saratoga | Horse Racing Free Tips

Jockeys to Pay Tribute to National Disability Independence Day, Fundraise for PDJF July 30

Jockeys competing on Saturday, July 30 (or another mutually agreed upon date that week at racetracks not racing that day) will pay tribute to National Disability Independence Day and raise awareness and funds for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. Last year's event raised more than $50,000 at racetracks across the country.

Jockeys at some 20 racetracks are expected to participate in various activities to support the PDJF while also saluting National Disability Independence Day, which marks the 32nd anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Throughout the day, fans and industry participants will be encouraged to contribute to the PDJF at PDJF.org. The PDJF is a 501(c)(3) public charity that provides financial assistance to approximately 60 former jockeys who have suffered catastrophic on-track injuries.

“The PDJF welcomes teaming up with the Jockeys' Guild and NTRA to honor the passage of this very important piece of legislation that has changed the lives for all Americans living with a disability,” said Nancy LaSala, Board President of the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. “The lives of PDJF recipients are improved as a result and for this we are very grateful.”

Racetracks and jockey colonies set to participate in the promotion include: Arizona Downs; Colonial Downs; Del Mar Thoroughbred Club; Delta Downs, Horseshoe Indianapolis, Monmouth Park, Prairie Meadows, and Saratoga Race Course. A complete listing of participating outlets will be released prior to the event date(s).

The post Jockeys to Pay Tribute to National Disability Independence Day, Fundraise for PDJF July 30 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Vazquez Banned In New York

Trainer Juan Carlos Vazquez has been banned from running horses in the state of New York, according to a release from the New York State Gaming Commission.

In a ruling issued July 7, the Pennsylvania Board of Stewards suspended Vazquez through Jan. 26, 2025, alleging that a horse under his care was shipped from Belmont Park to Parx Racing who was in such poor health that it had to be euthanized after its arrival. The stewards labeled Vazquez's behavior “grossly negligent, cruel and abusive.”

It its statement Monday, the NYSGC confirmed that it would be honoring the reciprocity of the suspension and would be prohibited from running horses at any New York track, including those run by the New York Racing Association (Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga) and Finger Lakes.

New York is one of 38 racing states that honors out-of-state suspensions issued by regulators. Reciprocity is addressed specifically in N.Y. Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law Section 910:

“§ 910. Reciprocity of licenses. All license denials, suspensions and revocations imposed by the pertinent racing and gambling authorities of other jurisdictions, including states, United States territories, and Canadian provinces shall be recognized and enforced by the commission …”

In February, Vazquez was handed down a stay of another suspension, at which time NYRA officials were forced to allow the trainer to run horses, while suggesting they reserved the right to file charges of their own.

There was some uproar on social media in the last week after Vazquez was permitted to enter and run horses at Saratoga. Over the course of the first four days, Vazquez saddled six horses, including Suprise Boss (War Dancer), who was third in Sunday's GIII Quick Call S.

The post Vazquez Banned In New York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

‘Rising Star’ In Italian Forgets To Stop in Diana

At 8-1, Peter Brant's In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) may have been the least fancied of the four Chad Brown runners in this six-horse renewal of the GI Diana S. Saturday at Saratoga, but she did the most running, wiring the field in a course record-setting performance. Her three stablemates–Technical Analysis (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), favored Brant colorbearer Bleecker Street (Quality Road) and Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}), partially owned by Brant–finished behind her in that order for a Brown superfecta.

Hesitating for just a breath while breaking from post six, In Italian quickly got underway beneath Joel Rosario, hustling up to take control with the only two non-Brown runners Creative Flair (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Dalika (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}) tracking her through a :22.45 opening quarter. Seeming well within herself as she set a :45.83 half-mile, the 'TDN Rising Star' clocked three-quarters in 1:09.50 as barnmate Technical Analysis revved up on her outside. The chestnut turned for home in front with Technical Analysis trying to make a race out of it from second, but that foe never posed a serious threat. In Italian kept on finding in the lane, crossing the line 1 1/2 lengths clear in a new course record time for nine furlongs of 1:45.06.

