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Brown-Trained Duo Selflessly, Tamahere Headline Saturday’s Sands Point Stakes

Trainer Chad Brown will saddle a pair of contenders led by multiple graded-stakes winner Selflessly and French-bred Tamahere as the four-time Eclipse Award-winning conditioner looks to secure his fourth win in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Sands Point, a one-mile Widener turf test for sophomore fillies at Belmont Park.

Saturday's blockbuster card includes four Grade 1, Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” challenge races led by the $250,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup, a 1 ¼-mile test for 3-year-olds and up offering a berth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic; the $300,000 Champagne at one-mile for 2-year-olds providing a spot in the starting gate for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile; the $250,000 Flower Bowl at 10-furlongs for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up with a berth in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf on the line; and the $250,000 Frizette, a one-turn mile for juvenile fillies offering a berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Klaravich Stables' Selflessly, a dark bay daughter of More Than Ready purchased for $190,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, graduated in style at second asking in the 2019 Grade 2 Miss Grillo on the Belmont turf ahead of a fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf to close out her campaign.

Selflessly stumbled at the start of her seasonal debut when fifth in the Grade 3 Wonder Again on June 20 at Belmont, but returned to form last out when a nose winner of the one-mile Grade 3 Lake George at Saratoga on Aug. 28, when besting multiple graded-stakes winner Sweet Melania.

Selflessly has breezed four times on the Oklahoma training turf following the Lake George, including a five-eighths effort in 1:02.85 on Oct. 3.

“Selflessly is doing really well coming off a nice win last time out,” said Brown.

Bred in Maryland by George Louis Doetsch, Jr, Selflessly is out of the Grand Slam mare Uniformly Yours and is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Enchanted Ghost.

Swift Thoroughbreds' Tamahere, by Wootton Bassett and out of the Giant's Causeway mare Alatasarai, posted a record of 6-2-2-1 in her native France for former conditioner Francois Rohaut.

She captured the Prix la Sorellina on June 18 at La Teste Buche last out over one mile of soft going before shipping to Brown's stable at Saratoga for a trio of works. The French-bred bay has posted her last two works on the inner turf at Belmont, including a five-eighths effort in 1:01.40 on Sunday.

Jose Ortiz will pilot Selflessly from post 3, while Irad Ortiz, Jr. has the call aboard Tamahere from the inside post as Brown looks to add to a Sands Point winner's ledger that includes Ball Dancing [2014], Uni [2017] and New and Improved [2019.]

Waterford Stable's Speaktomeofsummer will turn back in distance following a Saratoga summer campaign that saw the Summer Front bay capture the nine-furlong Grade 2 Lake Placid on July 19 ahead of a fourth in the 1 3/16-mile Saratoga Oaks Invitational on Aug. 16.

Speaktomeofsummer has posted a trio of works at Belmont following the Saratoga Oaks, including a half-mile effort on the inner turf in 50.60 on Sunday.

“The filly is doing great. She's working well and looks well. I'm excited to see her run,” said Clement.

A maiden winner at second asking on the Monmouth Park turf in September 2019, Speaktomeofsummer rallied for a two-length win in the one-mile Chelsey Flower in November on the Big A turf.

Clement said the turnback in distance won't bother his filly.

“I think she's very versatile from a mile to a mile and a quarter. I don't see the distance as a negative, I think she's perfectly OK with it,” said Clement.

Out of the graded-stakes winning Harlan's Holiday mare Silver Reunion, Speaktomeofsummer was purchased for $135,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

Joel Rosario retains the mount from post 2.

Maxis Stable, Madaket Stables and Wonder Stables' Miss J McKay will look to make the grade for trainer Cathal Lynch. The Hangover Kid bay, who boasts a record of 8-2-4-2 with purse earnings of $208,553, crossed the wire first at second asking in the five-furlong 2019 Colleen at Monmouth but was disqualified and placed third for interference. The talented filly made amends next out in the 5 1/2-furlong Ann Arundel County when surging to a five-length score over next-out winners Queen of Shades and Bella Aurora.

