June, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Champion Almond Eye Elected To Japanese Hall Of Fame

Dual Japanese Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) has been elected to the Japanese Horse Racing Hall of Fame, the Japan Racing Association (JRA) announced.

The former Silk Racing Co., Ltd.'s colourbearer is the 35th member of the exclusive club after garnering 200 votes (96.6%) of the 207 available. Fellow Japanese Triple Crown Winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) gained 155 votes, one short of the minimum requirement for entry.

Trainer Sakae Kunieda said, “It is a great honor to have Almond Eye selected for the award. From her debut in 2017 until her retirement at the Japan Cup in 2020, she won the Triple Crown for fillies and nine Group 1 races and was also the representative Horse of the Year twice.

“Almond Eye is outstanding both physically and mentally and has always lived up to our high expectations and kept dreaming about what kind of performance she will show in the next race.

“I have nothing but gratitude for the owners who entrusted me with such a famous horse… and the fans who supported me together. Being involved with Almond Eye as a horse trainer has been a great asset for me and the stable staff, and I will continue to devote myself to it.”

Bred by Northern Racing, the bay electrified the racing world with seven straight victories after breaking her maiden at second asking as a juvenile. In her third start and 3-year-old bow, she won the G3 Shinzan Kinen, her last appearance below Group 1 level. After sweeping the Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown (Oka Sho, Yushun Himba, Shuka Sho) in the spring and autumn of 2018, Almond Eye claimed her first Japan Cup and earned her first Horse of the Year title. Sent to Meydan for the Dubai Turf at four, she won again and was third in the Yasuda Kinen back in her native land before taking the Tenno Sho (Autumn). Uncharacteristically off the board in the G1 Arima Kinen at the end of her 4-year-old season, she won the Victoria Mile, ran second in the Yasuda Kinen, and won both the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and Japan Cup at five, good for her second Horse of the Year laurels. Almond Eye was retired with a mark of 15-11-2-1 and over $17.6 million in earnings.

The daughter of Fusaichi Pandora (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) has colts by Epiphaneia (Jpn) and Maurice (Jpn) born in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

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Express Yourself: Do Horses Demonstrate Micro-Expressions?

Micro-expressions in humans are facial expressions that last only a fraction of a second; though often discreet, they can be understood easily and often show a person's true emotions. These expressions are involuntary and are hard to repress or control.

Dr. Claude Tomberg and a team of researchers from the University of Brussels wanted to determine whether horses had micro-expressions, and if they were evident around other horses. Horses have a vast array of facial expressions that can convey a wide range of emotions. The team theorized that expressions – and therefore micro-expressions, could be used as a tool to communicate with other horses.

The scientists used 22 horses of a variety of breeds, aged 4 to 26 for their study. The horses were videoed while they stood in a grooming stall with a familiar human. The horse could see but not reach a carrot.

The footage was analyzed frame by frame using the Equine Facial Action Coding System (EquiFACS) to see if the horses showed any micro-expressions that lasted for under a half a second.

The team found that all of the horses had micro-expressions and that two-thirds of all the horse's expressions were micro-expressions. Interestingly, the horses showed less micro-expressions when in the presence of the handler versus when they were alone.

The horses exhibited “fixed attention” patterns, where they stood still, but looked at and pointed their ears toward the handler. The horses did not exhibit signs of stress or pain.

The focus of a horse on the experimenter and the reduction in micro-expressions supports the idea that horses are sensitive to social context.

The researchers conclude that a horse's micro-expressions might provide information on the true state of the horse, including pain, which could increase equine welfare.

Forte Draws Post Six For Belmont Stakes In A Field Of Nine

Projected favorite Forte has drawn the sixth post position in a field of nine for this weekend's Belmont Stakes.

The race will mark a comeback opportunity for the Todd Pletcher-trained colt, who was the subject of much media attention last month when he became a last-minute veterinary scratch from the Kentucky Derby. It was later revealed that, unrelatedly, the Eclipse Award-winner also had a pending drug positive from a race he won as a 2-year-old. The New York Times broke the news of Forte's positive post-race test for meloxicam just ahead of a meeting between his connections and New York stewards, who ultimately disqualified him from his win in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes.

