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Kana Tape (Jpn), a 6-year-old mare by perennial leading sire Lord Kanaloa (Jpn), gave North American owner/breeder Charles Fipke–one of just a handful of foreign owners to be granted a full-time license in Japan–his first feature-race winner in the country when coming from far back in the final quarter mile to take out the 1600-meter G3 Sekiya Kinen at Niigata Racecourse on Sunday, July 27.

Ridden by the visiting Rachel King to a Tokyo allowance success Feb. 9, the mare–trained by Noriyuki Hori–returned from a 133-day absence to finish runner-up in the 1800-meter G3 Fuchu Himba Stakes back at headquarters on June 22. A tepid post-time favorite at 17-5 with King back in the saddle from gate 14, Kana Tape was void of early speed and raced fourth from last as American import Shin Forever (Complexity) was loose on the lead.

Asked to sprint on the grandstand side with just less than two furlongs to travel, the bay mare entered the final eighth of a mile in full flight and was along in the final couple of strides to score by a neck, covering her final 600 meters in a race-best :32.5 while stopping the clock in a course-record 1:31 flat. Godolphin's Off Trail (GB) (Farhh {GB}) and second choice Bond Girl (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), a daughter of Coasted (Tizway) and half-sister to GSW & MG1SP Danon Beluga (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), dead-heated for second.

Kana Tape is a daughter of 2004 GI QE II Challenge Cup and GI American Oaks victress Ticker Tape (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}), who was purchased by Northern Farm's Katsumi Yoshida in foal to Giant's Causeway for $950,000 at the 2011 Keeneland November Sale and was exported to Japan.

Fipke, who has shopped the JRHA Select Sale off and on since 2016, acquired Kana Tape for ¥84 million (about US$772,800) at the 2019 Foal Sale and she gave her owner his first winner of any variety in Japan when breaking her maiden at first asking going 1800 meters at Tokyo in January 2022. Sunday's victory took Kana Tape's record to 5-4-3 from 17 starts for earnings of $975,617.

 

WATCH: Charles Fipke's Kana Tape (#14) flashes home in the G3 Sekiya Kinen

The post Prominent Owner/Breeder Fipke Breaks New Ground In Japan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

After a couple of lost training days last week because of escalating safety concerns with the dirt surface, racing resumed Monday at Thistledown, but another tragedy was not far behind. In the first race of the day, the 5-year-old mare Tayyara (Khozan) broke down and had to be euthanized. Thistledown canceled the remainder of the eight-race card.

According to a Horseracing Safety and Integrity Authority (HISA) spokesperson, HISA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Lazarus asked Thistledown to cancel after the first race and they agreed to do so. She also asked them to conduct an investigation and be prepared to discuss the results with her so that they can agree on next steps.”

The track was shut down for training as track officials looked to correct whatever problems there may have been. They resumed training on Saturday and Monday's card was the first day back for racing.

Tayyara stalked the pace early, took the lead entering the turn and then broke down in upper stretch. The Equibase chart also noted that Timely Secret (Commissioner) bumped into the distressed rival, Tayyara, and had to be vanned off the track.

It has been a tumultuous week for the Cleveland area track. On July 21, Thistledown fired its track superintendent, Sean Wright, and brought in outside racing surface consultants and began working with HISA. Images began to circulate on social media showing fist-sized rocks that were allegedly picked up from the track by jockeys and horsemen on Monday and Tuesday. Wright told the TDN's TD Thornton that he was fired for being a whistleblower because he took his concerns to HISA and the track stewards.

Wright also told Thornton that there have been eight catastrophic injuries at Thistledown since the meet began Apr. 21–five in races and three during training.

But at least one Thistledown executive was quick to defend the racing surface.

“We did not have problems with the track today by any stretch of the imagination,” said Racing Secretary Patrick Mackey. “We did have a horse that was pulled up in the first race. We're looking at that right now and investigating what happened. From what I was told, the jockeys were raving about the racing surface. We're still looking into everything but every report we've had on the track was positive.”

Mackey said meetings were on-going to decide whether the track will hold its regularly scheduled Tuesday card.

