Breeders’ Cup Festival to Kick Off Nov. 1st in California

Breeders’ Cup, one of Thoroughbred horse racing’s most prestigious international events, announced today the lineup for the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Festival presented by PNC Bank. This week-long series of events and activations will run November 1-6, 2021, with events preceding and following the 38th annual horse racing World Championships which takes place on November 5-6, 2021, at the Del Mar racetrack. In partnership with Del Mar Village Association (DMVA) and sponsored by PNC Bank, the Festival will bring residents and visitors together to celebrate Breeders’ Cup while supporting local businesses and engaging with the community.

“In addition to featuring the greatest horse racing in the world, Breeders’ Cup showcases the host city’s best local food, entertainment and culture. We’re excited to be back at Del Mar for a second time, and we look forward to offering our fans a rich selection of events and activities through this year’s festival,” says Drew Fleming, Breeders’ Cup President and CEO. “There are no better partners than PNC Bank and the Del Mar Village Association to help bring this festival to life and we hope to see residents of San Diego County and beyond enjoying our Championship races and festival events, all while supporting local businesses.”

The week-long festival consists of a variety of community events leading up to Breeders’ Cup, the horse racing World Championships taking place at the Del Mar racetrack in November 2021 

The Breeders’ Cup Festival will run from Monday, November 1 to Saturday, November 6 and includes a variety of free and ticketed events. Confirmed event highlights are included below:

  • Rood & Riddle Breeders’ Cup Post-Position Draw (Monday, November 1): The official post-position draw determines the starting gate positions (number) of each horse in each Breeders’ Cup World Championships race.

    Location: Del Mar Racetrack (Paddock), 2260 Jimmy Durante, Del Mar

  • Del Mar Village Live Music (Tuesday, November 2 – Sunday, November 7): Local musicians will perform throughout Downtown Del Mar Village.

    Location: Del Mar Plaza Deck

  • Fashionable Fillies Goes West Benefiting The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation (Wednesday, November 3): A fundraiser in collaboration with Del Mar Village Stores & Boutiques will be held at the Del Mar Plaza and its surrounding shops from 3-5 p.m. For more information, tickets and sponsorships please visit Tinyurl.com/GoesWest2021

    Location: Del Mar Plaza, 1555 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar

  • Edwin J. Gregson Foundation Gala (Wednesday, November 3): A celebration honoring champion trainer John Gosden will raise money to fund scholarships for children of backstretch employees. The event will take place at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar from 6-10 p.m. Visit www.gregsonfoundation.com or call (626) 447-2339 for more information. Please reserve seats early for this can’t-miss event, as seating is limited!

   Location: 5300 Grand Del Mar Ct, San Diego, CA 92130

  • DMTC Bing Crosby Season Opening Day VIP Viewing Party & Breeders’ “Cup” of Beer & Whiskey Wednesday (Wednesday, November 3): In celebration of Del Mar’s Bing Crosby Fall racing season Opening Day, Monarch Ocean Pub will hold a VIP viewing party from 12:30 – 5 p.m. and a barrel beer and whiskey tasting with small bites and live music from 6-9 p.m.

    Location: Monarch Ocean Pub, 1555 Camino Del Mar Suite 322, Del Mar

  • Festival Golf Tournament (Thursday, November 4): Highlighting one of the area’s most coveted golf courses, the Del Mar Country Club tournament will host up to 100 guests for a day of friendly competition.

    Location: Del Mar Country Club, 6001 Clubhouse Dr, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067

  • DMVA Breeders’ Cup VIP Welcome Party (Thursday, November 4): DMVA will host a Del Mar Village Breeders’ Cup kick-off event from 6-9 p.m. presented by PNC Bank with music, curated cocktails, ocean views and Del Mar flavors. Tickets are available by invite only.

    Location: Monarch Ocean Pub, 1555 Camino Del Mar Suite 322, Del Mar

Additional events throughout the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Festival include a poker tournament, a Tacos & Tequila Tuesday in Del Mar Village and daily Viewing Parties at Del Mar Village businesses with special Breeders’ Cup cocktails. There will be fundraisers including an event in support of the Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA). Details for all events are being confirmed and will be available on the Breeders’ Cup Festival website, www.BreedersCupFestival.com, in the coming weeks.

