Month: June 2023

Arqana’s V.2 Sale Returns 

In an ever-changing sales landscape, Arqana has reinstated its V.2 Sale which this year will take place on August 22 and features 175 yearlings. The sale was replaced last year by a two-day September Sale, which has now been dropped.

Billed as including “preocious and forward yearlings”, the catalogue, which has been released hard on the heels of of the three-day August Sale which precedes it, includes a Rio De La Plata half-brother to previous V.2 star graduate Angers (Fr). Trained by Mario Baratti, the son of Seabhac won this year's German 2,000 Guineas and was a €22,000 purchase at the sale two years ago.

At the conclusion of the August Yearling Sale, there is a blank day to allow for inspections of the V.2 horses, with the sale set to start on the Tuesday morning at 11am.

The catalogue for the V.2 Sale can now be viewed online.

The post Arqana’s V.2 Sale Returns  appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Irish, German Derbys Make World Pool Debut

The world's largest globally commingled horse racing pools, created and powered by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, will now include both the Irish and German Derbys for the first time on Sunday, July 2. Germany's richest race, the G1 Deutsches Derby, will mark the inaugural time the World Pool has operated in the country and will also be available two hours later for all eight races on the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day card from the Curragh.

“The various international Derbys carry particular importance in Hong Kong across various stakeholder categories,” said Sam Nati, Head of Commingling at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. “These include racing fans, wagering customers and owners, so the German and Irish Derbys are an important addition to the World Pool schedule.”

The post Irish, German Derbys Make World Pool Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Old Friends Welcomes Retired Millionaire Rated R Superstar

Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Ky., is pleased to announce that multiple stakes-winning millionaire Rated R Superstar arrived at the farm on Wednesday evening, June 28, 2023, for his retirement thanks to his owner, Danny Caldwell.

The chestnut gelding, who was sired by Kodiak Kowboy, out of the Gold Case mare, Wicked Wish, won nine stakes races, three of them graded stakes, during his nine-year career where he became a fan-favorite the older he got every time he ran.

Bred and initially raced by Thorndale Stable LLC, Rated R Superstar was foaled in Kentucky on April 20, 2013.

Originally trained by Ken McPeek, Rated R Superstar began his racing career as a two-year old in 2015 and broke his maiden his second time out in a maiden claiming race at Ellis Park. That year, he also finished 11th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Keeneland.

He won his first graded-stakes race in 2016 when he captured the Carry Back Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park. In addition, he won the Ben Ali Stakes (G3) in 2018 at Keeneland, and the Essex Handicap (Listed) in 2019 at Oaklawn Park.

Following a win in a waiver claiming race in Jan. 2021, Caldwell claimed him for $50,000 and Rated R Superstar went on to win six more races, five of them stakes races, for his new owner and new trainer Federico Villafranco: an allowance optional claiming race at Prairie Meadows in 2021; the Governor's Cup Stakes (Listed) at Remington Park in 2021 and 2022; the Fifth Season Stakes (Listed), and his second Essex Handicap (G3), both at Oaklawn Park, in 2022; and the Jeffrey A. Hawk Memorial Stakes (Black Type) at Remington Park in 2022.

The hard working Rated R Superstar returned to the track in 2023 as a 10-year old and raced five times, all at Oaklawn Park. His best finish was a third in the Fifth Season Stakes (Listed).

Then, following a fifth in an allowance optional claiming race on May 6 for trainer Martin Villafranco, Caldwell retired his horse with 13 wins, 10 seconds, 9 thirds, and $1,847,397 earnings in 70 career starts.

After that race, Caldwell also announced that Rated R Superstar would be going to Old Friends for his retirement.

“Today is a bittersweet one, as @ILoveFastHorses (Danny Caldwell's Twitter account) and I announce Rated R superstar's retirement to Old Friends,” tweeted Caldwell's wife, Allison, on her Twitter account, @missfasthorses. “Owning Rated R has been one of the greatest gifts in our racing careers. He's a member of the family and we've always done things his way, in his best interest.

“Rated R' is retiring sound, happy and healthy,” she added. “We are very excited about this next chapter and we ask that if you're in the area of Old Friends, please schedule a time to visit or make a donation on his behalf. He's a very social guy and he loves seeing his friends!”

Added Michal Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends, “Some Thoroughbred fans dream of winning the Kentucky Derby, but for the past few years I dreamt about retiring the Great War horse Rated R Superstar. Some dreams come true.”

The post Old Friends Welcomes Retired Millionaire Rated R Superstar appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Poor Air Quality Leads To Friday Cancellations At Belmont, Woodbine, Laurel Park

Racing cancellations due to poor air quality caused by Canadian wildfires continued on Friday, with Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., Woodbine in Toronto, Canada, and Laurel Park in Laurel, Md., all announcing their live racing programs have been called off.

Following is the statement from NYRA:

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has canceled live racing Friday at Belmont Park due to a rapid decline in air quality late this morning.

This decision was made in consultation with the New York State Equine Medical Director, NYRA management and veterinary staff in the best interests of the safety of all participants.

The indoor facilities at Belmont Park and Aqueduct Racetrack will remain open for simulcasting on Friday. Wagering is also available via the NYRA Bets app, available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

Live racing is scheduled to resume on Saturday at Belmont Park with a 10-race card, featuring the Grade 3, $200,000 Dwyer in Race 6 and the Grade 2, $250,000 John A. Nerud in Race 9. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

Following is the statement from Woodbine:

Woodbine Entertainment has announced today's card of live racing at Woodbine Racetrack is cancelled due to poor air quality.

Environment Canada's air quality index for Toronto is listed as 'High Risk' and is expected to remain at this level throughout Friday. Woodbine's decision to cancel comes through consultation with the HBPA and is consistent with the AGCO's air quality guidelines.

Woodbine will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as required.

The next card of live racing is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 1:10 p.m.

Laurel Park announced its cancellation via a Tweet from the Maryland Jockey Club account:

According to a 9 a.m. ET reading on the Airnow.gov website, the air quality index (AQI) reading for Laurel, Md., was 153, considered “unhealthy” by the Environmental Protection Agency. It was as high as 197 on Thursday at 1 p.m., according to Airnow.gov.

Following is a statement from the Maryland Jockey Club:

Due to poor air quality in the Mid-Atlantic region caused by smoke from Canadian wildfires, the Maryland Jockey Club has canceled Friday's live program at Laurel Park.

The entire 10-race program has been moved, as is, to Thursday, July 6, with a post time of 12:25 p.m.

Laurel will remain open for simulcasting.

Live racing will resume Saturday to kick off the month of July featuring 11 stakes worth $1.075 million in purses.

There will be carryovers of $11,438.28 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 and $10,380.34 in the $1 Jackpot Super High Five. The Rainbow 6 sequence spans Races 5-10 and includes all three of Saturday's stakes – the $100,000 Concern for 3-year-olds sprinting seven furlongs on the main track (Race 9), $100,000 Laurel Dash for 3-year-olds and up (Race 8) and $75,000 Jameela for Maryland-bred/sired fillies and mares 3 and older (Race 6), both scheduled for six furlongs on the Fort Marcy turf course.

Stakes winners Coffeewithchris, exiting the 148th Preakness Stakes (G1) May 20, and Prince of Jericho, second in the Chick Lang (G3) on the Preakness undercard, will renew their rivalry in the Concern. Mid Day Image will be favored to run his win streak to four in the Laurel Dash over fellow stakes winners Witty, Grateful Bred and Smokin' Jay.

Spun Glass will attempt to defend her title in the Jameela and make trainer Mike Trombetta the first to win it three straight years, but will face challenges from stablemate Hollywood Walk as well as Can the Queen, whose three career stakes wins have come at historic Pimlico Race Course.

The post Poor Air Quality Leads To Friday Cancellations At Belmont, Woodbine, Laurel Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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