Growl Wins Hobart Cup
Dual Derby-winning Coolmore sire & former NZ Windsor Park shuttler Montjeu (Sadler's Wells-Floripedes, by Top Ville) added a group success when 7YO gelding Growl (Montjeu-The Lions Roar, by Western Symphony) dramatically circled the field on the home turn & then raced away for a 4.25-lengths victory in yesterday’s $400,000 Gr3 Hobart Cup (2200m) in Tasmania. Growl (ridden by Brad Rawiller for trainer David Hayes) defeated 4YO gelding De Fine Lago (Delago Brom-Fine Glass, by Flying Spur) & 5YO gelding Dream Pedlar (West Quest-Unamah, by Top Avenger). Growl (a NZ$360,000 yearling at the 2004 Premier Sale at Karaka) now has 7 wins (also including 2006’s Gr2 Winning Edge Presentation Stakes over 2400m at Caulfield & Listed D'Urban Quality Stakes over 1700m at Caulfield) & 9 placings (including 2008’s Hong Kong Gr3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup over 2400m at Sha Tin, plus 2006’s Gr1 Mackinnon Stakes over 2000m at Flemington & Listed Naturalism Stakes over 2000m at Caulfield) from 32 starts for $738,822 earnings. (Click on the link for full race details from Group Race Results at AAP Racing.)
(Feb 9)
Royal Ida Wins Thomas Lyons Stakes
Benalla Park Stud stallion Star Pyramul (Favoured Bay-Little Joy, by Kaoru Star) added a black-type success when previously retired veteran 9YO gelding Royal Ida (Star Pyramul-Star Of Ida, by Paint The Stars) continued his extraordinary comeback with his 2nd stakes-win in 3 starts in a month with a 1.75-lengths victory in yesterday’s $80,000 weight-for-age Listed Thomas Lyons Stakes (1400m) at Hobart. Favourite Royal Ida (ridden by Brad Rawiller for trainer Luke Oliver) defeated 7YO gelding Conquering (Dangerous-Currently, by Acidity) & 5YO gelding Life To The Full (Savoire Vivre-Sinizzor, by Dieu D'Or). Royal Ida took his record to 18 wins (also including January’s Gr3 Standish Handicap over 1200m at Flemington, plus 2007’s Listed Durbridge Stakes over 1200m at Morphettville, as well as both the 2006 & 2005 Listed Christmas Handicap over 1450m at Cheltenham, in addition to 2006's Gr3 Spring Stakes over 1200m & Listed Wylie Handicap over 1100m at Morphettville) & 14 placings (including 2009’s Gr3 AAMI Business Insurance Stakes over 1400m at Flemington & Listed Durbridge Stakes over 1200m at Morphettville, plus 2008’s Listed City Of Marion Stakes over 1200m at Morphettville & Listed Wylie Handicap over 1100m at Morphettville, as well as 2007’s Gr1 The Goodwood over 1200m at Morphettville, Gr3 Sandown Stakes over 1400m & Gr3 Ellerston Capital Stakes over 1400m at Flemington, in addition to 2006's Listed Penny Edition Stakes over 1450m & 2005's Listed City Of Marion Stakes over 1200m) from 55 starts for $816,399 earnings. (Click on the link for full race details from Group Race Results at AAP Racing.)
(Feb 9)
Tio Rossa Wins Strutt Stakes
Stud stallion Testa Rossa (Perugino-Bo Dapper, by Sir Dapper) added a black-type success (& 25th individual stakes-winner) when favoured daughter Tio Rossa (Testa Rossa-Tio Belle, by Zabeel) scored a 1-length victory in yesterday’s $80,000 Listed Strutt Stakes (2100m) for 3YO fillies at Hobart. Tio Rossa (ridden by Craig Williams for trainers Colin & Cindy Alderson) defeated Feerique (Al Maher-All The Rave, by Forest Glow) & Danaupair Starlet (Delago Brom-Danaupair, by Danasinga). Tio Rossa now has 4 wins & 3 runners-up from 9 starts for $247,975 earnings. (Click on the link for full race details from Group Race Results at AAP Racing.)
