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Jacob West Appointed US Agent For Goffs

Jacob West, Vice-President of Bloodstock for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, has been appointed US Agent for Goffs and will begin his role on Apr. 1, the sales company announced. West, who launched West Bloodstock in 2017, started with Taylor Made as a groom in their yearling division before progressing to Manager. During his time at Taylor Made, he also worked for trainer Chad Brown during the Gulfstream Championship Meeting. West then moved to Three Chimneys as Director of Bloodstock Services prior to moving to Eclipse.

Commenting on the appointment, Goffs Group Chief Executive, Henry Beeby said, “We are delighted to welcome Jacob to the Goffs Team. Alongside his role at Eclipse he is the perfect fit for us and comes with the ringing endorsement of several industry leaders. He has a superb reputation for integrity, passion, hard work and a love of the thoroughbred, all qualities that chime perfectly with the ethos of Goffs. We look forward to working with him as we promote our sales to buyers in the US.

“At the same time we would like to acknowledge the contribution of Gatewood Bell over the last number of years and wish him the very best of luck in his new role with Keeneland.”

“Goffs has an outstanding reputation for producing top class results year after year,” said West. “I firmly believe the horses on offer at Goffs have international appeal and I look forward to bringing as many people as I can over to Ireland to see for themselves. I am delighted to be associated with such a top-level organisation as Goffs.”

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Essential Quality, Mandaloun Top Nominees To April 3 Blue Grass Stakes

Ten of the top 11 horses on the Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) leaderboard, which is led by recent Risen Star (G2) Presented by Lamarque Ford winner Mandaloun and undefeated champion Essential Quality, are among 148 3-year-olds nominated to the 97th running of the $800,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2), the richest of the six graded stakes worth $2.1 million to be run April 3 on opening Saturday of Keeneland's 2021 Spring Meet.

Brad Cox, who received the 2020 Eclipse Award as outstanding trainer, conditions both Essential Quality and Mandaloun. He trains a total of 13 horses nominated to the Toyota Blue Grass.

Click here for the list of the Toyota Blue Grass nominees; click here for their past performances.

“We thank the best racing operations in the U.S. for their support of Keeneland by nominating such an accomplished roster of horses to the Toyota Blue Grass,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell said. “The race is an important part of Triple Crown season and the cornerstone of the Spring Meet.”

The 1 1/8-mile Toyota Blue Grass is one of the nation's most prominent steppingstones to the Triple Crown's first leg, the $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 1 at Churchill Downs. The winner earns 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, while the second-, third- and fourth-place finishers receive 40 points, 20 points and 10 points, respectively.

Joining the Toyota Blue Grass on Keeneland's 11-race card on April 3 are the $400,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1), a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies bidding to compete in the Kentucky Oaks (G1); $300,000 Madison (G1) for older fillies and mares at 7 furlongs on the dirt; $200,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association for 3-year-old fillies at one mile on the turf; $200,000 Shakertown (G2) for 3-year-olds and up at 5½ furlongs on the turf; and $200,000 Commonwealth (G3) for older horses at 7 furlongs on the dirt.

That day, Keeneland will offer a $500,000-guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Four and a $500,000-guaranteed All Stakes Pick Five.

The Toyota Blue Grass will be the final race of Keeneland's April 3 card with a 6:38 p.m. ET post. NBC Sports Network will televise the race along with the Wood Memorial (G2) Presented by Resorts World Casino from Aqueduct and Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Post positions for the Toyota Blue Grass, Central Bank Ashland and the other April 3 races will be drawn Tuesday, March 30.

Mandaloun, a homebred racing for Juddmonte Farms, posted his initial stakes victory Feb. 13 in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds to move into the top spot on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

Owned and bred by Godolphin, Essential Quality is undefeated in three starts with two Grade 1 victories at Keeneland: Claiborne Breeders' Futurity and TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. He is second on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

Among the top-ranked horses on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard who are nominated to the Toyota Blue Grass are the first five finishers from last fall's Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Third on the leaderboard is Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon, winner of the Lecomte (G3), followed by Godolphin's Proxy, runner-up in the Lecomte and Risen Star; Cypress Creek Equine, Arnold Bennewith and Spendthrift Farm's Keepmeinmind, winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) who was second in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity and third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile; John and Diane Fradkin's Rombauer, recent winner of the El Camino Real Derby (L) who was fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile; Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit, winner of the Robert B. Lewis (G3); SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm et al's Spielberg, winner of the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2); J. Kirk and Judy Robison's two-time Grade 1 winner Jackie's Warrior, fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, and Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing and William Strauss' Hot Rod Charlie, runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Other notable horses nominated to the Toyota Blue Grass include the next six horses on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard: Gary Barber's Get Her Number, winner of the American Pharoah (G1); Albaugh Family Stables' Sittin On Go, winner of the Iroquois (G3) Presented by Ford; Klaravich Stables' Risk Taking, winner of the Withers (G3); Frank Fletcher Racing Operations' Candy Man Rocket, winner of the Sam F. Davis (G3); Courtlandt Farms' Greatest Honour, winner of the Holy Bull (G3), and Shortleaf Stable's Caddo River, winner of the Smarty Jones (L).

Steve Asmussen and Todd Pletcher lead trainers by number of horses nominated to the Toyota Blue Grass, with 15 each.

