Rodriguez and Baeza both turned in serious workouts Friday morning at Santa Anita in preparation for scheduled starts in the $2 million Belmont Stakes at Saratoga on June 7.
Rodriguez, the Wood Memorial winner who scratched from the Kentucky Derby due to a foot issue, went seven furlongs in 1:24.80. Santa Anita clocker Dane Nelson caught Rodriguez’s first five furlongs in 59.60 seconds.
Trainer Marcus Vitali, who in the summer of 2022 was suspended by the New York Racing Association from participating at its tracks, has a horse entered to run Friday at Aqueduct.
Vitali has a valid license issued by the New York State Gaming Commission, and NYRA accepted his entry of Classy Lass for Friday’s fifth race, a $17,500 claiming race on the dirt.
Gosger, a game second to Journalism in Saturday’s Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, will skip the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga on June 7 in favor of a major stakes for 3-year-olds in July.
Trainer Brendan Walsh said on Wednesday that Gosger has emerged from the Preakness in good condition, and will benefit from a longer period between starts.
“I don’t think we’re going to go” to the Belmont, Walsh said. “I think we’ll give him a little more time.
Qatar Racing has acquired part-interest in Shisospicy. The multiple turf sprint stakes winning 3-year-old filly will be pointed to the Group 1 Commonwealth Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 20, her connections announced Tuesday.
Qatar joins ownership of Shisospicy with Morplay Racing, the racing operation of Rich and Josh Mendez, which put out a statement on the sale and plans on Tuesday.
Larry Demeritte, who captured the hearts of the public when he saddled his first Kentucky Derby starter, West Saratoga, last year, has died at age 75. Demeritte had lived with various health issues, including a 1996 bone cancer diagnosis, for many years.
Demeritte’s passing was first reported by Our News Bahamas, which recognized him as the first Bahamian to saddle a horse in the Kentucky Derby. Demeritte continued to hold his birthplace close. He wore a tie in the colors of the Bahamian flag for major races, including on Kentucky Derby Day.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The two-time stakes winner Goliad will play a pivotal role in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on May 26.
Ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar last November in his most recent race, the 8-year-old Goliad almost always sets the pace.
The strategy failed in the BC Mile when Goliad faded through the stretch to finish ninth, 6 3/4 lengths behind More than Looks.
BALTIMORE - The connections of Preakness winner Journalism would like to run their horse in the Belmont Stakes on June 7 at Saratoga. As they did before the Preakness, they will wait for Journalism to indicate that he’s on board with that plan.
Fresh off recording his second English classic winner, 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify looks for his first American classic winner as American Promise goes in Saturday's Preakness Stakes. It would be the latest international checkpoint for the young stallion, who has already sired champions in the U.S., Australia, and Europe, and who was third on last year’s North American general sires list, a high placing this early in his career.
