The Horse of Delaware Valley

Jonathan Sheppard has two winners in three races at Colonial Downs

Details: August 11, 2020; By SARA CAVANAGH

NEW KENT, Va.--Jonathan Sheppard had two very promising winners in $20,000 Maiden Special Weight steeplechase races at Colonial Downs on Aug. 10, moving him into just two wins short of Jack Fisher on the Trainer, Races Won leader board.

French Light winning at Colonial Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)Assistant trainer Keri Brion, who found both of these young horses in Ireland, saddled both winners for Sheppard, and both were ridden by Gerard Galligan, whose wins moved him into a tie for Rider, Races Won with Mikey Mitchell.

One of the winners, French Light, belongs to Irv Naylor, the other, Baltimore Bucko, is owned by Buttonwood Farm LLC, and both were found by Brion last December while she was at James Doyle's Baltimore Stables in Wexford, Ireland.

Tiz the Law wins the Travers by 5 1/2 lenghts

Details: August 9, 2020; By Staff Writers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Tiz the Law decimated the relatively small G1, $1 million Travers field of six on Aug. 8, finishing with ears pricked under a geared down hand ride to win by 5 1/2 lengths and thrilli his owners Sackatoga Stables and trainer Barclay Tagg.

tiz the law 2020 travers credit chelsea durand Tiz the Law (Photo by Chelsea Durand, NYRA PhotoDespite coasting through the final furlong, Tiz the Law's final time of 2:00.95 over the 10 furlongs was the second-fastest Travers in 32 years, trailing only Arrogate's track record of 1:59.36 set in 2016.

"I've been doing this a long time and I've always wanted to win the Travers," said Tagg. "This has been in my head my whole life. And now it happened, so it couldn't be better."

"You always have some doubt because many different things can happen," Tagg said. "That's always in the back of you're a mind, but I was very confident in the horse."

It was the first Travers win in his second try for Tagg, who went out on his own in 1972 and, after winning the first two legs with Funny Cide in 2003, completed a career Triple Crown with Tiz the Law's Belmont triumph.

Tale of Ekati, trained by Tagg, finished sixth in the Travers in 2008.

Snap Decision wins the Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes

Details: July 22, 2020; By SARA CAVANAGH

SARATOGA, N.Y.--Bruton Street-US' Snap Decision, trained by Jack Fisher, used his flat speed to easily move to the lead in the stretch of the Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes and coasted to a 1 1/2 length lead over Hudson River Farm's Galway Bay, trained by Jonathan Sheppard.

Snap Decison wins Kiser Marks Snap Decision wins the Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes (Photo by Tod Marks)Ridden by Sean McDermott, Snap Decision settled early into mid-pack in the seven horse field, waiting to move until the field had jumped the last fence, which is now on the backside, leaving a long run-in around the last turn and through the stretch to the wire.

Silverton Hill LLC's Bodes Well, trained by Leslie Young, went to the lead right from the start, stalked most of the way by Galway Bay.

The field drew down to six after the saddle slipped on City Dreamer, also trained by Fisher, on the backside first time around the 2 1/16 mile course, and he was pulled up.

Snap Decision, who was stakes placed on the flat for his breeder, Phipps Stable, began to make his move after the last fence, and, using his flat speed, caught Bodes Well about a furlong from the finish and was geared down to coast to an easy victory.

Galway Bay, under a hard drive, caught Bodes Well at the end to place second, with Bodes Well third,

Irv Naylor's Family Tree, trained by Neil Morris, was fourth over Belisarius, trained by Leslie Young, and Zanzi Win, trained by Ricky Hendriks.

GreenMount Farm’s Bernardini filly named 2020 Champion at MHBA Yearling Show

Details: July 20, 2020; By SARA CAVANAGH

TIMONIUM, Md.--GreenMount Farm’s filly by Bernardini out of Mystic Love, by Not For Love, outshined the competition as judge Michael Matz selected her as grand champion of the 86th annual Maryland Horse Breeders Association’s Yearling Show, held Sunday, July 19 at the Timonium Fairgrounds horse show ring in Timonium, Md.

