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NY Traffic Likely for Preakness Following Sunday Work

Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic) was named likely to make the line-up for Saturday’s GI Preakness S. at Pimlico following a four-furlong work in :48 flat (2/88) at Churchill Downs Sunday.

“Most likely he’s going to go, but tomorrow we’ll make the decision,” trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. said. “We were very happy with the work.”

Ny Traffic came up a nose short of Authentic (Into Mischief) when second in the July 18 GI TVG.com Haskell S. Sunday’s work was his first since finishing eighth behind that rival in the Sept. 5 GI Kentucky Derby. He exited the Derby with a cut on his left front ankle.

Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) was confirmed for the Preakness following her five-furlong work in 1:00.80 (19/57) at Churchill Downs Saturday. Trainer Ken McPeek announced Sunday the sophomore will be ridden by Robby Albarado as she tries to become the sixth filly to win the Preakness.

“I know she will make the distance without any problem,” McPeek said of the GI Alabama S. winner. “I think she will like that racetrack. Of course, she has raced everywhere. Whatever racetrack she has raced over she has handled great. It was a tough call between racing against straight 3-year-olds or older fillies and mares or turf, which was briefly thought about. I think she will handle it fine.”

In her first attempt against males, Swiss Skydiver was second behind fellow Preakness hopeful Art Collector (Bernardini) in the July 11 GI Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland. She won as she pleased in the 1 1/4-mile Alabama at Saratoga Aug. 15 and was most recently second behind Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) in the Sept. 4 GI Kentucky Oaks.

“My preference would have been if they wrote a race like the Alabama back for this week,” McPeek said. “But that doesn’t exist. There are no 3-year-old filly Grade Is. She gets a little bit of weight off and she’s continuing to do good.”

Godolphin’s homebred Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper), winner of the Sept. 5 GII Jim Dandy S., breezed five furlongs Sunday in 1:01.60 (2/2) over the main track at Fair Hill Training Center, but trainer Mike Stidham has all but ruled out the Preakness for the sophomore.

“The work went great. It was on a wet track, but he handled it really well. We were comfortable with it being a safe track to work on,” Stidham said. “He just went evenly and finished up nice with a good gallop-out, but we’re pretty much focused on skipping the Preakness and going into the [Oct. 10 GI] Jockey Club [Gold Cup at Belmont Park].”

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Increases Across the Board at Hokkaido September Sale

The second to last Japanese yearling sale on the calendar is in the books, and the health of the Japanese bloodstock market compared to other global markets was on full display during the Hokkaido September Sale from Sept. 22-24. The three-day sale saw healthy increases across the board despite the lingering COVID-19 pandemic and the global economic downturn.

A day longer than last year’s sale, the 2020 renewal’s increase in gross was expected on numbers alone, but the increases to the clearance, average and median were a welcome relief to the Japanese breeding industry. Of the 601 lots offered, 451 (75%) sold, grossing ¥2,211,220,000 (US$20,605,566/£16,442,952/€18,011,762), a 38.39% increase. The average and median were ¥4,902,926 (US$46,254/£36,458/€39,937) and ¥3,850,000 (US$36,320/£28,629/€31,360), an increase of 11.38% and 11.4%, respectively. Interestingly, the lowest price of the sale, which usually remains uniform in sales each year, was ¥660,000 (US$6,226/£4,907/€5,376), a 103.7% increase from 2019. Overall, 31 yearlings sold for over ¥10,000,000 (US$94,339/£74,364/€81,459) this year, up from 25 last year.

The most expensive lot of the sale was lot 370, a colt by Vincennes (Jpn) selected by Dearest Club for ¥27,500,000 (US$259,433/£204,503/€224,014). He is a half-brother to G2 St Lite Kinen and G3 Radio Nikkei Sho victor Babbitt (Jpn) (Nakayama Festa {Jpn}) and was offered on the second day.

