The funding is part of a multi-state settlement with a number of pharmaceutical companies for their roles in facilitating the opioid epidemic.

“We are incredibly appreciative of the Commission's decision to trust us with this funding for our program,” said Frank Taylor of Taylor Made Farm, who is currently serving as interim CEO of Stable Recovery. “As we continue to tighten our program and focus on helping people to recover in the most effective way possible–while also providing the industry with quality horsemen–we can use all the help we can get, and this is certainly a lot of help.”

The mission and growth of Stable Recovery has been covered extensively in the TDN here and here.

“We are really excited for what this funding will allow us to do for our participants,” said Christian Countzler, Stable Recovery's Director of Addiction Recovery. “This will allow us to reach more people who desperately need help and to offer them the opportunity to do something special by learning a trade that is so meaningful in this part of the country.”

Added Dan Pride, COO of Godolphin USA and Chairman of the Board at Stable Recovery: “What a blessing for Stable Recovery and for those individuals entering recovery who will have the opportunity to benefit from this additional funding. We also hope this will allow us to continue to make inroads in the industry as people notice that, not only does Stable Recovery do good for our program participants, but we provide the industry with some high quality, responsible horsemen too.”

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Dan Pride, chief operating officer of Godolphin, USA, said, “Jimmy Bell is the bedrock that Godolphin USA is built upon.  His history with Jonabell is well known and he has faithfully served 20 years molding us into what we are today.  He is a friend to many of us and always an example of how to live your life and focus on what is important.”

When the Bell family's Jonabell Farm was acquired by HH Sheikh Mohammed in 2001, Bell was retained in his current role which guaranteed a smooth transition after the purchase. Bell commented, “My 20 years with Godolphin have been nothing short of a dream come true. More special have been the friendships and fellowships I've developed with so many folks here at Team Godolphin. It's been my privilege and pleasure to work alongside so many wonderful colleagues.”

Bell also indicated that while he's stepping back from his responsibilities at Godolphin's Jonabell location, he'll still be very active with the organization as its representative on several industry boards. He currently serves as president of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and is a member of the board of the Breeders' Cup and the Fayette Alliance, as well as the Keeneland Advisory Board.

Michael Banahan, currently the director of farm operations and the longest serving Darley/Godolphin USA employee, will transition to the role of director of bloodstock by the end of the year.  This new role will encompass Bell's racing responsibilities as well as overseeing all aspects of managing the Godolphin USA horse population. Pride said, “Michael is an integral part of the success of the entire operation here in the US. His knowledge base covers everything from farm infrastructure needs, our stallion program, to planning the matings of such horses as Essential Quality and Maxfield. I know he's excited to assume this new and important responsibility.”

Banahan, who was named Kentucky Farm Manager of the Year in 2019, began his tenure with Darley in 1993. Banahan said, “For 20 years I've had the honor to work alongside Jimmy, and while there's going to be quite a void with his departure, I am very glad for him as he enters a new phase of life. Godolphin USA has a strong team and I'm excited about taking on this new challenge.”

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“Jimmy Bell is the bedrock that Godolphin USA is built upon,” said Dan Pride, Chief Operating Officer of Godolphin, USA. “His history with Jonabell is well known and he has faithfully served 20 years molding us into what we are today. He is a friend to many of us and always an example of how to live your life and focus on what is important.”

The Bell family's Jonabell Farm was acquired by Sheikh Mohammed in 2001 and Jimmy Bell was retained in his current position.

“My 20 years with Godolphin have been nothing short of a dream come true,” Bell said. “More special have been the friendships and fellowships I've developed with so many folks here at Team Godolphin. It's been my privilege and pleasure to work alongside so many wonderful colleagues.”

Bell said he plans to remain active with Godolphin as a representative on several industry boards. He currently serves as President of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and is a member of the board of the Breeders' Cup and the Fayette Alliance, as well as the Keeneland Advisory Board.

