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Mcgrapth Arrested On Charges Of Animal Cruelty In Kentucky Boarding Operation Case

Xavier Mcgrapth, the subject of a criminal complaint of 13 counts of animal cruelty in the second degree, was arrested on April 13, according to an update from the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office in Central Kentucky. Mcgrapth, 24, of Versailles, Ky., came in for an interview regarding the case and was arrested at the conclusion of the interview.

“The Bourbon County Sheriff's Office and the Bourbon County Attorney's Office are working closely together to bring this case to a close,” read a statement from the sheriff's office. “At this time, all horses involved have been removed from the farm and relocated to facilities to best suit the care they need.”

Mcgrapth has yet to be arraigned and is out on a $2,000 bond, according to court and county detention center records.

About two dozen horses were discovered at a property Mcgrapth was leasing off Brentsville Road in various states of neglect in late March. Owners, many of whom were located out of state, told media at the time they had engaged Mcgrapth to board broodmares or young training horses for them after seeing his services advertised through Facebook as McGrapth Breaking and Training and/or Whispering Creek Thoroughbreds.

Read more about the case from our previous reporting here.

The investigation remains active, according to the sheriff's office.

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‘Extremely Fortunate’ Charlie LoPresti Has Stepped Back From Training Racehorses

Though his last starter came in late October last year, trainer Charlie LoPresti told the Daily Racing Form that he “didn't want to make a big deal” about his retirement from the racetrack. The 63-year-old is now enjoying spending more time with his wife, their bird dogs, Quarter Horses, and Angus cattle.

LoPresti's most well-known charge was two-time Horse of the Year and Breeders' Cup Mile winner Wise Dan. The 14-year-old is living out his retirement at his trainer's 200-acre Forest Lane Farm in Athens, Ky.

From the start of his career in 2003, LoPresti compiled a record of 310 wins and over $20 million in earnings.

“The racetrack takes up a whole lot of your time, and if you're not careful, you'll never get to do some of the other things you want to do with your life,” LoPresti told DRF. “I'm extremely fortunate because racing was so good to me. Not only did we have Wise Dan in our barn, but we also had stakes winners like his brother, Successful Dan, and good horses like Turallure and Here Comes Ben. Those were great years, and I take a lot of good memories away from it.”

Ricardo Santana Voted Jockey Of The Week After Arkansas Derby Victory

Ricardo Santana, Jr. not only won the G1 Arkansas Derby but set three milestones at Oaklawn Park, earning Jockey of the Week honors for April 5 through April 11. The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, is for jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 950 active riders in the United States as well as retired and permanently disabled jockeys.

Riding for his main client, trainer Steve Asmussen, Ricardo Santana, Jr. was aboard Super Stock in the G1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Parkon April 10. Off at odds of 12-1 in the field of six, Santana, Jr. and Super Stock took advantage of a speed duel set by favorite Concert Tour and Caddo River to win by 2-1/2 lengths in the 1-1/8th mile race in 1:50.92 to earn 100 points and a spot in the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 1.

“We got a beautiful trip. I was talking to Mr. Steve (Asmussen) for about two weeks before the race,” said Santana, Jr. “The post was perfect. We both liked breaking from #1. We knew there was some speed and everything came out perfect. It was a really important win for Steve and his family. I'm really blessed to be the one they chose to ride this race.”

Santana, Jr., a seven-time Oaklawn riding champion, reached three more milestones Saturday. He became the ninth rider in Oaklawn history to reach 600 career victories after winning the tenth race aboard Mighty Mischief for Asmussen and recorded 601 with his victory in the G1 Arkansas Derby.

He broke his single-season Oaklawn record for purse earnings with $4,404,778 after the Arkansas Derby victory. He set the previous record in 2019. While he became the first rider in Oaklawn history to reach $30 million in career purse earnings on April 3, he surpassed that record with Super Stock's victory.

Santana, Jr.'s stats for the week were 36-8-3-5 with a 22.2 win percentage and 44.4 in-the-money percentage. Total purse earnings for the week were $1,071,963 to lead all jockeys. He currently sits at the top of Oaklawn's jockey standings with 57 victories, 18 more than David Cabrera.

Santana, Jr. out-polled Hector Rafael Diaz, Jr. with an in-the-money percentage of 76.4, Tyler Gaffalione who won the G1 Jenny Wiley, Florent Geroux who captured the G3 Count Fleet, and Jose L. Ortiz who won a stakes race at Aqueduct and recorded five winners on a single card.

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Trainer Steve Asmussen, Son Keith To Feature On Thursday’s ‘Cocktails & Conversation’ Live Stream

“Cocktails & Conversation,” the weekly virtual happy hour series, returns for the third episode of the season on Thursday (April 15) with special guests Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and his son, jockey Keith Asmussen; hosted by Britney Eurton and Nick Luck of NBC Sports; and joined by renowned mixologist and creator of Breeders' Cup's official cocktails Mark Tubridy.

This week's cocktails focus on the slightly sweet flavors of the Maraschino cherry. The first cocktail is the Bourbon Bushwick, a sweet, bourbon-based sipper made with Maker's Mark®, sweet vermouth, Maraschino Liqueur and Amaro. The second is the Last Word, a prohibition-era drink made with London Dry Gin, green chartreuse, Maraschino Liqueur and lime juice.

In addition to the cocktail mixing segment, fans will be able to submit questions via social media for the hosts and the Asmussens to answer during the live stream. Throughout the cocktail hour, viewers will be encouraged to donate to industry workers and communities in need through the official Breeders' Cup website.

All donations generated from Cocktails & Conversation are wholly donated to organizations benefitting the horse racing and hospitality industries, including the Race Track Chaplaincy of America, USBG National Charity Foundation and Restaurant Workers Relief Program.

The two-time Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Trainer and Hall of Famer, Steve Asmussen, joins us this week, fresh off a huge Arkansas Derby win to earn a spot in the 2021 Kentucky Derby for his family-owned horse Super Stock. With over $352 million in earnings and nearly 9,300 lifetime wins, Asmussen has achieved many coveted racing milestones including winning famous races around the world such as the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, Longines Kentucky Oaks and the Dubai World Cup.

Keith Asmussen started his jockey career in June 2020 and has $272,000 in earnings. He achieved his first stakes victory in the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity at Lone Star park on Aug. 11, 2020, on Kentucky Derby contender, Super Stock.

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