December, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Thursday’s Insights: Daughter of Uncle Mo Debuts at Big A

1st-AQU, $85K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 6 1/2f, 12:20pm
Godolphin's SPLIT SCREEN (Uncle Mo) gets her start for trainer Brad Cox, who strikes with 26% of his firsters. Having been working along the Kentucky circuit of late, she posted her latest trial at Turfway Dec. 2, covering five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 (34/62) over that oval's synthetic surface. The homebred is out of SW Divided Attention (A.P. Indy), a half-sister to Grade I winner Folklore. TJCIS PPS

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Vincent Ho Claims First Hong Kong International Jockeys’ Championship For Home Team

Vincent Ho claimed a hugely popular first victory in the LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship thanks to a beautifully judged front-running success on Tomodachi Kokoroe in the fourth and final leg at Happy Valley on Wednesday.

Rachel King, Ryan Moore and Zac Purton had each claimed a maximum 12 points with wins in the opening three races of the challenge, though it was the ultra-consistent Lyle Hewitson who led going into the decider thanks to two seconds and a third.

Ho had earlier kept himself in the hunt for the HK$600,000 first prize when finishing third in each of the first two legs, though the reality that he had become Hong Kong's first home-grown jockey to win the IJC had yet to dawn after he dictated matters from the front on the David Hayes-trained Tomodachi Kokoroe, saving enough to repel the late charge of Purton on Kaholo Angel.

Ho claimed the title with 20 points – 12 for a win, six for second and four for third – from Purton (18) and King (16).

A four-time winner of the Tony Cruz Award as the leading homegrown jockey in Hong Kong, Ho missed the start of the season when suffering back and rib injuries after a fall in Japan at the end of July.

But he has made up for lost time, quickly rising to fifth in the table, and has a huge LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on Sunday (10 December) ahead, with Hong Kong Mile hat-trick seeker Golden Sixty, as well as Senor Toba in the Vase and Straight Arron in the Cup.

“I was not aware (I had won) and I didn't even know about the points, I just kept riding every race to have a winning chance,” said Ho.

“I felt the track today favoured the front-runners a little bit so that definitely helped and of course Mr Hayes' team did a great job and helped me win this.”

Ho is now firmly established among the world's elite. But, when reminded of his time serving as an attendant to the riders on IJC night when still an apprentice, the 33-year-old revealed the humble side to his nature that has endeared him to racing fans just as much as his excellence in the saddle.

Ho said: “Christophe (Soumillon), Frankie (Dettori) and Ryan (Moore) were always my idols, right up until today, and I keep learning from those good jockeys, those good horsemen. There's still plenty to improve to (get to) their levels.”

Reflecting on his historic achievement, Ho said: “Especially after a tough injury, coming back to win this, I'm really grateful for. Hopefully this will inspire more generations to come and the Hong Kong people especially.

“As the first homegrown of course I received plenty of support here and hopefully it will inspire more kids.”

Ho can now look forward to getting back aboard his “best friend” in Golden Sixty, while King will return to Australia well satisfied with her IJC debut.

She threw down the first marker of the evening, steering the David Hall-trained Oversubscribed to success on her very first ride in Hong Kong.

“He was probably the perfect start to riding here at Happy Valley,” said King, whose third-place effort in the fourth leg secured the runner-up spot in the IJC.

“He's looked after me and did everything for me.”

Speaking after her third placing was confirmed, King added: “I think it was a good first effort. The atmosphere at Happy Valley is unbelievable and I really enjoyed it.”

Twice a winner of the IJC, Moore added to his tremendous record at the Valley when showing no ill-effects from his own recent spill to drive home M Unicorn for Caspar Fownes in leg two.

And the plot thickened once more when Purton scored aboard Silver Sonic for Francis Lui in leg three.

But it is Vincent Ho who heads into the biggest meeting of the year with the first significant prize of the week in safe-keeping for the next 12 months.

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Woodbine: Kevin Attard-Trained Duo Set For La Prevoyante Test

Kevin Attard trainees Fashionably Fab and Strega will look to add another stakes score to their respective racing resumes in Saturday's $100,000 La Prevoyante, at Woodbine.

