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Risk Taking Adds to Big Day for Medaglia d’Oro in Withers

Klaravich Stables' Risk Taking (Medaglia d'Oro) added to a big Saturday afternoon for his leading sire, who just minutes earlier had been represented by promising GIII Las Virgenes S. winner Moonlight d'Oro, in Aqueduct's GIII Withers S.

Tracking from a midpack sixth as Jerome S. winner Capo Kane (Street Sense) showed the way through fractions of :24.02 and :48.71, the 9-5 favorite made his move on the outside along the home turn beneath Eric Cancel and blew away the frontrunner by midstretch to kick away an impressive 3 3/4-length winner.

Million-dollar KEESEP yearling Overtook (Curlin) did just that to Capo Kane late to grab second.

The Withers is a GI Kentucky Derby prep race awarding 10-4-2-1 points to the top-four finishers.

Risk Taking added blinkers and took a major step forward for a good-looking last out maiden victory at third asking over track and trip Dec. 13.

He finished seventh at 4-1 odds behind subsequent Pasco S. winner and GIII Sam F. Davis S. runner-up Nova Rags (Union Rags) sprinting in his Belmont debut Oct. 10, then switched to grass with an equally disappointing sixth-place finish going 1 1/16 miles over yielding going at Aqueduct Nov. 14.

“It's exciting to have a horse that can run a route of ground like this,” winning trainer Chad Brown said.

“He's always been one we thought highly of and even when Barry Eisaman had him in Ocala, he's always liked him. Everyone that's touched the horse has commented about how classy he was, the ability that he has and how he will get better with time and distance.”

On a potential next start in the GII Wood Memorial S. Apr. 3, Brown added, “We'll nominate him to everything, but my first reaction would be not to take him out of New York. He's thriving there right now, so leave it be. I would not cut the horse back in distance from here to the Derby under any circumstances. The most logical spot would be to train him up to the Wood, but I won't make that decision until we observe the horse and I have a chance to over it with the owner, Seth Klarman.”

Pedigree Notes:

Leading sire list stalwart Medaglia d'Oro secured his second new graded winner in approximately 30 minutes when Risk Taking and Moonlight d'Oro scored on opposite coasts to bring his lifetime total to 76. They are two of their sire's five black-type winners of 2021 and 148 in his career. The nick of Medaglia d'Oro over a Distorted Humor mare has been nothing short of sensational, as the two have paired for a remarkable seven graded winners, including current Hong Kong star Golden Sixty (Aus), MGISW Elate, Breeders' Cup winner New Money Honey, MGSW Mrs McDougal, and now Risk Taking. The latter is the first stakes winner for his dam, who produced a colt and filly, respectively, the last two years by Gun Runner and who was bred back to Arrogate. A 2021 foal by the late Arrogate, one of Distorted Humor's best runners out of his daughters, would be inbred 3×2 to that veteran WinStar stallion. Run a Risk is a half-sister to three black-type winners (two graded) from the immediate family of MGSW & MGISP King Cugat (Kingmambo), but even more notable is her exceptional third dam, the great Phipps mare Con Game (Buckpasser). Con Game produced MGISW and leading sire Seeking the Gold (Mr. Prospector), GISW and sire Fast Play (Seattle Slew), and GSW & MGISP Stacked Pack (Majestic Light). Con Game herself was a half-sister to champion Queen of the Stage (Bold Ruler) and to Reviewer (Bold Ruler), sire of the immortal Ruffian.

Saturday, Aqueduct
WITHERS S.-GIII, $250,000, Aqueduct, 2-6, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:51.91, ft.
1–RISK TAKING, 118, c, 3, by Medaglia d'Oro
1st Dam: Run a Risk (MSP, $205,744), by Distorted Humor
2nd Dam: Commodities, by Private Account
3rd Dam: Tricky Game, by Majestic Light
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($240,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Klaravich Stables Inc; B-G Watts Humphrey (KY); T-Chad C Brown; J-Eric Cancel. $137,500. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-0, $182,530. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Overtook, 118, c, 3, Curlin–Got Lucky, by A.P. Indy. ($1,000,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, Michael B Tabor, Mrs John Magnier & Derrick Smith; B-Hill 'N' Dale Equine Holdings Inc & Philip J Steinberg (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher. $50,000.
3–Capo Kane, 120, c, 3, Street Sense–Twirl Me, by Hard Spun. ($35,000 Ylg '19 KEEJAN; $75,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP; $87,000 RNA 2yo '20 OBSMAR; $26,000 2yo '20 EASMAY). O-Bing Cherry Racing Inc & Leonard Liberto; B-Rising Star Farm LLC (CA); T-Harold Wyner. $30,000.
Margins: 3 3/4, 1 1/4, 4 3/4. Odds: 1.90, 9.40, 3.10.
Also Ran: Royal Number, Eagle Orb, Civil War, Donegal Bay, Shackqueenking, Mr. Doda.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Katie Davis Says NYRA Racing Office Discouraging Trainers From Riding Her

