trainer | Horse Racing Free Tips

Trainer Pedro Garcia Earns First American Win At Gulfstream

Trainer Pedro Garcia saddled No Commission ($8.20) for a late-rallying victory on Saturday's program at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., to register his first success in the U.S.

The 34-year-old Venezuelan native immigrated to South Florida two months ago along with his father Pedro Garcia.

“This is a new beginning,” Garcia said. “The racetrack is very competitive. It's a great experience.

Garcia claimed No Commission out of a second-place finish for $6,250 shortly after arriving and reaped immediate success when the 3-year-old pulled away to a three-length score in a 5 ½-furlong $6,250 claimer carded as Race 5. No Commission was claimed out of the race.

“I have two horses right now, but I think it's only one at this moment,” Garcia said.

The post Trainer Pedro Garcia Earns First American Win At Gulfstream appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Neil Howard Makes His Way Back To Keeneland Winner’s Circle In New Role

Neil Howard was back in the Keeneland winner's circle after the seventh race Thursday with Emory Hamilton's homebred Flanigan's Cove, this time in his new role as the Kentucky assistant for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. Flanigan's Cove was the first horse Howard saddled for McGaughey.

Howard, who sent out the final starter of his 43-year career Monday, Oct. 11 at Indiana Grand, had his final Keeneland starter Oct. 8 when Wing Commander ran fifth in an allowance race.

“I am officially done,” Howard said Thursday afternoon. “I had a couple of horses that Shug graciously took over and I put them in his name. I'm just an assistant trainer now.”

Howard is eighth all-time in Keeneland victories with 166 and is 13th in stakes wins with 20. His first stakes victory came in the 1990 Blue Grass (G2) with Summer Squall. He won the Ben Ali (G3) five times, including in 2003 with Horse of the Year Mineshaft. Howard also won the race in 1999, 2004, 2005 and 2016.

The post Neil Howard Makes His Way Back To Keeneland Winner’s Circle In New Role appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Trainer Darien Rodriguez Enjoyed ‘Whole Experience’ In His First Year At Monmouth Park

After spending his first full summer at Monmouth Park this year and then extending his stay through the current Monmouth-at-Meadowlands before he heads to Tampa Downs for the winter, trainer Darien Rodriguez is already ooking forward to returning to New Jersey.

When he does come back the 41-year-old native of Cuba says he will be better prepared.

“I liked the whole experience. I just brought a little bit of the wrong horses with me,” said Rodriguez. “I learned my lesson. Next year I will come North with more older horses and claimers and not as many 2-year-olds. The 2-year-olds I had were at zero when I got them so it took a long time to get them going. Now I have a better idea of what fits here.”

Rodriguez, in the midst of his second-best season since he started training in 2010, will look to extend his success in the state on Friday with Wicked Groove when the all-turf racing resumes at the East Rutherford facility.

A recent claim, Wicked Groove finished second in an off-the-turf $25,000 claimer in her last start at Monmouth on Sept. 21. She will take on a full field of nine rivals, with four alternates waiting, in the mile and a sixteenth $25,000 claimer.

“He's back on grass now, which is where he is at his best,” said Rodriguez, who owns many of his horses.

Rodriguez, who finished the Monmouth Park meet with a 6-6-3 line from 31 starters, tried spending half the year at Presque Isle, Delaware and even Gulfstream Park before giving Monmouth Park a try. His overall win total (30 from 113 starters) and earnings ($534,801) this year are both the second-highest of his career.

“I wish I could have started more at Monmouth Park,” said Rodriguez. “I really enjoyed being there. I feel I did good with what I had, so when I come back next year I will have more horses that fit there.”

Friday's fifth day of the seven-day Monmouth-at-Meadowlands meet has attracted 70 entries for the six grass races.

First race post time is 7 p.m.

The post Trainer Darien Rodriguez Enjoyed ‘Whole Experience’ In His First Year At Monmouth Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Colin Sherwood Passes Away

Thoroughbred trainer Colin Sherwood, a native of Perth, Western Australia who won the 1960 G1 Railway S. with Wesmaster, died Sept. 29 in Safety Harbor, FL., after a brief illness. He was 90.

Sherwood enjoyed considerable success on the racetracks of his homeland for 15 years before becoming a bloodstock agent in the early 1970s, exporting racehorses and stallion prospects to horsemen in Singapore, Southeast Asia, Japan, South Africa and the United States. He returned to racing in the late 1980s and resumed training, competing in the mid-Atlantic region before establishing his base at Tampa Bay Downs, where he retired in 2013.

Survivors include his daughter Margo Flynn, his daughter-in-law, Jane Cibelli; a granddaughter, Amanda Creel; grandson-in-law James Jewhurst; and great-grandson Ben Jewhurst. He was predeceased by his parents, George and Eileen Sherwood.

Donations may be made to Thoroughbred Retirement of Tampa, Inc.

The post Colin Sherwood Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post