sam houston | Horse Racing Free Tips

Stolen Base Leads The Field In Newly-Named Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile

Sam Houston Race Park will host its annual Houston Racing Festival on Sunday, Jan. 30. A special post time of 1:45 pm (CT) has been set for the marquee day of the 2022 Thoroughbred meet with six featured stakes.

As previously reported, two graded stakes will be contested: the Grade 3, $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic and the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf. A very promising forecast of clear skies and temperatures in the mid-60's is on tap for the Sunday afternoon program.

One of the undercard stakes features a very competitive field and a new name in honor of Robert L. Bork, former Sam Houston Race Park president. The $200,000 Texas Turf Mile for 3 year-olds has been renamed the Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile. Bork, who made a tremendous impact on the racing industry, nationally and in Houston, passed away peacefully on June 11, 2021 at the age of 83.

Members of the Bork family will present the trophy following the running of the Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile. Dan Bork, who serves as assistant racing secretary/stakes coordinator at Churchill Downs and racing secretary at Ellis Park, speaks proudly of his father's accomplishments in the racing industry.

“My father was a respected racing executive for over four decades,” he said. “He truly loved horse racing and the development of Sam Houston Race Park as the first Class 1 racetrack in Texas meant a great deal to him. His wife, Judith, my son, Owen, my sister Dina and brother Michael look forward to honoring him on Sunday.”

A field of eleven will enter the starting gate for this one-mile feature for 3-year-olds on the Connally Turf Course.

Stolen Base, who competed in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, has been tabbed as the 3-1 morning line choice. The son of Bodemeister is owned by Three Diamonds Farm and Deuce Greathouse. Trained by Mike Maker, he won his debut at Saratoga last July and advanced directly into stakes competition. The Kentucky-bred colt ran second in the Grade 2 Bourbon at Keeneland before finishing seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 5. Giovanni Franco has the call and will break from post position seven.

“He had some traffic issues in the Breeders' Cup, but ran a credible race,” said Maker, who will also saddle Pure Panic and Grantham in the Bob Bork. “Stolen Base has been working well for his 3-year-old season.”

Horses trained by Eclipse Award winning trainers Steve Asmussen, Todd Pletcher, and Brad Cox will also be in the mix. Asmussen will saddle Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC homebred Red Run and Down Cold, who is owned by L and N Racing LLC and Team Hanley. Joel Rosario has the call on Red Run, sired by Gun Runner. Veteran rider Stewart Elliott, who rides first call for Asmussen in Texas and Oklahoma, will guide the gelded son of Mastery.

“He is a very talented son of Gun Runner and in the capable hands of Joel,” said Asmussen. “Down Cold had a nice win at Sam Houston (on January 6) and deserves the opportunity to run at this level.”

Pletcher, who won the 2017 Houston Ladies Classic with Unbridled Mo, will ship in Chanceux for Harrell Ventures, LLC. This will be just the fourth start for the Speightstown colt, who ran second in the $100,000 Dania Beach earlier this month at Gulfstream Park.

“That was his first start around two turns, so we thought this race would be a good fit, plus the Harrells live in Houston” said Pletcher. “Very nice of Sam Houston to name the race after Bob Bork, who was such an admired leader in our industry.”

Cox, who won the 2018 Houston Ladies Classic with Tiger Moth, will be represented by Bloodline, owned by Karl and Cathi Glassman. The son of Uncle Mo will make his stakes debut after winning a main track allowance at Fair Grounds on December 31. He will also ship Dean Maltzman's homebred Kaely's Brother from Fair Grounds, who last competed in the $75,000 Sugar Bowl on December 27.

The Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile will run as the sixth race on the card with an approximate post time of 4:23 pm (CT). The field, from the rail, with riders and morning-line odds:

Bloodline, Marcelino Pedroza, Jr , 12-1;
Dowagiac Chief, James Graham, 8-1;
Malibu Thunder, Ezequiel Lara, 50-1;
Chanceux, Reylu Gutierrez., 4-1;
Down Cold, Stewart Elliott, 15-1;
Pure Panic, Richard Eramia, 5-1;
Stolen Base, Giovanni Franco, 3-1;
Kaely's Brother, Adam Beschizza, 6-1;
Screwball, Ry Eikleberry, 20-1;
Grantham, Tyler Gafflione, 6-1;
Red Run, Joel Rosario, 11-1.

