Month: October 2023

Canada: Reigning Champion Female Sprinter Hazelbrook To Defend Her Title In Ontario Fashion

Hazelbrook, Canada's 2022 champion female sprinter, will defend her title in Saturday's $150,000 Ontario Fashion (G3) Presented by Tanqueray at Woodbine.

A six-furlong main track event for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and upward, the Ontario Fashion has attracted 11 starters.

Trained by Lorne Richards, Hazelbrook, 6-2-2 from 13 starts, won last year's race by three-quarters of a length as the 2-5 choice.

Although winless from three starts (sixth, third and sixth) in her 5-year-old campaign, the daughter of Bayern-Zaphia, who has had to contend with digestive complications throughout her racing career, is doing well ahead of the Ontario Fashion.

“With all the issues she's had to deal with, she's always gone out there and given a very honest effort,” said Richards. “There is no reason she can't run well this weekend.”

Saturday's race will likely be the final appearance for Hazelbrook, who is headed for the upcoming Keeneland Sale on November 7.

Bred in Kentucky by Mike Bilbrey, she is Hip No. 20, listed as a racing or broodmare prospect.

“We have her in the sale there, so this is probably her last race,” said Richards. “It's been a tough journey for her. She's been a nice horse and none of those issues were her fault. You feel bad she's had to go through all that. I like her.”

Hazelbrook posted a 4-2-0 mark from six starts en route to her Sovereign recognition last year. Her 2022 triumphs also included stakes scores in the Hendrie (G3), at 26-1, and the Sweet Briar Too.

Owned by True North Stable, she debuted with a third-place effort in a six-furlong main track race at Woodbine on November 7, 2020, in her only start of the year.

Hazelbrook returned to racing the following September and proceeded to rhyme off two straight wins.

Richards, whose top horses have included Financingavailable, a multiple stakes winner, who took the 2007 Ontario Fashion and is a three-time Sovereign Award recipient, graded stakes-placed Stormy Rush, stakes winner Dancingall Theway, and graded stakes winner Sheila's Prospect, is hoping Hazelbrook can come up with a big effort on Saturday.

“I liked her from the very start. The only thing is that she's very quirky. She has had those issues with her digestive system for a while, so that's something we've had to monitor closely. The clinic in Guelph told me it's kind of like colitis. It's something where you have to take it day-by-day, but there's no denying she has plenty of talent. She can be high-strung, so we do our best. But I'm not going to complain. She shows up every time.”

Other starters include multiple graded stakes winner Our Flash Drive, graded stakes winners Ready to Venture (GB), and Loyalty, and stakes winner Spun Glass.

Field for the Ontario Fashion (Race 10)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Souper Munnings – Ryan Munger – Ian Wilkes

2 – Ready to Venture (GB) – Rafael Hernandez – Michael Stidham

3 – Hazelbrook – Jason Hoyte – Lorne Richards

4 – Spun Glass – Luis Contreras – Michael Trombetta

5 – Hard Edge – Eswan Flores – Stuart Simon

6 – Loyalty – Kazushi Kimura – Josie Carroll

7 – Our Flash Drive – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

8 – Vantarsi – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

9 – Time for an Angel (S) – Declan Carroll – W. John Bourke

10 – Awesome Treat – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Steve Attard

11 – Artie's Princess – Sahin Civaci – Saffie Joseph, Jr.

The post Canada: Reigning Champion Female Sprinter Hazelbrook To Defend Her Title In Ontario Fashion appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

HIWU Weekly Update: New York Vet Banned 14 Months For Levothyroxine, Chad Brown Gets Written Reprimand

An arbitrator has made a final decision in the case of New York-based veterinarian Dr. Luis Jorge Perez, charged with possession of the banned substances levothyroxine on June 9, 2023. Perez will serve a 14-month period of ineligibility and pay a $5,000 fine, according to the case resolution published this week on the public disclosures section of the website for the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU), the enforcement arm of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA).

The arbitrator's report reveals that New York Racing Association (“NYRA”) investigator Tony Patricola attended Perez' two trailers in the Veterinarian's Village on June 9, following a phone call from Fire Marshal Joseph McSweeney. Patricola found a “disarray of garbage and medical waste” throughout the trailers, and noticed two one-pound tubs of Thyro-L, leading the investigator to call in Naushaun Richards, the Director of Intelligence and Strategy for HIWU.

