SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 2017 UNDER THE >GUN= FOR THE WHITNEY HALL OF FAME INDUCTS by Alan Carasso In a handicap division that is at least slightly more open than it 2017 CLASS was prior to the running of the GII San Diego H. two weeks ago, Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm=s Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) has a chance to narrow the gap further still when he heads a field of seven set to go postward in Saturday=s GI Whitney S. at Saratoga Race Course. Third to >TDN Rising Star= Arrogate (Unbridled=s Song), beaten 15 lengths, in last year=s GI Travers S., the sleek chestnut was runner-up in the GII Pennsylvania Derby and GI Breeders= Cup Dirt Mile before easily handling Breaking Lucky (Lookin at Lucky) in the GI Clark H. And he=s been even better in 2017. Since being forced to pass on a rematch with Arrogate in the GI Pegasus Invitational S. in January, Gun Runner has logged three monster efforts: wins in the GIII Razorback S. and GI Stephen Foster H. around a race in the G1 Dubai World Cup that would have been a winning one 99 times out of a hundred, but for an impossible Javier Castellano (center) with friends and fellow Hall of Famers effort from Arrogate. Cont. p5 (Click Here) Ramon Dominguez (left) and John Velazquez | Horsephotos IN TDN EUROPE TODAY by Ben Massam BATTAASH ANOTHER HILLS STAR SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The National Museum of Racing and Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) displayed star power when Hall of Fame (NMRHOF) inducted its Class of 2017 in front of a running away with Friday’s G2 Qatar King George S. at Glorious packed house at Fasig-Tipton=s Humphrey S. Finney Sales Goodwood. Click or tap here to go straight to TDN Europe. Pavilion in Saratoga Springs Friday morning. Highlighted by the induction of jockeys Javier Castellano, Victor Espinoza and the late Garrett Gomez, the ceremony included a mix of humorous and emotional moments. The morning was emceed by legendary racecaller Tom Durkin and began with some perspective from Gretchen Jackson, president of the NMRHOF. ALess than 1% of participants [in racing] achieve this pinnacle,@ said Jackson. Fellow jockeys and Hall of Famers John Velazquez and Ramon Dominguez helped welcome Castellano into the Hall of Fame, highlighting his passion for the game and commitment to his family before passing the mic to the native Venezuelan. AThank you to my family,@ Castellano said. AI want to say thank you to everyone who has supported my career.@ Castellano--who was named on eight mounts at Saratoga Friday--listed memorable horses that contributed to his success, as well as owners and trainers who have trusted him with their Thoroughbreds. The induction of Gomez took on added meaning in light of his passing at the age of 44 last December. Cont. p3 PRESIDENT & CO-PUBLISHER Barry Weisbord @barryweisbord [email protected] SR. V.P. & CO-PUBLISHER Sue Morris Finley @suefinley [email protected] V.P., INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS Gary King @garykingTDN [email protected] Saturday, August 5, 2017 EDITORIAL [email protected] Editor-in-Chief Jessica Martini @JessMartiniTDN Managing Editor Alan Carasso @EquinealTDN Senior Editor Steve Sherack @SteveSherackTDN Racing Editor Brian DiDonato @BDiDonatoTDN Associate Editors Christie DeBernardis @CDeBernardisTDN Ben Massam @BMassamTDN Assistant Editor Joe Bianca @JBiancaTDN ADVERTISING [email protected] Director of Advertising Alycia Borer Advertising Manager Lia Best Advertising Designer Amanda Crelin Advertising Assistants Alexa Reisfield Michelle Benson Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}), the 4-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's 90th Photo Editor/Dir. of Distribution Sarah K. Andrew @SarahKAndrew running of the GI Whitney S., heads to Saratoga's main track to stretch his legs [email protected] Thursday morning. Whitney coverage continues on page 5. | Sarah Andrew Social Media Strategist Justina Severni ‘MORTAR’ MOTORS HOME IN HOF 8 Director of Customer Service Bricks and Mortar (Giant’s Causeway), let go at 4-1 despite his Vicki Forbes unbeaten record and dangerous connections, made them pay [email protected] with a convincing tally in the GII Hall of Fame S. at Saratoga. Marketing Manager Alayna Cullen @AlaynaCullen TODAY’S GRADED STAKES EST Race Click for TV Director of Information Technology 10:00a Qatar Gordon S.-G3, GOO -------------- ----- Ray Villa [email protected] 2:10p Fasig-Tipton Waya S.-GIII, SAR TJCIS PPs TVG 5:10p Longines Test S.-GI, SAR TJCIS PPs NBC/SAR Live WORLDWIDE INFORMATION 5:21p West Virginia Derby-GII, MVR TJCIS PPs TVG International Editor 5:46p Whitney S.-GI, SAR TJCIS PPs NBC/SAR Live Kelsey Riley @kelseynrileyTDN [email protected] 7:33p Sorrento S.