A few items that stand out after sifting through Friday's “Pimlico Plus” report issued by the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (MTROA). The ambitious $400-million plan, which is subject to legislative approval, re-imagines the state's racing consolidated at one publicly funded track in Baltimore, the closure of Laurel Park, the construction of a new training facility in the state, and 1/ST Racing and Gaming ceding control of day-to-day Maryland racing to a non-profit entity.

Triple Crown traditionalists who are already in a tizzy about the GI Belmont S. needing to relocate to Saratoga Race Course and change its distance for 2024 because of the complete overhaul of Belmont Park had better brace for a radically nomadic renewal the sport's signature series in 2025.

If the proposed re-imagining of Pimlico Race Course gets green-lighted by the Maryland legislature as per the MTROA's desired timetable, and if the New York Racing Association (NYRA) confirms the expected Belmont-at-Saratoga festival again for next year, the 2025 series of spring Classics could feature the GI Kentucky Derby run per usual at Churchill Downs, followed by the GI Preakness S. at Laurel Park (the placeholder host during Pimlico's reconstruction), and the Belmont S. at Saratoga for the second season in a row (at the truncated distance of 10 furlongs because NYRA doesn't want to start what is traditionally a 12-furlong race on the Spa's far turn).

Even assuming that a modernized Belmont Park is ready to take back its namesake stakes in 2026, the Maryland time frame still has Pimlico's construction ongoing through at least that year, meaning the earliest return to Triple Crown normalcy, in terms of host tracks and race distances, could be 2027.

In addition, the 150th running of the Preakness will occur in 2025, but the festivities will likely be muted because of the temporary move. The anniversary will certainly be recognized, but don't expect a Preakness-at-Laurel celebration to have the same cachet Churchill will enjoy this year when it unveils long-planned facility upgrades and partners with the city of Louisville for an extended Derby 150 bash. It will be tough for whoever controls the rights to the Preakness to take advantage of the historical hoopla associated with its big anniversary if the race gets moved to temporary digs 28 miles south of Baltimore.

The Preakness is only one day, but the turf racing season in Maryland usually lasts for more than six months. Consolidating racing at Pimlico will mean limiting grass racing to one smaller course that won't get much of a break during the sweltering summer months.

    When Laurel's expanded turf course opened in 2005, it was billed as a game-changer for Maryland racing, and it has proven to be an investment that paid off handsomely in terms of delivering more grass opportunities, boosting field sizes and generating handle.

While Pimlico's existing (and proposed new) turf course is seven furlongs in circumference, roughly the same as Laurel's (seven furlongs and 254 feet), the key difference is width–Pimlico's existing/proposed width will remain at 70 feet according to the MTROA report, while Laurel's is a generous 142 feet wide, allowing for the ability to move portable rails out 17, 35, 53, 70 and 87 feet to provide six different running lanes.

Just last month, the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (MTHA) issued a press release that underscored how the “Laurel turf is integral not only to the Maryland racing product but the overall mid-Atlantic racing product.”

According to the MTHA's count, in 2023 Laurel ran 273 turf races, the most since 2019 and the highest number among all racetracks in the mid-Atlantic region. Average field size for the course was 9.2 horses per race over six-plus months of usage, while the average field size for dirt races at Laurel between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30 was only 6.8.

Pimlico, which conducted short meets in May/June and September 2023, ran 72 grass races, giving Maryland access to 345 in-state turf events. But the actual number of turf races at Pimlico isn't as important as the break its meets afford Laurel's course, which had shown signs of strain in previous years when Pimlico didn't run during the summer.

Pimlico's ability to carry on Maryland's reputation as a strong grass-racing state is dubious given the course's size and a calendar that will give it a summer break only when the Timonium fair is in session at the end of August and early September.

The turf course at Colonial Downs is 180 feet wide and 180 miles south of Pimlico. Over the course of a 27-date 2023 summer meet, the Virginia track ran 213 turf races, the second-highest in the region, according to the MTHA's numbers.

