Irad Ortiz | Horse Racing Free Tips

Weekly Rulings: Aug. 22-28

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.

With the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) having gone into effect July 1, the TDN will also post a roundup of the relevant HISA-related rulings from the same week.

California
Track: Del Mar
Date: 08/26/2022
Licensee: James Marsden, owner
Penalty: Suspended license
Violation: Financial responsibility
Explainer: Owner James Marsden, having failed to respond to written notice to appear before the Board of Stewards at Del Mar Race Track on Aug. 25, 2022, 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- $343.75 to KC Horse Transport). Suspension to commence on Sept. 2, 2022. During the term of this suspension, all licenses and license privileges of James Marsden are suspended and pursuit to California Horse Racing Board rule #1528 (Jurisdiction of Stewards), subject is denied access to all premises in this jurisdiction.

Track: Del Mar
Date: 08/28/2022
Licensee: Ruben Alvarado, trainer
Penalty: $1,000
Violation: Improper report of gelding
Explainer: Trainer Ruben Alvarado is fined $1,000 pursuant to California Horse Racing Board rule #1629 (Penalty for Late Declaration) and for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1865 (Altering of Sex of Horse) for failure to properly report the gelding of the horse Anmer Hall who was scheduled to run in the eighth race at Santa Anita Park on June 19, 2022, which resulted in a late declaration.

New York

Track: Saratoga
Date: 08/24/2022
Licensee: Joel Rosario, jockey
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Careless riding
Explainer: For having waived his right to appeal Jockey Joel Rosario is hereby suspended three (3) NYRA racing days August 28th 2022, August 31st 2022, September 1st 2022 inclusive. This for careless riding during the running of the third race at Saratoga racecourse on Aug. 18, 2022.

Track: Saratoga
Date: 08/24/2022
Licensee: Irad Ortiz, jockey
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Careless riding
Explainer: For having waived his right to appeal Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr is hereby suspended three (3) NYRA racing days Aug. 31 2022, Sept. 1, 2022, Sept. 2, 2022, inclusive. This for careless riding during the running of the eight race at Saratoga racecourse on Aug. 18. 2022.

NEW HISA STEWARDS RULINGS
Note: While HISA has shared these rulings over the past week, some of them originate from prior weeks.

Violations of Crop Rule
Albuquerque Downs
Angel Perez – ruling date August 27, 2022
Frankie Martinez – ruling date August 27, 2022

Canterbury Park
Constantino Roman – ruling date August 14, 2022
Miguel Arroyo – ruling date August 14, 2022
Sofia Barandela – ruling date August 14, 2022
Crystal Conning – ruling date August 17, 2022
Eduardo Gallardo – ruling date August 18, 2022

Delaware Park
Horacio Karamanos – ruling date August 26, 2022
Jariro Rendon – ruling date August 27, 2022

Del Mar
Juan Hernandez – ruling date August 25, 2022
Joe Bravo – ruling date August 26, 2022

Evangeline Downs
Paulina Ramirez – ruling date August 19, 2022
Treylon Albert – ruling date August 20, 2022

Fanduel / Fairmount Park
Javier Tavares – ruling date August 27, 2022

Finger Lakes
Jose Rohena – ruling date August 24, 2022
Jeremias Flores – ruling date August 24, 2022
Steven Fret – ruling date August 24, 2022

Saratoga
Amin Castillo – ruling date August 26, 2022
Jose Gomez – ruling date August 26, 2022
Luis Rodriguez Castro – ruling date August 27, 2022
Jose Lezcano – ruling date August 27, 2022
Dylan Scott Davis – ruling date August 28, 2022

Thistledown
Alexander Chavez – ruling date August 25, 2022

Mountaineer Park
Jose Davila – ruling date August 24, 2022

Voided Claims
Ellis Park
Maysville Miss – ruling date August 21, 2022

Canterbury Park
Shotgun River – ruling date August 14, 2022

Finger Lakes
Chris Englehart – ruling date August 29, 2022

Horseshoe Indianapolis
The Feature – ruling date August 24, 2022

Monmouth Park
Reckless Place – ruling date August 22, 2022
Ray Arewethereyet – ruling date August 27, 2022
Gennie Highway – ruling date August 27, 2022

