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Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Make Moves To Address Slaughter Pipeline Issues

Continuing to demonstrate its commitment to the health and welfare of thoroughbreds, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association (PHBA) today announced its endorsement of the John Stringer Rainey Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act.

The SAFE Act, named for the late South Carolina philanthropist and former director of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, is legislation that would permanently end the slaughter of American horses for human consumption in the United States and abroad.

It also amends Title 18 of the U. S. Code by making it illegal to “possess, ship, transport, purchase, sell, deliver, or receive … any horse with the intent that it is to be slaughtered for human consumption,” with penalties that include fines and imprisonment.

Introduced in 2019 by Sens. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, the SAFE Act has also garnered the endorsement of several prominent animal welfare groups. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the Humane Society of the United States are among those supporting its passage.

Other prominent groups that have endorsed the SAFE Act include the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, the United States Trotting Association, and the Maryland Horse Council.

“Our bipartisan legislation will help put an end to the cruel and inhumane slaughter of horses while protecting families from toxic horse meat and safeguarding the reputation of the U.S. food industry worldwide,” said Sen. Menendez when the bill was introduced.

In addition to its commitment to the health and safety of Thoroughbreds, aftercare is also a top priority of the PHBA, according to president Greg Newell.

“We are doing everything we can to help place horses who reach the end of their first or second career, whether they have finished racing or breeding,” said Newell. “Our Anti-Slaughter Committee, chaired by Kate Goldenberg, has done a wonderful job addressing what can be done to help our equine athletes.”

PHBA Board member Hank Nothhaft, also a member of the Anti-Slaughter Committee, said that endorsement of the SAFE Act was something the organization wanted to do to be a positive force towards improving the industry. The fact that many unwanted thoroughbred broodmares are found in slaughter pens proved to be a call to action.

“There was unanimous support from the PHBA Board to mitigate the slaughter of broodmares,” said Nothhaft. “Older broodmares, especially, are not attractive candidates for equestrian activities, and thus they are not as easy to rehome as younger horses. This has really pushed us from sitting on the bench towards getting into the fray.”

“The Anti-Slaughter Committee was formed in order to protect our broodmares, stallions, and Pennsylvania-bred racehorses that end up in the slaughter pipeline, or in bad situations,” explained Jennifer Poorman of the PHBA. “What is coming from it is so much more.”

Poorman said that the Committee has a goal to create a broodmare retirement program to address the need of unwanted mares.

“Our hope is to form a non-profit within our organization, to assist our breeders when the time comes when their broodmare can no longer breed,” said Poorman. “We'll be looking to build a network of partner farms willing to assist with retirement from breeding, whether it's a second career or permanent retirement due to physical limitations.

“We're also creating a campaign to educate our breeders about responsible aftercare, along with providing a network of resources for our breeders to turn to at any point they find themselves in need of assistance,” she said.

“No one has been looking out for the broodmares,” said Nothhaft. “There's lots of enthusiasm for this project moving forward.”

Nothhaft said one reason why the SAFE Act hasn't gained traction towards passage since 2019 in Congress is because large agricultural interests fear that anti-slaughter legislation would bring undue attention to their industries, which involve large-scale slaughter of animals for food.

“The SAFE Act is one of three items we are working on,” said Brian Sanfratello, executive secretary of the PHBA. “The others are Pennsylvania-specific anti-slaughter legislation, similar to the SAFE Act, that would make it a misdemeanor for anyone who causes or transports a horse into the slaughter pipeline, as well as a PHBA code of ethics, with sanctions for anyone who is a member or registers horses with our organization and is found to be in violation of the Pennsylvania anti-slaughter measures.”

The PHBA's relationship with legislators in Harrisburg could have a positive impact towards the introduction and passage of a Pennsylvania anti-slaughter bill, said Nothhaft.

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Baltas Continues Santa Ana Dominance With Going To Vegas

A change in tactics and an eye-catching turn of foot resulted in a career-best performance from the Richard Baltas-trained Going to Vegas in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Santa Ana Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., as the 4-year-old daughter of Goldencents motored to an impressive 3 ¾-length win. Ridden for the first time by Umberto Rispoli, Going to Vegas, who was claimed eight starts back for $50,000, got a mile and one quarter on turf in 2:00.80.

