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Month: February 2023
Trainer Chris Richard Reflects on Winning His 1,000th Career Race
Major milestones in Thoroughbred racing represent so much more than a number. Whether it be 1,000, 2,500, 3,000, 5,000 or the remarkable 10,000th win by Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen, each recipient has worked tirelessly for the achievement.
Trainer Chris Richard has paid his dues competing in Kentucky, Arkansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma and his home state of Louisiana over the past three decades.
Richard grew up in Lake Charles and had friends who raced Quarter Horses at Delta Downs. He loved the action and was inspired by the powerful athletes. Education came first with Richard attending Texas A&M in College Station and earning a BA in Animal/Equine Science followed by his Masters in Equine Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. He was also a standout bowler and competed on the A&M Bowling team!
When he graduated, he moved to Kentucky and took on the role of private trainer for James McIngvale. The Houston-based furniture salesman, known as “Mattress Mack” is a nationally recognized supporter of breeding and racing and has played an important role in Richard’s career. The long awaited 1,000th win took place at Delta Downs on Friday, February 24 with Freebritney, a 3-year-old filly by Klimt, purchased by McIngvale at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $27,000.
Richard began 2023 just four wins short of the milestone. He had 32 starts this year at Fair Grounds, Oaklawn and Delta before finally winning his 1,000th race.
“It took a while,” acknowledged Richard. “Trying to get a milestone is like pulling teeth; you run second and third and wonder if it will ever happen!”
Richard shared his full circle path training for McIngvale.
“My first official win came in 1998 with Albadar for Mack who also owns the filly who gave me my 1,000th win! How cool is that?”
Each trainer has the daunting task of figuring out what it takes for each horse to be successful on the racetrack. Freebritney presented her share of challenges.
“She was a little bit ornery,” he explained. “I had to go slow with her. In her first work out of the gate, she broke well, but stopped abruptly and started spinning like a helicopter. She made one start at Canterbury and I felt she needed some time off. She figured it out at Delta; I’ve learned over the years that you have to be patient; have a plan B and sometimes a plan C!”
McIngvale was also the breeder of Richard’s top earner, Underpressure, a Louisiana-bred son of Birdstone, out of the Charismatic mare Charming Colleen. Richard had an immediate connection with the gelding and purchased him. He became a multiple-stakes winner for the Richard barn, earning $870,992 in 45 starts.
Richard, who turned 50 last year, was an assistant to top trainer Tom Amoss for five years. He is grateful to Amoss and a number of owners for their support.
“Stan Cole gave me a great opportunity in Minnesota and I trained for Maggi Moss at Prairie Meadows for eight years,” said Richard.
Native Ruler, a $25,000 claimer for Moss, won nine stakes and retired with earnings of $712, 296 and she also owned Outta Tune, who captured the Grade 3, Count Fleet at Oaklawn Park.
Richard’s seven-year tenure at Prairie Meadows was a solid building block for his stable as well as his personal life. That is where he met his future wife, Mallory Greiner, who was attending Iowa State University and had a job working in the Prairie Meadows racing office. They married in 2019 and make their home in Vinton. She devotes countless hours to re-homing the Richard-trainees as their racing careers wind down.
“I vet each prospective owner very carefully,” explained Mallory. “It’s never an easy process, but we believe in making sure our horses have a good home away from the racetrack.”
There’s never much time for celebration for horsemen and Richard was on the road from Delta Downs to Oaklawn Park the morning after winning his 1,000th career race.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” he stated. “I’ve been very fortunate to have some real nice horses, loyal owners, a great crew and the support of Mallory. I am very appreciative of this!”
Allnight Moonlight wires the Half Ours and Free Drop Maddy Speeds Away in the Buttercup’s Song
New Orleans, La (Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023) – After breaking his maiden in January, Roger Smith’s Allnight Moonlight immediately stepped up to stakes company and stepped out in front to wire the inaugural $75,000 Louisiana Stallion of the Year Half Ours Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Going one mile 70 yards, Allnight Moonlight beat seven other statebred 3-year-olds by four lengths.
