Frank G. Gabriel, Jr. to Succeed Martin Panza at NYRA

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has named Frank G. Gabriel, Jr. the successor of Martin Panza as Senior Vice President, Racing Operations. Gabriel will assume the position February 3 following the departure of Panza last October. As SVP of Racing Operations, Gabriel will be responsible for leadership and oversight of racing functions at NYRA, including the overall development, planning, and execution of NYRA's premier stakes offerings, marquee events, and daily racing programs.

With more than four decades in Thoroughbred racing, Gabriel brings a wealth of experience into the role. He was the CEO of Dubai Racing Club from 2005-2014 and the Executive Director of Racing for Dubai Racing Club from 2014-2020. The Pennsylvania native oversaw the construction Meydan Racecourse, which opened in 2010 as one of the world's premier racing and entertainment venues. Gabriel also led the transition of the Dubai World Cup Carnival and Dubai World Cup from Nad al Sheba to Meydan Racecourse.

“We are pleased to welcome Frank Gabriel back to NYRA at this important time in the history of the organization,” said NYRA President and CEO David O'Rourke. “His passion for racing is matched by a deep knowledge of the current dynamics of the sport. Frank is a proven leader with expertise in nearly every aspect of racing who will continue the successes achieved at NYRA in recent years.”

Gabriel has served at NYRA previously as Director of Racing from 1998 to 1999 and Racing Secretary for Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course in a seasonal capacity in 2014. He also spent 16 years at Arlington Park, where one of his roles was as Vice President of Racing Operations. He's also been associated with Timonium Race Track, Keystone Racetrack [now Parx Racing], Atlantic City Race Course, Meadowlands Racetrack, Garden State Park, Hialeah Park, and Gulfstream Park in various capacities.

“NYRA is the premier racing circuit in the country, and it is a high honor to accept this position,” said Gabriel. “Our sport continues to evolve and change in meaningful and important ways, and I look forward to joining a team that successfully balances history and traditions while embracing the changes that will benefit the sport for decades to come.”

Gabriel has served as a member of the Breeders' Cup Selection Committee, the Dubai World Cup Committee, and Emirates Racing Authority. He has also served on the Asian Racing Federation Executive Council; as Vice Chairman of the International Grading and Racing Planning Advisory Board; as Chairman of the Asian Pattern Committee; as representative for the Emirates Racing Authority at the International Federation Horse Racing Authority Conference; and as Chairman of the UAE Pattern Committee.

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Frank G. Gabriel, Jr. To Take Over For Panza As NYRA’s Senior Vice President Of Racing Operations

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced today the appointment of Frank G. Gabriel, Jr. as Senior Vice President, Racing Operations. Gabriel succeeds Martin Panza, who departed NYRA in October 2021, and will assume his responsibilities on Feb. 3.

Gabriel is deeply experienced in Thoroughbred racing having served as CEO of Dubai Racing Club from 2005-2014 and, most recently, as the Executive Director of Racing for Dubai Racing Club from 2014-2020. As CEO, Gabriel oversaw the project to construct Meydan Racecourse, which opened in 2010 featuring a 60,000-seat grandstand, five-star hotel and numerous restaurants and amenities. Gabriel then led the transition of the Dubai World Cup Carnival and Dubai World Cup from Nad al Sheba to Meydan Racecourse. Since its completion in 2010, Meydan has become one of the world's premier racing and entertainment venues.

The appointment marks a return to NYRA for Gabriel, who was Director of Racing from 1998 to 1999 and Racing Secretary for Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course in a seasonal capacity in 2014. Gabriel also spent 16 years at Arlington Park, serving as Vice President of Racing Operations from 2003 to 2005; and worked previously in various capacities at Timonium Race Track, Keystone Racetrack [now Parx Racing], Atlantic City Race Course, Meadowlands Racetrack, Garden State Park, Hialeah Park and Gulfstream Park.

“We are pleased to welcome Frank Gabriel back to NYRA at this important time in the history of the organization,” said NYRA President and CEO David O'Rourke. “His passion for racing is matched by a deep knowledge of the current dynamics of the sport. Frank is a proven leader with expertise in nearly every aspect of racing who will continue the successes achieved at NYRA in recent years.”

As SVP of Racing Operations, Gabriel will be responsible for leadership and oversight of racing functions at NYRA, including the overall development, planning, and execution of NYRA's premier stakes offerings, marquee events and daily racing programs.

“NYRA is the premier racing circuit in the country, and it is a high honor to accept this position,” said Gabriel. “Our sport continues to evolve and change in meaningful and important ways, and I look forward to joining a team that successfully balances history and traditions while embracing the changes that will benefit the sport for decades to come.”

A native of Pennsylvania, Gabriel has served as a member of the Breeders' Cup Selection Committee. In addition, he has been a member of the Dubai World Cup Committee, Meydan Management team, and Emirates Racing Authority.

In his more than four decades in the Thoroughbred industry, Gabriel has served as well on the Asian Racing Federation Executive Council; as Vice Chairman of the International Grading and Racing Planning Advisory Board; as Chairman of the Asian Pattern Committee; as representative for the Emirates Racing Authority at the International Federation Horse Racing Authority Conference; and as Chairman of the UAE Pattern Committee.

