Catching Up with 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Winner Mendelssohn

If ever there was a horse whose CV matches his pedigree, it is Mendelssohn. He topped the Keeneland September sale on a bid of $3 million from Coolmore in 2016, the year before he captured the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. And that pedigree? When he won the Breeders' Cup, he pushed his dam, the reigning Broodmare of the Year Leslie's Lady, into rare territory: she became what was then one of five mares to produce two Breeders' Cup winners. The year prior, her multiple champion daughter Beholder had captured her third Breeders' Cup. If that isn't enough of a 'wow' factor, Mendelssohn has another pretty well-known half-sibling as well, four-time leading sire Into Mischief.

“All of our team loved Mendelssohn from the first time we saw him as a yearling and he developed into a magnificent-looking horse,” said Coolmore's Charlie O'Connor. “Being by our own Scat Daddy and a half-brother to Into Mischief and Beholder, you couldn't ask for a better pedigree and he showed real brilliance when winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar and the [G2] U.A.E. Derby by a street, recording a new track record. He is currently the No. 4 leading sire of 2-year-olds in North America… With big crops to come he should keep rising up the ranks.”

Mendelssohn (2015 bay horse, Scat Daddy–Leslie's Lady, by Tricky Creek)

Lifetime record: Hwt. at 3-U.A.E, GISW-U.S., GSW-U.A.E., G1SP-Eng, SW-Ire, 13-4-2-2, $2,542,137

Breeders' Cup connections: B-Clarkland Farm (KY); O-Michael B. Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, and Derrick Smith; T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore.

Current location: Coolmore America/Ashford Stud, Versailles, Ky.

The post Catching Up with 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Winner Mendelssohn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings, Oct. 3-9

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.

The TDN also posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA)-related rulings from the same week. These include decisions from around the country.

California

Track: Santa Anita

Date: 09/06/2023

Licensee: Edwin Maldonado, jockey

Penalty: Three-day suspension

Violation: Careless riding

Explainer: Jockey Edwin Maldonado, who rode Where's My Ring in the second race at Santa Anita Park on October 1, 2023, is suspended for 3 racing days (October 14, 15 and 20, 2023) for failure to make the proper effort to maintain a straight course in the stretch, causing interference. This constitutes a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules – careless riding).

Track: Santa Anita

Date: 09/06/2023

Licensee: Abel Cedillo, jockey

Penalty: Three-day suspension

Violation: Careless riding

Explainer: Jockey Abel Cedillo, who rode Sea of Cortez (IRE) in the third race at Santa Anita Park on October 1, 2023, is suspended for 3 racing days (October 14, 15 and 20, 2023) for altering course without sufficient clearance in the stretch, causing interference resulting in the disqualification of his mount from third to fourth; a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules – careless riding).

Track: Santa Anita

Date: 09/09/2023

Licensee: Juan Hernandez, jockey

Penalty: Three-day suspension

Violation: Careless riding

Explainer: Jockey Juan Hernandez, who rode Endlessly in the sixth race at Santa Anita Park on October 8, 2023, is suspended for 3 racing days (October 20, 21 and 22, 2023) for altering course without sufficient clearance in the stretch; a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules – careless riding).

Kentucky

Track: Churchill Downs

Date: 10/01/2023

Licensee: Declan Cannon, jockey

Penalty: Three-day suspension

Violation: Careless riding

Explainer: After a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Declan Cannon, who rode Levy in the second race at Churchill Downs on September 24, 2023 is hereby suspended 3 racing days, October 11 through October 13, 2023 (inclusive) for careless riding in the stretch that resulted in the disqualification of his mount.

Track: Churchill Downs

Date: 10/01/2023

Licensee: Martin Garcia, jockey

Penalty: Three-day suspension

Violation: Careless riding

Explainer: After a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Martin Garcia, Who rode Candy Landy in the third race at Churchill Downs on September 21, 2023 is hereby Suspended 3 racing days, October 14, October 15 and October 18, 2023 for Careless riding near the six and one-half-furlong pole that resulted in the disqualification of his mount.

