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H-2B Visa Language Removed from Bill

The H-2B visa guest worker program, used frequently by trainers to fill backside positions, has been the subject of potentially damaging language within the fiscal year 2022 Department of Labor Appropriations bill. United States Representative Andy Harris (R-MD) offered an amendment July 15 to remove certain sections from the bill that would have made it difficult for employers to use the H-2B visa. During committee consideration, the amendment passed by voice vote.

“Thank you to all who contacted their Representative regarding this issue,” said NTRA president and CEO Alex Waldrop. “We also are grateful to Rep. Harris for offering the amendment to eliminate the language that was so threatening to employers, like horse trainers, who use the H-2B visa program.”

The amendment removed sections 116, 118, and 177 from the bill. The language in those sections would have:

Prohibited industries from using the H-2B program if they experienced unemployment in any of the previous 12 months over 10%;
Prohibited construction industries from using the program even in seasonal locations or occupations;
Increased the baseline for wages to at least 150% of the federal or state minimum wage, whichever is higher;
Required wage compliance with a collaborative bargaining agreement for your industry in your area, even if you are not a party to the agreement;
Banned participation in the program for labor/workforce-related infractions outside of the scope of the H-2B program.

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Nunthorpe Or Flying Five For Golden Pal

Last year's GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint scorer Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) is on course for either the G1 Nunthorpe S. on Aug. 20 or the G1 Flying Five S. at The Curragh on Sept. 12 after an eye-catching seasonal debut in Thursday's GIII Quick Call S. at Saratoga for trainer Wesley Ward. It was Golden Pal's first start for the Coolmore partners and Westerberg since being purchased privately from breeder Randall Lowe.

“[The Quick Call] was five and a half [furlongs], and the competition wasn't at the same level as what he would face in the Nunthorpe, but if you shorten that up [half a furlong], I think he could run with anything I've ever trained,” Ward said.

Golden Pal finished second in last year's G2 Norfolk S. before breaking his maiden at Saratoga and winning at the Breeders' Cup.

“Over five furlongs, he's a killer,” Ward added. “He's just so quick and agile, and mentally he's really coming around, more so this year than last year. He's always been able to run, but now the rider can contain him–and when he asks for that little burst, very few horses I've had have been able to do that.”

“The Nunthorpe has eluded me, but hopefully we'll get it done this year,” Ward added. “We've been having massive rainstorms over here, so there was quite a bit of give in the ground yesterday. He handled the ground well at Ascot last year as well, so he's got no issues with the ground being a little soft. The only issue would be, while he pulled up really good and sound, we'll see how his energy levels are in his works here in the next couple of weeks, and whether it warrants giving him an extra bit of time for the Flying Five. One of those two races is what he'll be in.”

Ward said G1 Commonwealth Cup and G2 Queen Mary S. winner Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) remains on course for the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest on Aug. 8.

“We're doing really well with her,” Ward said. “She had a breeze on the dirt for the first time since I've had her last week, and we're asking the powers that be for a breeze on the grass at Keeneland this week. She's on target for the Maurice de Gheest at Deauville and leaves here on July 31. Like Golden Pal, she has no issues with softer ground. In fact, it might be better if it rains a little.”

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Saratoga Barn Under Quarantine Due to EHV-1 Positive

Edited Press Release

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) have placed Barn 86 at Saratoga Race Course under a precautionary quarantine until further notice due to a positive case of Equine Herpesvirus-1 in that barn.

The unnamed, unraced filly, who is trained by Jorge Abreu, was sent to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital on Sunday, July 11 after developing a fever. She was subsequently tested for a number of potential ailments, and a positive test for EHV-1 was returned on Thursday afternoon. The filly began treatment immediately, and is improving under the care of Dr. Luis Castro, DVM.

Overseen by Dr. Anthony Verderosa, the director of NYRA's veterinary department, in consultation with the NYSGC, the Barn 86 quarantine is effective immediately with standard precautions and biosecurity measures now in place.

The 46 horses stabled in Barn 86, which is home to stalls for Abreu and trainer Kenny McPeek (whose Saratoga string includes champion Swiss Skydiver {Daredevil}), will be monitored daily for fever and other signs of illness.

During the initial quarantine period, these horses will not be permitted to enter races or train among the general horse population. Afebrile/asymptomatic horses stabled in Barn 86 will have isolated training hours at the Oklahoma Training Track following the close of training for the general horse population at 10 a.m.

As of Thursday evening, no additional horses in the quarantined barn have exhibited symptoms.