Bred in Maryland by Linda Oliff Rohleder, Miss J McKay has posted a perfect in-the-money record in three sophomore stakes sprints including a third in the six-furlong Lady Shipman in June at Belmont; a second in the 5 1/2-furlong Coronation Cup in July at Saratoga; and a second last out in the 6 ½-furlong Music City on Sept. 15 at Kentucky Downs.

Hall of Famer John Velazquez has the call aboard Miss J McKay from post 5 as she stretches out in distance for the first time.

Rounding out the field are New York-bred allowance winner Giacosa [post 4, Luis Saez] for trainer H. James Bond; Positive Power [post 6, Manny Franco], a veteran of 17 career starts for trainer John McAllen; Pure Wow [post 7, Jose Lezcano], a maiden winner for trainer John Terranova; and the stakes-placed Drop a Hint [post 8, Junior Alvarado] for trainer Antonio Arriaga.

The Grade 2 Sands Point is slated as Race 10 on Saturday's 11-race program, which offers a first post of 12:20 p.m. Eastern. America's Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the 27-day fall meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete America's Day at the Races broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

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Dubawi Colts Tops Second Day Of Tattersalls October Book 1

Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continued in solid fashion on the second day with Godolphin buying the top four priced lots.

Demand for yearlings by the superstar stallion Dubawi continued unabated on the second day of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and leading the way was his son of the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Intricately at 1.1 million guineas (US$1,491,247).

The Highclere Stud consigned colt's dam Intricately was purchased at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale in 2017 for 1.7 million guineas (US$2,304,702) by John and Jake Warren on behalf of Mike and Michelle Morris. The Dubawi colt on offer today was her first foal and was knocked down to Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin after he saw off a determined effort by trainer Kevin Ryan.

“It is very exciting, I am absolutely thrilled for the Morris's, they stepped up and bought a fantastic mare and she has really repaid them today. He is a gorgeous colt and has been since the day he was born, he has the most fantastic temperament,” said consignor Lady Carolyn Warren of Highclere Stud. “I am thrilled for the breeders and everyone.”

Her son Jake Warren, who selected the mare in 2017 with his father John, added: “It is a real group affair, a lot of team-work is involved in this. Mike and Michelle bought the mare, she is a beautiful quality mare. She has a stallion in her pedigree, she was a Group 1 2-year-old winner, she is by one of the best stallions in the world, and she is an outstanding looker. She had everything as a broodmare, which is why we stepped up to buy her then. And she has done nothing but please us since. It is testament to that, and to the efforts by stud manager Rachel Spindlow and the staff at Highclere.

“It was the intention through this process to be playing at this end of the table and thank you very much to Anthony Stroud for buying him. I want to say thank you to him and the underbidder – he is a fantastic horse, and it was wonderful that two people valued him to such a level.

“He really was as good a first foal as you would wish to see,” said Warren, adding: “She has got a colt foal who is equally as good who might be coming back here next year, and she is in-foal to Kingman. Down the line some of the progeny might be kept to race, but the mare owes a few quid so she needs to clear the balance sheet first! And she needs to produce a filly!”

Hillwood's Lope De Vega Colt Sells For 900,000 Guineas

Charlie and Tracy Vigors' Hillwood Stud were celebrating after their Lope de Vega colt out of the Teofilo mare Moi Meme sold for 900,000 guineas (US$1,220,197) to the bid of Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin after he saw off underbidder David Redvers.

“It is beyond our wildest dreams to get a result like that!” said a visibly emotional Charlie Vigors.

“We put what we thought was a sensible reserve on him as we knew we had lots of interest in him, and you could see from the live bids around the ring that there were plenty of people on him. There were plenty in up to 400,000 guineas to 500,000 guineas and we were hoping to fetch in that range. That is the beauty of public auction, isn't it, when two people then lock on.”

