Tag: kelsey danner

What Was Your Favorite Moment of 2023: Kelsey Danner

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members what their favorite moment of the year was. Send your favorite moment to suefinley@thetdn.com

“My favorite memory was winning my first graded stake [the GIII Herecomesthebride S.] with Danse Macabre this spring. She is a special filly to me. It was also stretching out and she showed a ton of grit to win.” -Kelsey Danner

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Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings, June 13-19

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: Santa Anita

Date: 06/16/2023

Licensee: Ian Kruljac, trainer

Penalty: $1,000 fine

Violation: Medication violation

Explainer:  Trainer Ian Kruljac, who started the horse Closeau, that finished third in the seventh race on April 8, 2023, at Santa Anita Park is fined $1,000.00 and assessed one half (1/2) point in accordance with California Horse Racing Rule #1843.4 (Multiple Medication Violations (MMV) – Expires 6/16/24) pursuant to California Horse Racing Board Rule #1887(a) (Trainer or Owner to Insure Condition of Horse) for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1843(a)(d) (Medication, Drugs and Other Substances and Rule #1843.1(b) (Prohibited Drug Substances -Methocarbamol [Class 4]). This is Ian Kruljac's second offense in 365 days. Mr. Kruljac has accumulated one (1) MMV point.

Track: Santa Anita

Date: 06/16/2023

Licensee: Jeff Mullins, trainer

Penalty: $1,000 fine

Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: Trainer Jeff Mullins, who worked the horse Numero Dix for removal from the Veterinarian's List on April 5, 2023, at Santa Anita Park, is fined $1,000 and assessed one half (1/2) point in accordance with California Horse Racing Board Rule #1843.4(a) (Multiple Medication Violations (MMV) – Expires June 16, 2024) pursuant to California Horse Racing Board Rule #1887 (Trainer or Owner to Insure Condition of Horse) for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1866(h)(i) (Veterinarian's List), #1844(d)(5) (Authorized Medication), #1843(d) (Medication, Drugs and Other Substances) and Rule #1843.1(b) (Prohibited Drug Substances – Methocarbamol [Class 4]). This is Jeff Mullins second offense in 365 days. Mr. Mullins has accumulated two and a half (2 1/2) MMV points.

Track: Santa Anita

Date: 06/18/2023

Licensee: Armando Aguilar, apprentice jockey

Penalty: Four-day suspension

Violation: Careless riding

Explainer: Apprentice Jockey Armando Aguilar, who rode Warrior's Moon in the fourth race at Santa Anita Park on June 17, 2023, is suspended for 4 racing days (June 25, July 1, 2, and 3, 2023) for failure to maintain a straight course in the stretch causing interference resulting in the disqualification of his mount from fourth to fifth; a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules – careless riding), second offense in last sixty days.

Florida

The following was taken from the ARCI's “recent rulings” webpage.

Track: Gulfstream Park

Date: 06/09/2023

Licensee: David Fisher, trainer

Penalty: $1,000 fine

Violation: Medications violation

Explainer: STIPULATION AND CONSENT ORDER # 2023-008661 – F.S.550.2415 VIOLATION = BETAMETHASONE. “LOVIN MAKES CENTS” *FINE PAID TO GSP/BOR; PURSE RETURNED TO GSP*

Track: Gulfstream Park

Date: 06/9/2023

Licensee: Efren Loza, trainer

Penalty: Fifteen-day suspension, $500 fine

Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: FINAL ORDER # 2022-042344 – F.S. 550.2415 VIOLATION = 1-Hydroxyethyl Promazine Sulfoxide. “STAR JUANCHO” $500 Fine due 7/9/23; 15 day suspension – 7/10/23 – through and including 7/25/23; Loss of Purse.

Track: Gulfstream Park

Date: 06/06/2023

Licensee: Ronald Spatz, trainer

Penalty: $1,000 fine

Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: STEWARD'S RULING FINAL ORDER # 2022-057680 – F.S. 550.2415 VIOLATION = DEXAMETHASONE. “IRONY” $1000 FINE DUE 6/21/23

Track: Gulfstream Park

Date: 06/06/2023

Licensee: Ronald Spatz, trainer

Penalty: $1,000 fine

Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: STEWARD'S RULING FINAL ORDER # 2023-004641 – F.S. 550.2415 VIOLATION = DEXAMETHASONE. “LOVE HER LOTS” $1000 FINE DUE 6/21/23

