Hastings' Weekly Winter Round-up
Hastings' rider Kerron Khelawan gets off the mark at Turf Paradise, while the newly-elected HBPA board gets down to work
“KK” Off the Mark at Turf Paradise
As predicted, it was only a matter of time before popular Hastings’ rider Kerron Khelawan notched his first win at Turf Paradise, and the former leading Trinidad and Tobago apprentice finally got off the mark in Arizona after demonstrating some remarkably consistent form at the Phoenix track of late.
“KK” has been lighting up the board with eye-catching regularity since taking the bold decision to keep working through the winter and his first deserved victory came aboard the veteran mare TROUBLE N PARADISE in a six-furlong starter allowance contest on December 4.
Khelawan has now finished in the first four in 12 of his 18 rides at Turf Paradise and, with four more mounts booked in the coming days, including another opportunity aboard Trouble n Paradise, a second winner shouldn’t be too far away. The victory put Khelawan onto the 37-winner mark for the year and his record for 2024 now reads 37 wins, 23 seconds and 32 third-place finishes from 181 mounts - that’s an excellent win, place and show percentage of 51%.
New HBPA Board Meets for First Time
The newly-elected HBPA BC Board of Directors met for the first time recently to discuss a wide range of pressing issues and a summary of the meeting is published below.
New Board member orientation – Gary Johnson leads a 30-minute presentation and discussion with the newly elected board members that included organizational structure, industry structure, relationship with HRIMC, Track Operator, BCTOBA, CTHS BC Branch and TBC. Owners, Trainers, by-laws, constitution and meetings and role of President and table officers were all discussed. David briefly provided a summary of how meetings are managed, and motions are handled and voted upon.
Vice-President Roles – the Board selected new VP Owner and Trainer. Steve Henson agreed to hold the role for the current term for the trainer board members and Denise Praill for the owner board members.
2024 Awards Dinner – The date of this yea’s the dinner will be Wednesday April 23, 2025, at the Italian Cultural Centre – same as the past two years.
Industry/TBC Update – David Milburn reported on negotiations at the HRIMC concerning the funding split between operator, thoroughbred and harness racing. In the end, the HRIMC agreed to extend the current industry funds split for another year, through the 2025 racing season.
Gary Johnson reported on the TBC results – slightly up from 2023 and on net slot revenue - down significantly from 2023. The net impact to thoroughbred racing is about $450,000. He said there are upcoming meetings with the government representatives to push forward on a multi-year industry funding plan.
Gary also reported on operational discussions with GCE related to the Racebooks at both tracks. He said that monies from the Racebook agreements have been requested to be applied to the updating LED lighting, as well as the improvement of PostMedia cameras.
2025 Race Dates – Race dates were submitted to GPEB for the CPMA to use in providing 2025 approval for the meet. Races will begin on Kentucky Derby day with a single day racing that weekend and will go through October 18/19 weekend. There will be racing on both PNE Dark Mondays in August and Friday night racing will be focused during the summer months.
2025 Race Purses and Conditions – Neil presented some of the ideas discussed and prepared by Scott Henson, racing secretary. There was discussion but no agreement on a structure. David added that a meeting with Ole Nielsen of BCTOBA and as HRIMC representative was occurring on Dec 14 and he is presenting his recommendations for 2025.
Fresh Horse and Wintering Incentives – The Board discussed the roll out of the Fresh Horse program and the fact that Alberta has agreed to a reciprocal relationship with BC and, as such, horses that have run in the other province are excluded from both programs. With a new Board, the motion to recommend the 2024 wintering program, scope and rate, was confirmed with the new board. As of this date, it has not been endorsed by the TRBC committee, a majority of which is required to put an incentive like this in place.
Next Board Meeting was set for Tuesday January 14, 2025, at 7:00 pm via Zoom.
Justin Stein Hangs Up Tack; May Join AGCO Stewards
By: Jennifer Morrison | December 12, 2024
Off since he broke a rib and fractured small vertebrae in his back in a multi-horse spill in November at Woodbine, JUSTIN STEIN announced his retirement from riding through X on December 11. The 44-year-old has been a regular in the top 10 riders at Woodbine since he moved to Ontario from British Columbia in 2006. He was second to Kazushi Kimura in 2021 by purses and third in 2023. This year he ranked 12th before the spill.
Stein followed in his father’s boots, learning to become a jockey by exercising horses at Kamloops in B.C. He was a quick study and was a finalist for apprentice rider not just in Canada, but at the Eclipse Awards.
He arrived in Ontario in 2005, the year he won a whopping 161 races in Canada as an apprentice. He became popular in the Woodbine jocks room and with the horsepeople and fans. The married father of four won the 2012 Queen’s Plate on BC-bred Strait of Dover and numerous other important races.
