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Roel Dill will become Del Mar's new chief financial officer. Ann Hall has been named executive vice president, chief operating officer, and Lynn Wright has been promoted to executive vice president, chief accounting officer.

True Love gave Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore a second 2-year-old winner of the week at Royal Ascot with an authoritative performance in the June 18 Queen Mary Stakes (G2).

The 2025 Godolphin Flying Start graduation ceremony took place in the Cape Cross Centre at Kildangan Stud in Ireland June 13.

The panel of racing experts tied in the voting for Jockey of the Week June 9 through June 15, honoring both Paco Lopez, a 12-time winner this past week, and Umberto Rispoli, a 10-time winner, for their accomplishments.

The 29-day Santa Anita Hollywood Meet wrapped up June 15 with Antonio Fresu winning the jockey’s title, Phil D’Amato as top trainer, and Nick Alexander as leading owner.

The first of two sessions at the Ocala Breeders June 2-Year-Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age Sale got underway June 17 with a colt by Yaupon headlining the day at $300,000 selling to Saffie Joseph Jr.

The first of three daytime Thoroughbred meets this year at Los Alamitos will begin Friday, June 20, for a nine-day Los Angeles County Fair season continuing through Sunday, July 6.

The Patrick Biancone-trained Lennilu takes on Karl Burke's Zelaina in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) June 18.

Maiden Watch: Week of June 9-June 15

Maria Borell's application for a license to train Thoroughbred horses in Kentucky nine years after she left the state in the wake of a scandal was unsuccessful. She withdrew the application after a June 17 hearing.

Field of Gold left a pair of classic winners, Night of Thunder and Ruling Court, completely flat-footed en route to a St James's Palace Stakes (G1) victory at Ascot.

Jorge Navarro, the self-proclaimed “Juice Man” and a central figure in the doping scandal that rocked the sport in 2020, was released Wednesday from the federal prison FCI Miami, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator website.

On December 17, 2021, Navarro was handed a five-year sentence for his leading role in the felony drug misbranding and adulteration charges arising from an investigation that involved the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York. He began serving his sentence on March 18, 2022.

Had he served his full sentence he would not have been released until March, 2027. It was not immediately known why he was released so early. Federal parole was largely abolished for crimes committed after November 1, 1987. Sentencing guidelines call for a prison term of up to five years with a requirement that at least 85% of the eventual sentence be served. Navarro served only three years and three months of his sentence or 65% of the original five-year sentence.

“For years, Mr. Navarro, you effectively stole millions, cheating other trainers, owners and jockeys you competed against,” Judge Mary K. Vyskocil said at his sentencing. “You also demonstrated, Mr. Navarro, a collective, callous disregard for the well-being of the horses. The bottom line is you likely killed or endangered the horses in your care.”

It was not known where Navaro went Wednesday, but his stay in the U.S. may not last long. Before his client was sentenced attorney Jason Kreiss said that it was all but certain that Navarro would be deported to his native Panama after serving his sentence. He is not a U.S. citizen.

“He is facing an almost certain deportation to (Panama) where he has almost no familial, social, or economic ties” and “may even serve a longer incarceration term than ordered by the Court as a result of the collateral consequences of separate (Department of Homeland Security) deportation proceedings, which will only commence once he is transferred from the (Federal Bureau of Prisons) to (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement),” Kriese said.

Trainer Jason Servis, the other major name in the case, is serving his sentence at Pensacola FPC and is not scheduled to be released until 7-16-26.

This story will be updated.

The post Jorge Navarro Released from Prison appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

NYRA CEO David O'Rourke has a lot on his plate these days. There's the rebuild of the Belmont stands, the shuffling back and forth between Long Island and Saratoga for the GI Belmont Stakes and the preparation for the return of the Breeders' Cup in 2027. That meant there was a lot to cover when O'Rourke joined our team for this week's TDN Writers' Room Podcast presented by Keeneland. O'Rourke was the Gainesway Guest of the Week.

On the subject of moving the GI Belmont Stakes a few weeks back on the calendar so that there is more time between Triple Crown races, O'Rourke said that is not something that will happen anytime soon.

“For the near future, nothing is going to happen. Next year is the World Cup. So, it's going to start right after the week after Belmont. So nothing would happen in the near term,” O'Rourke said.