Prairie Meadows
Lucky April – ruling date August 27, 2022

Belterra Park
Pepper Pike – ruling date August 22, 2022

Parx Racing
Outline – ruling date August 23, 2022
Starship Charly – ruling date August 24, 2022
Enraged – ruling date August 24, 2022
Uncle Gary G – ruling date August 24, 2022
Broad Jumper – ruling date August 24, 2022

Violations Involving Forfeiture of Purse
Thistledown
Alexander Chavez – 13 strikes – $500 fine, 3-day suspension; 5 points; horse disqualified from purse

Evangeline Downs
Paulina Ramirez – 12 strikes – $500 fine, 3-day suspension; 5 points; horse disqualified; and purse redistributed

Albuquerque Downs
Frankie Martinez – owner, jockey did 13 strikes – purse redistribution

Appeal Request Updates
Mountaineer Park
Jose Davila
Crop rule violation
Ruling date August 23, 2022
Appeal filed August 25, 2022
Stay requested and granted

Mountaineer Park
Jose Davila
Crop rule violation
Ruling date August 24, 2022
Appeal filed August 26, 2022
Stay requested and denied

Gulfstream Park
Chantal Sutherland
Crop rule violation
Ruling date August 21, 2022
Appeal filed August 26, 2022
Stay requested and granted

The post Weekly Rulings: Aug. 22-28 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Nest Dominates Alabama

Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House's Nest (Curlin) left little doubt who the best 3-year-old filly in the country is with a second straight tour-de-force victory over GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Secret Oath (Arrogate) in Saturday's GI Alabama S. at Saratoga.

The overwhelming 1-5 favorite wasn't off to the smoothest of beginnings, bobbling slightly and bumping with longshot Nostalgic (Medaglia d'Oro) at the start. It didn't seem to matter one bit once the 1 1/4-mile journey was officially underway with Nest finding a perfect spot in a stalking third rounding the clubhouse turn.

Up a slot into second behind longshot leader She's Keen (Keen Ice) and traveling like a winner every step, Nest hit the front outside the five-sixteenths marker with jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. taking multiple looks in the rearview mirror. He had a very good view of the aforementioned Oaks winner, who was beginning to make her move at the quarter pole and the stage was set for the highly anticipated rubber match. Or so it seemed.

Nest floated out Secret Oath about six wide at the top of the stretch and absolutely exploded once straightened from there, displaying an electrifying turn of foot to win going away by a geared-down 4 1/4 lengths.

“That was a special performance today,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said. “To see her come back and it seemed like she hardly drew a deep breath. I was a little concerned at the start, she got away in a bit of a tangle. I was hoping we'd get a good position and we ended up getting the position that we wanted. It was a little hairy for the first couple of strides, but after that it was all her.”

A jaw-dropping winner of Keeneland's GI Central Bank Ashland S. Apr. 8, Nest was two lengths behind Secret Oath as the favorite on the first Friday in May beneath the Twin Spires May 6. She showed her class after stumbling at the start with another second-place finish, this time against the boys, in the final leg of the Triple Crown in the GI Belmont S. June 11. Nest entered the Alabama following a 12 1/4-length powerhouse victory over Secret Oath in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks at the Spa July 23.

“It's at the point now where that's what you expect from her,” Pletcher said. “It takes a little while to build a resume like that, but she's run well in every start of her life and I thought this was a special performance today. We've run a lot of horses in the Belmont and I don't think I've ever had one come out as well as she did.”

Nest was also under consideration for another shot at males in next Saturday's GI Runhappy Travers S. before landing on the Alabama.

“This is a really, really good filly and we put her in the right spot today,” winning co-owner Mike Repole said. “I know everyone wanted the Travers, but she's an Eclipse Award winner now, I think, and I think this is the right route for her and we did what was right for the horse.”