But in 2016, barely into the new Woodbine season, Stein called it quits and set out to the outback of BC with his family to live off the land. There was a ceremony at Woodbine for his retirement after some 1,000 wins.
In 2019, Stein was back in Ontario, ready to begin a new life after a divorce. He was also ready to get back in the saddle again.
He won some of the biggest races of his career in his comeback years, including the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile aboard the great Starship Jubilee. He won the 2022 Prince of Wales aboard Duke of Love, the 2023 ‘Wales on Velocitor and this year he won the Breeders’ Stakes aboard Roscar, completing his own personal ‘triple crown’ of wins in all three legs of the Canadian series.
His career totals read – 10,792 mounts, 1,440 wins, 1,505 seconds, 1,369 thirds, and purses of $64,594,881. He won 98 stakes races.
Stein, now remarried with a son, is expected to stay in racing to study to become a steward. He said to Woodbine publicity, “I’ll always miss riding races, so leaving to start a new careeer within the horse racing industry is bittersweet. But I am excited to stay in an industry I love.”
Baffert Holds Strong Hand in Los Al Futurity
CYPRESS, Calif. – Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert entered the trio of Gaming, Getaway Car and Mellencamp as he seeks his ninth win in 11 years in the Grade II, $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity Saturday.
The race at 1 1/16 miles for 2-year-olds is the eighth of nine races on the next-to-last day of the Winter Thoroughbred meet at Los Alamitos. Post time Saturday is 12:30 p.m. Approximate post time for the Futurity is 4 p.m.
Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, Gaming, a son of 2019 Los Alamitos Derby winner Game Winner, was runner-up behind longshot stablemate Citizen Bull in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
More than three lengths clear in his first try at the Futurity distance, the dark bay, who was purchased for $250,000 at the OBS March sale, is 2-for-3 in is career with earnings of $565,000. Out of the Johannesburg mare So Stylish, Gaming is already a Grade I winner, capturing the Del Mar Futurity Sept. 8.
Fourth in the BC Juvenile, Getaway Car (right) will be aiming for his second graded success for a partnership that includes Starlight Racing, SF Racing LLC, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan.
A Curlin colt out of the Morning Line mare Surrender Now, Getaway Car followed up an easy maiden score in his July 20 debut with a dominant victory in the Grade III Best Pal 22 days later.
A winner twice in five starts, the Kentucky bred, who was a $700,000 buy at the September Keeneland sale last year, has banked $313,000. After his two wins, he was fourth in the Del Mar Futurity and second behind Citizen Bull in the Grade I American Pharoah prior to his effort in the BC Juvenile.
Mellencamp, who is owned by the same partnership as Getaway Car, is a twice-raced maiden. The son of Constitution and the Bayern mare American Model was second in his sprint debut Oct. 27 before finishing fourth three weeks later going a mile defeated by Futurity entrants Journalism and Rank. He’s earned $14,040.
Journalism stretched out successfully in his second career outing for Bridlewood Farm and breeder Don Alberto Stable and trainer Michael McCarthy, graduating by 2 ½ lengths Nov. 17 at Del Mar.
A son of Curlin and the Uncle Mo mare Mopotism, Journalism is 1-for-2 and has banked $38,880.
Rank, runner-up to Journalism as the 17-10 favorite, will try for the sixth time to earn his diploma.
Trained by Doug O’Neill for Calumet Farm, the son of Honor A.P. and the Touch Gold mare Fabulous Babe has earned $41,600. He has been second on three occasions and was sixth when 50-1 in the Del Mar Futurity in his only previous race versus winners.
Kentucky Derby Winner Mystik Dan Among Santa Anita Opening Day Entries
ARCADIA, CA (Dec. 13, 2024)— Reigning Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Full Serrano and Breeders’ Cup runner-ups Johannes and Bentornato are among an array of Thoroughbred stars nominated to run in six graded stakes on Thursday, Dec. 26, opening day of Santa Anita Park’s 90th year of world-class Thoroughbred racing.
Mystik Dan, who won the 150th Kentucky Derby in May for trainer Ken McPeek, is among 14 3-year-olds nominated to run in the GI Malibu Stakes going seven furlongs on opening day. Based this winter at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, Mystik Dan last weekend had a five-furlong gate work in preparation for an expected start in the Malibu. The day after Mystik Dan’s work, McPeek confirmed the Kentucky Derby winner remained pointed to the Malibu.
Mystik Dan hasn’t started since finishing eighth in the Belmont Stakes June 8. He would be the first reigning Kentucky Derby winner since California Chrome in 2015 to run at the subsequent Santa Anita winter or spring meets. Mystik Dan would also be the first reigning Kentucky Derby winner to contest the Malibu since Silver Charm in 1997.
