Month: April 2024

Catching Freedom, Tarifa Work At Churchill Downs For Cox

Albaugh Family Stable's GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby winner Catching Freedom (Constitution) began his preparations for the GI Kentucky Derby with a half-mile move in :48.40 early Friday morning at Churchill Downs, the track said in a release.

Trained by Brad Cox, the 3-year-old worked at 5:30 a.m. ET with exercise rider Edvin Vargas in the saddle. The duo cruised through an opening quarter-mile in :24 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.20.

“He's settled in nicely since we shipped him back to Churchill from Fair Grounds,” Cox said. “He was impressive closing from that far back in the Louisiana Derby and I think the longer stretch at Churchill plus the mile-and-a-quarter should only help him in the Derby.”

About two hours after Catching Freedom completed his work, stablemate and 'TDN Rising Star' Tarifa (Bernardini)–winner of the GII Fair Grounds Oaks–began her preparations for the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks with a half-mile breeze in :49.20.

As of Friday, three other Derby contenders were on the grounds at Churchill Downs: Endlessly (Oscar Performance), Honor Marie (Honor Code) and Track Phantom (Quality Road).

Endlessly is slated to work Saturday while Honor Marie and Track Phantom have scheduled works on Sunday.

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Naas Racecourse Manager Eamonn McEvoy To Join Tattersalls Ireland 

Eamonn McEvoy, who has been at the helm of Nass racecourse for almost five years, will join Tattersalls Ireland as bloodstock sales director. Prior to his tenure at Naas, McEvoy served as racing and stud manager for Rick Barnes of Grangecon Stud for eight years.

Additionally, he has worked at stud farms in England, the USA and Australia, as well as Saudi Arabia, where he worked as assistant manager under the late Michael Buckley at HH Prince Sultan Al Kabeer's racing and breeding operation, playing a pivotal role in the development of a new racetrack for Prince Sultan.

Commenting on the new appointment, Simon Kerins, CEO of Tattersalls Ireland said, “We are delighted to appoint Eamonn as bloodstock sales director of Tattersalls Ireland. Eamonn's extensive leadership experience and proven ability to drive change and improvement within the industry make him an invaluable addition to our team.

“Having regularly dealt with Eamonn while he was racing and stud manager at Grangecon Stud I can lay testament to his professionalism and knowledge. He is also extremely well regarded throughout the industry and on behalf of all the team at Tattersalls Ireland, we welcome Eamonn to his new role and look forward to working with him.”

McEvoy, who will commence his new position in early May, added, “I am honoured to be joining Tattersalls Ireland, especially at such an important time of the year with the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up Sale and the Store Sales fast approaching. The company has a proud history with a diverse calendar of sales which continue to go from strength to strength and I'm looking forward to working alongside the well-respected teams at Fairyhouse and Newmarket. I've enjoyed a fantastic time at Naas Racecourse and would like to express my gratitude to the board and team there and wish them continued success going forward.”

The post Naas Racecourse Manager Eamonn McEvoy To Join Tattersalls Ireland  appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Linda Rice Goes Five-For-Five on Big A Card

Trainer Linda Rice and jockey Jose Lezcano combined to win five races on Thursday's eight-race card at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Rice, who captured the recently concluded Aqueduct winter meet training title with 23 wins, won with all five of her starters on Thursday's program, while Lezcano won with five-of-six mounts. Three of the Rice-Lezcano scores came for owner Winning Move Stable.

Rice, who won a record-equaling 164 races on the NYRA circuit last year, was pleased to kick off the Aqueduct spring meet in style.

“I've had a few four-win days, a lot of three-win days, but not five in one day. It is pretty exciting,” Rice said. “The races went for me. Did I think we'd win five? No, not necessarily, but I knew we would have a good day.”

The quintet of scores kicked off in Race 2 as Winning Move Stable's Solib (American Pharoah) romped to victory in a seven-furlong claiming sprint for older New York-bred fillies and mares. The success continued in Race 4 as the Rice-owned Screaming Uncle (Bolt d'Oro) prevailed in a claiming sprint for 3-year-olds and upward.

Winning Move Stable would sweep Race 6 and Race 7 as New York-bred Cinderella's Cause (Congrats) won a one-turn mile claimer against open company older fillies and mares one race before graded stakes-winner Joey Freshwater (Jimmy Creed) ran off to an impressive score in an allowance optional-claiming tilt for older horses.

“I'll tell you Joey Freshwater ran a superb race. He really stepped up. It was a tough race and he really ran great,” said Rice of last year's GIII Bay Shore winner. “Joey Freshwater's race was pretty tough, a three-other-than in New York is always tough. Frankly I was thrilled with the way he ran, and it was just a dominant performance.”

The day concluded in Race 8 as Everything's Cricket Racing's New York homebred Freedsdale (Redesdale) made a winning debut with a prominent trip in a state-bred maiden special weight for sophomores.

“This 3-year-old in the last race had been training beautifully and I thought he would run great,” Rice said. “I wasn't sure it would be a win, but I was surprised he was such a long price.”

The post Linda Rice Goes Five-For-Five on Big A Card appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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