Bleacher Report - Horse Racing

Queen Anne Stakes 2013 Results: Winner, Payouts and Order of Finish

Matt Fitzgerald — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:43:21 -0400

Trainer Aidan O'Brien's Declaration Of War won the 2013 Queen Anne Stakes on Tuesday by three-quarters of a length and was followed by Aljamaaheer and Gregorian, respectively, to round out the horses finishing in the money.

Heavy favorite Animal Kingdom, the 2011 Kentucky Derby champion and winner of this year's Dubai World Cup, was not a factor, but had already made history by competing in this race, as Stephen Panus pointed out:

However, the thoroughbred mounted by prolific jockey John Velazquez was in fifth place in the early going and never got any momentum on the turf track at Ascot Racecourse to finish in 11th.

Below is a look at the results from the action in England:

Place	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Post
1	Declaration Of War	Aidan O'Brien	Joseph O'Brien	6
2	Aljamaaheer	Roger Varian	Paul Hanagan	7
3	Gregorian	John Gosden	Tom Queally	1
4	Elusive Kate	John Gosden	William Buick	3
5	Trade Storm	David Simcock	Jamie Spencer	12
6	Libranno	Richard Hannon	Pat Cosgrave	4
7	Chil the Kite	Hugh Morrison	Ryan L. Moore	5
8	Penitent	David O'Meara	Daniel Tudhope	2
9	Sovereign Debt	Michael L. Bell	Adam Kirby	10
10	Trumpet Major	Richard Hannon	Richard Hughes	9
11	Animal Kingdom	H. Graham Motion	John Velazquez	13
12	Monsieur Chevalier	P.J. O'Gorman	Darryll Holland	11
13	Gabrial	Richard A. Fahey	Kieren Fallon	8

To his credit, horse racing personality Richard Haynes had a gut feeling about Declaration Of War before the race got underway:

Meanwhile, Velazquez could not explain what happened on the track, per Ascot Racecourse's official Twitter:

Casting aside that disappointment, it's worth focusing on the victor, because 20-year-old Joseph O'Brien put forth another brilliant ride aboard Declaration Of War.

The prodigious jockey was amid a crowd of horses as the final furlong approached, but he was able to shoot through a narrow gap and explode to the finish (h/t ESPN.co.uk)—and consequently, the winner's circle.

The senior O'Brien implied afterward that something special seemed to be on the horizon, given the horse's improvement over the past year, via Pat Cummings of Dubairacenight.com:

Declaration Of War was coming off a fifth-place effort at the Grade 1 Lockinge Stakes, but that relatively lackluster form was offset by Tuesday's triumph. The O'Brien family tandem made the horse the joint No. 2 favorite, and a strong finish justified the oddsmakers' projections.

It was a strong showing for trainer John Gosden, who had Gregorian closest to the rail but still finished third, and the only filly in the field, Elusive Kate, just missed out on Show.

As for the payouts from Tuesday's race, the tote was as follows: £9.70, £2.90, £2.80, £3.10. Meanwhile, the exacta (6-7) paid £65.10, while the trifecta (6-7-1) paid £657.90, per BBC Sport.

The race wasn't the only development making headlines in Berkshire, though.

Shortly after one of sports' grandest entrances in the Royal Procession at approximately 2 p.m. local time, a moment of silence was had for legendary trainer Sir Henry Cecil, who passed away a week ago.

Cecil was a 10-time Champion Trainer—an accolade awarded to the trainer with the most prize money in a flat racing season—and totaled 73 victories at Royal Ascot. Channel 4 Racing paid tribute during the moving scene:

The annual Royal Ascot meeting is a five-day spectacle consisting of 30 races in all, and this was a relatively surprising way to kick things off given the poor run by Animal Kingdom.

Having said that, credit is due to the O'Briens, who clearly had the best horse on this day and won in convincing fashion as Joseph O'Brien broke Declaration Of War at the perfect time.

Note: Race history information was obtained via Equibase.com and Horse Racing Nation.

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Royal Ascot 2013: Dates, Race Schedule, TV Coverage, Preview and More

Matt Fitzgerald — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:13:25 -0400

Royal Ascot 2013 is always a spectacle to behold, not only in terms of horse racing, but also for the cultural significance it encompasses in the United Kingdom.

While there are plenty of marquee horse races at Ascot Racecourse, it is also the site of the annual Royal Meeting in the third week of June. Various members of the British Royal Family will be in attendance, and Tuesday's action will kick off with the Royal Procession.

