Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

Pimlico, home of the Preakness

The NBC Sports Group will program 6 ½ hours of coverage May 18 and 19 surrounding the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), the second jewel of Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown for 3-year-olds.

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69820/nbc-plans-6-12-hours-of-preakness-coverage#ixzz1vDVu7dkZ ]]> http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/nbc-plans-6-12-hours-of-preakness-coverage/8672/feed 0 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/railbird-notes-189/8656 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/railbird-notes-189/8656#comments Fri, 18 May 2012 09:09:07 +0000 glen http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/?p=8656 Continue reading →]]>

  Railbird Notes by: Glen Todd

Entry Day today for Monday’s Holiday Card

Director of Racing, Paul Ryneveld started taking pre-entires for Monday’s Victoria Day card on Wednesday and it was looking pretty solid. He has since added a couple of more extra’s that are listed below. Monday’s feature is the $50,000 Brighouse Belles for fillies and mares going six and one half furlongs.

General Manager, Raj Mutti has been preparing for a possible record day on Saturday with the 137th Running of the Preakness and our own Mario Gutierrez aboard I’ll Have Another who drew post 9 and is listed at 5-2 on the morning line.

Mutti says he will have a full compliment of tellers and is bringing in outside concessionaires and vendors like they do on BC Cup Day to handle the anticipated crowd. The Derby Bar and Grill is all but sold out on Saturday as we had one table left as of yesterday.

Super Mario Fever Continues

Yesterday we had several people walk in off the street at the Derby Bar and Grill and try to bet the Preakness as they had no idea on how to bet, all they wanted to do was bet on Mario. Wagering opens today on the Preakness at all outlets.  We spent a lot of time explaining how to bet and gave directions to Hastings Racecourse as many of them weren’t even aware of where it was or that horse racing even existed in Vancouver.  We owe Mario some big thank you’s as he certainly has drawn the hearts of many with his instant stardom and his great success story.  It is really Hollywood at its best. Also the great job that Raj Mutti and his crew have done with the marketing and media over the last two weeks, its has been no less then excellent.  If Mario can win the Preakness and goes on as a possible Triple Crown Winner in the Belmont , three Saturday’s away from tomorrow, this city will be on fire because of Mario and all of us are reaping the benefits as well, he has put Hastings on the map for sure.  “GO MARIO GO” He hasn’t done an interview anywhere without mentioning Hastings and his fans in Vancouver. He has become our true Ambassador and not just another jockey from Mexico.

“ Good Luck Buddy Boy Tomorrow” we are all pulling for you.

Former Jockey Larry Lacoursiere has Entered a Video Contest

Larry wrote us a note asking for our help to promote a video that he has filmed at Hastings Racecourse and entered it into a contest on Rock ’101′.

He filmed it with friends from the track and it can be seen on You Tube at the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgakhVB_Q3g&feature=g-all-u

They need our support in the contest so if you have a chance click the above link.

Extra Races For Monday, May 21, 2012

 EXTRA RACE NO 3 MAIDEN CLAIMING

Purse $11,800. (Includes up to $1,800 in Participation Money) (Includes up to $2,000 for BC Breds.) For Maidens, Fillies And Mares Three Years Old and Upward. Three Year Olds 119 lbs. Older 124 lbs. CLAIMING PRICE $3,000   SIX AND ONE HALF FURLONGS

 EXTRA RACE NO 4 ALLOWANCE

Purse $22,425. (Includes up to $4,125 for BC Breds.) For Three Year Olds Which Have Never Won Two Races or Which Have Never Won Three Races BC Bred. Weight 122 lbs. Non-winners Of A Race In 2012 2 lbs. A Race Since October 3, 2011 4 lbs.  SIX AND ONE HALF FURLONGS

 EXTRA RACE NO 5 ALLOWANCE

Purse $22,425. (Includes up to $4,125 for BC Breds.) For Fillies Three Years Old Which Have Never Won Two Races or Which Have Never Won Three Races BC Bred. Weight 122 lbs. Non-winners of a race in 2012 2 lbs. A race since March 21 4 lbs.  SIX AND ONE HALF FURLONGS

EXTRA RACE NO 6 CLAIMING

Purse $21,800. (Includes up to $1,800 in Participation Money) (Includes up to $4,000 for BC Breds.) For Fillies Three Years Old. Weight 122 lbs. Non-winners of two races in 2012 2 lbs. A race in 2012 4 lbs. CLAIMING PRICE $25,000, For Each $1,000 To $23,000 2 lbs. (Races where entered for $20,000 or less not considered)  SIX AND ONE HALF FURLONGS

 EXTRA RACE NO 7 CLAIMING

Purse $16,800. (Includes up to $1,800 in Participation Money) (Includes up to $3,000 for BC Breds.) For Three Year Olds and Upward. Three Year Olds 119 lbs. Older 124 lbs. Non-winners of two races since April 21 2 lbs. A race since March 21 4 lbs. CLAIMING PRICE $12,500, For Each $500 To $11,500 2 lbs. (Races where entered for $10,000 or less not considered)  SIX AND ONE HALF FURLONGS

 EXTRA RACE NO 8 ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING

Purse $24,050. (Includes up to $1,800 in Participation Money) (Includes up to $4,450 for BC Breds.) For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old and Upward Which Have Never Won A Race Other Than Maiden, Claiming, Or Starter or Which Have Never Won Two Races (BC Bred NW4) or Claiming Price $35,000. Three Year Olds 119 lbs. Older 124 lbs. Non-winners of two races since April 21 2 lbs. of  race since March 21 4 lbs. CLAIMING PRICE $35,000, For Each $1,000 To $30,000 1 lbs. (Races Where Entered For $25,000 Or Less Not Considered in Weight Allowances)  SIX AND ONE HALF FURLONGS

Handicappers Corner, Saturday at 10:00am

Catch Handicappers Corner Live at 10:00am on Saturday morning with Mike’s and Drew’s Picks for Saturday, Sunday and Monday which includes a special Interview with Mario Gutierrez which was taped on Tuesday morning outside the Derby Bar and Grill.

www.derbybarandgrill.com

There was some fear expressed that Mario Gutierrez might have worn himself out during his three-day visit to Vancouver prior to heading for Baltimore in pursuit of keeping his Triple Crown dream alive in Saturday’s Preakness.

 Relax, folks.  Super Mario is A-okay. We might have all forgotten for a moment that this is a finely-tuned 25-year-old athlete in top shape who has given new meaning to the word focused.

 Gutierrez no sooner arrived at Pimlico Race Course Thursday and he was on a horse named My Name Is Ralphie in the second race for 3-year-old fillies and mares on the afternoon card.  Gutierrez and My Name is Ralphie drew clear in the stretch run and won easily at odds of 8-1. He then came back in the 8th race to win aboard Ten Plush as the 4-5 favourite.  So he went two for two on the day.

 So much for being burned out from his visit to Vancouver.

  Even though I’ll Have Another may be the only horse in the field for Saturday’s Preakness with a chance at the Triple Crown, he will not be going off as the favourite.  Analysts have made Bob Baffert-trained Bodemeister the morning line choice at 8-5.  I’ll Have Another, owned byWindsor,Ontario’s Paul Reddam, is listed at 5-2.

 Both Baffert and I’ll Have Another trainer Doug O’Neill are pleased with the post position they’ve drawn.  Bodemeister will start from the seven hole in the 11-horse field while I’ll Have Another will break from No. 9.

 “I’m very happy with our post,” O’Neill said.  “We had talked about the possibility of being inside of Bodemeister and really forcing our hand to push him early.  Now it’s in Mario’s hands to still kind of push Bode, but we’ll be on the outside.  I like it because if Bodemeister is absolutely flying, we don’t have to use our horse to track him.”

 Hastings Racecourse will again have the 40-foot jumbo screen on the infield adjacent to the Tote Board and hundreds of television sets throughout the grounds to carry the Preakness live at approximately 3:20 p.m. Saturday.

 With virtually every media outlet in the Lower Mainland hyping the race,Hastings management expects a crowd in excess of 8,000 to be on hand to cheer their favourite son Mario Gutierrez to victory.  The last Triple Crown winner was Affirmed in 1978. 

 If Mario can pull off a victory in the Preakness Saturday, the final step is the Belmont Stakes on June 9.

 Mario touched a lot of people during his homecoming this past weekend.  Those same people will be reaching out from a distance Saturday at Hastings Racecourse as they cheer him on in his quest to make racing history in Baltimore

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The $50,000 Ross McLeod at Hastings on Saturday drew a strong field of 3-year-old fillies, including the sensational Claresmiezie. The race isn’t the reason officials at Hastings are expecting the largest crowd in years to turn out, however.

The credit goes to Mario Gutierrez, who will be riding I’ll Have Another in the Preakness. The media blitz following Gutierrez’s win aboard I’ll Have Another in the Kentucky Derby has been nonstop in Vancouver. Gutierrez, a top rider at Hastings since 2006, made an appearance at Hastings last Sunday and people began lining up at 8:30 in the morning for a meet-and-greet event that began at 1 p.m.

“With the exposure Hastings has received because of Mario’s tremendous achievement, we are expecting a huge crowd,” said Raj Mutti, the general manager at Hastings. “Probably larger than what is traditionally our biggest day of the year, B.C. Cup.”

At a private party Monday, Gutierrez didn’t want to make a prediction about the Preakness.

“It’s horse racing and anything can happen,” he said. “But, I have a lot of confidence in my horse.”

This will be the inaugural running of the Ross McLeod. McLeod was the founder of Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, the parent company of Hastings. He was passionate about horse racing and was instrumental in convincing the City of Vancouver to allow slots at Hastings. McLeod died last September.

Claresmiezie is clearly the horse to beat in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint that drew eight horses.

Trained by Greg Tracy, Claresmiezie hasn’t lost in western Canada and she really hasn’t been tested in any of her four wins. After dominating the $50,000 Lassie here and then toying with her opposition in the $50,000 Princess Margaret at Northlands Park, Claresmiezie was shipped to Monmouth Park, where she finished fifth in the $101,000 Sorority Stakes last Sept. 5.

She made her first start of the year in a six-furlong allowance race at Hastings on April 15 and once again she was in a class by herself, winning by 6 1/2 lengths with Pedro Alvarado aboard.

The main threat to Claresmiezie is Evelyn’s Dancer, who was good enough to finish second behind Made to Love Her in the $100,000 Moccasin at Betfair Hollywood Park on Nov. 20.

Evelyn’s Dancer is trained by Troy Taylor, who has also entered $100,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity winner Sunnyside Gal.

In her first start this year, Sunnyside Gal finished second to Our Eleanor in a six-furlong allowance race May 5.

Our Eleanor drew the rail.

Gabigotherway, voted the 2-year-old filly champion in B.C. last year, will be making her first start of the year.

A son of Midnight Lute   was among the top performers May 17 during the second and final session of the under tack show for the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale of 2-year-olds in training. He turned in the fastest work at an eighth of a mile, completing the distance in :10 over the track at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, Md.

Breaking Point Farm is the consignor of the colt, which is cataloged as Hip No. 311 and is a member of his sire’s first crop. The dark bay or brown juvenile is out of the stakes-winning Cape Canaveral mare Angel Trumpet.

A Sharp Humor filly was the quickest worker at a quarter mile, posting a time of :21 4/5. Cataloged as Hip No. 300, she is consigned by Bobby Dodd, agent.

Produced from the stakes-placed winner A Girl Needs Cash (by Housebuster), the dark bay or brown juvenile is a half sister to the winner Credit Limit (by Bernstein). A Girl Needs Cash is a half sister to grade III winner and stakes producer Careless Heiress (by Runaway Groom).

Three horses tied for the fastest breeze at three furlongs, each turning in a time of :33 4/5. They were a Candy Ride   – Wonder Star filly, consigned as Hip No. 293 by Casse Sales, agent for Justin Casse; a Henny Hughes   – City College filly, consigned as Hip No. 378 by Lynne Boutte, agent; and a Flashy Bull   – Country Marquet filly, consigned as Hip No. 389 by Dodd.

The Fasig-Tipton Midlantic auction is scheduled for May 21-22, with each session beginning at 10 a.m. (EDT).

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69858/midnight-lute-colt-among-fastest-f-t-workers#ixzz1vAirIN9H ]]> http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/midnight-lute-colt-among-fastest-f-t-workers/8643/feed 0 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/equine-chiropractor-asset-to-oneill-team/8641 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/equine-chiropractor-asset-to-oneill-team/8641#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 23:16:31 +0000 glen http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/?p=8641 Continue reading →]]>

Photo: Skip Dickstein

Larry “Thumber” Jones

Larry Jones has been a looming presence on the backside of Pimlico Race Course during the week leading up to the May 19 137th Preakness Stakes (gr. I).

A largely built man wearing a long-sleeve T-shirt with his nickname “Thumper” emblazoned on the front and cowboy boots with “Thumper” stitched up the back, Jones cruises the barn area in a red golf cart, watching horses come and go.

Jones (not related to the trainer of the same name) has a specialty niche within the horse industry. He provides chiropractic services to help horses with back issues, which he says is a large number of the equine population.

Among his clients is trainer Doug O’Neill, who is sending out Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner I’ll Have Another in the Preakness. Jones is justifiably proud of his role within the success of the Derby winner, but also is ready to provide his services to any horse that he deems is suffering unnecessarily.

Jones, who along with his wife, Laurie, operates a rehabilitation ranch in Texas, believes a lot of the physical problems, especially those relating to the back, are treated incorrectly with medications rather than using his methods.

“They (veterinarians) want to inject the hocks and stifles; they want to put a band-aid on it,” says Jones, who is in his early 50s. “I don’t care about anything except these horses. My heart is with these horses.”

“Thumper is incredible,” says O’Neill. “He’s an amazing horseman. He is one with the horse. He just loves people. He is a wonderful asset for me. He is just great guy.”

As his practice has evolved, Jones has also begun mentoring others in the field of equine chiropractic. One of his first pupils was Reo King, who is now based in Southern California and handles most of O’Neill’s horses. Jones mainly works with Quarter Horses now but is called in by clients such as O’Neill for big events. He was with I’ll Have Another throughout Derby week and has also been there throughout Preakness week.

Spending time with Jones on the backside provides a quick lesson in equine physiology. He explains how working on the horse’s back helps ease tension and other problems within their extremities, even demonstrating the limberness of Lava Man, the 11-year-old gelding who earned more than $5 million and is now a specimen of fitness as he serves as a track pony for O’Neill.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he could put his front leg behind his head,” Jones jokes of Lava Man’s flexibility.