“The jockeys have told me that from their perspective, the track has never been better,” said a Thistledown jockey agent who asked that his name not be used. “With the work they've done on it the last few days the track was in great shape. I know that a horse breaking down in the first race is a bad look, but it's not the track.”

Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association Executive Director Dave Basler was still another who defended the racing surface Monday.

“Obviously, we're concerned,” he said. “We resumed training Saturday morning after not training from Wednesday through Friday last week in order to get the track back in shape. I received nothing but positive reports from everyone about training on Saturday and Sunday. We did not have any concerns going into today. Unfortunately, there was an incident. No decision has been made on where we go from here. Management, the horsemen and the riders were all confident going into the day that the racetrack was safe.”

 

The post Thistledown Resumes Racing and Horse Breaks Down in First Race Back appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Boom Boom Bell, a 2-year-old filly, became the first winner for the late grade 1-winning Combatant when she won the first race at Hawthorne Race Course July 27.

The last time Fierceness and Sierra Leone raced against each other it was for all the marbles.

La Mehana may be considered a grizzled veteran at age 6, but her 8 3/4-length domination of the $250,000 Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course July 27 indicated she may just be reaching her best.

As much as the fields for the both the Travers Stakes (G1) and the Pacific Classic (G1) came into a sharper focus July 26, the connections of Journalism say it will be "a few more weeks" before plans for the 3-year-old are finalized.

Soldier N Diplomat didn’t deliver a debut quite as impressive as his sire, but St. Elias’ Vinnie Viola nonetheless has high hopes for the 2-year-old, who won by a neck at Saratoga Race Course July 26. He will likely head next to graded stakes.

Due to forecasted extreme heat, Prairie Meadows will move July 27's first post from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. CT and the July 28 race card to July 31 with post time to be determined.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott reported all was well with Sovereignty following his July 26 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) victory. Mark Casse could consider running Sandman on grass in his next start after finishing last of five Saturday.

Al Pike, a veteran horseman who was a perennial leading 2-year-old consignor in Texas and on the national scene, passed away July 26 at the age of 70 after a valiant battle with cancer.

Old Friends at Cabin Creek announced July 27 the arrival of dual grade 1-winning New York-bred Diversify, who relocates to New York after initially retiring to Old Friends’ Dream Chase Farm in Georgetown, Ky. upon his retirement from racing in 2019.

Canterbury Park racing officials will delay the start of the July 27 racing program to 6 p.m. CT due to a projected excessive heat index early in the afternoon. The seven-race program was originally scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

Baoma Corp's Nysos ended trainer Bob Baffert's string of bad luck with beaten favorites in the July 26 San Diego Handicap (G2), delivering another scintillating winning performance.

Mia Familia Racing Stable's Lovesick Blues shocked some of the best sprinters on the West Coast and beyond, winning the $402,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) July 26 at Del Mar.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It was a low-key celebration for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott Saturday night after Sovereignty (Into Mischief) continued his stampede through the 3-year-old male division.

“Put a couple hamburgers on the grill,” Mott said, sitting at his desk in his office at the Oklahoma Training Track on a soggy Sunday morning at Saratoga. “Good hamburgers, by the way. They were from Fresh Market. That was it. Then early to bed.”

When Mott got his barn Sunday morning, he looked down his shedrow and saw the best 3-year-old in the country in Sovereignty, who won his third straight race the day before. His one-length win over Baeza (McKinzie) reinforced what everyone seems to know.

Right now, Sovereignty, owned by Godolphin LLC, has no equal in the division.

With the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes already on his 2025 resume, the next target will be the $1.25-million GI Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 23.

Sovereignty, the 1-2 favorite, and jockey Junior Alvarado conquered the Jim Dandy by holding off Baeza, a horse that finished third to him in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont. The Derby and Belmont were both run at 1 1/4 miles; the Jim Dandy was contested at 1 1/8 miles.

Sovereignty had only tried that distance once before, finishing second in the GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream on Mar. 29. That is his only loss this season in five starts.

“I looked at that, but, no, that wasn't really my biggest concern,” Mott said about the distance. “Now, you're going to ask what was your biggest concern. I don't know if I am going to reveal that. I was not panicking over the 1 1/8 [miles].”

