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After Graphics Error, NYRA Starters Run For Purse Money Only

A brief glitch in the NYRA graphics package that covered the days scratches resulted in Striking Melody (Majestic City) running for purse money only, by order of the stewards, in Saturday's first race at Aqueduct.

At 10:32 a.m., 77 minutes before post time for the first race, Striking Melody was listed as a scratch in graphics that appeared in the upper right hand corner of NYRA's television feed. The listing of the scratch appeared for about two seconds before it came off the screen and at no other point during the day was the horse listed as scratched. In addition, the listing of the scratch appeared as track announcer John Imbriale was announcing scratches for the first race. Imbriale never mentioned Striking Melody but did announce that the six horse, Caribbean Breeze (Mendelssohn) was scratched.

But what appeared to be an innocuous mistake was taken seriously by the stewards, who withdrew Striking Melody from the wagering. In addition, with the horse scheduled to run as an entry with Our Rosie Diamonds (Bellamy Road), both horses ran as non-betting interests.

Our Rosie Diamonds finished third and Striking Melody was seventh.

NYRA management said they were frustrated by the decision.

The graphics error appeared for about two seconds, as shown in the clip below.

“At some point, common sense has to come into play,” said a NYRA official who asked not to be named.

NYRA officials estimated that the move by the stewards resulted in a loss of handle between $150,000 and $200,000.

“NYRA would certainly welcome the opportunity to fully review the circumstances of this matter with the Board of Stewards,” said NYRA spokesperson Pat McKenna.

Braulio Baeza Jr., the steward representing the New York Gaming Commission, did not return a phone call seeking comment.

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Tapwrit’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Victory Formation Game in Second Win

3rd-Churchill Downs, $125,785, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 11-26, 2yo, 6f, 1:09.52, ft, neck.
VICTORY FORMATION (c, 2, Tapwrit–Smart N Soft, by Smart Strike) sailed home to 'TDN Rising Star'-dom last out Oct. 21 against a deep Keeneland maiden special field, going coast-to-coast by 4 3/4 lengths to become the first for his sire to garner the accolade. Hammered down to 6-5 favoritism here on the step up into the allowance ranks, he vied with a rival early from the rail through :21.44 and :45.11 splits. After briefly leading and then losing his advantage nearing the eighth pole, he responded when pressured again by Two Eagles River (Cloud Computing) and gamely prevailed by a neck. A half to Bellamore (Empire Maker), GISP, $284,040 and to the dam of Italian stakes winner Sienna (Ger) (Amaron {GB}), Victory Formation is the latest winning addition for his dam. He has a pair of half-sisters–a yearling by Karakontie (Jpn) and a weanling by Practical Joke. Smart N Soft went to Raging Bull (Fr) for 2023. The second dam is GSW Softly, herself a half-sister to GSW Coragil Cat. Sales history: $100,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $150,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL; $340,000 2yo '22 EASMAY. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $129,535. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Spendthrift Farm LLC and Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc.; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.

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Good Magic’s Bat Flip Walks It Off in Central Park

Bat Flip (Good Magic) was sent off at odds of 23-5 to build upon a wire-to-wire maiden victory going two turns over the Aqueduct turf course Oct. 23, but showed a bit of a new dimension when forced to stalk the pace in Saturday's Central Park S. at the Big A. The $350,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad proved equal to the task in becoming a fifth stakes winner and first on the grass for his freshman sire (by Curlin).

Looking intent on making the running yet again from his low draw, Bat Flip tried to squeeze through a tight spot inside of the stretching-out Dr. Settle's Dream (Oscar Performance) into the first turn, but was forced to take back and chase from that one's outside when it became clear it was lead or bust for Dr. Settle's Dream. Content and nicely relaxed off the leader's flank beneath Jose Ortiz, Bat Flip poured in the pressure to take over at the head of the stretch and kept on well as a slightly troubled Dandy Handyman (Outwork) and favored General Jim (Into Mischief) rounded out the minors.

