Aqueduct Racetrack | Horse Racing Free Tips

Gary Sciacca Saddles 1,000th Career Winner Thursday At Aqueduct

Trainer Gary Sciacca earned his 1,000th career victory when Caumsett wired the first race on Opening Day of the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack.

“I'm just real happy to get it done,” Sciacca said. “I would have loved to have got it done at Belmont, but I got my start here at Aqueduct so this is great.”

Sciacca, a 61-year-old native of Brooklyn, New York, captured his first career victory with Proud Northern in October 1981 at the Big A. Through four decades of conditioning thoroughbreds, Sciacca has won two training titles at Belmont Park, leading the way at the 1993 spring meet and 1997 fall meet.

Caumsett, with Hall of Famer Javier Castellano in the irons, led through splits of 24.22 seconds, 48.80 and 1:13.50 in the one-mile inner turf event for New York-bred maiden fillies and mares. The sophomore daughter of The Factor opened up a 3 1/2-length lead at the stretch call and coasted home a 1 3/4-length winner in a final time of 1:36.55 over the firm going.

Castellano, who guided Caumsett to a narrow head loss with a similar pacesetting effort on September 19 at Belmont Park, said he felt confident throughout.

“That's the trip I was looking for today,” Castellano said. “Last time, she went to the lead and got caught in the last jump. It seemed to me that today there wasn't much speed in the race. I dictated the pace and they let me go easy. She rolled the whole way and finished really well.”

The Hall of Fame rider tipped his cap to the veteran conditioner for his milestone achievement.

“I'm very happy for him. It's a great achievement to win 1,000 races,” Castellano said. “I've known Gary for a long time and he's a dedicated horseman and been in the game a long time. I'm lucky and blessed to be a part of his success.”

Bred in the Empire State by Milfer Farm, Caumsett was sent to post at odds of 9-2, and returned $11.60 for a $2 win bet.

“It feels great. We needed to get it done and get it over with,” Sciacca said. “I thought she was going to win last time [September 19], but she got nailed right at the wire. Bobby, my son is here, so that's great.”

Sciacca trained 1992 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Saratoga Dew, who captured that year's Grade 1 Beldame and Grade 1 Gazelle Handicap, both at Belmont Park, en route to becoming the first New York-bred to earn an Eclipse Award.

He also conditioned eight-time graded stakes-winning millionaire Subordination, who captured the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby in 1997 at Hollywood Park and the following year's Grade 1 Eddie Read at Del Mar.

Other prominent graded stakes winners to come up under Sciacca's care include Dr. Kiernan, Debonair Dan, Dominant Prospect, Inside the Beltway, Gold Princess and Dawn of the Condor.

“The Grade 1 wins with Saratoga Dew and Subordination were huge,” Sciacca said. “The business has been so great to me and all the hard work is paying off. It's taken me all over and has been really good.”

The post Gary Sciacca Saddles 1,000th Career Winner Thursday At Aqueduct appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

NYRA Releases Winter Stakes Schedule For Aqueduct

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced the stakes schedule for the 2021-22 winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack.

With 46 stakes races on offer worth nearly $6 million in purses, the 56-day winter meet begins Thursday, Dec. 9 and runs through Sunday, March 27. Live racing will generally be conducted Thursday through Sunday through the end of February with a holiday break set for Dec. 20 – 29 and the addition of a special Presidents' Day card on Monday, Feb. 21. March will then feature a Friday-Sunday schedule of live racing through the conclusion of the winter meet on March 27.

As previously announced, and in accordance with New York City requirements, fans seeking to enter Aqueduct Racetrack must demonstrate proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Originally closed to the public during the height of the COVID-19 emergency in March of 2020, Aqueduct then became the site of a New York State mass vaccination center in January 2021. It will re-open to the public on Thursday, Nov. 11, Opening Day of the 18-day 2021 Aqueduct fall meet, which runs through Sunday, Dec. 5.

The Aqueduct winter meet stakes action commences on Saturday, Dec. 11 with the $100,000 Garland of Roses for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and up headed six furlongs on the main track. The 2021 NYRA stakes program draws to a close with the $100,000 Bay Ridge on December 30 for New York-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up and the $100,000 Alex M. Robb on Dec. 31 for New York-breds 3-years-old and up.

January racing will open on New Year's Day with the one-mile $150,000 Jerome, the first of three Kentucky Derby prep races at the Big A winter meet. The Jerome will offer 10-4-2-1 qualifying points to the top-four finishers.

The nine-furlong $100,000 Busanda for sophomore fillies on January 23 will provide 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top four finishers. The winter meet graded stakes calendar will open with the Grade 3, $150,000 Toboggan, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses on Jan. 29.

New York's road to the Kentucky Derby continues at the Big A winter meet with the nine-furlong Grade 3, $250,000 Withers on Feb. 5, offering 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers.

The Monday, Feb. 21 Presidents' Day card will be highlighted by the $100,000 Maddie May for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies going one mile. There will be no live racing on Thursday, Feb. 17 to accommodate the Presidents' Day card.

A total of 12 racing cards are set for March, featuring eight stakes' days, including two graded events. The centerpiece of the March racing calendar is the one-mile Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham on March 5, which provides 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers. The Gotham Day card includes the Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap for 4-year-olds and up going six furlongs; the $250,000 Busher Invitational for 3-year-old fillies offering 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-four finishers; and the $125,000 Stymie for 4-year-olds and up.

