October, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Dr. Schivel Retiring To Taylor Made Stallions After Breeders’ Cup Sprint

Dr. Schivel, a Grade 1 winner at two and three, will retire to Taylor Made Stallions after the $2-million Breeders' Cup Sprint, the farm announced today.

The millionaire son of Violence—first or second in nine of 14 lifetime starts—ranks among the top sprinters in the country and is a leading contender for the Breeders' Cup Sprint. A stud fee will be announced following the Breeders' Cup.

“We are very excited for the opportunity to stand Dr. Schivel in partnership with Tim Cohen, Dean Reeves, and Bill Branch,” said Taylor Made's Travis White. “It's very special to have a horse that was talented and precocious enough to win a Grade 1 at two and then come back to win another Grade 1 as a 3-year-old beating older horses. Dr. Schivel, who has defeated 13 Grade 1 winners in his career, has been a sound, extremely consistent horse and his Breeders' Cup Sprint as a 3-year-old was a remarkable performance. He has remained in Grade 1 form throughout his racing career, and Mark Glatt said Dr. Schivel has been all class from day one. He is a big, good-looking son of Violence and breeders will really like what they see.”

Campaigned by Red Baron's Barn, Rancho Temescal, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, and William A. Branch, and trained by Mark Glatt, Dr. Schivel is a two-time Grade 1 stakes winner and earner of $1,327,100. Dr. Schivel burst onto the scene as a 2-year-old. After a romping 5 ¾-length victory in a maiden special weight at Del Mar, Dr. Schivel captured the $250,000 Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity in effortless fashion a month later.

At three in 2021, Dr. Schivel stamped himself as a leading sprinter with a tenacious victory against older horses in the G1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar, defeating Grade 1 winner Eight Rings, as well as multiple graded stakes winners C Z Rocket, Law Abidin Citizen, and Brickyard Ride.

In a sensational effort in that year's $2-million Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar as a 3-year-old, Dr. Schivel finished second in a photo finish after contesting a hot pace in the early going, taking over in the stretch, just getting nailed right on the wire. He lost in the closest of photo finishes in a final time of 1:08.49, finishing ahead of 2021 champion male sprinter and multiple Grade 1 winner Jackie's Warrior.

In addition to his Grade 1 successes, Dr. Schivel is a two-time winner of the G2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes. He landed the 2021 edition by a clear 3 ¼ lengths. In this year's renewal on Sept. 30, Dr. Schivel defeated graded stakes winner Speed Boat Beach and Grade 1 winner Arabian Lion in another strong effort, blitzing six furlongs in 1:08.49. Dr. Schivel kicked off this year's campaign with a wire-to-wire allowance score at six furlongs at Santa Anita where he earned a 105 Beyer—one of four 100-plus Beyers in his career—in winning in hand by 4 ¼ lengths.

Dr. Schivel is the second-highest earner for his sire Violence, a top 10 general sire in 2023. In addition to Dr. Schivel, Violence is also represented by the reigning champion 2-year-old male Forte, a four-time Grade 1 winner. Violence is also the sire of Grade 1 winner Volatile. The latter's yearlings are proving to be a commercial success in the auction ring this year, with yearlings selling for up to $1.15 million and $700,000 at the Keeneland September Sale. With a current yearling average of $134,973, Volatile has the third-highest yearling of all first-crop sires.

Bred in Kentucky by William A. Branch and Arnold R. Hill and produced from Lil Nugget—a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner and millionaire Ultra Blend—Dr. Schivel's first two dams are both Grade 1 producers.

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France Galop Committee Set; Presidential Selection Next

As is the case every four years, the approximately 9,000 members of the France Galop Association, in charge of horse racing in France, voted from Friday to Tuesday to elect their representatives within the institution. These representatives are categorised as owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys.

In total, 7,926 votes were counted, 15% fewer than in 2019 when electronic voting was first introduced.

Among the owners, two lists gained one seat each: Alliance Galop went from two to three elected representatives, while the Association of Trainers-Owners (AEP) now has two representatives, compared to just one in this category in 2019.

Among the breeders, the French Thoroughbred Breeders' Association leads with 43.3% of the 1,528 votes and gains a fourth representative, while Alliance Galop maintains its three seats.

These three associations secured 15 of the 18 available seats in these two main categories. Alliance Galop, which participated in its first elections in 2019, brings together many figures from the jumping world but not only, as this year it welcomed more Flat owners and breeders, including Anthony Baudouin (Haras du Hoguenet), who led the list of breeders.

The Thoroughbred Breeders Federation is a traditional player on the French and European scene. The list was led by Pierric Rouxel (Haras de Maulepaire), but Loïc Malivet has been the association president for 12 years. Loïc Malivet, Vice President of France Galop, could not run in the election due to reaching the age limit (72 years). Haras d'Etreham's Nicolas de Chambure was also elected on the French TBA's list.

The third winning list is the Association of Trainers-Owners, created by highly involved professionals often cumulating functions, as their name suggests. Probably more radical in its approach, it benefited this year from the support of Philippe Germond, President of PMU (French Tote) from 2009 to 2014, who was elected among the owners.

In the trainers' category, Nicolas Clément and Gabriel Leenders were elected for the Trainers Association, while Cédric Boutin and Isabelle Gallorini will represent AEP, bringing the representation of this organisation to five seats.

Thierry Gillet, the sole candidate among the jockeys, remains their representative.

The regional representatives of France Galop members were also elected during this vote. On November 30, the regional bodies where these local representatives sit will, in turn, designate their five representatives to the France Galop Committee, bringing the total number of elected members on the Committee to 28. The Committee consists of 56 members, with the rest being co-opted members, racecourse presidents, or regional council members.

This newly formed Committee will convene for the first time on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, to elect the new President of France Galop, as Edouard de Rothschild steps down after 16 years in charge. Upon the proposal of the next President, Vice Presidents for Flat and Jumps, as well as the other nine members of the Board of Directors, will be elected for four years.

Detailed results can be found on the France Galop website.

The post France Galop Committee Set; Presidential Selection Next appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Old Friends: Tom’s Ready Dies At 10 After Complications Following Colic Surgery

Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky., is saddened to announce that 10-year old Tom's Ready, a multiple graded-stakes winner who earned over a million dollars in his racing career, was euthanized on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023 at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky. due to complications following colic surgery.

The 10-year old dark bay stallion was donated to Old Friends courtesy of Gayle Benson of GMB Racing. He arrived at the farm on Nov. 23, 2020 and enjoyed three years of retirement.

Bred by Blackstone Farm, LLC, Tom's Ready, who was by More Than Ready–Goodbye Stranger, by Broad Brush, was foaled on Feb. 1, 2013 in Pennsylvania.

He was purchased by GMB Racing at the Fasig Tipton New York 2014 Saratoga Select Yearling Sale for $145,000.

He began his racing career as a 2-year old in 2015 for trainer Dallas Stewart and owner, Benson/GMB Racing, who would care for the horse his entire career. In his first race, he finished fourth in a maiden special weight race at Saratoga on Aug. 15.

Following a fifth in his next race, the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, he made it to the winner's circle in his third start, a maiden special weight race at Churchill Downs.

In his career, he went on to win three stakes races. The first two came in 2016 as a 3-year old – the Woody Stephens Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park, and the Ack Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, and the third one came in 2017 as a 4-year old in the Leemat Stakes (Black Type) at Presque Downs.

In other big races in his career, he finished 12th in the 2016 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) at Churchill Downs, and fifth in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Santa Anita.

He ran his last race on Dec. 2, 2017 when he finished fifth in the Cigar Mile Handicap Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) at Belmont Park.

He closed out his career with a record of five wins, four seconds, three thirds, and $1,036,266 in earnings in 21 starts.

Tom's Ready began his stud career in 2018 at Spendthrift Farm, and then was moved to Red River Farms in Louisiana where he stood for 2019-20.

Some of his top progeny included Quite Ready, who earned $110,129 with four wins in 17 starts; Ready to March, who earned $58,360 with three wins in 16 starts; and MuchMoreThanReady, who earned $42,700, with one win in six starts.

He was then pensioned and donated to Old Friends by Gayle Benson of GMB Racing. He arrived at the farm on Nov. 23, 2020.

“Tom's Ready helped Old Friends a lot,” said Michael Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends. “He was donated by Gayle Benson of GMB Racing, sending a message that a first rate breeding and racing operation trusted us to provide superior retirement and health care for their horse.”

The post Old Friends: Tom’s Ready Dies At 10 After Complications Following Colic Surgery appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘Tough As Nails’: Mark Casse Gets A Kick Out Of Breeders’ Cup-Bound Fev Rover

Mark Casse figured it would take some time for 5-year-old Fev Rover (IRE) to hit her best stride, but he felt certain that day would come.

An accomplished runner in Europe at 2 and 3, Fev Rover, the daughter of Gutaifan (IRE)-Laurelita (IRE) who will contest the $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) on November 4 at Santa Anita, unpacked a big personality when she arrived in North America.

