The Maryland Jockey Club is looking into pending medication violations against trainer Marcus Vitali in Florida, according to Sal Sinatra, president of the MJC. Vitali, the third-leading trainer at the Gulfstream Park winter meet, relocated his 35-horse stable to Laurel Park earlier this month.
Vitali acknowledged Saturday that on his lawyer's advice, he had recently turned in his Florida trainer's license.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Barring a last-minute change of heart, Friday’s closing-day card at Keeneland will be the last held as the responsibility of W.B. Rogers Beasley, the track’s vice president of racing who announced earlier this year that he will retire on June 30.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Nyquist was fast enough to win going five furlongs in his debut nearly 11 months ago, so there’s no need to work on his speed. As he edges closer to the Kentucky Derby on May 7, when he will run 1 1/4 miles for the first time, the emphasis has been on stamina.
CHURCHILL DOWNS
Weather: Cloudy
Track: Good/fast
Temp.: 64
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The fillies took center stage Thursday morning at Churchill Downs, with the majority of the locally based Kentucky Derby hopefuls scheduled to turn in their final works on Friday. Likely Derby favorite Nyquist is at Keeneland, where he was scheduled to work before the first race on Friday.
CYPRESS, Calif. – Del Mar and The Stronach Group, the parent company of Santa Anita, announced Thursday that they are offering a $1 million bonus to a horse who can sweep three Grade 1 races this summer and fall – the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 20, the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 1, and the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.
CYPRESS, Calif. – California Chrome’s vacation is ending this weekend, five weeks after his win in the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 26.
Trainer Art Sherman said on Thursday that California Chrome will arrive at his Los Alamitos stable from Kentucky on Sunday and that a two-race campaign is tentatively planned for the Del Mar summer meeting – the $200,000 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on July 23 and the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 20.
The main goal for the second half of the year is the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.
CYPRESS, Calif. – Songbird, the undefeated champion 2-year-old filly of 2015, is scheduled to resume training at Santa Anita on Sunday after being sidelined with a fever.
The fever resulted in Songbird being withdrawn from consideration for the $1 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 6.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said on Thursday that Songbird has recovered from the fever, which was detected a few days after her win in the Santa Anita Oaks on April 9. She was treated with antibiotics on April 17.
CHURCHILL DOWNS
Track: Good/Fast
Weather: Cloudy
Temp.: 67
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – As if there aren’t enough variables in the equation to get a horse ready to be at his best on Kentucky Derby Day, you can now add weather to the mix. Overnight rain hit here Tuesday, and with more in the forecast as the week progresses, it is likely to have a major effect on training and workout schedules through the weekend.
The Kentucky Derby will be run for the 142nd time on May 7, but this year will be just the fourth since the current system to determine the starting field has been in effect – one based on points – and the implications are noticeable.