Michael Banahan, currently the Director of Farm Operations and the longest-serving Darley/Godolphin USA employee, will transition to the role of Director of Bloodstock by the end of the year. This new role will encompass Bell's racing responsibilities as well as overseeing all aspects of managing the Godolphin USA horse population.

Pride said, “Michael is an integral part of the success of the entire operation here in the US. His knowledge base covers everything from farm infrastructure needs, our stallion program, to planning the matings of such horses as Essential Quality and Maxfield. I know he's excited to assume this new and important responsibility.”

Banahan, who was named Kentucky Farm Manager of the Year in 2019, began his tenure with Darley in 1993.

“For 20 years I've had the honor to work alongside Jimmy, and while there's going to be quite a void with his departure, I am very glad for him as he enters a new phase of life,” Banahan said. “Godolphin USA has a strong team and I'm excited about taking on this new challenge.”

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It remains unclear whether or not the 4-year-old 'TDN Rising Star' will race again or head off to stud. Addressing that question, Godolphin President Jimmy Bell said: “Mystic Guide is in great hands with Dr. Bramlage, so it now becomes a question of doing what's right for the horse. It's too early at this time to make a decision to either continue racing or retire him, but we will give him some time to recuperate and we will then make that determination”.

After winning the G1 Dubai World Cup, Mystic Guide returned in the GII Suburban S. at Belmont, where he finished second, beaten a neck. Though he did not run poorly, he didn't appear to be the same horse who overpowered his competition in Dubai. Concerned that his horse hadn't run better, trainer Mike Stidham ordered some precautionary tests.

“Expectations for the Suburban were high, so with his runner-up finish, we felt that we should take some precautionary X-rays,” Stidham said. “We then followed those up with a PET scan which revealed the chip. It's certainly unfortunate, but I am glad that we know the extent of the injury and can move forward from here.”

Prior to the Suburban, Mystic Guide appeared to be putting together a championship season. In his first start of the year and his first start since finishing second in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, Mystic Guide was an easy winner of the GIII Razorback H., a prep for his successful run in Dubai. Had he stayed healthy, it appeared that a return trip to the Jockey Club Gold Cup was next on his schedule.

If Mystic Guide does not make it back for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, Godolphin figures to still come into that race with a strong hand. It is also the owner of top male dirt horses Maxfield (Street Sense) and fellow 'Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit).

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Essential Quality received a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 96, a career high, for his 4 ¼-length victory in the Southwest, Oaklawn's second of four Kentucky Derby points races. The odds-on favorite under Luis Saez, Essential Quality ($3.80) covered 1 1/16 miles over a sloppy track in 1:45.58. The gray son of Tapit was making his first start since clinching an Eclipse Award as the country's champion 2-year-old male in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 6 at Keeneland.

“Big performance off the layoff,” Cox said. “Hopefully, we can take another jump or two forward, I think, in order to win the Derby. Hopefully, he has it in him. It was a very nice race yesterday.”

Essential Quality, a homebred for Godolphin LLC, will return to his winter base at Fair Grounds to begin major preparations for his final Kentucky Derby prep, Cox said, although he's “not sure” when the colt will leave Hot Springs. Cox said the $800,000 Blue Grass Stakes (G2) April 3 at Keeneland and the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 10 at Oaklawn are the most likely next-race targets.

“We'll get with the Godolphin team, between Jimmy Bell and Dan Pride, and come up with a plan,” Cox said. “I'd have to say either the Blue Grass or the Arkansas Derby. That's about the only thing, really, that makes sense. If something happens as far as weather goes, I guess you could probably look at the Florida Derby. But in this region of the country, I think the most logical spot would be the Arkansas Derby or the Blue Grass.”

Cox has never had a Kentucky Derby starter, but he has three live contenders two months before the first leg of horse racing's Triple Crown.

In addition to Essential Quality, Cox trains Caddo River, record-setting winner of the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 22 at Oaklawn, and Mandaloun, winner of the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (G2) Feb. 13 Fair Grounds.

Caddo River, a homebred for John Ed Anthony of Hot Springs, is scheduled to make his next start in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) March 13 at Oaklawn. Mandaloun is ticketed for the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) March 20 at Fair Grounds.