Second, about a half length off of heavily favored Mucho Unusual as the field made the dirt crossing shortly after its hillside turf start, Going to Vegas took the pole position about a mile from home with French-bred Neige Blanche and Mucho Unusual in close attendance to the far turn.

With a one length advantage over Neige Blanche at the quarter pole, Going to Vegas spurted clear three sixteenths of a mile out to win as much the best.

“She ran her race today,” said Baltas, who has now won the last four runnings of the Santa Ana. “Today was the first time she showed us that kind of acceleration. The turn of foot was impressive.”

Although she had broken her maiden and won an allowance route while on or near the lead prior to being claimed on June 12, 2020, Going to Vegas had never exhibited the kind of front-running dominance she did in the Santa Ana.

“Just working on her, getting her to relax and obviously we took the blinkers off of her (four starts back),” explained Baltas. “With this distance, it's probably better for her to stay or even a little further. (A) mile and three eighths, mile and a half, because she has tactical speed and she made the lead pretty easy today…I was pleasantly surprised that she had that turn of foot at the end.”

Fourth going one mile on turf in the G2 Buena Vista Stakes Feb. 20, Going to Vegas was second two starts back in the G1 American Oaks at a mile and one quarter on turf. With the Santa Ana her second attempt at the distance, Going to Vegas was the second choice among a field of six older fillies and mares and paid $8.60, $2.80 and $2.40.

“Since last night when I watched all the races of the filly, I (thought) she probably would be the pace,” said Rispoli. “This morning I said to myself, 'The only way to beat Mucho Unusual is to go get the lead.' The race came the way I want, I took the lead before the first turn and from there, she just kept improving acceleration and she really gave me a serious turn of foot at the top of the stretch.”

Owned by Abbondanza Racing, LLC, Medallion Racing and MyRacehorse, Going to Vegas, who is out of the Johannesburg mare Hard to Resist, notched her first ever stakes win and improved her overall mark to 18-4-8-2. With the winner's share of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $283,751.

Mucho Unusual, attentive to the pace while saving ground throughout, was full of run at the top of the lane but was clearly second best on the day, finishing one length in front of a late running Red Lark.

Off at 2-5 with Flavien Prat, Mucho Unusual paid $2.10 and $2.10.

Irish-bred Red Lark rallied from last under Ricky Gonzalez and paid $2.20 to show while finishing 1 ¼ lengths in front of Neige Blanche.

Fractions on the race were 24.64, 49.17, 1:14.02 and 1:38.14.

Racing resumes on Sunday with first post time for a nine-race card at 1 p.m.

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Like The King Rallies For Jeff Ruby Win At Turfway, Earning 100 Kentucky Derby Points

M Racing Group's Like the King surged in deep stretch under jockey Drayden Van Dyke to win Saturday's 50^th running of the $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade 3) at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

Trained by Wesley Ward, Like the King received 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby for his victory in the 1 1/8-mile race over the synthetic Tapeta surface.

Like the King (by Palace Malice) was relegated to seventh in the early stages of the race as Moonlite Strike opened up a two-length advantage on the field into the first turn through opening quarter-mile fractions of :22.93 and :46.81. On the backstretch, Moonlite Strike continued to lead but received pace pressure from Gretzky the Great through a six-furlong time of 1:11.65. Meanwhile, Like the King began his rally to the front. By the quarter-mile pole, the colt made his charge to the lead and took clear advantage in the last 1/16^th of a mile to win by one length.

“I got together with my agent (Gary Stevens) and Wesley and we decided to change up the tactics a bit today,” Van Dyke said. “We went back and watched some replays of this horse and thought he doesn't really like to be up in the race. It ended up working out well for us. With moving my tack to Kentucky, this is a huge confidence booster going into the Keeneland meet.”