Fashionably Fab, a 3-year-old homebred for Terra Racing, arrives at her latest engagement, a 1 1/16-mile test for Ontario-sired fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, riding a three-race (all stakes) win streak.

The daughter of Silent Name (JPN)-Flashy's Legacy took the Rondeau Bay on September 12th, the Eternal Search on October 22nd, and the Ashbridges Bay on November 10th.

“She has really come into her own,” praised Attard. “Her last three races have obviously been great performances. She showed her grit in winning both the Rondeau Bay and Eternal Search by a nose, and she did it over two different surfaces (dirt at Fort Erie, turf at Woodbine). I think those efforts speak to her competitiveness and talent.”

The dark bay filly dominated in the Ashbridges Bay, crossing the wire a 6 ½-length winner in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race.

Attard, closing in on 750 career wins, was understandably thrilled with the result.

“We were expecting her to run well in the Ashbridges Bay, but she really took it up a notch in that one. The way she drew off was great to watch, just how she shifted into another gear.”

Fashionably Fab debuted with a third-place finish in September 2022 and then won three-straight races, punctuated by a victory in the six-furlong Shady Well Stakes that December.

She is 6-0-2 from 10 starts.

Beresford Lee is the groom.

Strega, a 4-year-old daughter of Silent Name (JPN)-Set to Dance, will get her second shot at winning the La Prevoyante after finishing third in last year's running.

Owned by Lanni Bloodstock LLC, the bay is 4-3-4 from 16 career starts, and heads into the race off an uncharacteristic ninth in the Eternal Search, a seven-furlong test over the Woodbine inner turf on October 22nd.

“It was a tough one last time out for her, but if you look at her form, she always rebounds well if she's had the odd off-key performance,” said Attard, of the $10,000 (U.S.) purchase at the 2020 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale.

Bred by WinStar Farm, LLC, Strega finished seventh in her August 2021 debut.

After a pair of seconds, a third, and a fifth, she broke her maiden in the final start of her 2-year-old campaign, a 6 ¾-length romp at 1 1/16 miles on November 20th. She followed that up with a win to launch her 3-year-old season on March 27, 2022.

Strega lost a heartbreaker in the 2022 Bison City Stakes, second jewel in the Canadian Triple Tiara, finishing second by a neck to Sister Seagull in the 1 1/16-mile race.

“She has shown she is more than capable of coming up big against talented fillies,” said Attard, of last year's Ashbridges Bay winner. “And she is coming into the race in great shape.”

Attard is anticipating a strong effort on Saturday.

“The distance is right in her wheelhouse, and she is at her best on the Tapeta, so we're looking forward to seeing this filly show up with a big performance.”

Attard won the 2007 edition of the La Prevoyante with Siwa, a multiple stakes-winning daughter of Alydeed for the late Steve Stavro.

Salim Mohammed is the groom.

My Girl Sky, Talk to Ya Later, and Tito's Calling are the other hopefuls.

Bred in Canada by Jean-Louis Levesque, La Prevoyante was a champion in her home country as well as the United States. Undefeated in 12 starts as a juvenile in 1972, La Prevoyante won the Eclipse Award for Champion 2-Year-Old Filly, as well as the corresponding Sovereign Award that year, and was also voted Canadian Horse of the Year.

La Prevoyante's career record of 25-5-3 from 39 starts and earnings of $572,417 led her to be inducted as part of the inaugural Canadian Hall of Fame class in 1976. She was inducted into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame in 1995.

First post for Saturday's card is 1:05 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action through HPIbet.com, bet365, and the Dark Horse Bets app.

Field for the La Prevoyante

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Tito's Calling – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mike De Paulo

2 – Fashionably Fab – Patrick Husbands – Kevin Attard

3 – Talk to Ya Later – Ryan Munger – Ian Black

4 – My Girl Sky – Sahin Civaci – Katerina Vassilieva

5 – Strega – Kazushi Kimura – Kevin Attard

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HIWU Update: Parx Hall Of Fame Trainer Phillip Aristone Suspended 105 Days Over Lamotrigine Positives

Trainer Phillip Aristone, a member of the Parx Racing Hall of Fame, has been suspended for 105 days and fined $7,500 over a pair of positive tests for lamotrigine, according to 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).