In 2017, Breeders’ Cup and the accompanying festival drew thousands to the San Diego region, setting the highest recorded economic impact for the championship event with $97 million in economic benefits. “We are grateful to Breeders’ Cup for returning to Del Mar and the economic support it brings to our community,” says Craig Dado, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club CMO. “This is a milestone event for our city and we look forward to repeating 2017’s success.”

Breeders’ Cup tickets are still available for purchase online at BreedersCup.com/Tickets or by calling the ticketing office at 1-877-849-4287. Fans are required to purchase tickets in advance of the event.


ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP

The Breeders’ Cup administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The Breeders’ Cup is also a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, an organization composed of industry leaders committed to advancing safety measures in Thoroughbred racing and improving the well-being of equine and human athletes.

The 2021 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, is scheduled to be held on November 5-6 at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event will be televised live by the NBC Sports Group. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.

About Del Mar Thoroughbred Club

Del Mar will present its 82nd year of racing with its Summer 2021 racing season running from July 16 – Labor Day, September 6. The Bing Crosby Fall Racing Season will run Wednesday, November 3 – Thanksgiving, November 28. The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club will host the Breeders’ Cup Horse Racing World Championships on November 5-6, 2021 for the second time in track history.  For more information, call 858-755-1141 or visit www.dmtc.com. You can follow Del Mar on Instagram and Twitter at @delmarracing or on Facebook @DelMarRaces.

About Del Mar Village

Del Mar is a quaint seaside village 20 minutes north of San Diego on the Southern California Coastline and 2 minutes from the renowned Del Mar Racetrack. Del Mar is rich with beauty, amenities, and history. Since the legendary days of Hollywood’s golden years, Del Mar has been the destination of choice for movie stars as well as those with a taste for fast horses, breathtaking vistas, stunning sandstone canyons, accessible pristine beaches, and award-winning cuisine with dazzling ocean views. The affluent and historic Del Mar Village offers a variety of unique mom and pop shops, spectacular ocean-view restaurants and charming beach-style hotels. For more information about the Del Mar Village, visit www.visitdelmarvillage.com.

Colonial Downs Racetrack Sets $2.23M Daily Wagering Record

Is Horse Racing Dead? Not in Virginia

Bettors laid down a record $2.23 million in average daily wagers on horse races at Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent during this year’s annual race meet, Colonial Downs Group announced this week.

The total amount bet on races during the seven-week racing season was $46.87 million, and a total of $10.4 million in purses were paid to owners, jockeys and trainers, averaging $522,000 per day. The program had 205 races and 1,713 horses in gates at the starts of races, for an average of more than 8 horses per race during the third season under the Colonial Downs Group banner.

Races were held Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from July 19 through Sept. 1 during this year’s racing season, the third held under the Colonial Downs Group banner. The racetrack’s 2020 meet was canceled after about two weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is so gratifying to see the continued revival of Virginia racing as we mark new all-time handle [amount bet] heights,” John Marshall, Colonial Downs Group executive vice president of operations, said in a statement. “We have held true to our promise of building Colonial Downs into one of the country’s elite boutique meets. We thank our horsemen, fans and team for doing their part in making it so.”

Breeders Cup at Del Mar: French Group Summer Stakes

French horse racing blurrThe spring and summer French Classics have now been run and we have seen the best of the European three-year-olds in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris (2400m) and the G1 Prix Jean Prat (1400m) – so what have we learnt so far?

It has been a year of Irish domination so far with Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O’Brien picking up three of the four French Classics. It began with a historic first success in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains (1600m) with St Mark’s Basilica. The Siyouni colt swerved the G1 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Newmarket (UK) and dominated the French equivalent two weeks later, comfortably winning by one and three-quarter lengths ahead of the Italian-trained Colosseo in second.

