alain and gerard wertheimer | Horse Racing Free Tips

Thoroughbred Owners And Breeders Among 2,755 Billionaires Ranked By Forbes

As owners of the French luxury brand, Chanel, brothers Alain and Gerard Wertheimer are among the world's most fashionable Thoroughbred owners and breeders. According to the latest World's Billionaires List published by Forbes, they are also the richest.

According to Forbes, Alain and Gerard Wertheimer each have a net worth of $34.5 billion putting them at No. 41 on the list of 2,755 billionaires worldwide.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is atop the list with an estimated net worth of $177 billion.

Racing primarily with homebreds in Europe and the U.S. under the stable name Wertheimer et Frere, the brothers are best known for campaigning Goldikova, three-time winner of the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile. Their current stable star is Todd Pletcher-trained Happy Saver.

At least a dozen others from the Forbes Billionaires List have been identified as Thoroughbred owners or breeders. (Note: The list does not include members of Arab country ruling families, including the Maktoums of Dubai.)

Next on the list among individuals affiliated with Thoroughbred racing and breeder is financier George Soros, whose Soros Fund Management in 2008 launched SF Racing and SF Bloodstock, now operated by Gavin Murphy and Tom Ryan. Forbes estimates a net worth of $8.6 billion for the Soros, putting him at No. 288.

Cable television magnate John Malone is ranked 316^th on the Forbes list with an estimated net worth of $7.8 billion. One of America's biggest landowners, Malone owns Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Fla., and Ballylinch Stud in Ireland.

Tamara Gustavson, daughter of the late B. Wayne Hughes, is ranked 496^th on the list with an estimated net worth of $5.6 billion. With husband Eric, Tamara Gustavson now operates Spendthrift, which Forbes estimated has a $400 million value. A Forbes-produced video explains how they arrived at that estimate, based on leading stallion Into Mischief, other bloodstock holdings and the farm's property and buildings.

Wayne Hughes, who died in August, remained on the Forbes list, ranked 925^th with an estimated net worth of $3.3 billion. A self-made billionaire, Hughes created Public Storage, the largest self-storage company in the U.S.

Vincent Viola is ranked 807^th on the list with an estimated net worth of $3.7 billion acquired in part from his electronic trading startup, Virtu Financial. Owner of the NHL's Florida Panthers, Viola co-owned Vino Rosso, winner of the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic in 2019.

Another owner of sports teams, Gayle Benson, ranks 891^st on the Forbes lislt with an estimated net worth of $3.4 billion. Benson, widow of Tom Benson, owns the NFL's New Orleans Saints and NBA's New Orleans Pelicans. Her GMB Racing campaigned Tom's d'Etat, winner of the G1 Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs in 2019.

[Story Continues Below]

Brad Kelley, owner of Calumet Farm, has an estimated net worth of $2.6 billion, putting him 1,205^th on the list of the world's richest people. Kelley, who lives in Tennessee, made his fortune in the tobacco industry.

Gerald Ford, who races as Diamond A Racing Corporation, is 1,249^th on the list with an estimated net worth of $2.5 billion. Ford built his wealth through acquisition of distressed banks.

Kevin Plank, who created the Under Armour sportswear brand and owns Sagamore Farm in Maryland, has an estimated net worth of $2 billion putting him at No. 1,580.

Charlotte Weber, an heir to the Campbell Soup Co., is listed as No. 1,833 with an estimated net worth of $1.7 million. Owner of Live Oak Plantation, Weber's homebreds have won a host of Grade 1 races, and she's won two editions of the G1 Breeders' Cup Mile with World Approval and Miesque's Approval.

Kenny Troutt, owner of WinStar Farm, founded long-distance company Excel Communications more than 30 years ago. Forbes estimates his net worth at $1.5 billion, putting him at No. 2,035 on their list.

Also having an estimated net worth of $1.5 billion is Seth Klarman, whose Klaravich Stables has developed into one of the industry's leading owners, winning Horse of the Year for Bricks and Mortar in 2019 and voted an outstanding owner Eclipse Award with William H. Lawrence, his partner on a number of runners. Klarman manages one of the financial market's largest hedge funds, Boston-based Baupost.

