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Franco Tests Positive for COVID-19

Jockey Manuel Franco tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday and will remain off his mounts until Sunday, Jan. 9. All members of the New York Racing Association jockey colony are vaccinated and adhere to established protocols. In addition, the jockey quarters at Aqueduct have been substantially altered to provide maximum physical distancing and reduce density. Franco has not experienced symptoms and was proactively tested because of standard contact tracing following the positive tests of jockeys Jorge Vargas, Jr. and Jalon Samuel Dec. 31. Vargas and Samuel will be permitted to ride Jan. 6, at Aqueduct provided they are asymptomatic following five days in isolation.

NYRA follows the most updated federal and state guidance regarding contact tracing, testing, required isolation, and quarantine. Accordingly, Franco will be permitted to return to competition Jan. 9, should he remain asymptomatic.

In accordance with New York City requirements, anyone seeking to enter Aqueduct Racetrack in any capacity must demonstrate proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Facemasks are always required on NYRA property.

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Manny Franco Off Mounts Through Jan. 9 After Testing Positive For COVID-19

ockey Manuel Franco tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday and will remain off his mounts until Sunday, Jan. 9, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced Wednesday.

All members of the NYRA jockey colony are vaccinated and adhere to established protocols. In addition, the jockey quarters at Aqueduct have been substantially altered to provide maximum physical distancing and reduce density.

Franco has not experienced symptoms and was proactively tested because of standard contact tracing following the positive tests of jockeys Jorge Vargas, Jr. and Jalon Samuel on Friday, Dec. 31.

Vargas and Samuel will be permitted to ride Thursday, Jan. 6, at Aqueduct provided they are asymptomatic following five days in isolation.

Live racing resumes Thursday at the Big A with an eight-race card. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

The post Manny Franco Off Mounts Through Jan. 9 After Testing Positive For COVID-19 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Falcone Giving Maiden Beauty Short Break After Quick Turnaround Win

Trainer Robert Falcone Jr. continued his hot streak when John Grossi's Racing Corp.'s Maiden Beauty notched a gate-to-wire victory off 11 days' rest in the $100,000 Bay Ridge on December 30 at Aqueduct in Ozone Park, N.Y.

Falcone has hit the board with nine of his last 10 starters dating back to December 11 at the Big A, posting a record of 4-3-2, including a pair of wins with Maiden Beauty along with scores by Hoopla and Castle Chaos.

The 28-year-old conditioner said he has the one-mile $100,000 Biogio's Rose for older New York-bred fillies and mares on March 6 at the Big A in mind for Maiden Beauty.

The 6-year-old Revolutionary bay mare was claimed by Falcone for $45,000 in June and made her first start for new connections when second in the restricted Saratoga Dew on August 12 at Saratoga. She arrived at the nine-furlong Bay Ridge off a one-turn mile allowance optional claiming win on December 19 at Aqueduct.

Falcone admitted some concern with the quick turnaround.

“It's always concerning, especially when you consider her past performances before I had her,” Falcone said. “She had never run back that quickly, but as long as they're eating up and doing well, which she was, you've got to take a shot sometimes. Even though it was quick back, she came out of the race really well.”

Falcone said the option of remaining around one turn at seven furlongs in today's La Verdad was possible but that the mare's front-running style suited the Bay Ridge. Six of Maiden Beauty's nine lifetime wins were captured when leading at every point of call, including her last four victories.

“There's a lot that goes into picking your spots, especially stakes,” Falcone said. “We had talked about it. When she gets to the lead, she gets so brave. We figured we had an easier time going a mile and an eighth, than seven eighths so that was a big factor.”

Because of the quick turnaround, Falcone said he will go easy on Maiden Beauty for the time being.

“I'll let her tell me,” Falcone said. “She ran quick back, so she'll get some time in between. Our main goal would be the Biogio's Rose from here, but she could run in February if it's the right time.”

Falcone spoke volumes of owner John Grossi, complimenting his knowledge and understanding of the sport of horse racing.

