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Drafted Owners Appeal HISA Ruling

The owners of Drafted (Field Commission) have appealed a ruling handed down by the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) that could cost them $26,000 in purse money because their jockey Luis Castro violated HISA rules regarding the use of the whip. The incident occurred in the GI Forego S., where Drafted finished fifth.

NYRA stewards determined that Castro hit the gelding 10 times during the race. Under HISA regulations that have been in place since July 1, a rider cannot whip a horse more than six times.

According to the Daily Racing Form, under HISA rules, if a jockey strikes a horse seven to nine times during a race, there is no loss of purse. Instead, the rider is fined and suspended for one day. And when a jockey hits a horse 10 to 13 times, the jockey receives a three-day suspension and the horse is disqualified when it comes to purse earnings.

The owners are Thomas O'Keefe, Truls Engebretsen and Kevin Hilbert and they are seeking a reinstatement of the purse. The trainer is David Duggan. The group is being represented by attorney Andrew Mollica. Mollica contends that the owners' rights to due process have been violated because there was no hearing and no appeal process.

“My clients are making a serious appeal here,” Mollica said. “The loss of purse money by owners for alleged crop violations is not only unconstitutional it is flat our wrong. My clients are fighting this not only for themselves but all owners who race in New York. It is a cause that frankly all NYTHA should join because all of its members will one day or another be adversely effected.”

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Veteran Drafted Regains Winning Form In Toboggan

Dublin Fjord Stables, Racepoint Stables, Kevin D. Hilbert and Thomas E. O'Keefe's Drafted made a bold move in the turn to capture Saturday's re-scheduled Grade 3, $150,000 Toboggan, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Toboggan was initially slated for last Saturday's card which was cancelled due to the impact of a powerful winter storm in the New York City metropolitan area.

Trained by David Duggan and expertly piloted by Jose Ortiz, Drafted secured his first win since taking the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal in March 2019 at Meydan Racecourse.

Hopeful Treasure broke alertly from post 4 under Trevor McCarthy as Happy Medium, the 1-5 mutuel favorite, was urged to the front by Manny Franco from the outermost post 5 to mark the opening quarter-mile in 23.55 seconds with War Tocsin surging up the rail in an early pace battle.

Happy Medium wrestled away command in front of a stalking trio of War Tocsin, Repo Rocks and Hopeful Treasure through a half-mile in 47.04, but Ortiz and Drafted swooped the field through the turn with an energetic outside brush.

Drafted established a four-length lead at the stretch call and powered home a 4 1/2-length winner in a final time of 1:25.06 over a muddy and harrowed main track. Repo Rocks completed the exacta by six lengths over Happy Medium. Hopeful Treasure and War Tocsin rounded out the order of finish.

Duggan said he was pleased to see the veteran sprinter return to winning ways.

“They went fast enough up front and he got into a lovely rhythm. The speed stopped and I knew the seven-eighths would help him because he's got that patented run if you leave him alone,” Duggan said. “He's been showing up without getting his head in front, so it was nice to get him justified. He's a little hard on himself in the training, so he does a lot of pony work and a lot of lighter training.”

Duggan earned his first graded stakes score since Porte Bonheur captured the 2009 Grade 2 First Flight Handicap at Belmont Park.

“It's been a long time between drinks. I've been in layup for a while but the horses we have, we try to make competitive,” Duggan said.

Ortiz said Drafted touted his own early move.

“I was travelling well and as soon as I put him in the clear he jumped on the bridle and wanted to go,” Ortiz said. “I figured, I might as well go now. It was a small field and I knew the horse on the lead is a good horse. So I passed him early. I was hoping no one was coming from behind. I know it was an early move, but I did it to win.

“It was just a feeling,” Ortiz added. “I felt that it was a good time to pass everyone and I had enough to keep going.”

Drafted was conditioned in his 2016 juvenile campaign by Eoin Harty. He then joined the stable of trainer Doug Watson in Dubai, capturing the 2019 Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint ahead of his Mahab Al Shimaal score.