Raised within the rough and tumble horse country of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Jones was a professional hockey player before an accident ended that career and launched a new one.

Jones said his spine was a mess after he fell on a broken hockey stick and he underwent back surgery. He was still in pain and efforts to treat it were unsuccessful until he began receiving treatments from chiropractor Dr. D. K. Ladell in Calgary.

“I couldn’t sleep; I couldn’t do anything,” Jones recalls. “I ended up walking into this guy’s office. My spine was dislocated all over. I walked out 12 days later smiling.”

Jones believed that the same treatments used on him could be used on horses, and he became a practitioner, starting with horses trained by Calgary-based George Cummings.

While his practice has met with skepticism, particularly from within the veterinary community, Jones said his techniques are more beneficial and successful than drugs to treat back pain.

“I get results,” said Jones, who has plied his trade in 13 different countries and treated Quarter Horses, hunters and jumpers, Calgary Stampede “chuckwagion” horses, and Thoroughbreds. “If you don’t get results, you aren’t going to last doing anything.”

Jones said the bottom line with allowing back issues in horses to remain unchecked or treated incorrectly is that it has an effect on the success of the animal.

“A horse that is in pain is not going to perform well,” he said. “If you take care of the pain, you have a happy horse.”

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69832/equine-chiropractor-asset-to-oneill-team#ixzz1vAiTZcES ]]> http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/equine-chiropractor-asset-to-oneill-team/8641/feed 0 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/bodemeister-ill-have-another-clash-again/8639 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/bodemeister-ill-have-another-clash-again/8639#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 23:15:21 +0000 glen http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/?p=8639 Continue reading →]]>

Photo: Skip Dickstein

Bodemeister (right) and I’ll Have Another in the Kentucky Derby.
Order This Photo

Most horse racing fans are hoping that Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner I’ll Have Another can take a second step toward a Triple Crown, a feat that has not been accomplished since 1978. And while the son of Flower Alley   has a solid shot to do so, it’s the Derby runner-up that certainly appears to have the upper hand in the $1 million Preakness Stakes (gr. I) May 19 at Pimlico Race Course.

Though I’ll Have Another ran him down in deep stretch in the May 5 Derby at Churchill Downs, all signs point to Bodemeister being the one to beat in Preakness 137. The Empire Maker colt, who set a wicked pace in the Derby before falling 1 1/2 lengths shy, is once again expected to be on the lead—only this time there doesn’t appear to be any speed-burners to force him into the rapid fractions he went through in the Derby. With the 1 3/16-mile Preakness being shorter than the Derby, five-time Preakness-winning trainer Bob Baffert in his corner, and the pace factor potentially being softer, Bodemeister seems like a logical choice on Saturday.

Preakness oddsmaker Frank Carulli certainly thinks so, as he installed Bodemeister as the 8-5 morning-line choice in a field of 11 3-year-olds. I’ll Have Another was pegged as the 5-2 second choice. In all, six of the 11 horses entered in the second leg of the Triple Crown ran in the Derby two weeks ago, including four of the top five finishers. Went the Day Well (fourth) and Creative Cause (fifth) are hoping a better trip in the Preakness will be the difference that pushes them into the winner’s circle this time.

Daddy Nose Best (10^th) and Optimizer (11^th) also return from the Derby, while the new shooters include locals Tiger Walk, Teeth of the Dog, and Pretension. New York shipper Zetterholm and Dale Romans trainee Cozzetti round out the field. Romans won the 2011 Preakness with Shackleford.

Though Bodemeister is likely to go off as the favorite, as he did in the Derby, it should be noted that no Derby runner-up has won the Preakness since 1993 when Prairie Bayou accomplished the feat. Interestingly, Bodemeister’s jockey, Mike Smith, was aboard that day for his lone Preakness victory.

Bodemeister, owned by Zayat Stables and Mike and Tiffany Moreno, had his breakout race in the April 1 Arkansas Derby (gr. I) when he romped by 9 1/2 lengths in his fifth start, doing so in wire-to-wire fashion. He wasn’t expected to take the early lead in the Kentucky Derby, but did so confidently under Smith and took a three-length lead into the stretch before being collared late.

Bodemeister will break from post 7, just as Lookin At Lucky   did in 2010 when he handed Baffert his most recent Preakness score. The Hall of Fame trainer also won this event in 2002 (with War Emblem), 2001 (Point Given), 1998 (Real Quiet), and 1997 (Silver Charm).

Baffert did not commit to running Bodemeister in the Preakness until he was sure he could handle the quick two-week turnaround.

“He never took a step backward (after the Derby),” Baffert said May 17. “He bounced out of it pretty well. He’s a pretty tough horse. He filled out nice and seems to be doing good. I think if he was going to bounce he would have bounced in the Kentucky Derby off the Arkansas Derby. He is a pretty fit horse so he can handle what we have thrown at him.

“The horses that ran in the Derby are going to be the biggest threats. I really don’t know that much about the new shooters. I really haven’t looked at it. But when your horse is one dimensional it is hard to worry about your rivals.”

Reddam Racing’s I’ll Have Another attempts to become the first horse to win the Derby and Preakness since Big Brown   did it in 2008. He is undefeated in three starts this year, having scored the Robert B. Lewis (gr. II) at odds of 43-1 and the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) before his 15-1 Kentucky Derby upset. Based in California with trainer Doug O’Neill, I’ll Have Another shipped from Churchill Downs to Pimlico on May 9 and has shown the same kind of energy he did during Derby week.

O’Neill is expecting another winning effort. He has maintained all week that the chestnut colt will not be too far off the pace.

“He looks fantastic; great energy,” said O’Neill, who will saddle his first Preakness starter. “He’s maintained his beautiful, long stride. We’re just very happy with each day that goes by.

“The great thing about I’ll Have Another is that his first step out of the gate is very quick. If Bodemeister is going to get an easy lead, we’ll just push him. Somewhere in mid-race, hopefully we can take a little breather. Somewhere around that three-eighths (pole), we’ll have to go after him and hopefully have a good stretch duel and end up on the winning end again.”

Jockey Mario Gutierrez, who rode the perfect race in his first Derby start, will also have his first mount in the Preakness.

Team Valor International’s Went the Day Well and Heinz Steinmann’s Creative Cause—both 6-1—are the two most logical upsetters if Bodemeister or I’ll Have Another don’t get it done. Went the Day Well, a maiden winner at Gulfstream Park on March 3 and the Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes (gr. III) winner three weeks later at Turfway Park, appears to be a rapidly improving horse who might pack the right kind of closing kick to make a winning run. He was 17^th after six furlongs in the Derby before beginning his big move, and was forced seven-wide into the stretch under John Velazquez before finishing 2 1/2 lengths back of the winner.

Went the Day Well is trained by Maryland-based Graham Motion, who seeks his first Preakness victory after falling a half-length short with Animal Kingdom a year ago. Velazquez, who was aboard Animal Kingdom that day, is also trying for his first Preakness success.

“I think if he had broken better in the Derby he would have laid a lot closer, like he did in the Spiral,” said Motion. “I don’t think he’s a one-run horse. Certainly, he’s not a horse that needs to drop out of it.”

Trainer Mike Harrington took Creative Cause back to California after the Derby, where he was beaten three lengths after a wide trip. He made the trip to Pimlico on Wednesday, his third cross-country voyage since November. The son of Giant’s Causeway  , if he breaks cleanly, is expected to be one of the horses that races in a stalking position behind Bodemeister. A three-time graded stakes winner, the colt has still never run a bad race in nine career starts. Joel Rosario will keep the mount.

“He was tired the first few days (after the Derby) but the last couple of days he has been his old self,” Harrington said. “At the hundred yard mark (of the Derby) he was third and I thought he was going to run third. But two horses ran past him in the last 100 yards.

“(Bodemeister) beat my horse less than three lengths. He will be the favorite but that doesn’t mean he’s invincible.”

The other two Derby starters, Daddy Nose Best (12-1) and Optimizer (30-1), will need to raise their games significantly to have any chance of pulling off upsets. The good news is that their trainers have plenty of winning experience in this race.

Bob and Cathy Zollars’ Daddy Nose Best is trained by Steve Asmussen, who won the Preakness in 2007 with Curlin   and 2009 with Rachel Alexandra. He has given the mount back to Julien Leparoux, who was aboard the Scat Daddy   colt for his two grade III wins this year.

Bluegrass Hall’s Optimizer is trained by D. Wayne Lukas, who has saddle 36 Preakness starters, including winners Codex (1980), Tank’s Prospect (1985), Tabasco Cat (1994), Timber Country (1995), and Charismatic (1999).

Tiger Walk, Teeth of the Dog, and Pretension, who will break from inside posts, respectively, are all local horses hoping to pull off major upsets. Two-time Preakness winning rider Kent Desormeaux will have the mount on Tiger Walk, who was fourth in both the Gotham (gr. III) and Wood Memorial (gr. I) in his last two starts. He is trained locally by Ignacio Correas.

Teeth of the Dog was third in the Wood Memorial for Michael Matz  and has a string of works at Fair Hill Training Center since that last race, which was his stakes debut.

Pretension could flash some early speed for local trainer Chris Grove. The Bluegrass Cat   colt won a local stakes at Pimlico in his last start on May 5.

Zetterholm has won three consecutive races at Aqueduct for trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., but the New York-bred will be getting a stiff class check. 

Cozzetti, who likes to do his best running late, was a distant fourth in the Arkansas Derby and third in the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) prior to that. He enters the Preakness off a bullet work at Churchill May 14 for Romans.

$1 million Preakness Stakes (gr. I, Race 12, 6:18 p.m.), 3YO, 1 3/16 Miles (Dirt)

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69833/bodemeister-ill-have-another-clash-again#ixzz1vAi8Qsai ]]> http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/bodemeister-ill-have-another-clash-again/8639/feed 0 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/railbird-notes-188/8637 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/railbird-notes-188/8637#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 11:46:18 +0000 glen http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/?p=8637 Continue reading →]]>

  Railbird Notes by: Glen Todd

Ross McLeod Stakes Leads off Holiday Weekend

The Ross McLeod Stakes named in the honor of the late Ross McLeod leads off the 3 days of live racing at Hastings Racecourse on Saturday afternoon with the first post time at 1:50pm.

Claresmieze racing for the Alberta based, Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd is the likely favorite in the $50,000 event for 3 year old fillies going six and one-half furlongs.  The grand looking daughter of Forestry out of the mare Deputy of Wood by Deputy Minister is undefeated in three tries here at Hastings and is 4-6 lifetime. The Greg Tracy trained filly won here on April 15th by 6 1/2 lengths over a field of allowance fillies. Pedro Alvarado is once again in the tack. 

Gabigotherway owned by James Redekop and trained by John Morrison makes her debut in the Ross McLeod with Richard Hamel aboard. Gabigotherway was named 2 year old filly of the year in 2011 at Hastings as she won the Fantasy and CTHS Sales Stake.

Trainer Troy Taylor has Sunnyside Gal owned by NAT2010LLP and Evelyn’s Dancer owned by Mark DeDomenico and NATHC both entered. Sunnyside Gal the winner of two stakes here at Hastings last season has Inoel Beato in the tack and is 2-3-1 lifetime from 7 starts and the leading money winner in the race. Evelyn’s Dancer ships in from Santa Anita via Pegasus Training Centre. She finished second in the Moccasin at Hollywoodd Park to Made to Love Her a graded stakes winner at Santa Anita and 3rd behind Sister Moon who is odds favorite on Saturday to win the Railbird Grade 3 at Hollywood Park. Barn rider Fernando Perez takes the call.

Peter Redekop’s, Our Eleanor, Kay and Sue Ohashi’s, El Ciervo, Russ and Lois Bennetts. Vinoterra and Linda and Clive Lytle’s, Dance the Wind round out the field of eight fillies that goes as the seventh race on the card.

Hastings Racecourse – May 19, 2012 Race 7 – 5:24 PM     Late Double / Exactor / Triactor / Superfecta STAKES Ross McLeod S. Purse $50,000. For Fillies Three Years Old. By subscription of $100 to accompany the nomination by May 12, 2012 or a supplemental nomination of $2,500 at time of entry with an additional $500 to enter and $1,000 to start. $50,000 guaranteed of which 60% goes to the winner, 20% to second, 11% to third, 6% to fourth and 3% to fifth. Weights: 122 Lbs. Non-winners of $30,000 in 2011-2012 allowed 3 Lbs. Non-winners of $14,000 in 2011-2012 allowed 5 Lbs. Non-winners of $10,000 in 2011-2012 allowed 7 Lbs. Six And One Half Furlongs.

PP Horse Virtual Stable A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer 1 Our Eleanor (KY) 3/F L A Perez 117 C MacPherson 2 El Ciervo (KY) 3/F L E M Gonzalez 115 P Leaney 3 Evelyn’s Dancer (KY) 3/F L F H Perez 119 T Taylor 4 Gabigotherway (BC) 3/F L R H Hamel 122 J D Morrison 5 Sunnyside Gal (BC) 3/F L I Beato 122 T Taylor 6 Vinoterra (BC) 3/F L C Hoverson 115 B Heads 7 Dance the Wind (BC) 3/F L M Dunn 117 C Lausten 8 Claresmiezie (KY) 3/F L P V Alvarado 122 G Tracy

Owners: 1 – Peter Redekop, B. C., Ltd. ; 2 – Kay & Sue Ohashi ; 3 – Mark DeDomenico, LLC and North American Thoroughbred Racing Comp., Inc. ; 4 – James Redekop ; 5 – NAT2010LLP ; 6 – Mr. & Mrs. R. J. Bennett ; 7 – Linda & Clive Lytle ; 8 – Riversedge Racing Stables, Ltd Breeders: 1 – Ballycapple, LLC; 2 – Capistrano Bloodstock LLC; 3 – Bryan Lyster, Gray Lyster & et al; 4 – James L. G. Redekop; 5 – Red Rock Farm; 6 – Mr. & Mrs. R. J. Bennett; 7 – Linda Lytle & Clive Lytle; 8 – Aaron U. Jones & Marie D. Jones

Mario Gutierrez Watch

Mario arrived safely last evening in Baltimore, Maryland as he prepares for the 2nd leg of the Triple Crown on Saturday aboard I’ll Have Another.

