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Pegasus Races, Florida Derby Highlight Gulfstream Championship Meet

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The GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational and Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, presented by EquiTrack, and the GI EquiTrack Florida Derby top a 66-strong stakes schedule for the Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida, the track said in a release Friday afternoon.

The Championship Meet will begin on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26 and will run through Florida Derby day on Mar. 28.

Since its inception in 2017, the Pegasus Series has attracted such luminaries as Arrogate, California Chrome, Gun Runner, Bricks and Mortar, National Treasure, City of Light and Mystik Dan. Six of the prior 10 winners of the Pegasus have also won Breeders’ Cup races. The Pegasus World Cup Turf has been contested by horses from Japan, Ireland, England, South America and South Africa.

Officials at Gulfstream will announce purse money for the three Pegasus races soon.

“We are finalizing the purse structure for the 2027 Pegasus World Cup and evaluating a few opportunities around the event that could impact the final purse,” said Mike Rogers, Executive Vice President of 1/ST Racing. “Rather than delay the release of the overall Gulfstream Park stakes schedule, we felt it was better to publish the schedule now and list the Pegasus purses as to-be-determined. We expect to announce the final purses shortly.”

The $1-million Florida Derby has produced four of the 11 most recent winners of the Kentucky Derby and 26 overall and completes the Gulfstream series that also includes the GIII Holy Bull Stakes and the GII Fountain of Youth Stakes. The Florida Derby will be one of 10 added-money events on closing day, five of which are at the graded level, with total purses of $2.45 million.

The track also offers major prep races on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, including the GIII Forward Gal Stakes, the GII Davona Dale Stakes and the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks.

Opening weekend includes four stakes races for 2-year-olds, the Wait A While Stakes and Pulpit Stakes on Nov. 26 on the turf and the Aventura Stakes and Hallandale Beach Stakes at a mile on the main track.

The post Pegasus Races, Florida Derby Highlight Gulfstream Championship Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Ramsey in ‘Backyard Heaven’ at the Spa This Summer

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Backyard Heaven carried Ken Ramsey and his late wife Sarah’s famed red-and-white silks to three career victories, led by a win in the GII Alysheba S. on Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill Downs in 2018.

The son of Tizway’s name was inspired by the Ramsey family’s summer home overlooking the Oklahoma training track–currently enveloped in beautiful fall foliage–at Saratoga Race Course.

“Sitting back there watching the horses train, I called it backyard heaven,” Ramsey said. “That’s how he got his name. He was a really good horse and looked like he was gonna be a real Derby contender.”

He continued, “The track opens up every morning at 5:30 a.m. (Editor’s Note: Fall training hours begin at 6:30 a.m.) and I move my curtain back and I start watching. I’ve got 100 feet that backs up to the Oklahoma training track and I sit out there every morning on my sun deck and have breakfast. They come off the track right behind me and the exercise riders, trainers and grooms all congregate right where I’m sitting. It’s really nice, I love it up there.”

Ken and Sarah Ramsey enjoy a moment in ‘Backyard Heaven’ at the Spa. Mrs. Ramsey passed away in 2022. | courtesy Ken Ramsey

Ramsey returned to his ‘Backyard Heaven’ this past summer for the entire 45-day meeting for the first time since undergoing life-saving kidney transplant surgery at the Guinness World Record age of 88 years and 230 days old in June 2024. And he wasn’t back in town just to watch.

Ramsey, sporting a pair of blue, latex medical gloves–following his doctor’s orders, of course–wasted little time getting back to business, leading Movin’ On Up (Accelerate) into the winner’s circle following a last-to-first victory in the GII Caress S. July 11.

He also got his picture taken with ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’ Dr. Kapur (McKinzie), who overcame the track bias with a powerful rail run in an allowance race on Travers Day Aug. 29. The bay’s namesake Dr. Sandip Kapur performed Ramsey’s kidney transplant surgery at New York-Presbyterian in Manhattan.

“Getting back in the winner’s circle there, and, especially the Grade II race, that was the first graded stakes race I’ve won since my surgery. I was just flooded with memories,” Ramsey said.

“I had tears in my eyes. I really did. I was emotionally affected by it because it brought back all the memories of me and (late wife Sarah) Kathern and all the big races we had up there with Roses in May winning the Whitney and (champion grass horse and late leading sire) Kitten’s Joy. It brought all that back and it just sort of overwhelmed me. We led the horse in and got an interview on television. It’s something I’ll cherish the rest of my life.”

The Saffie Joseph, Jr.-trained duo will both be in action in upcoming graded stakes during the Keeneland fall meet.

Movin’ On Up will make her final career start in Sunday’s GII Franklin S. before heading into the ring as Hip 119 in the Fasig-Tipton November sale. The 5-year-old mare completed her preparations for the Franklin with a three-furlong bullet in :35.13 (1/9) over the Oklahoma Oct. 5.

