“He's getting more mature and he's gotten better every start,” said winning trainer Rob Atras of his charge. “He had beaten arguably some lesser competition and today was a tough test, and he really showed up today. Honestly, I just think [jockey] Reylu [Gutierrez] did a great job. He had a tough time going into the first turn with him and obviously causing some havoc on the backside. He got him settled down and relaxed and really finished strong.”

Coming off a daylight win after settling the pace in the Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile S. Jan. 27 at Sam Houston, Neat was in the first flight early in the Transylvania and just a head off the call at the first fraction–a quarter in :23.98–while rank and visibly fighting Reylu Gutierrez before settling.

Gutierrez was able to ease the chestnut back on the inside, opening it up for the well-traveled Musical Act (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), second Mar. 2 in Dubai in the Jumeirah Classic, to take control with Cugino joining him soon after. Turning for home, Neat found his share of traffic while still covered up in fifth. An eighth from home and still in search of a seam, he split horses, just collaring Cugino from the inside at the last possible second after Musical Act surrendered and Lagynos surged while wide.

“Sometimes these 3-year-olds go through the holes and sometimes they don't,” said Gutierrez. “From the three-eighths pole it was all the horse. It was really tight down there but we waited as long as we could and when he saw that little bit of space, I mean, he certainly overcame me. It was all the horse.”

After two victories at this distance on the turf at both Laurel and Fair Grounds last year at two, Neat closed out 2023 with his lone main track attempt in the Gun Runner S. in New Orleans. He finished well back in sixth that day behind Track Phantom (Quality Road), also dropping his Beyer figure by 24 points. It was back to grass for the Texas Turf Mile, making Neat unbeaten in two starts at three with a four-for-five career tally on the grass.

Last year's Transylvania winner, BBN Racing's Mo Stash (Mo Town), was back again for Keeneland's opening day, winning a 5 1/2-furlong turf allowance earlier on Friday's card in his first win since the race last year.

Pedigree Notes:

Hidden Brook Farm and Spruce Lane Farm together bred Neat in Kentucky and sold him to Andrew N. Warren as a Keeneland November weanling for $200,000. The colt returned to the same ring the next September, bringing the same price from Red White and Blue. Hidden Brook had purchased his unraced dam while she was carrying to Violence for $62,000 at Keeneland's 2015 November sale. That foal would become SW & MGSP Louder Than Bombs. The mare, who hails from the same family as 2010 GI Spinaway S. winner R Heat Lightning (Trippi), has a 2-year-old filly by Nyquist–sold for $80,000 to Hat Creek Racing at Keeneland September–and a yearling filly by Medaglia d'Oro. Orabella aborted her 2024 foal.

Neat becomes the 33rd graded winner for WinStar stallion Constitution, a MGISW and son of Tapit who also has 64 black-type winners and will send just his sixth crop to the races this year. The late More Than Ready, broodmare sire of the Transylvania winner, was also part of the WinStar stallion roster and has 174 stakes winners worldwide out of his daughters.

That finish was pretty neat! #4 NEAT ($28.82) squeezed between rivals in the final furlong, getting up in the last stride to win @keenelandracing's $400,000 Transylvania Stakes (G3)!

Reylu Gutierrez was aboard for trainer Rob Atras and Red White and Blue Racing. pic.twitter.com/uSwbO0h4gu

