Tag: juan hernandez

Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings, Oct. 3-9

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

California

Track: Santa Anita

Date: 09/06/2023

Licensee: Edwin Maldonado, jockey

Penalty: Three-day suspension

Violation: Careless riding

Explainer: Jockey Edwin Maldonado, who rode Where's My Ring in the second race at Santa Anita Park on October 1, 2023, is suspended for 3 racing days (October 14, 15 and 20, 2023) for failure to make the proper effort to maintain a straight course in the stretch, causing interference. This constitutes a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules – careless riding).

Track: Santa Anita

Date: 09/06/2023

Licensee: Abel Cedillo, jockey

Penalty: Three-day suspension

Violation: Careless riding

Explainer: Jockey Abel Cedillo, who rode Sea of Cortez (IRE) in the third race at Santa Anita Park on October 1, 2023, is suspended for 3 racing days (October 14, 15 and 20, 2023) for altering course without sufficient clearance in the stretch, causing interference resulting in the disqualification of his mount from third to fourth; a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules – careless riding).

Track: Santa Anita

Date: 09/09/2023

Licensee: Juan Hernandez, jockey

Penalty: Three-day suspension

Violation: Careless riding

Explainer: Jockey Juan Hernandez, who rode Endlessly in the sixth race at Santa Anita Park on October 8, 2023, is suspended for 3 racing days (October 20, 21 and 22, 2023) for altering course without sufficient clearance in the stretch; a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules – careless riding).

Kentucky

Track: Churchill Downs

Date: 10/01/2023

Licensee: Declan Cannon, jockey

Penalty: Three-day suspension

Violation: Careless riding

Explainer: After a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Declan Cannon, who rode Levy in the second race at Churchill Downs on September 24, 2023 is hereby suspended 3 racing days, October 11 through October 13, 2023 (inclusive) for careless riding in the stretch that resulted in the disqualification of his mount.

Track: Churchill Downs

Date: 10/01/2023

Licensee: Martin Garcia, jockey

Penalty: Three-day suspension

Violation: Careless riding

Explainer: After a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Martin Garcia, Who rode Candy Landy in the third race at Churchill Downs on September 21, 2023 is hereby Suspended 3 racing days, October 14, October 15 and October 18, 2023 for Careless riding near the six and one-half-furlong pole that resulted in the disqualification of his mount.

 

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

Fresno

Brayan Pena – violation date Oct 8; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling

Horseshoe Indianapolis

Ferrin Peterson – violation date Oct 3; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling

German Terraza – violation date Oct 9; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling

Parx Racing

Angel Castillo – violation date Oct 4; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling

Presque Isle Downs

Maicol Inirio – violation date Oct 4; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling

 

Pending ADMC Violations

Date: 09/28/2023

Licensee: Barbara Hippie, veterinarian

Penalty: Provisional Suspension

Alleged violation: Possession of banned substances

Explainer: For the possible possession of Bisphosphonate; Pitcher Plant Extract (Sarapin); Levothyroxine (Thyro-L); Isoxsuprine. This is a possible violation of Rule 3214(a)–Possession of Banned Substances

Date: 09/28/2023

Licensee: Scott Shell, veterinarian

Penalty: Provisional Suspension

Alleged violation: Possession of banned substances

Explainer: For the possible possession of Bisphosphonate; Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA); Isoxsuprine. This is a possible violation of Rule 3214(a)–Possession of Banned Substances

Read more on the two cases above here and here.

Date: 09/16/2023

Licensee: Keith Desormeaux, trainer

Penalty: Pending

Alleged violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the presence of Acepromazine—Controlled Medications (Class B)—in a sample taken from Auto Dial. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 09/10/2023

Licensee: Carlos Mancilla, trainer

Penalty: Pending

Alleged Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the presence of Gabapentin—Controlled Medications (Class B)—in a sample taken from Cara in the City, who finished second at Pimlico on 9/10/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 09/03/2023

Licensee: Debbie Van Horne, trainer

Penalty: Pending

Alleged Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medications (Class C)—in a sample taken from You're the Cause, who won at Emerald Downs on 9/3/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 08/25/2023

Licensee: Daniel Kenney, trainer

Penalty: Provisional Suspension

Alleged violation: Possession of banned substances

Explainer: For the possible possession of Levothyroxine (Thyro-L). This is a possible violation of Rule 3214(a)–Possession of Banned Substances

Date: 08/12/2023

Licensee: Ron Moquett, trainer

Penalty: Pending

Alleged violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the presence of Acepromazine—Controlled Medications (Class B)—in a sample taken from Lundberg. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 08/05/2023

Licensee: Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon, trainer

Penalty: Pending

Explainer: For the presence of Flunixin—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Matty Bo, who won at Laurel Park on 8/5/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List Workout).

