Richard Baltas | Horse Racing Free Tips

Still Embattled In Civil Suit, Ahmed Zayat Files For Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Listing String Of Racing Creditors

Ahmed Zayat, best known in horse racing as the owner of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah through his Zayat Stables, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection on Sept. 8. Paperwork filed in United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey lists a long string of trainers, veterinarians, transport companies, and others as creditors for expenses totaling tens of millions of dollars.

Unlike Chapter 13 or 11 bankruptcy, Chapter 7 does not involve the filing of a repayment plan. Rather, a bankruptcy trustee is appointed to gather and sell assets and pay creditors when possible. Some of the debtor's property may be exempt, but anything nonexempt will be liquidated.

A lengthy list of creditors attached to the filing revealed a number of horse trainers owed amounts in the six figures, among them Bob Baffert, who is owed $227,884.17, Brad Cox ($194,836.19), Mike Maker ($120,921.88), Richard Baltas ($316,070.12), Steve Asmussen ($102,541.10) and Todd Pletcher ($125,598.69). Rudy Rodriguez, who was awarded a judgment by a New York court for $394,437.19, is also listed. Jorge Navarro's JN Racing is owed $63,822.01.

Veterinary hospitals Hagyard Equine Medical ($38,999.53), Rood and Riddle ($54,346.77), and Kentucky Equine Medical Associates ($19,937.32) are also on the list, as are numerous therapists, individual veterinarians, van companies, and others.

Several financial advisement companies and individuals are listed, with notes they are owed six or seven figures each. One $250,000 debt is listed for the PMG Operating Account, whose address corresponds to Meadows Gaming.

Some, though not all, of these creditors' claims are marked as disputed.

Zayat and his racing operation were named in a civil lawsuit earlier this year in Fayette County Circuit Court from New York investment firm MGG Investments, stemming from a $30 million loan he took out in 2016. MGG won a summary judgment in the amount of $24.5 million earlier this year, representing the remaining balance Zayat Stables owes on the loan. Zayat Stables has countersued, and the bankruptcy paperwork listed the final amount owed to MGG as unknown for the moment. Control of Zayat Stables has been placed into the hands of a court-appointed receiver, who has raced a few of the stable's remaining horses and sold many of them, with an aim to maximize profit in the court of liquidating the operation.

Cedarview Capital, a New York hedge fund, is owed $7.9 million. In documents filed as part of the MGG suit, Zayat indicated he had paid over $1 million in interest to Cedarview, and stated it was one of the lenders he took on alongside MGG. In emails dated January of this year, Zayat claimed to have traveled to China in an attempt to attract investors to inject cash into the stable in order to “make the company fiscally functional” and to repay MGG and Cedarview.

In 2009, Zayat Stable filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after Zayat was sued by Fifth Third Bank for allegedly defaulting on $34 million in equine loans.

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Lady Prancealot, Raymundos Secret Top Saturday’s John C. Mabee

The 63rd edition of the John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar Saturday has drawn a field of eight older fillies and mares headed by a pair of on-the-rise 4-year-olds in Raymundos Secret and Lady Prancealot.

The Grade II race with its $150,000 purse goes as the 10th of 11 on a card that will have an early starting time of 1 p.m.

Raymundos Secret, a Florida-bred by a British stallion named Treasure Beach, comes into the mile and one-eighth Mabee off a photo-finish tally in a one-mile allowance race at Del Mar on August 14. That was the first start by the Phil D'Amato-trained bay since October 26 of last year, so it surely should serve as a good tightener. It was also the filly's fourth win in six lifetime starts, all on the green. She races for the partnership of Sierra Racing or Sterling Stables.

Lady Prancealot, who does her running out of the barn of trainer Richard Baltas, comes into the Mabee off a series of stakes tries against some of the better grass fillies and mares on the west coast. The Irish-bred by Sir Prancealot most recently finished fourth – beaten less than two lengths despite trouble along the way – in the Grade II Yellow Ribbon at Del Mar on August 8. Last year she won the Grade III Valley View at Keeneland and the Grade I American Oaks at Santa Anita and sports a bankroll of $574,841. She's owned by McClanahan, Iavarone or Parkland Thoroughbreds.