Today Mario has numerous interviews booked according to his manager Angie Stevens, the wife of Hall of Fame Jockey, Gary Stevens. He ride two horses on today’s card at Pimlico, he picked up one early on the card and he is on the 7-2 on the morning line Ten Plush in the eighth race.

Tomorrow he has a day of rest to prepare for the Preakness and rides 4 on Preakness Day. He is named aboard Camelia Rose in the G3 Gallorette Handicap which goes as the 3rd race, Boxeur des Rues in the $300,000.00 G2 Dixie Stake which is the 10th race on the card, of course I’ll Have Another in the Preakness which goes as the 11th race at 3:18 our time.  He also has Unex Dali in the 13th race on the card.

Horsemen Groups meet with Track Management

The horsemen’s associations met yesterday with track management and made a few additions and changes to categories to offer more of the higher end races to take some of the strain of the purse pool allowing Director of Racing, Paul Ryneveld write more races suited for horses with conditions.

They have agreed to change the MSW/Opt $30,000 to MSW/Opt $40,000 in all categories including 2 year olds. An Allowance/Starter $40,000.00 has been added for the first time and Allowance NW/2-NW3 BC Bred has been also added.

Two-year-old MSW/Opt $40,000 going 3 1/2 furlongs the purse will drop on July 1st as usual but the six furlongs and over races the purse will remain the same after July 1st.

Everyone was in agreement to postpone next Friday’s night’s card to a later date to make sure we don’t have a strain on our horse population at the entry wicket. Last season when we ran the Friday after the Victoria Day Weekend it took six weeks to recover. It was a sound strong business decision on behalf of all the associations and management as it was better to announce it now and not next week as we are on a definite roll and upward swing.

First Post Time Saturday is at 1:50pm and the Preakness goes at 3:18 PDT

Extra Races For Monday, May 21, 2012

(Entries Close on Friday, May 18, 2012)

EXTRA RACE NO 3 MAIDEN CLAIMING

Purse $11,800. (Includes up to $1,800 in Participation Money) (Includes up to $2,000 for BC Breds.) For Maidens, Fillies And Mares Three Years Old and Upward. Three Year Olds 119 lbs. Older 124 lbs. CLAIMING PRICE $3,000 SIX AND ONE HALF FURLONGS

EXTRA RACE NO 4 ALLOWANCE

Purse $22,425. (Includes up to $4,125 for BC Breds.) For Three Year Olds Which Have Never Won Two Races or Which Have Never Won Three Races BC Bred. Weight 122 lbs. Non-winners Of A Race In 2012 2 lbs. A Race Since October 3, 2011 4 lbs. SIX AND ONE HALF FURLONGS

EXTRA RACE NO 5 ALLOWANCE

Purse $22,425. (Includes up to $4,125 for BC Breds.) For Fillies Three Years Old Which Have Never Won Two Races or Which Have Never Won Three Races BC Bred. Weight 122 lbs. Non-winners of a race in 2012 2 lbs. A race since March 21 4 lbs. SIX AND ONE HALF FURLONGS

EXTRA RACE NO 6 CLAIMING

Purse $21,800. (Includes up to $1,800 in Participation Money) (Includes up to $4,000 for BC Breds.) For Fillies Three Years Old. Weight 122 lbs. Non-winners of two races in 2012 2 lbs. A race in 2012 4 lbs. CLAIMING PRICE $25,000, For Each $1,000 To $23,000 2 lbs. (Races where entered for $20,000 or less not considered) SIX AND ONE HALF FURLONGS

EXTRA RACE NO 7 CLAIMING

Purse $16,800. (Includes up to $1,800 in Participation Money) (Includes up to $3,000 for BC Breds.) For Three Year Olds and Upward. Three Year Olds 119 lbs. Older 124 lbs. Non-winners of two races since April 21 2 lbs. A race since March 21 4 lbs. CLAIMING PRICE $12,500, For Each $500 To $11,500 2 lbs. (Races where entered for $10,000 or less not considered) SIX AND ONE HALF FURLONGS

EXTRA RACE NO 8 ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING

Purse $24,050. (Includes up to $1,800 in Participation Money) (Includes up to $4,450 for BC Breds.) For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old and Upward Which Have Never Won A Race Other Than Maiden, Claiming, Or Starter or Which Have Never Won Two Races (BC Bred NW4) or Claiming Price $35,000. Three Year Olds 119 lbs. Older 124 lbs. Non-winners of two races since April 21 2 lbs. of  race since March 21 4 lbs. CLAIMING PRICE $35,000, For Each $1,000 To $30,000 1 lbs. 

Attention Horsemen

Friday, May 25th racing date at Hastings has been cancelled.  Tentatively rescheduled to September 9th, 2012 depending on horse population and funds available at that time.

Photo: Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club

Bodemeister has been made the 8-5 morning line favorite for the Preakness Stakes.

Bodemeister, runner-up in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), has been made the 8-5 morning line favorite for the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) May 19 and will break from post 7.

Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another was made the 5-2 second choice. He breaks from post 9 in the field of 11 entered for the Preakness. Four of the top five finishers in the Derby are in the field. Six Derby contestants were entered for the second jewel of the Triple Crown with five newcomers.

Post positions were drawn on the evening of May 16 at Pimlico Race Course, which hosts the 1 3/16-mile event for 3-year-olds that was inaugurated in 1873. The field is the smallest since 2007, when Curlin   beat Derby winner Street Sense   in a nine-horse field.

A win would give I’ll Have Another a chance to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 9.

With all the contenders drawing favorably in the relatively small field, there were few complaints from horsemen afterward.

Bodemeister, who was sent off the slight 4-1 favorite for the Derby, can give trainer Bob Baffert his sixth Preakness victory and his first since Lookin At Lucky   won the race in 2010.

Baffert was not present at the draw but later said, “I think it’s a good post. With him, anything in the middle would have been fine. In the Preakness you just don’t want to be stuck down on the inside, where you have to use your horse a little bit.

“The Derby winner drew well also. Everybody is in a good post.”

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, also looking for his sixth Preakness win, has 30-1 shot Optimizer in the field. Lukas’ most recent Preakness win came in 1999 with Charismatic.

Bodemeister set one of the quickest tempos in Kentucky Derby history (:22.32, :45.39, 1:09.80 for the first six furlongs) May 5 with Mike Smith aboard and led by three lengths in the stretch. But he could not fend off the determined challenge from 15-1 shot I’ll Have Another, who reeled in the leader under little known jockey Mario Gutierrez near the sixteenth pole and drew clear for a 1 1/2-length triumph.

The Southern California-based colts figure to dominate the Preakness wagering, though strong support can also be expected for Went the Day Well and Creative Cause, listed as 6-1 co-third choices on Pimlico oddsmaker Frank Carulli’s morning line.

Bodemeister is expected to have a little easier time of it on the front end this time with less early speed in the lineup on a track that is considered kinder to front-runners than Churchill Downs. The early Preakness choice’s biggest win came in the Arkansas Derby (gr. I) April 14 in front-running style by 9 1/2 lengths at Oaklawn Park for owners Zayat Stables and Mike and Tiffany Moreno.

Unraced at 2, the leggy bay colt by Empire Maker is making his sixth start of the year in the Preakness. He has two wins and three seconds.

Reddam Racing’s I’ll Have Another has never been favored in his six-race career for trainer Doug O’Neill, winning four. He is unbeaten in three tries in 2012, taking the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) in February by 2 3/4 lengths at 43-1 odds before gutting out a nose victory at 4-1 over Creative Cause in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) April 7. The son of Flower Alley   had to overcome post 19 to claim victory in the Kentucky Derby.

The chestnut, though not very big, possesses a long fluid stride and has the speed to stay in a good stalking position behind Bodemeister, who should be on his inside. I’ll Have Another was forwardly placed in the 20-horse Derby field and showed the tactical ability to avoid trouble while advancing into position to challenge at the quarter pole. Four wide into the stretch, he showed tremendous stamina in pulling away late.

“I like the fact that (being near the outside post in post 9) if Bodemeister is absolutely flying, we don’t have to use our horse,” O’Neill said. “It is more in Bodemeister and Mike Smith’s hands to set the pace. If, for whatever reason, he breaks slow or decides not to go, we’ll take the lead and take it from there. Any time you talk to a rider on a horse that has got some tactical speed, they love being outside the speed horses. Mario (Guitierrez) is going to be really happy when he finds out what we drew.”

O’Neill had no complaint about being second choice behind a horse I’ll Have Another defeated two weeks earlier.

“Bob Baffert has won five of these and I have never run a horse here, so I totally respect that,” O’Neill said. “A horse like Bodemeister, if he were to get loose on the lead going slow, he will be very tough to beat. But that won’t happen.”

Went the Day Well ran a good closing fourth in the Derby, beaten by 2 1/2 lengths in spite of a rough start and being seven wide at the quarter pole. Owner Barry Irwin of Team Valor International, winner of the 2011 Derby with Animal Kingdom, is understandably hoping for a clean trip for his Vinery Spiral Stakes (gr. III) winner.

“When he ran fourth (Kentucky Derby), I was not disappointed,” Irwin said. “Any time your horse puts in a big run, you feel good. I watched the replay and thought he could have run better. But when I watched the overhead blimp shot and saw how he finished, I wanted to throw up because I knew that if he broke cleanly he could have won that race.”

Went the Day Well drew post 5. As far as the running for the Preakness, Irwin said the “onus is on (I’ll Have Another) to go after Bodemeister. If both of those things happen and my horse breaks cleanly, hopefully we will be the beneficiary.”

John Velazquez is aboard the son of Proud Citizen   for trainer Graham Motion.

In post 6 is Creative Cause for owner Heinz Steinmann. The Giant’s Causeway   colt was fifth in the Derby, three lengths behind the winner while also racing extremely wide on the far turn. Winner of the Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) at 2, the gray/roan colt is seeking his first win since Santa Anita’s San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) March 10.

“At the hundred yard mark (of the Derby) he was third and I thought he was going to run third,” said trainer Mike Harrington of Creative Cause. “But two horses ran past him in the last 100 yards. He was tired the first few days (after Derby) but the last couple of days he has been his old self.”

Speaking of Bodemeister, he said: “He run a good race, but he beat my horse less than three lengths and my horse ran 90 feet, or something like that, further than he did. He will the favorite but that doesn’t mean he’s invincible.”

Also coming out of the Derby are Daddy Nose Best (12-1), who was 10th for trainer Steve Asmussen, and the Lukas-conditioned Optimizer, who finished 11th. Daddy Nose Best, owned by Cathy and Bob Zollars, will be reunited with Julien Leparoux for the Preakness. Leparoux won the El Camino Real Derby (gr. III) and Sunland Derby (gr. III) aboard the son of Scat Daddy  . Bluegrass Hall’s Optimizer will also have a new rider in Corey Nakatani.

J.W. Singer’s Teeth of the Dog, third in the Wood Memorial (gr. I) in his most recent start April 7, is 15-1 on the morning line for trainer Michael Matz. The son of Bluegrass Cat   was making his stakes debut in the Wood.

Tiger Walk drew the rail at 30-1 with Kent Desormeaux aboard for Sagamore Farm. The last horse to win the Preakness from the rail post was Tabasco Cat in 1994.

“It’s not ideal,” said farm general manager Tom Mullikin. “He’s the worst drawing horse of all time. He’s had seven starts and faced 57 horses. There have only been four on the outside. You can’t control, so what are you going to do. It will be fine.”

Other longshots in the field are Zetterholm (20-1), Cozzetti (30-1), and Pretension (30-1).

The field was narrowed by one May 16 following the withdrawal of Guyana Star Dweej from consideration. Trainer Doodnauth Shivmangal said the son of Eddington grabbed a quarter.

The Preakness field, in post position order, with owner, trainer, jockey, and morning line odds:

1. Tiger Walk/Sagamore Farm/Ignacio Cortreas/Kent Desormeaux/30-1

2. Teeth of the Dog/J. W. Singer Inc./Michael Matz/Joe Bravo/15-1

3. Pretension/Kidwells Petite Stable/Chris Grove/Javier Santiago/30-1

4. Zetterholm/Winter Park Partners/Rick Dutrow/Junior Alvarado/20-1

5. Went the Day Well/Team Valor International and Mark Ford/Graham Motion/John Velazquez/6-1

6. Creative Cause/Heinz Steinmann/Mike Harrington/Joel Rosario/6-1

7. Bodemeister/Zayat Stables, Mike Moreno and Tiffany Moreno/Bob Baffert/Mike Smith/8-5

8. Daddy Nose Best/Bob and Cathy Zollars/Steve Asmussen/Julien Leparoux/12-1

9. I’ll Have Another/Reddam Racing LLC/Doug O’Neill/Mario Gutierrez/5-2

10. Optimizer/Bluegrass Hall LLC/D. Wayne Lukas/Corey Nakatani/30-1

11. Cozzetti/Albaugh Family Stables/Dale Romans/Jose Lexcano/30-1

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69813/bodemeister-8-5-draws-post-7-for-preakness#ixzz1v5gD4JvB ]]> http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/bodemeister-8-5-draws-post-7-for-preakness/8610/feed 0 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/oneill-team-still-thinking-triple-crown/8608 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/oneill-team-still-thinking-triple-crown/8608#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 02:35:05 +0000 glen http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/?p=8608 Continue reading →]]>

Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

2012 Kentucky Derby Winner I’ll Have Another
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Although he insists he is taking it one race at a time, trainer Doug O’Neill admitted May 16 that he and the others in his team are thinking about the possibility that I’ll Have Another could win the Triple Crown this year.

“I would be lying if I said we haven’t been sitting around with the mallet, hitting the crabs, talking about New York,” O’Neill said after watching his Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner gallop in preparation for the Preakness Stakes (gr. I). The 1 3/16-mile Preakness is the second leg of the coveted Triple Crown that concludes with the June 9 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

“It would be fun, but it is one race at a time,” said O’Neill of the possibility that the son of Flower Alley   could be the first 3-year-old since Big Brown   in 2008 to go to New York with a Triple Crown on the line. “We have a great traveling team and we would love to check out New York if we get lucky enough.”

While he relishes the prospect of running I’ll Have Another in the Belmont with the Triple Crown on the line, O’Neill did not rule out a start in the Belmont regardless of whether he wins or loses at Pimlico Race Course.

“It depends on how he runs and how he comes out of it (Preakness),” said O’Neill. “Right now, it’s like he’s ready to run a couple (of races) here in the upcoming weeks, so we’ll see what happens.”

