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Red-Hot Luis Saez Records Second Straight Four-Win Day At Gulfstream Park

Fresh off a four-win day Wednesday, jockey Luis Saez added another four trips to the Gulfstream Park winner's circle Thursday to take over the top spot in the Championship Meet standings.

The 29-year-old native of Panama, who won back-to-back Championship Meet titles in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018, entered the day tied with idle Paco Lopez with 12 wins apiece before scoring aboard Whiskeyonhislips ($3.40) in Race 2, Current Situation ($8) in Race 3, Bird Wildcat ($5.20) in Race 6 and Avow ($4.20) in Race 10.

“I love to ride at Gulfstream Park; it's so familiar; it's where I first came to from Panama,” Saez said. “The horses are running good for us, and my agent is doing a wonderful job. I'm very grateful.”

Kiaran McLaughlin teamed with Saez following his retirement from training last year.

“I'm blessed to be with him. He's very classy,” Saez said. “I'm doing good and very happy.”

Saez is used to winning races in bunches at Gulfstream, where he rode a record-equaling seven winners on a card Jan. 24, 2018 and March 29, 2018.

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 gross jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $150,000 for Friday's program at Gulfstream Park, four racing days after a jackpot of $407,067.66 was taken down by one lucky bettor last Saturday.

Friday's Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 4-9.

The Rainbow 6 jackpot is paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

Who's Hot: Jockey Tyler Gaffalione doubled aboard Dominant Joy ($2.40) in Race 1 and Seizing the Dream ($7) in Race 8.

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Jorge Ruiz Notches Four Wins As Racing Returns To Laurel Park On Thursday

Live racing resumed at Laurel Park on Thursday, Dec. 16 for the first time since Nov. 28. The main track at Laurel was closed for an examination on Nov. 29 after an alarming number of fatalities – four from racing injuries and three while training – occurred between Nov. 6-28. The Maryland Jockey Club followed that inspection by cancelling racing and suspending morning workouts to allow for repair of the surface.

It was the second time in 2021 that racing at Laurel was halted because of track conditions. The first occurrence was in April after a spike in musculoskeletal injuries, which led to racing being shifted to Pimlico on an emergency basis. Track ownership undertook a multi-million dollar track renovation project that wasn't completed until August, with racing resuming at Laurel in September.

With help from noted trackmen Dennis Moore from California, Glen Kozak from the New York Racing Racing Association, and former MJC track superintendent John Passero, Maryland Jockey Club officials explained at last week's meeting of the Maryland Racing Commission that the most likely explanation for the cluster of fatalities was that water seeped into a seam in the base material of the stretch before that base material was able to cure, causing a slight depression. That has been repaired, and several additional changes have been made.

“We've been out every single day, day and night, to make sure that we have the best racing surface possible,” Laurel's track superintendent Chris Bosley said during this Tuesday's meeting of the Maryland Racing Commission. “There's been a huge learning curve with this material and this track from when it was put in in July to where we are now.”

Jockey Jorge Ruiz notched four wins on the day, and Sola Dei Gloria Stable's Bustoff completed a daily double for teenage riding sensation Charlie Marquez and trainer Hugh McMahon with his front-running triumph in Thursday's feature race.

A 6-year-old Maryland-bred Haynesfield gelding, Bustoff ($7.40) completed one mile in 1:38.96 over a fast main track to win the third-level optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up by 3 ½ lengths. Torch of Truth rallied late to edge 20-1 long shot Whiskey and You by a neck for second.

The return of racing and condition of the track was met with positive reviews by horsemen.

“It's much better; like night and day,” trainer Dale Capuano said. A winner of more than 3,500 career races, Capuano saddled Taking Risks Stable and Louis J. Ulman's favored Zen Pi ($4.60) to victory in the opener, a six-furlong claimer for 3-year-olds and up. The winning time under jockey Jorge Ruiz was 1:12.55.

“We're tickled to death. Jorge said the track felt good,” Capuano said. “You can tell by the time. These horses should run [1:12] and change and that's what he did,” he added. “It's good. I think they're run on the right track. I think getting [consultants] John Passero and Glenn Kozak was the right thing to do. We're all after the same thing. We might have different approaches to getting there but we're all for safe racing and keeping our horses and riders safe.”

Ruiz's other winners Thursday were Tenax ($12.20) for trainer Ken Cox in Race 3, Bourbon Wildcat ($30.20) for trainer Jose Magana in Race 6 and Capuano-trained Boss Logic ($6) in Race 8. Ruiz ranks second to Jevian Toledo in wins at the fall meet, 44-42.

