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Callaghan to Receive Avelino Gomez Memorial Award

Slade Callaghan, who has recorded nearly 850 career wins, including 31 stakes, has been named the 2022 recipient of the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award. The award is given to the person, Canadian-born, Canadian-raised or regular rider in the country for more than five years, who has made significant contributions to the sport.

“I was really humbled,” said Callaghan. “I've been here at Woodbine 28 years and every year I've been here I've seen so many great riders, who have had amazing careers, receive this award. For me to be added to this list is overwhelming. It's also gratifying. I don't know where the time has gone. It's been about 10 years since I was what I'd call semi-retired, riding a few horses, but definitely not full time. I love this racetrack and I love the people. I'm glad I made the decision to ride here.”

Callaghan, 51, has enjoyed great success over a riding career that began when he was just 16. In 1994, he made decision to come to Canada with the hope of becoming a regular at Woodbine, a place where his brother, Brett, had also competed. His first Canadian victory came at Fort Erie that same year. In 1999, Callaghan won 60 races, including six stakes. After a 48-win campaign in 2000, Callaghan posted 43 victories in 2001 and 54 in 2002. One year later, he topped the $2 million plateau in purse earnings, marking the fifth straight year he reached that number. In 2004, he posted a career-best 64 wins.

This year's Avelino Gomez Memorial Award ceremony will take place July 24 at Woodbine.

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Clairiere Going After Saratoga Glory in the Shuvee

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — Just a mere mention that Clairiere (Curlin) might be underappreciated, brought a quick, robust reaction from Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

“Not by us,” Asmussen said, shaking his head.

Asmussen promptly made the case for the 4-year-old filly, a Stonestreet Stables homebred daughter of Cavorting (Bernardini), who will seek her third win in four starts this year in the GII Shuvee S. Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.

“She's a multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire by one of the greatest horses of all time out of one of the greatest horses of all time,” he said. “I do not believe Clairiere has ever been underappreciated or ever will be underappreciated. Because of who she is, she's more than a little special.”

Cavorting, a former 'TDN Rising Star' trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, won six graded stakes, three of them Grade I, and earned just north of $2 million.

The nine-furlong Shuvee will be the fifth round of the cross-country series between Shadwell Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin) and Clairiere, both of whom were bred by Stonestreet. Malathaat finished in front of Clairiere in each of their three meetings as 3-year-olds–the GI Kentucky Oaks and the GI CCA Oaks and GI Alabama S. at this track–but Clairiere prevailed in their most recent showdown, winning the GI Ogden Phipps by a head June 11.

“It was where she finally turned the tables on the champion, Malathaat, the deserved 3-year-old filly champion last year,” Asmussen said. “We competed well against her, but did not come out on the right side of it. Obviously, things have changed now.”

In the 1 1/16 mile, one-turn Phipps, which was part of the GI Belmont S. program, Malathaat and Clairiere sat far back off the torrid pace set by champion Letruska (Super Saver) and Search Results (Flatter). They launched their rallies pretty much in tandem approaching the half-mile pole, ran past the tiring Letruska at the top of stretch and caught Search Results inside the sixteenth pole. Malathaat had a slight lead, but Clairiere finished just a bit better under Joel Rosario.

Asmussen said her talent has always been evident–carrying her to a 5-4-2 record and $1,799,592 in earnings in her 13 career starts–and feels that she is getting better.

“She is first class all the way. Always has been. Never been anything but,” he said. “First time out, two turns, broke her maiden against an eventual graded stakes winner and has never done anything but keep the best company. I do think that with maturity she has broken through to a new level.”

Asmussen noted that Clairiere is the top-ranked female in the weekly NTRA poll, putting her at the top of the division.

Despite her sterling record, because she has consistently been in top races–seven of them Grade I–Clairiere has only been the favorite twice. She won both, the GI Cotillion S. in September, and her season-opener, a stakes-quality optional claimer in March at the Fair Grounds.

In addition to Malathaat, Clairiere is likely to face two other millionaires, Bonny South (Munnings) and 'Rising Star' Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map) in the $200,000 race for older fillies and mares that is on the undercard of the GI Coaching Club American Oaks. Together, those four have earned over $5.9 million and won 13 graded stakes, five of them Grade I.

“It's Saratoga,” Asmussen said. “It's the best in the world.”

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NYRA Welcomes TAA to Saratoga on Whitney Day

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) will host the Saratoga Community Booth for GI Whitney S. Day Aug. 6.

Patrons are encouraged to stop by the community booth to learn about the organization's mission from Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance representatives, and to make a donation in exchange for a variety of racing memorabilia and TAA swag.

Racing fans can also show their support by opting to donate to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance throughout the Saratoga meet when cashing a winning ticket on an AmTote International self-service betting terminal. All donations are tax deductible.

On the Whitney undercard, horses will don NYRA-donated Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance saddle towels for a race named in honor of the TAA. In the winner's circle after the race, the TAA will present awards to the best turned out horse and winning groom and connections.

“The Saratoga Community Booth is a great opportunity for racing fans and participants alike to learn more about the TAA,” said TAA President, Jeffrey Bloom. “We are also honored to have the TAA represented with a race on the Whitney Day card. NYRA has been an invaluable stakeholder to the TAA for many years and we're excited to continue the tradition of celebrating accredited aftercare on Whitney Day.”

The New York Thoroughbred industry is a leader in aftercare, donating more than $1.28 million toward racehorse retirement every year. In addition to the contributions made by NYRA, the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA), the New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB), the NYRA jockey colony, and individual owners and trainers, two ground-breaking programs have been implemented at the NYRA tracks: owners contribute a per-start fee for every horse that races, and they pay a surcharge on every horse claimed out of a NYRA race. Those two programs alone raise about $500,000 every year.

“The work of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is of the upmost importance to the New York Racing Association,” said NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing Operations, Frank Gabriel Jr. “We're thrilled to highlight such a worthy organization on one of Saratoga's biggest days of racing.”

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Miles Ahead Voted Claiming Crown Horse of the Year

Miles Ahead (g, 5, Competitive Edge–Jennie R., by Awesome Again), winner of last term's GIII Smile Sprint Invitational S. and the Claiming Crown Rapid Transit, has been named the 2021 Claiming Crown Horse of the Year. The honor is voted on by the National HBPA's Industry Awards Committee, chaired by Todd Mostoller from the Pennsylvania HBPA.

Miles Ahead will be recognized at the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) annual awards dinner on Sept. 10. The Claiming Crown–designed to give the blue-collar workhorses their own championship day–is sponsored by the National Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association, TOBA and the host track.

Miles Ahead was purchased in 2019 for $175,000 at the OBS March 2-year-old in training sale by trainer Eddie Plesa, Jr. and the ownership partnership of David Melin, Leon Ellman and the trainer's wife, Laurie. After winning the Gulfstream Park Sprint S. in February, they accepted an offer to sell the gelding, who now races for Jay Em Ess Stable and is trained by Paul McGee. Miles Ahead most recently finished second by a neck to GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Aloha West in the Kelly's Landing S.

Eric Hamelback, NHBPA CEO, said Miles Ahead epitomizes what the Claiming Crown and the Claiming Crown Horse of the Year were created to recognize.

“The committee zeroed in on Miles Ahead and felt as if the horse and the connections were indeed the horse to be recognized for their accomplishments,” Hamelback said. “We are pleased that we can recognize and award a trophy to Miles Ahead at this year's TOBA awards ceremony.”

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