Monday, April 23 2012

RICE, VELASQUEZ, DRAWING AWAY WIN BIG A’S SPRING MEET TITLES

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The battle for the training title at Aqueduct Racetrack’s spring meet came down to the final race on closing day, with favored Thisskysabeauty and jockey Cornelio Velasquez rallying through the stretch Sunday to give Linda Rice a 13-12 victory over Rudy Rodriguez.

Velasquez, who had already sewn up the jockey title, finished with 24 wins to take his second straight spring meet title. David Cohen was second with 20 victories and Eddie Castro third with 18.

Saturday, April 21 2012

NYRA NOTES: Friday, April 20, 2012

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – It’s been a somewhat eventful road to the Kentucky Derby for Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial runner-up Alpha. First there was the matter of his final prep race – before deciding on the Grade 1 Wood, Alpha’s connections seriously considered both the Florida Derby and the Louisiana Derby.

Alpha exited a gallant neck loss to undefeated Gemologist in the Wood with a laceration on his left foreleg incurred when he was forced to steady in the first turn. Originally scheduled to leave for Kentucky on April 16 by van, Alpha was sidelined for several days after the cuts became infected and his departure was delayed as a result. Now, Godolphin Racing plans to fly Alpha to Louisville on April 30, with his final serious work for the Derby expected to come at Belmont Park.

Monday, April 16 2012

NYRA NOTES: Sunday, April 15, 2012

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Saturday was a busy day for Art Magnuson, New York-based assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. After sending out It’s Tricky to victory in Aqueduct’s Grade 2, $200,000 Distaff Handicap, he was off to West Virginia to saddle Redding Colliery in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic, which went off at 10:34 yesterday evening. Magnuson was in good spirits Sunday morning despite the long day, and reported both his charges to be doing well.

“It’s Tricky’s doing great; she came out of the race very well, ate well, she’s happy,” said Magnuson. “Simon Crisford and Jimmy Bell [of Godolphin] will make the final decision on what’s next, but logically it looks like the Phipps [Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Handicap, 1 1/16 miles on May 28 at Belmont Park]. She really came out of it well. She wintered very well in Florida and it’s nice to be able to stay home [and run]. She’s already won two Grade 1s, so we didn’t have to go chasing it. Let them come to us.”

Sunday, April 15 2012

NAPRAVNIK, NEW ADDITION TO NY RIDING COLONY, WINS 4 AT AQUEDUCT

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Rosie Napravnik, who recently began riding full-time in New York, catapulted herself into the top 10 in the Aqueduct Racetrack jockey standings by winning four races on Saturday.

Napravnik first two victories came aboard horses trained by Todd Pletcher, who had three winners on the card. Napravnik and Pletcher teamed up to win race 2 with R King of the Road ($3.60), and then added another score in race 5 with Street Brawl ($12.60).

CLASS CARRIES IT’S TRICKY TO G2 DISTAFF HANDICAP VICTORY

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Godolphin Racing’s It’s Tricky ran her Aqueduct Racetrack record to a perfect 5-for-5 Saturday afternoon as she took the Grade 2, $200,000 Distaff Handicap by 3 ½ lengths.

Breaking sharply, It’s Tricky was taken back slightly on the outside as Don’tbeshy I’ll Buy led through an opening quarter-mile in 22.51, pressed closely by Nicole H, who took over to run a half in 45.13. Steadily encouraged by jockey Eddie Castro to remain in contention as the field turned for home, It’s Tricky was put to a drive while racing three wide into the stretch and grabbed the lead with an eighth of a mile to go, drawing well clear in the final stages.

Friday, April 13 2012

NYRA NOTES: Friday, April 13, 2012

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Grade 1 Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial runner-up Alpha will ship to Louisville for the May 5 Kentucky Derby via overnight van on Monday, April 16, according to Art Magnuson, assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

“Since it’s Kentucky, we’re just going to truck,” said Magnuson. “We’ve had good luck doing that – box stall, overnight, he’ll be fine. Going to and from Florida a lot of times we fly because there are planes available, and I’m sure there will be planes going to Kentucky, but we want to go when we want to go. So, we’ll leave Monday afternoon and he’ll be there Tuesday morning.”

