Tag: aqueduct

NYRA: Beginning April 1, Fully Vaccinated Jockeys No Longer Required To Undergo COVID Tests

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced COVID-19 health and safety protocols for jockeys competing at the 2021 Aqueduct Racetrack spring meet, which will run April 1 through April 18.

The 11-day Big A spring meet will include 13 stakes worth $2.7 million in purses highlighted by the 96th running of the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino on Saturday, April 3. Live racing will be conducted on a Thursday-Sunday schedule with a 1:20 p.m. first post.

NYRA will continue to permit out of town jockeys to compete at Aqueduct during the 2021 spring meet. Those jockeys must provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken in New York State within 48 hours of the day they intend to compete at Aqueduct. Out of town jockeys will be provided isolated jockey quarters at Aqueduct.

Members of the regular NYRA jockey colony who travel to ride at any other racetrack during the Aqueduct spring meet will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken in New York State within 48-hours of the day then intend to compete at Aqueduct. Jockeys who have traveled and returned to Aqueduct will be provided isolated jockey quarters at Aqueduct.

Beginning on April 1, all jockeys who have been fully vaccinated will no longer be required to undergo COVID-19 testing in order to compete at Aqueduct. Vaccinated jockeys traveling to ride at Aqueduct, as well as members of the NYRA jockey colony who travel outside of New York State, will continue to be provided isolated jockey quarters at Aqueduct.

According to current Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance, individuals are considered fully vaccinated 14 days or more after receiving the second dose in a two dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or 14 days or more after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson / Janssen). NYRA will adhere to the current CDC guidance regarding COVID-19 vaccination standards.

Beginning on April 1, all jockeys who have been fully vaccinated to the satisfaction of CDC guidelines will be permitted to enter NYRA barn areas for morning training. Jockeys who have not been fully vaccinated will not be permitted in the barn area but can continue to meet horses in the Belmont paddock and utilize the main track.

In accordance with current CDC guidelines, jockeys who have traveled internationally will be required to quarantine for seven days upon their return. Four days after arrival in the United States, the jockey must be tested for COVID-19. Upon receipt of a negative COVID-19 PCR test, and completion of the seven-day quarantine, the jockey may compete at Aqueduct. All jockeys who have traveled internationally will be provided isolated jockey quarters.

In addition to race day safety protocols which include standard health screening and temperature checks, the jockey quarters at Aqueduct have been substantially altered to provide maximum social distancing and reduce density. All areas accessed by jockeys during the regular course of a race day are closed to outside personnel, including credentialed media, and are cleaned and disinfected throughout the day.

Jockey agents must produce a negative COVID-19 PCR test in order to gain access to the barn area. Races will continue to be drawn via Zoom.

Beginning on April 1, jockey valets who have been fully vaccinated to the satisfaction of CDC guidelines may enter the barn area for morning training. In addition, jockey valets that have been working in the barn area and only saddling horses in the afternoon that have not been fully vaccinated may re-enter the jockeys quarters after completing a 10-day quarantine and providing a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 48-hours of their intended return.

For additional information, and the complete stakes schedule for the 2021 Aqueduct spring meet, visit NYRA.com.

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16-1 Longshot News Flash Helps Trigger $11,732 Cross Country Pick 5 Payout

Saturday's Cross Country Pick 5 paid $11,732.25 for selecting all five winners for the 50-cent wager at races from Aqueduct in New York and Oaklawn in Arkansas. The sequence's total pool was $96,633.

Oaklawn kicked things off when Emerald Princess came through at 7-1 in a six-furlong main track contest for 3-year-old filly maidens in Race 6. Emerald Princess, with Alex Canchari aboard, bested Shes Got It by three-quarters of a length, completing the course in 1:11.74. The McLean Robertson trainee paid $17 on a $2 win wager.

Aqueduct made its first foray into the mix with a thrilling finish as Dark Money edged Bustin Timberlake by a nose to win a six-furlong allowance optional claiming tilt for New York-bred 3-year-olds and up in Race 8. Dark Money, trained by Karl Broberg, rallied from fifth to hit the wire in 1:11.81. Also off at 7-1, Dark Money returned $17.40.

An even bigger upset occurred in Oaklawn's Race 7, as 16-1 Newsflash registered a two-length score in a six-furlong claiming race for 3-year-olds. Trained by Jason Barkley, News Flash paid $34.60, recording a final time of 1:10.53.

Aqueduct's ninth-race finale saw Summer Brew win by 2 3/4 lengths in a six-furlong maiden race for New York-bred sophomore fillies. Trained by Jorge Abreu and ridden by Eric Cancel, Summer Brew [$8.70] won at 3-1, posting a final time of 1:13.76.

Oaklawn ensured the entire sequence did not have a single victorious favorite when Heartbreaker, at 11-1, topped Megatap by a half length in a six-furlong maiden claimer in Race 8. Trained by Philip D'Amato and ridden by Richard Eramia, Heartbreaker [$25.60] ensured the sizable payout, notching a 1:11.51 final time.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on track, on ADW platforms, and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool.

The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.

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Handal: Cicada Winner Just Read It Still Has Room To Improve

Just Read It took the next step in her career on Saturday, capitalizing on a forwardly placed trip behind the favorite Save before taking command in the stretch and holding off a charging Exogen by a head in the $100,000 Cicada for sophomore fillies at Aqueduct.

