Tag: Horse racing news

Five Derby Riders Pledge Percentage Of Earnings To Help Injured Jock Bednar

Hall of Fame jockeys Javier Castellano, Mike Smith, John Velazquez, and the sport's rising stars Manuel Franco and Tyler Gaffalione have joined in solidarity to pledge a percentage of their earnings from the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby race cards to help rider Vinnie Bednar with continued expenses resulting from a catastrophic fall at Los Alamitos Racetrack on August 22nd.

Bednar, 28, is experiencing what his family hopes is a temporary lower-limb paralysis following initial surgery at USC Medical Center in Los Angeles.  He remains hospitalized while awaiting transfer to the Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, a world-renowned, premier center for spinal and brain injury. The accident occurred in the seventh race when Peek It Up, the horse Bednar was riding, broke down 100 yards from the finish line in the 300-yard race.

“Vinnie was overcome with emotion when I told him that some of the country's top jockeys had reached out and wanted to help. He couldn't believe that they were thinking about him while they are amid their big race weekend at Churchill Downs,” said Karen Bednar, Vinnie's mother.

“The support our family has received is unbelievable and it's been so inspiring to Vinnie. He wants to use the attention and the generosity to help other paralyzed jockeys who don't have the exposure and need help,” Bednar continued.

Castellano who is third on the all-time North American earnings leaderboard will be aboard Money Moves for seven-time Eclipse Award winning trainer Todd Pletcher in the 146th running of the Derby today. Franco will ride the heavy favorite and sole Triple Crown contender Tiz the Law who won the Belmont Stakes and the Travers Stakes for trainer Barclay Tagg. Tyler Gaffalione who is third in earnings on the North American Leaderboard will have the mount on South Bend for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.  Mike Smith, who piloted Justify to a Triple Crown title in 2018 will be in the irons for trainer John Sherriffs on Honor A.P. who is the morning line second favorite in the race. Velazquez will ride Authentic for two-time Triple Crown winner Bob Baffert who is the third favorite in the year's 146th edition of the Run for the Roses.

“This could have been any one of us,” said North America's all-time leading money earner Velazquez.  “The injuries Vinnie sustained are going to require a tremendous amount of financial support for his medical bills and rehabilitation. We will be riding with Vinnie and his family in our thoughts and prayers today.”

Fellow Hall of Famer Mike Smith echoed the sentiment, adding, “I know Vinnie well. He's a great young rider and an even better person. He has a wonderful family and we will all help him get through this.”

Vinnie Bednar is a former motocross rider who began riding thoroughbred and quarter horses in 2011.  He has enjoyed a successful career and at the time of his last race ranked second in the jockey standings at Los Alamitos. Since mid-December, Bednar has won four major stakes – the Champion of Champions last December with 2019 World Champion He Looks Hot, the Vessels Maturity on Chocolatito on July 5, the Governor's Cup Derby with Nomadic on July 26, and the Golden State Derby on Aug. 16 aboard Circle City.  This season Bednar had 41 Quarter Horse victories from 201 starts with earnings of $635,959 and is ranked 23rd in the country. He also rode Thoroughbreds this year, garnering 18 wins from 94 mounts.

Close friends of the Bednar family have created a GoFundMe campaign for continued medical support: https://gf.me/u/yvsusr

The post Five Derby Riders Pledge Percentage Of Earnings To Help Injured Jock Bednar appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Dream Ahead’s Dream of Dreams Wins the Sprint Cup

Finally gaining the top-level success his record demanded, Saeed Suhail’s Dream of Dreams (Ire) (Dream Ahead) justified 5-2 favouritism in a strong renewal of Haydock’s G1 Betfair Sprint Cup on Saturday. Tracking the correct pace racing among the stand’s-side group throughout the early stages, the ultra-impressive G2 Hungerford S. winner was delivered by Oisin Murphy to lead passing the furlong pole. Despite the game efforts of Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) from there, the Freemason Lodge stalwart had too much in hand and hit the line with 1 1/4 lengths to spare over the former, with a neck back to the consistent Golden Horde in third. “I was really excited about getting back on him, as the feel he gave me the last day was incredible so I’m thrilled he backed that up,” Murphy said. “He travelled well and picked up slowly–he didn’t have that burst like last time but I think it was because he didn’t have a lot to race with. He tends to drift a little left and doesn’t do much in front, but I had Golden Horde that way for something to race with. To ride group 1 winners for Sir Michael Stoute is the stuff of dreams.”

Dream of Dreams’ seven-length Hungerford romp was not coming out of turn, with conditions ideal there as he moved back up to seven furlongs again Aug. 15. Equally as effective over this trip, as he had shown when a strong-closing runner-up in the last two editions of Royal Ascot’s G1 Diamond Jubilee S., he had at times in the past two years disappointed when it came to the crunch in the major sprints and was only eighth in this in 2019. In a good place since being gelded after also flopping in the G1 QIPCO British Champion Sprint S. at Ascot in October, he had built on his June 20 Diamond Jubilee effort with his emphatic Newbury triumph and capped it with this achievement. Back over the course and distance over which he broke his maiden in May 2016 when trained by Kevin Ryan, the chestnut was eventually reaching the summit.

With so many notable sprinters well beaten here, connections have no fear of targetting the upcoming Champions Sprint and the owner’s representative Philip Robinson said, “He’s just all of a sudden improved. The gelding has helped, without a shadow of a doubt. His mind is in the job. He’s a different horse now and I think Sir Michael’s big trick with him is to keep him fresh and he’s giving him plenty of time between races. He’s thriving. He’s discovering how easy it is and now he’s got his confidence, onwards and upwards. Champions Day is very possible. I think that will probably be his next target.”

Dream of Dreams is likely to meet Glen Shiel there after another honourable run from the improved fellow 6-year-old. “He rallied when headed and he’s chased the winner all the way to the line,” jockey Hollie Doyle said. “I can’t fault him. I thought I might win two down. Nothing was on my girths, but then the winner started coming. He ran a massive race and Archie has done an amazing job placing him throughout the season. He keeps improving himself and I didn’t expect to travel as well as he did–he surprised me.”

The winner’s unraced dam Vasilia (GB) (Dansili {GB}) has also produced the G3 Solario S. runner-up Silverheels (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}) and the Listed Dragon S. runner-up Lasilia (Ire) Acclamation {GB}), who is in turn the dam of the listed-placed Brassica (Ire) (Australia {GB}). Vasilia is kin to the G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Airwave (GB) (Air Express {Ire}), whose three black-type winners include the G3 Lanwades Stud Fillies’ S. winner Aloof (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the Listed Curragh S. winner and G2 Queen Mary S. runner-up Meow (Ire) (Storm Cat). She achieved notoriety as Broodmare of the Year in 2017 courtesy of the exploits of her Galileo progeny Churchill (Ire) and Clemmie (Ire). Airwave’s ill-fated half-sister Jwala (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) caused an upset when winning the G1 Nunthorpe S. before being fatally-injured in the 2013 G1 Hong Kong Sprint. Vasilia’s 2-year-old colt Fantastic Fox (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was bought by SackvilleDonald for 260,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, while her yearling filly by Galileo (Ire) is due to sell at the upcoming Book 1.

Saturday, Haydock, Britain
BETFAIR SPRINT CUP S.-G1, £225,000, Haydock, 9-5, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:14.07, sf.
1–DREAM OF DREAMS (IRE), 129, g, 6, by Dream Ahead
1st Dam: Vasilia (GB), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Kangra Valley (GB), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Thorner Lane (GB), by Tina’s Pet (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (37,000gns Wlg ’14 TATFOA; £44,000 RNA Ylg ’15 DNPRM). O-Saeed Suhail; B-Prostock Ltd (IRE); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Oisin Murphy. £133,200. Lifetime Record: GSP-Ire, 28-7-9-2, $682,756. *1/2 to Silverheels (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}), MGSP-Eng, $206,229; and Lasilia (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), MSP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–2–Glen Shiel (GB), 129, g, 6, Pivotal (GB)–Gonfilia (Ger), by Big Shuffle. (£45,000 5yo ’19 GOFSPR). O-Hambleton Racing XXXVI & Partner; B-Darley (GB); T-Archie Watson. £50,378.
3–Golden Horde (Ire), 127, c, 3, Lethal Force (Ire)–Entreat (GB), by Pivotal (GB). (£65,000 Ylg ’18 GOUKPR). O-Al Mohamediya Racing; B-CN Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Clive Cox. £25,178.
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, 1. Odds: 2.50, 25.00, 6.50.
Also Ran: Art Power (Ire), Hello Youmzain (Fr), The Tin Man (GB), Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), Summerghand (Ire), Brando (GB), Archer’s Dream (Ire), Forever In Dreams (Ire), Queen Jo Jo (GB), Tabdeed (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Dream Ahead’s Dream of Dreams Wins the Sprint Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Stroll For Enable In the September

John Gosden could hardly have scripted a better 2020 for Clarehaven’s standard-bearer Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Saturday’s G3 Unibet September S. at Kempton turned out the predicted stroll all expected as she works towards her historic Arc attempt. Providing the only anxious moment for 1-14 backers when awkward from the stalls, the Juddmonte juggernaut was soon in command as Frankie showed his intent to keep it simple. Tracked throughout by Kirstenbosch (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}), she went through the contest like a piece of strong exercise and there were seven lengths to spare over that unexposed 4-year-old at the line. “She did it very nicely, very smoothly,” her trainer said. “The track is riding deeper than usual and Frankie felt she didn’t find it as easy to be as fluent on as she normally is. She normally springs off that, but it’s just riding a bit sticky. Apart from that he was absolutely delighted with her. She has had a nice blow and a good day out. She was idling a bit in front and the race would have just brought her on nicely. She will have a nice easy 10 days and then we will build up to the Arc.”

Bar encountering the mighty presence of Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) when making her seasonal bow in the July 5 G1 Eclipse S. at Sandown, Enable’s current campaign has gone like clockwork with her bringing up a unique treble in Ascot’s G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. July 25 that might stand unmatched for some time. Gosden now has to deliver her for her date with destiny on the first Sunday next month. “She came close last year and we will do our best to put that right, but what she has done already with all the races she has won is pretty extraordinary,” he added. “She was fresh to saddle and was quick with her hind feet. She was just full of herself. I think down at the start didn’t help as she was waiting for the other horse to be reshod. Frankie floated up there and she had a nice race–perfectly what you want, with hands and heels.”

“I think it was probably three-quarters mental and one-quarter physical preparation today,” he continued. “This was as much to mentally let her let a little steam off and chill her and give her 10 days and build her up to the Arc. The race will just sharpen her mental attitude. She found it difficult to get to her racing weight and I didn’t want to push her in any way. She got tired in the last furlong in the Eclipse, but ran a lovely race and then came back in the King George. That was the most important part, as her metabolism changed. She is wiser now and a 6-year-old mare is different to a 3-year-old filly. She is robust and she does have that mental strength. The great tennis players get to that fifth set and when they are two sets all it is mental strength that wins it above anything else.”

Looking ahead to the opposition at ParisLongchamp, Gosden has his eye in particular on Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). “We have got tons of respect for the Oaks winner, who is a brilliant filly and is getting the weight allowance Enable did when she was that age,” he said. “You would love to see the ground good-to-soft, you don’t want to see it bottomless but it is next to the River Seine and we are in the autumn.”

Enable’s finale in her native country came just 24 hours after her 2-year-old half-brother Derab (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) put in such a promising debut when second at Ascot. The listed-winning and group-placed dam Concentric (GB) (Sadler’s Wells) also has a yearling full-brother to Enable and by the time he is enjoying his first outing it could be that she has a second Classic winner. Also the dam of the G2 Prix de Pomone runner-up Contribution (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and the G3 Musidora S. runner-up Entitle (GB) (Dansili {GB}), she is a daughter of the G3 Prix de Royaumont winner Apogee (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}) and a full-sister to the G2 Prix de Royallieu scorer and G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Dance Routine (GB). She is in turn the dam of the multiple top-level winner Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and the second dam of the GII Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup winner Projected (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and last year’s G2 Prix Eugene Adam and G2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano winner Headman (GB) (Kingman {GB}).

Saturday, Kempton, Britain
UNIBET SEPTEMBER S.-G3, £56,000, Kempton, 9-5, 3yo/up, 11f 219y (AWT), 2:30.33, st/sl.
1–ENABLE (GB), 135, m, 6, by Nathaniel (Ire)
1st Dam: Concentric (GB) (SW & GSP-Fr, $117,776), by Sadler’s Wells
2nd Dam: Apogee (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
3rd Dam: Bourbon Girl, by Ile de Bourbon
O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £31,758. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 9.5-11f, 2x Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Horse-Eng & Fr at 11-14f, MG1SW-Eng & Fr, G1SW-Ire & GISW-US, 18-15-2-1, $14,062,824. *1/2 to Contribution (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), MGSP-Fr; and Entitle (GB) (Dansili {GB}), GSP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Kirstenbosch (GB), 128, f, 4, Mount Nelson (GB)–Kassiyra (Ire), by Kendor (Fr). (22,000gns RNA Ylg ’17 TAOCT). O/B-Fittocks Stud (GB); T-James Fanshawe. £12,040.
3–Prince of Arran (GB), 131, g, 7, Shirocco (Ger)–Storming Sioux (GB), by Storming Home (GB). O-Saeed Bel Obaida; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Charlie Fellowes. £6,026.
Margins: 7, HD, 8. Odds: 0.07, 33.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: Almania (Ire), Punting (Ire), Fox Tal (GB). Scratched: Tinandali (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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