Claimed by Ramsey for just $35,000 out of her winning maiden effort at Gulfstream in December 2023, she was last seen finishing third as the favorite in the Floral Park S. at Belmont Park Sept. 19. Produced by a half-sister to GISW Harvey’s Lil Goil (American Pharoah) and GSW and GI Preakness S. runner-up Gosger (Nyquist), the gray has won six of 22 career starts and bankrolled $772,595. She hails from the extended female family of dual Classic winner I’ll Have Another.

Dr. Kapur winning an allowance at the Spa on Travers Day | Tod Marks

Dr. Kapur, a 3-year-old homebred out of Ramsey’s stakes-winning and graded-placed homebred Ava’s Kitten (Kitten’s Joy), is being aimed at the GIII Perryville S. Oct. 17 following a fantastic rallying second in the GII Gallant Bob S. at Parx Sept. 19. He returned to the worktab with a three-furlong breeze in :36.47 (3/9) over the Oklahoma Oct. 4.

“I’m looking forward to going out at Keeneland and putting on a show in front of the home folks,” Ramsey, a lifelong Kentuckian and graduate of the University of Kentucky, said. “And I’ll be out there to lead ’em in!”

Ramsey “cherry picked” eight yearlings, led by a $130,000 Olympiad filly, for $655,000 at last month’s Keeneland September sale. He also remains very active at the claim box with his grandson, trainer Nolan Ramsey.

“I’m not buying cheap horses, I’m buying good horses, cheap,” Ramsey said. “There’s a difference in that.”

Remaining as busy as ever with his 91st birthday around the corner on Nov. 3–he recently completed an options-trading course–slowing down is clearly not in Ramsey’s future.

“I don’t need to work on crossword puzzles,” Ramsey said. “Hell, I handicap the horses and stock market.”

Ken and Sarah Ramsey were recognized as Outstanding Owner four times (2004, 2011 & 2013-14) and Outstanding Breeder twice (2013-14) at the Eclipse Awards. The Ramseys campaigned aforementioned greats Kitten’s Joy and Roses in May, as well as Breeders’ Cup winners Bobby’s Kitten, Furthest Land and Stephanie’s Kitten. Sarah Ramsey passed away at the age of 83 in 2022.

“I’ve been to the top of the mountain and I really liked the view from up there,” Ramsey concluded with his familiar laugh. “I’m trying to climb back up again.”

The post Ramsey in ‘Backyard Heaven’ at the Spa This Summer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Pegasus Races, Florida Derby Highlight Gulfstream Championship Meet

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The GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational and Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, presented by EquiTrack, and the GI EquiTrack Florida Derby top a 66-strong stakes schedule for the Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida, the track said in a release Friday afternoon.

The Championship Meet will begin on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26 and will run through Florida Derby day on Mar. 28.

Since its inception in 2017, the Pegasus Series has attracted such luminaries as Arrogate, California Chrome, Gun Runner, Bricks and Mortar, National Treasure, City of Light and Mystik Dan. Six of the prior 10 winners of the Pegasus have also won Breeders’ Cup races. The Pegasus World Cup Turf has been contested by horses from Japan, Ireland, England, South America and South Africa.

Officials at Gulfstream will announce purse money for the three Pegasus races soon.

“We are finalizing the purse structure for the 2027 Pegasus World Cup and evaluating a few opportunities around the event that could impact the final purse,” said Mike Rogers, Executive Vice President of 1/ST Racing. “Rather than delay the release of the overall Gulfstream Park stakes schedule, we felt it was better to publish the schedule now and list the Pegasus purses as to-be-determined. We expect to announce the final purses shortly.”

The $1-million Florida Derby has produced four of the 11 most recent winners of the Kentucky Derby and 26 overall and completes the Gulfstream series that also includes the GIII Holy Bull Stakes and the GII Fountain of Youth Stakes. The Florida Derby will be one of 10 added-money events on closing day, five of which are at the graded level, with total purses of $2.45 million.

The track also offers major prep races on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, including the GIII Forward Gal Stakes, the GII Davona Dale Stakes and the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks.

Opening weekend includes four stakes races for 2-year-olds, the Wait A While Stakes and Pulpit Stakes on Nov. 26 on the turf and the Aventura Stakes and Hallandale Beach Stakes at a mile on the main track.

The post Pegasus Races, Florida Derby Highlight Gulfstream Championship Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Ramsey in ‘Backyard Heaven’ at the Spa This Summer

---

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Backyard Heaven carried Ken Ramsey and his late wife Sarah’s famed red-and-white silks to three career victories, led by a win in the GII Alysheba S. on Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill Downs in 2018.

The son of Tizway’s name was inspired by the Ramsey family’s summer home overlooking the Oklahoma training track–currently enveloped in beautiful fall foliage–at Saratoga Race Course.