The post Stolen Base Leads The Field In Newly-Named Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Trainer Mike Maker Chasing Eighth Victory In John B. Connally Turf Cup

The Houston Racing Festival will take place on Sunday, Jan. 30 with a special afternoon post time of 1:45 pm (CT). The event includes six stakes, highlighted by the Grade 3, $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic. The second graded stakes feature, the G3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup, attracted an overflow field of 14 turf specialists.

Trainer Mike Maker has won seven of the past ten editions of the mile and one-half stakes which is run on the Connally Turf Course, named for the late Texas Governor John B. Connally. The esteemed conditioner will saddle three entrants, with a fourth possibility if Shady McGee draws in from the also-eligible list.

Maker's runners this year will include 2021 Connally runner-up, Ajourneytofreedom, who drew post position 11 at odds of 7-2. Owned by Paradise Farm Corp. and David Staudacher, the 5-year-old son of Hard Spun, will be making his 23rd career start. The bay gelding exits the H. Allen Jerkens, a 2-mile feature at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 24. Nationally prominent rider Joel Rosario, who was aboard in the Grade 2, Jockey Gold Cup last June at Belmont Park, has the call.

“He's a deep closer, so the post is really not an issue, said Maker. “This horse always runs a strong race and I have faith that Joel will figure it out.”

Paradise Farm Corp. and David Staudacher also own Malthael, who ran sixth in the H. Allen Jerkens. Claimed by Paradise Farms for a $35,000 in June at Belmont Park, he will break from post seven under up and coming young rider Reylu Gutierrez. The gelded son of Nobel Mission impressed Maker in his allowance victory at Keeneland last October.

“He ran a great race going a mile and a half at Keeneland,” said Maker. “I'm happy to give the mount to Reylu; he won a stakes for me at Finger Lakes (Blue Gator in the 2020 New York Breeders' Futurity). He's riding very well lately.”

Tide of the Sea, a 6-year-old son of English Channel, was given a freshening by Maker following his tenth-place finish in the Grade 2, Red Smith at Aqueduct on November 20. Tyler Gafflione will ride the impeccably bred turf runner who has banked $453,253 in 19 previous efforts. Tide of the Seas is owned by Three Diamonds Farm, who won three editions of the Connally with Bigger Picture.

“We gave him a break after Aqueduct,” said Maker of Tide of the Sea. “He's been training well.”

Maker's past Connally winners include Papa Bodie in 2012; Admiral Kitten in 2014; Coalport in 2015; Da Big Hoss in 2016 and a three-peat by Three Diamonds Farm's Bigger Picture who captured the 2017-2019 editions of the turf stakes. For the past two years, Maker's runners finished second to Dot Matrix in 2020 and Spooky Channel last year. With multiple entrants each year in the Connally, rounding out the exotics is not what Maker is aiming for on Sunday.

“I love coming over to Houston and winning the Connally is something I look forward to each year,” acknowledged Maker. “It will be a busy weekend, but I'm planning on winning the Pegasus and flying to Texas to get my winning streak back on track on Sunday!”

Maker's trio will have some very stiff competition from a number of quality turf runners including Fantasioso. Co-owned by Jeff Bloom and Ignacio Correas, IV, the 7-year-old Argentinian bred gelding, has won five of his 31 starts, and will make his Sam Houston debut off a third-place finish to Ajourneytofreedom in the aforementioned Allen Jerkins at Gulfstream Park. James Graham will pilot Fantasioso from post position six at morning line odds of 9-2.

“He's a seasoned veteran,” said Bloom, who purchased the son of Strategic Prince with Correas last year. “We have been looking at the Connally for some time as he's run twice at two miles, but we believe this distance will suit him. James rides a lot for Ignacio and is one of the more capable turf riders on the circuit.”

Team Block, who won the 2006 Connally with Fort Prado, returns to Houston with Another Mystery. Trained by Chris Block, the Illinois-bred son of Temple City ran sixth in the 2020 edition of this turf handicap. Jareth Loveberry will ride the 6-year-old, who captured the Bob F. Wright Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds in November.