The post Thoroughbred Owners And Breeders Among 2,755 Billionaires Ranked By Forbes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

‘A Rewarding Win For The Whole Team’: Pletcher Reflects On Happy Saver’s Rapid Ascent, Jockey Club Gold Cup Victory

After numerous close defeats in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup including a disqualification from victory in last year's edition, trainer Todd Pletcher secured the elusive win Saturday when Wertheimer and Frere's unbeaten sophomore Happy Saver rode the rail to victory in the prestigious classic-distance race at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Pletcher, who had finished second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup previously with Keen Ice [2017], Palace Malice [2013], Stay Thirsty [2012], Quality Road [2010], Lawyer Ron [2007] and Newfoundland [2004], saddled Vino Rosso in last year's running. Vino Rosso crossed the wire first but was ultimately disqualified to second for interference with Code of Honor in the stretch run.

Pletcher said the long-awaited victory with the son of Super Saver was welcome.

“That was a race that had been alluding us for a while,” Pletcher said. “I thought we broke through last year only to be disqualified. Not only had we not won it, but we had seven seconds, a number of which were very close. It was a very rewarding win for the whole team and it was nice to do it for the Wertheimers, who have been loyal supporters of ours for a long time. He's by Super Saver and out of a mare we trained, so it was a great win all the way around.

“He looks good,” Pletcher said the morning after Happy Saver's win. “He seemed to bounce out of everything well. He's a little bit tired, which I would expect after running a race like that. It seems like he's in good shape.”

Following a debut victory on June 20 at Belmont Park, Happy Saver bested older winners going two turns at Saratoga en route to a triumph in the September 7 Federico Tesio at Laurel Park, ahead of the Jockey Club Gold Cup, where he earned a career best 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

Pletcher praised his newly minted Grade 1-winner on being able to make such a swift climb up the ladder.

“What he's been able to accomplish you don't see very many other horses do,” Pletcher said. “He went from a seven-furlong maiden on June 20 to a mile and an eighth allowance at Saratoga, to a mile and an eighth stake at Laurel and came back to Belmont and then to win a Grade 1 going a mile and a quarter against older horses is something you don't see very often.”

In winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup, a Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” event, Happy Saver earned an all-fees paid entry into the Grade 1, $6-million Breeders' Cup Classic on November 7 at Keeneland, which Pletcher said is under strong consideration.

“That's what we're going to think about,” Pletcher said. “We'll see how he bounces out of this and let him take us there when he wants to. Speaking to the Wertheimers last night, they're in no rush and they plan on racing him next year.”

Should Happy Saver make the trip for the Breeders' Cup, he would seek to give Pletcher a second straight win in the Classic after winning last year's edition at Santa Anita with Vino Rosso. Wertheimer and Frere have never won the Classic, but owned Breeders' Cup heroes Halfbridled, who took the 2003 Juvenile Fillies for Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, and international superstar Goldikova who captured three consecutive runnings of the Mile from 2008-10.

Happy Saver's sire Super Saver gave Pletcher his first triumph in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in 2010 after a slew of placings.

“I don't see a lot of similarities,” Pletcher said. “The one thing I would say is that from a physical standpoint, they're both very good-looking and well-balanced horses. Super Saver could get a little intense in the paddock and this one is more laid back.”

Other possible Breeders' Cup contenders for Pletcher include Grade 1-winners Valiance [Distaff] and Halladay [Mile] as well as impressive maiden winner Likeable [Juvenile] and Grade 2 Bourbon winner Mutasaabeq [Juvenile Turf].

Pletcher also spoke of recent first out maiden winner Malathaat, who gave Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez his 2,000th win at Belmont Park, and said that the $100,000 Tempted on November 6 going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct could be in play for the regally-bred daughter of Curlin out of the Grade 1-winning A.P. Indy mare Dreaming of Julia.

“I thought she ran really well the other day,” Pletcher said. “She's obviously bred to be a very nice filly.”

The post ‘A Rewarding Win For The Whole Team’: Pletcher Reflects On Happy Saver’s Rapid Ascent, Jockey Club Gold Cup Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Unbeaten Happy Saver Gives Pletcher First Jockey Club Gold Cup Triumph

Saving ground throughout under Irad Ortiz Jr., Wertheimer and Frere's homebred Happy Saver outdueled fellow 3-year-old Mystic Guide and 3-5 favorite Tacitus with a determined stretch run to win Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Now a perfect four-for-four after his first graded stakes win, Happy Saver earned a fees-paid berth for the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Classic after the Win and You're In Breeders' Cup Challenge Series victory.

Happy Saver covered 1 1/4 miles on a fast main track in 2:02.09 and paid $6.70 to win. Mystic Guide, ridden by John Velazquez and coming off a victory in the G2 Jim Dandy, finished second, beaten three-quarters of a length. Tacitus, who set an uncontested pace under Jose Ortiz, finished another 1 1/4 lengths back in third, with Prioritize fourth and Name Changer fifth.