Owned by Reddam Racing Stable, I’ll Have Another has won four of six starts, including three in a row—the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II), Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), and Kentucky Derby (gr. I). The colt, bred in Kentucky by Harvey Clarke and purchased by Dennis O’Neill out of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s April 2-year-olds in training sale, has earned $2,093,600.

Based in Southern California, O’Neill bucked recent trends by sending I’ll Have Another to Pimlico several days after his triumph at Churchill Downs. While in the Baltimore area, he and others in his operation have been staying in a rental house overlooking the Chesapeake Bay.

In addition to overseeing the training of I’ll Have Another, O’Neill has become somewhat of an unofficial ambassador for racing and the Preakness by making several public appearances.

On May 15, he threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the New York Yankees-Baltimore Orioles baseball game at Camden Fields. O’Neill nearly missed the experience because he and his group were riding in a taxicab that had a hard time making it to the game due to traffic congestion.

Finally, the O’Neill group jumped out of the vehicle and sprinted about five blocks to make it on time. As the crowd on hand to eventually watch a 5-2 Orioles win cheered, the Derby stretch run was shown on the outfield video screen.

The ball sailed high and to the right but was caught by the Orioles player designated to catch O’Neill’s pitch.

“It was an incredible feeling,” O’Neill said of throwing out the first pitch. “It was kind of like a screwball. Like my golf shot it went off to the right and faded.”

Earlier in the day, the O’Neill team had spent several hours visiting with children at the Johns Hopkins University Children’s Hospital.

“Most of the kids we met knew about the Kentucky Derby and I’ll Have Another,” the trainer said. “A lot of cute kids. It’s been a great, fun day.”

In addition, O’Neill the previous week had visited the training camp for the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL and had lunch with Ravens coach John Harbaugh.

Such are the rewards for winning the Kentucky Derby.

“I don’t know how it could get much better,” O’Neill said of his experience since winning the Derby, “unless they found a cure for baldness. It’s been just an absolute blast. You get to find out how many people really love horses and horse racing. They just don’t know very much about it.”

Mike Gathagan, vice president of communications for the Maryland Jockey Club, said O’Neill’s decision to bring I’ll Have Another to Baltimore early rather than waiting until just before the Preakness had a positive effect on the ability to publicize the event.

“He’s been great to work with,” Gathagan said.

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69791/oneill-team-still-thinking-triple-crown#ixzz1v5fYwuCJ ]]> http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/oneill-team-still-thinking-triple-crown/8608/feed 0 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/split-over-race-day-salix-continues-in-ky/8606 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/split-over-race-day-salix-continues-in-ky/8606#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 02:32:37 +0000 glen http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/?p=8606 Continue reading →]]>

Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

 

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission May 16 kept alive a proposed regulation to phase out over three years race-day furosemide for graded and listed stakes, but not before the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council voted to reject the measure.

The debate will continue in early June when the KHRC holds a town hall meeting on the topic. Few, however, expect anything other than what has been said in recent months to be addressed.

One member of the KEDRC, Dr. Andy Roberts, said it comes down to perception versus science.

The KHRC voted 7-4 to kill a motion by member Tom Conway to shelve any discussion on furosemide, also called Salix or Lasix, for 12 months. Conway, a Thoroughbred owner, noted a proposal had been rejected on a tie vote in April, and that the issue should die for now.

“You can hold as many public meetings as you want,” Conway said. “You’re not going to change the science. This is an exercise in futility. We will never get it approved by the House of Representatives in Kentucky.”

Any regulation must clear the legislative process, which includes hearings by the Legislative Research Commission.

KHRC chairman Robert Beck Jr., who voted against Conway’s motion, said Kentucky should be an industry leader, and that he hopes to have “information” in June showing that other states plan to adopt some sort of race-day Salix ban.

“I don’t believe we’ll be an island,” Beck said. “We have an obligation to the industry to address this issue. Saying we can’t talk about it is counterproductive. (Approving) this motion would make us look very bad.”

Commissioners Conway, Burr Travis, Dr. Foster Northrop, and Frank Jones Jr. voted to halt consideration of a Salix ban for 12 months. Four KHRC members—Tracy Farmer, Wade Houston, Tom Ludt, and Michael Pitino—were absent.

The proposed regulation, which KHRC executive director John Ward Jr. called workable, would ban Salix less than 24 hours before a race for all 2-year-olds in graded or listed stakes in 2013. The ban would extend to 3-year-olds in such races in 2014, and all horses in those races in 2015.

Ward said some stakes conditions would have to change to keep non-Salix users from racing against Salix users in 2014.

As for penalties, a Salix positive would bring revocation of purse winnings, which would be substantial in many stakes in Kentucky. It would pertain to any horse that qualifies for purse money. There also would be fines and suspensions under the regulation.

Ward said the withdrawal guideline for 24-hour administration of Salix would be 500 milligrams. The regulation calls it “voluntary and advisory only.”

At the KEDRC meeting earlier in the day, the proposal died on a 4-3 vote. Drs. Roberts, Frank Marcum, and Hollie Swanson, along with horsemen’s representative trainer Rick Hiles, voted against the race-day Salix ban.

The motion to approve the measure was made by Sen. Damon Thayer, who said the regulation doesn’t go far enough. Thayer supports an all-out ban on the therapeutic drug, which is used on race day in roughly 95% of the racehorse population.

“The horse industry has a significant perception problem that is starting to reach a critical mass,” Thayer said. “If we don’t do it at the state level, the federal government is going to take this sport over.”

Thayer’s motion died after receiving no second. However, about 20 minutes later, Roberts seconded the motion, saying he wanted his opinion on the record with the KHRC.

Roberts, a veterinarian and racehorse owner, said he prefers not to use Salix but will do so if a horse indicates a need for it. He said the KEDRC voted to ban use of adjunct bleeder medications on race day because their efficacy couldn’t be proved, but that’s not the case with Salix.

“If there is something better (than Salix) that has the research behind it, bring it to the table,” Roberts said.

Also at the KHRC meeting, the contract of equine medical director Dr. Mary Scollay was renewed for two years.

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69805/split-over-race-day-salix-continues-in-ky#ixzz1v5fKyjvx ]]> http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/split-over-race-day-salix-continues-in-ky/8606/feed 0 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/nyra-getting-pounded-by-new-york-officials/8604 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/nyra-getting-pounded-by-new-york-officials/8604#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 02:31:32 +0000 glen http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/?p=8604 Continue reading →]]>

Photo: AP Photo

Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Top state officials continued to pound the New York Racing Association, a day after regulators suggested its exclusive franchise to operate the state’s major Thoroughbred tracks could be in jeopardy.

“It doesn’t have the public trust and it hasn’t earned the public trust either,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

“We know there will be major changes (at NYRA). What they are at this point are still being discussed,” added Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, a Long Island Republican.

NYRA’s troubles since revelations officials there may have covered up a higher-than-permitted takeout level on exotic bets—costing bettors more than $8.5 million—have only worsened the past week.

On May 15, in a scathing letter that has become the talk of the state Capitol, a top fiscal adviser to Cuomo and his state racing board chairman threatened the possible end of NYRA because of the takeout scandal and the subsequent handling of the matter.

Regulators are upset the NYRA board moved quickly to replace its ousted president, Charles Hayward, with chief operating officer Ellen McClain. They noted the moves were made before investigations have been completed by both the racing and wagering board and the state Inspector General’s office into which NYRA executives or board members may have known the takeout levels were illegally boosted for 15 months after the expiration of a state law governing the rates.

In Syracuse Wednesday, Cuomo noted, “There’s no doubt that NYRA has been a long-troubled agency.” He said decades of problems stretch at least back to when his father, Mario Cuomo, was governor.

He said NYRA’s lack of “public trust” is “what we have to change,” and that its business “could” be an important economic engine for the state.

“But NYRA has had significant issues for many, many years,” Cuomo said.

The possible changes are many, including a move by the state to change the composition of the NYRA board to put state-selected individuals in charge of the racing group. Also discussed is possibly ending NYRA’s exclusive franchise to operate Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course.

State sources say such a dramatic move stripping NYRA of its franchise could throw the whole matter into the courts if NYRA, as many expect, challenged any such attempt. Also in question, lawmakers say, is the status of the land at the three racetracks. NYRA a couple years ago gave up its claim on the racetrack lands in return for the franchise that expires in 2030.

It is still uncertain whether whatever remedies the state may have in mind gets done before conclusion of the 2012 legislative session, which is now scheduled for the end of June.

The state May 15 had also stopped revenue sharing payments to NYRA from Genting New York’s Aqueduct casino; officials said the halted payments will not affect purse or breeding fund deposits by Genting.

After Cuomo’s critical comments May 16, sources floated a May 1 letter from Sabini to NYRA Chairman C. Steven Duncker calling on the board to have personnel in place to replace Hayward and Patrick Kehoe, the NYRA general counsel who was fired with Hayward.

The letter from Sabini came a day after Hayward and Kehoe were placed on administrative leave, which the NYRA board later followed up with their formal firings.

To NYRA supporters, the Sabini letter appears to provide backing for the NYRA board’s decision this week to fill the posts formerly held by Hayward and Kehoe.

“Given this action,” Sabini wrote of the administrative leaves for the two executives, “the (state racing) Board must know who will be serving in these critical positions in the interim. He said the state’s oversight of NYRA must “continue unabated, and having personnel in these two positions is critical in the board’s performances of its regulatory responsibilities.” Sabini called on NYRA to immediately provide an “interim operational plan,” including who will take over the functions of chief executive officer and general counsel.

The suggestion that he directed the hiring of a new president and general counsel “is entirely false and inaccurate,” Sabini said in response Wednesday.

He noted his letter asked for an interim plan, not permanent replacements for Hayward and Kehoe, who had not been fired when he sent the letter to Duncker. He noted that Duncker never provided any of the information he sought about an interim plan for NYRA.

“To be clear, the Racing and Wagering Board never directed Chairman Duncker—or anyone on the NYRA board – to hire or appoint a new president or general counsel,” Sabini said.

Besides making McClain the new president this week, NYRA tapped Kenneth Handal as its new secretary and acting general counsel.

In its first response to the May 15 letter from regulators threatening its franchise agreement, NYRA said its hiring of McClain and Handal was done by the board having “exercised its business judgment as a private, not-for-profit corporation to appoint a president and secretary.” NYRA noted that the state—either Sabini’s racing board or Megna’s franchise oversight panel—has any legal role in naming NYRA officers.

NYRA said its move was done to ensure a “professional management” team is in place to operate “a complex business which has a significant economic impact on New York State. The NYRA Board has a fiduciary obligation to exercise its business judgment to protect the best interests of racing and the income stream that pari-mutuel wagering provides to the state.”

It noted the May 1 letter from Sabini calling on NYRA to come up with an interim management plan. “This letter (from Sabini) contained no indication of any concerns or limitations with respect to these appointments. The NYRA Board acted to name a President and Secretary without any knowledge of any concerns by either the Franchise Oversight Board or the Racing and Wagering Board,” NYRA said today.

Significant in today’s NYRA response is that it is the first time the racing group has sought to take on state officials’ criticism since the takeout scandal erupted. Until today, NYRA had sought to portray an eagerly cooperative stance with the state.

NYRA termed as “flawed” the thinking by state officials that they should have been consulted or had a role in NYRA’s hiring of a new president and counsel. “This reasoning would effectively paralyze the corporation based on innuendo. The Inspector General’s investigation is ongoing and there should not be a rush to judgment until a final report is issued, and due process is provided,” NYRA said.

Shortly after the May 1 Sabini letter was circulated today by people close to NYRA, the New York Thoroughbred Breeders released a statement saying that it is “catastrophic” that VLT revenues are being withheld by the state “at precisely the time when Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry is starting to skyrocket.”

“The NYTB phones have been ringing off the hook with out-of-state callers who are now skittish about participating in the NY breeding program, and jobs recently been created at farms all over the state are under immediate threat,” the group said.

“Make no mistake, without the VLT money, neither NYRA nor any other operator will be in business. There will be no racing in New York,” the group added.

The breeding group went to the third-rail of racing threats in New York: damage to the always-successful Saratoga summer meet. They said a hit on VLT proceeds will, among other effects, turn Saratoga Springs “into a ghost town.”

But Sabini, who is also chairman of the New York Breeding and Development Fund, reiterated a claim state officials made a day earlier with The Blood-Horse that the money being withheld from the Aqueduct casino proceeds is only money due NYRA—and does not affect breeding and purse payments are required by state law. The fund is a state entity that is charged with distributing over $40 million in various incentive payments each year.

Sabini dismissed the public worries of the breeders group, saying breeding and purse awards are not being affected by the diversion of Aqueduct proceeds from NYRA to the state lottery division. He said the dispute will also have no effect on the Saratoga meet. He noted that 6.5 percent of the net win from VLT machines at lottery is going to purses, with another 1 percent to breeding funds.

“The actions by the state in regards to NYRA’s continued failure to act in the best interest of racing do not in any way impact these revenue streams,” Sabini said.

“New York State has been and continues to be a welcome and prosperous home for the Thoroughbred industry,” Sabini said in a statement. “The actions of New York State with regard to NYRA will have absolutely no impact on the state’s Thoroughbred breeding program or the purses that are supplemented by Video Lottery Terminals at Aqueduct. Additionally, these actions will not prevent world-class racing from taking place at the Saratoga Race Course this summer.”

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69794/nyra-getting-pounded-by-new-york-officials#ixzz1v5f3nCIC ]]> http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/nyra-getting-pounded-by-new-york-officials/8604/feed 0 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/railbird-notes-187/8596 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/railbird-notes-187/8596#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 06:32:15 +0000 glen http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/?p=8596 Continue reading →]]>

 Railbird Notes by: Glen Todd

Wednesday is Entry Day at Hastings

Wednesday is entry morning at Hastings Racecourse and we have the first three days of racing with the Victoria Day Holiday on Monday.

Director of Racing, Paul Ryneveld has chosen to take entries for Saturday and Sunday on Wednesday and the Holiday Monday card on Friday. Saturday’s program will offer the first running of the $50,000 Ross McLeod for 3 year-old fillies going six and one half furlongs. This is the first stake of the season for 3 year-old fillies. There are 13 nominations led by Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd, Claresmieze who an easy winner in a open allowance race here in her only start of 2012.