Track: Gulfstream Park

Date: 06/06/2023

Licensee: Kelsey Danner, trainer

Penalty: $500 fine

Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: STEWARD'S RULING FINAL ORDER # 2023-002335 – F.S.550.2415 VIOLATION = ALBUTEROL. “VIBURNUM” $500 FINE DUE 6/21/23

Track: Gulfstream Park

Date: 06/06/2023

Licensee: Kelsey Danner, trainer

Penalty: $500 fine

Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: STEWARD'S RULING FINAL ORDER # 2022-045777 – F.S.550.2415 VIOLATION = METHOCARBAMOL. “MR. TITO'S” $1000 FINE DUE 6/21/23

Track: Gulfstream Park

Date: 06/06/2023

Licensee: Jose Garoffalo, trainer

Penalty: $1,000 fine

Violation: Medications violation

Explainer: STEWARD'S RULING FINAL ORDER # 2022-047256 – F.S.550.2415 VIOLATION = METHOCARBAMOL. “VINNIE VAN GO” $1000 FINE DUE 6/21/23

Track: Gulfstream Park

Date: 05/31/2023

Licensee: Reynaldo Yanez, trainer

Penalty: $1,000 fine

Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: STEWARDS RULING FINAL ORDER # 2023-018909 – F.S.550.2415 VIOLATION = 5-HYDROXYDANTROLENE. “HEIR TO THE ROAR”

New York

Track: Belmont Park

Date: 06/17/2023

Licensee: Irad Ortiz, jockey

Penalty: Three-day suspension

Violation: Careless riding

Explainer: For having waived his right to an appeal Jockey Mr. Irad Ortiz is hereby suspended three (3) NYRA racing days June 25th 2023, June 30th 2023, July 1st 2023 inclusive. This for careless riding during the running of the third race at Belmont park on June 11th 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

Delaware Park

Darwin Rodriguez – violation date June 14; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Andry Gabriel Blanco – violation date June 17; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Finger Lakes

Jose Alberto Baez – violation date June 19; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Hawthorne

Alexis Centeno – violation date June 15; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Thistledown

Víctor Manuel Severino – violation date June 13; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 1-3 strikes over the limit

Yuri Sanez Yaranga – violation date June 14; $250 fine and one-day suspension, “excess” strikes

Shoeing Violations

Belmont Park

Alan Bedard, trainer – $500 fine for not having his horse “In my Opinion” properly shod for the running of race 2 at Belmont Park on 06/15/2023 causing a late scratch.

Pending ADMC Violations

Date: 05/24/2023

Licensee: Mario Dominguez

Penalty: Provisional suspension

Violation: Presence of a banned substance in a test

Explainer: Rule 3212, Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers. Cobalt.

Racetrack Safety Violations

Date: 06/17/2023

Licensee: Vladimir Cerin, trainer

Penalty: Seven-day suspension, $2,500 fine

Violation: Use of shockwave therapy too close to workout

Explainer:  Trainer Vladimir Cerin, who treated the horse Poppy's Halo with ESWT on 12/13/2022, at Santa Anita Park, which is within 30 days prior to a workout is suspended SEVEN (7) days and fined $2,500 for violation of HISA Rule 2272 (3) (Shockwave Therapy). The suspension shall be from June 23, 2023, through June 29, 2023. During the term of the suspension, all licenses and license privileges of Vladimir Cerin are suspended and pursuant to California Horse Racing Board Rule #1528 (Jurisdiction of Stewards to Suspend or Fine) and HISA Rule 8200 (b)(2) through (12) (Schedule of Sanctions For Violations) Vladimir Cerin is denied access to all premises in this jurisdiction.

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Earning Their Stripes: Kelsey Danner

Last year, we conducted a popular Q and A series called 'Smaller But Still Super,' where we featured veteran trainers who have built a competitive racing stable with relatively small numbers (click here to view the archive). This year, we will highlight trainers who have already cut their teeth as novice trainers, but now have a few years of experience under their belt and are looking to make a name for themselves as they grow their stable. We'll talk about the challenges that come with hanging out your single, advice for trainers setting out on their own, how the incoming class of young trainers differs from previous generations and more.

Kelsey Danner's family has been a fixture on the racetrack for generations, so the horsewoman always knew she would dedicate her life to the industry. She started off working for her father Mark Danner, a trainer on the Kentucky circuit and at Oaklawn Park for nearly three decades, and later got experience working for D. Wayne Lukas, Ian Wilkes and Carl Nafzger. She then spent five years as an assistant for Wayne Catalano.