 

Resolved ADMC Violations

Date: 09/07/2023

Licensee: Ismael Bahena, 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. Admission of ECM Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences

Explainer: For the presence of Diclofenac—Controlled Medications (Class C)—in a sample taken from Yammy Yammy Bella, who finished second at Kentucky Downs on 9/7/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 09/1/2023

Licensee: Jonathan Thomas, trainer

Penalty: A fine of $3,000; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Admission of ECM Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences

Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314—Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method—on the horse, Bay Storm. This is also a possible violation of Rule 4222—Intra-Articular Injections Within Seven (7) Days of Timed and Reported Workout.

Date: 08/28/2023

Licensee: David Wayne Baker, trainer

Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission of ECM Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences

Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medications (Class C)—in a sample taken from Gerlach's. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 08/25/2023

Licensee: Sammy Stevens, trainer

Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final Decision by HIWU

Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medications (Class C)—in a sample taken from Pandora Who. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 08/17/2023

Licensee: John Guciardo, 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 $1,000; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Final Decision by HIWU.

Explainer: For the presence of Dexamethasone and Trichloromethiazide—Controlled Medications (Class C)—in a sample taken from Cuz, who won at Presque Isle Downs on 8/17/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List Workout).

Date: 07/07/2023

Licensee: Chad Brown, trainer

Penalty: A written reprimand (per 9/26/23 HISA Guidance). Admission of ECM Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences

Explainer: For the presence of Omeprazole—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Forced Ranking. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

Date: 06/09/2023

Licensee: Luis Jorge Perez, veterinarian

Penalty: 14-month period of Ineligibility, beginning on June 14, 2023; a fine of $5,000. Final Decision by Arbitral Body

Explainer:  Possession of a Banned Substance, Levothyroxine (Thyro-L). Rule 3214(a): “Other Anti-Doping Rule Violations Involving Banned Substances or Banned Methods. The following acts and omissions constitute Anti-Doping Rule Violations by the Covered Person(s) in question: (a) Possession of a Banned Substance or a Banned Method, unless there is compelling justification for such Possession.”

Date: 06/07/2023

Licensee: Dennis VanMeter, trainer

Penalty: Disqualification of the 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. Admission of ECM Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences

Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medication (Class C)— in a sample taken from Templement, who finished sixth at Thistledown on 6/7/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance.

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Good Magic’s ‘Rising Star’ Muth Tops Baffert Exacta in American Pharoah

Zedan Racing Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' Muth (c, 2, Good Magic–Hoppa, by Uncle Mo), second as the heavy favorite after pressing a blistering pace in the GIII Best Pal S. Aug. 13, showed a new dimension by coming off the pace while making his two-turn debut in style in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI American Pharoah S. at Santa Anita. It was 3 3/4 lengths back to his Bob Baffert-trained stablemate Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso) in second. Be You (Curlin) was third.

Muth becomes a record-extending 12th American Pharoah winner for Baffert. He's captured five out of the past six runnings of the race named in honor of his 2015 Triple Crown winner.

“I love the way Muth settled,” Baffert said. “When I saw that I thought, 'well, we'll see how good he is,' and I think (jockey) Juan (Hernandez) just helped him a lot today. It is nice when you have two nice colts. (Wine Me Up) definitely earned his way into the Breeders' Cup. We still have (Best Pal and GI Del Mar Futurity winner) Prince of Monaco (Speightstown), too. We just have to keep them healthy.”

The 2-5 favorite, purchased by Amr Zedan for a sale-topping $2 million earlier this year at OBS March, rated kindly in an inside fourth as his aforementioned stablemate led through fractions of :23.30 and :46.49. Muth was ridden to take on Wine Me Up approaching the quarter pole, took over with authority in the stretch and drew clear late to win for fun.

Muth romped by 8 3/4 lengths in front-running fashion on debut at Santa Anita June 18 prior to finishing 4 1/4 lengths adrift stablemate Prince of Monaco in the six-furlong Best Pal at Del Mar.

“He surprised me the way he relaxed today because he is normally a really aggressive horse,” Hernandez said. “Out of the gate he's fast. Bob and his team have been working with him trying to get him to relax.”