Reportedly, Perez had attended a seminar on HIWU at Belmont Park on March 21, during which Dr. Mary Scollay, Chief of Science for HIWU, presented on the ADMC Program. Scollay's presentation clearly discloses, among other things, that Thyro-L (thyroxine) would be banned. Perez admitted that he did not clean out his trailer following HIWU seminar, which established sufficient negligence to preclude the arbitrator from finding “No Fault or Negligence” in this case.

However, a statement made by Scollay at those seminars “could lead veterinarians to reasonably believe that they could lawfully possess, administer, and carry Thyro-L if their practice included Non-Covered Horses, for use with Non-Covered Horses.” Perez' practice includes 30 stable ponies, considered Non-Covered Horses under HISA. Yet, Perez did not indicate that the Thyro-L was being used in that manner; instead, he claimed to have forgotten about the medication's presence in his trailer.

The arbitrator concluded that Perez retained some fault in this matter: “Dr. Perez, while objectively falling into the category of a veterinarian whose practice includes Non-Covered Horses at Belmont Park, did not rely on the Agency's statements, and possessed the Thyro-L because he had forgotten he had it in his trailer. After consideration of the above factors, the Arbitrator determines that Dr. Perez's objective level of fault falls in the moderate range, and that he should receive a reduction, due to the subjective factors, of three months in his level of fault, (moderate) from what normally would have been seventeen (17) months.”

In other news this week, HIWU has released a decision on the finding of omeprazole in a Chad Brown trainee after a vet's list workout. Brown received a written reprimand with no other penalty based on guidance issued by HISA on Sept. 26:

“Anti-ulcer medications are important for horse welfare, which HISA previously acknowledged by permitting the use of anti-ulcer medications up to 24 hours prior to Post-Time, as set forth in Rule 4212. This exception was approved on the basis of published research demonstrating that a horse could be at risk of developing ulcers more severe than those originally treated if the medications are withdrawn for more than 24 hours. Given that anti-ulcer medications are important for horse welfare and are not considered to have any impact on performance or fair competition, HISA has also determined that the penalties for Controlled Medication Rule Violations involving anti-ulcer medications need to be enforced differently.

“For the reasons set forth above, the Consequences pursuant to Rules 3323 and 3328 for Controlled Medication Rule Violations involving the Presence, Use or Attempted Use, or Administration or Attempted Administration of the following anti-ulcer medications (Cimetidine, Dexlansoprazole, Esomeprazole, Famotidine, Lansoprazole, Omeprazole, Pantoprazole, Rabeprazole, and Sucralfate) shall be enforced by HIWU in accordance with the sanction schedule set forth below against the Responsible Person of the Covered Horse and any other Covered Person implicated in or otherwise complicit in the violation (within a 2-year period):

  • 1st violation: Reprimand
  • 2nd violation: Fine of up to $500
  • 3rd or subsequent violation: Period of Ineligibility of 15 days and a fine of up to $1000

“Penalty points: ½ point for the second and any subsequent violation.”

Other pending AMDC violations listed this week include two Ohio-based veterinarians have been provisionally suspended for carrying banned substances, including bisphosphonates, and a trainer over possession of the banned substance levothyroxine. Four new pending violations for controlled substances have been added to the HIWU website this week as well, including three for a Class B substance (which may carry a penalty of a seven-day suspension and $1,000 fine).

As a reminder: HIWU's regulations for vet's list workouts include stricter medication restrictions than those for horses completing routine timed workouts. Horses on the veterinarian's list are required to complete a recorded work before a veterinarian and undergo post-race drug testing to be taken off the list. Horses completing routine, non-vet's list workouts are prohibited from having analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, corticosteroids, and local anesthetics in their system, but other therapeutic medications are permitted.

Last week's edition of the HIWU Weekly Update is available here, and all public disclosures can be found on the HIWU website.

New Case Resolutions

The following cases have recently been resolved by HIWU, either by admission and acceptance of consequences (AAC) or by final decision (FINAL).

Note: The accumulation of Penalty Points can lead to suspensions (6-7 points leads to a 30-day suspension).