The journey will continue to the Travers. The endgame goal for the season is the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

Mott has not yet thought about whether there will be another race on the schedule between the Travers and the Classic.

“I would not think there would be,” Mott said. “If we make the Travers and the plan then is the Breeders' Cup, I would not think there would be another race, at least not in my mind.”

McCarthy Will Wait Before Deciding What's Next for Journalism

Trainer Michael McCarthy was an interested spectator of Saratoga races over the weekend.

He watched as Sovereignty (Into Mischief) won the GII Jim Dandy Stakes on Saturday. The day before, he tuned in to see Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) win the Curlin Stakes.

“From what I saw of the two 3-year-old races at Saratoga and the Haskell the week before, it's the strongest 3-year-old crop I have seen in recent memory,” McCarthy said by phone from his California base at Del Mar Sunday. “I was very impressed [with Sovereignty].”

McCarthy trains Journalism (Curlin), the GI Haskell Stakes winner, who won the GI Preakness Stakes and was second as the favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes. Sovereignty beat him in those two starts.

The question begging for an answer is whether there will be a rematch in the $1.25-million GI Travers Stakes.

“You mean between Sovereignty and Baeza?” McCarthy said, tongue firmly in cheek.

Baeza (McKinzie) finished second in the Jim Dandy; he was also third in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.

McCarthy said he will keep all options open for Journalism, who has won four of six starts this season, three of them Grade I events. He could ship Journalism back to the East Coast for the third time this season for a date in the Travers or he could stay home and try older horses for the first time in the $1-million GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 30.

“Anytime you put a horse on a plane, you are always worried it might take something out of them,” McCarthy said.

If he stays home, he would likely face the imposing Nysos (Nyquist), who won the GII San Diego Handicap by 2 3/4 lengths for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert Saturday.

“Everything is up in the air,” McCarthy said. “Honestly, I am just going to watch my horse, see where we are at and go from there. It's a long year and we've got a long second half of the year. We want to be at our best for the Breeders' Cup Classic no matter what way we go.”

McCarthy said that Journalism, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, has returned to the track and will have his first work since the Haskell next week or the week after.

Baeza Might Return for Travers, Sandman Will Not

Baeza (McKinzie), the runner-up in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes, might come back to take on Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in the $1.25-million GI Travers Stakes. Sandman (Tapit), who finished last in the field of five, will not.

John Shirreffs, Baeza's trainer, flew back to California Saturday night and the colt was scheduled to follow early this week. Before he left, he said he would not be able to make the decision to return on his own.

“I have to talk to [owners] Robert Clay [Grandview Equine] and Lee Searing [C R K Stable LLC],” Shirreffs said.

Sovereignty leads home Baeza in Jim Dandy | Sarah Andrew

Baeza finished third behind Sovereignty in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes and got closer in the Jim Dandy, losing by a length.

In the days leading up to the race, Shirreffs thought he would get a better effort from Baeza than he got in the Belmont, when he was defeated by 6 1/2 lengths. And he got it.

“One hundred percent better than the Belmont,” Shirreffs said. “I thought we had him for a second, but Sovereignty had a little more at the end.”

If Baeza were to return, Shirreffs said the 1 1/4 miles would benefit him. It would also not bother Sovereignty, who won the Derby and Belmont at those distances.

“I think [Baeza] can do the 1 1/4 miles easily,” Shirreffs said. “We got within a length of [Sovereignty] and I can see my horse improving more and running better than he did [in the Jim Dandy]. I am not losing confidence at all.”

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said that the popular gray Sandman won't go in the Midsummer Derby. His next start could be in the $1-million GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Sept. 20 or he could run on the grass at Saratoga.

“I have to talk to everyone, but I would say it's one of those two,” Casse said Sunday morning.

Sandman, owned by D J Stable LLC, St. Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables, finished nearly 11 lengths behind Sovereignty in the Jim Dandy.

Sandman was wearing blinkers in the Jim Dandy for the first time. Casse said they did not have any effect.

