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After Rescheduling, Dr Blarney Takes Fourth Consecutive Massachusetts-Bred Rise Jim Stakes

It was an easy win for Dr Blarney, who was once again first across the finish line in the annual Rise Jim Stakes, hosted for the first time at Fort Erie Race Track. It's been just over a year since the 7-year-old chestnut gelding last raced, but that didn't stop him from taking his fourth consecutive Rise Jim Stakes. The race is a guaranteed $35,000 purse for thoroughbreds foaled in Massachusetts and registered with the Massachusetts Thoroughbred Breeders Association (MTBA).

Trained by Karl M Grusmark for owner Joseph DiRico, Dr Blarney came out in front quickly and effortlessly, taking jockey Emile Ramsammy six furlongs on the dirt in 1:10.4. Returning $2.30 to his backers, this son of Dublin now has his 21st win from 29 career starts.

Second in the Rise Jim Stakes was Saint Alfred with jockey Christopher Husbands. Third was Successful Saint and Daisuke Fukumoto.

The MTBA set up a partnership with Fort Erie Race Track in the fall, to host a number of Mass-bred races this season. Originally scheduled for July 20, the Rise Jim Stakes had to be postponed when a series of delays prevented the van carrying all six horses from arriving at Fort Erie Race Track in time for racing.

“Our partnership with the MTBA is beneficial for all parties, and we look forward to hosting more Mass-bred races at Fort Erie this season,” said Tom Valiquette, chief operating and financial officer of the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium.

Spectator- free racing returns at Fort Erie on Tuesday, July 28 at 1:10 p.m. Watch online at http://forterieracing.com/streaming-and-replays

The post After Rescheduling, Dr Blarney Takes Fourth Consecutive Massachusetts-Bred Rise Jim Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Massachusetts-Bred Stakes At Fort Erie Postponed When Entrants Unable To Cross U.S.-Canadian Border

Six horses were entered for Tuesday's $35,000 Rise Jim Stakes at Fort Erie Race Track, the first Massachusetts-bred stakes to be held at the Ontario track. Unfortunately, the race had to be postponed until the week of July 27 because the horses were unable to cross the U.S. border in time, according to horseracingnation.com.

Local jockeys were taking the mounts aboard the Rise Jim entrants, and local trainers and grooms were to be responsible for the horses. All six horses were on one trailer, and only the van driver and horses were crossing the border. Fort Erie's manager of marketing and media relations, Antoinetta Culic, called the issue “a domino effect of things.”

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Rise Jim Stakes for Massachusetts-bred thoroughbreds will be postponed until the week of July 27. The 6th race on today's card at Fort Erie has been cancelled. Race 7 will run at its scheduled post time, approximately 3:58 p.m.

— Fort Erie Race Track (@Forterieracing) July 21, 2020

The Massachusetts Thoroughbred Breeders Association reached out to Fort Erie last fall to build a partnership that would allow Fort Erie to host a selection of Massachusetts-bred thoroughbred races throughout the year, after Suffolk Downs race track in Boston shut down at the end of last season.

Fort Erie Hosting Its First Massachusetts-Bred Stakes Race On Tuesday

On Tues, July 21, Fort Erie Race Track will be hosting a Massachusetts-bred Stakes race for the first time. The Rise Jim Stakes will have six contenders for a $35,000 guaranteed purse. The race is for four-year-olds and upwards, foaled in Massachusetts and registered with the Massachusetts Thoroughbred Breeders Association (MTBA).

Dr Blarney, trained by Karl M Grusmark for owner Joseph DiRico is the heavy favorite, with 20 career wins in 28 starts, and $628,000 in career earnings. Jockey Emile Ramsammy will be in the irons, taking over the reigns for Dr Blarney's veteran jockey, Tammi Piermarini. The seven-year-old chestnut gelding by Dublin out of Dr. Capote is the reigning champ of the Rise Jim Stakes, taking the crown in the last three runnings of the race.

The MTBA reached out to Fort Erie in the fall to build a partnership that would allow Fort Erie to host a selection of Massachusetts-bred thoroughbred races throughout the year, after Suffolk Downs race track in Boston shut down at the end of last season.

Due to COVID-19, it has been more challenging to host the races than was anticipated, however arrangements have been made that will allow us to do so safely. All six horses will be shipped across the border in one van. Fort Erie's regular jockeys have been called to ride the stakes race, and local grooms and trainers will be responsible for the horses while they are at Fort Erie. Only the van driver will be coming across with the horses, and will be required to quarantine while in Canada.

“We were happy to establish this partnership with the Massachusetts Thoroughbred Breeders Association to help support Mass-bred racing. We need to do what we can to support thoroughbred racing across North America,” said Tom Valiquette, chief operating and financial officer of the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium. “With purse money and no where to race, and a track with racing capacity in need of horses, this partnership works well for all parties.”

Racing begins at 1:10 p.m. on Tuesday and continues to be spectator-free. Wagering is available in Ontario through HPI Bet, or fans can watch online at http://forterieracing.com/streaming-and-replays.

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