September, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Gulfstream Championship Meet Offers 68 Stakes Worth $14.875 Million

Gulfstream Park's prestigious Championship Meet – featuring the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) Jan. 27 and $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) March 30 – will offer 68 stakes in 2023-2024 with total purses of $14.875 million.

The Championship Meet, which includes racing over a new turf course, will begin Friday, Dec. 1 and conclude Sunday, March 31.

The Pegasus World Cup Day program, a celebration of World Class racing, entertainment, fashion, food and fun, will feature eight stakes, seven of which have been granted graded status. The Pegasus World Cup, a 1 1/8-mile invitational for 4-year-olds and up, has established itself as the first major target of the new racing season for the classic division. The Pegasus World Cup Turf, a 1 1/8-mile invitational that will be contested by 4-year-olds and up, will be renewed over Gulfstream Park's newly installed turf course. The $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G3), a 1 1/16-mile invitational for fillies and mares 4-years old and up, will also be contested Jan. 27 on the turf course that is scheduled to host 38 stakes during the Championship Meet.

The three Pegasus Day invitational races will be supported by the $200,000 Inside Information (G2), a seven-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares; the $200,000 William L. McKnight (G3), a 1 ½-mile turf stakes for older horses; the $150,000 Fred Hooper (G3), a mile stakes for older horses; the $150,000 La Prevoyante (G3), a 1 ½-mile event for older fillies and mares on turf; and the $100,000 Carousel Club, a mile-and-70-yard overnight handicap on Tapeta for older horses.

For information and updates on the Pegasus World Cup go to: https://www.pegasusworldcup.com/

The Curlin Florida Derby, a 1 1/8-mile stakes for 3-year-olds that has established itself as the premier Triple Crown prep with 25 winners going on to victory in the Kentucky Derby (G1), will headline the March 30 program that will offer 10 stakes, five graded. The $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies, will also be featured on the Curlin Florida Derby undercard that will include the $200,000 Pan American (G2), a 1 ½-mile turf stakes for older horses; and the $150,000 Orchid (G3), a 1 ½-mile turf stakes for older fillies and mares.

The $150,000 Ghostzapper (G3), a 1 1/16-mile race for older horses, will round out the graded-stakes action on the Curlin Florida Derby program, which will be supported by the $150,000 Appleton, a mile turf event for older horses; $150,000 Sand Springs, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for older fillies and mares; the $125,000 Sir Shackleton, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses; the $125,000 Cutler Bay, a 7 ½-furlong turf stakes for 3-year-olds; and the $125,000 Sanibel Island, a 7 ½-furlong race on turf for 3-year-old fillies.

For more information on the Florida Derby go to: https://www.gulfstreampark.com/discover/#special-events

The $150,000 Mucho Macho Man, a mile stakes for newly turned 3-year-olds, will kick off the Road to the 73rd running of the Curlin Florida Derby on the New Year's Day program Jan. 1, followed by the $250,000 Holy Bull (G3) Feb. 3 and the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) March 2.

The Holy Bull, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds, will headline the Feb. 1 program that will also offer the $150,000 Kitten's Joy (G3), a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds; the $150,000 Sweetest Chant (G3), a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for sophomore fillies; the $125,000 Claiborne Swale (G3), a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds; and the $125,000 Forward Gal (G3), a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies.

The Fountain of Youth, the 1 1/16-mile key prep for the Curlin Florida Derby, will top a blockbuster program that will feature nine stakes, eight of which are graded, including the $200,000 Davona Dale (G2), a mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies that serves as the major prep for the Gulfstream Park Oaks. The $200,000 WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile (G2), an historic mile event for older horses, and the $200,000 Mac Diarmida (G2), a 1 3/8-mile turf stakes for older horses, will round out the Grade 2-stakes action on the program.

The Fountain of Youth Day undercard will also offer the $150,000 Canadian Turf (G3), a 1 1/16-mile grass stakes for older horses; the $150,000 Honey Fox (G3), a mile turf stakes for older fillies and mares; the $150,000 The Very One (G3), a 1 3/8-mile turf race for older fillies and mares; the $175,000 Herecomesthebride (G3), a mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies; and the $175,000 Colonel Liam, a mile turf race for 3-year-olds.

The $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2), the $150,000 Harlan's Holiday (G3) and the $150,000 Suwannee River (G3) will be renewed on the Dec. 30 program, on which many entrants will be auditioning for invitations to the Pegasus World Cup, Pegasus World Cup Turf and Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf, respectively.

The 2023-2024 Championship Meet stakes schedule will be kicked off Dec. 2 by the finals of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series for 2-year-olds sired by nominated Florida stallions – the $300,000 In Reality and the $300,000 My Dear Girl for fillies, both at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

For more information go to: https://www.gulfstreampark.com/racing-office/

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Treasure Hunting Presented By Keeneland: Youalmosthadme Was A Book 6 Star For Hancock

Value can be found at every level of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, and in the “Treasure Hunting” series, we'll be examining successful graduates of the bellwether auction who sold below the median price of their particular session.

We'll start at Book 1 and go all the way to Book 6, talking to buyers who found horses that slipped under the commercial radar in their given segment of the marketplace.

Much of the buying during Book 6 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale takes place in the back ring, with shoppers looking at horses for the first time just minutes before they go through the ring.

Trainer John Hancock came to the final book of the 2022 sale with a plan, and he was rewarded nicely for sticking to it.

The Henderson, Ky.-based horseman started the day zeroing in on Hip 3778, an Oxbow filly who he landed for $12,000 – a few bids below the session median of $15,000. In less than a year, the filly later named Youalmosthadme was a head-turning first-out winner at Keeneland's spring meet, and Hancock sold her privately for multiples on her initial sale price.

