Racing

Graham Motion and Michael Matz have Stakes winners

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July 19, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

ELMONT, N.Y.--Graham Motion saddled Trikari to win a Stakes race at Belmont at the Big A, while Michael Matz saddled Alla Brreve to win a Stakes at Laurel.

Trikari (Photo by Adam Coglainese)Keri Brion, Mclane Hendriks, Ricky Hendriks, Bernie Houghton, Liz Merryman and Kathy Neilson also had winners.

Amerman Racing's Trikari won the G1, $750,000, 1 1/16 mile Belmont Derby Invitational on the turf by a head on July 6.

Trikari was up close throughout the race, dueled outside the runner-up White Palomino in the final furlong and prevailed under strong urging.

This was Trimari's first G1 win, having previously won the Rushaway Stakes and the G2 American Turf Stakes.

This win gave Trikari a record of four wins, one second and one third from seven starts and earnings of $959,380.

Motion also saddled Amo Racing's Sir London to win a $53,900, 1 mile Allowance Optional Claiming race on the turf by 1/2 length at Laurel on July 5.

Matz saddled Runnymoore Racing's Alla Breve to win the $75,000, 6 furlong Jameela Stakes on the turf by a head at Laurel on July 14.

Alla Breve moved up steadily through the race, moved out four wide in the stretch and closed with determination to win.

This was Alla Breve's first Stakes win after winning and placing in the money in a number of allowance races.

Matz also saddled Runnymoore Racing's Carentan to win a $20,525, 6 furlong Maiden Claiming race by 4 lengths at Delaware Park on July 4.

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Mark Beecher saddled Exuma to win at Colonial

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July 19, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

NEW KENT, Va.--Mark Beecher saddled Exuma to win the $33,500,2 1/4 mile Ratings Handicap at Colonial Downs, one of three steeplechase races on Thursday, July 18.

Exuma (Photo by Coady Photography)Turks Head Turf's Exuma, ridden by Jamie Bargary, raced mid pack, moved up on the outside on the turn to challenge the long time leader Lightning Ridge and went into the lead in the stretch to win by 1 1/4 lengths over Auction Kingdom, trained by Neil Morris, and Auchincruive, trained by Keri Brion.

"Exuma went very nicely," said Beecher. "We knew there would be a lot of pace. The instructions were just take your time, and find your way through late. Jamie rode him just right."

Beecher said that the long term plan had been to run him in a maiden race at Colonial, but then, while he ran second at Radnor, the horse that beat him was later disqualified, meaning Exuma was moved up to win the maiden race,

"He was then rated at 107, and this was a 110 rated, so this race was nice for him,"said Beecher, ""It let him find his feet. We'll take him home, and we'll wait to see what rating he gets now. Or maybe we'll run him in an allowance next."

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L'Imperator and Abaan lead a field of seven in the A.P. Smithwick

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July 15, 2024

By Staff Writers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--L'Imperator, trained by Arch Kingsley, and Abaan, trained by Kate Dalton, lead a field of top steeplechase horses in the G1,$150,000, 2 3/8mile A.P. Smithwick Memorial on Wednesday, July 17 at Saratoga.

L'Imperator winning the Beverly Steinman (Photo by Tod Marks)Hudson River Farms’ L’Imperator, who won the G1 Beverly Steinman at Belmont at the Big A on June 20, will try to earn his second consecutive top-level victory in the Smithwick Memorial, while Abaan, who has won his last four races, including three stakes, will be trying for his first G1 victory.

Abann, ridden by Bernie Dalton, is the high weight at 158 pounds, with L'Imperator, with Jordan Gainford, the second high weight at 154 pounds.

Leipers Fork Steeplechasers’ Pickanumber with Jamie Bargary, will carry 152 pounds and makes his American debut for Leslie Young following a tremendous 15-length victory at odds of 22-1 in the 1 15/16-mile Swinton Handicap on May 11 at Haydock Park in Great Britain.

Pickanumber has won four of his last five outings, including a nine length win in a maiden race over hurdles in February.

Bruton Street-US’s Ziggle Pops, trained by Jack Fisher and ridden by Graham Watters, carries 148 pounds and was third behind L'Impertor in the Steinman.

