Churchill Downs | Horse Racing Free Tips

Grade 1 Winner Arklow Returns In Saturday’s Louisville Stakes

Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger and the Estate of Peter Conway's Grade 1-winning turf specialist Arklow is set to return from a nearly six-month break in Saturday's 84th running of the $150,000 Louisville Stakes (Grade 3) at Churchill Downs.

Saturday's Louisville Stakes, run at 1 ½ miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course, is the featured event on the 11-race program. First post is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) and the Louisville will go as the finale at 5:58 p.m. A simulcast of the $1 million Preakness Stakes (G1) – the second leg of horse racing's Triple Crown – follows at 6:47 p.m.

Trained by 2020 Eclipse Award-winning conditioner Brad Cox, Arklow has been off since winning November's $200,000 Hollywood Turf Cup (G2) at Del Mar. The now 7-year-old son of Arch has recorded eight lifetime victories through 31 starts with earnings topping a stout $2.66 million. Arklow has one victory over the Matt Winn Turf Course four years ago in the American Turf (G2).

Jockey Florent Geroux, who has been aboard Arklow for 16 previous starts, has the call from post No. 10.

With a victory Saturday, trainer Kenny McPeek would tie Bill Mott for the most victories in the Louisville Stakes with six. McPeek entered Lucky Seven Stable's stakes winner Crafty Daddy along with Walking L Thoroughbreds' three-time winner Fighting Seabee.

Mott hopes to extend his lead with Trinity Farm's $150,000 Elkhorn (G3) winner Red Knight. The 7-year-old gelded son of Pure Prize finished second to Arklow in last year's $1 million Kentucky Turf Cup (G3) at Kentucky Downs.

The complete field for the Louisville from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Artemus Eagle (Gabriel Saez, Waylon Cundiff); Imperador (ARG) (Joe Talamo, Paolo Lobo); Spooky Channel (Francisco Arrieta, Jason Barkley); Strong Tide (Marcelino Pedroza, Mike Lauer); Fantasioso (ARG) (Julien Leparoux, Ignacio Correas IV); Jais's Solitude (Declan Cannon, Eddie Kenneally); Red Knight (James Graham, Mott); Fighting Seabee (Chris Landeros, McPeek); Monarchs Glen (GB) (Adam Beschizza, Mike Maker); Arklow (Geroux, Cox); Ajourneytofreedom (Tyler Gaffalione, Maker); Bakers Bay (Corey Lanerie, Shug McGaughey); Crafty Daddy (Brian Hernandez, McPeek); and Admiralty Pier (Drayden Van Dyke, Barbara Minshall).

Wagering is available online at www.TwinSpires.com, the official ADW of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

Racing beneath the Twin Spires returns Thursday with a special late post of 5 p.m. for Twilight Thursday presented by Blue Moon. Fans can enjoy the eight-race card while sipping on $1 select domestic beer and $1 Blue Moon draft. The evening also features live music, food trucks and more. General admission, which includes a program, is $5 and can be purchased online at www.churchilldowns.com/tickets.

Live racing will continue Friday-Sunday with first posts of 12:45 p.m. For more information about the Spring Meet, visit https://www.churchilldowns.com/calendar/featured-events/.

The post Grade 1 Winner Arklow Returns In Saturday’s Louisville Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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KY Shippers To Maryland Won’t Face Return Restrictions

Kentucky-based horses that ship to Maryland for this week's GI Preakness S. and supporting races will no longer face health-related return restrictions when they try to re-enter the state, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture announced Monday.

According to a press release issued by the agency, “Effective Monday, May 10, [the] Office of State Veterinarian rescinds restrictions on horses originating from both Pimlico and Laurel. All horses from these facilities that meet the standard health requirements for Kentucky tracks and training centers (including EHV1 vaccination, 72-hour Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, and valid negative EIA test) will be allowed unrestricted entry.”

