‘It’s A Bit Strange’: Equine Hermaphrodite Faces Disqualification From Group Race

Germany's reigning champion trainer Henk Grewe faces losing a Group race in Italy because the filly who won the race, Flamingo Girl, is actually a hermaphrodite – having both male and female characteristics.

The extraordinary discovery emerged after Flamingo Girl, officially described as a 4-year-old daughter of Soldier Hollow, tested positive for the male hormone testosterone after winning the fillies-only G3 Premio Elena E Sergio Cumani at Rome's Capanelle racecourse in September.

The initial finding by Italy's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry suggested the case could involve a doping offence. An immediate two-year disqualification was imposed on the horse – but subsequent tests in Germany have revealed Flamingo Girl is not totally female.

“I came across something like this 15 years ago when I was with Mario Hofer and the same doctor who made the test on that horse carried out the test on Flamingo Girl,” said Grewe.

“In Germany it is called a Zwitter [German for hermaphrodite]. It's a bit strange. The filly was always a bit masculine. She had a bit of the character of a colt. I just thought she was a bit strong for a filly, but nothing more. It's crazy, but we can't change it.”

Flamingo Girl, who has run again since finishing down the field in a Listed race in Hannover, is expected to be disqualified from the Group victory in Italy and her future racing career must be in doubt.

Flamingo Girl has a record of three wins from 16 starts, including a Listed race in Dusseldorf in May 2020, Until last month she had never tested positive for testosterone.

“We have a meeting next week with Deutscher Galopp when we will clear everything up,” said Grewe. “This was not my fault. Parts of her are both male and female. She was tested at the beginning of her three-year-old campaign but it seems the male characteristics have developed later.”

This story was reprinted with permission by Horse Racing Planet. Find the original piece and more content here.

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On Track For Record Year, Paco Lopez To Resume Riding Saturday At Meadowlands

A pair of Chad Brown-trained fillies, both coming off Maiden Special Weight victories on the grass, head a field of 14 for Saturday's featured $45,000 allowance when racing resumes during the all-turf Monmouth-at-Meadowlands meet.

Saturday's six-race card will also mark the return of leading rider Paco Lopez, who has been sidelined since injuring his left shoulder in a spill on Oct. 15 at the Meadowlands.

Lopez, coming off his eighth riding title at Monmouth Park, sits atop the Meadowlands rider standings with six victories, one more than Isaac Castillo. He is listed to ride in three races, including the Brown-trained Infinite Potential in the one-mile feature race.

With 281 victories on the year, Lopez is two shy of his career best set in 2019.

A 4-year-old daughter of Invincible Spirit, Infinite Potential will look to become a two-time winner at the Monmouth-at-Meadowlands meet after breaking her maiden on Oct. 1 with a neck victory at a mile and a sixteenth on the grass.

Bred in Ireland, Infinite Potential is owned by Klaravich Stables.

Brown has also entered Bleecker Street, a 3-year-old filly who won at first asking on Aug. 21 at Monmouth Park at a mile and a sixteenth on the turf. The daughter of Quality Road, owned by Peter M. Brant, has not raced since then.

Two also-eligibles are among the 14 horses entered in the feature race. Overall, 70 horses are entered for the six races.

Saturday's program is the sixth of the seven-day boutique meet, with the final live Thoroughbred card of the year in New Jersey scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 30.

First race post time is 7 p.m.

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Tattersalls December Mares Sale Catalog Now Online

Significant top-quality consignments from Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell Estates are likely to be amongst the premier attractions at the forthcoming Tattersalls December Mares Sale which takes place Monday, Nov. 29 to Thursday, Dec. 2. The catalog for Europe's premier breeding stock sale, which also features the dispersal of Sir Robert Ogden's 24 high class mares and fillies, numbers 1,168 lots and can be viewed online at www.tattersalls.com.

Widely regarded as the world's most international bloodstock sale, the Tattersalls December Mares Sale has consistently featured major consignments from Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell Estates, and the three drafts catalogued for the 2021 renewal total 224 lots comprising 101 from Godolphin, 30 from Juddmonte Farms and 93 from the late Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shadwell Estates.