Piloted by Jareth Loveberry and trained by Ron Faucheux, Allnight Moonlight completed one mile and 70 yards in 1:43.94. He is now two-for-two since adding blinkers. The win in the Half Ours was Faucheux’s second on the day and sixth on the week. Sitting at 25 total wins to Bret Calhoun’s 30 and Brad Cox’s 28, Faucheux is now in position to compete for his third straight trainer’s title.
“Ron (Faucheux) has really done a great job with this horse,” Loveberry said. “Stretching him out and putting the blinkers on, he got him going in the right direction. I made sure he got a good break and was able to take command after that. He’s a really nice horse and I want to thank the whole team.”
Breaking from the rail, Allnight Moonlight shot out to take control and set scintillating fractions of :23.50 and :46.29. After bobbling at the start, the 2-5 favorite Jack Hammer rushed to keep up and took a run at Allnight Moonlight in the second turn but came up empty. As Allnight Moonlight put more distance between himself and the field at every call, Benoit and Mangum ran well for second and third-place honors respectively. Never mustering a re-rally after being turned away, Jack Hammer held on for fourth.
“We’ve always been high on this horse,” Faucheux said. “The addition of blinkers helped him prove his talent in these last two races. I think the sky’s the limit with him. I love this horse, always have, even when he was running second or worse. We always thought he would be a true router, and he might even be best on the grass in the long run. He has the feet for it and the pedigree. I’m so happy for (owner) Roger Smith who is here with his grandson today. He’s been with me through and through, we’ve had a lot of fun. It’s a special (win).”
Stiff Drink, Gobot, Real Action, and My Lil Dude completed the order of finish.
Allnight Moonlight was sent off at 5-1 and returned $13.00, $7.40, and $3.80. He boosted his career record to 5-2-2-0 and earnings to $97,000.
*****
Mansfield Racing’s Free Drop Maddy wired the field to win the inaugural $75,000 Louisiana Broodmare of the Year Buttercup’s Song Stakes, recording her third stakes victory during the 2022-2023 meet at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The sophomore beat seven 3-year-old statebred fillies by 2 1/4 lengths.
Piloted by Rey Gutierrez and trained by Bret Calhoun, Free Drop Maddy completed one mile in 1:39.47 for her first win going two turns. Her previous three efforts came at Delta Downs.
“Delta is a much different surface and (Free Drop Maddy) runs better here (at Fair Grounds),” Gutierrez said. “Bret (Calhoun) made some adjustments coming into this race, and she was extremely comfortable out there, very relaxed on the lead. Today was her first victory stretching out, and the credit goes to Bret and his team.”
Free Drop Maddy broke sharply and immediately took command, rolling through the early fractions in :24.57 and :48.22. New Destiny chased the leader early on before settling along the rail and biding her time for a late bid. Olivia G settled near the back early before making a bold, wide move to threaten in the stretch. Both of those two fillies ranged up behind Free Drop Maddy at the top of the stretch but neither could threaten as the winning filly kicked away. Olivia G beat New Destiny to the wire. Racing midpack throughout, Guitar Woman rounded out the superfecta.
“(Free Drop Maddy) is a small fast filly,” Calhoun said. “She’s like dynamite: little but powerful. Scheduling and hoping Delta’s track had tightened up had us back over there (in her last race), and I regret it. She doesn’t like that track at all.”
She Told You So, For Harper, Hopeitsmyluckyday, and Agami completed the order of finish.
Free Drop Maddy was sent off the 9-5 co-favorite and returned $5.00. $3.60, and $3.00. In joining the ranks of Surveillance and Oeuvre with her third stakes score of the meet, she boosted her career record to 8-4-1-2 and earnings to $272,800.
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Asmussen Makes History With 10,000 North American Wins
Hall of Fame trainer made history for a second time Feb. 20.
Steve Asmussen became the first trainer to win 10,000 Thoroughbred races in North America when Bet He’s Ready won the fifth race at Oaklawn Park Feb. 20.
Asmussen also has two additional wins overseas, including Curlin ‘s victory in the 2008 Dubai World Cup (G1).
A Hall of Famer, Asmussen became the winningest trainer in North American history on Aug. 7, 2021, when Stellar Tap won a maiden race at Saratoga Race Course, giving him his 9,446th win and pushing the late Dale Baird into second. Since then, Asmussen has continued to win races at a high rate, drawing ever closer to the latest milestone.
