Top News | Horse Racing Free Tips

Sagamore’s Jocelyn Brooks Named Director of Sales at Airdrie

Jocelyn Brooks, the former Chief of Staff for Sagamore Racing, will become the new Director of Sales for Brereton C. Jones's Airdrie Stud, the Midway, Kentucky nursery announced Friday morning. She will fill the role formerly held by Cormac Breathnach, who was recently named Keeneland's Director of Sales. The farm said that in her new role, Jocelyn will work directly with Airdrie's breeders and clients in helping with all aspects of their mating plans as well as being a leading presence for the Brereton C. Jones consignments at the major Thoroughbred auctions.

Brooks spent the last six years at Kevin Plank's Sagamore in Glyndon, Maryland. The historic farm was formerly owned by Alfred G. Vanderbilt, Jr. Brooks's responsibilities at Sagamore included racing administration, breeding and sales analysis, horse roster management, hospitality, social media and community engagement. Brooks is deeply interested in Thoroughbred aftercare and created Sagamore Farm's Next Move program, which retrains retired Sagamore Racing horses for second careers such as dressage, hunters/jumpers, eventing and therapy work. She is also a supporter of the Retired Racehorse Project and The Real Rider Cup and serves on the Board of Directors for the Maryland Horse Foundation. In her free time, Jocelyn enjoys riding her Sagamore retiree, Perpetual Optimism.

“We are unbelievably fortunate to be able to welcome Jocelyn to our Airdrie team,” said Airdrie's Bret Jones. “She is exactly the type of person everyone wants to be around: smart, funny and unendingly positive. Just as importantly, she is as passionate about our industry as anyone I've met and is exceedingly knowledgeable. She will not only give great counsel to our breeders and clients, but she will genuinely care about the success of their programs. This is a home run hire for Airdrie Stud and all those with whom we do business.”

“Jocelyn represents a new generation of female leaders in the Thoroughbred horse racing industry and Sagamore Racing was the beneficiary of Jocelyn's extraordinary leadership,” said Kevin Plank. “In addition to her excellence in horsemanship, she reimagined the Sagamore experience for all whom visited our very special farm. We wish Jocelyn the very best and will always consider Jocelyn to be part of our Sagamore family.”

Said Brooks, “I am thrilled for the opportunity to join the team at iconic Airdrie Stud, a place with such rich history, great people and an outstanding reputation. I can't wait to get started and look so forward to meeting our breeders, clients and, of course, our incredible horses.”

The post Sagamore’s Jocelyn Brooks Named Director of Sales at Airdrie appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Ward Runners Prep For Saratoga Turf Sprints

The Wesley Ward-conditioned Bound for Nowhere (The Factor) and Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) each turned in breezes over the Belmont turf course Thursday morning in advance of the expected arrival of Tropical Storm Elsa, with each being pointed towards turf sprint stakes during the early part of the Saratoga meet.

Also owned by Ward, Bound for Nowhere came from well back to defeat an unlucky Imprimis (Broken Vow) in Keeneland's GII Shakertown S. Apr. 3 and was last seen finishing third to Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) after setting the majority of the pace in the GI Jackpocket Jaipur S. on the Belmont S. undercard June 5. Now seven, Bound for Nowhere is expected to make his Saratoga debut in the GIII Troy S., Presented by Horse Racing Ireland, Aug. 6.

Golden Pal, last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint hero who was recently sold to Coolmore by his breeder Randall Lowe, is scheduled to make his sophomore debut in the GIII Quick Call S. on opening day at the Spa July 15. The son of the outstanding Lady Shipman (Midshipman) is using that comebacker as a tightener for the G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. at York Aug. 20.

“From what I see with him in the mornings, he's just extremely talented,” Ward said of Golden Pal.

The trainer also reported that Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), promoted to the victory in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot June 18, is coming along well at his Keeneland base. She is scheduled to return to Europe for the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville Aug. 8.

“She's ready for a work,” Ward said. “We're in a little bit of a pickle because we're mandated to breeze on the dirt. That's her home track and that's where she thrives.”

The post Ward Runners Prep For Saratoga Turf Sprints appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Judge Says Baffert Reply is Admissible

The federal judge presiding over the Bob Baffert versus the New York Racing Association ban case ruled Thursday that Baffert's affidavit, filed Wednesday as part of a 434-page “reply memorandum of law in further support of motion for preliminary injunction” of NYRA's ban, would not be stricken or disregarded, as NYRA had requested.

NYRA's attorney, Henry Greenberg, argued that the reply included new information that the NYRA did not have time to investigate and that the entire filing or the affidavit should be stricken or disregarded.

NYRA informed Baffert on May 17 after Medina Spirit's Derby positive for Betamethasone became public that he was temporarily not welcome to stable or race at Aqueduct, Belmont or Saratoga.

On June 14, Baffert filed a civil complaint against NYRA, alleging that the association's ban violates his Fourteenth Amendment constitutional right to due process.

On June 30, NYRA filed a 236-page memorandum in opposition to granting Baffert an injunction. Baffert's attorneys filed their 434-page reply on Wednesday.

