Havnameltdown | Horse Racing Free Tips

John Velazquez Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast

The credit for the win in the GI Preakness S. goes to National Treasure (Quality Road), but the assist goes to Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. Able to get to the lead and then slow the pace down to a crawl, Velazquez put in a perfect ride on his way to his first ever win in the Preakness. Fresh off his victory, Velazquez joined this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland. He was this week's Green Group Guest of the Week.

“It was just one of those things that worked out perfect,” Velazquez said of his Preakness trip. “You plan it but you never dream that you'll have the trip we had. The only thing that I was worried about…I saw Irad Ortiz (the rider of Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) warming up his horse in the post parade and I thought he was going try to get closer to the pace. If he wanted to get close to that pace, he was going to have to go fast enough to go across from me. So when I broke, I started drifting my horse out. So then when I pushed him out he started grabbing his horse back and he went backwards. I thought, 'Okay, he's out of there'. And I went right back to the inside. And that kind of slowed the pace really well.”

The race came down to National Treasure and Blazing Sevens in the stretch and National Treasure gamely held off his rival to win by a head. Velazquez and Ortiz were in close quarters the whole way and the two bumped. It sometimes seems that every time Ortiz is in a stretch battle something happens. Velazquez's thoughts on Ortiz and whether or not he too often crosses a line?

“I don't think he's a dirty rider,” Velazquez said. “I think he definitely crosses the line and does it a lot. I have talked to him many times. I try to teach him that we can be aggressive, but we have a line that we have to put in there. For him, it's hard to control. For me, I've been riding for a long time, so I always try to take the edge as much as I can, but try not to cross those lines. We all make mistakes. But I try to make as few mistakes as possible so I don't cross the line.”

Velazquez also revealed that he was almost taken off of National Treasure before the Preakness.

“I had to plead my case,” he said. “I made a few phone calls and I pleaded my case. I had to explain what happened in the Derby (where he rode Reincarnate (Good Magic), who was surprisingly close to the early pace), and I'm going to leave it at that.”

Should National Treasure start in the GI Belmont S., Velazquez thinks the mile-and-a-half will not be an issue.

“His gallop-outs are really strong every time,” he said. “He's always given me the feeling that he can do more and, obviously, he put it together in the Preakness. He put in a really good effort and his gallop out was really, really good. So I think the mile-and-a-half shouldn't be a problem. The way he gallops out, he's always giving more and more.”

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by Coolmore,https://lanesend.com/ the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, 1/st Racing, WinStar Farm, XBTV, Lane's End and https://www.threechimneys.com/ West Point Thoroughbreds, Bill Finley and Randy Moss reviewed the Preakness and the incredible highs and lows Bob Baffert experienced during the day. The breakdown of Havnameltdown (Uncaptured) and the way it was covered by the mainstream media was a major topic of discussion. Finley said that it is time for the sport to take another look at synthetic surfaces, noting that horses are 3 1/2 times more likely to die in a dirt race than they are in a synthetic surface race. With the Belmont next, Moss and Finley took a look at the story of Forte (Violence) re-emerging in the Triple Crown and wondered if he will be ready for his best after what would be a 10-week layoff and some missed training time due to the bruised hoof that led to his being scratched from the Derby.

Click for the video of the latest podcast or the audio-only version.

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The Week In Review: So Many Storylines On Preakness Day But None Bigger Than Another Tragedy

There was an exciting race, a thrilling stretch duel between winner National Treasure (Quality Road) and runner-up Blazing Sevens (Good Magic), and the first-ever win in the GI Preakness S. by classy Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. And think what you want of Bob Baffert, but his winning the first Triple Crown race he entered since the suspensions and bans had ended was a compelling chapter to this story. The man sure can train a race horse.

But those stories will start to drift away as we head to the GI Belmont S. and beyond. The one that will not is that this was another Triple Crown race marred by the death of a race horse. Havnameltdown (Uncaptured) broke down on the undercard, during the running of the GIII Chick Lang S., and had to be euthanized. That he is also trained by Baffert was red meat for racing's many critics.

This came after seven horses died at Churchill Downs in the lead-up to the GI Kentucky Derby. Two more horses have died at Churchill since the Derby, including one on Saturday.

