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Weekly Stewards and Commission Rulings, Jan. 10-16

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky.
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, the TDN will also post a roundup of the relevant HISA-related rulings from the same week.

California

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 01/13/2023
Licensee: Tim Yakteen, trainer
Penalty: $1,000 fine
Violation: Late notification of gelding operation
Explainer: Trainer Haitham “Tim” Yakteen, who entered the horse Code Runner, in the eighth race on November 6th, 2022, at Santa Anita Park is fined $1,000.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1865(e)(2) (Altering Sex of Horse – true sex not reported) necessitating a late declaration.

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
Aqueduct
Jackie Davis – violation date January 5; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
Andy Hernandez – violation date January 13; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Golden Gate Fields
Silvio Amador – violation date January 6; $250 fine and one-day suspension, “Use of Riding Crop – Three Strikes in a row”
Silvio Amador – violation date January 6; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Oaklawn Park
Angel Rodriguez – violation date January 13; $250 fine and one-day suspension, “Raising his wrist above his helmet when using the crop”
Isaac Castillo – violation date January 14; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Santa Anita
Ramon Vazquez – violation date January 8; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
Umberto Rispoli – violation date January 8; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
Edwin Maldonado – violation date January 13; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Tampa Bay Downs
Robert Reeves Jr. – violation date January 13; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 9 strikes

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Solis and Litt Join Growing Repole Team

Alex Solis II and Jason Litt, who operate the Solis/Litt bloodstock agency, have joined forces with owner Mike Repole, who has continued to add to his team as both his stable and his goals have grown in recent years. Repole, who owns many horses in partnership with Vinnie Viola, has about 300 horses and has been very active in recent years at the yearling sales.

“I am all about family and friends,” Repole said. “Over the last couple of years they've been helping me out with some yearlings and colts and they have a great opinion. I am a 'dream-bigger' type of guy. I won eight Grade Is in 2022, so this year I want to win nine. The next year I want to win 10. Bringing Alex and Jason on board is part of that vision.”

As part of the transition, Solis has stepped down from his full-time role as Gainesway Farm's Director of Bloodstock but will continue his relationship with the farm. Solis and Litt's agency will also continue to work with existing clients.

As Repole has doubled the number of horses in his stable over the last two years he has assembled a deep group of advisors who assist him in a number of areas, including yearling purchases and the overwhelming daily task of running such a large stable. The team includes Ed Rosen, Jim Martin, Danielle Bricker, Jacob West and Todd Pletcher. Solis and Litt will advise the growing stable and assist in acquisitions and management, but will be called upon to contribute in other areas.

“When you double the number of horses you own, yes, you need more people,” Repole said. “I am trying to build a bigger vision and a bigger strategy. I want to get more involved in racing as a sport, not just with Repole Stables. I want people with the experience Alex and Jason have. They have tremendous vision for the sport and share the same excitement I have for the sport and the same frustrations.

“Part of the evolution of growing your brand comes from hiring a bunch of smart people who have a ton of passion and are coachable and have the same vision you have. Who knows; maybe Jason will become the VP of global and I'll buy two racetracks and Alex will run them. I have no idea.”

Solis and Litt have been together since the early 2000s and have worked for many of the top names in the sport, including LNJ Foxwoods, which campaigned top older male dirt horse Olympiad (Speightstown). Other horses they have been involved with include Shared Belief (Candy Ride {Arg}), Mizdirection (Mizzen Mast), Country House (Lookin At Lucky) and Covfefe (Into Mischief). Their team also includes Madison Scott.

“Mike has gone from 150 to 300 horses and wanted to take advantage of Solis/Litt's experience managing large portfolios,” Solis said. “We've helped Mike for the last couple of years at yearling sales, and it's exciting to start in a more prominent role. It's been a seamless transition working with his existing team…Mike is big on relationships and family, and so are we. Jason and I have been

working together for 17 years and the majority of our clients have been with us since the beginning. Maintaining those ties is of utmost importance, which Mike fully embraces. It was great to be able to partner with him and our major client, LNJ Foxwoods, on two yearlings in September.”