MHBA Champion The champion of the 2020 Maryland Horse Breeders Association Yearling Show: A Bernardini filly out of Mystic LoveBred by GreenMount Farm in partnership with Godolphin, the champion filly was the winner of Class IV (for fillies foaled in Maryland, by out-of-state sires).

She was shown by Sabrina Moore, manager and co-owner of GreenMount.

“I had a good feeling about her, I mean I think she’s really nice, but until you get there and see how nice all the other horses are you don’t know,” said Moore. “It’s surreal, but I count my blessings, I know it doesn’t happen all the time. Knowing the people that are genuinely happy for you, that’s probably the best part of it.

“I love the show because they get out and you kind of get a feel for them, what they’re going to be like as soon as you get them off the farm and they [get to] school a little bit. I just think the yearling show is really key for them and I was glad to get her there.”

Jonathan Sheppard has an Allowance winner, Graham Motion & Bernie Houghton also have winners

Details: July 13, 2020; By SARA CAVANAGH

GRANTVILLE, Pa.--Jonathan Sheppard trained Buttonwood Farm's Lady Munnings to win a $28,000, 5 furlong Allowance race for fillies and mares who have never won a race other than maiden, claiming or starter at Penn National on July 10.

Jonathan Sheppard Willowdale 2018 Jonathan Sheppard Sheppard bought Lady Munnings' dam Encore Saritta for $30,000 at auction in 2013 when Mr. and Mrs. Rodman Moorehead III decided they would like to start breeding for racing, and Lady Munnings, by Munnings, was born in 2016.

"We had some issues at the gate with her," said Sheppard. "It took some time to correct. We took her to Delaware Park where the gate crew worked with her."

Lady Munnings didn't start until she was a 3-year-old, and won her fourth start at Presque Isle on May 16, 2019.

"She's quite a useful filly,, as you can see from her record," said Sheppard. "She's a Pa-bred, so we'll look for a race for her now."

In her first start in 2020, Lady Munnings, ridden by Andrew Wolfsont, was never far off the pace on July 10.moved into a short lead in the stretch and won by 3/4 length.

She now has two wins, two seconds and three thirds from nine starts and earnings of $66.390.

Sheppard has stalls at Saratoga, and will ship horses in and out of those stalls as he as horses entered.

The first steeplechase race in scheduled for July 22, with the G1 A.P. Smithwick on July 23 and the G1 New York Turf Writers on Aug. 20.

Sheppard won both races with Winston C last year and has him aimed for those races this year.

Maryland trainers and racetrack owners differ about the use of Lasix in 2-year-old races

Details: July 8, 2020; By SARA CAVANAGH

LAUREL, Md.--The Stronach Group, despite the fact that the Maryland Racing Commission allows lasix to be administered on race day, has imposed a ban on lasix at its racetrack for those horses born after 2018.

Racing Laurel Park This has resulted in an on-going discussion between Maryland trainers and the Stronach Group, which owns Laurel and Pimlico racetracks.

The discussion boils down to a fight about whether the Maryland Racing Commissiion or the owners of the racetracks can decide whether to allow lasix.

The Maryland trainers are battling a growing ground swell of support throughout the country for banning lasix in 2-year-old races as the first step towards banning lasix in all races, and they are also battling The Stronach Group that, if pushed too far, could simply decide to sell Laurel to developers and only run a 20 day meet at Pimlico. including the Preakness, and that would leave the Maryland breeding and racing industry high and dry.

Lasix prevents bleeding in the lungs of horses, but the consensus is that it is way over used.