From the mainstream media, the takes on the Preakness were predictable. A front-page, above-the-fold story in the Baltimore Sun appeared under this headline: 'National' Conflict. National Treasure's victory in the race contrasted with a horse's death earlier in the day–highlighting the controversy in a historic, but deadly sport. This was the headline on the Associated Press's report of the race: “Baffert back from ban, wins Preakness with National Treasure after another horse euthanized.”

And please don't dismiss this as noise from those who don't understand our game. On the two biggest racing days of the year so far, two days where the general public is paying attention to the sport, we left them with a dark and disturbing narrative, that as long as there is horse racing, horses will die. What's not to understand about that? We had hoped the Preakness card would shift the story, that the day would be without incident, that Mage (Good Magic) would win again and put himself in position to win a Triple Crown, and that we could put the seven deaths at Churchill in the background, at least somewhat. So much for that.

Had it happened to any other trainer, the story wouldn't have taken off like it did. But Baffert, because he is highly visible, trains a lot of very good horses, and has had his problems, is under the microscope like no other trainer.

A day after the Preakness, the Baltimore Sun, never known to be an anti-racing publication, was at it again. This time the subject was Baffert. The headline read “After a record-setting victory, Bob Baffert remains a messy figure atop a messy sport.” The story included this take on the Hall of Famer: “No one does a better job preparing horses to meet their potential on the most-watched stages in racing. No one inspires greater distaste from those who see racing as corrupted by drugs and death.”

Does Baffert deserve to have all the fingers pointed at him? He has had a spotless medication record since coming back from suspension and Havnameltdown was the first horse of his to break down in a race since he came back. Pimlico officials were extra careful to check every horse racing on the card from head to toe and their vets found nothing wrong with Havnameltdown. That Baffert would never have another horse break down was never going to happen. This one just happened to happen at the worst time possible.

In the aftermath of his roller-coaster day, the sport saw a side of him rarely seen. He was obviously very troubled by the death of the horse and during at least one interview was fighting back tears. It was more of the same Sunday when he spoke to the Pimlico media team.

“To me, the memory of this race would be that I lost Havnameltdown,” he said. “It was nice to win the race, but to me it was a pretty sad day.” He continued: “I'm still upset about losing that horse yesterday. My memory of this race is going to be about him. It just took all the fun out of it.”

None of what he said either Saturday or Sunday seemed contrived or an act. You could tell that he was really hurting.

But this shouldn't be about Baffert. It is much bigger than that. It is about what happened at Santa Anita in 2019. It is about the deaths at the Derby. It is about the two horses that died just down the road at Laurel on the April 20 card. It is about those horses you never heard of who have died in races, like Hair of the Dog (Hangover Kid), who died in a $4,500 claimer on April 1 at Charles Town, while no one was paying any attention.

Yes, we can and have done a better job protecting these horses. We could do better still, starting with changing all dirt tracks to the much-safer synthetic surfaces that are out there. That would make a huge difference. But I won't waste much more time on that argument because that's never going to happen. Then there's HISA. It is not a magic bullet, but it should make things better. It goes into effect Monday.

But here's the real problem. We will not ever eliminate breakdowns that lead to horses being euthanized. We still have a social license to operate, but will that last forever? The best we can do right now is to ask the public to accept that horses dying in races is inevitable and that we are working on the problem. That's a tough sell.

Then we cross our fingers, move on to the next big race and hope and pray that nothing goes wrong. It's a terrible position to be in.

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Ryvit Takes Chick Lang, Favored Havnameltdown Euthanized

The day's graded stakes action at Pimlico got off inauspicious start with the injury and subsequent euthanasia of 4-5 choice Havnameltdown (Uncaptured) in the GIII Chick Lang S. Havnameltdown appeared flat-footed at the start but sped into contention as 5-1 Ryvit (Competitive Edge) assumed the helm through a :22.23 opening quarter. Exiting the far turn, the favorite took a bad step, unseating jockey Luis Saez and leaving the frontrunner in the clear as 5-2 second choice Super Chow (Lord Nelson) found himself in a very wide second. Several lengths ahead as Super Chow began his backward retreat straightening for home, the Steve Asmussen trainee remained clear of the closing Prince of Jericho (Munnings). Frosted Departure (Frosted) was a distant third.

This season's GII San Vincente S. and GIII Bob Hope S. winner was euthanized, while jockey Luis Saez was taken to Sinai Hospital in Baltimore for further evaluation. He was stable and conscious upon his departure from the track.

Ryvit's regular rider, Steve Asmussen's son Keith, was unable to ride the colt Saturday due to injury. When asked if the winb was bitterwseet, the elder Asmussen said, “No. It's great that the horse won and proved himself. I think it's unfortunate that Keith broke his finger on Thursday. I'm proud of him for making the decision of putting the horse in front of himself. I think it says a lot and proves who he is. Somehow, I think he'll have plenty of my support when he comes back.”

According to winning rider Tyler Gaffalione, “That was very unfortunate and hopefully, Luis [Saez] is okay. We were kind of heads up, and he just kind of disappeared. I looked back and I saw Luis coming off the side. Hopefully, nothing serious. I feel terrible Keith [Asmussen] wasn't able to ride him [Ryvit] today. He's a great young kid and an up-and-coming rider, so he'll get plenty of those.”

As for what's next, Asmussen added, “Coming off of here is everything we've wanted to see. Obviously the sprint stakes at Saratoga are lucrative and what we will aim for next.”

On the board in both starts at two, including a third in Churchill's Kentucky Juvenile S. last spring, Ryvit was sixth going six furlongs against Oaklawn maidens in February before breaking through over that track and trip Mar. 25. Back on top facing first level allowance company Apr. 14, he made it three straight with a score over GIII Sanford S. winner Mo Strike (Uncle Mo) in the Apr. 29 Bachelor S.

“The key to him has been getting away from the gates,” explained Asmussen. “Keith working him in the mornings and getting him to break is what turned him around. That's the only thing I said to Tyler, 'If you can get him to jump well from the gates, you'll like how he responds.' And that his what he did.”

Pedigree Notes:
Ryvit is the fifth graded winner for the Texas-based sire Competitive Edge (Super Saver). A $70,000 purchase out of the Texas Mixed August sale is the first foal to race out of the winless She Is Bedazzling, a $140,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling purchase. She produced a colt by Collected last season.

Havnameltdown Update from 1/ST racing:
In response to Havnameltdown's condition following the race, 1/ST racing issued a press release: “During the Chick Lang Stakes at Pimlico, the number one horse, Havnameltdown, sustained an injury and immediately received on-track medical attention from an expert team of veterinarians, led by Dr. Dionne Benson. During the subsequent evaluation, she observed a non-operable left fore fetlock injury.”

“Due to the severity and prognosis of the injury, Dr. Benson and her counterparts made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize Havnameltdown.”

“The loss of Havnameltdown will be felt across the entire horse racing community, and everyone at the Maryland Jockey Club and 1/ST Racing extends our heartfelt condolences to Havnameltdown's connections.”

“Over the past year, 1/ST Racing has worked tirelessly to implement numerous industry-leading reforms, including additional medication restrictions and new operational requirements, to enhance the existing health and safety measures with the intent of providing the safest racing environment possible. In addition, 1/ST racing and the Maryland Jockey Club observe the most stringent medication practices and restrictions, pre- and post-race testing protocols, equine security and surveillance measures, veterinary exams, injury management protocols and racing surface testing.”

“These measures are re-evaluated and expanded every year to ensure our athletes are fit to compete safely in any race associated with 1/ST Racing.”
Saturday, Pimlico
CHICK LANG S. PRESENTED BY CASE TRACTOR-GIII, $200,000, Pimlico, 5-20, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.33, ft.
1–RYVIT, 124, c, 3, by Competitive Edge
              1st Dam: She Is Bedazzling, by Medaglia d'Oro
              2nd Dam: Melissa Jo, by Fusaichi Pegasus
              3rd Dam: Takeaway, by Fly So Free
   1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($70,000 Ylg '21 TTAYHR).
O-L. William and Corinne Heiligbrodt; B-Curt Leake (KY);
T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $120,000. Lifetime
Record: 7-4-1-1, $348,068. Werk Nick Rating: C.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Prince of Jericho, 120, c, 3, Munnings–Golden Review, by
Medaglia d'Oro. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($50,000 Ylg '21
FTKJUL; $85,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT). O-Michael Dubb and Morris
Bailey; B-Edward Seltzer (KY); T-Brittany T. Russell. $40,000.
3–Frosted Departure, 124, c, 3, Frosted–Undeterred, by More
Than Ready. ($50,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $100,000 Ylg '21
KEESEP). O-C and H Diamond Racing, LLC; B-Alastar
Thoroughbred Company, LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek.
$20,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 4, 3/4. Odds: 5.40, 6.20, 5.80.
Also Ran: Prove Right, Super Chow, Bristol Channel, Havnameltdown.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Preakness 148: Could It Be Magic?

