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Boat Racing Named 2021 New Owner Of The Year

OwnerView announced today that Boat Racing has been named the 2021 New Owner of the Year, sponsored by 1/ST RACING. The award will be presented during the final panel of the 2021 Thoroughbred Owner Conference series, which will be held Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m. ET.

Boat Racing owns a handful of horses via yearling sales, 2-year-old in training sales, and pinhooking, but their primary claim to fame came from their significant minority share of Hot Rod Charlie, who won the grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby and Grade 2 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby in 2021. He also placed in this year's Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve and Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (both grade 1).

The ownership group is composed of college friends from Brown University – Eric Armagost, Daniel Giovacchini, Reiley Higgins, Patrick O'Neill, and Alex Quoyeser. The group is active in philanthropic causes via their commitment to raising awareness and contributing a portion of all of their horses' earnings, including Hot Rod Charlie's, toward the Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA), Jake Panus Scholarship Fund, and Jake Panus Walk-on Football Endowed Scholarship.

“Boat Racing has brought infectious enthusiasm to our sport as well as inspiring generosity for worthy causes,” said Gary Falter, project manager for OwnerView. “OwnerView is proud to recognize a new and youthful ownership group that has not only experienced success at the highest levels of horse racing, but has also given back to the community.”

“We could not be more pleased to be honored with this prestigious award and are cognizant of the much more deserving, rare company that have won before us,” said Patrick O'Neill. “The initial idea amongst us five was always to participate in this incredible sport we all have fallen in love with and utilize the amazing environment it provides to create memories to last us a lifetime. We had no inkling that this simple idea would ever take us to the pinnacle of the sport, which is why it was so important for us to pivot our fortunes into something bigger and beyond ourselves through MRA and the memory of Jake Panus. At the end of the day, all credit for this privilege goes to Doug O'Neill and his entire team, our incredible co-owners in Roadrunner Racing, Bill Strauss, and Gainesway Farm, and our amazing equine friend in Hot Rod Charlie.”

The New Owner of the Year Award has been previously presented to MyRacehorse, Larry Best, the Churchill Downs Racing Club, Charles and Susan Chu, LNJ Foxwoods, and Sol Kumin.

The 2021 Thoroughbred Owner Conference series is hosted by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and presented by Bessemer Trust, Dean Dorton Equine, Stoll Keenon Ogden, and Stonestreet Farm. There is no registration fee for the live or recorded virtual conference series, but registration is required. Registration information is available at ownerview.com/event/conference or by contacting Gary Falter at gfalter@jockeyclub.com.

OwnerView is a joint effort spearheaded by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to encourage ownership of Thoroughbreds and provide accurate information on aspects of ownership such as trainers, public racing syndicates, the process of purchasing and owning a Thoroughbred, racehorse retirement, and owner licensing.

The need for a central resource to encourage Thoroughbred ownership was identified in the comprehensive economic study of the sport that was commissioned by The Jockey Club and conducted by McKinsey & Company in 2011. The OwnerView site was launched in May 2012.

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Marcelino Pedroza Wins Third Leading Rider Title At Indiana Grand; Andrea Rodriguez Leading Apprentice

Marcelino Pedroza Jr. has been on a mission the last week of racing at Indiana Grand. Already way ahead in the jockey standings, Pedroza completed the four-day work week with an additional 10 wins to earn his third Leading Thoroughbred Jockey Award in Indiana.

Pedroza was honored in the winner's circle following the sixth race on closing day with the award. He also brought home the title in 2017 and 2019.

“It's always great to win races and it's a great feeling to win the title,” said Pedroza, who was flanked by his family for the trophy presentation. “Thank you to all the owners and trainers that supported me and to my beautiful family, who have been with me when we weren't winning races.”

