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Storms Interrupt Colonial Downs Card: Violenza, Eons Rally For Stakes Victories

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A neck and a head were the difference makers at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., on Monday in the Andy Guest and Buckland Stakes, while Mother Nature was the difference maker in the Da Hoss Stakes, which was cancelled mid-card due to thunderstorms in the area. Both stakes were contested over the Secretariat Turf Course, which was labeled good after the rain departed.

Seven of the track’s nine races scheduled were run. The fourth and fifth fell victim to the storms which caused an hour-plus delay.

Randall Bloch, Six Column Stables LLC, John Seiler, David Hall & David Kirk’s Violenza edged Mucha Mezquina on the outside after a thrilling finish that saw the pair trailing by nine lengths halfway through the 5 1/2-furlong $100,000 Andy Guest Stakes. Both made moves together exiting the turn and at the top of stretch, moved into striking position. Violenza ended up prevailing in a blanket finish where the top five finished within 1 1/2 lengths of each other.

Regular jockey Chris Landeros came in from Kentucky solely to ride Ian Wilkes’ winning 4-year-old Violence filly. Sheldon Russell piloted Anthony Spinazzola’s Mucha Mezquina for trainer Mark Salvaggio. Beantown Baby, going for her fourth straight win, finished third, just a neck behind the runner-up.

“She’s good, she’s nice and she’s as honest as they come,” said Landeros of Violenza. “I think the pace up front really helped us. She doesn’t mind a little bit of soft going so it was in our favor today. I know they skip over it early when there’s a little bit of moisture in the ground. It favors a closer so I knew I had a little bit of an advantage coming into it today.”

Mark Grier’s Eons and BBN Racing LLC’s Kentucky Ghost encountered a similar scenario in the 1 1/8-mile, $150,000 Buckland, which followed next on the card. Both were among the three trailing horses at the half in the field of seven and both powered forward coming out of the final turn. Eons edged Kentucky Ghost by a head while Godolphin, LLC’s Pixelate, highest money earner in the field with $493,350, took third, 1 1/4 lengths behind the runner-up.

“After the rain delay, all horses had been coming off the pace,” said winning jockey Mychel Sanchez. “I really liked my horse. I started out in the middle of the pack and by the time we got to the half I was last. But I knew he would close. I just wanted him to relax because he can be really tough but he can run. We got a lot of rain but the turf course here is amazing.”

With his fifth lifetime win, Eons’ career bankroll increased to $428,615. The 5-year-old Giants Causeway horse is trained by Arnaud Delacour. The Kentucky-bred is out of the Hansel mare, Golden Antigua.

Colonial Downs hosts a nine-race card Tuesday at 1:45 PM. The season continues through September 1 with racing every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The post Storms Interrupt Colonial Downs Card: Violenza, Eons Rally For Stakes Victories appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

TOBA National Awards To Be Held At Hill ‘n’ Dale At Xalapa On Sept. 11; Gladys Knight To Perform

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The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association has announced that the 36th annual TOBA National Awards will be held at Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa in Paris, Ky., on Saturday, September 11, 2021. Hosted by Gabby Gaudet, the evening will include a special live performance by Motown legend Gladys Knight.

The TOBA National Awards honor breeders from 19 states and Canada. Also recognized are the National Owner of the Year and National Owner Finalists, National Breeder of the Year, Small Breeder of the Year, National Broodmare of the Year, Racing Partnership of the Year, Rood & Riddle Sport Horse of the Year, Claiming Crown Horse of the Year, Industry Service Award and recipient of the Robert N. Clay Award.

“We are thrilled to showcase the TOBA National Awards Dinner at historic Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa,” said Dan Metzger, president of TOBA. “Thoroughbred owners and breeders are the lifeblood of our sport and it is our privilege to recognize their outstanding achievements from 2020. The spectacular setting at Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, along with Gladys Knight, promises to make the TOBA National Awards a unique and special experience for all those who attend. We are very appreciative of the support from John Sikura, Keeneland and all of our sponsors in making this evening possible.”

“We at Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa are proud to host the TOBA awards featuring iconic, multiple Grammy award winner Gladys Knight,” said John Sikura, owner of Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa. “We look forward to celebrating with guests and nominees in a unique setting in celebration of their achievement.”

Tickets will be available online for purchase in the upcoming weeks.

The post TOBA National Awards To Be Held At Hill ‘n’ Dale At Xalapa On Sept. 11; Gladys Knight To Perform appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Zayat’s Bankruptcy Lawyers Want to Sever Ties Over $368K in Unpaid Fees

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The law firm representing Ahmed Zayat in his $19-million bankruptcy pleading asked a federal judge Monday for permission to walk away from the case based on Zayat’s alleged non-payment of $368,273 to the firm in outstanding legal fees.

“The representation of the Debtor has consumed an extremely significant amount of the available resources of our firm,” wrote attorney Jay Lubetkin of Rabinowitz, Lubetkin & Tully, LLC, in a July 26 “motion to withdraw” filed in United States Bankruptcy Court (District of New Jersey).

“The Debtor has been consistently advised that absent satisfactory arrangements for the payment of the outstanding fees and expenses due to our firm and newly incurred billings, the firm would have no alternative but to seek to withdraw from representation of the Debtor,” Lubetkin wrote.

The purportedly insolvent owner and breeder of Triple Crown champ American Pharoah hired the firm when he filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection nearly one year ago.

Lubetkin’s firm has also been defending Zayat in an adversary proceeding filed against him by MGG Investment Group, LP, for allegedly obtaining a $24-million loan by fraud and then not repaying it. MGG wants that debt ruled as non-dischargeable.