“Bill's horse and John's horse are a cut above the rest,” Casse said. “Our horse needs some pace to run at and there was not a whole lot of pace. We were closer than normal, but I'm not going to use it as an excuse. Yesterday was not his day.”

The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Sovereignty’s Star Continues to Shine appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Visit Horse Country organized field trips for 170 elementary school students from Woodford County's Summer School Program last Wednesday to tour historic Thoroughbred farms in the heart of the Bluegrass. From kindergarteners to fourth graders, each class enjoyed a specially curated morning designed to ignite their curiosity and introduce them to Kentucky's signature industry. Five prominent Horse Country member farms generously opened their gates: Godolphin at Gainsborough Farm hosted the kindergarten class; Airdrie Stud the first graders; Lane's End Farm the second graders; Pin Oak Stud the third graders; and Resolute Racing the fourth graders.

“It's not every day in Horse Country that we get to work with local students, seeing the pure joy and excitement on the faces of these kids as they connected with the horse was an uplifting experience, it reminded me why I got into this business in the first place,” said Hallie Hardy, Executive Director of Horse Country. “These field trips were invaluable in showing students the breadth of what 'Horse Country' truly means–not just racing, but breeding, raising, caring for, and celebrating these incredible animals. We believe these moments will spark a lifelong appreciation for the horse and perhaps even inspire future horsemen and women.”

Horse Country, Inc. is a not-for-profit membership organization that offers guests unique opportunities to experience the working horse farms and equine attractions of Kentucky. Through curated tours and events, Horse Country strives to share the beauty, tradition, and profound connection between humans and horses that define the Bluegrass region.

The post Visit Horse Country Hosts Elementary School Students on Farm Tours appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Grade I-winning New York-bred Diversify (Bellamy Road) has relocated to Old Friends at Cabin Creek after initially retiring to Old Friends' Dream Chase Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky following his retirement from racing in 2019.

“We are thrilled to welcome Diversify back home to New York,” said JoAnn Pepper, manager of Old Friends at Cabin Creek. “We are looking forward to him settling in and greeting visitors.”

Trained by the late Rick Violette, Jr. and owned by Lauren and Ralph Evans, Diversify won the 2017 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup and 2018 GI Whitney Stakes and GII Suburban Stakes. On the board in 12 of 16 starts, the gelding won 10 times and earned $1,989,425.

Fans are welcome to visit Diversify Tuesday to officially welcome him to the herd. Tours of Old Friends at Cabin Creek are also offered on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. through Aug. 30. No reservations are required.

For more information, visit www.oldfriendsatcabincreek.com.

 

The post Diversify to Old Friends at Cabin Creek appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Thistledown Racino's firing this week of track superintendent Sean Wright followed reports of alleged safety issues with the track's one-mile dirt surface that led to lost days of training and racing. There have also been multiple racing and training equine fatalities since the meet began Apr. 21.

The ongoing autopsy on these events has raised compliance question marks (both at Thistledown and nationally) over a key component of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act's (HISA) racetrack safety program.

Under this program, tracks are required when operating a meet to submit a set of measurements daily made at all quarter-mile markers at distances of five feet and 15 feet from the inside rail. This includes moisture content and, for dirt and synthetic tracks specifically, cushion depth.

Officials say these timely measurements are necessary to help identify on a day-to-day basis any potential equine safety concerns with the track surface.

“If we see any problems at a track—catastrophic injuries, problems with soreness on the horses—we should be able to provide to the regulatory vets and HISA real-time data either to identify problems with the tracks or rule out any issues with the tracks,” said Mick Peterson, director of the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory (RSTL) in Kentucky, to which these measurements are to be submitted.

According to HISA, there have been windows since Apr. 21 when Thistledown failed to file these daily reports.

While this track surface data was being collected, it was “not consistently manually uploaded to the system,” wrote HISA's senior communications manager Mackenzie Kirker-Head, in an email answer to a series of questions. She declined, however, to provide specific dates as to when the measurements weren't submitted daily.

“Thistledown did go back and upload the collected track surface data to the system after we reached out to them concerning the matter,” Kirker-Head added.

“To the extent that you want information on specific days missed, once the data is rectified, we no longer track information on which days were missed,” wrote Kirker-Head.

