Tag: People

Trainer Bentley Combs' first claim of the 2023-2024 meeting came with intent.

Combs, on behalf of owners Charles Gerber and Workman Ranch, took Toma Todo out of a victory in Friday's second race for $7,500. Combs was looking ahead, but not to January, February, March or April. The date Combs already has circled is May 4. The race Combs already has circled is the 1 ¾-mile Trail's End starter-allowance marathon, traditionally the final race of the Oaklawn meeting. Combs and owner Ten Strike Racing (Marshall Gramm) have won the race the last three years with Original Intent (2021 and 2022) and Hellorhighwater (2023).

The Trail's End, recently, has been restricted to horses that have started for a claiming price of $10,000 or less in the last two years. It had a hefty $125,000 purse last season.

“We've been looking all over,” Combs said late last month. “With Churchill changing their bottom of the barrel to ($12,500), it's been tough to find a starter $10,000 horse. You can ask Marshall. I've been looking at every overnight. I've been looking at Laurel, Parx, New York, everywhere, trying to find a Trail's End horse.”

The addition of Toma Todo, Combs said, means he has two potential Trail's End candidates. El Franco, a $16,000 claim Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs, is scheduled to test $10,000 starter-allowance company next month, Combs said. El Franco is a son of millionaire Tapiture. Toma Todo is by grass champion English Channel, who flourished at longer distances.

“I do like the little horse we claimed yesterday in Toma Todo,” Combs said in a text message Saturday. “Physically, he doesn't fit the bill because he's on the smaller side, but he's won at (1 1/8 miles) at (Oaklawn) before. Gonna run him in a starter ($10,000) … and see what we've got.”

Combs said he has 10 stalls this season at Oaklawn after winning 40 percent of his starts (8 for 20) at the 2022-2023 meeting. In addition to the Trail's End, Hellorhighwater won three other starter-allowance races at the meeting.

David Vance (1972-1974) is the only other trainer to win the Trail's End three consecutive times.

The post Oaklawn: Bentley Combs Has ‘Been Looking All Over’ For Third Straight Winner In Trail’s End Starter Marathon appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The eighth annual Jockeys and Jeans Great American Stallion Season Sale to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund begins next month on Equiring.com with an auction preview day, Monday, Jan. 8, at 9:00 a.m. ET. The sale starts Tuesday, Jan. 9, at 9:00 a.m. ET and ends Thursday, Jan. 12, at 8:00 p.m. ET. There is also a Quarter Horse version that starts on Equiring.com on Jan. 21. Last year it raised $70,000 while the Thoroughbred side totaled $40,000.

Nine major Central Kentucky Thoroughbred breeding farms and individual season owners are expected to donate seasons along with donors in Florida, New York, California, Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, and Louisiana.

“This season sale is truly living up to its name and as far as we can ascertain is the only one that includes stallions in this many states, and the only one that solely benefits humans, namely those 60 men and women who underwent catastrophic career ending racing injuries,” said interim Jockeys and Jeans president Dr. Eddie Donnally who conceived and started the sale in 2016.

The seasons are no-guarantee, and selling prices are not made public. “We've had great success with selling seasons of freshman sires and first-year stallions, many of whom have become successful and now command prices far greater than our sale price,” said Donnally.

To date, stallion season sales have accounted for at least $800,000 of the $3.6 million raised for the PDJF by the group that was founded in 2014. All are volunteers and every cent of the selling prices goes to PDJF. The charity provides a monthly stipend of $1,000 to some 60 former jockeys. At least 40 are either quadra or paraplegics.

“In this age of inflation that monthly payment for many means a roof over their heads and food on their table.” said Donnally. “Nearly all live on a fixed income and dealing with the increased cost of living means hard choices and sacrifices. Our sale not only offers solid stallions at a reasonable cost, but more importantly, the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those that are no longer riding racehorses but wheelchairs. Yes, there are new challenges in racing and yes there are changes, but the needs of our fallen brothers and sisters go on.

“We thank every season donor and buyer, and we believe, as they say in horse racing, 'what goes around comes around,' and all here hope, pray and believe their investment will pay dividends.”

To donate a season or wish more information contact Eddie Donnally at  edjockeysandjeans@gmail.com or call (818) 653-3711.

The post Jockeys And Jeans Sets Dates for Eighth Annual Great American Stallion Season Sale appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The six-day Winter Thoroughbred Meet at Los Alamitos concluded Sunday with Mark Glatt topping the trainer standings with seven victories, three more than Bob Baffert and Peter Miller.

It was the second local training crown for Glatt, who shared the 2016 Spring meet title with Doug O'Neill.

Baffert had the most wins (15) for the year at Los Alamitos, combining the Winter meet with the September (Sept. 15-24) and Los Angeles County Fair (June 23-July 9) seasons.

Diego Herrera, Edwin Maldonado, and Juan Hernandez shared the Winter riding title with six wins each.

Hernandez was the leader for the year with 19 victories, one more than Herrera.

The post Glatt Takes Los Alamitos Winter Meet Title, Three Tie For Leading Jockey appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Woodbine's 2023 meet concluded Sunday with Kazushi Kimura earning his third consecutive jockey crown courtesy of 161 wins, and Mark Casse topping the trainer leaderboard for the 15th time courtesy of 113 wins.

Born in Hokkaido, Japan, Kimura joined the Woodbine jockey colony in 2018 and made an immediate impact. His first victory came aboard 70-1 longshot Tornado Cat, and his first stakes win came aboard Speedy Soul in the Muskoka. He finished that first season sixth in the standings with 89 wins.

The 2019 Eclipse Award winner as North America's outstanding apprentice, Kimura also won the Sovereign Award equivalent in both 2018 and 2019. He was also the 2021 and 2022 Sovereign recipient as Canada's outstanding rider.

This year, Kimura won 15 stakes, seven of them graded, at the Toronto oval, including a quartet of Grade 2 events (the Kennedy Road with Flag Of Honour (AUS); the Bessarabian with Loyalty; the Autumn with Wolfie's Dynaghost; the Eclipse with Treason).

“I am very grateful to all the trainers and owners who gave me an opportunity to ride so many great horses this year,” said the 24-year-old. “I'd like to thank the grooms, exercise riders, hot walkers, gate crew, outriders, and everyone who makes our sport so great. And I would like to thank all the horses, the stars of our sport and the best athletes you will find.”

Sahin Civaci was second with 129 wins (15 of them stakes), followed by Rafael Hernandez, who posted 119 wins. Patrick Husbands led all riders with 16 stakes triumphs.

Casse recorded 24 Woodbine stakes victories, 10 of them graded. A lifetime winner of over 3,640 races, the dual Hall of Famer won the King's Plate and Plate Trial with Paramount Prince. His graded scores included the E.P. Taylor (G1) and Nassau (G2) with Fev Rover (IRE), the Royal North (G2) and Whimsical (G3) with Our Flash Drive, and the Highlander (G2) with Lucky Score.

Martin Drexler was second courtesy of a career-best 86 Woodbine wins. Kevin Attard finished third with 71 wins.

Bruno Schickedanz, last year's Sovereign winner as Canada's top owner, led the way with 58 wins. It is the 10th straight year he has led Woodbine in victories.

Patches O'Houlihan led all horses at the meet with six wins, followed by Light the Lamp, who recorded five victories.

The post Kimura, Casse Top Woodbine’s 2023 Standings appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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