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There are just three more days remaining in the 2022 Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred live racing season. The 50-day meet, which will wrap on Saturday, April 9, has been successful on many levels showcasing the resurgence of Texas racing.

It will likely go down to the wire for jockey of the meet honors between two highly respected jockeys, who are just separated by one win heading into Thursday's card.

Stewart Elliott, who won the Sam Houston riding title last year and is locked in a close battle this meet with Ry Eikleberry, looks forward to the final three days of the season. He is booked on 25 mounts with the majority of his calls for Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen. The 56- year-old rider, who is represented by agent Scott Hare, has also had success this meet for trainer Mindy Willis and Mike Biehler.

“This is my third year riding at Sam Houston, and I really enjoy it,” said Elliott. “I am fortunate to ride for Steve. We have a very good rapport, and he always has his horses ready. Mindy has some very nice turf horses, and we work well together. I rode quite a few for Mike at Remington Park. He hasn't started that many this year in Houston, but our win percentage is solid.”

Elliott has a rich history in the sport, dating back to 1981 when he began riding in New England. He was the leading apprentice at Atlantic City and won several titles at Suffolk Downs and Rockingham Park. Honored by his peers in 2017 with the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, presented annually to the rider whose career and character positively support the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing. Elliott is also known for his prowess aboard Smarty Jones in 2004, with victories in the Arkansas Derby (G1), Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1). His Equibase stats are extremely impressive with 5,319 wins from 33,746 starts and purses exceeding $114 million.

Elliott hopes to have a little time to go fishing before he heads to Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie next and then to Remington Park in Oklahoma City.

“I enjoy the three racetracks and this schedule suits me well,” he added.

While Elliott hopes to defend his title, Ry Eikleberry is intent on adding a Sam Houston top showing to his list of leading rider honors.

The Phoenix, Ariz. native finished second to Elliott here last year, but sent notice from opening weekend here in January, that he was going to make a significant run.

He took two months off toward the end of 2021 to recover from a fractured right wrist in a morning accident at Delta Downs. He wore a protective cast when he came to Houston, but clearly, he was healed and highly motivated.

“I figured I would have a good meet, based on my association with (trainer) Karl (Broberg), but having Jose Santos handle my book was really great,” said Eikleberry. “We were able to ride for Austin Gustafson, Robertino Diodoro and several other trainers. Stewart and I are both good at picking up on the way the track is playing. It's going to come down to the wire!”

Eikleberry was the leading rider at Turf Paradise in 2009, 2010 and 2011 before riding in New Mexico, where he also won titles at Sunland and Zia Park. Since he began in 2005, he has won 2,479 races with mounts earning over $43 million.

He was considering options two years ago and the move to Texas and Louisiana has boosted his career.

“Honestly, the pandemic opened some doors for me,” he admitted.

Both riders have 25 mounts for the final three days of the season. Racing fans will enjoy this showdown between these two classy and competitive professionals.

Steve Asmussen, who has won 13 previous leading trainer titles at Sam Houston Race Park, enters the final week with 44 wins, five more than Karl Broberg. J. R. Caldwell, who was second in the standings last year, follows with 33 victories, followed by Austin Gustafson and Ronnie Cravens who are tied with 20 winners.

The leading owner title looks promising for End Zone Athletics, Inc. whose runners have made 27 appearances in the winner's circle this season. The ownership group, founded by Broberg, has been a force at Sam Houston for over a decade with previous titles in 2018 and 2020. Last year, End Zone Athletics finished second to Asmussen, who has won top owner honors here seven times. Heading into the remaining three days of the 2022 Sam Houston Race Park meet, Land and G Racing Stables follows with 16 wins and Farmers Fillies Racing and Danny R. Caldwell are tied for third place with 11 wins each.

The post Stewart Elliott, Ry Eikleberry Taking Title Battle Down To The Wire At Sam Houston appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Tyler Gaffalione started his day on Saturday at Gulfstream Park in the best possible way, a win in a graded stakes. He went on to win two more stakes races before capping off the 5-win day with the biggest prize of all, the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby.

A panel of racing experts voted Gaffalione Jockey of the Week for March 28 through April 3. The award honors jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.

Riding for trainer Brendon Walsh, Gaffalione was aboard Family Way in the G3 Orchid, the first of 10 stakes races on Saturday. Last of six, Gaffalione rallied Family Way on the turn into mid-stretch and powered past the leaders to post a 1-3/4 lengths win in 2:29.08 for the 1-1/2 mile race for fillies and mares four years old and up.

Trainer H. Graham Motion next gave a leg up to Gaffalione on Crystal Cliffs (FR) in the Sand Springs, a 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares four years old and up.  Crystal Cliffs (FR) came from well back in the field of eight to easily win by 2-3/4 lengths.

“He (trainer Motion) told me to be patient with her today. He said just go ahead and let her run her race,” said Gaffalione. “I can only see her getting better from here.” Gaffalione then added a win in a maiden special weight for George Weaver.

 Riding again for Brendon Walsh, Gaffalione won the Sir Shackleton aboard Weyburn. After stalking the early pace, Weyburn challenged for the lead in upper stretch and kicked clear for a 2-1/2 length win in 1:22.51 for seven furlongs.

“Everything worked to plan,” said Gaffalione.  “He's a big strong horse cutting back in distance. Brendon (Walsh) told me, 'Don't take anything away and ride with confidence.' He did everything I asked.”

 Gaffalione, who grew up in nearby Davie, Florida, saved the best for the last race of the day, the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby aboard White Abarrio for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. Gaffalione rallied White Abarrio past post time favorite Simplification in deep stretch while holding off Charge It to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:50.64 for 1 1/8 miles.

