Sat, 05/27/2023 - 15:25

Belmont Stakes: Forte moves one step closer to getting off vet's list

Susie Raisher

Forte works five furlongs in 1:00.49 under his regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. Saturday morning at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Forte took a significant step toward getting off the veterinarian’s list and into the Belmont Stakes with a strong workout Saturday morning at Belmont Park.

Under regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr., Forte worked five furlongs in 1:00.49, according to Daily Racing Form’s Mike Welsch. Forte started about a half-length behind the 3-year-old maiden Abadin and finished about 1 1/2 lengths in front. Forte, with a little prodding by Ortiz past the wire, proceeded to gallop out six furlongs in 1:12.72, seven furlongs in 1:25.94, and a mile in 1:38.74.

Sat, 05/27/2023 - 14:25

Belmont Clocker: Forte follows in Tapit Trice's footsteps

By Mike Welsch

Susie Raisher

Forte (left) works with his stablemate Abadin in a five-furlong drill Saturday at Belmont Park.

BELMONT, N.Y. – Forte had himself a tough act to follow Saturday at Belmont Park after stablemate Tapit Trice turned in a very impressive five-furlong breeze here the previous morning in preparation for his upcoming start in the Belmont Stakes on June 10. And the reigning 2-year-old champion was not only up to the task, he turned in nearly a carbon copy of Tapit Trice’s big effort, both from a visual standpoint as well as on the watch.

Fri, 05/26/2023 - 19:39

Hearing officer recommends upholding Baffert's suspension for Medina Spirit positive

By Matt Hegarty

Barbara D. Livingston

Bob Baffert was suspended 90 days by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission for a betamethasone positive in Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit.

The hearing officer who considered an appeal by Bob Baffert of a 90-day suspension levied by the Kentucky stewards last year for the horse Medina Spirit testing positive after winning the 2021 Kentucky Derby has recommended that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission affirm the suspension and the disqualification of the horse.

Fri, 05/26/2023 - 13:55

Belmont Stakes: Tapit Trice has Pletcher, Tapit, and a strong Friday work going for him

By David Grening

Susie Raisher

Tapit Trice, with Fernando Rivera up, worked five furlongs at Belmont Park on Friday in 1:00.16 and then galloped out a mile.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher has enjoyed great success in the Belmont Stakes with also-rans from the Kentucky Derby. The stallion Tapit has enjoyed sensational success in the Belmont having produced four of the last nine winners of the third leg of the Triple Crown.

Those two factors alone make the Grade 1 winner Tapit Trice a contender in the Belmont Stakes here on June 10. Add in a good-looking workout Friday morning at Belmont Park and you just may have the favorite for the 155th Test of the Champion.

Wed, 05/24/2023 - 22:30

Judge upholds Churchill's ban of Baffert

By Matt Hegarty

Barbara D. Livingston

Bob Baffert recently completed his two-year banishment from Churchill Downs. Shortly afterward he won his record eighth Preakness with National Treasure.

A federal judge in a U.S. District Court in Kentucky on Wednesday night granted a motion by Churchill Downs for a summary judgment upholding the company’s decision to ban the trainer Bob Baffert for two years.

Tue, 05/23/2023 - 08:39

New horse racing league, the National Thoroughbred League, to launch in September

By Matt Hegarty

Fasig-Tipton

Tom Ludt, former chairman of the Breeders' Cup, will be the National Thoroughbred League's president of horse operations.

A group of investors has raised funding to buy 36 racehorses this summer for the purposes of creating a novel, highly ambitious, league-type structure within the sport of horse racing, the organizers of the effort announced on Tuesday.

Sun, 05/21/2023 - 14:41

Forte works half-mile, points to Belmont Stakes

By David Grening

Forte, shown here Thursday, galloped Friday with a three-quarter shoe. Trainer Todd Pletcher said it was a routine adjustment meant to take pressure off the colt's heel.

Debra A. Roma

Forte, shown working in early May at Churchill Downs, will work Friday and may then be taken off the vet’s list.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The Kentucky Derby winner won’t be running in the Belmont Stakes. The horse everyone was talking about going into the Kentucky Derby just might.

Sun, 05/21/2023 - 14:21

Baffert gets Preakness victory, but will remember Chick Lang death

By David Grening

Debra A. Roma

National Treasure (right) wins the Preakness by a head over Blazing Sevens.

BALTIMORE - The morning after National Treasure gave him his record eighth Preakness victory, trainer Bob Baffert was still feeling torn between gratification and grief.

In between National Treasure’s head victory over Blazing Sevens in Saturday’s 148th Preakness at Pimlico and Arabian Lion’s eye-catching four-length win in the Sir Barton Stakes earlier on the card, the Baffert-trained Havnameltdown suffered a catastrophic injury to his left front ankle during the running of the Grade 3 Chick Lang Stakes and had to be euthanized on track.

Sat, 05/20/2023 - 20:43

Total Preakness betting takes plunge compared to last year

By Matt Hegarty

Justin N. Lane

Counting all pools, betting on the Preakness was $54.56 million, compared to $65.29 million last year.

Total betting on Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, dropped 16.4 percent compared to last year, according to charts of the races, as the short field in the race took its toll on all pools.

This year’s Preakness had seven runners, compared to nine last year, causing steep declines in nearly all pools held on the race. In addition, nearly all multi-race bets that were linked to the Preakness suffered double-digit drops, with the traditional pick 5 linking the Preakness and its four preceding races cratering 75.4 percent.

Sat, 05/20/2023 - 20:09

Preakness: Mage lost position, couldn't catch up to National Treasure, Blazing Sevens

By Marcus Hersh

Castellano, Javier.Delgado,Gustavo.Delgado Jr, Gustavo.05-20-23

Debra A. Roma

Jockey Javier Castellano, Gustavo Delgado Jr. (center) and Gustavo Delgado reflect on Mage's finish in Saturday's Preakness Stakes.

BALTIMORE – At 4:30 Saturday afternoon, quiet and hot on the northwest edge of the Pimlico property, Mage, the Kentucky Derby winner, was out of his stall, his groom slowly walking him around the shed row in the Preakness barn.

A little after 7 Saturday evening, out on the racetrack, Mage lost the second leg of the Triple Crown in great part because of a walking pace.

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