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Asmussen Seeks Sixth Chick Lang Win

Steve Asmussen looks to take his sixth renewal of the GIII Chick Lang S.–and third straight–Saturday at Pimlico with Cogburn (Not This Time). Graduating at second asking at Churchill Downs in September, he kicked off his sophomore season on a winning note with a decisive optional claimer score at Oaklawn Mar. 25. He came up a neck short of re-opposing Whelen Springs (Street Sense) last time in that venue's Bachelor S. Apr. 30.

That Arkansas-bred rival took five tries to break his maiden, finally doing so against other locals in Hot Springs Mar. 26. He romped in the state-bred Rainbow S. there Apr. 9 and took the Bachelor just three weeks later.

Old Homestead (Overanalyze) looks to take his record to a perfect four-for-four in this event. Earning his diploma by 11 1/2 lengths at Delta Downs in January, the bay captured an allowance there next out Mar. 4. He took his show on the road and proved he could success at a top venue with a win in Keeneland's Lafayette S. Apr. 8.

The post Asmussen Seeks Sixth Chick Lang Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Foley Considering Shorter Distances With Comeback Allowance Winner O Besos

The fifth place finisher in the 2021 Kentucky Derby, Bernard Racing, Tagg Team Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Terry Stephens' O Besos made his much-anticipated return count on Sunday. The 4-year-old by Orb won the Fair Grounds' seventh race, a $47,000 allowance option claiming contest, by a hard-fought nose over Intrepid Heart.

“He had to run a little harder than we were hoping for,” trainer Greg Foley said. “He got banged around a little out of the gate. I don't know how much he loved it on the inside there.”

Now 8-3-1-1 with earnings of $320,224, all three of O Besos' wins have come at Fair Grounds with Brian Hernandez Jr. riding.

“We got that under his belt,” Foley said. “He looked great this morning, licked his tub, he didn't act like it took anything out of him. The horse looks amazing. He's put on 150 pounds of muscle in the right places. I couldn't be any happier with the way he looks.”

After the Kentucky Derby, O Besos ran second in the Matt Winn (G3) at Churchill Downs on May 29, 2021. Winning at 1 1/16 miles off the bench on Sunday, his connections are now considering their options for his next start.

“I just got to figure out what this horse really wants to do,” Foley said. “I'm not so sure he is a true long-distance horse. He might be a monster going seven-eighths or a one-turn mile.”

Speaking of past Kentucky Derby horses, Foley and his team are also weighing their options for Lloyd Madison Farms, IV's Major Fed, who was last seen finishing fifth in the locally run Tenacious Stakes the day after Christmas.

“Might be the same speech,” Foley said. “He could be great at one-turn. Other than that, all his brothers and sisters were really good turf horses, too, so we might stick him on the grass next time.”

The post Foley Considering Shorter Distances With Comeback Allowance Winner O Besos appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Stronach 5: Four Sprints Featured In Friday Wager

The Stronach 5 will feature four competitive sprint races Friday from Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park and Golden Gate Fields before concluding with a two-turn event on the Tapeta at Gulfstream.

The popular wager begins at 3:34 ET with Laurel's seventh race and a low 12-percent takeout.

The first leg of the sequence is a six-furlong claiming event for 3-year-olds and up with a wide-open 11-horse field and a tepid 7-2 favorite in Gale Winds, who drops from $16,000 to $10,000 for trainer John Robb. While Gale Winds breaks from the rail, Petion Night will make his first start since May of 2019 while breaking from the 11 post for trainer Gary Contessa. Mutakaamil goes out first time for trainer Kieron Magee after being claimed from a maiden victory at Delaware.

Gulfstream's eighth race, an allowance optional claimer at six furlongs for fillies and mares, is up next with 12-time winner Liza Star breaking from the rail for trainer Jose Garoffalo. Leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. will send out Naughty Shirley, second last time out to multiple stakes winner Choose Joy.