Pedroza scored 105 wins during the meet, more than 20 more than second place finisher DeShawn Parker. With purse earnings in excess of $3.2 million for the year, he moves into third place on the list of all-time leading riders at the track with more than 640 career wins. He also holds several riding records with most purse money in one season ($3.4 in 2019), most wins by a jockey in one day (6 in 2019), and now joins Orlando Mojica, Leandro Goncalves and Rodney Prescott for most jockey titles at the track with three.

“I've been riding Fair Grounds and Indiana Grand the past few years and that's worked out well for me,” added Pedroza. “I plan to go back to Fair Grounds (New Orleans, La.) and hopefully do well there again and hopefully be back here again next year.”

A native of Panama, Pedroza Jr. attended the Laffit Pincay Jr. Jockey Academy before venturing to the United States in 2010. Now a Graded Stakes winning jockey, Pedroza celebrated his 1,000th career victory last year and has more than 1,200 career wins with earnings of more than $32 million.

Andrea Rodriguez has worked many hours to become a jockey. Her hard work has paid off this year as she was the recipient of the eighth annual Juan Saez Leading Apprentice Jockey at Indiana Grand for 2021. The award is named in honor of Juan Saez, who passed away following a racing incident in 2014. Saez was the Leading Apprentice at Indiana Grand that same year.

A native of Puerto Rico, Rodriguez attended her country's famed Escuela Vocacional Hipica Agustin Mercado Reveron Jockey School at Camarero Race Track outside of San Juan. After winning her first race at Camarero, she ventured to the United States in 2019 with a short stint in the saddle before stopping and working as an exercise rider. While galloping for Trainer Ian Wilkes, she decided to give a career as a jockey one more try.

“Trainer Ian Wilkes is the one that pushed me back to riding at Turfway Park,” said Rodriguez. “Then, I came to Indiana Grand prepared to gallop and Bones (Kerry Wirth, her agent) and trainers Randy Klopp and Marvin Johnson told me to try to ride, so I did. It's been so great for me to ride in my first year at Indiana Grand. It's been an amazing experience. First, I have to thank God and then the trainers who have supported me.”

Working in the mornings has brought a special bond with several horses to Rodriguez, who places special posts about them on social media after her wins. But one horse, has stolen her heart this year at Indiana Grand.

“I would have to say Polo Art is my favorite,” said Rodriguez, who won four races aboard the seven-year-old gelding this season. “He has such a big heart, and he tries so hard.”

Rodriguez was joined by her mother, Camille, who is visiting from Puerto Rico, for the trophy presentation as the track's Leading Apprentice. She adds the award to a Leading Apprentice title she won at Ellis Park earlier this year. The young jockey follows in the footsteps of several family members who have been involved in racing in her home country.

“My grandfather was the first trainer from Puerto Rico to qualify and race in the Kentucky Derby,” added Rodriguez. “Also, my 'auntie' was the first female trainer in Puerto Rico.”

Rodriguez will move her tack to Turfway Park for the winter and plans to return to Indiana Grand when racing resumes Tuesday, April 19. Until then, she will continue to work at a career she thoroughly enjoys and continue to connect with horses that are her passion.

Rodriguez completes the 2021 racing season at Indiana Grand with 28 wins and a victory in her final race of 2021 aboard Double Advantage. She earned a spot among the track's top 15 jockeys. Horses she has guided this season have earned in excess of $550,000.

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Seven Winning Rides: Tim Thornton Sets New Single-Day Record At Delta Downs

Tim Thornton set a single day track record for wins by a jockey on Saturday, Oct. 23 when he rode seven winners during a 10-race program at Delta Downs. The feat eclipsed the old mark of six wins in a day set by Steve Bourque and current rider Ashley Broussard.

Thornton's accomplishment was honored by Delta Downs during its live program on Saturday as Vice President and General Manager Steve Kuypers presented a special plaque to him in the winner's circle. The track's jockey colony joined Thornton in the festivities as Kuypers commented on the accomplishment.

“What Tim did was incredible,” said Kuypers. “It's something special when a rider wins two or three races in one day, but to visit the winner's circle seven times on a single card is just amazing. I'm sure this record will stand for a very long time.”

