Tag: Top News

Caramel Swirl Wins Gallant Bloom S. After Double Disqualification

There was fast action and drama galore, and like all the best thrillers, it ended with a plot twist. Caramel Swirl (Union Rags) had been keeping good company in her last two starts, but by the end of a wild running of the GII Gallant Bloom S., her losing streak would be over via the double disqualification of Sterling Silver (Cupid) and Headland (Paynter), both of whom would be placed behind her.

Company doesn't come tougher than two Champions, and that is exactly who Caramel Swirl had to contend with last out in the GI Ballerina H.–won by MGISW Echo Zulu (Gun Runner), second was MGISW Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper), and losing third by a nose to MGISW Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile)–and two back in the GII Bed O'Roses S., where she ran behind Goodnight Olive as well as the gritty MGSW & MGISP Wicked Halo (Gun Runner).

In her customary spot at the very back of the field after the jump, she settled into the trip from the rail and was called on by Junior Alvarado for a rally passing the five-sixteenths marker. Moved out for room in upper stretch as Headland was intent on making the race from the rail, she was closing fast into the final furlong but had all moment stopped when Sterling Silver and Headland closed her gap outside the sixteenth pole. Doing her best to find her feet in the closing strides, she picked up the unofficial third place spot as Sterling Silver crossed the line first with Headland coming in behind her.

After a lengthy objection and stewards' inquiry involving the entire board, the winner and the runner-up were both disqualified for interference in separate events. The official order of finish was then Caramel Swirl, Sterling Silver, and Headland to third.

“She was there for me and she was fighting. I thought I had the horse to hold my spot and protect myself right there. She ran great,” said Alvarado afterwards.

Of what happened during the running, he added: “I had a horse outside of me coming from the seven path [Sterling Silver] and I didn't mind because I knew they would try to squeeze me a little there. It's a big race and you have to defend your race. But they both [Sterling Silver and Headland] got right in front of me. I clipped heels with the horse to the inside [Headland], then when I got out of there, I was [shut off] by the horse outside of me [Sterling Silver]. That takes it to a different level. Now, I'm in a terrible spot where I almost went down. I'm just glad everybody got back safe, and I think it was the right decision.”

When asked about a potential start in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, Michael Banahan, director of bloodstock for Godolphin, reported that while Caramel Swirl had run against some of the expected competitors in the field before, the plan was for Matareya to go to the race as well. “We'll get [Caramel Swirl] back and see how she is and go from there. Two is better than one, so we'll see what we can do.”

Pedigree Note

Out of a half-sister to MGISW Frosted (Tapit) and GSW Indulgent (Bernardini), Caramel Swirl is another successful homebred for the venerable Godolphin operation. Hailing from a female line filled with track and breeding successes such as champion 2-year-old colt, MGISW Midshipman; GSW Elsa (Animal Kingdom); MGISP Gouverneur Morris (Constitution) and a fleet of Group winners in Australia, the victress is the most successful runner for dam Caramel Snap. The mare has produced a 2-year-old Decatur Street (Street Sense) and a yearling full-brother to Caramel Swirl who had been exported to Japan last year. She went to Not This Time for 2024.

Sunday, Belmont The Big A
GALLANT BLOOM S.-GII, $250,000, Belmont The Big A, 10-1, 3yo/up, f/m, 6 1/2f, 1:16.18, ft.
1–CARAMEL SWIRL, 124, m, 5, by Union Rags
           1st Dam: Caramel Snap, by Smart Strike
           2nd Dam: Fast Cookie, by Deputy Minister
           3rd Dam: Fleet Lady, by Avenue of Flags
O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Junior Alvarado. $137,500. Lifetime Record: GISP, 16-6-4-3, $779,950. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sterling Silver, 122, f, 4, Cupid–Sheet Humor, by Distorted Humor. ($13,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-Mark T. Anderson; B-Mallory & Karen Mort (NY); T-Thomas Albertrani. $50,000.
3–Headland, 122, m, 7, Paynter–Miss Sheltowee, by Najran.1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($17,000 Wlg '16 KEENOV; $25,000 Ylg '17 OBSWIN; $50,000 2yo '18 OBSAPR). O-Thomas and Daryn A. Brockley; B-Sheltowee Farm & WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-George Weaver. $30,000.
Margins: 1, 4, HF. Odds: 0.95, 6.30, 18.60.
Also Ran: Beguine, Undervalued Asset, Remain Anonymous.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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MGISW Cody’s Wish Unwraps Breeders’ Cup Ticket In Vosburgh S.

