June, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Watch: Jockey Suspended 30 Days For Reckless Riding After Wild Stretch Run At Ruidoso Downs

Jockey Juan Carlos Villanueva has been suspended 30 racing days over reckless riding that caused the disqualification of his mount, Drinkroundthetruth, in the 10th race on June 4, 2023, at New Mexico's Ruidoso Downs Racetrack.

In the stretch run, Villanueva can be seen intentionally impeding the progress of the 5 horse, Mr. Rigger, multiple times from the sixteenth pole to the finish line. Following the completion of the race, the inquiry sign was posted; from that point, it only took 3 minutes and 10 seconds for the disqualification of Villanueva and Drinkroundthetruth to be announced.

According to a ruling posted to the Association of Racing Commissioners International website, the Board of Stewards met with Villanueva and translator Luis H. Rodriguez on June 9, 2023. Villanueva will not be allowed to ride in designated races during his suspension, which will occur on the following dates: June 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, July 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, August 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20.

Possessing a jockey's license since 2012, Villanueva has won multiple stakes races aboard Thoroughbreds in New Mexico. His record includes just over 100 Thoroughbred wins, and another 34 wins aboard Quarter Horses.

Villanueva was recently fined $250 for his role in a fight in the jockey's room at Zia Park on Nov. 6, 2022, which caused multiple rider changes throughout the program.

The post Watch: Jockey Suspended 30 Days For Reckless Riding After Wild Stretch Run At Ruidoso Downs appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Zenyatta Foals War Front Filly, Set to Retire as Broodmare

Beloved Hall of Famer Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}) produced her last foal, a filly by War Front, on June 9 at Lane's End Farm.

According to Zenyatta.com, the champion's co-owner Ann Holbrook (Moss), as well as Lane's End managers Todd Claunch and Jenn Laidlaw, were present for the successful foaling of the newborn, who sports a prominent blaze quite reminiscent of her dam's recognizable markings.

The post also stated that this will be Zenyatta's last foal as the 19-year-old mare enters into retirement.

The winner of 19 of 20 starts and the 2010 Horse of the Year, Zenyatta retired to the breeding shed in 2011 following her only career defeat after a famed battle with Blame in the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic. Unfortunately the history-making racemare had a troubled career as a broodmare and only four of her offspring have made it to racing age thus far.

That blaze sure looks familiar! | Lane's End's Jenn Laidlaw

Her first two foals Cozmic One (Bernardini) and Ziconic (Tapit) both reached the starting gate. Cozmic One was unplaced in five starts, but forged his own path in the show ring. Watch the TDN's 'Catching Up with Cozmic One' here. From 12 starts, Ziconic earned two second-place finishes and followed in his elder half-brother's path when he too went on to become a successful show jumper.

Zenyatta's 2017 foal, a Medaglia d'Oro filly named Zellda, did not make it to the starting gate, but she went on to a breeding career and just produced her first foal this year. The colt by Twirling Candy was foaled April 27.

Zenyatta's 3-year-old Zilkha (Candy Ride {Arg}) also did not make the starting gate, but she did spend time in the John Shirreffs barn at Santa Anita last year (TDN checked in with her here).

In a TDN visit to Lane's End in 2020 when Zilkha was a foal, the farm's broodmare manager Jenn Laidlaw spoke on the personality of the gifted, brilliant, unforgettable Zenyatta.

“Zenyatta is probably the most intelligent horse on the farm,” she said. “She knows that she's important and she knows who she is. She has a real presence about her.”

Although her chapter as a broodmare now comes to a close, Zenyatta will continue to be an ambassador for the sport. Laidlaw told TDN how much of an impact the spotlight-loving mare has had on visitors to Lane's End.

“When the fans get the opportunity to meet her, they'll just start crying,” she explained. “It's really heartwarming to see how much she affected people's daily lives and how much they love her. There are stories people tell you about how she's helped them through situations or how she gave them motivation.”

The post Zenyatta Foals War Front Filly, Set to Retire as Broodmare appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Loggins To Stand At Hill ‘N’ Dale At Xalapa

Hill 'n' Dale announced today that Loggins will take up stud duty in 2024 alongside his sire Ghostzapper who has proven to be one of the most enduring sources of world class runners for well over a decade.

“Loggins was a brilliant 2-year-old, breaking his maiden in hugely impressive fashion at Churchill and narrowly beaten by champion Forte in the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity in only his second start,” said John Sikura, president of Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. “It is too bad he got hurt as I am certain he was a Grade 1 talent. I love the influences in his pedigree and he is a stunner to look at. Ghostzapper continues to be a great sire and I think Loggins was his most precocious 2-year-old while only scratching the surface of his ability. This recipe has worked for us in the past with the likes of Maclean's Music. I think Loggins will become another important Hill 'n' Dale stallion.”

Bloodstock agent Liz Crow said, “Brad Cox and I were intent on purchasing the best colt at Saratoga regardless of price. Loggins, hands-down, was the most impressive physical at the entire sale. He was an absolute 'must-have' colt. He ended up selling as the highest-priced colt of the year for his sire.”

Loggins was a talking horse from the time he entered trainer Brad Cox's barn. Sent off at less than even money in his first start, the imposing colt delivered on expectations, earning TDN Rising Star Status after an 8 1/2 length open air victory under wraps.

To put Loggins' debut performance into perspective, in his next start, in the Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland which also saw eventual 2-year-old champion Forte going postward, Loggins was once again sent off the favorite notwithstanding the fact that Forte was coming off a Grade 1 win at Saratoga. Narrowly beaten in a hard-fought battle to the wire, Loggins received the identical speed figure awarded Forte who had nudged his nose in front at the wire.

“He was my Derby horse,” Cox said. “Loggins was an incredibly fast, precocious, beautiful horse with immense ability. A true Grade 1 talent.”

A stud fee has not yet been announced.

The post Loggins To Stand At Hill ‘N’ Dale At Xalapa appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Canada’s Leading Second-Crop Sire Counterforce To Relocate

Counterforce (Smart Strike), currently Canada's leading second-crop sire and 2022 champion freshman sire, will relocate from Road's End Farm in British Columbia to Stride Away Thoroughbreds in the Okanagan region for the 2024 season. The stakes winner is a half-brother to GII winner Cezanne (Curlin) and out of a half-sister to the dam of Saturday's GI Belmont S. winner Arcangelo (Arrogate).

“He's a lovely horse, with a magnificent pedigree,” said Stride Away co-owner Cathy Reggelsen. “He came out firing as a freshman last year and that's certainly continued this season already. He's producing athletic-looking horses with good temperaments and we can't wait to show him off to potential breeders. We're very excited to have him here and hope to continue the great work started with him by Jack Bennett [Road's End].”

A fee for Counterforce's 2024 season will be set at a later date.

The post Canada’s Leading Second-Crop Sire Counterforce To Relocate appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post