Victoria Day, Monday features the $50,000 Brighouse Belles for fillies and mares going six and one half furlongs. This is also the first stake of the season for the older filly and mares and has drawn 14 nominations led by NATHC’s, Castinette Dancer winner of an open allowance race here in her first start of the season.

Mario Gutierrez leaves Vancouver this morning for Baltimore, Maryland

Mario Gutierrez catches a flight early today for Baltimore, Maryland and the 137th Running of the  $1,000,000.00 Preakness Stakes.to be run on Saturday at approximately 3:18pm PDT and goes as the 12th race on the 13 race card.

Preakness Post Position Draw

Contenders

Go Mario Go

Mario has one mount on the Thursday’s card at Pimilco to get a feel of the track and his day Thursday is once again filled with media requests for interviews from all over North America. He rides Ten Plush in the 8th race and he is 7-2 on the morning line.

Saturday, May 19th, 2012: 137th running of the Preakness at Pimlico Race Track

Saturday, May 19th, 2012: Ross McLeod  at Hastings Racecourse

Monday, May 21st., 2012: Victoria Day, Holiday Racing at Hastings and features the Brighouse Belles

Saturday, June 2nd, 2012: River Rock Casino Stake at Hastings Racecourse

Sunday, June 3rd, 2012: Sir Winston Churchill at Hastings Racecourse

Saturday, June 9th, 2012: 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park

Sunday, June 10th, 2012: Emerald Downs Handicap at Hastings Racecourse

Sunday, June 17th, 2012: Vancouver Sun at Hastings Racecourse

Friday, June 29th, BC Interior Horse Racing starts today in Princeton at 3:00pm

Monday, July 2nd, 2012: Lt Governors Handicap at Hastings Racecourse

Monday. July 2nd, 2012: Chris Loseth Handicap at Hastings Racecourse

Saturday, July 7th, 2012: Supernatural Handicap at Hastings Racecourse

Sunday, July 8th, 2012: Boulevard Casino Handicap at Hastings Racecourse

Saturday, July 14th, 2012: New Westminster Handicap at Hastings Racecourse

Sunday, July 15th, 2012: Strawberry Morn Handicap at Hastings Racecourse

Monday, August 6th, 2012:  BC Cup Day at Hastings Racecourse

Monday, August 6th, 2012: BC CUP DEBUTANTE (BC Breds only)

Monday, August 6th, 2012: BC CUP NURSERY (BC Breds only)

Monday, August 6th, 2012: BC CUP DOGWOOD (BC Breds only)

Monday, August 6th, 2012: BC CUP STELLAR JAY (BC Breds only)

Monday, August 6th, 2012: BC CUP DISTAFF (BC Breds only)

Monday, August 6th, 2012: BC CUP CLASSIC (BC Breds only)

Friday, August 17th, 2012: Richmond Derby Trial Stake

Friday, August 17th, 2012: Hong Kong Jockey Club Stake

Sunday, August 19th, 2012: Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs

Sunday, September 9th, 2012: BC Derby Day at Hastings Racecourse which includes six stakes races and purses of over $700,000.00.

Monday, September 10, 2012: CTHS Yearling Parade

Tuesday, September 11, 2012: CTHS Yearling & Mixed Sale.

Sunday, October 14, 2012: Closing day of the 71 day Live Race Season at Hastings Racecourse.

Friday, November 2, 2012: Breeders Cup Races at Santa Anita

Saturday, November 3, 2012: Breeders Cup

Photo: Mathea Kelley

Bob Baffert

Doug O’Neill and Bob Baffert, who train I’ll Have Another and Bodemeister, one-two finishers in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), will also be training several of the high-priced horses out of the Barretts May 2-year-old sale.

The $300,000 sale-topper will be going to Baffert, while the next highest, at $210,000, is headed for the O’Neill barn.

In all, 70 2-year-olds sold May 14 for $3,056,500, an average of $43,664. That’s an increase of 18.3% from the 2011 average of $36,903. The median was $24,000, and the buy-back rate was 17.6%, with 15 of the 85 through the ring not sold.

“The sale was strong on all levels,” Barretts general manager Kim Lloyd said. “The median was up 20%, which meant the middle was especially strong. The buy-backs were down from last year, another indication of the health of the sale.”

Bloodstock agent Brett Lindenbaum signed for the $300,000 sale-topper, a son of Master Command out of the stakes-placed Salt Lake mare Grinch. Lindenbaum said he purchased the colt for an undisclosed client, but that Baffert would train him.

Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables Inc. consigned the youngster.

“He was a lovely horse,” Dunne said. “He was a beautiful yearling when we bought him. We aimed him at this sale from day one. We figured he might be a bit of a standout here.”

The colt sold as a yearling at Keeneland for $37,000.

Dunne also consigned the $210,000 2-year-old, a son of Lion Heart—Seattle Qui, by Seattle Slew. A half brother to stakes winner Classical Slew, the colt sold for $130,000 at the 2011 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Dennis O’Neill, brother of Doug O’Neill, bought him for Paul Reddam, who owns I’ll Have Another. O’Neill attended the May 14 sale the night before getting on a plane for Baltimore, Md., to join his brother in the run-up to the Preakness Stakes (gr. I).

Both the Master Command and Lion Heart colts breezed in :10, the second-fastest eighth at the May 11 under tack preview.

“I loved the breeze,” Dennis O’Neill said of the Lion Heart colt. “I like the bottom side of the pedigree, and he vetted perfect.”

O’Neill also went to $135,000 on Reddam’s behalf for a son of Majestic Warrior  —Marfa’s Squall, by Marfa. Becky Thomas’ Sequel Bloodstock consigned the colt, who is a half brother to stakes winners Western Prize and Wicked Deed.

Baffert will also train the top-priced filly, a $200,000 daughter of Rock Hard Ten   out of the stakes-winning Norquestor mare Requesting More. Lindenbaum purchased her for himself and Turf writer Bob Ike, who operate Summit Racing, from Steven Venosa’s SGV Thoroughbreds.

“She has a great mind,” Lindenbaum said. “She never turned a hair at the barn or in the ring.”

Lindenbaum also paid $60,000 for Likealovesong, a daughter of Dance Master—Unostella, by Orientate, for Summit Racing from Cash Asmussen’s Monarch Thoroughbreds LLC consignment.

While many of the horses sold at the May auction will remain in California, one from the Sequel consignment, Whatchalookinat, is headed for Japan. Hirofumi Morishima bought the son of Horse Greeley—Boom Boom Bertie, by Thunder Gulch, for $160,000.

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69767/top-barretts-horses-going-to-baffert-oneill#ixzz1v0Y2xw7I ]]> http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/top-barretts-horses-going-to-baffert-oneill/8587/feed 0 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/too-wet-for-jog-for-derby-winner/8585 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/too-wet-for-jog-for-derby-winner/8585#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 05:30:33 +0000 glen http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/?p=8585 Continue reading →]]>

Photo: Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club

Zetterholm went for a jog at Pimlico on May 15.

Rather than take Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner I’ll Have Another out to exercise on a wet track the morning of May 15, trainer Doug O’Neill opted to keep Reddam Racing’s star 3-year-old under cover and out of the heavy rain falling at Pimlico Race Course, where he is set to run in the May 19 Preakness Stakes (gr. I). 

“He’s so fit, he’s doing so well, I just decided to walk all the horses this morning. I’m glad I did,” O’Neill said. “We all enjoy a day off from time to time. They all got a day off and the weather forecast is nice starting tomorrow through the weekend, so we can get right back to normal training tomorrow.”

A few days after winning the Kentucky Derby, I’ll Have Another jogged and galloped on the wet, sealed Pimlico track last week. O’Neill elected to keep it simple the morning of May 15 and cancel training.

“With walking it’s a rest day, where with jogging at least you’re doing some form of exercise,” O’Neill said. “I have no problem galloping on a wet track. It just seemed right. Looking at the weather, we’re going to be fine tomorrow. Why chance a slip or something silly happening? I have three other horses here, too, and we walked the shedrow with all of them.”

O’Neill said jockey Mario Gutierrez would be in Baltimore in the next day or two.

Bodemeister – Zayat Stables and Mike and Tiffany Moreno’s Bodemeister galloped 1 1/2 miles after the morning renovation break over a fast track May 15 at Churchill Downs under exercise rider George Alvarez.

Trainer Bob Baffert said that the Kentucky Derby runner-up would train in the morning before leaving the grounds for a flight to Baltimore. Baffert also is leaving tomorrow morning and will be in Baltimore in time for the post-position draw for the Preakness.

The post-position draw will take place at Pimlico at 6 p.m. (EDT) and will be televised live by HRTV.

Bodemeister will get the return services of jockey Mike Smith.

Daddy Nose Best – Owner Bob Zollars confirmed that Daddy Nose Best, 10th in the Kentucky Derby, walked the shedrow at trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn a day after working a half-mile in :53 over a sloppy track while in Louisville. Asmussen will name a rider later.

Pretension – Trainer Chris Grove confirmed May 15 that Kidwells Petite Stable’s Pretension will run in the Preakness. The colt’s 87-year-old owner, Irving Kidwell, who had medical issues that required a brief stay in a Maryland hospital earlier in the week, gave the go-ahead to Grove.

Pretension, who captured the Canonero II Stakes at Pimlico on May 5, had some light exercise at Bowie Training Center May 15. “We have an indoor area and he just jogged in there, because it was pouring this morning,” Grove said.

Javier Santiago has the return mount aboard Pretension.

Went the Day Well – Team Valor International and Mark Ford’s Went the Day Well galloped 1 1/2 miles on the Tapeta surface at Fair Hills Training Center the morning of May 15.

Trainer Graham Motion plans to ship the son of Proud Citizen from the Elkton, Md., facility to Pimlico after training hours May 16. 

John Velazquez will have the return mount aboard Went the Day Well.

Creative Cause – Trainer Mike Harrington sent the Giant’s Causeway   colt, the fifth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, onto the Cushion track at Betfair Hollywood Park the morning of May 15 for a mile jog and a mile gallop in his final exercise before flying to Maryland May 16.

“Everything’s good,” said Harrington, who will be saddling his first Preakness runner since becoming a full-time trainer in 1993.

Creative Cause is scheduled to arrive at Pimlico sometime around 3 p.m. by van on May 16 following a flight from California that will make a stop in Louisville to pick up the Churchill Downs-based Preakness contenders.

Jockey Joel Rosario will be making his Preakness debut on Creative Cause.

Cozzetti – The Albaugh Family Stables’ Cozzetti, who worked a bullet five furlongs in :58 4/5 over a track labeled as muddy May 14, walked the shedrow at trainer Dale Romans’ barn the morning of May 15.

Cozzetti is scheduled to fly to Baltimore May 16, and Romans said that is the only horse from the barn that he is taking to run at Pimlico May 19. He will be ridden by Joe Bravo.

Teeth of the Dog – J.W. Singer LLC’s Teeth of the Dog galloped 1 1/4 miles at Fair Hill Training Center the morning of May 15.

Joe Bravo will ride in the Preakness.

Tiger Walk – Sagamore Farm’s Tiger Walk galloped 1 1/2 miles May 15 at Kevin Plank’s farm in Glyndon, Md. He also stood in the gate wearing blinkers, with which he will be equipped in the Preakness.

Tiger Walk, who will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux in the Preakness, will be shipped to Pimlico early May 19.

Zetterholm – Exercise rider Mario Madrid took the Winter Park Partners’ colt out for jog around Pimlico’s track at 7 a.m. May 15.

“Mario said he felt fine and everything was good,” said Blake Dutrow, assistant to trainer Richard Dutrow. “He cooled out good and he’s a happy horse in this stall.”

Junior Alvarado has the riding assignment.

Optimizer – Bluegrass Hall’s Optimizer, 11th in the Kentucky Derby, left Churchill Downs shortly after 4 a.m. May 15 for a van ride to Pimlico for the Preakness. Corey Nakatani has the Preakness mount.

Guyana Star Dweej — Trainer Doodnauth Shivmangal opted for Belmont’s training track for Guyana Star Dweej’s May 15 exercise regimen after maintenance officials sealed the main track due to the threat of rain that didn’t arrive during training hours.

“He jogged and galloped and had a little two-minute lick,” said Shivmangal, who still hasn’t decided on a rider for the Preakness.
Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69779/too-wet-for-jog-for-derby-winner#ixzz1v0Xat1Sb ]]> http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/too-wet-for-jog-for-derby-winner/8585/feed 0 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/regulators-blast-nyra-question-franchise/8582 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/regulators-blast-nyra-question-franchise/8582#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 05:27:58 +0000 glen http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/?p=8582 Continue reading →]]>

Photo: Coglianese Photos

The state is diverting casino money from NYRA to the state lottery.

New York regulators are blasting the New York Racing Association’s board of trustees for appointing a new president to take over for the ousted Charles Hayward, the latest development in the ongoing scandal over pari-mutuel takeout levels. They also raised the possibility that NYRA could lose its operating franchise over the matter.

The officials said the state has ordered, effective immediately, an end to daily support payments made by Genting New York, the operator of the Aqueduct Racetrack video lottery terminal casino, to NYRA—with the funds, instead, being diverted to the state lottery agency that oversees racetrack-based casinos.

Government sources confirmed the diversion of VLT proceeds to the lottery will not affect the breeding fund and purse accounts.

Based on the most recently monthly financial report by the lottery division, NYRA received about $4 million in April for operating and capital expenses from the Aqueduct casino.

The nuclear letter from the regulators is the most dramatic sign that past and possibly current NYRA officials are facing growing legal problems—but also that the very future of the NYRA franchise is now in doubt. The officials said NYRA will either “immediately” act in the best interest of racing or risk being replaced by a new entity to run its racetracks.

The May 14 appointment of Ellen McCalin as president, and Kenneth Handal as secretary, is “entirely inappropriate,” violates NYRA bylaws, and will not be recognized as valid by state officials, wrote the heads of New York’s two main racing regulatory bodies. The regulators warned of a number of other problems at NYRA that, combined, could force them to issue an order to show cause whether “these actions by NYRA merit the revocation of its franchise.”

John Sabini, chairman of the New York State Racing and Wagering Board, and Robert Megna, chairman of a panel that oversees NYRA’s finances, said in an angry May 15 letter that management and the NYRA board of trustees will be examined to determine if they have the “character and fitness” to hold racing licenses in New York.

“NYRA has established a pattern of activity which demonstrates the association is not acting in the best interest of racing, but only in its own proprietary interest,” Sabini and Megna wrote in the letter to NYRA chairman C. Steven Duncker.