“Sitting back there watching the horses train, I called it backyard heaven,” Ramsey said. “That’s how he got his name. He was a really good horse and looked like he was gonna be a real Derby contender.”

He continued, “The track opens up every morning at 5:30 a.m. (Editor’s Note: Fall training hours begin at 6:30 a.m.) and I move my curtain back and I start watching. I’ve got 100 feet that backs up to the Oklahoma training track and I sit out there every morning on my sun deck and have breakfast. They come off the track right behind me and the exercise riders, trainers and grooms all congregate right where I’m sitting. It’s really nice, I love it up there.”

Ken and Sarah Ramsey enjoy a moment in ‘Backyard Heaven’ at the Spa. Mrs. Ramsey passed away in 2022. | courtesy Ken Ramsey

Ramsey returned to his ‘Backyard Heaven’ this past summer for the entire 45-day meeting for the first time since undergoing life-saving kidney transplant surgery at the Guinness World Record age of 88 years and 230 days old in June 2024. And he wasn’t back in town just to watch.

Ramsey, sporting a pair of blue, latex medical gloves–following his doctor’s orders, of course–wasted little time getting back to business, leading Movin’ On Up (Accelerate) into the winner’s circle following a last-to-first victory in the GII Caress S. July 11.

He also got his picture taken with ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’ Dr. Kapur (McKinzie), who overcame the track bias with a powerful rail run in an allowance race on Travers Day Aug. 29. The bay’s namesake Dr. Sandip Kapur performed Ramsey’s kidney transplant surgery at New York-Presbyterian in Manhattan.

“Getting back in the winner’s circle there, and, especially the Grade II race, that was the first graded stakes race I’ve won since my surgery. I was just flooded with memories,” Ramsey said.

“I had tears in my eyes. I really did. I was emotionally affected by it because it brought back all the memories of me and (late wife Sarah) Kathern and all the big races we had up there with Roses in May winning the Whitney and (champion grass horse and late leading sire) Kitten’s Joy. It brought all that back and it just sort of overwhelmed me. We led the horse in and got an interview on television. It’s something I’ll cherish the rest of my life.”

The Saffie Joseph, Jr.-trained duo will both be in action in upcoming graded stakes during the Keeneland fall meet.

Movin’ On Up will make her final career start in Sunday’s GII Franklin S. before heading into the ring as Hip 119 in the Fasig-Tipton November sale. The 5-year-old mare completed her preparations for the Franklin with a three-furlong bullet in :35.13 (1/9) over the Oklahoma Oct. 5.

Claimed by Ramsey for just $35,000 out of her winning maiden effort at Gulfstream in December 2023, she was last seen finishing third as the favorite in the Floral Park S. at Belmont Park Sept. 19. Produced by a half-sister to GISW Harvey’s Lil Goil (American Pharoah) and GSW and GI Preakness S. runner-up Gosger (Nyquist), the gray has won six of 22 career starts and bankrolled $772,595. She hails from the extended female family of dual Classic winner I’ll Have Another.

Dr. Kapur winning an allowance at the Spa on Travers Day | Tod Marks

Dr. Kapur, a 3-year-old homebred out of Ramsey’s stakes-winning and graded-placed homebred Ava’s Kitten (Kitten’s Joy), is being aimed at the GIII Perryville S. Oct. 17 following a fantastic rallying second in the GII Gallant Bob S. at Parx Sept. 19. He returned to the worktab with a three-furlong breeze in :36.47 (3/9) over the Oklahoma Oct. 4.

“I’m looking forward to going out at Keeneland and putting on a show in front of the home folks,” Ramsey, a lifelong Kentuckian and graduate of the University of Kentucky, said. “And I’ll be out there to lead ’em in!”

Ramsey “cherry picked” eight yearlings, led by a $130,000 Olympiad filly, for $655,000 at last month’s Keeneland September sale. He also remains very active at the claim box with his grandson, trainer Nolan Ramsey.

“I’m not buying cheap horses, I’m buying good horses, cheap,” Ramsey said. “There’s a difference in that.”

Remaining as busy as ever with his 91st birthday around the corner on Nov. 3–he recently completed an options-trading course–slowing down is clearly not in Ramsey’s future.

“I don’t need to work on crossword puzzles,” Ramsey said. “Hell, I handicap the horses and stock market.”

Ken and Sarah Ramsey were recognized as Outstanding Owner four times (2004, 2011 & 2013-14) and Outstanding Breeder twice (2013-14) at the Eclipse Awards. The Ramseys campaigned aforementioned greats Kitten’s Joy and Roses in May, as well as Breeders’ Cup winners Bobby’s Kitten, Furthest Land and Stephanie’s Kitten. Sarah Ramsey passed away at the age of 83 in 2022.

“I’ve been to the top of the mountain and I really liked the view from up there,” Ramsey concluded with his familiar laugh. “I’m trying to climb back up again.”

The post Ramsey in ‘Backyard Heaven’ at the Spa This Summer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.