Jockey Sahin Civaci, Canada’s 2024 Sovereign Award-winning rider, will begin riding in New York full-time beginning this week, according to Mike Sellitto, who will serve as his agent.
Civaci, currently third in the Woodbine standings with 89 wins, is named on one mount Friday and five on Saturday at Aqueduct.
Nutella Fella, the upset winner of the 2023 Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga, is attempting another comeback.
Unraced since finishing fourth in the Grade 3 True North at Saratoga on June 7, Nutella Fella is being pointed to the Grade 3, $175,000 Bold Ruler Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 2. On Saturday at Saratoga, Nutella Fella worked a half-mile in 49.02 seconds over the Oklahoma training track, his fourth work since Sept. 20.
Trainer Gary Contessa said that Nutella Fella emerged from the True North with a foot abscess “that was deep embedded in his foot.”
Mo Plex, the Grade 3 Ohio Derby winner who finished seventh in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 20, is targeting either the $250,000 Empire Classic on Oct. 25 or the $200,000 Dwyer Stakes for 3-year-olds for his next start, trainer Jeremiah Englehart said Monday.
Englehart said the decision would come down to whichever he felt like was the “lighter race.”
The Empire Classic, run at 1 1/8 miles, is restricted to New York-breds but means facing older horses. The Dwyer, a one-turn mile, would give Mo Plex another chance to run in a race restricted to 3-year-olds.
Long or short? That’s the question on Wednesday at Keeneland, where a pair of turf allowances for fillies and mares – one marathon and one sprint – serve as nominal features.
All seven entrants in the sixth race, a $130,000 allowance going 1 1/2 miles, are stretching out. Meanwhile, several runners in an overflow cast for the eighth race, a $120,000, 5 1/2-furlong tilt, have success at the distance, while several others are cutting back. The two races are sandwiched around an intriguing 2-year-old maiden special weight on dirt.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The lone runner in Thursday’s Woodbine feature not in for the $40,000 claiming tag is Ontario-sired Just Magnificent. Among a field of eight, she’s arguably the one to beat in the nonwinners-of-two test, scheduled for 7 1/2 furlongs on the inner turf.
Just Magnificent graduated over Ontario-sired and $40,000 maidens in her second start of the season on June 19. She switched to the inner turf a month later and rallied for second, which was her third on-the-board finish from as many starts over the course.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer George Weaver, based primarily in Saratoga, is considering as many as four horses for Breeders’ Cup races.
Dorth Vader, beaten a nose by Thorpedo Anna, in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign, is pointing to the $2 million Distaff. She worked a half-mile in 49.40 seconds on Oct. 6 and is likely to have one more work in Saratoga before shipping to Del Mar on Oct. 22.
The remainder of Weaver’s contingent would not ship until Oct. 26, in part because he wants more clarity on whether they get into their respective races.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Frost gave way to fog, which ultimately gave way to bright sunshine and blue skies Friday morning in time for trainer Todd Pletcher to work three of his potential four Breeders’ Cup Classic contenders on a crisp morning in Saratoga.
Considering her career nearly ended after one race in 2023, Vibez has had a remarkable year leading to Monday’s $80,000 Swingtime Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.
Vibez was diagnosed with a fractured tibia in September 2023 after a fifth-place finish in a maiden race at five furlongs on turf. The injury eventually healed, allowing Vibez to resume racing in April 2024.
“It was a blessing to see her okay,” trainer Peter Eurton said.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Cairo Caper has run well sprinting and has handled softer turf. Both factors could be in play Sunday when Cairo Caper runs in a seemingly wide-open renewal of the $150,000 Carle Place Stakes at Aqueduct.
The Carle Place, restricted to 3-year-olds, is scheduled to be run at six furlongs over Aqueduct’s outer turf course. A potential nor’easter is forecast for Sunday, the timing of which will likely determine whether the race stays on the turf, is transferred to the dirt, or is even run at all.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Handicappers will get a shot at yet another mandatory Rainbow 6 payout Sunday at Gulfstream Park. A key to success will be trying to figure out what to do with General Ledger in the third leg of the sequence, a $57,000 allowance/optional claimer to be decided at a mile on the turf.