The victory was the first in the Jockey Club Gold Cup for Pletcher, who trained Vino Rosso, first across the finish but disqualified and placed second for stretch interference in last year's running. Vino Rosso went on to win the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic.

“Not only had we not won it,” said Pletcher, “we'd suffered some really close defeats and then throw in a disqualification on top of that and it's been a frustrating one over the years. This one was fun. It's one of the races that has been hard on us. We've had some tough losses and it was very fulfilling to win it today.”

Happy Saver broke alertly, but Jose Ortiz seemed intent on getting the early lead aboard Tacitus, who was allowed to set soft fractions of :24.93, :49.68 and 1:13.61 for the opening six furlongs. Happy Saver tucked in just behind the leader, while Mystic Guide was to his outside and in the clear in the long run down the backstretch.

Mystic Guide moved up to challenge Tacitus with a quarter mile to run, the mile clocked in 1:37.25, while Irad Ortiz Jr. kept Happy Saver glued to the fence, waiting for daylight. That opportunity came when Tacitus and Mystic Guide straightened away into the stretch, and Happy Saver quickly accelerated through the opening, setting the stage for a three-horse duel down the lane.

Tacitus was the first to retreat, then Happy Saver showed his superiority over Mystic Guide, inching away in the final sixteenth of a mile for the winning margin.

“He has a big heart, like I told Todd in the paddockmk,” Ortiz said of Happy Saver. “He's a fighter. Every time he has a horse in front of him and when you ask him to go, he passes the horse and then he puts his ears up. He still had something after he went by Johnny's horse.

“It was emotional. I wanted to win it so bad. Last year, I got DQ'd and that was for Todd, too. He's a cool horse, a special horse. I rode him first time out and we knew he was a nice horse. Todd has always liked him.

“This race was uncomfortable for him. I wasn't really happy down in there but I didn't really have any other options. I just had to go with the flow of the race. I thought we were going to be on the lead and I was surprised to look up and see Tacitus on the lead early. I can't take back but I can't go head and head so I just let my horse be there. I used him a little on the backside to stay close and go from there.

“I had horse. I just didn't have anywhere to go. I had a little space inside but i didn't know if Jose [Ortiz, aboard Tacitus] had a lot of horse and I didn't want to check him because his horse has a big stride, so I just waited. When we turned for home, I knew he'd be there for me and if the hole was still open, I'd go for it. If not, I'd go around Johnny [Velazquez aboard Mystic Guide]. But it was still open, so I went for it. When I needed him, he was there for me.”

“Watching the race, I thought he was a little uncomfortable inside there,” Pletcher said of Happy Saver. “He was in a tricky spot. Johnny [Velazquez, aboard Mystic Guide] had first run on him and was able to keep him in there. To his credit, that was a pretty game performance to come up the inside there in his fourth start and first time against older horses going a mile and a quarter. To do that after breaking his maiden on June 20th is hard to do.

“I was very proud of the horse and his performance. I'm happy for the connections, the Wertheimers have been loyal supporters for many years and I'm appreciative of that. It's great to get a Grade 1 win for them. He's by a Derby winner [Super Saver (2010)] we trained, so it's fun all the way around.

“When we started getting serious with his breezes, he was breezing with Dr Post and some horses we knew had talent and he was staying right with them, but I couldn't have imagined on June 20 he'd be winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup and be 4-for-4. That's hard to do, but it's a tribute to his quality.”

Happy Saver, bred in Kentucky, was produced from Happy Week, a daughter of Distorted Humor. Happy Saver's third dam is Weekend Surprise, a broodmare of the year whose offspring include Horse of the Year and leading sire A.P. Indy.

Pletcher said he would evaluate how Happy Saver comes out of the race before deciding on whether or not he goes to the Breeders' Cup.

“First and foremost we'll see how he bounces out of this race,” said Pletcher. “It was a tough race and he's still a lightly raced horse. That's part of the reason we decided to come here instead of going to the Preakness. We'll enjoy this for the moment and talk to the Wertheimers and come up with a plan. I wouldn't say we're definite for it, but I wouldn't rule it out either.”

Happy Saver begins to pull away from Mystic Guide nearing the finish of the Jockey Club Gold Cup

The post Unbeaten Happy Saver Gives Pletcher First Jockey Club Gold Cup Triumph appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post