Interestingly, though not surprisingly, the top two riders at the session – Umberto Rispoli and Flavien Prat – ride the top two fillies in the feature. Rispoli will get a leg up on Lady Prancealot, while Prat goes aboard Raymundos Secret.

Here's the full field for the headliner from the rail out with riders and morning line odds:

Amerman Racing's Catch the Eye (J.C. Diaz, Jr., 15-1); Lady Prancealot (5/2); Sondereker, Lewkowitz or Albert, et al's Don't Blame Judy (Drayden Van Dyke, 10-1); Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams' Pulpit Rider (Juan Hernandez, 5-1); Little Red Feather Racing's Zee Drop (Abel Cedillo, 6-1); Jeong or Johnson's Meal Ticket (Tiago Pereira, 15-1); Hronis Racing's Quick (Jose Valdivia, Jr., 8-1), and Raymundos Secret (2-1).

Pulpit Rider comes into the Mabee off a photo-finish score in the Solana Beach Stakes for California-breds going a mile on the grass at Del Mar on August 15. The 5-year-old mare by the late Lucky Pulpit has won six races and more than $460,000 in purses.

Zee Drop, a 4-year-old chestnut by Lemon Drop Kid, steps into stakes competition for the first time. She's won three of her eight lifetime outings, including a victory on the green at Del Mar last September.

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Bodhicitta, Prat Nose Out Tonahutu In Yellow Ribbon At Del Mar

Calvin Nguyen's Bodhicitta, a filly on the rise, came running late to get up by a whisker and take honors in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar Saturday afternoon.

The British-bred daughter of Showcasing packed 120 pounds and got a picture-perfect ride from Flavien Prat and caught DRJ Racing, Kenney or Strauss' Tonahutu just in the shadow of the wire. Finishing third was Agave Racing Stable's Harmless.

Race favorite Beau Recall put in only a mild late bid and finished fifth beaten just under two lengths in the seven-horse lineup.

The tally was the eighth stakes score in just 12 racing days for rider Prat, who now has 21 firsts at the session, second best among all riders to Umberto Rispoli, who won four races on the afternoon to forge to the top with 22 scores.

“I had a good post (#2) today, so I was able to get right on the fence and save ground,” said Prat. “I knew they were going slow, but my filly has a good turn of foot and we got it done.”

The 4-year-old Bodhicitta paid $11.20, $5.40 and $4.00 across the board and earned a winner's share of $90,000 from the Yellow Ribbon purse of $151,000. She now has amassed $265,808 in winnings with her fourth stateside score and initial stakes victory.

This was the 68th edition of the Yellow Ribbon for fillies and mares, aged 3 and up, and the winner covered the mile and one-sixteenth distance on the Del Mar turf course in 1:42.83.

“The race went about like I thought it would, I didn't see much speed in the race,” said Baltas. “She has more tactical speed than some of the horses, like Beau Recall and others who come from the back. He (Flavien Prat) saved a lot of ground and we needed all of it. When he won with her awhile back, he said 'This is my next (multiple-stakes winner) Vasilika'. It means a lot because he's ridden a lot of good horses. We may go here in the Mabee ($150,000, Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes, September 5).”

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5 Sophomore Fillies Set To Take On Gamine In Test

Michael Lund Petersen's Gamine headlines a field of six in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 Longines Test, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The Longines Test is one of three Grade 1 events on Saturday's 12-race Runhappy Travers Day card, headlined by the “Mid-Summer Derby” at 1 1/4 miles for the country's most talented 3-year-olds and the $300,000 Ballerina presented by NYRA Bets for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going seven furlongs offering a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

The card is bolstered by the Grade 3, $200,000 Troy, a 5 ½-furlong turf sprint for older males, and the Grade 3, $150,000 Waya, a 1 ½-mile turf route for older fillies and mares. The card will be broadcast on Saratoga Live on FOX Sports and MSG Networks.

