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Gulfstream Won’t Run Princess Rooney Invitational In 2020

The Grade 2 Princess Rooney Invitational won't be held at Gulfstream Park in 2020, the Daily Racing Form reported Monday. Earlier this year, the Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” race for the Filly & Mare Sprint was rescheduled from the first week in July to Sept. 5 and the purse increased to $300,000.

“We had it all planned out, moving the date to a more attractive spot on the calendar in relation to the division, changing the distance back to six furlongs, raising the purse,” Gulfstream vice president of racing Mike Lakow told drf.com. “Then Covid hit and Churchill moved the Derby as well as their Grade 1 filly and mare sprint to the same day.”

Lakow expects to bring the Princess Rooney back in 2021, with the goal of rebuilding it into a Grade 1 race.

The Grade 3 Smile Sprint will still be run, but its purse will be reduced to $100,000 this year.

Amelie Lemercier Joins Haras de Bouquetot

Recent Godolphin Flying Start graduate Amelie Lemercier has been appointed to the role of business development at Al Shaqab’s Haras de Bouquetot. Previously a marketing assistant for His Highness The Aga Khan’s Studs, Lemercier has also worked for the Wertheimer brothers, Coolmore, Primus, as well as Graham Motion and Elite Sales in America and Newgate and Star Thoroughbreds Down Under. She will be heavily involved in stallion nominations, sales and marketing at Bouquetot.

“We’re delighted to welcome Amelie as her dynamism, her skills and her wealth of recent international experiences will be a strong addition to the Bouquetot commercial team,” said Haras de Bouquetot Stud Manager Benoit Jeffroy.

Added Lemercier, who is also a member of the steering committee of French Thoroughbred charity Au-Dela Des Pistes, “In a few years’ time only, Haras de Bouquetot has established itself as one of the largest stallions operation in France. Having already had the opportunity to collaborate with the Bouquetot and extended Al Shaqab team members during the Flying Start course, I am looking forward to be working within this operation along with people I admire for their experience and involvement within the industry.”

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Thoroughbred Makeover Diary: New Goals, New Relationships

Saintly Ballad (barn name: “Athena”) was rescued from a Louisiana kill pen approximately one year ago. Since she was recently raced, this qualified her to participate in the Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover which then became a big goal for us. Due to COVID-19, the October 2020 competition has been rescheduled to next October and will be a “Mega” Thoroughbred Makeover with the 2020 and 2021 eligible horses participating in the opportunity to compete and showcase the versatility of the breed.

Code of Honor, Midnight Bisou Breeze Towards Weekend Stakes

Will Farish’s Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}) breezed a half-mile in :49.04 (XBTV video) at 5:30 Monday morning over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga, completing his preparations for Saturday’s GI Whitney S. The nine-furlong event offers the winner a fees-paid berth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland Nov. 7.

Working beneath his regular exercise rider Lexi Peaden, last year’s GI Runhappy Travers S. hero went his opening quarter in :25.1 and galloped out five-eighths of a mile in 1:01.2 to the satisfaction of Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.

“That’s exactly what we wanted. I just wanted him to have a little bit of work and that’s what I asked for him to go in,” said McGaughey, who has saddled Personal Ensign (1988), Easy Goer (1989) and Lane’s End Racing and Dell Ridge Farm’s Honor Code (2015) to win the Whitney. “I always breeze him on the Monday before he runs on Saturday. That seems to put him on his game. He’s had two good works up here and he seems to be doing fine.”

Code of Honor will be making his third start of the season in the Whitney, having won the GIII Westchester S. ahead of a solid third-place effort to Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI Runhappy Met Mile June 20. Four-time Whitney-winning jockey John Velazquez has the call in a field topped by Tom’s d’Etat (Smart Strike).

Not long after Code of Honor left the track, champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) tuned up for Saturday’s GI Personal Ensign S. presented by NYRA Bets with an easy half-mile spin that was timed in :50.55 at Oklahoma. Midnight Bisou, the Saudi Cup runner-up who exits a dominating 8 1/4-length success in the GII Fleur de Lis S. at Churchill June 27, will be ridden by Ricardo Santana, Jr., with Mike Smith unable to travel from California.

The Personal Ensign is also a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race for the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

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