The Godolphin team features mares in foal to leading proven sires Dark Angel, Dubawi, Night of Thunder, and Siyouni as well as the listed and group winning duo Sarinda and Under the Stars who are both in foal to champion sire elect Frankel. Also amongst the Godolphin mares are the Group and Listed winners Dancing Sands, Lady Liberty, and Yellow Rosebud in foal to their young sires Cracksman, Earthlight, and Too Darn Hot respectively, as well as the stakes producer Zam Zoom in foal to world champion Ghaiyyath.

The 93 Shadwell fillies and mares are equally eye-catching with mares in foal to exciting young stallions Blue Point, Masar, Mohaather, Persian King, and Pinatubo likely to prove popular alongside those in foal to proven Group 1 sires including Dark Angel, Invincible Spirit, Kingman, Lope de Vega, Night of Thunder, Oasis Dream, and Siyouni. Shadwell fillies have long been highly sought after at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale and amongst this year's regally bred fillies are those tracing back to the direct families of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's outstanding homebred Champions Alhaarth, Bahri, Eswarah, Ghanaati, Lahudood, Mehthaaf, Nashwan, Shadayid, Taghrooda and latest superstar Baaeed.

The Juddmonte consignment is another perennial December Sale highlight and young mares in foal to Frankel and Kingman from top Juddmonte families are joined by regally bred fillies including half-sisters to Group 1 winners Epicuris, Quadrilateral, and Winsili, as well as Not in Doubt, the winning 3-year-old Sea the Stars daughter of multiple Grade 1 winner Intercontinental, herself one of the five Group/Grade 1 winners out of the legendary Juddmonte broodmare Hasili.

In a catalogue of real depth, proven dams of Group winners include Sunday Times, the dam of champion Newspaperofrecord, in foal to Lope de Vega, Mondelice, dam of 2021 Group 2 winning rising star Dubai Honour, in foal to New Bay and Vadariya, dam of 2021 Group 3 winner Waliyak, in foal to Pinatubo, while Group 1 winning mares in foal include Sir Robert Ogden's Amazing Maria, in foal to Oasis Dream, as well as Blond Me, Flotilla, Penelopa, and Temida in foal to Siyouni, Sea the Moon, Mehmas, and Sea the Moon respectively.

In addition to Group 1 winners Blond Me and Flotilla, an outstanding draft of 21 fillies and mares from Newsells Park Stud also includes a rare jewel in the form of six-year-old Group 2 winner Waldlied, the New Approach three-parts sister to Arc winner Waldgeist, in foal to Kingman. Also guaranteed to be amongst the highlights of the Newsells Park consignment and the sale is the 4-year-old Group 2 Blandford Stakes winner Cayenne Pepper. The classic placed daughter of Australia hails from the direct family of Galileo and Sea the Stars.

While outstanding Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes runner up Flotus is the star 2-year-old in the catalog, she is joined by an illustrious band of Group winning 3- and 4-year-old fillies in/out of training, most notably last year's Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Tiger Tanaka, who ended her 2-year-old career as the joint highest rated 2-year-old filly in France alongside Group 2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte winner Plainchant, who is one of a typically strong 11 lot team from French based consignors European Sales Management, which also includes Group and Listed winning fillies Feel Glorious, Madeline Must, and See the Rose.

Having enjoyed a stellar year, Nick Bradley Racing will be offering a quartet of Group and Listed winning fillies in training headed by the Group 2 winning three-year-olds Dandalla and Fev Rover, both of whom also boast Classic or Group 1 form. They are joined by Listed winning Oaks runner up Mystery Angel, the Group 3 winning 2-year-old Corazon and the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes fourth Guilded.

The beautifully bred Group 3 Sceptre Fillies' Stakes winning 3-year-old Just Beautiful, beaten only twice in seven lifetime starts for trainer Ivan Furtado, is another filly with massive international appeal as are the Group 3 winners Axana, Have a Good Day, Lullaby Moon, Santosha, Stella Star and the Listed winning, Group 1 placed trio of Que Amoro, Measure of Magic, and Es La Vida.