As for what's next, Pletcher added, “Obviously, the Breeders' Cup is the main target, so now we have to figure out if we want to run once in between now and then or how we'll do it. We'll assess how she comes out of it first and come up with a game plan.”

Pedigree Notes:

One of Curlin's 18 Grade I winners, $350,000 Keeneland September graduate Nest is the second straight daughter of the two-time Horse of the Year to annex the Alabama, joining her stablemate and 2021 champion 3-year-old filly Malathaat, who is also out of an A.P. Indy mare.

Curlin's fellow top-level winners Clairiere and Paris Lights are out of mares by top broodmare sire Bernardini, and Nest's stakes-winning dam Marion Ravenwood is bred on the same cross as Bernardini, being out of a Quiet American mare herself.

In addition to Nest and 2021 GI Santa Anita H. hero Idol, Marion Ravenwood is responsible for $275,000 KEESEP '21 yearling Lost Ark (Violence), who took his unveiling by 5 1/2 lengths for Pletcher and Harrell Ventures earlier this summer at Belmont. Out of GSW/GISP and $2.5-million FTKNOV seller Andujar, Marion Ravenwood was bred to Curlin for 2023.

Saturday, Saratoga
ALABAMA S.-GI, $600,000, Saratoga, 8-20, 3yo, f, 1 1/4m, 2:03.14, ft.
1–NEST, 121, f, 3, by Curlin
1st Dam: Marion Ravenwood (SW, $112,598), by A.P. Indy
2nd Dam: Andujar, by Quiet American
3rd Dam: Nureyev's Best, by Nureyev
($350,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House; B-Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stables (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.. $330,000. Lifetime Record: 9-6-2-1, $1,735,550. *1/2 to Dr Jack (Pioneerof the Nile), MSP, $156,155; Full to Idol, GISW, $426,964. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Secret Oath, 121, f, 3, by Arrogate
1st Dam: Absinthe Minded (MSW & MGISP, $607,747), by Quiet American
2nd Dam: Rockford Peach, by Great Above
3rd Dam: Strawberry Skyline, by Hatchet Man
O-Briland Farm; B-Briland Farm, Robert & Stacy Mitchell (KY); T-D. Wayne Lukas. $120,000.
3–Goddess of Fire, 121, f, 3, by Mineshaft
1st Dam: Feel That Fire (SW, $147,280), by Lightnin N Thunder
2nd Dam: Ubetwereven, by French Deputy
3rd Dam: Raysor Lake, by Private Account
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Red Oak Stable (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $72,000.
Margins: 4 1/4, 2, 2. Odds: 0.35, 4.80, 22.00.
Also Ran: Skratch Kat, Gerrymander, Nostalgic, She's Keen.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Golden Pal Returns to Winning Ways

The fleet-footed Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) rebounded from a disappointing effort at Royal Ascot with a gritty victory in Saratoga's GIII Troy S. Friday. Away in good order, the 1-5 favorite stalked from a two-wide third as True Valour (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) clicked off a :21.93 opening quarter. Moving up to draw alongside the top two turning for home, Golden Pal locked horns with True Valour as their temporary threat Carotari (Artie Schiller) quickly found the waters too deep and backed out of it. Those two battled stride-for-stride to the line with Golden Pal getting the nod. Thin White Duke (Dominus) came running late to complete the trifecta. Carotari faded to last.

“He's got a brilliant mind this horse and takes everything in, but he knew it was race day,” said winning trainer Wesley Ward. “The plan was, unless he broke super sharp, that I'd like him to come from behind. Irad [Ortiz, Jr.] worked him from behind the last few times, so he knew he could do it. Julio Garcia, our main rider at home, works him from behind every week. I'm glad he showed a little versatility today. I'm glad Irad gave him a couple of reminders on the shoulder and got him going the last little part. Right after the race he gave him a little pet and a tap and he said there was a lot more left in him.”