As for the racing portion of this massive event, the Queen Anne Stakes will be the first one at Ascot, featuring 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom as the prohibitive favorite.

There are a total of 30 races over the course of five days, and many of them promise to be thrilling. Below is a look at the dates, race schedule and a brief overview of the top horses in the most notable races in Berkshire, England.

Note: Background information was obtained from Ascot's official website. Unless otherwise indicated, history of horses is courtesy of Equibase.com.

When: Tuesday, June 18 to Saturday, June 22

Where: Ascot Racecourse in Ascot, Berkshire, England

TV: Channel 4 (UK)

Listen: BBC 5 Radio Live

Day 1 Schedule

Race	Post Time (ET)
Queen Anne Stakes	9:30 a.m.
King's Stand Stakes	10:05 a.m.
St. James' Palace Stakes	10:45 a.m.
Coventry Stakes	11:25 a.m.
Ascot Stakes	12:00 p.m.
Windsor Castle Stakes	12:35 p.m.

Day 2 Schedule

Race	Post Time (ET)
Jersey Stakes	9:30 a.m.
Duke of Cambridge Stakes	10:05 a.m.
Prince of Wales' Stakes	10:45 a.m.
Royal Hunt Cup	11:25 a.m.
Queen Mary Stakes	12:00 p.m.
Sandringham Handicap	12:35 p.m.

Day 3 Schedule

Race	Post Time (ET)
Norfolk Stakes	9:30 a.m.
Ribblesdale Stakes	10:05 a.m.
Gold Cup	10:45 a.m.
Britannia Stakes	11:25 a.m.
Tercentenary Stakes	12:00 p.m.
King George V Stakes	12:35 p.m.

Day 4 Schedule

Race	Post Time (ET)
Albany Stakes	9:30 a.m.
King Edward VII Stakes	10:05 a.m.
Coronation Stakes	10:45 a.m.
Wolferton Handicap	11:25 a.m.
The Queen's Vase	12:00 p.m.
Buckingham Palace Stakes	12:35 p.m.

Day 5 Schedule

Race	Post Time (ET)
Chesham Stakes	9:30 a.m.
Hardwicke Stakes	10:05 a.m.
Diamond Jubilee Stakes	10:45 a.m.
Wokingham Stakes	11:25 a.m.
Duke of Edinburgh Stakes	12:00 p.m.
Queen Alexandra Stakes	12:35 p.m.

Top Horses to Watch

Animal Kingdom (Queen Anne Stakes)

John Velazquez rode Animal Kingdom to victory in the 2011 Kentucky Derby, then finished as the runner-up at the Preakness Stakes before the horse stumbled out of the gate and had a career-worst sixth-place effort at the Belmont.

Animal Kingdom is the clear-cut, even-money favorite, according to Horse Racing Nation's odds. This Grade 1 race is lacking any significantly threatening competitors to challenge this perennial champion thoroughbred.

The versatility of Animal Kingdom is matched by few in horse racing history, as he's won on the dirt of Churchill Downs and the all-weather track at his most recent triumph this year in the Dubai World Cup.

As Myra Lewyn of BloodHorse.com documents, Ascot's Nick Smith made an appropriate cross-sports analogy to describe Animal Kingdom's prowess:

"It is completely unique," said Smith. "It's a bit like a tennis player trying to win on every surface. What his connections are trying here is really brave, and tremendous for the event."

This chase for history is easily the biggest storyline in the race that will open the Royal Ascot meeting. It wouldn't be surprising to see Animal Kingdom run away to the winner's circle, but getting past Grade 1 winner Elusive Kate and the O'Briens' Declaration Of War should provide a challenge.

Dawn Approach (St. James' Palace Stakes)

The main attraction on the first day will be St. James' Palace Stakes, and all eyes will be on Dawn Approach, who will be mounted by Kevin Manning.

Dawn Approach was thought to be a threat for the British Triple Crown after winning the 2,000 Guineas Stakes at Rowley Mile, but he fell flat in the Epsom Derby, finishing dead last in the field of 12 horses.

However, in the one-mile race of the 2,000 Guineas, this horse showed he had the ability to close out a race in stirring fashion with a stunning push to the finish. Considering he had a successful career to that point, Epsom should be considered more of an aberration.

