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Keeneland to Review Status of Crichton-Trained Runner for Spinster

Having been suspended at Gulfstream for allegedly violating rules regarding the use of clenbuterol, trainer Rohan Crichton may not be able to run his filly Bajan Girl (Speightstown) in the GI Juddmonte Spinster S. to be run Sunday at Keeneland.

Keeneland released a statement Tuesday indicating that it is considering its options.

“We are in the process of obtaining information regarding the reported suspensions from Gulfstream Park so Keeneland is in a position to make an informed decision about race entries,” it read. “As you know, and as is clear from our actions for 85 years, Keeneland continues to work in furtherance of our mission to perpetuate the best in Thoroughbred racing, which definitely includes fair competition and integrity.”

“Right now she's being trained towards her next start,” Crichton told the Daily Racing Form. “Preferably we'll be able to run her in the Spinster. Our second option is the Beldame. I've been very forthcoming with Keeneland and have asked if they will take my entry. There is also the possibility they would let my owners enter her with one of the other trainers they use in Kentucky.”

The Spinster is a “Win and You're In” race for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff.

So far as the GII Beldame S. at Belmont, also scheduled to be run Sunday, goes, NYRA spokesman Pat McKenna said the matter is under review.

It was announced last week by Gulfstream that Crichton was among five trainers that were suspended after they were found to be in violation of house rules at the Florida track regarding the use of clenbuterol. The others were Georgina Baxter, Daniel Pita, Peter Walder and Gilberto Zerpa. The finding came after out-of-competition testing, which included hair and blood samples, was performed.

Crichton was suspended by Gulfstream and not by the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, which means his status is not clear cut. Unlike a suspension issued by a racing commission, a suspension by one racetrack does not have to be upheld by another. However, as first reported by the Paulick Report, there is a clause in the Keeneland condition book listed under “special notices” that appears to cover the Crichton situation. It reads: “At the discretion of the stewards, and without notice, the entries of any person, or acceptance or transfer of any entries, may be refused.”

Keeneland's barn notes on Sunday and Monday listed Bajan Girl as a probable starter in the Spinster. Tuesday's notes did not include her name among a list of potential starters.

Owned by Robert Slack and Daniel Walters, Bajan Girl was fourth in the Love Sign S. at Colonial Downs in her most recent start and is three-for-13 lifetime.

A native of Jamaica, Crichton was the leading trainer at the 2020 Gulfstream Park West meet. He is 33-for-161 on the year for a winning percentage of 20%.

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Gulfstream Park Suspends Five Trainers for Clenbuterol Violations

As a result of standard out-of-competition testing, Gulfstream Park has taken immediate action to suspend five trainers that have been found to be in violation of the racetrack's clenbuterol restrictions.

The five suspended trainers are Georgina Baxter, Gilberto Zerpa, Peter Walder, Rohan Crichton and Daniel Pita, according to published reports.

Gulfstream Park enacted the restriction on clenbuterol as a house rule at the beginning of the 2019/2020 Championship Meet to further address and implement improved safety, transparency and accountability standards.

A total of 10 barns at Gulfstream Park were randomly tested. Five trainers returned clean samples while the five trainers who have been suspended returned a total of 12 positives. Both hair and blood samples were taken.

“As we have said before, individuals who do not embrace the rules and safety measures that put horse and rider safety above all else will have no place at any 1/ST racetrack,” said Aidan Butler, Chief Operating Officer, 1/ST RACING. “At 1/ST we are committed to achieving the highest standard of horse care and safety. We expect that the stakeholders who race and train at our facilities share in that commitment.”

The suspended trainers entered horses have been scratched and they will not be permitted to enter any horse they train for any race at 1/ST RACING venues until the completion of the suspension. To return to racing, they must also submit to follow up testing and have clean blood and urine samples. The 12 affected horses will be permitted to train as a part of their daily care and exercise routines.