St Mark’s Basilica recorded the same winning margin a month later when taking the G1 Prix du Jockey Club (2100m) at Chantilly, easily beating the French-based Sealiway and Millebosc. Stable-mate Joan Of Arc had a harder task in the G1 Prix de Diane (2100m) against short-priced favourite Philomene from the André Fabre stable. A beautifully bred half-sister to multiple Group One winners, Joan Of Arc had to be driven hard to repel the late surge of Philomene but stayed on well and was eased close to home.

The only French victory in the Classics came in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (1600m) when Couersamba out-ran long odds to beat the Aidan O’Brien trained G1 1000 Guineas (1600m) heroine Mother Earth. Couersamba was settled in mid-division and made good progress in the final 400m under jockey Cristian Demuro, recording a one and a quarter length winning margin.

The Irish sprang a surprise in the G1 Prix Jean Prat with Laws Of Indices improving from his fifth in the G1 Commonwealth Cup (1200m) at Royal Ascot. This Ken Condon trained colt seemed to appreciate the step up in distance and held on to win by a head from Joseph O’Brien’s Thunder Moon. Midtown finished the best of the home team in third.

Hurricane Lane backed up his eye catching G1 Irish Derby (2400m) success with an impressive six length win in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris (2400m). The top four at the finishing line were all trained in the UK or Ireland, with Baby Rider achieving the best finish of the French-trained contingent in fifth.

French 3yos

With the Classic generation now stepping into open company, it will be interesting to see how the three-year-olds fare against their older rivals. Over the shorter distances, the top sprinters are expected to come together in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest (1300m) at Deauville on 8 August. Connections of G1 Commonwealth Cup (1200m) first and second Campanelle and Dragon Symbol will be looking to confirm who is the best three-year-old sprinter after the original placings were reversed due to interference by Dragon Symbol. The colt has since proven he can race with the fastest horses in Europe, finishing second in the G1 July Cup (1200m) at Newmarket (UK). G1 Prix Jean Prat (1400m) winner Laws Of Indices is expected to join them and Jean-Claude Rouget indicated Prix Jean Prat fourth Valloria will try her luck over 1300m.

Looking towards the Autumn, three-year-olds dominate the betting for the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) and Aidan O’Brien’s Snowfall continues to shorten at the head of the market. The filly set a new record for the largest winning distance in a UK Classic when defeating her nearest rival by sixteen lengths in the G1 Oaks (2400m) at Epsom Downs (UK) and has since won the Irish equivalent by eight and a half. With a three-year-old fillies weight allowance, she deserves her place as favourite for the Autumn showpiece. Hurricane Lane is well-fancied to go close after his performance over course and distance in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris (2400m) while G1 Derby (2400m) hero Adayar cannot be dismissed.

Although well-fancied in the betting for the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, double Classic winner St Mark’s Basilica is expected to dominate the 2000m division for the remainder of the season. He comfortably beat the older horses by three and a half lengths in the G1 Eclipse (2000m) at Sandown Park in early July including 2020 G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner Mishriff. At this stage of the year, it is difficult to imagine who can beat the rising star of the 2021 season.

Source: French PMU

Saratoga Race Course Sees Horses Back in Barns

Saratoga Race Course welcomes horses back; fans up nextThe barns were nearly empty.

That will change soon enough.

The seats were empty.

That will change on July 15.

Thoroughbred training began at Saratoga Race Course this weekend, and, on Monday morning, several horses from James Bond’s barn galloped over the main track, while renovation work continues at the Oklahoma Training Track on the other side of Union Avenue.

The barns will continue to fill up this spring, and the Oklahoma is scheduled to open for training in a few weeks. The New York Racing Association, meanwhile, expects to get guidelines from the state soon, perhaps this week, on what procedures and protocols it will need to follow to let spectators attend the races again.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced [on April 14th] that racetracks in New York could re-open to 20% capacity as of this Friday, which means that Saratoga fans, shut out of the track in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, will be able to attend the 2021 meet. The familiar sight of horses on the track Monday will be joined by the familiar sound of fans when the 153rd meet opens on July 15, a welcome development for those who race, as well as those who watch…

Download Rich Nilsen’s 10 Tips for Beating Saratoga

Response from NTRA’s Alex Waldrop to HPBA Lawsuit regarding HISA

Horse racing tips and best bets this weekend on eve of CheltenhamIn 2020, the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly passed, and the President signed into law, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA). Through this landmark legislation, HISA recognizes and empowers the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (Authority) to protect the safety and welfare of Thoroughbred horseracing’s most important participants—its horses—by delivering commonsense medication reforms and track safety standards.

