Thoroughbred Daily News

The defection of big-figure maiden winner Speak Easy (Constitution) to Saturday's GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. made the task at hand for 'TDN Rising Star' Conquest Warrior (c, 3, City of Light–Tea Time, by Pulpit) that much easier on paper, and the Courtlandt Farms colorbearer made light work of the six rivals that stuck around to likely punch his ticket to the GI Curlin Florida Derby in four weeks' time.

Away only fairly, the 3-5 chalk was handy enough to the early pace of 5-2 second pick Merit (Mastery)–rerouted from the Fountain of Youth–banking around the first turn and was settled nicely in fourth by Jose Ortiz through early sections of :23.79 and :47.62. Traveling a path or two away from the inside down the backstretch as the pacesetter opened just a touch of daylight, Conquest Warrior was ridden along just a bit 3 1/2 furlongs out, and when Raguel (Justify) failed to go on from a three-wide position, he had dead aim on the pacesetter. Claiming that one more or less on his own courage at the three-sixteenths, Conquest Warrior quickly opened up and was under a full-nelson for the final sixteenth of a mile, stopping the clock in a very respectable 1:50.52 for the nine furlongs on a fast strip.

“I thought there was a couple horses in there that might show a little speed. He wanted to be a little keen going into the first [turn] but then he settled perfect for [Ortiz]. I thought it was a perfect race for him,” winning trainer Shug McGaughey said. “He got to settle in behind horses, eat a little dirt, make his run the way you'd want him to and finished up on his own. When those horses came to him galloping out [Ortiz] said he wanted to go with them, so he let him do it. I'm pleased.”

A debut third to giant-figure El Capi (Maclean's Music) going seven furlongs in the Aqueduct mud Dec. 2, Conquest Warrior was pinched at the start of a local mile maiden Jan. 13 and was steadied a couple of more times in transit, but nevertheless managed to overcome all that to graduate by a half-length. The runner-up on that occasion, Centennial Farms' Antiquarian (Preservationist), backed up that effort with a maiden-breaking victory of his own on the Risen Star undercard at the Fair Grounds Feb. 22.

McGaughey was non-committal about the colt's next start n the immediate aftermath of the race.

“We'll see,. The timing's good [to the Florida Derby],” he said. “We can take him there, Kentucky or New York. He's got two wins over this track. We only have to travel and hour and a half [from Payson Park] [unlike] the other places. I'll watch [the Fountain of Youth]. I'm looking forward to it.”

Betz Thoroughbreds acquired the three-time stakes-winning Tea Time for $250,000 in foal to Union Rags at the 2019 Keeneland November Sale and that produce, a filly named Soul Play, was purchased by Don Adam's team at Keeneland September in 2021 before signing for her half-brother 12 months later. Tea Time's dam Asian Empress (Empire Maker) is a full-sister to GI Juddmonte Spinster S. winner Acoma and a half to five other winners, including the late Grade I-winning sire Arch, as well as the unraced dam of two-time Eclipse Award and dual Grade I winner Covfefe (Into Mischief) and Japanese MGSW/MG1SP Albiano (Harlan's Holiday). Tea Time is responsible for the 2-year-old colt Brodeur (Nyquist), a $110,000 FTKOCT yearling purchse by D J Stable, and is due to Justify this season.

7th-Gulfstream, $73,420, Alw (NW1X), Opt. Clm ($75,000), 3-1, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:50.52, ft, 5 lengths.
CONQUEST WARRIOR (c, 3, City of Light–Tea Time {MSW, $279,966}, by Pulpit) Sales history: Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $96,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Courtlandt Farms (Donald Adam); B-Betz/B & K Canetti/J Betz/CoCo Equine/D J Stables (KY); T-Claude R McGaughey III.

Conquest Warrior, with @jose93_ortiz, wins with authority in Friday's featured race at #GulfstreamPark. pic.twitter.com/H52WoPjT3S

— Gulfstream Park (@GulfstreamPark) March 1, 2024

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Apprentice jockey Kylie Wellington, who suffered a displaced tibial fracture Thursday at Fair Grounds after being unseated when her mount flipped over, confirmed her prognosis over social media.

“As many heard, I had a horse flip on me behind the gates before a race today [Feb. 29]. I have a displaced tibia fracture. It's very unfortunate but I will recover and be back soon. Thanks everyone.”

In 2024, Wellington had amassed a record of two wins and 21 on-the-board finishes overall from 68 jumps. She'd visited the winner's enclosure on seven occasions from 106 starts in her first meet at Fair Grounds, and in under a year's time since starting her riding career in May 2023, claims a record of 273-29-25-34 with $526,214 in earnings.