Her first stop was owner Tracy Farmer's Shadowlawn Farm in Midway, Kentucky.

“Tough, she was ornery as she could be,” recalled Casse of the horse purchased by Farmer for nearly $1 million (U.S.) at the Tattersalls December 2021 Mares Sale. “When we first got her from Europe, we could hardly get to her go to the track. She went to Tracy's farm when she first came and on the first day there, when they turned her out, she cleared the fence, which no horse has ever done there before.”

The bay launched her career with 10 starts in Europe, highlighted by two stakes victories, including the Shadwell Prix du Calvados (G2T) on August 22, 2020. Another notable performance came the next May in the Qipco One Thousand Guineas (G1T) at Newmarket when she was third. Her final start across the Atlantic was a fourth in the 2021 running of the Bahrain International Trophy (G3T) in November.

Fev Rover's North American debut came last July at Woodbine in the Dance Smartly Stakes (G2T) when she was second to Wakanaka (IRE).

She went one better in her following engagement, taking the Canadian Stakes (G2T), and concluded her 2022 campaign with a third in the E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T).

Pleased with how Fev Rover raced over the world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf at 4, Casse felt the mare would be even better the following campaign.

His intuition proved to be correct.

“She's come a long way since her 4-year-old year,” said Casse. “She got better, and she got a little easier to train.”

This year, Fev Rover has been a force. In July, she won the one-mile Nassau Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine in her seasonal bow and then made her U.S. debut in the 1 1/8-mile Diana Stakes (G1T) in mid-July at Saratoga where she finished third.

On August 12, she went gate-to-wire for a 3 ½-length triumph in the 1 3/16-mile Beverly D. (G1T) at Colonial Downs. After a fourth in her September 9 return to Woodbine, in the Canadian Stakes (G2T), she came back with a superb 2 ¼-length win on October 8 in the 1 ¼-mile E.P. Taylor (G1T).

“When she won the Beverly D. and we brought her back to Saratoga, she started showing us a little bit of her old behavior,” said Casse. “When we sent her back to Toronto, she was back to her old self, not behaving well. I think that was one of the reasons why she didn't run her best in the Canadian. She is a terrible kicker and if she were to kick you, she would kill you. She kicks with a Mike Tyson power. She did it at Saratoga, then in the Beverly D. I kept her out of the way of walls before the Beverly D. so she wouldn't kick anybody, and she did pretty well.”

It was quite the opposite ahead of the Canadian.

“[Assistant trainer] David Adams and I talked about it, and I said, 'I think you should saddle her outside so she can't kick anything.' Well, that was a mistake. She didn't kick anything, but she got herself in a lather. I was watching post parade and she was in a sweat. That isn't like her. I said to David, 'Man, she's hot.' You saw it in her performance. So, we went back to saddling inside for the E.P. Taylor, in the rubber room, and she behaved. I called David as soon as she was walking out and asked if she was better. He said, 'A thousand times better. They better be tied on because they are going to see the real Fev Rover.' She was way more focused, and we saw what happened.

“I didn't say it much at the time, but I brought her back to Woodbine because she likes to train there,” Casse continued. “I also brought her back so that she could be eligible (horses must race three times during the given year) to be considered for Canada's horse of the year. She needed two more starts, so there was a method to our madness. That is important going forward as a broodmare prospect, being horse of the year. Unless somebody pulls off something special at the Breeders' Cup, I would say she has a pretty good chance.”

For now, Fev Rover, bred by Manister House Stud, will take her show on the road to face other top-level turf talents in California.

Casse, who has six Breeders' Cup victories on his resume, has every reason to believe his tenacious, well-travelled mare will be up for the challenge.

“She is doing very well. She just developed from 4 to 5 and she is one of the best-looking horses we have. She grew up and got stronger. She is a very talented, big, strong mare.”

Is there an athlete or athletes that Casse would liken Fev Rover to?

“I would say one of the Williams sisters, Venus or Serena,” he said of the tennis stars. “Both those athletes are tough as nails, so strong and powerful. And that's Fev Rover.”

Sporting a mark of 6-4-3 from 19 starts, along with over $1.2 million (U.S.) in earnings, Fev Rover (PP8, 8-1) will be ridden by Javier Castellano in the Filly & Mare Turf.

Note: Casse will also send out Lucky Score (Mile, Saturday), Get Smokin (Turf, Saturday), and My Boy Prince and Can Group (Juvenile Turf, Friday).

The post ‘Tough As Nails’: Mark Casse Gets A Kick Out Of Breeders’ Cup-Bound Fev Rover appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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