The legend of Cody's Wish (Curlin), dampened only briefly by a 10-length defeat in the two-turn GI Whitney S., is back at full flame with a gutsy effort in the rescheduled 'Win and You're In' GII Vosburgh S.

Rained off of Saturday's card at Belmont's Aqueduct Fall meeting, the Vosburgh awarded a paid entry to the GI Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint though winning trainer Bill Mott indicated a title defense for his stable's star in the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders's Cup Dirt mile was preferred.

Beaten just once in his last seven starts (the aforementioned Whitney), Cody's Wish did little to deter the wagering public, jumping last from the outside gate at 1-9. And though he trailed the field off that trademark hesitant beginning, the son of Curlin was quick to rejoin the group paced up front by 9-2 second choice Accretive (Practical Joke). Kept outside of runners, Cody's Wish powered his way from last to within a length of that leader in a tightly-packed bunch up the backstretch as the opening quarter went in a moderate :23.33. Irad Ortiz, Jr., aboard Accretive, gave a quick look over his right shoulder into the turn as Junior Alvarado had yet to move atop the favorite and the top two choices turned for home together with little separating them. Great Navigator (Sea Wizard) loomed along the inside and Accretive was game between horses but Cody's Wish was all class, putting away the pair into the final sixteenth and securing the win under wraps.

“It [gate issues] goes with him [Cody's Wish],” acknowledged Mott. “You always wonder [with the slow start]. He was off slow, but he was able to make it up. Ideally, there's more pace and they kind of come back to him, but everybody kept running today. I think obviously a horse like him when they go 44 [seconds] and change, he's going to close better and finish better if the others are coming back to him, but they kept running.”

When asked about potential 2024 plans for their star, Godolphin noted his career may be coming to a close.

“We'll probably retire him,” admitted Michael Banahan, director for bloodstock for Godolphin. “We got another year out of him which is great. The major goal was trying to win the Met Mile, which we achieved. Everything else was just bonus to top it off. In this situation, we'll try to be a repeat winner of the Breeders' Cup [Dirt] Mile. We're hoping he can do that again, he's obviously one of the best horses in the country and we'd like to maintain that position if we can.”

Pedigree Note:

Dance Card, purchased by Godolphin connections as a 2-year-old for $750,000, became a Grade I-winner with her victory in the GI Gazelle S. but has arguably had just as much success in her paddock career. Besides Cody's Wish, she's also produced MGSW Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro), SP Bocephus (Medaliga d'Oro) and 2-year-old Hunt Ball (Into Mischief) who was second in his Saratoga debut Aug. 19. Dance Card is represented by a yearling Street Sense filly and reported a Gun Runner filly this Spring before being covered by Gun Runner for 2024.

Sunday, Belmont at Big A
VOSBURGH S.-GII, $250,000, Belmont The Big A, 10-1, 3yo/up, 7f, 1:21.83, ft.
1–CODY'S WISH, 126, h, 5, by Curlin
           1st Dam: Dance Card (GISW, $502,200), by Tapit
           2nd Dam: Tempting Note, by Editor's Note
           3rd Dam: Tempt, by Devil's Bag
O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Junior Alvarado. $137,500. Lifetime Record: 15-10-1-4, $2,586,030. *1/2 to Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro), MGSW, $970,133. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Accretive, 120, g, 4, Practical Joke–Mallory Street, by Street Sense. ($180,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Falcon Wood Partners (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $50,000.
3–Great Navigator, 118, c, 3, Sea Wizard–All Even, by Stephen Got Even. O/B-Holly Crest Farm (NJ); T-Eddie Owens, Jr. $30,000.
Margins: 1HF, 3 1/4, 2. Odds: 0.15, 4.50, 22.60.
Also Ran: Sheriff Bianco, High Oak, Cowan.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Open Letter To The Industry: Tom Rooney