When asked Friday about this recording lapse, Wright—who had been in the track superintendent's position for about four months before his firing—said that for the first few weeks of the meet, he was unable to submit these records as he was without a computer, though he was recording the measurements in a notebook.

When Wright got a computer, he then uploaded the measurements as required, he said.

“I even had to go back and catch a lot of things up because it took a while from the time I got here working on the track to the time I actually got a computer. There was a gap in time there, and I had to go back and catch it up,” said Wright, adding that he wouldn't submit track moisture data on days of heavy rainfall, as it wasn't necessary.

Earlier in the week, Wright told TDN that a period of heavy rainfall in the spring—during which time the surface appeared safer, he said—was followed by much drier conditions this summer. This is when Wright's maintenance crew repeatedly failed to follow his orders on adding enough additional water to the track, he said.

“I don't mean to throw my guys under the bus, but a spade's a spade here,” Wright said, who told the TDN he has text messages which proves the alleged insubordination.

Reached Friday, Wright reiterated that he believes he did everything he could to safely maintain the track's surface conditions, and that he had consistently submitted to HISA a separate set of track maintenance data.

“I'm not going to defend myself any more because I did my job and I did my job well,” he said. “Because of this, I won't have a job like this any more—there's no way I'm going to be a track superintendent again. There's no way they're going to touch me with a 10-foot pole.

“Find somebody who cares for a racetrack more than I do,” Wright added. “I've spent 45 years in this business. My family's been in this business 100 years. I've spent blood, sweat and tears on these racehorses, and you've all done a hatchet job on me.”

National Reporting Standards

Racetracks are required to submit these daily surface condition measurements (during a race-meet) as part of HISA's accreditation program.

“Reporting compliance is one of many factors that are considered when evaluating racetrack accreditation, and we take compliance with those reporting requirements very seriously,” wrote Kirker-Head.

Sarah Andrew photo

It appears, however, that Thistledown hasn't been the only track failing to submit these daily reports since HISA went into effect.

Kaleb Dempsey, RSTL laboratory manager, told TDN last November that these requirements were not being uniformly met across all U.S. racetracks.

“We have a high number of tracks that are finally starting to provide their daily measurements thorough the maintenance quality system. That's a good thing—it's how we really pull this data together,” said Dempsey last November, about the connection between surface conditions and equine injury. “But the hardest step is to actually get people to take the daily measurements so we can have those links.”

When asked if all tracks currently operating a meet are now in compliance with the daily surface report mandate, Kirker-Head wrote that they're in “substantial compliance” with this requirement.

“If a track misses a day or two, we address it with them. HISA keeps the details of those reports between us and the track,” Kirker-Head wrote.

According to Peterson, while some tracks—particularly the larger facilities—are in strict compliance with this requirement, others (especially the smaller, more cash-strapped tracks) are still found wanting.

“What I would like to see is us having this information so we can avert problems, and that really takes having this data put in every day,” said Peterson. “We're not there yet, and I would like to get there.”

When asked if some tracks miss than a day or two's worth of data, Peterson said that “some of them are perfect. I can't emphasize that enough.”

However, “some of the smaller tracks just struggle to keep up,” he added, declining to give specific timeframes.

The question, therefore, is this: how best to bring all facilities up to speed?

In light of recent events, Thistledown has reportedly ordered a device called an Integrated Racetrack Surface Tester, to help streamline the data recording requirements.

“This machine will be able to take the required track surface data measurements, which are uploaded via GPS directly to the Maintenance Quality System, streamlining and automating the collection of track surface measurements for track superintendents,” wrote Kirker-Head.

Peterson also raised another endemic issue plaguing the sport—of the loss of institutional knowledge as an ageing workforce exits the sport, leaving behind a vacuum of experience and expertise.

“What I would really like to see is the industry continue to support those tracks, and part of this gets back to the struggle with these workforce issues,” he said. “This is as true of some of the vet issues as it is the track issues.”

The post Thistledown Furor Raises Compliance Questions with Key HISA Track Safety Requirement appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Thistledown Racino's firing this week of track superintendent Sean Wright followed reports of alleged safety issues with the track's one-mile dirt surface that led to lost days of training and racing. There have also been multiple racing and training equine fatalities since the meet began Apr. 21.

