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Justify Case Likely Heading To Court After CHRB Votes To Uphold 2018 Santa Anita Derby Win

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The California Horse Racing Board voted Thursday to let the stewards’ decision stand and leave eventual Triple Crown champion Justify the winner of the 2018 Santa Anita Derby.

After a hearing on October 29, 2020, the Board of Stewards at Santa Anita Park racetrack issued a Statement of Decision on December 9 to dismiss complaints filed by the current California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) in the combined cases of the horses Justify and Hoppertunity, both of whom had scopolamine detected in post-race samples following their victories.

CHRB filed the complaint as part of a settlement of a lawsuit filed by Mick Ruis, owner of Santa Anita Derby runner-up Bolt d’Oro.

Meeting in executive session Thursday, the seven commissioners considered dual requests from Ruis to either appeal that decision by the stewards or overturn it outright. The commissioners rejected both requests.

“Unbelievable,” said Darrell Vienna, attorney for Ruis. “It’s very disappointing. I guess they want to go to court.”

Vienna said he is considering “a number of legal theories to proceed under” in Los Angeles Superior Court.

“It ain’t over till the fat lady sings,” Vienna said, “and she’s just getting warmed up.”

The post Justify Case Likely Heading To Court After CHRB Votes To Uphold 2018 Santa Anita Derby Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Tampa Bay Downs: Glyshaw Saddles 500th Career Winner

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Tim Glyshaw’s immediate reaction to scoring career victory No. 500 in Friday’s 10th race at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla., was tongue-in-cheek, but also reflected the life of a trainer who has experienced numerous highs and his share of setbacks since taking out his license in 2004.

“If I have to wait this long to win the next 500,” he said, to no one in particular, “I’ll be really old.”

The head victory by 3-year-old colt Cochise Charlie in the five-furlong turf event in his second career start might have aged the 52-year-old Glyshaw a bit, but he was understandably ecstatic after the Kentucky-bred and jockey Roberto Alvarado, Jr., hung on to defeat Beach Warrior in 57.31 seconds.

“I thought (Alvarado) did a real good job. I’m glad he decided not to ding-dong it on the lead (with pace-setter Good Boy Roy) and kept him a little off of it,” Glyshaw said. “It taught him a little something, and I’m very happy the way he liked the turf. I guess we’ll keep him on it now.”

Glyshaw was also happy to win No. 500 for owner Wayne Spalding of Kentucky, for whom he trained 2017 Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International Stakes winner Bullards Alley. “Wayne just got diagnosed with a serious illness, so it is pretty special to win this for him,” Glyshaw said.

Glyshaw, who came up in the sport under the late Bob Holthus, also trained multiple-G2 winner Bucchero, who competed in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in 2017 and 2018.

“This ranks right up there with going to the Breeders’ Cup twice and to Royal Ascot with Bucchero and winning the Pattison with Bullards Alley,” Glyshaw said. “Winning 500 races is something I never imagined doing when I started training.”

The post Tampa Bay Downs: Glyshaw Saddles 500th Career Winner appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Hard Spun Rising Star Romps in Smarty Jones

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Caddo River (Hard Spun) made good on his ‘TDN Rising Star’-worthy graduation at third asking with a facile first stakes score in Oaklawn’s Smarty Jones S., good for 10 points on the Road to the GI Kentucky Derby.

Away well from his outside post, the 3-5 chalk seized the early advantage and clocked an unpressured opening quarter in :23.12 and a half in :47.16. Extending clear with ease on the backstretch run, the bay rolled home the easiest of winners under a hand ride from Florent Geroux.

Caddo River was second in his first two attempts at seven furlongs, debuting at Saratoga Sept. 5 and next out at Belmont Oct. 11. He took the field from gate to wire next out in a powerhouse performance going a mile at Churchill Nov. 15, romping by 9 1/2 lengths, defeating future Dania Beach S. winner Kentucky Pharoah (American Pharoah), among others.

“He broke very alertly,” Geroux said. “Very nice and relaxed. You want to see these type horses doing it the right way. It’s easy to go to the lead and keep on going. You want them to relax and do everything right. He did everything perfect. The distance doesn’t look like it’s going to be a problem. Very excited about what’s coming up ahead of us with him. Looks like he can run all day, which is a good problem. Hopefully, we can go on, go up the stepping stones and have a nice horse for the first Saturday in May.”