-GII, DMR TJCIS PPs TVG European Editor 8:33p Yellow Ribbon H.-GII, DMR TJCIS PPs TVG Emma Berry [email protected] Associate International Editor Heather Anderson @HLAndersonTDN Newmarket Bureau, Cafe Racing Sean Cronin & Tom Frary [email protected] 60 Broad Street, Suite 100 Red Bank, NJ 07701 732-747-8060 | 732-747-8955 (fax) www.TheTDN.com TDN HEADLINE NEWS • PAGE 3 OF 9 • THETDN.COM SATURDAY • AUGUST 5, 2017 Hall of Fame cont. from p1 AI found myself trying to channel my dad=s thoughts on the flight here,@ said the late jockey=s daughter Amanda Gomez, who was joined by her grandfather, Louie. AThank you to every owner and trainer who allowed him to ride their champions. I want you all to know that he remembered every winning horse that he ever rode. He worked very hard to be the best he could be, day and night.@ Amanda Gomez | Horsephotos Durkin provided some humor when introducing Espinoza, contrasting his achievements on the racetrack with his relative lack of ability on the television program ADancing With the Stars,@ while the New York Racing Association (NYRA)=s Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Martin Panza stressed the importance of recognizing the contribution of jockeys to the sport. AIt=s an honor for me to be in this Hall of Fame Club,@ said Espinoza, who also reflected on his childhood growing up in Mexico City. AAmerican Pharoah was brilliant, and many other horses--California Chrome and The Tin Man--I can=t imagine not riding those horses that put me right here in this moment, to be the best at what I do. But it took a lot of work and required a lot of talent. To all those young jockeys coming in, never give up.@ Goldikova (Anabaa), the first horse to win three Breeders= Cup races with consecutive victories in the GI Breeders= Cup Mile, and Good Night Shirt (Concern)--one of only three jumps horses to reach the $1-million mark in earnings--were also honored. The late Tom Voss was the lone trainer inducted in the Hall=s 2017 class. Journalist Joe Clancy and Voss= son, Sam, spoke about the conditioner as a Alarger-than-life@ character with a unique personality. Cont. p4 TDN HEADLINE NEWS • PAGE 4 OF 9 • THETDN.COM SATURDAY • AUGUST 5, 2017 Pillars of the Turf: The late Ogden Mills ADinny@ Phipps, a pioneer for 32 years at the helm of The Jockey Club, as well as an influential figure at NYRA--all the while managing the highly successful Phipps Stable--took his rightful place in the Hall as a Pillar of the Turf. His son, Ogden Mills Phipps II, delivered a heartfelt thank you to trainer Shug McGaughey, describing a lasting Apartnership, and more importantly a friendship,@ between their families that ultimately helped shape the Hall of Fame careers of both men. AIt=s an exceptional honor and I think [my father] would be very proud,@ said Phipps. AIn keeping with my father=s tradition, I think he would want to deflect praise on himself and instead give thanks to others. Saying thank you for honoring my dad=s career in horse Ogden Mills Phipps II | Horsephotos racing, it is impossible not to mention the man who is predominantly responsible for his success: Shug, you stood up here 15 years ago today, and you said so graciously that you would not have gotten here if it wasn=t for our family. Well, I want you to know that dad wouldn=t have gotten here today without you.@ Phipps went on to thank the Hancock family for their business relationship and friendship, and finally, the family matriarch, Ande Phipps, who Aallowed dad to pursue his passions.@ John R. Gaines, founder of the Breeders= Cup, Gainesway Farm and the National Thoroughbred Association (which later became the National Thoroughbred Racing Association); and Colonel Matt Winn, who was instrumental in the development and growth of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, joined Phipps as posthumous Pillars of the Turf honorees. AJohn Gaines will be remembered most for his passion, innovation, and sheer determination to pull together various factions of the Thoroughbred industry in creating the Breeders= Cup, an unprecedented program of championship racing,@ said Breeders= Cup Chairman William S. Farish, Jr., and Breeders= Cup President and CEO Craig Fravel in a Friday statement. Cont. p5 TDN HEADLINE NEWS • PAGE 5 OF 9 • THETDN.COM SATURDAY • AUGUST 5, 2017 Hall of Fame cont. Javier Castellano is the only one of Saturday=s seven jockeys Phipps, Gaines and Winn join a select group of Pillars of the with a previous win in the Whitney (Honor Code {A.P. Indy}, Turf that includes August Belmont II (2013), Paul Mellon (2013), 2015). He lands on War Story (Northern Afleet), who will need E. P. Taylor (2014), Alfred Vanderbilt II (2015), John Hay Whitney at least a repeat of (2015), Arthur B. Hancock, Jr. (2016) and Williams Woodward, his 2 1/2-length Sr.