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Hall Of Famer Delahoussaye Views Friday’s ‘Eddie D’ From Afar

A certified all-time great and longtime member of Racing's Hall of Fame, Eddie Delahoussaye, for whom Friday's main event at Santa Anita, the Grade 2, $200,000 Eddie D Stakes, is named, will not be on-hand to present the winner's trophy along with his wife Juanita.

“With all the Covid stuff going on, we just weren't able to make it out this year,” said the popular Cajun native from his home in Lafayette, La. “At my age (69), you never know what you're gonna get! Hopefully things will get back to normal and we can make the trip again next year.”

Retired due to injury in 2003, Delahoussaye, 69, who has worked part time as a blood stock agent and has dabbled in racehorse ownership himself, is in the process of taking on a new role—that of racing commissioner with the state of Louisiana. Although he won't be officially sworn in until the Louisiana state legislature reconvenes in June, he's serving in the role of apprentice commissioner in the interim.

“I've always felt that horsemen should have a say on these commissions,” said Delahoussaye. “I was asked a few years ago in California to come on the board (CHRB), but I didn't feel it was the right time. There's been a lot of people here saying that we need a change and they asked me if I could help to see if we could help racing and make it better. The biggest issue right now is the devastation in Lake Charles which was caused by the hurricane (Laura).

“The HBPA is trying to figure out if Delta Downs is going to run or if they should run. They were supposed to open Oct. 5, now they're saying they might open Nov. 27…So, we've got trainers maybe sitting out two or three months, owners are gonna leave the business…It looks like Louisiana Downs is the only place maybe we can go because Boyd Gaming won't open up Evangeline Downs.”

When asked what he thought the biggest current issue or issues facing racing, nationally, are, Delahoussaye didn't hesitate.

“To me, it's education. Communicating with the public and educating people properly. I think we've gone about it in the wrong way…We have people that are not in this game, trying to change this game and I think that's what going to hurt this game. It's not a game, it's multi-billion dollar business. Instead of perception, we need to deal in facts. We have people in this industry that are new and they think differently.

“There's a lot of things that are right about our industry and not everything needs to be changed. I just don't get it…The people in this game love the animals and I think we need to educate people and we have not done that. We should have done this a long time ago, that's just my opinion.”

America's leading rider by wins with 384 in 1978, Delahoussaye, who won seven Breeders' Cup races, including the inaugural Distaff with Princess Rooney at Hollywood Park in 1984 and the Classic with A.P. Indy at Gulfstream in 1992, retired with 6,384 career wins.

He cemented his status as one of the nation's elite riders by winning the Kentucky Derby in successive years, in 1982 with Gato Del Sol and in 1983 with Sunny's Halo.

“I think Santa Anita has done a great job getting racing going with everything that's gone on this year,” he said. “Hopefully, things will continue to get better. I love this sport and I really hope we can get it back to where it was before.”

A winner of the 1981 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, Delahoussaye was always known as a plain spoken advocate for horse and rider safety and is one of the most highly respected riders of any era.

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Weekend Lineup: Awesome Again Highlights Stakes Action At Santa Anita

The upcoming week is highlighted by the opening of Santa Anita Park's fall meet, which was delayed by a week due to wildfires in the region. The weekend's slate features seven Breeders' Cup Challenge Series “Win and You're In” races including Saturday's headliner, the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes, which offers a fees-paid berth into the Breeders' Cup Classic.

TVG is the go-to network for comprehensive coverage of racing at Santa Anita Park, starting on opening day September 25. TVG will also feature racing from marquee venues across the country including Gulfstream Park, Monmouth Park and more.

Racing from Belmont Park and Churchill Downs continues on “America's Day at the Races” which airs on either FS1 or FS2. Check the schedule below for air times. The weekend's coverage on “America's Day at the Races” is highlighted by Saturday's Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont, a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Friday September 25

6:12 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Bob Baffert holds a strong three-card hand in the Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita, with his streaking 4-year-old Qahira, who is in search of her fourth consecutive win, rating top billing among a field of seven fillies and mares three and up going 6 ½ furlongs. Baffert will also be well represented by classy Quality Response, a restricted stakes winner at two who will be making her second start of the year on Friday and by recent restricted stakes winner Message, a 4-year-old filly that will be shortening up out of four consecutive routes.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092520USA6-EQB.html

6:43 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Eddie D. Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

A graded stakes winning turf sprinter who was most recently a close fourth in a Grade 1 sprint on dirt, trainer Doug O'Neill's Wildman Jack looks like the horse to beat among a field of seven 3-year-olds and up in Friday's Eddie D. Stakes to be run at 5 ½ furlongs on turf. A W.C. Racing homebred 4-year-old gelding by O'Neill's 2013 Santa Anita Derby winner Goldencents, Wildman Jack was last seen at Santa Anita winning the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes three starts back on May 23.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092520USA7-EQB.html

