sf bloodstock | Horse Racing Free Tips

Baffert Reveals Names of Owners Allegedly on Verge of Leaving Him

In response to an order from a federal judge for trainer Bob Baffert to reveal specifically which of his existing clients have told him they may pull horses from his care if his banishment by the New York Racing Association (NYRA) is allowed to continue, Baffert's legal team on Friday provided the court with a list of five Thoroughbred owners who are allegedly considering splitting with the Hall of Fame conditioner.

According to a one-page letter filed electronically by attorney W. Craig Robertson just minutes before the judge's mandated noon (Eastern) deadline July 9, those on-the-verge owners are “Gavin Murphy of SF Bloodstock; Jack Wolf of Starlight Racing; Peter Fluor of Speedway Stable; Sol Kumin of Madaket Stables; and George Bolton.”

That disclosure comes on the heels of Baffert's publicly documented breakup with WinStar Farm, which has already pulled such elite-level Thoroughbreds as 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) and Country Grammer (Tonalist) from his California-based stable.

In a July 7 affidavit, Baffert stated that WinStar's reassigning of those horses was a “harm” that has “already occurred as a result of NYRA's ban,” and that “WinStar's move has and will continue to have the added effect of possibly encouraging other notable owners to do the same.”

Baffert's inability to pursue his chosen livelihood at New York's major Thoroughbred tracks is likely to be a key deciding factor in his lawsuit against NYRA in United States District Court (Eastern District of New York).

In a civil complaint filed by Baffert June 14, the seven-time

GI Kentucky Derby-winning trainer is alleging that NYRA's banishment of him since May 17 violates his Fourteenth Amendment constitutional right to due process, and Baffert wants the court to overturn that ban.

NYRA's exclusion of Baffert from Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Park and Aqueduct Racetrack was mandated the association in the wake of five positive drug tests in horses Baffert has trained over the last 12 months.

Three of those violations occurred in Grade I stakes. The most recent drug positive, for betamethasone in Medina Spirit (Protonico) after that Baffert trainee won the May 1 Kentucky Derby, has yet to be adjudicated by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Churchill Downs Inc., however, has already barred Baffert from participating at any of the gaming corporation's five Thoroughbred tracks for a period of two years.

Judge Carol Bagley Amon's mandate for Baffert to assign specific names to his written claim that “I have recently had conversations with other owners who have stated that they may move their horses to other trainers if the New York suspension continues,” arose out of a back-and-forth verbal dispute between parties in a July 8 court conference call.

On Thursday, counsel for NYRA had argued that the plaintiff's 434-page “memorandum in further support of a preliminary injunction,” which was filed with the court only five days prior to a July 12 hearing for the case, violated established legal procedure because it included new information that the NYRA did not have time to investigate.

NYRA had already filed its own memo in opposition to overturning its ban on June 30, and on Thursday wanted the plaintiff's entire July 7 reply filing (or at least Baffert's affidavit included within) to be stricken or disregarded.

The judge denied NYRA's oral motion to strike Baffert's reply affidavit, but Amon did order Baffert to divulge the identities of the clients who were allegedly ready to break with him because their horses were being denied access to New York's premier tracks.

Amon had also recommended on Thursday that Baffert be in her New York courtroom for Monday's 11 a.m. hearing in case he is needed to testify under oath.

The post Baffert Reveals Names of Owners Allegedly on Verge of Leaving Him appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Classier Gives Baffert Fifth Straight Los Al Derby

Classier went wire-to-wire and resolutely held off stablemate Defunded to give trainer Bob Baffert his fifth straight win in the GIII Los Alamitos Derby Sunday. Sent off at 6-5, Classier was on the lead through fractions of :22.98 and :47.01. Defunded, the 3-5 favorite, rolled up to challenge the pacesetter after three-quarters in 1:11.08 and, while Classier began inching away in upper stretch, the favorite battled back in a stirring stretch battle to the wire. Classier refused to yield and earned his first graded victory in determined fashion.

“I waited until the eighth pole to ask him and when he saw [Defunded] he really dug in,” winning rider Mike Smith said. “This is a big colt with a lot to him and he is going to get even better.”

Baffert added, “I really thought–and the rider [Abel Cedillo] thought–Defunded had him the whole way. It was pretty exciting and I was really hoping for a dead heat because I've always wanted one of those in a stakes so you don't have to make that other call.

Classier went wire-to-wire to win his 6 1/2-furlong debut at Santa Anita last October and was immediately thrown into the deep end where he finished a well-beaten eighth in the Nov. 6 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. After a stumbling start, he finished third behind The Chosen Vron (Vronsky) and Defunded while making his return to the races in the June 13 GIII Affirmed S. last time out.

Classier earned his start in Sunday's Los Al Derby with a half-mile work in :47 1/5 at Santa Anita last Thursday.