NYRA has been accused by Sabini’s agency of knowingly failing to drop takeout rates on exotic bets for a 15-month period after a state law’s enactment, costing bettors more than $8.5 million. The state Inspector General’s office has launched what could end up as a criminal probe of the affair, and the state has not ruled out trying to go after NYRA’s exclusive franchise to operate Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course.

The two regulators said there are still unanswered questions “as to which executives—and potentially NYRA board members—were aware of or participated in this misconduct.” They noted McClain has been serving as NYRA’s chief operating officer, and that her role in the takeout issue “remains unclear.” As such, they said, the board’s action to make her the new president “is entirely inappropriate.”

“The election of officers under these circumstances is only the latest action to demonstrate NYRA’s failure to comply with New York State regulatory and legal requirements,” Sabini and Megna wrote.

Megna is also the top fiscal adviser to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has been sharply critical of NYRA for months. Importantly, Megna’s financial oversight board has the legal authority to take over the NYRA franchise.

The regulators said NYRA has continued to stonewall investigators’ demands for documents, forcing the Inspector General’s office to rely on subpoenas to unearth paperwork in the case. They said the failure to turn over documents “demonstrates a basic lack of moral character and fitness to fulfill its obligations” under the state’s Thoroughbred laws—legal language that could be setting the groundwork for the state to go after NYRA racing licenses.

The regulators raised the issue of equine deaths this year at Aqueduct and failure by NYRA “to provide basic living conditions to the backstretch workers” at Saratoga.

“We take none of these choices lightly, but unless NYRA immediately starts to act in the best interest of racing and the taxpayers of this state, we will pursue a course of action to reestablish the racing franchise with a qualified, ethical, and responsible steward of horse racing,” the two regulators wrote.

NYRA officials declined to comment on the warnings from theregulators, and did not provide immediate estimates of the amount of money it will see diverted to the state lottery agency.

In a one-sentence response, NYRA said the letter from Sabini and Megna had been sent to its outside counsel—Brendan Sullivan Jr.—for review. “NYRA will be responding to the letter after review,” the statement said.

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69782/regulators-blast-nyra-question-franchise#ixzz1v0WwpePT ]]> http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/regulators-blast-nyra-question-franchise/8582/feed 0 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/new-york-times-derby-victory-makes-for-happy-days-at-hastings/8577 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/new-york-times-derby-victory-makes-for-happy-days-at-hastings/8577#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 15:31:03 +0000 glen http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/?p=8577 Continue reading →]]> Derby Victory Makes for Happy Days at Hastings

Trevor Reynolds PhotographyMario Gutierrez riding Holy Nova to victory in the Grade III Ballerina Stakes in 2009 at Hastings Racecourse.

As I’ll Have Another ran down Bodemeister to win this year’s Kentucky Derby, across the continent the rafters were shaking throughout Vancouver, British Columbia. The local racetrack’s adopted son, Mario Gutierrez, had coolly piloted I’ll Have Another to victory, just like he brought home enough winners to perennially be among Hastings Racecourse’s leading riders.

N.A.T.H.C.Mario Gutierrez visiting Holy Nova and her 2012 Speightstown foal at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky during Derby week. Holy Nova has been bred back to Sky Mesa.

A week later, Gutierrez’s emotional initial reaction to the win and jubilant praise of his horse and its connections are part of Kentucky Derby 138’s zeitgeist. Negotiating the field of 19 other horses ridden by the likes of the Hall of Famers Kent Desormeaux and Mike Smith and the pressurized atmosphere of Churchill Downs on Derby Day, Gutierrez did what he set out to do — win.

The affable 25-year-old native of Vera Cruz, Mexico, first gives credit for the win to his mount, I’ll Have Another, then to the trainer Doug O’Neill and the owner Paul Reddam, and finally to his connections in Vancouver, who have supported, encouraged and given him rides since he moved his tack to Hastings in 2006.

“Now I can focus on the Preakness, my main priority is on I’ll Have Another,” Gutierrez said from southern California. “He’s such a nice horse that has changed my life. He is the best horse to ride, so professional. He lets me do anything I want.”

Gutierrez said he expected to arrive in Baltimore on Tuesday, and he has at least one mount to ride on the Pimlico oval so he can “get a hold of the track” before the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the elusive Triple Crown. However, before heading East, a weekend trip to Vancouver was planned.

“Hastings will always be my second home,” Guttierrez said. “I’ve lived there for six years, and it’s given me the opportunity to bring my family a better life. I am thankful for all the things happening here in California, but my heart will be up there a long time. It would be selfish of me to completely to leave Vancouver behind. If I am invited to ride back at Hastings I will. They understand that I have to break-in down here. It’s pretty tough, they are amazing riders here in California. I still have to work my way to the top to compete with these guys.”

N.A.T.H.C.For five years, the owner Glen Todd, jockey Mario Gutierrez and the trainer Troy Taylor have been a team at Hastings.

He continued: “I am happy and excited to have the opportunities with the Santa Anita Derby, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness coming up. I can’t wait for Del Mar later in the summer. I’ve been going there for the last two or three years. I’ll be racing for Troy Taylor from Vancouver and, hopefully, for more trainers now.”

Troy Taylor trains for Glen Todd’s, North American Thoroughbred Horse Company (N.A.T.H.C.) based at Hastings. The N.A.T.H.C. has held Gutierrez’s riding contract since 2007. He won his first graded stakes on its Sir Gallovic in 2007 and piloted its Holy Nova to a graded win in 2009. In 2006, he was the leading apprentice jockey, and in 2007 and 2008, the leading jockey at Hastings. The N.A.T.H.C. (Glen Todd) are always either at the top or in the hunt for leading owner.

The relationship between Gutierrez, Taylor and Todd extends beyond the shedrow. “He calls me his Canadian father and Troy, Grandpa,” Todd said. “We are all close. He’s a great kid. He’s grown up a lot in the past few months and become a man.”

Not only does Gutierrez ride for Todd, he lived with the Todd family when he rode full time at Hastings.

Asked about his sudden celebrity and good fortune, Gutierrez said: “I try to enjoy it with Glen and Troy. I talk with them every day. I’ll send my money back to Canada, where Glen will help me. He’s a pretty smart guy, we’ll figure out what’s best. I’ve been talking with him about that, I talk with him about everything. He always points me in the right direction.”

It was while riding for Todd at the winter meets in southern California that Gutierrez landed on the colony’s radar. Although the young rider is miles away in California and even farther during this Triple Crown season, Todd is confident that he will traverse the news media whirlwind intact. “Mario has a place in Arcadia, a good home base for riding down south,” he said. “He will be all right, I’m not worried about him. Troy and I have given him the lecture a hundred times, he knows what can happen and he knows we are here for him.”

Admit it or not, every racehorse owner aches for a shot to win the Kentucky Derby. Although Todd hasn’t had a horse run for the roses yet, he has the next best thing in Gutierrez.

“Mario said when he walked out of the tunnel onto the Churchill Downs track and they were playing ‘My Old Kentucky Home,’ I’ll Have Another had his head down, calm, nothing bothered him. He’s a pure pro. He walked into the gate like he was at Santa Anita with no people there.”

There was a celebration planned Sunday for Guttierez at Hastings. The scenic track is nestled on 180 acres leased from the city of Vancouver, with whom the racetrack has an operating agreement. There is stabling for 950 runners that race from April to October. The dirt track is five-eighths of a mile, and fans enjoy free admission to the races. There is a racino with 600 slots on site.

Hastings is legendary among horseplayers because of its industry-beating across-the-board low takeouts. It’s well known among racetrack managers because it has been able to crack the nut of attracting a young, enthusiastic racing audience.

Raj Mutti, the track’s general manager, reinforced the community’s support of Guttierez’s journey. “We had a huge crowd here at Hastings for the Derby, over 8,000 in attendance,” he said. “We expect an ever bigger crowd for the Preakness.”

He continued: “Everyone has gotten behind Mario, cheering him on. The local media is all over it – he’s been on every single TV station and radio show locally. It’s been a great story and great for Mario getting credit for the ride, and, a bunch of chatter about the racetrack as well.”

According to Todd, a Hastings pundit told him that last Saturday, when the crowd left Hastings Racecourse after raucously celebrating I’ll Have Another’s Derby victory and the brilliant ride of Gutierrez, it was the first time since the track’s founding in 1889, that everyone left the track happy.

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Liz O’Connell is a member of the New York State Task Force on Retired Race Horses and spends too much time rehoming off-the-track thoroughbreds.

 Railbird Notes by: Glen Todd

Tuesday is Stats Day

After ten days of racing at Hasitng Racecourse we have run a total of 79 with 614 starters giving us an average of 7.77 horse per race.  That is about 1 1/2 horses per race more then last year at this time.  As a matter of fact that is more then likely the highest average north of Southern Calfifornia and likely not to far behind them.

Handle up 32% Atfer 10 days of Live Racing

The total handle after 10 days of live racing is $4,860,481.08 which is 32% higher then last years total at this time of $3,,677,229.39.

Purse Pool Pay Outs

To date we have paid out a total of $150,000.00 in Stake Purses,  $965,800.00 in overnite purses.  The BC Bred 25% Bonus totals $142,183.00 and the 6-12 finishers is a total of $61,800.

Entries will be taken for Saturday & Sunday’s card on Wednesday morning and draft for Monday’s, Victoria Holiday Card as well. 

Live Racing Resume Saturday at 1:50pm and that is also Preakness Day and Hastings is expecting a possible record crowd with local jockey Mario Gutierrez trying to win the second leg of the Triple Crown.

 X2 EXTRA RACE NO 2 CLAIMING

Purse $14,800. (Includes up to $1,800 in Participation Money) (Includes up to

$2,600 for BC Breds.) For Fillies Three Years Old. Weight 122 lbs. Non-winners Of Two Races In 2012 2 lbs. A Race In 2012 4 lbs. CLAIMING PRICE $7,500, For Each $500 To $6,500 2 lbs. (Races where entered for $5,000 or less not considered) SIX AND ONE HALF FURLONGS

X3 EXTRA RACE NO 3 CLAIMING

Purse $11,800. (Includes up to $2,000 for BC Breds.) For Three Year Olds and Upward Which Have Never Won Three Races. Three Year Olds 119 lbs. Older 124 lbs. Non-winners Of Two Races In 2012 2 lbs. A Race In 2012 4 lbs. CLAIMING PRICE $3,000  SIX AND ONE HALF FURLONGS

X4 EXTRA RACE NO 4 CLAIMING

Purse $11,800. (Includes up to $2,000 for BC Breds.) For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old and Upward Which Have Never Won Three Races. Three Year Olds 119 lbs. Older 124 lbs. Non-winners of two races in 2012 2 lbs. A race in 2012 4 lbs. CLAIMING PRICE $3,000 SIX AND ONE HALF FURLONGS

X5 EXTRA RACE NO 5 CLAIMING

Purse $14,300. (Includes up to $1,800 in Participation Money) (Includes up to $2,600 for BC Breds.) For Three Year Olds and Upward Which Have Never Won Two Races or BC Breds which have not won Three Races. Three Year Olds 119 lbs. Older 124 lbs. Non-winners of two races in 2012 2 lbs. A race in 2012 4 lbs. CLAIMING PRICE $7,500, For Each $500 To $6,500 3 lbs. SIX AND ONE HALF FURLONGS

X6 EXTRA RACE NO 6 CLAIMING

Purse $21,800. (Includes up to $1,800 in Participation Money) (Includes up to $4,000 for BC Breds.) For Fillies Three Years Old. Weight 122 lbs. Non-winners Of Two Races In 2012 2 lbs. A Race In 2012 4 lbs.  CLAIMING PRICE $25,000, For Each $1,000 To $23,000 2 lbs.  (Races where entered for $20,000 or less not considered) SIX AND ONE HALF FURLONGS

X7 EXTRA RACE NO 7 CLAIMING

Purse $19,300. (Includes up to $1,800 in Participation Money) (Includes up to $3,500 for BC Breds.) For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old and Upward. Three Year Olds 119 lbs. Older 124 lbs. Non-winners of two races since April 19 2 lbs. A race since March 19 4 lbs. CLAIMING PRICE $17,500, if for $15,000, allowed 3 lbs. (Maiden, Claiming, and Starter races for $12,500 or less not considered) SIX AND ONE HALF FURLONGS

Photo: Reed Palmer Photography/Churchill Downs

Bodemeister jogs at Churchill Downs 5/14/2012

Bodemeister is headed to the Preakness (gr. I) to challenge I’ll Have Another after their memorable finish in the Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Bodemeister set a blistering early pace in the Derby only to be caught in the final 100 yards by I’ll Have Another and finish second, giving owner Ahmed Zayat his third runner-up finish in the race in the last four years. Zayat was on hand May 14 at Churchiil Downs to watch Bodemeister to make sure the horse was ready to travel to Baltimore for the May 19 Preakness at Pimlico.

“He looks fantastic,” Zayat said. “He couldn’t look any better. In fact, he gained weight since Derby, which is amazing. (In) my heart, he deserves a chance to come and redeem himself in an American classic, but you have to weigh that against the best interest of the horse. I wanted to come with my son Justin to see for myself that he is the same Bodemeister.

“He’s actually doing better. He’s happier.”

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said Bodemeister came out of the Derby well. He’s pleased with what he sees from the colt named after his 7-year-old son, Bode.

“After the race, I thought he’d be completely wiped out,” Baffert said. “He cooled out pretty quick and was eating his hay in front of his stall. I was afraid he was going to go into hibernation for about three days in the corner of his stall with his ears pinned, sulking. But he never did.

“He’s a pretty tough, amazing animal. His hair looks good. His weight looks good. Right now I don’t see any reason not to take him.”

Bodemeister with jockey Mike Smith aboard ran the opening quarter in :22.32 and a half in :45.39 at the Derby and had a three-length lead heading down the stretch before tiring as I’ll Have Another caught him late.

The Kentucky Derby was Bodemeister’s fifth career start, all this year. Still, the 3-year-old son of Empire Maker went from mostly unknown to the race favorite in a few short weeks after winning the Arkansas Derby (gr. I) by 9 1/2 lengths at Oaklawn Park April 14.

“Think about this, Bob keeps reminding me, three weeks before that (race) we didn’t have a horse in the Derby,” Zayat said. “We go from a grade I to the favorite in the Derby. That’s a huge accomplishment. So, we were feeling sad because he ran a winner’s race and not to get it, you feel bad for the horse. He ran such a brilliant race.”