“We spaced out some of his races and I think it's helped because he's a big, rangy colt,” Ward said. “He's always showed an affinity for grass and that's why we kept him on the Tapeta surface this winter with this race in mind. I'm glad this came through and worked out with Gary (Stevens). Now that he became an agent for Drayden, it's special to partner to win this race. Growing up I always idolized Gary and it was a good combination to get us to this win today. We were in the Derby once before but had post 20 and Mr. Tabor wanted to scratch. Now that we're here again it's very exciting.”

The top four finishers received points on a 100-40-20-10 scale for the May 1, $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI). Like the King was the 7-1 fourth-choice in the betting and paid $16, $7.60 and $5.60. Sainthood with Gerardo Corrales, paid $9.40 and $6.60.Hockey Dad with Rafael Bejarano in the irons, returned $6.20.

Hard Rye Guy, Gretzky the Great, Moonlite Strike, Dyn O Mite, Awesome Gerry, King's Ovation, Smiley Sobotka and Tarantino completed the running order.

Like the King earned $145,700 for his victory in the Jeff Ruby Steaks. This was his second win in five lifetime starts and sports earnings of $195,420. He was bred in Kentucky by Horseshoe Racing.

Tarantino, the 5-2 post time favorite, broke awkwardly from the starting gate and was not in contention throughout the running of the race.

“He broke so slow from the gate that it was over going into the first turn,” jockey Florent Geroux said. “I just took care of him after that.”

Hush of a Storm, the $100,000 Battaglia Memorial winner, was scratched from the Jeff Ruby Steaks in favor of next Saturday's $800,000 Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland, according to trainer Bill Morey.

There was a jockey's objection in the stretch of the Jeff Ruby Steaks lodged by runner-up finisher Sainthood against winner Like the King. Following a stewards' review, the objection was dismissed.

One race prior to the Jeff Ruby Steaks, Godolphin's Adventuring earned 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks Championship Series with a two-length win in the $150,000 Bourbonette Oaks.

Ridden by Geroux and trained by Brad Cox, Adventuring covered one-mile in 1:37.31.

“She showed a lot of class today getting black-type,” Geroux said. “She seems to be moving in the right direction with this level of competition. She's won on the dirt at Fair Grounds and now on the Tapeta. I think she could run well on the turf, probably, too.”

Adventuring was the 5-2 favorite and returned $7.20, $5 and $3.60. Spritz, with Corrales in the saddle, held second and paid $24.60 and $11.60. Candace O and Bejarano finished third and paid $5.60.

The top four finishers in the Bourbonette Oaks received 50-20-10-5 points toward the April 30, $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI). Oliviaofthedesert, Wait for Nairobi, Forever Boss, Roll Up Mo Money, Into Vanishing, Speeding and California Lily completed the order of finish.

Earlier in the card, Williamson Racing's Visitant held of the late charge of favored Set Piece to win the $150,000 TwinSpires.com Kentucky Cup Classic (Listed)

Trained by Morey and ridden to victory by Deshawn Parker, Villanelle covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.12.

“He loves this track. He can run well at any distance, too,” Morey said. He won at 5 ½ furlongs way back when he broke his maiden at Golden Gate Fields. We moved to Kentucky almost two years ago and it's the hot spot for racing, sales, everything. Kentucky is really the epicenter for everything. Turfway has a great surface to race on with big, competitive fields.”

In the $100,000 Rushaway (Listed), Godolphin's Cave Hill tracked the early lead of Extrasexybigdaddee to win by two lengths.

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Cave Hill covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.52 with jockey Declan Cannon in the irons.

“He got in a really good rhythm going onto the backside,” Cannon said. “Going into the far turn he took a big breather and I knew he still had a lot of energy left in him.

Cave Hill paid $8.60, $5.20 and $3.20. Extrasexybigdaddee with Corrales returned $10.20 and $4.40. Editor in Chief rounded out the top three finishers and paid $4.60 with Brian Hernandez Jr. up.

In the $100,000 Latonia Stakes, Full of Run Racing's Dreamalildreamofu split horses in the late stages of the one-mile event to win by three-quarters of a length.

Ridden by Geroux and trained by Cox, Dreamalildreamofu covered one-mile in 1:36.95.