Repole Stable enjoyed a banner year in 2022, campaigning Grade I winners Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke), Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo), Forte (Violence) and Nest (Curlin). Forte and Nest are expected to be named Eclipse Award winners. With most any other stable, 2022 would have been a year that cannot be topped. But Repole has never hid his ambitions and won't set a ceiling when it comes to his stable's success.

“I'm not always content,” Repole said. “I talk to somebody like Tom Brady and ask him what his favorite Super Bowl was and he says it's the next one. I am ecstatic and feel blessed about where we are but I have goals. What's wrong with trying to get better?”

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2023 Mating Plans, Presented by Spendthrift: China Horse Club

As we approach the opening of the 2023 breeding sheds, the TDN staff is once again sitting down with leading breeders to find out what stallions they have chosen for their mares, and why.

The China Horse Club's Christie DeBernardis, Matt Houldsworth and Michael Smith clued us in on which sires they have chosen for some of their top American and European mares.

ALBEROBELLO (m, 8, Bernardini—Carson Jen, by Carson City), booked to Justify

Alberobello hails from a very deep family that is constantly improving. Her full-sister's daughter Key to My Heart (Ire) produced a $1.3-million filly at KEESEP just a few months ago. Additionally, Bernardini mares are red hot right not. She is expecting just her second foal for us this year (by Uncle Mo) and we will send her back to Justify. We are obviously big fans and supporters of Justify. That faith has been rewarded with his first crop of runners this year and they should only get better with age. This family has already produced a stakes winner by Justify in Justa Warrior.

CARIBBEAN BABE (m, 8, Arch—Kalahari Cat, by Cape Town), booked to Life Is Good

Caribbean Babe is a half-sister to MGSW and young WinStar stallion Independence Hall, as well as two other stakes winners. Her first foal Bold Discovery (Bolt d'Oro) is doing quite well in Europe, following his debut win with a Group 3 placing. She is a young mare, with a good family and by an excellent broodmare sire, so we felt she deserved a spot in the first book of our MGISW Life Is Good.

COZZE UP LADY (m, 14, Cozzene—The White Lady, by Johannesburg), booked to Munnings

This mating was a bit of a no-brainer. A Grade III winner in her own right, Cozze Up Lady's best foal thus far is Grade I-winning millionaire Kimari (Munnings). She returns to that star sprinter's sire this year in hopes of re-creating that magic.

EMBELLISH THE LACE (m, 11, Super Saver—Expanse, by Distant View), booked to Constitution

Embellish the Lace was a Grade I winner at Saratoga and has proven equally talented as a broodmare. She's produced two seven-figure yearlings so far, and another that summoned $700,000. One of those million-dollar babies was Tap the Faith (Tapit), a three-time winner, so we hope that cross will prove successful yet again through Tapit's best son at stud, Constitution.

LAST FULL MEASURE (m, 15, Empire Maker—Lazy Slusan, by Slewvescent), booked to Constitution

Last Full Measure was a Grade I winner in her own right and produced another Grade I winner for us in Valiance (Tapit). She's responsible for a series of six-figure sellers and had her best auction result in 2022 when her Constitution colt brought $1.8 million at KEESEP. On the back of that success, she will be bred back to Constitution.

SAMBUCA CLASSICA (m, 19, Cat Thief—In Her Glory, by Miswaki), booked to Life Is Good

Sambuca Classica is a bit of blue hen, producing four black-type runners, topped by champion Classic Empire. Her 2020 Justify colt, now named Golden Mic, brought $625,000 from Hideyuki Mori at KEESEP and her 2021 colt by that Triple Crown winner summoned $575,000 from WinStar and Siena Farm. Being a proven producer, we felt she was a good match for Life Is Good.

BEATRIX POTTER (m, 18, Cadeaux Genereux {GB}—Great Joy {Ire}, by Grand Lodge), booked to New Bay (GB)
Already a Group 1 producer of Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Beatrix Potter visits emerging young stallion New Bay. She's reaching her twilight years and the great hope would be to get a filly. Last season's yearling by Medaglia D'Oro made 600,000gns from Ben McElroy at Tattersalls Book 1.