Baffert, a five-time Preakness winner, is less certain with his plans for Liaison, his other Derby entry that finished sixth. Baffert said he wanted to talk to Liaison’s owner, Arnold Zetcher, before making a decision.

“I want to see what the field is looking like,” Baffert said. “It was a good race for him. I think the horse is turning the corner. I’ve just got to decide, ‘Do I want to keep pushing him along?’ You know, he needs to win a race. If he’s going to be competitive, we’ll take him up there.”
Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69746/bodemeister-headed-to-pimlico-for-preakness#ixzz1uuntz22t ]]> http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/bodemeister-headed-to-pimlico-for-preakness/8564/feed 0 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/railbird-notes-185/8555 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/railbird-notes-185/8555#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 12:20:51 +0000 glen http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/?p=8555 Continue reading →]]>

 Railbird Notes by: Glen Todd

MARIO GUTIERREZ DAY AT HASTINGS BROUGHT US A PACKED HOUSE

Hastings Racecourse on Sunday was electric with Mother’s Day and of course the return of jockey Mario Gutierrez our local hero who had just a week earlier won the Kentucky Derby.

With an estimated crowd of over 10,000 racing fans both new and old turned out to greet Mario on his return to Hastings.  Mario signed autographs for more then an hour before the first race. The line-up was longer then Gene Simmons line ups last year by far and Mario who could not say no to anybody, returned to the winners circle after the fourth race and signed hundreds more.  Fans also had a photo-op with him and it was more then noticable the smile on his face with the many baby’s and younger people he posed with. Mario just loves kids. 

That sort of remids of a couple of times when Mario was riding one of my favorite horses of all time, French Roast.  French Roast was one of the most intelligent horses I have ever been around. We would do anything to let you know he was the boss and a character he was.  If the excercise rider or jockey even relaxed on his back for one second the ejection seat was instant. He would unload you just to let you know you better be paying attention.

On two occassions Mario was waving at young ladies or kids along the rail on post parade, Soon as French Roast knew Mario wasn’t paying attention to him and had relaxed on his back as waved at the crowd, poof Mario was ejected and sitting on the track full of embarrassment.

Mario said he wanted to come home and thank all of his fans for the support he was given leading up to his win in the Kentucky Derby. Mario was the first rider from Hastings to win the Kentucky Derby and only the second jockey to ride in the Kentucky Derby.  The late Paul Frey was the first rider from Hastings to ride in the Derby.

Mario has certainly done more for horse racing in British Columbia in the last two weeks then anyone could have done in the last 30 or more years.  Its a real boost we all needed to promote our sport and we are not dead and this is a great place to be on weekends. Mario said he also wanted to give something back to the industry where he got his start and he sure did that.

The handle on Sunday was up 37% over last years corresponding day as the total wager was $548,068.00 with the largest on track handle of the young season. 

General Manager Raj Mutti, is expecting  and preparing for a record turnout on Preakness Day this coming Saturday, May 19th.,2012.  Go Mario Go.

Three Wood shown here winning Sunday's Feature. Photo by Trevor Reynolds

Back to racing, Three Wood came from off the pace to win Sunday’s featured race an Opt/$50,000 claimer that brought to together a number of previous stakes winners.

Three Wood settled far back the first half mile under jockey Amadeo Perez, started to make his move nearing the quarter pole and blew past his opponents to win going away at the end by a length.  Owned by Kay and Sue Ohashi and trained by Pat Leaney returned $15.50 to win and covered the six and one half furlongs in a very respectable 1:16 3/5 seconds.

Inhisglory made a late charge to finish second and The God of Reign tired after setting the pace to finish third.

Hastings News by Greg Douglas

 RETURN OF KENTUCKY DERBY WINNING JOCKEY

 SUPER MARIO DELIGHTS THOUSANDS OF FANS

AT HASTING RACECOURSE AND SLOTS  

Vancouver, B.C. (May 14/12) – On his way from California to Baltimore for Saturday’s Preakness, Kentucky Derby winning jockey Mario Gutierrez took a slight detour and landed in Vancouver for a couple of days.

 His first wish was to re-visit Hastings Racecourse where he’d been riding horses for the past six years since arriving inCanadafrom his nativeMexicoas an unproven and unknown 19-year-old.  He quickly established himself by winning the Leading Apprentice Jockey award atHastingsin 2006 and back-to-back Leading Rider titles in 2007 and 2008.

 Not in his wildest dreams could Gutierrez have imagined what a reaction awaited his return Sunday on a race day atHastings. It began with a noon hour news conference that attracted media numbers normally reserved for a Canucks’ hockey scrum.

 It became emotional whenCTVBCreporter Julia Foy asked if Mario was thinking of his mom at home inMexicoon Mother’s Day.  He shared how his sudden success by winning the Kentucky Derby had resulted in helping his family purchase a new home and how he has spoken with his parents on a regular basis over the past week.

 Once the media conference ended, Mario proceeded to a familiar location on the tarmac at Hastings Racecourse:  the winner’s circle. He greeted a long line of fans who’d been waiting for hours to pose for pictures and receive an autographed Kentucky Derby victory card. Even when security guards called a halt to the proceedings because the first live race was about to begin, Gutierrez invited those folks who’d been shut out to join him in an unofficial signing session off to the side. When that was over he said with a twinkle in his eye:  “Now the real fun begins.  I’m going back to the jock’s room to see my old riding buddies.”

 Mario said later he was taken aback by the friendship and respect that he felt from his peers of six years.  It was behind closed doors, but Mario did relate later that he sat with some of the younger riders and told them never to give up the dream … that if it happened to him, it could happen to anyone.

 Thousands of fans signed a huge banner wishing him luck in Saturday’s Preakness, the second jewel in racing’s Triple Crown. Mario packaged it up and said the banner would hang in the barn of I’ll Have Another leading up to Saturday’s race.

 Local racing enthusiasts will again be able to watch Mario’s plight on a 40-foot jumbo screen located in the infield alongside the tote board at Hastings Racecourse, as well as hundreds of television screens throughout the grounds.

 Raj Mutti,Regional GeneralManager,BCRacing, expects a record crowd Saturday atHastingswhen the Preakness becomes part of the local live racing card via simulcast.

 Mario, himself, guaranteed that with his charming homecoming Sunday when it was confirmed beyond a doubt that his cheering section has reached new heights.

$50,000 Guaranteed

AN ALLOWANCE STAKES FOR FILLIES AND MARES, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD By subscription of $100 to accompany the nomination by May 12, 2012 or a supplemental nomination of $2,500 at time of entry with an additional $500 to enter and $1,000 to start. $50,000 guaranteed, of which 60% goes to the winner, 20% to second, 11% to third, 6% to fourth and 3% to fifth. Weights: 124 lbs. Non-winners of $30,000 twice in 2011-2012 allowed, 3 lbs. Non-winners of $30,000 in 2011-2012 allowed 5 lbs. Non-winners of $12,000 in 2011-2012 allowed 7 lbs.

SIX AND ONE HALF FURLONGS

 TO BE RUN MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

 BURNIN’ BRITCHES b.f.4 Jill J. Lindell Greg Tracy

CAGED MISTRESS dk b/.m.5 North American Thoroughbred Horse Company, Inc. TroyTaylor

CASTINETTE DANCER ch.f.4 North American Thoroughbred Racing Comp., Inc. Troy Taylor

CRY CRY CRY b.m.6 Whieldon Thoroughbreds Rosann Anderson

DASHING DAISY b.m.6 North American Thoroughbred Horse Company, Inc. & Peter Tom Troy Taylor

NOTORIOUSLY b.m.5 Darrell Landry Greg Tracy

ORCHID’S SILVER gr/ro.m.6 Nick & Pauline Felicella Lenore Dubois

OVERVALUED b.f.4 Canmor Farms Tracy McCarthy

P. S. TOUCH DOWN b.m.6 Telford Farms Cindy Krasner

TECOLOTE b.f.4 Bud Malette John Morrison

TERLANI dk b/.m.5 Sharlea Stable Frank E. Barroby

TIERRA DEL FEUGO dk b/.m.6 Mr. & Mrs. R. J. Bennett Barbara Heads

WANDO WOMAN dk b/.m.5 J. Dennis Spence Cindy Krasner

 CLOSED SATURDAY, MAY 12, 2012 WITH 13 NOMINATIONS

$50,000 Guaranteed

AN ALLOWANCE STAKE FOR FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD By subscription of $100 to accompany the nomination by May 12, 2012 or a supplemental nomination of $2,500 at time of entry with an additional $500 to enter and $1,000 to start. $50,000 guaranteed of which 60% goes to the winner, 20% to second, 11% to third, 6% to fourth and 3% to fifth. Weights: 122 lbs. Non-winners of $30,000 in 2011-2012 allowed 3 lbs. Non-winners of $14,000 in 2011-2012 allowed 5 lbs. Non-winners of $10,000 in 2011-2012 allowed 7 lbs.

SIX AND ONE HALF FURLONGS

 TO BE RUN SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012

 ANSEDE b.f.3 North American Thoroughbred Horse Company, Inc. TroyTaylor

CLARESMIEZIE dk b/.f.3 Riversedge Racing Stables, Ltd GregTracy

DANCE THE WIND dk b/.f.3 Linda & Clive Lytle Carl Lausten

EL CIERVO dk b/.f.3 Kay & Sue Ohashi Patty Leaney

EVELYN’S DANCER b.f.3 Mark DeDomenico, LLC and North American Thoroughbred Racing Comp., Inc. Troy Taylor

GABIGOTHERWAY b.f.3 James Redekop John Morrison

GOSAILGO ch.f.3 Foundation Stables Robert J. Anderson

OUCH ch.f.3 Swift Thoroughbreds Inc. Dino Condilenios

OUR ELEANOR dk b/.f.3 Peter Redekop, B. C., Ltd. Craig MacPherson

QUISTADORABLE dk b/.f.3 Mr. & Mrs. R. J. Bennett Barbara Heads

REGAL BETTY b.f.3 Michael Talla John W. Sadler

SUNNYSIDE GAL ch.f.3 NAT2010LLP Troy Taylor

TWO FEATHERS b.f.3 North American Thoroughbred Horse Company, Inc. TroyTaylor

VINOTERRA dk b/.f.3 Mr. & Mrs. R. J. Bennett Barbara Heads

 CLOSED SATURDAY, MAY 12, 2012 WITH 14 NOMINATIONS

Photo: Jerry Dzierwinski/Maryland Jockey Club

Ron Turcotte and Doug O’Neill at Pimlico.

In the week since Reddam Racing’s I’ll Have Another won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), trainer Doug O’Neill has been a gracious celebrity. Before his colt went to the track Sunday morning to prepare for the May 19 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) at Pimlico Race Course, O’Neill changed roles to a fan, happy to be able to chat with Ron Turcotte, who rode Secretariat to a 1973 Triple Crown sweep.

Turcotte was in Maryland for the “Horses in Cinema” festival in Silver Spring and his tour of the Triple Crown races is being filmed for a Canadian documentary. O’Neill and Turcotte met briefly on Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs, but they had a much longer conversation at Pimlico.

“Just to hang out here with him and talk shop with him was goose-bump stuff,” O’Neill said. “He was telling us about his ride on Secretariat and how he was last going into the first turn and first coming out of the first turn. We’re going to take some tips that he gave us about how to ride the race here and hopefully be successful in doing it.”

I’ll Have Another, who is unbeaten this year,  went to the track at 8:30 a.m. under his regular exercise rider, Jonny Garcia, and turned in a typically sharp gallop around Pimlico.

“We had a great morning,” O’Neill said. “We came in to an empty feed tub, ice-cold legs, and a horse with a lot of energy. We’re very happy with the way things are going so far.”

I’ll Have Another (Flower Alley  —Arch’s Gal Edith, by Arch  ) will go to the track Monday morning.

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69729/secretariats-rider-turcotte-visits-pimlico#ixzz1upq45dde ]]> http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/secretariats-rider-turcotte-visits-pimlico/8518/feed 0 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/tiger-walk-zetterholm-work-toward-preakness/8516 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/tiger-walk-zetterholm-work-toward-preakness/8516#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 09:33:50 +0000 glen http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/?p=8516 Continue reading →]]>

Preakness Stakes (gr. I) contenders Tiger Walk and Zetterholm both got a good feel for the Pimlico Race Course surface during their final works May 13.

Graded stakes-placed Tiger Walk was shipped to Pimlico from his home base at Sagamore Farm, which is owned by Kevin Plank and nearby in Glyndon, Md. The colt worked four furlongs in :47.60 under Horacio Karmanos.

“He was awesome,” said trainer Ignacio Correas about the son of Tale of the Cat  —Majestic Trail, by Kris S. “It was a little bit faster than I wanted, but it was still good.”

During the work, Tiger Walk wore “cheater” blinkers and will wear them for the first time in the Preakness, according to Correas, who added he hopes the equipment change will improve the colt’s focus.

“Especially on the turns, he’s been losing ground,” he said. “It’s like coming into the turn he’s three lengths behind the pace and coming home, it’s like seven or eight lengths, and then he’s closing ground. So we’re trying to avoid that.”

Tiger Walk has started three times this year, with all his races in graded stakes at Aqueduct Race Course. He finished third in the Wither Stakes (gr. III) and finished fourth in both the Gotham Stakes (gr. III) and the Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I).

“Even though he’s been competitive, he still needs to step up,” Correas said. “It’s a tough race, but you cannot win unless you’re in. So, we’re going to try our best, and he’s going to try his best too.”

Kent Desormeaux will ride Tiger Walk for the first in the May 19 Preakness.

Zetterholm also worked May 13. The colt owned by Winter Park Partners was out on the track at 6:50 a.m. for a leisurely tour, then returned around 8:30 a.m. for a five-furlong work that he completed in 1:01 2/5.

Exercise rider Mario Madrid was in the irons. Zetterholm is in the care of assistant trainer Blake Dutrow, the 20-year-old nephew of trainer Richard Dutrow Jr.

“We just got him out and jogged him so he could see the track and know what he was going to be facing when he came out,” Blake Dutrow said. “He loved it. He went out, came back to the barn and knew he was going to breeze. He came out and did his thing the right way.”

