aqueduct | Horse Racing Free Tips

Nicky the Vest Becomes Runhappy’s First Stakes Winner With Gander Romp

Nicky the Vest, an impressive debut winner in December at Aqueduct, proved that no effort was no fluke with an authoritative romp in the New York-bred Gander S. Sunday at the Big A, becoming the first black-type winner for Claiborne Farm's Runhappy (by Super Saver) in the process.

Unveiled as an 11-2 proposition against Empire-bred foes over track and trip Dec. 18, the $110,000 OBS October grad shook off some early pace pressure and kicked away to a 3 1/4-length score. Hammered late to go off as the clear favorite here, the bay badgered frontrunning Lobsta through splits of :23.61 and :47.17 and poked his head in front passing the three-furlong pole. Creeping clear approaching the lane, he made a break for it three-sixteenths out and never faced an anxious moment from there, cruising home under wraps as a much-the-best winner. Lobsta, a full-brother to 2020 Gander winner Chowda, did well to hold the place in a three-way photo.

“We were very pleased with him. He trained that way leading up to it and it's always nice to see what you're seeing in the morning replicated in the afternoon,” said winning trainer Jonathan Thomas. “We felt we needed to get him out of there. His stamina is a key strength of his and we didn't want to get him in behind horses and have him take dirt. That's an unknown variable with him. We didn't want to do that today, so we planned on being aggressive.”

Asked about a potential start in the GIII Gotham S. Mar. 6 at Aqueduct, Thomas added, “Because we gave him 60 days between his maiden win and this start, I'd feel comfortable we could contemplate that. But we'll leave that up to the team.” Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

GANDER S., $100,000, Aqueduct, 2-14, (S), 3yo, 1m, 1:37.94, ft.
1–NICKY THE VEST, 118, c, 3, by Runhappy
1st Dam: Tazarine, by Cat Thief
2nd Dam: Doppio Espresso, by Java Gold
3rd Dam: Eastern Dawn, by Damascus
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. ($110,000 Ylg '19 OBSOCT). O-Robert V.
LaPenta; B-Highclere (NY); T-Jonathan Thomas; J-Kendrick
Carmouche. $55,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $93,500.
*1/2 to Moms Choice (Kitten's Joy), SP, $269,234. **First SW
for sophomore sire (by Super Saver).
2–Lobsta, 118, c, 3, Emcee–Salty Little Sis, by Chief Seattle.
O-Eddie F's Racing; B-Fedwell Farms (NY); T-Gary Sciacca.
$20,000.
3–Perfect Munnings, 123, c, 3, Munnings–Our Perfect Ten, by
Medaglia d'Oro. ($50,000 Ylg '19 SARAUG). O-JP Racing Stable;
B-Tammy & Robert Klimasewski (NY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.
$12,000.
Margins: 11 3/4, HF, NO. Odds: 1.15, 5.90, 2.65.
Also Ran: Dancing Buck, Horn of Plenty, Uno, Re Created.

The post Nicky the Vest Becomes Runhappy’s First Stakes Winner With Gander Romp appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

NYRA Offering Spring And Summer Incentives For Fair Hill, Oaklawn-Based Horses

The New York Racing Association (NYRA has announced the return of a shipping incentive program at Aqueduct Racetrack and Belmont Park for horsemen based at Fair Hill Training Center and Oaklawn Park.

Horses stabled in Fair Hill, in Elkton, Md., who register an official start during the Aqueduct spring meet, from April 1 through April 18, or during the Belmont spring/summer meet [from April 22 through July 11] will see their owners credited with an $800 shipping stipend, excluding stakes races.

A first-time starter must have their previous three workouts at Fair Hill to be eligible. NYRA reserves the right to determine eligibility for qualified starters, with each prospective horse needing to demonstrate a pattern of works at Fair Hill in order to ensure eligibility.

The Fair Hill incentive is complemented by “Ship & Win” programs for horses based at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark.

Horses that made their previous start at Oaklawn may be able to take advantage of a “Ship & Win” program, which includes a 30 percent purse bonus for their first start for horses who last ran at Oaklawn in 2021 before shipping to New York. NYRA will also provide a $1,500 stipend for a start during either the Aqueduct spring or Belmont spring/summer meets, excluding stakes races, for eligible horses.

First-time starters do not qualify for the Oaklawn Park program. NYRA reserves the right to determine eligibility of qualified starters.

For more information, please contact the racing office at 718-659-4241.

