June, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Now He’s Right’: After Winter Off, Chilean-Bred Sprinter Todo Fino Chasing Graded Status In Smile Sprint

Stud Vendaval Inc. and trainer Amador Sanchez's Todo Fino has clearly demonstrated he knows how to win, having captured 11 of his 16 career starts in both Chile and the U.S. The 6-year-old win machine will seek to add a graded-stakes victory to his impressive resume Saturday in the $100,000 Smile Sprint (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

The Chilean-bred sprinter is scheduled to make his 2023 debut in the six-furlong 'Summit of Speed' feature that will headline an 11-race program.

“The horse is training nice for this race. I wanted to run the horse a month ago, but the race didn't go. I waited for the stake,” Sanchez said. “I think this is a good race for him.”

Todo Fino was sired by Verrazano, a son of More than Ready who launched his career with back-to-back wins at Gulfstream Park before going on to win the Tampa Bay Derby (G2), Wood Memorial (G1) and Haskell (G1) in 2013.

Multiple stakes-winning Todo Fino captured his final race in Chile by six lengths carrying 130 pounds in April of last year. He surfaced at Del Mar Sept. 2 while making his U.S. debut for Sanchez, who ventured from Chile to South Florida in 2019. After racing at five-furlong and six-furlong distances in Chile, Todo Fino impressively captured a seven-furlong optional claiming allowance by a half-length after resisting race-long pressure.

Todo Fino came right back to register a front-running victory in a 6 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance at Santa Anita six weeks later to conclude his 2022 season.

“The horse needed the time, and now he's right,” said Sanchez, whose Smile entrant breezed a half mile from the gate in 47.68 seconds, the fastest of 66 workouts recorded at the distance on June 17 prior to working a half-mile in 47.41 seconds Sunday at Gulfstream.

Sanchez expects Todo Fino to set or contest the pace in the Smile.

“He's very fast. For me, he's run in the front. He's very good in the gate,” said Sanchez, who also entered Matriarca's Figureti, a Chilean-bred who finished third behind Todo Fino at Santa Anita before winning one of five starts this year.

Edgar Perez has the mount on Todo Fino, while Edwin Gonzalez has the call on Figureti, a stretch-running son of Constitution.

Lea Farms LLC's Willy Boi is scheduled to make a title defense in the Smile, which he won by a length last year. The Jorge Delgado-trained son of Uncaptured went on to finish third in the Vanderbilt (G1) at Saratoga in his next start.

After finishing a successful season with an off-the-board finish in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Keeneland, the 5-year-old Florida-bred gelding has been winless in four starts this year, including a fifth-place finish in the Chick Lang (G3) at Pimlico last time out.

Jose Batista is scheduled to ride Willy Boi for the first time Saturday.

Stonehedge LLC's Dean Delivers enters the Smile off his first stakes victory in the May 20 Big Drama, a race won by Willy Boi prior to his Smile score. The 4-year-old son of Cajun Breeze, who drew off by 3 ¾ lengths, was graded-stakes placed in the seven-furlong Mr. Prospector (G3) and mile Harlan's Holiday (G3) during the Championship Meet.

Emisael Jaramillo has the return mount aboard Michael Yates-trained Dean Delivers.

Keith Johnston's Big and Classy is scheduled to make his stakes debut in the Smile on a streak of six victories, the last four for trainer Bobby DiBona. The 6-year-old gelding, who had won only one of his first 10 races, started his winning streak in the $20,000 claiming ranks and most recently captured a 5 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance.

Leonel Reyes, the Royal Palm Meet's leading rider, has the return mount on Big and Classy.

Starship Stables and trainer Steve Dwoskin's Starship Renegade, Russell Staggs' Doc Amster, and Champion Equine LLC's Spankster round out the field.

The post ‘Now He’s Right’: After Winter Off, Chilean-Bred Sprinter Todo Fino Chasing Graded Status In Smile Sprint appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Olly Murphy Snaps Up 250k Doctor Dino Top Lot On Day One At Derby Sale

The British-based trainers dominated the top end of the day one Derby Sale trade at Tattersalls Ireland on Wednesday with Aiden and Olly Murphy snapping up two of the most expensive geldings to go through the ring, including the Doctor Dino (Fr) sale-topper at €250,000.

Leading bloodstock agent Aiden and his son Olly, who is based at Warren Chase Stables in England, also splashed out €200,000 on a Saint Des Saints (Fr) gelding that was consigned by Moanmore Stables.