(Feb 9)
Geelong Synthetic Training & Jump-Outs At End Of April
Racing Victoria announced the newly renovated synthetic track at Geelong “will be available for training & jump-outs by the end of April 2010, with the 1st race date on the new surface now expected to be on Friday 28 May, approximately 7 weeks later than originally planned”. RV chief executive Rob Hines explained the delay “is due to a more extensive rebuild of the track base than was originally anticipated. When our contractor Pro-Ride removed the existing racing surface, it became apparent the base was not in a good condition. We have decided to renew the base & the drainage layer to ensure we overcome the drainage issues that have plagued synthetic tracks in other jurisdictions & we get it absolutely right before returning to racing on the new surface.”
(Feb 9)
Vic Jumps Season To Start In Early April
Racing Victoria “is in a race against the clock to start the jumps season in early April,” reported The Herald-Sun. The final program for the jumps season will be released within a week, while RV “continues to consult with the Australian Jumping Racing Association on its requirements for modified obstacles”. RV chief executive Rob Hines said the board last week “endorsed plans for a reduced jumps racing program of 64 races between April & August”. The 1st scheduled meeting is at Warrnambool on April 6. Hines said it was hoped the jumps industry-designed modified jumps “would be ready by early next month but there were no guarantees”. He said RV appointed engineers & risk assessors “needed to approve the new jumps & a prototype was in the process of being built & costed”.
(Feb 9)
NZB Festival Yearlings Day-2: NZ$110k Elusive City Colt
In New Zealand, (as agent for Cambridge-based clients) paid top price of NZ$110,000 for a colt by Gr1-winning Haunui Farm shuttler & 2002 French Champion 2YO Elusive City (the 9th foal out of dual-winning 20-year-old Sir Tristram mare Wishing Belle) during yesterday’s closing session at the 2-day NZB Festival Yearling Sale (following last week’s 2-day Premier Sale & 3-day Select Sale) at Karaka in Auckland. The price set a new record for the Festival section of the annual NZB Karaka Yearling Sales series. The colt was consigned by Haunui & his dam Wishing Belle is a 3/4-sister to both stakes-winner Tristram & Trivia (dam of stakes-winner Trivia Lass), as well as a half-sister to dual Gr2-winner Delightful Belle (dam of dual Gr1-winner Belle Du Jour).
(Feb 9)
NZB Festival Yearlings Day-2: Top Lots
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NZ$110,000 Elusive City-Wishing Belle colt ( as agent)
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NZ$100,000 King's Chapel-Alleyrun colt (R.Dawe)
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NZ$100,000 Elusive City-Eau de Cologne colt (International Bloodstock)
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NZ$58,000 Shinko King-Bermuda colt (Wexford Stables)
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NZ$56,000 Shinko King-Verganti colt (J.Sargent)
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NZ$51,000 Brilliance-Vont To Chat colt (C.Wood)
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NZ$50,000 Falkirk-Wildgoosechase filly (T.McKee)
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NZ$50,000 Keeper-Heavenly Trail colt (C.Wood)
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NZ$46,000 Spartacus-Classy Affair colt (NZB as agent)
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NZ$42,000 Coats Choice-Cruella colt (P.Cataldo)
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NZ$41,000 Rusty Spur-Arc Angel colt (NZB as agent)
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NZ$40,000 Keeper-White Crow colt (NZB as agent)
(Feb 9)
NZB Festival Yearlings Final Average Up 24.9%
Overall during the 2-day Festival section of the Yearling Sale series, 328 lots sold for NZ$4,915,600 (up 9.3% on last year’s 375 sold for NZ$4,498,700). The final average of NZ$14,987 was up 24.9% (last year NZ$11,997) while the median remained unchanged at NZ$10,000. However the 71% clearance rate was down from 81% last year.