The victor, named for a river in Arkansas, has a 2-year-old half-sister by Into Mischief named Como Square and his thrice graded stakes-placed dam produced a Nyquist colt in 2020 before being bred back to Hard Spun. Second dam It’s True Love was a SW as well and is responsible for recent GIII Allaire DuPont S. winner Eres Tu (Malibu Moon).

SMARTY JONES S., $150,000, Oaklawn, 1-22, 3yo, 1m, 1:38.19, ft.
1–CADDO RIVER, 115, c, 3, by Hard Spun
1st Dam: Pangburn (SW & MGSP, $338,480), by Congrats
2nd Dam: It’s True Love, by Yes It’s True
3rd Dam: Lovin Spoonful, by Dixieland Band
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. ‘TDN Rising Star’ O/B-Shortleaf Stable
(KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent Geroux. $90,000. Lifetime
Record: 4-2-2-0, $166,092.
2–Cowan, 115, c, 3, Kantharos–Tempers Flair, by Smart Strike.
($185,000 Ylg ’19 KEESEP; $385,000 RNA 2yo ’20 OBSMAR).
O-L. William & Corinne Heiligbrodt, Madaket Stables LLC &
Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings, Inc (KY);
T-Steven M. Asmussen. $30,000.
3–Big Thorn, 117, c, 3, The Big Beast–Save a Rose, by Super
Saver. O/B-Alex & JoAnn Lieblong (FL); T-Steven M. Asmussen.
$15,000.
Margins: 10 1/4, 7 1/4, NK. Odds: 0.60, 2.40, 12.40.
Also Ran: Moonlite Strike, Martini Blu, Hardly Swayed, Lawlessness.

Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

The post Hard Spun Rising Star Romps in Smarty Jones appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

GSP Aurelius Maximus to Stud in Louisiana

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GSP Aurelius Maximus (Pioneerof the Nile–La Reina, by A.P. Indy) has been retired from racing and will enter stud in 2021 at Jay Adcock’s Red River Farm in Coushatta, Louisiana. The deal was brokered by Andrew Cary of Cary Bloodstock. The 5-year-old, who will stand in a partnership between Nathan Granger and Stonestreet Stables/George Bolton/Peter Leidel, will stand for $2,000 live foal, with consideration to approved mares.

“Aurelius Maximus is the most exciting horse to retire to Louisiana for many years,” said Cary. “His combination of impeccable pedigree, gorgeous conformation and top-class ability on the racetrack make him a very tantalizing prospect for breeders in the southwest.”

Granger added, “We’re very excited to get a horse of such talent and grit–not to mention his great looks. We’re just as excited to partner with one of the premier ownership groups in the industry in Stonestreet Stables, Mr. Bolton and Mr. Leidel.”

Aurelius Maximus broke his maiden at Belmont Park by 7 3/4 lengths second time out before finishing fourth in the 2018 GI Champagne S. Sidelined afterwards, he kicked off 2020 with two professional allowance victories at Fair Grounds and Churchill Downs before finishing a neck to Mr Freeze (To Honor and Serve) in the GII Hagyard Fayette S. at Keeneland last October.

Aurelius Maximus was conditioned for his final four races by Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

“Aurelius Maximus was an amazing physical,” he said. “He was super athletic and had tremendous heart. If his foals look like him, he’ll make an outstanding sire.”

Stonestreet Stables bloodstock advisor John Moynihan, who purchased Aurelius Maximus privately as a 2-year-old, added, “Aurelius Maximus is among the most talented horses we’ve ever had at Stonestreet. He had legitimate Grade I ability, a ton of natural speed, and has an awesome physical to go with it.”

Aurelius Maximus is one of seven winners produced by the Grade III-winning La Reina, who also produced Grade II winner Chief Havoc (Giant’s Causeway) and Grade III-placed Special Event (Arch). La Reina is a half-sister to Grade I winner and sire Brahms (Danzig) and to SW Olympic (Danzig). This represents the female family of Grade I winners Queena, Too Chic, Chic Shirine, Somali Lemonade, Verrazano, etc.

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