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Bird Song Filly Flies Away with Schuylerville in Whitney Colors

Pretty Birdie, the first and only winner thus far from just 22 first-crop foals for his already expatriated sire (by Unbridled's Song), zipped to the front and ran them off their feet to take Thursday's GIII Schuylerville S. at the Spa in the silks of the late Saratoga legend Marylou Whitney.

The grey had earned a field's-best 78 Beyer Speed Figure for a clear debut score at Churchill June 18, and was backed as the second choice behind 'TDN Rising Star' Mainstay, the half-sister to last year's champion 2-year-old filly Vequist (Nyquist) who aired on debut at Monmouth.

Clearing off by a few lengths after breaking from the rail, Pretty Birdie was pursued by Mainstay through splits of :22.29 and :45.82. The leader never switched her leads, and Mainstay got a bit green late herself, as Pretty Birdie found the wire two lengths to the good.

“It means so much. The smiling faces and having Saratoga back the way it should be and having a win. It's very special,” said Whitney's widower John Hendrickson. “This is where she felt the most alive. This is the way she is alive and she has a win on opening day. It's pretty special. This is a dream come true for me and Marylou. Things getting back to normal and winning on Opening Day, she's throwing a party. She said 'I want to race, get back to work.'”

Trainer Norm Casse's first graded stakes win also came for Whitney, just a month before she died, with Hard Legacy (Hard Spun) in the 2019 GIII Regret S.

“I feel like she was a little more green today,” the son of Hall of Famer Mark Casse said. “She didn't want to switch leads down the lane. I was a little bit concerned about that as she was finishing, but I think that was just her seeing a new place. This was the first time she had even come over here. I kept her on the Oklahoma [training track] side the entire week she's been here… I think she was just gawking around and maybe even waiting on the other horse. Those are things we'll fix before we run her in the [Sept. 5 GI] Spinaway next.”

As for the importance of winning this race for this owner, Casse said, “I put a lot of pressure on myself today. I thought this was the story of the day. If we could win the race for Marylou Whitney and John today with Saratoga opening back up, that it would mean the world for a lot of people and thankfully, Pretty Birdie delivered for us… Most of the time in horse racing it doesn't work out the way you hope, but today it did.”

Thursday, Saratoga
SCHUYLERVILLE S.-GIII, $150,000, Saratoga, 7-15, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:12.32, ft.
1–PRETTY BIRDIE, 120, f, 2, by Bird Song
                1st Dam: Bird Sense, by Street Sense
                2nd Dam: Bird Harbor, by Boston Harbor
                3rd Dam: Dearest Gulch, by Gulch
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-Marylou
Whitney Stables (Hendrickson); B-Marylou Whitney Stables
LLC (KY); T-Norm W. Casse; J-Luis Saez. $82,500. Lifetime
Record: 2-2-0-0, $139,988. *First SW for freshman sire. Werk Nick Rating: C+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mainstay, 120, f, 2, Astern (Aus)–Vero Amore, by Mineshaft.
'TDN Rising Star' O-Swilcan Stable LLC & LC Racing; B-Swilcan
Stables (KY); T-Robert E. Reid, Jr. $30,000.
3–Saucy Lady T, 120, f, 2, Tonalist–Fila Primera, by War Front.
($5,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-James K. Chapman & Stuart
Tsujimoto; B-R. S. Evans (KY); T-James K. Chapman. $18,000.
Margins: 2, 5 1/4, 8HF. Odds: 2.80, 1.30, 18.10.
Also Ran: Velvet Sister, Cartel Queen, Eagle Express, Queen Camilla. Scratched: Happy Soul, Pipeline Girl. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:

Pretty Birdie is a product of the Whitney program top and bottom. Bird Song took the 2017 GIII Fred Hooper S. and GII Alysheba S. in the eton blue and brown, and is out of 2003 GI Kentucky Oaks heroine and champion 3-year-old filly Bird Town (Cape Town). Bird Song, who began his stud career at Gainesway, was exported to Saudi Arabia before this past breeding season.

Two-time winner Bird Sense, meanwhile, counts Broodmare of the Year Dear Birdie (Storm Bird)–the dam of both Bird Town and GI Belmont S./GI Travers S. hero Birdstone (Grindstone)–as her third dam.

“She's inbred to Dear Birdie 3×4,” Noted Hendrickson. “That broodmare has proved successful for us again. She produced Bird Town and Birdstone.”

Bird Sense produced a full brother to Pretty Birdie in January before being bred back to Far From Over.

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