Preakness Stakes | Horse Racing Free Tips

Art Collector ‘As Good As Ever’ In Thursday Breeze, Could Target Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

Blue Grass Stakes winner Art Collector breezed four furlongs in 49 1/5 seconds at the Skylight Training Center on Thursday, his first major move since finishing fourth in the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes. Trainer Tommy Drury told drf.com that the 3-year-old son of Bernardini is under consideration for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

Regular rider, Brian Hernandez, Jr., was aboard Art Collector for Thursday's workout.

“They say the track's been pretty heavy, but he still got his last eighth in 11 and 2,” Hernandez told drf.com. “He's as good as ever, from what I can tell.”

McPeek, Gaffalione’s Agent Pointing Fingers Over Preakness Decision With Swiss Skydiver

Tyler Gaffalione rode top 3-year-old filly Swiss Skydiver to win the G1 Alabama and then to a second-place finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, and according to her trainer Ken McPeek, was scheduled to ride her in her next start, as well. This week, McPeek told the Thoroughbred Daily News that Gaffalione's agent, Matt Muzikar, had reneged on their agreement.

“I announced that we're going to run in the Preakness and Tyler was on board,” McPeek said on the podcast. “By maybe 6:00 that night, his agent tells us that he can't ride. And I'm like, 'Look, you've given us a two-race commitment [GI Kentucky Oaks and Preakness].' He said, 'Oh well, sorry, I've got to ride for Chad Brown at Keeneland.' I said, 'You can't do this. It's dishonorable.' I've been doing this for 35 years and I've never had something like that happen. I still find it dishonorable. Shame on Tyler Gaffalione and his agent.”

Muzikar responded Friday, telling TDN that McPeek had informed him, nine days prior, that Swiss Skydiver would be running in the Spinster Stakes at Keeneland, held on the day after this year's Preakness Stakes. Thus, Muzikar began booking Gaffalione mounts for Keeneland that weekend.

When McPeek announced that he planned to run the filly in the Preakness at Pimlico instead, seven days ahead of the race, Muzikar wasn't able to get out of his commitments at Keeneland on Saturday. McPeek wound up giving the Preakness call on Swiss Skydiver to Robby Albarado, who won the race.

“What did he expect us to do? Not take business for the Preakness card or at Keeneland and sit there and wait for Kenny McPeek because the world revolves around him?” Muzikar said. “Knocking me and the jockey, he crossed a line.

“Tyler had nothing to do with this whole situation, so I don't like him knocking the jockey. Tyler is the greatest kid and the greatest jock I have had in the 26 years I have been doing this. He did nothing to him.”

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

The post McPeek, Gaffalione’s Agent Pointing Fingers Over Preakness Decision With Swiss Skydiver appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Preakness-Winning Duo McPeek, Albarado Join Breeders’ Cup’s Cocktails & Conversation Thursday

The Breeders' Cup, one of Thoroughbred horse racing's most prestigious international events, today announces Kenny McPeek and Robby Albarado, this year's Preakness Stakes-winning trainer and jockey respectively, as the special guests for this week's installment of Cocktails & Conversation. The multi-platform broadcast is a recurring virtual happy hour series designed to rally the horse racing industry's most prominent figures to raise funds for communities that have been profoundly impacted by COVID-19.

The Cocktails & Conversation broadcast, airing Thursday, Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. ET via Breeders' Cup's Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages, will mark the 23^rd installment of the series. The episode will be hosted by Nick Luck and Britney Eurton of NBC Sports and 21 Club mixologist and creator of Breeders' Cup's official cocktails Mark Tubridy.

A native of Lexington, Ky., McPeek began his horse racing career working for future Hall of Fame trainer Claude R. “Shug” McGaughey III before opening his own stable in 1985. Widely known for his talent in discovering star horses, McPeek has trained Grade 1 winners Sarava, who captured the Belmont Stakes, Harlan's Holiday, winner of the Florida Derby and Golden Ticket, winner of the Travers Stakes, among others.

After turning professional at age of 16, Albarado has been a regular force in the horse racing circuit. Albarado won his first Triple Crown race in 2007, when he steered Curlin to victory in the 132^nd Preakness Stakes, and later that year won the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) with the same horse. His other victories in the Breeders' Cup World Championships include the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with Tapitsfly in 2009 and the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) in 2011 with Court Vision.

Last Saturday, McPeek and Albarado made history as the duo won the Preakness Stakes with filly Swiss Skydiver. Defeating the 3-2 favorite Authentic by a neck, Swiss Skydiver became the first filly since 2009 to win the Preakness. The filly also gave Albarado his first Grade 1 stakes victory since 2017.