“In the 2020 Connally, he was coming off just ten days rest, but still ran a good race,” said Block. “This is his best distance and a good to firm turf course on Sunday would be ideal. He will face a very competitive field this year but I am looking for a big effort from him.”

Trainer Joe Sharp will send in Logical Myth, a multiple-stakes winner for owner JPS Racing as well as Hierarchy, who surpassed the $400,000 earnings mark for Texas owner Carl Moore Management, LLC.

The John B. Connally Turf was awarded Grade 3 status in 2006 and boasts a solid roster of past winners including Chorwon, Warleigh, Fort Prado, Rod and Staff, Swift Warrior as well as three-time champions, Candid Glen and Bigger Picture.

The Connally Turf Cup will be run as race eight, with an approximate post time of 5:23 pm (CT).The field, from the rail, with riders and morning-line odds: Conviction Trade, Lane Luzzi, 20-1; Hierarchy, Corey Lanerie, 5-1; Tide of the Sea, Tyler Gafflione, 10-1; Strong Tide, Giovanni Franco, 10-1; Decision Maker, Marcelino Pedroza, Jr., 12-1; Fantasioso, James Graham, 9-2; Malthael, Reylu Gutierrez, 12-1; Logical Myth, Adam Beschizza, 6-1; Another Mystery, Jareth Loveberry, 8-1; Dyn O Mite, Stewart Elliott, 20-1; Ajourneytofreedom, Joel Rosario, 7-2; Parrot Head, Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez, , 30-1; Shady McGee (IRE), Richard Eramia ,30-1 and Celerity, Iram Diego, 50-1.

As previously announced, the tenth renewal of the Grade 3, $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic will run as the seventh race on the Houston Racing Festival Card. The field of seven, from the rail, with riders and morning line odds, is as follows: Velvet Crush, Ry Eikleberry, 8-1); Audrey's Time, Corey Lanerie, 7-2; Pauline's Pearl, Joel Rosario, 6-5; Becca's Rocket, Adam Beschizza, 10-1; Champagne Affair, Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez, 30-1; Golden Curl, Tyler Gafflione, 20-1, and The Mary Rose, Reylu Gutierrez 3-1.

In addition to the two graded stakes on the Houston Racing Festival card, Sam Houston Race Park will present the following features:

$200,000 Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile- 3YO -1 Mile (T)

$100,000 Pulse Power Turf Sprint – 4&up – 5 Furlongs (T)

$75,000 Jersey Lilly Turf – 4&up F&M – 1 1/16 Mile (T)

$75,000 Stonerside Sprint – 4&up – 6 Furlongs

“We are proud of our Houston Racing Festival, which continues to attract top connections and offer an exceptional afternoon of quality racing,” said Frank Hopf, Sam Houston Race Park's Assistant General Manager. “Our thanks go out to our horsemen for marking our marquee day on their calendar, as well as our tremendous racing fans who support our entire meet with great enthusiasm.”

The post Trainer Mike Maker Chasing Eighth Victory In John B. Connally Turf Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Pinky Ring Bling, Texas Thunder Win Texas Stallion Stakes At Sam Houston

The first two stakes of the 2022 Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred season were contested on Thursday afternoon with Pinky Ring Bling living up to his post-time favoritism in the $75,000 My Dandy and Texas Thunder breaking her maiden in the $75,000 Darby's Daughter. The Texas Thoroughbred Association sponsors the Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes Series (TSSS), a set of races for progeny of nominated Texas-based stallions. The series features three sets of races, each split into two divisions (colts/geldings and fillies) for a purse of $75,000 per division. The races honor notable Texas horses of the past.

A field of five colts and geldings entered the starting gate in the $75,000 My Dandy, but there was no denying Pinky Ring Bling who drew off to a 3 ¼ length victory under jockey Ernesto Valdez-Jimenez as the 2-5 favorite. He crossed the wire of the five and one-half furlong race in 1:05.67 over a fast main track.

Trainer Ronnie Cravens saddled the colt by Too Much Bling, who races for the Lone Star Racing Club. He ran third in the Texas Avenger at Lone Star Park and third in the Kip Deville at Remington Park last September. It marked the colt's first stakes win as well as the first for Cravens.

“He's just been getting better and better,” said Cravens. “He's come a long way since we purchased him (for $5,000) at the TTA Yearling Sale. I'd like to mention breeder Ronald Ellerbee, who passed away a couple days ago. He's been a longtime breeder and loved his horses.”