The 8-year-old Field Commission gelding made his first start for Duggan in November 2020, finishing fifth in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight at the Big A. He entered the Toboggan from an even third in the six-furlong Gravesend on December 19 at the Big A.

Michelle Nevin said Happy Medium, who entered on a three-race win streak, may have been hampered racing to the inside of rivals.

“The track might not have been the greatest down in there,” Nevin said. “We're just going to have to get him home and make sure everything is okay.”

Bred in Florida by John Foster, Barbara Hooker and Field Commission Partnership, Drafted banked $82,500 in victory while improving his record to 25-7-2-3. He returned $15.80 for a $2 win bet.

Live racing resumes Sunday at the Big A with nine-race card featuring the $100,000 Jimmy Winkfield in Race 4 and the $100,000 Ruthless in Race 8. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

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Chateau Shortens Up To Headline Saturday’s Runhappy Stakes

Michael Dubb's speedster Chateau turns back to a more favorable distance in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Runhappy, a six-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds and up at Belmont Park.

Saturday's card features five graded stakes, led by the Grade 1, $700,000 Man o' War at 1 3/8-miles on the turf for 4-year-olds and upward and is bolstered by the Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan, the local prep for the Belmont Stakes; the Grade 3, $150,000 Beaugay for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16-miles on turf; and the Grade 3, $150,000 Vagrancy at 6 1/2-furlongs on the main track for filly and mare sprinters 4-years-old and up.

Trained by Rob Atras, the 6-year-old Chateau rose to prominence with a solid winter stretch at Aqueduct Racetrack where he posted a record of 2-1-1 from five starts between November and April. His 3 1/2-length score in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap highlighted that run.

With regular pilot Kendrick Carmouche up, Chateau led gate-to-wire in the six-furlong Tom Fool on March 6 to best Wendell Fong. The effort garnered a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

“Kendrick knowing how to ride him really helps,” said Atras. “I've always liked the horse and thought there was ability there. For some reason, we just weren't getting it out of him. I'm glad it finally clicked this winter.”

The Flat Out gelding, who has yet to win past 6 1/2-furlongs, tried to stretch his speed last out in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Carter Handicap on April 3 at the Big A, but faltered to fourth in a race won by Mischevious Alex in a romp.

“He ran one of the best six furlong races of his life last time, unfortunately the race was seven furlongs,” said Atras, with a laugh.

Atras said Carmouche has a solid understanding of how best to ride Chateau. The Big A fall meet-leading rider has guided Chateau through four of his last five starts, including both wins.

“I think he got his confidence back with Kendrick,” said Atras. “Kendrick rode him the one time and liked him and got along with him. He wasn't able to ride him the next time but he did the time following and he won and then he won again.”

Atras said Chateau now has to demonstrate his improved form will carry to Belmont, where the gelding has a record of two thirds from three starts.

“His top races have always been at Aqueduct, so he still has to prove he can run those big numbers against top horses at Belmont,” said Atras. “Hopefully, he puts in a top effort and shows that he can do it.”

Chateau will exit post 3 with Carmouche in the irons.

Mr. Amore Stable homebred Firenze Fire, trained by Kelly Breen, will make his first start since finishing second in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Mr. Prospector at Gulfstream Park in December.

The 6-year-old Florida-bred son of Poseidon's Warrior boasts a record of 31-12-4-3 with purse earnings in excess of $2.2 million. Last season, Firenze Fire won a trio of graded events, including the Grade 3 General George at Laurel Park along with the Grade 2 True North and Grade 2 Vosburgh at Belmont.

Firenze Fire won the 2019 edition of the Runhappy when it was an ungraded event. Irad Ortiz, Jr. retains the mount from post 4.

Misty Hollow Farm's multiple Group 3-winner Drafted, a 7-year-old Field Commission gelding, will look to get back on track for trainer David Duggan.