He won a handicap by 10 1/2 lengths two starts back going 2 3/4 miles on May 11 at Percy Warner.

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Todd Wyatt saddled Pure Courage to win the $55,000 Ratings Handicap at Colonial

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July 11, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

NEW KENT, Va.--Todd Wyatt saddled Pure Courage to win the $55,000,2 1/4 mile Ratings Handicap at Colonial Downs by 13 lengths on Thursday, July 11, dominating the nine horse field after leading throughout the race.

Pure Courage (Photo by Coady Media)Owned by Mrs.S.K Johnston and ridden by Graham Watters, Pure Courage finished in 4:01.40, the fastest of the three steeplechase races, with Travesuras, trained by Cyril Murphy, second and Outperform, trained by Richard Valentine, third.

"He's a nice horse," said Wyatt. "Sean Clancy picked him out for us. He's been consistently in the money."

Since winning a maiden race Aug. 11, 2023, Pure Courage has finished third twice and second twice in allowance races before this win.

"Elizabeth Scully, who works for us, did a lot of  work with him," said Wyatt. "She didn't ride him today, but she deserves a lot of the credit. He's been running against quality horses, so I thought he was due."

"We'll let the dust settle a little before deciding where he'll go next, but it would be nice to take him to Saratoga," said Wyatt. "There's a couple there that will fit him."

Arch Kingsley saddled his own Exculpate to win the $52,500 Maiden race for fillies and mares 4 and up by three lengths over Long Foreverafter, trained by Neil Morris, and Dark Pool, trained by Keri Brion, finishing in 4:05.33.

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Taylor Kingsley leads Fegentri during a very busy summer of riding races all over the world

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July 10, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

CAMDEN, S.C.--Taylor Kingsley has had a very busy and very successful summer, and she is currently leading the Fegentri series of invitational races for amateurs.

Taylor Kingsley on Chinese Empror in Sweden Photo by Fegentri)Kingsley, daughter of top steeplechase trainer Arch Kingsley, has traveled the world to compete in Fegentri races while still riding races for trainers in Ireland, the U.S. and her father as well as riding morning works for her father.

Along the way, she has ridden five Fegentri races, winning three in Germany, Norway and Sweden.

Most recently,, she rode races in Ireland for trainers Shark Hanlon and Dennis Hogan,finishing with two fourths and a seventh.

Kingsley flew back to this country yesterday, July 9, drove to Colonial Downsn, where she worked a horse for her father and drove north after that to be ready to ride a horse tomorrow, July 11, at Delaware Park in an Arca race, an Amateur Riders Club series that is this country's stepping stone to Fegentri.

"The riding's not difficult," said Kingsley. "Horses all speak the same language. The difficulty is more with the traveling and communication with trainers when the language is different. The races are all different, too, from dirt to turf, long and short. There's no bell in the gate like there is in this country."

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Keri Brion had four winners in one week, Motion, Merryman, Matz and Houghton had winners

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July 2, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

LAUREL, Md.--Keri Brion had four winners in one week, including two in one day at Laurel Park.

Fun Lovin Criminal (Photo by James McCue)
Graham Motion had five winners, including a first and a third in an allowance race at Delaware Park, and Liz Merryman, Michael Matz and Bernie Houghton also had winners.

At Laurel on June 28, Brion had two winners, including Fun Lovin Criminal in a $29,290, 1 mile Starter Optional Claiming race and Summer Anthem in a $28,580 1 mile Claiming race on the turf.

Rising Sun Racing Stables' Fun Loviin Criminal won by a nose after going three wide on the turn and fighting with determination to the wire.

The 4-year-old gelding obviously did have fun being criminal because Brion got him when other trainers couldn't get him to train.

Fun Lovin Criminal came to me because he wouldn't train," said Brion."We got him going."

"Jonathan Sheppard used to get horses that wouldn't train," said Brion, who had been Jonathan Sheppard's assistant trainer. "We made it fun for them. So we took Fun Lovin Criminal out back at Fair Hill. We rode him up and down the hills and turned him out every day. It was a long time before we tried him on the track again. He's still a little funny, but he's a fighter in a race."