Toledo leads all riders with 102 wins this year at Laurel and historic Pimlico Race Course, two more than the 18-year-old Marquez. Angel Cruz is third with 84 and Ruiz fourth at 82.

“The track is now different. Before it was hard, now it's deeper and a little fluffier,” Ruiz said. “The horses hit the ground a little more softly.”

Notes: Laurel will host a nine-race card starting at 12:25 p.m. Friday … Saturday is Maryland Spectacular Day with nine live races including a pair of $100,000 stakes for Maryland-bred/sired horses: the Maryland Juvenile and Maryland Juvenile Fillies. Also on the day are Holiday Giving Tree and Give a Gift/Get a Gift promotions, as well as a 2022 Maryland racing calendar giveaway.

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Marc Holiday Elected Chairman Of NYRA Board Of Directors

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) Board of Directors has unanimously elected Marc Holliday as chairman following today's regularly scheduled meeting of the board. Mr. Holliday replaces Michael Del Giudice, who retired from the NYRA Board in November.

Appointed to the NYRA Board in 2014, Mr. Holliday has chaired the NYRA Equine Safety Committee since 2015. He is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SL Green Realty Corp (NYSE: SLG), which is New York City's largest owner of office properties. Mr. Holliday has served as the SLG CEO since 2004 and became Chairman of the Board in 2019. A graduate of Lehigh University, Mr. Holliday earned a master's in real estate development from Columbia University.

“I am honored to succeed Michael Del Giudice and grateful for his work returning NYRA to a period of sustained excellence and financial stability,” said Mr. Holliday. “Michael skillfully guided the association through a time of uncertainty, and NYRA today is as strong as any point in its history. Horse racing is an engine for the New York economy and deeply intertwined in the cultural fabric of the state. It is a privilege to play a role in the future of the sport I care so deeply about.”

A prominent horse owner and breeder, Mr. Holliday founded Blue Devil Racing Stable in 2006. Most notable among a number of Blue Devil stakes winners is the homebred Come Dancing, who won the Grade 1 Ketel One Ballerina, Grade 2 Ruffian, Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap and Grade 3 Distaff Handicap in 2019 on the NYRA circuit. The popular mare added the Grade 2 Honorable Miss to her ledger last year and is now retired as a broodmare in-foal to Into Mischief.

“NYRA is in a strong position for continued success thanks to the commitment and leadership of the board of directors,” said NYRA President & CEO Dave O'Rourke. “On behalf of the entire organization, I thank Michael Del Giudice for his dedicated service and congratulate Marc Holliday on his new role.”

Mr. Del Giudice joined the NYRA Board in 2003 and was appointed Chairman in 2017. From 2015 to 2017, he acted as Chairman of the NYRA Reorganization Board of Directors. During his tenure, NYRA returned to sound financial footing and enhanced the quality, safety, and integrity of its racing operations.

Under the leadership of Mr. Del Giudice, NYRA completed a series of significant capital improvement projects to improve the fan experience and modernize racing, training and backstretch facilities at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.

The organizational structure of the NYRA Board of Directors was established in 2017 according to legislation enacted through the FY 2018 New York State budget, which returned majority control of NYRA back to the not-for-profit organization and dissolved the temporary NYRA Reorganization Board established by the New York State Legislature in 2012.

For biographical information about the NYRA Board of Directors, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/about/board-of-directors.

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Matty Named Executive Director Of Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association

The Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (PTHA), which represents the interests of horsemen at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pa., announced that Jeffrey A. Matty Jr. will serve as the organization's new executive director effective Jan. 1, 2022. Matty brings a diverse range of experience to the position, including serving as racing manager for Besecker Racing Stable, assistant stakes coordinator at Monmouth Park, and as 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 horseman, 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.”

Matty has served as racing manager for Besecker Racing Stable in King of Prussia, Pa., since 2014. In his capacity, he managed more than one hundred horses at any given time that were part of the stable's portfolio, overseeing and managing results that consisted of more than 750 wins and $16.5 million in earnings. He also advised trainers on entries, nominations, and campaign outlooks, as well as assisted with purchasing broodmares, yearlings and 2-year-olds in training. In December 2019, he organized and executed the full Besecker dispersal at the Fasig-Tipton sale.

His first job in racing was as a racing official at Parx Racing, where he worked for two summers under Sal Sinatra and under the mentorship of Albert Ott. Matty then went on to work for two summers as an assistant stakes coordinator at Monmouth Park. He is a graduate of Saint Joseph's University, where he earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Management and Sports Marketing.

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