Saturday September 26

2:16 p.m.—$125,000 Grade 3 Ontario Fashion Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

Sav chases her second added-money title in Saturday's $125,000 Ontario Fashion, a six-furlong main track event which has attracted six starters. Trained by Ricky Griffith for owner Steven Duffield, Sav, who took last year's La Prevoyante Stakes, will go after her second straight win after a half-length score over seven furlongs on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course on August 15.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO092620CAN3-EQB.html

4:35 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

With three out of the five runners in the Chandelier Stakes, Bob Baffert would appear to “have 'em surrounded” indeed, as his budding starlet Princess Noor fairly towers over her competitors, based upon two impressive tallies at Del Mar over the summer. Princess Noor has done little wrong in two starts, taking her 5 ½ furlong debut by 2 ½ lengths at 3-5 on August 22 and crushing five rivals by 6 ½ lengths at 3-5 in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante going seven furlongs on September 6.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092620USA3-EQB.html

4:42 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Noble Damsel Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Feel Glorious (GB) has finished on the board in each of her last six starts and will look to win her second consecutive stakes contest in Saturday's Noble Damsel for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on the Belmont Park Widener turf. Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Tango Uniform Racing, Feel Glorious defeated fellow Noble Damsel-contender Chaleur in the 1 1/16-mile Perfect Sting on August 14 over firm Saratoga Race Course turf. That marked the Bated Breath filly's first win in three attempts of her 4-year-old campaign, which started with a third-place effort in the Grade 2 New York going 1 1/4 miles on June 27 at Belmont.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL092620USA8-EQB.html

4:53 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Ack Ack Stakes at Churchill Downs on FS2

Ten Strike Racing and Madaket Stables' multiple stakes winner Warrior's Charge tops a full field of 14 that were entered in the one-mile Ack Ack. Trained by Brad Cox, Warrior's Charge was elevated to first in last month's Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth after interference by Pirate's Punch in the stretch. Warrior's Charge, a 4-year-old son of Munnings, won the Grade 3 Razorback at Oaklawn earlier this year and finished second behind By My Standards in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD092620USA9-EQB.html

5:14 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Six-time graded stakes winning millionaire Firenze Fire will take on five others in Saturday's Vosburgh Stakes over six furlongs. Firenze Fire has won four of his seven starts over Big Sandy, including a 1 ½-length score in the Grade 2 True North on June 27 three starts back. During his juvenile season, the Florida homebred son of Poseidon's Warrior bested subsequent champion Good Magic in the Grade 1 Champagne on October 2017 and was a runaway nine-length winner of the Grade 3 Dwyer in July 2018.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL092620USA9-EQB.html

6:41 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Blessed with a pair of talented turf distaffers, trainer Richard Baltas has a big look at the Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita, as his Lady Prancealot (IRE), a fast closing second in her most recent start, has solid distance credentials, while his Bodhicitta is in top form although distance may be a question. A winner of the Grade 1 American Oaks in her only try at the Rodeo Drive distance five starts back on December 28, Lady Prancealot is winless in four graded stakes this year, but she flew late to be beaten a diminishing neck in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar September 5 and merits top billing.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092620USA7-EQB.html

7:12 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

A gutty runner-up in two summertime starts, Bob Baffert's highly regarded Spielberg looms the horse to beat in the American Pharoah Stakes. Most recently second, beaten 1 ¾ lengths in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity going seven furlongs on September 7, Spielberg, a $1 million Keeneland September Yearling, will try two turns for the first time and be ridden for the first time by eastern-based Luis Saez.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092620USA8-EQB.html

7:43 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

A winner of three out of his last four starts and no worse than third in his last nine, Richard Mandella's classy United heads up a field of eight 3-year-olds in Saturday's John Henry Turf Championship. Most recently second, beaten a diminishing head at 3-5 in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap, United will again use the John Henry as a springboard to the Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland, a race in which he was a close second to eventual Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar last year at Santa Anita.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092620USA9-EQB.html

8:14 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Unbeaten in two starts for Bob Baffert, Gary and Mary West's homebred Maximum Security, the No. 1-ranked horse in the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll, heads a field of field of five in Awesome Again Stakes. Maximum Security comes off a huge three length win in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on August 22 and will once again be a prohibitive favorite. Baffert's Improbable, winner of the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga August 1, will be bidding for his third consecutive win.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092620USA10-EQB.html

