ray handal | Horse Racing Free Tips

Gazelle Produces Yet Another Longshot Winner on Oaks Trail

Less than 24 hours after Defining Purpose (Cross Traffic) caused a 20-1 boilover in the GI Central Bank Ashland S. at Keeneland, Promiseher America (American Pharoah) followed suit with another long-odds victory in Saturday's GIII Gazelle S. at Aqueduct.

Taking a steep rise in class, having graduated by better than a half-dozen lengths going this track's one-turn mile Feb. 19, the $75,000 OBS April graduate was alertly away and settled just off the flank of the rail-drawn Capella (Quality Road) through a half-mile in a moderate :49.60 as favored Occult (Into Mischief) raced with the pace three wide. Asked to claim the front-runner nearing the stretch, Promiseher America wrested command with about a quarter mile to travel, but soon had Occult breathing down her neck. The 26-1 outsider–the only horse to jump at a double-digit quote–turned back that challenge passing the eighth pole and Charging Girl (Dialed In), a latest fourth in what is shaping as a productive renewal of the GIII Honeybee S. Feb. 25, began to find her best finishing kick down the center of the track. But Promiseher America had just enough to narrowly annex the final local GI Longines Kentucky Oaks prep.

“She was super impressive last time and I said, 'Let's go the nine furlongs. We can always go back to the [first-level allowance] if we need to,'” said trainer Ray Handal, winning his first graded stakes. “But I like the idea of two turns. She's just built like a two-turn kind of horse. She obviously had to step up. It was one of those races where whoever took the biggest step forward would win this race today and she was in the realm of them and she hung on.”

Pedigree Notes:

Promiseher America is the 20th worldwide winner at the graded/group level for her sire and 34th black-type winner overall. She is also the 221st stakes winner and 114th graded or group winner out of a daughter of the influential Unbridled's Song. She is inbred 4 x 3 to GI Kentucky Derby hero Unbridled.

On behalf of his clients Robert and Lawana Low, Jacob West acquired Promisedyouheaven for $370,000 with this filly in utero at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, where the mare's then-weanling colt by Practical Joke fetched $240,000 from OXO Equine. Second dam Hurricane Bernie, winner of the 2007 Canterbury Park Lassie, is a half-sister to Mizdirection (Mizzen Mast), two-time winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

Promisedyouheaven is the dam of a yearling filly by Curlin and is due to Constitution for her foal of 2023.

Saturday, Aqueduct
GAZELLE S.-GIII, $250,000, Aqueduct, 4-8, 3yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:51.41, ft.
1–PROMISEHER AMERICA, 118, f, 3, by American Pharoah
                1st Dam: Promisedyouheaven, by Unbridled's Song
                2nd Dam: Hurricane Bernie, by Sea of Secrets
                3rd Dam: Deceptive, by Clever Trick
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($75,000
2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-Hoffman Thoroughbreds and Tom F.
McCrocklin,; B-Robert & Lawana Low (KY); T-Raymond Handal;
J-Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. $137,500. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0,
$198,138. Werk Nick Rating: C+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Gambling Girl, 118, f, 3, Dialed In–Tulipmania,
by Empire Maker. ($200,000 Ylg '21 SARAUG). O-Repole
Stable; B-Gallagher's Stud (NY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $50,000.
3–Shidabhuti, 120, f, 3, Practical Joke–A. P. Candy,
by Candy Ride (Arg). 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($77,000 Wlg
'20 KEENOV; $310,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Peter M. Brant;
B-Gabriel Duignan & Gerry Dilger (KY); T-Chad C. Brown.
$30,000.
Margins: HF, 1HF, 2. Odds: 26.50, 5.70, 3.05.
Also Ran: Capella, Occult, Frosty O Toole.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Weekly Rulings: May 17 – 23

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky.
Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.