— TVG (@TVG) April 5, 2024

Friday, Keeneland
TRANSYLVANIA S. PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT-GIII, $397,263, Keeneland, 4-5, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:44.93, gd.
1–NEAT, 118, c, 3, by Constitution
                1st Dam: Orabella, by More Than Ready
                2nd Dam: Hot Trip, by Trippi
                3rd Dam: Yellow Heat, by Gold Fever
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($200,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV;
$200,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Red White and Blue Racing LLC;
B-Hidden Brook Farm & Spruce Lane Farm (KY); T-Rob Atras;
J-Reylu Gutierrez. $226,300. Lifetime Record: 6-4-0-0,
$347,900. *1/2 to Louder Than Bombs (Violence), SW &
MGSP, $264,554. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Cugino, 118, c, 3, Twirling Candy–Adorable Miss, by Kitten's
Joy. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($225,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP).
O-West Point Thoroughbreds and Jimmy Kahig LLC; B-Gage Hill
Stables, LLC & W. S. Farish (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III.
$73,000.
3–Lagynos, 118, c, 3, Kantharos–Steamy, by Speightstown.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($200,000 Ylg '22
KEESEP). O-HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud; B-Robert
Spiegel (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $36,500.
Margins: NO, HF, 1. Odds: 13.41, 5.23, 31.75.
Also Ran: Lord Bullingdon, Musical Act (Ire), Can Group, Depiction, Guy Named Joe, First World War, Full Nelson, Oscar's World, Tennessee. Scratched: Camaro Z, Royal Majesty (GB).
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Neat Surges Up the Rail to Take Keeneland’s Transylvania appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.

With the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) having gone into effect on July 1, 2022, the TDN will also post a roundup of the relevant HISA-related rulings from the same week.

California

Track: Santa Anita

Date: 05/26/2023

Licensee: Armando Aguilar, apprentice jockey

Penalty: Four-day suspension

Violation: Careless riding

Explainer: Having received notice from the California Horse Racing Board that the appeal of LATS Ruling #59 (May 7, 2023) has been withdrawn, the original ruling is reinstated.  Apprentice Jockey Armando Aguilar is suspended for 4 racing days (May 27, 28, 29 & June 2, 2023).

Track: Santa Anita

Date: 05/26/2023

Licensee: George Papaprodromou, trainer

Penalty: $500 fine

Violation: Out-of-competition medication violation

Explainer: Trainer George Papaprodromou, who worked the horse The Slap at Santa Anita Park on February 19, 2023, is fined $500.00 and assessed one half (1/2) point in accordance with California Horse Racing Rule #1843.4 (Multiple Medication Violations – Expires 5/26/24) pursuant to California Horse Racing Board Rule #1887 (Trainer or Owner to Insure Condition of Horse) for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1868 (Authorization Medication During Workouts) and Rule #1843.1 (b) (Prohibited Drug Substances – Phenylbutazone [Class 4].

New York

Track: Belmont Park

Date: 05/25/2023

Licensee: Steven Lascher, racing official

Penalty: $8,000 fine

Violation: Failure to administer lasix

Explainer: Official Dr. Steven Lascher is hereby fined the sum of $8,000 for failing to follow proper lasix procedures, necessitating the scratches of horses racing in the 3rd race on May 19th 2023 at Belmont Park.

For more on the story, read here.

Track: Belmont Park

Date: 05/25/2023

Licensee: Christopher Carmac, racing official

Penalty: $2,000 fine

Violation: Unauthorized participation of horse

Explainer: Mr. Christopher Camac is hereby fined the sum of $2,000 for allowing the unauthorized participation of horse (Georgie's Ladies) on January 8th 2022 race 9, March 12th 2023 race 9, March 24th 2023 race 3 and April 16th 2023 race 9.

Track: Belmont Park

Date: 05/26/2023

Licensee: Rob Atras, trainer

Penalty: Ten-day suspension, $1,000 fine

Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: Mr. Rob Atras as responsible trainer under 9 NYCRR 4043.4(a), violated commission rules in that Mr. Rob Atras trained horse “Market Alert” , that finished 4th in race 7 at Aqueduct Racetrack on February 20th 2023, and having received a report from the New York Drug Testing and Research Program that a race-day sample taken from the horse “Market Alert” had the substance Phenylbutazone present at a concentration, including an assessment of the measurement and imprecision of the quantitative threshold, in excess of the quantitative threshold, in excess of 0.3 mcg/ml in plasma in violation of 9 NYCRR 4043.4 (a) 26. Having waived the right to request a hearing , Mr. Rob Atras is suspended 10 Calandar days effective Sunday June 11th 2023 through June 20th 2023 inclusive, and fined the sum of one thousand ($1,000) dollars.