The suspensions range from 10 to 40 days depending on the number of violations that a trainer has received and are effective as of October 1. Each trainer has been handed a $1000 fine per violation which will go directly to support Thoroughbred aftercare initiatives.

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Saturday Insights: Half-Brother to Classic Winner Gets Started

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

7th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 1m, post time: 3:50 p.m. ET
Joseph Murphy's WOLFE COUNTY (Medaglia d'Oro) is the latest foal to the races for the stakes-placed Dawn Raid (Vindication) making him a half-brother to 2016 GI Preakness S. and GI Haskell Invitational S. hero and WinStar sire Exaggerator (Curlin). Dawn Raid is herself a half-sister to MGSW and Sovereign Award winner Embur's Song (Unbridled's Song). He squares off with fellow debutant Monologue (Runhappy), a half-brother to SW & GISP Endless Chatter (First Samurai) and to SW & G1SP Whitecliffsofdover (War Front). The colt's dam Orate (A.P. Indy) is a full-sister to the late MGSW/GISP Pulpit, while the deeper female family includes champion Minardi (Boundary) and his half-brother Tale of the Cat (Storm Cat). TJCIS PPs

RanJan-Bred Firster Goes Out For Walsh Barn…
6th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, post time: 3:18 p.m. ET
MEAN JAKEY (Violence) cost owner Mike McCarty $340,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September sale, making him the third-priciest of his successful sire's 66 yearlings (88 ring) reported as sold last year. Bred by Jan Vandebos's RanJan Racing Inc. and trained by Steve Asmussen, the February foal is a half-brother to La La Chrysaor (Speightstown), who has two victories and five minor placings from nine starts to date on the competitive Japan Racing Association circuit. TJCIS PPs

'Rising Star' Returns to Action…
11th-CD, $127K, Allowance, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m, 5:58 p.m. ET
CARILLO (Union Rags) overcame a rough start and a wide passage on the turn going Aqueduct's one-turn mile Jan. 8 and ran on strongly to become a 'TDN Rising Star' just days before being offered as part of the Paul Pompa Jr. dispersal at Keeneland January. Purchased by Lauren Carlisle on behalf of Greg Tramontin, Joel Politi and Brittlyn Farm for $875,000, Carillo was a distant 10th when last seen in the GII Risen Star S. Feb. 13. The colt's dam Proper Mad (Bernardini), whose half-sister Private Mission (Into Mischief) won this year's GIII Torrey Pines S., was hammered down for $260,000 at the January sale, while her full-sister Gift List is responsible for GISW Dunbar Road (Quality Road). TJCIS PPs

Brant Debuter Looks To Keep Sire Perfect in U.S….
6th-BEL, $90K, Msw, 2yo, f, 7fT, post time: 3:36 p.m. ET
Bidding on behalf of owner Peter Brant, bloodstock agent Demi O'Byrne went to 300,000gns ($411,561) for LONGRIDGE FELL (IRE) (Ribchester {Ire}) at last year's Tattersalls October Sale. The May foal is a half-sister to the current stakes winner Parchemin (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and is out of a half-sister to SW & MGSP Pelerin (Ire) (Shamardal) and SP Masarah (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). Ribchester's lone U.S. starter to date, Stonestreet's 350,000gns TATOCT purchase Ruthin (Ire), became a 'TDN Rising Star' on Keeneland debut last April. Among the competition is the debuting Magic Light (Curlin), a homebred half-sister to the late 'Rising Star' Battle of Midway (Smart Strike) and to MSW/MGSP Moretti (Medaglia d'Oro). TJCIS PPs

Pricey Into Mischief Colt Debuts at Gulfstream…
7th-GP, $45K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, post time: 3:58 p.m. ET
SO DETERMINED (Into Mischief) fetched $875,000 from bloodstock agent Jacob West, bidding for Repole Stable and St Elias Stable, at KEESEP last fall, the joint fourth-highest price among 80 (110 ring) of this phenomenal sire's offspring to sell last year. The Florida-bred is out of the unraced Mimi's Tiz (Tiznow), who was purchased by Loren Nichols for $47,000 in foal to Will Take Charge at KEENOV in 2017. Mimi's Tiz is a daughter of Mimi's Bling (Bernstein), also the dam of SW Summer House (Tiznow). TJCIS PPs

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Tapeta Era Dawns At Gulfstream Park On Opening Day Of Fall Meet

The ground-breaking Tapeta era dawned Thursday at Gulfstream Park, where four races were contested over the newly installed all-weather surface on opening day of the Fall Meet.

