Parx | Horse Racing Free Tips

Matty Named New PTHA Executive Director

The Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (PTHA), which represents the interests of horsemen at Parx Racing, has named Jeffrey A. Matty, Jr. as its new Executive Director effective Jan. 1, 2022. Matty has served as Racing Manager for Besecker Racing Stable, an Assistant Stakes Coordinator at Monmouth Park Racetrack, and a Racing Official with Parx Racing. Matty will fill a vacancy left by Michael P. Ballezzi, who announced his retirement earlier this month after 25 years of leadership.

“We are thrilled to have Jeffrey Matty joining the PTHA as our new executive director,” said Salvatore DeBunda, President of the PTHA's Board of Directors. “He brings to the position a clear commitment to advocating for horsemen and a significant amount of passion and energy for our sport.”

“I'm an avid fan of racing, and being born and raised in Bensalem, I fell in love with the sport at Philadelphia Park,” said Matty. “I consider myself a Parx horsemen, so in many ways, this is like returning home. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with and advocate for the owners and trainers who make up the PTHA. I don't look at this position as a job, but as a responsibility–to do what's best for horsemen day in and day out.”

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Rising Star Witty A Dominant Winner Of $200,000 Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes

Witty, a half-brother to graded stakes winner Caravel, handily defeated nine rivals in the $200,000 Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes at Parx Racing in a five and a half length triumph.

A homebred for Elizabeth Merryman, the 2-year-old Pennsylvania-bred son of Great Notion earned his second career victory and gave McLane Hendriks his first career winner as a trainer in the Pennsylvania Nursery.

After being forced to steady early, Witty moved up into contention on the backstretch under Carol Cedeno, settled in to save ground as the leader, Wispering Springs approached the quarter pole. Once in the clear, Witty responded when asked and drew away in the stretch.

“Very exciting…it's obviously a little bit stressful to train for your parents, but it makes it that much sweeter when you win,” said trainer McLane Hendriks. “I always kind of thought he was a turf horse, but he's been training so well on the dirt and handles it so well. We wanted to stretch him out a little bit here today and I do think he can get some more ground. It's exciting to have a horse like this and have a future wide open.”

Witty went off as the 2-1 favorite and returned $6.60 to win. Uncle Buddy ran second and Vine Jet completed the trifecta. The final time for the seven furlongs on a fast track was 1:26.44.

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Parx Adds Five $100,000 Stakes Races To Year-End Cards

Parx Racing will close out 2021 with a pair of loaded cards featuring five $100,000 stakes races over the course of two days, Dec. 28-29. The added year-end stakes races will offer a final opportunity for horsemen and women to close out their season with a black-type victory.

Tuesday, Dec. 28 will have three stakes races on the card – the $100,000 Kris Kringle for 3-year-olds and up at a mile and seventy yards, the $100,000 Mrs. Claus for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, at seven furlongs and the $100,000 Blitzen for 3-year-olds and up sprinters. Nominations will close on Dec. 8.

Juveniles will take the spotlight on Wednesday, Dec. 29 with a pair of stakes races for 2-year-olds – the $100,000 Parx Futurity at seven furlongs for fillies and the seven furlong $100,000 Parx Juvenile for colts and geldings. Nominations close on Dec. 8.

First post is 12:10 p.m. ET. Gates will open at 11:15 a.m. Admission is free.

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American Freedom Colt Impressive at Parx

1st-Parx Racing, $42,500, Msw, 11-22, 2yo, 1m 70y, 1:43.73, ft, 9 lengths.
SMARTEN UP (c, 2, American Freedom–Sarah Cataldo, by Smarty Jones) finished with interest to be runner-up on seven-furlong debut at this track Sept. 25 and was exiting a pace-pressing third in a one-mile test Oct. 20, good for a strong 71 Beyer Speed Figure. Four wide around the first time and right on top of a strong early pace, the even-money chalk punched the breeze down the backstretch. Allowed to poke his head in front at the three-eighths pole, the chestnut put a big break on them in upper stretch and cantered under the wire nine lengths to the good. Smarten Up, the 16th winner for his freshman sire (by Pulpit), is a half-brother to Tiger Blood (Cowtown Cat), MSW, $564,770. The useful Sarah Cataldo was purchased by Summerfield Sales for $20,000 with this colt in utero at the 2018 Keeneland November sale and she produced a colt from the first crop of Girvin in 2020 after being bought back for $17,000 at the OBS Winter Mixed Sale. The mare's most recent produce is a weanling colt by Not This Time. Sales history: $20,000 Ylg '20 OBSWIN; $50,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-1, $45,820. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Happy Tenth Stable; B-A Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck (FL); T-Alfredo Velazquez.

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