Commenting on the catalog for the 2021 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony;

“The Tattersalls December Mares Sale is an annual highlight of the global bloodstock sales calendar and this year's catalogue, which features the dispersal of Sir Robert Ogden's broodmares and fillies and major consignments from both Godolphin and Shadwell Estates, looks set to bring the Tattersalls year to an exciting conclusion. With buyers from the vast majority of countries now able to travel easily to Britain we look forward to welcoming the uniquely international cast of buyers for whom the Tattersalls December Mares Sale is an unmissable event every year.”

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Hawthorne Derby Draws Field Of Seven; The Pizza Man Stakes Debuts Sunday

After rain dominated the first two weeks of racing for the fall Thoroughbred meet at Hawthorne Race Course, clear skies and warm temperatures have prevailed this week as three stakes races will return to the Hawthorne turf.

On Saturday afternoon a pair of turf stakes have been carded: the $60,000 added Illini Princes Stakes and $100,000 Hawthorne Derby, presented by BetMakers. On Sunday, the newly named The Pizza Man Stakes will be contested.

The Illini Princess is for Illinois-bred females, 3-year-olds and up to go at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The Hawthorne Derby, presented by BetMakers is an open stakes event for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on the grass. The Pizza Man Stakes is for Illinois-breds, 3-year-olds and up, also to be run at 1 1/16 miles on the Hawthorne turf.

A look at the three turf stakes:

Saturday – Race 4 – $60,000 Added Illini Princess Stakes

To be contested at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, the $60,000 added Illini Princess Stakes is for Illinois-bred females, 3-year-olds and upward. The 2019 champ of this race returns as Bramble Queen is the 2-1 morning line favorite for owner Ballybrit Stable, LLC and trainer Mike Dini. A ten-time winner from 36 career starts, the well-traveled Bramble Queen has earned over $330,000 on her career. This summer, Bramble Queen became graded stakes placed when she rallied to finish third in the Grade 3 Modesty at Arlington Park. She followed that race with a victory in the Mike Spellman Memorial Stakes on August 14. Jareth Loveberry rides on Saturday.

Emmanuel Esquivel returns to Hawthorne to ride 4-1 second-choice W W Fitzy for trainer Cipriano Contreras. Despite only a couple of turf starts, W W Fitzy has been excellent on the main track, winning a tough optional-claiming allowance race this spring at Oaklawn and most recently taking a starter race at Belterra.

Three-year-old filly Katie M'Lady has been excellent on the turf for owners Cherrywood Racing Stables, II & Oak Rock Racing LLC. Trained by Michele Boyce, Katie M'Lady has won four of five turf starts on her young career, including a front-end score in the Sharon Kirby Memorial Stakes at Arlington on August 7. Regular rider Julio Felix will be aboard once again as Katie M'Lady is 5-1 in the morning line.

PP Horse Trainer Jockey M/L

1 Bramble Queen M. Dini J. Loveberry 2-1

2 Northern Alliance H. Rodriguez A. Rodriguez 30-1

3 Embarrassing H. Rodriguez J. Lopez 30-1

4 White Lies P. Miller A. Quinonez 20-1

5 W W Fitzy C. Contreras E. Esquivel 4-1

6 Launch Away M. Perez V. Santiago 12-1

7 Twelve Red Roses C. Banks E. Perez 50-1

8 Summer Day A. Mitchell R. Bowen 8-1

9 Cat Attack M. Boyce C. Roman 6-1

10 Beyond Proper C. Block J. Tavares 10-1

11 Katie M'Lady M. Boyce J. Felix 5-1

Saturday – Race 6 – $100,000 Hawthorne Derby Presented by BetMakers

After a three-year break, the Hawthorne Derby returns to the turf course to be contested at 1 1/8 miles. A competitive field of seven is led by 5-2 morning line favorite Last Samurai from the barn of trainer Dallas Stewart. Owned by Willis Horton Racing, LLC, Last Samurai just began his turf career this summer with a near miss in a Churchill allowance on June 6. He won his next out, a turf allowance score at Colonial before running ninth in the Dueling Grounds Derby on September 5. His most recent race was a near miss, losing by a neck in the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup at Parx on September 25. Jon Court rides on Saturday.

