The standout marathon runner Next has logged a few works this winter at Turfway Park, but where and when he will launch his 7-year-old season has yet to be determined, trainer Doug Cowans said.
Next last raced in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, finishing 14th in the Nov. 2 race after winning seven consecutive marathon stakes. His streak dated to June 2023 in the Grade 2 Brooklyn at Belmont Park.
Next has worked three-eighths twice this winter, on Feb. 15 and on Feb. 22.
Journalism, rated as Daily Racing Form’s early favorite for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3, worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Santa Anita on Saturday in advance of a scheduled start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 5.
Saturday’s exercise was Journalism’s second workout since a sharp win by 1 3/4 lengths in his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on March 1.
Journalism worked a half-mile in 48.20 last Sunday.
Racing could be held at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif., this summer if a group of investors can complete financial and logistical negotiations in coming days.
Prominent owner and breeders John Harris and George Schmitt are backing a plan to hold racing at Pleasanton in late June and early July. The group needs to file paperwork with the California Horse Racing Board by Friday to conduct a brief racing season. The issue of financing for stabling in coming months is another major concern.
CYPRESS, Calif. - Monty Arrossa, one of the nation’s leading Quarter Horse trainers, has been banned from training at Los Alamitos after three of his horses tested positive for a banned medication last October and November.
The track informed Arrossa of the ban earlier this month, citing a clause in the application for stalls, that reads, in part, that the track “may revoke any privilege extended under this Agreement, at any time, in their sole discretion.”
Virginia Derby winner American Promise could have one more start before the Kentucky Derby in either the Blue Grass or Lexington, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Tuesday.
Lukas currently has four horses in the mix for upcoming Kentucky Derby qualifiers. Caldera runs in the Louisiana Derby on Saturday, Innovator runs the same afternoon in the Jeff Ruby Steaks, and Bestfriend Rocket is on deck for the Arkansas Derby.
Lukas said he knows of at least one edge he has on his peers in the lead-up to the Kentucky Derby.
Last summer, jockey agent Joe Paulley stopped by trainer Tom Drury Jr.’s barn several times, seeking to drum up business for his young rider.
“His agent kept checking with me last summer, and he was like, ‘Hey, I’ve got the bug boy if you need anything,’ ” Drury recalled. “And finally, he caught me on the right morning, and I needed some help breezing horses, and I said, ‘Send the bug boy over – now, what’s his name?’ And he said, ‘Irving Moncada.’ And by the time he got to the barn, I forgot his name, so I just called him ‘Bug,’ and it kind of stuck.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – If he makes the Kentucky Derby, the even-tempered colt Journalism will not be intimidated by a crowd of more than 150,000. That is the opinion of jockey Umberto Rispoli, who worked Journalism an easy half-mile in 48.20 seconds last Sunday. The work was Journalism’s first since his highly rated win in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 1 at Santa Anita.
Who’s Hot
American Promise is hot, in theory. He crushed the Virginia Derby and has earned 55 qualifying points, which virtually guarantees a Kentucky Derby berth. But the reality is American Promise defeated a second-tier field in an ungraded stakes around one turn at Colonial Downs, which hardly makes him a bona fide Kentucky Derby contender. For now, the Virginia Derby merely puts American Promise on the Derby Watch Top 20 as a marginal candidate. American Promise opens at 30-1 by Daily Racing Form linemaker David Aragona.
NEW ORLEANS – It rarely fails. Have more than a cursory conversation with Kenny McPeek about good horses under his care and he’ll probably mention the outline of a plan literally no other American Thoroughbred trainer would consider. Take Maximum Promise. A standard-issue conversation about the colt’s development and chances Saturday in the Jeff Ruby Steaks suddenly took a turn.
“He is pre-nominated to the English Derby, too.”
Say what?
Owen Almighty, impressive winner of the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby on March 8, will be pointed to the Kentucky Derby and will use the Grade 1, $1.25 million Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 5 to get there, trainer Brian Lynch said Tuesday.
Jose Ortiz will ride Owen Almighty in the Blue Grass, Lynch said. He replaces Irad Ortiz Jr., who is committed to ride Fountain of Youth runner-up River Thames in the Blue Grass, trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed.
