Tag: People

Michael Algeo, chairman of the Maryland Racing Commission, announced Saturday that he had resigned from that position on June 14, 2023, according to The Racing Biz. Algeo, a retired circuit court judge, had served since 2016, appointed by then-Governor Larry Hogan as an industry outsider to serve as an impartial party.

“I believe that the role of the Maryland Racing Commission has been diminished significantly, and has been emasculated significantly,” Algeo told Off to the Races Radio Maryland. “And it's just not what it was when I started in 2016.”

Algeo was recognized with the Special Award of Merit May 18 during the Alibi Breakfast at Pimlico Race Course, joining past winners like Jim McKay, D. Wayne Lukas, Chick Lang, King Leatherbury, and Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

Algeo marks the fourth member of the Commission to exit in recent months, joining David Hayden, Tom Bowman, and Tom Winebrener.

“I thought it was time for new blood, younger blood, somebody that can come in and have a fresh look,” Algeo told Off to the Races Radio Maryland. “God bless them because it's a great industry with great people. And I feel very honored to have served for the past seven years. Riders up!”

Read more at The Racing Biz.

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Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has received permission to race again at New York Racing Association tracks and has nominated a horse to the $150,000 Wild Applause next Saturday at Belmont, Daily Racing Form reports.

Additionally, Joseph has been granted 23 stalls for the Saratoga meet, which starts July 13.

Following the sudden deaths of two of his horses—Parents Pride and Chasing Artie—at Churchill Downs during the first two days of the track's spring meet, Joseph was ban from racing and stabling at the Louisville track and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission ordered his entries scratched, including Wood Memorial (G2) winner Lord Miles from the Kentucky Derby (G1), pending an investigation.

While Joseph was never officially prohibited from racing at NYRA tracks, he and NYRA officials agreed he would not race at Belmont until information came to light on two horse deaths at Churchill Downs. Joseph subsequently lost runners to other trainers, including Grade 1 winner White Abarrio, who was transferred to Rick Dutrow.

Earlier this month, the Kentucky commission reported the necropsy performed on Parents Pride was inconclusive and that no prohibited substances were detected. Results on the other horse, Chasing Artie, have yet to be released.

“As a result of productive discussions that have taken place between NYRA and Saffie Joseph Jr., we have reached a point where NYRA is comfortable allowing him to both train and race at NYRA tracks,” NYRA spokesman Pat McKenna told the Form on Saturday.

Joseph's nominee to the Wild Applause for 3-year-old fillies on turf is Michael J. Gibson's Irish-bred Violet Gibson, who in her most recent outing was third in the Honey Ryder Stakes May 6 at Gulfstream Park.

To read the full story at drf.com, click here.

The post Joseph Granted Permission To Race At NYRA Tracks, Allotted Stalls For Saratoga Meet appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Jockey Eduardo Pinto, 18, made his second career ride a winning one Friday, driving the maiden Tayyara home in the second race for his first victory.

Pinto, a native of Venezuela, raced second with the 10-1 shot through an opening quarter before drawing away down the stretch after dueling with Miss Unconcerned. Tayyara, a 3-year-old Florida-bred Khozan filly owned by Soldi Stable LLC and trained by Jose D'Angelo, covered the six furlongs for $12,500 maiden claimers on the Tapeta in 1:12.91 in her third career start. She returned $23.60.

“He's been galloping for me and other people,” D'Angelo said. “He's done a good job and you never know how someone is going to do unless you give them a chance.”

The post Jockey Pinto Pilots First Career Winner At Gulfstream Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Jockey Assael Espinoza, trainer Jonathan Wong, and owners Johnny Taboada and Larry and Marianne Williams were leaders in their respective divisions at the Golden Gate Fields Winter/Spring meet, which concluded last Sunday.

Espinoza won the most races out of any rider with 93 trips to the winner's circle from 419 steers, equating to a strong 22%-win rate. His mounts finished in-the-money 56% of the time. From Opening Day, December 26 to the conclusion of the meet last Sunday, Espinoza's mounts compiled $2,013,156 in earnings.

“I'm very thankful for all the owners and trainers who have given me an opportunity to ride their horses,” said Espinoza. “Ever since I got to Golden Gate, people have been really good to me. There are a lot of great people supporting me.

I also really appreciate all the backside workers getting all the horses ready,” Espinoza continued. “They're very important behind the scenes in this sport. They need to be recognized and acknowledged. My agent did a great job finding me great rides. We both worked hard, and it worked out great.”

The nephew of Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza, 23-year-old Assael Espinoza began his riding career in 2018 at Santa Anita Park and shipped his tack to Northern California in early 2021. The Arcadia, California native picks up his second Golden Gate riding title; he finished atop the jockey standings at the 2022 Summer Meet. Notable wins for Espinoza at the Winter/Spring meet came aboard Rose Maddox in the Moscow Burning Stakes and Carole Lombard in the Campanile Stakes. Espinoza is represented by agent Tom “Bomber” Doutrich. Evin Roman finished second in the jockey standings with 80 victories while Armando Ayuso rounded out the top three spots with 72 wins.

Trainer Jonathan Wong defended his 2022 Winter/Spring meet training title with the most wins out of any trainer at the 2023 meeting, winning 56 races from 231 starters. Wong posted a 19%-win clip and earned total purse prizes of $1,063,272. The most notable win for Team Wong came on Closing Day in the inaugural Dream of Summer Stakes with 6-year-old California-bred mare Sadie Bluegrass. Other top campaigners in Kentucky-based Wong's California string are Clockstrikestwelve, Kennebec, and Love'em N Leave'em.

Heading into Closing Week, Isidro Tamayo was tied for the lead with Wong. He ended up finishing second in the standings with 53 first place finishes. Jack Steiner, who had the highest win percentage (29%) from trainers with over 50 starters, tied for third in the trainer standings with Steve Sherman. Steiner and Sherman won 32 races each.

In the owner category, Johnny Taboada won 14 races before changing his stable name to Taboada Racing Stables LLC in the middle of the meet. Between both stable names, Taboada won 24 races. Larry and Marianne Williams had a strong meeting with 15 wins from 75 starters as did Gray Farms, who won at a 26%-win clip from their 46 starters and finished third in the owner standings.

Live racing resumes at Golden Gate on Saturday, August 26 for the upcoming 2023 Summer Meet. Golden Gate runs Saturday through Monday at the Summer Meet, which runs through Monday, October 2.

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