Wednesday, April 11 2012

UNITED TOTE ERROR LEADS TO INCORRECT TAKEOUT RATES FOR NYRA CUSTOMERS ON KEENELAND RACES

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Due to an error originating with the United Tote totalisator system located in Kentucky, customers that wagered through The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) on Keeneland’s Friday, April 6 card and the first two races on Saturday, April 7, were charged incorrect takeout rates. United Tote has accepted full responsibility for the error and has acknowledged this in correspondence to the New York State Racing and Wagering Board and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

As a result, the prices paid through NYRA for the ten Keeneland races on Friday and the first two races on Saturday were incorrect. The Win, Place, and Show wagering takeout rates were 1.5 percent higher than they should have been, the Exotics wagering takeout rates were 3 percent higher than it should have been, and the Pick 4 takeout wagering was 5 percent lower than it should have been. The total underpayment on winning tickets was approximately $10,000.

Monday, April 09 2012

NYRA NOTES; Sunday, April 8, 2012

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Undefeated Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial hero Gemologist departed Belmont Park at the crack of dawn Sunday morning and was expected to arrive at Palm Meadows training center by mid-afternoon to begin preparations for the May 5 Kentucky Derby. Trainer Todd Pletcher said the 3-year-old Tiznow colt would remain in Florida until May 1, when he would leave for Churchill Downs.

“He came out of the race really well,” said Pletcher by phone from Florida. “The tentative schedule is for him to breeze twice between now and the Derby, then fly to Kentucky on May 1. We'll leave the option to call an audible if we so chose, but as long as we're happy with the conditions down here, that's the plan.”

Sunday, April 08 2012

JACKSON BEND HOLDS OFF CALEB’S POSSE TO WIN CARTER

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – With an aggressive move at the five-sixteenths pole off the rail and to the outside, jockey Corey Nakatani positioned Jackson Bend for an epic confrontation with front-running Shackleford in the Grade 1, $400,000 Carter Handicap. After matching strides to the top of the stretch, Jackson Bend finally willed his way to the lead only to have 2011 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Caleb’s Posse close in on him with every stride.

At the wire, Jackson Bend remained in front, by a nose, to win an electrifying 112th edition of the Carter on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

UNDEFEATED GEMOLOGIST SPARKLES IN RESORTS WORLD CASINO NEW YORK CITY WOOD MEMORIAL VICTORY

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Gemologist took the lead at the top of the stretch and turned back a late challenge from Alpha to win Saturday afternoon’s Grade 1, $1 million Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack by a hard-fought neck. Now 5-for-5, the bay son of Tiznow will bring his perfect record and $702,855 in graded stakes earnings to Churchill Downs as one of the likely favorites for the May 5 Kentucky Derby.

“That’s a great win, he’s a great horse,” said a beaming Elliott Walden of WinStar Farm, winning owner of Gemologist. “This stamps him as a Derby prospect, which we’re excited about. We needed the earnings [$600,000] today.”

TRINNIBERG MAKES IT LOOK EASY IN BAY SHORE

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trinniberg got loose on the lead and never looked back in Saturday’s 52nd running of the Grade 3, $250,000 Bay Shore at Aqueduct Racetrack, going on to a three-length victory over Hardened Wildcat to register his second straight graded stakes score.

Sent off as the 6-5 favorite in the field of eight 3-year-olds, the dark bay son of Teuflesberg rolled through an opening quarter-mile in 23.46 seconds and a half in 47.41, and was never seriously threatened as he swept under the wire in 1:23.46 for the seven furlongs.

BROADWAY’S ALIBI GETS STANDING OVATION IN COMELY

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Even-money favorite Broadway’s Alibi ran her winning streak to four Saturday afternoon with a front-running, 3 ½-length victory in the 63rd edition of the Grade 3, $250,000 Comely at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Leaving from post position 1, the 3-year-old Vindication filly went straight to the front and led through an opening quarter-mile in 23.73 seconds and a half in 47.25. Challenged by Singlet and Welcome Guest on the turn, Broadway’s Alibi was asked for more by jockey Javier Castellano as they straightened for home. She responded with a rousing late kick to draw clear through the stretch, hitting the wire in 1:36.53 for the mile.