 

HISA has broad support from the Thoroughbred industry, including: organizations such as the Breeders’ Cup, National Thoroughbred Racing Association, The Jockey Club, The Jockeys’ Guild, American Association of Equine Practitioners and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders’ Association; the nation’s leading racetracks, including Churchill Downs, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Gulfstream Park, Keeneland, The Maryland Jockey Club, Monmouth Park, The New York Racing Association and Santa Anita; leading horsemen’s organizations such as the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and the Thoroughbred Owners of California; prominent Thoroughbred owners Barbara Banke, Antony Beck, Arthur and Staci Hancock, Fred Hertrich, Barry Irwin, Stuart S. Janney III, Rosendo Parra and Vinnie Viola; leading Thoroughbred trainers Christophe Clement, Neil Drysdale, Janet Elliot, Claude “Shug” McGaughey, Bill Mott, Todd Pletcher and Nick Zito; grassroots organization Water Hay Oats Alliance, with more than 2,000 individual members; international organizations the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities and The Jockey Club of Canada; and prominent animal welfare organizations American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Animal Wellness Action and the Humane Society of the United States.

 

The National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA), along with several of its state affiliates, seeks to upend this historic and bipartisan effort to protect Thoroughbred horses and ensure the integrity of horseracing. The HBPA has recently filed a baseless lawsuit in federal court in Texas, seeking to declare HISA unconstitutional on its face. Setting aside its fatal threshold deficiencies—including the lack of any concrete or imminent harm—the HBPA’s lawsuit is meritless. HISA is constitutionally and legally sound. On behalf of a broad spectrum of organizations underlying the sport of Thoroughbred horseracing, we offer the following responses to the various claims by HBPA.

1. HBPA Claim: HISA violates the constitutional “non-delegation doctrine.”

Reality: HISA does not violate the non-delegation doctrine because the United States Supreme Court has long recognized that Congress may rely on private entities so long as the government retains ultimate decision-making authority as to rules and enforcement. HISA recognizes and empowers the Authority to propose and enforce uniform national anti-doping and equine safety standards, but only upon review, approval and adoption by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Though this is a first for the Thoroughbred horseracing industry, HISA’s structure is not new. HISA follows the FINRA/SEC model of regulation in the securities industry, and, like that model, is constitutional because any action the Authority undertakes is subject to the FTC’s approval and oversight.

 

2. HBPA Claim: The HISA runs afoul of the Appointments Clause.

Reality: The Authority is a private entity, independently established under state law, and recognized by HISA. As such, it is simply not subject to constitutional restraints on appointments (or removal) of its Board members. Indeed, any such claim is at war with HBPA’s non-delegation theory premised on the fact that the Authority is a private entity. On the one hand, the HBPA claims that the Authority cannot take action because it is private entity, but then argues, on the other hand, that the Authority cannot appoint its own Board members because it is effectively a public entity. These two HBPA arguments are in conflict, but have one important thing in common: they are both wrong.

 

3.  HBPA Claim: HISA violates due process protections.

Reality: The HBPA’s due process theory also falls flat. Though the HBPA complains of equine industry participants regulating their competitors, a strong bipartisan majority of the House and the Senate made clear in HISA that a majority of the Authority’s Board members must be from outside the equine industry. To be sure, a minority of the Authority’s Board members will have industry experience and engagement. But it is difficult to understand how that statutory recognition of the value of informed voices constitutes a deprivation of due process. What’s more, with respect to the minority industry Board members, HISA expressly provides for equal representation among each of the six equine constituencies (trainers, owners and breeders, tracks, veterinarians, state racing commissions, and jockeys). Furthermore, the committee tasked with nominating eligible candidates for Board and standing-committee positions is made up of entirely non-industry members. HISA further imposes broad conflicts-of-interest requirements to ensure that all of its Board members (industry and non-industry alike) as well as non-industry standing committee members (not to mention their employees and family members) are required to remain free of all equine economic conflicts of interest.