Hokko Tarumae (Jpn) led all stallions by gross with ¥73,480,000 (US$693,207/£546,438/€598,684) for 12 sold of 13 offered and an average of ¥6,123,333 (US$57,767/£45,536/€49,890), tops of all stallions with 10 or more sold. The Factor was a strong second, with all 12 of his yearlings marked as sold for a gross of ¥69,630,000 (US$656,886/£517,808/€567,316) and an average of ¥5,802,500 (US$54,740/£43,125/€47,276). Strong Return (Jpn) had the most lots going into the sale with 19, and 15 of his yearlings found new homes for an aggregate of ¥68,090,000 (US$642,358/£506,054/€554,445) and an average of ¥4,539,333 (US$42,823/£33,740/€36,963).

Eleven yearlings by Asia Express grossed ¥60,390,000 (US$569,716/£448,812/€491,662) and averaged ¥5,490,000 (US$51,792/£40,801/€44,696). Copano Rickey (Jpn) had 12 lots gross ¥59,730,000 (US$563,490/£443,907/€486,304) and average ¥4,977,500 (US$46,957/£36,992/€40,525). Isla Bonita (Jpn) grossed ¥56,100,000 (US$529,245/£417,025/€456,835) and averaged ¥5,610,000 (US$52,924/£49,136/€53,826) with 10 sold. Makfi (GB) had nine lots sell for a gross of ¥55,110,000 (US$519,905/£409,578/€448,805) and average of ¥6,123,333 (US$57,767/£45,508/€49,867).

Four popular young sires sold all of their yearlings that were cataloged. Four yearlings by Kizuna (Jpn) sold for a gross of ¥47,190,000 (US$445,188/£350,719/€384,331) and an average of ¥11,797,500 (US$111,297/£87,010/€95,349). Duramente (Jpn) had four lots sell that grossed ¥43,890,000 (US$414,056/£326,147/€357,441) and averaged ¥10,972,500 (US$103,514/£81,536/€89,360). Mikki Isle (Jpn)’s eight lots brought a combined ¥42,680,000 (US$402,641/£317,176/€347,574) and an average of ¥5,335,000 (US$503,310/£39,647/€43,446). Maurice (Jpn) was represented by a trio which sold for a total of ¥28,600,000 (US$269,811/£212,533/€232,901) and an average of ¥9,533,333 (US$89,937/£70,838/€77,643).

The final yearling sale of the 2020 sales calendar will be held on Oct. 19-20, the Hokkaido Autumn Sale. COVID-19 protocols that were upheld in previous sales will continue through the Autumn Sale.

US$1 = JP¥106.00

All values include tax.

The post Increases Across the Board at Hokkaido September Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Completed Pass Seeking Jim McKay Turf Sprint Repeat

More than a year since becoming a stakes winner last spring over the same track, Robert D. Bone's Completed Pass returns to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., with sights set on a repeat victory in the $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint Thursday, Oct. 1.

The 15th running of the McKay for 3-year-olds and up and the 21st renewal of the $100,000 The Very One for fillies and mares 3 and older, both sprinting five furlongs on turf, join the $200,000 Chick Lang (G3) in opening a spectacular Preakness weekend of 16 stakes, nine graded, worth $3.35 million in purses featuring the 145^th Preakness (G1) Saturday, Oct. 3.

Post time for the first of 10 races Thursday is 12:40 p.m.

Completed Pass joined trainer Claudio Gonzalez's string for the 2019 season and promptly won three of his first four starts for the new connections including a one-length victory as the favorite in last year's McKay over Tempt Me Twice, who also returns Thursday.

Gonzalez is confident that familiarity with the track as one of just three horses in the field of 10 to have run at Pimlico, along with Tempt Me Twice and 2019 allowance winner Love You Much, will serve to benefit Completed Pass.

“It helps that he raced there last year because he knows the track already and especially good because he won,” Gonzalez said. “It would be really nice if he could win it again. He's doing really good. I believe he's doing the best he ever has.”

