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Trial Date Set In Animal Cruelty Case Related To Kentucky Boarding Operation

A trial date has been set in the case of Xavier McGrapth, 24, of Versailles, Ky., in an animal cruelty case stemming from a boarding operation he ran. McGrapth faces second degree animal cruelty charges after he was arrested on April 13 of this year. Bourbon District Court Judge Mary Jane Phelps set a pre-trial hearing date for Jan. 26, 2022 with a jury trial scheduled to follow Feb. 24, 2022.

Earlier this year, about two dozen horses were found at a property McGrapth was leasing off Brentsville Road in various states of neglect. Those horses were largely owned by people who lived out of state and had sent horses to McGrapth for breaking and training or foaling/breeding back. Most owners discovered McGrapth's operation through his Facebook posts as McGrapth Breaking and Training and/or Whispering Creek Thoroughbreds.

A criminal complaint was filed earlier this year alleging 13 counts of second-degree animal cruelty, which is a Class A misdemeanor in Kentucky.

The horses were discovered after one locally-based owner dropped by the property McGrapth leased to check on her pregnant mare and discovered two dead horses in a field near the barn. Additional investigation revealed several other horses in poor body condition. In the days and weeks that followed that discovery, owners and local and state investigators struggled to identify and relocate all the horses entrusted to McGrapth's care. Several told the Paulick Report their horses' racing prospects were seriously damaged as a result of neglect suffered in his care.

McGrapth has entered a plea of not guilty in the case.

Read our previous reporting on this case here.

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Weekend Lineup: Grade 1 Turf Action From Woodbine, Keeneland

A pair of Grade 1 turf races highlight this weekend's racing action.

Races in this weekend's rundown are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern). Full previews, when available, can be found through the link for each race.

TVG will feature racing from Keeneland, Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park, Woodbine and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

“America's Day at the Races” will be broadcasting live from Belmont Park on Saturday, Oct. 16 on FS2 from 12:30 – 3:30 pm. America's Day at the Races will also provide coverage of British Champions Day on FS2 from 8:00 – 11:30 am. On Sunday, “America's Day at the Races” will broadcast from Belmont Park on FS2 from 12:30 – 5:30 pm.

Friday, Oct. 15

5:16 PM ET – $150,000 Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland on TVG

Stonestreet Stables' Campanelle (IRE), a two-time Group 1 winner in Europe, heads a field of 12 fillies and mares entered for Friday's 25th running of the $150,000 Buffalo Trace Franklin County (Grade 3) going 5½ furlongs on the turf. Trained by Wesley Ward, Campanelle will be making her first start since being unplaced in the Prix de Maurice de Gheest (G1) at Deauville in August. Joel Rosario will have the mount Friday and exit post position four. Also figuring to attract interest are the 1-2 finishers from last month's Mint Ladies Sprint (G3) at Kentucky Downs: In Good Spirits and Catch a Bid.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE101521USA9-EQB.html

Saturday, Oct. 16

3:15 PM ET – $200,000 Sands Point Stakes (G2T) at Belmont Park on FS2

Fluffy Socks and Higher Truth (IRE) give trainer Chad Brown two chances to win his fourth Sands Point in the past five years when the duo faces six other 3-year-old fillies in the Grade 2T Sands Point. Fluffy Socks is winless in 2021 but has placed in two graded stakes, including a third in the Grade 1T Del Mar Oaks in her most recent start. Higher Truth has made each of her six career starts this year, including two wins and two stakes placings over the Belmont turf. Trainer Graham Motion has Harajuku (IRE) entered. The Deep Impact (JPN) filly made her U.S. debut in last month's Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes at Belmont, finishing third after an awkward start.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL101621USA6-EQB.html

4:44 PM ET – $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup presented by Dixiana (G1T) at Keeneland on TVG

Klaravich Stables' two-time graded stakes winner Technical Analysis (IRE) and Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Robert LaPenta's Shantisara (IRE) headline a field of 10 3-year-old fillies entered for the 38th running of the Grade 1T Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland. Chad Brown trains both Technical Analysis and Shantisara. Flippant, a Tapit filly trained by Vicki Oliver, is on a three-race winning streak, with two of those being stakes wins. Empress Josephine (IRE) finished third last out for trainer Aidan O'Brien when she faced older fillies and mares in the Grade 1T First Lady Stakes at Keeneland.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE101621USA8-EQB.html

Sunday, Oct. 17

4:37 PM ET – $600,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine on TVG

