Kentucky | Horse Racing Free Tips

Relationship Building Key To Second Stride Success

Kim Smith founded Second Stride, Inc., in 2005 to assist horses and people involved in Thoroughbred racing by capitalizing on her vast network of people involved in the industry. The program, which adopts out retired racehorses into second careers, is based out of Moserwood Farm in Crestwood, KY. The program typically has between 15 and 20 horses in its care at one time, reports the Daily Racing Form.

Smith works diligently to make placing horses in the program as easy as possible. Owners retiring horses to the program need not complete the transfer paperwork themselves; the program also takes horses in on very short notice and there is no mandatory monetary donation for horses entering the program, though most owners and trainers will offer one, Smith says.

The goal is to make it easy for those in the industry to do the right thing—and to help as many horses as possible. Smith is very focused on relationship building, knowing that if she takes on a horse that requires extensive rehabilitation, down the road, that same owner may also offer her a sound horse that is retiring that needs no rehab.

Horses accepted into Second Stride need not be recently retired, either; the program accepts broodmares as well as stallions, which are gelded upon entering the program. Assisted by many volunteers, horses are typically adopted quickly; the program has rehomed over 1,000 horses since its inception, placing them in homes all over the country and in a variety of disciplines.

With the increase in Thoroughbred-specific shows and events like the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover, many horses retiring sound are being sold privately. Smith said she wishes more owners and trainers would consider donating their sound horses to nonprofit aftercare organizations. Sound horses can be adopted out for a higher fee than those horses with limited second career options, helping fund the horses that need longer-term care or more rehabilitation before they are rideable and able to be adopted out, she notes,

For more information about Second Stride, Inc., click here.

Keeneland, Kentucky Downs Plan For New Racing Facilities In Southeastern Kentucky

Keeneland and the majority owners of Kentucky Downs announced Monday their filing of an application for a racing license and proposed construction of a state-of-the-art racing facility and related track extension in Kentucky to be located in Corbin and Williamsburg, respectively. The proposed facilities will feature live Standardbred racing and historical racing machines for guests from Kentucky and beyond.

Kentucky Downs, located in Franklin, Kentucky, is majority owned, controlled and managed by a partnership led by Ron Winchell and Marc Falcone.

“Horse racing is an extremely vital part of the Commonwealth's economy,” said Winchell. “With the addition of a new race track and related amenities in southeastern Kentucky, it will help to continue the momentum we have created for the state and our industry in recent years.”

“Keeneland has dedicated resources to this region and project for many years and we look forward to working alongside our partners at Kentucky Downs to bring this project to life,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “This project will strengthen Kentucky's vital horse industry and positively impact the Commonwealth and the local communities by stimulating significant economic growth, generating hundreds of new jobs and enhancing tourism and hospitality.”

Officials from each racing association are working with state and local officials on a number of incentives and necessary infrastructure improvements to bring the facilities to fruition. Additionally, the venture is working with local investors to enhance the magnitude of the impact to the region.

“Corbin is thrilled to be a part of this endeavor,” Corbin Mayor Suzie Razmus said. “The new racing facility will be a welcome addition to our city's already long list of sites and attractions for local residents and visitors.”

“We are proud of the significant investment this partnership is committed to making in our community, and are excited to see the infusion of tourism, economic development and new jobs it will bring to Williamsburg and Whitley County,” Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison stated.

Each facility is contingent upon approval of an initial pari-mutuel racing license by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

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‘Fresh’ Totally Boss Chasing ‘Win And You’re In’ Berth In Kentucky Downs’ Turf Sprint

Part of the charm of Kentucky Downs is the unique level of hominess the Franklin, Ky., track offers to those making the trek down Interstate 65. While its purses are among the most elite in the nation, the airy atmosphere that surrounds the European-style course gives off a welcoming feel whether one is simply observing the high-level action taking place or trying to claim some of that ample prize money.

At last year's meet, few enjoyed the track's hospitality as much as trainer Rusty Arnold and his hard-knocking charge, Totally Boss. This Saturday, the two will once again aim to take in all the spoils Kentucky Downs has to offer when Totally Boss sets out to defend his title in the Grade 3, $700,000 RUNHAPPY Turf Sprint Stakes.

The Turf Sprint Stakes is one of five stakes, four of them enjoying Grade 3 status, on Saturday's Calumet Farm Day card with the headliner being the $1 million Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup.

With respect to all the title sponsors, Arnold made the venue's signature day his own personal showcase a year ago. In addition to watching Totally Boss earn his first career graded stakes-victory when he prevailed in the six-furlong Turf Sprint, Arnold also saddled Morticia to the win in the 2019 edition of the $500,000 stakes now known as the Real Solution Ladies Sprint, making it one of the most lucrative days of the venerable horseman's career.

It was also the day that Totally Boss uncorked arguably the best race of his life. Where Kentucky Downs' undulating course can throw some runners off their game, Totally Boss relished the going en route to earning a 1 ¼-length triumph over a field the included his graded stakes-winning stablemate Leinster and Stormy Liberal, the champion turf male of 2018.

“He did, he loved it down there last year,” Arnold said of Totally Boss, who has six wins from 18 career outings. “He likes the (six furlongs) I think the better than the five-eighths. He gets to relax a little bit, get his spot and he is really doing well. I don't think he's a natural five-eighths horse. He's trained good for this and he's ready to go.”

With the coronavirus pandemic throwing schedules for a loop, Totally Boss has only had two prior starts this season heading into the Turf Sprint Stakes. The 5-year-old Street Boss gelding was given a freshening after finishing 10th in the $1 million, Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Park last November, then had an eventful seasonal bow at Churchill Downs on May 29 when he was taken up abruptly on the turn while finishing eighth in an allowance race.