The final weekend of the winter meet will feature a 10-stakes card on New York Claiming Championship Day, Saturday, March 26 and the $100,000 East View on Sunday, March 27.

Admission to Aqueduct, which will be open to the public on live race days only, is free of charge. The gates will open daily at 11 a.m. First post during the Aqueduct fall and winter meets is 12:30 p.m.

Fans visiting Aqueduct should use the Clubhouse Entrance to provide the required proof of vaccination. Preferred parking will be $10 daily in the Clubhouse lot and general parking with be in the Conduit lot. All parking fees must be paid via credit card.

For the complete winter meet stakes schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/stakes-schedule/

The post NYRA Releases Winter Stakes Schedule For Aqueduct appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Aqueduct Racetrack Re-Opens To Fans On Nov. 11

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced that Aqueduct Racetrack will re-open to the public on Thursday, Nov. 11, Opening Day of the 2021 fall meet.

Originally closed to fans during the height of the COVID-19 emergency in March of 2020, Aqueduct then became the site of a New York State mass vaccination center in January 2021.

The vaccination center, which has distributed more than 300,000 COVID-19 inoculations to date, was a critical piece in the New York State led effort to quickly and efficiently vaccinate New Yorkers. The size and scope of the center, which occupied the entirety of Aqueduct's first floor, required the continued closure of the facility to the general public.

“We are proud to have partnered with New York State so that so many New Yorkers had easy access to these incredibly important vaccines,” said NYRA President and CEO Dave O'Rourke. “NYRA would also like to thank our loyal fans for their patience as we worked to bring them back to the Big A. Aqueduct is New York City's racetrack, and we couldn't be happier to finally be able to open the doors once again on Nov. 11.”

While the vaccination center will remain in operation, its footprint will be reduced and consolidated. Appointments are optional and walk-ins are currently being accommodated for COVID-19 vaccinations at Aqueduct. For additional information, and details on eligibility for booster doses, please visit https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/.

New York City has established strict vaccine requirements for nearly all indoor settings. Proof of vaccination is currently required to enter indoor entertainment venues, sports arenas, restaurants, movie theaters, music and concert venues, museums, aquariums and zoos, convention centers, exhibition halls, hotel meeting and event spaces, performing arts theaters, bowling alleys, arcades and a host of other settings.

This vaccine requirement is inclusive of fans, employees, vendors and anyone else who physically enters the venue. Accordingly, and in compliance with New York City law, anyone seeking to enter Aqueduct Racetrack must show proof of vaccination in order to gain admittance.

This program, called the Key to NYC, prohibits NYRA from allowing entrance to Aqueduct to anyone over the age of 12 who cannot demonstrate proof that the individual has received at least one dose of a vaccine. NYRA will accept the CDC vaccination card and the New York State Excelsior pass as proof of vaccination.

NYRA previously announced that the Belmont fall meet, originally scheduled to conclude on Oct. 31, will be extended to include three additional dates from Friday, Nov. 5 through Sunday, Nov. 7. These dates were originally scheduled to be run at Aqueduct Racetrack as opening weekend of the Aqueduct fall meet. As a result, the 15-day Aqueduct fall meet will now begin on Thursday, Nov. 11 and continue through Sunday, Dec. 5.

Admission to Aqueduct, which will be open to the public on live race days only, is free of charge. The gates will open daily at 11 a.m. First post during the Aqueduct fall meet is 12:30 p.m.

For additional information, visit NYRA.com.

The post Aqueduct Racetrack Re-Opens To Fans On Nov. 11 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Safe Conduct Targets Gio Ponti At Aqueduct For Next Start

Safe Conduct wrote his name into the history books in August with a game head score in the $1 million Queen's Plate, first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown at 10 furlongs over Tapeta at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

Trained by Phil Serpe, the Bodemeister sophomore followed with a fading eighth in the 1 1/2-mile Breeders' Stakes, the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown contested over a yielding E. P. Taylor Turf Course.

“He just doesn't want any part of soft ground,” Serpe said. “It had rained a lot up there and he just wasn't getting a hold of the track.”

Safe Conduct has kept good company through his sophomore season, winning a 1 1/16-mile optional-claimer over firm Belmont turf in May by 2 1/2-lengths over Public Sector, who has won his last three starts in graded company including Saturday's Grade 2 Hill Prince at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Safe Conduct exited that effort to finish fourth in the off-the-turf Grade 3 Pennine Ridge in May and faded to eighth in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational in July over good going.

Serpe said he is hopeful Safe Conduct will find firm footing in the $150,000 Gio Ponti, a 1 1/16-mile test for sophomores on November 26 at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

“If you look back at his last race on a firm turf, it was an impressive race. He flew home. That's the type of race we're looking forward to seeing him running on the grass,” Serpe said. “We were very happy to win Canada's biggest race. There's a lot of prestige behind it. I'd love to see him come back now and get his turf races sorted out.”

Safe Conduct worked a half-mile in :51.69 Sunday over the Belmont inner turf.

“He went a nice easy half, but he did it well,” Serpe said.

The post Safe Conduct Targets Gio Ponti At Aqueduct For Next Start appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post