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A new $25-million racing and incentive series connecting Preakness 149, The California Crown, and the 2025 Pegasus World Cup was announced via press release by 1/ST Friday.

Featuring more than $12.5-million in elevated purses and $7.5-million in incentives for both dirt and turf runners, there is a $5-million additional bonus on the line to the owner (s) of the horse who wins the 149th GI Preakness S., GI California Crown, and GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational.

Turf horses will have a similar series and prize structure, with a $2.5-million bonus offered to the connections who win the GIII Dinner Party S., GII California Crown John Henry Turf, and GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational.

Also included in the announcement was the news that the purse for the second jewel of the Triple Crown will increase to $2-million, and coupled with elevated purses in other contests, will make Preakness 149 Saturday the most lucrative in the event's history with $3.3-million to be won. The first race of the new series will run May 18 at Pimlico Race Course.

Replacing the Awesome Again S., the GI California Crown will debut on what is dubbed a 'reimagined opening day experience' Sept. 28 for Santa Anita Park's 2024 fall meet. The $1-million contest for 3-year-olds and older will run at 1 1/8-miles while the GII California Crown Eddie D. Turf Sprint and GII California Crown John Henry Turf will both feature $750,000 purses in what will be California's richest day of racing.

The anchor leg of the series goes to the 2025 Pegasus World Cup Jan. 25, which will feature the $3-million Invitational and $1-million Turf Invitational. The live broadcast will include the presentation of the potential $7.5-million bonus should any horse accomplish the feat of sweeping the series.

1/ST will also put up $5-million for a Coast-to-Coast Pick'Em Challenge sweepstakes, requiring fans and bettors to successfully pick the first four finishers of each series race, in order. It will be free to enter through the 1/ST betting app, and is there are no perfect winning entries, the most overall correct entry will win a $100,000 cash prize.

“My team and I continue to believe and invest in the modernization of Thoroughbred horse racing with a commitment to the highest level of international safety standards and horse care as we continue to elevate our already industry-leading wagering, entertainment and hospitality programs,” said 1/ST Chairwoman and CEO, Belinda Stronach.

“To back this up, 1/ST is adding to the legacy of the Preakness by increasing the purse, creating a new marquee race event for the majestic Santa Anita Park–The California Crown–and continuing to build on the phenomenal success of the Pegasus World Cup.  We're proud to work with incredible partners who share our vision and see the future of world-class Thoroughbred racing combined with unique and elevated guest experiences.”

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Between them, Irad and Jose Ortiz have accounted for four of the last six runnings of the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S., the third of three preps on the road to the championship meeting's main event, the GI Curlin Florida Derby four weeks down the road. The brothers will have every chance to extend that dominance as they partner with two of the top fancies in Saturday's $400,000 contest, offering the winner 50 points and a virtual guaranteed berth in the field for the GI Kentucky Derby.

Jose Ortiz reunites with Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm's 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner), who makes his first trip to the races since running on nicely to round out the trifecta behind stablemate and fellow 'Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile nearly four months ago. In hindsight, his 2-year-old form looks pretty strong. A closing third to future SW & GSP Just Steel (Justify) at debut odds of 12-1 at Saratoga in August, the $425,000 Keeneland September grad thrashed GII Remsen S. third and this year's Jerome S. hero Drum Roll Please (Hard Spun) going the mile at the Spa the following month. The chestnut overcame a torrid trip to validate 3-4 favoritism in Keeneland's GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity in October and just failed to catch 'Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic) for second in the Juvenile, while 6 3/4 lengths behind Fierceness. Connections will be hoping for a strong pace in a race that is anything but a must-win.

Irad Ortiz will get a leg up on Speak Easy (Constitution), who earned a field-best 100 Beyer when besting the reopposing Victory Avenue (Arrogate) in a seven-furlong maiden Jan. 27. Speak Easy opts out of a two-turn Friday allowance for this and it will almost certainly be pedal to the metal from gate one the 9-2 chance. In light of the Speak Easy decision, Merit (Mastery) was to be re-routed for the aforementioned softer Friday allowance.

While the Mage connections are represented by Victory Avenue, the Kentucky Derby winner's full-brother will look to pick up where he left off in 2023. Dornoch (Good Magic) was placed in the Sapling S. as a maiden and looked very stylish in winning a two-turn test at Keeneland by open lengths Oct. 14. Favored in the Remsen, he looked a sure loser when 'Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) surged by in the final furlong, but somehow managed to claw his way back to score. The latter has since endorsed the form in the GII Risen Star S.

