Tag: thoroughbred

‘Godspeed Old Friend’: Grade 1 Winner Bolo Retired From Racing

Trainer Carla Gaines announced via Twitter on Tuesday that the 8-year-old gelding Bolo, winner of the G1 Shoemaker Mile in 2019, will be retired from racing. The son of Temple City finished off the board in his two starts this year, and will retire with an overall record of 6-1-4 from 23 starts for earnings of $978,572.

“It is with pride, joy, and a heavy heart that we have decided its time for G1W Bolo to retire from racing,” Gaines wrote. “He is happy, healthy and sound, he just doesn't seem interested in racing anymore. Now eight, he's been a part of our barn since he was two, his absence is going leave a huge void, both his talent and larger than life personality. He took me to my first Kentucky Derby, then back to back Arcadia wins, G1 Shoemaker Mile at the age of seven… the memories are endless. Thank you to Bolo, to his owners, our staff, jockeys, all who contributed to his prolonged success. Godspeed old friend.”

Gaines' post indicated that options for a second career are under consideration for Bolo, but nothing has been decided at this time.

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Tom’s D’Etat Tops First Week Of Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings

GMB Racing's 7-year-old Tom's d'Etat, winner of the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2), leads the first week of tabulated votes for the 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, a weekly rating of the top 10 horses in contention for the $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington on November 7.

The Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings are determined by a panel of leading Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers and members of the Breeders' Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. Rankings will be announced each week through October 13. A list of voting members can be found here.

In the Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.

Tom's d'Etat, a Kentucky-bred son of Smart Strike, trained by Al Stall Jr., topped all Classic contenders this week with 292 votes. Earning a “Win and You're In” berth into the Breeders' Cup Classic with his runaway 4 ¼-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster on June 27 at Churchill Downs, Tom's d'Etat scored his second triumph of 2020, following a win in the Oaklawn Mile Stakes on April 11.

Gary and Mary West, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's 4-year-old Maximum Security (243 votes) is in second place. Now trained by Bob Baffert, Maximum Security won the inaugural $20 million Saudi Cup in February. A bay son of 2013 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner New Year's Day, Maximum Security was the 2019 3-year-old Male Eclipse Award winner. Maximum Security is expected to start in this Saturday's San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar. Baffert won the Breeders' Cup Classic in consecutive years with Bayern (2014), American Pharoah (2015) and Arrogate (2016).

Sackatoga Stable's Tiz the Law (210 votes) is one of two 3-year-olds in the top 10. Ranked third, Tiz the Law is unbeaten in three starts this year, taking the Holy Bull (G3), the Florida Derby (G1) and the 1 1/8-mile Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 20. Trainer Barclay Tagg has pointed the New York-bred son of Constitution to the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 8.

W.S. Farish's 4-year-old Code of Honor is ranked fourth with 200 votes. Winner of the Westchester Stakes (G3), and a third-place finisher in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1), Code of Honor won both the Travers Stakes and The Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) before finishing seventh in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic for trainer Claude R. “Shug” McGaughey.

Garnering the fifth-most votes in the poll is Bloom Racing, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing's 5-year-old mare Midnight Bisou. The Steve Asmussen-trained dark bay daughter of Midnight Lute stormed from the back of the pack against male rivals in the Saudi Cup in January and finished second, just three-quarters of a length behind Maximum Security at the wire. Midnight Bisou (174 votes) continued her solid form in her return to the races last month, dominating the Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill Downs, for fillies and mares, romping to an 8 ¼-length victory.

CRK Stable's Honor A. P. is the second 3-year-old in the top 10 of this week's rankings, taking the sixth position. Trained by John Shirrreffs, who saddled Zenyatta to victory in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic, Honor A. P. (125 votes) won the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) on June 6.

Allied Racing Stable's By My Standards (122 votes) is next in seventh place. By My Standards has won two Grade 2 stakes this year for trainer Bret Calhoun. The 4-year-old bay son of two-time Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Goldencents registered victories in the New Orleans Handicap and the Oaklawn Handicap before finishing second to Tom's d'Etat in the Stephen Foster.

Juddmonte Farms' 4-year-old Tacitus (92 votes), in eighth place, ended a long winless drought in his last start, rolling to a 8 ¾-length victory in the Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park on July 4. His trainer, Bill Mott, has saddled Breeders' Cup Classic winners Cigar (1995) and Drosselmeyer (2011).

R.A. Hill Stable and Gatsas Stable's 4-year-old Vekoma, is next in ninth place with 83 votes. Trained by George Weaver, Vekoma is unbeaten in three starts this year, two of those being Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races at shorter distances. The chestnut son of Candy Ride (ARG) won both the Runhappy Carter Handicap (G1), for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), and the Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1), for the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Rounding out the top 10 is the 4-year-old Improbable (82 votes), owned by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club International and SF Racing. Trained by Bob Baffert, Improbable won the 1 ¼-mile Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) at Santa Anita on June 6.

Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings – July 21, 2020*

RANK HORSE TOTAL VOTES FIRST-PLACE VOTES
1 Tom's d'Etat 292 17
2 Maximum Security 243 9
3 Tiz the Law 210 2
4 Code of Honor 200 2
5 Midnight Bisou 174 3
6 Honor A. P. 125 0
7 By My Standards 122 0
8 Tacitus 92 0
9 Vekoma 83 1
10 Improbable 82 0

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Gary Barber Joins WHOA: ‘We Need To Be United In Our Quest For Uniformity’

Hollywood mogul Gary Barber, a leading international Thoroughbred owner for the last three decades, is the latest major player in Thoroughbred racing to become a supporter of the Water Hay Oats Alliance (WHOA).