“I wasn't going to run [Classier] in this race,” Baffert admitted. “I talked to the ownership group and told them I was going to work him and if he worked well I'd run him. He worked very well, so we decided to go. We thought he'd be on the lead last time, but he stumbled leaving the gate and he really needed the race. He's going to improve off this. I can take my time with him now and figure out a spot because he is bred to be superstar.”

Pedigree Notes:

Breeder Mary Sullivan purchased Class Will Tell for $300,000 at the 2013 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The mare, a half-sister to the dam of multiple Group 1 placed Homerique (Exchange Rate), has a yearling filly by Union Rags and produced a colt by More Than Ready this year.

Classier's second dam, Conchita, produced a filly by Hard Spun last year and a filly by Ghostzapper this year. The Hard Spun filly sold for $210,000 to Determined Stud at last year's Keeneland November sale.

The winner's third dam, Desert Gold, produced Group 1 winner White Moonstone (Dynaformer).

Classier is the 36th graded stakes winner for Empire Maker and the 31st graded winner out of a Bernardini mare, but the Los Al Derby winner is the first graded winner by the late GI Belmont S. winner out of a mare by Bernardini.

Sunday, Los Alamitos
LOS ALAMITOS DERBY-GIII, $150,000, Los Alamitos, 7-4, 3yo,
1 1/8m, 1:49.15, ft.
1–CLASSIER, 122, c, 3, by Empire Maker
                1st Dam: Class Will Tell, by Bernardini
                2nd Dam: Conchita, by Cozzene
                3rd Dam: Desert Gold, by Seeking the Gold
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN.
'TDN Rising Star'. ($775,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-SF Racing LLC,
Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Golconda Stables, Siena
Farm LLC & Robert E. Masterson; B-Mary A Sullivan (KY); T-Bob
Baffert; J-Mike E. Smith. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1,
$155,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Defunded, 122, g, 3, Dialed In–Wind Caper, by Touch Gold.
($210,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson,
& Paul Weitman; B-Athens Woods LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert.
$30,000.
3–Ingest, 122, g, 3, Square Eddie–Octogarian, by Rock Hard
Ten. O-Grant Alvernaz & Steve Ribeiro; B-Reddam Racing, LLC
(CA); T-Doug F. O'Neill. $18,000.
Margins: NO, 14, HF. Odds: 1.30, 0.60, 11.30.
Also Ran: It's My House, Back Ring Luck.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Classier Gives Baffert Fifth Straight Los Al Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Grade 1 Winner Charlatan Retired To Hill ‘N’ Dale At Xalapa

Hill 'n' Dale Farms announced today that multiple Grade 1 winner Charlatan has been retired from racing and will take up stud duty at the farm's newly restored stallion complex at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa in Paris, Ky.

Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC, the imposing son of Eclipse champion and champion sire Speightstown out of Breeders' Cup Distaff-placed Authenticity, he sold as the second-highest-priced colt for his sire at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was hammered down for $700,000. Purchased by SF Bloodstock / Starlight West, the colt raced for owners SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Hertrich, III, Frederick, Fielding, John D. and Golconda Stables.

The freakishly-talented Charlatan served notice of his brilliance in his first start, drawing off by 5 3/4 lengths in 1:08 and change for the six panels earning TDN Rising Star status. All told, the brilliant chestnut who many compared to Justify, compiled a record of four wins and a second from five starts with career earnings of $4,047,200.

He decimated the field in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, winning by six lengths, in a hand ride. He rounded out his 3-year-old campaign with a devastating and visually impressive performance in the G1 Malibu where he won by 4 1/2 widening lengths. His only defeat came in the $20 million Saudi Cup where he was edged out at the wire, running a gallant second to Mishriff. He won his four races by a combined 26 1/2 lengths.

“Horses with Charlatan's immense ability combined with superior pedigree, conformation, depth of female family and star-quality appeal are a very rare commodity,” said John G. Sikura, president of Hill 'n' Dale. He is one of the most talented horses I have seen run who combines world class sprinter/miler speed with the ability to carry it around two turns. He is a striking individual who should impart size, substance, balance, and brilliance to his foals. It is an honor to have Charlatan set the standard of excellence as the first stallion whose career we launch here at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa.”

“We're very proud of everything Charlatan accomplished in his brief but brilliant career: He's one of the most perfect physical specimens to come to stud in recent times and there's no doubt he will be supported accordingly. On behalf of the SF racing partners we wish John and the team at Hill 'n' Dale the very best,” said Tom Ryan managing partner.

“Physically he's one of the best physical horses we've ever bred. What sets him apart is the way he moves. He moves like a great horse. He is just a real athlete. He is the epitome of what we've tried to breed up to this point. Charlatan is a perfect combination of the genes meeting the physical. He is an absolute standout,” said Stonestreet Farm bloodstock adviser John Moynihan.

