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Creative Cause Colt Survives Inquiry in Battaglia

New York-bred Hush of a Storm benefitted from a duel between his stablemate Pico d'Oro (Curlin) and even-money GISW Gretzky the Great (Nyquist) to remain perfect on the Tapeta and score a first stakes win after surviving a lengthy inquiry. A no show when unveiled in a $150,000 maiden claiming sprint at Churchill Nov. 19, the bay woke up on the surface switch and stretch out to air by 5 1/2 lengths at 14-1 odds here Dec. 19. He doubled up in an optional claimer Jan. 6, earning a 74 Beyer Speed Figure that stacked up well enough with everyone but the chalk.

Hush of a Storm tucked in along the fence towards the back as Pico d'Oro took it to Gretzky the Great through splits of :23.86 and :47.11. He advanced in between rivals heading for home, came wide for the stretch drive and continued along to hit the front in midstretch. Shifting in as he took over, Hush of a Storm appeared to trigger a chain reaction that forced Like the King to into Gretzky with Hard Rye Guy (Hard Spun) also taking up in between. After many views of a head-on replay that appeared inconclusive, the stewards let the result stand.

With the victory, Hush of a Storm earned 10 qualifying points towards the GI Kentucky Derby.

The winner is out of a full sister to pricey 2-year-old seller and MSW/MGSP Brigand (Flatter). He has a 2-year-old half-sister by Runhappy and a yearling half-brother by Mastery. Hush Now most recently visited Distorted Humor.

JOHN BATTAGLIA MEMORIAL S., $82,830, Turfway, 2-26, 3yo,
1 1/16m (AWT), 1:44.00, ft.
1–HUSH OF A STORM, 118, c, 3, by Creative Cause
                1st Dam: Hush Now, by Flatter
                2nd Dam: Silence Please, by Quiet American
                3rd Dam: Notice Me, by Distinctive
($60,000 Ylg '19 SARAUG; $75,000 2yo '20 OBSAPR).
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Joseph P. Morey, Jr. Revocable Trust;
B-Berkshire Stud (NY); T-William E. Morey; J-Santiago
Gonzalez. $43,710. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, $65,985.
2–Like the King, 118, c, 3, Palace Malice–Like a Queen, by
Corinthian. ($28,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV; $170,000 Ylg '19
OBSOCT). O-M Racing Group, LLC; B-Horseshoe Racing, LLC
(KY); T-Wesley A. Ward. $18,800.
3–Gretzky the Great, 124, c, 3, Nyquist–Pearl Turn, by
Bernardini. ($295,000 RNA Ylg '19 FTKOCT). O-Eclipse
Thoroughbred Partners and Barber, Gary; B-Anderson Farms
Ont. Inc. (ON); T-Mark E. Casse. $7,050.
Margins: 1HF, NK, 1 1/4. Odds: 6.70, 5.20, 1.00.
Also Ran: Hard Rye Guy, Catman, Twirling Mamba, Fort Moultrie, Pico d'Oro, Notable Exception, The Predicament, Bakwena. Scratched: Kinetic Sky, Warrior in Chief. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

The post Creative Cause Colt Survives Inquiry in Battaglia appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Construction To Resume At Turfway Park; Churchill Hotel Plans Remain On Hold

During Thursday's conference call with investors, Churchill Downs, Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen revealed that construction of a new grandstand and Historical Horse Racing venue will resume at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky., reports bloodhorse.com.

Construction had been halted due to uncertainty over the future of Historical Horse Racing in the state of Kentucky, but on Feb. 22 Gov. Andy Beshear signed legislation that specifically includes HHR under the state's definition of pari-mutuel wagering.

“We anticipate spending approximately $145 million in project capital to finish building this premier facility,” Carstanjen said of Turfway. “And that will deliver approximately 800 construction jobs and 400 full-time permanent jobs in the Northern Kentucky area, as well as revitalize the Kentucky winter Thoroughbred racing circuit.”