In all, 94 horses were nominated for the six graded stakes on opening day. The complete fields for Santa Anita’s blockbuster opening-day program will be set next Thursday, Dec. 19 upon the close of entries. Below is a rundown of key nominations.
Grade I, $300,000 Malibu Stakes (7 furlongs, 3-year-olds) – Mystik Dan leads what figures to be a star-studded edition of the Malibu, which was first run in 1952. Bentornato, who was beaten just a half-length by Straight No Chaser in last month’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar, arrived at Santa Anita earlier this week for trainer Jose D’Angelo.
Also expected to start in the Malibu are Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold for trainer Phil D’Amato and Eagles Flight, a half brother to undefeated 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline, who himself romped to a 11 ½-length win in the 2021 Malibu. Eagles Flight has not started since a dominant debut win against maidens going six furlongs in May at Santa Anita. On Thursday, Eagles Flight worked six furlongs from the gate in 1:13.0 for trainer John Sadler.
Grade II winner Raging Torrent, most recently seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint for trainer Doug O’Neill, is also expected to run.
Grade I, $300,000 La Brea Stakes (7 furlongs, 3-year-old fillies) – One Magic Philly, who finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, is among 16 nominees and is expected to start for D’Amato. Prior to the Breeders’ Cup, One Magic Philly won three straight races including the GIII Chillingworth when facing older at seven furlongs Oct. 5 at Santa Anita.
Owner Mike Repole and trainer Michael McCarthy nominated both rising star Accuracy and multiple stakes winner Pushiness. Accuracy, who would be making her stakes debut, has won her previous two starts by a combined 21 ¼ lengths. In her maiden win going 1 1/16 miles Oct. 19 at Santa Anita, Accuracy aired by 15 lengths and earned a lofty 107 Beyer Speed Figure. Only potential Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, who got a 111 Beyer when second in the GI Travers, has posted a higher Beyer this year among female horses.
Tamara, the beaten favorite in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, is expected to make her second start off a year layoff for trainer Richard Mandella. Tamara returned Nov. 15 going six furlongs at Del Mar and was beaten a nose by Sandy Bottom, who was also nominated to the La Brea by McCarthy.
Grade I, $300,000 American Oaks (1 ¼ miles, turf) — Grade I winner She Feels Pretty has already made the trip west for trainer Cherie DeVaux and is on the grounds at Santa Anita. Most recently She Feels Pretty romped by six lengths in the GI Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 12.
Hastings Racecourse FRESH HORSE Program
*Limited to Thoroughbreds that were not stabled at Hastings Racecourse in 2023 AND have had at least one start elsewhere prior to the 2025 Hastings meet
A guaranteed $7,500 total bonus for any Applicant horses first three starts at Hastings Racecourse whose previous starts were made outside of British Columbia.
Additional Conditions/Information (all conditions must be met to be eligible)
Horses that raced or were stabled previously at Hastings Racecourse are ineligible, unless it was prior to the 2024 Hastings meet.
Please note: Any racing-age horses claimed/purchased out of Alberta are excluded from this program.
(Yearlings purchased at the 2024 CTHS AB sale will qualify for this program)
Registration ‘papers’ provided with application include both paper and electronic versions.
Application must be made to the Horsemen’s Bookkeeper (Cristan Gossen) or the Racing Secretary (Scott Henson) upon arrival at Hastings Racecourse to establish eligibility.
$2,500 will be paid after the horse’s first start paid to the owner of record who registered with the race office upon the horse’s arrival at Hastings and filed the Horse’s papers.
An additional $2,500 after the horse’s second start paid to the same initial owner of record only.
An additional $2,500 after the horse’s third start paid to the same initial owner of record only.
Maximum incentive value of this program available to the original owner of record is $7,500.
The horse may be claim waivered, at the owner’s discretion, for its first start, provided that the claiming level is equal to or higher than the claiming level the horse ran for in its previous start. (For example, a US$ or CDN$ $10k claim (exchange rate is not factored into claiming levels) must run at $10k or higher to be waiver claimed.
Stakes and allowance race level horses are excluded from this program.
All horses must have started for $4,000, in the currency of the track they ran it, or more in their last three starts to qualify. If a horse has not started three times, then all its lifetime starts must be for $4,000 or more.
First-time starters do not qualify for this program.
Applicants agree that the registration papers will remain in the Hastings Racecourse racing office for the entire 2025 season. Repayment of funds received from this program will release the papers and allow the horse to race elsewhere.
Horses must arrive at Hastings Racecourse on or before July 1, 2025 and start by August 1, 2025 to be eligible.
All monies earned under this program will be paid to the initial owner of record at the time of the first start. Claiming or purchasing the horse after the first start does not transfer eligibility and so future payments will be made to the initial owner of record only on qualifying future horse starts.
THIS PROGRAM CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER HASTINGS INCENTIVE PROGRAM
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines — Saturday, December 14
