Month: December 2019

Chimney Rock Victorious in Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes

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Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile
Fair Grounds, 12-14-19, 6 fulrongs
Two Year Old, Accredited Louisiana Bred, $100,000

Chimney Rock_F_12-14-2019
Chimney Rock, with Florent Geroux aboard, wins the 29th running of Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile. Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski

CHIMNEY ROCK
Artie Schiller–What’s Your Point
Breeder: Stargazers, LLC & Clear Creek Stud, LLC
Owner: Three Diamonds Farm
Trainer: Michael J. Maker
Jockey: Florent Geroux

2nd
Binding Agreement
Bind–Fairyland Lustre
Breeder: Columbine Stable, LLC
Owner: Columbine Stable LLC
Trainer: Albert M. Stall, Jr.
Jockey: Colby J. Hernandez

3rd
Outofmybind
Bind–Morning Memory
Breeder: Richard Ringo
Owner: Richard Ringo
Trainer: James E. Hodges
Jockey: James Graham

 

Chimney Rock, a maiden winner over the Saratoga turf Sept. 1, was a narrowly beaten second just a week later in the Sept. 7 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint S. and again in the Oct. 6 Indian Summer S. at Keeneland. He was beaten three-quarters of a length when second behind Four Wheel Drive (American Pharoah) in the Nov. 1 GII Breeders= Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint last time out. Making his first attempt on dirt since a third-place finish on debut in the Belmont slop in late June, the bay colt raced off the pace while three wide down the backstretch. He moved up four wide to challenge for the lead at the top of the stretch and powered clear to a much-the-best victory.

Vacherie Girl Wins Louisiana Champions Day Lassie

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Louisiana Champions Day Lassie
Fair Grounds, 12-14,19, 6 furlongs
Two-Year-Old, Accredited Louisiana Bred, Fillies, $100,000

Vacherie Girl_F_12-14-2019
Vacherie Girl, with Florent Geroux aboard, wins the 29th running of Louisiana Champions Day Lassie at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir

VACHERIE GIRL
Tapiture–Saucey Officer
Breeder: Georgia Farms Inc
Owner: L. William and Corinne Heiligbrodt
Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen
Jockey: Florent Geroux

2nd
Our Lost Love
Half Ours–Lost Love Baby
Breeder: Tri-Star Racing LLC
Owner: Tri-Star Racing, LLC
Trainer: Joseph M. Foster
Jockey: Mitchell Murrill

3rd
Sincerity
Mucho Macho Man–Hartfelt
Breeder: Adcock’s Red River Farm, LLC & J. Adcock
Owner: Windylea Farm, LLC
Trainer: Danny Pish
Jockey: Kent J. Desormeaux

 

Vacherie Girl closed stoutly to record a 6 1/2-length debut win while facing state-bred foes going 5 1/2 furlongs at this track Nov. 28. The chestnut filly raced in the clear at midpack as the field split into two groups down the backstretch. She surged into contention on the turn and closed determinedly down the lane to get on top in the final strides. Vacherie Girl, the second stakes winner for her freshman sire (by Tapit), was purchased for $87,000 following a :10 1/5 work at this year’s OBS June sale.

Three-Year Racehorse Depreciation Extension Passed by House of Representatives

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (December 17, 2019) – A key provision that extends three-year tax depreciation for all racehorses through 2020 today passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 297-120. The racehorse provision is part of a larger tax package agreed to by Republican and Democratic leaders and now expected to be taken up by the Senate in the next several days.

Uniform three-year racehorse depreciation was among numerous tax provisions across many industries that either expired at the beginning of 2018 or this year, or were set to expire as of Jan. 1, 2020. The bill reinstates the 3-year schedule for all racehorses retroactive to 2018.

The provision allows taxpayers to depreciate, on a three-year schedule, racehorses 24 months of age and younger when purchased and placed into service, as opposed to a seven-year schedule.

