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Bafferts Pledge $10k New Year’s Eve TAA Match Donation

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA)'s month-long Holiday Giving Campaign comes to an end with Bob and Jill Baffert pledging to match all donations up to $10,000 made to the TAA on Dec. 31, 2022–the largest of the campaign.

“Every racing season, these horses give us the thrill of a lifetime, bringing immeasurable joy. We all should remember that this holiday season when we stop to count our blessings and express gratitude,” said Jill Baffert, who is also a member of TAA's advisory board. “There is no better way to do that than by contributing to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, which assures that all horses are treated with respect and care and afforded a full life of dignity after leaving the racetrack. Please join Bob and me in giving whatever you can to TAA this season.”

“Thanks to the Baffert's, the TAA Holiday Giving Campaign will end with a bang,” said TAA Funding and Events Manager, Emily Dresen. “We are so excited with the incredible level of participation within the horseracing community and with the Baffert's generous pledge we can have our biggest day of fundraising yet.”

Those wishing to support the TAA, its 81 accredited organizations, and thousands of retired Thoroughbreds can donate through the TAA's website or text DONATE to 56651. During the Holiday Giving Campaign, TAA is also offering donors the benefit of sending digital holiday cards to colleagues, friends and loved ones.

Click here, to learn more and donate to the TAA's Holiday Giving Campaign.

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Live Racing at Fair Grounds Canceled Friday

Following excessive rain overnight and throughout the morning and after a consultation between track management and the stewards, a joint decision was made to cancel Friday's card at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Live racing will resume on Saturday, Dec. 31 with the regular post time of 1:15 p.m. CT. The 10-race card features a quartet of stakes including the $100,000 Woodchopper, $100,000 Pago Hop, and a pair of $100,000 Louisiana Futurities.

The post Live Racing at Fair Grounds Canceled Friday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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APB: Charge It ‘Ready for a Big 4yo Campaign’

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack tracks down top horses on the sidelines.

Whisper Hill Farm homebred and 'TDN Rising Star' Charge It (c, 3, Tapit–I'll Take Charge, by Indian Charlie), off since posting a jaw-dropping, 23-length victory in the GIII Dwyer S. at Belmont Park July 2, is gearing up for a 4-year-old campaign.

Forced to miss intended second-half targets in the GI Runhappy Travers S. and GI Pennsylvania Derby with a foot issue, Charge It has since posted a trio of breezes this winter at Whisper Hill's training center in Ocala, Florida. The gray rejoined trainer Todd Pletcher's Palm Beach Downs string Dec. 20.

“With the time, he's filled out so much,” said Todd Quast, advisor to Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm. “He was always a big, beautiful horse, but he just blossomed with a little break and a little time in the sun down here. I think we're ready for a really big 4-year-old campaign.”

Quast continued, “We're not trying to pick a race or have it mapped out yet. We'll let him tell us. Originally, we had hoped to get to a race in late December, so I don't think we'd be ready for the [GI] Pegasus [World Cup Jan. 28]. He's an exceptional horse, he's shown that already. Todd is gonna start breezing him and make sure that he sees the same thing that I'm seeing because he's just awesome right now.”

A no-brainer 'Rising Star' at second asking at Gulfstream Feb. 12, Charge It was a green but very good second while making his two-turn debut in the GI Curlin Florida Derby Apr. 2. He put behind a troubled 17th in the GI Kentucky Derby with his aforementioned romp in the Dwyer, good for a 111 Beyer Speed Figure.

Only Epicenter (Not This Time) and Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) scored higher on the Beyer scale among sophomores in 2022, co-topping the 3-year-old leaderboard with 112 ratings in the Travers and GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile S., respectively.

“To win that race by 23 lengths and to be even thinking about the Secretariat pole–that was a crazy race,” Quast said. “We were very excited as was everybody else. It was just a little foot thing that kept us from going on. Kudos to Todd and his team for not pushing him. We did right by him and I think he's ready to have a really good year. We're super happy with him.”

Charge It was produced by the winning mare I'll Take Charge, a $2.2-million KEESEP yearling purchase by Pope's operation. The 10-year-old is a daughter of bluehen mare Take Charge Lady (Dehere), who is responsible for champion Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song), GISW Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy), GISW As Time Goes By (American Pharoah) and Charming (Seeking the Gold), the dam of champion Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway) and MGISW Omaha Beach (War Front).

Charge It is one of 50 'Rising Stars' by perennial leading sire Tapit. The Tapit over Indian Charlie cross is also responsible for 2022 slam dunk Horse of the Year Flightline.

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APB: ‘Rising Star’ Munnys Gold Nearing Return at Gulfstream

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack tracks down top horses on the sidelines.

'TDN Rising Star' Munnys Gold (f, 2, Munnings–Haraawa, by Medaglia d'Oro), missing in action since airing by 14 1/2 lengths with a gaudy 101 Beyer Speed Figure on debut at Monmouth Park June 17, is targeting the upcoming $100,000 Glitter Woman S. at Gulfstream Park.

“She's been back in full training with Todd [Pletcher] now for about three months,” said Jacob West, advisor to owners Robert and Lawana Low.

“She's being pointed towards the Glitter Woman. It was supposed to be on New Year's Day, but the race didn't fill. They backed it up a week, and, hopefully, some more horses show up and we can get lucky there.”

Munnys Gold, a $92,000 FTKNOV weanling turned $300,000 FTKJUL yearling, has posted nine workouts at Pletcher's Palm Beach Downs base since late October, most recently covering four furlongs in :50.33 (32/56) Dec. 24. Her worktab also includes a four-furlong bullet in :48.79 (1/25) Nov. 26.

“She's a tough filly to train in the mornings,” West said. “She's very aggressive in her training. Todd and his staff have done an incredible job with her. They seem like they've got her in a really good groove now.”

As for what kept Munnys Gold on the sidelines, West added, “She just had a little bruised foot. And it was one of those things–it was just stinging and stinging and stinging. It took her a while to get over. Mr. and Mrs. Low are incredible owners and incredibly patient. We just were extra cautious with her because we know she has talent and ability. We took our time and brought her back slowly. It seems to be all systems go right now.”

Munnys Gold earned the highest Beyer Speed Figure for a 2-year-old filly in her lone start in 2022. The distant runner-up finisher that day Alma Rosa (Sharp Azteca) has since added a win in Delaware's White Clay Creek S. and a runner-up finish in Monmouth's Sorority S.

The second winner from as many to make the races for her unraced dam, Munnys Gold hails from the extended female family of champion 2-year-old colt Anees. The Munnings over Medaglia d'Oro cross is also responsible for GIII Longacres Mile H. winner Barkley. Munnys Gold, bred in Florida by Nicksar Farms, is one of 10 'Rising Stars' for her leading sire.

“She overimpressed us and we're hopeful that she can continue on and live up to the hype from the first race,” West concluded.

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