The pair's total spend on day one was just shy of €500,000 across three geldings and, speaking about the top lot, which Aiden opened up at €100,000, the agent said, “He has not turned a hair for two days. I have seen him time and time again. He is magnificent and he is for Olly to train and is for an existing client. He is just a gorgeous horse and we are delighted to get him.”

Explaining the six-figure opening bid, Murphy added, “He was always going to make more and we were in a bit of a hurry!”

The gelding was sold by the County Cork-based Coolmara Stables, of which, Cathal Mariga commented, “We were hoping for that sort of figure. We bought him as a foal privately from Ennel Bloodstock in Westmeath and before Jonbon came out.

“We always had Douvan in his pedigree and to get another Grade 1 winner, it was a nice update to get. He has been a great horse to work with at home, he did everything right, did not put a foot wrong. He has been very busy, he has had around 60 shows over the two days, with a lot of return visitors.”

Tom Malone and Paul Nicholls also made their presence felt in the afternoon when going to €205,000 to secure a Walk In The Park (Ire) gelding from Peter Nolan's draft.

A total of 147 lots sold on day one to the tune of €7,652,500, which averages out at €52,058. The median stood at €40,000 at close of play on Wednesday.

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Len Green Issues Challenge Grant in Memory of Wife Lois

Len Green has issued a $25,000 challenge grant to raise money for the New York Racetrack Chaplaincy's Summer Enrichment Program, in memory of his wife, Lois, who passed away May 31.

The Chaplaincy's summer enrichment program provides the children of backstretch workers the opportunity to attend local summer camps when their families travel to Saratoga for work during the race meeting.

“In Hebrew tradition there is a saying which translates to `may her memory be a blessing,' said the Chaplaincy Board President Ramon Dominguez about the gift. “It is up to those of us who knew and loved the person who passed to keep their spirit alive and to remember and share the goodness they brought to the world. This is what Len is doing with this grant. He is honoring and remembering the incredible Lois Green and her love for Thoroughbred racing and the backstretch community. We are humbled and blessed, and we pledge to be worthy of this generosity as we serve those who make racing possible.”

Green said he was inspired by the $10,000 challenge grant issued by the Heider Family Foundation last week. That challenge has been met, raising $20,000 for the program.

“If people want to honor Lois and what she's done, I thought this was a great way to do it,” said Green. “Here, if it can help and other people can do it and pick up on it, just imagine what good it could do for people on the backside! I remember how important summer camp was. Lois used to work on the playground in Red Bank, New Jersey in the summer, with no air conditioning, and I would say, `why would you do that? Why don't you work in an office?' And she'd say, `I'm doing it for the kids.'”

Green said he believed things happen for a reason. “Random things,” he said. “Man plans and God laughs. So many owners never go back to the barns and see what's going on. But I met Chaplain Humberto (Chavez), and he's doing worthwhile things.”

To donate to the challenge, visit the rtcany.org webpage, or click here.

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Horse Welfare Board, Hartpury University Launch Census

British Racing's Horse Welfare Board is launching the first ever Thoroughbred census in Great Britain, in collaboration with Hartpury University.

All owners of former racehorses are being asked to submit a completed census through Dec. 31. The census will help build an improved Thoroughbred data bank about former racehorses and the lives they go on to lead.

Helena Flynn, Programme Director, Horse Welfare Board, said: “Improving the traceability of Thoroughbreds after they retire from racing is a fundamental part of the Horse Welfare Board's five-year welfare strategy. The launch of this census is a significant project to help increase the depth, quality, and volume of data about Thoroughbreds at this important stage of their lives.”

Improved data at this stage of a thoroughbred's life can also help the Horse Welfare Board and RoR improve and adapt welfare initiatives, enabling fast and effective contact in the event of an equine disease outbreak.

The census will request information on each horse's equine identification document (passport) number, microchip number, age, current residence, second career, and more to provide a robust view of the 2023 British retired racehorse population.

The six-month census has been launched in partnership with Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), British Racing's official aftercare charity, funded by the Racing Foundation, and is supported by World Horse Welfare and Weatherbys General Stud Book.

To complete the 2023 Thoroughbred Census online, click here before closing Dec. 31.

Full results will be reported during the first quarter of 2024.

The post Horse Welfare Board, Hartpury University Launch Census appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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