  • Dr. Luis Jorge Perez, DVM will serve a 14-month period of ineligibility and pay a $5,000 fine over possession of a banned substance (levothyroxine). (Final decision of Arbitral body)
  • Trainer Chad Brown has been given a written reprimand over Forced Ranking testing positive for omeprazole after a vet's list work at Monmouth Park on July 7. (AAC)
  • Trainer Jonathan Thomas has been fined $3,000 and assessed 3 Penalty Points over a violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Bay Storm (ruling date Sept. 1). (AAC)
  • Trainer John Guciardo has been fined $1,000 and assessed 3 Penalty Points over Cuz testing positive for both dexamethasone and trichloromethiazide after winning a $5,000 claiming race at Presque Isle Downs on Aug. 17. The 5-year-old gelding has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (FINAL)
  • Trainer Ismael Bahena has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Yammy Yammy Bella testing positive for diclofenac after finishing second in a maiden special weight at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 7. The 2-year-old filly was disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (AAC)
  • Trainer David Wayne Baker has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Gerlach's testing positive for phenylbutazone after a vet's list workout at Golden Gate Fields on Aug. 28. (AAC)
  • Trainer Sammy Stevens has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Pandora Who testing positive for phenylbutazone after a vet's list workout at Ruidoso Downs on Aug. 25. (FINAL)

Pending Violations – Controlled Substances

The following cases include pending violations for controlled substances, those that are permitted for therapeutic purposes, but not on race days or during vet's list workouts (new cases in italics).

  • Trainer Keith Desormeaux – Auto Dial tested positive for acepromazine after a vet's list workout at Churchill Downs on Sept. 16. (Class B)
  • Trainer Carlos Mancilla – Cara in the City tested positive for gabapentin after finishing second in a maiden claiming race at Pimlico on Sept. 10. (Class B)
  • Trainer Clarence King – Indirectly tested positive for dimethylsulfoxide after a vet's list workout at Parx Racing on Sept. 8. (Class C)
  • Trainer Debbie Van Horne – You're the Cause tested positive for phenylbutazone after winning an allowance optional claimer at Emerald Downs on Sept. 3. (Class C)
  • Trainer Mark Hibdon – D'wild Muffin tested positive for flunixin (banamine) after winning a $4,000 claiming race at Arapahoe Park on Aug. 27. (Class C)
  • Trainer Randi Persaud – Jumpster tested positive for phenylbutazone after a vet's list workout at Saratoga on Aug. 20. (Class C)
  • Trainer Reynaldo Yanez – violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Chapalu (ruling date Aug. 18).
  • Trainer Robert Leaf, Jr. – Laddie Dance tested positive for phenylbutazone after winning a maiden special weight race at Delaware Park on Aug. 16. (Class C)
  • Trainer Jeffrey Crozier – Orb of the Boro tested positive for phenylbutazone after winning a $5,000 claiming race at Belterra Park on Aug. 15. The horse was claimed out of this race; that claim may be voided under HISA rules. (Class C)
  • Trainer Ron Moquett – Lundberg tested positive for acepromazine after a vet's list workout at Ellis Park on Aug. 12. (Class B)
  • Trainer Joe Toye – Glimpse of Gold tested positive for dexamethasone after winning a maiden claiming race at Emerald Downs on Aug. 12. (Class C)
  • Trainer Faustino Patino Lopez – Night to Remember tested positive for dexamethasone after finishing third and last in a maiden claiming race at Emerald Downs on Aug. 12. (Class C)
  • Trainer Leslye Bouchard – violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Tomarie (ruling date Aug. 12).
  • Trainer Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon – Matty Bo tested positive for flunixin (banamine) after winning a maiden claiming race at Laurel Park on Aug. 5. (Class C)
  • Trainer Jaime Cruz – Animal Princess tested positive for detomidine (large animal sedative) after finishing third in a $16,000 claiming race at Delaware Park on Aug. 4. (Class B)
  • Trainer Philip Aristone – Field Letters tested positive for lamotrigine (an anticonvulsant which can be used to treat seizures and bipolar disorder) after winning a $4,000 claiming race at Penn National on Aug. 4. Field Letters was claimed out of this race by trainer Tito Moreno, and has since run twice more at Penn National. The claim may be voided under HISA rules. (Class B)
  • Trainer Don Roberson – Secret Life Style tested positive for flunixin (banamine) after finishing seventh and last in a $2,500 claiming race at Emerald Downs on July 28. (Class C)
  • Trainer Cassondra Weaver – Coyote Runner tested positive for acepromazine after a workout at Presque Isle Downs on July 20. (Class B)
  • Trainer Jeffrey Englehart –
    • Wait A Minute tested positive for acepromazine after a vet's list workout at Finger Lakes on July 18. (Class B)
    • Mi Tres Por Ciento tested positive for methocarbamol after a vet's list workout at Finger Lakes on July 18. (Class C)
    • Graywing tested positive for phenylbutazone after finishing fourth in an allowance race at Finger Lakes on July 17. (Class C)
  • Trainer Jason DaCosta – Poker Partner tested positive for gabapentin after winning a maiden special weight race at Parx on July 18. (Class B)
  • Trainer Candice Cryderman – Dontforgethesugar tested positive for methocarbamol after finishing third in a claiming race at Emerald Downs on July 7. (Class C)
  • Trainer William Martin – Alkalinization or use of an alkalinizing agent (TCO2) on Wild Irish prior to his win in a claiming race at Presque Isle Downs on July 3.
  • Trainer Jacqueline Falk – Gold Templar tested positive for methocarbamol after finishing second in a maiden special weight race at Finger Lakes on June 28. (Class C)
  • Trainer Chris Hartman – Necker Island tested positive for acepromazine after winning the Mighty Beau Stakes at Ellis Park on June 18. (Class B)