 

NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS

The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit's “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

This does not include 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

Fresno

Brayan Pena – violation date Oct 8; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling

Horseshoe Indianapolis

Ferrin Peterson – violation date Oct 3; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling

German Terraza – violation date Oct 9; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling

Parx Racing

Angel Castillo – violation date Oct 4; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling

Presque Isle Downs

Maicol Inirio – violation date Oct 4; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling

 

Pending ADMC Violations

Date: 09/28/2023

Licensee: Barbara Hippie, veterinarian

Penalty: Provisional Suspension

Alleged violation: Possession of banned substances

Explainer: For the possible possession of Bisphosphonate; Pitcher Plant Extract (Sarapin); Levothyroxine (Thyro-L); Isoxsuprine. This is a possible violation of Rule 3214(a)–Possession of Banned Substances

Date: 09/28/2023

Licensee: Scott Shell, veterinarian

Penalty: Provisional Suspension

Alleged violation: Possession of banned substances

Explainer: For the possible possession of Bisphosphonate; Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA); Isoxsuprine. This is a possible violation of Rule 3214(a)–Possession of Banned Substances

Read more on the two cases above here and here.

Date: 09/16/2023

Licensee: Keith Desormeaux, trainer

Penalty: Pending

Alleged violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the presence of Acepromazine—Controlled Medications (Class B)—in a sample taken from Auto Dial. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 09/10/2023

Licensee: Carlos Mancilla, trainer

Penalty: Pending

Alleged Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the presence of Gabapentin—Controlled Medications (Class B)—in a sample taken from Cara in the City, who finished second at Pimlico on 9/10/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 09/03/2023

Licensee: Debbie Van Horne, trainer

Penalty: Pending

Alleged Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medications (Class C)—in a sample taken from You're the Cause, who won at Emerald Downs on 9/3/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 08/25/2023

Licensee: Daniel Kenney, trainer

Penalty: Provisional Suspension

Alleged violation: Possession of banned substances

Explainer: For the possible possession of Levothyroxine (Thyro-L). This is a possible violation of Rule 3214(a)–Possession of Banned Substances

Date: 08/12/2023

Licensee: Ron Moquett, trainer

Penalty: Pending

Alleged violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the presence of Acepromazine—Controlled Medications (Class B)—in a sample taken from Lundberg. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 08/05/2023

Licensee: Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon, trainer

Penalty: Pending

Explainer: For the presence of Flunixin—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Matty Bo, who won at Laurel Park on 8/5/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List Workout).

 

Resolved ADMC Violations

Date: 09/07/2023

Licensee: Ismael Bahena, trainer

Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission of ECM Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences

Explainer: For the presence of Diclofenac—Controlled Medications (Class C)—in a sample taken from Yammy Yammy Bella, who finished second at Kentucky Downs on 9/7/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 09/1/2023

Licensee: Jonathan Thomas, trainer

Penalty: A fine of $3,000; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Admission of ECM Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences

Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314—Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method—on the horse, Bay Storm. This is also a possible violation of Rule 4222—Intra-Articular Injections Within Seven (7) Days of Timed and Reported Workout.

Date: 08/28/2023

Licensee: David Wayne Baker, trainer

Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission of ECM Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences

Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medications (Class C)—in a sample taken from Gerlach's. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 08/25/2023

Licensee: Sammy Stevens, trainer

Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final Decision by HIWU

Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medications (Class C)—in a sample taken from Pandora Who. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 08/17/2023

Licensee: John Guciardo, trainer

Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Final Decision by HIWU.

Explainer: For the presence of Dexamethasone and Trichloromethiazide—Controlled Medications (Class C)—in a sample taken from Cuz, who won at Presque Isle Downs on 8/17/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List Workout).

Date: 07/07/2023

Licensee: Chad Brown, trainer

Penalty: A written reprimand (per 9/26/23 HISA Guidance). Admission of ECM Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences

Explainer: For the presence of Omeprazole—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Forced Ranking. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

Date: 06/09/2023

Licensee: Luis Jorge Perez, veterinarian

Penalty: 14-month period of Ineligibility, beginning on June 14, 2023; a fine of $5,000. Final Decision by Arbitral Body

Explainer:  Possession of a Banned Substance, Levothyroxine (Thyro-L). Rule 3214(a): “Other Anti-Doping Rule Violations Involving Banned Substances or Banned Methods. The following acts and omissions constitute Anti-Doping Rule Violations by the Covered Person(s) in question: (a) Possession of a Banned Substance or a Banned Method, unless there is compelling justification for such Possession.”