On a conference call at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Judge Carol Bagley Amon ruled that all of the arguments and exhibits in Baffert's July 7 filing were admissible.

On the call, Greenberg told the judge that the filing of the paper was a “classic sandbag” on the part of Baffert's attorneys.

“The moment we saw the plaintiff's papers, especially the plaintiff's affidavit, we were shocked and disturbed,” Greenberg told the judge. “Because frankly, the plaintiff's submission was the most abusive use of a reply submission that I have ever seen.”

Greenberg argued that many of the claims made in the filing were not in reply to NYRA's response, nor were they substantiated. As an example, he cited the well-documented loss by Baffert of several top WinStar horses.

The Baffert filing details how WinStar had moved its horses to other trainers as a result of the NYRA ban.

“As for harms that have already occurred as a result of NYRA's ban, one of Baffert's major clients, WinStar Farm (“WinStar”) has moved all of its horses to other trainers. This included significant thoroughbreds LIFE IS GOOD (this year's Kentucky Derby favorite before he suffered a minor injury) and COUNTRY GRAMMER (Grade I winner of the Hollywood Cup and an early favorite for this year's Breeders' Cup Classic). This loss is substantial to Baffert, not only be because of the quality of the horses he lost, but because he has successfully trained many horses owned by WinStar, including recent Triple Crown winner JUSTIFY. WinStar's CEO, Elliott Walden, has publicly stated that he pulled these horse from Baffert partially due to NYRA's suspension because Baffert's current ability to enter horses in prestigious races is `limited.'”

The filing includes a copy of several stories from industry press detailing the incident and quoting Walden.

But Greenberg argued, “First of all, we have no idea if that's true or not. Second of all, WinStar is a corporation, not a person. Third of all, it's hearsay. Fourth of all, it's conclusive.”

“Who said these things?” Greenberg asked.

But Baffert's attorney Craig Robertson pointed out that Walden was indeed named in the filing, but was quoted in press clippings that were also provided. The TDN covered the story on June 24.

In the story, it quotes a text to the media from Walden which says, “The plan is to ship to Todd Pletcher in the coming weeks with a possibility of running in New York later this year. With the ban on Bob in Kentucky and New York right now, our opportunities are limited. We will continue to evaluate the situation with Bob and appreciate everything he has done with Life is Good.”

“They said Mr. Baffert has not given any specifics about horses who have been removed from his care, and that that was an important component,” Robertson said. “And so, in response to that, we drafted our reply and we addressed those specific points. They allege that we hadn't met our burden in response, which is exactly what we're allowed to do. We address the importance of New York racing to Mr. Baffert, and we address the specifics that they were claiming that were missing.”

Judge Amon said that while she hadn't expected to rule on any motions in the conference call, she was now being called upon to do so.

“There has been a motion to strike the affidavit of Mr. Baffert. Based on what I have heard today in this conference, I'm going to deny the motion to strike the affidavit,” she said.

She also recommended that Baffert be in court Monday in case he were called upon to testify to settle any disputes. She asked Robertson if Baffert were asked to testify that it was Walden who had talked to Baffert, would he be able to say that Walden had told him that?

“Yes, your honor,” said Robertson.

Robertson said that he would also provide the judge with other owners' names for whom Baffert had lost horses due to the NYRA ban by noon tomorrow.

The post Judge Says Baffert Reply is Admissible appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Discounted BC HORA Nominations Due By July 15

Edited Press Release

Owners of horses of racing age currently not nominated to the Breeders' Cup program can nominate their runners at discounted rates on or before Thursday, July 15 for competition in this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships, Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar. All horses must be nominated in order to compete in any of the 14 Breeders' Cup World Championship races. In addition, a Breeders' Cup-nominated horse is eligible to participate in all Breeders' Cup purse and awards programs for its entire racing career without any further nomination payments due.

The nomination discounts are as follows:

Two-year-olds by a nominated Breeders' Cup stallion can join the program for US$12,000. This one-time nomination fee makes the racehorse Breeders' Cup-eligible for its entire racing career.
Runners which are 3-year-olds and older that were foaled in the Northern Hemisphere and sired by a nominated stallion will receive a 50% discount off normal racehorse nomination fees. Three-year-olds and older which were born in the Southern Hemisphere can be nominated for 25% of their regular nomination fee.
All nominated racehorses are eligible for the Breeders' Cup World Championships for their entire racing careers, which will have purses and awards totaling more than $31 million this year.
A nominator award of $10,000 will be paid to the person nominating any racehorse that wins a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge Series Race.
Nominator awards are paid through all finish positions in the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Following the July 15 discount deadline, the price for all non-nominated runners reverts back to the standard racehorse nomination fee of US$100,000 or more until Oct. 25, when all runners must be pre-entered for the Breeders' Cup World Championships races.

Owners may nominate their horses of racing age online here or by calling the Breeders' Cup Racing department at (859) 514-9422.

Owners of horses of racing age by non-nominated stallions can also take advantage of discounted prices before July 15. Two-year-olds by non-nominated stallions can join the program for US$18,000; Northern Hemisphere 3-year-olds and older for US$100,000 and Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds and older for US

The post Discounted BC HORA Nominations Due By July 15 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post