Pending Violations – Provisional Suspensions For Banned Substances

The following cases include pending violations for banned substances, those that are not permitted in horses. New cases are listed in italics, and active suspensions have the trainer's name listed in bold.

Postponed suspensions, those for substances yet to be confirmed by split sample, are listed with an asterisk (*).

  • Dr. Barbara Hippie – possession of banned substances bisphosphonate, pitcher plant extract (sarapin), levothyroxine, and isoxuprine (violation date Sept. 28)
  • Dr. Scott Shell – possession of banned substances bisphosphonate; gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), and isoxsuprine (violation date Sept. 28)
  • Trainer Carl James Deville – Eurobeliever tested positive for the opioid tapentadol and barbiturate butalbital after being pulled up and vanned off in a $12,500 claiming race at Presque Isle Downs on Sept. 6. The 6-year-old gelding is provisionally suspended from racing.
  • *Trainer Shane Meyers – Mugsy Malone, a 4-year-old gelding, tested positive for altrenogest after finishing third in an allowance race at Thistledown on Aug. 28. The gelding is provisionally suspended from racing.
  • Trainer Daniel Kenney – possession of banned substances levothyroxine (violation date Aug. 25)
  • *Trainer R. McLane Hendricks – Princess Javoncia tested positive for cocaine after winning an allowance race at Penn National on Aug. 16; the 6-year-old mare has not started since (as of Oct. 11) and remains provisionally suspended from racing.
  • Trainer Michael Pappada
    • Truckin Tommy tested positive for the opioid tapentadol after finishing sixth in a maiden claiming race at Presque Isle Downs on Aug. 8. The horse was vanned off after the race; he has not started since (as of Oct. 11).
    • Runaway Harry, a gelding, tested positive for altrenogest after winning a starter allowance at Presque Isle Downs on Aug. 28; he has not started since (as of Oct. 11).
  • *Trainer Michael Lauer – Mowins tested positive for metformin after finishing third in an allowance race at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Aug. 5. The 4-year-old gelding has since finished eighth in the Bucchero Handicap on Aug. 23, but has not started since (as of Oct. 11); he remains provisionally suspended from racing.
  • *Trainer Angel J. Castillo Sanchez – Pylon tested positive for metformin after winning a $5,000 claiming race at Delaware Park on Aug. 3. The 5-year-old gelding finished finished fourth in a starter optional claimer at Delaware on Aug. 12, prior to the positive announcement; he has not started since (as of Oct. 11) and remains provisionally suspended from racing.
  • Trainer Hector Palma – Baladi tested positive for methamphetamine after finishing fourth in a claiming race at Del Mar on July 30. The 4-year-old gelding has not started since that date (as of Oct. 11); he remains provisionally suspended from racing.
  • Trainer Carlos Milian – Junglherly Love tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide (a diuretic). Horse had been running at Parx; ruling date of July 29 is reported to coincide with an out-of-competition test, per HIWU representatives. The 4-year-old gelding has not started since that date (as of Oct. 11).
  • Trainer Randy Preston – Fly Home tested positive for methamphetamine after winning a maiden claiming race at Belterra Park on July 20. The 6-year-old gelding has not started since that date (as of Oct. 11); he remains provisionally suspended from racing.
  • Trainer Jim Lewis – Hughie's Holiday tested positive for clenbuterol after winning a claiming race at Ruidoso Downs on July 8. The 5-year-old mare has not started since that date (as of Oct. 11); she remains provisionally suspended from racing.
  • Trainer Ramon Rechy – Night Livin tested positive for methamphetamine after winning a claiming race at Horseshoe Indianapolis on July 7. The 3-year-old filly has not started since that date (as of Oct. 11); she remains provisionally suspended from racing.
  • Trainer Natalia Lynch – possession of Levothyroxine, and a gelding in her care tested positive for altrenogest.
    • Motion to Strike tested positive for altrenogest after the gelding finished fourth in a claiming race at Monmouth Park on June 24. A claim on the 5-year-old was voided; he has since finished third in a claiming race at Monmouth on July 14 (under the name of the claiming trainer, Silvino Ramirez). He was then a winner at Monmouth Park on Sept. 3 and finished second at Delaware Park on Oct. 6 for original owner Zilla Racing Stable and new trainer Robert Falcone, Jr.