He added, “I think this is the best horse I've ever ridden so far, I mean Cave Rock was one of the best, but this one is pretty close. Hopefully we can stay healthy and we can get him in the Breeders' Cup.”

Pedigree Notes:

Muth becomes the third winner at the top level and eighth graded stakes winner overall for his young sire Good Magic, who is also the sire of this year's GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage. Broodmare sire Uncle Mo is now responsible for eight graded winners, including GISW and leading GI Breeders' Cup Classic contender Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}).

The first foal out of the winning Don Alberto homebred Hoppa (Uncle Mo), Muth brought $190,000 from the Gladwell family's pinhooking partnership out of the Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency consignment on day seven of last year's Keeneland September sale. Muth was the buzz horse of OBS March after delivering a :9 3/5 bullet breeze and a sensational gallop out for Top Line Sales during the under-tack show.

As profiled by Steve Sherack in our special American Pharoah Preview Edition, Zedan also purchased fellow GISWs 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) ($2.3 million OBS April) and 'TDN Rising Star' Princess Noor (Not This Time) ($1.35 million OBS April) off of Top Line Sales at 2-year-old sales in Ocala.

Muth's breeder Don Alberto purchased Handoverthecat (Tale of the Cat), with Hoppa in utero, for $170,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November sale. Hoppa's yearling filly by Violence was purchased by Rigney Racing for $385,000 at Keeneland September. Hoppa was bred back to Good Magic after producing a filly by Tacitus this year.

Saturday, Santa Anita Park
AMERICAN PHAROAH S.-GI, $301,500, Santa Anita, 10-7, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:42.45, ft.
1–MUTH, 122, c, 2, by Good Magic
                1st Dam: Hoppa, by Uncle Mo
                2nd Dam: Handoverthecat, by Tale of the Cat
                3rd Dam: Frayne, by Red Ransom
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. 'TDN Rising Star'. ($190,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $2,000,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR). O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $256,600. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Wine Me Up, 122, c, 2, Vino Rosso–Deanaallen'skitten, by Kitten's Joy. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($115,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $300,000 2yo '23 OBSOPN). O-Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman; B-Kenneth L. Ramsey & Sarah K. Ramsey (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $60,000.
3–Be You, 122, c, 2, Curlin–Jacaranda, by Congrats. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($320,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable; B-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $36,000.
Margins: 3 3/4, 5 1/4, 3 1/4. Odds: 0.40, 9.00, 5.10.
Also Ran: Raging Torrent, Rothschild, Indispensable, Next Level, El Magnifico.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs.

VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

 

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Adare Manor Cruises to Fifth Straight Win in Zenyatta

To see Adare Manor (f, 4, Uncle Mo–Brooklynsway, by Giant Gizmo) gallop out after Santa Anita's GII Zenyatta S. was to see a filly who looked like she was pretty proud of herself. Indeed, she should have been. The Zenyatta was Adare Manor's fifth straight win, as well as fourth consecutive graded win, and she took this one in the most facile manner possible, eased up as she cruised under the line a 5 1/4-length victress.

Clearly the class of the field as the 1-9 favorite, Adare Manor ran like it. The Michael Lund Petersen colorbearer broke from the rail, hustled to the front under her own power, and was unbothered by early pressure from Micro Share (Upstart), last-out winner of Del Mar's Tranquility Lake S. Sept. 4. Jockey Juan Hernandez could not have looked more comfortable on board the eventual winner–like he was out for a Sunday afternoon stroll–as the two edged clear for a :23.71 first quarter. Moving easily with her ears flicking back and forth as her three rivals lined up behind her and left her completely alone on the lead, Adare Manor clicked off a half in :47.91 and three-quarters in 1:11.96. Hernandez peered over his left shoulder leaving the turn and was so satisfied with his filly's position that he sat still as a stone down the lane, then eased up his mount at the wire. Last year's GII Santa Anita Oaks winner Desert Dawn (Cupid) followed her home, just as she did in the GI Clement L. Hirsch S. Aug. 5. Desert Dawn was 6 1/4 lengths in front of Micro Share, while Window Shopping (American Pharoah), the only 3-year-old in the field and winner of the GII Summertime Oaks in June, was fourth.

“Today all the credit goes to my filly, to Bob [Baffert], and his team. They brought her ready,” said Hernandez. “She broke a little slow the last couple of times, but today she broke on her own, I didn't even have to push her. She was just galloping around on the lead and I didn't do much today.”