Forte was placed on the veterinarian's list in Kentucky following his scratch from the Derby, which prohibited him from running in the Preakness. Pletcher told media over the weekend that the colt had completed the required workout before a regulatory veterinarian and post-work drug testing came back clear.

Forte posted his final workout for the Belmont Stakes last weekend, going five furlongs in :59.67 in company with a stablemate. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:12 2/5, to the satisfaction fo Pletcher, who said the colt cooled out well and is coming into the race well.

Forte will face stablemate Tapit Trice in the 1 1/2-mile contest, with the son of Tapit breaking from Post 2. Tapit Trice finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby and previously prevailed in a tough victory in the G1 Blue Grass Stakes.

The third betting choice on the morning line will be Brad Cox trainee Angel of Empire, who won the G1 Arkansas Derby en route to a third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. He has finished off the board just once in his career of seven races thus far.

Six trainers account for the nine entries in this year's Belmont Stakes.

The post Forte Draws Post Six For Belmont Stakes In A Field Of Nine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Champion Forte Favored for Belmont Stakes

ELMONT, NY — Last year's champion 2-year-old colt Forte (Violence), scratched on the morning of the GI Kentucky Derby with a foot bruise, was tabbed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the 155th running of the GI Belmont Stakes at Tuesday's post-position draw held in the Triple Crown Lounge at Belmont Park.

The Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable colorbearer, last seen defeating subsequent Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) in dramatic fashion in the GI Curlin Florida Derby Apr. 1, will exit from post six with regular rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard in the nine-horse field.

“We still think this is the best 3-year-old in the crop and I think on Saturday he's going to prove that,” Mike Repole said.

Four-time Belmont S. winning trainer Todd Pletcher will also be very well-represented by the 3-1 second-choice on the morning-line 'TDN Rising Star' Tapit Trice (Tapit). Seventh in the Kentucky Derby, the stretch-running gray will break from post two in the 1 1/2-mile Classic.

“The key is getting him out of the gate and into position,” said Pletcher, who has two chances to reach even terms with the late Woody Stephens, who won five straight renewals of the Belmont from 1982-86. “He's got a big, long stride on him. If he can get him into a good rhythm, I think he's going to like the mile and a half. He's been training that way.”

The all-conquering Tapit has already sired four Belmont winners–Essential Quality (2021), Tapwrit (2017), Creator (2016), Tonalist (2014).

Wire-to-wire GI Preakness S. winner National Treasure (Quality Road) will be the one to catch once again for Bob Baffert breaking from post four. He is listed at 5-1 on the morning line.

Trainer Brad Cox will saddle a trio, led by 7-2 third choice and favored Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Angel of Empire (Classic Empire). The GI Arkansas Derby winner adds blinkers for the first time in the final leg of the Triple Crown.

“Flavien [Prat] came back after the Derby and immediately said to put blinkers on the horse,” Cox said. “I don't know that it would have made a big difference in winning the Derby, but I do know that he does train well in them. It's something to experiment with and see what happens. I'm very happy with where he's at.”

Cox will also tighten the girth on Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) (post seven; 10-1), a respectable fifth in the Derby after sitting close to a sharp early pace, and narrow Bath House Row S. runner-up Tapit Shoes (Tapit) (post one; 20-1). Cox won the 2021 Belmont with Essential Quality.

From the rail out, the complete field for the Belmont Stakes:

1-Tapit Shoes (Tapit) (20-1)

2-Tapit Trice (Tapit) (3-1)

3-Arcangelo (Arrogate) (8-1)

4-National Treasure (Quality Road) (5-1)

5-Il Miracolo (Gun Runner) (30-1)

6-Forte (Violence) (5-2)

7-Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) (10-1)

8-Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) (7-2)

9-Red Route One (Gun Runner) (15-1)

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