It has been over 200 days since 'TDN Rising Star' Deterministic (Liam's Map) overcame a tricky trip to graduate in his only racetrack appearance to date and the $625,000 KEESEP yearling makes his sophomore debut in Saturday's GIII Gotham S., a race that lacks an obvious standout.

The priciest of his sire's 58 yearlings to sell in 2022, the dark bay missed the kick, looked uncomfortable in the opening stages, was wide and bumped with favored Eliminate (Curlin) in upper stretch and still managed to win.

“We're excited to see him run again,” said trainer Christophe Clement. “I wish I could have run in an allowance race in Florida or New York, but we could not find that race and the Gotham is really the only choice. But, I do like the horse very much.”

'TDN Rising Star' Deterministic | Sarah Andrew

Like Deterministic, Just a Touch (Justify) is only once-raced and also made the most of his debut over a sloppy six furlongs at the Fair Grounds Jan. 27. Away fairly, the bay set a tracking trip and finished full of run as the 1-2 mortal. Florent Geroux makes the trip up from the Big Easy to call the shots aboard the May foal, who has gate 10 to overcome.

“He's very athletic,” trainer Brad Cox said of Just a Touch. “He's a good-sized colt and done everything right in the mornings and he showed up first time out. It's going to be a big ask shipping him up there, but I like the idea of stretching him out to the one-turn mile. I'm hopeful he can handle that and we'll see how it goes.”

The Cox barn is also represented by Bergen (Liam's Map), yet another debut winner last October at Keeneland who toyed with four rivals to scoop a muddy renewal of the Jimmy Winkfield S. Jan. 27.

The form of the local GIII Withers S. is on display in the form of El Grande O (Take Charge Indy), who finished a nose behind Parx shipper Uncle Heavy (Social Inclusion) and 2 1/2 lengths clear of favored Lightline (City of Light).

'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) won't be traveling across the country for this year's Derby, but the Baoma Corp. colorbearer should be winning for the fourth time in as many trips to the races in Sunday's postponed GII San Felipe S.

The $550,000 OBS April breezer has won his three races by a combined 26 3/4 lengths and was up in trip for the one-mile GIII Robert B. Lewis S. Feb. 3, but handled it like a consummate pro, shooting clear in the lane to post a 7 1/2-length victory over Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso), who had three-parts of a length on Scatify (Justify) in third.

Mc Vay (Constitution), a distant fourth in the Lewis, tries again, and the Imagination (Into Mischief) is the third of the Bob Baffert trainees and is trying stakes company for the first time.

While the 3-year-old boys continue on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in the Fountain of Youth, their female counterparts take their next step toward the first Friday in May in Saturday's GII Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream.

The one-mile test marks the seasonal debut of George Krikorian's Eclipse-winning 2-year-old filly Just F Y I (Justify), who was last seen proving a neck best as a 7-1 gamble in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies out at Santa Anita. She was running her record to three-from-three on that occasion, having won narrowly on Saratoga sprint debut Aug. 26 ahead of a more dominating victory in the GI Frizette S. at a rainswept Aqueduct Oct. 7. Junior Alvarado, fresh off the richest payday of his career in Saudi Arabia last weekend, has the return call.

The queen of the hill, at least for the time being, Just F Y I will have to content with a race-fit 'TDN Rising Star' Leslie's Rose (Into Mischief) in the comebacker. An eased-down 9 1/4-length winner of her 6 1/2-furlong bow at the Big A Nov. 19, the $1.15-million Keeneland September grad outslugged Gun Song (Gun Runner) to take a seven-furlong first-level allowance by a length Jan. 11 and the latter flattered the form with a 5 3/4-length tally going this track's one-turn mile Feb. 9.

“We thought she'd run well the first time because we had high hopes for her, but that even exceeded our expectations,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “I liked the way she came out of that, I liked the way she handed herself stepping up into her next race and she's continued to train very professionally.”

Into Champagne (Into Mischief) is perfect in two starts, including a 1 1/4-length success in the Glitter Woman S. run over a sloppy strip Jan. 7.

One race prior, 3-year-old turf fillies get their chance in the GIII Herecomesthebride S. Cheyenne Stable's Ozara (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) will try to take her local record to three-for-three, with previous scores in the Dec. 9 Wait A While S. and a last-out defeat of Life's an Audible (Audible) in the Jan. 6 Ginger Brew S.