  • Trainer Bruno Tessore – Tenebris, a gelding, tested positive for altrenogest on July 18 (no races or workouts listed on that date by Equibase). The 5-year-old has raced twice since that date, finishing fourth in Tessore's name at Saratoga on Aug. 31, and most recently ran second in a starter allowance at Belmont at the Big A in the name of trainer Faith Wilson on Sept. 15.
  • Trainer David Reid – Maligator tested positive for venlafaxine (an anti-depressant and nerve pain medication) after winning a claiming race at Hawthorne on June 25. The 8-year-old gelding has finished second in a claiming race at Hawthorne on July 16, but has not started since (as of Oct. 11).
  • Trainer Javier Morzan – Lady Liv tested positive for metformin (a commonly used prescription drug that treats diabetes) after finishing third in a starter optional claiming race at Delaware Park on June 24. The 3-year-old filly has not started since (as of Oct. 11).
  • Trainer Mary Pirone – Benny The Jet tested positive for altrenogest after the gelding finished fifth in a claiming race at Emerald Downs on June 24. He was claimed from that race and moved to the barn of trainer Jorge Rosales, and has since run three more times at Emerald, winning twice, and twice at Grants Pass Downs, winning once. Under HISA rules, the claim may be voided.
  • Trainer Joseph Taylor – two runners have tested positive for both methylphenidate and clenbuterol
    • Classy American finished second in a starter allowance at Parx on June 20. Classy American, though listed as provisionally suspended from racing by HIWU, has since run twice in West Virginia, under the same owner with Anthony Farrior listed as trainer. (West Virginia is not subject to HISA regulation due to ongoing legal disputes).
    • Cajun Cousin finished second in a claiming race at Parx on June 18. The 4-year-old filly, though listed as provisionally suspended from racing by HIWU, has since won a claiming race at Parx on July 12, prior to the positive being called. Cajun Cousin was claimed out of that race, but the claim was voided under HISA rules. Cajun Cousin has since run twice at Charles Town in West Virginia, where HISA rules do not apply, under the same owner with Anthony Farrior listed as trainer.
  • Trainer Donald H. Buckner – In the Midst tested positive for clenbuterol after finishing fifth in an allowance race at Thistledown on June 15. The 4-year-old gelding, though listed as provisionally suspended from racing by HIWU, has raced once at Mountaineer Park in West Virginia since the positive, finishing fifth on Aug. 9 (West Virginia is not subject to HISA regulation due to ongoing legal disputes).
  • Trainer Guadalupe Munoz Elizondo – Quinton's Charmer tested positive for metformin, a medication commonly prescribed in humans for type 2 diabetes, on June 11, 2023 (the New Mexico Racing Commission's Izzy Trejo confirmed that the positive test was incurred after a work before the state veterinarian in an attempt to remove Quinton's Charmer from the vet's list). The 4-year-old gelding has not started since that date (as of Oct. 11); he remains provisionally suspended from racing.
    • Munoz Elizondo is also a multiple graded stakes-winning Quarter Horse trainer. Since HISA/HIWU have no jurisdiction over Quarter Horse racing, Munoz Elizondo has still been able to train and race Quarter Horses in New Mexico. Trejo said that HISA gave guidance last year that jockeys suspended for whip violations on a Thoroughbred could ride in Quarter Horse races, so the NMRC has applied the same logic to a trainer with a HIWU suspension. Thus, Munoz Elizondo has been permitted to participate in Quarter Horse races. Trejo added that the commission is pushing for a state rule that will apply reciprocity at the NMRC level for HISA suspensions, but that isn't in place yet.
  • Trainer Reed Saldana – Ice Queen tested positive for the vasodilator diisopropylamine after finishing third in a starter allowance at Santa Anita on June 16. The 5-year-old mare has not started since that date (as of Oct. 11); she remains provisionally suspended from racing.
  • Trainer Jonathan Wong – Heaven and Earth tested positive for metformin after winning a maiden race at Horseshoe Indianapolis on June 1. The 3-year-old filly has not started since that date (as of Oct. 11).

