Sun, 05/14/2023 - 17:52

Undefeated Faiza leads field of 12 for Black-Eyed Susan

Benoit photo
Faiza has notched three graded victories in 2023.

The unbeaten Faiza drew post 9 for Friday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes for 3-year-old fillies traveling 1 1/8 miles at Pimlico.

The Black-Eyed Susan is one of three graded stakes on the 14-race program, with the Grade 3, $250,000 Pimlico Special for 3-year-olds and up at 1 3/16 miles and the Grade 3, $150,000 Miss Preakness for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs. First post is 11:30 a.m.

Sun, 05/14/2023 - 12:33

Perform works half-mile for Saturday's Preakness Stakes

Jim McCue
Mage arrives at Pimlico on Sunday morning after a van ride from Churchill Downs.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Perform, the Federico Tesio winner, completed his serious preparations for next Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico by working a half-mile in 48.16 seconds on Sunday morning at Belmont Park.

Under exercise rider Noemie Pauquete, Perform started about a length behind the 3-year-old maiden Weyhill Road. Perform went his opening quarter in 24.63 and got his last quarter in 23.53, while finishing basically on even terms with his workmate. The pair galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.26 and six furlongs in 1:14.76.

Sun, 05/14/2023 - 12:09

Arcangelo not definite for Belmont Stakes despite Peter Pan win

Dom Napolitano
Arcangelo (far left) was given a 97 Beyer Speed Figure for Saturday's triumph in the Peter Pan.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Arcangelo's connections haven’t been in a hurry with their 3-year-old thus far, and that’s not going to change as they map out a plan for where the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes winner will make his next start.

While the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 10 will definitely be in the conversation, it will be a little while before trainer Jena Antonucci and owner Jon Ebbert make a decision.

Sat, 05/13/2023 - 16:42

Confidence Game to miss Preakness with sore shoulder

Barbara D. Livingston
Confidence Game, 10th in the Kentucky Derby, will miss the Preakness next Saturday at Pimlico Race Course.

Confidence Game, the 10th-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, was removed from consideration for the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. 

The colt’s trainer, Keith Desormeaux, didn’t immediately reply to a text message but told publicity for 1/ST, owner of Pimlico Racecourse, that Confidence Game hadn’t trained to his satisfaction Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.

Fri, 05/12/2023 - 14:00

2023 Preakness: Mage, National Treasure both confirmed to run

National Treasure wins debut at DMR Sept 3 2022
Emily Shields
National Treasure will be Bob Baffert’s first Triple Crown starter since 2021. National Treasure has worn blinkers in two of his five starts. They will go back on for the Preakness.

On the day Kentucky Derby winner Mage was confirmed as a starter for the Preakness so too was potentially one of his sternest challengers in National Treasure.

After working Friday morning at Santa Anita, National Treasure was declared a "go" by Bob Baffert, the seven-time Preakness-winning trainer who returns to the Triple Crown stage for the first time in two years.

Officially, National Treasure was credited with a half-mile in 47.40 seconds, though Baffert said it was a five-furlong drill from the half-mile pole. Baffert said he had 59.60 on his watch.

Fri, 05/12/2023 - 10:40

2023 Preakness: Mage convinces connections he's ready for the second leg

Debra A. Roma
Mage has had a "magnificent week of training," according to co-owner Ramiro Restropo.

Kentucky Derby winner Mage has been confirmed by his connections as an intended participant in next Saturday's Preakness Stakes.

Mage, who returned to the track Tuesday at Churchill Downs for trainer Gustavo Delgado, went for another gallop Friday morning that his connections had indicated would be key in assessing his status for the second leg of the Triple Crown. Following the gallop, members of his ownership team confirmed their intent to enter the Pimlico classic.

Thu, 05/11/2023 - 16:22

Pletcher suspended 10 days for meloxicam positive in Forte

Barbara D. Livingston
Todd Pletcher is expected to appeal his suspension, which stems from a positive in Forte from the Hopeful Stakes last September.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has been suspended 10 days by the New York stewards due to a positive test for meloxicam, a regulated anti-inflammatory drug, in the post-race sample of Forte after the horse won the Sept. 5 Hopeful Stakes last year at Saratoga Racecourse, the trainer and his legal representatives said.

Thu, 05/11/2023 - 13:40

2023 Preakness: Desormeaux shares in blame for Confidence Game's Derby

Confidence Game.James Graham after Kentucky Derby May 6 2023
Barbara D. Livingston
Keith Desormeaux trained Confidence Game aggressively for the Kentucky Derby and he ended up too close to a hot pace.

There are not many trainers who are excited at the prospect of running their horses back in the Preakness two weeks after they were beaten by Mage in the Kentucky Derby.

Keith Desormeaux is one trainer who does want to run back. He just wants his horse Confidence Game to share that enthusiasm.

“I definitely want to run,” Desormeaux said. “We’re going to wait and make that final decision after we train him this weekend. I’ll have a final decision by Saturday or Sunday. I just want to see some vibrance in his training, a good appetite and all the typical things you know.”

Thu, 05/11/2023 - 11:30

Reed resigns as trainer of Rich Strike over image rights

Barbara Livingston
Rich Strike (right) has not won a race in his six starts since his 80-1 upset in the Kentucky Derby.

Trainer Eric Reed has resigned as the trainer of 2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike due to differences with the colt’s owner, Rick Dawson, over a media deal to document their underdog story.

“We are all very sad – we love Richie,” Reed said in a text message Thursday morning. “But I was given an ultimatum and had no choice but to resign.”

Wed, 05/10/2023 - 16:05

Trainer John Campo Jr. dies at age 56

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer John Campo Jr., who worked as an assistant to his father for many years including when he conditioned Pleasant Colony to victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 1981, passed away May 4 due to liver failure, according to his brother P.J. Campo.

John Campo Jr., 56, received a liver transplant, but it didn’t take, P.J. Campo said.

John Campo Jr. trained on his own and, according to Equibase, trained 112 winners from 1,982 starters. His horses earned $3.2 million in purse money.