Jockey Umberto Rispoli posted a video on Twitter late Thursday night to reassure fans that he was doing well after an incident in the opening race at Del Mar.
Riding the favorite Single Track Mind for trainer Mark Glatt in the one-mile turf race, Rispoli was unseated when eventual second-place finisher Tom and Jazzy (ridden by Armando Aguilar) shifted out and caused Single Track Mind to clip heels. Single Track Mind was corralled by an outrider and walked off the track under his own power.
Following an inquiry, stewards disqualified Tom and Jazzy for interference.
Rispoli, currently tied for third in the rider standings, was hospitalized after the incident. In the social media video, Rispoli explained that scans and x-rays showed no issues, and that he would try to return to the saddle as soon as possible.
Agent Matt Nakatani told the Daily Racing Form's Steve Anderson that Rispoli was “a little banged up” in the fall.
The 2023 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (British Columbia Division) Yearling and Mixed Sale closed Wednesday with a decline in gross, but a rising average sale price, topped by a yearling Sungold filly who sold for $61,000 (Canadian).
A total of 44 horses were sold during the British Columbia sale for revenues of $882,000, down 10 percent from last year's edition, when 68 horses brought $983,100.
The average sale price rose 16 percent to $20,045 from $17,247, while the median went unchanged at $17,000. The buyback rate rose slightly to 18 percent from 16 percent.
Gloria Russo purchased the sale topper, Hip 47, a Sungold filly, for $61,000.
The British Columbia-bred chestnut filly is out of the winning After Market mare Revealing Moment. The dam is a full-sister to Grade 1 winner Belle Gallantey. Grade 3-placed Grechelle is also in the filly's extended family.
Wednesday's sale-topper was consigned by Bryan and Carol Anderson's Wild Rose Farm, as agent.
Russo was the auction's leading buyer, with six purchases totaling $178,000, including the sale-topper.
Emerald Acres was the top consignor by gross, with revenues of $192,500.
The New York Race Track Chaplaincy and its team of volunteers distributed backpacks and school supplies to the children of Saratoga backstretch workers on Thursday, Aug.31, the organization said in a release early Friday.
The children received the supplies requested by their teachers in their personalized backpacks along with a brand-new pair of sneakers and a first day of school haircut.
Supporters of the program include Saratoga's leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr., who helped to distribute the supplies.
“The backstretch workers make what I do possible,” Ortiz said. “Whether you see them or not, they are with me in the winner's circle because I know I would not be there without them. I love supporting them and seeing the smiles on the kid's faces as they try on their new sneakers.”
A similar campaign will take place at Belmont Park on Saturday, Sept. 2. Approximately 250 children will be served at all three NYRA tracks.
Click here for more information about Chaplaincy initiatives.
In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Kokura and Niigata Racecourses:
Saturday, September 2, 2023 5th-KOK, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT JASPER NOIR (c, 2, Frosted–Funny Bay, by Medaglia d'Oro) cost just $35,000 as a weanling at the 2021 Keeneland November sale, but grew up the right was and was purchased by trainer Hideyuki Mori for owner Kazuo Kato, the connections of Japanese MGSW Jasper Krone–a potentially GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint-bound son of Frosted–for $280,000 after covering his furlong in :9 4/5 at this year's OBS March sale. A mid-March foal, the chestnut is out of an unraced half-sister to MGSW Stanford (Malibu Moon) and SW/MGSP Hedge Fund (Super Saver). B-Nina Theodora Camperlengo (KY)
5th-NII, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 2000mT ECORO NEO (c, 2, Bernardini–Smoke Signals, by Street Sense), a $110,000 Keeneland September acquisition last fall, breezed an eighth of a mile in a slick :9 4/5 and was hammered down to trainer Hideyuki Mori for $300,000 at OBS this past March. The Apr. 19 foal is a half-brother to MSP Smokie Eyes (Nyquist) and is out of a Grade III-placed daughter of Unspoken Word (Catienus), a three-time stakes winner and runner-up in the 2007 GI La Brea S. B-Kathleen Schweizer & Daniel Burke (KY)
Sunday, September 3, 2023 2nd-KOK, ¥10,480,000 ($72k), Maiden, 2yo, 1200mT ECORO GAIA (c, 2, Speightstown–Charge of Angels, by She's a Winner) was unplaced on his career debut, but improved nicely to finish runner-up in a 1400-meter maiden over yielding Chukyo turf July 1. A $120,000 KEESEP purchase, the dark bay is out of a daughter of the late She's a Winner, whose notable produce include GISW Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat), MGSW Lord of the Game (Saint Ballado), GSW Dramedy (Distorted Humor) and SW Sonoma Cat (Storm Cat). This is also the female family of Grade I winners Imagining, Girolamo, Super Saver, etc. B-Spry Family Farm (KY)
11th-KOK, ¥58.6m ($403k), Kokura Nisai S.-G3, 2yo, 1200mT MAPLE GANG (c, 2, War Front–Crimson Maple, by Rahy) was well-beaten on his nine-furlong turf debut, but cut back to a dirt sprint to graduate at second asking July 30 (video, SC 4). A half-brother to five-time stakes winner Goldwood (Medaglia d'Oro), the $200,000 KEESEP yearling is out of a daughter of the great Maplejinsky (Nijinsky II), the dam of the legendary Sky Beauty (Blushing Groom {Fr}) and granddam of MGISW Tale of Ekati (Tale of the Cat) and GSW Tale of Silence (Tale of the Cat). Another daughter of Maplejinsky produced GI Breeders' Cup Distaff upsetter Pleasant Home (Seeking the Gold) and MGSW/GISP Country Hideaway (Seeking the Gold). B-Colts Neck Stables LLC (KY)
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