“Reinstatement of three-year depreciation for all racehorses helps attract and retain investment in the horse racing industry,” said NTRA President and Chief Executive Officer Alex Waldrop. “We appreciate the House’s work to include this important provision.”

Three-year racehorse depreciation was most recently available to the industry in 2017 but Congress did not renew it for 2018 as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) passed in December 2017. The TCJA did include 100% bonus depreciation and a $1 million Sec. 179 expense allowance for qualified depreciable property, two important investment incentives that lessened the need for three-year depreciation in many cases. However, three-year depreciation continues to be a beneficial option for many racehorse owners, especially racing partnerships with multiple passive owners, as it better aligns deductions with corresponding income opportunities on an annual basis.

Maintaining the three-year recovery period for racehorse purchases has been a top legislative priority for the NTRA federal legislative team since the provision’s initial enactment as part of the 2008 Farm Bill.

The Senate has until Friday, December 20, to pass this legislation.

Talamo Hits 2,000-Win Milestone Aboard Glatt Trainee Rizzi’s Honor At Los Alamitos

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More than 13 years after he collected the first win of his career in his native Louisiana, jockey Joe Talamo picked up his 2,000th  victory with Rizzi’s Honors in Thursday’s fifth race at Los Alamitos in Cypress, Calif.

The 3-5 favorite against five opponents in the $20,351 starter allowance, the 6-year-old With Distinction mare pressed the issue while wide early, but kicked clear inside the final eighth to win by four lengths for owners Lee Drummond and Joe Riso and trainer Mark Glatt.

Talamo, who will turn 30 Jan. 12, was joined in the winner’s circle by his wife Elizabeth and his two young sons Dominic and Vincent, longtime agent Scotty McClellan and several of his fellow riders.

“She’s such a neat mare, she always tries hard,” said Talamo. “I felt pretty confident down the lane she was going to win.

“Besides (Glatt), there are so many owners and trainers to thank that gave me the opportunities that led to this milestone. I’m so grateful.

“Scotty and I have been together for about 13 years so it was pretty special to have him here today. It’s hard to believe I’ve been riding this long.”

Talamo, who is going to ride in California through Jan. 5 before he begins competing at Oaklawn Park, which starts its meet Jan. 24, earned his initial victory July 7, 2006, aboard Well Heavens Sake at Louisiana Downs. His 1,000th win came April 5, 2012, at Santa Anita aboard Splendid Fortune for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

Rizzi’s Honors, who paid $3.20, $2.20 and $2.10, has now won five of 25 and earned $134,359. It was her second win in five attempts at Los Alamitos.

Fracas, a 6-1 shot, was second and returned $4.60 and $2.40 while finishing a half-length in front of 7-2 second choice Rattle. The show price on Rattle was $2.40.

Pound for Pound Wins Louisiana Champions Day Classic

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Fair Grounds’ Dec. 14 feature first black-type win for trainer Andrea Ancil Ali.

 

By

 

Israel Flores Horses’ Pound for Pound edged Trevilion to take the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic, giving trainer Andrea Ancil Ali and jockey Aubrie Green their first black-type wins Dec. 14 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

The Classic was the highlight on a 13-race card for accredited Louisiana-breds, including three Quarter Horse stakes.

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Graded Stakes-Siring Peppered Cat Relocates To Louisiana

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Peppered Cat 2019

Peppered Cat, a veteran stallion whose offspring includes the multiple graded stakes winner Pepper Crown, has been purchased privately by Perry and Denise Martin of Martin Racing and relocated from California to stand at Val Murrell’s Clear Creek Stud in Folsom, Louisiana for the 2020 breeding season.

A California stalwart since he retired to the breeding shed as a multiple winner in 2005, the 19-year-old son of Tabasco Cat most recently stood at Daehling Ranch in Elk Grove. From 12 crops of racing age, he has sired 67 winners from 85 starters, and is represented by lifetime progeny earnings of $4,253,371 and average earnings per starter of $50,040.

