Top News | Horse Racing Free Tips

NYRA Announces Jockey Protocols for Aqueduct Winter Meet

The New York Racing Association released their COVID-19 health and safety protocols for jockeys during the 2020/21 Aqueduct winter meet, which will open Thursday, Dec. 10 and run through Sunday, Mar. 28.

In order to mitigate risk and reduce the spread of COVID-19, Aqueduct will be closed to riders that are not regular members of the NYRA jockey colony as of Dec. 31. To account for NYRA’s 10-day holiday break from Dec. 21 through December 30, jockeys interested in being included in the regular NYRA jockey colony must contact NYRA for consideration by Dec. 31.

Members of the regular NYRA jockey colony who travel to ride at any other racetrack during the Aqueduct winter meet will be required to provide two negative COVID-19 tests taken within a five-day window in order to return to ride at Aqueduct. Jockeys traveling out of state who have completed the required testing will then be physically isolated in the jockey quarters for three additional calendar days. All COVID-19 testing must be performed in New York state.

In addition to race day safety protocols which include standard health screening and temperature checks, the jockey quarters at Aqueduct have been substantially altered to provide maximum social distancing and reduce density. All areas accessed by jockeys during the regular course of a race day are closed to outside personnel, including credentialed media, and are cleaned and disinfected throughout the day.

Jockeys are not permitted access to the barn area at Belmont Park. Jockey agents must produce a negative COVID-19 test in order to gain access to the barn area. Races will continue to be drawn via Zoom. Valets working in the jockey quarters are not permitted in the barn area.

Live racing during the Aqueduct winter meet will generally be conducted Thursday through Sunday until the end of February with the addition of special Monday cards Jan. 18 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Feb. 15 for Presidents’ Day. Live racing will be held Friday through Sunday through the month of March.

The post NYRA Announces Jockey Protocols for Aqueduct Winter Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Malathaat–Miraculously–Leads Home Curlin 1-2-3 in Demoiselle

‘TDN Rising Star’ Malathaat (Curlin) did not look like a winner through the first mile of Aqueduct’s GII Demoiselle S., but turned things around late with a surprisingly strong rally to keep her perfect record in tact.

Away well from her rail draw, the 2-5 favorite settled in a ground-saving third as an eager Traffic Lane took control, clicking off a :23.69 first quarter with Juddmonte homebred Millefeuille (Curlin) pressing from second. Losing some traction as the half went in :48.50, the $1.05-million KEESEP buy was passed by Malibu Curl (Curlin) and looked like she was not taking to the muddy surface as another foe went by her on the backstretch. Splitting horses at the hope of the lane, Malathaat came alive in the lane, swallowing up ground late to nail Millefeuille just before the wire for a 3/4-length score. Malibu Curl completed a trifecta for leading sire Curlin.

A debut winner going seven panels at Belmont Oct. 9, Malathaat romped by 7 3/4 lengths next out in the one-mile Tempted S. at Aqueduct Nov. 6.

“In her first two wins, she was pretty straightforward and didn’t get a lot of dirt in her face or anything like that,” conditioner Todd Pletcher said. “She was on-and-off the bridle and a little bit green, still, and there was a little bit of traffic, but in the end, she found more and showed the quality filly that she is. Some lesser quality horses might have thrown in the towel at some stage, but when she got rolling, she was impressive.”

He continued, “She wasn’t comfortable inside. I think she was unsure of the footing early on. Sometimes drawing the rail is great and this time it seemed to have backfired on us a couple of times. In the final eighth of a mile, she was able to get into her comfort zone and rhythm and that’s when she showed what she’s all about.”

“Her class was what kept her going and got here there on time,” said Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez. “She was never comfortable and not running into a spot I wanted. She never really put that much effort into keeping a spot. Finally, when I tipped her out heading to the quarter-pole, she started running.”

Pedigree Notes:

Malathaat is the 35th graded winner for leading sire Curlin and one of 72 black-type scorers by the Hill ‘n’ Dale stalwart. She is also one of two graded winners at Aqueduct Saturday out of an A.P. Indy mare, following GIII Go For Wand H. heroine Sharp Starr. Malathaat is a daughter of Grade I winner and fellow ‘TDN Rising Star’ Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy), who was campaigned by Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Stables with Pletcher and Velazquez. Out of dual Grade I victress Dream Rush (Wild Rush), Dream of Julia is a half-sister to ‘TDN Rising Stars’ Dream Pauline (Tapit), a two-time Grade III winner, and Atreides (Medaglia d’Oro), a stakes-winning young stallion. Malathaat is the third foal out of Dreaming of Julia, but the first to make the races. The 10-year-old mare has since produced a yearling colt by Medaglia d’Oro and a weanling Curlin filly. She was bred back to Medaglia d’Oro.