"He was claimed from us, and we claimed him back," said Brion. "He's won twice since then. We'll try him in an allowance at Laurel next."

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Arch Kingsley saddled L'Imperator to win the G1 Beverly Steinman at Belmont at the Big A

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June 21, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

OZONE PARK, N.Y--Arch Kingsley saddled Hudson River Farms’  L’Imperator (Fr), ridden by Jordan Gainford, to win the first running of the G1, $150,000, 2 3/4 Beverly R. Steinman handicap on Thursday, June 20 at Belmont at the Big A.

L'Imperator leads Rampoldi Plan and Ziggle Pops to the wire in the Steinman (Photo by Tod Marks)It was a thrilling finish as Rampoldi Plan, trained by Lesle Young, and Ziggle Pops, trained by Jack Fisher, fought it out in front around the final turn, while L'Imperator tracked them, then tipped out three wide into the stretch and wore them down to win by 2 lengths over Rampoldi Plan, with Ziggle Pops third and Jimmy P, trained by Keri Brion fourth.

Awakened, Freddy Flintshire, West Newton, and Gordon’s Jet rounded out the order of finish.

It turned out to be a great piece of luck for l'Imperator and his connections that the Steinman, originally carded for Saratoga on June 9, was cancelled due to heavy rain.

L'Imperator had a foot abscess and wouldn't have been able to run in Saratoga, but Kingsley found the blacksmith Ian McKinley,  who cut out the abscess and put on a glue-on pad, and L'Imperatore was ready to run in the Steinman.

Kingsley and Ed Swyer, owner of Hudson River Farms, have a long and very successful career together, going back to the days when Kingsley rode for Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard and rode Swyer's top steeplechase horse Nine Pins to multiple wins, coming ever so close to being named the Eclipse Award winner, only to be beaten by Lonesome Glory.

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Michael Matz had six winners in one week

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June 19, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

LAUREL,Md.--Michael Matz had quite a week, as from June 12 to June 18 he saddled six winners including four for Gregory and Caroline Bentley's Runnymoore Racing.

Alla Brave winning at Laurel (Photo by James McCue)Three of Runnymoore's winners were also homebreds, including Understudy Kitty, a 3-year-old colt that won a $41,000, 1 1/16 mile Allowance Optional Claiming turf race by 2 lengths at Delaware Park on June 13.

"We've always liked him," said Matz. "We ran him as a 2-year-old, and he broke his maiden, then we gave him time off over the winter. I'm not sure where we'll run him next."

"Mr. and Mrs. Bentley are in Europe," said Matz, who added that he hadn't talked to them but that he hoped they were pleased with their winners. "Joe Cassidy is their manager. He's done a really good job with these horses. He's good to work with."

The following day, Runnymoore's Alla Breve won a $55,945, 5 1/2 furlong Allowance race on the turf by a neck at Laurel.

"Most of these six winners we had in Florida," said Matz. "We gave them all a race in Florida and then turned them out for 60 days in Ocala. We're just bringing them back to the races now, and they're rewarding us for their time off."

"Alla Breve is a Mendelssohn filly that we've always liked,"said Matz. "She ran twice in Florida, and we didn't think that she got the best of rides."

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Racing fatalities down 38% according To HISA's Q1 Report

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June 16, 2024

By Staff Writers

From the Thoroughbred Daily News

ON THE HEELS of a clean Triple Crown season, the first quarter of 2024 (Jan. 1-Mar. 31) witnessed an approximate 38% decrease in racing-related fatalities year-over-year, according to a new Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) metrics report, which the organization released on Wednesday.

The reduction by over a third took place at racetracks operating under HISA's rules.

During this year's first quarter, tracks reported 0.84 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts, compared to 1.35 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts in the first quarter of 2023.

Excluding Rillito Park in Arizona, which is closed for racing this year, the same tracks conducted racing during the first quarters of both 2023 and 2024.