International equine stars to carry Barber's distinctive pink silks include Canadian Champions Wonder Gadot and Lexi Lou, 2019 Preakness hero War of Will, 2019 Breeders' Cup Turf winning mare Belvoir Bay, 2016 Breeders' Cup Mile winner Tourist, 2015 Breeders Cup Juvenille Fillies Turf winner Catch a Glimpse, GR1 Fourstardave Handicap winner Got Stormy, GR1 Santa Anita Derby winner The Deputy, and GR1 Woodbine Mile hero Becrux.

Gary Barber and other members of WHOA back efforts for clean sport in U.S. racing. Since its founding in 2012, the grassroots organization has continued to grow support for federal legislation to bring uniformity in drug and medication rules across state lines and in sync with international standards. The Horseracing Integrity Act (HR1754/S1820) is now moving forward in the 116th Congress.

In a statement to WHOA, Barber commented: “This is a critical time in our industry where we need to be united in our quest for uniformity and ensure a level playing field for all. I stand in solidarity with the Water Hay Oats Alliance in leading the charge for the passage of the Horseracing Integrity Act. It is vitally important for the health and safety of the horses and jockeys that we vocally show our collective support toward this urgent effort.”

Barber is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Spyglass Media Group, LLC (“Spyglass,”), an independent premium content company focused on developing and producing motion pictures and television series across all platforms for worldwide audiences. Spyglass owns and controls a library of more than 250 Academy Award winning films, box office hits and television series including The King's Speech, The Artist, The Upside, Silver Linings Playbook, Paddington, Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained, The Hateful Eight, Hellraiser, Scream and Project Runway.

Barber is renowned in the entertainment industry for taking the reins of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. in 2010 as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and leading its impressive transformational turn-around out of bankruptcy and into successive years of profitability. Previously, Barber co-founded Spyglass Entertainment and served as the Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Morgan Creek Productions.

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‘Happier Than A Bumblebee’: Pink Lloyd Chasing Another Record In Shepperton

Canada's sprint superstar Pink Lloyd will attempt to share the record for most wins in the Shepperton Stakes, Thursday afternoon at Woodbine.

Another race, another chance to add to a stacked racing résumé.

A victory in the 6-1/2-furlong, $100,000 main track Shepperton would tie champion Pink Lloyd with three-time winner Paso Doble, a son of Bold n' Flashy who took the 2011, 2013 and 2014 editions of the race.

Pink Lloyd, who won the 2017 and 2019 runnings, comes into the race off another record-setting performance.

On June 27, Canada's reigning three-time Champion Male Sprinter notched a record fourth straight victory in the Jacques Cartier Stakes and recorded his 20th overall added-money win. His initial Jacques Cartier score in 2017 was his first stakes victory and the start of an unprecedented 11-race win streak.

“It was a good race and a good start for him,” said trainer Robert Tiller. “Like me, he's getting older. But I'd say he ran very well. I certainly wouldn't knock it. He's doing very well. He's very happy. He hasn't worked since his last race – he does a lot of long miles. He's happier than a bumblebee.”

The eight-year-old son of Old Forester, owned by Entourage Stable, now turns his attention to the Shepperton, a race Tiller has won a record five times. Forever Grand (2003), Dave The Knave (2006), Dancer's Bajan (2008) are the conditioner's other Shepperton winners.

Bred in Ontario by John Carey, Pink Lloyd now boasts 23 wins from 28 starts lifetime with purse earnings over $1.8 million. The chestnut gelding is currently riding a seven-race win streak.

Tiller continues to marvel at the six-time Sovereign Award winner, who was named Canada's Horse of the Year in 2017.

“You know what, you probably run out of questions when it comes to this guy. I've run out of answers. You could ask me, 'At eight, is he still the same old Pink Lloyd?' My answer would be, 'Absolutely.' He doesn't know he's old. He's a lot like me. He's bucking and kicking, and feeling good.”

Pink Lloyd launched his career in 2016, winning his first three races, including a victory in his debut on August 28, a 1-1/2-length score over six furlongs on the Woodbine main track.

“It warms my heart [that he's built up a big fan base]. They should love him. I love him so much. The owners love him so much. I'm not saying he's the best horse ever. I'm saying he's got the most heart and charm of any horse I've ever seen, and I've trained a lot of good horses.

“I'd like to see him get over $2 million in career earnings, Canadian,” continued Tiller. “He'll go to LongRun [Thoroughbred Retirement Society] and have a great retirement. He'll be a movie star there after being a rock star on the racetrack.”

The Shepperton is scheduled as the seventh race on Thursday's eight-race program. First post is 3:20 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIBet.com. Racing Night Live returns on Thursday, with live action from Woodbine Racetrack and Woodbine Mohawk Park from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on TSN.

FIELD FOR THE SHEPPERTON

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Pink Lloyd – Rafael Hernandez – Robert Tiller

2 – Souper Success – Kazushi Kimura – Michael De Paulo

3 – Silent Jimmie – Daisuke Fukumoto – Paul Buttigieg

4 – Magical Man – Steven Bahen – Gail Hughes

5 – Dun Drum – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Ian Black

6 – Not So Quiet – Justin Stein – Mark Casse

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