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Whip Rules: Monmouth Asks New Jersey Commission To Consider Changes Ahead Of HISA Implementation

Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., is currently scheduled to open on May 7 with the strictest whip rules in the country: jockeys will only be allowed to use the whip for safety reasons. However, whip rules under the new federal Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, scheduled to go into effect on July 1, will allow jockeys to use the whip six times during a single race, but not more than twice in succession.

According to the Asbury Park Press, Monmouth officials have asked the New Jersey Racing Commission to implement HISA's version of the whip rules for the entirety of the 2022 race meet.

“I think we have a very good chance of getting this done,” Dennis Drazin, chairman and CEO of Darby Development, which operates Monmouth Park, told APP. “It doesn't make sense to have different rules to start the meet and switch midstream.”

Unfortunately, the commission may not be able to adopt the new rule in time for the start of Monmouth's meet. Instead, Monmouth may be allowed to institute a “house rule” that matches that of the new HISA regulation.

The only downside is that the stewards, employed by the commission, would not be able to enforce the whip rule. Instead, that task would fall to the placing judges and racing secretary John Heims.

Authentic’s Foal Derby: Blue-Blooded Colts Square Off In Week 8 Matchup

The first foals by Spendthrift Farm's Horse of the Year Authentic have begun to arrive, and to celebrate, Spendthrift is hosting a “Foal Derby” to share photos of the stallion's debut crop and reward breeders and fans with prizes.

Each week leading up to the Kentucky Derby, a group of Authentic's foals will be displayed on Spendthrift Farm's social media channels. The two foals with the most likes and shares will face off in the finals each Friday to decide the favorite. Both finalists will then be among 20 horses eligible to win the grand prizes, based on the results of this year's Kentucky Derby. Voters will also be eligible for weekly prizes.

To learn more about the rules and prizes for both breeders and voters, click here.

Authentic, a 5-year-old son of Into Mischief, stands at Spendthrift Farm for an advertised fee of $70,000. He was named Horse of the Year in 2020, following a campaign that saw him earn Grade 1 victories in the Kentucky Derby, Breeders' Cup Classic, and Haskell Stakes.

A pair of colts with pages full of Grade 1 black type go head-to-head in this week's matchup of finalists, one of which comes from a breeding program quite familiar to the sire.

Click here to vote on the Week 8 finalists. Voting is also available on Spendthrift's Facebook and Twitter feeds.

Let's take a look at this week's finalists…

Foal: Colt o/o Inspired

Bred by: Peter Blum

Click here to cast your vote on Facebook.

The eighth foal out of the stakes-winning Unbridled's Song mare Inspired, and a half-brother to stakes-placed Night Time Lady. Grade 1 winners Well Chosen and Leofric are in the colt's extended family, as well as Grade 3 winner Major General, who is a contender on this year's Triple Crown trail.

It's a notable mating for Blum's program, which also produced Authentic himself in 2017.

Foal: colt o/o Classic Strike

Bred by: Three Chimneys Farm and Clearsky Farm

Click here to cast your vote on Facebook.

The 11th foal out of the winning Smart Strike mare Classic Strike, a top producer whose foals include Grade 1 winner Union Strike, Grade 2 winner Handsome Mike, stakes winner Pretty Lady, and stakes-placed Classic Sense.

“He's a really nice foal,” said Clearsky Farm's Barry Robinette. “The mare's done a great job of having some foals in the past. This one's a nice physical.

“It fit her well pedigree-wise,” Robinette said about the cross with Authentic. “He's a nice-looking stallion. We've had three Authentics this year, and they've all been nice horses, so he's getting the product on the ground. The combination made it a no-brainer.”

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NY Lawmakers OK Accelerated Timeframe For Casinos

State lawmakers in New York have approved a schedule that speeds up the siting of three Las Vegas-style casinos in New York City or nearby communities, bloodhorse.com reports.

The world's top gambling companies most likely will scramble to submit bids as they seek a stake in the highly profitable market, including the operators of the video lottery terminals at Aqueduct and MGM, operator of VLTs at Yonkers Raceway.

In a major victory for New York's horse racing lobby, the state's new budget, approved April 9, holds financial protections ensuring there is no reduction or elimination of revenue-sharing payments from VLT operators if their facilities secure a casino license.

“Overall fan interest and engagement with New York racing has never been stronger, and the consistent support expressed by lawmakers in Albany will only further the sport's role as an engine for economic opportunity that creates jobs in every corner of the state,” New York Racing Association Vice President of Communications Patrick McKenna said in a statement to the publication.

Joseph, Saez Secure Gulfstream’s Championship Meet Titles

Fresh off saddling White Abarrio for a victory in Saturday's $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. was able to celebrate his first Championship Meet Title at Gulfstream Park Sunday.

Joseph closed out the 2021-2022 Championship Meet with 58 winners, 12 victories ahead of Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, the defending 18-time titlist.

“Most definitely the Florida Derby was the icing on the cake. The Championship Meet title also means a lot. I grew up watching Todd my while life. He's dominated for 18 years now. I'm 35 now. To take over from him after 18 years, I can't put into words what it means,” Joseph said. “I would just watch Todd win and dominate. He's a role model for any trainer who wants to look up to someone.”

Luis Saez reclaimed the Championship Meet riding title that had been held by Irad Ortiz Jr. for the past three years. Saez won back-to-back titles in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018.

Saez rode 122 during the 2021-2022 Championship Meet, 28 wins more than Tyler Gaffalione, whose winning mount aboard White Abarrio was one of five victories on Saturday's card.

“It's something very big for us. Florida is like home. It's the first place we came to,” said the 29-year-old Panamanian. “The third time is very special to us.”

Gulfstream Park's Spring/Summer Royal Palm Meet will get underway Thursday with an eight-race program with a 1:05 p.m. (ET) first-race post time.

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