To Maryland, Colonial looms as a horse-siphoning threat in both the short term (for the several years Laurel will race almost non-stop while Pimlico gets rebuilt) and over the long term, when Pimlico takes over with a turf course that isn't as expansive or versatile as the one it's replacing.

Whether Pimlico's main track and turf course remain in their existing locations or get rotated to better fit within the redesigned property's footprint (both options are outlined by the MTROA), one of the report's “Guiding Principles” states that “The dirt track shall be engineered to be 'synthetic-ready' allowing the quick and economical transition from dirt cushion to a synthetic cushion.” The proposed new training facility is also supposed to have this “synthetic ready” infrastructure in place.

Wanting both Pimlico and Maryland's new training center to have the option of switching over from dirt to a synthetic surface in the future seems to be a good idea from a planning perspective, because it's unknown at this point if a federal mandate requiring synthetics might be in the pipeline from the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act Authority. But claiming that having such infrastructure is going to position Maryland to be able to “quickly and economically” pivot from one surface to the other understates the difficulty of taking on this sort of after-the-fact conversion.

More than two decades of synthetic-surface history in North America has shown that making a switch is, by its very nature, neither fast nor cheap.

When Woodbine Racetrack changed from Polytrack to Tapeta during the winter of 2015-16, the work took three months, was purposely scheduled for the offseason, and had to include a settling-in period before horses were allowed on it. Turfway Park made the same surface switch in 2020, but had the luxury of an April-to-November time window between race meets to get the project done properly. To a certain degree, both those tracks were “synthetic ready” because they were switching from Polytrack to Tapeta. The cost for each project was measured in seven digits.

Can you imagine if “Pimlico Plus” reopened in 2027 with a dirt surface, and at some point soon after that the entity running the operation decided Maryland's only racing venue needed to cease racing for a while in order to switch over to synthetic?

By all means, build the base and its infrastructure to the best possible standards with a focus on safety. But if a synthetic surface is in Pimlico's future, decide on that right from the outset without making it seem like a subsequent change from dirt could realistically be “quickly and economically” accomplished.

When Laurel closed for five months in 2021 to replace its main dirt track with an entirely new dirt surface, Maryland racing had Pimlico to fall back on so racing on the circuit wouldn't go dark. If Pimlico becomes the state's sole Thoroughbred track, there will be no Plan B for Maryland racing if it needs to repair or switch surfaces.

The post ‘Pimlico Plus’ Concerns: Roving Preakness, Future Of Turf Racing, Synthetic Readiness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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After all summer fighting in Saratoga with so much competition there, I think my biggest win was the GIII Virginia Derby with Integration for Shug McGaughey. That brightened up my summer and he got to come do it again at Aqueduct [in the GII Hill Prince S.] and I'm looking forward to staying on that horse in the future.

–Kendrick Carmouche, jockey

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The winner of Churchill's $500,000 GII Edgewood S., contested on the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 3, will receive an entry and travel incentive to run in the G1 Betfred Oaks at Epsom May 31.

In the colt's division, a runner from the $500,000 GII American Turf S., scheduled for Kentucky Derby Day May 4, will receive an entry and travel incentive to the June 1 Betfred Derby.

The Jockey Club and Ascot Racecourse have also coordinated with Churchill to offer wild card entries to a pair of Royal Ascot fixtures. A runner from the $500,000 GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint S., also run on Kentucky Derby Day, will receive an entry and a travel incentive to run in the G1 King Charles III S. (formerly the King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot June 18. Additionally, a runner from the $1-million GI Old Forester Turf Classic S., contested on Kentucky Derby Day, will receive an entry and a travel incentive to run in either the G1 Queen Anne S. June 18 or the G1 Prince of Wales's S., held June 19, both staged during the Royal meeting.