Date: 06/07/2023

Licensee: Dennis VanMeter, trainer

Penalty: Disqualification of the Covered Horse's race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission of ECM Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences

Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medication (Class C)— in a sample taken from Templement, who finished sixth at Thistledown on 6/7/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance.

The post Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings, Oct. 3-9 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Theater Review: Gabe Mollica’s `Solo, A Show About Friendship’

I first met Drew Mollica in 1988 when I was assigned by the Thoroughbred Record to write a cover story on Chris Antley, for whom Mollica was serving as a jockey agent at the time. I found Mollica hysterically funny and, full disclosure, we have been friends ever since. Having since earned his law degree, Drew now practices what might be called racetrack law, and counts the TDN among his clients.

Tuesday night, I attended the opening night of his son, Gabe's, one-man show, Solo, in New York City's East Village and found that the sense of humor trait has undoubtedly been passed on from father to son.

Solo is a one-hour-and-20-minute show which counts several racing luminaries among its executive producers, including Terry Finley, Dave Johnson, Tommy and Karen Bellhouse, Len Green, and Michael Katzer. More a storytelling session than stand-up comedy, it is at times thoughtful, poignant, honest, and very, very funny.

He calls it “A Show About Friendship,” and over the eighty minutes, Mollica explores the differences between friendship among men and those among women. After he spends a day playing video games with his friend Nick, he goes to his parents' house and his mother, Joy, says she has just seen on Facebook that Nick's sister has just had a baby. “How does Nick feel about being an uncle?” she asks him.

“How does Nick feel?” Mollica replies. “I've known Nick my whole life and I don't know how he feels about anything.”

Men, he muses, hang out together with another activity as the focus-sports, video games, or anything else to watch-while women hang out to talk to and focus on one another.

It's one of many observations that had the audience not just laughing out loud, but nodding their heads in recognition.

But the central story of the show revolves around a friend breakup, not with one of his `bros' as he calls his video-game-playing friends, but with someone he considered his best friend, Tim. This story, and Mollica's inability to come to terms with what Tim has done, how it was handled, and to resolve what has happened to the friendship, is not only the central heart of the show, but a story which will resound with anyone who has been through a similar experience.

I may have embarrassed myself laughing in the intimate space of the theater when Mollica explains to his childhood friends just what it is that a jockey agent does, asking them, “You mean your father doesn't have a little man?”

The New York Times has called the show, “Very funny, sweet not sappy, intricate, Birbiglian storytelling,” and it was featured last month on an episode of This American Life. It has also had a run in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The show runs Tuesdays through Sundays through October 28 at the Connelly Theater, 220 E. 4th Street, in New York (click here for tickets) and then hits the road, heading to Chicago, Los Angeles, and Boston, among other stops. Click here for the schedule, tickets and more information. You won't regret the investment of time and you'll leave the theater feeling decidedly better about life.

 

 

The post Theater Review: Gabe Mollica’s `Solo, A Show About Friendship’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

’40 Days Of Giving’ Beneficiaries Speak Up: ‘For Us, It’s Personal’

The Breeders' Cup is in the midst of its “40 Days of Giving” program that puts key Thoroughbred industry charities in a collective spotlight with a fundraising twist: This year's initiative involves a money-matching effort in which donors selected by each charity will match up to $1,000 raised by the general public on that charity's designated day. On the final day of the drive, the Breeders' Cup itself will match up to $20,000 in donations, with funds raised on that 40th day to be distributed evenly to all participating charities.

“It's the lead-up to the 40th running of the Breeders' Cup championships. So we're taking 40 days and 11 different charities, and we're trying to raise as much money as possible for all of these charities that are doing incredible work within our industry,” said Stefanie Palmieri, the vice president of events for Breeders' Cup, Ltd. “And the idea behind the match is that we can engage the public knowing that if they donate, there's a potential for their donations to be doubled.”

The charities that will benefit are the California Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation, the  Ed Brown Society, the Edwin J. Gregson Foundation, The Foundation for the Horse, the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF), the Race Track Chaplaincy of America, The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) in partnership with the California Retirement Management Account, and the Winners Foundation.

