NEWS & VIEWS continued Red Ruby Wins Black-Eyed Susan
On May 18, the Tiznow fi lly Red Ruby kept fairly clean on the muddy track at Pimlico to win the 93rd running of the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes in front of a crowd of 48,265 spectators braving the rain. T is was the second largest crowd in Black-Eyed Susan Day record, behind last year’s 50,339 people. Jockey Paco Lopez moved the fi lly to the front early on and never gave up the lead. Trained by Kel- lyn Gorder, Red Ruby is owned by Sandra Sexton, Brandi Nicholson and Steven Nicholson. T e total handle for the day was $18.591 million, which was down 16% from last year. With four races being taken off the turf, 35 horses were scratched.
lion in added value to Maryland’s economy and support more than 8,000 jobs resulting in a $652 million economic impact. T e study also pointed out the benefi ts of the industry on the State including land preserva- tion, volunteerism, equine therapy, and rehom- ing operations, and educational opportunities at various academic institutions. T e study showed that there are at least 300 equine asso- ciations, 36 therapy facilities and 13 rescue and rehoming operations within the State.
Motion Wins Stakes at Pimlico & Trainer Bonus
Although the Black-
Eyed Susan is certainly the richest race on the day’s card, it was the Pimlico Special (G3) on May 18 that really got the crowd going, as Maryland-based Irish War Cry dominated the 1 and 3/16 mile race to win for owner/breeder Isabelle Haskell de To- maso. T e four-year-old Curlin colt, who fi nished second in the Belmont Stakes in 2017, is trained by H. Graham Motion out of the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton. Irish War Cry also won both the Holy Bull Stakes and Wood Me- morial last year. “T e key was the distance today. With the 1 and 3/16 miles, he broke well, I let him run to the fi rst turn, took a hold of him and he got under his feet beautifully,” said Irish War Cry’s jockey Jose Ortiz. “When I asked him by the three-eighths pole, he kept going and gave me everything he had.” Motion and Ortiz teamed up again on Preak- ness Day to win the Stella Artois Gallorette (G3) with Ultra Brat. Bred in Kentucky by owner Alex G. Campbell, Jr., the fi ve-year-old mare stayed close to pacesetter Stallion Heiress, but surged to the lead down the stretch. “She
8 | THE EQUIERY | JUNE 2018
ran perfect. She broke great and we went to a good position,” Ortiz said. “She relaxed well, and that was the most important thing.” Motion was a little worried about running on such soggy turf, but was pleased by the mare’s performance. “None of us really knew how she would handle it, but obviously she handled it well. Jose did a great job. I have so much con- fi dence in him.” Motion’s two stakes wins earned him 45 points in the Trainer Bonus standings to fi n- ish second behind Steve As- mussen. Motion took home a $25,000 bonus while As- mussen’s 82 points earned him a $50,000 bonus. As- mussen won the ClearS- pan Chick Land, Maryland Sprint and James W. Mur- phy on Preakness Day, and the Skipat Stakes on Black- Eyed Susan Day. He also trained Tenfold, the third place fi nisher in the Preak- ness Stakes.
Irish War Cry and Jose Ortiz head to the winner’s circle after their victory in the Pimlico Special.
Also winning bonus money and hailing from Mary- land were Mary Eppler (19 points, $10,000), James Law- rence (18 points, $7,500), Cal Lynch (16 points, $3,250)
and Dale Capuano (16 points, $3,250).
Fair Hill Receives $1 Million For Facility Improvements T e Maryland Department of Natural Re-
sources announced in May that the Board of Public Works unanimously approved $1 mil- lion in funding for improvements at the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in anticipation of the venue hosting a future 5* international three-day event. According to Fair Hill International Compe- tition Manager Ann Haller, the FEI gave FHI a verbal assurance in terms of approval for a 5* event. FHI had started its bid for a 4* event in 2016 but last winter, the FEI announced it was restructuring the “stars” levels of international
competition to help bring more countries into the sport at the international level. Haller con- fi rmed on May 22 that FHI would be classifi ed as a 5* under the new qualifi cation structure. “T e state is committed to bringing this
world-renowned equestrian eventing compe- tition to Cecil County and Fair Hill,” Mary- land Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton said. “Working together with our friends and partners in the private and public sectors, we will make Maryland the premier destination for equestrian and equine events, and add yet another chapter to our storied horse racing his- tory and legacy.” T e Board of Public Works approved trans-
ferring $1 million in Program Open Space Natural Resources Development Funds from the Maryland Department of Natural Re- sources to the Maryland Stadium Authority. T e authority estimates the design phase of the project will cost about $2 million. In addition to the state’s investment, another $1 million is being pledged in private money through the Fair Hill Foundation, Inc. T is current amount in funding is just one step towards the estimated $20 million that is needed to prepare the facility for an interna- tional event at that level, as well as provide a multi-use facility for the entire state to enjoy. T e current goal is to run the fi rst FHI 5* in October of 2020 with construction beginning after the spring 2019 races at Fair Hill.
Halle Named US Polo Association’s Woman of the Year
In Maryland, Cindy Halle may be best known as former coach of Garrison Forrest School’s polo teams, but her dedication to the sport of polo goes much further. She is a player, umpire, clinician and even a certifi ed trainer to train other polo instructors. Since she fi rst started playing nearly four decades ago, she has
continued...
Trombetta Trains Souper Striking to Win $100,000 Hilltop
Maryland-based trainer Mike Trombetta picked up a stakes win on Black-Eyed Su- san Day (May 18) with Souper Striking in the $100,000 Hilltop. Owned by Live Oak Plantation and ridden by Julian Pimentel, the Hilltop was the fi lly’s fi rst stakes win.
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Sara Gordon
Tammie J. Monaco
Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
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