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Two Sixty Gives Casse-Barber Team Third Straight Selene Triumph

Two Sixty dashed to the lead out of the gates and never looked back in the $125,000 Selene Stakes (Grade 3) on Saturday at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

The victory marks the third straight in the Selene for the trainer-owner combination of Mark Casse and Gary Barber, and second in a row for jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson, who also won last year's edition in rein to Power Gal. For Casse, it was his record-tying (Yonnie Starr) sixth Selene score.

One of three Casse trainees in the field of seven, Two Sixty set out on a front-end mission in the 1 1/16-mile main track stakes event for 3-year-old fillies, posting splits of :24.12, :48.81 and 1:13.36 en route to the three-quarter-length triumph. The final time was 1:45.01.

Saratoga Vision, the longest shot on the board at 84-1, slipped between horses and found a seam towards the rail to close for second-place honors just ahead of the favored Queen's Plate eligibles Owlette and Merveilleux.

“It was clear on paper that Owlette was going to be pace, but they took the blinkers off. So right off the hop, I wanted to get away and set myself at the front with conviction and that's what happened,” said Wilson. “As we eased into the backstretch, I took a little bit of a hold of her. I glanced between my legs and saw that I had a length or so of daylight that I could ease back and have her take a breather. She pricked her ears as we came around the three-quarter pole top of the backstretch and it was great. And then I just waited to hear them… waited to hear them… waited to hear them… waited to hear them… She dug hard, she ran fast and she held them off.”

Two Sixty returned $21.20 to win for the 9-1 upset.

“It's Mark Casse, Gary Barber, you can't go wrong,” said Wilson of picking up the winning mount. “Mark is a fantastic trainer and he puts these horses in races and they can win. I followed instructions. We went with the flow of that. She ran a bang of a race at Gulfstream before she went in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile [ninth]. She went to the lead, set some solid fractions and held them off in hand. She had to work a little harder today, but that's kind of the way it panned out for us.”

Bred in Florida by Shade Tree Thoroughbreds Inc., the Uncaptured–Jim's Lonesa filly entered the Selene off a fourth-place finish in the six-furlong Star Shoot Stakes during her Woodbine debut on June 13. The win was her second in five starts this year, having also captured the Gasparilla Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in January. Two Sixty now boasts a record of 4-1-1 from 11 starts lifetime and is closing in on the $500,000 mark in career earnings.

Casse stablemates Diamond Sparkles and American Tap finished fifth and seventh, respectively, with Livin in the Six sixth.

Live Thoroughbred racing continues, without spectators, on Sunday at Woodbine Racetrack featuring the Grade 3 Seagram Cup. Post time for the first race is 1 p.m.

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Jon Kelly Dies; Longtime Horse Owner, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Board Member

Jon S. Kelly, a native Californian who conquered many business worlds and found a passionate love in horse racing, died Saturday morning at his farm known as Tres Palomas in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., from the effects of a cancer he'd fought for several years. He had turned 84 on Friday.

Kelly had been in hospice care and had family members on hand, including his wife Sarah, when he passed.

Kelly was born in Berkeley, was schooled in the east and at UC Berkeley and showed an affinity for business early on in his professional career. He went into the broadcasting business, established the Kelly Broadcasting Company and wound up owning and operating TV stations in Sacramento and Seattle. Additionally, he founded and ran the Summit Broadcasting Radio Company.

He was also a banker who founded the River City Bank in Sacramento. Further, he was a highly successful real estate executive with multiple projects in Northern California.

Besides his family, his great love in life was Thoroughbred racing and he'd been a horse owner since the early 1960s. Over the years he'd raced hundreds of horses around the world in England, Ireland, Australia and the United States. His best horse was Borrego, now a stallion in South America and the winner of the 2005 edition of Del Mar's $1-million Pacific Classic.

Kelly had been a member of the board of directors of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club since 2008. He was also a member of The Jockey Club. His trainers included Bob Baffert and Richard Mandella in the U.S., Gai Waterhouse in Australia and Jessie Harrington in Ireland. In 2018, he headed a syndicate that purchased a yearling colt at the famed Magic Millions Sale in Australia for a near-record $2 million.

He was on multiple business boards of directors and guided and funded many other charity-oriented groups. He was an official with Big Brothers of America and the Boy Scouts of America.

“He was quite a guy,” said Dr. Greg Ferraro, chairman of the California Horse Racing Board and a longtime Kelly friend. “He could make anyone laugh. He always lifted your spirits.”

Ferraro told of business associates Kelly had worked with 30 and 40 years ago writing him letters recently sending thanks for his council and guidance and how it had shaped their careers and lives. He spoke personally of Kelly sending him to a Louisville hospital for a life-saving operation, then make a huge donation to the hospital in Ferraro's name.

“He didn't make it in his name, which he should have,” said Ferraro, “but that was John. He did so many good things for so many people and he never bragged or looked for credit. He just was a good person who did good things. He was special.”

He is survived by his wife and six children, as well as many grandchildren.

Those wishing to make a donation in his name are encouraged to do so at two of his favorite projects – the Center for Equine Health at the UC Davis School for Veterinary Medicine or the Gregson Foundation, which services backstretch workers and their families.

At his request, there will be no services.

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Prat Rides Four Winners, Sweeps Both Stakes As Del Mar Resumes Racing

Three-time Del Mar riding champ Flavien Prat overcame a battle with COVID-19 and returned to riding at Del Mar in Del Mar, Calif., on Friday. He underscored his return to good health, good horses and good luck with a four-win afternoon including a sweep of the two stakes races on the program, the track's first since Sunday, July 12.