 

Beyond these robust safeguards, established precedent confirms what common sense indicates: even when a private entity is engaged in the regulatory process, agency authority and surveillance protect against promotion of self-interest. Under HISA, for example, the FTC has the authority to decline the Authority’s proposed rules and overrule any sanctions—ensuring that neither the Authority nor the individuals making up its Board can use their position for their own advantage in violation of constitutional restraints.

 

*****

Contrary to HBPA’s hyperbole, HISA is neither unprecedented nor unconstitutional. HISA emulates the long-established FINRA/SEC model, with even greater protections for all stakeholders. It is disappointing that the HBPA—an entity whose mission is supposedly the welfare of horses and horsemen—would seek to undo much needed reforms to protect the industry’s participants.

Source: NTRA.com

This Many Fans Allowed at Upcoming Keeneland Spring Meet

Horse Racing in the Covid-19 Era

Keeneland has announced plans to allow a limited number of fans to attend its 2021 Spring Meet, to be held April 2-23.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced Keeneland to cancel the 2020 Spring Meet and hold an unprecedented five-day Summer Meet in July. The 2020 Summer and Fall Meets and Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland were closed to fans.

Keeneland clock racingFor this year’s Spring Meet, Keeneland will make available a limited number of pre-sold ticket packages including dining, Grandstand reserved seating and general admission.

Keeneland will announce details about how to purchase ticket packages and pricing on Monday, March 1. Fans are encouraged to visit keeneland.com/newsletter to sign up for ticket alerts in the coming weeks.

Keeneland will also allow limited access to race participants, sponsors, box holders and Club members.

“The enthusiasm and loyalty of our fans are what make Keeneland so special,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “We have missed their presence on race days and we are excited to welcome them, albeit in limited number, back to Keeneland. We appreciate the support of the Central Kentucky community this past year, and we hope this step is the first toward somewhat normal operations in the fall.

“While our team has worked diligently on a plan for expanded attendance this spring, the safety of our guests and employees remains our top priority,” Arvin added. “As such, our COVID-19 protocols remain in place and will be strictly enforced during the Spring Meet.”

In accordance with Keeneland’s COVID-19 safety measures, all individuals will be required to wear a face mask and maintain proper social distancing while on the grounds. Health screenings and temperature checks will resume at all entrance gates for the race meet.

Source: Keeneland.com

Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar: Lasix Prohibited in Prep Races

del mar delmar paddock sceneLEXINGTON, KY (February, 2021) – As 2021 kicks off with stakes races being run without Lasix at the leading racetracks and Thoroughbred racing events across the country, including the 2021 World Championships, Breeders’ Cup is pleased to announce that this year’s “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series races will be run without Lasix.

Additionally, Graded Stakes points for the purpose of selection into a Breeders’ Cup World Championships race will only be awarded in Lasix-free graded stakes races. As an operator of world-class racing with the highest safety and integrity measures in place, these initiatives are in keeping with Breeders’ Cup’s efforts to lead by example to move towards elimination of race day medications and to better align the industry with the rest of the world. Breeders’ Cup welcomes others to join these efforts to bring the U.S. further in line with international standards.

2020 saw a successful year of two-year-olds running Lasix-free, including on Future Stars Friday at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland. In addition, the groundbreaking passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), which was signed into law on December 27, 2020, has provided a critical framework for the industry going forward. Under HISA, Lasix-free racing will be the general standard as of July 1, 2022.

“Even before HISA was signed into law, running the World Championships Lasix-free was a goal of Breeders’ Cup,” said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders’ Cup Limited. “Extending this standard to all races associated with the Breeders’ Cup World Championships will hopefully set an example for other racetracks and stakeholders to embrace forthcoming safety and integrity measures, including the elimination of race day medication, as a new, safer era for our storied sport approaches.”

