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THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021 BLOODHORSE.COM/DAILY HODGES PHOTOGRAPHY/ALEXANDER BARKOFF HODGES PHOTOGRAPHY/ALEXANDER LOCKED IN BATTLE Haskell Looms a Grade 1 Rematch of Louisiana Derby See page 3 IN THIS ISSUE 8 Baffert Granted Injunction to Race at NYRA Tracks 14 Fasig-Tipton Publishes Catalog for 100th Saratoga Sale 16 Nearly Two Years Later, Fans Can Return to Saratoga BLOODHORSE DAILY Download the FREE smartphone app PAGE 1 OF 41 CONTENTS 3 Haskell Looms a Grade 1 Rematch of Louisiana Derby 25 Funstar Sets Record for Online Sale Price 7 Leading Sires of Yearlings by Average 27 Hurricane Lane Annihilates Field in Grand Prix de Paris 8 Baffert Granted Injunction to Race at NYRA Tracks 28 Bobby’s Kitten Off the Mark 11 Seven First-Crop Sires With Six-Figure July Averages With Lone Australian Crop 14 Fasig-Tipton Publishes Catalog for 100th Saratoga Sale 29 Alysheba Grew Better With Age 15 Breeders’ Cup Announces Board Election Results 30 Results & Entries 16 Nearly Two Years Later, Fans Can Return to Saratoga 20 Happy Soul Tops Schuylerville at Saratoga 22 Speedy Golden Pal Returns in Quick Call at Saratoga 23 H-2B Visa Program Faces Threat From Appropriations Bill 24 Belmont Park All-Sources Handle Rises 20% From 2019 SKIP DICKSTEIN TAA a ccreditation: The G o l d S t a n d a r d in aftercare. A publication of The Jockey Club Information Systems, Inc. and TOBA Media Properties, Inc. ON THE COVER Hot Rod Charlie (rail) turns for home ahead of Editorial Director General Manager Midnight Bourbon (center) and Mandaloun in the Claire Crosby Scott Carling Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds Race Course Visuals Director Digital Media Manager Anne M. Eberhardt Erin Morgan Bloodstock Editor Senior Web Producer LATEST HEADLINES Eric Mitchell Christine Wittmer from Bloodhorse.com Features Editor Digital Content Coordinator Frank Angst Michelle Benson » Recognition for Japan's Laboratory of Racing Chemistry News Editor Regional Sales Managers Byron King Kristi Heasley Catherine Johnston » Record Meet Handle for Oregon's Grants Pass Downs Sales Editor Ellen Lambertus Lauren Gash Amanda Ramey Assistant Editors Director of Technology Debbie Tuska Courtney Bearse Christine Oser Senior Columnist Molly Rollins Jay Hovdey Senior Correspondent Pedigree Analyst Bob Ehalt Alan Porter Contact Us: Editor: [email protected] • Advertising: [email protected] BLOODHORSE DAILY THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021 PAGE 2 OF 41 HASKELL LOOMS A favorite, a disappointing sixth. GRADE 1 REMATCH Fast forward four months and OF LOUISIANA DERBY that trio will meet again Saturday in the Haskell where they will By Bob Ehalt account for the two favorites and t @BobEhalt three of the top four choices on the he results of Kentucky Derby morning line. TPresented by Woodford "I wouldn't mind that at all," Reserve (G1) preps are most often O'Neill said when asked about a pushed into the background once replay of the Louisiana Derby at the summer arrives and the Triple Jersey Shore. Crown becomes a thing of the past. While there are the proverbial Yet trainer Doug O'Neill new shooters among the field of would not mind in the least if seven, topped by Following Sea what happened in the March 20 who will be making his stakes Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby debut, the Haskell reflects the (G2) repeats itself July 17 in the quality of the aforementioned trio setting of the $1 million TVG.com who have maintained their form Haskell Stakes (G1) for 3-year-olds through the Triple Crown. HODGES PHOTOGRAPHY / AMANDA HODGES WEIR / AMANDA HODGES PHOTOGRAPHY at Monmouth Park. All three ran in the Kentucky Hot Rod Charlie defeats Midnight Bourbon Back in March at Fair Grounds Derby where Juddmonte's homebred in the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the 1 3/16- Mandaloun (post 3 Saturday) was Midnight Bourbon was second for mile Louisiana Derby brought second by a half-length to Medina trainer Steve Asmussen. together the trio of Mandaloun, Spirit. Hot Rod Charlie (post 4) Mandaloun and Midnight Hot Rod Charlie, and Midnight was third, a half-length behind Bourbon sat out the Belmont Bourbon for one of the year's most Mandaloun. Midnight Bourbon (post Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets important Triple Crown preps, 6) was a troubled sixth. (G1) where Hot Rod Charlie turned and it was O'Neill's speedy Hot After that Mandaloun and in a huge effort in setting grueling Rod Charlie who prevailed by two Hot Rod Charlie skipped the early fractions of :22.78 and :46.49 lengths with Midnight Bourbon Preakness Stakes (G1), where and hanging on to finish a game second and Mandaloun, the 