Tag: Top News

Ortiz Scoops Big Prize In Saudi

Leading jockey Jose Ortiz rode four races Friday on the first of a two-day stint at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, and was able to boot home the winner of one of the program's feature races, guiding the U.S.-bred 6-year-old mare Avalina (Tale of Ekati) to a 3 3/4-length success in the $186,667 Prince Sultan Ben A/Aziz Cup over the metric 10 furlongs.

Bred in Kentucky by Charles Fipke, Avalina won three of her first four career starts for owner John O'Hara and trainer Danny Gargan, capped by a victory in the 2019 Parx Sprint Oaks. A $15,000 Keeneland September yearling, Avalina was acquired for $75,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton July Horses of All Ages Sale and made 10 starts in 2021 for HRH Prince Faisal Bin Khaled Bin A/Aziz, amassing an admirable record of 3-2-3, including a victory over 1800 meters Dec. 10.

Drawn gate 10, Avalina was beaten for speed and settled in about fourth position while kept out in the middle of the track by Ortiz. Asked to improve three furlongs from home, she responded when set down in upper stretch and hit the front with a bit less than a furlong to travel before edging away to score by 3 3/4 lengths over local Group 1 winner La Casa Tarifa (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) (see below, SC 10). Avalina holds entries for the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup (1800m) as well as the $1.5-million Riyadh Dirt Sprint (1200m) and $500,000 Saudi International H. (2100mT) on this year's Saudi Cup program Feb. 22.

Ortiz was also fourth to the Silvestre de Sousa-ridden Third Kingdom (GB) (Make Believe {GB}) in the Prince Naif Ben A/Aziz Cup while his two other mounts finished farther down the field. Ortiz has rides in three of Saturday's four local Group 1 races, including Prince Faisal's Persian Moon (Ire) (Makfi {GB}) in the $213,333 King Saud Cup (2000m).

 

REPLAY: Jose Ortiz lands the Prince Sultan Ben A/Aziz Cup aboard Avalina

The post Ortiz Scoops Big Prize In Saudi appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

First Foals Arrive for Echo Town

Echo Town (Speightstown)'s first foals have arrived.

Miss Sephora (First Samurai), a half-sister to GSW Pataky Kid (Rockport Harbor), produced a bay filly by Echo Town bred by Allen Poindexter.

“She's a good, correct, leggy quality foal,” Tim Hamlin said. “Delighted with her. We'll be sending mares back to Echo Town in 2022.”

Then on Thursday, My Tempo (Declaration of War) foaled a chestnut colt at Chesapeake Farm by Echo Town bred by
Crown Chase Farm.

“He is a really nice colt, very correct with plenty of bone and quality,” Collier Mathes said. “After seeing him, Echo Town is definitely a stallion that I'd be looking to breed back to.”

Echo Town, winner of the 2020 GI H. Allen Jerkens S. at Saratoga and a half-brother to the brilliant unbeaten GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Echo Zulu (Gun Runner), stands for $7,500 at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky.

The post First Foals Arrive for Echo Town appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Kevin Costello Captures 2021 NHC Title

Joseph (Kevin) Costello, a 53-year-old executive from Chicago, IL, rode the strength of four victories and 14 top 10 finishes in handicapping contests to run away with the 2021 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) Tour title. Costello, who has qualified to the NHC each year since 2016, earned $75,000 for winning the NHC Tour and is eligible for a $5-million bonus if he captures the 2022 NHC Jan. 28-30 at Bally's Las Vegas.

“I always wanted to have the knowledge that I'm consistently good and that's what the Tour does,” said Costello.

Costello said he does all of his handicapping using a pen, a piece of paper and the Daily Racing Form Classic past performances. “I handicap races the way our grandparents did,” he said.

Costello won the Last Chance, First Chance NHC qualifier in Las Vegas on the eve of the 2021 NHC and won three other contests, including two at his hometown racetrack of Hawthorne Race Course, over the course of 2021. Costello concluded the 2021 Tour season with 22,540 points amassed from his top seven scores.

The post Kevin Costello Captures 2021 NHC Title appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Gem Heist Relocates to Rancho San Miguel

Third-crop sire Gem Heist (Street Cry {Ire}–Careless Jewel, by Tapit) has been relocated to stand at Rancho San Miguel in San Miguel, California for the 2022 breeding season. His fee is $2,500, live foal guarantee.

The 10-year-old stallion previously stood at a private farm in Bakersfield, California as the property of the late horseman Bob Grayson, Sr. Grayson purchased Gem Heist for $100,000 from Eddie Woods' consignment at the 2014 Barretts March Sale of Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training.

Gem Heist experienced a career-ending injury while preparing for his debut, and was subsequently retired to stand stud. To date, he is credited with 29 reported foals, including eight juveniles and three yearlings of 2022. From his five lifetime starters, three are winners, led by multiple winner Saturday Heist.

“We are pleased to welcome a stallion with such top-class bloodlines to Rancho San Miguel,” said farm owner / manager Tom Clark. “Gem Heist has exhibited true potential with his early starters, and he is improving his mares. We look forward to helping him reach the next level in his stallion career.”

The post Gem Heist Relocates to Rancho San Miguel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights