Tag: Racing

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who has had a milestone-filled meet, reached another milestone Saturday when Winchell Thoroughbred LLC's Red Route One made him the winningest trainer in Oaklawn's history with the victory in the $200,000 Bath House Row Stakes.

The victory was Oaklawn win 868 for Asmussen, who had tied the late Bob Holthus with a win on Friday. On Feb. 20, Asmussen became the first trainer in North America to reach 10,000 career wins when Bet He's Ready won at Oaklawn.

In the Bath House Row, Red Route One fell back early and raced in last place while Victory Formation led the field through fractions of :22.87 and :46.95 for the first half mile. Victory Formation held a narrow lead over stablemate Tapit Shoes entering the stretch and the two battled toward the wire. Tapit Shoes began to edge clear before being caught in the final jump by Red Route One, who got up late by a head. Victory Formation was third. The winning time was 1:50.94 for 1 1/8 miles over a fast track.

The win gave jockey Joel Rosario a sweep of all three stakes on Saturday's card. He also won the $150,000 Valley of Vapors with Merlazza and the $1-million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) with Proxy.

“I always had confidence in the horse,” Rosario said of Red Route One. “It looked like when we got to the sixteenth pole that we had the race won. Then, they kept moving. But he gave everything to me. It was just a close race.”

Red Route One, who was winning for the second time in nine starts, earned an automatic berth to the Preakness Stakes (G1) May 20 with the win.

“He ran straight through the wire.” Asmussen said. “He still gallops out so huge. It feels like there's more there. Maybe the victory, maybe the winning … Joel (Rosario) gave him a dream trip. I think that he waited until the (Kenny) McPeek horse (Interlock Empire) ran up outside of him and then just got some momentum with him.”

Red Route One will be considered for the Preakness, Asmussen said.

The post Asmussen Becomes Oaklawn’s Winningest Trainer With Red Route One’s Win In Bath House Row Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Godolphin LLC's homebred Proxy ran down the leaders late to prevail in a three-horse photo finish for the victory in Saturday's $1-million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) before an on-track crowd of 36,000 at Oaklawn Park.

Proxy, ridden by Joel Rosario, settled into fifth-place early as Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner Stilleto Boy set the early pace, while pushed by Classic Causeway through fractions of :23.23 and :47.64 for the first half mile. The winner was still fifth as the horses entered the stretch, but quickly gained ground after going six wide and got up in the final strides to prevail by a head over defending Oaklawn Handicap winner Last Samurai, who was closing quickly up the rail. Stilleto Boy finished a nose behind in third. The final time was 1:49.68 over a fast track.

“I thought we would be a little closer than we were,” said winning rider Joel Rosario, who was winning his second straight $1-million race at Oaklawn following the victory last Saturday in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) aboard Clairiere. “We always try to be in the clear on the outside. It looked like for a second when we hit the last turn, he took himself back a little bit. But he came back and when hit the stretch turning for home, he's got that long stride and he kept getting to them, getting to them. Finally, he got them at the wire. It was a good race.”

Senor Buscador, Charge It, Classic Causeway, and Rated R Superstar completed the order of finish.

“I knew there was enough speed to set up his late run,” winning trainer Michael Stidham said. “The way it went, with Charge It sitting right in behind them (speed horses) and us outside of him, the only concern was turning for home it looked like he was trying to drop out of it again. But Joel (Rosario) had him out there for a reason, to stay out from behind the dirt.”

Proxy, who was coming off a narrow second behind Stilleto Boy in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) March 4 improved his record to 5-6-2 in 16 career starts and has now earned $1,775,970. The Kentucky-bred son of Tapit out of Grade 1 winner Panty Raid, by Include, returned $9.40 for the win.

The post Proxy Scores Hard-Fought Win In Oaklawn Handicap Thriller appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Maryland Jockey Club has canceled its Thursday, April 27 racing program at Laurel Park due to insufficient entries. The racing office will be open and taking entries Sunday for the Friday, April 28 program.

We acknowledge the recent statements in the press regarding the safety of our racing surface. However, we want to emphasize that 1/ST Racing and the Maryland Jockey Club prioritize safety above all else, and continually engage in proactive analysis of our racing and training surfaces. To this end, we have engaged the services of Dennis Moore, a renowned industry expert, who has been conducting routine testing of the Laurel Park racing surface for the past three days. Dennis, along with independent engineering experts, have performed a comprehensive battery of tests during this time, to ensure the safety of our racing surface.