After 12 years of working as an assistant, Danner made the decision to go out on her own in 2017. She only had 73 starts in her first two years, but got the ball rolling with 19 wins in 2019. Two years later, she surged past her first million-dollar mark with over $1.3 million in earnings, plus 36 wins, and then one-upped herself last year when she surpassed $2 million in earnings.

Danner is based at Palm Meadows in the winter, but travels throughout the year from Gulfstream to the Kentucky circuit, Colonial Downs, and more. With 45 horses under her care, Danner's highest earner is gearing up for her 3-year-old season. NBS Stable and Elements Racing's Danse Macabre (Army Mule) got her first stakes win at Kentucky Downs last summer and was third in the GIII Matron S. in her last start.

What has been the key to your stable's growth since you first opened?

My last few years have definitely been my best years. I'm a bit more content with where I'm at as far as the clientele and the horses I have. For the last three years, I got to have some nicer, young stock and they're still in my barn now, so it has been nice to watch them develop and I've gotten to win a few stakes races.

What do you think makes your training style unique?

I think a lot of my focus is on exercise riders. I have some really good riders and we do things a little bit different in the morning. We will do breezing with groups of four and five horses so that they will get hit with dirt. We spend a lot of time on their backs. Our sets take a little bit longer. We do less sets but for a longer period of time.

What has been the biggest thing you have learned since going out on your own?

Some of this I already knew because not only was I an assistant for years, but I was also the daughter of a trainer. I would say the biggest challenge initially is getting horses, and the second part is maintaining your expenses and your payroll. You need to make sure that you don't spend more than what you're bringing in.

Another important thing is having good-paying clients. They're without a doubt the most important aspect of it and you learn that the hard way.

Do you think most trainers' success is defined by their ability to train or by the quality of the horses they receive?

I would say it's about the quality of the horse. You have to have the stock. It's kind of a chicken-or-the-egg thing. The quality of the horse is pretty much the factor in everyone's success, whether it is owners or trainers.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone going out on their own this year, what would it be?

(Laughs) Don't do it.

I guess it would be to have the experience before you do it. I think right now, with how the racing offices are struggling for entries to fill, be prepared with as much experience as you can get beforehand and make sure you have a decent-sized bank account.

I think a lot of times, you see with young trainers that they were only an assistant for maybe one trainer and only for a few years.

Training requires a lot of experience. There are things that can't be taught. There's not a book on how to train horses. I think that the more experience you have before going out on your own, the better your chance of having mentors. New trainers need people you can call up and ask advice. By building relationships with people that you've worked for previously, that's how you do it.

What is something that you think this incoming generation of trainers does better than the generations before them?

Probably embracing the digital age as far as communication with clients. Clients are more likely to receive videos, pictures, and text messages. I feel like when I was younger, a lot of owners lived near their horses and they would come out to the track more often. I think that now, technology is what the younger generation does more.

Last fall you became a member of HISA's Horsemen's Advisory Group. Why was that something that you wanted to be a part of?

I think that our industry is in the middle of a big change, hopefully for the better. It remains to be seen which way this is going to go, but I thought I would like to at least be part of what the change is going to be so that I could understand it a little bit more and maybe offer some advice or opinion.

Obviously racing need changes. Hopefully HISA is the organization that will help us have more uniform rules and things like that. It's easy to knock it or to sit back and say that it won't work. But I think that without change, we probably won't make it. And it takes the whole industry to get there. So we do need change and I would like to be a part of it. The industry is my career and my livelihood and I hope it lasts for many years to come.

Who is your favorite horse that you've ever had in your stable?

I would have to go with Gladys (Medaglia d'Oro). She was a full-sister to Rachel Alexandra. She was very spirited and had a neat personality.

Is there an up-and-coming horse in your barn that we should know about?

I have a couple nice young horses. Danse Macabre (Army Mule), who won a stake at Kentucky Downs last year, is getting ready to get back next month. Dunedin (Munnings), who finished fifth but only got beat by a neck in the GIII Futurity S., comes back next month too.

Ainsworth Untapable S. winner Danse Macabre is preparing for her 3-year-old debut | Coady

What is your favorite restaurant to go to after a big win?

I like the little Thai joint by Gulfstream.

If you aren't at the track, what can you be found doing?

