Loooch Racing takes lead in 2017 Penn Gaming Racing Challenge

Following what turned out to be a banner day when Imperative stormed home down the lane to win the $1,250,000 Charles Town Classic (G2) for the second time in his career, primary owner Loooch Racing has taken the lead in the 2017 Penn Gaming Racing Challenge, moving 22 points ahead of current runner-up Ken and Sarah Ramsey.  Loooch Racing and its principle Ron Paolucci own Imperative with partner Imaginary Stables.  Other runners Paolucci served as primary owner for on Charles Town Classic day included War Story, who checked in third in the Classic and Vibe who finished fourth in the Robert Hilton Memorial.   

The Ramseys accumulated their series points at Sam Houston with Partly Mocha’s victory in the Frontier Utilities Turf Sprint and Oscar Nominated’s runner-up effort in the John Connally Turf Cup (G3).  Rounding out the top five, all with 22 points, are Lady Sheila Stable owner of Charles Town Classic second place finisher Matt King Coal, Michael Hui, Red Oak Stable and Three Diamonds Farm.

 

While he was without a mount on Charles Town Classic day, Jose Ortiz remained at the top of the rider standings on the back of his performance on Houston Ladies Classic day in January when he captured both graded events on the card - the Houston Ladies Classic and aforementioned John Connally Turf Cup – in addition to the Frontier Utilities Turf Sprint.  Ortiz sits 10 points ahead of three time Penn Challenge winner Javier Castellano.  Castellano captured the two richest races on the Charles Town Classic card when he piloted Imperative to his win as well as Mia Torri to victory in the $100,000 Sugar Maple presented by CANTER West Virginia.  Florent Geroux, Robby Albarado and John Velazquez round out the top five in the jockey standings.

 

Much like Ortiz, Mike Maker didn’t send out any starters at Charles Town but still maintains a commanding lead over the other conditioners due to Partly Mocha’s win at Sam Houston, which was followed by Maker sending out the top three finishers in the Connally.  His total of 76 points places him 33 ahead of Todd Pletcher, who won the Houston Ladies Classic with Unbridled Mo and saddled Kinsley Kisses to a runner-up finish in the Sugar Maple but saw his heavily favored Stanford disappoint and check in fifth in the Charles Town Classic.

 

The top five in the trainer standings is rounded out by Jorge Navarro, Imperative’s trainer Bob Hess and Linda Rice who almost won her first Charles Town Classic with Matt King Coal.

 

The Penn Gaming Racing Challenge, inaugurated by Penn National Gaming, Inc. (PNGI) in 2014, ties together 23 stakes races worth more than $5 million purse money at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, Sam Houston Race Park, and Zia Park.  The Challenge includes tie-ins between groups of races in the series, as well as bonuses and prizes that include free nominations, refund of entry and starter fees, and trips to the PNGI owned M Resort in Las Vegas. 

All owners, trainers, and jockeys who participate in the unrestricted stakes on the designated event days will receive two points. Additionally, points are awarded for Top 5 finishes in varying scales, based on the value or grade of the race. The additional points range from the 25 received as a result of a win in a Grade 2, to one (1) point for a fifth place finish in an unrestricted stakes race worth between $50,000 and $75,000.

 

At the end of the Challenge, the owner, trainer, and jockey with the most points will each receive two round-trip airfare tickets and a three-night stay at the 390 room M Resort located on South Las Vegas Boulevard in Las Vegas.  In addition to the travel rewards, the owner and trainer accumulating the most points at the end of all seven events will have their entry and starting fees refunded in any unrestricted stakes race run at a PNGI thoroughbred track in 2018, with the exception of Penn National itself. Past winners in the owner category include Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Fox Hill Farms and Bryan Hawk while Chad Brown, Mike Maker and Mark Casse have each assumed year end honors as the top trainer.

 

The Challenge is divided into six divisions based on race type – 3-year-old & up turf route, 3-year-old and up turf sprint, 3-year-old and up dirt sprint, 3-year-old and up filly and mare dirt sprint, 3-year-old and up dirt route, and 3-year-old and up filly and mare dirt route.  Horses running in a race within one division will automatically be nominated free of charge to the following races within that same division. Also, horses that start in a Challenge race will have all entry and starter fees refunded (excluding supplemental fees) when they start in a subsequent race in the same division.

 

The next event in the Penn Gaming Racing Challenge takes place at Penn National on June 3 when the track plays host to a quartet of stakes races, headlined by the $500,000 Penn Mile which will be contested as a Grade 2 for the first time.  Penn Mile day will carry a special first post time of 3:45 P.M. EST.

Source: Penn National Gaming, Inc.