Furthermore, “Market Alert” is disqualified from any part of the purse and the Stewards order the purse redistributed as follows:

1. #5 Bourbon Calling
2. #4 King Kumbalay
3. #6 Practical Coach
4. #2 Chestertown
5. #1 Lobsta
6. #7 No Burn

During this period of suspension, Mr. Rob Atras shall not directly nor indirectly participate in New York State pari-mutuel horse racing, is denied privileges and use of the grounds of New York State racetracks, and is forbidden to participate in any share of purses. In addition, every horse is denied the privileges of the grounds and shall not participate in pari-mutuel racing in New York State that is (A) owned or trained by Mr. Rob Atras, or by any individual who serves as Mr. Rob Atras agent or employee during this period of suspension; or (B) for which Mr. Rob Atras is directly or indirectly involved in training during this period of suspension, including any arrangements to care for, train, enter in a race, race, invoice, collect fees or other payments related to, manage funds, employ and / or insure workers, provide advice or other information, or otherwise handle or assist with any aspect of the training of such horses.

NEW HISA STEWARDS RULINGS

The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal, except for the voided claim rulings which were sent to the TDN directly. Some of these rulings are from prior weeks as they were not reported contemporaneously.

One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race.

Violations of Crop Rule

Delaware Park

Xavier Perez Rivera – violation date May 25; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 9 strikes

John Paul Hiraldo – violation date May 25; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Thistledown

Juan Valez – violation date May 23; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 1-3 strikes over the limit

Santa Anita

Antonio Fresu – violation date May 27; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Hector Berrios – violation date May 28; $584 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

The post Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings, May 23-29 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Franco, a 28-year-old native of Carolina, Puerto Rico, earned the eighth riding title of his career.

“I'm very grateful for the help of every owner and every trainer,” said Franco. “I'm just happy to keep with the momentum. It means a lot and I try to take advantage of every opportunity I have. It's been paying off.”

Jose Ortiz finished second with a record of 65-16-17-10 while Kendrick Carmouche secured third with a record of 82-14-10-15.

Rice enjoyed a record of 66-17-13-7 with $1,055,253 in total earnings, giving her a strike rate of 25.76% and in-the-money percentage of 56.06%. It was the 10th overall training title for Rice.

“It's been a very good winter and spring,” she said. “New York is a tough place, so I'm very excited about it. Once we got through the winter meet I thought, 'well that will be it for a while,' but things fell into place and went well at the spring meet.”

Rob Atras finished second with a record of 37-9-5-4 while Chad Brown finished third with a 37-8-7-9 record.

Klaravich Stables ended the meet with a record of 18-4-4-3 and earnings of $270,622. It was a five-way tie for second between Peter Brant, Beast Mode Racing, Ten Strike Racing, Madaket Stables and Roger Cimbora, Jr., who each posted three wins at the meet.

The post Franco, Rice, Klaravich Close Out Aqueduct Spring Meet on Top appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The post Son Of Constitution Harrodsburg Blazes Road In Maiden Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The latest chapter is the story of NYRA clocker Richie Gazer.

Back in May, Gazer was handed a 30-day suspension and fined $2,500 “for altering a published work of a horse to make the horse eligible to race.” The horse in question, Papi On Ice (Keen Ice) was originally credited for a five-furlong workout on May 1 in the time of 1:04.60. At the time, the horse was on NYRA's “poor performance” list, the result of his having been eased in a Mar. 19 race and then losing by 26 3/4 lengths in a Apr. 16 race. In order to get off the list and to be able to race again, he needed a published four-furlong workout in:53 or faster. Oddly, the rule, which is a NYRA rule, requires that the work must be at four furlongs and at no other distance. When made aware that the work had to be a half-mile in order for the horse to get off the list, Gazer changed the distance to four furlongs and the time to what was Papi On Ice's split for a half-mile, :51.33. The Gaming Commission then stepped in and cited a rule that prohibits “improper, corrupt or fraudulent acts or practices in relation to racing or conspiring or assisting others in such acts or practices,” pretty harsh language for a case where all the clocker did was shorten the distance of a workout by an eighth of a mile.