His most recent outing in the Grade 2 Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland July 11 produced a return to form for Jim and Susan Hill's runner, even if it didn't yield a victory. After racing well back early on in the 5 1/2-furlong Shakertown, Totally Boss came flying late on the outside only to lose the photo finish to his friendly rival Leinster.

“(Totally Boss) just never runs bad. He never runs bad, other than the Breeders' Cup race, it's really the only time,” Arnold said. “But he got the 1 hole (in the Breeders' Cup) that day and had no chance. So you take out that race and he doesn't have a bad race.

“I've told both owners (of Leinster and Totally Boss) that the one thing the pandemic did for me this year was keep me from over-racing these horses. So I've got two fresh horses going into the fall. Anything can happen, anything can go wrong. But right now both horses are very sound, very fresh and ready to go. That's important. They've both had two starts, and they're both going to run one more time. So they're going into the Breeders' Cup off three starts where last year they had five or six starts.”

Reflecting on good times is fun. Topping such achievements is better. To that end, Arnold could enjoy another banner Kentucky Downs meet this week as he also has morning-line favorite Bama Breeze set to run in Thursday's $750,000 Gun Runner Dueling Grounds Derby and graded-stakes winner English Affair slated for either Saturday's Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes or Sunday's TVG Stakes (formerly the Ladies Marathon), both $500,000 races.

Owned by Ashbrook Farm and BBN Racing, Bama Breeze is seeking his first victory since breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs last September 14. The 3-year-old Honor Code gelding finished sixth in both the Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland on July 12 and the 1 3/16-miles Saratoga Derby Invitational on August 15.

“We've kind of pointed to this race all year,” Arnold said of Bama Breeze. “I think the horse wants to go that distance, we think he's a mile and a half horse. You don't know exactly who will handle (Kentucky Downs) but he sure seems a real handy horse to do it. He kept getting himself in trouble but he did not get in trouble in New York last time, he ran his race. Those were a pretty tough bunch in there but he came out of it good and we're very optimistic that he's going to show up (today).”

Calumet Farm homebred English Affair showed her best self in some time when she captured the Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Stakes at Ellis Park on August 2. The 6-year-old daughter of English Channel won the 2018 Grade 3 Cardinal Handicap but suffered a hind-end injury coming out of the 2019 Grade 3 La Prevoyante Stakes that kept her on the sidelines for over a year.

“I'm really happy that Calumet was patient enough to run her as a 6-year-old,” Arnold said. “It would have been easy to pull the plug on her. She was a graded-stakes winner at the end of her 5-year-old year and they could have taken her home. But they knew she had talent and they like to race and we got her back.”

Since coming back to the races this February, English Affair has made incremental progress in each of her outings. After dropping her first three starts of 2020, the chestnut mare skipped over the rain-soaked course at Ellis to capture the Preview Ladies Turf Stakes by 1 ½-lengths.

How much moisture ends hitting Kentucky Downs this weekend will likely determine which race the smallish distaffer will head to post for.

“She's a nice filly when everything is right with her,” Arnold said. “She likes a little cut in the ground and we are going to enter her for Sunday and decide which race to run in. We're going to look at both races and see how they come up and … she is going to run on which track we think has the softest ground because she is tough on soft ground.

“That race at Ellis was a bog but she fell in love with it. She's a little filly, she's light, and she gets across it.”

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Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Showcase Kicks Off Wednesday

With the Fasig-Tipton July Yearling Sale, Saratoga Selected Yearling Sale and New York-Bred Yearling Sale all canceled, the sale’s company offers a combination of all three auctions Sept. 9-10 at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky, in the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase.

“It was a situation where we had to develop alternatives as it became apparent that the July Sale could not be conducted,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said. “At about the same time, it also became apparent it would be very, very difficult, if not impossible, to have a traditional sale in Saratoga. We believe this format is the best alternative and we have been positively received by consignors, who have supported us with really good horses. 2020 has been a year of adaptation and a year of making the best of the cards you are dealt. I think we have done a good job of that, but we fell good about the quality of horses and the reception we have gotten from buyers so far as well.”

In addition to the revised format, sale attendees will also encounter a series of new protocols at Fasig-Tipton in-keeping with the recommended COVID-19 guidelines. Attendance at the sale will be limited and all interested parties must apply for a credential on the Virtual Badge smart phone app.

“There will be reduced capacity in the pavilion and temperature screening to gain access to the grounds,” said Browning. “Access will be limited and everyone has to apply for the virtual badge to gain access. Everyone, but the buyers, have to have a negative COVID-19 test. We have to wipe down the common area spaces, wear face shields in the sales office, modify food service. We have also put up two large tents to create more outdoor spaces to make people feel more comfortable. We have internet bidding and increased phone bidding.”

The Selected Yearlings Showcase catalogue is comprised of 662 yearlings, the first 178 of which are New York-breds. Selling begins at 10 a.m. Sept. 9 with hips 1-330 and continues Sept. 10 with hips 331-662.

Stallions represented in the catalogue include American Pharoah, Candy Ride (Arg), Constitution, Curlin, the late Empire Maker, Into Mischief, Malibu Moon, Medaglia d’Oro, Nyquist, Quality Road and Uncle Mo. There will also be yearlings on offer from the first crop of several exciting young stallions, such as the late Arrogate, Classic Empire, Connect, Cupid, Gun Runner, Lord Nelson, Mastery, Mohaymen and Practical Joke.

The post Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Showcase Kicks Off Wednesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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