Tag: Top News

Gun Runner Colt Hall of Fame Romps to ‘TDN Rising Stardom’ at Fair Grounds

Hall of Fame (c, 3, Gun Runner–Flag Day, by Giant's Causeway), a $1.4-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase, ran to his lofty purchase price with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen at second asking at Fair Grounds Saturday.

The 4-5 favorite was ridden early while passing the stands for the first time and secured a tracking trip in a joint second through a quarter mile in :23.30. He turned up the heat beneath Joel Rosario while racing on the inside of the leader heading into the far turn, hit the front approaching the quarter pole and opened daylight from there to win by 10 1/4 lengths over Sweetalkingbourbon (Twirling Candy). He becomes the 10th 'Rising Star' for Gun Runner.

Hall of Fame, one of seven by Gun Runner to bring seven figures at the 2022 yearling sales, finished second as the favorite on debut going seven furlongs at Churchill Downs Nov. 26. He was racing with first-time Lasix on Saturday.

The unraced Flag Day, a half-sister to MGSP Street Ready (More Than Ready), had a colt by Gun Runner in 2022 ($725,000 RNA yrl '23 FTSAUG) and a colt by Constitution in 2023. She was bred to Justify for 2024. Hall of Fame is bred similarly to the recently retired MGISW Gunite (Gun Runner), who was produced by a daughter of Cowboy Cal (by Giant's Causeway).

5th-Fair Grounds, $60,000, Msw, 1-20, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:44.27, ft, 10 1/4 lengths.
HALL OF FAME, c, 3, by Gun Runner
                1st Dam: Flag Day, by Giant's Causeway
                2nd Dam: Sense to Compete, by Street Sense
                3rd Dam: Compete, by El Prado (Ire)
Sales history: $1,400,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $60,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Gandharvi LLC & Rocket Ship Racing, LLC; B-Earle I. Mack LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.

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Laurel Cancels Sunday Racing

Having already lost the live racing program Saturday to wintry weather conditions, officials from the Maryland Jockey Club has also cancelled live racing for Sunday.

The next scheduled program is Friday, Jan. 26, which is set to featuer the $100,000 What a Summer S. and the $100,000 Fire Plug S., each of which was originally programmed for the Jan. 20 card.

The season's first 3-year-old stakes will take place next Saturday, Jan. 27, with the running of the $100,000 Xtra Heat S. for fillies and the Spectacular Bid S. for males.

The Jennings S. and Geisha S., each restricted to Maryland-breds and offering prize money of $75,000, will be brought back for Sunday, Jan. 28.

Laurel, Pimlico Race Course, Rosecroft Raceway and the MJC OTB network will remain open for simulcasting Sunday.

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NYTB Board Elects Ahlschwede As President

Edited Press Release

The Board of Directors of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) held its first meeting of 2024 on Friday, Jan. 19. The newly seated board unanimously elected Dr. Scott Ahlschwede, D.V.M., to serve as Board President through 2026.

Current NYTB director Seth Gregory, owner of Innisfree Farm and Seth Gregory Bloodstock, was elected to the office of Vice President. The board also elected Lere Visagie, owner of Rockridge Stud, to serve as Secretary-Treasurer.

Dr. Ahlschwede is a shareholder veterinarian with Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital and owner of River Valley Farm. He has previously served as an NYTB director since 2016 and succeeds Thomas J. Gallo, III, managing partner of Dream Maker Racing Stable, Thomas J. Gallo, III Sales Agency, and owner of Blue Stone Farm, who previously served as NYTB President since 2015.

“On behalf of our board of directors and membership, I want to thank Tom for his leadership of NYTB and am thankful he will remain a part of the board with his institutional knowledge and experience,” said Dr. Ahlschwede. “As President, I want to ensure we continue to increase and promote the benefits of breeding and foaling in New York with our fellow stakeholders as we work to sustain the Thoroughbred industry in New York and nationwide.”

“I am proud of the work our organization has accomplished under my tenure as President. I look forward to continue working with Scott and our newly elected officers to ensure NYTB remains the unified voice of Thoroughbred breeders in the state,” said Gallo.

The 2024 NYTB Officers and Board of Directors for 2024 is as follows:

 

Officers:

  • Dr. Scott Ahlschwede, D.V.M., shareholder with Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital and owner of River Valley Farm, President

 

  • Seth Gregory, owner, Innisfree Farm and Seth Gregory Bloodstock, Vice President

 

  • Lere Visagie, owner, Rockridge Stud, Secretary/Treasurer

 

Directors: H. James Bond, Rick Burke, Lois Engel, Thomas J. Gallo, III, Michael Lischin, Vivien Malloy, Jane McMahon, Mallory Mort

Directors Emeritus: Chester Broman, Suzie O'Cain, Joanne Nielsen

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Travers Runner-Up Disarm Reloading for 2024

Disarm (c, 4, Gun Runner–Easy Tap, by Tapit), sidelined since finishing a closing second behind Arcangelo (Arrogate) in the GI Travers S. at Saratoga Aug. 26, has returned to training with Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen at the Fair Grounds.

A respectable fourth at 27-1 in the GI Kentucky Derby, last term's GIII Matt Winn S. winner and GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby runner-up exited his second-place finish in the Travers with bone bruising, per David Fiske, longtime advisor to owner/breeder Ron Winchell.

“He was walking visibly off after the Travers,” Fiske said. “Got him back to the barn and whipped out the X-ray machine. We were all standing there looking at the X-rays and everybody looked at one another and went, 'Do you see anything? I don't see anything.' So, that was a big relief that it wasn't anything more serious. We got him down to Lexington and he was diagnosed with some bone bruising.”

He added, “We weren't gonna make any significant races at the end of the year, so we said, 'Let's just give him as much time off as he needs.'”

Following approximately nine weeks of recommended downtime, a positron emission tomography (PET) scan revealed that Disarm still “had some spots that lit up on him” and he was given an additional 30 days off before returning to training.

The 'TDN Rising Star' now has a pair of four-furlong breezes under his belt since returning to the worktab in New Orleans, stopping the clock in :53.80 (42/43) Jan. 8 and :50.80 (18/26) Jan. 18, respectively.

“We gave him some extra time and now he's back,” Fiske said. “He looks great, travels great and has always been a great-looking horse. Hopefully, we can make some noise with him this year.”

Disarm recorded four straight triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures last year, beginning with his aforementioned effort on the first Saturday in May. He earned a career-high 103 Beyer over a muddy surface in the Travers, his first career start racing with blinkers. The handsome chestnut has posted a record of 9-2-3-2 and career earnings of $1,000,200.

While acknowledging that it's still very early days, Fiske said that this summer's GI Whitney S. at Saratoga, a race won by his leading sire in 2017, could be in play for the Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred.

“Given the level at which he ran last year, if he can get back to that, then you'd expect to see him in some of the bigger or biggest races around,” Fiske said. “It would be kinda cool if we could get him cranked up for the Whitney, but that's a long way off. We're gonna need to get some more works. He's still pretty early stages.”

One of nine 'Rising Stars' for Gun Runner, Disarm is a half-brother to Venezuelan champion stayer Tap Daddy (Scat Daddy), who was also a stakes winner and graded-stakes placed on these shores. Disarm's dam Easy Tap, a $300,000 FTKJUL yearling purchase, won one of five career starts.

The Gun Runner over Tapit cross, two of the best to ever carry the maroon-and-white Winchell silks, is already off to a flying start via GI Cotillion S. heroine Society; MGSW and GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint third Wicked Halo; GSW & GISP Red Route One; and GSW & GISP Il Miracolo.

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