In return for the above incentives for U.S.-based runners, a runner from both the Queen Anne and the Prince of Wales's will receive an entry and a travel incentive to run in Colonial Downs' $1-million GI Arlington Million S. over 10 furlongs in mid-August.

Also, a runner from the G1 Tattersalls Falmouth S. at Newmarket's July Festival July 12 will also receive an entry and travel incentive to run in the $500,000 GI Beverly D S. on the same day as the Colonial Downs Arlington Million.

Winners of the aforementioned races will receive the invite to run in the corresponding races across the Atlantic. However, in the event that the winners aren't able to accept, racecourses may then also invite placed horses. The elimination procedures in these races will remain as they are now.

“A trip to Churchill Downs is one that should be on the bucket list for every racing fan, the world over,” said Matt Woolston, Assistant Racing and International Racing Director at The Jockey Club. “The Kentucky Derby itself can trace its origin back to Epsom Downs in 1780 when Diomed won the very first Derby and we are proud to reinforce this historic link.

“These historic races already have an international reputation and we want to welcome more and more international runners in the years to come.”

For more information, click here.

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Like last season, the New Kent site will race three days per week, Thursday through Saturday.

“The success of the 2023 meet, which brought weekend racing back to Colonial Downs, was a credit to the tremendous support here in Virginia from the owners, trainers, horseplayers, hard-working staff and partners,” said Senior Director of Racing Operations Frank Hopf. “We're excited to build upon the momentum and look forward to a tremendous 2024 season.”

The Festival of Racing including the GI Arlington Million S. is slated for Saturday, Aug. 10. The GIII Virginia Derby will anchor the closing day card on Saturday, Sept. 7. The entire stakes schedule for the 2024 season will be made available in the coming weeks.

The 2023 season offered more than $650,000 per day in purses and boasted an average of 8.19 starters per race. Average daily handle was $2,658,028. Purse money for the 2024 season is expected to be nearly $700,000 per day.

The post Colonial Downs Dates Approved For 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.

The TDN also posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from the same week. These include decisions from around the country.

California
Track: Del Mar
Date: 09/10/2023
Licensee: Antonio Fresu, jockey
Penalty: One-day suspension
Violation: Exceeding number of designated race rides
Explainer: Jockey Antonio Fresu is suspended for 1 additional suspension day (October 14, 2023) pursuant to California Horse Racing Board rule #1766 (Designated Races – participated in more than one designated race on September 9, 2023).

NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS
The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit's “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

This does not include the voided claim rulings which were sent to the TDN directly. Some of these rulings are from prior weeks as they were not reported contemporaneously.

One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race.

Violations of Crop Rule
Colonial Downs
Ismerio Villalobos – violation date Sept 8; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling

Horseshoe Indianapolis
Miguel Angel Perez – violation date Sept 6; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling
Richard Edgardo Eramia – violation date Sept 6; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling

Remington Park
Jane Pamela Elliott – violation date Sept 5; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling

Pending ADMC Violations
Date: 08/17/2023
Licensee: Norm Casse, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged Violation: Intra-articular injection
Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314–Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method–on the horse, Mo Flight. This is also a possible violation of Rule 4222–Intra-Articular Injections Within Seven (7) Days of Timed and Reported Workout.

Date: 08/13/2023
Licensee: Jennifer Nunnally, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone–Controlled Medications (Class C)–in a sample taken from Seraphimzale. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 08/12/2023
Licensee: Robert Klesaris, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone–Controlled Medications (Class C)–in a sample taken from Battalion, who won at Laurel Park on 8/12/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 08/10/2023
Licensee: Carlos Lopez, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged Violation: Intra-articular injection
Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3313–Use or Attempted Use of a ControlledMedication Method and/or Controlled Medication Substance during the Race Period–on the horse, I said Hey. This is also a possible violation of Rule 4221–Alkalinization or Use of an Alkalinizing Agent (TCO2)