• Particle size distribution via the following methods:

• • Laser diffraction.
  • Sieve and hydrometer

• Orono Biomechanical Surface Test (ASTM Standard F3400)

• • Peak Vertical Load
  • Peak Fore-Aft Load
  • Peak Vertical Deacceleration

• Ground Penetrating Radar
• Percentage surface crossfall
• Bulk Density
• X-ray diffraction
• Base inspection

The results of these tests were all within industry norms. Based on these tests and their professional knowledge, our track experts have advised that there are no issues with the track and that it is safe to race and train.

In addition, Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, Director of Equine Safety and Welfare with HISA, has at our request reviewed Laurel's fatality data and stated: “I've reviewed the data provided to me this morning by the Maryland Racing Commission and find a racing fatality rate at Laurel of approximately 1.3/1,000 starts since January 1st. By comparison, the Equine Injury Database shows a rate of approximately 1.98/1,000 at this same point (through April 21) last year.” As stated the current fatality rate has decreased from last year at the same point.

Even though the track surface is within industry standards certain Horseman have determined not to submit entries for this Thursday's racing card. Hopefully after reviewing the facts live racing will proceed.

We hope that all stakeholders will be able to come to a consensus and adopt the enhanced veterinary and safety protocols that have been implemented with great success in California. MJC has made repeated requests of the horsemen and are still waiting for their approval to be able to move forward with their implementation.

While we all know that catastrophic injuries will not be eliminated completely it is clear from the above that our track is not the issue, and we urge the Commission and the MTHA to take advantage of the proven enhancements to improve horse safety.

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With a recent race under his belt, California-bred Brickyard Ride demonstrated his customary speed and considerable class on Saturday at Santa Anita, as he held off a determined Anarchist late to take the $100,000 Kona Gold Stakes (G3) while becoming only the second horse to register repeat victories in the 38-year history of the race.

Owned and bred by Alfred Pais, trained by Craig Lewis, and ridden by Juan Hernandez, Brickyard Ride won by a half length and covered 6½ furlongs in 1:15.84.

Quick from the gate but anything but lonely on the lead, Brickyard Ride was pressed to the far turn by a threesome comprised of Anarchist, Armagnac, and Positivity. Approaching the three furlong pole, Brickyard Ride opened up by 1 1/2 lengths from Anarchist, and that proved to perhaps be the winning move as the son of Clubhouse Ride was all-out late to prevail as Anarchist was steadily closing the gap for second.

“He made a really good move around the three eighths,” said Hernandez. “I felt the pace was really hot, these guys didn't want to leave me alone. Of course, everybody was trying to win the race, like me. Around the three eighths, he picked it up and that was the signal that he was ready to run. I went ahead and let him open up a couple of lengths and I think that was where he won the race.

“He's a great horse, it looks like he came back pretty good. Hopefully he can keep improving every race. He has a lot of heart because with these fractions (:21.77, :43.92, and 1:08.95)…He is good, he just loves to run.”

Idle since May 29 prior to running third down the hillside turf course in the San Simeon Stakes (G3) March 5, Brickyard Ride, one of three California-breds in a field of five older horses, was off as the 4-5 favorite and paid $3.60 for the win.

In becoming the first horse to take consecutive runnings of the Kona Gold since Bill Spawr's Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winnerAmazombie in 2011 and 2012, Brickyard Ride notched his third graded stakes win and his eighth overall stakes victory.

A 6-year-old full horse by Clubhouse Ride out of the Southern Image mare Brickyard Helen, Brickyard picked up $60,000 for his efforts, increasing his earnings to $816,977 while running his overall race record to 13-1-3 from 25 starts.

“He's just a wonderful horse,” said Lewis. “That half mile was pretty rapid. I got a little concerned but, thankfully, Juan had a lot of horse when the running started. He's a fast dude, really fast. Fortunately, I'm blessed with very good help, (my) foreman was great, the groom's great. My exercise boys are great. My operation is really good and I don't have to do much but stand around and watch.”

Trained by Doug O'Neill and ridden by Ramon Vazquez, 9-5 second choice Anarchist finished 4½ lengths in front of stablemate and fellow Cal-bred Positivity.

Positivity, off at 12-1 with Tiago Pereira, finished third, another 4 1/2 lengths back.

The post Brickyard Ride Powers Gate To Wire For Kona Gold Repeat appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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