Lone Star Park Announces 2023 Thoroughbred Season
After coming off of a successful Thoroughbred racing season in 2022, Lone Star Park is looking forward to 2023.
The Thoroughbred racing season will begin April 13, 2023, with 44 live racing days and will conclude July 4. The calendar features live racing on Thursdays and Fridays at 6:35 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and Memorial Day at 1:35 p.m., and special twilight post times of 5:00 p.m. on July 3 and July 4.
The 2023 Thoroughbred racing season stakes schedule will have a total of 21 stakes worth a combined total of $2,925,000. The highlight of the schedule is Lone Star Million Day on Memorial Day, and the marquee race is the $400,000 guaranteed Steve Sexton Mile (G3), for 3-year-olds and up at one mile. The Summer Turf Festival will be returning June 24.
Other than the $75,000 Bluebonnet Stakes, which kicks off the season on opening night, all other stakes will be held on one of four dates. They are:
* Lone Star Million Day, May 29—six stakes worth a total of $1,200,000
* Lone Star Showcase Day, June 3—five stakes worth a total of $375,000
* Summer Turf Festival, June 24—four stakes worth a total of $750,000
* Stars of Texas Day, July 1— five stakes worth a total of $525,000.
The 2023 Thoroughbred racing season stakes schedule can be found at: https://www.lonestarpark.com/stakes-schedule/.
Total purses will average an estimated $260,000 per day for the 44-day meet.
Brad Cox Scores 2,000th Career Win on Saturday at Fair Grounds
Scores four wins on Louisiana Derby Preview Day,
including a 13-1 Risen Star Upset with Angel of Empire
New Orleans (Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023) – Trainer Brad Cox sent out his 2,000th career North American winner Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, saddling Spendthrift Farm, Steve Landers Racing, Martin Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing, Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing, Winners Win, Michael Caruso, and WinStar Farm’s Bishops Bay (1-2 favorite) to a three-quarters of a length victory over stablemate First Mission in Race 5.
“I want to thank the team, the owners, and the horses,” Cox said. “It’s been a great run and it’s been a long road. I’m glad to have two colts who showed up here and ran well, I’m proud of both. I think they have bright futures.”
The 42-year-old native of Louisville, Ky. closed to within three victories of the milestone entering Saturday. Beginning with Comparative in Race 2, then Merlazza in Race 4, the Cox barn quickly won with their first two entries on the card. Having two entries in Race 5, there was no doubt in the homestretch that Cox was about to hit 2,000–the only question was which horse would be the one to do it for him as his other entry First Mission headed Bishops Bay with one-sixteenth to go. With Florent Geroux aboard, the Uncle Mo Colt Bishops Bay battled back against his workmate, beating him to the wire.
Steve Asmussen had two entries in Race 5 as well, and sitting at 9,999 career wins, he and Cox were in the paddock at Fair Grounds with the potential to saddle their milestone winner. After posting a win at both Sam Houston and Oaklawn earlier in the day, Asmussen was unable to score another.
“It’s an amazing number that Steve is about to hit,” Cox said. “I have no shot of catching him. He works as hard as anybody. To do what we do every day, trying to develop horses, it’s a tough game. To do it for as long as he has, as well as he has, it’s amazing.”
Cox started working in racing under trainers Burk Kessinger, and Jimmy Baker. Later he became the assistant trainer under Dallas Stewart. Brad started his first horse in 2004, and has since gone on to win each leg of the Triple Crown and the Longines Kentucky Oaks twice. He has racked up nine Breeders Cup victories, including the Classic with Knicks Go (2021) and the Distaff twice with Monomoy Girl (2018 and 2020).
“I knew we were getting close a couple of races back, and I’m glad to give it over with,” Cox. “Honestly, I just wanted to get it over with. We’ve got some live shots later in the day so we’re hopeful to keep it rolling.”
Later in the card, Cox would score a 13-1 upset in the Risen Star (G2) presented by Lamarque Ford-Lincoln, giving him four wins on the day.
Already with four training titles at Fair Grounds, Cox sits in second in the 2022-23 standings with 27 wins, two behind Bret Calhoun.
Asmussen is On the Brink of Yet Another Milestone
Hall of Famer is three wins away from 10,000
New Orleans, La (Feb 14, 2023) – Having surpassed Dale Baird on August 7, 2021, Steve Asmussen is already the leading trainer in the history of North American Thoroughbred racing, and he enters this racing week with 9,997 career wins.
“The record was on my mind, to be the winningest,” Asmussen admitted. “That’s never over. A milestone like 10,000 will feel like when Curlin became the first North American racehorse to go over $10 million (in earnings). You’ll always be the first to ever hit that digit.”
At the age of 57 and with his operation going as strong as ever, it’s tough to envision Asmussen’s record ever being broken.
“You would find it hard to believe, but there is the outside possibility that it could happen,” Asmussen said. “As hard as it is to win the next one, I am in awe of it (reaching 10,000). Getting races to “go” is hard enough, let alone actually winning one. A friend of mine told me that 10,000 wins calculates to a win a day for 27 straight years. A lot of credit goes to the consistency and quality of my help. Assistants like Scott Blasi and Darren Fleming.”
Asmussen was born in Gettysburg, South Dakota, but he’s called Laredo, Texas home since the age of two.
“I was hoping I could do it (reach the milestone) at Sam Houston, but it’s impossible to time that,” he said. “My mom (Marilyn) wants to be there for it and she follows my racing better than I do. How do you even know? There is also a chance that my son Keith could win it for us at Oaklawn. If that happened, it would be like divine intervention. If I had to predict, I think it will happen either Friday or Saturday of this week and I’ve got nice horses in, so it will be fun.”
Equine Sales of Louisiana Attempting to Disperse Papers for Several Horses
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Afternoon Deelites Dies at Old Friends
Just six days after the passing of his owner Burt Bacharach, Afternoon Deelites, a six-time graded-stakes winner, was euthanized Feb. 14 at Old Friends, the Kentucky-based thoroughbred retirement farm, due to complications from colic. He was 31. Old Friends President and Founder Michael Blowen announced his passing Wednesday morning.
Bred by Blue Seas Music Inc., the son of Private Terms–Intimate Girl, by Medaille d’Or, was foaled in West Virginia on Feb. 28, 1992. For his entire racing career he was owned by Bacharach, trained by Richard Mandella, and ridden by Kent Desormeaux.
Afternoon Deelites opened his racing career in spectacular fashion, winning his first five races between 1994 and 1995, four of them stakes races. After winning a Santa Anita maiden special weight as a 2-year old in 1994, he won the GIII Hollywood Prevue Breeders’ Cup Stakes to earn his first graded stakes win, and followed that up with a win in the GI Hollywood Futurity, defeating future Kentucky Derby winner Thunder Gulch.
In 1995 as a 3-year old, Afternoon Deelites continued his winning streak with victories in the GIII San Vicente Breeders’ Cup S. and the GII San Felipe S. His final win in 1995 was in the GI Malibu S. He was second in the GI Santa Anita Derby, and eighth in the GI Kentucky Derby.
At four, Afternoon Deelites won one of his four races, the GII Commonwealth Breeders’ Cup S. at Keeneland. In his final career start, he finished second in the GI Metropolitan H. at Belmont Park on May 27. Afternoon Deelites retired with seven wins (including six of the 11 graded stakes in which he ran) three seconds, and $1,061,193 in earnings in 12 career starts.
Afternoon Deelites began his stud career in 1997 at Brereton Jones’s Airdrie Stud in Midway, KY, and stood there through 2003. He then moved to Clear Creek Stud, LLC, in Folsom, LA, where he stood the rest of his career. He was pensioned in 2011, and sent to Old Friends courtesy of Val Murrell of Clear Creek Stud. “We were honored to have Afternoon Deelites at Clear Creek Stud,” said Murrell. “We are blessed to see him live on through his many daughters.”
“Afternoon Deelites was a beautiful friend,” said Blowen. “I remember Kent Desormeaux standing in front of his stall a few years ago saying ‘Michael, I won the Kentucky Derby on Real Quiet, Fusaichi Pegasus, and Big Brown, and this is the fastest horse I ever rode.’ And he was one of the best retirees who ever called Old Friends home.
“Thanks to Burt, his ex-wife, Angie Dickinson, and his widow, Jane, for loving Afternoon Deelites as much as we did.”
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