(Feb 9)
NZB Festival Yearlings: Top Buyers
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as agent: 34 lots for NZ$777,600
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Wexford Stables: 10 lots for NZ$322,500
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Bahen Bloodstock: 7 lots for NZ$237,000
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P.Cataldo Bloodstock: 6 lots for NZ$145,000
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T.McKee: 8 lots for NZ$142,700
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P.Willetts: 6 lots for NZ$127,600
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C.Wood: 3 lots for NZ$121,000
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J.Sargent: 5 lots for NZ$105,000
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Robt Dawe Agency: 1 lot for NZ$100,000
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International Bloodstock: 1 lot for NZ$100,000
(Feb 9)
NZB Festival Yearlings: Top Vendors
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Haunui Farm: 16 lots sold for NZ$496,000
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Hallmark Stud: 7 lots sold for NZ$195,000
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Te Runga Stud: 19 lots sold for NZ$188,600
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Poplar Lodge: 14 lots sold for NZ$187,500
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Esker Lodge: 10 lots sold for NZ$178,000
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Totara Park Stud: 11 lots sold for NZ$172,000
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Henley Park: 2 lots sold for NZ$150,000
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Newmarket Lodge Stud: 9 lots sold for NZ$137,500
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Lime Country Thoroughbreds: 6 lots sold for NZ$130,000
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Maara Grange: 5 lots sold for NZ$124,000
(Feb 9)
Kyla Johnston New Arion General Manager
NZ-based (supplier of catalogue pedigree pages to , & ) announced Kyla Johnston has been appointed general manager, supported in the role by Andrew Stewart as manager, sales & cataloguing. Johnston has been employed by Arion for the past 2.5 years in the roles of systems development & researcher, having previously run her own businesses in the equine field. Geoff Powell will be relinquishing his role as manager of Arion, but will remain working for Arion as director of business development.
(Feb 9)
US 4-Time Gr1 Star Conduit Arrives For Japan Stud Duty
In Japan, Irish-bred & UK-trained 4-time Gr1-winning 5YO stallion Conduit (Dalakhani-Well Head, by Sadler's Wells) “has finally returned to Japan to embark on his stallion career at Big Red Farm where he will stand his 1st season at a fee of ¥3 million (A$38,000)” reported racingpost.com. Conduit completed back-to-back victories in the US Gr1 Breeders Cup Turf at Santa Anita last November, before a final start 4th in the Gr1 Japan Cup in Tokyo. However due to Japanese quarantine regulations, he “has spent the past month back in isolation at Newmarket in the England” rather than remain in Asia. Conduit joins 11 other stallions on the roster at Big Red (including Gr1 Dubai World Cup winner Roses In May & multiple Gr1-winner Agnes Digital). Overall Conduit (US 2008 Eclipse Award Winner as Champion Male Turf Horse) recorded 7 wins (including both the 2009 & 2008’s US Gr1 Breeders' Cup Turf over 12 furlongs, plus 2009’s UK Gr1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 12 furlongs, as well as 2008's UK Gr1 St Leger Stakes over 14 furlongs & UK Gr3 Gordon Stakes over 12 furlongs) & 5 placings (including both 2009’s UK Gr1 Eclipse Stakes over 10 furlongs & Gr3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes over 10 furlongs at Sandown, plus 2008's Gr2 King Edward VII Stakes over 12 furlongs) from 15 starts for over £3.5 million (A$6.3m) earnings.
(Feb 9)
Jacqueline Wins Gr1 Indian Derby
In India, Gr1-winning former Blue Gum Farm shuttler King Charlemagne (Nureyev-Race The Wild Wind, by Sunny's Halo) added a Gr1 triumph when daughter Jacqueline (King Charlemagne-Talita Kumi, by High Estate) notched her 2nd Gr1 success in a fortnight with a 0.75-length victory over her male rivals in the Gr1 Indian Derby (2400m) for 4YOs at Mahalaxmi in Mumbai. “Wonder filly Jacqueline (ridden by Richard Hughes for trainer Pesi Shroff) completed an amazing Classic 4-timer” in defeating the entire Becket (Hawk Wing-Boiling River, by Dayjur) & gelding Native Knight (Placerville-Native Tactics, by Bluebird) declared racingpost.com. At her previous start Jacqueline also won January’s Gr1 Indian Oaks (2400m) at Mahalaxmi; & during 2009 Jacqueline won both India’s Gr1 2000 Guineas (1600m) against the males at Mumbai & Gr1 1000 Guineas (1600m) against her own sex at Mumbai, plus the Gr1 Fillies Trial Stakes (1600m) at Bangalore, as well as finishing runner-up against the males in the Gr1 Derby Bangalore (2000m) & 3rd against the males in the Gr1 Breeders’ Multi-Million (1400m) at Mumbai.
(Feb 9)
South Africa Yearlings: $106k Right Approach Colt
In South Africa, Rainbow Beach Trading paid top price of R700,000 (A$106,000) for a colt by Right Approach (the 4th foal out of winning 10-year-old Sportsworld mare Hockey Corner) at the 1-day BloodStock SA Cape Summer Yearling Sale at Sandringham Farm near Stellenbosch. The colt (already named Whiteline Fever) was consigned by Daytona Stud & his dam Hockey Corner is a half-sister to Laptop Lady (dam of dual Gr1-winner Jay Peg & Gr2-placed Cyber Case).