Newgrange (Violence) is the 5-2 favorite on the morning line for Sunday's GI Santa Anita H., with potentially bigger fish to fry in four weeks' time. A four-time winner since being acquired for $325,000 as the Fasig-Tipton Horses of Racing Age Sale in the summer of 2022, the 5-year-old is in peak form entering the Big 'Cap, including a 2 1/4-length defeat of Mixto (Good Magic) in the GII San Antonio S. on opening day of the meet Dec. 26 before successfully defending his title in the GII San Pasqual S. Jan. 27. Connections reportedly elected to stay home for the San Pasqual over the GI Pegasus World Cup with the goal of minimizing travel with a trip to the G1 Dubai World Cup being mulled over.

Godolphin's unexposed Highland Falls (Curlin) makes the trip out for Brad Cox, with Florent Geroux named. The chestnut son of GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Round Pond (Awesome Again) earned a 98 Beyer for a two-length Churchill allowance victory Nov. 17 and exits a 3/4-length tally in a second-level Fair Ground allowance Jan. 13.

Newgate (Into Mischief) went missing off a neck tally in the 2023 GIII Robert B. Lewis S. and has run well in his two starts since–a second to next-out GIII Palos Verdes S. winner Big City Lights (Mr. Big) in allowance company Jan. 6 before splitting Newgrange and Mixto last time.

Phil D'Amato also saddles the likely favorite in the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile S., Easter (Fr) (Lonhro {Aus}), who looks for four straight. A half-length winner of the 2023 Lure S. when under the care of Graham Motion, the 6-year-old beat Hong Kong Harry (Ire) (Es Que Love {Ire}) on the square in the GII Seabiscuit H. at Del Mar and added a 1 1/4-length defeat of subsequent GIII San Marcos S. hero Missed the Cut (Quality Road) in the GII San Gabriel S.

Du Jour (Temple City) is capable at this level on his very best. The unluckiest sort of loser in the 2023 Kilroe, he was impressive in taking out the GII Del Mar Mile Sept. 2 and though he was only 10th in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, he was beaten just 3 1/2 lengths.

Goliad (War Front) exits an audacious pillar-to-post victory beneath Kazushi Kimura in the GIII Thunder Road S. over this course and distance Feb. 3 and tries Grade I company for the first time at age seven.

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Steve Asmussen has indicated an interest in saddling a starter at the 2024 Sandy Ride at Red Mile Quarter Horse meet, according to stallionesearch.com.

The Hall of Famer did not have a set number of confirmed runners, stall applications were due Thursday, Feb. 29, but Sandy Ridge racing manager Terry Oliver was reportedly instrumental in getting Asmussen back to his roots in Quarter Horse racing. His family had been involved in the industry in the early 1970s, originating with parents Marilyn and Keith Asmussen. It would be his first such starter since 2014.

The 2024 meet, averaging daily purse totals of $200,000 per eight-race card, is set to go Mar. 17 to Mar. 26 at the Lexington track.

“Quarter Horse racing is and always has been extremely important to me and my family's origins in the sport of horse racing,” Asmussen told stallionesearch.com. “To have the opportunity to run Quarter Horses at the Red Mile is something that I am looking forward to doing, as I am all for supporting the industry.”

“Both Wayne [Lukas] and I do not forget where we came from, and we are both proud of our backgrounds in running Quarter Horses that has been so instrumental with making us the horsemen we are today.”

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Kevin Costello has officially won the 2023 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) Tour, the first ever in the contest's 16 year history to win twice, announced the NTRA via press release Friday.

Having previously won in 2021 and qualifying every year since 2016, Costello secured a seat to the 2025 NHC in addition to the prize money and is eligible to take home a $5-million bonus should he become a three-peat winner at the 25th NHC competition in Las Vegas. Costello finished the 2023 Tour season with 24,053 points from 31 contests.

It was a close race for spots behind him as Michael Mulvihill finished in second with 22,991 points; Evan Trommer finished in third with 22,709 points; Sally Goodall placed fourth at 22,600 points; and Brett Wiener came in fifth with 22,399 points. The complete 2023 Tour results can be found here.

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Slider (Jimmy Creed), third last out in the GII San Vincente S. to Nysos (Nyquist), will miss Saturday's Gotham S. at Aqueduct with a bruised left front foot, according to part-owners Rob Murphy and West Point Thoroughbreds' Terry Finley.

Murphy, one of the West Point Partners, said that Slider had shipped to New York on Tuesday to prepare for the race, but came up with the issue Friday morning.

Finley, a partner in the horse, said that X-rays of Slider's foot and ankle had come up negative.