Trainer Brad Cox sends 7-2 second-choice Royal Prince for owner Steve Landers Racing, LLC. A winner of four of 11 starts in his career on the grass, Royal Prince has scored three times this year, taking the Black Gold at Fair Grounds, Bayou City at Sam Houston and most recently the Caesars via disqualification at Indiana Grand on September 8. Fernando De La Cruz rode in the Caesars and gets the return ride Saturday.

After four starts in Ireland to open his career, Modus Operandi (Ire) makes his second turf start in North America for trainer Brendan Walsh. The son of Frankel (GB), Modus Operandi started two weeks ago on the Keeneland turf, closing late after a slow start to finish sixth. The 4-1 third-choice in the Hawthorne Derby, Modus Operandi will be ridden on Saturday by Alonso Quinonez.

PP Horse Trainer Jockey M/L

1 Grey Streak G. Arnold, II D. Carroll 9-2

2 Last Samurai D. Stewart J. Court 5-2

3 Temper Tantrum A. Hernandez C. Emigh 8-1

4 Modus Operandi (Ire) B. Walsh A. Quinonez 4-1

5 Battle Scars C. Block D. Parker 20-1

6 Royal Prince B. Cox F. De La Cruz 7-2

7 Mohs P. McBurney J. Loveberry 5-1

Sunday – Race 5 – $60,000 Added The Pizza Man Stakes

Best known for his victory in the 2015 Arlington Million, Illinois-bred The Pizza Man broke his maiden over the Hawthorne turf course in 2012 and later that fall won The Buck's Boy Handicap, the namesake of this stakes event until this year. Weather could be a factor for the Sunday event as rain is in the forecast for this 1 1/16 mile turf event for Illinois-bred three-year-olds and up.

The wide-open field of 11 is led by 4-1 morning line choice Fly Nightly for owners Marsico Brothers Racing and trainer Brittany Vanden Berg. Fly Nightly has found the board in 10 of 11 starts on the year, including five victories. Claimed for $20,000 in May, Fly Nightly won a state-bred allowance in his second start for his new connections and followed that race with an open-allowance score. He finished fifth in the state-bred Black Tie Affair stakes on the Arlington turf before running a good third in another tough open allowance in his last out. Chris Emigh rides on Sunday.

Fifteen-time turf winner Cammack runs for owner Team Block and trainer Chris Block. The 2018 winner of this race and 2019 runner-up, Cammack is still going strong at 11-years-old as he was second two starts back in the Black Tie Affair. Jose Lopez will be aboard Cammack once again.

PP Horse Trainer Jockey M/L

1 Land Mark Deal C. Block D. Parker 6-1

2 Ioya Again C. Block J. Tavares 5-1

3 Fly Nightly B. Vanden Berg C. Emigh 4-1

4 One Way Home M. Perez R. Bowen 15-1

5 Cammack C. Block J. Lopez 9-2

6 What's Up Dude M. Cristel V. Santiago 12-1

7 Readthecliffnotes M. Boyce E. Perez 15-1

8 Blue Sky Kowboy M. Boyce C. Roman 6-1

9 Richiesgotgame L. Rivelli J. Loveberry 12-1

10 Iwillpersevere M. Slager S. Uske 30-1

11 Coming Up Aces P. Miller A. Quinonez 12-1

Hawthorne Race Course, Chicago's Hometown Track, races three meets in 2021. The spring thoroughbred meet concluded on April 25. The summer Suburban Downs at Hawthorne harness meet began Friday, May 7 and concluded on September 26. The fall thoroughbred meet opened October 8 and races through December 27. First post daily in October and November is 3:10 PM. In December, first post moves to 12:55 PM. For any information about Hawthorne Race Course visit the website www.HawthorneRaceCourse.com.

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