Kathleen O'Connell, the second winningest female trainer in history, notched Win No. 2279 after saddling Emoji Guy for a victory in Race 1 in the first Tapeta race run at Gulfstream, the very first racetrack with dirt, turf and all-weather surfaces.

“It means a lot,” O'Connell said. “I'm happy for the owners. They've waited for a long time. I just texted them, 'It's a new track record. Of course, it was the first race run on it.”

J S Stables LLC's Emoji Guy, the 9-5 favorite for the $12,500 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles, was timed in 1:48.08 in his all-weather debut under Edwin Gonzalez.

“He was good and comfortable. The horse really liked it,” said Gonzalez, who has ridden on all-weather tracks at Golden Gate, Presque Isle and Arlington. “You have to ride it like the turf. I wanted to make one move and I was pretty happy where he was.”

Gonzalez, who made a three-wide sweep to the lead on the far turn aboard Emoji Guy, expressed his satisfaction with the going on the Tapeta track and his belief that the surface will become tighter as time goes by.

“It's good. I have to tell you, they did a really good job. Right now, it's good, and when the tractors start working it more, it's going to be better.”

Emoji Guy won for the first time in eight starts, seven on turf, since breaking his maiden on turf.

“He's pretty much an all-terrain model, so I wasn't so much worried about him,” O'Connell said. “Some of the others I do worry about. I spent a couple of seasons at Presque Isle. Not all of them that like the turf like the synthetic. I've had some dirt horses that turned into synthetic specialists. You just have to be in tune with your horse.”

A $60,000 maiden special weight for juvenile fillies at 5 ½ furlongs on Tapeta was featured on Thursday's program. Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Strategy Queen, who had shown promised in two starts on dirt, broke through with a deep-closing triumph under Cristian Torres in the Race 5 feature.

“Her dad won three times on it. Her sister won on it and her other sister won on turf. We put a horse on it we thought would like it,” Joseph said. “Cristian said, at first, she was a little green, but there was no kick-back and she was able to maintain her position. One of the things about Tapeta is you don't get dirt in your face. I think that's why some turf horses run on it better than they do on dirt.”

The daughter of Fed Biz had finished second in her most recent start after dueling from the start of the six-furlong $50,000 maiden claimer.

Wow Tapit, a daughter of Cairo Prince who finished third in her second career start in a recent off-the-turf sprint, took to the Tapeta to graduate in Race 3, a 5 ½-furlong maiden race for juvenile fillies. The Amador Sanchez-trained filly led throughout to score by 3 ½ lengths under Hector Berrios.

Monarch Stables Inc.'s Light Fury transferred his winning form on turf to the Tapeta in Race 7, an about-a-mile-and-70-yard optional claiming allowance. The Ron Spatz-trained son of Wicked Strong, the 6-5 favorite ridden by Samy Camacho, chased Vow Me Now into the stretch before taking the lead and holding on to win by a half-length. Light Fury was winless in eight starts on dirt before winning five times and finishing in the money nine times in 10 races on turf.

Five races will be run on the Tapeta track on Friday's nine-race program that will get underway at 12:50 p.m. Races 5, 7 and 9 will be included in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 sequence that will span Races 4-9. The Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $350,000.

The popular multi-race wager went unsolved Thursday for the 11th racing day since a Sept. 10 mandatory payout produced multiple payoffs of $313,299.84

The Rainbow 6 jackpot is paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

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