Fifth to future GISW Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) on debut sprinting over the Saratoga main track July 24, Bat Flip was well-beaten behind a 'TDN Rising Star' effort from Echo Again (Gun Runner) when next seen Aug. 20. Bat Flip was runner-up behind next-out GIII Futurity S. hero and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint third Nagirroc (Lea) in a local turf sprint maiden Sept. 24 before getting the job done last time.

The winner is one of two winners from his dam, a half-sister to GSW & MGISP turfer Money Multiplier (Lookin At Lucky) and GSW Intense Holiday (Harlan's Holiday). Krazy Kathy is also responsible for Bat Flip's yearling full-brother Bayou magic, a weanling full-sister and is due to Nyquist for 2023. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

CENTRAL PARK S., $120,000, Aqueduct, 11-26, 2yo, 1mT, 1:34.30, fm.
1–BAT FLIP, 120, c, 2, by Good Magic
1st Dam: Krazy Kathy, by Harlan's Holiday
2nd Dam: Intensify, by Unbridled's Song
3rd Dam: Her She Shawklit, by Air Forbes Won
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. ($350,000 Ylg '21 FTSAUG). O-Harrell Ventures LLC & Starlight Racing; B-Fifth Avenue Bloodstock (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $66,000. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-0, $147,750.
2–Dandy Handyman, 120, g, 2, Outwork–American Lights, by Ten Centuries. O/B-Maram LLC (KY); T-Keri Brion. $24,000.
3–General Jim, 122, c, 2, Into Mischief–Inspired by Grace, by Curlin. 1ST BLACK-TYPE. ($850,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Courtlandt Farms LLC (Donald Adam); B-Fifth Avenue Bloodstock & Centerline Breeding (KY); T-Claude R McGaughey III. $14,400.
Margins: 1HF, HD, 1. Odds: 4.60, 5.80, 1.45.
Also Ran: Ramblin' Wreck, Liar's Poker, Calycanthus, Noble Huntsman, Let's Go Big Blue, Dr. Settle's Dream. Scratched: Sweetlou'sgotaces.

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Japan Road to the Derby Kicks Off at Tokyo

The first of four legs of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, the $220,717 Cattleya S. (allowance), was staged Saturday afternoon over Tokyo's one-turn mile and for the second year in a row, a son of successful young stallion and former U.S. Eclipse Award winner Drefong drew first blood in the series.

Drawn one from the outside in afield of 10, Continuar (Jpn) broke alertly, but was ultimately beaten for speed and settled in the second flight of horses while racing three off the inside and with cover down the back straight. Waited with on the turn, the 29-10 second choice was produced wide into the stretch by the visiting Damian Lane, was asked to quicken inside the final furlong and kicked on nicely to best third favorite Mirror of Mind (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) by a half-length (see below). Last year's Cattleya S. was won by Consigliere (Jpn), who went on to be third to Pinehurst (Twirling Candy) in the G3 Saudi Derby.

Purchased for ¥70 million ($635,432) at last year's JRHA Select Sales, Continuar overcame a double-digit draw to land his Oct. 8 debut over nine furlongs at Hanshin Oct. 8 and nearly made it two straight, missing narrowly in his first start against winners back at Hanshin 20 days ago. He is trained by Yoshito Yahagi, who conditioned Loves Only You (Jpn) and Marche Lorraine (Jpn) to famous wins at the Breeders' Cup in 2021.

“I think I want to take him to Saudi, then Dubai and then maybe Kentucky,” Yahagi said.

Continuar is out of a daughte rof MSW & G1SP Fusaichi Pandora (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), best known as the dam of two-time Japanese Horse of the Year and dual G1 Japan Cup heroine Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}). This is also the female family of champion El Gran Senor.

Continuar was awarded 10 points for his victory, while Mirror of Mind earned 4 points. The next race in the series is the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki Dec. 14.

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