Date: 08/10/2023
Licensee: Carlos Lopez, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged Violation: Intra-articular injection
Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3313–Use or Attempted Use of a ControlledMedication Method and/or Controlled Medication Substance during the Race Period–on the horse, Brodytheoxman. This is also a possible violation of Rule 4221–Alkalinization or Use of an Alkalinizing Agent (TCO2)

Date: 08/08/2023
Licensee: Michael Pappada, trainer
Penalty: Provisionally suspended
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Tapentadol–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Truckin Tommy, who finished third at Presque Isle Downs on 8/8/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212–Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

Date: 08/06/2023
Licensee: Cesar De Alba, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Dexamethasone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Scary Fast Smile, who finished seventh at Del Mar on 8/6/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of a Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List Workout).

Date: 08/04/2023
Licensee: Devarus Douglass, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone–Controlled Medications (Class C)–in a sample taken from Pickle Feet. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 08/04/2023
Licensee: Jaime Cruz, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Detomidine–Controlled Medications (Class B)–in a sample taken from Animal Princess, who finished third at Delaware Park on 8/4/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 08/03/2023
Licensee: James Toner, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone–Controlled Medications (Class C)–in a sample taken from Commandeer, who won at Colonial Downs on 8/3/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 07/18/2023
Licensee: Jeffrey Englehart, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Acepromazine–Controlled Medications (Class B)–in a sample taken from Wait A Minute. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 07/14/2023
Licensee: Carla Gaines, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Acepromazine–Controlled Medications (Class B)–in a sample taken from Summer Lake. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 07/01/2023
Licensee: Domenick Schettino, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Levamisole–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Fast Study, who finished second at Belmont Park on 7/1/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 06/18/2023
Licensee: Chris Allen Hartman, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Acepromazine–Controlled Medications (Class B)–in a sample taken from Necker Island, who won at Ellis Park on 6/18/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Resolved ADMC Violations
Date: 08/04/2023
Licensee: Jorge Maravilla, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility, beginning on September 12, 2023; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points.
Explainer: For the presence of Gabapentin–Controlled Medications (Class B)–in a sample taken from Stretch Run, who finished seventh at Santa Rosa on 8/4/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 07/29/2023
Licensee: Andy Mathis, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of the Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a $500 fine; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points.
Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone–Controlled Medications (Class C)–in a sample taken from Like No Other, who finished eighth at Del Mar on 7/29/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

Date: 07/13/2023
Licensee: Christophe Clement, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points.
Explainer: For the presence of Dantrolene–Controlled Medications (Class C)–in a sample taken from My Royal Vow. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

Date: 07/09/2023
Licensee: Jackie Riddle, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of the Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a $500 fine; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points.
Explainer: For the presence of Methocarbamol–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Drinkroundthetruth, who finished second at Ruidoso Downs on 7/9/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

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Seeing Green At The Seaside

The Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, McLean Racing Stables and Michael Nentwig's Zona Verde (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) graduated at Del Mar in her U.S. debut on Friday (video).

Bred by Knockainey Stud, the 30,000gns Tattersalls October Book 3 buy-back raced in their purple-and-gold-checked silks for her first four starts, which were good for a pair of placings. Transferred from the yard of Ken Condon to Phil D'Amato, the second foal out of the winning Dark Angel (Ire) mare Namibie (GB) is a half-sister to a pair of colts–a yearling by Earthlight (Ire) and a weanling by Waldgeist (GB). Her second dam is the G3 Prix du Calvados heroine Mambia (GB) (Aldebaran).

One of 13 winners for her Coolmore Stud-based freshman sire, the filly is his second winner in America from three runners (66%). His first, Angiolleta (Ire), is also out of a Dark Angel mare and took third in the Listed Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf S.

ZONA VERDE (IRE) ($9.40) got a great trip under @umbyrispoli to win @DelMarRacing race 7. Trainer @PhilDamato11 had this 2-year-old Calyx (GB) filly ready today.