The ongoing autopsy on these events has raised compliance question marks (both at Thistledown and nationally) over a key component of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act's (HISA) racetrack safety program.

Under this program, tracks are required when operating a meet to submit a set of measurements daily made at all quarter-mile markers at distances of five feet and 15 feet from the inside rail. This includes moisture content and, for dirt and synthetic tracks specifically, cushion depth.

Officials say these timely measurements are necessary to help identify on a day-to-day basis any potential equine safety concerns with the track surface.

“If we see any problems at a track—catastrophic injuries, problems with soreness on the horses—we should be able to provide to the regulatory vets and HISA real-time data either to identify problems with the tracks or rule out any issues with the tracks,” said Mick Peterson, director of the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory (RSTL) in Kentucky, to which these measurements are to be submitted.

According to HISA, there have been windows since Apr. 21 when Thistledown failed to file these daily reports.

While this track surface data was being collected, it was “not consistently manually uploaded to the system,” wrote HISA's senior communications manager Mackenzie Kirker-Head, in an email answer to a series of questions. She declined, however, to provide specific dates as to when the measurements weren't submitted daily.

“Thistledown did go back and upload the collected track surface data to the system after we reached out to them concerning the matter,” Kirker-Head added.

“To the extent that you want information on specific days missed, once the data is rectified, we no longer track information on which days were missed,” wrote Kirker-Head.

When asked Friday about this recording lapse, Wright—who had been in the track superintendent's position for about four months before his firing—said that for the first few weeks of the meet, he was unable to submit these records as he was without a computer, though he was recording the measurements in a notebook.

When Wright got a computer, he then uploaded the measurements as required, he said.

“I even had to go back and catch a lot of things up because it took a while from the time I got here working on the track to the time I actually got a computer. There was a gap in time there, and I had to go back and catch it up,” said Wright, adding that he wouldn't submit track moisture data on days of heavy rainfall, as it wasn't necessary.

Earlier in the week, Wright told TDN that a period of heavy rainfall in the spring—during which time the surface appeared safer, he said—was followed by much drier conditions this summer. This is when Wright's maintenance crew repeatedly failed to follow his orders on adding enough additional water to the track, he said.

“I don't mean to throw my guys under the bus, but a spade's a spade here,” Wright said, who told the TDN he has text messages which proves the alleged insubordination.

Reached Friday, Wright reiterated that he believes he did everything he could to safely maintain the track's surface conditions, and that he had consistently submitted to HISA a separate set of track maintenance data.

“I'm not going to defend myself any more because I did my job and I did my job well,” he said. “Because of this, I won't have a job like this any more—there's no way I'm going to be a track superintendent again. There's no way they're going to touch me with a 10-foot pole.

“Find somebody who cares for a racetrack more than I do,” Wright added. “I've spent 45 years in this business. My family's been in this business 100 years. I've spent blood, sweat and tears on these racehorses, and you've all done a hatchet job on me.”

National Reporting Standards

Racetracks are required to submit these daily surface condition measurements (during a race-meet) as part of HISA's accreditation program.

“Reporting compliance is one of many factors that are considered when evaluating racetrack accreditation, and we take compliance with those reporting requirements very seriously,” wrote Kirker-Head.

Sarah Andrew photo

It appears, however, that Thistledown hasn't been the only track failing to submit these daily reports since HISA went into effect.

Kaleb Dempsey, RSTL laboratory manager, told TDN last November that these requirements were not being uniformly met across all U.S. racetracks.

“We have a high number of tracks that are finally starting to provide their daily measurements thorough the maintenance quality system. That's a good thing—it's how we really pull this data together,” said Dempsey last November, about the connection between surface conditions and equine injury. “But the hardest step is to actually get people to take the daily measurements so we can have those links.”

When asked if all tracks currently operating a meet are now in compliance with the daily surface report mandate, Kirker-Head wrote that they're in “substantial compliance” with this requirement.

“If a track misses a day or two, we address it with them. HISA keeps the details of those reports between us and the track,” Kirker-Head wrote.