Gazer refused to roll over, hired a lawyer and filed an appeal. A seven-hour hearing was held and the hearing officer recommended that the case be thrown out and that Gazer should not be penalized. It appeared that Gazer had won. But the case took a 180-degree turn last week when the Gaming Commission rejected the hearing officer's recommendation and voted 6-0 to uphold the original suspension. Karen Murphy, the lawyer representing Gazer, told the TDN that in the 30 years she has been dealing with New York racing regulators never before had she had a commission reject a decision from a hearing officer. Why even use a hearing officer if you are going to ignore what they have to say?

This all comes down to a matter of common sense. Gazer used his when he approved changing the distance of the workout, which was necessary to allow the horse to race and, otherwise, affected nothing. The rule is in place to keep clockers from playing games, giving a horse a five-furlong workout in 1:03 when they actually went in :58. That's not what happened here.

But common sense is in short supply when it comes to the Gaming Commission. Perhaps by the very letter of the rule, Gazer was guilty of some sort of infraction. The best way to handle this would have been to issue a warning and to tell him not to do it again. Use common sense. Don't fine him, suspend him and try to sully his reputation with outlandish charges of corruption and fraud. Don't go to such great lengths that the commission, by a 6-0 vote, ignored the findings of a hearing officer.

“Everybody is horrified,” Murphy said. “Richard Gazer has been doing this for 40 years and is respected by everyone. You should be pinning a medal on someone like him, not telling the world he is fraudster.”

It's all part of a troubling pattern. Since April, the Gaming Commission and its steward, Braulio Baeza Jr., have sanctioned four NYRA employees a total of five times and levied fines totaling $14,500. In most cases, it was nothing more than a case of the person making an honest mistake.

In June, Frank Gabriel, the New York Racing Association senior vice president of racing operations, was fined $4,000 for “failing to follow proper claiming protocol” resulting in the track stewards voiding the claim of the horse Battalion (Tiznow) on May 28. There was a mixup regarding the claim of the horse. The horse was claimed for $25,000 by trainer Rob Atras, but the claim was not relayed to the clerk of scales, so the horse was not brought to the test barn. That led to the voiding of the claim.

Someone made a mistake. It happens. And never mind that Gabriel had nothing to do with this. Nonetheless, Baeza saw reason to sanction him because, he told the Daily Racing Form, Gabriel was the head of the racing department.

NYRA Racing Secretary Keith Doleshel has been fined twice since April, on one occasion $2,000 for “failing to conduct business in a professional manner.” According to NYRA, here's what happened: “Due to an unintentional administrative error, an unauthorized agent claimed a horse. . . . NYRA subsequently discovered the error and notified the NYSGC of its findings.” A horse was claimed at Saratoga by someone who was not licensed by the Gaming Commission or registered with the Jockey Club. But, again, it was an “unintentional error” committed by someone who has never previously been accused of being unprofessional and the mistake was caught. Doleshel has appealed the ruling through his attorney, Drew Mollica.

As for Gazer, there doesn't appear to be a path whereby the fine and suspension can now be overturned. Murphy says she plans to make the point that the Gaming Commission didn't follow procedure when it comes to transparency. The commissioners did not debate or discuss the details of the case during the open, public meeting, which she says is required.

“The chairman knows nothing about racing and shouldn't have done what he did,” she said of Gaming Commission Chairman Brian O'Dwyer. “We all should be upset about this on legal grounds.”

But that's probably not going to help Gazer. He will have to pay his fine and sit out 30 days, the latest example of an overreach by the New York Gaming Commission and its steward. Someone who has been doing this a long time and has earned a reputation for being a straight shooter, Gazer deserved far better.

