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Best Of Ohio: Five OTRF Stakes Set For Saturday At Mahoning Valley

A quintet of $100,000 Ohio Thoroughbred Race Fund (OTRF) Stakes are set to be contested Saturday, Oct. 30 at Mahoning Valley Race Course in northeastern Ohio. These five OTRF stakes will wrap up the Best of Ohio series at the state's three running venues. First Race post time at Mahoning on Saturday is 12:15 pm, ET.

The Juvenile, a 1 1/16-mile contest for Ohio-registered 2-year-olds, is the first Best of Ohio event on the afternoon program, carded as Race Six and features seven youngsters, each carrying 120 pounds. Post time for The Juvenile is 2:34 pm, ET.

Uptown, who has finished second in two previous OTRF stakes this year and who comes into this event fresh off two victories, looks to be the one to beat. Trained by Silviano Gonzalez for owner Charlie Williams, this son of Upstart-Mongoose Gold, by Mongoose has $69,450 in his coffers. The dark bay or brown colt was a $30,000 purchase at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and was bred by Ohio's Donnybrook Farm and Wynn Blaton.

Next up is the John W. Galbreath, another 1 1/16-mile event, this one for Ohio-registered fillies, all carrying 117 pounds. Post time for the Galbreath is 3:02 pm, ET, and features seven neophyte distaffs.

Alexandria, who captured the $100,000 Best of Ohio Miss Ohio and $75,000 Tah Dah stakes, rates the slight nod in here over rival Happy as You Go, the $75,000 Emerald Necklace and $75,000 Loyalty Stakes winner.

Hailing from the Tim Hamm barn for Winstar Farm and Blazing Meadows Farm, Alexandria was a smart third in the Grade 3 Pocahantas Stakes at Churchill on Sept. 3. The homebred daughter of Constitution-Springwater, by Spring at Last has a bankroll of $137,160 with three wins in four starts.

Happy as You Go, by Mobil, out of the Dixieland Band mare Preservation Hall, is a Robert Gorham trainee with $106,706 in earnings and is three for four lifetime. Bred by Mapleton Thoroughbreds, Happy as You Go was a $5,000 purchase at the 2019 Ohio Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Fall Mixed Sale.

The six-furlong Best of Ohio Sprint follows, with 11 well-matched Ohio-registered 3-year-olds and up vying for first prize. Post time is scheduled for 3:30 pm, ET.

Altissimo, who captured the Best of Ohio Sprint in both 2019 and 2018, is the obvious choice. This multiple stakes-winner of $827,034 has 18 wins, eight seconds and 5 thirds in 44 career outings for owners Nancy Lavrich and Ronald Zielinski. Altissimo is a bay 7-year-old homebred altered son of Noble Causeway-Great Goin Rose, by Albert The Great and is conditioned by Richard Zielinski. Altissimo will have to contend with the likes of former Ohio Horse of the Year and multiple stakes winner and million-dollar earner Mo Dont No, and the always tough contenders Buckeye Bullet and Diamond Dust, among others.

The Best of Ohio Distaff has a post time of 3:58 pm, ET and features nine Ohio-registered fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, traveling 1 1/8 miles over the Cleveland dirt.

Moonlit Mission appears sharp and poised to pick up her second win of the season and sixth career triumph in the Distaff for trainer Silvano Gonzalez and owner Charlie Williams. Bred by the Belvedere Farm, this 3-year-old striking chestnut daughter of Shackleford-Moonlit River, by Maria's Mon has been stakes placed this season and won the $75,000 Tomboy Stakes after capturing the $150,000 Galbreath one year ago. A winner of $249,550, Moonlit Mission was a $18,000 purchase at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. This field also features stakes winners Totally Obsessed, Drillit, Cali Dream and Star Mabee, among others.

The final race of the afternoon, with a 4:26 pm, ET, is the Best of Ohio Endurance, featuring 10 Ohio-registered runners, 3-year-olds and up, vying at 1¼ miles.

Forewarned, a 5-year-old son of Flat Out-Fortune Play, by Five Star Day, captured the 2019 edition of the Best of Ohio Endurance and has been plying his wares in stakes throughout the East Coast this season. Trained by Uriah St. Lewis for the Trin-Brook Stables, Forewarned has amassed $452,113 lifetime with seven wins, four seconds and four thirds in 29 starts. He was a $40,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic December 2018 Mixed Sale.

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Foley: Filly & Mare Sprint ‘Right Time’ To Try Sconsin Against Older Rivals

Lloyd Madison Farms' $250,000 Eight Belles (Grade 2) winner Sconsin will be in search of season-ending glory in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) on Nov. 7 at Keeneland, but will have to face older rivals for the first time in her eight-race career.

“We had thought about running in the Raven Run after the Eight Belles to stay with 3-year-olds,” trainer Greg Foley said. “We got together with the owners and they said, 'What about the big one?' She was impressive coming from behind in the Eight Belles and I think will fit right with this group of horses coming from off the pace. I think we are taking a shot at the right time with her. Anytime you run a 3-year-old against older horses for the first time, you don't necessarily know what to expect. Since this is the end of the season, from here on out she'll be running against older horses.”

Sconsin is part of Lloyd Madison Farms' impressive homebred operation. She is by Include out of the former Foley-trained Sconnie. Prior to Sconsin's Eight Belles score, she finished third behind Mundaye Call in the $100,000 Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park and was the runner-up to Four Graces in the $100,000 Beaumont (G3) at Keeneland.