Drafted enjoyed a profitable 2019 campaign for former conditioner Doug Watson with two wins and a runner-up effort at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, including Group 3 scores in the Al Shindagha Sprint and Mahab Al Shimaal.

Winless in seven starts since the Mahab Al Shimaal, Drafted has made his last three starts at Aqueduct where his best result was a third in the 6 1/2-furlong Gravesend contested on a muddy track.

Last out, Drafted finished an even fourth in the Grade 3 Toboggan at seven furlongs on January 30.

Drafted, racing with cheek pieces off, will emerge from the outermost post 5 under Luis Saez.

Long Lake Stable's multiple graded stakes-placed Stan the Man, a 7-year-old Broken Vow chestnut, sports a consistent record of 8-1-2-2 at Belmont Park.

The versatile gelding captured the nine-furlong Queens County at the Big A in 2019 and last year won the six-furlong Tale of the Cat at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by John Terranova, Stan the Man would relish a sloppy track on Saturday. Through seven starts on wet footing, Stan the Man boasts a record of three wins and three seconds, including a smart allowance win traveling a one-turn mile in the slop at Belmont in May 2018.

Joel Rosario, aboard for the Tale of the Cat score, has the call from the inside post.

Mercy Man Racing's Town Classic will make his 50th career start in search of his first stakes win for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr.

Bred in Ontario by Ballycroy Training Center, the 8-year-old Speightstown gelding has hit the board 35 times with six wins and a remarkable 20 runner-up efforts. Last out, Town Classic finished third for the ninth time when completing the trifecta in the seven-furlong Sir Shackleton on March 27 at Gulfstream Park.

Jose Ortiz will pilot Town Classic from post 2.

The Runhappy is slated as Race 4 on Saturday's 11-race card. First post is 1 p.m.

Belmont Park is now open to a limited number of spectators. All admission must be purchased in advance at nyra.com/belmont/tickets/.

For comprehensive information on health and safety protocols in effect for the Belmont Park spring/summer meet, please visit: https://www.nyra.com/belmont/visit/plan-your-visit.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the spring/summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

The post Chateau Shortens Up To Headline Saturday’s Runhappy Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Majestic Dunhill Faces Comebacking Drafted, 5 Others In Fall Highweight

A compact-but-competitive field of seven dirt sprinters will be on tap for Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Fall Highweight Handicap at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., led by the versatile Majestic Dunhill for trainer George Weaver and owner R. A. Hill Stable.

A son of Majesticperfection that always seems to pack a late punch, Majestic Dunhill is in career form as his 5-year-old campaign winds down. Majestic Dunhill was at one time strictly a turf horse, having run on grass for the first nine starts of his career before making his foray onto the main track late in 2018. His first dirt start, which came in the ungraded City of Laurel at Laurel Park, resulted in a win, and his connections then decided to focus exclusively on dirt races for his 2019 campaign.

Despite running well on a number of occasions, including a near miss in the 2019 Grade 2 General George at Laurel, Majestic Dunhill failed to pick up a win as a 4-year-old and the drought continued in his initial start of 2020, which prompted Weaver to try him on turf again in the First Defence at Belmont Park, a race he very nearly won.

After a disappointing seventh in an optional claimer on the Belmont lawn, however, it was back to dirt for the dark bay gelding, where he finished up the track in the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga Race Course. Following another near miss in an optional claimer on September 25 at Belmont, Majestic Dunhill finally got back to his winning ways with a last-out victory in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap on October 31 at Belmont over a muddy track.

Interestingly, Majestic Dunhill has flashed new and improved early speed in his last two starts, which should be beneficial as he cuts back from seven furlongs to three-quarters for the Fall Highweight. With his rider for those last two starts, Joel Rosario, out of town on Sunday, Jose Lezcano will pick up the mount from post 3. He's been assigned co-highweight of 133 pounds.