His seven black-type runners are led by Pepper Crown, a $472,298-earner who won Golden Gate Fields’ Berkeley Handicap (G3) and San Francisco Mile Stakes (G3) in 2014.

Produced by Meadowlake’s Grade 3-winning daughter Morning Meadow, Peppered Cat is a half-brother to the dam of 2015 Hopeful Stakes (G1) winner Ralis and the multiple graded stakes-placed, multiple stakes winner B Squared.

Peppered Cat’s 2020 fee is $3,000 live foal guarantee, payable when foal stands and nurses, or $1,500 live foal guarantee, payable September 1, 2020. He stands for the partnership of Martin Racing and Clear Creek Stud, and is nominated to Breeders’ Cup.

29th Louisiana Champions Day to Run December 14

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  • 29th Annual Louisiana Champions Day, 7 stakes for Louisiana Bred Thoroughbreds, 3 stakes for Louisiana Bred Quarter Horses New Orleans Fair Grounds, 1st Post 12:30 p.m.
  • U.S. Military and Color Guard present the colors for Louisiana Champions Day. 11:30 a.m. Members of the military to be honored throughout the day as guests of the LTBA
  • Louisiana Champions Day, Race Central, 12:30 through last race, New Orleans Fair Grounds, Black Gold Room. Lunch is served from 1pm – 3pm.
  • LTBA Scholarship Drawings; two $1,000 scholarships for current college students. (Registration between 11:00 a.m. & 12:00 p.m. Drawings for two scholarships will occur at the winners circle after the 5th race. Must be present at winners circle to win.)

Six Scholarships to be Awarded on College Day and Louisiana Champions Day at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans

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New Orleans, La. – The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association and Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots will award six scholarships each valued at $1,000. Four scholarships will be awarded during College Day on Saturday, December 7. Two more scholarships will be awarded at Louisiana Champions Day on Saturday, December 14. Both events will take place at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, La.
The requirements for the scholarship are as follows:
  • Must be a college student enrolled full-time for Spring 2020.
  • Must be in good standing with the college or university.
  • Must be present to win at the Winner’s Circle when the announcement is made.
  • Must have college ID and government-issued ID.
For College Day, December 7:
  • Registration: 1:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. at the designated booth
  • Races begin: 3:00 p.m.
  • Drawing Time: The scholarships will be awarded after the fifth race. The scholarship will be deposited directly into the student’s account at the college or university. The student is asked to know the name and address of the college that they are attending.
For Louisiana Champions Day, December 14:
  • Registration: 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. at the designated booth
  • Races begin: 12:00 p.m.
  • Drawing Time: The scholarships will be awarded after the fifth race. The scholarship will be deposited directly into the student’s account at the college or university. The student is asked to know the name and address of the college that they are attending.
For more information, please call (504) 947-4676 or visit louisianabred.com.

HARRAH’S LOUISANA DOWNS ANNOUNCES ITS 2020 QUARTER HORSE STAKES SCHEDULE

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The Mardi Gras Futurity, the First Official Futurity of the Year, Set for March 14

 

Bossier City, LA – The 2020 Quarter Horse racing season will get underway at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs on Saturday, January 4. The 46-day meet will include 12 stakes highlighted by the first official futurity of the year, the $100,000-added Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2)on Saturday, March 14.

 

Last year’s $310,466 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) champion Egoizzta Partnership’s Hh Gailforce will compete in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile (RG2) on Saturday, December 14 at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.  Mardi Gras runner-up Tf Shez Jess Dashin, owned by Down South Racing LLC,  went on to win the $339,931 Lassie Futurity at Delta Downs.

 

In addition to the Mardi Gras Futurity for Louisiana-breds, the $75,000-added Harrah’s Futurity (G3) will be contested on March 18 and is an open 2-year-old championship. Cruz Nava’s Trump My Record was victorious this year and continued his exceptional campaign with wins in both the Sam Houston Futurity (G2) and Texas Classic Futurity (G1).  He will be one of the top contenders for AQHA Champion 2-year-old honors when their winners are announced in January.

 

Live racing will be conducted Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with a 1:00 p.m. (Central) post time through March 18.

 

The barn area will open on Saturday, December 19 with training hours set from 6:30 am – 10:30 am. Harrah’s Louisiana Downs will also offer schooling races for 2-year-olds paid into the Mardi Gras Futurity as well as the Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity.

 

“We have received strong interest from returning horsemen including Lanny Keith, Vann Haywood, Orlando Orozco, Kenneth Roberts, Sr. and Martin Trejo,” said David Heitzmann, Director of Racing. “Several new conditioners, including Heath Taylor, Robert Touchet, and Shane Mason have been assigned stalls this year.”

 

 

 

Louisiana Downs 2020 Quarter Horse Stakes Schedule

 

January 4         $15,000 Harrah’s Dash                       4 YO & Up                 350 yards

January 11       $15,000 Marathon Stakes                   4 YO & Up                   870 yards

January 18       $25,000 Billy Montgomery                3 YO LA-Bred             350 yards

January 25       $15,000 Swift Stakes                         4 YO & Up                    350 yards

$25,000 Party Girl Stakes         4 YO & Up F&M  LA-bred   330 yards

 

February 1       $25,000 Magnolia Stakes                   3 YO & Up LA-Bred   870 yards

February 8       $15,000-added LAD Maiden Stake       3,4 & 5 YO LA-Bred   350 yards

February 15     $25,000 Mr Jess Perry (RG3)             4 YO & Up LA-Bred   330 yards

 

March 14         $100,000-added Mardi Gras Futurity    2 YO LA-Bred             300 yards

$50,000-added Mardi Gras Derby         3 YO   LA-Bred           400 yards

$15,000 Leverne Perry Memorial       3 YO & Up                  400 yards

 

March 18         $75,000-added Harrah’s Futurity          2 YO                       300 yards 

2020 Quarter Horse Trial Dates

 

January 18                               Louisiana Downs Maiden Stake

February 22                             Mardi Gras Futurity

February 23                             Mardi Gras Derby

March 1                                   Harrah’s Futurity

 

 

2020 Schooling Race Dates

 

January 31                               Mardi Gras Futurity

February 7                               Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity

 

 

 

About Harrah’s Louisiana Downs

Located near Shreveport in Bossier City, Louisiana, Louisiana Downs opened in 1974 and was purchased by Caesars Entertainment in December, 2002. With annual Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing seasons, the track is committed to presenting the highest quality racing programs paired with its 150,000 square foot entertainment complex offering casino gambling, dining and plasma screen televisions for sports and simulcast racing.

2YO Eclipse Contender, Storm The Court, Demonstrates the Value of his Sire, Court Vision

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Championship Shot Brings Vision Back in Focus

Storm the Court | Eclipse Sportswire

By Chris McGrath

There’s been some pretty faint praise for the winner of what generally proves the key race to determine the best 2-year-old colt of his crop. So much so, that plenty of Eclipse voters were plainly hoping that Tiz The Law (Constitution) could pull the championship rug from under the feet of Storm The Court (Court Vision), shock winner of the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, when odds-on for the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. last Saturday.

In the event, Tiz The Law succumbed to the same stage fright that unravelled more fancied horses when Storm the Court emulated his sire, 64-1 winner of the Mile in 2011, as a hear-a-pin-drop Breeders’ Cup winner. His defeat presumably restores Storm the Court to pole position, though the turf winners at the Breeders’ Cup may yet enter the equation. But whoever ultimately gains the laurels, it must be pretty irritating for connections of Storm the Court to hear his success treated as an aberration, sooner credited to inconsistencies in track and opposition than to his own merit.

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