Sunday September 27

5 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

An impressive gate to wire winner of her last two starts, the Gary and Mary West homebred Fighting Mad looms a standout in the Zenyatta Stakes, to be contested at 1 1/16-miles. Trainer Simon Callaghan's Harvest Moon, a 3-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo, has won her last three starts and is an up and comer that will attract considerable pari-mutuel attention. Hard Not to Love, a Grade 1 winner and well accomplished, comes off a dull sixth behind Fighting Mad in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch at Del Mar and will hope to rebound for trainer John Shirreffs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092720USA4-EQB.html

5:24 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Remington Park Oaks at Remington Park on TVG

Trainer Kenny McPeek has three of the eight horses entered for the Remington Park Oaks, including the heavy 7-5 morning-line favorite Envoutante. McPeek is looking for his second victory in this race, having won the 2013 edition with Montana Native. His other two entrants also certainly have a shot Sunday with Jeweled Princess at 4-1 and Curls and Bows at 6-1. That gives him three of the top four favorites in this field.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/RP092720USA4-EQB.html

7 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Trainer Mark Glatt's red-hot Collusion Illusion, who seeks his fourth consecutive win and C Z Rocket, in search of his fifth consecutive win photo, headline a solid field of five 3-year-olds and up in Sunday's Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs. A winner of five out of six starts, Collusion Illusion was all heart in taking Del Mar's Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes by a nose on August 1, while C Z Rocket, in his first graded stakes assignment, proved best by half a length in the Grade 2 Pat O'Brien going seven furlongs on August 29.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092720USA8-EQB.html

8 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

In a marathon devoid of any clear standout, Tizamagician, Azul Coast and Combatant all figure prominently among a field of seven in the Tokyo City Cup. A gate to wire first condition allowance winner going one mile on September 5 at Del Mar, Tizamagician broke his maiden on January 1 and now has two wins from six starts this year. A non-threatening fifth on turf in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap August 9, Azul Coast was second to his eventual Kentucky Derby winning stablemate Authentic five starts back in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes January 4.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092720USA10-EQB.html

8:12 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park on TVG

A competitive field of nine horses were drawn for the Oklahoma Derby with Indiana Derby winner Shared Sense being made the 5-2 morning-line favorite. The three horses with top earnings in the field are close in talent and in odds with Dean Martini at 7-2. He comes in as the winner of the Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby and the top money earner in the field of nine horses at $393,202. Rowdy Yates, trying to become only the third Oklahoma-bred to win the Oklahoma Derby, is second in earnings with $346,556, and listed as the third-choice in the morning line at 4-1 odds.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/RP092720USA10-EQB.html

11:55 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Century Mile on TVG

Trainer Robertino Diodoro has won four of the last seven Canadian Derbies. He goes for his fifth on Sunday with Something Natural, who was third in the Manitoba Derby behind Mongolian Wind and Mr. Unusual, who have both come to Edmonton. Something Natural did run second to eventual Louisiana Derby winner Wells Bayou at Oaklawn Park and also won a solid allowance race at Oaklawn.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CTM092720CAN10-EQB.html

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United Seeks Rebound In Saturday’s John Henry Turf Championship

A winner of three out of his last four starts and no worse than third in his last nine, Richard Mandella's classy United heads up a field of eight 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/4 miles over the Santa Anita Turf in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship.

Most recently second, beaten a diminishing head at 3-5 in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap, United will again use the John Henry as a springboard to the Grade 1, 1 1/2-mile Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland, a race in which he was a close second to eventual Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar last year at Santa Anita.

The Richard Baltas-trained Next Shares, a late running Grade 1 stakes winner, BG Stables' Originaire, who charged from far back to be a close third in the Del Mar Handicap and fellow Irish-bred Oscar Dominguez, a close fifth in the same race, lend considerable depth to the John Henry field.

The John Henry is named in honor of the legendary gelding who garnered seven Eclipse Awards and was voted America's Horse of the Year in 1981 and 1984. A Kentucky-bred gelding by Ole Bob Bowers, John Henry was trained by Hall of Famer Ron McAnally and was retired at age nine in 1984.

UNITED

Owner: LNJ Foxwoods

Trainer: Richard Mandella

Third in last year's John Henry, this 5-year-old Giant's Causeway gelding was subsequently a massive second, beaten a head by Bricks and Mortar at odds of 51-1 in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Turf, a race that he's once again prepping for. Although he was flying at the finish of the Aug. 22 Del Mar Handicap, the winner, Red King, had made an early run and was able to just prevail. A winner of three out of his four starts this year, United is in top form with an overall mark of 15-6-4-1 and earnings of $1,293,549.