Slider broke his maiden in his second start at Del Mar on Sept. 9, before winning the Speakeasy S. at Santa Anita. He was 9th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint before making his 2024 debut in the Jan. 6 San Vincente.

The partners had no word on Slider's next start.

Murphy pitched in the major leagues for 11 years and was one of the most effective left-handed relievers in the game, playing primarily for the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox.

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The Maryland Horse Breeders Association named the winners of the Renaissance Champion Awards Thursday with Intrepid Daydream (Jess's Dream) topping the list as Maryland-bred Horse of the Year. The Miller Racing LLC-owned filly also added honors as Champion Older Female and Champion Sprinter. Other winners include:

Champion 2-year-old Male–Catahoula Moon (Golden Lad)

Champion 2-year-old Filly–Kissedbyanangel (Golden Lad)

Champion 3-year-old Male–Seven's Eleven (Bandbox)

Champion 3-year-old Filly–Bosserati (Holy Boss)

Champion Older Male–Double Crown (Bourbon Courage)

Champion Turf Runner–Wet My Beak (Union Rags)

Breeders of the Year–Dr. And Mrs. Thomas Bowman

Trainer of the Year–Brittany Russell

The video announcement of all winners can be viewed here.

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MGSW/GISP Tizamagician (Tiznow) was represented by his first foal, a filly, born Feb. 26 at Milky Way Farm in California. Out of the winning mare Esfera (Orb), the foal was bred by Starlene and David Justice's Vendetta Racing Stables. Tizamagician, winner of the GII Cougar S. and the GII Tokyo City Cup S. in California and runner up to Tripoli (Kitten's Joy) in the GI TVG Pacific Classic, retired to stud last year at Milky Way Farm with earnings of over $740,000.

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Horse racing in New York registered a $3-billion impact on the Empire State's economy and an employment impact of 19,785 in 2023, per results released from the American Horse Council's 2023 Economic Impact Study.

“It's impressive to see how much of an economic engine horse racing is in the state of New York,” said NYTHA President Tina Marie Bond. “Together with a total economic impact of $3 billion statewide, racing has added over 2,000 direct jobs in the past five years. Racing supports land preservation and green space across the state, and is a significant driver of tourism both in the Capital Region and on Long Island. With the Belmont Stakes Festival at Saratoga for 2024 and 2025, as well as a redeveloped Belmont Park on the horizon, racing will continue to boost local economies and provide jobs for years to come.”

“The findings from the American Horse Council's economic impact study for New York report that the breeding and racing industry is an invaluable asset to our state,” said NYTB President Dr. Scott Ahlschwede, D.V.M. “Our state-bred program has positioned itself as the leading regional program in the nation, and we look forward to continuing to work with our fellow stakeholders to ensure that the additional investment in breeding and racing in New York will result in added revenue for all areas across the state.”

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All continues to go smoothly for D. J. Stable and Robert Cotran's undefeated GIII Holy Bull S. winner Hades (Awesome Slew), a trend trainer Joe Orseno hopes to see continue as the colt sits out Saturday's GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park to await the GI Florida Derby.

Since his two length score in the first leg of the Florida series, Hades has worked twice at four furlongs and at a mile, which prompted the connections to give the second leg some consideration before deciding to pass.

“He's doing great, that's the problem. It's hard to sit still,” Orseno said. “But in the grand scheme of things and what we're trying to accomplish, it's probably the right thing to do. I've seen too many people try to run in all three races here and then you have nothing left. We're just trying to do right by the horse.”

Potentially, Hades could be Orseno's second GI Kentucky Derby starter. He entered Thunder Blitz in 2001, who was fourth behind Monarchos.

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With nine weeks until the 150th running of the GI Kentucky Derby, NBC Sports will continue its coverage of the 1/ST RACING TOUR this Saturday, Mar. 2, live at 5 p.m. ET on CNBC and Peacock. The hour and a half long program, featuring three live races, will be headlined by the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. from 1/ST's Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Dornoch (Good Magic), winner of the 2023 GII Remsen S. and a full-brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, is the morning-line favorite in the Fountain of Youth, which awards 50 Kentucky Derby qualification points to the winner of the race.

The additional stakes races that will be presented live on CNBC and Peacock are the GIII Honey Fox S. and GIII Canadian Turf S. from Gulfstream Park.

Britney Eurton will host Saturday's coverage alongside analyst and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, analyst Randy Moss, and reporters Michelle Yu and Matt Bernier. Yu will report on-site from Santa Anita and Bernier will report on-site from Gulfstream.

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Claiborne Farm Feb. 29 reported the first mare has checked in foal to Annapolis (War Front), the operation said in a release Thursday.