Aligning Breeders’ Cup’s year-round “Win and You’re In” program with the World Championships by modifying the Field Selection Process and allocation of Challenge Race designations to races that prohibit Lasix further strengthens Breeders’ Cup commitment to this effort. The safety of human and equine athletes and the integrity of our sport must always come first, which is why Breeders’ Cup, like so many others around the world, supports eliminating Lasix in racing.

ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP

The Breeders’ Cup administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The Breeders’ Cup is also a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, an organization composed of industry leaders committed to advancing safety measures in Thoroughbred racing and improving the well-being of equine and human athletes.

The 2021 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, is scheduled to be held on November 5-6 at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event will be televised live by the NBC Sports Group. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby with a Pletcher Duo in Withers Stakes

Aqueduct starting gateThe Road to the Kentucky Derby in the Empire State resumes on Saturday when a field of nine sophomores assemble for the 147th running of the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The nine-furlong event over the main track is the second local prep of the calendar year for the Grade 1, $3 million Kentucky Derby on May 1 at Churchill Downs, and awards the top-four finishers points according to a 10-4-2-1 scale.

Trainer Todd Pletcher will be packing a one-two punch in pursuit of a fourth Withers victory, sending out maiden-winners Overtook and Donegal Bay, both of which will be making their respective stakes debut.

Big Mandatory Payout at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Owned by Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith, Overtook graduated going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct on December 20. The son of multiple champion-producing sire Curlin was 10 lengths behind the pace before making a six-wide move around the far turn, making up considerable ground in the stretch to secure a two-length triumph while recording a 70 Beyer Speed Figure.

“There could be a good pace. Overtook wants to settle and make one run so we’ll allow him to do that,” said Pletcher, who trained Withers winners Harlem Rocker (2008), Revolutionary (2013) and Far From Over (2015).

Overtook finished a distant third to stablemate and fellow Curlin offspring Known Agenda on November 8 at the Big A in a nine-furlong maiden event. Known Agenda subsequently ran third in the Grade 2 Remsen and runner-up Greatest Honour was a next-out winner of the Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park.

Sporting blinkers in his first two career starts, Overtook raced without the hood in his maiden victory.

“I think he’s learning. He’s gained some confidence with the experience and we felt like the blinkers needed to come off,” Pletcher said. “He got a nice hot pace to run at which helped. He’s an improving horse that is bred to get better with more distance and more time. We’ve seen him making progress throughout and fall and winter. This is a big step up, but hopefully he’s up for it.”

The latest AGOS Horses to Watch list

The royally bred Overtook was purchased for $1 million from the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Jockey Manny Franco seeks his third Withers triumph when piloting Overtook from post 6.

Donegal Bay will be diving into deeper waters as he makes his two-turn debut.

Owned by Jerry Crawford’s Donegal Racing, Donegal Bay finished sixth on debut going 6 ½ furlongs at Saratoga. He showed a different dimension in his subsequent start, notching a front-running victory by 4 ¼ lengths going a one-turn mile at Gulfstream Park on December 12.

“I think it was the additional time, having a start under his belt as well as having some good works leading into that,” Pletcher said. “He also got a better start which a lot of horses do in their second race. He has a pretty high cruising speed. Pedigree-wise, he’s bred to go that far. It’s a big step up from a maiden race, but we’re hoping for a big run.”

Donegal Bay has been training forwardly along with Pletcher’s string at Palm Beach Downs and went a half-mile in 49.03 seconds on January 29 in his most recent work.

“It’s a bit of a tricky race,” Crawford said. “This is the time of year where some horses get better and some don’t, and he needs to get better on Saturday if he can turn himself into a contender. Obviously, there’s a fair amount of front-end speed and they’ll be asked to go a mile and an eighth at the same time. Donegal Racing has always been treated exceptionally well in New York and have had some good success up there.”

A son of 2010 Champion 2-Year-Old and Pletcher alumna Uncle Mo, Pletcher said that he sees a lot of similarities between Donegal Bay and his champion-producing sire.