Zetterholm is a son of Silver Train  —Holy Wish, by Lord At War. He was shipped from Aqueduct to Pimlico May 12 and is has premium lodging in the barn area; he stabled in Stall 40, the spot in the stakes barn reserved for the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner. The stall was open because trainer Doug O’Neill chose to use Barn D so he could keep Derby winner I’ll Have Another, his millionaire stable pony Lava Man, and three other runners together.

Zetterholm shipped from Aqueduct to Pimlico Saturday and settled into Stall 40, the space usually reserved in the Pimlico Stakes Barn for the Kentucky Derby winner. The stall was available because Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill opted to use Barn D so he could keep I’ll Have Another, three other runners and stable pony Lava Man together.

In other Preakness news, trainer Mike Harrington confirmed that Creative Cause, who finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby, will be entered in the Preakness.

“At this point in time, I’m definitely coming,” Harrington said. “The only reason I wouldn’t come is if something went awry between now and Wednesday morning, when he gets on the airplane. As of now, we’re coming.”

Creative Cause finished a close second to I’ll Have Another in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) prior to the Kentucky Derby. The colt by Giant’s Causeway  —Dream of Summer, by Siberian Summer, is owned by Heinz Steinmann.

Harrington sent Creative Cause out for a one-mile jog May 13 and then had the exercise rider pick up the pace with a two-minute lick for a mile.

Bodemeister, who finished second in the Kentucky Derby, galloped a little more than a mile under exercise rider George Alvarez on a sloppy Churchill Downs track May 13. Alvarez ran stablemate Liaison through a similar routine earlier in the day.

Trainer Bob Baffert is expected to be at the track May 14 to oversee their works.

Bodemeister, a son of Empire Maker—Untouched Talent, by Storm Cat, is owned by Zayat Stables and Mike and Tiffany Moreno, who bought a portion of the colt from Ahmed Zayat prior to the Kentucky Derby. Liaison, by Indian Charlie  , is owned by Arnold Zetcher.

Churchill-based trainer Dale Romans opted to postpone a work for Cozzetti because of sloppy conditions and instead sent the colt out for a 1 1/2-mile gallop under exercise rider Romero Cordache. Jose Lezcano has the riding assignment on Cozzetti, a colt by Cozzene.

Other Preakness contenders expected to work May 14 at Churchill Downs include Stonestreet Stables’ Hierro (by Hard Spun  ) and J. Kirk and Judy Robison’s Isn’t He Clever (by Smarty Jones  ).

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69731/tiger-walk-zetterholm-work-toward-preakness#ixzz1uppXXkIB

Lucky Canuck wins Feature at Hastings

Lucky Canuck owned by Roy and Dixie Jacobson came from just off the pace to capture yesterday’s second race which was an allowance race for 3 yr olds & up. The weather was the by far the warmest and best day of the year and there was a very good size of racing fans on hand.

The handle was once again considerably up over last year and today should be better. Lucky Canuck was ridden to victory by Amadeo Perez and trained by Toni Cloutier. Devil in Disguise finished second and Time Machine came third.  The running time was a brisk 1:16 2/5ths.

Amadeo Perez scored a double on the day and Fernando Perez won with one and they are now tied with 15 wins each and 5 ahead of two time defending champion Richard Hamel.

Trainer John Snow had two wins on the day scoring with Wilo Kat in the first and Ice Rules in the 3rd race.

Its Mario Gutierrez Day today at Hastings and the first post time is 1:50pm.  Mario will be on hand to sign autographs and fans will get a free photo with Mario if they wish and that starts at 1:00pm near the winners circle.

 By: Greg Douglas

 Friday, May 11, 2012

 MARIO COMING ‘HOME’ TO HASTINGS SUNDAY

 Fresh from his spectacular Kentucky Derby victory on I’ll Have Another at Churchill Downs last week, jockey Mario Gutierrez will be at Hastings Racecourse to meet and greet his many friends and fans prior to Sunday afternoon’s racing card that starts at 1:50 p.m.

 Following a news conference at 12:00 noon in the Casino Eclipse Lounge, Mario will make his way to the tarmac in front of the winner’s circle atHastingsto meet and mingle with his legion of fans.  A special full-page ad in The Daily Racing Form saluting Mario will be on the back cover of the esteemed racing publication on Saturday and Sunday.

 Mario will be inVancouverfor a few days before heading directly toBaltimore,Maryland, where he will begin preparing for the Preakness Stakes on May 19, the second jewel of racing’s renowned Triple Crown.  The Preakness is followed by the Belmont Stakes on June 9.

 I’ll Have Another now has a chance to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

 “I am still a bit surprised by the reaction to my Kentucky Derby win,” Gutierrez says.  “I want to come back toVancouverto clear my head so I can focus on the Preakness.”

 An estimated 8,000 local racing fans watched Mario’s historic Kentucky Derby victory last Sunday on the jumbo 40-foot screen located in the infield at Hastings Racecourse.  The screen will again be in place for the Preakness on Saturday, May 19 with Raj Mutti, Regional General Manager, BC Racing, anticipating an even larger crowd at Hastings. 

 “The reaction to Mario’sDerbywin has been phenomenal,” Mutti says. “Our team atHastingswill do everything possible to keep the excitement at a fever pitch on Preakness Day.”

 MARIO + MOTHER’S DAY = PLENTY OF ACTION SUNDAY

 Two eight-race cards are set to go for the coming weekend with start times both Saturday and Sunday the regular 1:50 p.m. The Super High 5 Carryover is $1,638.

 Saturday’s feature is a first-level allowance race for 3-year-olds and up with Time Machine making his first start atHastings. Included in the six-horse field is Majesticality, looking for his first victory since being the upset winner of the 2010 BCDerby.

 Mother’s Day Sunday has an optional claiming field of seven that has several stakes winners among the starters, including 10-year-old fan favourite Spaghetti Mouse.  A special Mother’s Day draw will be held for a 14K white gold diamond pendant set with 34 diamonds. Entry forms will be available in Sunday’s live racing program and must be deposited at the Draw Box located at the winner’s circle before 4:30 p.m.

Photo: Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club

I’ll Have Another galloping at Pimlico on May 12.

Trainer Doug O’Neill plans to saddle I’ll Have Another in the indoor paddock at Pimlico Race Course rather than out in the open when the colt goes for the middle jewel of the Triple Crown May 19.

O’Neill sent the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner out for a brisk gallop May 12 following the renovation break at 8:30 a.m.

After the gallop, O’Neill and his staff schooled I’ll Have Another in Pimlico’s indoor paddock. O’Neill said he liked the way the son of Flower Alley   acted in that space and will take him there before the Preakness.

“The game plan now will be to saddle downstairs there and then go out on the turf course where they do the ‘riders up,’” O’Neill said. “I like it breaking up the monotony a little bit and we saddle these guys in stalls seven days a week. I just don’t want to saddle him in the wide open if we don’t have to. They offered that opportunity to saddle in the stalls. I’d like to keep that consistent.”

O’Neill continues to be enthusiastic about I’ll Have Another’s chances in the Preakness.

“I’m just very pumped the way our colt is settling in and training,” O’Neill said. “I really look for him to repeat in the Preakness.”

Under exercise rider Jonny Garcia, Reddam Racing’s Derby winner skipped over the Pimlico surface for the third morning since he resumed galloping.

“He had great energy today and his normal long, beautiful stride,” O’Neill said. “We’re very happy with the way things are going.”

I’ll Have Another’s chestnut coat glowed in the bright sun like a new penny and O’Neill said that he likes everything about what the colt is showing him at the midpoint between the Derby and the Preakness.

“He came out of the Derby in incredible shape, so he has been able to maintain his energy, his appetite,” O’Neill said. “He’s a phenomenal horse, obviously. You don’t win the Derby unless you are a phenomenal horse. The way he has settled in here and continued his energy is incredible. Today after schooling he was bucking and playing going back home. He looks and feels as good as he ever has.”

O’Neill and his staff are enjoying their time in Baltimore. Following training hours Saturday, the group ran in the Preakness 5K. O’Neill’s high-profile, multi-millionaire stable pony, Lava Man, also participated, serving as Grand Marshall while leading the field of runners in the first leg of the race around the Pimlico racetrack.

Team O’Neill shipped I’ll Have Another from Churchill Downs to Pimlico two days after his Derby victory and the veteran trainer said that Barn D at Pimlico has a laid-back atmosphere similar to his stable in California.

“It’s pretty quiet at Hollywood Park; Churchill was kind of a zoo,” O’Neill said. “Right now it almost feels like we’re at a training center, it’s such a quiet, nice environment. I think it’s been a huge help, after the chaotic Derby week, to have a nice, mellow few days here. I’m sure it will get going pretty hot and heavy next week, but to have this little breather has been beautiful.”

O’Neill said he is pleased he decided to break the form of recent Derby-winning trainers and ship to Pimlico as early as possible.

“No matter what happens, I feel 100 percent certain that we made the right call,” O’Neill said. “The track is in great shape. Everything is ready for us here. We show up here and there are breakfast burritos and coffee. They are treating us like kings here. It’s been awesome for the team and awesome for the horses.”
 Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69704/derby-winner-to-saddle-indoors-for-preakness#ixzz1uhsykFEK

Photo: Coglianese Photos

Mark Valeski and Rosie Napravnik are in command in the Peter Pan.

Larry Jones decided Mark Valeski was not ready for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) last week and instead opted to run the 3-year-old colt in the $200,000 Peter Pan (gr. II) (VIDEO) May 12 at Belmont Park. It sure looked like the trainer made the right decision when the son of Proud Citizen   took over at mid-stretch and scored by 1 1/4 lengths under the red-hot Rosie Napravnik.

Following a bullet work at Belmont May 7, Jones had Mark Valeski ready to go in the 1 1/8-mile Peter Pan, and after a stalking trip while wide into the lane the favorite overtook 47-1 longshot pacesetter Right to Vote en route to his first stakes victory. The final time in the one-turn race on a fast track was 1:48.31.

Mark Valeski is a Kentucky homebred of Brereton Jones. The owner-breeder, trainer, and jockey all teamed up to win the May 4 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) last weekend with Believe You Can.

Mark Valeski entered the Pater Pan off two runner-up finishes at Fair Grounds in the Feb. 25 Risen Star (gr. II) and April 1 Louisiana Derby (gr. II). This was his third victory from six lifetime starts.

Right to Vote wasted no time getting to the lead under Alex Solis, breaking from the inside and speeding through fractions of :22.71, :45.35, and 1:09.52. The Lumber Guy, winner of the Jerome (gr. II) last out, pressed the pace into the stretch, while Le Bernardin, Big Screen, and Mark Valeski raced in the next group.

Despite setting brisk fractions, Right to Vote was still running strong when he came off the turn, but Mark Valeski ranged up four-wide and took over just beyond the eighth pole. He had to work to keep Right to Vote at bay in the final furlong, but was able to prevail under steady urging from Napravnik.

Street Life closed well to get up for third under Jose Lezcano. Good Morning Diva was a distant fourth in a field of 10 sophomores.

With his win, Mark Valeski upped his career earnings to $430,952. The winner is out of the Fortunate Prospect mare Pocho’s Dream Girl.

The winner paid $4.70, $3.30, and $2.80 as the favorite. Right to Vote returned $24.60 and $14, and filled out a $136 exacta (5-1). The trifecta (5-1-12) was worth $1,207.

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69712/mark-valeski-rewards-jones-in-peter-pan#ixzz1uhscAYes ]]> http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/mark-valeski-rewards-jones-in-peter-pan/8496/feed 0 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/mario-at-hastings-on-sunday-at-100pm/8494 http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/index.php/2012/05/mario-at-hastings-on-sunday-at-100pm/8494#comments Sat, 12 May 2012 05:12:09 +0000 glen http://derbybarandgrill.com/railbird/?p=8494

By: Greg Douglas

 Friday, May 11, 2012

 MARIO COMING ‘HOME’ TO HASTINGS SUNDAY

 Fresh from his spectacular Kentucky Derby victory on I’ll Have Another at Churchill Downs last week, jockey Mario Gutierrez will be at Hastings Racecourse to meet and greet his many friends and fans prior to Sunday afternoon’s racing card that starts at 1:50 p.m.

 Following a news conference at 12:00 noon in the Casino Eclipse Lounge, Mario will make his way to the tarmac in front of the winner’s circle atHastingsto meet and mingle with his legion of fans.  A special full-page ad in The Daily Racing Form saluting Mario will be on the back cover of the esteemed racing publication on Saturday and Sunday.

 Mario will be inVancouverfor a few days before heading directly toBaltimore,Maryland, where he will begin preparing for the Preakness Stakes on May 19, the second jewel of racing’s renowned Triple Crown.  The Preakness is followed by the Belmont Stakes on June 9.

 I’ll Have Another now has a chance to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

 “I am still a bit surprised by the reaction to my Kentucky Derby win,” Gutierrez says.  “I want to come back toVancouverto clear my head so I can focus on the Preakness.”

 An estimated 8,000 local racing fans watched Mario’s historic Kentucky Derby victory last Sunday on the jumbo 40-foot screen located in the infield at Hastings Racecourse.  The screen will again be in place for the Preakness on Saturday, May 19 with Raj Mutti, Regional General Manager, BC Racing, anticipating an even larger crowd at Hastings. 

 “The reaction to Mario’sDerbywin has been phenomenal,” Mutti says. “Our team atHastingswill do everything possible to keep the excitement at a fever pitch on Preakness Day.”

 MARIO + MOTHER’S DAY = PLENTY OF ACTION SUNDAY

 Two eight-race cards are set to go for the coming weekend with start times both Saturday and Sunday the regular 1:50 p.m. The Super High 5 Carryover is $1,638.

 Saturday’s feature is a first-level allowance race for 3-year-olds and up with Time Machine making his first start atHastings. Included in the six-horse field is Majesticality, looking for his first victory since being the upset winner of the 2010 BCDerby.

 Mother’s Day Sunday has an optional claiming field of seven that has several stakes winners among the starters, including 10-year-old fan favourite Spaghetti Mouse.  A special Mother’s Day draw will be held for a 14K white gold diamond pendant set with 34 diamonds. Entry forms will be available in Sunday’s live racing program and must be deposited at the Draw Box located at the winner’s circle before 4:30 p.m.

 OUT OF TOWN SCOREBOARD

 The buzz over last week’s Kentucky Derby has barely cooled down and there is another 3-year-old race of note with the $200,000 Peter Pan at Belmonton Saturday.  It goes as the 9^th race on theNew York card at 2:06 p.m. (PST).   Saturday also marks the kick-off to the Monmouth season.