Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman’s Gimme Da Lute assumed command at the top stretch and battle gamely to defeat Prospect Park by a half-length in the $98,000 Affirmed Stakes (gr. III) June 7 at Santa Anita Park.
Monthly Archives: June 2015
Maurice Finds More for Yasuda Kinen Win
Kazumi Yoshida’s Maurice gave a career defining performance June 7 in the Yasuda Kinen (Jpn-I) at Tokyo racecourse, stamping himself Japan’s top miler this spring.
Belmont Day Handle Down 10% From Last Year
All-sources pari-mutuel handle on the 13-race Belmont Stakes (gr. I) program June 6 totaled $134,839,391, down about 10.2% from last year’s Belmont day program, which had the same number of races.
Triple Threat Sharp in U.S. Debut at Monmouth
Team Valor and Gary Barber’s Triple Threat stormed home on the far outside in the lane and won a late duel with Middleburg to take the $205,000 Monmouth Handicap (gr. IIT) June 7 at Monmouth Park.
Mohawk Council of Kahnawake become online gambling operators via partnership with Sports Interaction
The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) has announced its intention to enter the online gambling business via a partnership with online gambling site Sports Interaction (SI).
Last week, the MCK announced an agreement in principle to “enter into the business of e-gaming” via a partnership with SI, which has operated under a Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission (KGC) license since 1999. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but the MCK said the pact was the result of “many months of negotiations.”
MCK Grand Chief Michael Delisle Jr. said both chief and council had “deliberated long and hard on this matter” before council voted 9-3 in favor of the partnership. Delisle said the MCK had “conducted lengthy and comprehensive research” that ultimately concluded the deal offered the “unprecedented opportunity to partner with a successful company that has been a good corporate citizen in Kahnawà:ke.”
The MCK’s announcement comes just as Canada is wrestling with the devastating final report by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The TRC was formed in 2008 to investigate the country’s former residential schools system, which the report castigates as “nothing short of cultural genocide.”
Zito on 'Pharoah': 'A Great Horse Came Along'
Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito, unable to prevent a Triple Crown winner for the third time, was full of praise for the feat accomplished June 7 by American Pharoah in the Belmont Stakes Presented by DraftKings (gr. I).
Bafferts, Espinoza to Donate to Charities
In significant acts of generosity, trainer Bob Baffert and his wife, Jill, along with jockey Victor Espinoza, announced they will donate to several charities following American Pharoah’s Triple Crown triumph.
Gimmedalute Gets the Cash in Affirmed Stakes
Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman’s Gimmedalute assumed command at the top stretch and battle gamely to defeat Prospect Park by a half-length in the $98,000 Affirmed Stakes (gr. III) June 7 at Santa Anita Park.
Dylan Mouth Stays Perfect in Italy
Dylan Mouth overwhelmed rivals in the Gran Premio Milano (Ity-I) June 7 at San Siro, winning by five lengths for his eighth win from as many starts in Italy.
Prairie Crossing funding attacked in lawsuit
Increased funding demanded by the state for student education expenses at Prairie Crossing Charter School in Grayslake has led to a lawsuit filed by two large elementary districts. Gurnee-based Woodland Elementary District 50 and Mundelein-area Fremont Elementary District 79 filed the lawsuit against the Illinois State Board of Education over a change in the formula that requires Woodland and Fremont to forward annual state aid to pay for students living within the districts’ boundaries who attend Prairie Crossing.
'Pharoah' Settles In Well at Churchill Downs
Zayat Stables’ American Pharoah shipped well the morning of June 7 from New York to Churchill Downs, where he arrived early afternoon with more than 100 fans and members of the media waiting at the barn.
Liberal, Conservative Billionaire Political Foes Unite to Fight Israel Boycotts
One donated more than $100 million to the Republicans, the other has been the Clintons’ biggest backer. Now billionaires Sheldon Adelson and Haim Saban, split on U.S. politics, have united to fight boycott threats against Israel.
Buick to Ride 'Chrome' at Royal Ascot
William Buick is to ride U.S. Horse of the Year California Chrome in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (Eng-I) June 17 at Royal Ascot, Racing Post reports.
Shoot Craps First Winner for Trappe Shot
Claiborne Farm stallion Trappe Shot got his first winner June 7 when Shoot Craps won the first race on the card at Belmont Park. Trappe Shot is a son of leading sire Tapit.
Belmont Overnight Rating Dips a Bit From 2014
The overnight television rating for the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), which produced the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years in American Pharoah, was down slightly from last year, according to The Nielsen Company.
Dale Brichta, former BH Staffer, Dies
Dale Brichta, a former Blood-Horse employee and longtime advertising copywriter in the Thoroughbred industry, died June 4. She was 59.
Remember the lottery? Florida politicians may try the same shell game with the environment
It started in 1986 when voters were told that, if they approved a lottery, the money would go to education. We even called it “The Education Lottery.”
Relaxed Baffert Shares Triple Crown With All
It is hard to imagine the man outside John Terranova’s Belmont Park barn is the same person who was perched on the Santa Anita grandstand steps countless mornings before the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
Other Belmont Trainers Not Upset With Outcome
Even though they did not win the Belmont Stakes presented by DraftKings (gr. I), trainers of the horses finishing closest to American Pharoah in his Triple Crown triumph expressed no major disappointments Sunday morning.
Churchill-Bound American Pharoah Star of Show
American Pharoah was thriving in his role as Thoroughbred racing’s latest superstar June 7, one day after winning the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and becoming the first horse since 1978 to sweep the Triple Crown.