“It's all coming together like we kind of envisioned it a couple of months ago,” Cox said. “But we've got two more months, and on the Derby trail that's a long way.”

Mandaloun (52) ranks second on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard, according to Churchill Downs. Essential Quality earned 10 points for his Southwest victory and is No. 3 with 40. Caddo River (10) is No. 18.

The Rebel will offer 85 points (50-20-10-5, respectively) to the top four finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby, which is limited to 20 starters. Caddo River collected 10 points for his 10 ¼-length victory in the Smarty Jones. The Louisiana Derby, Blue Grass and Arkansas Derby are all 170-point races (100-40-20-10).

“He needs to run in a race with some points,” Cox said of Caddo River. “Obviously, Essential Quality had 30 going into yesterday. Picked off 10, so 40 is obviously a good number, with another chance at a 100-point race at some point. Mandaloun is at 52. He's in good shape. Obviously, he'll get a chance at his 100-point race. Caddo River's the one that's going to have to step up in a points race and pick off some points.”

Caddo River had been training at Oaklawn before Cox said he moved the colt to Fair Grounds Feb. 11, just as harsh winter weather was beginning to envelope Hot Springs. Oaklawn lost eight live racing dates and 11 days of training because heavy snow and arctic temperatures. The Southwest was originally scheduled to be run Feb. 15 before being postponed twice. Caddo River has recorded three published workouts at Fair Grounds, including a five-furlong bullet (:59.60) Feb. 20.

“He'll stay down there,” Cox said, referring to Caddo River's final major Rebel preparations.

Two other scheduled Rebel starters are Keepmeinmind for trainer Robertino Diodoro and unbeaten Concert Tour for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

Keepmeinmind had been scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut in the Southwest before weather-related training setbacks led Diodoro to opt for the Rebel. Keepmeinmind returned to the work tab Friday morning at Oaklawn, working five furlongs in 1:03.20 under regular rider David Cohen. The track was rated sloppy.

“Very strong gallop out,” Diodoro said. “He was rolling on the gallop out.”

Unraced since a last-to-first victory in the $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs, Keepmeinmind has recorded seven workouts this year at Oaklawn. Prior to breaking his maiden in the Kentucky Jockey Club, Keepmeinmind finished second in the $400,000 Breeders' Futurity (G1) Oct. 3 at Keeneland and third in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 6 at Keeneland.

Keepmeinmind was beaten 3 ¼ lengths by Essential Quality in the Breeders' Futurity and two lengths by Essential Quality in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Diodoro had another close look at the champion Saturday, this time as a highly interested spectator.

“The winner is a very nice horse,” Diodoro said Sunday morning. “The way the track and the weather was, I'm kind of glad we didn't run. Not saying that couldn't happen in three weeks, either. Hopefully, not. The track has taken a beating here the last couple of weeks. No one can stop Mother Nature.”

Southwest runner-up Spielberg came out of the race in “great shape,” Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Sunday morning. Lukas and assistant Sebastian Nicholl have been caring for the Baffert-trained Spielberg since he was flown Wednesday from Southern California to Arkansas. Baffert said next-race plans are pending for Spielberg, who overcame a horrific start to finish 4 ¼ lengths ahead of multiple Grade 1 winner Jackie's Warrior.

“There's not a plane for a little while there,” Baffert said. “I haven't really mapped out anything. I wanted to see how he handled that track and all. I'm very happy with the effort. He shipped well. He behaved himself. Other than the gate, everything went well.”

Baffert has won the Rebel a record seven times, including last year's running with Nadal. Concert Tour (2 for 2) broke his maiden Jan. 15 at Santa Anita and won the $200,000 San Vicente (G2) Feb. 6 at Santa Anita. Nadal's resume was exactly the same entering the Rebel.

Keepmeinmind (18) and Spielberg (17) rank sixth and seventh, respectively, on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard. Concert Tour has never run in a Kentucky Derby points race.

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