To make it two straight, Majestic Dunhill will have to deal with the classy Dubai shipper Drafted, who hasn't run since finishing sixth in the Saudi Cup Sprint on February 29 at King Abdulaziz Racetrack. A son of Field Commission, Drafted was at one time a contender in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, having won a pair of graded events in the UAE in the lead-up to the 2019 Golden Shaheen. After finishing a decent fifth in the race, the Florida-bred gelding was forced to hit the sidelines for a long time before he returned with a third-place finish in the Group 3 Dubawi at the start of 2020, which he followed with a fourth in the Group 3 Al Shindagha, both at Meydan in Dubai.

Previously trained by Doug Watson, Drafted will make his first start for the New York-based David Duggan on Sunday and his third domestic run as he raced twice in the U.S. as a 2-year-old when he was under the care of trainer Eoin Harty and Godolphin LLC.

“When quarantine hit in Dubai my longtime friends decided to redirect him to America,” said Duggan, who trains Drafted for Misty Hollow Farm. “He's been here a couple months now. He spent a month in Maryland and then came to me. He's straightforward. He can be a little funny to gallop but his works have been very good and on his best day he can be competitive here. He could be a little ring rusty, but this race is just a starting point. I wish it were an easier spot but that's the way it goes in New York. He's working well and is fit enough, so I can't complain.”

A six-time winner from 16 lifetime starts, Drafted will be ridden for the first time by Dylan Davis from post 2 while carrying 131 pounds.

Claimed for $16,000 earlier this year by Silvino Ramirez, Share the Ride will look to keep his magical season going and overturn the decision from the Bold Ruler two starts ago, in which he finished a neck behind Majestic Dunhill. Since being claimed in his first start of 2020 on July 5 at Monmouth Park, the 5-year-old Candy Ride gelding has been in raging form, possibly due to the addition of blinkers, which occurred on September 5 in the Grade 3 Red Bank on turf and have been equipped ever since.

It took him awhile to find the winner's circle for his new connections, but he did so in style on September 12 at Monmouth, taking the Mr. Prospector by a widening 3 ¾ lengths before finishing third in the Grade 1 Vosburgh and second in the Bold Ruler.

Jose Ortiz will take the call from post 5 aboard Share the Ride, who makes a quick turnaround for the Fall Highweight having recently dominated an allowance event at Parx Racing on November 18. He was assigned co-highweight of 133 pounds.

Another reformed claimer, Tribecca will attempt to win his fourth race of the year on Sunday. A New York-bred son of Bustin Stones, Tribecca was haltered for $25,000 last summer by trainer Chris Englehart and owner Ronald Brown and has won six of nine starts for his new connections, including an emphatic victory last out in the Hudson on October 24 at Belmont.

Kendrick Carmouche will retain the mount aboard Tribecca from post 7 at 130 pounds.

Trainer John Terranova will send out the salty older dirt runner Stan the Man, who turns back in distance following a distant third-place finish in the Grade 2 Kelso in his most recent outing. The 6-year-old Broken Vow gelding has won at distances ranging from six furlongs to 1 ⅛ miles on the main track and has been a force at the Big A, where he's notched five of his seven lifetime victories. Although he struggled earlier in the year, he seems to have benefited from his connections removing blinkers two starts ago, which resulted in a win in the Tale of the Cat at Saratoga.

Eric Cancel, who was aboard Stan the Man in the Kelso, will take the call again from post 6 at 132 pounds.

Burns Thoroughbred Racing's Arch Cat, trained by Daniel Velazquez, finished third last out in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler. A 13-time winner from 38 career starts, Jorge Vargas, Jr. will have the call from the inside post aboard the 6-year-old Arch gelding at 130 pounds.

Absentee, a five-time winner exiting an off-the-turf score at Belmont on October 29, completes the field for trainer Jorge Duarte, Jr. and Colts Neck Stables. Junior Alvarado has the call from post 4 under 128.

The Fall Highweight is slated as Race 8 on Sunday's 10-race card. First post is 11:50 a.m. America's Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the Aqueduct fall meet with coverage to air on FOX Sports and MSG Networks.

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