The 27-year-old Frenchman gave flawless rides to his quartet of winners, which included a 2 1/4-length tally on Red Baron's Barn or Rancho Temescal's Big Sweep in the $125,000 Fleet Treat Stakes and a late-running neck score aboard Andrew Farm and O'Connor's Jo Jo Air in the Daisycutter Handicap.

Prat, who had ridden at Del Mar only on Opening Day, July 10, previously, was the track's leading jock last summer and projected himself back into the fray for this go round. He now has five winners to rank second on the riders' roster to Del Mar newcomer Umberto Rispoli and his eight firsts.

Big Sweep ran the seven furlongs of the Fleet Treat in 1:24.44 and paid $4.60 and $3.00 in a four-horse field that did not allow for show betting.

Jo Jo Air covered five furlongs on grass in :56.29 and paid $9.20, $4.80 and $3.60 across the board.

Finishing second in the Fleet Treat for California-breds was KMN Racing's Been Studying Her and third was Brown, Klein or Lebherz's Smiling Shirlee.

The runner-up in the $65,000 Daisycutter was LNJ Foxwoods' Lighthouse, while Fairview's Tomlin pulled in third.

Del Mar will continue its four-day weekend Saturday with an 11-race card starting at 2 p.m. A trio of stakes will be offered on the afternoon, including the $150,000 San Diego Handicap featuring the return to racing of champion Maximum Security.

FLAVIEN PRAT (Jo Jo Air, winner) — “It all fell into place. I watched videos of her races. She broke well and relaxed. We were right in behind the favorite (Stealthediamonds) and I felt good. Then she gave me her big kick. A good race for her.”

BLAKE HEAP (assistant to Wesley Ward, Jo Jo Air, winner) – “She shipped in from Kentucky before this was scheduled for last week (Saturday, July 18). So when it got cancelled, we've had her here for two weeks now. The extra week gave her time to acclimate and get a work over the (turf) course (July 19, 4f, :48.80) so it worked out really well. We knew the three (Stealthediamonds) was going to go fast early so I just told (Flavien Prat) to see how she breaks and save some running for the last. She's going back to Kentucky on Monday and Wesley will decide where she goes from there.”

FRACTIONS: :22.24 :44.83 :56.29

The stakes win was the second of the meet for rider Prat and his first in the Daisycutter. He now has 46 stakes wins at Del Mar. It was also his fourth victory on the day's card.

The stakes win was the first of the meet for trainer Ward, but his second in the Daisycutter (2015, Shrinking Violet). He now has nine stakes wins at Del Mar.

The winning owner is Richard Brodie (Andrew Farm) of Warren, MI and Mrs. Charlie O'Connor.

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Discover Florida: State Partnership With University Of Florida Benefits All

The following sponsored article is from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Nicole “Nikki” Fried, Commissioner.

As COVID-19 upends the Florida economy, hurting agricultural businesses across the state, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services continues to strengthen its strong partnership with the University of Florida and its Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).

“This unprecedented pandemic has taken its toll on Florida's agricultural community, including farmers, ranchers, breeders and aquaculturists. As a result, we need detailed, accurate information to effectively impact our recovery efforts,” said Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. “The University of Florida's IFAS study on the pandemic's impact has helped our local, state and federal government to take action.”

Within days of the COVID-19 pandemic, a collaborative effort was quickly established between the agencies to inform the equine and farm communities across Florida on a number of essential issues including: care of horses and other livestock during a pandemic, owner preparedness, access to feed and farm supplies, sanitation practices, emergency veterinary services and biosecurity.

Working in partnership with University of Florida assistant professors Drs. Carissa Wickens, PhD and Sally DeNotta, DVM, the Florida Department of Agriculture together with its animal industry division were able to share important information with Florida horse owners and farmers across the state.

The COVID-19 pandemic study represents just one of the ways in which UF/IFAS and FDACS have continued to work together to share vital scientific information and knowledge to assist Florida's agriculture and equine industries.

As another example, the agencies have fostered close collaborations through the Livestock Education and Certification for Agricultural Law Enforcement (LECALE) program. The program was developed in partnership with the Florida Farm Bureau and Florida sheriffs.

“The main objective of the program is to provide law enforcement and state attorney personnel with rigorous and relevant training curriculum to better understand livestock production, animal well-being practices, and to acquire knowledge during litigation proceedings,” said Dr. Carissa Wickens, Assistant Professor and State Extension Horse Specialist with the University of Florida.

“Participation offers law enforcement personnel a great opportunity to increase their knowledge and skills regarding livestock animal production and handling, with an emphasis on cattle and equine behavior, health, and welfare assessment.”

Additional joint programs also focus on best management practices related to manure and pasture management for equine operations leading to positive benefits for the environment and horse health. These include important variables applicable to Thoroughbred owners, breeders and facilities.

UF/IFAS researchers have also helped Florida farmers identify areas where the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services can assist horse owners and managers in improving the management of both their animals and facilities.

UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp Pilot Project

The second year of the UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp Pilot Project has also kicked off and continues to move forward. The project's official website contains in-depth coverage regarding the goals of the project, how to stay up to date on the latest information, and opportunities to help support continuous research. In addition, a statewide hemp communications team comprised of local and regional UF/IFAS county extension agents, faculty and researchers has been established to provide information, guidance and presentation materials.

The Florida Department of Agriculture has also launched the state's online Hemp Cultivation Licensing Portal, allowing interested growers to apply for a license to grow the crop for the first time. The FDACS hemp website contains information on rules and regulations, established guidelines and more.

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