In addition to the aforementioned Clement Hirsch, Adare Manor's streak also includes the GII Santa Margarita S. and the GII Santa Maria S. She is five for six on the year, following up a 2022 which included a victory in the GIII Las Virgenes S. and runner-up finishes in both the GII Santa Anita Oaks and the GII Black-Eyed Susan S.

Baffert enthused after the Zenyatta: “She just keeps improving and we wanted to see something like this to see if we were going to take a crack at the Breeders' Cup [Distaff]. So I think if she comes out of it well, we will go for it.”

 

Pedigree Notes:

Coolmore America's Uncle Mo, currently ranked a strong second on the 2023 leading sires list, is the sire of Adare Manor and another dozen black-type winners of this year bred in the Northern Hemisphere, including recent GI Pacific Classic winner Arabian Knight. With his ninth crop of 2-year-olds now at the track, Uncle Mo has 95 stakes winners, 48 of which are graded. Adare Manor is the only one of Uncle Mo's stakes winners out of a Giant Gizmo mare, but he does have three out of daughters of Giant's Causeway, sire of Giant Gizmo. Giant Gizmo was last reported to be standing in Panama. Adare Manor is the only black-type winner out of one of his daughters.

Winner of the 2016 GIII Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare S. at Keeneland, Brooklynsway has produced Adare Manor and an unraced 2-year-old filly by Into Mischief. Her yearling, a Ghostzapper filly already named Nosleeptilbrooklyn, was a $500,000 purchase by Boardshorts Stables on the first day of Book 2 at the recent Keeneland September sale. The mare delivered a full-brother to Adare Manor Mar. 24. She was bred back to Tapit.

Sunday, Santa Anita Park
ZENYATTA S.-GII, $196,000, Santa Anita, 10-1, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:43.70, gd.
1–ADARE MANOR, 126, f, 4, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Brooklynsway (GSW-USA, MSW & GSP-Can, $724,597), by Giant Gizmo
2nd Dam: Explosive Story, by Radio Star
3rd Dam: Maya's Note, by Editor's Note
($180,000 Ylg '20 FTKFEB; $190,000 RNA Ylg '20 FTKSEL; $375,000 2yo '21 OBSOPN). O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Town & Country Horse Farms, LLC & Gary Broad (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $120,000. Lifetime Record: GISW, 13-7-4-0, $981,600. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Desert Dawn, 122, f, 4, Cupid–Ashley's Glory, by Honour and Glory. ($32,000 RNA Ylg '20 OBSOCT). O/B-H & E Ranch (AZ); T-Philip D'Amato. $40,000.
3–Micro Share, 122, f, 4, Upstart–Who'sbeeninmybed, by The Daddy. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($10,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $125,000 Ylg '20 OBSOCT; $450,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella. $24,000.
Margins: 5 1/4, 6 1/4, 22 1/4. Odds: 0.10, 5.40, 6.70. Also Ran: Window Shopping.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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The Week In Review: Can A Racetrack Have A Perfect Safety Record? Del Mar Is Getting Close

It's often been said that, no matter how hard the sport works to become safer, there will never come a time when there are zero fatalities. Unfortunately, that's probably true. But at the recently concluded Del Mar meet, not a single horse suffered a fatal breakdown during a race. Not once did a horse break a leg, crumple to the ground and then have to be euthanized behind a curtain blocking the view of a horrified public, the story making its way into the newspapers or the local news and on to PETA's list of reasons why horse racing should be banned.

(One horse was injured during a dirt race, had to be operated on and, five days after the accident, had to be put down due to complications. Three horses died during morning training due to traditional musculoskeletal injuries.)

In a meet where there were plenty of highlights, Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) winning the GI Pacific Classic, the brilliant victory by Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) in the GI Del Mar Debutante, the dominance of Jockey Juan Hernandez, nothing was more important than Del Mar's safety record. These are the types of stories racing so badly needs in the midst of so many other tracks having nightmarish meets when it comes to breakdowns and these are the types of numbers that give you hope other tracks can get their fatality levels down to Del Mar levels.

And the story was much the same in 2022. There was not a single fatality that occurred during a race that year either. Officially, Del Mar had two equine deaths in 2022 that were once again the results of horses being injured in race only to be put down a few days later after attempts to save their lives were unsuccessful. Del Mar has not had a fatality during a race since 2021, when one horse died during a 2-year-old dirt race.