Chris Cook of The Guardian reports that trainer Jim Bolger can't quite figure out what happened in the last outing, but Horse Racing Nation still has Dawn Approach as an 8-5 favorite in this race.

The St. James' Palace Stakes provides a shot at redemption for Dawn Approach and Manning after falling woefully short of the Triple Crown, and don't be surprised if this is a wire-to-wire, bounce-back performance.

Rite Of Passage (Gold Cup)

Colour Vision is attempting to defend his title, yet it won't be enough against the determined Right Of Passage.

After a two-year hiatus from this race, the 2010 Gold Cup champion is returning in a bid to join the ranks of the few multiple winners in history.

Rite of Passage's last race was in the British Champions Long Distance Cup, which is Grade III, but he still won after not having competed for 510 days. Only after his breakthrough in the Gold Cup did he lose his only race, finishing third in the Saval Beg Stakes.

It's going to be a convoluted field projected at 19 (h/t horse-racing.co.uk), but the last showing in particular bodes well for Rite of Passage to emerge victorious again.

The fact that this veteran horse still had the grit to edge out his closest competitor by a nose shows that the fire is still there—and that this horse still has plenty left in the tank even after a very successful career to date.

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Queen Anne Stakes 2013: Date, Post Positions, Odds, Runners and More

Matt Fitzgerald — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:18:47 -0400

The Queen Anne Stakes will get underway on Tuesday at Ascot Racecourse, with 2011 Kentucky Derby champion Animal Kingdom entering the field of 13 as the prohibitive favorite to find the winner's circle.

This venue was founded by Queen Anne in 1711, hence the name of the race that begins the five-day Royal Ascot. Each day begins with a royal procession, as the races in the Royal Meeting provide plenty of excitement.

Channel 4 Racing captures the site of the forthcoming ceremonial procedures on Twitter:

This event is known for combining style, entertainment and tradition to create one of the United Kingdom's premier sporting spectacles.

Jockey John Velazquez was in the saddle for Animal Kingdom's triumph at Churchill Downs, and will get the mount again for trainer H. Graham Motion. Animal Kingdom has five wins and five seconds in 11 starts as he continues an impressive career after his Kentucky Derby victory.

Let's take a look at this marquee race in Berkshire, located just six miles from Windsor Castle, as well as some predictions as to how the race will finish.

Note: Background information was obtained from Ascot's official website. History of horses is courtesy of Equibase.com.

When: Tuesday, June 18—post time is 9:30 a.m. ET

Where: Ascot Racecourse in Ascot, Berkshire, England

TV: Channel 4 (UK)

Listen: BBC 5 Radio Live

Post Positions and Complete Field

Post No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Odds
1	Gregorian	John Gosden	Tom P. Queally	15-1
2	Penitent	David O'Meara	Daniel Tudhope	40-1
3	Elusive Kate	John Gosden	William T. Buick	8-1
4	Libranno	Richard Hannon	Pat Cosgrave	100-1
5	Chil The Kite	Hugh Morrison	Ryan L. Moore	30-1
6	Declaration Of War	Aidan O'Brien	Joseph O'Brien	6-1
7	Aljamaaheer	Roger Varian	Paul Hanagan	15-1
8	Gabrial	Richard A. Fahey	Kieren Fallon	30-1
9	Trumpet Major	Richard Hannon	Richard Hughes	30-1
10	Sovereign Debt	Michael L.Bell	Adam Kirby	15-1
11	Monsieur Chevalier	P.J. O'Gorman	Darryll Holland	100-1
12	Trade Storm	David M. Simcock	Jamie Spencer	12-1
13	Animal Kingdom	Graham Motion	John Velazquez	4-5

*Horses, jockeys and odds are courtesy of Horse Racing Nation as of 1 p.m. ET on 6/17/2013. Post positions were obtained from Napchecker on Twitter.

Predictions

Win: Animal Kingdom

With the exception of a sixth-place finish at the Belmont Stakes, this horse has been in contention for the ultimate prize in every race he's ever run in—and has frequently emerged as the victor.

The one-mile flat track shouldn't be particularly grueling, and having Velazquez aboard obviously helps the cause, since the jockey knows this horse as well as anyone and has ridden him to epic success.

Animal Kingdom has so much experience, and isn't facing a particularly formidable field—hence his extremely favorable odds to cross the finish first.

However, trainer Graham Motion is somewhat worried about the potential problems that Ascot can present if there happens to be a sloppy track. According to BBC, there is a chance of heavy rain, so that is a possibility.