The son of the Listed winning mare Moi Meme had received a significant catalogue update when his two-year-old own-brother King Vega finished second in the Group 2 Solario Stakes in August.

“I think the plan is to run him in the Pertemps Futurity, if the ground is okay,” said Vigors. “I know Andrew [trainer Andrew Balding] thinks very highly of him. He has got his black-type, if he could be a Group 1 winner it would be even better!”

Dam Moi Meme is certainly enjoying something of a lengthy love affair with the Ballylinch Stud stallion Lope de Vega – all her four foals are by the son of Shamardal.

“The mare has a lovely Lope de Vega filly on the ground and she is back in-foal to him again,” said Vigors. “She has been married to him because the first ones were so nice! I don't think there is a much better sire to be married to at the moment – he is one of the top young sires around. We picked him out as a sire 'on the up' a few years ago and these were bred off a €60,000 nomination, and he has gone up to €100,000 now. You need pay days like this to keep going back to him!”

This colt was bred by a Hillwood Stud-managed syndicate called Fortescue Bloodstock, and Vigors explained: “The syndicate has been buying high dollar mares, and it is bunch of investors, mainly London based. They enjoy it very much and will certainly enjoy a day like today! There are three mares in the syndicate, with some more in another group – there are about seven or eight mares across two groups.”

The Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Book 1 continues at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8 with the third and final session.

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ARCI Analysis: HISA Bill ‘Fixes The Kitchen By Building A New House’

The Association of Racing Commissioners International has prepared an analysis of the newly proposed legislation, the “Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act,” by Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell (R), so the group can prepare for a “smooth transition” should the measure be enacted. The ARCI has already released statements looking at the bill's effect on breeders, looking at control of medications in training, and looking at how the bill will affect state-level enforcement.

The new federal legislation being rushed through Congress will have a positive effect on the racing industry by mandating uniform and expanded anti-doping and medication policies, but it may have a devastating negative affect if the unknown costs force smaller and midsized racetracks, owners, trainers, and breeders out of business, according to an analysis prepared for the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI).

“S.4547 is better than the previous proposal in some ways, but concerns still exist as to whether it actually goes far enough to protect and regulate the care given young horses,” RCI President Ed Martin said, noting that the ARCI has not taken a position on the McConnell bill and is unsure if it will given reports that it may be a “done deal”.

The purpose of the analysis is to highlight changes that need to be understood early in order for there to be a smooth transition, Martin said. “This is enormous and I am not sure everyone understands how this might play out, especially given the fact that costs have not been explained, only how they are to be collected.”

US State Racing Commissions spend upwards of $21 million each year on the drug testing program. The analysis raises the possibility that some State Budget Offices and Legislatures may opt to shift that money to other state needs by handing off their programs to newly formed Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), which can independently tax racetracks, breeders, owners, trainers and veterinarians for program costs.

Under this scenario there is a real risk that racing industry interests may end up paying twice as the prospects for an industry specific tax cut to prevent that in most states may prove elusive.

Thirty Five Racing Venues in 19 States Put on “Watch List”

The analysis puts over thirty five racing venues in nineteen US States on a “watch list” based on concerns about the overall economics of racing and their ability to absorb undefined new mandated costs anticipated to be imposed by enactment of S.4547.

An inability or failure to absorb additional costs of doing business may force hard decisions by the ownership of these entities which may impact the extent or continuation of racing activity. Racing commissions and policy makers are being urged to work with these entities to clearly understand the legislation's impact locally.

“The sponsors and proponents of this legislation need to release detailed cost estimates for various scenarios for individual states,” Martin said. “I am shocked that Members of Congress would actually pass this bill without knowing the impact locally.”