Last week's edition of the HIWU Weekly Update is available here, and all public disclosures can be found on the HIWU website.

The post HIWU Weekly Update: New York Vet Banned 14 Months For Levothyroxine, Chad Brown Gets Written Reprimand appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

‘Very Mature’ Arashi Gets First Stakes Test In Saturday’s Cup & Saucer

Arashi will go after his second straight score when he goes postward in Saturday's $250,000 Cup & Saucer Stakes at Woodbine.

A 1 1/16-mile event for Canadian-foaled 2-year-olds run over the E.P. Taylor turf, the 86th running of the Cup & Saucer has drawn 10 hopefuls, including Arashi, an Ontario-bred son of Karakontie (JPN)-Don't Tell Lou.

Bred and owned by Sangreal Investments, LLC, the bay finished fifth in his debut, a 6 ½-furlong sprint over the E.P. Taylor on July 23.

One race later, the Gail Cox trainee fought on gamely to finish second in a one-mile race over the same surface but was elevated to first after an inquiry.

“I think he's a very nice horse who is also very mature when he runs,” said Cox. “He'll go through traffic, he doesn't care where he is in the race, and he'll run hard. His pedigree and how he runs shows that he is a turf horse. I like him. He did become a winner because someone got their number taken down – and that horse didn't interfere with us – but I still think Arashi ran a very big race there.”

Cox, who won the 2011 edition of the Cup & Saucer with Hard Not to Like, is pleased with how her rookie gelding is coming into his first stakes test.

“He had really worked quite well heading into his first start and then on from there. I have trained others from the family that weren't as good, so when he first came to us, you weren't expecting a lot.”

Arashi, which means storm in Japanese, has had a series of steady works ahead of Saturday's engagement, including a five-furlong breeze, in :59.00 over the Woodbine Tapeta on October 7.

“He actually has an odd personality. He's quite mean, very mean, but good when you're on him, which is the important part. In the stall, not so much. You have to be very careful in the stall. I don't know why, but now we have a good system in place with him. He paddocks wells, he's good in the gate, and he's not worried where other horses are. He's trained forwardly every start. He's a very good work horse.”

The groom is Carlos Balbuena.

Other hopefuls include the Mark Casse trio English Jubilee, Magic Slips, and My Boy Prince, and Kevin Attard trainees King Rosso, War Painter, and Zippy Gizmo.

Hall of Fame trainer Jim Day has won 10 editions of the Cup & Saucer, including seven straight runnings from 1984-1990.

Saturday's 11-race card also features the $150,000 Ontario Fashion (G3) and $150,000 Ontario Matron (G3).

The Cup & Saucer is slated as the eighth race. First post time is 1:15 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com, bet365, and the Dark Horse Bets app.