It was Brown's seventh Diana win overall and sixth in the last seven years. Two of those wins came with Brant's champion Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}).

“We had a plan,” Brown said. “She was training super in the morning. She's been the lead horse in the works with Regal Glory two or three weeks in a row at Belmont. I've been so impressed with her not letting Regal Glory by her, who I regard as the top mare in the division just slightly over Bleecker Street. I instructed Joel [Rosario] to just try to make the break. I told him to, 'Go and don't worry about it. If you give her a little breather down the backstretch, fine, but she's going to run the race of her life today,' and she sure did. We had a good feeling.”

He continued, “They separate each other when you run them together. My approach is, I would rather run them against each other and settle it on the track than start to cherry pick who's running and who's not and a bunch of “What Ifs” if I ran the one I didn't run. I felt good about Technical Analysis maybe getting a jump on Rougir and Bleecker Street, but sure enough In Italian found another gear, much like she has in the mornings recently.”

“I just think she's a terrific filly and she wouldn't be in here if we didn't think she had the ability to win,” Brant said. “The instructions to Joel [Rosario] were ride this race like you can win, not just for pace, and he did it.”

“It looked like she had the speed on paper,” Rosario said. “It looked like there were other horses with speed too on paper, but Chad told me to let her break and go on into the first turn and she put herself forwardly placed. She was nice and relaxed in front and ran a big race.”

A second-out graduate at Belmont in May 2021, In Italian resurfaced in January, wiring a Tampa allowance. She followed suit with a win in Gulfstream's Mar. 5 GIII Honey Fox S. and was second next out in the GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. May 7. The 475,000gns TATOCT buy entered this test off a third behind stablemate Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) in Belmont's 10-panel GI New York S. June 10.

Pedigree Notes:

In Italian is the 51st Grade I/Group 1 winner for her legendary sire Dubawi. She is also one of 152 graded winners and 234 black-type scorers for that Darley stallion. The winner is a half-sister to GSP Villa Carlotta (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) and SP Fasano (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}). Her Group 3-winning dam Florentina (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus})–a half to Group 1 winner Gathering (Aus) (Tale of the Cat)–is also the dam of the 2-year-old colt Spanish Empire (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who summoned just shy of A$1.8 million from Tom Magnier at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She was bred back to Kingman on Southern Hemisphere time and sent through the 2020 Inglis Chariman's Sale, bringing A$650,000. That breeding resulted in a still unnamed juvenile filly. Florentina visited Yes Yes Yes (Aus) Dec. 23.

Saturday, Saratoga
DIANA S.-GI, $500,000, Saratoga, 7-16, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8mT, 1:45.06 (NCR), fm.
1–IN ITALIAN (GB), 118, f, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
               1st Dam: Florentina (Aus) (GSW-Aus, $250,958), by Redoute's Choice (Aus)
               2nd Dam: Celebria (Aus), by Peintre Celebre
               3rd Dam: Twyla (Aus), by Danehill
1ST GRADE I WIN. (475,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Peter M.
Brant; B-Fairway Thoroughbreds (GB); T-Chad C. Brown;
J-Joel Rosario. $275,000. 'TDN Rising Star' Lifetime Record:
7-4-2-1, $591,220. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Technical Analysis (Ire), 120, f, 4, by Kingman (GB)
               1st Dam: Sealife (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire)
               2nd Dam: Bitooh (GB), by Diktat (GB)
               3rd Dam: Sitara (GB), by Salse
(200,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.;
B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (IRE); T-Chad C. Brown.
$100,000.
3–Bleecker Street, 122, f, 4, by Quality Road
               1st Dam: Lemon Liqueur (SP), by Exchange Rate
               2nd Dam: Limoncella, by Lemon Drop Kid
               3rd Dam: Trip Around Heaven, by Halo
($400,000 Ylg '19 FTSAUG). O-Peter M. Brant; B-Branch
Equine, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $60,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1HF, NK. Odds: 8.30, 3.80, 0.80.
Also Ran: Rougir (Fr), Dalika (Ger), Creative Flair (Ire).
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post ‘Rising Star’ In Italian Forgets To Stop in Diana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Pletcher and Brown Stars Highlight Saratoga Worktab