“Donegal Bay is a little more on the narrow side, but you can see the same head and neck that Uncle Mo stamps his offspring with,” Pletcher said. “What I like is that from the past summer, the horse is starting to fill out. He seems to be doing really well.”

Meet-leading rider Kendrick Carmouche vies for a sixth stakes victory of the meet when taking the reins aboard Donegal Bay from post 7.

Bing Cherry Racing and Leonard Liberto’s Capo Kane returns to Aqueduct in pursuit of more Kentucky Derby qualifying points after capturing the Jerome on New Year’s Day.

Trained by Harold Wyner, Capo Kane earned 10 points toward a spot in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May when taking the one-turn mile in gate-to-wire fashion under jockey Dylan Davis. After commanding moderate fractions up front, Capo Kane came under a drive at the top of the stretch and extended his advantage to a 6 ¼-length triumph.

The son of Street Sense, who sired 2018 Withers winner Avery Island, broke his maiden going two turns at Parx Racing in identical front-running fashion, hitting the wire a 4 ½-length winner.

With 10 qualifying Derby points from the Jerome, Capo Kane is currently 13th on the leaderboard.

Davis, who rode last year’s Withers winner Max Player, will return to the saddle from post 3.

E.V Racing Stable’s Eagle Orb will be seeking to turn the tables on Capo Kane after finishing second in the Jerome.

The two-time winning New York-bred captured a stakes win in the November 14 Notebook at the Big A before the runner-up finish on New Year’s Day.

Tracking in third from the three path out of the gate, Eagle Orb came under a drive around the far turn and attempted to confront Capo Kane around the three-sixteenths, but was kept at bay at had to settle for second.

Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, the son of Orb is 24th on the leaderboard with four points.

Breaking from post 9, jockey Jorge Vargas, Jr. has the mount.

Look Out for Chad Brown

Klaravich Stables’ Risk Taking looks to capitalize off a winning performance at the Withers distance for trainer Chad Brown.

The son of Medaglia d’Oro made amends for two well-beaten performances in his first pair of starts when stretching out to two turns in a December 13 maiden special weight at the Big A. Risk Taking settled in fourth along the rail into the first turn and maintained position behind horses before making a three-wide move at the top of the stretch and taking command outside the sixteenth pole to run home a 2 ¼-length winner.

Purchased for $240,000 from the Lanes’ End consignment at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Risk Taking is out of the stakes-placed Distorted Humor mare Run a Risk and comes from the same family as champion-producing sire Seeking the Gold.

Jockey Eric Cancel will be back aboard from post 5.

Rounding out the field are Maryland invaders Shackqueenking [post 1, Trevor McCarthy] and Royal Number [post 2, Pablo Morales], as well as Mr. Doda [post 4, Luis Rodriguez Castro] and Civil War [post 8, Benjamin Hernandez].

The Withers is slated as Race 8 on Aqueduct’s nine-race program which has a first post of 1 p.m. Eastern.

The Withers, named in honor of prominent 1800’s owner and breeder David Dunham Withers, predates the Kentucky Derby by one year with its inaugural running taking place in 1874. Coincidentally, the following year’s Withers was won by Aristides who also captured the very first running of the Kentucky Derby in 1875. Four other horses have both the Withers and Kentucky Derby on their resume including Triple crown winners Sir Barton (1919) and Count Fleet (1943) as well as Zev (1923) and Johnstown (1939).

Source: Ryan Martin, NYRA.com edited press release

More Horse Races This Year at Royal Ascot

royal ascot paddockAscot racecourse said that it will permanently expand the schedule at its showpiece Royal meeting in June to seven races per day from this year, after what was described as a “temporary” revision to the traditional six-race daily card in 2020 proved popular with both participants and punters.

Last year’s change was made to allow for extra runners at the Royal meeting, which was staged just over a fortnight after racing returned after a two-and-a-half month suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The new program required the creation of three new handicaps – the Copper Horse Stakes, the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes and the Golden Gates Stakes – as well as the return of the Buckingham Palace Stakes, also a handicap, which had been discontinued in 2015.

These races will be retained and another new race – the Kensington Palace Stakes handicap for fillies and mares over a mile – has been added to the schedule.