When the idea of running the three races on the first Saturday in May, the first Saturday in June and the first Saturday in July came up O'Rourke didn't seem eager to go in that direction.

“Do people have to stick to the pattern?” he said. “Would we be moving these things just for NYRA's benefit or just for the industry? I agree that for the industry, the Triple Crown is the Holy grail. It's the one thing that works. How much do we want to play with it? If you've moved it that far and it didn't work, what do you do? So I would say that you're probably looking at what's being contemplated internally. And there have been some conversations that would be more of an incremental move than a drastic one because this is the one thing is sacred to really our sport. It's the one thing where the metrics are significant. It's our moment. And if we move, if we play with it too much, we could break it.”

With so much rain falling during the Belmont-at-Saratoga meet, which cost NYRA more than $30 million in handle, is there any talk of putting in a synthetic track at Saratoga?

“We've looked at it,” he said. “It's just difficult with the configuration. So, in the near term, no. Now might we play around with the training surface somewhere, possibly an uphill for long jogs, something like that. But in terms of the main surfaces now, there's even some ideas out there, and you can think of them as sort of crazy, as putting one over at Oklahoma and bringing off the turf races over there in bad weather.”

NYRA has been plagued by short fields in the stakes races it has run so far this year. It not unusual to see them come up with four horses with the racing being run as the second on the card.

“We're constantly looking at the stakes schedule,” he said. “From the owner point of view, that black-type is really important, especially on the female side. I understand your point that there are too many options at certain times for certain divisions and at a certain level? Let's just think about the graded level and I'll fall back onto a pattern committee in terms of kind of forcing the best horses in a certain pattern direction. I think that would be best for the sport, but that's going to take another version of consensus with everyone buying in. But I hear what you're saying.”

In our “Fastest Horse of the Week,” segment, which is sponsored by WinStar, we went over the many reasons there are breed to WinStar stallion Constitution. The fastest horse of the week was Nash (Medaglia d'Oro), who ran a 106 when winning a June 13 allowance at Churchill Downs

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, West Point Thoroughbreds, 1/ST Racing and 1/ST TV, the team of Randy Moss, TD Thornton and Bill Finley discussed the raid of the Delta Downs backstretch by agents of ICE and wondered if this would be the first of many raids at racetracks. They also talked about the situation in Louisiana, which seems to change by the minute, but it now appears that the 2025-2026 meet at the Fair Grounds  will be run. And now that he's won over 3,000 races, including two GI Kentucky Derbies and 43 graded stakes in all, does Doug O'Neill deserve too be in the Hall of Fame?

To watch the Writers' Room, click here. To view the show as a podcast, click here.

The post David O’Rourke Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast Presented by Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Last week, economics professors Marshall Gramm and Nick McKinney published a study in these pages showing the impacts at Aqueduct the past four winters from CAW players during the last flash across all the pools.

According to that study, the percentage share from CAW players of monies wagered last-minute into the Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta and Early Pick 5 pools (among others) had jumped significantly between 2022 and 2024.

In light of that published study, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) has issued a statement explaining that, in the fall of 2023, the organization had switched tote operators—from AmTote to United Tote—resulting in “material differences” in how the pool cycles are managed.

“It would be impossible to make any meaningful determinations about the final cycle data without understanding and accounting for the 2023 change in tote operations,” wrote NYRA spokesperson, Pat McKenna.

NYRA's full statement is as follows:

“NYRA transitioned tote operations from AmTote to United Tote in the Fall of 2023, an important fact not mentioned or discussed in the analysis recently published by TDN. There are material differences in how these operators manage pool cycles, which is reflected in the 2024 data as compared with 2023. It would be impossible to make any meaningful determinations about the final cycle data without understanding and accounting for the 2023 change in tote operations.

“In recent years, NYRA has implemented a series of policies that effectively restrict the wagering activity of CAW groups. In addition, NYRA is developing technology designed to provide retail customers with advanced wagering tools and more information than ever before.”

The post NYRA: Gramm-McKinney Analysis Affected by Changes in Tote Operations appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association (PHBA) will host the Commonwealth's first-ever Pennsylvania Yearling Show.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place Saturday, June 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Brandywine Polo Club in New Garden, PA (232 Polo Road, Toughkenamon, PA 19374).