He added, “You're always concerned [about the close finish], but I have a of confidence in this horse. He's certainly the best horse I've ever had. Every time you lead him over he proves more and more what a joy [it is] to be around a special horse like this. It would make every single trainer get up in the morning. He's a once in a lifetime horse and I've been blessed to have a few of them, but this guy is certainly the best.”

On a potential dirt start in the six-furlong GII Phoenix S. Oct. 7 at Keeneland, Ward said, “We'll talk it over with everyone involved in the ownership of the horse and see which direction they want to go, but it's important to them to show what the horse can do on the dirt as well. Through all these issues he's had throughout his career–minor issues–I've kept him on the grass to keep him sound, but he's never been as sound as he is now. It would be a good time to try him and it would be a good time to try him on his home track.”

“When they opened the gate he was moving at the same time and they outbroke me,” Ortiz said. “They were in front of me and that's not his style. He's always in front of everyone the first couple of jumps. We've been working covered up in behind horses, that was how Wesley wanted me to work the horse, and today when that happened I wasn't afraid to take a hold or drop in and sit and wait because I was working with the horse. It worked out good. He's pretty fast out of there; probably the fastest horse I ride on the turf in my whole career.”

As for the poor effort at Royal Ascot, Ortiz said, “Last time didn't work out, honestly, he missed the break. I was a little aggressive and he stopped bad, so we didn't want the same thing to happen. Wesley let me do whatever, he didn't say instructions or anything. I love riding for him. I felt somebody was coming [Thin White Duke], but my horse was fighting with the other horse [True Valour], but my horse was responding well, so I know he's going to be there if I ask him too.”

A neck short in the G2 Norfolk S. at the 2020 Royal meeting, Golden Pal captured the Skidmore S. at the Spa and the GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint S. at Keeneland. Kicking off 2021 with a win in Saratoga's GIII Quick Call S., he was seventh when shipped across the pond for York's G1 Nunthorpe S., but returned to winning ways back at Keeneland in the GII Woodford S. last October. Securing his second win at the World Championships in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint S. at Del Mar, the son of Lady Shipman romped in Keeneland's GII Shakertown S. Apr. 9, but was eased to 16th as the heavy favorite after a slow start in the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot June 14.

Pedigree Notes:
Golden Pal is the first foal out of ultra-talented turf sprinter Lady Shipman, who came up just short in her Breeders' Cup bid, but won a total of eight stakes, including a track record-setting score in Saratoga's 5 1/2-panel Smart N Fancy S. That record of 1:00.46 was broken by Carotari in 2019, when he covered the distance in 1:00.21. Lady Shipman failed to get in foal to Gun Runner for 2019 and her 2020 Justify foal died. The 10-year-old mare produced an Omaha Beach colt now named Lieutenant General in 2021 and an Uncle Mo filly named Luvwhatyoudo in 2020. She was bred back to Essential Quality. Lady Shipman's MSP full-sister Just Talkin summoned $675,000 in foal to American Pharoah at the 2019 FTKNOV sale.

Friday, Saratoga
TROY S.-GIII, $300,000, Saratoga, 8-5, 4yo/up, 5 1/2fT, 1:00.92, fm.
1–GOLDEN PAL, 124, c, 4, by Uncle Mo
                1st Dam: Lady Shipman (GSW-Can, MSW & GISP-USA,
                                   $902,387), by Midshipman
                2nd Dam: Sumthingtotalkabt, by Mutakddim
                3rd Dam: Nannetta, by Falstaff
($325,000 RNA Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Westerberg Limited, Mrs.
John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith; B-Randall E
Lowe (FL); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $165,000.
Lifetime Record: GISW-US & GSP-GB, 11-7-2-0, $1,638,431.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
   Rating: A+.
2–True Valour (Ire), 122, h, 8, Kodiac (GB)–Sutton Veny (Ire), by
Acclamation (GB). (19,000gns Wlg '14 TATFOA; €100,000 2yo
'16 GBMBR; $225,000 6yo '20 FTKHRA). O-R. Larry Johnson;
B-Mr P. O'Rourke (Ire); T-H. Graham Motion. $60,000.
3–Thin White Duke, 118, g, 4, Dominus–Aberdeen Alley, by
Distorted Humor. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Philip A.
Gleaves, Steven Crist, Ken deRegt and Bryan Hilliard; B-Phil
Gleaves (NY); T-David G. Donk. $36,000.
Margins: HD, NK, HF. Odds: 0.30, 11.00, 30.25.
Also Ran: Arzak, Yes and Yes, Spycraft, Carotari.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Pletcher and Brown Stars Highlight Saratoga Worktab