One more at Del Mar tonight, wager on https://t.co/nBYFHiPrdh! pic.twitter.com/4XZMV18NNZ

— TVG (@TVG) September 9, 2023

Honourable Mention

Bregman Family Racing, LLC & WWBD LLC's No Nay Mets (Ire) (No Nay Never) won for the third time in four starts with a victory in the Exacta Systems Rosie's S. (video). First featured in this column in May, this colt has won a trio of American stakes, with his only blip a ninth in the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot.

NO NAY METS (IRE) ($2.60) is geared down across the wire after putting the field away in the $125,000 Rosie's Stakes at @ColonialDowns. Owned by Bregman Family Racing LLC and WWBD LLC (@ABREG_1), trained by George Weaver, and ridden by @jockeypacolopez. Congrats to all! pic.twitter.com/iJzjugFVqH

— TVG (@TVG) September 9, 2023

The post Making Waves: Calyx Filly Makes Her Mark At Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Well-backed at 67-10 despite his overall lack of seasoning, the $700,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga purchase took up a position in the latter third of the field behind a decent early pace and was quietly ridden through the middle stages of the nine-furlong affair by Kendrick Carmouche. Asked to improve leaving the three-eighths pole, he snuck his way into contention, following the move of the last-out GI Saratoga Derby hero into the stretch. Pulled to the outside off the home corner, Integration managed to find extra entering the final furlong, drew alongside the chalk with about 100 yards to race and edged clear.

The word was out on Integration for his debut, which came two years and two days after West Point and Woodford Racing teamed to purchase the colt at Saratoga. Sent off at even money on Arlington Million day Aug. 12, the March foal raced reasonably handy to the pace, and when Tyler Gaffalione asked him to win his race, he did so with gusto, marching through the final furlong to graduate by 6 1/2 lengths. As patient a trainer as there is, Shug McGaughey was comfortable enough to give Integration a big-money shot Saturday and the colt proved more than equal to the task.

INTEGRATION ($15.40) burst free of the pack with ease to win the $500,000 Virginia Derby (G3) at @ColonialDowns. This 3yo Quality Road (@LanesEndFarms) colt Trained by Shug Mcgaughey with @KendrickCarmou1 in the irons. Congrats to owners @westpointtbred and @woodfordracing! pic.twitter.com/XLsn1DNrFR

— TVG (@TVG) September 9, 2023

“Shug felt his debut here would be the best spot for his first race,” said Dawn Lenert, the Chief Marketing Officer and Director of Partner Relations for West Point Thoroughbreds. “Although it was unconventional, Shug felt a graded stake would be the right spot for his second race, and when a Hall of Fame trainer tells you you're going to come back in a graded stake, you do it. After the race Kendrick (jockey Carmouche) said to me Integration's potential is limitless.”

Pedigree Notes:

With the victory, Integration becomes the 75th worldwide stakes winner and 36th worldwide graded/group winner for his successful Lane's End-based sire.

The bay colt is the second produce for his dam, an $80,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Larkin Armstrong who campaigned her to five victories, including the 2016 GI Del Mar Oaks. The Seitz family's Brookdale Sales agency consigned Integration to the Saratoga sale on behalf of their long-time client Armstrong. Harmonize's first foal, the 4-year-old gelding Vocalize (More Than Ready), was beaten a head into second in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance over the Colonial turf course Aug. 19 and Harmonize is also the dam of a 2-year-old Curlin colt who fetched $400,000 from Meridian International at KEESEP last year. The 10-year-old Harmonize is represented by a yearling Nyquist filly named Castanet, a colt by Gun Runner foaled Mar. 23 and was among the first book of mares covered by Horse of the Year Flightline.