“He's one of those owners that knows and understands the game. He's intelligent and supports the game very heavily,” Falcone said. “He breeds some of his own horses, he claims horses. We went to California last year and he was game to do that. He's easy to work with and understands the whole game. He's a great guy, he brings his granddaughter around the barn and she loves it. It's great to see young people getting involved.”

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A Toast to Tapit’s Jerome Winner

The well-bred Courvoisier (Tapit), a narrow maiden winner at fourth asking at the Big A last time Dec. 2, picked up 10 points for the GI Kentucky Derby while securing his second straight win in Saturday's sloppy $150,000 Jerome S.

His third and second-place finishes in his first two starts respectively set the colt up for a move forward with the addition of blinkers Oct. 27 at Delaware Park, where he was caught late going a mile and lost by a nose. Stretching out to 1 1/8 miles for his final start as a 2-year-old at Aqueduct and coming off Lasix for the first time, he came through with yet another hard-fought effort, breaking his maiden by neck.

Cutting back to a mile here, he brushed Smarten Up after the start, and was promptly passed by Cooke Creek and an intent Hagler (Tapiture) went out to lead. Out pacing the former, the 4-1 shot glued himself to the frontrunner and the pair pushed each other through a :45.78 half. Coming to the top of the stretch, Jose Ortiz had already been riding the $600,000 Keeneland November graduate through most of the far turn and the colt continued to respond as the pair powered through the foggy final yards to deliver a career high.

“Right now, it looks like [Courvoisier] has a nice affinity for Aqueduct and in four more weeks is the [GIII] Withers [S. Feb. 5] going two turns,” said trainer Kelly Breen when asked about the nine-furlong Kentucky Derby point race. “We're excited for it because it's where we were pointing him. We didn't know if we were even going to run in the Jerome because we believe he is a two-turn horse.”

Courvoisier is his champion dam's first winner and black-type horse. On the track, said dam took the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and GI Starlet before retiring for a hotly anticipated second career as a broodmare. Take Charge Brandi brought $6 million from Hill 'n' Dale at 2015 KEENOV, was a $3.2 million buyback in 2019 at the same sale, and went through the star-studded Fasig-Tipton November ring last year for $1.15 million to Three Chimneys. Take Charge Brandi's unraced Take Charge Curlin (Curlin) went for $850,000 at 2018 Keeneland September, while Best Time (Tapit) missed his reserve after the last bid came up $775,000 in 2019 at the sale. She has a 2-year-old filly by Justify named Justly, a yearling filly by Quality Road ($450,000 FTKNOV graduate), and was bred to Uncle Mo for 2022.

JEROME S., $150,000, Aqueduct, 1-1, 3yo, 1m, 1:38.86, sy.
1–COURVOISIER, 118, c, 3, by Tapit
1st Dam: Take Charge Brandi (Ch. 2-year-old Filly,
MGISW, $1,692,126), by Giant's Causeway
2nd Dam: Charming, by Seeking the Gold
3rd Dam: Take Charge Lady, by Dehere
($600,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $275,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP).
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, Inc. (J.
Sikura) & James D. Spry; B-Elevage II, LLC & Hill 'n' Dale
Equine Holdings, Inc. (KY); T-Kelly J. Breen; J-Jose L. Ortiz.
$82,500. Lifetime Record: 5-2-2-1, $147,450.
2–Smarten Up, 118, c, 3, American Freedom–Sarah Cataldo, by
Smarty Jones. ($20,000 Ylg '20 OBSWIN; $50,000 2yo '21
OBSAPR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Happy Tenth Stable; B-A. Francis
& Barbara Vanlangendonck (FL); T-Alfredo Velazquez. $30,000.
3–Cooke Creek, 123, c, 3, Uncle Mo–Genre, by Bernardini.
O-Cheyenne Stable LLC; B-Candy Meadows LLC (KY);
T-Jeremiah O'Dwyer. $18,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 4.00, 21.30, 1.45.
Also Ran: Unbridled Bomber, Hagler, Mr Jefferson, Ohtwoohthreefive, Rumble Strip Ron. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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