Asmussen's nominees include the aforementioned Jackie's Warrior and Midnight Bourbon along with two fillies bred and raced by Stonestreet Stables: Rachel Alexandra (G2) winner Clairiere and Pauline's Pearl. Clairiere is the leading point earner on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Joining Asmussen and Pletcher along with Cox as trainers with the most nominees to the Toyota Blue Grass are Chad Brown (nine), Bob Baffert (eight), Mark Casse (seven), Saffie Joseph Jr. (five), Kenny McPeek (five) and Dale Romans (five).

The late nomination period for the Toyota Blue Grass closes Wednesday, March 17.

The post Essential Quality, Mandaloun Top Nominees To April 3 Blue Grass Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Keeneland Names Gatewood Bell Vice President Of Racing

Prominent Central Kentucky horseman and noted bloodstock adviser Gatewood Bell will join the Keeneland as Vice President of Racing later this month.

Bell in 2011 founded Cromwell Bloodstock, a respected full-service bloodstock agency and consulting firm named after a company owned by his grandfather, John A. Bell, and has served as its president for the past decade. Known for his keen eye for spotting potential, Bell, under the Cromwell Bloodstock and Hat Creek Racing banners, has purchased millions of dollars' worth of horses at public auction – led by Grade/Group 1 winners Undrafted, Hootenanny, Mastery and Con Te Partiro – for a diverse clientele that includes top stud farms, owners and trainers. Bell's record of success consistently ranks Cromwell among the top North American buyers of yearlings by stakes winners as compiled by BloodHorse MarketWatch.

Bell is also a member of The Jockey Club and previously served on the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and as the U.S. representative for Goffs Sales of Ireland.

Last October, Bell was named to Keeneland's Board of Directors as an Advisory Board member, a position he will relinquish upon his employment. Bell is the third generation of his family to serve Keeneland as a Director, following his father, Jimmy Bell, president of Godolphin USA, and grandfather, the late John A. Bell, founder of Jonabell Farm in Lexington. Like his father and grandfather, the younger Bell has been actively involved at Keeneland as both a racehorse owner and sales participant.

“Gatewood brings a unique set of skills and experiences encompassing aspects of both the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industries to the role of Vice President of Racing,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “His passion for, and knowledge of, racing were honed in the trenches on his family's farm and at the track, and in recent years as a bloodstock adviser. The range of Gatewood's talents and his network of relationships with owners and trainers are well suited to help Keeneland navigate the future landscape of racing.”

Raised on his family's Jonabell Farm, Bell received a finance degree with honors from the University of Kentucky in 2004. After graduation, he worked for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin for three seasons in Florida, Kentucky and New York. During this time, McLaughlin campaigned Hall of Famer Invasor (ARG) and Belmont (G1) winner Jazil. Bell also represented multiple Grade 1 winning-jockey Fernando Jara as an agent on the East Coast.

“I am excited about Keeneland's future and the opportunity to be a part of it,” he added. “This place represents all that is good about our sport, and I look forward to working together with our horsemen to ensure Keeneland continues to deliver the highest quality and safest racing product in the world.”

Gatewood and his wife, Lauren, along with their children, Eloise (10), Daisy (7) and Gus (6), reside in Lexington.

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Gatewood Bell Named Keeneland VP of Racing

Keeneland announced that Central Kentucky horseman and bloodstock adviser Gatewood Bell has been named Vice President of Racing at the Lexington oval and will assume duties later this month.

Bell in 2011 founded Cromwell Bloodstock, a full-service bloodstock agency and consulting firm named after a company owned by his grandfather, John A. Bell, and has served as its president for the past decade. Bell, under the Cromwell Bloodstock and Hat Creek Racing banners, purchased several significant runners, including Grade I/Group 1 winners Undrafted, Hootenanny, Mastery and Con Te Partiro.

Bell is also a member of The Jockey Club and previously served on the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and as the U.S. representative for Goffs Sales of Ireland. Last October, Bell was named to Keeneland's Board of Directors as an Advisory Board member, a position he will relinquish upon his employment. Bell is the third generation of his family to serve Keeneland as a Director, following his father, Jimmy Bell, president of Godolphin USA, and grandfather, the late John A. Bell, founder of Jonabell Farm in Lexington. Like his father and grandfather, the younger Bell has been actively involved at Keeneland as both a racehorse owner and sales participant.

“Gatewood brings a unique set of skills and experiences encompassing aspects of both the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industries to the role of Vice President of Racing,” said Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin. “His passion for, and knowledge of, racing were honed in the trenches on his family's farm and at the track, and in recent years as a bloodstock adviser. The range of Gatewood's talents and his network of relationships with owners and trainers are well suited to help Keeneland navigate the future landscape of racing.”

Raised on his family's Jonabell Farm, Bell received a finance degree with honors from the University of Kentucky in 2004. After graduation, he worked for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin for three seasons in Florida, Kentucky and New York. Bell also represented multiple Grade 1 winning-jockey Fernando Jara as an agent on the East Coast.

“I have great respect and appreciation for what the Keeneland name and its history mean to its stakeholders: horsemen, horseplayers, fans, local community and the global industry,” Bell said. “Keeneland is a very special place. I grew up coming to the races there and it is where I fell in love with the game. I am excited about Keeneland's future and the opportunity to be a part of it. This place represents all that is good about our sport, and I look forward to working together with our horsemen to ensure Keeneland continues to deliver the highest quality and safest racing product in the world.”

Gatewood and his wife, Lauren, along with their children, Eloise (10), Daisy (7) and Gus (6), reside in Lexington.

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