Frank Alexander, a top trainer whose career included an Eclipse Award winner, died June 19

Details: July 2, 2020; By SARA CAVANAGH

HOLLYWOOD, Fla.--Frank A. Alexander, whose Thoroughbred training career spanned five decades and included training the 1994 Breeders' Cup Sprint and 1994 Eclipse Award winner Cherokee Run, died on Friday in South Florida at the age of 82.

Frank Alexander nyra Frank Alexander Alexander's career began with his riding winning show horses, then moved to the race track and then included four or five years managing a top breeding establishment before returning for good to the track as a trainer.

Born Oct. 18, 1937, in Glen Cove, Long Island, N.Y., as a teenager, Alexander worked at Ralph Petersen's, a hunting and showing boarding stable.

Working with him at Petersen's were Dicky Hendriks and Ralph Caristo, both of whom continued to be life-long friends.

He bought Glen Head Stable in the early '60s,, and showed horse for Ava Miller, who was then married to Leverett S. Miller, StaStill Farm and Ruth Nicholson, winning at shows like The National at the Garden, Fairfield and Piping Rock.

Motion saddled 3 winners, including Mean Mary in the New York Stakes, Dickinson, Houghton and Jenkins also have winners

Details: June 29, 2020; By SARA CAVANAGH

ELMONT, N.Y. - Alex G. Campbell, Jr.'s Mean Mary broke sharp from the outside post, led the six-horse field through every point of call and extended her lead in the stretch for a front-running 5 1/4-length score in Saturday's G2, $250,000 New York for older fillies and mares at Belmont Park.

Mean Mary winning the La PrevoyanteTrainer Graham Motion had Mean Mary start her 4-year-old campaign at Gulfstream Park, where she won consecutive graded stakes, starting with the G3 La Prevoyante in January and the G3 Orchid on March 28.

"You always wonder a little bit about Florida; did she just suit that course? But this is so different than running at Gulfstream," Motion said. "The way she did it was pretty impressive. I worried a little bit. You always worry a little bit with that much time away and I wanted to keep her fresh, but she also had to be fit.

"The course took a little bit of rain, but it's so different than what she had been running on," he said. "I think she might be one of those horses where you don't have to make too many excuses."

Jack Fisher wins four at the Gold Cup, including both features

Details: June 28, 2020; By SARA CAVANAGH

THE PLAINS, Va.--Jack Fisher vaulted to the lead in both Trainers, Races Won and Trainer, Money Won after saddling four winners, including Snap Decison and Doc Cebu, at the Virginia Gold Cup on June 27.

Snap Decision leads Chief Justice over last in Semmes REMOTE Snap Decision (left) leads Chief Justice over the last in the David Semmes Stakes (Photo by tod Marks)Two time timber champion Doc Cebu, owned by Charles Fenwick, Michael Hankin and Charles Noell, easily won the $40,000, 4 mile Virginia Gold Cup timber race by 12 1/4 lengths over Hudson river Farm's Codrington College, trained by Jonathan Sheppard.

Although it was an easy win, Doc Cebu certainly benefited by Andi'amu (Fr) following Storm King off course midway through the race.

Ballybristol Farm LLC's Andi'amu, trained by Leslie Young, was last year's timber champion and beat Doc Cebu two weeks ago in this season's first timber race at Middleburg.

So the question is, has Doc Cebu returned to his championship form of two years ago or did he simply benefit from Andi'amu's disqualification.

With the fall schedule of steeplechase racing still up in the air, that question will have to wait to be answered.

Former steeplechase jockey Barclay Tagg saddled the Belmont winner Tiz the Law

Details: June 21, 2020; By SARA CAVANAGH

ELMONT, N.Y.--Barclay Tagg, an ex-steeplechase rider who began his career riding jumpers in Chester, County, Pa., saddled Tiz the Law to win the Belmont Stakes on June 20.

Tiz the Law Barclay Tag Barclay Tagg, left, with Tiz the Law in the winner's circle after the Belmont.Tagg is one of a number of steeplechase jockeys who have taken the knowledge they earned riding out mornings and later in races to turn their careers into successful flat horse trainers.