Continuing on the heels of a stacked card Friday, Pimlico offers a robust eight-stakes offering Saturday, led by the $1.5 million GI Preakness S. With GI Kentucky Derby winning Mage (Good Magic) looming as the one to beat, the race suffered a notable blow Friday with the defection of Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' First Mission (Street Sense), shaving the field back to seven. Having not only showed a recency in form but also the ability to win at the highest level, none of the chestnut's rivals can really make the same claim. The lightly raced colt ran three times at Gulfstream Park this winter, culminating with a runner-up finish behind 'Rising Star' Forte (Violence) in the Apr. 1 GI Curlin Florida Derby. Sent off at 15-1 odds in the Run for the Roses, the Gustavo Delgado-trained colt came from well off the pace to win by a length, propelling his entire team into a ride of a lifetime.

“I think he came back from [the Derby] better than he did from the [Florida Derby] to be honest,” confirmed Gustavo Delgado Jr., his father's assistant

Throughout the week at Pimlico, Mage went through his paces like an old pro, never turning a hair despite the throng of spectators and media turning out to the see the reigning Derby winner.

“Professional, that's the best way to describe [his demeanor],” said Delgado, Jr. “[He's] very quiet. The track being so quiet with only a few horses at the same time [during the Preakness training period], that helps too.”

Added Ramiro Restrepo, who owns the 3-year-old with OGMA Investments LLC, Sterling Racing LLC and CMNWLTH, “He's so smart. I can't overstate that. He's a really intelligent horse. Not only does he take care of himself during his races, but he knows when to commence.

“The races are developing him race by race. We're just waiting to see how much he has in the well of talent. Every day, he's showing more and more signs of maturation and understanding his job as a racehorse. It's great to see it happening.”

GI Champagne S. winner Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) is winless in three starts this season, finishing a solidly beaten third last time out in the Apr. 8 GI Toyota Blue Grass S. Despite some of the shortcomings, the colt's trainer Chad Brown has already tasted victory on two prior occasions in the Preakness with 'fresh' horses–Cloud Computing (Maclean's Music) and Early Voting (Gun Runner). Additionally, he is responsible for guiding Good Magic through his championship juvenile season in 2017 before finishing runner-up in the Kentucky Derby the following spring. Fourth in that year's Preakness, Good Magic also won the GI Haskell Invitational S.

Setting up the race for a possible 'Magic' trifecta, Perform offers trainer Shug McGaughey the opportunity to win his first Preakness. At Pimlico's annual Alibi Breakfast Thursday morning, McGaughey took to the podium following an enthusiastic round of applause to discuss the chances of the Federico Tesio S. winner. Somewhat stayed while assessing his chances in the second jewel of the Triple Crown, the Hall of Famer spoke with the confidence of somebody who knows they have a legitimate contender. And supplementing the horse for $150,000 seemed to underscore that belief as well.

“If he hadn't run well [in the Tesio] we wouldn't be running here,” said McGaughey. “Although we didn't go into the Tesio thinking we'd run here if he ran well. He was not nominated to the Preakness. After the way he ran..[jockey] Feargal [Lynch] said he thought it was too bad the horse wasn't nominated because he thought he was a Preakness-type horse.”

You don't know if you're good enough until you try them. I've never won the Preakness and I won't win the Preakness if they're standing there in the stall.”

Trainer Bob Baffert is also represented with National Treasure (Quality Road) a first-out winner who has hit the board in four of five career starts. Third in the GIII Sham S. in January, he was last seen finishing fourth in the GI Santa Anita Derby. Baffert is bidding for his record-breaking eighth victory in the Preakness. His most recent victory was in 2018 with Triple Crown winner Justify.