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This Side Up: Seeking the Essence of Travers Quality

In an age that takes such relish in discovering offense where none is intended, I suppose we will eventually have to stop referring to a “Graveyard of Champions”. Never mind that most horsemen would perceive a fairly benign destiny in themselves being laid to rest in Saratoga, with the implicit likelihood of an exit–a Parting Glass, indeed–achieved by some excess of bliss or excitement. For the squeamish tastes of today, the metaphor is doubtless becoming a little too sanguinary.

Be that as it may, there's no denying that Saratoga's long history of the Onions of the breed insolently overturning its Secretariats (as though there could have been more than one of those) looms over a GI Travers S. starkly divided into the camps of Essential Quality (Tapit), on the one hand, and everybody else on the other.

Of course, the only thing about Saratoga truly inimical to a champion is its place in the calendar. So many bandwagons roll into the Spa wobbling and creaking after a long journey toward and then through the Triple Crown series, vulnerable to ambush by a fresh, improving horse like West Coast (Flatter)–who set up his divisional championship by claiming the scalps of all three Classic winners in the 2017 Travers, where they collectively ran about a furlong behind their previous best.

This year, whether because of perceived or actual deficiencies in the modern Thoroughbred, not one trainer dared to run a horse in all three legs of the Triple Crown. Essential Quality himself stood down from the GI Preakness S. after suffering his sole defeat to date at Churchill, before regrouping to win the GI Belmont S.

It was typical of the way the gray has somehow struggled to engage public affection–despite a dependability rare even among elite racehorses–that many reserved their greatest admiration that day for the plucky resistance of Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) after setting those historic fractions. Essential Quality has been able to meet virtually every challenge, from six furlongs to 12, he's a champion juvenile and a Classic winner–yet somehow he is felt to deploy plutocratic resources with a blue-collar modesty. He goes about his work, not with flamboyance, but with a sturdy air of duty and competence.

In the process he invites us to reflect on quite what it is we expect of our champions; what it might be, in fact, that comprises their essential quality.

2020 Travers winner Tiz the Law | Sarah Andrew

As one whose first idols raced over turf in Europe, it took time for me to understand those who vaunted their brilliance with most flair, quickening away on the bridle. Because while it was routinely asked what such horses might do, if actually asked to explore their full reach, in reality they tended to be right at that limit already. Very often those that appeared to “find” no extra, once pressure was finally applied, would be deprecated for a lack of courage–yet they had already committed all they had, precisely because of an innate competitive generosity.

In tending to resist theatricality, in contrast, metronomic achievers like Sea The Stars (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Giant's Causeway (Storm Cat) were assumed to have bottomless reserves.

Part of what made Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) unique was the way he combined their kind of palpable commitment with an extremely extrovert style. What he showed you was astonishing, but nobody ever came away and said: “Imagine what he could do, if he was ever really asked for everything!” He functioned with a prodigious physicality, uninhibited and assertive.

That was one of the reasons I always thought he would have taken to dirt, if only he had been given the opportunity. But you don't get many Frankels on any surface. So when we consider the Travers favorite, let's not ask for the moon. Let's appreciate Essential Quality the way we did, say, Silver Charm (Silver Buck).

I remember once sitting with John Oxx, trainer of Sea The Stars, as he reflected on what set his champion apart from the herd. He suggested that there was nothing more glamorous to it than sheer constitution: a simple capacity to absorb more work than other horses. He just emptied his manger, every time; whatever his schedule, on the track or at home, he never recoiled. Aidan O'Brien always said much the same about Galileo, who was of course out of the same breed-shaping mare–and that “try” is also agreed to be a hallmark of Essential Quality's own record-breaking sire.

So while a lot of people will only finally salute this horse if he can outclass the Travers field in the swashbuckling manner of last year's winner, then don't forget that Tiz the Law (Constitution) never actually won again. If Essential Quality can just keep on keeping on, in the same undemonstrative way he won the GII Jim Dandy, then perhaps people will slowly begin to marvel at the kind of robustness that should be most prized–more than acceleration, more than swagger–in a future stallion.

After all, as we said at the outset, by the time they reach Saratoga a lot of these horses aren't so much running against each other as against their own erosion. It was ever thus. This is the 50th anniversary of the Travers won by Never Bend's half-brother Bold Reason. Whitney Tower began his report by lamenting: “It could have been a dream field: Hoist the Flag, Canonero II, Jim French, Eastern Fleet, Executioner, Unconscious, His Majesty, Dynastic, Impetuosity, Twist the Axe, Bold Reasoning and Salem… [but none] even got to the starting gate. That left the old race to Bold Reason… the only legitimate survivor of the demanding winter and spring classics.”

Some evocative names in that list! But Bold Reason had not only run third, fifth and third in the Triple Crown series. He had also won five times straight since the Belmont! And by showing breeders such exceptional mettle, he was given the chance to sire the dam of Sadler's Wells.

