There is no debate that Straight Fire is fast. There is, however, some question over his stamina – a question that figures to be answered in Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 FrontRunner Stakes at Santa Anita.
How Straight Fire answers that question will determine whether he becomes a major player or a spectator for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.
After Noholdingback Bear ran off three consecutive victories and then finished second in a Grade 3 stakes while racing over the synthetic tracks at Woodbine and Presque Isle Downs this summer, showing marked improvement over his three performances last winter at Gulfstream Park, trainer Michael De Paulo wasn’t sure what to think. Was his speedy 3-year-old truly improving, or was he simply a synthetic-surface specialist?
ARCADIA, Calif. – Even while her win streak grows, the undefeated Songbird has one conspicuous void on her résumé – she has never faced older fillies and mares.
Songbird is the only 3-year-old targeting the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, which might be the deepest ever. In addition to Songbird, champions Beholder and Stellar Wind and Grade 1 winners Cavorting, Curalina, and Forever Unbridled – all 4-year-olds or older – make the Distaff one of the most widely anticipated races of Breeders’ Cup 2016.
The surprise win by Brave Anna in the Grade 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse in England last Saturday gives Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien the early favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Tara’s Tango won her first Grade 1 in March at Santa Anita, before Beholder and Stellar Wind launched their 2016 campaigns.
Tara’s Tango will try for a second Grade 1 in a race that does not include the two leading older fillies and mares in California.
Instead of facing Beholder and Stellar Wind in the Grade 1, $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, Tara’s Tango will run in the Grade 1, $500,000 Spinster Stakes at Keeneland one week later.
OLDSMAR, FL. – The rebirth of a turf stakes for 3-year-olds and higher purses for the Florida Cup stakes for statebreds are the most significant changes to the 2016-17 stakes schedule at Tampa Bay Downs, which opens its meet Nov. 26. The schedule features 24 stakes worth a track-record $2.975 million, up from $2.7 million for 23 stakes at the 2015-16 meet.
The Monmouth Park board of stewards has suspended trainer Chloe Bradley for 45 days and fined her $1,500 for entering Lucy N Ethel in the Aug. 14 Blue Sparkler Stakes.
The stewards scratched Lucy N Ethel from the Blue Sparkler while they were in the process of determining whether Bradley was indeed her trainer.
"Our stewards looked into this very carefully and came to the conclusion she did not have control of the horse at that time," said Frank Zanzuccki, executive director of the New Jersey Racing Commission.
Evangeline Downs turns its attention to Quarter Horse racing on Wednesday night. The Opelousas, La., track will open a 46-date meet that runs through Dec. 17.
The centerpiece of the season will be the $1 million Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders’ Futurity. The race for 2-year-olds bred in the state will be run Nov. 19. The trials are scheduled for Oct. 28.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Steve Miyadi was arrested by the Arcadia, Calif., police department at Santa Anita on Friday after an early-morning altercation with jockey Alex Solis.
Solis and witnesses said Miyadi and Solis had a disagreement over a recent 30-day suspension Miyadi served for a medication violation found in one of his runners in December. Solis is a commissioner on the California Horse Racing Board.
The disagreement escalated when Miyadi shoved Solis, knocking him to the ground, Solis said.
Parx Racing will hold a fundraiser on Saturday to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockey's Fund and Turning for Home, Parx's on-site Thoroughbred retirement program, which is managed by the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.
Jockeys Javier Castellano, Kent Desormeaux, Mario Gutierrez, and Mike Smith have agreed to sign a specially created poster for anyone who donates a minimum donation of $10, according to Sam Elliott, the track's director of racing.