Saturday, Colonial Downs
NEW KENT COUNTY VIRGINIA DERBY-GIII, $500,000, Colonial Downs, 9-9, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, 1:46.41, fm.
1–INTEGRATION, 119, c, 3, by Quality Road
         1st Dam: Harmonize (GISW, $827,860), by Scat Daddy
         2nd Dam: Mesa Fresca, by Sky Mesa
         3rd Dam: Mayan Maiden, by Lyphard
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($700,000 Ylg '21 FTSAUG). O-West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, LLC; B-Larkin Armstrong (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III; J-Kendrick Carmouche. $300,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $336,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Program Trading (GB), 123, r, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Dreamlike (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB). (250,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Fittocks Stud & Arrow Farm Stud (GB); T-Chad C. Brown. $100,000.
3–Runaway Storm, 118, g, 3, Midnight Storm–Runaway Betty, by Run Away and Hide. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Robert Joseph Hunt (KY); T-Ethan W. West. $55,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 2 1/4, HF. Odds: 6.70, 0.70, 34.30.
Also Ran: Mondego (GB), Dataman, Gigante, Activist Investing (GB), Salute the Stars, Ari Gold. Scratched: Freedom Trail, Laurel Valley.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPshttp://www.equineline.com/tdn/pedigree.cfm?tk=SAR&cy=USA&rd=09/07/2015&rn=9&de=D  &ref=9104432. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Despite running over his fourth track in as many starts, No Nay Mets jumped as nearly a sure thing at 1-5 in the wagering and showed his customary early speed to set a pressured lead just ahead of King Kontie (Karakontie {Jpn}). Pushed through fractions of :21.45 and :44.06, he continued to find more and drew off readily when asked into the lane to sprint clear for the easy win.

Etoile, herself a group winner in Ireland, is a full-sister to last week's GIII Mint Millions S. winner Ancient Rome. This is also the extended family of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) who RNA'd for $3.45-million at last year's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale. No Nay Mets is his dam's first and only reported foal. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

NO NAY METS (IRE) ($2.60) is geared down across the wire after putting the field away in the $125,000 Rosie's Stakes at @ColonialDowns. Owned by Bregman Family Racing LLC and WWBD LLC (@ABREG_1), trained by George Weaver, and ridden by @jockeypacolopez. Congrats to all! pic.twitter.com/iJzjugFVqH

— TVG (@TVG) September 9, 2023

EXACTA SYSTEMS ROSIE'S S., $125,000, Colonial Downs, 9-9, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.03, fm.
1–NO NAY METS (IRE), 122, c, 2, by No Nay Never
                1st Dam: Etoile (GSW-Ire), by War Front
                2nd Dam: Gagnoa (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
                3rd Dam: Gwynn (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
(€180,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG; $335,000 RNA 2yo '23 OBSAPR;
£800,000 2yo '23 GOFLO). O-Bregman Family Racing LLC and
WWBD LLC; B-Coolmore (Ire); T-George Weaver; J-Paco Lopez.
$75,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, $183,000.
2–Toupie, 117, f, 2, Uncle Mo–Amertume, by Tapit.
1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Wertheimer Et Frere (KY); T-H. Graham
Motion. $25,000.
3–Air Recruit, 120, c, 2, Air Force Blue–Werewolf, by Arch.
($105,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Mark B. Grier;
B-Springhouse Farm (KY); T-Arnaud Delacour. $13,750.
Margins: 3 1/4, 3 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 0.30, 6.60, 7.40.
Also Ran: Atmidnight, Ruddy Buddy, Sebastian Run, Woodcourt, A G Diamond, King Kontie, Mi Dinero, Gone Elvis.

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Sent off as a 5-1 shot here, the bay colt broke alertly, moved to rail and then settled third into the first turn as filly Determined Sail (Bernardini) showed the way. Under a slow half at :50.17, Tok Tok launched his bid around far turn, was hemmed in briefly, but once free, he ran on nicely to win over the surging Triple Espresso (Omaha Beach).