However, construction on a hotel on the Churchill Downs property in Louisville, Ky. remains on hold as the company reviews revised plans for the project.

Grade 1 Winner Gretzky The Great Makes 3-Year-Old Debut In Friday’s Battaglia Memorial

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber's $250,000 Summer Stakes (Grade 1) winner Gretzky the Great is primed for his 3-year-old debut as the 3-1 favorite in Friday's $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park.

For the first time this year, the John Battaglia Memorial joined the Road to the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and will award the Top 4 finishers points on a 10-4-2-1 scale. The 1 1/16-mile event run over the Tapeta surface is carded as Race 5 with a post time of 8:16 p.m. (all times Eastern). The race attracted a full field of 12 3-year-olds with one also-eligible entrant. First post on Friday's program is 6 p.m.

The John Battaglia Memorial is named after Turfway Park's former General Manager and father of Churchill Downs longtime oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. The race annually serves as a steppingstone to the $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), which will be run for the 50th time this year at the Florence, Ky. track on Saturday, March 27.

Gretzky the Great, trained by Mark Casse, previously ran sixth in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) and was defeated 6 ¼ lengths by Fire at Will – one of the top interests in Saturday's $300,000 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park. Prior to his sixth-place effort Gretzky the Great had a trio of victories including his 3 ¼-length score in the Sept. 20 Summer run at one-mile on the turf. The Nyquist colt has one prior start on the Tapeta surface where he broke his maiden by 4 ¼ lengths. Gerardo Corrales will have the mount from the rail.

In total, the race attracted six Triple Crown nominees including Robert LaPenta's recent three-length maiden winner Kinetic Sky, who is slated in invade Turfway for trainer Brad Cox from his Fair Grounds base. The son of Runhappy will be ridden by Deshawn Parker from post No. 5.

Another horse likely to garner attention is Sandin Syndicate Stable's $100,000 Ellis Park Juvenile winner Pico d'Oro. Trained by Bill Morey, Pico d'Oro will stretch out to 1 1/16 miles for the first time. In his last start, the son of Curlin finished third in the $97,000 Jimmy Winkfield at Aqueduct. John McKee will ride Pico d'Oro from post 6.

The complete field for the John Battaglia Memorial from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Gretzky the Great (Corrales, Casse, 3-1); The Predicament (Rafael Hernandez, Tim Hamm, 20-1); Twirling Mamba (Albin Jiminez, John Ortiz, 10-1); Like the King (Rafael Bejarano, Wesley Ward, 7-2); Kinetic Sky (Parker, Cox, 9-2); Pico d'Oro (McKee, Morey, 8-1); Hard Rye Guy (Chris Landeros, Ian Wilkes, 15-1); Hush of a Storm (Santiago Gonzales, Morey, 10-1); Fort Moultrie (Rodney Prescott, Reeve McGaughey, 20-1); Notable Exception (Declan Cannon, Jack Sisterson, 30-1); Catman (Manny Esquivel, Mike Maker, 15-1); Warrior in Chief (Robby Albarado, Kenny McPeek, 8-1). Also-eligible: Bakwena (Prescott, Darrin Miller, 20-1).

The post Grade 1 Winner Gretzky The Great Makes 3-Year-Old Debut In Friday’s Battaglia Memorial appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Fair Grounds, Turfway Cancel Thursday Cards Due To Inclement Weather

Due to heavy rain in the New Orleans, La.,, area prior to the start of Thursday's races, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots canceled their nine-race card.

Live racing will resume Friday afternoon with a traditional 1 p.m. CT post time and a nine-race card.

Freezing and icy conditions in the Northern Kentucky area caused Turfway Park in Florence, Ky. to cancel races on Feb. 11 and 12, according to the track's website.

Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ak. also cancelled weekend racing in anticipation of poor weather, from Feb. 13-15.

The post Fair Grounds, Turfway Cancel Thursday Cards Due To Inclement Weather appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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