“Reducing equine fatalities is the central focus of HISA's work,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “While even one fatality is too many, we are pleased to see the progress we are making. I am incredibly proud of HISA's hard work and dedication in cooperation with our industry partners to prioritize horse welfare above all else. We continue to actively seek feedback from the horse racing community on improving our rules and making Thoroughbred racing safer and fairer, and the achievement of a Triple Crown with no equine fatalities is a testament to our collective efforts. The industry can and should celebrate its commitment to evolve and prioritize the safety and welfare of its athletes–human and equine–above all else.”

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Michael Matz and Graham Motion win stakes, Brion, Fisher, Hendriks, Houghton and Meister have winners

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June 8, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

GRANTVILLE, Pa.--Michael Matz saddled Stern Chaser to win the $100,000, 1 1/16 mile Lyphard Stakes at Penn National on May 31, and Graham Motion saddled The Grey Wizard (Ire) to win the G2, $250,000, 2 mile Belmont Gold Cup at Saratoga on June 6.

Stern Chaser (Photo by Bill Denver)Stern Chaser was bred by Gregory and Caroline Bentley and is owned by their Runnymoore Racing, and she won the turf race for fillies and mares 3 and up by 3/4length.

"She's a nice horse that the Bentleys raised," said Matz. "We also had the half-sister, In a Spin, in the same race, but she got blocked at he head of the stretch and finished fifth."

"When she was young, she broke a splint bone behind, so we gave her time," said Matz of the 5-year-old mare. "This was her first race back off the lay off."

"I told Paco (Lopez, her jockey) that her best races are when she comes from off the pace," siad Matz. "So Stern Chaser was on the lead the whole way. It's fine when that works out,, but you get upset when it doesn't. I guess she was just too fresh off the lay off."

"We'll look for another Pa-bred stake for her," said Matz."

Matz also had another winner, Caroline Forgason's homebred Selassie, who won the $15,000, 1 mile maiden Claiming race by 3 lengths at Presque Isle on May 28.

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Keri Brion, Graham Motion and Bernie Houghton have mutliple winners

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May 22, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

BALTIMORE, Md.--Keri Brion has had three winners in the past three weeks, but perhaps her biggest victory was a second place in a graded stakes.

Fun Lovin Criminal winning at Pimlico (Photo by James McCue)In the same period, Graham Motion had four winners, including a stakes win, and Bernie Houghton also had four winners.

While Motion is an established top trainer with many graded stakes wins, including in the Breeders Cup, in his resume, Brion is just setting out on her career.

"Ten years ago I was saddling my first graded stakes horse as an assistant for Jonathan Sheppard," said Brion on May 15. "It was the Dixie Stakes, now known as the Dinner Party, and Utley shocked the world that day at 20/1 winning the race. Saturday I will saddle my first graded stakes horse in the Dinner Party as a trainer and will try to light up the tote board with Crabs N Beer."

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Mark Beecher saddled Frontline Citizen to win the National Hunt Cup at Radnor

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May 20, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

MALVERN, Pa.--Mark Beecher saddled Frontline Citizen (Ire) to win the featured $35,000, 2 1/8 mile National Hunt Cup Allowance Hurdle at the Radnor Hunt Races on a misty, rainy Saturday, May 18.

Frontline Citizen, right, and Rocket One over the second to last jump in the National Hunt Cup (Photo by Tod Marks)
Straylight Racing's Frontline Citizen, ridden by Evan Dwan, went to the lead over the second to last hurdle and battled to the finish to win by a neck in 3:57 4/5 over Rocket One, trained by Jack Fisher.

"I've had him about three years," said Beecher. "He's a nice horse. I bought him for his owner, Alex Leventhal, to ride. Alex rode him to break his maiden at Pine Mountain in 2021, and then he lost a year to an injury."

"Alex stopped riding this year," said Beecher. "He was fourth at Aiken, then third in an allowance at the Gold Cup."

"It wasn't pouring rain, but there was a steady drizzle," said Beecher. "There was still a good crowd. There were a lot of tents for them to be in. The course was in good shape, but it was a little on the soft side. I had another Irish bred, Exuma (Ire), that liked the soft going, but I scratched an American bred horse in the last race who wouldn't have liked the going."

"Frontline Citizen will probably have the summer off and then have a fall campaign," said Beecher. "He'll like the park courses in the fall that have a little undulation in the ground."