NEXT SHARES

Owner: Richard & Debby Baltas and Michael Iavarone

Trainer: Richard Baltas

Back from Kentucky following a pair of unplaced starts in one mile turf stakes, including a 10th place finish two races back in the Grade I Makers Mark Mile at Keeneland July 10, Next Shares is a classy 7-year-old gelding that would appreciate a fast early pace. A solid second, beaten 2 ¼ lengths three starts back in the Grade I Shoemaker Mile (turf) here on May 25, he rallied well to be third, beaten a neck four starts back in the Grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile (turf) on March 7. Although winless in five starts this year and “o-fer” in two tries at the mile and one quarter distance, Next Shares will hope to rebound on his home ground and will be ridden for the first time by top eastern rider Luis Saez. The leading money earner in the field with $1,808,571, he'll be making his 35th career start.

ORIGINAIRE

Owner: BG Stables

Trainer: Jeff Mullins

In what will be his fourth consecutive confrontation with United, this 4-year-old Irish-bred colt rates a legitimate upset chance. Most recently a fast finishing third, beaten a half length by United in the Del Mar Handicap, he was much closer to the pace in both the Grade II Eddie Read on July 26 and the Grade II Charles Whittingham Stakes here on May 23, races in which he was beaten 2 ¼ lengths and a half length by United, respectively. With Abel Cedillo set to ride him back for the second time, it would seem that Originaire's best chance for victory would be if he could again lag far off of a fast early pace.

OSCAR DOMINGUEZ

Owner: Nancy Messineo & Bruce Sands

Trainer: Richard Baltas

Another deep closer, “Oscar” was most recently a fast finishing fifth from far off the pace in the Del Mar Handicap Aug. 22, this 7-year-old Irish-bred gelding is winless in four graded starts this year, with his last win coming five races back in the Grade II, mile and one half Hollywood Turf Cup on Dec. 1, 2019. A winner of six out of his 41 career starts, he'll be ridden for the first time Jose Valdivia, Jr.

THE GRADE II JOHN HENRY WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS ON POST POSITION ORDER

Race 9 of 11 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT

1. Proud Pedro—Juan Hernandez—122
2. Originaire—Abel Cedillo—122
3. United—Flavien Prat—126
4. Another Mystery—Drayden Van Dyke—122
5. Salvator Mundi—Umberto Rispoli—122
6. Kazan—Tiago Pereira—122
7. Next Shares—Luis Saez—124
8. Oscar Dominguez—Jose Valdivia, Jr.—124

First post time for an 11-race card on Saturday is at 12:30 p.m. Although there is no public admittance, fans can follow a live video stream, free of charge, at santaanita.com

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Sarah Coleman Named Executive Director Of Kentucky Horse Council

The Kentucky Horse Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Sarah Coleman as the new Executive Director of the Lexington-based organization; Coleman will begin her role Sept. 29.

An avid equestrian, Coleman grew up in northeastern Ohio and graduated from the Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University in Athens, OH. Coleman moved to the Bluegrass in 2004 to work with multiple equine and agriculture- related publications based in the area. She shifted to equine-oriented roles at Lexington Catholic High School and Georgetown College before transitioning to her most recent role as Community and Public Relations Director for New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program. In that role, Coleman oversaw the construction of New Vocations at Mereworth Farm and established the New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park among other endeavors.

In addition, Coleman holds roles on multiple equine boards and committees, including being secretary and treasurer of the Kentucky Hunter Jumper Association, a member of the University of Kentucky's Saddle Up Safely program and a member of the Kentucky Horse Breeders Incentive Fund Non-Race Committee, among others.

“I am excited to step into this role with the Kentucky Horse Council,” Coleman says “Katy [Ross] did an incredible job; I look forward to capitalizing on the momentum she has built to grow the membership, develop relationships and resources, and awareness of the organization and its mission and programs within the Kentucky I have invested my life into the education of equine enthusiasts and equine welfare, and I am looking forward to seeing what can be accomplished in this new role.”

“We are delighted to have Sarah join the Kentucky Horse Council as Executive Director,” said Ryan Watson, President of the Kentucky Horse Council, “with Sarah's experience as well as expertise in the non-profit sector, I feel very confident that she can continue moving the KHC forward.”

ABOUT THE KENTUCKY HORSE COUNCIL – The Kentucky Horse Council is a non-profit organization dedicated, through education and leadership, to the protection and development of the Kentucky equine community. The Kentucky Horse Council provides educational programs and information, outreach and communication to Kentucky horse owners and enthusiasts, equine professional networking opportunities through the Kentucky Equine Networking Association (KENA), trail riding advocacy, health and welfare programs,personal liability insurance and other membership benefits. The specialty Kentucky Horse Council license plate, featuring a foal lying in the grass, provides the primary source of revenue for KHC programs.

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