“Believe it or not, she was the key horse that day for us,” Hancock said. “My daughter, my grandson, and my cousin all looked at the page on her, and the second dam was a mare called May Gator, who we all knew because she raced in Kentucky, and we liked that mare. We clued in on her. We knew that the Oxbows that we had seen were really fast, and we if we could put this together, she could be really rapid at 4 1/2 furlongs.”

Pope McLean's Crestwood Farm consigned Youalmosthadme, as agent. The filly is out of the stakes-placed Good and Tough mare Good Gator.

A perennial top trainer of 2-year-olds on the Kentucky circuit, Hancock frequently purchases yearlings with the aim of debuting them as early juveniles during the Keeneland Spring meet or early in the Churchill Downs spring/summer meet. If the horse shines in one of those early races, he'll sell them privately.

“I've been fortunate enough over the years that I have a lot of clients out there,” Hancock said. “It's kind of funny, they'll start tagging my phone in March, 'What do you got?' They start keeping up with them and asking for their names, so I'll send them some names and they'll start tracking their breezes. About the last eight to ten years, it's been like that.”

After he signed the ticket, Hancock took Youalmosthadme back to western Kentucky, where he began her basic training at Ellis Park. The trainer said having the “real world” experience of getting started on a racetrack is invaluable to his charges.

“Ellis Park has been awfully good to me to let me bring my babies in to break them in the fall, and I get 60 days on a big racetrack with them,” he said. “Churchill Downs owns the track now, and it works out good for them, since a lot of them run there over the spring and summer.”

After getting her start at Ellis Park, Hancock sent Youalmosthadme to the farm of G.W. Parrish in Florida for 45 days. The reviews from Parrish confirmed what Hancock thought he already knew.

“He called me one morning and said, 'This filly's a freak,'” Hancock said.

Youalmosthadme returned to Hancock's care in January, joining him at Turfway Park for finishing touches before the Keeneland spring meet in April.

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The filly was entered for her debut at Keeneland on April 19, and she dominated the 4 1/2-length race, drawing away to win by 8 1/2 lengths.

Hancock said potential buyers were chilly on Youalmosthadme in the days leading up to the race. His phone was much busier after the filly crossed the wire.

“I had 12 calls in three days, and out of those 12, probably eight of them were the biggest people in the business trying to buy her,” he said. “One owner called himself and said, 'I don't need my trainer calling, I'm calling you.'”

Jake Ballis, owner of Black Type Thoroughbreds, came forward with the most appealing bid, bringing with him a partnership that included Qatar Racing, Swinbank Stables, and Steve Adkisson. The deal was done on a handshake, and when the money was wired to Hancock a few days later, the filly moved to the barn of trainer Brad Cox.

Youalmosthadme provided immediate dividends for her new owner, taking the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes on May 4 at Churchill Downs by an easy 8 3/4 lengths. A stumbled start cost the filly her unbeaten streak in the Ellis Park Debutante Stakes in August, but she recovered to finish third.

The filly is scheduled to compete next in the Grade 3 Pocahontas Stakes on Sept. 16 at Churchill Downs.

Youalmosthadme_Sept 22_Hip 3778 from Lauren Warren on Vimeo.

The post Treasure Hunting Presented By Keeneland: Youalmosthadme Was A Book 6 Star For Hancock appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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HISA Names Anjali Salooja As New Director Of Operations And Compliance

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) has named Anjali Salooja Director of Operations and Compliance, the organization said in a release Thursday.

Salooja will oversee all compliance systems and procedures for the organization, ensuring HISA remains compliant with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act at all times. She will also provide daily operational and long-term planning support for new initiatives designed to promote equine and jockey health and safety.

“We couldn't be more pleased to welcome someone of Anjali's talent and experience to HISA,” said CEO Lisa Lazarus. “Her expertise in leading organizational operations and implementing national safety protocols make her an excellent fit to help us further HISA's goals.”

In her most recent role, Salooja served as the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s Vice President and Assistant General Counsel. She oversaw the NBA's Anti-Drug Program and player health and safety efforts for its affiliate leagues, leading coordination with players, medical advisors, coaches, trainers and league staff. Prior to that, Salooja practiced law at Debevoise & Plimpton and worked as an analyst at Goldman Sachs.

“I look forward to helping further HISA's mission by ensuring operational excellence across the growing organization,” said Salooja. “With continued coordination and partnership between the HISA team and racing participants, we can make integrity and safety the top priority in Thoroughbred racing across the country.”

Salooja is an admitted attorney to the New York State Bar Association and a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School.

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Churchill Downs Releases Official Art Of The 150th Derby

Churchill Downs released the 2024 “Official Art of the Kentucky Derby” by artist Wylie Caudill, the track said in a release Thursday.

Originally from Cynthiana, Kentucky, Caudill gravitated to public art and expanded his street art to murals which can be seen across the state, many of which include his signature roses. His artwork for the Derby features 150 red roses representing the Winner's Circle surrounded by white, gold and cerulean roses to symbolize the colorful fans from around the world.

“As a Kentucky Native, it is an immense honor to be part of such a milestone year for the Commonwealth's most notable event,” Caudill said. “It's difficult for me to fathom the scale of this opportunity and moment in history, but I am thrilled I was chosen to be the official artist for the 150th Kentucky Derby.”

Caudill will also be the official artist for the Woodford Reserve Commemorative Derby Bottle. As the official artist for both programs, he will also create original murals around Churchill Downs and surprise locations leading up to early May.

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