(Feb 9)
South Africa Yearlings: Top Lots
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R700,000 (A$106,000) Right Approach-Hockey Corner colt (Rainbow Beach)
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R500,000 (A$76,000) Dynasty-Winter Kill colt (M.Bass)
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R300,000 (A$45,000) Victory Moon-Millenium Magic colt (J.Freeman)
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R240,000 (A$36,000) Greys Inn-Inanda House filly (M.Bass)
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R240,000 (A$36,000) Right Approach-Sporting Show filly (Mont Venteux)
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R220,000 (A$33,000) Tiger Ridge-Little Extra filly (Zaki Racing)
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R200,000 (A$30,000) Surging River-Corn Flower colt (S.Mynhardt)
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R200,000 (A$30,000) Silvano-Golden Wings colt (Good-Hope Racing)
(Feb 9)
1st Foal For Unbeaten Arc Winner Zarkava
In Europe, the Aga Khan’s unbeaten 2008 Gr1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe-winning 5YO mare Zarkava (Zamindar-Zarkasha, by Kahyasi) gave birth to her 1st foal: a filly by Gilltown Stud (the Aga Khan's farm in County Kildare in Ireland) stallion Dalakhani. Pat Downes, Irish manager of the Aga Khan Studs, described the foal as “a lovely individual that is correct, strong & full of quality. It was a straight-forward foaling.” Irish-bred Zarkava (2008 European Horse-Of-The-Year) recorded 7 wins (5 Gr1 victories, in France’s Poule d'Essai des Pouliches-1000 Guineas, Prix de Diane-French Oaks, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Prix Vermeille & Prix Marcel Boussac) from 7 starts for £2,463,140 (A$4.435m) earnings. Zarkava is due to be covered by recently-retired 6-time Gr1-winning Irish-bred 4YO stallion Sea The Stars (Cape Cross-Urban Sea, by Miswaki) in 2010.
(Feb 9)
French Gr2-Winner Vangelis Switches To Haras du Bois
In France, Gr2-winning & triple Gr1-placed 11-year-old stallion Vangelis (Highest Honor-Capades Dancer, by Gate Dancer) “has been transferred to Haras du Bois d'Argile near Chantilly where he will stand the upcoming season for €2,000 (A$3,200)” reported racingpost.com. Vangelis (originally scheduled to serve this season at Haras de Grandcamp) “will be the 1st stallion to stand at Haras du Bois d'Argile”; he moved to Haras de Grandcamp last year after standing his initial 3 seasons at Haras du Pley. His 1st crop of 22 foals are 3YOs this year. On the track, Vangelis won France’s Gr2 Prix d'Harcourt (2000m) & Gr3 Grand Prix De Vichy (2000m) at Vichy, plus placing in the Gr2 Prix Du Conseil De Paris (2400m), before switching to the US where he placed in the Gr1 Clement Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship (10 furlongs), Gr1 Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap (12 furlongs), Gr1 Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (10 furlongs), Gr3 Arlington Handicap (10 furlongs), Gr3 Sycamore Stakes (12 furlongs) & Listed Jim Murray Memorial Handicap (12 furlongs).
(Feb 9)
Kentucky Mixed Sale: US$340k Lavender Sky
In the US early this morning (Australian time), Dr William Lockridge (acting on behalf of “a foreign client”) paid US$340,000 for dual-winning & dual Gr2-placed 6YO mare Lavender Sky (Mt Livermore-Munnaya, by Nijinsky II) during initial action at the 1-day Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington. Lavender Sky (consigned by Three Chimneys Sales as agent) was sold as a broodmare prospect & Lockridge (a real estate broker who founded Ashford Stud, now owned by Coolmore) told bloodhorse.com: “She is very correct. I wish she was a little bigger, but she is very well made. The mares I’ve had success with were mares that could run. That’s one of the criteria that I look for & they also have to be out of one of the blue hen families, which this mare certainly is.” Lockridge declined to identify his client, but said Lavender Sky's purchase “is the 1st of a lot of things we'll do together.” He added the mare will remain in Kentucky & be bred this year. Lavender Sky’s 3rd dam is Kamar, a 1979 Canadian champion & 1990 Kentucky Broodmare-Of-The-Year; Kamar’s offspring included 1990 Gr1 Kentucky Oaks winner Seaside Attraction, Canadian champion Key To The Moon & triple Gr1-winner Gorgeous.