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Snap Decision won the G1 Iroquois in a hard driving finish

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May 13, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

NASHVILLE, Tenn.-- Snap Decision won the G1, $200,000, 3 mile Calvin Houghlnd Iroquois Hurdle Stakes, underlining his claim to finally win the Eclipse Award he so richly deserves.

Snap Decision, right, leads Vae Patron over the last fence in the Iroquois (Photo by Tod Marks)
Bruton Street-US' Snap Decision, trained by Jack Fisher and ridden by Graham Watters, beat Vae Patron, trained by Leslie Young, by a neck in 5.32.

This was Vae Patron's first race in this country after having had a successful career over hurdles in France.

Fisher also saddled the third and fourth placed horses, Zabeel Champion (GB) and Sebastopol (Ire).

This was Snap Decision's second win this year after having won the G2 Temple Gwathmey at the Virginia Gold Cup by 8 lengths in April.

Vae Patron led for most of the race.

"Snap got a big jump at the second to last fence and went ahead," said Fisher. "Leslie's horse came back at him but he went on to win.There was less than 5 lengths between the top five horses.

Zabeel Champion was 1 1/4 lengths back of Vae Patron with Sebastapol another 1 1/4 lengths back, followed by Noah and the Arc in fifth, 2 1/4 lengths back, while Jimmy P was distanced.

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Joe Davies saddled Our Friend to win at Willowdale

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May 12, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa.--Joe  and Teddy Davies teamed up to win the featured $35,000, 3 1/2 mile Buttonwood/Sycamore Farms Willowdale Steeplechase Timber Stakes with Our Friend at Willowdale Steeplechase on Saturday, May 11.

Our Friend on his way to winning at Willowdale (Photo by Robert Keller)
Armata Stables' Our Friend, trained by Joe Davies and ridden by son Teddy, won the Timber Stakes by 11 1/2 lengths in 7:14 over The Butler Yates, trained by Leslie Young.

Earlier this year, Our Friend had won the My Lady's Manor Stakes, but Davies decided against running him in the Maryland Hunt Cup.

"He won the Manor, but because Teddy had gotten along with him so well, and he was going to ride Vinnie in the Hunt Cup, we decided not to run him in the Hunt Cup," said Davies. "Then he ran in the steeplethon at the Virginia Gold Cup, but he was carried off course early in the race, so he got to run at Willowdale. It was a lovely course, and he won."

"He'll go hound exercising this fall," said Davies. "He may be pointed towards the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup, or maybe he'll just fox hunt and someday hope to run in the Maryland Hunt Cup. All my horses are aimed for that."

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Kathy Neilson had a winner, two seconds and a third at Winterthur Races

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May 6, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

WINTERTHUR, Del.--Kathy Neilson had a good day at Winterthur Races, saddling one winner, two seconds and one third in the four races at Winterthur Races on Sunday, May 5.

Fast Vision leads over the last fence in the Winterthur Bowl (Photo by Tod Marks)
Winterthur drew a sizeable crowd despite the chilly temperature in the mid 50s and the occasional rain.

The course was listed as soft following a few days of rain.

Kathy Neilson saddled Armata Stables' Fashion Line, ridden by Jack Power, to win the $15,000, 3 1/4 mile Vicmead Plate, Apprentice Rider Timber, by 3 3/4 lengths over Huyana, trained by William Dowling.

"Fashion Line is very well bred," said Neilson."He's out of a Cozzene mare. I love that line,they're so tough.

""A friend of mine gave hm to me when she was getting divorced and couldn't afford him," said Neilson. We started hunting him. I've had him a few years, and he's a gift that just keeps on giving. He'll go to Willowdale next."

Winning ths race was particularly meaningful to Neilson as it was run in honor of her father, Louis (Paddy) Nelson.

Fashion Line was rated behind Huyana for most of the race, going to the lead as the field passed the Wilmington Country Club driveway the second time and proving easily the best at the finish.

Leipers Fork Steeplechasers' Fast Vision (Fr), trained by Leslie Young and ridden by Freddie Procter, won the $25,000 Wnterthur Bowl Allowance Timber by 5 3/4 lengths in 7:05 2/5 over Hard Game, trained by Neilson.

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