Cup & Saucer Stakes

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – King Rosso – Kazushi Kimura – Kevin Attard

2 – Arashi – Justin Stein – Gail Cox

3 – My Boy Prince – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse

4 – English Jubilee – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

5 – Pontiac – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Barbara Minshall

6 – Magic Slips – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse

7 – War Painter – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard

8 – Awesome Entry – Eswan Flores – Krista Cole-Simpson

9 – Bearing Down – Luis Contreras – Philip Hall

10 – Zippy Gizmo – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard

The post ‘Very Mature’ Arashi Gets First Stakes Test In Saturday’s Cup & Saucer appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Be Your Best Primed For Big Effort In Saturday’s Sands Point

Michael J. Ryan's Grade 1-placed Irish homebred Be Your Best will look to return to winning form in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Sands Point, a nine-furlong inner turf route for sophomore fillies, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Horacio De Paz, the Muhaarar bay returns to New York following a runner-up effort on August 19 in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks. Although cross-entered in Saturday's Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland, De Paz said Be Your Best will race at Aqueduct.

Be Your Best exited post 9-of-10 under Juan Hernandez in the Del Mar Oaks and closed from sixth position with a menacing four-wide move through the final turn to finish 2 3/4-lengths back of the victorious Anisette, who exited that effort to finish second against elders in Saturday's Grade 2 Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita Park.

“It was a very good effort on her part, especially flying out there to Del Mar,” De Paz said. “The winner, Anisette, is a really nice filly. We didn't get to save all the ground around there like she did – she [Anisette] had a dream trip and the rail opened up for her. But, a good effort on our part, for our filly.”

Be Your Best made her first two starts at Saratoga Race Course, graduating impressively last July and following last September with a 3 3/4-length score in the P. G. Johnson over good going. She completed her 2-year-old campaign with a third-place finish over yielding ground in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo last October here ahead of a troubled ninth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November at Keeneland.

Be Your Best has made four starts this year, all in graded company, including a close runner-up effort in June at Belmont Park in the Grade 2 Wonder Again won by a neck by Prerequisite, who is entered in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. That effort was followed by a disappointing ninth-place finish less than one month later in the 10-furlong Grade 1 Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational.

“She ran a winning race that day, so it was good to see that effort,” De Paz said of the Wonder Again try. “We just came back too quick in the Belmont Oaks. She regressed and that told us she just needs more time between races, which showed when we went out to California.”

Be Your Best has breezed back four times over the Belmont dirt training track since the Del Mar Oaks, including a half-mile effort in 48.83 seconds on October 5.

“She's maintained very well and is healthy and doing really good. I'll probably just gallop her into the race. She's fit and ready to go,” De Paz said. “I breezed her early last week anticipating the rain and the week prior we missed a breeze because of the weather. But, she's good to go and she doesn't need to do anything more.”

With more rain in the forecast this weekend, De Paz said his filly shouldn't mind a little cut in the ground.

“She ran at Saratoga on good turf and she handled that,” De Paz said. “I think she'll be OK.”

Manny Franco, aboard for the Wonder Again effort, has the call from post 4.

Godolphin's Irish homebred Eternal Hope [post 7, Jamie Spencer] will face four returning rivals from her deep-closing score last out in the 11-furlong Grade 3 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational on September 16 here for trainer Charlie Appleby.

The Teofilo chestnut was away last-of-7 under Jamie Spencer in the 11-furlong test and trailed as many as 23 lengths back before rallying six-wide down the lane to secure a neck score over Neecie Marie.

Eternal Hope captured the 12-furlong Oaks Trial over the Lingfield synthetic in May ahead of a distant seventh in the Group 1 Epsom Oaks in June. She entered the Jockey Club Oaks from a third-place finish in the 10-furlong Group 2 Prix Alec Head over soft going on August 20 at Deauville, finishing 1 1/2-lengths back of the victorious Group 1-winner Jannah Rose. The runner-up of that event, Lumiere Rock, came back to win the Group 2 Blandford at The Curragh. Lumiere Rock and Jannah Rose ran third and seventh, respectively, last out on October 1 in the Group 1 Prix de L'Opera at Longchamp.