Impact on Investigations and Involvement of Federal entities

There is a widespread impression that the newly formed Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) will have new investigatory powers beyond those that currently exist for the State Racing Commissions. S.4547 does not grant any expanded authority to the new entity.

“The recent federal indictments like those before them were the result of multi-agency cooperation where the work of state racing commissions were built upon and expanded by the reach of a federal law enforcement agency using federal wiretaps or other tools reserved for law enforcement,” Martin said. This bill does not give HISA racing investigators law enforcement status.

The bill also fails to include a proposal made by the ARCI at hearings on the previous Horse Racing Integrity Act to create designated desks in key federal agencies – the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Food and Drug Administration – to assist racing investigators and work to facilitate the involvement of federal law enforcement or regulators in pursuing racing related cases.

Other Key Changes

The analysis underscores additional changes:

- Creation of a uniform point of equine regulation beginning with the first timed workout for each covered horse;
- The HISA would have broad authority to regulate and control the administration of all medications given a “Covered Horse”;
- Inclusion of Breeders as a source of regulatory fees to help pay for the new program;
- Apparent less transparency than exists under the current system as current Open Meetings, Public Records Access, State Ethics laws, and independent audit and investigation of the regulatory entity have not been addressed;
- Consistent testing thresholds for all laboratories;
- A shift of the testing laboratory accreditation program away from the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium to the HISA
- Language to limit the direct participation by the existing network of expertise currently relied upon by the State Regulators and racing industry at large.

Anyone interested in receiving a copy of the analysis should request one by emailing info@arci.com or using the Download Link Here.

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Breeders’ Cup Unveils Official Artwork For 2020 World Championships At Keeneland

Breeders' Cup unveiled Wednesday the official artwork for the 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held at the historic Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., on Friday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov. 7. Renowned equestrian artist Peter Howell has created two original paintings that capture the energy and excitement of the World Championships at Keeneland.

The artwork will be featured on promotional materials for the 2020 Breeders' Cup, including the Official Track Program covers which will be available online this year.

Born in Caernarfon, North Wales, Howell is an artist best known for depicting equestrian scenes in his paintings. Introduced to horse racing at the age of eight, Howell spent his youth surrounded by horses in the stables of British trainer George Lambton in Newmarket, England. After completing his studies, Howell pursued a career in horse racing, and his surroundings frequently inspired him to create artworks of racehorses and racecourses. In the 1960s, Howell began to explore art more deeply and studied the works of French impressionists, eventually wholly devoting himself to painting in 1969. His works have been exhibited in New York City, London, Saratoga and Newmarket, and his artistic talents have been highlighted by BBC, Architectural Digest and The Sunday Times.

“We are delighted to be featuring two great works from Peter Howell at the 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships,” said Drew Fleming, Breeders' Cup President and CEO. “With an illustrious body of work and a deep connection to the world of horse racing, Peter was the perfect candidate to bring the spirit of Breeders' Cup at Keeneland to life and celebrate the beauty and pageantry of our event.”

“As a lifelong lover of horse racing, I am honored to collaborate with the Breeders' Cup, one of the world's most distinguished Thoroughbred racing events,” said Howell. “I was deeply inspired by the vibrant energy of the Breeders' Cup and the classic elegance of Keeneland, and I hope I was able to capture and share the essence of this year's event through my artwork.”

The original Howell paintings featured on the Breeders' Cup Friday and Saturday program covers will be on display at the 8^th Annual Sporting Art Auction on Sunday, Nov. 22 in Lexington. The artwork will be available online and at the following locations prior to the auction: the Keeneland Sales Pavilion, Dudley's restaurant and the Cross Gate Gallery.

To learn more about the 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships, please visit BreedersCup.com. Breeders' Cup is also committed to alleviating the impacts of the health crisis on the horse racing community and other industry stakeholders in need. To learn more about Breeders' Cup's ongoing support of the community and to contribute to the organization's COVID-19 relief efforts, please visit BreedersCup.com/Donate.

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