Pennsylvania-Bred horses will be vying for more than $5,000 in awards and prizes. Horses will be placed in one of four classes depending on whether they are colts, geldings or fillies, as well as whether they were sired by a Pennsylvania stallion.

“We created the Pennsylvania Yearling Show as a way to showcase our Pennsylvania-bred Thoroughbreds and generate interest in horse breeding here in the Commonwealth,” said Brian Sanfratello, Executive Secretary of the PHBA. “Our goal is to build on this inaugural event and expand the size and scope each year to create a major annual showcase of Pennsylvania yearlings. We encourage the public to come out and enjoy a family-friendly day at the Brandywine Polo Club and see some of our Pennsylvania-bred horses up close.”

The horses will be judged by Russell Jones, a long-time Pennsylvania breeder and member of the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission.

The post PA Horse Breeders Association to Host First-Ever Yearling Show appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

A Father's Day event hosted by The National Thoroughbred League (NTL) at Parx drew over 6000 fans, an NTL record, and generating a $1.55 million handle—a 65% increase over last year's Father's Day card at Parx, according to a NTL release Wednesday.

The event was hosted by the Philadelphia Stallions, which is co-owned by retired basketball star Julius “Dr. J” Erving.

The California Shamrocks won the Philadelphia Cup with the top four teams finishing within 2 points of each other. The New York Knights remain in first place overall at the midpoint of the league's third season.

Numerous celebrities attended the weekend festivities, including Erving, Philadelphia Eagles legends Seth Joyner and Hollis Thomas, Hall of Fame jockey Jose Santos and Jarobi White, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member of A Tribe Called Quest.

For more information on the NTL and upcoming events, visit www.NTL.Racing.

 

The post National Thoroughbred League Draws 6,000 Patrons for Philadelphia Cup at Parx appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.

The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

 

Resolved ADMC Violations

 

Date: 06/17/2025

Licensee: Luis Fernando Gonzalez, trainer

Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender

(as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.

Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone and Flunixin–both controlled substances (Class C)–in a sample taken from Swen on 5/2/25.

 

Date: 06/17/2025

Licensee: Jorge Abreu, trainer

Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.

Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Curlin's Angel on 5/2/25.

 

Date: 06/16/2025

Licensee: Tanner Tracy, trainer

Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.

Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Rockets Sister on 5/8/24.

Date: 06/12/2025

Licensee: Carmelo Ortiz-Ruiz, trainer

Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.

Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Boxster on 4/6/25.

 

Pending ADMC Violations

 

06/17/2025, Natalie Cowan, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Beauty Bolt on 5/2/25.

 

06/16/2025, Edward Barker, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Mepivacaine–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Cajunette, who finished second at Finger Lakes on 5/12/25.

 

06/13/2025, Ricardo Vega, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Regalpains, who

finished fourth at Parx Racing on 5/13/25.

 

06/11/2025 and 6/17/25, Dr. Donald J. McCrosky, veterinarian: Pending violations for the use or attempted use of the banned substance Testosterone on Tigger Attack for an event dated 10/29/24; as well as for the “Possession of a Banned Substance, and for the “Tampering or Attempted Tampering by a Covered Person with any part of Doping Control or Medication Control,” involving the banned substances Levothyroxine, Ammonium Chloride, Testosterone Cypionate/DHEA, Ammonium Sulfate and Osphos for an event dated 4/22/25.

 

06/11/2025 and 6/17/25, Angel Sanchez-Pinero, trainer: Pending medication violations for the presence of bronchodilator Formoterol (Aformoterol)–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Laguardia, who finished second at Parx Racing on 3/26/25; and for the presence of bronchodilator Albuterol (Salbutamol)–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Gone Boy, who won at Aqueduct on 4/19/25.

The post Weekly Rulings: National Regulatory Rulings for June 12 -18 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Woodbine Entertainment has relaunched the philanthropic initiative Woodbine Cares under a renewed banner: “For the Love of the Horse Racing Community,” according to a track release Wednesday.

“This refreshed focus on 'For the Love of the Horse Racing Community' reflects our organization's commitment to what matters most – the people, the horses, and the entire racing community,” said Michael Copeland, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “By concentrating our efforts on horse welfare and on those who work tirelessly behind the scenes, Woodbine Cares is helping build a vibrant and sustainable future for Ontario horse racing. We're investing in the well-being of our equine athletes and the dedicated individuals who care for them, because their success and welfare are the foundation of our sport's success for generations to come.”

