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Augustin Homebred Impressive in Keeneland Allowance Score

6th-Keeneland, $109,450, Alw (NW1X), Opt. Clm ($80,000), 4-22, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:24.11, ft, 2 3/4 lengths.
MOUFFY (f, 3, Uncle Mo–Truly Together {GSP, $119,760}, by Smart Strike), pounded into 7-10 favoritism off a big-figure runner-up effort when trying conventional dirt for the first time at Gulfstream Park Feb. 20, gave her backers some anxious moments as she raced in heavy traffic down the backstretch, but the homebred bay took advantage of an inviting opening at the fence when heads were turned for home and quickened up nicely to clear her first allowance condition by a convincing margin. A bit hesitant to begin from gate three, the bay was outsprinted early and settled in the second flight of horses as she traveled in fifth or sixth position in a bunched field to the turn. Ridden along to come after the leaders nearing the stretch, Mouffy accelerated while hugging the fence, opened an unassailable advantage into the final furlong and kept on well to take it by 2 3/4 lengths. Mouffy, a winner on debut over the Gulfstream synth Jan. 8, is the first produce for her dam, third in the GIII Lambholm South Endeavour S. and herself a daughter of Strawbridge's Eclipse Award and GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Forever Together (Belong to Me). Truly Together is also the dam of a 2-year-old colt by Quality Road and a yearling full-brother to Mouffy. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $109,635. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Augustin Stable; B-George Strawbridge (KY); T-Jonathan Thomas.

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Munnings Filly Brings $1.6M From Best at OBS

A filly by Munnings (hip 1174) joined the seven-figure club at OBS when selling for $1.6 million to Larry Best. Bloodstock agent Christina Jelm signed the ticket on the chestnut who worked a furlong in :9 4/5 last week. The filly is out of multiple stakes winner Tensas Harbor (Private Vow) and was purchased by Woods's Quarter Pole Enterprises pinhooking partnership for $250,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. She is the fifth seven-figure juvenile of the four-day auction, which had already surpassed its previous record gross during Thursday's third session.

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New Jersey Racing Commission Rescinds Whip Ban

Monmouth Park jockeys will once again be allowed to use their whips to encourage their mounts when the meet kicks off May 7.

The change was made during a special hearing held Friday by the New Jersey Racing Commission, which voted to rescind rules that were put in place prior to the 2021 Monmouth meeting that allowed whipping only in cases where it was needed for safety reasons. New Jersey was the only state in the country where whipping was banned.

Monmouth's whipping rules were set to change July 1, when the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) goes into effect. At that time, HISA rules will replace state racing commission rules throughout the country and the HISA whip rules allow for six overhand strikes. In addition, jockeys may tap the horse on the shoulder unlimited times if both their hands are on the reins.

Monmouth management went to the racing commission and asked it to overturn the whipping ban, arguing that it did not make sense to have the rules change in the middle of the meet.

The commission agreed, voting by a 5-1 margin to go with the HISA rules starting with opening day. Lawrence DeMarzo was the only commissioner not to vote to end the whipping ban.

“This is better than it was,” said Terry Meyocks, the president of the Jockeys' Guild, which had been staunchly against the whip ban, arguing that it raised safety concerns for the riders. “It's a safety issue. It's not subjective. They have to take into consideration what the jocks have been saying.”

As part of its argument, Monmouth cited handle figures for the 2021 meet in which daily average handle fell by 17.13%, which raised concern that some bettors stayed away from Monmouth because they weren't comfortable with the new rules.

To enforce the HISA whipping rules, Monmouth will establish a three-person committee of racing officials who will review races to make sure the jockeys are in compliance. If they are not, the penalties will be severe. First-time violators will forfeit their share of the purse, will be fined $500 and receive a three-day suspension. Second-time offenders will lose the purse money, be fined $2,500 and suspended for seven days. Anyone violating the rule a third time will lose the purse money, be fined $5,000 and banned for the remainder of the meet.

It was revealed during the hearing that the racing commission received more than 80 telephone calls asking it to keep the whip ban in place. Many of the callers told the commission they received texts or emails from PETA asking them to call the commission.

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Friday’s Kentucky Derby/Oaks Update

It was a busy Friday morning at Churchill Downs with 10 GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks contenders logging their penultimate work prior to the first weekend in May.

Half of those workers were from Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher's barn–Oaks contenders GII Gulfstream Park Oaks runner-up Goddess of Fire (Mineshaft) (five furlongs, 1:00.80); GI Central Bank Ashland S. winner Nest (Curlin) (four furlongs, :49.80); and unbeaten G3 UAE Oaks heroine Shahama (Munnings) (five furlongs, 1:00.80) and Derby contenders GI Curlin Florida Derby runner-up Charge It (Tapit) (five furlongs, 1:00.40) and GII Wood Memorial S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) (four furlongs, :50.20).

“Nest went a nice half in about :50 and galloped out nicely,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We were looking for a little bit more from Goddess of Fire and Shahama. Goddess of Fire hasn't run since the Fair Grounds Oaks and Shahama hasn't run since the UAE Oaks. So, we were looking for a little bit of a stronger work from them. They galloped out well and I was pleased with how they went.”

Pletcher added, “With Charge It, we were looking for a good, solid breeze. He went a minute and four-fifths with a super big gallop out. We were really happy with that. With Mo Donegal, with the Wood just 13 days ago, we were just looking for an easy half in :50. He had a nice gallop out as well. All the horses got over the track well. The track still had a little moisture in it from yesterday but they all handled it well.”

Other Derby and Oaks contenders that worked Friday at Churchill Downs were GI Arkansas Derby runner-up Barber Road (Race Day) (six furlongs, 1:16.40); GIII Fantasy S. runner-up Beguine (Gun Runner) (five furlongs, 1:01); Ashland runner-up Cocktail Moments (Uncle Mo) (five furlongs, 1:01.20); GII Rachel Alexandra S. winner Turnerloose (Nyquist) (five furlongs, 1:01.20) and GII Louisiana Derby runner-up Zozos (Munnings) (six furlongs, 1:12.40).

“It was another really strong move,” trainer Brad Cox said of Zozos. “He galloped out really well around the turn and is really doing well over this track. He's a quick horse as he showed in the Louisiana Derby but he settles into his works nicely.”

At Gulfstream, meanwhile, GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. winner and Florida Derby third Simplification (Not This Time) worked five furlongs in :59.42. “I'm so happy. The work was impressive. He did it very handily, very easy,” trainer Antonio Sano said. “Junior [Alvarado] worked the horse. He told me, 'Your horse wins the Derby.”

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