“That was a childhood dream come true,” said Gaffalione. “It feels amazing. I'm just so thankful to Saffie and the team and the connections, the owners, for giving me this opportunity.”

Gaffalione's weekly statistics were 29-8-1-10 and $1,002,550 in total purses.

Other nominees for Jockey of the Week were Kendrick Carmouche with 10 wins, Florent Geroux who won three graded stakes including the G1 Arkansas Derby, Harry Henderson who led all jockeys with 15 wins and Irad Ortiz, Jr. who won 13 races including the G3 Appleton at Gulfstream Park.

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Gayla Rankin was at her Texas home in 2020 viewing videos and photos of horses entered in the Keeneland September Yearling Sale when she zeroed in on a daughter of champion sprinter Runhappy.

“She was an absolute standout to me,” she said of the youngster now known as Happy Soul, who drew post position six in the field of eight fillies entered in Friday's $600,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky.

Rankin's consultant, Case Clay, agreed with her assessment and purchased the filly on her behalf for $50,000. Seven months later, Happy Soul proved Rankin correct by finishing second in her career debut at Keeneland's Spring Meet for trainer Wesley Ward. The winner of that race was Happy Soul's stablemate, the gelding Nakatomi, who in his next start competed at Royal Ascot in England in the Norfolk (G2).

When Happy Soul became an impressive next-out winner at Belmont Park in May, Rankin received numerous attractive prices from potential buyers.

“Wesley told me then that she's a horse of a lifetime and not to sell,” she said. “I'm trying to make this passion a business, and the money that was offered was very good. But I trusted my trainer, and it has worked out.”

Happy Soul proved Ward's assessment correct just three weeks later when she captured the Astoria at Belmont Park. She returned to action by stretching her winning streak to three when she sailed to victory in the Dixie Belle at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 19 in her only start thus far in 2022.

Rankin grew up riding and secured a job with racehorses at the now-shuttered Trinity Meadows about 20 miles west of Fort Worth while still a teenager. When she was 19, she drove to Keeneland for the 2004 November Breeding Stock Sale to purchase weanlings for resale with a $50,000 budget from her parents. When one of their purchases – a Dynaformer filly – did not meet her reserve price, she opted to race her.

Named Perfectforthepart, the filly won twice at Louisiana Downs and became a broodmare for Rankin. Her offspring include the Grade 1-winning Ward trainee Sunset Glow.

“I hired Wesley because of how he campaigned Sunset Glow,” Rankin said. “He is a horseman and he is very good at what he does. He's hands-on, always learning and willing to listen.”

Rankin will not be at Keeneland Friday to see her star filly. She opted to stay home in Millsap, Texas, with her 16-year-old dog Leeroy.

“He doesn't like it when I leave,” she said.

The post Gayla Rankin’s ‘Horse Of A Lifetime’ Happy Soul Chasing Oaks Points In Ashland appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation announced today that Dell Hancock, chairman of the foundation, has been named the fifth recipient of the Dinny Phipps Award. She will be presented with the award at the Belmont Stakes Charity Celebration, which will be held Thursday, June 9.

Earle Mack, an active participant in Thoroughbred racing and breeding for more than five decades, created the award in 2017 in memory of Phipps to honor an individual or individuals who have demonstrated dedication to equine health. Previous winners of the Dinny Phipps Award are the Phipps family, Frank Stronach, John Oxley, and Michael Del Giudice.

“Dell has been a tireless worker and friend in every area of our industry and most deserving of the Dinny Phipps award,” Mack said. “Dell, thank you for a lifetime of dedication.”

Hancock joined the Grayson board in 1985 and was named chairman in 2004. She has been an active member of The Jockey Club for more than 25 years and served two terms on the board of stewards. She is currently a member of The Jockey Club's Thoroughbred Safety Committee.

Under Hancock's leadership, Grayson has become the largest private funder of equine research. Since 2004, the year Hancock became chairman, Grayson has provided more than $21 million to fund 231 projects as well as an additional $480,000 to fund 30 career development awards.

“The Hancock family and the Phipps family have a long, deep relationship, which makes me even more honored to be the recipient of this award bearing Dinny's name. He is a man I respected in so many ways,” Hancock said.

The Belmont Stakes Charity Celebration, traditionally one of Grayson's largest fundraisers, will be held at the famed Tavern on the Green in New York City's Central Park. It will be hosted at the venue's south patio, which features views of the park and Manhattan skyline.

The event is scheduled for 7-10 p.m. and will include cocktails and food stations with an emphasis on Kentucky flavors. Entertainment will be provided by Kentucky's own Wolfpen Branch, a bluegrass band co-founded by Arthur Hancock IV.

Tickets for the celebration are $250 each, and various sponsorship levels are available. Those interested in purchasing tickets or sponsorships can do so at tinyurl.com/BelCC622 or by contacting Shannon Kelly at skelly@jockeyclub.com or 212-521-5327.

Mack has owned Thoroughbreds since 1963 and has actively supported equine retirement initiatives. A member of The Jockey Club since 2012, he has also served as a board member at various times for The New York Racing Association, the New York State Thoroughbred Racing Capital Investment Fund, and the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund Corp. He was chairman of the New York State Racing Commission in the mid-1980s.

Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation is traditionally the nation's leading source of private funding for equine medical research that benefits all breeds of horses. Since 1983, the foundation has provided more than $32.1 million to fund 412 projects at 45 universities in North America and overseas. Additional information about the foundation is available at grayson-jockeyclub.org.

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