Right now I'm in the middle of remodeling my house.

If one change was made to racing that would make your life easier, what would it be?

Probably if they got rid of statistics in the racing form. I do think it hurts the industry a little bit because you're more likely to not help the racing office fill races because you're worried about your statistics.

Carl Nafzger used to say that you needed to give a horse five races until you knew what the horse was. One going short, one going long, one on the slop, one from behind, etc.

What is your biggest hot take? It can be racing-related or completely random.

Winning first time out isn't everything. I think it can sometimes damage a horse. There's a lot of pressure that if a horse doesn't win first time out, they're not a very good horse because everyone is worried about percentages.

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Seven Two-Year-Olds Entered For Friday’s Atlantic Beach Stakes

Live Oak Plantation homebred Biz Biz Buzz took the step up in class last out with a third-place stakes debut in the Grade 3 Futurity on October 10 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. The Michael Trombetta trainee will look to make the grade in a return engagement at the track as part of a seven-horse field of 2-year-olds in Friday's $100,000 Atlantic Beach contested at six furlongs over the inner turf course.

The Atlantic Beach is one of four stakes on Friday's packed card, which includes the $200,000 Ticonderoga for New York-bred fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the turf; the $150,000 Tempted for juvenile fillies going a one-turn mile; and the $100,000 Awad for juveniles going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Biz Biz Buzz made a successful debut on September 10, rallying from fifth to post a three-length score in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint over the turf at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md. Trombetta moved him up in class last out and the Fed Biz colt responded by earning black type in the six-furlong Futurity, finishing 1 1/2 lengths back to winner Slipstream over firm going.

“I was pleased with his effort last time against those horses; it was only his second time running,” Trombetta said. “He's worked well since. Hopefully, the weather cooperates and he gets a chance to run.”

Biz Biz Buzz has trained over the all-weather track at Fair Hill in Maryland since the Futurity, including a bullet four-furlong work in :47.80 on Saturday.

“He's been training exceptionally well and we're looking forward to seeing how he progress,” said Trombetta, who entered Sunday with 1,998 career wins. “He's a big, solid 2-year-old. He has a good attitude. He does everything right. He's certainly a nice horse to work with. It was good he got a race over the Belmont track, too, but the weather plays such a big part this time of year, so we'll have to see.”

Julian Pimentel will have the call from post 5.

James Horgan's Longshadow earned a stakes victory last out by edging Nobals by a nose in the 6 1/2-furlong Fitz Dixon, Jr. Memorial Juvenile on October 11 over the Presque Isle Downs all-weather track.

Longshadow, trained by Kelsey Danner and bred by Dede McGehee, made a strong debut with a win on August 5 at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Del., over the main track before running seventh in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile on September 6 for his turf debut.

Returning to the grass, Longshadow will retain the services of rider Rocco Bowen, drawing post 3.

Kendall Hansen's Pure Panic is already an experienced stakes horse and will make his fourth consecutive start at that caliber in the Atlantic Beach for trainer Mike Maker. The son of Summer Front, who won his debut in July at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky., ran second in the Skidmore in his second start in a stakes moved off the turf on August 20 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Pure Panic returned to the grass for his next two starts, finishing ninth in the one-mile Nownownow on September 26 at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., and fifth last out when cutting back to 5 1/2 furlongs in the Indian Summer on October 10 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

Making his Belmont debut, Pure Panic will have Eric Cancel ride from post 7.

Michael Dubb and Michael J. Caruso's Doctor Jeff, who won an off-the-turf debut effort in July at Belmont, ran fifth in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special over the Spa main track on August 14 before trainer Rudy Rodriguez moved the Street Boss colt to turf for the first time in the Grade 2 Pilgrim on October 3 going 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park.

Doctor Jeff will have his second go on turf, drawing post 4 with Jose Lezcano in the irons.

A trio of second-out maiden-breakers will comprise the rest of the field, including Double O Racing's Trust Daddy, who was victorious in his turf debut on October 10 at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md., for trainer Jeremiah O'Dwyer [post 2, Manny Franco]; and Bright View Farm's Here Comes Billy, a winner at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J., on October 9, for trainer Douglas Nunn [post 1, Wilmer Garcia]. Colts Neck Stables homebred Tops the Chart, a winner on September 25 at Monmouth, is entered for the main track only for trainer Jorge Duarte, Jr.

The Atlantic Beach is slated as Race 4 on Friday's 10-race card. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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