Thursday's live stream will commence with Tubridy leading a virtual mixology class for viewers, creating two refreshing cocktails to enjoy at home during the broadcast. Mark will first create “Tito's Hurricane,” which boasts bright, fruity flavors with ingredients including Tito's Handmade Vodka, dark rum, fresh orange juice, grenadine and more. The second featured cocktail is “Smoke Signals,” a smooth and nuanced cocktail featuring Maker's Mark Bourbon, Islay Scotch, sweet vermouth and smoked cinnamon.

Following the cocktail-mixing segment, the broadcast will feature a conversational interview with McPeek and Albarado, who will speak about the recent historic Preakness win, Swiss Skydiver's prospects in this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships and more. Fans will be able to submit questions via social media for the hosts and guest to answer during the broadcast for a truly interactive experience. Throughout the cocktail hour, viewers will be encouraged to donate to industry workers and communities in need through the official Breeders' Cup website.

Tapping all-star talents such as world-renowned jockeys Victor Espinoza, Umberto Rispoli, Javier Castellano, Frankie Dettori, Angel Cordero Jr. and Mike Smith; leading trainers Peter Eurton, Simon Callaghan, Tom Amoss, Bob Baffert, Chad Brown, Mark Casse, Graham Motion, Doug O'Neill, Todd Pletcher, Dale Romans and Wesley Ward; the Stronach Group's Aidan Butler, NHL All-Star and Thoroughbred owner Erik Johnson; film and television actress and equestrian rider Bo Derek; owners Jeff Bloom, Sol Kumin and Jack and Laurie Wolf; television personality and fashion designer Carson Kressley; the NBC Sports' horse racing broadcasting team; and Breeders' Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming, Breeders' Cup has raised thousands of dollars through previous Cocktails & Conversation broadcasts.

All proceeds generated from Cocktails & Conversation are wholly donated to the following organizations benefitting the horse racing and hospitality industries:

Race Track Chaplaincy of America, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs of the horse racing community through social services, food and clothing banks and educational workshops.
USBG National Charity Foundation, which supports bartenders, barbacks and bar servers throughout the nation who have been financially impacted by restaurant and bar shutdowns as a result of the health crisis.
Restaurant Workers Relief Program, a project jointly formed by Maker's Mark and the Lee Initiative that has transformed restaurants in major cities into relief centers that offer food and supplies to affected hospitality workers.

To learn more about the virtual happy hour series and to support those in need, please visit BreedersCup.com/convos.

The post Preakness-Winning Duo McPeek, Albarado Join Breeders’ Cup’s Cocktails & Conversation Thursday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Dirt Mile, Classic Under Consideration For Preakness Third Jesus’ Team

Grupo 7C Racing Stable's Jesus' Team, who finished third in Saturday's 145th Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico, has taken up temporary residence at trainer Kenny McPeek's Magdalena Farm in Lexington, KY before moving to Keeneland Friday to begin preparation for a start on the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup program.

“He will run in the Breeders' Cup, 100-percent,” said trainer Jose D'Angelo, who was scheduled to saddle two starters on Wednesday's program at Gulfstream Park West. “We just don't know what race – maybe the [Dirt] Mile or maybe the Classic. I will wait for the decision from the owners.”

McPeek, who saddled Swiss Skydiver for a thrilling victory over Bob Baffert-trained Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Authentic in the Preakness, welcomed Jesus' Team to his farm after being contacted by D'Angelo.

“Always after his races, for Jesus, I give him four or five days in a roll pen or a little paddock. At Keeneland, they don't have that. So I called Kenny McPeek and he said, 'Hey, come on, bring your horse,'” said D'Angelo, whose first Preakness starter was stabled next to Swiss Skydiver in the Preakness Stakes Barn. “He's relaxing and enjoying his days off at Magdalena Farm.

“On Friday, we'll move him to Keeneland again and start jogging and galloping him slow for a week. He'll have two or three works for the Breeders' Cup. The horse came back from the Preakness very good.”

D'Angelo saddled his first horse in the U.S. at Gulfstream Park 16 months ago after winning the trainer's title in his native Venezuela, joining his father, Francisco, a multiple training titlist in the South American country before venturing to the U.S. in 2015.

“It was an amazing experience, spending one week with the stars of training, like Bob Baffert and Kenny McPeek,” said D'Angelo, whose stable is based at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County. “I'm very, very proud of my work and my team for the third in the Preakness. I had confidence in Jesus before the race. I knew he was in good condition.”

D'Angelo will split his time between Keeneland and Gulfstream Park West leading up to the Breeders' Cup.

The post Dirt Mile, Classic Under Consideration For Preakness Third Jesus’ Team appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post