Jockey Katie Davis has alleged that the NYRA racing office has been telling trainers not to ride her because of a New York State Gaming Commission rule that requires that horses running in the same race ridden by a husband and a wife must be coupled. Davis recently married Trevor McCarthy and both are riding at Aqueduct this winter.

Because of the rule, any time McCarthy and Davis compete in the same race there is one less betting interest than normal because of the Gaming Commission rule. The TDN estimates that, on average, each time the coupling rule goes into effect, NYRA loses about $90,000 in handle because of the loss of a betting interest.

“Maybe two weeks after I started here, trainers were starting to tell me they wanted to name me on a horse,” she said. “They'd say, 'It's not me, it's the racing office.' They've been telling trainers if they name me on a horse the race won't go. You've got the racing office convincing trainers that if they really want a race to go they had better name someone else.”

Davis said she has heard the same story from several trainers.

“I've heard this from a lot of the trainers, pretty much everybody I ride for,” she said.

“I understand there is a horse shortage and the racing office is doing its best to put together a card, but they shouldn't do it at the expense of someone's career. That isn't right,” said Davis' agent, Mike Monroe.

Through spokesperson Pat McKenna, NYRA denied Davis's allegations.

“These accusations are completely false and without merit,” McKenna said. “In fact, NYRA has consistently advocated for modernized rules regarding coupled entries in New York state and we will continue to do so for the benefit of New York racing as a whole.”

Davis and McCarthy, who were married in mid-December, came to New York after riding in Maryland and were unaware of the Gaming Commission rule. Starting Jan. 1, the Gaming Commission began to enforce the rule regarding married riders. Through Feb. 5, McCarthy has had 12 winners at the meet from 122 mounts. Davis has gone just one for 43. She picked up her first winner Friday, one race after crossing the wire first only to get taken down by the stewards for interference. Their ruling came after her brother, Dylan Davis, claimed foul against her. Horses ridden by siblings, like brothers Irad and Jose Ortiz, do not have to be coupled.

Davis said she has no intention of returning to Maryland.

“Trevor and I have decided to stick together and not let these people walk all over us,” she said. “It's not fair. I'm just trying to make a living and there's no reason for me to stop riding here.”

Davis has hired an attorney, who has asked the Gaming Commission to issue an emergency rule rescinding the current rule covering married riders.

In a letter sent to Robert Williams, the executive director of the New York State Gaming Commission, lawyer William Gotimer Jr. wrote: “This rule has added to the many difficulties female riders face in pursuit of their careers and should be rectified. Due to application of this anachronistic rule Ms. Davis must make a choice between entering into the Constitutionally protected state of matrimony and furthering her career. This is not something that should be mandated by a government agency.”

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Winter Storm Warning Forces Shift of Sunday Card to Monday at Aqueduct

The New York Racing Association, Inc. has moved the entirety of Sunday's live racing program at Aqueduct Racetrack to Monday due a winter storm slated to impact the New York metropolitan area throughout the day on Sunday.

The National Weather Service (NWS), which aligns with NYRA's independent weather services, is calling for heavy snow with accumulation of 5 to 9 inches as well as wind chill values between 20 and 25 for the downstate New York region on Sunday.

As a result, NYRA has moved Sunday's eight-race card to Monday in the interest of the safety of all participants. Monday's card is highlighted by the $100,000 Ruthless S., a seven-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies. First post is 1:20 p.m. Eastern.

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With Storm On Horizon, NYRA Moves Aqueduct Sunday Card To Monday

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has moved the entirety of Sunday's live racing program at Aqueduct Racetrack to Monday due a winter storm slated to impact the New York metropolitan area throughout the day on Sunday.

As a result, NYRA has moved Sunday's eight-race card to Monday in the interest of the safety of all participants. Monday's card is highlighted by the $100,000 Ruthless, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies. First post is 1:20 p.m. Eastern.

For additional information on the 2020-21 winter meet at Aqueduct, as well as a complete stakes schedule, visit NYRA.com.

The post With Storm On Horizon, NYRA Moves Aqueduct Sunday Card To Monday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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