Dreamalildreamofu was bet down to the 2-1 favorite and returned $6.40, $4.40 and $3.80. Color Me Pretty and Bejarano paid $16.80 and $9.80. Rogue Too, with Rogelio Miranda in the saddle, returned $6.60.

“Flo gave her great ride,” owner Dann Glick said. “She really stepped up today. She's improved a lot as a 4-year-old and as you can tell in the paddock and on the track she has her quirks to her.”

In the $65,000 Animal Kingdom, Breeze Easy's Outadore rallied late in the stretch under Corrales to win the 6 ½-furlong race.

Trained by Ward, Outadore returned $3.80, $2.60 and $2.40. Gagetown got through late to finish second under Geroux and paid $2.80 and $2.60. Nicky Two Shoes finished third under Brian Hernandez Jr. and paid $4.80.

“I think he'll be better sprinting,” Ward said. He still had a tough time getting through that traffic. It's a beautiful day and maybe the track is a little sticky. He's goal has now turned to sprinting.”

Saturday was Turfway Park's closing day of their meet. Action in Kentucky switches to Keeneland on Friday, April 2.

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Churn N Burn Wins Stakes Debut, Wiring Pan American Field On Turf

Lothenbach Stables, Inc.'s Churn N Burn, making his just his 10th career start and first in a stakes, was left alone on the lead and had plenty left to turn back all challengers and win Saturday's $200,000 Pan American (G2) presented by Rood & Riddle at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., by 2 ½ lengths.

The 60th running of the 1 ½-mile Pan American for 4-year-olds and up on turf was the sixth of 10 stakes, six graded, worth $1.85 million on a blockbuster 14-race program anchored by the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa, one of the country's premier Triple Crown preps.

Churn N Burn, a gelded 4-year-old son of multiple Grade 1 dirt winner Liam's Map, gave jockey Julien Leparoux his third career Pan American win, following Sadler's Joy (2017) and Newsdad (2012). Trainer Ian Wilkes previously won the race with Bearpath in 2010.

The winning time was 2:23.63 over a firm course.

Leparoux was able to maneuver Churn N Burn to the lead from outermost Post 8 and settle into comfortable fractions of :24.07, :48.25 and 1:12.55, with 90-1 long shot Angelus Warrior and 8-5 favorite Cross Border in closest pursuit, the latter saving ground inside. Sadler's Joy and jockey Jose Ortiz began to roll on the far outside around the turn to get into a contending position, but Churn N Burn dug in through the lane once set down to earn his second straight win over the Gulfstream turf. Last out, he captured a one-mile optional claimer by 3 ¾ lengths Feb. 11.

Dueling Grounds Derby winner Moon Over Miami, exiting a third in the Mac Diarmida (G2) Feb. 27 at Gulfstream, got up to be second over Cross Border, most recently third in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) Jan. 23. Grade 1-winning multi-millionaire Sadler's Joy was fourth, with 30-1 long shot Sir Sahib fifth.

Churn N Burn, purchased as a yearling for $255,000 at Saratoga in 2018, has a record of 3-2-2 from 10 lifetime starts. The winner's share of $120,280 nearly doubled his career bankroll to $250,450.

$200,000 Pan American (G2) Presented by Rood & Riddle Quotes

Winning trainer Ian Wilkes (Churn N Burn): “He's got a high cruising speed, and especially on this track, he can carry it a little and run a little quicker and keep on going.”

“I was actually glad no one went with him. He was on his own, so that was good. I was very happy.”

“I'll see how he comes out. We may look at a race at Keeneland; if not, we'll look at something else. First thing, we'll check that he's OK. Enjoy today and then we'll have a look at it.”

“It's good, and it's great for [owner] Bob Lothenbach, too. He puts a lot of money into the game and it's well-deserved.”

Winning jockey Julien Leparoux (Churn N Burn): “That was a nice win. We tried to be on the lead and get him to relax, so we were happy with that. The main thing with him is to start get going before they get to you, so I asked him around the three-eighths pole and he finished up very strong.”

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