The 5-year-old was bred to St Claude (Tiznow), who is owned by Pete and Martha Williams and is boarded at Nicky Drion Thoroughbreds. She is from the family of Horse of the Year Flightline and tallied her first registered colt Jan. 12 by Army Mule.

A graded stakes winner at 2 and 3 as a homebred for Bass Racing under trainer Todd Pletcher, Annapolis set a new stakes record in the GI Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland.

Annapolis's dam, My Miss Sophia (Unbridled's Song), was a graded stakes winner on dirt and runner-up in the GI Kentucky Oaks. The Claiborne sire also includes 'TDN Rising Star' GI Florida Derby hero Materiality (Afleet Alex), GI Alabama S. victress Embellish the Lace (Super Saver) and GI Travers S. victor Afleet Express (Afleet Alex).

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With an expected record attendance of over 120 participants, the 28th annual training and networking conference held by the Organization of Racing Investigators (ORI) is set for Sunday, Mar. 3 and will run through Wednesday, Mar. 6 at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.

The TDN's CEO/Publisher Sue Finley will serve as the keynote speaker during the group's Monday evening dinner and awards ceremony, where her remarks will focus on horse racing, the media and integrity.

Central to ORI is the pursuit of integrity and education for its members. Interactions among investigators through networking helps to create lasting relationships between jurisdictions. This year's attendees hail from 18 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, Ireland, England, France and South Africa.

The event will feature 16 presenters over the course of Monday and Tuesday, as members soak up the latest information concerning a host of pertinent topics directly related to their day-to-day work policing racetracks in their home states.

A broad range of case studies include unregulated horse racing, stable area access systems and equine safety stewarding, just to name a few. Representatives from various organizations like the British Horseracing Authority, the Comisión de Juegos de Puerto Rico, the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit and the Association of Racing Commissioners International will participate.

“Each year our attendance continues to grow and we would like to thank Parx for rolling out the red carpet for us and all of our sponsors for their assistance,” said ORI Chairman Jason Klouser of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission. “This year's conference will have record attendance of over 120 individuals and has something for everyone. From the rookie investigator to the most seasoned, this is all about the general health of the sport. We are very pleased to welcome Sue as our featured speaker.”

“The question of integrity in horse racing has never been more important than it is right now, and the media has an important role to play in that question,” said Finley. “I look forward to speaking to the investigators and discussing how the roles we each play affect one another.”

Click here for the Parx Conference program.

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Siena Farm and WinStar Farm's Speak Easy (Constitution), who had been cross-entered in an optional-claimer Friday, will take his place in the line-up for Saturday's GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park. The sophomore debuted with an impressive victory going seven furlongs at the Hallandale oval Jan. 27. He drew the rail and will be facing eight other 3-year-olds in the 1 1/16-miles Fountain of Youth.

“We like the post and the way he's been training,” trainer Todd Pletcher said Thursday.

Irad Ortiz Jr., who was slated to ride Speak Easy Friday, will have the return mount in the Fountain of Youth.

Speak Easy had been installed as the 3-5 morning-line favorite in a field of seven 3-year-olds entered in Friday's seventh race, a 1 1/8-mile optional-claiming allowance. Courtlandt Farms' Conquest Warrior (City of Light) is expected to be favored in his absence. Trained by Shug McGaughey, Conquest Warrior was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following a gutsy victory in a Jan. 13 maiden special weight race.

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HISA's mission is to protect the integrity of competition and the welfare of horses in the Thoroughbred racing industry. The Banned Substances list, set forth under HISA's Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program, is one of the many ways HISA advances this mission.

Under HISA's ADMC Program, substances with no legitimate, medically justified use in Thoroughbreds are among those classified as Banned Substances, just as they are under the anti-doping programs being run by other equine sports' governing bodies.

Many “non-approved substances” on the Banned Substances list have not been proven to enhance performance, but the fact that they may have performance-enhancing effects–and have no legitimate, medically justified use–is reason enough for inclusion on the list. Horse racing and many other sports take the common sense approach that, for the sake of equine or human athlete's well-being, substances with unknown effects on their bodies should never be permitted to be in their systems.

In line with the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU's) commitment to enforcing the ADMC Program equally and fairly, Responsible Persons can provide context for a violation when notified of suspected rule violations. Following the issuance of a Charge Letter, a Responsible Person may request a hearing before a member of the independent Arbitral Body, where they can present evidence of inadvertent human transfer. Additionally, HISA's Atypical Findings Policy addresses prohibited substances commonly found through environmental contamination (e.g. caffeine, ractopamine, scopolamine). If a horse tests positive for a substance listed in the Atypical Findings Policy, further investigation and review will take place between HIWU and the Responsible Person to determine if the case should be deemed negative or pursued as a violation. A charge is only pursued if the investigation concludes that contamination is not likely to be the cause of the positive. To date, HIWU has received 35 Atypical Findings and only two have resulted in charges.