'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good returns Saturday | Sarah Andrew

Anyhow, we'll see how the picture pivots from here. John Nerud always said that championships are made in the fall, not the spring. The world already looks very different from the moment Medina Spirit (Protonico) reached the winning post at Churchill. He resurfaces at Del Mar Sunday–but if it's charisma you want, then there has to be a possibility that his former barnmate Life Is Good (Into Mischief), facing a brutal resumption of his own against the Maclean's Music duo in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S., may yet prove the most significant runner of the whole weekend.

This race was the only one of the five Grade Is supporting the Travers already on the card before 2015. Some of us still aren't convinced by the wisdom of diluting the rest of a meet in favor of showcase days like this one. To a degree, the stated purpose of heightening focus is defeated by blurring into the background a lot of good horses and good races, which end up losing as much attention as the cards from which they have defected.

Be that as it may, there's no denying the dynamic overall impact of Martin Panza at NYRA–most commendably, perhaps, in the inauguration of the Turf Triple. Maybe his successor will prove another author of unmissable deeds, in the style of Life Is Good; or perhaps he or she will be more in the understated mold of Essential Quality. Either way, let's hope for someone equal to the challenges of an industry that has too often, of late–if we can return to the most uncomfortable of analogies–seemed to be pushing at the graveyard gate.

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McPeek Looks To Next Starts For Swiss Skydiver, King Fury

Peter J. Callahan's Swiss Skydiver chased gate-to-wire winner Knicks Go throughout Saturday's Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., ranging up three-wide with a threatening move late in the final turn before fading to fourth in her first start since a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom in April.

Trained by Kenny McPeek, last year's Grade 1 Preakness-winner was initially targeting the Grade 3 Shuvee on July 25 before having to change course when their barn was placed under a precautionary quarantine, related to a positive case of Equine Herpesvirus-1 in their barn, which is shared with trainer Jorge Abreu. The quarantine was lifted on August 1 and all horses cleared without symptoms.

Assistant trainer Francis Chiumiento said he was proud of the performance by the filly, who was being piloted by Irad Ortiz, Jr. for the first time.

“I thought she proved how good she is and Irad was really happy with how she ran,” Chiumiento said. “He felt she had a shot to win at some point. These are all good indicators. She came back well and she's happy and content.

“I brought her in here around June 18 and she was doing everything just great,” he added. “We were going to run in the Shuvee and the Personal Ensign and then the outbreak happened. Thank God we contained it and none of our horses were affected. We did everything right.”

The $600,000 Grade 1 Personal Ensign presented by Lia Infiniti, a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Distaff, is slated for Travers Day August 28.

Three Chimneys Farm and Fern Circles Stables' King Fury, who had initially targeted the Grade 2 Jim Dandy on July 31, finished 10th in Saturday's Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational after a wide trip exiting the outside post in the 11-horse field.

Chiumiento said King Fury should benefit from the experience as he points to the $1.25 million Grade 1 Runhappy Travers.

“He was hung out wide the whole time,” Chiumiento said. “He needed a race, too. Unfortunately, we were using a $1 million race as a prep. He handled the turf well but he was wide the whole time. He needed that race to tighten him up and I think he'll be very strong for the Travers. He came back happy and walked great this morning.”

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Chiumiento said he appreciated the presence of NYRA Safety Steward Juan Dominguez for his assistance in negotiating the quarantine protocols.

“It was a pressure cooker but we did everything right. We made sure all the staff followed the protocols, from wearing gloves to disinfecting every stall. We took it serious and we know Jorge Abreu did as well.” Chiumiento said. “I really want to commend Juan Dominguez. He and I worked together and he did a tremendous job to make sure this didn't spread. He and Martin Panza [Senior Vice President of Racing Operations] were here, as well as Keith [Doleshel, Racing Secretary], almost every day and I have to commend them for that. They didn't have to do that. We made sure it was controlled and that there wasn't a chance for it to spread.

“We were prepared to do really well and it's frustrating because we don't know now how we'd have done,” Chiumiento added regarding their initial targets. “Kenny handled it with tremendous class. He's just a very down-to-earth and classy man. He was cool, calm, and collected.”

On Thursday, Harold Lerner, Magdalena Racing, and Nehoc Stables' Grade 1-winner Simply Ravishing returns in the nine-furlong $120,000 Saratoga Dew for New York-bred fillies 3-years-old and up.

A $50,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, the 4-year-old Laoban bay won 3-of-5 starts in her sophomore season, including a maiden win on the turf last August on debut and a 6 1/2-length score in the off-the-turf P.G. Johnson in September.

Simply Ravishing made the grade with a 6 1/4-length score in the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades in October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., before finishing fourth in both the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland and the Grade 2 Golden Rod at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., in November.

She launched her current campaign in April with an off-the-board effort in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland.

Simply Ravishing has breezed extensively on the Oklahoma training track dating back to June 26 when she fired a bullet three-eighths in :35.86 and followed a week later with a bullet half-mile in :48.08.

“She's doing good. She's a cool filly and does everything right,” Chiumiento said. “She trains like a gorilla. She puts up bullets. I think she'll be right there.”

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