Lamotrigine is an anticonvulsant which can be used to treat seizures and bipolar disorder, according to the National Institutes of Health. HISA regulations classify the substance as a Class A controlled medication, while lamotrigine is listed as a Drug/Penalty Class 3A on the Uniform Classification Guidelines for Foreign Substances list maintained by the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI).

Aristone trainee Field Letters tested positive for lamotrigine after winning a $4,000 claiming race at Penn National on Aug. 4, while stablemate Jewels in the Bay tested positive after winning a $16,000 maiden claiming race at Parx on Sept. 6. Both horses were disqualified with purse money ordered returned.

After admitting to the violation and accepting the consequences, Aristone was suspended 30 days, fined $2,500, and assessed 3 Penalty Points for the first violation. The second violation triggered a 45-day period of ineligibility, a $5,000 fine, and assessment of 3 more Penalty Points. The accumulation of 6 Penalty Points resulted in an additional 30-day period of ineligibility; Aristone will remain suspended through March 21, 2024.

Aristone has saddled the winners of 1,681 races, according to Equibase, through a career dating back to the late 1970s.

Also this week, the Equine Anti-Doping notices were withdrawn for trainers Michael Pappada and Carl James Deville, both of whom had positive tests for the banned substance tapentadol, an opioid, and whose trainees were vanned off after their races at Presque Isle Downs.

No further details were released on these cases, though Pappada still has an outstanding positive test for banned substance altrenogest on a gelding.

Deville trainee Eurobeliever had tested positive for both tapentadol and bultalbital (a barbiturate), but it appears as though both of those have been dismissed.

Last week's edition of the HIWU Weekly Roundup 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 via admission and acceptance of consequences (ADMISSION), via arbitration (ARBITRATOR), or via final decision of HIWU or the IAP (FINAL).

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

Trainer Norman Follett will serve a seven-day period of ineligibility (beginning Dec. 5) over Racing Colors testing positive for lidocaine after finishing second in a waiver claiming event at Aqueduct on Sept. 22. Follett has been fined $1,000 and assessed 2 Penalty Points; Racing Colors was disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (ADMISSION)
Trainer Peter Miller has been fined $3,000 and assessed 3 Penalty Points for a violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Thirsty John on Oct. 25. (FINAL)
Trainer Jamie Ness has been fined $3,000 and assessed 3 Penalty Points for a violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Dust Devil on Oct. 24. (FINAL)
Trainer Gustavo Amaya has been fined $3,000 and assessed 3 Penalty Points for a violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Sandpiper Memories on Nov. 4. (ADMISSION)
Trainer John Servis has been fined $3,000 and assessed 3 Penalty Points for a violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Winnin'onweekends on Oct. 28. (ADMISSION)
Trainer Michael S. Ferraro has been fined $3,000 and assessed 3 Penalty Points for a violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Princess Sonya on Oct. 29. (ADMISSION)
Trainer Ortis Henry has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Empress Palpatine testing positive for glycopyrrolate after finishing second in a $5,000 claiming race at Finger Lakes on Oct. 31. The filly was disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (ADMISSION)
Trainer Wendell McDaniel has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Big Difference testing positive for phenylbutazone after a vet's list workout at Golden Gate Fields on Oct. 28. (FINAL)
Trainer John Ennis has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Wauhatchie testing positive for diclofenac after finishing second in a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs on Sept. 21. The horse was disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (ADMISSION)
Trainer Ronnie E. Cravens, III has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Saturday's Gold testing positive for phenylbutazone after winning a starter allowance race at Remington Park on Oct. 11. The horse was disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (FINAL)
Trainer Jacqueline Falk has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Gold Templar testing positive for methocarbamol after finishing second in a maiden special weight at Finger Lakes on June 28. The horse has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (FINAL)
Trainer Darlene Green has received a written reprimand over Highcotton Justice testing positive for omeprazole after finishing second in an allowance race at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Oct. 11. The horse was disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (FINAL)

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 responsible person's name listed in bold.