To ensure fair representation, HISA has also appointed an Ombudsman to help guide Responsible Persons who have questions about their cases and the process and has established a pro bono program to match those who meet certain income and asset requirements with attorneys who have agreed to provide legal services at no cost.

The HISA Board and ADMC Committee extends its appreciation to the vast majority of racing participants who operate in compliance with HISA's ADMC rules and share our commitment to the highest standards of safety, integrity and welfare. Our broad definition of Banned Substances as any substance without a legitimate, medically justified use in Thoroughbreds aligns with this high standard for protecting equine athletes from harm.

Charles Scheeler is the Chair of HISA Board of Directors. Scheeler is a retired partner at DLA Piper, ran investigations in performance-enhancing substance use in Major League Baseball. Pennsylvania State University investigation in the Big Ten Conference and safety practices within the University of Maryland football program. Prior to joining DLA Piper, Scheeler was a federal prosecutor in Maryland.

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With a forecast of heavy rains, Santa Anita has shifted its Saturday racing card–which was to feature the GI Santa Anita H.–to Sunday. Heavy rain is expected in the Arcadia area into Saturday afternoon, but Sunday's forecast calls for sunny skies and a high temperature of 62 degrees. The decision to move Saturday's card was done in consultation with Dennis and Robert Moore, who oversee Santa Anita track maintenance, as well as with officials from the CHRB, TOC, CTT and Jockeys' Guild.

The Santa Anita H., GI Kilroe Mile, GII DK Horse San Felipe S. and the GII Buena Vista S. will now all be run Sunday with a first post time of 12:30 p.m. Entries for the 10-race card will be available Thursday afternoon.

Races originally scheduled for Sunday will be drawn Thursday and carded on Monday, with regular first post time at 12:30 p.m.

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LRE Racing LLC and JEH Racing Stable's four-time Grade I winner Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) has recovered from the fever that forced him to miss last weekend's G2 1351 Turf Sprint in Saudi Arabia and is now being prepared for an appearance in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on the Dubai World Cup undercard Mar. 30, co-owner Lee Einsidler confirmed Thursday.

“You know, it's funny, if the Saudi race had been in Florida, we wouldn't have had to miss it,” Einsidler said of last weekend's contest, in which Casa Creed was beaten a neck in 2022 and a head in 2023. “He had a fever for one day and we were on the cusp, but we didn't want to put that stress on him of shipping halfway around the world if he wasn't 100%. We didn't want him to get off the plane in Saudi Arabia not feeling good. He's been training great, he'd been training up to the [Saudi] race great, but we had the fortunate alternative of going to Dubai, so we said let's just wait.”

Casa Creed was a close fifth behind A Case of You (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}) in the 2022 Al Quoz.

Casa Creed, co-owned by New York radio personality Mike Francesa, returned to the worktab at Payson Park Feb. 23, breezing an easy half-mile in :50.20 for trainer Bill Mott.

“The plan was never to go to Saudi Arabia and then to Dubai,” Einsidler continued. “The plan was to go to Saudi and come home like we did last year, so we'll just go straight to Dubai instead. We're very excited. I've never been, so there's a good chance that my son Jeffrey, who is totally into it with me, is going to come with me.”

A two-time winner of the GI Jaipur S. over six furlongs and the two-time defending champion of the GI Fourstardave H. going a mile, the 8-year-old Casa Creed holds a special place in Einsidler's heart.

“He's meant so much to us in our lives. You think about a horse like Casa Creed every day,” he said. “He's just been so special to us. From the time we got him, he told us all that he loves to be a racehorse and for me, racing is the ultimate escape from the daily trials and tribulations of life. He's been a great separation from things you deal with in your life.”

Casa Creed has provided Einsidler, the CEO of the Casamigos brand of tequila, a measure of peace and joy after tragically losing his son Aaron in August 2020.

“Casa Creed brought us and continues to bring us so much joy and so much pleasure and excitement,” he said. “We're just thrilled to have him as part of our life. To be running at eight years of age and competing at the highest level, it's a dream come true for a horse owner, it's so rare. We've been truly blessed.”

