Mon, 04/15/2024 - 12:25

Encino still has room for improvement off Lexington win

Coady photo

Encino earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure for his win in the Lexington.

The late-blooming Encino still has room for development as he eyes the spring classics, trainer Brad Cox and jockey Florent Geroux both said following the colt’s win in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland.

Encino, who has shipped from Keeneland to Cox’s base at Churchill Downs, set the pace in the Lexington and turned back The Wine Steward for a three-quarter-length win. The Godolphin homebred was making just his fourth career start, first on dirt, and first in a graded stakes race.

Mon, 04/15/2024 - 10:50

Lone Star concentrates stakes racing onto four big cards

By Mary Rampellini

Lone Star Park photo

Lone Star will open a 41-date season on Thursday, with racing continuing through July 14.

Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, will showcase most of its stakes races over four key cards during the track’s 41-date meet that opens Thursday night. The season will run through July 14.

The richest of the cards will be Lone Star Million Day, when six stakes worth a total of $1.2 million will be run on May 27. The program is anchored by the Grade 3, $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile and includes the $300,000 Texas Derby.

Sat, 04/13/2024 - 08:21

Just Steel impresses in final Oaklawn work

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Photograph

Just Steel last finished second in the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn.

Kentucky Derby probable Just Steel emerged from a Thursday work at Oaklawn Park in good order and was scheduled to ship Saturday to Churchill Downs, according to his trainer, D. Wayne Lukas.

Just Steel, who ranks 12th in points for the Kentucky Derby following his runner-up finish in the Arkansas Derby on March 30, had his first work out of that race Thursday. He went five-eighths on a track rated muddy in 1:00.80.

Fri, 04/12/2024 - 14:35

Mensa wins first 2-year-old race of the meet

By Mike Welsch

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos

Mensa won his debut by three lengths. He could make his next start at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Two-year-olds will ultimately be the main focus at Gulfstream Park as the spring and summer meets progress, and if Friday’s first baby race of the season is any indication, it should be a good year for locally based juveniles.

With jockey Patrick Husbands in town for the occasion, Mensa, a son of Complexity, sprinted right to the front and was in control throughout, drawing away to a convincing three-length victory over Unchained Elaine with the 3-5 Delightful Flame finishing a well-beaten sixth following a poor start.

Fri, 04/12/2024 - 12:35

Trainer Ralph Nicks to retire

By Mike Welsch

Chelsea Durand/NYRA

Ralph Nicks trained Caledonia Road the champion 2-year-old filly of 2017 who won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Ralph Nicks will bring down the curtain on his 20-year training career following the conclusion of Sunday’s program at Gulfstream Park.

Nicks, 57, has saddled 722 winners, the most notable being Eclipse Award winner Caledonia Road, winner of the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. He also won the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs four years earlier with Aubby K.

Fri, 04/12/2024 - 12:35

Kentucky Derby: Fierceness works in Florida with Velazquez aboard

By Mike Welsch

Barbara D. Livingston

Florida Derby winner Fierceness breezed an easy half-mile in 50.17 on Friday at Palm Beach Downs. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.32.

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – It was back to work on Friday for Florida Derby winner and potential Kentucky Derby favorite Fierceness, who breezed an easy half-mile in 50.17 seconds in company with his Grade 2-winning stablemate Agate Road just after dawn at Palm Beach Downs.

Despite the fact the work was strictly maintenance by design, the importance of the drill in the overall scheme of things was not lost on trainer Todd Pletcher or Fierceness’ regular rider, John Velazquez, who flew in overnight from Keeneland to put the reigning 2-year-old champion male through his paces Friday.

Wed, 04/10/2024 - 15:48

El Grande O has foot bruise

By David Grening

Chelsea Durand

El Grande O, scratched during the warm up for the Wood Memorial, has been placed on the 14-day veterinarian's list.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - El Grande O, who was scratched out of Saturday’s Grade 2 Wood Memorial during the post parade due to lameness in his right front, had been dealing with a bit of a foot issue in the week leading up to the race, trainer Linda Rice said.

Wed, 04/10/2024 - 15:44

Gin Gin still being pointed to Kentucky Oaks

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Gin Gin, shown at Aqueduct in early March, was beaten 9 1/4 lengths in last weekend's Gazelle.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Gin Gin, a well-beaten third in last Saturday’s Grade 3 Gazelle Stakes, remains on course for a start in the Kentucky Oaks, trainer Brad Cox said.

Gin Gin basically qualified for the Oaks with her victory in the Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct on Jan. 13. After finishing third in the Busher Stakes on March 2, Gin Gin was beaten 9 1/4 lengths in the Gazelle by Where’s My Ring.

The horse has already shipped to Churchill Downs to train towards the Oaks.

Wed, 04/10/2024 - 15:22

Kantarmaci reroutes Evvie Jets to Churchill Distaff Turf Mile

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Evvie Jets won the Grade 2 Ballston Spa at Saratoga last summer. She has not started since October.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Evvie Jets, the multiple graded stakes-winning turf mare, has a new target for her 6-year-old debut.

Originally being pointed to Friday’s Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland, Evvie Jets was not entered in that spot and instead will be aimed at the Grade 2, $750,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile on the undercard of the May 4 Kentucky Derby.

Wed, 04/10/2024 - 14:20

Recharge might wait for Black-Eyed Susan

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Photography

Recharge, winner of the Sunland Park Oaks, will make her next start in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan.

The Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico is one of a couple of next start options for Recharge, winner of the $250,000 Sunland Park Oaks, according to trainer Steve Asmussen.

Recharge, a daughter of Gun Runner, is 3 for 4 for breeder Winchell Thoroughbreds. She is coming off a fifth-place finish in the Grade 2, $750,000 Fantasy on March 30 at Oaklawn for which she earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 77.

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