Tag: Top News

Con Lima Suffers Fatal Stall Injury

Con Lima (Commissioner), the multiple-graded stakes winning mare last seen winning the GIII Saratoga Oaks last August, suffered an injury in her stall at WinStar Farm in Lexington, Kentucky Wednesday night and was euthanized, according to a Tweet from her owners, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

Eclipse's Aron Wellman said that the 4-year-old filly was at WinStar preparing for a return to racing and to her trainer Todd Pletcher.

“We're devastated to report Con Lima suffered a catastrophic injury in her stall last night and had to be euthanized,” the Tweet read. “Con Lima epitomized all that was good about thoroughbred racehorses and our heart goes out to her, our partners, her breeders and all who cared for this grand gal.”

Wellman called her “one of a kind.”

In an impressive run in 2021, Con Lima reeled off wins in the Honey Ryder S., Ginger Brew S., GIII Herecomesthebride S., GIII Wonder Again S., and the GIII Saratoga Oaks Invitational S., her last start. All of her black-type wins were on the turf. She was second in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational.

Con Lima was a $15,000 Keeneland November weanling who failed to meet her reserve at the 2019 September sale and again at 2020 OBS March.

But she showed she was special right from the start, winning by over five lengths in her second start on the dirt at Gulfstream at two. Switched to the turf after her fourth start, she went on to make eight starts on the grass, winning six of them, five of them in black-type events.

“She really captured people's hearts because of where she came from and what she was able to accomplish,” said Wellman. “I'm not sure we've seen many who were able to produce a campaign like she did from age 2 to 3. She was a real throwback, an iron filly who did it at the highest level in the real world.”

The post Con Lima Suffers Fatal Stall Injury appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Richard Mandella Talks Forbidden Kingdom, Beholder On Writers’ Room

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella looks to have a great chance of saddling his first GI Kentucky Derby starter since the mid-2000s with a major contender in GII San Felipe S. romper Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah), and Tuesday, Mandella sat down with the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland to talk about his electric speedster, the impending Hall of Fame induction of former trainee Beholder, his view on the state of California racing after its trials of the past few years and more.

“Truly excited,” Mandella, calling in via Zoom as the Green Group Guest of the Week, said when asked his reaction to Forbidden Kingdom's 5 3/4-length score Saturday. “I was a little concerned when he opened up so fast early, but he's just gifted with such natural speed and he enjoys using it. He came back great and is doing very well. We had big expectations for him and he's never let us down. He's a gorgeous horse, a very smart horse and has a lot of class about him.”

The conversation turned to Flavien Prat, the perennial leading rider in California who has a close relationship with Mandella and announced over the weekend that he will be moving his tack to New York.

“Selfishly. I just hate to see him go,” Mandella said. “He came to me at 18 years old from France and immediately I just saw a star. There was no secret; anybody that would've looked at him close enough would have seen it. He just has everything, all the ingredients it takes to be a great rider. The horsemanship, the athleticism, the intelligence and then the class to go with it. The person he is, the rider he is, it'll be a big loss when he leaves. On a larger scale, California's going to be hurt by it. I think Flavien's attracted a lot of players and fans that watch purely because of him. And I hope that doesn't take too much away from California.”

Elsewhere on the show, which is also sponsored by Coolmore, West Point Thoroughbreds, XBTV, Canterbury Park, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association and Legacy Bloodstock, the writers reacted to a huge weekend of racing and discussed the controversies surrounding rides by Paco Lopez and Jose Lezcano. Click here to watch the podcast; click here for the audio-only version or find it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

The post Richard Mandella Talks Forbidden Kingdom, Beholder On Writers’ Room appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Lopez Suspended for Fountain of Youth Ride

Jockey Paco Lopez has been suspended 14 race days after Gulfstream Park stewards found him guilty of careless riding in Saturday's GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S., the track announced Wednesday. The jockey will be on probation through the remainder of the Championship Meet.

Lopez was aboard eventual runner-up In Due Time (Not This Time) when the field of 3-year-olds bunched up on the far turn of the Fountain of Youth. In Due Time shifted out, which looked to cause High Oak (Gormley), under Junior Alvarado, to clip heels and fall. Galt (Medaglia d'Oro) and jockey Joel Rosario fell as they attempted to avoid the fallen High Oak.

The stewards reviewed the incident after the race, but made no changes to the order of finish.

In announcing Lopez's suspension Wednesday, Gulfstream Park also announced that additional cameras would be added and installed in the near future to provide the stewards better views of each race on dirt, turf and Tapeta.

The post Lopez Suspended for Fountain of Youth Ride appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Go For Gin Dies at 31

Go For Gin (Cormorant–Never Knock, by Stage Door Johnny), who was the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner, passed away Tuesday due to heart failure at the Kentucky Horse Park, where he had lived since retiring from stud duty in June 2011. The 31-year-old won the 1994 Kentucky Derby and was second behind Tabasco Cat in both that year's GI Preakness S. and GI Belmont S.

“We're honored that Go For Gin was an ambassador of the park for nearly 12 years,” said Kentucky Horse Park Executive Director Lee Carter. “As a visitor favorite, Go For Gin brought visitors from around the world to the Bluegrass and introduced new fans to the sport of Thoroughbred racing. He will be greatly missed by all of us at the Kentucky Horse Park.”

Go for Gin was bred in Kentucky by Pamela Darmstadt duPont, owned by William J. Condren and Joseph Cornacchia, and trained by Nick Zito. In addition to his Derby win with Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron, Go for Gin also won the 1993 GII Remsen S. He won 14 out of his 19 races and earned $1,380,866.

Go for Gin took up stud duty at Claiborne Farm and was later sold to Bonita Farm in Maryland, where stood from 2004 until his retirement. His progeny have earned more than $16.5 million and include Albert the Great, winner of the 2000 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup and more than $3 million.

“It saddens me to learn about Go For Gin,” said McCarron. “My memories of him giving me a second Kentucky Derby victory will remain indelible in my heart for as long as I live. Rest in peace, my old pal.”

Go for Gin will be buried at the Memorial Walk of Champions alongside past Thoroughbred residents Forego, Bold Forbes, John Henry, Alysheba, and Da Hoss.

A public memorial service will be held for Go For Gin at a future date.

The post Go For Gin Dies at 31 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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