Gustavo Delgado

The Puma Scratched From Kentucky Derby With Leg Swelling

The runner-up in the GI Curlin Florida Derby, The Puma (Essential Quality) was scratched from the GI Kentucky Derby on Saturday morning after his trainer Gustavo Delgado reported that the colt had some swelling in his leg. "We discovered some swelling in his leg due to a skin infection," said trainer Gustavo Delgado. "It's incredibly disappointing but the swelling should go down within a day or two. It's just really bad timing." The Puma, the winner of the GII ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby in early March, is owned by OGMA...

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Saturday Derby/Oaks Notes: The Puma, Bella Ballerina Breeze

OGMA Investments LLC, JR Ranch and High Step Racing LLC's The Puma (Essential Quality) tuned up for a scheduled start in the May 2 GI Kentucky Derby Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park during a maintenance-style half-mile breeze. "It was getting him back into his routine two weeks after a race. It was pretty easy. Maybe the exercise rider got a little too comfortable, but next week is when he'll have his important work," trainer Gustavo Delgado's son and assistant Gustavo Delgado Jr. said. "We're planning to do that Friday or...

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Restrepo Reliving The Magic With The Puma

It's what keeps everyone going: the chance that somewhere out there may be a single horse capable of transforming your whole career. For most, of course, the quest yields no more than near-misses: horses that don't quite work out, for one reason or another, but that hopefully show enough to get you noticed, keep you in the game. Every now and then, however, somebody turns up a real game-changer. Every now and then, along comes Mage. Before turning up the 2023 GI Kentucky Derby winner, Ramiro Restrepo's eligibility to describe...

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Cat Call: The Puma A Maiden No More In Tampa Bay Derby Win

After hitting the board behind the likes of 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Chief Wallabee (Constitution) on debut and most recently, Renegade (Gun Runner) in the Sam F. Davis Stakes Feb. 7, The Puma (Essential Quality) finally got his day Saturday and earned Derby points to boot with a gutsy win in the GIII ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby. Given just a 7-1 shot here despite that third over course and distance in the Sam F. Davis, the son from the first crop of Essential Quality broke towards the outside...

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Life Is Good colt at Fasig-Tipton
$500K Colts on Top as Fasig-Tipton October Sale Maintains Record Pace

LEXINGTON, KY - The four-day Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale reached its halfway point in Lexington Tuesday and continued to produce figures significantly ahead of its record-setting 2024 edition. Through two sessions, 540 yearlings have grossed $33,091,000 for an average of $61,280 and a median of $30,000. At the same point last year, 544 horses had grossed $28,753,000 for an average of $52,855 and a median of $20,000. The 2024 auction concluded with a cumulative record gross of $58,575,500 and a record average of $52,206. "The second session of the...

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Lay Down the Law
Sunday Insights: $775k Tiz the Law Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Breezer Debuts at Keeneland

9th-KEE, $110k, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 5:16 p.m. ET Lay Down the Law (Tiz the Law), a $775,000 purchase by the Searing family's C R K Stable after breezing in :10 1/5 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old sale, debuts for Peter Eurton. The bay, listed at 15-1 on the morning line, previously brought $95,000 as a KEESEP yearling and RNA'd for $60,000 as a FTKNOV weanling. Ilios (Justify), a $350,000 FTKOCT yearling turned $650,000 EASMAY (gallop) 2-year-old, debuts for JR Ranch, KAS Ultimate Racing and G and O Racing and trainer...

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Weekly National Regulatory Rulings For Feb. 27 – Mar. 5

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. The following rulings were reported on HISA's "rulings" portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) "pending" and "resolved" cases portals.   RESOLVED ADMC VIOLATIONS Date: 03/03/2025 Licensee: Gustavo Delgado, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on March 4, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a...

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MGISP Ferocious Off Derby Trail

'TDN Rising Star' Ferocious (Flatter), second in both the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity and the GI Hopeful Stakes last year, reportedly has a muscle tear and has been removed from consideration for the May 3 GI Kentucky Derby. Trainer Gustavo Delgado's son, Gustavo Delgado, Jr., told the Daily Racing Form that while the injury was minor, it would require time to heal. Owned by JR Ranch, Marquee Bloodstock, High Step Racing, and OGMA Investments, LLC, Ferocious has made one start in 2025, resulting in a fourth Feb. 1 in the...

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National Regulatory Rulings: Feb. 20-26

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. The following rulings were reported on HISA's "rulings" portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) "pending" and "resolved" cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 02/25/2025 Licensee: William Blair, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Triamcinolone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Dot on 1/19/25. Date: 02/25/2025 Licensee: Dr. Larry...

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Victory Avenue Returns Sunday, Florida Derby Likely Next for Ferocious

OGMA Investments, JR Ranch, Upland Flats Racing, Morplay Racing, High Step Racing, Lady Sheila Stable and Michael and Jules Iavarone's highly regarded Victory Avenue (Arrogate), unraced since his debut run last winter, returns to the races Sunday at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Gustavo Delgado, the colt was second after a troubled start in his debut at Gulfstream on the Pegasus undercard last January. He was entered in the GII Fountain of Youth Stakes off that maiden appearance, but was scratched. "He was just such a naturally fast talented colt that...

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White Abarrio Put In Final Pegasus Drill; 'TDN Rising Star' Ferocious Preps For Sophomore Debut

White Abarrio (Race Day), a three-time Grade I winner for C2 Racing Stable, Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Antonio Pagnano, put in his final breeze Thursday morning for the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park. In company with regular workmate Silver Moonlight (Liam's Map), White Abarrio went four furlongs in :48.34 seconds over Gulfstream's main track, ranking eighth of 27 horses (video). It was his second work of 2025 following a bullet half-mile move in :47.81 Jan. 9. "He worked well," said trainer...

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Saturday's Racing Insights: Gate Appointment For Madame Secretary Confirmed At Seaside Oval

7th-DMR, $54K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5fT, 6:30 p.m. ET. MADAME SECRETARY (Constitution) makes her first start for MyRacehorse and Brook Smith after she was purchased at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale for $900,000 by Rocket Ship and Gandharvi. Sent to Richard Mandella, the filly is out of MSP Nina Fever (Borrego), who was taken home by Blandford Bloodstock for $500,000 while Madame Secretary was in-utero. This dam produced GI Frizette Stakes heroine and $3 million Fasig-Tipton Mixed Sale buy Nickname (Scat Daddy), who herself is responsible for Irish group stakes...

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