Shared News | Horse Racing Free Tips

Jockeys Pledge Support to Injured Rider Vinnie Bednar

Jockeys Javier Castellano, Mike Smith, John Velazquez, Manuel Franco and Tyler Gaffalione have pledged a percentage of their earnings from the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Kentucky Derby race cards to help rider 28-year-old rider Vinnie Bednar, who suffered a catastrophic fall at Los Alamitos Racetrack Aug. 22. Bednar is currently experiencing lower-limb paralysis following initial surgery at USC Medical Center in Los Angeles. He remains hospitalized while awaiting transfer to the Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, a world-renowned, premier center for spinal and brain injury. The accident occurred in the seventh race when his mount, Peek It Up, broke down 100 yards from the finish line in the 300-yard race.

“Vinnie was overcome with emotion when I told him that some of the country’s top jockeys had reached out and wanted to help. He couldn’t believe that they were thinking about him while they are amid their big race weekend at Churchill Downs,” said Karen Bednar, Vinnie’s mother.

In the Derby, Castellano will be aboard Money Moves; Franco will ride the heavy favorite Tiz the Law and Tyler Gaffalione will have the mount on South Bend. Mike Smith, who piloted Justify to a Triple Crown title in 2018, will be aboard Honor A.P., while Velazquez will ride Authentic for two-time Triple Crown winner Bob Baffert.

“This could have been any one of us,” said North America’s all-time leading money earner Velazquez. “The injuries Vinnie sustained are going to require a tremendous amount of financial support for his medical bills and rehabilitation. We will be riding with Vinnie and his family in our thoughts and prayers.”

Vinnie Bednar, a former motocross rider, began riding Thoroughbred and Quarter Horses in 2011. As of his latest race, he ranked second in the jockey standings at Los Alamitos. This season Bednar had 41 Quarter Horse victories from 201 starts with earnings of $635,959 and is ranked 23rd in the country. He also rode Thoroughbreds this year, garnering 18 wins from 94 mounts.

To assist with Bednar’s continued medical support, visit the GoFundMe page at https://gf.me/u/yvsusr

The post Jockeys Pledge Support to Injured Rider Vinnie Bednar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Juvenile Fillies in Spotlight at Del Mar and Saratoga Sunday

Juvenile fillies take center stage in a pair of Grade I events at Del Mar and Saratoga Sunday.

Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.’s Princess Noor (Not This Time) headlines a field of six set for the GI Del Mar Debutante S. After topping the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training at $1.35 million, she ran to the billing with a ‘TDN Rising Star’ performance on debut for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert at Del Mar Aug. 22.

She takes on the unbeaten My Girl Red (Texas Red), who made it two-for-two with a 4 3/4-length victory over first-time starter Get On the Bus (Uncle Mo) in the GII Sorrento S. Aug. 7.

A field of six will also line up for Saratoga’s GI Spinaway S.

‘TDN Rising Star’ Beautiful Memories (Hard Spun), a double-digit debut winner at Churchill Downs May 28, gets the nod as the 9-5 morning-line favorite despite being pulled up as the heavy favorite in the GIII Schuylerville S. last time July 16. She, however, bounced back with a flashy four-furlong bullet in :46 1/5 (1/14) for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse at Saratoga Aug. 5.

The Ohio-bred Esplanande (Daredevil) puts a perfect three-for-three record on the line. She beat the boys in her last two stakes attempts, including a win in the Best of Ohio Cleveland Kindergarten S. at Thistledown Aug. 8.

The post Juvenile Fillies in Spotlight at Del Mar and Saratoga Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Saturday’s Insights: Well-Bred Homebreds Debut

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

4th-Churchill Downs, Msw, 2yo, 6f, post time: 12:35 p.m.
Mike Rutherford’s homebred BIG LAKE (American Pharoah) debuts for trainer Steve Asmussen. The chestnut colt is the first foal out of Resistivity (Student Council), who was third in the 2014 GII Forward Gal S. Brad Cox saddles Godolphin firster Essential Quality (Tapit), a son of graded placed Delightful Quality (Elusive Quality). TJCS PPs

5th-Saratoga, $72k, Msw, 2yo, 7f, post time: 2:01 p.m.
Shadwell Farm’s homebred MUNQAD (War Front), a half-brother to GIII Gotham S. winner Shagaf (Bernardini), debuts for trainer Todd Pletcher. Olympiad (Speightstown), a $700,000 KEESEP yearling purchase for Grandview Equine and Cheyenne Stables, will look to improve on his third-place effort in his six-furlong debut at Saratoga Aug. 1. Trainer Shug McGaughey sends out Courtlandt Farms homebred firster Greatest Honour (Tapit). The bay colt is out of Tiffany’s Honour (Street Cry {Ire}), a daughter of blue hen mare Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister). TJCIS PPs

The post Saturday’s Insights: Well-Bred Homebreds Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Newspaperofrecord a Headliner on Derby Undercard

‘TDN Rising Star’ Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) returns to the site of her biggest career victory in Saturday’s GII Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S.

The 2018 GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine beneath the Twin Spires has begun to make up for a winless season at three for trainer Chad Brown with a pair of jaw-dropping wins at Belmont this June-the GIII Intercontinental S. and the GI Just a Game S.

The 4-5 morning-line favorite will be piloted for the first time by Javier Castellano.

Brad Cox will saddle the co-second choices, Beau Recall (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) and Juliet Foxtrot (GB) (Dansili {GB}).

Beau Recall, a last-to-first upset winner of this race last year, completed the exacta behind Newspaperofrecord in the Just a Game. She enters off a fifth-place finish as the favorite while attempting to defend her title in the GII Yellow Ribbon H. at Del Mar Aug. 8.

Juliet Foxtrot has lost five in a row since capturing last summer’s GIII Modesty H. at Arlington while placing in a trio of Grade I events. She was third last time in Keeneland’s GI Coolmore Jenny Wiley S. July 11.

The post Newspaperofrecord a Headliner on Derby Undercard appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post