Laurel's eighth race, the third leg of the sequence, is a starter allowance at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up. His Name Is Sue is the 5-2 favorite off a second-place finish last out against $16,000 claimers. Powerful Ally ships in from Parx for trainer Carlos Caban. Mystic Times enters off a ninth in the Maryland Million Starter Handicap.

The action heads to Golden Gate Fields for the fourth leg of the sequence. Golden Gate's second race features $16,000 claimers, 3-year-olds and up and has a 7-5 favorite in Battle of Memphis, a winner last out Sept. 19 on the turf. Harbor Kitty enters the race off a third-place finish last out, missing by a head against starter allowance company.

The Stronach 5 ends with Gulfstream's ninth race, a $20,000 claiming event at a mile and 70-yard event for fillies and mares. Divine Exchange will seek her third consecutive victory and first at Gulfstream after winning two at Belterra over the summer. Chantal Sutherland gets the ride. Lady Jae goes out first time off the claim for Victor Barboza after winning on the distance and surface last time out. Edwin Gonzalez has been named to ride. Alba's Star drops in class for Steve Klesaris and jockey Edgard Zayas.

Friday's races and sequence

Leg One –Laurel Race 7: (11 entries, 6 furlongs) 3:34 ET, 12:34 PT
Leg Two –Gulfstream Race 8: (7 entries, 6 furlongs) 3:53 ET, 12:53 PT
Leg Three –Laurel Race 8: (8 entries, 6 furlongs) 4:02 ET, 1:02 PT
Leg Four – Golden Gate Race 2: (8 entries, 6 furlongs) 4:18 ET, 1:18 PT
Leg Five –Gulfstream Race 9: (9 entries, mile and 70 yards) 4:23 ET, 1:23 PT

Fans can watch and wager on the action at 1/ST.COM/BET as well as stream all the action in English and Spanish at LaurelPark.com, SantaAnita.com, GulfstreamPark.com, and GoldenGateFields.com.

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.

If a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.

The Maryland Jockey Club serves as host of the Stronach 5.

The post Stronach 5: Four Sprints Featured In Friday Wager appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Study: Does Staying In A Stall Affect Bone Strength?

While it may be tempting to keep a horse in his stall to prevent unwanted injuries, this bubble-wrap approach isn't always the best for keeping a horse safe in the long term. According to academic research, stalling a horse can lead to loss of bone mass and bone strength.

Dr. Brian Nielsen has conducted multiple studies funded by the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Foundation regarding bone mass and his findings have been consistent – and surprising. Though horses kept in stalls may be muscularly strong, their bones may be weak. Bone mass and strength can begin dissipating in as little as two weeks.

Though living outside 24/7 isn't a necessity to healthy bones, the ability to sprint is. A study of Nielsen's out of Michigan State University involved long yearlings kept on pasture that had normal bone growth. Half the horses were put in stalls and walked on a walker for an hour every day. The other half remained living outside.

The researchers monitored the horses' bone mass and discovered that horses living in the pastures continued to increase cannon bone mass, but the stalled horses had an immediate drop in bone mass which persisted for the next three months.

The horses then began under-saddle training as 2-year-olds. During their two months of walking, trotting and cantering under saddle, their cannon bones were monitored. The exercise was not enough to cause an increase in stalled horses' bone mass. Bone mass in the stalled horses decreased to the point where it was less than when the study began.

More studies found that sprinting – short, intense running sessions – was key to healthy bone that increased in mass. Horses must have the ability to sprint on their own or while in training, or they will lose bone mass.

Sprinting exerts force on the bone and causes it to bend, encouraging the body to lay down more bone and make the bones stronger. If horses are not allowed to sprint and their bones are prevented from bending, the body will actually take up minerals, believing the bones are strong enough for the work being asked of them.

For horses that are engaged in high-impact activities like racing and jumping, keeping horses in stalls may contribute to injuries as the horses lose bone mass. Additional research shows that adult horses who are stalled also experience bone loss.