Tagg won 47 races over fences from 1966 to 1977 riding for trainers like Jonathan Sheppard, "Pop" Dickson and Burly Cocks.

"Barclay worked for me, riding out in mornings," said Sheppard. "Curiously, he's a couple of years older than me. He was very focused and quite ambitious."

"He was very determined, and he succeeded," said Sheppard. "His riding didn't come easily for him. He rode winners for me. I remember he won on a horse owned by Marshall Jenney at Delaware Park."

Sackatoga Stable's Tiz the Law overtook Tap It to Win coming out of the turn and drew away for a 3 ¾-length triumph in the 152nd running of the G1, $1 million Belmont Stakes, becoming the first state-bred in 138 years to win the American Classic.

"It looked to me like everything just went like clockwork," said Tagg. "That's the way the horse likes to run and that's the position the horse likes to be in. Manny knows the horse very well. We discussed it quickly before I put him up on the horse, and I felt very confident Manny would ride him that way. I felt pretty solid about halfway down the lane. It's a good feeling."

"I was delighted to see him win," said Tagg, who at 82 is still going strong. "I'm glad I lived long enough to have a horse like this."

Sheppard wins three at Middleburg, Fisher wins two, including the Temple Gwathmey (3)

Details: June 14, 2020; By SARA CAVANAGH

MIDDLEBURG, Va.-Jonathan Sheppard and Jack Fisher have dominated steeplechasing for the past five decades, and they started off the 2020 season in the same way, winning five of the 11 races between them..

jonathonsheppard Jonathon SheppardA Hall of Fame trainer, Sheppard is the all-time leading steeplechase trainer by both wins and earnings, while Fisher, the perennial leading trainer in the past two decades, set a purse earnings record of almost $1.6-million last year.

Jonathan Sheppard's barn had a spectacular beginning in the very belated 2020 steeplechasing season, winning three of the 11 races at the Middleburg Spring Races on June 13 and having 11 of his 13 entries in races with a purse finish to win a piece of the money.

Not only were the results great in Middleburg, but they also bode well for the future, as all three winners plus two that finished a good second and third are 4 and 5 year olds in their first or second race over fences.

Fisher saddled two winners, including Bruton Street-US' Moscato (GB), who won the featured G3. $50,000 Temple Gwathmey by 11 1/2 lengths over Belasarius.

While Sheppard's barn are winning with youngsters, Fisher has a daunting list of top horses, including three belonging to Bruton Street-US, Moscato, Snap Decision and Scorpiancer, the 2017 Eclipse champion, and other graded winners like Schoodic.

The rest of this year's battle between these two top trainers, who finished one-two in last year's Leading Trainer standings, could make for a very interesting season, but with Sheppard's group so young, Fisher probably has the edge in the big stakes for this year, but the next few year's could become even more interesting.

Michael Matz to judge 2020 MHBA Yearling Show

Details: June 4, 2020; By Staff Writers

TIMONIUM, Md.--Two-time classic-winning trainer Michael Matz will judge the 86th annual Maryland Horse Breeders Association Yearling Show.

Horses are a family affair for Michael MatzOpen to all yearlings eligible for Maryland-bred registration, the show has been rescheduled for 2020 and will be held Sunday, July 19 at the Maryland State Fairgounds’ Horse Show Ring in Timonium.

Entries are due by June 20.

Based at Fair Hill Training Center, Matz sent out his first winner in August 1997, and has since trained dozens of stakes winners.

His richest, and most famous, charge was undefeated 2006,G1 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.

Six years later, Matz again had classic success when Union Rags got up to win a thrilling renewal of the G1 Belmont Stakes.

The first G1 win for the Matz barn came in the 2003 Secretariat Stakes with Kicken Kris, who would add the G1 Arlington Million the next year.