Many of you may have seen that last week a bill was introduced in Congress to repeal the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, better known as HISA. I want to set the record straight as to what this legislation does or doesn't do, assure you that the bill isn't going anywhere in Congress, and stands no chance of becoming law.

First things first-it's important to remember that any member of Congress can introduce a bill. They write the language, file the bill, and voila it's been introduced. Just in the 118th Congress, which began in the beginning of 2023, more than 10,000 bills have been introduced. Of those more than 10,000 bills, only 14 have become law. It's important to have that perspective to truly understand why the likelihood of this bill ever becoming law is next to nothing.

Now let's get to this particular bill. Introduced by Congressman Higgins from Louisiana, the Racehorse Health and Safety Act (RHSA) has just one cosponsor. In order for any bill to become law, it needs a lot of support, support that comes in the form of “cosponsors.” HISA had more than 260 cosponsors and was supported by both Republicans and Democrats. RHSA only has one, and both are Republicans. In fact, the member of Congress who has been working to garner support for this bill for months has decided he can no longer support it. Without bipartisan support and many cosponsors, bills don't go anywhere in Congress.

Now to the lack of merits of the legislation. The very same people who spent years and millions of dollars fighting in Congress and in the courts against uniform safety standards and a unified regulator would now have us believe that they are actually for uniform safety standards and a unified regulator. The goal of RHSA is to repeal HISA, return the industry to the state-by-state patchwork regulatory system, and then create a unified regulator and unified safety standards. You read that correctly-this bill suggests rolling back all the work HISA has done, turn the industry back over to the states, and then create its own regulatory body and rules. Instead of trying to work with HISA, within the scope of the law, HISA's detractors are simply wasting everyone's time.

Congressman Higgins and the detractors of HISA know that it would take years to slog through the cumbersome process of passing enabling legislation in nearly three dozen racing states to establish RHSA. Repealing HISA to then enact RHSA with the consent of 32 states would be similar to the time-consuming process of amending the Constitution, which has only happened 27 times in more than 200 years. This bill is a laughable attempt to turn back the clock on track safety and anti-doping rules – which is precisely why there is so little support in Washington for the HISA repeal bill.

As I've said for months, these detractors need to put an end to their arguments. It is crucial that the whole of the Thoroughbred industry comes together for the betterment of our sport. In these challenging times, we must rally around HISA to ensure the highest standards of integrity and safety are upheld. The Racehorse Health and Safety Act would set the industry back when we should be setting aside our differences and working collaboratively towards a brighter, safer future for Thoroughbred racing under the guidance of HISA which is already the law of the land. Together, we can safeguard the integrity and longevity of this beloved sport.

Tom Rooney is the President and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. He formerly served in the U.S. House of Representatives for five terms, representing the state of Florida.

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Gaffalione, Cox Lock Up Churchill Fall Meet Titles

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione and trainer Brad Cox entered the final day of racing Sunday at Churchill Downs having already locked up their respective titles for the 14-day September Meet.

Both successfully defended their titles from a year ago and set new September Meet records for wins: Gaffalione with 25 victories through 13 days and Cox with 15.

Gaffalione more than doubled second-place Cristian Torres's 12 wins prior to Sunday's 10-race card. This will be Gaffalione's 10th riding title at Churchill Downs since 2018 and fourth-straight September Meet title.

Cox's dominant meet led him to his seventh Churchill Downs training title. He entered the final day of racing with a 15-6 win lead over second-place Kenny McPeek.

Owners Rigney Racing and Gary and Mary West tied for the leading owner title with four wins apiece.

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