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

*Dr. Margaret Smyth – possession of banned substances sarapin and levothyroxine (violation date Oct. 4)
Trainer Adolfo Macias – possession of banned substance levothyroxine (violation date Sept. 20)
Trainer Michael Pappada
- Thisaintjumpstreet, Willie Wando, and Tudox Rue Majestic incurred violations of Rule 3229(b)–Status During Provisional Suspension or Ineligibility
- Runaway Harry, a gelding, tested positive for altrenogest after winning a starter allowance at Presque Isle Downs on Aug. 28.
Trainer Daniel Kenney – possession of banned substance levothyroxine (violation date Aug. 25)
*Dr. Barbara Hippie's provisional suspension has been lifted pursuant to Rule 3247(c)(4), “exceptional circumstances exist that make it clearly unfair, taking into account all of the circumstances of the case, to impose a Provisional Suspension prior to the final hearing on the merits,” after being found to be in 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 John Pimental (imposed sanctions were vacated when HIWU accepted the trainer's withdrawal of admission of guilt; adjudication restarted)
- Possession of Levothyroxine (violation date July 28)
- Golovkin tested positive for methamphetamine after finishing last (sixth) in a claiming race at Monmouth Park on May 29. A claim on the horse was voided from this race.
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; he remains provisionally suspended from racing.
*Trainer Hector Palma's provisional suspension was lifted pursuant to Rule 3247(e) after his trainee Baladi tested positive for methamphetamine after finishing fourth in a claiming race at Del Mar on July 30. The 4-year-old gelding remains provisionally suspended from racing.
*Trainer Randy Preston's provisional suspension was lifted pursuant to Rule 3247(e) after Fly Home tested positive for methamphetamine after winning a maiden claiming race at Belterra Park on July 20.
Trainer Milton Pineda's admission of guilt has been withdrawn, and thus his provisional suspension has been reinstated. Eight of Pineda's trainees tested positive for the banned substance diisopropylamine, a vasodilator, between June 2 and July 4 of this year.
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 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.
*Trainer Bruno Tessore's provisional suspension was lifted pursuant to Rule 3247(e) after his trainee Tenebris, a gelding, tested positive for altrenogest on July 18 (no races or workouts listed on that date by Equibase).
Trainer Lorenzo Ruiz's admission of guilt has been withdrawn, and thus his provisional suspension has been reinstated. Three of Ruiz's trainees tested positive for the banned substance diisopropylamine, a vasodilator.
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 Mary Pirone's provisional suspension was lifted pursuant to Rule 3247(e) after her trainee Benny The Jet tested positive for altrenogest after the gelding finished fifth in a claiming race at Emerald Downs on June 24. Under HISA rules, the claim may be voided.
Trainer Joseph Taylor's admission of guilt has been withdrawn, and his provisional suspension has been reinstated. Two of his trainees tested positive for banned substances methylphenidate and clenbuterol.
Trainer Milton Pineda's admission of guilt has been withdrawn, and thus his provisional suspension has been reinstated. Eight of Pineda's trainees tested positive for the banned substance diisopropylamine, a vasodilator, between June 2 and July 4 of this year.
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 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.

Pending Violations – Controlled Substances

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

Trainer Jeff A. Hiles – violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Blue Devil (Nov. 4)
Trainer Peter Eurton – Stayincotai tested positive for acepromazine on Oct. 26. (Class B)
Trainer Gerald Brooks – Breezy Connection tested positive for gabapentin after finishing second in a starter optional claimer at Timonium on Sept. 4. (Class B)
Trainer Jeffrey Englehart –
- Mi Tres Por Ciento tested positive for methocarbamol after a vet's list workout at Finger Lakes on Aug. 23. (Class C)
- 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 Rodolfo Garcia – violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Castellana (Sept. 15).
Trainer Ron Moquett – Lundberg tested positive for acepromazine after a vet's list workout at Ellis Park on Aug. 12. (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 Jason DaCosta – Poker Partner tested positive for gabapentin after winning a maiden special weight race at Parx on July 18. (Class B)
Trainer Chris Hartman – Necker Island tested positive for acepromazine after winning the Mighty Beau Stakes at Ellis Park on June 18. (Class B)

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

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