Completed Pass enters the McKay off an effort in the 5 1/2-furlong Laurel Dash Sept. 7 where he clipped heels at the five-sixteenths pole and nearly went down but recovered quickly and went on to a three-quarter-length win under Angel Cruz, who returns to ride from Post 6.

“Last time was a big race because when stumbled I was like, 'Yikes,'” Gonzalez said. “In that one second, you think of a lot but to come back and win the race was amazing. Not just any horse can do that. They need to have a big heart.”

Lynch Racing's Francatelli has put together three straight front-running victories including an Aug. 15 off-the-turf allowance at Laurel and the five-furlong King Corrie Stakes Sept. 12 on the Woodbine turf. Based at Laurel, the 3-year-old City Zip gelding went unraced at 2 and debuted running second June 5 over his home course.

Joe Bravo has the call on Francatelli from outside Post 10.

Altamira Racing Stable, Rafter JR Ranch, STD Racing Stable and A. Miller's well-traveled Texas Wedge, winner of the Joe Hernandez (G2) at Santa Anita and World of Trouble Turf Sprint at Gulfstream Park in January, has since run third in the Jaipur (G1) at Belmont Park and 10^th last out in the Shakertown (G2) July 11 at Keeneland. Paco Lopez rides for trainer Peter Miller.

Texas Wedge will carry topweight of 125 pounds including jockey Paco Lopez from Post 2.

Michael Hui, Hooties Racing and WSS Racing's 7-year-old gelding Tiger Blood, trained by Mike Maker, owns 19 wins from 49 lifetime starts and goes after his third career stakes victory and first since April 2017 in the McKay. In his last race, he was beaten only four lengths when ninth in the Turf Sprint (G3) Sept. 12 at Kentucky Downs.

Trevor McCarthy rides Tiger Blood from Post 8.

Love You Much, third in the Laurel Dash, Axtell, Dr. Feelgood, Fair Catch and Hollis complete the field.

The post Completed Pass Seeking Jim McKay Turf Sprint Repeat appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘He Grew On Me’: This OTTB Went From Difficult Rescue Case To Sherpa For New Retirees

When you run an aftercare adoption program, you try your hardest not to get attached to the horses that use your facility as a stop over into their new homes. But that plan doesn't always work out as Kelley Stobie understands.

Strike N Win made all 90 of his starts in Puerto Rico at Camarero, mostly in the claiming ranks. The Illinois-bred son of Tenpins made his last start in May of 2016, retiring with 10 wins and $72,854 in earnings. Then he came to TAA-accredited Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare for a new life.

“I try to not let myself get attached to any of the horses,” said Stobie, Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare's co-founder. “But 'Strike' grew on me more and more. After being with him for about six months, I decided to adopt him.”

Since coming into the program and being adopted by Stobie, Strike N Win has developed mentally and even helps Stobie with acclimating some of the organization's new arrivals.

“In the beginning, 'Strike' was a real loner,” she said. “Aggressive toward other horses and always had to be turned out alone. Over the three years that I have had him, he has really blossomed and is a completely different horse.

“His job now is to have free rein at CTA, welcome new arrivals, and teach them the ropes of life after racing. He is kind of the babysitter and security guard of the farm.”

While Stobie doesn't always have time to ride Strike N Win with a barn full of horses that need to be retrained to find their new homes, the horsewoman and the bay gelding have progressed in their relationship and trusting of one another.

“He has come a long way considering he was terrified of cement floor and did not like loading in a trailer,” she said. “He would also pull back and flip over when tied. Now he does none of these things and is much more trusting. Now you can turn him out with whoever and he will be their friend.”

As the duo continue their lifelong partnership together, Stobie's next plan involves a bit of fun.

“Next step is taking him to the beach!”

This article was reprinted with permission from the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. Find more success stories like this one here.

The post ‘He Grew On Me’: This OTTB Went From Difficult Rescue Case To Sherpa For New Retirees appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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