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown were both quite busy Saturday morning at Saratoga, working some of their respective stables' top stars. GI Belmont S. runner-up Nest (Curlin) turned in her final breeze Saturday morning before her rematch with Secret Oath (Arrogate) July 23 in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said the filly “worked really well” after she covered five furlongs in company with champion Corniche (Quality Road) in 1:01.44 under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. on the main track.

Secret Oath and Nest ran one-two in the GI Kentucky Oaks. They then jumped into the Triple Crown series with Secret Oath finishing fourth in the GI Preakness S. and Nest running second to stablemate Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) in the Belmont. Secret Oath and Nest could also meet in the GI Alabama Aug. 20.

Nest is a member of Pletcher's battalion of runners headed to graded stakes at Saratoga. Life is Good (Into Mischief) breezed a half-mile in :49.49 on July 15 for the GI Whitney S. Aug. 6. Americanrevolution (Constitution), runner-up in the GII Stephen Foster, and Dynamic One (Union Rags), winner of the GII Suburban, are on course for the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Sept. 3.

Pletcher said that Charge It (Tapit) will train up to the GI Runhappy Travers Aug. 27. In his first start since a 17th-place finish in the GI Kentucky Derby, the Whisper Hill Farm homebred crushed his competition in the GIII Dwyer S. July 2 at Belmont Park, winning by 23 lengths.

“It's the first time I've ever watched a race at Belmont and actually looked at that Secretariat pole as they were coming to the finish line,” Pletcher said. “It was like, 'wow'. He's a horse that we've thought a lot of from the beginning. He showed he's still a little green in the Florida Derby and displaced his palate in the Kentucky Derby, so I think we're starting now to get it all together. From a talent perspective, he is as good as good as anyone in the crop, if he can just continue to mature.”

Jeff Drown's Zandon (Upstart) worked a half-mile in :49.69 Saturday in preparation for his scheduled start in the GII Jim Dandy July 30.

The Jim Dandy, the local prep for the Travers, will be Zandon's first race following his third-place finish in the GI Kentucky Derby May 7.

Meanwhile, Brown's two other graded stakes-winning 3-year-old colts, GI Preakness S. star Early Voting (Gun Runner) and the unbeaten Jack Christopher (Munnings) worked at Belmont Park. Jack Christopher is headed to the GI Haskell Invitational S. next weekend at Monmouth Park. Brown has not yet made the call on whether Early Voting will go in the Haskell or the Jim Dandy.

“I'll decide in the morning,” Brown said. “I'll see how all the horses come out before I make a decision.”

Brown was pleased with the way Zandon handled the breeze.

“The horse worked super,” he said.

Zandon's work under veteran exercise rider Kriss Bon was his first at Saratoga this summer and satisfied a couple of goals.

“Just to get him to stretch his legs,” Brown said. “He's been working along down at Belmont. I freshened him up after the Derby. I'm really pleased with him. He put some weight on. He really looks better than ever right now. I have just given him a little bit of a breather from the racing end of it anyway. Our plan was just to get him over the track and get him a good feel for it and he couldn't have went any better.”

Despite his strong performance in the Derby, Zandon was never a possibility for the Belmont because Brown said he doesn't consider him a mile and a half horse. But Brown is confident that he will be sharp off a nearly three-month break between races.

“Just knowing the horse, he'll run good, fresh,” Brown said. “I can just see it in his training. The way he's matured, the way he's worked gives me a lot of confidence that he will be ready to go.

Early Voting worked four furlongs in :49.25 and Jack Christopher was timed in :49.80 for the same distance.

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