The Woodward and Cigar Mile Downgraded

The American Graded Stakes Committee showed some tough love to NYRA last week, downgrading the Woodward S. and the Cigar Mile H., from Grade I races to Grade II's. The move wasn't without controversy. The Woodward is a prestigious race with a long, rich history. Twenty of its winners are in the Hall of Fame. During a seven-year stretch beginning in 1974, the race was won by Forego (four straight), Seattle Slew, Affirmed and Spectacular Bid. This year's Cigar Mile included four Grade I winners, including the winner Mind Control (Stay Thirsty), which made the timing of the downgrade a bit puzzling.

As tough as this may have been for NYRA to swallow, it was the right move. Everyone complains that, considering the declining number in the foal crop and that top horses usually only race four or five times a year, there are too many graded races and too many Grade I's. You can't have it both ways and complain about the Woodward and the Cigar. The committee is to be commended for making some tough decisions. There are still 440 graded races and 97 Grade I's. That's too many.

The post The Week in Review: Suspension of NYRA Clocker a Disgrace appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Battalion finished seventh in the May 28 race and, when he received no notification of any claim, Klesaris said he had the horse returned to his barn. Once notified that trainer Rob Atras and owner Sanford Goldfarb had actually won a shake for the 5-year-old gelding, Klesaris had the horse sent to the testing barn, where he arrived shortly after 2:49 p.m., according to the filing. At 3:14 p.m., Klesaris was notified by Steward Brooke Hawkins that the claim had been voided because the horse was not at the testing barn. The void was later confirmed by New York Gaming Commission Steward Braulio Baeza.

In the filing, Klesaris seeks to have the commission vacate the voiding of the claim and transfer ownership of Battalion to Atras and Goldfarb.

“Our position is clear and unmitigated,” said Mollica. “There was no reason the claim should have been voided. Mr. Klesaris followed every rule and every order of the Gaming Commission. The horse was returned to the test barn in a timely manner as soon as he was notified. The horse should have been transferred at that point. There was no reason or rule that the claim should have been voided. The ruling against Frank Gabriel is a smokescreen for the wrongful voiding of this claim.”

In response to a TDN request for comment on the filing, the Gaming Commission's Brad Maione said, “This matter is the subject of an appeal. It would be inappropriate to comment on a pending adjudication.”

The post Klesaris Files Appeal of Voided Claim appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

“She's doing really well but we had setbacks with how the weather has gone and we're not anticipating making the Azeri,” Atras told the New York Racing Association notes team. “We've played it safe down there with her. Usually by early February the weather starts to level out but they had a couple storms come through that hindered our progress.”

Atras was not completely ruling out a prep race in the interim.

“If we can get a race in and it works that's definitely a possibility. Right now, we're just focused on getting her ready,” he said.

A midpack seventh behind 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin) in last year's GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, The $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad turned the tables in the CCA Oaks, scoring by a head at better than 14-1. Well-beaten by the Kentucky Oaks winner in the GI Alabama S. in August, Maracuja was last seen finishing fourth in the GI Cotillion S. at Parx Sept. 25.

The post Maracuja To Miss Azeri appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Battle Bling made her first start for trainer Rob Atras in the Ladies after being claimed for $62,500 out of a game second at 10-1 in an optional claimer on Dec. 19 at the Big A, defeated a neck by next-out stakes winner Maiden Beauty.

“When we claimed her, I was just happy she ran so well that day because she was longer odds,” Atras said. “Mike Dubb picked her out, and I liked her, but it was a great claim. We nominated and it looked like we had a shot with the short field. The weather has been tedious lately and training has been interrupted, but she's a nice filly. I've liked her since Day One. I'm glad Mike decided to claim her.”

Breaking from post 4 in the Ladies, Battle Bling emerged well under Trevor McCarthy while the Gary Sciacca-trained Exotic West stumbled at the start from post 1 and unseated rider Dylan Davis. Exotic West ran riderless behind the field before the outrider collared her and safely escorted her off the track while Davis sprung quickly to his feet.

