A small tornado ripped the roof off several stalls at trainer Peter Miller's barn at San Luis Rey Downs late Wednesday afternoon, the most significant damage from a series of storms that have pounded Southern California this week as the predicted El Nino weather pattern materializes.
The California Retirement Management Account for retired racehorses will distribute more than $500,000 to 25 charities, according to a statement released earlier this week.
Prize Exhibit, who won her third graded stakes on turf in the $201,500 Monrovia Stakes at Santa Anita last Sunday, could start on a dirt track for the first time next month. Owner Deron Pearson and trainer Jim Cassidy are considering Prize Exhibit for the $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on dirt on Feb. 13.
Even though Dressed in Hermes has made his last four starts on turf, winning two stakes, trainer Janet Armstrong likes the way he has trained on dirt, which has earned Dressed in Hermes a start on Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Sham Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.
California Chrome will have a busy second half of January after Saturday's $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita. Trainer Art Sherman said earlier this week that California Chrome is scheduled to leave for Dubai on Jan. 21 to begin preparation for the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 26.
Meadowlands fans perhaps have wondered whatever happened to Tim Tetrick. One of the sport’s perennial leading drivers has not raced at the East Rutherford oval since November 28 and though he’s returned from a trip to Australia, trainers didn’t immediately take notice this Monday when races were drawn for the Friday and Saturday night Meadowlands 14-race programs.
One more year like he's been having, and Lochte will be a millionaire. It was nearly two years ago the gelding experienced a career breakthrough by winning the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap at nearly 40-1. It's been onward and upward ever since.
When California Chrome walked off the track after a second-place finish in the $10 million Dubai World Cup last March, he seemed on the verge of a big season. Little could anyone have known he would not race again in 2015.
The trainer comments and the workout pattern, especially the six-furlong work in 1:10, hint that California Chrome could deliver a huge performance right off the bench in the San Pasqual.
Woodbine will commemorate the 43 horses that perished in a barn fire last Monday during Thursday night’s Standardbred card.
