Calif stewards dismiss complaint about Justify drug test
(AP Photo/Peter Morgan, FileARCADIA, Calif. โ Stewards at Santa Anita have dismissed complaints filed by the California Horse Racing Board involving the post-race drug tests of Triple Crown winner Justify and another horse in 2018, both of whom were trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Stewards John Herbuveaux, Ron Church and Kim Sawyer issued their ruling on the combined cases late Wednesday after hearing evidence and testimony via video on Oct. 29. The CHRB had sought the disqualifications of Justify from his victory in the 2018 Santa Anita Derby and Hoppertunity from his win in the Tokyo City Cup the following day. Baffert has said that neither horse was administered scopolamine, which is sometimes used to treat mild colic and spasms. The racing board had filed the complaint against Justify as part of a settlement of a lawsuit filed by Mick Ruis, the owner-trainer of Santa Anita Derby runner-up Bolt d'Oro.
Winning filly: Swiss Skydiver beats Authentic in Preakness
"Sheโs just such a special filly," said trainer Kenny McPeek, who won the Preakness for the first time for his second Triple Crown race victory. โI had an opportunity,โ said Albarado, who won his second Preakness after 2007 aboard Curlin. Swiss Skydiver was the first filly to run in the Preakness since 2014, when Ria Antonia finished last. โThatโs a good filly,โ said Authentic and Thousand Words trainer Bob Baffert, who was denied a record-breaking eighth Preakness victory. Swiss Skydiver made it so each Triple Crown race in 2020 had a different winner.
Bob Baffert suspended 15 days by Arkansas racing officials
LOS ANGELES Two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert has been suspended for 15 days by the Arkansas Racing Commission after two of his horses tested positive for a banned substance. The commission said Wednesday in a ruling that the suspension runs from Aug. 1 -15. It found Baffert violated Rule 1233, which states that a trainer shall ultimately be responsible for the condition of any horse that is entered regardless of the acts of any third parties. His horses Charlatan and Gamine each tested positive for lidocaine in two rounds of testing. They both won races at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on May 2.
Monmouth Park to open thoroughbred meet Friday with fans
FILE - In this July 31, 2015, file photo, people watch as Triple Crown winner American Pharoah with Jorge Alvarez up trains at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. With the opening of the thoroughbred season at Monmouth Park just days away, chief executive Dennis Drazin knows the track will be beating the odds by just breaking even. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)With the opening of the thoroughbred season at Monmouth Park days away, chief executive Dennis Drazin knows the odds are against the track making a profit. Monmouth Park is starting off with an unexpected daily double. There was no hesitation in my saying: We are not closing, we are going to run a meet this year. Drazin has walked around the track's 300 acres in recent weeks and said the track can reasonably handle 15,000 fans.
Belmont winner Tiz the Law eyes ambitious summer schedule
He raced to a 3 3/4-length victory Saturday in the Belmont Stakes to open the rescheduled Triple Crown. In 11 weeks, he'll get a chance to avenge that defeat over the same track in the Kentucky Derby. Tiz the Law has an ambitious summer and fall campaign ahead of him if all goes according to plan. He watched Tiz the Law win the Florida Derby on March 28 from his condo near the track and the Belmont at a restaurant in Saratoga Springs. Tiz the Law is atop the leaderboard that determines the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field with 272 points.
NY-bred Tiz the Law wins barren Belmont Stakes
All three legs of this years Triple Crown schedule were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Tiz the Law gave New York a hometown champion in its first major sporting event since the coronavirus pandemic seized the area. Signs outside the locked down venue instructed gamblers that if they wanted to wager on this Belmont Stakes, their best bet was to download an app and do it on their phones. Tiz the Law owner Jack Knowlton of New Yorks Sackatoga Stable was set to watch from a restaurant patio in upstate Saratoga Springs. Manny Franco, a 25-year-old jockey from Puerto Rico, entered the winners circle in his first career Belmont Stakes.
Tiz the Law draws No. 8 post as early 6-5 Belmont favorite
It wasn't quite the post position trainer Barclay Tagg wanted for Tiz the Law. Still, it wasn't far off for the colt who on Wednesday was made the early 6-5 favorite for the Belmont Stakes. Tagg was hoping the Florida Derby winner would land anywhere between spots 5 to 7 in the starting gate for Saturday's beginning of the reconfigured Triple Crown series. Tiz the Law drew the No. He likes this track, so I'm glad to be back on it.Instead of concluding the Triple Crown, the Belmont is kicking off the series.
What Would Have Been: Triple Crown finale and French finals
The Belmont Stakes usually wraps up a five-week span that includes the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. All have been pushed back, though the Belmont Stakes will now go first on June 20. (Richard Rasmussen/The Sentinel-Record via AP, File)The final leg of horse racing's Triple Crown would have been set and the French Open finals would have been contested this week if not for the coronavirus pandemic. All have been pushed back, though the Belmont Stakes will now go first on June 20. TRIVIA BREAK: With the Belmont Stakes being the first Triple Crown race this year, followed by the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5 and the Preakness on Oct. 3, the Triple Crown will be run out of its usual order for the first time since when?
Reports: 2 horses trained by Bob Baffert fail drug tests
LOS ANGELES Two horses from the barn of two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert have tested positive for a banned substance, according to published reports. According to the Times, one of the horses to test positive was Charlatan, an undefeated colt considered to be a top contender for the Belmont Stakes on June 20. The Times reported Baffert's other horse to test positive is Gamine, a 3-year-old filly who won at Oaklawn on the same day. Charlatan is ranked fourth on the qualifying points leaderboard for the Kentucky Derby, a race Baffert has won five times. No one at the Arkansas Racing Commission was reachable after hours Tuesday night.
16-Year-Old Swims 28.5 Miles Around Manhattan to Raise $58,000 for Charity
Its hard to say what the best way of getting around New York City is, but this 16-year-old decided to test out swimming. Angel More of San Carlos, California, completed a 28.5 mile swim around Manhattan, all to raise more than $58,000 for charity. Ive been swimming for about 10 years and always want to challenge myself, so it felt great to finish my longest-ever distance open water swim, More said in a statement. The most challenge part [of the challenge] isnt the distance, its the heat, she explained. RELATED STORIESTwin Brothers With Autism Find Joy in Running MarathonsBode Miller's Wife Shows 6-Month-Old Son Learning to Float in Swimming PoolDiver Swims Beneath Frozen Lake in Mesmerizing Video