparrow (Ire) (GSP-Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: All Too Beautiful (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Urban Sea, by Miswaki
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €15,000. *1/2 to Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), MG1SW-Aus, GSW-Eng & G1SP-Ire, $3,663,231; and Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), SW & GSP-Aus, SW-Ire & GSP-Eng, $192,495. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
O-Craig Bernick & Haras d'Etreham; B-Coolmore Stud (IRE); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Tony Piccone.

 

The post Partnership Off To Flying Start With No Nay Never Rising Star In France appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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