FALLING PETALS (m, 11, Raven's Pass—Infinite Spirit, by Maria's Mon), booked to New Bay
Falling Petals, the producer of dual Group 1 winner Saffron Beach (New Bay), who realised 3,600,000gns at last year's Tattersalls December Mare sale, goes back to New Bay. If it's not broke, don't fix it. Last season's yearling, a New Bay colt, fetched €450,000 at Goffs Orby from Amanda Skiffington and goes into training with Saffron Beach's trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam. She also has a weanling full sister, who will likely be retained to race.

LADY LIGHT (GB) (m, 6, Showcasing {GB}—Bird Key {GB}, by Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), booked to Siyouni (Fr)
Lady Light is young stakes-placed mare, a full sister to Shadwell stallion Tasleet and from the immediate family of superstar sprinter Battaash. Her first foal, a filly by Dark Angel, is an excellent first foal. Siyouni is commercially consistent at the top level, both in the sales ring and on the track, and provides a fantastic proven option for a young mare getting going.

TSCHIERSCHEN (Ire) (m, 9, Acclamation {GB}—Roo {GB}, by Rudimentary), booked to State Of Rest (Ire)
Tschierschen is a stakes producing Acclamation mare and dam of Royal Ascot winner Petrotto. She is from the immediate family of Group 1 performers Mohaather, Prize Exhibit and Accidental Agent. A proven mare for the four-time Group 1-winning freshman sire State Of Rest (The Iron Horse).

COASTANA (m, 6, Kitten's Joy—Reachfortheheavens, by Pulpit), booked to New Bay
Coastana was picked up for $290,000 at the recent Keeneland November Sale with the plan of going to Europe to be bred. The stakes-placed mare adds some new blood to the European band and highlights our continued interest in developing families globally. A lovely individual that we thought would really suit New Bay.

MELODIC CHARM (IRE) (m, 6, Exceed and Excel {Aus}–Folk Melody {Ire}, by Street Cry {Ire}), booked to Siyouni
Melodic Charm is a young Exceed and Excel mare recently acquired from Tattersalls. She received a significant pedigree update shortly after her purchase when her half-brother Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) won the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup. She is due to Dark Angel and, therefore, the resulting progeny will be a three-parts brother or sister to Romantic Warrior.

HOURGLASS (IRE) (m, 8, Galileo {Ire}—Hellsinki {GB}, by Machiavellian), booked to Siyouni
Hourglass is a Galileo half-sister to Shamardal and is all class. Her first produce (Just an Hour {Justify}) was placed in his only start to date for Joseph O'Brien and looks to have a very bright future this coming season. Last season's yearling realised €300,000 and her weanling colt by Siyouni is outstanding. As such, going back to Siyouni was an easy call.

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Candidates Announced for ’23 FTHA Election

A total of seven candidates have been nominated for the upcoming 2023 FTHA Election, to be held Mar. 15, 2023. Nominations were submitted during the FTHA's annual General Nominating Meeting and Awards Dinner at Gulfstream Jan. 7.

The seven candidates are:

OWNERS

Gerardo Amado
Tom Cannell
David Geofroy
Jeffrey Siskin

TRAINERS

Patrick Biancone
Jorge Delgado
David Fawkes

The Florida THA is supervised and managed by a Board between 11 to 15 Directors. Six seats are reserved for Owner/Directors, and six seats are reserved for Trainer/Directors. Three Directors may be either an owner or a trainer. An individual licensed as an owner may only run for a seat on the Board as an owner; an individual licensed as a trainer or as an owner and trainer may only run for a seat on the Board as a trainer.

The Board of Directors is divided into three groups of five Directors, known as Groups 1, 2, and 3. Elections are held annually, and the terms of all Directors are three years.

Voting for the 2023 FTHA Election will begin in February. Each member of the FTHA who is currently licensed as an owner and/or trainer and is in good standing is entitled to cast one vote in the general election.

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