As part of the relaunch, Woodbine Cares is donating $250,000 annually towards three key focus areas and invest in major new initiatives across each: Equine Welfare & Aftercare, Food programs and Support for Backstretch Workers and Racing Workforce Development.

For more information on the Woodbine Cares initiative, click here.

The post Woodbine Cares Relaunched Under ‘For the Love of the Racing Community’ Banner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Roel Dill has been appointed the new Chief Financial Officer by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, according to an organization release Wednesday. Additionally, Ann Hall has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Lynn Wright has been pegged as the Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer.

Dill formerly served as Qualcomm's Senior Director, Finance of Qualcomm's Technology Licensing business unit and Ventures and Treasury groups. Prior to Qualcomm, he was a Senior Manager at KPMG, where he worked on DMTC's audit team.

His full DMTC title, as of June 1, is Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer.

Del Mar's Mike Ernst, who has filled that role for the past 33 years, has been named Executive Vice President, Finance.

Hall, who has served in multiple capacities since joining DMTC in its accounting department in 1994, was the track's Senior Vice President for Operations and Administration. Her new role will see her take on the additional responsibilities of all general day-to-day operations of the seaside racing facility that first opened in 1937.

Wright, a long-tenured staff member, has overseen DMTC's accounting team for more than a dozen years. She joined Del Mar in 1990, initially as Director of Financial Reporting and Planning. Subsequently, she was elevated to the role of Controller and Vice President. She now oversees the track's accounting, payroll and financial planning functions.

The post Del Mar Names Dill New CFO, Promotes Hall and Wright appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Hip 340, a filly by Higher Power bred by Everythings Cricket Racing, sold for $110,000 Tuesday at the OBS June sale. Photo courtesy of Hernandez Stables Inc.

Fillies by New York-based sires Honest Mischief and Solomini were among the leading New York-breds sold during the opening session of the OBS June sale of 2-year-olds in training Tuesday in Ocala, Florida.

Roddy Valente purchased the Honest Mischief filly, Hip 180, for $40,000.

Bred by Sequel Stallions NY LLC and Scott Miller, foaled at Meadow View Thoroughbreds in Canajoharie and consigned by Crystal Eclipse Stable, the filly is the third foal out of the winning Any Given Saturday mare Blue Hen Madness.

Honest Mischief, New York’s leading freshman sire in 2024 who stands for $7,500 at Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson. A 9-year-old son of Into Mischief out of the Grade 1-winning Seattle Slew mare Honest Lady, Honest Mischief currently ranks fourth on the New York general sire list and in the top 20 of all second-crop sires in North America.

Trainer Bruce Brown, agent, went to $35,000 to purchase Hip 159, a daughter of Solomini out of the stakes-placed Bellamy Road mare Bella’s Flair.

Hip 159, a filly by Solomini bred by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds and partners, sold for $35,000 Tuesday at OBS June. Photo courtesy of McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds.

Bred by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds LLC, Windswept Stable and partners, foaled at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs and consigned by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, agent, the filly is a half-sister to three winners including the five-time winner and $205,107-earning New York-bred Awesome Alana.

Solomini, a 10-year-old son of Curlin out of the Storm Cat mare Surf Song, stands for $7,500 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs. Currently ranked third on the New York general sire list, Solomini topped the Empire State’s freshman sire list in 2023.

Hip 340, a filly from the second crop of Higher Power, commanded the session’s top price for a New York-bred at $110,000 from Good Ole Boy Investments.

Bred by Everythings Cricket Racing, foaled at Stonegate Stables in Fort Edward and consigned by Hernandez Stables Inc., agent, the filly is the 11th foal out of the unraced Lemon Drop Kid mare Gold Anklet. She’s the dam of four winners, including stakes-placed Little Daddy, and the unraced Uncle Mo mare Mo Joy, the dam of graded stakes-winning New York-bred Mo Plex.

OBS reported sales on 17 of the 24 New York-breds offered Tuesday for a total of $441,000, an average price of $25,941 and median of $20,000.

The sale concludes with the final session, which includes a horses of racing age section, at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

The post Honest Mischief, Solomini fillies fare well at OBS June appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.