In the wake of the equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) outbreak in Maryland that began in early March, Kentucky had restricted the movement of horses stabled at either Laurel or Pimlico, requiring prior approval from the state veterinarian as a condition of re-entry.

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Zedan Stands by Baffert

Amr Zedan, the Saudi Arabian businessman who owns Medina Spirit (Protonico), said Sunday that he believes Bob Baffert is innocent of any wrongdoing in this year's GI Kentucky Derby and will stand behind his trainer.

Baffert informed the media Sunday that Medina Spirit tested positive for the medication Betamethasone, a corticosteroid, after crossing the wire in front in this year's Derby.

“I totally support and believe Bob Baffert,” Zedan told the TDN. “He is a professional beyond belief and he has never administered this drug to this horse at all. Medina Spirit has never been treated with this drug and we hope that the split sample will definitely prove that. Bob Baffert has my support, 100%.”

Zedan said he was confident that Baffert will be exonerated and Medina Spirit will remain the official winner of the 2021 Derby.

“This story does not add up,” Zedan said. “I know Bob Baffert as a human being and as a friend and I trust him. I trust him blindly. This will go away and, hopefully, Medina Spirit will get reaffirmed as the 2021 Kentucky Derby winner.”

Should Medina Spirit be disqualified, Zedan will lose the $1,860,000 in purse money that goes to the winner of this year's Derby.

During a news conference he held at Churchill Downs, Baffert said he is not a “conspiracy theorist,” but, at the same time, questioned why he keeps getting positives. The implication was that he had done nothing wrong and that the system is flawed.

“I know one thing for sure, when you are that successful you create a lot of animosity,” Zedan said. “And a lot of issues get stirred up. I am not a believer in conspiracy theories. But this is a tax one pays for being that successful. There is absolutely no upside for anybody to do this. There was no reason to do this. He just finished up with whatever happened in Arkansas, where he was exonerated.”

Zedan said he had no plans to take any legal action of his own.

“I will leave it to Baffert,” he said. “He will take the lead on this. I am very much looking forward to being at the Preakness. I think he will make us proud in the Preakness and show everyone what a great horse he is. This, too, shall pass.”

Zedan has owned horses since 2017 and started off with Doug O'Neill. He had little success until sending his horses to Baffert in 2020. In addition to Medina Spirit, Baffert and Zedan teamed up to win the 2020 GI Del Mar Debutante and GI Chandelier S. with Princess Noor (Not This Time).

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Gun Runner Gets First Winner at Churchill

Well-bred Red Run (Gun Runner) ran to 3-5 backing Sunday in the Churchill Downs slop to become the first winner for his freshman sire (by Candy Ride {Arg}). Sporting the same Winchell silks that near $16-million earner and fellow Steve Asmussen pupil Gun Runner did, the chestnut broke in midpack and was ridden along to track from third as second timer Trebbiano (Connect) showed the way. One of several pursuers revving up behind the pacesetter heading for home, Red Run mounted his three-wide bid in upper stretch and outkicked a stubborn Trebbiano late to prevail by 1 3/4 lengths in :59.22. A very green Woodline (Gun Runner) rounded out the trifecta.

Red Run is the first foal out of an unraced full-sister to his connections' champion 3-year-old filly and GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Untapable (Tapit), as well as GISW Paddy O'Prado (El Prado {Ire}). Dam Red House produced another Gun Runner colt last March and was bred back to Copper Bullet for 2021.

Gun Runner, the 2017 Horse of the Year who stands at Three Chimneys–which co-campaigned him–was the leading first-crop sire by yearling average last year at $246,413. He has also led freshmen with more than one sold by 2-year-old sales average this term ($372,000), including a $1.7-million colt at Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream and an $850,000 colt at OBS April.

3rd-Churchill Downs, $99,058, Msw, 5-9, 2yo, 5f, :59.22, sy, 1 3/4 lengths.
RED RUN (c, 2, Gun Runner–Red House, by Tapit) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $57,488. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O/B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.

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