“We've been very fortunate and have put in a lot of hard work,” said Del Mar President Josh Rubinstein. “This is more a California story than just a Del Mar story. The numbers at Santa Anita have also been very good and both tracks have benefitted from the efforts from the CHRB. The biggest thing is there's clearly been a culture change and our horseman and horsewomen have really embraced the reforms we've implemented, which hasn't always been easy. Without their buy-in we wouldn't have gotten to where we are now.”

This was not always the case. Before there was Santa Anita 2019 when 30 horses had to be euthanized over a six-month period, Del Mar was having some high-profile problems of its own. When it took out its synthetic track after the 2014 meet, the number of fatalities per 1,000 starts jumped from .69 to 2.28 But it was not until the 2016 meet where the numbers went completely south and turned Del Mar into what may have been the deadliest racetrack in the country. During 54 days of racing, there were 12 fatalities during racing and they occurred at a rate of 3.01 per 1,000 starts. The national rate was 1.54 per 1,000 starts. Worse yet, 11 horses broke down during training hours, giving Del Mar 23 total fatalities for the meet that lasted just 54 days.

“You hate for this to happen anywhere but when something like this happens in California there is a massive spotlight on you, something you don't want to see. It was difficult. It really forced us to look at every single piece of the racing operation. We spent a lot of long days and nights figuring out how we could improve and get better, starting with 2017. Fortunately,  we have continued in the right direction.”

Del Mar management realized that something had to be done and that if the numbers did not improve that could have a cataclysmic effect on the sport. Much of the reforms now seen throughout California, began at Del Mar after the 2016 meet. The number of fatalities per 1,000 starts dropped to 1.50 for 2017. Since, that number has been .79, .62, .28 and .56. Depending upon how the case of the horse who died a few days after surgery is handled, the 2023 number could be zero.

The California/Del Mar play book is to have veterinarians examine a horse again and again and again before they are given the green light to race.

“There are all the veterinarian checks and the things that go into getting a horse ready to go on race day,” Rubinstein said. “With all the vet checks, the CHRB they've been terrific. While we do have our own track vets that oversee morning training and assist with the exams, the majority of the vet checks are by the CHRB. They have been terrific to work with as have industry stakeholders like the TOC. It costs more to get a horse to the races with these reforms and checks and for the most part the owners have been very much on board. It really has been a team effort.”

After 2016, the Del Mar team also realized that vet checks alone would not be enough.

Dennis Moore was brought in to oversee the main track and John Beggin was hired to oversee the turf course.

“We believe we have the best in the business in our main track superintendent, Dennis Moore, and John Beggin, who handles the turf course,” Rubinstein said. “They've both done a terrific job. On the main track, Dennis puts in a tremendous amount of hard work in the off season getting the track ready. Every day, he's looking at different levels, compaction levels, moisture levels. He works to insure the track is dialed in to be consistent, safe and fair. You talk to the horsemen and overall they are extremely pleased with main track and turf course here.”

Most tracks don't have the resources Del Mar has and can't afford to hire extra veterinarians, expert track superintendents or to put in such things like PET scans. But that doesn't mean they can't do better. Though the rate of breakdowns in this country is still way too high, Del Mar has proven that no track should settle for the status quo. They went from one of the most dangerous tracks in the country to one of the safest and all it really took was some effort and determination to solve an awful problem. They've done so well that perfection seems like an attainable goal.

At Gulfstream, Playing the Name Game

You might have noticed that trainer Jose Di Angelo won both divisions of the Florida Stallion S. Saturday at Gulfstream, taking the filly version with Welcome Back (Adios Charlie). Three races later he won the division for males with a horse named Bentornato (Valiant Minister). Bentornato means “welcome back” in Italian. The horses are owned by different owners, and the names are simply a coincidence.

“With Bentornato, I picked the horse out when he was at a baby sale at OBS (where he was bought for $45,000),” Di Angelo explained. “The owner pinhooked the horse and the guy that bought him from him returned the horse. That's why he named him Bentornato or Welcome Back. The other horse was always named Welcome Back.”

Saratoga Horse of the Meet

Each year Del Mar announced its “Horse of the Meet”, a long-standing tradition that takes place at the conclusion of the meet. It was Pacific Classic winner Arabian Knight. The voting is conducted among a panel of experts. How about Saratoga doing the same thing, bestowing what would be an important honor of the most outstanding horse at the sport's most important meet? My vote would have gone to Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), but strong cases could have been made for Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) and Arcangelo (Arrogate). In addition to handing out the award, how about giving a cash prize to the groom, hotwalker and exercise rider of the winner. Say $25,000 each, money that can go a long way toward helping the unsung heroes of the backstretch.

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