CALIFORNIA
Track: Santa Anita
Date: 05/20/2022
Licensee: Abel Cedillo, jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Jockey Abel Cedillo is fined $500.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1688(b)(8)(d) (Use of Riding Crop – more than six times) during the fifth race at Santa Anita Park on May 15, 2022.
Track: Santa Anita
Date: 05/20/2022
Licensee: Rob Henie, owner
Penalty: Restoration of standing
Violation: N/A
Explainer: Owner Robert Henie, Jr. (dba Palm West Stable), having complied with the provisions of California Horse Racing Board rule #1876 (Financial Responsibility – $6,000 to trainer Monty Meier) is restored to good standing. LAFP #004 ruling issued at Los Angeles County Fair on September 8, 2008, is set aside.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 05/20/2022
Licensee: Tyler Baze, jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Jockey Tyler Baze is fined $500.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8)(d) (Use of Riding Crop – more than six times) during the fifth race at Santa Anita Park on May 15, 2022.
Track: Santa Anita
Date: 05/21/2022
Licensee: Librado Barocio, trainer
Penalty: $500 fine, ½ point assessment on license
Violation: Medication violation (horse working for removal from vet's list)
Explainer: Trainer Librado Barocio, who worked the horse Super Chief for removal from the Veterinarian's List at Santa Anita Park on March 31, 2022, is fined $500.00 and assessed one half (1/2) point in accordance with California Horse Racing Rule #1843.4 (Multiple Medication Violations – Expires 5/21/23) pursuant to California Horse Racing Board Rule #1887(a) (Trainer or Owner to Insure Condition of Horse) and Rule #1866(h) (Veterinarians List) for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1588(a)(15) (Horse Ineligible to Start in a Race), Rule #1843(a)(b)(d) (Medication, Drugs and Other Substances) and Rule #1843.1(a) (Prohibited Drug Substances – Phenylbutazone [Class 4] – First Offense in 365 days).

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 05/21/2022
Licensee: Diego Herrera, jockey
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Jockey Diego Herrera is suspended for 3 racing days (May 28, 29 and 30, 2022) for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8)(d) (Use of Riding Crop – more than six times – fourth offense in the last sixty (60) days) during the sixth race at Santa Anita Park on May 20, 2022.
Track: Santa Anita
Date: 05/22/2022
Licensee: Kyle Frey, jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Jockey Kyle Frey is fined $500.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8)(d) (Use of Riding Crop – more than six times) during the fourth race at Santa Anita Park on May 21, 2022.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 05/22/2022
Licensee: Victor Espinoza, jockey
Penalty: $750 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Jockey Victor Espinoza is fined $750.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8)(d) (Use of Riding Crop – more than six times – second offense in the last 60 days) during the ninth race at Santa Anita Park on May 21, 2022.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 05/22/2022
Licensee: Diego Herrera, jockey
Penalty: $1,500 fine and three-day suspension
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Jockey Diego Herrera is suspended for 3 racing days (June 3, 4 and 5, 2022) and fined $1,500.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8)(d) (Use of Riding Crop – more than six times – fifth offense in the last sixty [60] days) during the sixth race at Santa Anita Park on May 21, 2022.

NEW YORK
Track: Belmont Park
Date: 05/19/2022
Licensee: Richard Gazer, clocker
Penalty: $2,500 fine and 30-day suspension (stayed pending appeal)
Violation: Altering published work
Explainer: Mr. Richard Gazer (Clocker) is hereby suspended 30 Calandar days and fined the sum of $2,500 dollars, for altering a published work of a horse to make the horse eligible to race. Having appealed a stay has been granted.

Read more about the issue here.
Track: Belmont Park
Date: 05/20/2022
Licensee: Ray Handal, trainer
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Failure to report shockwave treatment
Explainer: Mr. Raymond Handal has been fined the sum of $500.00 dollars for failing to report a shockwave treatment. Note that the above data is current as of 1:02 PM EDT, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, and subject to change as more information becomes available.

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Constitutionlawyer Could Provide Uplifting Weekend For Ray Handal Barn

Trainer Ray Handal will be in search of his first graded stakes win when he saddles Perrine Time Thoroughbreds and West Paces Racing's Constitutionlawyer in Saturday's Grade 3, $250,000 Withers at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Constitution colt enters the nine-furlong test for sophomores, which offers 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers, from an impressive gate-to-wire maiden score under Dylan Davis in a race contested at the Withers distance over a muddy and sealed main track on Jan. 2 at the Big A.