Eternal Hope is out of the Dubawi mare Voice of Truth, who is a half-sister to multiple group-winner and sire Rio de La Plata.

Michael Milam's Neecie Marie [post 5, Abner Adorno] returns for another crack at Eternal Hope following her narrow miss last out after a ground-saving rally under returning rider Abner Adorno in the Jockey Club Oaks for trainer Butch Reid, Jr.

The Pennsylvania-bred Cross Traffic bay has won 3-of-5 starts since making a victorious switch to turf racing in June at Parx. She arrived at her graded stakes debut from a deep-closing 2 1/4-length score in the state-bred Mrs. Penny on August 21 at Parx with Adorno up for the first time.

“When she won the small stake [Mrs. Penny] here, she was well back and many wide around the turn and still drew off,” Reid, Jr. said. “Abner rode her and it gave him good confidence in her and I thought he rode her excellently [in the Jockey Club Oaks], she just got outrun a little in the last 100 yards. Other than that, I thought it was a perfect race.”

Reid, Jr. said Neecie Marie, who won over good going in a 1 1/16-mile optional-claimer on July 24 at Parx, will appreciate shortening up to nine furlongs.

“It seems to me with turf races once you get out past a mile and an eighth or so it's all about the timing of the finishing run. Abner knows her well and it should set up nice,” Reid, Jr. said. “I do like the turnback a little bit going from a mile and three-eighths to a mile and an eighth. She'll certainly finish full of run in this one.”

Neecie Marie breezed back a half-mile in 49.12 October 6 over the Parx main track.

“She came back with a nice little breeze last weekend and we're looking forward to running,” Reid, Jr. said.

Neecie Marie is out of the Ontario-bred Posse mare Lode Lady, who is a half-sister to 2022 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby-winner Rich Strike and Grade 2-winning turfer Llanarmon.

Others returning from the Jockey Club Oaks are fourth-place Highland Grace [post 8, Junior Alvarado] for trainer Barclay Tagg, fifth-place Quarrel [post 2, Kendrick Carmouche] for conditioner Robert Ribaudo, and the Jose Jimenez-trained pacesetter Stephanie's Charm [post 9, Jose Gomez], who will race with blinkers off.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will send out a formidable pair of contenders looking to make the grade in Don Alberto Stable's dual Grade 3-placed Kentucky homebred Alpha Bella [post 10, Jose Ortiz] and Wertheimer and Frere's Kentucky homebred Soviet Excess [post 1, Dylan Davis].

Alpha Bella was last seen finishing a game third in the nine-furlong Virginia Oaks on September 9 at Colonial Downs. The Justify chestnut pressed the pace of eventual winner Thirty Thou Kelvin, looming large with an outside move at the top of the lane but could not stay the course landing three-quarter lengths back of the winner, who posted a neck score over the deep-closing returning rival Root Cause.

Alpha Bella entered the Virginia Oaks from a 22 3/4-length score in an off-the-turf optional-claimer on August 10 at Saratoga to notch her first win since graduating in December over the Gulfstream Park green. She followed that win with close runner-up graded efforts traveling 1 1/16-miles on turf in the Sweetest Chant at Gulfstream – missing by less than a length to Cairo Consort – and the Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs when a neck back of Mission of Joy.

Soviet Excess, by Uncle Mo, graduated in April over the Gulfstream synthetic and followed with an optional-claiming win there on turf in May. She shipped to New York to finish a close-up third in the one-mile Wild Applause at Belmont and outran her odds when a closing third at 28-1 in the Grade 2 Lake Placid on August 19 at Saratoga. Last out, Soviet Excess closed from well off the pace to finish third in the one-mile Winter Memories on September 15 here.

Rounding out the field is the stakes-placed Root Cause [post 6, Trevor McCarthy] for trainer Chad Brown; and Leave No Trace [post 3, Jose Lezcano], winner of the Spa's Grade 1 Spinaway last September, who will make her turf debut for trainer Phil Serpe. Essaouira, Amanda's Folly and Ichiban are entered for the main-track only.

The Sands Point is slated as Race 2 on Saturday's 10-race card which also features the $125,000 Floral Park in Race 4. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of every day of Belmont at the Big A on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

The post Be Your Best Primed For Big Effort In Saturday’s Sands Point appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights