Tag: summer

Op/Ed: Opportunity to Make a Difference

This weekend the baton will be handed off from our traditional summer focal points of Del Mar and Saratoga to Franklin Kentucky and the Kentucky Downs meet. Full fields, big crowds, and a vibrant atmosphere made possible by Historic Horse Racing (HHR) machines, and an ownership group willing to invest in its potential. Kentucky Downs embodies great hope for Kentucky racing and our industry's future, and it was almost taken away Feb. 10, 2021.

It was a cold, nasty February evening in Kentucky, when the Kentucky House of Representatives took up debate on Senate Bill 120, the legalization of HHR machines. The intellectual property argument, which created HHR, was brilliant as it guaranteed revenue generated from the machines would flow through the Horsemen's purse account to supplement purse money. Lessons learned from other state's “racino” experiments were applied in Kentucky and masterly played by our industry leaders, to whom I am forever grateful.

It goes without saying, we are enjoying a boom period since the passage of HHR. Purse money is sky rocketing, handle increasing with more full fields, and investments being made around the commonwealth in our racing product. This boom period is thanks to our industry leaders and lobbying organizations who spent time in Frankfort, and across Kentucky, to secure HHR's passage, and it was not a small feat.

If you recall that night, many floor speeches were given from various representatives around the commonwealth, and many were not in favor of support. Many opposing our industry, took the opportunity to declare to their constituents why they “could not support” our industry. Many who supported the passage of HHR have since been voted out by their constituents. Let me say that again…many who voted to support HHR have since been voted OUT by their constituents. I would bet that if HHR was brought to the floor today, it would not pass…how's that for sobering.

In Kentucky alone, there are dozens of newly elected people who ultimately make the rules for our industry: HHR, taxes, workers comp, etc. Expect them to support us because “we are Kentucky's signature industry,” and know this “boom period” will quickly bust. Many who supported us, in Frankfort, have been voted out. We cannot sit idly and expect their replacements to make their same choices.

We are enjoying this period of incredible growth thanks to the tireless work of our industry leaders, however, for many years we have let too few carry our water. We are harvesting their hard work and it's time for more of us to engage. We are responsible for our future. Now is the moment to get involved.    Please join us at Midway University in Midway Kentucky on Tuesday Sept. 6, to learn how we continue to step forward towards a bright future.

To learn more please click here and RSVP to brittany@horseswork.com.

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Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Returns To NBC Sports This Weekend

The “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing” will be at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto for two live  programs of outstanding turf racing on Saturday, Sept. 18 on NBCSN (5:30-6:30 p.m. ET) ― featuring the $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1) ― and on Sunday, Sept. 19 on NBCSN (4:30-6 p.m. ET), headlined by the $400,000 Natalma Stakes (G1) and the $400,000 Summer Stakes (G1).

This weekend's programs mark the seventh and eighth telecasts this year in the “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing” on NBC and NBCSN from some of North America's most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6, which will be shown live on NBC and NBCSN. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here.

NBC Sports' coverage will feature commentary and discussion from its International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., led by host Britney Eurton, and analysts Randy Moss and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, who won 15 Breeders' Cup races including five victories in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Reporter Nick Luck and handicapper Matt Bernier will be on-site at Woodbine.

Additional highlights of NBC Sports' coverage include:

  • The first live race on Saturday's show is the prestigious Pattison Canadian International
  • Saturday's show will include a feature on Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse
  • Sunday's show will feature an interview with celebrity chef Bobby Flay, the owner and breeder of Pizza Bianca, who runs in Sunday's Natalma Stakes

A field of 10 has been entered in the 25th Ricoh Woodbine Mile, which will give the winner a free berth into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1). The race is led by Juddmonte's 5-year-old gelding Set Piece (GB), trained by Brad Cox. A talented stretch-runner, Set Piece reeled off three straight victories at Churchill Downs earlier this year, taking the Opening Verse Stakes in April, the Douglas Park Stakes in May, and the Wise Dan Stakes (G2) in June. His streak ended with a second-place finish behind Got Stormy in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 14, which was also a “Win and You're In” for the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile.

Peter Brant's Raging Bull (FR) had a big chance in the 2019 Woodbine Mile, but was impeded in the stretch. He finished fourth but was moved up to third via disqualification. Trained by Chad Brown, Raging Bull has a Grade 1 win this year, taking the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes at Keeneland in April. He will try to rebound from a lackluster performance in the Fourstardave, where he did not accelerate in the final furlong and wound up sixth as the even-money favorite.

The Canadian-based starters are led by Live Oak Plantation's March to the Arch and Gary Barber's Olympic Runner. Both are trained by Mark Casse, who has been inducted into both the Canadian and American Racing Halls of Fame. March to the Arch finished second in last year's race, losing by 1 length after a powerful drive in the stretch came up short. This year, the 5-year-old won the Niagara Stakes over the Woodbine course on July 25, and was recently third in the King Edward Stakes (G3) on Aug. 15. Olympic Runner won the King Edward for his fifth career score. He finished second at Woodbine in the Connaught Cup (G2) prior to the King Edward.

Casse has also entered John Oxley and My Meadowview Farm's 6-year-old Ride a Comet, who has eight wins in 17 races, and is unbeaten in all four of his starts at Woodbine. Racing in the U.S. this year, Ride a Comet has one win in five starts, and was third behind Set Piece in the Wise Dan Stakes.

Clipper Logistics' Space Traveller (GB) will be making his second start in the U.S. this year for trainer Brendan Walsh, after 19 races in the care of Richard Fahey. The 5-year-old Space Traveller rallied well to finish fourth in the Mr. D. Stakes (G1) at Arlington Park on Aug. 14. In 2019, Space Traveller finished eighth in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).

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On Sunday, the 1-mile Natalma Stakes for 2-year-old fillies will award an automatic starting position into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), and the 1-mile Summer Stakes for 2-year-olds will offer a free berth into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

Mark Casse has entered four runners in the Natalma, led by D.J. Stable and Nexus Racing Club's undefeated Diabolic (IRE). After breaking her maiden in May at Gulfstream Park, Diabolic won her last two starts at Woodbine, taking the 5 ½-furlong My Dear Stakes on July 31 on the all-weather surface, and the 6 ½-furlong Catch a Glimpse Stakes on Aug. 21 on the turf course. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber's Canadian-bred Baksheesh broke her maiden by 4-lengths when she won the Muskoka Stakes at Woodbine on Aug. 29 on the all-weather surface.

Godolphin's Wild Beauty GB) has won two races in England this year for trainer Charlie Appleby. After breaking her maiden and winning a novice race, Wild Beauty comes into the Natalma off two-second place finishes, the most recent one being a 1-length defeat as the 5-2 favorite in the Sweet Solera Stakes (G3) on Aug. 7 at Newmarket.

Casse has also entered four starters in the Summer Stakes. His best chance appears to be with Harlequin Ranches' Canadian-bred First Empire, a son of 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner, Classic Empire, out of Silsita by 2000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Macho Uno. First Empire has two wins in three starts, with a 1 ¾-length victory last time out in the Soaring Free Stakes at Woodbine on Aug 21.

Godolphin's Albahr (GB) has won his last three races in England, and each time as the odds-on favorite. Also trained by Appleby, in his most recent start, Albahr captured the 1-mile EBF Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury by three-quarters of length on Aug. 20. The American runners are led by West Point Thoroughbreds, John Ballantyne, and Titletown Racing Stables' Dripping Gold.  A son of Lemon Drop Kid, Dripping Gold was an impressive debut winner at Saratoga on Aug. 7, taking a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight by 2 ¼ lengths for trainer Shug McGaughey.

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Casse Will Saddle Four In ‘Win And You’re In’ Summer Stakes

The more, the merrier could be the mantra of trainer Mark Casse when it comes to racing at Woodbine.

Take, for example, Sunday's $400,000 Summer Stakes, a Grade 1 for 2-year-olds in which Casse will field four of the nine entrants in the one-mile turf race.

The Summer is also a Breeders' Cup Challenge event with an all-fees berth in Del Mar's 1 1/16 mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 5 earmarked for the winner.

Last year Casse sent forth winner Gretzky the Great, who went on to finish a decent sixth of 14 in the Juvenile Turf, and third-place finisher Dolder Grand.

This time around, Casse will send out First Empire, Souper Legacy, Luckman, and Grafton Street in quest of present and perhaps future glory.

First Empire is the most prominent member of the quartet, having followed up on a rather disappointing debut here on the main track with back-to-back turf scores including the 6 ½-furlong Soaring Free, a race which Gretzky the Great had also used as a successful Summer stepping-stone.

“His last race ended up being very good,” said Casse. “He's doing everything right, he definitely loves the turf, and he's coming into this race good, whereas this is a little tougher task. But, I don't see the mile being an issue.”

Patrick Husbands, in the irons for First Empire's turf scores, retains the mount.

Souper Legacy is 1-for-1, having captured an off-the-turf maiden race over seven furlongs, while Luckman ran second when debuting in a split of that race on the August 29 card.

“I thought his first race was good,” said Casse, of Souper Legacy. “We definitely think he's a little better on the grass.”

Antonio Gallardo replaces Husbands on the gelding.

Luckman, also ridden by Husbands in his opener, will have Emma-Jayne Wilson aboard this time.

“We were hoping to give both those horses a race over the turf but he's another horse who should move up on the grass,” said Casse, who does not anticipate the mile being a problem for either runner.

Grafton Street has not seen action since May 29 when he debuted with a third-place finish in a race scheduled for turf but contested over five furlongs of sloppy going at Belmont.

“He's by War Front, and he's kind of my version of War of Will this year,” said Casse, who sent out that son of the Danzig sire to finish second in the 2018 Summer and then go on to achieve Grade 1 heroics in the Preakness and later the Maker's Mark Mile on Keeneland's turf course. “I've kind of always thought he was one of our better colts.

“The race came off the grass at Belmont, he ran, and that was hard on him. It took him a while to bounce back.”

Getting back down to business at Saratoga, Grafton Street recorded a bullet turf breeze on August 13.

“It was phenomenal,” said Casse. “Then I shipped him to Woodbine, to get a race on the grass, and it came off so I scratched him. But he's trained very, very well.”

Rafael Hernandez gets the call.

In addition to Gretzky the Great, Casse took down three consecutive Summer Stakes beginning in 2013 with My Conquestadory and continuing with Conquest Typhoon and Conquest Daddyo.

Albahr, based in England with trainer Charlie Appleby, has shipped in for the Summer with some interesting credentials.

After ending a troubled third in his debut the English-bred gelding has rattled off three straight wins, the first two at seven furlongs and the most recent over one mile of “good” going at Salisbury.

“He's done little wrong this year,” said travelling head lad Chris Durham. “He won a listed race in Salisbury, probably not on the ground you'd want. It rained, and it got a bit of water on it. The ground wouldn't have been in his favour, and he still won. Charlie's really happy with him. This has been his plan.”

Albahr will be looking to become the first European shipper to win the Summer in very limited representations. Vitalogy, trained in Ireland by Joseph O'Brien, finished third in the race in 2019.

The presence of Frankie Dettori in the irons will add to the Godolphin homebred's allure.

Invading from south of the Canadian border will be Dripping Gold and Degree of Risk.

Dripping Gold, trained by Shug McGaughey, was an impressive winner of his only start at Saratoga, a 1 1/16 mile race over firm turf. Joel Rosario picks up the mount.

Degree of Risk, based at Arlington with conditioner Eoin Harty, returns to Woodbine after finishing second in the Soaring Free. The Godolphin homebred again will have locally-based Justin Stein in the irons.

Rounding out the lineup will be Ready for the Lady and Heat Merchant.

Ready for the Lady, conditioned by Roger Attfield, ran second to Souper Legacy on the Tapeta surface in his only appearance.

Heat Merchant, trained by Ralph Biamonte, also will be making his turf debut after graduating over six furlongs in his third outing.

$400,000 Summer Stakes (Grade 1)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Dripping Gold – Joel Rosario – Shug McGaughey

2 – Luckman – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse

3 – Grafton Street – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

4 – Albahr – Frankie Dettori – Charles Appleby

5 – Heat Merchant – Gary Boulanger – Ralph Biamonte

6 – Degree of Risk – Justin Stein – Eoin Harty

7 – Souper Legacy – Antonio Gallardo – Mark Casse

8 – First Empire – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

9 – Ready for the Lady – Keveh Nicholls – Roger Attfield

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Casse Pair Headlines ‘Win And You’re In’ Summer Stakes At Woodbine

Seven first-year stars take their talents to the E.P. Taylor Turf Course in Sunday's Grade 1 $250,000 Summer Stakes, part of a sensational stakes-stacked weekend at Woodbine.

The one-mile Summer Stakes is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, “Win and You're In” event. Up for grabs is a fees-paid date in the one-mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (accompanied by a $1 million purse), to be run on November 6 at Keeneland.

Mark Casse will send out a pair of hopefuls, Dolder Grand and Gretzky the Great, in the Summer, a race he has won on three occasions. The Hall of Fame conditioner netted the natural hat trick from 2013-15, starting with My Conquestadory, followed by Conquest Typhoon and Conquest Daddyo.

Dolder Grand, a Kentucky-bred son of Candy Ride, finished third in his career bow on August 23 at Woodbine. With Patrick Husbands in the irons, the D J Stable silk-bearer was bumped in the stretch, but rallied to secure the show spot in the seven-furlong race run over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

“He reminds me a bit of War of Will,” said Casse, in referencing his Ricoh Woodbine Mile starter and Preakness champ. “They paid a lot of money [$800,000] for him – D J Stable – and he's trained very well. I was a little disappointed in his first start, but I can remember War of Will doing the exact same thing. When I ran War of Will first time out, I didn't think he'd get beat and he finished third, beaten like five lengths.”

Casse liked the effort shown by the dark bay, bred by Dell Ridge Farm.

“This horse ran well in that he never gave up. I think he's going to improve big time off his maiden race. He's also trained extremely well. I expect him to be a factor in the Summer.”

After a runner-up effort in his first career start on July 12, Gretzky the Great could net a natural hat trick of his own with a win on Saturday.

Owned by Gary Barber and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, the son of Nyquist, bred by Anderson Farms Ontario, broke his maiden via a 4 ¼-length victory on August 2. The bay colt followed it up with a gutsy neck score in the Soaring Free Stakes, traveling 6 ½ panels on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course on August 23.

Casse's hoping for another great one this weekend.

“He's been great so far. He's come to play each time and he's run hard. He's also training well.”

American Monarch, a two-year-old son of American Pharoah, will look to build off a sharp debut on August 8 at Saratoga. The Bill Mott trainee, bred and owned by Mike Rutherford, posted a half-length win in a 1 1/16 mile turf engagement contested over “firm” going.

Mott is seeking his third Summer score after taking the 2007 running with Prussian and the 2016 edition with Good Samaritan.

A dark bay son of Society's Chairman, Download uploaded a win to his stat sheet after a maiden-breaking score on August 23. In his third career start, the Ontario-bred colt pulled off the 14-1 upset at seven panels over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course. Trainer Michael De Paulo co-owns with Zilli Racing Stables, Le Amici Racing Stable and Samotowka Stables.

Heat of the Night, a gelded son of Summer Front, delivered an 11-1 win in his career bow on September 3 at Gulfstream. Trained by Timothy Hamm, the Kentucky-bred, owned by Blazing Meadows Farms and Fred Hertich, took the one-mile turf race by one length. The Summer marks the Canadian debut for Heat of the Night.

Victoria Stakes champ Ready to Repeat is 2-1-1 from four starts. Trained by Gail Cox, who co-owns the Kentucky-bred gelding with John Menary, Michael Ambler and Windways Farm, the bay was third in his most recent test, the Soaring Free Stakes on August 23 at Woodbine. Ready to Repeat finished second in his career bow on June 14 before going on to win his next two starts.

Secret Potion just missed in his debut, losing by a half-length in the 1 1/16-mile turf race at Saratoga on August 8. Owned by Peter Brant, Robert LaPenta and Woodford Racing, the son of Into Mischief was bred in Kentucky by Dixiana Farms.

Last year, Decorated Invader, under Irad Ortiz Jr., won the Summer in a time of 1:36.34.

The Summer (Race 7) and Natalma Stakes (Race 9) will be broadcast live on TSN2 from 4-6 p.m. ET.

First race post time on Sunday is set for 1:10 p.m. Fans can wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.

FIELD FOR THE SUMMER STAKES

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Download – Daisuke Fukumoto – Michael De Paulo

2 – Secret Potion – Rafael Hernandez – Chad Brown

3 – Ready to Repeat – Luis Contreras – Gail Cox

4 – Gretzky the Great – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse

5 – American Monarch – Justin Stein – Bill Mott

6 – Heat of the Night – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Timothy Hamm

7 – Dolder Grand – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

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