Latta, a 4-year-old colt based in Pennsylvania, has been surprising trainer Jacinto Solis in all the right ways. After an eye-popping 10 1/4-length victory in an allowance at Parx Racing on March 12, Solis must now figure out the next step for a colt that has suddenly become one of the hottest runners in the state.
Quint’s Brew, a two-time stakes winner in Ned Allard’s barn, completed an encouraging five-furlong workout Wednesday morning at Delaware Park. Allard is pointing the colt toward the Grade 2 Carter at Aqueduct, a massive step up for the rising star.
“He had a very nice breeze,” Allard said. “Galloped out strong, went very well.”
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The absence of Quick to Accuse and the potential presence of a wet track could give Mighty Atlas the edge in a competitive second-level allowance/optional $45,000 claiming event for New York-breds going a mile that serves as the feature on Friday’s eight-race card at Aqueduct.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Il Miracolo won the 2024 edition of the Ghostzapper Stakes, beating Tumbarumba and Steal Sunshine in an exciting three-horse duel to the wire in the Grade 3 fixture traditionally run on the undercard for the $1 million Florida Derby. But Il Miracolo will not be back to defend that title a week from Saturday, as his connections have a far loftier goal in mind: the $12 million Dubai World Cup one week later in Meydan.
Virginia Derby winner American Promise could have one more start before the Kentucky Derby in either the Blue Grass or Lexington, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Tuesday.
Lukas currently has four horses in the mix for upcoming Kentucky Derby qualifiers. Caldera runs in the Louisiana Derby on Saturday, Innovator runs the same afternoon in the Jeff Ruby Steaks, and Bestfriend Rocket is on deck for the Arkansas Derby.
Lukas said he knows of at least one edge he has on his peers in the lead-up to the Kentucky Derby.
Last summer, jockey agent Joe Paulley stopped by trainer Tom Drury Jr.’s barn several times, seeking to drum up business for his young rider.
“His agent kept checking with me last summer, and he was like, ‘Hey, I’ve got the bug boy if you need anything,’ ” Drury recalled. “And finally, he caught me on the right morning, and I needed some help breezing horses, and I said, ‘Send the bug boy over – now, what’s his name?’ And he said, ‘Irving Moncada.’ And by the time he got to the barn, I forgot his name, so I just called him ‘Bug,’ and it kind of stuck.”
Rivellino, unbeaten in three starts, including two stakes, may be overlooked in a wide-open running of the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, on Friday evening.
In a full field of 16, Rivellino was 10-1 in early betting on Wednesday. Tempted and Wodeton, both from leading stables, were 9-2 co-favorites, ahead of 7-1 Skyhook.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The significance of a mundane eight-race program Friday at Santa Anita is limited to betting. Every race has a claiming provision, including the featured sixth race, a California-bred allowance/optional-claiming turf sprint for 3-year-olds.
Maiden winners Bro Bro and Roman Gratis top the five-furlong race, which is only the second turf race at the distance this meet. The race is short, and reasonable wagering opportunities Friday are scarce. Perhaps an exception is the opener, which offers a chance at a square price.
ARCADIA, Calif. – If he makes the Kentucky Derby, the even-tempered colt Journalism will not be intimidated by a crowd of more than 150,000. That is the opinion of jockey Umberto Rispoli, who worked Journalism an easy half-mile in 48.20 seconds last Sunday. The work was Journalism’s first since his highly rated win in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 1 at Santa Anita.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Randy Morse plans to focus on one-turn races with Dreaminblue for the immediate future, and the plan goes into effect Friday when the 3-year-old cuts back in distance for the ninth race at Oaklawn Park.
The first-level allowance will be run over six furlongs and carries an optional claiming price of $200,000. The field of 10 includes R Heisman, winner of the $101,000 Graduation Stakes last August at Del Mar; and Perfect Force, a promising half-brother to Grade 2 winner Scuba.