Longshot Vienna Code was unbothered by the commotion to her inside and bounded away to take the lead in the first turn from Its Cold in Dehere while Battle Bling was shuffled back to last of five under Trevor McCarthy through an opening quarter-mile in 24.97 seconds.

With no change to the running order through a half-mile in 50.91, McCarthy began to get to work on the 4-year-old daughter of Vancouver, closing in on her rivals as the field passed the three-quarter marker and made their way into the final turn.

As Its Cold in Dehere faded from second approaching the top of the stretch, post-time favorite Miss Leslie and Battle Bling both made their run at the lead. Vienna Code continued to dig in along the rail and battle with Miss Leslie to her outside as Battle Bling took command in the center of the racetrack.

With a sixteenth to the finish, McCarthy gave Battle Bling a strong ride with right-handed encouragement as Miss Leslie continued to gain ground on her inside with late-running Kiss the Girl looming to her outside.

Battle Bling had something left in the tank and fought on gamely to hold off Miss Leslie by a neck with Kiss the Girl a half-length back in third. The final time for the nine furlongs was 1:57.11.

“On paper, it set up so beautifully,” McCarthy said. “I was able to follow the five [Miss Leslie], get the jump on her at the quarter-pole and fight them off. The track is a little tiring. We had some nice cover and we were able to get her going, open up a few lengths and make those guys really earn it.

“My filly is a big, long striding filly,” McCarthy added. “She doesn't have much punch, but when she does you got to get her rolling and she'll keep on going.”

Atras praised McCarthy's ability to adapt his ride to the slower pace.

“He sent and then noticed there was a little bit of speed and dropped back. They were going moderate – not slow, but not too fast,” said Atras. “He made a real bold move in the turn and I thought that was a great move that he made. Trevor is a strong rider and she held on.”

Angel Cruz, the regular rider of runner-up Miss Leslie, was proud of the 4-year-old Paynter filly's effort after entering the Ladies on a three-race win streak.

“My filly kept fighting and tried her best,” said Cruz, “At the top of the stretch, she came back with a fight. Trevor's horse came with a big kick. The longer she goes, the better she does. She's a better filly going long.”

Completing the order of finish were Vienna Code and Its Cold in Dehere.

A general steward's inquiry was conducted to review the start of the race regarding Exotic West, resulting in no change to the order of finish.

Bred in Kentucky by Royal Oak Farm and E. Kiely, Battle Bling's win in the Ladies was the first stakes victory of her career, taking home $55,000 to increase her total purse earnings to $203,867 and improve her record to 3-4-1 from 13 starts. A $2 win wager on Battle Bling paid $8.70.

Live racing returns to the Big A on Thursday with an eight-race card. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

The post Battle Bling, Off Claim By Atras, Rallies From Last To Win Ladies appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

“It's kind of the first time I've kind of really, officially, opened up a second string,” Atras said. “Obviously, in the summer we have to split our string up in Saratoga and Belmont, but this is the first time I've had a string out of state.”

Maracuja made seven starts in 2021, including a second in the GIII Gazelle S. in April at Aqueduct before besting Eclipse favorite Malathaat (Curlin) in the CCA Oaks. She also ran seventh in the GI Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs and later concluded her sophomore campaign with a fourth-place finish in the Sept. 25 GI Cotillion S. at Parx.

“It could be the [GII] Azeri [S. Mar. 12] or it could be something else,” said Atras of the 4-year-old's next start. “I'm not exactly sure yet. We're just going to kind of see how things go. She got a real light breeze before she left, so we're kind of just starting up with her. She had a few months off at the farm in Kentucky. She had been galloping here in New York for a month, with a light breeze, and so we're just kind of starting to get her back going again. So, we don't have an exact time frame with her yet.”

Atras, who currently has 45 horses training in New York with an additional five at Oaklawn, indicated he may send a couple of more to the Hot Springs oval and could be “a little bit active” at the claim box. Jesse Sauder, an exercise rider who recently received his assistant trainer's license, will oversee Atras's  Arkansas division.

