Keeneland welcomed back Bank of America as the sponsor of the GIII Valley View S., which is set for Friday, Oct. 27, and the financial institution also becomes the presenting sponsor of the Preview Brunch that will precede the 11th Sporting Art Auction at Keeneland's Sales Pavilion on Saturday, Nov. 18, the organization said in a release Friday.
“Keeneland is delighted that Bank of America has joined our roster of corporate sponsors, who participate in a variety of events and activities here and play an important role in our success,” Keeneland Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Christa Marrillia said. “We thank Bank of America for their commitment to this community and the Thoroughbred industry and look forward to celebrating our new relationship.”
The Bank of America Preview Brunch begins at 10 a.m. and is for attendees of the Sporting Art Auction slated for noon.
“Keeneland is an iconic organization well-known for its high standards in the Thoroughbred industry not only in Lexington but also throughout the world,” said John L. Gardner, President Bank of America Kentucky. “Bank of America is honored to support Keeneland in these prestigious events, which also support our community as we expand and grow in Kentucky.”
Oaklawn Jockey Club in Hot Springs named Matt Dinerman as the new track announcer for the upcoming Thoroughbred racing season, which begins December 8, the organization said in a release early Friday morning.
Dinerman, 31, comes to Hot Springs following a six-year stint as the track announcer at Golden Gate Fields in Berkeley, California. He has also served as track announcer at the Sonoma County Fair meet in Santa Rosa, California, for the past two years.
“I'm honored to be selected for such a prestigious role, following in the footsteps of some very talented announcers,” said Dinerman. “Oaklawn has tremendous racing with great field sizes, outstanding connections, top quality horses, and great purses. I look forward to my interaction with an enthusiastic and knowledgeable fan base and being part of the Oaklawn family.”
A native of San Diego and graduate of Chapman University, Dinerman grew up attending races at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club near his home. While in high school, he worked as a stablehand for trainer John Sadler and later served as part of the Del Mar Publicity Department. In 2015, he was hired as the track announcer at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington, becoming one of the sport's youngest announcers.
Among his career high points, Dinerman points to his calling of the 2021 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields, which was won by the eventual Preakness winner that year, Rombauer.
“We are excited to welcome Matt Dinerman to our racing team at Oaklawn,” said Wayne Smith, General Manager of Oaklawn. “He brings a passion and high-energy style to the announcer's booth that builds anticipation at each turn and reaches an exciting climax down the stretch and across the finish line. Oaklawn fans will be entertained and informed by Matt's style.”
Dinerman has also worked in racing media, having served as a television racing analyst, and as a blogger by posting race analysis, making selections, and offering wagering strategies.
5th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 2:45 p.m.
Currently in fifth place on TDN's first-crop sire tally behind fellow Spendthrift Farm leader Maximus Mischief, Vino Rosso will look to add to his haul when MASMAK hits the track for the first time Friday afternoon.
Originally purchased for $70,000 by Tom McCrocklin at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the chestnut colt went to FMQ Stables at the OBS Spring Sale earlier this year for $475,000. Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, Masmak's dam GSP Nite in Rome is also responsible for SW Stan the Man (Broken Vow) and GII John A. Nerud S. hero Three Technique (Mr Speaker).
Also making the gate is Frank Fletcher homebred Top Gun Rocket (Into Mischief). The bay colt, trained by Riley Mott and piloted by Junior Alvarado, is the full-brother to GII Prioress S. heroine Frank's Rockette. TJCIS PPS
7th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 3:50 p.m.
Speaking of Brad Cox and homebreds, Juddmonte has a gray colt named Dragoon Guard (Arrogate) who will be making his debut in the other seven-furlong race carded for juvenile colts at Churchill Downs. The homebred is out of GII Goldikova S. winner Filimbi (Mizzen Mast), who hails from an extended female family which includes half-sibs Weep No More (Mineshaft), winner of the GI Central Bank Ashland S. and GIII Dixiana Bourbon S. champ Current (Curlin).
