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Kentucky Downs Staging Pair Of Online Handicapping Tournaments During 2020 Meet

America's most unique racetrack is staging a one-of-a-kind online handicapping tournament twosome during the RUNHAPPY Meet at Kentucky Downs.

The Kentucky Downs Turf Handicapping Challenge presented by Daily Racing Form, America's only tournament using exclusively grass racing, will award multiple seats at the 2021 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) and the 2020 Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) during stand-alone tournaments on Sunday Sept. 13 and Wednesday Sept. 16. The twist is that the player with the highest aggregate two-day total will be crowned the National Turf Handicapping Champion, receiving additional prize money and a BCBC spot, worth $10,000.

The separate online tournaments are live-money events, meaning that entrants use a real bankroll and get to keep whatever they might earn. The competition will be based on Kentucky Downs' all-grass cards, with the Sept. 13 contest also offering the option to play turf races from New Jersey's Monmouth Park. Betting in the tournaments will be conducted through Xpressbet, TVG and 4NJBets online-wagering platforms.

The Sept. 13 tournament has a $1,000 buy-in, with $500 comprising the player's bankroll and the other $500 going to the prize pool. The buy-in is $600 for the Sept. 16 tournament, with $300 going to the prize pool and $300 for the contestant's bankroll. Players must compete in both tournaments to be eligible to earn the distinction of being National Turf Handicapping Champion.

Both contests require entrants to bet a minimum of $50 (win, place, show and/or exacta) on a minimum of 10 races on Sept. 13 and six on Sept. 16. Complete rules will be available soon on kentuckydowns.com. Monmouth Park marketing director Brian Skirka is the tournament director. Players must pre-register with Skirka by emailing bskirka@monmouthpark.com or by calling 732-571-6595.

“We were looking at an online tournament even before we had to make the tough decision to go spectatorless at our live meet because of the COVID surge,” said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs' senior vice president and general manager. “Our betting product has become so popular across the country that we wanted to let as many people as possible participate, and we wanted to come up with prizes to make it worth their investment in time and money.

“Horseplayers' enthusiasm for our American-best large fields and low takeout has led to a 244-percent increase in wagering on Kentucky Downs since 2015. This is one way of showing our appreciation. We are the nation's turf-racing capital and we want to showcase that by having a National Turf Handicapping Champion.”

Regular tournament player Adam Aiken, who coincidentally is moving from Springfield, Mass., to Nashville in early September, makes a point to bet Kentucky Downs' elite meet and was thrilled to hear about the track's tournaments. He applauds the idea of a two-day overall champion.

“That's an interesting format, kind of a unique and different format that isn't around anywhere else,” Aiken said, adding with a laugh, “It obviously gets you to want to play the second one. You have three chances in a way” to win the big prizes.

Aiken said he'll be firing away on his mobile device to try to be anointed Turf Champion.

“I'll be playing wherever I am,” he said. “I was in a tournament where I finished fourth and 13th and I was at a wedding…. I love turf racing. I love turf sprints. I always play Kentucky Downs. The big fields and low takeout are just the ticket for serious handicappers.”

Based on 100 entries in the Sept. 13 tournament, the total prize pool will be $50,000, including four NHC prize packs (including flight reimbursement up to $400 and hotel) and one BCBC berth. The top five finishers will split $5,000, with $2,500 to the winner and an estimated $2,956 toward the cash awarded to the National Turf Champ. The top 10 finishers also receive a free spot in the Sept. 16 contest.

Prize money paid to the Turf Champ will increase along with the number of entries. At 150 entries, five NHC prize packs and two BCBC berths will be awarded.

Based on 80 entries in the Sept. 16 contest, the total prize pool will be $24,000, with the top three finishers earning an NHC prize pack and splitting $3,000, including $1,500 to the winner, with remaining cash going to the champ. Additional seats could be awarded based on final participation.

“I'm honored that Ted reached out to me to assist with putting on this unique tournament,” Skirka said. “Kentucky Downs is known for some of the biggest fields and best turf racing around, and I'm excited to help make this first-of-its-kind contest a success. From my experience, I think players will really gravitate to a tournament featuring such wide-open, competitive and high-class racing.”

Players must be an NHC Tour member prior to the start of the contest to be eligible for NHC seats.

Horsetourneys.com will stage online feeder tournaments, providing low-priced ways to win spots into both contests.

