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Pricey Midnight Storm Colt a Debut Winner at Gulfstream

4th-Gulfstream, $53,000, Msw, 1-29, 3yo, 7f, 1:24.53, ft, 1 1/4 lengths.
SWING SHIFT (c, 3, Midnight Storm–Tasunke, by Indian Charlie) and GIII Iroquois S. fourth Bourbon Heist (Practical Joke) were nigh inseparable by the betting public up until the gates opened for the former's career debut; the latter ultimately ending up the slimmest of 5-2 favorites. With first-time Lasix for his unveiling, Swing Shift broke fast from the outside slot and took command going up the backstretch with a stubborn challenger in stablemate and fellow firster Congressman (Constitution) glued to his outside. Dueling through fractions of :22.92 and :46.73 into the far turn, last year's $550,000 OBS April procurement (:20 4/5) turned his longtime shadow away late while drifting in the lane and held off fast-closing charges led by Bourbon Heist to graduate by 1 1/4 length. It was another neck back to Positive Review (Unified), who was forced to steady in mid stretch. The winner is his dam's second foal and second winner as well as being her final reported offspring when Tasunke came up barren in 2020 after visiting Mshawish. Swing Shift was the most expensive of 30 juveniles to switch hands by Midnight Storm in the ring last year. The result stood after a stewards inquiry and a trainer objection from Saffie Joseph, Jr. (trainer of Positive Review) involving the stretch run. Sales history: $180,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $550,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $31,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-WinStar Farm LLC, Woodford Thoroughbreds LLC, CMNWLTH and Siena Farm LLC; B-Siena Farms LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.

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Racing at Aqueduct Canceled Sunday

The New York Racing Association has canceled Sunday's live racing program at Aqueduct Racetrack due to the continued impact of the powerful winter storm currently ongoing in the New York City metropolitan area.

The National Weather Service forecast, which aligns with NYRA's independent weather services, is calling for continued heavy snow through 4 p.m. with areas of blowing snow before 4 a.m. As a result, NYRA officials made the decision to cancel Sunday's card in the interest of the safety of all participants.

Aqueduct Racetrack will be open for simulcasting Sunday. Live racing at Aqueduct will resume Thursday, Feb. 3.

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Breeders’ Cup Classic Winner Alphabet Soup Dies

Alphabet Soup (Cozzene–Illiterate, by Arts and Letters), who won a memorable renewal of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Woodbine in 1996, died Jan. 28 at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky, due to chronic kidney disease. The oldest living Classic winner, the gray was 31 years old and had been pensioned at the farm since 2015.

Bred in Pennsylvania by Southeast Associates, Alphabet Soup was trained by David Hofmans for Georgia B. Ridder and came to hand at four in 1995, winning the GII Del Mar Budweiser Breeders' Cup S. at a flat mile and the GIII Native Diver H.

Proving an even better 5-year-old, Alphabet Soup won the GII San Pasqual H. and GII San Antonio H. early in the season before showing his versatility with a 3 1/2-length victory in the seven-furlong GIII Pat O'Brien H. over field that included future GI Breeders' Cup Sprint hero Lit De Justice (El Gran Senor). Disqualified to third from an apparent victory in the GII Goodwood Breeders' Cup H., Alphabet Soup was a 19-1 shot in that year's Classic, the first held north of the border, and managed to nose out that year's GI Preakness S. hero Louis Quatorze (Sovereign Dancer) and defending champion Cigar (Palace Music). He retired with 10 wins from 24 starts and earnings just shy of $3 million.

Alphabet Soup entered stud at Adena Springs and sired 39 stakes winners, 14 at the graded level, including Grade I winners Egg Drop, Alphabet Kisses and G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen hero Our New Recruit. He sired over 700 winners in his career.

“I'm saddened by the news today of Alphabet Soup's passing,” said Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron, who piloted Alphabet Soup to his Breeders' Cup win. “I truly enjoyed my relationship with 'Soupy,' and he will always have special place in my heart. He represented the U.S. well when he bested the Cigar and Louis Quatorze in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Rest in peace old friend.”

“It won't be the same around here without Soup,” said Old Friends President and founder Michael Blowen. “Over these seven years he was a delight to be around with his sweet nature and enormous popularity. He brought joy to everyone.

“His best friend, the donkey Gorgeous George, will miss him terribly,” added Blowen, “and so will everyone on the farm. We are so grateful to Frank Stronach and everyone at Adena Springs for giving us the privilege of retiring this fabulous champion.”

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Trainer Who Testified Against Fishman Faces Lifetime Ban

Trainer Jamen Davidovich, who admitted Thursday during the trial of Seth Fishman that he bought and used performance-enhancing drugs supplied by the veterinarian, has been suspended by the Ohio Racing Commission, a first step in what could lead to a permanent revocation of his license.

Davidovich testified that Fishman, one of 27 individuals originally indicted in the doping probe that includes high-profile trainers Jorge Navarro and Jason Servis, began supplying him with drugs after the two met at a Ft. Lauderdale restaurant. Asked by prosecutor Anden Chow how the subject of PEDs came up, Davidovich responded, “We were talking about different things to make the horse run better.”

Davidovich, 31, races primarily in Ohio and the commission in that state wasted little time taking action Friday. According to Ohio State Racing Commission executive director Chris Dragone, Davidovich's license has been suspended pending a hearing. The news that the Ohio commission had taken action against Davidovich was first reported by the Blood-Horse.

“He's entitled to a hearing and we'll see what he has to say,” Dragone said.

Dragone said that if the evidence shows that Davidovich doped horses his license could be permanently suspended.

“We haven't seen the transcripts (from the Fishman trial) yet,” Dragone said. “But from everything I have heard and from what he said, this was blatant. This is very serious. This came out of the blue and we had no notice so far as what he was going to say in court. But when he said in court that he drugged horses we had to take action. And it's possible that he may have his license revoked and that he will be ruled off for life.”

Reached by the TDN, Davidovich said he had no comment.

After winning just five races in 2014, Davidovich's career took off in 2015 when he went 25-for-99 (25%). He was 21-for-81 in 2016 and 9-for-59 in 2017. He said during the trial that he stopped doping in 2018, which is when his fortunes changed. Since 2018, he has won just six races from 51 starters.

Thursday's court room proceedings also included testimony from harness trainer Adrienne Hall, who also admitted she used PEDs supplied by Fishman. She last started a horse in December at the Meadowlands. Meadowlands owner Jeff Gural said he has not yet decided if he will ban Hall from his tracks.

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