Life’s an Audible Pounces, Graduates at Second Asking

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Different surface. Different distance. Different pace scenario. Far different outcome for Life's an Audible (Audible) Saturday in the opener at Saratoga Race Course.

When her career debut at 1 1/16 miles on turf on July 30 was switched to the main track at one mile due to wet conditions, Life's an Audible was prominent for six furlongs, but weakened and ended up 21 lengths behind her Todd Pletcher stablemate Miz Sense (Street Sense.

Running 5 1/2 furlongs over a turf course rated as firm in her second start Saturday, the Repole Stable chestnut came from off the pace under Irad Ortiz, Jr. and beat the maiden special weight field by 1 1/4 lengths. Sent off at 7-1 in the field of 10 fillies, she reached the wire in 1:03.29 and paid $16.40.

It was the second consecutive day that Pletcher watched one of his 2-year-olds flourish in its second start. On Friday, Locked (Gun Runner), turned in a very professional performance for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm.

Bayare (Midshipman), the 2-1 favorite, and Echo Baybe (IRE) (Cable Bay {IRE}) set the early pace through fractions of :21.54 seconds and :45.38. Starting from Post 9, Ortiz worked Life's an Audible toward the inside. She got the job done in the stretch.

“Shortening up from an off-the-turf race; got some experience in there,” Pletcher said. “They went pretty fast early. She got out-footed a little bit in the beginning but picked it up nicely around the turn came with a good run down the lane.”

Repole purchased Life's an Audible for $200,000 at the OBS March sale. She was bred in Kentucky by Susan Moulton.

Ortiz was aboard for the July 30 race and figured that Life's an Audible would again be part of the pace scenario. Instead, she was about six lengths back after a quarter mile.

“She was quick last time, so I knew that she was going to be close, but they ran away from me early on,” he said.

Ortiz guided the filly closer to the rail and had her in position to make a late run.

“When she hit the clear she took off,” he said.

 

1st-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 9-2, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 1:03.29, fm, 1 1/4 lengths.
LIFE'S AN AUDIBLE (f, 2, Audible–Catkins, by Data Link) was an early factor on debut but faded to be a well-beaten fourth at Saratoga in a rained-off one-mile event July 30. On the turf in a true sprint Saturday, the 7-1 shot took her time getting into stride and race in the back half of the field before moving up into the turn. Fanned out to be six wide past the quarter pole, the $200,000 OBS March grad rallied to the front inside the final sixteenth and got a bit of separation late to score by 1 1/4 lengths over first-time starter Tammy Lynn (Distorted Humor). Life's an Audible becomes the sixth winner for her freshman sire (by Into Mischief). Catkins has a yearling Tom's d'Etat colt, reported a Liam's Map filly this year, and visited Nashville for 2024. Sales History: $25,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $90,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $200,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $64,050. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Repole Stable; B-Susan Moulton (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.

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Saratoga Backstretch Kids Receive School Supplies

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy and its team of volunteers distributed backpacks and school supplies to the children of Saratoga backstretch workers on Thursday, Aug.31, the organization said in a release early Friday.

The children received the supplies requested by their teachers in their personalized backpacks along with a brand-new pair of sneakers and a first day of school haircut.

Supporters of the program include Saratoga's leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr., who helped to distribute the supplies.

“The backstretch workers make what I do possible,” Ortiz said. “Whether you see them or not, they are with me in the winner's circle because I know I would not be there without them. I love supporting them and seeing the smiles on the kid's faces as they try on their new sneakers.”

A similar campaign will take place at Belmont Park on Saturday, Sept. 2. Approximately 250 children will be served at all three NYRA tracks.

Click here for more information about Chaplaincy initiatives.

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Forte And Tapit Trice Breeze Together Towards Travers; Nest To Personal Ensign

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Forte (Violence) and Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable's Tapit Trice (Tapit), both 'TDN Rising Stars', worked in company over the main track Thursday in preparation for the GI Travers S. August 26 at Saratoga.

Forte, with regular pilot Irad Ortiz, Jr. up, worked without blinkers to the outside of Tapit Trice, who was guided through the half-mile breeze by exercise rider Fernando Rivera. Both workmates stopped the clock in :48.33.