Grami's Boy dueled gamely for trainer Mindy Willis; had the lead briefly and was able to hold for second. Bodymoor Heath completed the trifecta, followed by Moro Code and Regal Prize.

This was the second victory in six starts for Pinky Ring Bling ($2.80) and the winner's check of $45,000 boosted his career earnings to $81,860.

My Dandy was a 1925 Texas-bred foal who boasted a lifetime record of 191 starts with 47 wins and earnings of $137,923. A true “iron horse”, he ran from 1927 to 1935 and in 1930 made 43 starts in a single year.

Five fillies entered the starting gate in the second feature of the day, the $75,000 Darby's Daughter with a big score by Carl Moore Management LLC's Texas Thunder, who lit up the tote board at 25-1.

Bred by Robert Francis, the filly by Bradester ran third in the Texas Stallion Stakes- Pan Zareta Division on June 13 at Lone Star Park before beginning her 2022 season here on January 6. Trainer Karen Jacks was hoping to see improvement from the chestnut filly, but was clearly wowed at her maiden-breaking performance tonight. Under Valdez-Jiminez, she went to the lead and would not be denied. She drew off by five lengths, winning in 1:05.46.

“I knew she had it in her,” said Jacks. “She likes a tighter racing surface, so with the rain we had, I wasn't sure how it would go today. But she's very talented and I'm very happy for Carl. We had this plan for her and look forward to the next Texas-bred stakes here.”

Valdez-Jiminez was pleased with winning both features and spoke about Texas Thunder, who rewarded her supporters with a win payout of $58.40.

Eagle Express was sent off the favorite and the Steve Asmussen-trainee ran a game second under jockey Stewart Elliott. Kim's Texas Bling, It's a Gee Thing and Amazonian Queen completed the order of finish.

Darby's Daughter made her racing debut in 1988, winning two stakes at Louisiana Downs, the Grade 2, Miss Grillo at Aqueduct and the San Clemente Handicap at Del Mar. She retired with an impressive record of five wins from 15 starts and earnings of $435,104.

Sam Houston Race Park will showcase additional stakes races for Texas-breds on Saturday, February 19 with Texas Preview Day featuring the five stakes and Saturday, March 26 when the northwest Houston racetrack presents Texas Champions Day with seven $100,000 stakes on the card.

Texas Thunder wins the Darby's Daughter division of the Texas Stallion Stakes Series

The post Pinky Ring Bling, Texas Thunder Win Texas Stallion Stakes At Sam Houston appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Jaylan Clary, 27, Takes Over Family Operation After Father Mike Neatherlin Dies Of COVID

As Jaylan Clary embarks on her first full year as a Thoroughbred trainer, her thoughts are never far from the man who made it possible. That's her dad, Mike Neatherlin, who died from COVID on Sept. 5 at age 65.

“I wouldn't be who I am today without him,” the 27-year-old said recently.

Clary saddled her first horse as the trainer of record on Sept. 15, with El Pando winning a Remington Park maiden race. But she is no rookie. Clary helped her dad with his racehorses as well as handling the work on their farm and training facility in Brock, less than an hour from Lone Star Park. Father and daughter worked closely together, not only with Neatherlin's modest-sized racing stable but buying yearlings for resale as 2-year-olds through her Clary Bloodstock operation.

Clary has a dozen 2-year-olds to sell this year and 10 racehorses at Sam Houston, which kicked off Texas' 2022 racing season on January 6. Her Sam Houston contingent includes eight-time stakes-winner Mr Money Bags, the 2019 Texas Horse of the Year.

“We did everything together. My dad stayed at the racetrack. I have a little boy, so I stayed at home,” she said. “We have the privilege of having a track at the house for any horses that needed some time. We have paddocks, we have a training facility. We use it to break and prep to sell the babies and for the racehorses that need time. He'd be at the track and I'd take care of everything at home, and sometimes we'd switch.”

“He knew my career was going to be racehorses, so he helped me start my business. I sold his horses for him. That's also how my brother (Lane Richardson) started out, then he branched out on his own and then my dad helped me. It's something I plan to keep doing. The reason I have racehorses is because, say I don't sell a 2-year-old, we always have the option of training and running them. We'll sell them if the time comes, or we'll keep them.”