For further information visit Charlatan.horse

A stud fee will be announced at a later time.

The post Grade 1 Winner Charlatan Retired To Hill ‘N’ Dale At Xalapa appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

American-Sourced Mares Churn Out Results at Easter

It was a stunning couple of days of trade at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, held this past Tuesday and Wednesday at the auction house's Riverside complex at Warwick Farm in Sydney. The event averaged A$371,236, a 5% increase on the last comparable sale in 2019 (last year's sale was held virtually) and was the highest since 2008. The median price of A$280,000 represented a healthy 7.9% bump over 2019 and seven out of eight horses to go under the hammer changed hands. Turnover for the sale was A$132 million, led by an A$2.5-million Snitzel (Aus) colt out of G1 Australian Oaks winner Rising Romance (NZ) (Ekraar) that was bought by Hawkes Racing, one of 22 seven-figure yearlings that were acquired by 17 different buying entities.

“We wanted to try and put together what was fair and effectively a lucrative market for vendors and buyers to operate in, and it's hard to escape the conclusion at the end of the Sale that that has happened. It feels very healthy,” Sebastian Hutch, Inglis's General Manager of Bloodstock Sales and Marketing told TDNAusNZ.

As is frequently the case at Easter, the progeny of bloodstock sourced in the U.S. proved popular and to follow is a brief recap of some of those sellers:

Lot 102, c, Fastnet Rock (Aus)–Stormy Lucy, by Stormy Atlantic
Purchased by Tasman Bloodstock for A$475,000

This is the second produce for Stormy Lucy, who won her maiden for $30,000 in 2012 and scaled the heights to upset the 2015 GI Matriarch S. at 65-1. A half-sister to the dam of GSW turf sprinter Big Runnuer (Stormy Atlantic), Stormy Lucy fetched $575,000 from SF Bloodstock at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton Horses of All Ages Sale and was sold with this colt in utero for A$775,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

Lot 213, c, I Am Invincible (Aus)–Beat the Benchmark, by Speightstown
Purchased by Rosemont Victorian Alliance /Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)/David Redvers Bloodstock for $525,000

A $300,000 FTSAUG yearling, Beat the Benchmark made a winning debut and was third in the GI Natalma S. in 2016, and was purchased by Anthony Penfold for $400,000 at FTKNOV in 2017. This is the first foal for the half-sister to SW & GSP Abraham (Distorted Humor) from the family of GSW/GISP Miss Isella (Silver Charm).

Lot 283, c, Written Tycoon (Aus)–Dream Play, by Hennessy
Purchased by Tom Magnier/James Bester B'stock for A$1,100,000

Winner of the 2009 GII Comely S. for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, Dream Play–a half-sister to GISW Diplomat Lady (Forestry)–was sold to James Bester for $460,000 at FTKNOV later that fall. The mare's Southern Hemisphere produce include GSW & G1SP Zululand (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and GSP Chicago Bull (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}).

Lot 332, f, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–Heart Ashley, by Lion Heart
Purchased by Freedman Bros/China Horse Club for A$500,000

Heart Ashley, the 2009 GIII Cicada S. winner, was purchased by Bester for $500,000 at the 2010 Keeneland November sale and the half-sister to GISW Cupid (Tapit), GSW Ashley's Kitten (Tale of the Cat) and SW Indianapolis (Medaglia d'Oro) has been responsible for Fiano Romano (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), a multiple Group 3 winner in Japan, as well as Spendthrift Australia's Group 3-placed Ameristralia (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), both Easter grads.

Lot 334, f, I Am Invincible (Aus)–Helena's Secret, by Five Star Day
Purchased by IRON/George Moore Bloodstock for A$420,000

A maiden winner from five starts, Helena's Secret wa a $200,000 purchase at KEENOV in 2011. The half-sister to SW & GSP Tears I Cry (Chester House) from the family of Street Cry (Ire) and Shamardal, is the dam of GSW & G1SP Thronum (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) from five Australian foals to race. Click for more on IRON from TDNAusNZ.

Lot 351, c, Deep Field (Aus)–Invading Humor, by Invasor (Arg)
Purchased by A R Bell Racing for A$380,000

New York-bred and half-million dollar winner Invading Humor was a three-time restricted stakes winner before being scooped up by SF Bloodstock & Newgate Farm–home of the successful Deep Field–for $100,000 at FTKNOV in 2016. This is the second foal for the full-sister to MSP New York-bred Distorted Beauty.

Lot 405, c, Capitalist (Aus)–Ma Can Do It, by Majesticperfection
Purchased by George Moore Bloodstock for A$725,000

Third in the 2015 GI Darley Alcibiades S. and runner-up in the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. in 2016, Ma Can Do It was knocked down to SF/Newgate for $300,000 at FTKNOV that fall. This is also her second produce.

The post American-Sourced Mares Churn Out Results at Easter appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post