Such massive expectations can be worrisome, as he professed to BBC horse racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght:

Another prolific jockey in Joel Rosario just rode Animal Kingdom to victory at the Grade I Dubai World Cup, though, so the five-year-old also enters this race in fine form.

Even with how unpredictable horse racing can be, it would be somewhat of a shock to see Animal Kingdom fall short in this race.

Place: Elusive Kate

Being in the No. 3 post position is ideal for Elusive Kate to get off to a good start, especially with long shots Penitent and Libranno flanking her.

Thus, Elusive Kate should be able to compete well in this race, as the swift filly has had plenty of rest from competition in her second bid to shine at Royal Ascot.

In her debut last year at the Grade I Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, she set the early tone and led by a length, but Excelebration simply had a ridiculously good run, exploded to the outside and blew away the field down the final few furlongs.

It was still a stellar showing from Elusive Kate, though, because she proved she could hold her own against some top-notch competition. She should face a similar level in the Queen Anne Stakes on Tuesday.

The only hesitation to have Elusive Kate pull the massive upset over Animal Kingdom is the innate edge the favorite has in terms of jockeying. Buick has just three wins in 23 starts, and though he rides one of the top contenders and isn't afraid to be bold, he can't be counted on to capture the trophy.

Show: Declaration Of War

Declaration Of War has had five wins in seven prior starts, and has the benefit of being trained by the impeccable Aidan O'Brien.

The prodigious son of O'Brien, 20-year-old Joseph, will be the jockey in this race, and there is no reason to count him out. It makes sense that Horse Racing Nation has him listed as the No. 2 favorite with this family tandem involved.

Joseph O'Brien has landmark past victories that include the 2,000 Guineas Stakes and the Epsom Derby aboard Camelot in 2012, and he is also the three-time reigning winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas Stakes.

It could be the mere beginning of one of the most successful jockey careers in horse racing history, and O'Brien should add another solid finish to his resume here.

Read more Horse Racing news on BleacherReport.com

2013 Breeders' Cup Contender: Paynter Blitzes Hollywood Allowance in Return

Marc Doche — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 01:17:53 -0400

The nervous excitement ahead of Paynter’s miraculous return to the races turned into jubilant euphoria after the horse that was on the verge of death due to bouts with colitis and laminitis at the end of last year returned to dazzle on a Friday afternoon at Hollywood Park.

“It’s an amazing story. He went from 99-to-1 to survive to 1-to-9. I can’t believe we’re standing here in the winner’s circle with him,” trainer Bob Baffert said after the race while choking back tears.

Paynter hadn’t been seen in the starting gate since a clear win in the Haskell Invitational Stakes (Grade 1) at Monmouth Park in New Jersey last July and was sprinting for the first time since his debut at Santa Anita last February.

However, the strapping colt was sharp early and clearly towered in class over his seven third-level allowance rivals while stopping the clock in 1:21.4 over seven furlongs and extending the lead he held every step of the way to 4 1/2-lengths under the wire.

“He’s a really good horse. He worked with Fast Bullet the other day and was cruising with him and there’s no faster horse than him right now going short,” said Baffert regarding Paynter’s forward placement. “I was worried about the synthetic. I didn’t really know how he was going to handle it. He worked ok on it, but then I got him back to Santa Anita and put two good works into him.”

Purchased as a yearling by owner Zayat Stables LLC for $325,000, Paynter now has four wins and a pair of runner-up finishes from seven career starts. The four-year-old son of Awesome Again will almost certainly become racing’s newest millionaire after his next start, with $37,200 in earnings today pushing his career total to $989,424.

“I had a lot of pressure in the beginning, but I knew I had a lot of horse. He won easy,” said jockey Rafael Bejarano, who booted home five winners on the day to re-claim his lead in the standings with 36 wins at the meet, four ahead of Joe Talamo.

Paynter’s battle for survival was well-chronicled on social media by his owners and resulted in a groundswell of support from racing fans across the world who voted him as the people’s horse in winning the Vox Populi Award.

That popularity was reflected at the betting windows, with Paynter being sent off as the odds-on favorite at 2-to-5 and returning $2.80 to win.

“I know seven furlongs coming back is a tough distance and I didn’t think we’d receive that much pace pressure,” said owner Justin Zayat. “Turning for home it kind of reminded me of the Haskell when he just leveled off and took off. I love it.”