6-5 Winchell Thoroughbreds' second behind Essential Quality, who was fourth in the Kentucky Derby as the favorite. Mandaloun returned to the races June 13 at Monmouth and won the TVG.com Pegasus Stakes, explaining why the linemaker put Hot Rod Charlie at 6-5, Mandaloun 2-1, and Midnight Bourbon 9-2 for the Haskell. "It shows they are quality horses when they can run at the top class level and maintain that form," O'Neill said. "Horses like 'Charlie' and the others don't come around too often. We're lucky." BILL DENVER/EQUI-PHOTO Mandaloun in his stall at Monmouth Park (continued on page 5) BLOODHORSE DAILY THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021 PAGE 3 OF 41 The World’s Yearling Sale There are moments that make history. And then there are moments that shape the future. The Keeneland September Yearling Sale consistently delivers results at the highest levels of racing internationally. We invite you to travel to Keeneland this September in search of your next racing success story. In 2020 Keeneland September graduates at Saratoga accomplished: 19 GRADED STAKES WINS 13 GRADE 1 WINS INCLUDING: Channel Maker, Echo Town, Gamine, Global Campaign, Halladay, Improbable, Jackie’s Warrior, Paris Lights, Serengeti Empress, Swiss Skydiver, Vequist, Vexatious, Volatile and more IMPROBABLE 2020 WHITNEY S. (G1) SEPTEMBER YEARLING SALE LEARN MORE MON. 13 - SAT 25. HASKELL LOOMS A GRADE 1 REMATCH OF LOUISIANA DERBY (continued from page 3) As courageously as Hot Rod Charlie ran for the ownership group of Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing, and William Strauss in the Belmont Stakes, O'Neill believes the California-based son of Oxbow out of the Indian Charlie mare Indian Miss has recovered quite well from the 1 1/2-mile journey around Belmont Park and is in great form for Saturday's 1 1/8-mile test at a track that can be kind to horses with his type of early speed. It’s a grade 1 for 3-year- olds and there’s no walkovers when you have a million dollars and those perks on the line.” —BRAD COX "He's doing really well. He came out of the Belmont great and there's good spacing to the Haskell," O'Neill said about a $1.58 million earner bred by Edward Cox who was bought by his brother, Dennis O'Neill, for $110,000 from the Small Batch Sales consignment at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. "It's a credit to the patience of the owners and the foundation that 'Charlie' has that he came out of it as well as he did. He was fit and ready. We're pumped and real optimistic and looking forward to Saturday." Aside from a million dollar purse, the Haskell offers the added incentive of a free spot in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) as a "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge Series stakes (a savings of more than $100,000). There's also a $1 million bonus offered by Monmouth Park and BetMakers Technology Group for a horse who can sweep the Haskell, Aug. 28 Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course (G1), and the Nov. 6 Classic at Del Mar. (continued on page 6) BLOODHORSE DAILY THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021 PAGE 5 OF 41 HASKELL LOOMS A GRADE 1 Park and June 3 allowance victory at Belmont Park, REMATCH OF LOUISIANA DERBY the homebred Runhappy colt was shifted from trainer Bob Baffert's barn to Todd Pletcher's stable in the (continued from page 5) aftermath of the Baffert-trained Medina Spirit failing a post-race drug test for the opening leg of the Triple A year ago, eventual Horse of the Year Authentic won Crown that could ultimately make Mandaloun the the Haskell, delayed Kentucky Derby, and Classic to rake Kentucky Derby winner. in both the bonus and the free spot at the Breeders' Cup. The Haskell will also be Following Sea's first start at "It's a grade 1 for 3-year-olds and there's no two turns. In his three career starts, he has yet to race walkovers when you have a million dollars and beyond 6 1/2 furlongs. those perks on the line," said Brad Cox, who trains Mandaloun and longshots Antigravity (post 2, 30-1), Mandaloun. "It's going to be a very competitive race." Basso (post 7, 30-1), and Pickin' Time (post 5, 20-1) have Cox categorized Mandaloun's performance in the raced over the track this year at Monmouth creating Louisiana Derby—his lone unplaced effort in seven the possibility for a two-pronged edge. Aside from a career starts—as a head-scratcher and his confidence familiarity with the racing surface, it gives their jockeys was vindicated by a sparkling, bounce-back effort in the experience with riding that horse under Monmouth's Kentucky Derby. With a winning effort over the track, controversial state-imposed rule that forbids the use of Cox is hopeful of another big performance Saturday.