(Feb 9)
Kentucky Mixed Sale: US$235k Mare To Aust Buyer
Cherokee Equine International’s Tom Ryan (acting for Australia’s Bowden Global Equine) paid US$235,000 for 5YO mare Julia Tuttle (Giant’s Causeway-Candy Cane, by Ride The Rails) consigned by Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield operation as agent. Ryan told bloodhorse.com he purchased Julia Tuttle (offered as a racing or broodmare prospect) “for one of Australian bloodstock agent Neil Bowden’s clients”. Julia Tuttle won the 2008 Listed Twin Lights Stakes at Monmouth Park (& also placed in the 2008 Gr3 Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs). Her 13-year-old dam Candy Cane is a full-sister to Argentine champion & North American Gr1-winning stallion Candy Ride.
(Feb 9)
US Owner Tanaka 5-Years Jail Sentence
Prominent US thoroughbred owner Gary Tanaka has been sentenced to 5 years in prison on securities fraud charges, reported bloodhorse.com. Tanaka & Alberto Vilar (his former partner in Amerindo Investment Advisors) had been convicted in 2008 on charges of stealing from investors in their technology-based funds. Tanaka, 66, has raced 2 US Eclipse Award winners: 2001 champion older female Gourmet Girl & 2002 champion turf female Golden Apples. He has also campaigned major North American stakes-winners Millkom, Atlando, Bluegrass Prince, Blues Traveller, Celtic Arms, Dernier Empereur, Donna Viola, Falcon Flight, King’s Drama, Passinetti, Pellegrino, Proudinsky, Sarafan, Snow Polina, Squeak & Star Parade.
(Feb 9)
US Gr1-Winner Square Eddie Retired To Stud
US Gr1-winning 4YO stallion Square Eddie (Smart Strike-Forty Gran, by El Gran Senor) has been retired from racing “because of a suspensory injury” & will stand at Vessels Station Farm in California, reported bloodhorse.com. Overall Canadian-bred Square Eddie (a US$200,000 yearling at the 2007 Keeneland September Sale & subsequently 3rd-highest-weighted 2YO male on the 2008 US Experimental Free Handicap) recorded 2 wins (including the Gr1 Lane's End Breeders' Futurity over 8.5 furlongs at Keeneland) & 5 placings (including the Gr1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile over 8.5 furlongs at Santa Anita, Gr2 Lexington Stakes over 8.5 furlongs at Keeneland, Gr3 San Rafael Stakes over 8 furlongs at Santa Anita & UK Gr3 Sirenia Stakes over 6 furlongs at Kempton Park) from 12 starts for $819,366 earnings. Square Eddie “is bred on the same Smart Strike-Northern Dancer cross as numerous other major winners, including 2-time US Horse-Of-The-Year Curlin”.
(Feb 9)
Good Reward & Pure Prize Full-Brother To Argentina
US 6YO stallion Electricity (Storm Cat-Heavenly Prize, by Seeking The Gold) who is a full-brother to both dual Gr1-winner Good Reward & Gr2-winner Pure Prize (both now at stud in the US) will stand the 2010 breeding season at Haras Alfa in Argentina. Electricity (whose dam Heavenly Prize was 1993 champion 2YO filly) recorded 4 wins from 23 starts.
(Feb 9)
US Jockey Banned 200-Days For Mid-Race “Punch-Up”
Tuesday Odd Spot: Eriluis Vaz (who “punched fellow jockey Ademar dos Santos in the face during the stretch run” of a race at Philadelphia Park on January 8) was handed a 200-day suspension by track stewards, reported US Daily Racing Form. Dos Santos received a 90-day ban. The incident occurred when Vaz “attempted to guide his mount off the inside fence, bumping Dos Santos’s horse. Dos Santos could be seen (on the official stewards’ video) screaming at Vaz, who responded by hitting Dos Santos in the face with the back of his hand. When Dos Santos attempted to retaliate, Vaz brought the handle of his whip down onto the neck of Dos Santos.” Pennsylvania State Racing Commission spokesperson Justin Fleming noted: “The stewards recognised with the penalty that Vaz was the aggressor.”
(Feb 9)
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SALES VENDORS
February 9th, 2010