All parties were non-committal on the campaign for the remainder of 2013, but the love for what has become America’s horse surely extends to the East Coast, where Paynter also finished as the runner-up in the Belmont Stakes (G1).

His next trip to the starting gate will almost certainly come at either Saratoga or Del Mar this summer with the ultimate goal being the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita in November.

Majestic City ran second as the 7-to-1 third choice, 6 1/4-lengths in front of 8-to-1 fourth choice Fly Lexis Fly, who got his nose down in front of 4-to-1 second choice Kate’s Event.

Marc Doche is a Contributor for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand.

Make sure to follow me on Twitter @mdoche for much more and visit www.pick4blog.com for daily selections and analysis!

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Reasons to Keep Horse Racing on Radar After Triple Crown Season

Michael Dempsey — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:03:01 -0400

This spring’s Triple Crown season is now in the books, but there are plenty of good reasons to keep horse racing on your radar for the remainder of the year.

While most sports fans focus on the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes, there is non-stop racing action nearly every day. Every day there is heart-stopping, hoof-thundering horse racing action, and plenty of racetracks throughout the country put on a great show.

Even if you can’t make it out to a racetrack, there are television networks TVG and HRTV to bring the action right into your home, as well as online streaming of all racetracks.

And for those who like to get a few wagers in, don’t forget that betting on horse racing is perfectly legal, whether at the track, from home or even via telephone.

Here are a few good reasons to keep horse racing on your radar after the Triple Crown season.

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Jockey Ramon Dominguez Forced to Retire as Result of Spill Injuries

Carlos Torres — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:35:38 -0400

Ramon Dominguez, the current three-time Eclipse Award Winner as Outstanding Jockey, was forced to retire from active racing as a result of the injuries sustained on a spill at Aqueduct on Jan. 18, 2013.

As reported by Bloodhorse.com, he has been "advised by doctors that another spill could do more serious damage to him." Here’s Dominguez’s statement released by the New York Racing Association:

Riding thoroughbreds has always been my passion and my calling. When I was 13 and watched my first horse race in Venezuela, I knew that I would become a jockey, and my riding career has brought happiness and success beyond what I ever expected.

Thus, it is extremely difficult for me to announce that due to the severity of the injuries I sustained in an accident at Aqueduct Racetrack on January 18, 2013, my professional riding career has come to an end. While I hoped and even expected to be able to return to the saddle, as a result of my injuries and upon the advice of my treating physicians, it has been determined that I will no longer be able to pursue my career as a jockey.

I want to personally thank my family, fans, and fellow riders for overwhelming support in the months since my accident. I chose to make this statement to end speculation about my future, but I am not yet ready to speak publicly. I will come forward on my own, but in the meantime I ask that you please respect my privacy as I continue my recovery.

This is a sad ending to the career of one of the most prolific jockeys in horse racing history. As of today, he ranked 14th on the all-time money list and had been ascending very quickly over the past few years.

Last year he establish a single-year record for earnings by a jockey with $25,634,852 on his way to his third straight Eclipse Award, joining Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey as the only jockeys to achieve the feat—Bailey did it twice.

Dominguez, a native of Venezuela, started riding at the Hipodromo La Rinconada located in Coche, a neighborhood in South Caracas, Venezuela at the age of 16. He would move his tack to Florida in 1996 and started riding in Hialeah Park.

He was a regular leading rider in the very contested New York circuit where he had won six races three times. The past three years he led the jockeys in earnings and had the most wins in 2001 and 2003.

Dominguez was the most dominant jockey in recent years, but never won a Triple Crown race. His best finishes were second in the 2006 Kentucky Derby on Bluegrass Cat, second in the 2004 Preakness on Scrappy T, and third in the 2010 Belmont on First Dude.

He did win three Breeders’ Cup races, including the 2004 Turf on Better Talk Now, the 2011 Juvenile on Hansen, and most recently the Turf last year when he upset the heavy favorite Point of Entry with his mount Little Mike.

His most recognized rides were multiple Grade 1 winners Gio Ponti and Havre de Grace.

Dominguez was actively involved in the jockey community. He was also a member of the Jockey's Guild Board of Directors and its Eastern Region Senate. Last year he won the George Woolf Award, voted on by fellow jockeys and given to one who demonstrates high standards of personal and professional conduct, on and off the racetrack.

Follow @CarlosTorresSD

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