FanDuel announced that its customers can access both parimutuel wagering on horse racing and traditional sports book wagering with a single account after a successful soft launch last week. FanDuel Sportsbook becomes the first to offer this feature, as users will be able to wager on and stream racing coverage from FanDuel TV and other related content. In addition to live horse racing, FanDuel Sportsbook customers will also be able to wager on the Kentucky Derby for the first time through the integrated platform in 2023.
Prior to this innovation, sportsbook customers were required to open a separate account and wallet for parimutuel wagering on horse racing at FanDuel Racing or TVG.com. The merged wallet/single account feature is currently available for FanDuel customers in New York, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, West Virginia, Wyoming, Michigan, Colorado, and Virginia. FanDuel plans to expand it to additional states in 2023. Earlier this year, the FanDuel launched FanDuel TV, which re-branded the TVG network.
Emily Scott, who served Highclere as its assistant racing manager from 2014-2017, has been appointed to the position of director of racing. Her new duties will commence Jan. 3, 2023.
Since her first stint with the organization, Scott has gained experience as communications manager for trainer Roger Varian and more recently served as racing manager for Amo Racing Limted.
Emily Scott said: “I am delighted to be returning to Highclere to lead the racing team. I look forward to working closely with the trainers to get the most out of the horses and providing their owners with an unparalleled experience in racehorse ownership.”
Harry Herbert, Highclere's Chairman and Managing Director said: “I am so excited to have Emily back with us here at Highclere in her new role as director of racing. She already knows our business intimately, but following her time with Roger Varian and Amo Racing, she returns with an even greater knowledge of the industry and especially racehorse management.”
C2 Racing Stable LLC and La Milagrosa Stable LLC's White Abarrio (Race Day) will not have a prep race for the $3-million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. at Gulfstream Park, trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. confirmed Saturday.
“He runs well fresh. He's proven he runs well fresh,” Joseph said. “He's 4-for-4 at Gulfstream, so that's a good thing. It's his home track.”
The $40,000 OBS March juvenile won a pair of starts in Hallandale late last season before adding the GIII Holy Bull S. in February and the GI Curlin Florida Derby Apr. 2. He was last seen finishing third, beaten under a length, in the GI Cigar Mile H. at Aqueduct Dec. 3.
Joseph has two other candidates for the Pegasus. Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator), third behind Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) and in the GI Belmont S. and winner of the GIII West Virginia Derby, and O'Connor (Chi) (Boboman) worked five furlongs Saturday morning at Palm Meadows in advance of the GIII Harlan's Holiday S. Skippylongstocking was timed in 1:00.35 (4/18), while G1 Latinoamericano victor O'Connor went the same distance in 1:03.20.
“Skippy, he had a good work this morning. He worked well for the Harlan's Holiday,” Joseph said. Of O'Connor, Joseph added, “He had a quick breeze last week. He's plenty fit so we're just keeping him ready for the race.”
O'Connor has one stateside appearance to his credit, a six-length romp in an Oct. 16 optional claimer over 8 1/2 furlongs.
Also on the South Florida worktab Saturday was GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. hero Simplification (Not This Time), who prepped for the Harlan's Holiday with a five-furlong drill over the Gulfstream main track that was clocked in 1:00.23 with jockey Junior Alvarado up. It was his fourth breeze since finishing a troubled seventh in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Nov. 5.
“He went very well, he galloped out [six furlongs] in 1:13,” said trainer Antonio Sano, who celebrated his 900th victory in the U.S. when Major Pryce (Bucchero) aired in Saturday's second race. “This is important for me and my family. I work hard every day for my owners and my family. I have nothing but gratitude for the people of the United States for opening their arms for me,” he said.
All things equal, Simplification will also use the Harlan's Holiday as a springboard to the Pegasus.
In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes 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 weekend running at Chukyo, Nakayama and Hanshin Racecourses. Juvenile Fillies got their chance at Group 1 glory last weekend and it's the boys' turn this weekend at Hanshin, with the running of the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity:
Saturday, December 17, 2022 5th-CKO, Â¥13,400,000, Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m REGNUM (c, 2, American Pharoah–Big Meesh {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) was a $170,000 purchase out of the 2020 Keeneland November Sale and was bought back on a bid of $265,000 at KEESEP before fetching $340,000 as an OBS April breezer this past spring (:9 4/5). The colt's dam, a half-sister to MGSW turf distaffer Noble Stella (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), was acquired by Grantley Acres with Regnum in utero for $250,000 at the 2019 KEENOV sale. B-Grantley Acres & Ryan Conner (KY)
6th-NKY, Â¥13,400,000, Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m KEEP SMILING (JPN) (f, 2, Quality Road–Weep No More, by Mineshaft) is the second foal from her dam, upset winner of the 2016 GI Ashland S. at Keeneland and who produced $400,000 KEESEP grad War Classic (War Front) before being acquired privately by Northern Farm and bred to this successful stallion prior to her export. Weep No More, a half-sister to GSW Current (Curlin) and to the dam of the SW & GSP Half Is Enough (Frosted), is also responsible for a colt by the late Duramente (Jpn) that fetched better than $735,000 as a yearling at this year's JRHA Select Sale. The filly's third dam is 2001 GI Kentucky Oaks victress Flute (Seattle Slew). B-Northern Farm
Sunday, December 18, 2022 11th-HSN, Asahi Hai Futurity-G1, Â¥136m, 2yo, 1600mT FROM DUSK (c, 2, Bolt d'Oro–Foolish Cause, by Giant's Causeway) realized a bid of $200,000 at last year's KEESEP sale before blossoming into a $900,000 OBS March juvenile. A fighting debut winner at Kokura Sept. 3, he was compromised by a slow start first time against winners Sept. 24, but made the majority of the running when last seen in the G2 Keio Hai Nisai S. over seven furlongs and was caught in the dying yards (see below, SC 7). Yutaka Take takes the ride on the colt, whose dam is a half-sister to the treble Grade I-winning turfer Get Stormy (Stormy Atlantic). B-Springhouse Farm (KY)
