NL List | Horse Racing Free Tips

Zayat Legal Woes Continue As Creditors Force Involuntary Bankruptcy

2015 Triple Crown-winning owner Ahmed Zayat was hit with yet another legal proceeding this week, as the Thoroughbred Daily News reports a small number of Zayat creditors have initiated involuntary bankruptcy proceedings against him.

Involuntary bankruptcy actions are relatively uncommon, according to the TDN's T.D. Thornton, and are primarily designed to protect creditors who fear a debtor's assets will dwindle before they can be repaid. Thornton explains the gamble with involuntary bankruptcy filings is the filers can be required to pay the defendant's legal fees if a judge dismisses the petition.

Zayat filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy last week, listing tens of millions of dollars in debts. A judge awarded MGG Investments a $24.5 million in summary judgment against his Zayat Stables earlier this year as part of a civil suit over a loan that went partially unpaid. Zayat has countersued and the case is ongong.

The petitioners in the involuntary bankruptcy petition include former Zayat financial advisor Steven Keefer (who Chapter 7 documents say is owed $275,000), U.S. Elite, where Keefer is CEO ($188,500), and and Joseph Bodner ($150,000).

Jockeys Arienne Cox, Kris Fox Recovering From Serious Injuries Sustained In Presque Isle Downs Accident

Jockeys Arienne Cox and Kris Fox are recovering from serious injuries sustained in a Sept. 8 racing accident at Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pa.

Both riders were taken to UPMC Hamot Hospital in Erie following the eighth race incident in which witnesses said Fox's mount, Boardwalk Bob, clipped heels and fell midway around the first turn of the one-mile, 70-yard claiming race on the Tapeta main track surface. As Boardwalk Bob scrambled to his feet, Cox's mount, Growl, who was trailing the field, collided with Boardwalk Bob. Video of the race is not available

Other riders were alerted to pull their horses up before the finish and the race was declared “no contest.”

Cox sustained multiple fractures at the base of her skull, fractured three vertebrae in her neck, and has been on a ventilator in the intensive care unit since being hospitalized.

Fox fractured a collarbone and ribs, suffered a collapsed lung and sustained transverse process fractures in his back.

Fox's wife, Michelle, said on Tuesday via text message: “Kris is in very good spirits despite discomfort and pain” and was expected to be discharged from the hospital Tuesday evening. “Kris says, 'Live to ride, ride to live. Cowboy up,'” she added.

Cox has a longer road to recovery, according to owner-trainer Wayne Rice, who described Cox as “my life partner and my best friend, and I can tell you, this is the first time in 25 years I've gone seven days and I haven't had a chance to talk to her.”

Rice gave Cox a leg up on Growl, a horse he owns and trains, before the Sept. 8 race. Rice said Growl and Boardwalk Bob walked off and suffered no apparent injuries.

“We've had a successful day or two,” Rice said Tuesday afternoon. “The fractured vertebrae in her neck have been fused, and it did not bother the spinal cord.

“They haven't been able to re-Xray her because she is still on a ventilator,” he said. “But she's working toward breathing on her own, and maybe will be off the ventilator tomorrow, which would be fabulous.

“We had what appeared to be a paralyzed right arm and leg the first five days,” Rice said. “As the medication has been lightened up, we can tell she has cognitive function in the brain. We also found she has complete sensation to touch all over her body, including both the right arm and right leg. And there's now movement in the two limbs. She can blink her eyes when I rub those areas and ask if she can feel it. So we've had pretty good signs the last couple of days.”

In the meantime, Rice said, he's had a “fire sale” of the horses in his barn at Presque Isle Downs as he looks forward to taking Cox back to their home in Florida to recuperate.

“I've sold 10 head already and have some 2-year-olds on the market that I really like that haven't started yet,” Rice said.

He added the outpouring of support from friends around the country has been gratifying.

