New York Court Pauses Forte’s Hopeful DQ, Todd Pletcher’s Suspension

A New York Supreme Court has issued a temporary restraining order to prevent the New York State Gaming Commission from enforcing penalties against connections of Forte in the case of the colt's disqualification from the 2022 Hopeful Stakes (G1), reports the Daily Racing Form.

The juvenile champion returned a positive test for meloxicam after the Hopeful, leading the NYSGC to issue a disqualification as well as a $1,000 fine and 10-day suspension for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

Pletcher's suspension was due to start on Dec. 28. Attorney Drew Mollica told DRF that the court granted an article 78 proceeding, which asks a state court to review a decision or action of a New York state official or agency.

Forte's positive test wasn't originally revealed until May 9, 2023, just days after the colt was scratched as the favorite on the morning of the Kentucky Derby. The New York Times broke the news that the colt had a drug positive still pending from his juvenile season. Adjudication of the positive dragged on; a spokesperson for the New York State Gaming Commission told writer Joe Drape the delays were “sought by the trainer's counsel.”

Meanwhile, after his win in the Hopeful, Forte went on to capture the G1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland, followed by the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, earning him the 2022 Eclipse Award for Champion 2-Year-Old Colt.

The NYSGC officially announced the disqualification on May 11, which owner Mike Repole appealed. Pletcher stated during a media conference that the colt had never been prescribed or knowingly treated with meloxicam, but the TDN revealed that co-owner Vinnie Viola had a prescription for the drug to treat back pain; Viola was a frequent visitor to Pletcher's barn at Saratoga in the summer of 2022.

A hearing was held on July 20, and the hearing officer issued his report on Sept. 30, upholding the disqualification and penalties. The NYSGC voted unanimously to uphold the hearing officer's report on Dec. 4, after which connections vowed to appeal the decision.

Mollica told DRF that the next court date is scheduled for Jan. 9.

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.

The post New York Court Pauses Forte’s Hopeful DQ, Todd Pletcher’s Suspension appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Star Guitar Filly Plays A Merry Tune At Meydan

3rd-Meydan, AED210,000, Cond., 12-22, 1400m, 1:24.64, ft.
MANAMA GOLD (f, 2, Star Guitar–Charged Cotton, by Dehere), who attracted plenty of hype prior to this first start, ran to her billing and emerged a 2 1/2 length winner at Meydan. Kept off the fence as Frost At Dawn (Frosted) made the running, the Louisiana-bred was keen to go on rounding the bend and Adrie de Vries had his hands full keeping her content. She tackled the leader at the head of the straight, and ground determinedly past her 250 metres from home, before going on to win a shade cozily. It was the second win on the card for de Vries. “This is a bit what I expected,” said the winning jockey. “She trialled really well; trained on from then, got more professional and she's a very clever filly. She was having a nice look at the winning post. I always like it when a horse is having a look around, it often means there's a bit left in the tank.” Originally sold for $100,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, the chestnut caught the eye of Oliver St Lawrence after breezing a furlong in :10 1/5, and was knocked down for $200,000 out of the OBS April Sale. Charged Cotton, who won the All Brandy S. at Laurel, has already foaled the stakes-placed Sethamee Street (Street Sense), and multiple stakes winner Ova Charged (Star Guitar), who was second in the GIII Victory Ride S. at Belmont Park. Her latest is a weanling filly by Not This Time. Sales history: $100,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; and $200,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, AED126,000. Click for the ERA chart & video.
O/T-Fawzi Abdulla Nass. B-Brittlyn, Inc. (LA). *1ST-TIME STARTER.

 

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Arima Kinen An Early Christmas Feast

With the recent retirement of the world's top-rated racehorse Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) and with Triple Tiara heroine Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) spelling with destinations unknown for 2024, Sunday's G1 Arima Kinen is missing its top two votegetters. But the 2500-metre event, which easily attracts the largest single-race betting in the world on an annual basis, is certainly not lacking for quality.

While Equinox is not back to defend his title, a good deal of how to solve the contest from a pari-mutuel perspective goes through him. Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) is one of four runners pressing on to the Christmas Eve feature from the G1 Japan Cup, where Equinox had four lengths on Liberty Island. In the estimation of many, the 4-year-old–one of just two horses to finish ahead of the reigning Horse of the Year, in his case in the 2022 G1 Tokyo Yushun–would have been the one to beat in the G1 Dubai Turf in March, but was scratched and missed seven months. The bay was disappointing when seventh behind Equinox in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) in October and fell a bit short of expectations when only fourth in the Japan Cup. His connections still have not lost faith.

'[Jockey Yutaka] Take rode work last week and, as I'd thought, they really looked good together,” said trainer Yasuo Tomomichi. “Take said the horse had moved really well as usual. This will be his third start of the fall season but I don't think he's tired at all. I'd say he has improved quite a bit and there is no need for more work. Equinox is out of the picture now and I think any horse has a chance.”

 

 

 

Do Deuce is one of three Derby winners in the race, joining 2021 hero Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}). The former was a cracking third to Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf Nov. 4 and was an intended runner in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase two weeks ago, but was a vet scratch. In spite of his obvious quality, the 5-year-old is no better than a 50-1 chance ante-post. Tastiera dropped a narrow decision to the sometimes mercurial Sol Oriens (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in April's G1 Satsuki Sho before turning the tables in the Derby. He exits a second–with Sol Oriens third–in the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) over 3000 metres Oct. 22.

No fewer than six fillies and mares feature in the 16-strong field, but two most-fancied have drawn the widest gates in a race that is run around three turns at Nakayama. Through Seven Seas (Jpn) (Dream Journey {Jpn}) put a bit of a scare into Equinox when flashing home for second in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen in June, after which it was announced that she'd be programmed for the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. A highly creditable fourth to Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}), she is capable if able to work out out a trip from barrier 15. Drawn widest is the oft-unlucky Stars on Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), who was unfortunate not to complete the 2022 Triple Tiara and looks to snap a frustrating streak of placings, including a latest third in the Japan Cup. Her late sire is also responsible for Titleholder (Jpn), a pacesetting ninth in this last year. Win Marilyn (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}), victorious in the 2022 G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup and an outstanding fourth to Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Nov. 4, makes the final start of her career and is the longest price at north of 115-1.

Adding further intrigue are the half-brothers Justin Palace (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), winner of the G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) over 3200 metres and third in the Tenno Sho (Autumn), and Iron Barows (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), who punched his ticket to this with a victory in the G2 Stayers S. going 3600 metres of this course Dec. 2. The pair are half-brothers to recent Darley Japan import Palace Malice (Curlin).

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Reflections on Hollywood Park’s Special Place in Horse Racing History

“It was a beautiful land where flowers bloomed, the flamingos basked in the sun and airplanes flew overhead. A land where horses became immortal, and jockeys became famous.” I wrote those words in December of 2013 on the final weekend of Hollywood Park Racetrack where I was absorbing the sadness of the end of an era.

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