Zayat’s bankruptcy case has repeatedly been slowed by allegations from the trustee assigned to the case that Zayat and his family members have been uncooperative and obstructive as the trustee tries to trace millions of dollars in possibly fraudulent transfers.

Lubetkin wrote in his court filing that at the outset of their legal relationship, Zayat promised to pay what he owed in legal fees based on 60-day receivable terms. He later agreed to make at least $50,000 monthly minimum payments.

At the time of his initial bankruptcy filing in September 2020, Zayat told the court he had only $314.22 to his name.

Lubetkin wrote that Zayat has not paid his firm since May 5, 2021.

“If the Debtor were to satisfy his previously expressed commitment to keep our receivables within 60-day terms, it would require an immediate payment of $232,899 and a further payment of $76,717 when the billing governing July’s efforts is tendered,” Lubetkin wrote.

“I attempted at least nine times during the month of July to communicate with the Debtor regarding status of payments to our firm, without substantive or satisfactory response by the Debtor,” Lubetkin wrote.

As for who might next represent Zayat, Lubetkin wrote in his filing that Zayat himself “fully understands the Chapter 7 bankruptcy process” and “is fully capable of representing himself.”

Lubetkin wrapped up his motion for withdrawal by noting that when he finally did manage to reach Zayat July 21, it seems as if Zayat tried to tell him he was fired before Lubetkin could quit.

“[W]hile not knowing what the Debtor’s intentions were at the time of the communication,” Lubetkin wrote, “the Debtor requested that I write to the Court to advise my firm was ‘no longer defending” the Debtor, which may be interpreted as the Debtor terminating his relationship with our firm.”

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The Buckeye Beast, Amadevil Does It Again

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Amadevil (Dominus) backed up her 24 1/4-length victory in maiden company when winning her second career start Monday at Thistledown, running away from seriously overmatched rivals in an Ohio-bred allowance race. She paid $2.10 in what was maybe the biggest overlay of the year.

Racing for owner-trainer David Wolochuk, the 3-year-old filly debuted June 21 at Thistledown, winning by nearly a sixteenth of a mile while earning a 94 Beyer figure. That number indicated that she has the ability to win graded stakes, but, having won nothing more than a five-furlong state-bred maiden race run in the mud, Amadevil still had plenty of questions to answer. Could a horse from such humble beginnings go on to win at racing’s highest levels?

That’s still an unknown, but Amadevil, despite the lack of competition, took some steps forward Monday. She “stretched out” from five to six furlongs and proved she can run just fine over a fast track. This time, she won by “only” 11 3/4 lengths, but was under wraps through most of the stretch and clearly wasn’t asked for her best by jockey Chelsey Keiser. The running time was 1:10.46 and she got an 85 Beyer, but it may have been faster if Keiser let her mount run in the stretch.

“She makes it look easy, doesn’t she?” Wolochuk said.

Wolochuk bought Amadevil and another horse from their breeders, Marne Fauber and Heidi Cecil, in a package deal that cost him $30,000. She had some shin problems that keep her away from the races as a 2-year-old, but was more than ready to go when debuting last month. Afterward, Wolochuk let it be known that he would have no problem selling a piece of Amadevil and did just that last week. He sold a 50% interest to Blue Snow Racing. Wolochuk declined to reveal the name of the individual who races under the Blue Snow banner.

“He told me whatever my highest offer was he would beat it by 25% and buy half of the horse,” Wolochuk said. “He’s an owner of mine, a guy from Omaha. He came to me the day before we were going to enter for this race. I showed him in writing what the best offer was and he wired me the money.”

Wolochuk could have gone in a number of different directions with Amadevil for her second start, including choosing a local stakes race or heading to a top-tier track. Instead, he picked the easiest option, a first level allowance race for Ohio-breds, a race that amounted to little more than a public workout.

“I want her to get a little more seasoning,” he said. “She can get a little funny, but she was good today. I didn’t want to give her too much too soon. There was no speed in there, so we wanted her to get to the front, cruise around there and not pull up before the wire. It was just an educational race, to teach her something. I wanted to see her gallop out and she did. She took off around the turn [in the gallop-out] because we will eventually have to go a route. We’re just trying to bring her along the right way. Luckily, I’m not under any pressure.”

Wolochuk said a piece of Amadevil can still be had and that both he and the Blue Snow owner will be happy to listen to offers. With the win Monday, the price has gone up.

“A lot of people called after the first race,” he said. “Aron Yagoda is a good friend of mine and he’s got Mark Casse [as a trainer]. He’s been calling. So I have a lot of guys from Kentucky. But a lot of them wanted to see a six-furlong race first. Now, they got to see it. Now, they’re going to have to pay more. I’m in a good position.”

Wolochuk said he will look to get Amadevil into another allowance race for Ohio-breds. After that, there are three $100,000 Ohio-bred stakes races remaining on the 2021 calendar that she will be eligible for and those will be a target. Waiting for her in those spots could be Esplanande (Daredevil), a 3-year-old Ohio-bred filly who was runner-up in last year’s GI Spinaway S. She’s won three straight, including a pair of stakes for Ohio breds.

“Her and Esplanande, they’re on a collision course,” Wolochuk said. “I won’t have to go to Saratoga to run against a graded horse. I can stay in my own back yard.”

A win over a filly of that caliber would really prove something. Until then, Amadevil is a bit of a mystery, a fun mystery. Another chapter of this story awaits.

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