Saturday, Aqueduct
DEMOISELLE S.-GII, $150,000, Aqueduct, 12-5, 2yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:52.36, sy.
1–MALATHAAT, 120, f, 2, by Curlin
1st Dam: Dreaming of Julia (GISW, $874,500), by A.P. Indy
2nd Dam: Dream Rush, by Wild Rush
3rd Dam: Turbo Dream, by Unbridled
‘TDN Rising Star’ 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($1,050,000 Ylg
’19 KEESEP). O-Shadwell Stable; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred
Holdings LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-John R. Velazquez.
$82,500. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $172,150.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus* Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Millefeuille, 118, f, 2, Curlin–Bandana, by War Front.
O/B-Juddmonte Farms Inc (KY); T-William I. Mott. $30,000.
3–Malibu Curl, 118, f, 2, Curlin–Prospector’s Moon, by Malibu
Moon. O/B-Woodslane Farm (KY); T-Thomas Albertrani.
$18,000.
Margins: 3/4, 4HF, 1. Odds: 0.45, 3.15, 8.00.
Also Ran: Cafe Society, Traffic Lane, Celestial Cheetah. Scratched: Caramocha, Dollar Mountain.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

The post Malathaat–Miraculously–Leads Home Curlin 1-2-3 in Demoiselle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Another NY-Bred ‘Starrs’ at Aqueduct in Go For Wand

Sharp Starr (Munnings) became the second New York-bred to defeat open company in a graded event at Aqueduct Saturday, defeating her elders in the GIII Go for Wand H. Co-favored at 6-5, the Barry Schwartz homebred pressed from second, glued to the outside hip of leader Portal Creek (Shanghai Bobby) through opening splits of :23.26 and :46.72. Scrubbed on by Jose Ortiz turning for home, the bay was the only one chasing after Portal Creek in the stretch as they pulled well clear of the others. Sharp Starr dug deep to collar the pacesetter late for a neck success. It was the first graded victory for her trainer Horacio DePaz.

“She definitely likes the track, but I think she likes the one-turn mile a little bit better,” said DePaz. “It set up for her. I was happy she could repeat that last effort. Even in her two-turn races, she wants to put herself there, but she has those bad starts and afterwards she can’t get up there. She’s breaking so much better and getting herself into the race. The way she breaks and gets herself close, she’s able to finish up nicely.”

“They were running her two turns and she was breaking a little slow,” said winning pilot Jose Ortiz. “Last time, when we brought her back to a one-turn mile, she broke well and that suited her better. They stuck with that racing style today. She broke sharp. She was there for me every time I asked her.”

Breaking her maiden at fourth asking in a state-bred event at Belmont July 2, Sharp Starr was second in an NY-bred allowance at Saratoga 20 days later and was third next out in the Empire-bred Fleet Indian S. at the Spa Sept. 4. Seventh in the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. at Pimlico Oct. 3, she demolished a New York-bred allowance over track and trip Nov. 7, winning by 15 3/4 lengths.

Pedigree Notes:

Sharp Starr is the 43rd black-type winner and 18th graded stakes winner for her sire Munnings. The victor is a half-sibling to MSP Papa Shot (Distorted Humor). Their dam Mindy Gold–a half-sister to GISP Noble Causeway (Giant’s Causeway)–is also responsible for the 2-year-old colt V Pattern (Street Sense); a yearling filly by Twirling Candy; and a weanling colt by Cairo Prince. The 13-year-old mare was bred back to Cairo Prince this spring. Sharp Starr’s third dam is MGISW Classy Cathy (Private Account). This is also the family of Grade I-winning New York-bred Audible (Into Mischief).