According to Peterson, while some tracks—particularly the larger facilities—are in strict compliance with this requirement, others (especially the smaller, more cash-strapped tracks) are still found wanting.

“What I would like to see is us having this information so we can avert problems, and that really takes having this data put in every day,” said Peterson. “We're not there yet, and I would like to get there.”

When asked if some tracks miss than a day or two's worth of data, Peterson said that “some of them are perfect. I can't emphasize that enough.”

However, “some of the smaller tracks just struggle to keep up,” he added, declining to give specific timeframes.

The question, therefore, is this: how best to bring all facilities up to speed?

In light of recent events, Thistledown has reportedly ordered a device called an Integrated Racetrack Surface Tester, to help streamline the data recording requirements.

“This machine will be able to take the required track surface data measurements, which are uploaded via GPS directly to the Maintenance Quality System, streamlining and automating the collection of track surface measurements for track superintendents,” wrote Kirker-Head.

Peterson also raised another endemic issue plaguing the sport—of the loss of institutional knowledge as an ageing workforce exits the sport, leaving behind a vacuum of experience and expertise.

“What I would really like to see is the industry continue to support those tracks, and part of this gets back to the struggle with these workforce issues,” he said. “This is as true of some of the vet issues as it is the track issues.”

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The aptly-named Time to Dream (Not This Time) impressed in her career unveiling Friday to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star' at Saratoga for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole. Racing as part of a coupled entry with stablemate Flighttown (Practical Joke), the 7-2 shot was drawn nearly widest of the field in this one-mile turf event and despite a clean beginning, was outrun was a host of rivals to her inside. Jose Ortiz guided his filly down to race a path off the hedge just outside of Curly Q Girl (Curlin) in fifth into the clubhouse turn. Second-time starter Maiora (Speightstown) had a loose lead onto the backstretch with Time to Dream following her stablemate who raced just ahead of her a little further out on the track. Stuck behind a wall of runners past the half-mile pole in :48.06, Time to Dream had to check briefly which left Flighttown to take first crack at Maiora midway around the far turn. Really picking up the bridle once swung out five wide, the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad quickly put this field behind her with an eye-catching final quarter-mile to come home 2 1/4 lengths ahead of the pacesetter.

Joining an illustrious list of 'Rising Stars' for Repole and Pletcher that includes the likes of Eclipse champion 2-year-olds Fierceness (City of Light) and Forte (Violence) along with recent GI Stephen Foster winner Mindframe (Constitution), Time to Dream is the eighth 'Rising Star' for Not This Time and his third this month alone. A $750,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad last year, the winner is a half to MGSW/GISP Red Carpet Ready (Oscar Performance) who sold just last year for $1.5m at FTKNOV to Case Clay. First dam Wild Silk, though unraced herself, is a half-sister to GI Vosburgh Stakes winner Joking (Distorted Humor) and this is also the family of GSW/MGISP sire Fed Biz (Giant's Causeway). Wild Silk, purchased by Clover Hill Farm at KEENOV in 2017 for $70,000, produced a Cody's Wish colt this season and returned to Not This Time for a full-sibling to Time to Dream next year.

7th-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 7-25, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:36.56, fm,
2 1/4 lengths.
TIME TO DREAM, f, 2, Not This Time
            1st Dam: Wild Silk, by Street Sense
            2nd Dam: Spun Silk, by A.P. Indy
            3rd Dam: Spunoutofcontrol, by Wild Again
Sales History: $750,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $55,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Repole Stable; B-Maggie Gieseke (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. *1/2 to Red Carpet Ready (Oscar Performance), MGSW & GISP, $799,175.

 

#2B TIME TO DREAM ($9.90) broke her maiden in impressive fashion in the 7th race at Saratoga. The juvenile filly by @TMStallions' Not This Time was piloted by @jose93_ortiz for trainer @PletcherRacing and owner @RepoleStable. She is a half-sister to MGSW Red Carpet Ready! pic.twitter.com/GtUg03X60D

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 25, 2025

The post Aptly-Named Time to Dream A New ‘Rising Star’ For Todd Pletcher And Mike Repole At Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.