Gamine, an Into Mischief bay trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, has crossed the wire first in all three career starts, winning her March debut at Santa Anita by 6 1/4-lengths when sprinting 6 1/2-furlongs. In May, she edged Speech, who two starts later captured the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland, in an optional-claiming sprint at Oaklawn where she was subsequently disqualified from purse money.

Last out, the $1.8 million Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale purchase annexed a field of seven in the Grade 1 Longines Acorn by 18 3/4-lengths on June 20 at Belmont Park.

Gamine led the seven-horse field wire-to-wire, completing the course in 1:32.55, marking the fastest of 90 editions of the Acorn and just missed Najran's track record of 1:32.24 set in May 2003.

Baffert said Gamine, who breezed six furlongs in 1:12.80 in company with Eclair on Sunday at Del Mar, is coming into Saturday's test in good order as she marches a path toward the nine-furlong Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on September 4 at Churchill Downs.

“She looks great. We're keeping her one turn,” said Baffert. “I would have liked to stretch her out one more time, but the timing wasn't just right for it, but she's doing really well. She's a really exciting filly, so hopefully she runs as well as in the past and then we can run her in the Kentucky Oaks.”

Bred in Kentucky by Grace Thoroughbred Holdings, Gamine is out of the Kafwain mare Peggy Jane and will be piloted by Hall of Famer John Velazquez from post 5.

Tracy Farmer's Grade 1-winner Perfect Alibi, trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, owns a perfect record from two starts at the Spa. The dark bay daughter of Sky Mesa, bred in Kentucky by Pin Oak Stud, graduated by 9 1/2-lengths at first asking in May 2019 in a Churchill Downs maiden sprint.

Following a runner-up effort in the Astoria in June 2019 at Belmont, she shipped upstate to Saratoga and rallied to smart scores in the Grade 2 Adirondack and Grade 1 Spinaway.

She completed a productive 2-year-old campaign with a second in the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland and a closing fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita.

After opening her sophomore season with a distant fifth in the Longines Acorn, Perfect Alibi will look to get back on track after a distant fifth in the Acorn.

“It was such a crazy race and the one filly [Gamine] was so awesome, it's hard to say what happened,” said Casse of the Acorn effort. “She was coming back off a long layoff and it wasn't an ideal spot, but it was the best spot that was out there for her and it just didn't work out.”

Perfect Alibi has worked four times since the Acorn, including a half-mile breeze from the gate in 49.44 on July 26 and a swift four furlongs in 48.63 on Sunday both at Saratoga. Casse said he is hoping to motivate the filly for a sharper performance on Saturday.

“She's not a very good work horse, which also made it difficult coming off the long layoff,” said Casse. “Some horses are easier to get ready than others. We gave her the gate work to get her excited and I thought her last work was very good.”

With a perfect 2-for-2 record at Saratoga, Casse said he is hoping a return to the Spa will be beneficial.

“I'm not sure what to expect this weekend, but the good thing is that she has shown she likes Saratoga,” said Casse. “I'm hoping being at Saratoga will push her along and help her run a little better. We thought about finding an easier spot, but we know much she likes it there.”

Tyler Gaffalione has the call from post 2.

Ciaglia Racing, Highland Yard, River Oak Farm and Dominic Savides' Venetian Harbor, a sophomore daughter of Munnings bred in Kentucky by Colts Neck Stables, completed the exacta behind Speech last out on July 11 in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland.

Trained by Richard Baltas, the pacey filly romped at second asking by 10 3/4-lengths on December 29 at Santa Anita in a 6 ½-furlong maiden sprint and followed up with a frontrunning 9 1/4-length score in the one-mile Grade 2 Las Virgenes at Santa Anita in February to kick off her 3-year-old campaign.

Venetian Harbor stretched out to 1 1/16-miles when second behind Swiss Skydiver in the Grade 3 Fantasy at Oaklawn July 11 ahead of the Ashland and will return to sprinting on Saturday.