After his unbelievable day, Thornton was humble about what he had just happened.

“It's always awesome to win races,” Thornton commented. “I just took it one race at a time and kept trying to put horses in the right spot to win and luckily they were all fit and ready to go. I was able to get them there.”

Thornton's biggest win during his seven-win day was with the Dallas Stewart trainee Unified Report ($2.40) in the $100,000 Louisiana Legacy Stakes. He also scored with Relax Town ($2.80), Blue Darter ($6), Dreaming of Neany ($8.60), Laughing Latinos ($14), Shackleford Strong ($4.20), and Interactif Moment ($9.60).

Thornton has dominated the jockey standings at Delta Downs since he moved his tack to Vinton, Louisiana in 2017. This season he ranks at the top once again as he attempts to win his fourth consecutive riding title.

Fans can watch Thornton ply his trade each week at Delta Downs this season. The track hosts live programs each Wednesday through Saturday afternoon beginning at 12:55 pm through March 5.

For more information about the current season visit the track's website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also get information about the track through Facebook by visiting the page 'Delta Downs Racing'. The track's Twitter handle is @deltaracing.

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.

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Gary Sciacca Saddles 1,000th Career Winner Thursday At Aqueduct

Trainer Gary Sciacca earned his 1,000th career victory when Caumsett wired the first race on Opening Day of the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack.

“I'm just real happy to get it done,” Sciacca said. “I would have loved to have got it done at Belmont, but I got my start here at Aqueduct so this is great.”

Sciacca, a 61-year-old native of Brooklyn, New York, captured his first career victory with Proud Northern in October 1981 at the Big A. Through four decades of conditioning thoroughbreds, Sciacca has won two training titles at Belmont Park, leading the way at the 1993 spring meet and 1997 fall meet.

Caumsett, with Hall of Famer Javier Castellano in the irons, led through splits of 24.22 seconds, 48.80 and 1:13.50 in the one-mile inner turf event for New York-bred maiden fillies and mares. The sophomore daughter of The Factor opened up a 3 1/2-length lead at the stretch call and coasted home a 1 3/4-length winner in a final time of 1:36.55 over the firm going.

Castellano, who guided Caumsett to a narrow head loss with a similar pacesetting effort on September 19 at Belmont Park, said he felt confident throughout.

“That's the trip I was looking for today,” Castellano said. “Last time, she went to the lead and got caught in the last jump. It seemed to me that today there wasn't much speed in the race. I dictated the pace and they let me go easy. She rolled the whole way and finished really well.”

The Hall of Fame rider tipped his cap to the veteran conditioner for his milestone achievement.

“I'm very happy for him. It's a great achievement to win 1,000 races,” Castellano said. “I've known Gary for a long time and he's a dedicated horseman and been in the game a long time. I'm lucky and blessed to be a part of his success.”

Bred in the Empire State by Milfer Farm, Caumsett was sent to post at odds of 9-2, and returned $11.60 for a $2 win bet.

“It feels great. We needed to get it done and get it over with,” Sciacca said. “I thought she was going to win last time [September 19], but she got nailed right at the wire. Bobby, my son is here, so that's great.”

Sciacca trained 1992 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Saratoga Dew, who captured that year's Grade 1 Beldame and Grade 1 Gazelle Handicap, both at Belmont Park, en route to becoming the first New York-bred to earn an Eclipse Award.

He also conditioned eight-time graded stakes-winning millionaire Subordination, who captured the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby in 1997 at Hollywood Park and the following year's Grade 1 Eddie Read at Del Mar.

Other prominent graded stakes winners to come up under Sciacca's care include Dr. Kiernan, Debonair Dan, Dominant Prospect, Inside the Beltway, Gold Princess and Dawn of the Condor.

“The Grade 1 wins with Saratoga Dew and Subordination were huge,” Sciacca said. “The business has been so great to me and all the hard work is paying off. It's taken me all over and has been really good.”

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