Saturday, Aqueduct
GO FOR WAND H.-GIII, $100,000, Aqueduct, 12-5, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:36.75, sy.
1–SHARP STARR, 117, f, 3, by Munnings
                1st Dam: Mindy Gold, by A.P. Indy
                2nd Dam: Mimi’s Golden Girl, by Seeking the Gold
                3rd Dam: Classy Cathy, by Private Account
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-Barry K.
Schwartz; B-Stonewall Farm (NY); T-Horacio DePaz; J-Jose L.
Ortiz. $55,000. Lifetime Record: 9-3-2-2, $174,015. *1/2 to
Papa Shot (Distorted Humor), MSP, $510,668. Werk Nick
Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Portal Creek, 119, f, 4, Shanghai Bobby–Silent Stream, by
Tricky Creek. ($22,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP). O-Ten Strike Racing;
B-White Fox Farm (KY); T-Juan Carlos Guerrero. $20,000.
3–Nonna Madeline, 123, f, 4, Candy Ride (Arg)–Cool Storm, by
Storm Cat. ($130,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP). O-Teresa Viola Racing
Stables & St. Elias Stable; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Todd A.
Pletcher. $12,000.
Margins: NK, 12, HF. Odds: 1.25, 7.60, 1.25.
Also Ran: Stand for the Flag, Graceful Princess, Overheated.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

The post Another NY-Bred ‘Starrs’ at Aqueduct in Go For Wand appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

NY-Bred Brooklyn Strong Upsets the Remsen

Native New Yorker Brooklyn Strong (Wicked Strong) earned his black-type badge against fellow Empire-breds last out in the Oct. 24 Sleepy Hollow S. and took his career to the next level Saturday with a gritty victory in the GII Remsen S. at Aqueduct.

Away alertly under Joel Rosario, the 7-1 shot raced two wide near the back of the quintet as favored Ten for Ten (Frosted) clicked off early splits of :23.67 and :47.86. Inching up into third alongside GIII Nashua S. victor Pickin’ Time (Stay Thirsty) on the backstretch run, they bay overtook that rival approaching the bend and set his sights on the pacesetter. Pulling away from the rest of the field in the lane, the pair slugged it out in the slop with Brooklyn Strong forging clear of a determined Ten for Ten in the final strides to win by a neck.

“I was very confident going in,” said trainer Daniel Velazquez, who registered his first graded win in the Remsen. “I knew the distance was key and I was confident about the off track. I was happy with his performance. He really dug in. Today was a big showcase for him against tougher competition and I couldn’t be happier.”

“I broke well and it looked like they were running away from me a little bit, so I had to ride him to get position,” said Rosario. “I didn’t want to let him fall back, so I rode him to stay within a couple of lengths. I was happy with how he was progressing and I was confident he was going to have something left for the end.”

Purchased for just $5,000 at the delayed OBS April Sale after breezing in :10 2/5, Brooklyn Strong was dangled for a $40,000 tag in his career bow at Delaware Sept. 12, which he won by three lengths. Third next out in the state-bred Bertram F. Bongard S. at Belmont Oct. 2, the gelding scored a decisive victory in the one-mile Sleepy Hollow at Belmont last out.

Pedigree Notes:

Brooklyn Strong is the first graded winner and one of three black-type victors for second-crop sire Wicked Strong, who scored a career high at the Big A when winning the 2014 GI Wood Memorial S. His SP dam Riviera Chic produced a Keen Ice colt last year and a Practical Joke colt May 4 of this year.

Saturday, Aqueduct
REMSEN S.-GII, $145,500, Aqueduct, 12-5, 2yo, 1 1/8m, 1:50.60, sy.
1–BROOKLYN STRONG, 120, g, 2, by Wicked Strong
1st Dam: Riviera Chic (SP), by Medaglia d’Oro
2nd Dam: Hurricane Warning, by Thunder Gulch
3rd Dam: Dewan’s Flag, by Dewan
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($30,000 Wlg ’18 FTNMIX; $42,000
RNA Ylg ’19 SARAUG; $6,000 RNA Ylg ’19 OBSOCT; $5,000 2yo
’20 OBSAPR). O-Mark Schwartz; B-Cheryl Prudhomme & Dr.
Michael Gallivan (NY); T-Daniel Velazquez; J-Joel Rosario.
$82,500. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-1, $195,000. Werk Nick
Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ten for Ten, 118, c, 2, Frosted–Summer Vacation, by
Eskendereya. ($410,000 Ylg ’19 KEESEP). O-Courtlandt Farms
(Donald & Donna Adam); B-George Krikorian (KY); T-Claude R.
McGaughey III. $30,000.
3–Known Agenda, 118, c, 2, Curlin–Byrama (GB), by Byron (GB).
($135,000 RNA Ylg ’19 FTSAUG). O/B-St. Elias Stable (KY);
T-Todd A. Pletcher. $18,000.
Margins: NK, 8 3/4, 8 1/4. Odds: 7.10, 1.25, 1.95.
Also Ran: Pickin’ Time, Erawan.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

The post NY-Bred Brooklyn Strong Upsets the Remsen appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post