Matz celebrated a Breeders’ Cup win with Round Pond in the 2006, G1 Distaff and also won G1 stakes with sprinter Visionaire and top turf mares Somali Lemonade and Hard Not to Like.

His runners have earned in excess of $42 million.

Thumbs up for Devon 2021

Details: May 31, 2020; By SARA CAVANAGH

As a finale to the 2020 Devon Horse Show and Country Fair Virtual Horse Show, a mix of Brightview and Devon Chairmen dressedi n Devon Horse Show garb join in for Two thumbs Up for Devon!

Here’s to our 125th anniversary- where champions will meet again!

thumbs up 2

Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Sharing wins her first race back

Details: May 26, 2020; By SARA CAVANAGH

LEXINGTON, Ky.--Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf champion Sharing, trained by Graham Motion, won her first race back running since the Breeders' Cup on May 23 at Churchill Downs.

Sharing Breeders Cup Sharing winning the Breeders Cup Juvenile Filly TurfOwned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck), Sharing won the $100,000, 1 mile Tepin Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the turf by1/2 length in 1:36.26.

If things work out, Sharing may run at Ascot next a month from now.

"We have a couple of possibilities in mind for her," said Motion. "There's a race at Belmont on Belmont Day that's similar to the one she just won. It's a G3 race for $150,000.'

"Or, it's possible we may take her to Ascot," said Motion."There's a race there for her on June 20, exactly one month after her Churchill Downs race."

Motion said that taking her to Ascot would be partly for the challenge.

"It would be nice to win a G3 stakes at Belmont, but it would be even nicer to win a G1 at Ascot," he said. "It would be a great thing for her. She's a relatively uncomplicated filly, so shipping her there wouldn't be a problem.

"We'll see. Everything has to fall into place, with all that's going on now. But it's only a month away, so we'll see."

Sharing has now won four races along with placing third in her first race from five starts and earned $787,340.

Preakness to be held Oct. 3 at Pimlico

Details: May 17, 2020; By Staff Writers

BALTIMORE, Md.--The Preakness will be held on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Pimlico, it was announced during NBC Sports' nationally televised broadcast, The Middle Jewel: American Pharoah's Run to the Triple Crown.

Racing Pimlico Pimlico as it will be when renovated Chairman and president Belinda Stronach joined by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan made the announcement.

The Preakness Stakes, usually held on the third Saturday in May, was postponed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic and, as previously announced, will not include InfieldFest.

Plans for Black Eyed Susan Day, traditionally held the day before the Preakness, will be announced at a later time.

“Under normal circumstances, I would have stood today at Pimlico Race Course with Ms. Stronach to present the Woodlawn Vase to the winner of the 145th Preakness Stakes," said Gov. Hogan. "But, as we all know, these are not ordinary circumstances. I am delighted that we were successful in working with 1/ST, the Maryland Jockey Club and all who are connected to Maryland's Thoroughbred racing industry to set the new date of October 3rd.”

Pimlico to be rebuilt with Laurel updated

Details: May 8, 2020; By Staff Writers

BALTIMORE, Md--The Racing and Community Development Act of 2020, which will protect the long-term future of horse racing in Maryland through the rebuilding of Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park into state-of-the art facilities, was one of many bills Gov. Larry Hogan allowed to become law without his signature on May 7.

Racing Pimlico The legislation, which had broad bipartisan support in the House of Delegates and Senate, calls for the Maryland Stadium Authority to issue up to $375 million in bonds for the projects through a combination of funds from the Racetrack Facility Renewal Account, the Purse Dedication Account, video lottery terminal payments to Baltimore City and money from the Maryland Lottery.

The Act will take effect June 1.

The plan that led to the legislation was put together beginning last summer by Alan Foreman, legal counsel for the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association; Alan Rifkin, legal counsel for the Maryland Jockey Club; and Bill Cole, a consultant who previously served as President of the Baltimore Development Corp.