Out of an extended female family which includes leading sire Tapit (Pulpit) and MGISW Rubiano (Fappiano), the winner is his dam's first to the races, but he does have a yearling full-brother, while In Tune visited Curlin for next year.

KITTEN'S JOY S., $125,000, Colonial Downs, 9-9, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:45.11, fm.
1–TOK TOK, 120, c, 2, by Quality Road
1st Dam: In Tune (GSW, $229,350), by Unbridled's Song
                2nd Dam: Wichitoz, by Affirmed
                3rd Dam: Ruby Slippers, by Nijinsky II
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-Wertheimer Et Frere (KY); T-H. Graham Motion; J-Jorge Ruiz. $75,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $111,000.
2–Triple Espresso, 120, c, 2, Omaha Beach–Natural Rush, by Indian Charlie. ($325,000 RNA Wlg '21 KEENOV; $350,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable; B-Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stables (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $25,000.
3–Determined Sail, 117, f, 2, Bernardini–Involuntary, by City Zip. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-D Hatman Thoroughbreds; B-2500 Determined Stud (MD); T-Phil Schoenthal. $13,750.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 5.20, 2.70, 31.50.
Also Ran: Randazzo, Because the Night, Mission Ready, Manabi, Mainstream Sellout, Massif, Blue Creek, Skellig Island, Silver Front, Sharp Tones.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

#4 Tok Tok takes the Kitten's Joy S. at Colonial Downs and stays perfect in his young career!

The 2-year-old colt gets another win for both trainer @GrahamMotion and pilot Jorge Ruiz.

#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/0uNbS9H3VK

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) September 9, 2023

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All the essential timing elements for Sunday have dovetailed for Houston Astros star third baseman Alex Bregman and his very promising filly Kodiac Wintergreen (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).

By the time Kodiac Wintergreen goes to the starting gate for the $500,000 Global Tote Juvenile Fillies S. at Kentucky Downs at 5:28 p.m. (CT), the Astros's home game with the San Diego Padres should be long finished. His day's work on the diamond at Minute Maid Field done, Bregman will be parked in front of a television to watch how the 2-year-old filly handles the one-mile race, the biggest test of her young career.

Bregman expects Kodiac Wintergreen to emerge as the second standout in his nascent and fast-growing thoroughbred stable, Bregman Family Racing LLC. Trained by Rusty Arnold and to be ridden again by Jose Oritz, she is the 3-1 favorite on the morning line. So far, No Nay Mets (Ire) (No Nay Never), with two stakes wins on his resume, is the most accomplished Bregman runner. He will try for a third stakes victory Saturday at Colonial Downs in Virginia.

Two years after Bregman, his wife Reagan and his parents, Jackie and Sam, made their first purchases at auction, the stable is emerging as a player at major racetracks.

“My family has been in love with horse racing since my great grandfather and my grandfather,” Bregman said in a telephone interview. “Everyone has loved horse racing in my family. I used to go to Albuquerque Downs with my grandfather growing up and my dad as well.”

Since Bregman, 29, made his major-league debut in 2016, the Astros have reached the World Series four times, winning twice. He is a two-time American League All-Star.

Veteran bloodstock agent Mike Akers and Ciaran Dunne of Wavertree Stables in Ocala, Florida, have guided Bregman as he built his roster and helped him select trainers Arnold, George Weaver and Doug O'Neill.

The stable is handled by an enthusiastic racing manager.

“That's me,” Bregman said. “I love it. It's a passion of mine. It's something that I'll love forever and something that I want to be involved with forever. I want to build something special.”

While the baseball schedule keeps him away from the track, Bregman tries to see the races unfold live.

“I normally watch them with my whole team, and we yell at the TV hoping that we win,” he said.

As a result, he has become something of a racing ambassador to the Astros.

“Some of my teammates actually have owned parts of horses that we've owned,” he said. “It's been a blast. They love it now.”

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