The post Kentucky Downs Staging Pair Of Online Handicapping Tournaments During 2020 Meet appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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NBC to Debut American Pharoah Documentary Sunday

“Born to Run,” a one-hour documentary focusing on the first crop of horses by 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, will debut on NBC Sunday at noon ET. Narrated by actress Ashley Judd, the film chronicles American Pharoah’s foals, from their births in the spring of 2017, to the sales ring at Keeneland, to the farms of Florida, and on to their first races. The NBC Sports Film is presented by MassMutual.

The post NBC to Debut American Pharoah Documentary Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Tattersalls Releases Catalogues for October Books 2-4

The catalogues for Books 2, 3 and 4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale were released on Tuesday, with a half-brother to 2019 G1 Investec Oaks heroine Star Catcher (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (lot 965) one of the highlights. A total of 816 yearlings will go through the ring in Book 2 from Oct. 12-14, while 602 lots are catalogued for Book 3 from Oct. 15-16. Book 4 features 83 yearlings set to go under the hammer on Oct. 17.

Alumni of Book 2 include champion and MG1SW sprinter Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Australian MG1SW Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), G1 Australian Cup winner Fifty Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), scintillating G1 Sussex S. victor Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), and progressive grey Way to Paris (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), winner of the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. Quality is not in short supply among the many offerings, as there are full- or half-siblings to 174 group and listed winners, and 110 yearlings out of group or listed-winning mares. All of the yearlings in Books 3 and 4 are eligible for the £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction S.

The Time Test (GB) half-brother to Star Catcher hails from Hascombe and Valiant Stud, and he is also a half-brother to Lemon Drop Kid’s duo of GI Pattison Canadian International S. hero and young sire Cannock Chase, and MGSW Pisco Sour. However, he is not the only sibling to a Classic winner, as Jamie Railton offers lot 856, a son of Australia (GB) out of the three-time winner Honorine (Ire) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}). She is the dam of Galileo (Ire)’s Treasure Beach (GB), winner of the G1 Irish Derby.

Also selling are half-siblings to Group 1 winners Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB})-a filly by Muhaarar (GB) as lot 1165 from Hillwood Stud–and Donjuan Triumphant (Ire) (Dream Ahead), Kilcam Park’s lot 985, a son of Invincible Sprit (Ire). Group 1 winner Chachamaidee (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand [GB})’s Sea The Stars (Ire) yearling filly (lot 674) goes through the ring from Houghton Bloodstock. Kodiac (GB), fresh off daughter Campanelle (Ire)’s win in the G1 Darley Prix Morny, is represented by a son (lot 802) out of GI E. P. Taylor S. heroine Fraulein (GB) (Acatenango {Ger}) from Lodge Park Stud.

Other established sires the likes of Acclamation (GB), Camelot (GB), Dark Angel (Ire), Exceed And Excel (Aus), Frankel (GB), Invincible Spirit (Ire), Kingman (GB), Lope de Vega (Ire), Nathaniel (Ire), Night of Thunder (Ire), No Nay Never, Pivotal (GB) and Showcasing (GB) have yearlings in the catalogues.

Leading first-season sire Mehmas (Ire), who already has four black-type winners, is represented by 10 yearlings in Book 2, and there are 18 first-crop sires represented, among them Aclaim (Ire), Caravaggio, Churchill (Ire), Decorated Knight (GB), Galileo Gold (GB), Highland Reel (Ire), Mondialiste (Ire), National Defense (GB), Postponed (Ire), Profitable (Ire), Ribchester (Ire) and Ulysses (Ire). Some of the French stallions represented number Le Havre (Ire), Shalaa (Ire) and Siyouni (Fr), while Wootton Bassett (GB), who was recently relocated to Ireland, has seven. The latter’s champion son Almanzor (Fr) has an equal number. American sires Air Force Blue, Flintshire (GB), Kitten’s Joy, and Nyquist also have yearlings slated to sell.

In 2019, 620 yearlings grossed 48,499,000gns, with an average of 78,224gns and a median of 55,500gns in Book 2. The top price of 1,050,000gns was paid by Shadwell for a daughter of Dark Angel (Ire) out of a daughter of blue hen MGSW Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}).

“Both the highest rated colt in Europe, Mohaather and the highest rated sprinter in Europe, Battaash, were purchased at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and Book 3 has also had another outstanding year demonstrating the consistent quality to be found in the second week of the October Yearling Sales at Park Paddocks,” said Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony. “Huge demand for places in our yearling sales has ensured catalogues of real depth and quality catering to buyers at all levels of the market from throughout the world.”