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown were both quite busy Saturday morning at Saratoga, working some of their respective stables' top stars. GI Belmont S. runner-up Nest (Curlin) turned in her final breeze Saturday morning before her rematch with Secret Oath (Arrogate) July 23 in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said the filly “worked really well” after she covered five furlongs in company with champion Corniche (Quality Road) in 1:01.44 under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. on the main track.

Secret Oath and Nest ran one-two in the GI Kentucky Oaks. They then jumped into the Triple Crown series with Secret Oath finishing fourth in the GI Preakness S. and Nest running second to stablemate Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) in the Belmont. Secret Oath and Nest could also meet in the GI Alabama Aug. 20.

Nest is a member of Pletcher's battalion of runners headed to graded stakes at Saratoga. Life is Good (Into Mischief) breezed a half-mile in :49.49 on July 15 for the GI Whitney S. Aug. 6. Americanrevolution (Constitution), runner-up in the GII Stephen Foster, and Dynamic One (Union Rags), winner of the GII Suburban, are on course for the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Sept. 3.

Pletcher said that Charge It (Tapit) will train up to the GI Runhappy Travers Aug. 27. In his first start since a 17th-place finish in the GI Kentucky Derby, the Whisper Hill Farm homebred crushed his competition in the GIII Dwyer S. July 2 at Belmont Park, winning by 23 lengths.

“It's the first time I've ever watched a race at Belmont and actually looked at that Secretariat pole as they were coming to the finish line,” Pletcher said. “It was like, 'wow'. He's a horse that we've thought a lot of from the beginning. He showed he's still a little green in the Florida Derby and displaced his palate in the Kentucky Derby, so I think we're starting now to get it all together. From a talent perspective, he is as good as good as anyone in the crop, if he can just continue to mature.”

Jeff Drown's Zandon (Upstart) worked a half-mile in :49.69 Saturday in preparation for his scheduled start in the GII Jim Dandy July 30.

The Jim Dandy, the local prep for the Travers, will be Zandon's first race following his third-place finish in the GI Kentucky Derby May 7.

Meanwhile, Brown's two other graded stakes-winning 3-year-old colts, GI Preakness S. star Early Voting (Gun Runner) and the unbeaten Jack Christopher (Munnings) worked at Belmont Park. Jack Christopher is headed to the GI Haskell Invitational S. next weekend at Monmouth Park. Brown has not yet made the call on whether Early Voting will go in the Haskell or the Jim Dandy.

“I'll decide in the morning,” Brown said. “I'll see how all the horses come out before I make a decision.”

Brown was pleased with the way Zandon handled the breeze.

“The horse worked super,” he said.

Zandon's work under veteran exercise rider Kriss Bon was his first at Saratoga this summer and satisfied a couple of goals.

“Just to get him to stretch his legs,” Brown said. “He's been working along down at Belmont. I freshened him up after the Derby. I'm really pleased with him. He put some weight on. He really looks better than ever right now. I have just given him a little bit of a breather from the racing end of it anyway. Our plan was just to get him over the track and get him a good feel for it and he couldn't have went any better.”

Despite his strong performance in the Derby, Zandon was never a possibility for the Belmont because Brown said he doesn't consider him a mile and a half horse. But Brown is confident that he will be sharp off a nearly three-month break between races.

“Just knowing the horse, he'll run good, fresh,” Brown said. “I can just see it in his training. The way he's matured, the way he's worked gives me a lot of confidence that he will be ready to go.

Early Voting worked four furlongs in :49.25 and Jack Christopher was timed in :49.80 for the same distance.

The post Pletcher and Brown Stars Highlight Saratoga Worktab appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post