The lightly raced Just Read It was making just her fourth career start and second stakes appearance earning a 73 Beyer for her first stakes black type effort. The Constitution filly made her debut on December 20, running fourth at the Big A, before breaking her maiden at the same six-furlong distance at the Ozone Park, N.Y., track, registering a 6 1/4-length score on January 31.

After finishing a dull sixth over the all-weather surface at Turfway Park in the Cincinnati Trophy on February 26, trainer Ray Handal moved Just Read It back to the more familiar dirt, where she looked comfortable yesterday in besting a four-horse field.

“She was bright-eyed and alert looking for her morning feed,” Handal said with a laugh. “She's a keeper. She's quiet and trains the right way and does it all the right way. In that aspect, I'm very lucky. She checked another box. We don't have anything set just yet for her, but we'll probably keep her sprinting in the 3-year-old filly-stakes division and preferably here in New York so we can stay home.”

Just Read It, purchased for $70,000 at last year's Ocala Breeders July 2-Year-Old Sale, is owned by Handal, Ken Russell and Brown Road Racing. She had been training at Saratoga in the summer before being shipped to her current base at Belmont Park before making her debut.

“We've seen progress but I don't think we've seen her best yet,” Handal said. “I still think there's room for improvement and she'll continue to improve. She went through such a growth spurt. It's crazy; she keeps getting bigger. I couldn't believe when she got off the van how much bigger she got, and hopefully she keeps on developing like that. With a four or five-week break between races, maybe she can be even better.”

Jockey Dylan Davis piloted Just Read It to victory in the third race, adding another highlight to a strong meet that unfortunately came to an abrupt end in the ninth-race finale when Davis broke his clavicle in a spill and will be out six-to-eight weeks.

Davis had ridden multiple winners for Handal during the current Aqueduct winter meet, adding victories aboard American Gentleman, Shamrocked and Dealing Justice.

“It's so unfortunate; he's a tough guy and a tenacious jockey,” Handal said. “He has a high racing IQ and great decision making and awareness. It really stands out to me when watching races. He can slow down the game so much. I just hope he comes back well and I'll go visit him in a few days when the dust settles and just check on him and keep his spirits up. This is the time of the year when everyone is getting cranked up. I told Mike Migliore, [Davis' agent] to not worry and he'll be part of the rotation here when he comes back.”

Foolish Ghost earned the highest Beyer of his 30-race career when he garnered a 94 for his six-length route against allowance company going six furlongs on March 7 at the Big A. Handal said the 6-year-old Mineshaft gelding will return to Aqueduct in a couple of weeks

“I'll probably run him in a [second-level allowance] on April 2,” Handal said. “He's really fast and I think he's going to keep getting better. I told the owner after I ran him the first time that I think we can win stakes races with this horses. We'll find some spots for him down the road. Right now, I'll just run him against New York breds in these conditions and figure it out from there.”

Foolish Ghost, who made his debut in 2017, is 7-6-4 with earnings of $333,802 but has not started in a stakes yet. He was bred in New York by Pinnacle Farms and is owned by Ken Russell and Richard Newman Racing.

“He looks like he's in the prime of his career. He's impressive to look at and very imposing,” Handal said.

Perrine Time Thoroughbreds' Kansas Kis is doing well one week after running third in the six-furlong Correction at Aqueduct. The 4-year-old daughter of Constitution, who was making her first stakes appearance in 10 months, is 1-1-2 in her last four starts, compiling a consistent record of 2-4-4 in 13 career races dating to her third-place debut in August 2019 at the Spa.

Kansas Kis could be on target for the Grade 3, $150,000 Vagrancy Handicap on May 8 at Belmont, with Handal saying she could make another tune-up start before taking the step up in class.

“She's doing great. She's a tough cookie,” Handal said. “I was going to give her a refresher before that. We'll revisit it. The Vagrancy is the target but I may start her once before that. She's been running pretty regularly and pretty hard for the winter now, so I don't want to beat her up for the year. But if we can get this race in, it could be nice spacing into that stakes race.”

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Davis, Vargas Transported To Hospital, Filly Dies In Aqueduct Spill

Jockeys Dylan Davis and Jorge Vargas Jr. were transported to a local hospital and the first-time starter Kiss Me Dave perished in a ninth-race incident involving three horses on Saturday at Aqueduct racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

Vargas was aboard Kiss Me Dave for trainer Carla Morgan in the six-furlong maiden race for New York-breds when the 3-year-old filly by Palace fell approaching the far turn, sending Vargas to the ground. Tellaperfecttale, with Davis aboard, tripped over the stricken horse and a third rider, Nik Juarez was thrown when his mount, Maybe I Know swerved to avoid the accident. Juarez was not injured.

According to Keith McCalmont of the New York Racing Association media office, both Tellaperfecttale and Maybe I Know walked off. Kiss Me Dave was dead when veterinarians arrived on the scene.

McCalmont later posted an update on Twitter stating: “Per agent Mike Migliore, Dylan Davis incurred a broken clavicle and will be out indefinitely. Dylan is in good spirits & looks forward to returning to riding ASAP.” …”Vargas, Jr. still waiting on results per agent Jimmy Riccio, Jr.”

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