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Bloodlines: Halladay Clears The Path For Tapit’s High-End Broodmare Sire Career

A front-running victory in the Grade 1 Fourstardave Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 22 made Halladay the 51st group or graded stakes winner for his sire War Front (by Danzig), as well as the sire's 22nd Grade 1 winner; Halladay also became the first North American Grade 1 winner for broodmare sire Tapit, who has been the leading general sire in North America three times.

Tapit mares have already produced Group 1 winners in Japan and Australia. In June of 2020, Gran Alegria won the G1 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo to pair with her victory last year in the G1 Oka Sho (Japan 1,000 Guineas). Overall, the bay daughter of the great sire Deep Impact has won five of eight starts and $4.1 million. Gran Alegria's dam, Tapitsfly, also won a pair of Group 1 races, the First Lady at Keeneland and the Just a Game Stakes at Belmont, as well as the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Filly Turf when it was instituted as a listed race (now G1). At the 2012 Fasig-Tipton November sale, Tapitsfly sold as a broodmare prospect for $1.85 million to Katsumi Yoshida.

Tapitsfly came from Tapit's second crop of foals, and Hightap, the dam of Halladay, came from the gray sire's first crop. Now they lead the stallion's producers of quality.

Bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd. and Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, Halladay went to the 2017 Keeneland September sale, was led out of the ring unsold at $225,000, changed hands privately thereafter through Steve Young, agent, and races for Harrell Ventures LLC.

Hightap's first four foals had brought about $1 million for the breeders, and Halladay was the broodmare's fifth foal. The handsome gray did not show his stakes quality immediately, not getting his first black type until a third-place finish in the English Channel Stakes at Belmont on Oct. 26 last year.

Just a few days later, his dam, Grade 3 winner Hightap, went through the ring at the 2019 Keeneland November sale in foal to Union Rags (Dixie Union) and sold for $85,000 to Hidden Brook, agent. The mare produced a chestnut filly on Feb. 11 for owners John Gardner and Frank McEntee. Hightap was initially bred back to the Danzig stallion Hard Spun but would not get in foal and was sent to champion Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) shortly before that champion's unexpected death, and she is in foal on a May 11 cover.

Sergio de Sousa, managing partner at Hidden Brook, said that Hightap is a “really good-looking mare, and she produced a pretty foal. Both the mare and foal have been entered in the Keeneland November sale” later this fall, but whether they go to the sale or not may depend on other factors, such as the status of sales during the pandemic and the economics of the September yearling market.

Hightap's new owners take an active interest in selecting mares for their breeding program, and Hidden Brook partner Dan Hall said, “The current owners went through the November catalog and picked out the ones that interested them. They like mares with a little age that look like they would be discounted in the marketplace, then we look at the physicals for them. This was a nice mare in foal on an early cover to a top sire, and there looked like a lot of upside. John is involved in our racing partnerships, but they seem to be a little more interested in the breeding side of the game.”

For the breeders of Halladay, Hightap has a gray yearling filly by Horse of the Year Gun Runner (Candy Ride) who is entered in the 2020 Keeneland September sale as Hip 1396, which is in Book 3 of the lengthy auction. Depending on the filly's looks, vet report, and what Halladay accomplishes between now and then, the Gun Runner filly has the potential to be one of the breakout lots of the day.

So there's a silver lining for all those associated with Hightap because, as Dan Hall noted about buying the dam of a newly minted Grade 1 winner, “You'd like to say you're smart, but in this game, you have to be lucky.”

And surely the luckiest participant in the Hightap saga is Jay Goodwin, who bought the Empire Maker half-sister to Halladay for himself and partner Cloyce Clark for $5,500 at the 2019 Keeneland January sale.

Goodwin said, “She'd just turned two, didn't have the greatest x-rays, and the mare hadn't produced any black type at that point. But I love Empire Maker; I love Tapit. With that pedigree, I knew I couldn't go wrong, and I knew if any of the other runners got black type in that family, it would go hot.

“From the first, my intention was to go on with her a broodmare, not try her as a racehorse,” Goodwin said. “So, I turned her out and never brought her up, except to trim her feet, and put her under lights at the end of 2019.”

Named Highschool, the gray is in foal to Mitole (Eskendereya), the 2019 Eclipse Award winner as champion sprinter whose successes included the Metropolitan Handicap and Breeders' Cup Sprint, on a March 15 cover and is entered in the November sale at Keeneland.

Goodwin said, “It's better to be lucky than good.”

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