“Last year, I got a few horses out of Arkansas that came up here and we did well with them,” Atras said. “I had a few ideas. One was to, potentially, claim some horses to bring back to New York and another idea was to send a filly that won the Oaks, CCA Oaks, Maracuja, down and have her train down there and then, hopefully, run a couple of times. As things came together, I had a couple of horses that I didn't really have spots for up here, or I had trouble getting them in the right spot, so it kind of worked out well to send them down there.”

The post GISW Maracuja Arrives at Oaklawn, Targets Apple Blossom appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Canadian-born trainer Rob Atras – with the support of his wife and assistant Brittney -went out on his own in 2019 following a tenure working as an assistant for Robertino Diodoro.

The 36-year-old native of Winnipeg, Manitoba has steadily improved his stock over the course of three seasons, enjoying his best year yet in 2021 [336-70-51-51, $3,942,669] by securing his first graded stakes victory with American Power in the Grade 3 Toboggan in January at the Big A, which was followed in March by Chateau's score in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap. In July, Atras secured his first Grade 1 victory with Maracuja in the Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga Race Course.

How would you describe your 2021 campaign?

Atras: “It's been a breakthrough year in a sense. We upgraded our stock quite a bit and that showed in the results. We won a couple of graded stakes races earlier in the year and capped it off with a Grade 1 win with Maracuja. We have a bigger barn, but we have a lot of quality in our barn as well. Last year we were in the high 30s and now we have close to 50 horses in the barn.”

Every trainer's business model is different – describe yours.

Atras: “We go for quality over quantity and we try to be competitive every time we enter. If a horse can win a race, they're good at any level in my book. We have some good 2-year-olds this year and we've had some owners send us homebreds as well as some bought from the sales – so, we have an all-around stable.

“There's so many things that go into the success. We have really good exercise riders, grooms and hotwalkers in the barn. Our foreman, Rafael Lechuga, has been with us since Day One. It's fun to win any race, just to have everyone smile, celebrate and be happy together. They put a lot of pride into their work.”

What was your favorite win this year?

Atras: “We had a lot of winners and a lot of memorable wins this year. But it's tough to not say Maracuja in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga. The whole race was fun. She broke well and then I got to wondering if they were going a little quick. Then seeing her back up [down the backstretch] I was wondering, 'What's going on here, are we out of horse.' But then she starts picking up steam again. In that moment, I was thinking she could at least hit the board, so I felt relieved she wasn't stopping. Down the stretch, I was just thrilled to be in the race, and then for her to get her nose down and beat a filly like Malathaat is just out of this world.

“It was just a real heads up ride by Ricardo Santana, Jr. In a Grade 1 – under that much pressure – to make the decision to drop back like that was pretty impressive.”

What was it like being featured on America's Day At The Races?

Atras: “That was neat. It's a great program and it was cool to be featured on there. My mom and dad watch it, they don't miss a race. We came into the CCA Oaks as underdogs. We were a little disappointed that we couldn't replicate that in her next race in the Alabama, but that's alright.”

As someone who maintains a heavy division in New York all year long, what are the benefits of the New York racing and breeding program.

Atras: “If I had some land, I wish I could have a few mares out of New York. They run for great money and have great incentives for the breeders and owners. I think it's a great program. The quality is there, too. You can see it in the races with deeper fields and this year you get a 3-year-old horse like Americanrevolution to win a Grade 1 [Cigar Mile] against older horses. There's a lot of nice New York-breds here, for sure.”

What are your goals for 2022?

Atras: “Keep winning! We had a great year this year and I'd love to carry that into next year and build on it. I'm also sending a small string to Oaklawn for the winter. Maracuja will be there and hopefully her first start or two will be down there before she comes back to New York. We'll bring a few local horses to run in some of the claiming races and maybe pick up some horses to bring back up to New York in the spring.”

The post Rob Atras Celebrates ‘Breakthrough Year’ With Maracuja In 2021 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post