The $170,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase kept good company in his first two outings, overcoming slow starts to finish fourth on debut traveling 1 1/16-miles at Belmont Park in a race won by eventual G2 Remsen winner Mo Donegal. He followed with a third-place effort on Dec. 2 at the Big A, finishing within 3 1/2-lengths of Jerome-winner and Withers rival Courvoisier.

Handal said he schooled Constitutionlawyer at the gate multiple times to prepare for his recent front-running triumph from post 1 and has followed that method into Saturday's test where the colt will again exit the inside post under new rider Jose Lezcano.

“I had really been schooling him. He missed the break in his first start and I thought it was just a young horse thing because he broke and then was a little hesitant,” Handal said. “In his second start, he did the same thing and was hesitant and got himself shuffled back. So, I did a lot of schooling with him and three days out from the race, I popped him out of the gate and broke him out and went one furlong with him as a refresher and he really sharpened up.

“Since the last race he's matured a lot mentally. He might have just been doing it on talent at the beginning, but after winning I think he's realized what his job is and the proverbial light has come on,” Handal added. “He's a little more aggressive in the morning and is willing to do whatever we ask him to. We're excited about Saturday but we drew the one post again, so I took him back to the gate yesterday and popped him out again to make sure he had his mind on racing and he came out real good.”

Handal said he expects a forward trip for Constitutionlawyer in an 11-horse Withers field that includes potential speed threats in the Chad Brown-trained Early Voting as well as Courvoisier.

“We need to come out of there running because I don't want to be getting caught in traffic from the one-hole in a big field going two turns. We'll use a little gas up early and see where the dust settles and go from there,” Handal said.

Although focused on preparing his Derby hopeful for Saturday's test, Handal noted his thoughts are with his longtime assistant Jose Mejia, who incurred multiple injuries during a training accident Sunday at Turfway Park.

Handal's traveling assistant was unseated from his mount who stumbled and landed on top of him, causing the 33-year-old Mejia to incur 10 broken ribs and four broken vertebrae.

Handal said Mejia has undergone surgery but currently has no feeling below his ribcage.

“He's a great guy and has given us so much. He's like a brother to me,” Handal said. “He's been with me since I started training about six years ago. He's the first rider I hired when I started. He's a tough guy and no matter what he's always going to be a part of the Handal racing team.”

In addition to assistance from The Jockey Club's Safety Net Foundation, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist with Mejia's recovery. The GoFundMe page can be found at https://gofund.me/e7043f0a.

Handal said he is also forming plans with some of his owners for an online auction to raise further funds for Mejia.

“Jose has been so important to the barn and has put so much into the horses that race for us. It's good to see people coming together to help,” Handal said.

Handal will also be represented in Saturday's opening race – a seven-furlong sprint for state-bred sophomore fillies – by first-time starter Menily, who will exit post 3 under Jalon Samuel.

A dark bay daughter of Malibu Moon out of the Empire Maker mare Comme Chez Moi, Menily breezed in company with maiden winner Mischievous Diane on January 13, covering a half-mile over the Belmont dirt training track in 48.50 seconds.

“She's a big, rangy type of filly and she's shown a bit of talent in the morning,” Handal said. “I gave her a real strong one with Mischievous Diane, who broke her maiden pretty impressively. Mischievous Diane outworked her that day but she was only just outworking her, so it gives me confidence this filly will run pretty well.”

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GoFundMe Created for Injured Handal Assistant Mejia

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched for Ray Handal's longtime assistant trainer Jose Mejia, who incurred multiple injuries during a training accident Sunday at Turfway Park.

Handal's traveling assistant was unseated from his mount, who stumbled and landed on top of him, causing the 33-year-old Mejia to incur 10 broken ribs and four broken vertebrae. Handal said Mejia has undergone surgery but currently has no feeling below his ribcage.

“He's a great guy and has given us so much. He's like a brother to me,” Handal said. “He's been with me since I started training about six years ago. He's the first rider I hired when I started. He's a tough guy and no matter what, he's always going to be a part of the Handal racing team.”

Mejia is receiving additional help from The Jockey Club's Safety Net Foundation and Handal said he is also forming plans with some of his owners for an online auction to raise further funds for Mejia.

“Jose has been so important to the barn and has put so much into the horses that race for us. It's good to see people coming together to help,” Handal said.

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