Fri, 05/29/2015 - 14:54

Pletcher seeking third rider for Belmont contenders

Susie Raisher/NYRA
Carpe Diem (left) works a half-mile in 47.70 seconds with stablemate Madefromlucky who completed the same distance in 47.90 seconds.
Fri, 05/29/2015 - 13:31

Frosted impresses in Belmont work

Susie Raisher/NYRA
Frosted (inside), in company with Tamarkuz, breezes a half-mile in 47.87 seconds at Belmont Park on Friday.
Fri, 05/29/2015 - 09:44

American Pharoah gallops at Churchill

Barbara D. Livingston
American Pharoah gallops at Churchill Downs on Friday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – At Churchill Downs, Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner American Pharoah was out Friday morning for his first gallop since his Tuesday breeze, going through a 10-minute exercise routine that included a brief schooling session in the starting gate.

Thu, 05/28/2015 - 13:27

American Pharoah takes it easy

Barbara D. Livingston
American Pharoah jogged one-mile at Churchill Downs on Thursday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner American Pharoah was back on the racetrack at Churchill Downs on Thursday for the first time since a Tuesday workout that produced considerable buzz.

Thu, 05/28/2015 - 12:10

The Truth Or Else likely to take a shot

Barbara D. Livingston
The Truth Or Else will start in Saturday's Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. – American Pharoah lost one rival but may have picked up another in his bid to become Thoroughbred racing’s 12th Triple Crown winner in the June 6 Belmont Stakes.

Conquest Curlinate, the runner-up in both the Illinois Derby and Peter Pan Stakes, was removed from consideration for the Belmont on Thursday, while The Truth Or Else, a 1 1/2-length winner of a first-level allowance at Belmont on May 22, is now under strong consideration to start in the 1 1/2-mile race.

Wed, 05/27/2015 - 14:51

Princess Violet going big in Ogden Phipps

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Princess Violet wins the seven-furlong Madison at Keeneland. The 1 1/16-mile distance of the Ogden Phipps Stakes will be a challenge for her.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Princess Violet, winner of the Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland two starts back, worked six furlongs in 1:13.66 over the Belmont training track Wednesday morning in preparation for an expected start in the Grade 1, $1 million Ogden Phipps Stakes on June 6.

Princess Violet could be a little suspect at the 1 1/16 miles of the Phipps, but it’s a big purse and she did finish second to Untapable last year in the Grade 1 Mother Goose going 1 1/16 miles. Untapable, who went on to become the 3-year-old filly champion of 2014, is the likely favorite in the Phipps.

Wed, 05/27/2015 - 14:46

Rosario to ride Wicked Strong in Met Mile

Tom Keyser
Joel Rosario will replace Rajiv Maragh aboard Wicked Strong, who hasn't won since last summer's Jim Dandy Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Joel Rosario, who was replaced by John Velazquez on multiple Grade 1 winner Tonalist for the $1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap, has picked up the mount on Wicked Strong for the Met Mile, replacing Rajiv Maragh, trainer Jimmy Jerkens confirmed Wednesday.

Wed, 05/27/2015 - 14:41

Brown has numbers going for him in Pennine Ridge

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
This allowance victory by Takeover Target at Belmont on Thursday encouraged trainer Chad Brown to point him to the Grade 1 Belmont Derby in July.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Chad Brown apparently will utilize the strength-in-numbers approach when it comes to Saturday’s $200,000 Pennine Ridge Stakes at Belmont Park. He has three of the eight horses entered Wednesday for Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-olds.

Wed, 05/27/2015 - 13:25

Keen Ice works from home

Susie Raisher/NYRA
Irad Ortiz Jr. gets familar with Mubtaahij, whom he rides for the first time in the Belmont Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. – At the finish of the Kentucky Derby, Keen Ice and Mubtaahij were separated by a half-length, or approximately four feet. On Wednesday, with both preparing for the June 6 Belmont Stakes – and a second meeting with each other and Derby and Preakness winner American Pharoah – Keen Ice and Mubtaahij were separated by 772 miles and their trainers’ ideology.

Wed, 05/27/2015 - 12:51

Pletcher leaning toward Woody Stephens with Competitive Edge

Barbara D. Livingston
Competitive Edge wins the Pat Day Mile on Saturday at Churchill.

Competitive Edge, the unbeaten winner of the Pat Day Mile in his most recent start, is more likely to run in the Grade 2, $500,000 Woody Stephens Stakes for 3-year-olds on June 6 at Belmont Park rather than the Grade 1, $1.25 million Metropolitan Mile against older horses the same day, trainer Todd Pletcher said.