Sweet as Sin (Candy Ride {Arg}) makes his first trip to the races for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. The chestnut colt, who was purchased at this year's OBS March Sale for $410,000 by L and N Racing and MyRacehorse, and includes Edge Racing as part of its ownership, counts MGSW Family Tree (Smart Strike) as a half-sister and GI Longines Kentucky Oaks runner-up Liora as a full. Sweet as Sin's dam, SW Giant Mover (Giant's Causeway), is out of two-time GII Princess Rooney H. scorer Gold Mover (Gold Fever).
Continuing the homebred theme, Gary and Mary West send Title Contender (Tapit) to the post. Trained by Cox, the gray colt's dam–out of GII Cotillion H. winner India (Hennessy)–is a half-sister to G1 Yasuda Kinen S. and G1 February S. hero Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}). TJCIS PPS
In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Saturday running at Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses. Sunday's horses of note will appear in Saturday's TDN:
Saturday, September 23, 2023 3rd-NKY, ¥13,720,000 ($93k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m ACE AND KING (JPN) (c, 2, Yoshida {Jpn}–Curlins B F F, by Curlin) was acquired in utero by Emmanuel de Seroux's Narvick International for $25,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale and is out of a daughter of the three-times graded stakes-placed Najecam (Trempolino), the dam of 2003 Eclipse Award and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Action This Day (Kris S.); and of Eltimaas (Ghostzapper), whose champion son Drefong (Gio Ponti) has made a strong impression with his first few crops to race in Japan. B-Kinya Murakami
4th-HSN, ¥13,720,000 ($93k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m ROUGE CHOUETTE (JPN) (f, 2, Curlin–Dancing Rags, by Union Rags) is the first Japanese-foaled produce for her dam, upset winner of the 2016 GI Darley Alcibiades S. and later sold to Nobutaka Tada for $1.1 million carrying this filly at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Dancing Rags is a half-sister to MGSW & GISP Coup de Grace (Tapit) and to Kara's Match Point (Curlin), the dam of three winners from four to race since her export to Japan in 2016. Rouge Chouette's third dam is champion and GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine Jewel Princess (Key to the Mint). B-Mint Co.
5th-HSN, ¥13,720,000 ($93k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT AMERICAN CHIEF (c, 2, Into Mischief–Good Vibes, by Unbridled's Song) cost owner Katsumi Yoshizawa–who raced 2019 Triple Crown participant Master Fencer (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}) and countless other 'American' horses–$475,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale. The bay is the final foal out from his dam, who was also responsible for Sweet Orange (ex Warning Flag) (War Front), a stakes winner and Group 3-placed in Ireland before continuing his career in Hong Kong, where he won the 2012 Hong Kong Classic Mile and was third in that year's Hong Kong Derby before finishing third in the G1 QE II Cup. The mare also produced Irish Group 3 winner Intelligence Cross (War Front). B-Orpendale/Wynatt/Chelston (KY)
11th-HSN, ¥35,040,000 ($238k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1400m GREAT SAND SEA (c, 3, Into Mischief–Game for More, by More Than Ready) is perfect in two starts outside of stakes competition and at 1400 meters, including an impressive victory at Chukyo back in March (video, SC 8). His two losses to date have come at the hooves of the classy Perriere (Jpn) (Henny Hughes), who defeated him 4 1/2 lengths into fifth when last seen in the G3 Unicorn S. going a mile at Tokyo June 18. A half-brother to GSW/GISP Giant Game (Giant's Causeway), MGSW/GISP Isotherm (More Than Ready) and GISP Gio Game (Gio Ponti), Great Sand Sea was a $385,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $825,000 OBS March breezer. Leading rider Yuga Kawada takes the call. B-H Allen Poindexter (KY)
12th-HSN, ¥21,740,000 ($147k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1800m AWESOME RESULT (f, 3, Justify–Blossomed, by Deputy Mininster) graduated in a single appearance at two over this track and trip last November and remained unbeaten with a three-length allowance success back here June 10 (video, SC 10). Awesome Result, the mount of Yutaka Take, is a half-sister to GI Spinaway S. upsetter Sippican Harbor (Orb) and to Grade III-placed Bodacious Babe (Mineshaft), herself the dam of three-time Japanese winner Ju Taro (Arrogate). The yearling full-sister to Awesome Result was RNAd on a bid of $520,000 at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga last month after selling for $350,000 at Keeneland November last fall. B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY)