Ten fillies and mares, including Christophe Clement trainees La Dragontea (GB) and Mutamakina (GB), will vie for top honors in the Grade 1 $600,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes, a 1 ¼-mile turf test for fillies & mares. A 4-year-old daughter of Lope de Vega, La Dragontea will make her second straight start at Woodbine. The dark bay took the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes on September 18, fending off a stiff challenge in the stretch to win the 1 1/8-mile turf race by a length over Court Return. It was the fourth win from 12 starts for the Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Rebecca Hillen-owned mare. Mutamakina, a 5-year-old daughter of Nathaniel-Joshua's Princess, also comes into the E.P. Taylor off a winning effort at Woodbine. The race is named after the late Canadian industrialist E.P. Taylor, owner of famed Windfields Farm in Ontario and Maryland.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO101721CAN8-EQB.html

5:44 PM ET – $250,000 Nearctic Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine on TVG

Ten starters chase the top prize in the Grade 2 $250,000 Nearctic Stakes, a six-furlong grass engagement for three-year-olds and upward. Town Cruise (ON) has won three of four 2021 starts for trainer Brandon Greer, including an upset win in the Grade 1 Richoh Woodbine Mile Stakes in September. Olympic Runner won the Grade 2 King Edward Stakes over this course in August and finished unplaced in the Woodbine Mile for trainer Mark Casse.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO101721CAN10-EQB.html

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Trainer Darien Rodriguez Enjoyed ‘Whole Experience’ In His First Year At Monmouth Park

After spending his first full summer at Monmouth Park this year and then extending his stay through the current Monmouth-at-Meadowlands before he heads to Tampa Downs for the winter, trainer Darien Rodriguez is already ooking forward to returning to New Jersey.

When he does come back the 41-year-old native of Cuba says he will be better prepared.

“I liked the whole experience. I just brought a little bit of the wrong horses with me,” said Rodriguez. “I learned my lesson. Next year I will come North with more older horses and claimers and not as many 2-year-olds. The 2-year-olds I had were at zero when I got them so it took a long time to get them going. Now I have a better idea of what fits here.”

Rodriguez, in the midst of his second-best season since he started training in 2010, will look to extend his success in the state on Friday with Wicked Groove when the all-turf racing resumes at the East Rutherford facility.

A recent claim, Wicked Groove finished second in an off-the-turf $25,000 claimer in her last start at Monmouth on Sept. 21. She will take on a full field of nine rivals, with four alternates waiting, in the mile and a sixteenth $25,000 claimer.

“He's back on grass now, which is where he is at his best,” said Rodriguez, who owns many of his horses.

Rodriguez, who finished the Monmouth Park meet with a 6-6-3 line from 31 starters, tried spending half the year at Presque Isle, Delaware and even Gulfstream Park before giving Monmouth Park a try. His overall win total (30 from 113 starters) and earnings ($534,801) this year are both the second-highest of his career.

“I wish I could have started more at Monmouth Park,” said Rodriguez. “I really enjoyed being there. I feel I did good with what I had, so when I come back next year I will have more horses that fit there.”

Friday's fifth day of the seven-day Monmouth-at-Meadowlands meet has attracted 70 entries for the six grass races.

First race post time is 7 p.m.

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Midnight Storm Colt on Top at OBS October Selected Yearling Sale

A colt from the second crop of MGISW Midnight Storm (Pioneerof the Nile) (Hip 67) topped the Selected Yearling portion of the OBS October Sale when bringing $170,000 from Elusive Thoroughbreds. That entity was the session's leading buyer, taking home three head for $323,000.

Consigned by Lisa McGreevy's Abbie Road Farm, Hip 67 was bred in Pennsylvania by Mary Katherine Haire. Alejandro Chavez purchased the colt for $27,000 at Keeneland November last year.

The highest-priced filly of the day was a $120,000 daughter of Kantharos (Hip 22). Offered by Danielle Loya's Silver Oaks Farm, the IN-bred was purchased by Al London.

A total of 99 yearling grossed $4,498,500 with an average of $45,439 and median of $32,000. Thirty-five horses were led from the ring unsold. Stuart Morris was the top consignor, selling 16 yearlings for $665,000.

Last year during this session, 86 youngsters summoned $3,397,000 with an average of $39,500 and median of $28,000. There were 49 RNAs.

“It was a good day,” said Tod Wojciechowski, OBS's Director of Sales. “Average is up, median is up. It seemed like the buyers were spread over a lot of horses. It was not as concentrated at the top. Horses sold well throughout the day. It was a solid start to the sale.”

The OBS October Sale continues tomorrow with the Open Yearlings session, starting at 11 a.m.

The post Midnight Storm Colt on Top at OBS October Selected Yearling Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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