A $110,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Venetian Harbor shipped in under the care of assistant trainer Aimee Dollase at Saratoga on Tuesday.

“She traveled well yesterday and ate up well last night. We jogged her this morning and she seems pretty comfortable,” said Dollase. “We'll gallop her again on Thursday and go to the gate on Friday.

“She's settled in really well and she's a smart filly,” added Dollase. “She's very well-balanced. She's a nice filly with a good mind and she tries hard.”

Dollase, who traveled with the filly to Oaklawn and Keeneland, said Venetian Harbor should appreciate a turnback in distance after her route efforts.

“At some point, she could get the [route] distance with the right scenario,” said Dollase. “She trained well into those races. She set a quick pace in the Fantasy but the other filly, Swiss Skydiver, is obviously a very good filly and she just ran her down in the last part.

“She ran a big race in the Ashland, as well. She set a nice pace but Speech is coming into her own,” continued Dollase. “She's been beaten by two very good fillies going long, which is probably more what those fillies wanted to do, so we'll see how she runs here with a cutback in distance.”

Joel Rosario, aboard for the maiden score, has the call from post 6.

“Joel rides her well and has a lot of confidence in her. It's always good to have someone on who knows her well. He's the ultimate professional,” said Dollase.

Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's Wicked Whisper, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, sprinted to a memorable first-out graduation last August going six furlongs at Saratoga before stretching out to a one-turn mile to win the Grade 1 Frizette over Frank's Rockette.

The Liam's Map chestnut, a $500,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, completed her 2-year-old campaign with a fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and made her seasonal debut on July 10 with a fourth in the Grade 3 Beaumont traveling seven furlongs on the Keeneland main. Ricardo Santana, Jr., aboard for the maiden voyage, returns to the irons from post 4.

Black Type Thoroughbreds and R.A. Hill Stable's Florida-bred Up in Smoke has won 4-of-6 starts, but arrives at the Test looking for her first win outside of Gulfstream Park.

Trained by George Weaver, the grey daughter of The Big Beast bested fellow Florida-breds in her first two starts, both at six furlongs at the Hallandale Beach oval, including a rallying four-length score in an optional-claimer on March 5.

Following an open-company optional-claiming win in April at six furlongs, Up in Smoke stretched out to 1 1/16-miles for the Hollywood Wildcat on May 15 and finished fourth. Up in Smoke returned to sprinting in the 6 1/2-furlong Game Face on June 6 and bested Boerne, who exited that effort to win the Azalea at Gulfstream.

Last out, in her first start outside of Gulfstream Park, Up in Smoke finished an even fourth in the Grade 3 Victory Ride at 6 1/2-furlongs on July 4 at Belmont Park.

Up in Smoke has breezed twice at Saratoga since the Victory Ride, including a five-eighths effort in 1:02.12 on the main track on July 3.

Luis Saez has the call from the inside post.

Rounding out the field is Allen Stable's Mrs. Danvers, a homebred daughter of Tapit out of the Awesome Again mare Gracie Square.

Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, who won the Test with Lass Trump [1983] and Versailles Treaty [1991], Mrs. Danvers graduated at second asking last August at Saratoga in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden sprint.

The late-running grey has finished second in a pair of allowance efforts at Belmont to start her sophomore season. On June 20, traveling 6 1/2-furlongs, she finished 2 3/4-lengths back of Indian Pride, who exited that effort to the win the Shine Again impressively at the Spa on July 17. Last out, traveling a one-turn mile on July 9, Mrs. Danvers lunged at the start before rallying from last-of-6 to complete the exacta, four lengths back of undefeated Grand Cru Classe. Jose Ortiz, who won the Test with American Gal [2017] and Separationofpowers [2018], retains the mount from post 3.

The Grade 1 Longines Test is slated as Race 10 on Saturday's 12-race card, which offers a first post of 12 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the 40-day summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, NYRA Bets is currently offering a $200 new member bonus in addition to a host of special weekly offers. The NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com

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