“I thought both horses worked extremely well–both were moving really well and good gallop outs,” said Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. “They came back and cooled out quickly. We got what we were hoping for.”

It was the first breeze back for both horses after Forte's narrow score in the GII Jim Dandy S. July 29 at the Spa and Tapit Trice's fifth-place effort in the GI Haskell S. July 22 at Monmouth Park.

Pletcher said he would like to see Tapit Trice be more involved early in his races.

“He reacts well to the doors opening, but he just doesn't get away from the gate real quickly and I think that's compromised his chances in a couple of races,” Pletcher said.

 

With Luis Saez committed to ride Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) in the Travers, Pletcher said it is likely either Jose Ortiz or Flavien Prat would pick up the mount aboard Tapit Trice.

Meanwhile, Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House's reigning Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Nest (Curlin) worked a half-mile in :49.44 in company with sophomore maiden filly Sister Maha (American Pharoah).

“I thought she was impressive. I had her coming home in 23 and a couple and just galloped out really strongly,” said Pletcher of the work.

Nest made a triumphant return from an eight-month layoff to best MGISW Clairiere (Curlin) in the GII Shuvee S. July 23 at the Spa.

“She seems to thrive on racing,” Pletcher said. “I was little concerned running her a mile and an eighth off the layoff from the Breeders' Cup and it seems like the race moved her forward. Everything does seem to come easily to her and I'm amazed the way she maintains her fitness and comes out of her races,” Pletcher continued. “We noticed it last year in the Belmont. It was a concern running a filly against colts at a mile and a half and is there some risk it could knock her out a little bit, but it did just the opposite. It moved her forward.”

Nest is targeting the GI Personal Ensign S. August 25 at Saratoga Race Course.

Pletcher said Harrel Ventures and Starlight Racing's maiden winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Pirate (Omaha Beach), who earned a 77 Beyer for his debut win July 15, will train up to the GI Hopeful S. Sept. 4 at the Spa.

“I don't know that he needed more time, but I felt with the Grade I status of the Hopeful that we'd be taking our best shot at it by not running in between the maiden race and there,” Pletcher said.

Also targeting the Personal Ensign is Rigney Racing's GISW Played Hard (Into Mischief), who scratched from the Shuevee with a fever days before the race. She logged a five-furlong breeze in 1:00.05 in company with the stakes-placed 4-year-old gelding Warrior Johny [1:01.14] over the Saratoga main track Thursday.

“When I'm looking for a strong work, I like to give a horse a target,” said trainer Phil Bauer. “We knew the horse in front of her is a quality individual, so we were going to get the work we wanted.”

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Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings: July 25 – 31

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky.

Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.

The TDN will also post a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from the same week. These will include decisions from around the country.

 

CALIFORNIA

Track: Del Mar

Date: 07/27/2023

Licensee: Ed Carroll, owner

Penalty: Restoration of financial good standing

Violation: N/A

Explainer: Owner Ed Carroll (DBA: Carroll Boys Racing) having satisfied a financial complaint filed by Veterinarian Melinda Blue for $491.76, is restored to good standing and California Horse Racing Board ruling LATS Ruling #03 dated March 3, 2023, is set aside.

 

Track: Del Mar

Date: 07/27/2023

Licensee: Thomas Varney Reeve, owner

Penalty: Suspended license

Violation: Failure to appear for steward's hearing

 

Explainer: Owner Thomas Varney Reeve lll, having failed to respond to written notice to appear before the Board of Stewards at Del Mar Race Track on July 26, 2023, is suspended for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1547 (Failure to Appear), pending an appearance at a hearing before the Board of Stewards to answer to charges alleging violation of CHRB rule #1876 (Financial Responsibility $486.34 to Veterinarian Melinda Blue). Suspension to commence August 3, 2023.

 

Track: Del Mar

Date: 07/29/2023

Licensee: Juan Hernandez, jockey

Penalty: Three-day suspension

Violation: Careless riding

Explainer: Jockey Juan Hernandez, who rode Wide West (IRE) in the seventh race at Del Mar Race Track on July 28, 2023, is suspended for 3 racing days (August 5, 6, and 10, 2023) for altering course without sufficient clearance in the stretch, causing interference resulting in the disqualification of his mount from sixth to seventh; a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules – careless riding).