“We started on Sept. 21, and the last day of the match program is Oct. 30,” Palmieri said. “But all of the links to donate will remain open through all of the Nov. 3-4 Breeders' Cup races so we can continue promoting and drive as many donations as possible.

“So far, we have hit our matches on quite a few of those days. I think people are really interested and engaged with it,” Palmieri said. “The program is really designed to support a variety of different causes within the Thoroughbred industry, and we selected the charities to represent a cross-section of focus areas.”

Two points stood out when TDN spoke with executives of some of the charities that the Breeders' Cup selected to participate. The first is that our sport operates differently than others in that it relies on a multitude of industry-facing organizations to keep the game going on a daily basis. The second is that most of these worthy causes generally have to compete for the same relatively small pool of Thoroughbred-supportive donors.

Yet those who run the charities say they welcome this opportunity to have so many good causes featured together under one fundraising umbrella, because a program like 40 Days of Giving raises not only money, but the profiles of everyone involved.

Jockeys heading to the paddock | Coady Photography

“When an organization like the Breeders' Cup says they're going to dedicate weeks of bringing awareness to the charities, we're obviously thrilled,” said Shannon Kelly, the executive director of The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation. “And I always have felt the Breeders' Cup should be the moment we're promoting our industry's charities, because all eyes are on the Breeders' Cup.”

Since 1985, The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation has operated as a charitable trust that provides, on a confidential basis, financial relief to needy members of the Thoroughbred industry and their families. Its assistance recipients range from jockeys, trainers, exercise riders, and grooms to office personnel and other employees of tracks, racing organizations, and breeding farms.

“Obviously, the Breeders' Cup has a huge platform to promote the work of charities,” Kelly continued. “They have a lot of eyes and followers. A lot of charities like us in the industry, we have small staffs and we're working quietly as best as we can. So having an arm like the Breeders' Cup's marketing arm push this is fantastic. And I think it's just a nice way to show they're dedicated. It gives us a boost, some traction to what we do.”

“The reality is we're all asking the same donors,” Kelly said. “We're a small industry. So I think it's good to make it a collective program, and not everyone on their own going after the same donors. I think it makes it a little bit easier from a fundraising perspective.”

Nancy LaSala has been the PDJF's president since its inception in 2006, and she accepted the dual role of executive director three years later. The PDJF provides financial assistance to some 60 former jockeys who have suffered catastrophic on-track accidents, most of which involve paralysis or traumatic brain injury. She said that although each specific charity focuses on its niche, they all fall into broader categories that she likened to three-legged stool that needs even support to remain standing.

“We need to care of our human athlete. We need to take care of our equine athlete. And we need to take care of our racing community infrastructure, which is basically the backside. If we could support those three bases, I look at them as the three prominent prongs of horse racing,” LaSala said.

“I don't think our donor base resides much outside of racing,” LaSala said. “It's nice to be part of a platform that includes so many industry charities. We very seldom get the chance to do that, for the greater benefit of all.”

TAA saddle towel | Coady Photography

Stacie Clark Rogers has been with the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance since its inception in 2012, and has been the organization's operations consultant since 2014. The TAA accredits, inspects, and awards grants to more than 80 approved aftercare organizations at around 180 facilities to retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding.

“As the official aftercare charity of the Breeders' Cup, we're always happy to be included in the event and to have the recognition for all the 80-plus organizations that we have,” Clark Rogers said. “It's the one time where we can help them raise some attention for aftercare on the national and international level. It's really inclusive that they've had so many charities be a part of this. It's great to have such a community spirit with the Breeders' Cup.

Palmieri said the Breeders' Cup left it up to each charity to select their own donors who are providing the matching incentives.

“I like the idea of choosing our match donor because it's helped me identify some people that we wanted to draw attention to,” Kelly said. “I went for people who support us throughout the year and are always looking to support more, and I think it gives them some publicity as being actively involved in supporting the industry, not just owning horses or breeding horses or whatever their business is. I think it's good promotion for them, too, to say we have some really good people and groups that want to help.

“We're a really unique industry, because not a lot of other big sports have in-house charities,” Kelly said. “Our charities are there for the future of the sport, to keep it moving. For us, it's personal.”

The post ’40 Days Of Giving’ Beneficiaries Speak Up: ‘For Us, It’s Personal’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights