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TDN Horses of the Year: Rogue Lightning

Continuing the profiles of the favourite horses of TDN Europe's editorial team in 2023, Sean Cronin selects an unheralded sprinter who could hit the big time next year.

Royal Ascot's 2023 edition produced its plethora of lip-quivering moments and there was scarcely a dry eye in this quarter when Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) halted a seven-race losing streak by annexing the G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. for Tom Clover's Fordham Road yard. Purchased for 35,000gns as an unraced two-year-old out of the Shadwell draft at Tattersalls' 2021 December Sale, she became the Kremlin House incumbent's first Royal scorer and instigated joyous scenes among the multitude of Rogues Gallery syndicate members assembled in the hallowed winner's enclosure.

Her best effort, in four subsequent outings, following that career high was a runner-up finish in Leopardstown's G1 Matron S. on Irish Champions weekend, but she made little impression and was not unduly punished when finishing last of 11 in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix de l'Opera on Arc day. Earlier on the card, Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) had wowed the Bois de Boulogne throng with an Arc performance for the ages, but it was a notable performance in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye, one race and 35 minutes after the Opera, which piqued this correspondent's interest.

Rogue Lightning (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), another well-bought Rogues Gallery representative, had backed up a brace of five-furlong handicap triumphs with a black-type breakthrough in September's Listed Scarborough S. at Doncaster. An 80,000gns October Book 2 yearling-turned-42,000gns Craven Breezer, his next assignment was the final stakes race of the Arc weekend extravaganza, but Rogue Lightning was allotted a nightmare draw in the car park, stall 18 in a field of 18, for the five-furlong dash. The die had been cast and all hope was lost, or so it seemed.

The gelded three-year-old broke alertly and, with little fuss from Robert Havlin in the plate, was soon among the pack racing towards the stands' side rail. Rogue Lightning was a hostage to fortune throughout, but picked off rivals from halfway and somehow weaved a charmed passage into contention. He closed relentlessly inside the final furlong only to run out of real estate, finishing fifth in a four-way photograph for second place, just one length and a flurry of pixels adrift of Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) at the line. The vastly underrated Havlin had earned every cent of his riding fee in getting his mount so close.

Rogue Lightning had one further assignment to fulfil and accompanied stablemate Rogue Millennium on the journey to Ascot for the British Champions meet, where the latter was no match for the supreme performance of Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S., running a never-nearer fifth in the one-mile procession. Rogue Lightning was not in Berkshire to race, but to compete for bids as one of five lots catalogued for the boutique Goffs QIPCO Ascot Champions Day Sale. Another performance of note transpired as Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock signed the £1-million docket on behalf of Wathnan Racing's burgeoning operation. Much to the relief of Clover, Rogue Lightning will remain at Kremlin House and is set to target the majority of Europe's top sprints in 2024. 

“He's been a great horse for the Rogues and for us, as an ambitious yard, to keep him for some fantastic new owners in the yard is very exciting,” the trainer reflected. “We'll have to speak to Richard Brown, but the plan for now is that we'll bring him back fresh in the spring. He's the type of horse where you'd hope that the programme would work itself out and he should shape into a top-class sprinter.” 

Royal Ascot's G1 King's Stand, York's G1 Nunthorpe and another crack at the Abbaye are on the agenda and maybe, just maybe, Clover will be savouring his maiden Group 1 success in 2024.

 

 

The post TDN Horses of the Year: Rogue Lightning appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Luis Quinonez Hits 4,000-Win Milestone With Last-To-First Oaklawn Victory

Jockey Luis Quinonez rode his 4,000th career winner on Friday afternoon at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark., guiding Martin Guzman's' Izeonpoint to a last-to-first victory for trainer Renay Borel in the afternoon's fifth race, a $7,500 claiming event for fillies and mares going six furlongs.

Quinonez, who turns 57 on Jan. 6, became the 83rd North American jockey to reach 4,000 wins, according to Equibase. His 4,000th victory came on his 27,632nd mount, and the lifetime earnings of the horses he's ridden exceed $81 million.

Russell Baze retired as the all-time leader with 12,842 career wins.

A member of the Halls of Fame at Canterbury Park and Remington Park, Quinonez came to the United States at the age of 18 after growing up on his family's farm in Sinaloa, Mexico, where he recalled riding a mule to school as a young boy. An uncle found him work at the racetrack in New Mexico, where he walked hots and groomed, started galloping horses, and, eventually, getting his jockeys license.

Quinonez rode in his first races at the Downs at Albuquerque in April 1989, then moved north to Canterbury Park, where he won aboard his first mount there and his 10th overall on Duffel's Dazzler on May 10, 1989.

Quinonez recalled that first win to Ed Godrey, writing for the The Oklahoman in 2017. “I rode the horse, win the race and they take my picture and I never forget, everybody left,” Quinonez said. “I was there by myself. I didn't know what to do except follow the horse back to the barn. Then somebody came up and said, 'no, you got to go the other way' to the jocks' room.”

His best year, in terms of money and races won, came in 2008 when his mount earnings totaled $4,733,152 from 201 wins in 983 mounts. He was leading rider five consecutive years at Canterbury Park, won titles at Lone Star Park and Oaklawn, and is the second all-time by wins at Remington Park.

Izeonpoint rallies from last to give Luis Quinonez his 4,000th career win (Coady Photography)

Success in a Grade 1 race has eluded him, but Quinonez has 15 graded victories despite competing at tracks with limited chances to ride in those kind of races. His best success came aboard Pin Oak Stud's Alternation for trainer Donnie Von Hemel, winning the G2 Oaklawn Handicap, G3 Razorback Handicap, and G3 Pimlico Special Stakes in 2012. Most recently he won the G3 Whitmore Stakes with Bob's Edge in 2022 for trainer Larry Jones.

Quinonez told The Oklahoman his biggest race was one he didn't win, his first and only Kentucky Derby, when he rode Suddenbreakingnews to a fifth-place finish behind Nyquist in 2016, beaten a head and a nose for third.

“It is a goal that every jockey has, to ride in the Derby,” he said. “Then after you ride in one, you want to win one. I don't know if I will ever race there again, but at least I got there once.”

Quinonez, who became a U.S. citizen in 2001, has two brothers who rode: Alonso, currently competing at Tampa Bay Downs, and Belen, who is retired. He and his wife, Gedda, have two daughters, Lexie and Alayna Marie, and two sons, Nathan and Ryan.

He has no immediate plans to retire, telling Daily Racing Form's Mary Rampellini after his milestone victory: “As long as I feel good and am still healthy, we'll see what happens.”

The post Luis Quinonez Hits 4,000-Win Milestone With Last-To-First Oaklawn Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Maryland Horsemen Strike One-Year Deal With 1/ST Racing

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, Maryland Horse Breeders Association, and 1/ST Racing on Friday announced a one-year deal to continue live horse racing in Maryland until December 31, 2024. The deal ensures that the Preakness Stakes will be run at Pimlico in May and provides for ongoing racing operations throughout 2024. 

“We are pleased to come to terms on a one-year extension to the 2012 agreement with The Stronach Group, 1/ST Racing and Maryland Jockey Club and appreciate the work by all that went into finalizing this deal,” said David Richardson, executive director of MTHA. “This agreement provides our horsemen, the state's breeders, and backstretch workers stability while the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority continues their important work on a long-term plan for our industry. We look forward to the final Authority report and a bright and sustainable future for Thoroughbred horse racing in Maryland.”

During the 2023 legislative session, Gov. Wes Moore, Senate President Bill Ferguson, House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, and members of the Maryland General Assembly created the Maryland Thoroughbred Racing Operating Authority by law to outline a plan for the future of Maryland racing. Over the past decade, Maryland leaders have dedicated funding to stabilize this historic industry but needed more legal authority to implement a plan. 

“The Stronach Group, 1/ST Racing and the Maryland Jockey Club are committed to a successful 2024 racing season as we work in good faith with other stakeholders to develop a long-term, sustainable racing model for Maryland,” said Craig Fravel, executive vice chairman, 1/ST Racing. “We are pleased to have worked constructively with Maryland stakeholders on this agreement and look forward to continuing to work with the Maryland Racetrack Operating Authority in the best interests of racing in Maryland.”

The Maryland racing industry, one of the oldest in the United States, has an economic impact of more than $2 billion in addition to preserving thousands of acres of open space statewide. 

The Authority, chaired by Gregory A. Cross, veteran attorney at Venable LLP, is expected to issue its interim recommendations next month.

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