Clary won with her first starter as the trainer of record, with El Pando taking a Remington Park maiden race on Sept. 15. In his second start, El Pando won Remington's $100,000 Clever Trevor Stakes. Clary also owns the $10,000 yearling purchase.

The stable star remains Erma Cobb's 6-year-old Mr Money Bags, who is being pointed for stakes races at Sam Houston. The gelded son of Silver City was Texas Horse of the Year as a 3-year-old when he captured Sam Houston's Jim Orbit and Groovy Stakes and Lone Star Park's Texas Stallion Stymie Division Stakes. Mr Money Bags also gave Neatherlin his first victory in a derby in New Mexico's Zia Park Derby.

Last year Mr Money Bags won four of eight starts, including the Gillispie Fairground's GCFA Texas Bred Stakes on Aug. 28 in what proved Neatherlin's final starter. Mr Money Bags subsequently had two seconds at Remington Park before the gelding won the Zia Park Sprint Stakes for Clary. He earned it the hard way, finishing in a dead-heat for first but gaining sole victory after rival Competitive Idea was disqualified to second for interference.

“I'm so lucky to have a horse as tough as he is,” Clary said. “He doesn't get pushed around by any horse. In his race replay, you could see he wasn't going to let that horse win. It was a very emotional day. Every time Mrs. Cobb and I win, we cry. We cry together. Because she just lost Mr. Cobb and I lost my dad. So for both of us, we get emotional.”

Roy Cobb, of Mineral Wells, died in November of 2020. Roy Cobb and Neatherlin were partners on other notable horses, including racing and ultimately privately selling future Breeders' Cup Mile winner Kip Deville. Neatherlin also bought multiple graded-stakes winner Airoforce for $20,000 as a yearling before the partners resold him for $350,000 as a 2-year-old through Lane Richardson's consignment.

But Mr Money Bags is the gift that keeps on giving.

“Mr Money Bags has opened up more doors for our family than is explainable,” Clary said. “We have worked with Mr. and Mrs. Cobb since I was a young girl. I take a lot of pride in Mr Money Bags. He meant a lot to my dad. That was the only horse my dad had that was Horse of the Year. My dad had really nice horses, but he's always had to sell them. Mr Money Bags was something he got to train. He was the highlight of his training career, because he sold Kip Deville before he became Kip Deville. Mrs. Cobb herself means a lot to us. We've been through a lot with them, so many highs and lows and she's always been right there. She's an amazing lady. You don't get any better.”

Clary said her father forged his own way on the racetrack, early on sleeping in stalls and tack rooms and never owning his own place until he was 50.

“He came from absolutely nothing, was one of 12 kids and the only one who chose to be a racehorse trainer,” Clary said. “He had to make it his own way. Every owner he got, he worked very hard for.

“My dad always prepared me for the worst. When he went to the hospital, we had a lot of babies at the time. He just said, 'You've got to keep going.' For about three weeks, when I got everything moved in to the track, he was able to talk to me. As soon as it was time to start running the horses, he went on the ventilator. I ran three times under his name, and then he passed away. It was hard, but in a way he fully prepared me. The past few years my dad always said, 'I won't always be here.'

“It was a hard transition. But as far as the horses go, our owners are just amazing. They never wavered. I've actually accumulated some new owners and the owners I had want to send me more horses. Some owners, when things happen, they find new trainers, more veteran trainers. Nobody has. I'm so thankful to have owners who believe in our program enough to know that it's not gone with my dad. Everything he did, I'd do it just like him.”

Clary took over the stable at a time when Texas racing is launching a renaissance, thanks to the legislation passed that is boosting purses with revenue from the sales tax on horse feed and supplies.

“Passing that bill was such a great thing for Texas racing,” she said. “Texas in general thrives off of horses, whether it's cutting, rodeoing, racing. Everything has gotten better in Texas because of that legislation, and it's only going to get better on the sales side. I bought as many Texas-breds as I could, and I believe they're going to sell well because they are Texas-breds. And look how much tougher the trainers are getting here. Some bigger trainers are coming to Texas because these are good purses.”

The post Jaylan Clary, 27, Takes Over Family Operation After Father Mike Neatherlin Dies Of COVID appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post