The post NYRA Offering Spring And Summer Incentives For Fair Hill, Oaklawn-Based Horses appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

NYRA to Reinstitute Fair Hill & Oaklawn Ship & Win Bonuses

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced Saturday that it will once again offer “Ship and Win” incentives for horses coming from Fair Hill Training Center or Oaklawn Park to race at Aqueduct or Belmont.

Owners of horses stabled at Fair Hill, in Elkton, Maryland who register an official start during the Aqueduct spring meet (Apr. 1 through Apr. 18), or during the Belmont spring/summer meet (Apr. 22 through July 11), will be credited with an $800 shipping stipend, excluding stakes races. First-time starters must have their three prior works at Fair Hill, and NYRA reserves the right to determine eligibility, with horses needing to demonstrate a pattern of Fair Hill works to qualify.

Horses who made their prior start at Oaklawn before racing at the same NYRA meets will race for a 30% purse bonus in their first qualifying start and will also be eligible for a $1500 stipend (excluding stakes horses). First-time starters shipping from Oaklawn do not qualify for the program.

For more information, contact the NYRA racing office at 718-659-4241.

The post NYRA to Reinstitute Fair Hill & Oaklawn Ship & Win Bonuses appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 Features Racing From Aqueduct, Tampa

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday featuring racing action from Aqueduct Racetrack and Tampa Bay Downs.

Live coverage will be available with America's Day at the Races on FOX Sports. Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 sequence are now available for download at https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/cross-country-wagers.

Kicking off the sequence in Race 7 [3:55 p.m.] at Aqueduct, Pristine Racing's Shamrocked will seek to make his first start for trainer Michael Miceli a winning one in a six-furlong $10,000 claiming event. The son of Trappe Shot was previously fifth for a $40,000 tag at the Big A and seeks his first triumph since July 2019. Shamrocked was made the 5-2 morning line favorite by NYRA oddsmaker David Aragona.

Action shifts to Tampa Bay Downs for the following leg, where a field of eight assemble for the $100,000 Pelican going six furlongs. Headlining the accomplished group is consistent sprinter Edgemont Road, who has won four of his last six starts, including a last out allowance victory over the Oldsmar oval. In his lone start against stakes company, the son of Speightstown was third to Sleepy Eyes Todd and next-out Grade 1-winner True Timber in the Lafayette on November 7 at Keeneland. Trainer Terri Pompay sends out graded stakes winner Cool Arrow, who seeks his first victory since winning the Grade 3 Smile Sprint on September 5 at Gulfstream Park two starts back. Carded as Race 9, the Pelican has a scheduled post time of 4:19 p.m.

Aqueduct hosts the middle leg [Race 8, 4:25 p.m.], which is a six-furlong allowance optional claiming tilt featuring graded stakes winner Happy Farm for trainer Linda Rice. The veteran son of Ghostzapper will spin back off a week's rest after winning on February 6 going six furlongs. LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stables' Secret Rules has never finished off the board in seven lifetime starts and will attempt to keep his consistent record intact for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

For the penultimate leg, a field of 10 fillies and mares, plus four also-eligible entrants, will go into line racing for a $16,000 tag over the Tampa Bay Downs turf in pursuit of their first career win. Breaking from the rail is owner-trainer Michael Laurato's C'Est Parti, who has shown improvement in her last pair of starts finishing a respective second and third for the same conditions and over the same course as Saturday's event. Carded as the finale of Tampa Bay Downs' 10-race program, the second to last leg will go off at 4:32 p.m.

The curtain closes on the sequence in the final race on Aqueduct's Saturday card [Race 9, 4:55 p.m.], where New York-breds seek a first career triumph for a $25,000 tag going six furlongs. The 7-2 morning line favorite for the event is Lord Camden for trainer Chris Englehart, who saw his best finish in eight lifetime starts last out when finishing second as the post time favorite on January 22 at Aqueduct.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available 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.

Cross Country Pick 5 – Saturday, February 13:
Leg A: Aqueduct-Race 7 (3:55 p.m.)
Leg B: Tampa Bay Downs-Race 9 $100K Pelican (4:19 p.m.)
Leg C: Aqueduct-Race 8 (4:25 p.m.)
Leg D: Tampa Bay Downs-Race 10 (4:32 p.m.)
Leg E: Aqueduct -Race 9 (4:55 p.m.)

The post Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 Features Racing From Aqueduct, Tampa appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post