Tentative plans call for Casa Creed to pass this year's Jaipur, as it has been shortened to 5 1/2 furlongs during the Belmont at Saratoga meeting and he is a candidate for the $350,000 GIII Poker S. on the Belmont S. undercard the same afternoon, June 8. The long-term goal would be the Fourstardave, where Casa Creed was third in 2020 and 2021 before winning the prestigious race the last two seasons.

“That would be just ridiculous,” Einsidler exclaimed. “Just to be in the race five times is incredible, to win it for a third time would be an amazing accomplishment.”

Luis Saez has ridden Casa Creed in his last 11 starts and has a return call for the 1200-meter Al Quoz.

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Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and Tampa Bay Downs will highlight accredited aftercare during Saturday's card, which features the GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby. The track will honor TAA with a named race on the day's undercard. Following the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance named race, a presentation will be made in the winner's circle and winning connections will be given a TAA blanket and gift bag with branded merchandise.

A representative from TAA will also be on-site to host the winners of the VIP Experience from the “Off to the Races” online benefit auction. Generously donated by Tampa Bay Downs and Tom Cannell, the winners of this VIP Experience will enjoy premium dining, access to the paddock and winner's circle for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Race.

“We are very excited to welcome back Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance to the 2024 Tampa Bay Derby,” said Margo Flynn, Vice President of Marketing, Tampa Bay Downs. “We are proud to support their mission and spread awareness for accredited aftercare.”

Emily Dresen, TAA's Director of Funding and Events, said, “We are so excited to be back at Tampa Bay Downs for the Tampa Bay Derby. Tampa Bay Downs has remained a committed partner and advocate for accredited aftercare, and we are thrilled to participate on one of their biggest days of racing.”

The TAA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding.

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The board of directors of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation has authorized expenditure of $2,455,164 to fund 11 new projects and 13 continuing projects at 14 universities, as well as three career development awards.

“Once again, this year's projects affect all types of horses in every stage of development demonstrating Grayson's commitment to all breeds and disciplines,” said Jamie Haydon, president of Grayson. “I am especially pleased that we were able to offer a special career development award this year in honor of Nancy Kelly, who was Grayson's vice president of development for many years and was an advocate for nurturing young researchers.”

The projects, listed alphabetically by school, are: Diet Nonstructural Carbohydrates Alter Ovarian Functions (Elaine Carnevale, Colorado State University); Equine Tendinopathy: Advanced Imaging and Tenex Efficacy (Brad Nelson, Colorado State University); Shining A Light On The Black Box Of Early Pregnancy Loss (Amanda de Mestre, Cornell University); Ketodoxapram As A Treatment For Atrial Fibrillation (Annelies Decloedt, Ghent University); Adiponectin as a Clinical Biomarker for Laminitis Risk (Melody De Laat, Queensland University of Technology); Role of C1q in Rhodococcal Infection (Angela Bordin, Texas A&M AgriLife Research); Novel Protein Targets for R. equi Serology and Vaccines (Noah Cohen, Texas A&M AgriLife Research); Insulin Dysregulation: Placental Changes And Foal Health (Elaine Norton, University of Arizona); Novel Method for Diagnosis of Nocardioform Placentitis (Shavahn Loux, University of Kentucky); Polyacrylamide For Joint Therapy-Critical Things Unknown (Bruno Menarim, University of Kentucky (Gluck)); Risk Assessment For Proximal Sesamoid Bone Fracture (Peter Muir, University of Wisconsin-Madison).

Dr. Rebecca Bishop, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, was awarded the Storm Cat Career Development Award. Inaugurated in 2006, the award grants $20,000 to an individual considering a career in equine research. Dr. Bishop's prosposed study is a multiomic investigation of peritoneal fluid in colic.

Dr. Rebecca Legere, Texas A&M University, was awarded the the Elaine and Bertram Klein Career Development Award. First awarded in 2015, the award grants $20,000 to a prospective equine researcher. Dr. Legere's project, passive immunization against Rhodococcus equi using MRNA, will attempt to deliver mRNA encoding monoclonal antibody to the lungs of foals to enable more effective immunoprophylaxis of rhodococcal pneumonia.

Additionally, Grayson will sponsor a one-time career development award in honor of Nancy C. Kelly, who died Feb. 9. As the vice president of development for Grayson, Kelly helped raise millions of dollars for equine research. She was also the executive director of The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation, organizing countless fundraising events.

The recipient of this special award is Lauren Hughes, University of Minnesota, and her project is “Genetics of Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) Risk.”

Since 1940, Grayson has provided more than $42.3 million to underwrite more than 437 projects at 47 universities.

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