“We're just hoping for a honest pace and a fair track in the Breeders' Cup,” Foley said. “She's a beautiful filly and has all the right looks of a great horse. She was beautiful as a weanling, yearling and now a 3-year-old.”

Sconsin was one of 10 horses pre entered in the Filly & Mare Sprint. Post positions will be drawn on Monday.

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‘Ready To Take Our Shot’: Romans’ Breeders’ Cup Brigade Led By Juveniles Girl Daddy, Sittin On GO

Trainer Dale Romans had a monumental Kentucky Derby week with Albaugh Family Stable's duo of stakes winners Girl Daddy and Sittin On Go. The twosome will join three other Romans trainees in next weekend's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland.

“It was a really great week to win both the Pocahontas (Grade 3) and Iroquois (G3),” Romans said. “We're coming into the Breeders' Cup with some good chances and ready to take our shot. I think that across the board each of the Breeders' Cup races are shaping up to be competitive. It's fun getting to compete on this stage and seeing who is the best of the best.”

Sittin On Go, a 2-year-old undefeated son of former Romans-trained Brody's Cause, is one of the top contenders for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). Also scheduled to join him in the starting gate is Albaugh's maiden winner Smiley Sobotka.

Girl Daddy, who won the $200,000 Pocahontas by two lengths, is likely to face seven rivals in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).

“Obviously, long term, you always have next year's Kentucky Derby and Oaks in the back of your mind,” Romans said. “These horses have shown they have potential to get to that level in the future.”

Romans also pre-entered CJ Thoroughbreds, Left Turn Racing and Casner Racing's $500,000 Derby City Distaff (GI) third-place finisher Sally's Curlin to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (GI) and Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister's $200,000 Fayette (GII) hero Mr Freeze to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (GI).

All five horses are expected to have their final works prior to the Breeders' Cup Friday or Saturday. They will ship to Keeneland on Monday, according to Romans.

The post ‘Ready To Take Our Shot’: Romans’ Breeders’ Cup Brigade Led By Juveniles Girl Daddy, Sittin On GO appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Oaklawn Releases New Proposed Integrity Initiatives for ’21

Working in partnership with the Arkansas Racing Commission and the Arkansas HBPA (Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association), Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort has announced, subject to legislative approval, a series of significant proposed safety and integrity enhancements planned for the 2021 racing season. Key provisions include the prohibition of Clenbuterol within 60 days of a race, reduction in the maximum amount of Lasix without specific approval, and the mandatory use of safety whips in races.

“We began working on these measures last spring,” said Oaklawn President Louis Cella. “We hosted a series of roundtable meetings with horsemen, regulators, racing officials, and our own management team where we asked a simple question: ‘What can we do to enhance the safety and integrity of our program?'”

The rule changes are currently making their way through the regulatory approval process in Arkansas and are expected to be finalized in advance of the start of the 2021 racing season Jan. 22.

“We could not have accomplished all of this without the strong partnership we have with our Racing Commission and our horsemen,” Cella said. “When it comes to integrity and safety, we are united.”

Some of the proposed rule or policy changes include:

The use of Clenbuterol or any other beta2-agonist will not be allowed within 60 days prior to a race at Oaklawn, confirmed for the first time through hair testing.
The maximum dosage of Lasix that can be administered has been reduced by 50% without specific approval of the State Veterinarian. Lasix is also prohibited in any 3-year-old stakes that awards points towards eligibility in the GI Kentucky Derby (Smarty Jones, GII Southwest S., GII Rebel S., and GI Arkansas Derby) and GI Kentucky Oaks (Martha Washington, GIII Honeybee S., and GIII Fantasy S.)
The use of extracorporeal shock wave therapy, radial pulse wave therapy or similar treatments will not be allowed within 30 days of a race. Also, shock wave equipment will not be allowed on Oaklawn’s grounds at any time.
Trainer and veterinarian records must be made available upon request for review by the pre-race exam veterinarians.
The only riding crops allowed during races will be the 360 Gentle Touch (360 GT), Pro-Cush or other similar riding crops approved by the stewards.
Off-track training facilities in Arkansas will be asked to agree to abide by rules similar to rules that apply on-track.
Horses will be required to be on the grounds at least 72 hours before races unless approved for late arrival. To facilitate this, entries will be scheduled at least four days prior to a race.

“Our racing program has become one of the elite racing programs in America with a projected average daily purse distribution of $700,000 a day in 2021,” he added. “In addition, we are close to completing a $100-million expansion project that will elevate the program even further. So, the time for safety and integrity enhancements is now.”

One of the individuals who worked closely with Oaklawn and horsemen in the development of these measures was Alex Lieblong, Chairman of the Arkansas Racing Commission. A horse owner himself, Lieblong said, “I applaud Oaklawn for taking these forward-thinking steps that will help solidify Oaklawn’s status as one of the premier racing destinations in the country. They have the full support of the Racing Commission.”

Another key participant, Bill Walmsley, president of the Arkansas HBPA, added, “We began these meetings in early 2020 and continued working through the summer and into the fall. While we do not endorse every change, we do not object to any of these changes. Overall, it has been a true partnership effort, and it demonstrates why Oaklawn, the Arkansas HBPA and the Arkansas Racing Commission enjoy what I believe is the strongest working relationship in the industry.”

Oaklawn’s 2021 season runs from Friday, Jan. 22 through Saturday, May 1. Stall applications are now available on www.oaklawn.com and are due Nov. 5.

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