“We live a good life, and I just want her back to where she can walk around,” Rice said. “I can fix her, I know. Salt water and sunshine is what puts a smile on her face.”

Fox began riding in 2008 and has 194 career wins from 2,735 mounts. Cox, a veteran exercise rider in Ocala who acquired her jockeys' license in Florida in 2006 after a brief stint as a trainer, has 176 wins from 2,216 mounts.

Jockey Kris Fox at Jack Thistledown in Ohio during a jockey autograph session

The post Jockeys Arienne Cox, Kris Fox Recovering From Serious Injuries Sustained In Presque Isle Downs Accident appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Glass Slippers, Shale Gain Breeders’ Cup Berths With Victories At The Curragh

Bearstone Stud Limited's 4-year-old filly Glass Slippers (GB) stormed to success to bring home a British 1-2 in the five-furlong Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes (G1) at the Curragh in Ireland with Keep Busy (IRE) back in second, for trainer John Quinn.

That victory earned Glass Slippers an automatic berth into the $1-million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1).

In the second “Win and You're In” race on the day, Shale (IRE) reversed the form with Pretty Gorgeous (FR) to win the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) and gain an automatic entry for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) through the international Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is a series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into corresponding races of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, on Nov. 6-7.

Glass Slippers, a bay daughter of Dream Ahead out of the Mind Games (GB) mare Night Gypsy (GB), had found Battaash (IRE) too hot to handle in her two starts so far this season in the King's Stand Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot and the King George Qatar Stakes (G2), but returned to the form that saw her win the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (G1) in her final start of 2019. Glass Slippers sat just off the early pace before picking up the lead inside the final furlong, and prevailed by a half-length over 18-1 Keep Busy.

Glass Slippers' trainer Kevin Ryan said: “She's so tough and genuine, but she has a lot of class.

“She loves it when they go really quick, but the ground was tacky today so she's done well to cope with that. I'm absolutely delighted. It was Terry Holdcroft's (owner of Bearstone Stud) decision to miss the Nunthorpe and give her a bit more time and he's obviously been vindicated. She's an amazing filly, so simple to train and makes my job very easy. She'll go back for the Abbaye now.”

Glass Slippers (9-2) completed the five furlongs in 1:00.58 over a course listed as good.

Shale earns Group 1 honors in Moyglare Stud Stakes
Later in the day, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor's Shale (IRE) (9-2) controlled the seven furlongs very strongly to beat her rival Pretty Gorgeous (FR) and win the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) by three-quarters of a length. This was the third clash between the two fillies this season. Shale had come out on top in the Frank Conroy Silver Flash Stakes (G3), before Pretty Gorgeous exacted her revenge in the A.R.M. Holding Debutante Stakes (G2). Today, though, it was Donnacha O'Brien's 2-year-old who triumphed under Ryan Moore to gain an automatic entry for the $1-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).

Shale, a bay daughter of Galileo (IRE) out of the Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) mare Homecoming Queen (IRE), completed the seven furlongs in 1:27.19 over a good course.

It was a successful day for the O'Brien family with father Aidan winning two Group 1 events in France and his two sons Joseph and Donnacha both winning Group 1 races at the Curragh. Donnacha has now won three Group 1s in his first year as a trainer and praised his filly after the race: “It was a very good performance. She has kept progressing throughout the season. She found a lot for pressure and toughed it out. I spoke to Ryan (Moore) after the race and we'll probably look at the Fillies' Mile (G1) (at Newmarket) or the (Prix Marcel) Boussac (G1) (at ParisLongchamp) next.”

The post Glass Slippers, Shale Gain Breeders’ Cup Berths With Victories At The Curragh appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Ward Retains Stranglehold On Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint With 1-2 Finish By Outadore, Fauci

Not only did trainer Wesley Ward continue his domination of the $500,000 Bal a Bali Juvenile Turf Sprint Saturday at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky., he saddled the exacta finish, Outadore and Fauci.