Rounding out the field are a trio of stakes winners, Chase the Chaos (Astern {Aus}), Coffeewithchris (Ride On Curlin) and Red Route One (Gun Runner).

East vs. West in Chick Lang
It's East versus West in the six-furlong GIII Chick Lang S. Saturday afternoon. Representing the left coast is Havnameltdown (Uncaptured), a three-time graded stakes winner trained by Bob Baffert. Runner-up in last season's Del Mar Futurity, he finished a close-up second his latest start in the G3 Saudi Derby.

“He ran a great race,” Baffert said of the Saudi Derby. “A mile is a little bit too far for him. He's a sprinter. That's his distance, six to seven furlongs.”

Also having shown his affinity for three-quarters of a mile, four-time stakes winner Super Chow (Lord Nelson) enters the Chick Lang off an impressive 5 1/4-length score in Gulfstream's Hutcheson S. in March.

“The horse hasn't done anything wrong since he came to the barn as a 2-year-old,” said Jorge Delgado, who is based at Monmouth Park in the summer and Gulfstream Park in the winter. “His record is magnificent. In his eight starts he has run at [five] different racetracks with six wins, one second and one third. The last time he got beat [GIII Swale Feb. 4], he got beat by a horse that won at Churchill [Downs] on Derby Day [General Jim, GII Pat Day Mile]. So, he's been competing against real quality horses. I do know the race is going to be very competitive, but my horse is 100% ready to run this race.”

Never to be discounted on te big days, trainer Steve Asmussen saddles Ryvit (Competitive Edge), who rides a three-race winning skein. In his latest start, the colt took a muddy renewal of Oaklawn's Bachelor S. Apr. 29.

Motion Well Armed on Turf
Trainer Graham Motion once again presents a customary strong hand in Pimlico's graded turf features. Motion is represented by a trio of runners in the GIII Galorette S., headed by dual stakes winner Vergara (Noble Mission {GB}). Off since a runner-up finish in last fall's GII Sands Point S. at Aqueduct, the bay is reunited with Joel Rosario. The trainer also offers up Italian import Sopran Basilea (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) and MSW Bipartisanship (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), runner up in a Keeneland allowance in her sole race in 2023.

Hoping to get a win early in the day is Chad Brown, who saddles SP Whitebeam (GB) (Caravaggio) in addition to SW Eminent Victor (Mr. Z), making her 2023 debut under Flavien Prat.

One race later in the nine-furlong GIII Dinner Party S., Motion returns with another three runners, including last out Keeneland winner Hurricane Dream (Fr) (Hurricane Cat). The French import will be accompanied by GI Hollywood Derby scorer Speaking Scout (Mr Speaker) and Easter (Fr) (Exosphere {Aus}), a winner going a mile in a Big A allowance Apr. 7.

Todd Pletcher brings to the fore 'TDN Rising Star' Emmanuel (More Than Ready), victorious in the GIII Tampa Bay Derby and GIII Canadian Turf earlier this winter. Most recently, he was seventh after a tardy start in the GI Maker's Mark Mile Apr. 14.

This winter's GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational winner Atone (Into Mischief) tries to bounce back following a lackluster ninth in the Muniz Memorial Classic S. Mar. 25.

Rounding out Pimlico's graded action is the GIII Maryland Sprint S. Trying to recapture their winning form are Grade III winners 'Rising Star' Prevalence (Medaglia d'Oro) as well as Willy Boi (Uncaptured). Likely to take much of the money at the windows, Straight No Chaser (Speightster) and GSW Wonderwherecraigis (Munnings) will try to successfully take the next step up to graded company following last out allowance wins. Wesley Ward returns with Nakatomi (Firing Line), winless in his last three starts, including a fourth-place finish in Keeneland's GIII Commonwealth S. Apr. 8.

Churchill offers it's solitary graded test of the day, the card's anchor the GIII Louisville S. Mike Maker offers a strong pairing led by last out GII Pan American winner Therapist (Freud). He also takes a shot with former claimer turned recent Gulfstream allowance winner Yamato (Artie Schiller).

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