 

NEW YORK

Track: Saratoga

Date: 07/28/2023

Licensee: Jeffrey Englehart, trainer

Penalty: Fourteen-day suspension and $2,000 fine

Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: Mr. Jeffrey Englehart as responsible trainer under 9 NYCRR , 4043.4 (a) , violated Commission rules in that Mr. Jeffrey Englehart trained horse ” Victory Built” , that finished 2nd in the 2nd race at Aqueduct racetrack on March 11th 2023, and having received a report from the New York State Drug Testing and Research Program that a race-day blood sample taken from horse “Victory Built” had the substance Phenlybutazone present at a concentration, including an assement of the measurement uncertainty and imprecision of the quantitative threshold, in excess of 0.3 mcg/ml in plasma in violation of 9 NYCRR 4043.3 (a) (26). Having waived your right to an appeal trainer Mr. Jeffrey Englehart is hereby suspended 14 Calendar days August 3rd 2023 through August 16th 2023 inclusive and fined the sum of two thousand ($2,000) dollars.

Furthermore, horse “Victory Built” is disqualified from any part of the purse and the stewards order the purse redistributed as follows:

  1. # (6)  Gandy Dancing
  2. # (2)  Bronx Bomber
  3. # (3)  Doin'ittherrightway
  4. # (1)  Uno
  5. # (5)  Double Shot

 

Track: Saratoga

Date: 07/30/2023

Licensee: Irad Ortiz, jockey

Penalty: Three-day suspension

Violation: Careless riding

Explainer: For having waived his right to an appeal Jockey Mr. Irad Ortiz Jr is hereby suspended three (3) NYRA racing days August 9th 2023, through August 11th 2023 inclusive. This for careless riding during the running of the 7th race at Saratoga racecourse on July 27th 2023.

 

Track: Saratoga

Date: 07/30/2023

Licensee: Jose Ortiz, jockey

Penalty: Three-day suspension

Violation: Careless riding

Explainer: For having waived his right to an appeal Jockey Mr. Jose Ortiz is hereby suspended three (3) NYRA racing days August 9th 2023, through August 11th 2023 inclusive. This for careless riding during the running of the 10th race at Saratoga racecourse on July 26th 2023.

 

NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS

The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit's “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

This does not include the voided claim rulings which were sent to the TDN directly. Some of these rulings are from prior weeks as they were not reported contemporaneously.

One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race.

 

Violations of Crop Rule

Canterbury Park

Harry Hernandez – violation date July 26; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

 

Colonial Downs

Jorge Ruiz – violation date July 27; $250 fine and one-day suspension, “excessive use of the riding crop”

 

Saratoga

Jose Ortiz – violation date July 26; $522.50 fine, 7 strikes

Jaime Alexis Torres – violation date July 27; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

 

Pending ADMC Violations

 

Date: 07/20/2023

Licensee: Natalia Lynch, trainer

Penalty: Provisionally suspended

Alleged Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the possible presence or possession of Levothyroxine, a banned substance. This is a possible violation of Rule 3214 (a)—Presence of a Banned Substance or a Banned Method.

 

Date: 07/01/2023

Licensee: Nestor Cascallares, trainer

Penalty: Pending

Alleged Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Irazu, who won at Tampa Bay on 7/1/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance.

 

Date: 06/02/2023

Licensee: Bernard Dunham, trainer

Penalty: Pending

Alleged Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the presence of Albuterol—Controlled Medication (Class B)—in a sample taken from Afandi, who finished second at Pimlico on 6/2/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance.

 

Date: 05/29/2023

Licensee: John Pimental, trainer

Penalty: Provisionally suspended

Alleged Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the presence of Methamphetamine—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Golovkin, who finished sixth at Monmouth Park on 5/29/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212—Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

 

Resolved ADMC Violations

Date: 05/31/2023

Licensee: James Acquilano, trainer

 

Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points.

Alleged Violation: For the presence of Methocarbamol—Controlled Medication (Class C)— in a sample taken from Sabreen, who finished second at Finger Lakes on 5/31/23. This is a violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance.

 

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