Ward won the first two editions of the 6 1/2-furlong race, beating males with fillies, Moonlight Romance in 2018 and Cambria last year. With Kentucky Downs now offering a sprint stake for juvenile fillies, Ward turned to his colts and they delivered for him. Breeze Easy's Outadore stayed perfect in his second career start with a 1 3/4-length victory under Irad Ortiz, Jr. in 1:17.31. Fauci and jockey Tyler Gaffalione were 3 1/4 lengths ahead of the third-place horse, Cowan.

Ward, well-known for his success with 2-year-olds, answered a question about being unbeaten in the race with a question – “Isn't that what you're supposed to do?” – and punctuated it with a laugh.

Starting from the outside posts in the field of 10 running over the course rated as “soft,” Outadore (9) and Fauci (10) stalked from a few lengths back of the early pace set by County Final of :21.79 and :46.51. Outadore made his move first with a five-wide surge through the turn and took over the lead near the eighth pole. Fauci followed Outadore's rally on the outside, but could not catch his stablemate.

Outadore, the 9-5 favorite, paid $5.60 to win. The first-place money pushed his career earnings to $334,100.

“He's a nice horse, really nice horse,” said jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. “He broke good over there. He probably needed that first race when he won. He was ready today. He knew what he was doing. He broke and pulled me right there. He relaxed so nice, when I asked he just went ahead. It felt like he had a little more in the tank today.”

While pleased with their performances, Ward said he expects more from Outadore and Fauci as prospects for the $1-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, to be run at one mile at Keeneland on Nov. 6.

“I think both will go a little farther, which is nice as well,” he said. “I think they'll both go a mile on the grass no problem. So, we'll probably split them up in their next start, one to the Bourbon (at Keeneland), one to the Pilgrim at Belmont. We're going to talk it over with both owners and make a plan. The way it looks, Irad (Ortiz) said he was wanting more ground and was kind of waiting. First thing Tyler (Gaffalione) said was, 'Wesley, please, run him farther.' So we're really excited about both colts.”

Outadore a gray/roan son of Outwork, was purchased for $290,000 as a yearling at 2019 Keeneland September. He won his debut at Saratoga on July 26, pressing the pace in a 5 1/2-furlong race that he won by 2 3/4 lengths, setting him up for his start at Kentucky Downs.

“Very nice colt,” Ward said. “He took a little while with some minor shin issues, as most 2-year-olds do. So we gave him the time. Sam Ross, his owner with Mike Hall, is a wonderful guy, and he's jumping up and down and screaming in West Virginia. That's the way you want these owners to be.”

Breeze Easy already has a Breeders' Cup victory on its resume: Four Wheel Drive, who won the 2019 Juvenile Turf Sprint for Ward at Santa Anita. Outadore could take his owners right back to racing's championship meet next month.

“The horse is going wonderful and Wesley (Ward) is doing a good job with the horse,” Hill said. “Mike Mollica and I picked this horse out at Keeneland sale last year and we're back shopping this year. We're really happy with this horse and looking forward to going to the Breeders' Cup.”

Fauci, co-owned by Lindy Farms and Ice Wine Stable, has never been worse that second in his four career starts. The son of Malibu Moon was purchased as a yearling at 2019 Keeneland September for $175,000. He is 1-3-0 from his four starts and with the $95,000 he earned in the Juvenile Turf Sprint has banked $166,800.

Gaffalione said that he and Fauci were a bit slow getting started.

“We didn't get away the cleanest,” he said. “I just wasn't settled in the gate; they sprung a little quick. I just never got his feet planted. But from there on, he traveled nice. I had a great stalking position following the winner most of the way. I got him out at the quarter pole. He had every chance from there. Just second-best today. Great effort. I think he could benefit from more ground. He doesn't have a real explosive turn of foot, but he keeps coming.”

The post Ward Retains Stranglehold On Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint With 1-2 Finish By Outadore, Fauci appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post