Jockey Julien Leparoux, a two-time Eclipse Award winner in the 2000s, is moving from Kentucky to California in early July in advance of the Del Mar summer meeting.
“The goal is to find good horses,” Leparoux said on Wednesday.
“What’s not to like about Del Mar? I’m trying to get more opportunities. I have had good success there.”
The Del Mar meeting runs from July 17 to Sept. 7. Leparoux will be represented by Ryan Glatt, who also books mounts for Abel Lezcano.
Fred Sahadi, a noted owner and breeder whose construction company built the Barretts Sales Company in Pomona, Calif., died on June 4 at his home in Los Gatos, Calif., near San Jose.
His death was announced on social media by his daughter, the former trainer Jenine Sahadi. Fred Sahadi died of age-related infirmities, Jenine Sahadi said.
“Six years ago, he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure,” Jenine Sahadi said on Wednesday. “Typical Fred, he defied the odds.”
James, a 3-year-old colt trained by Michael Stidham, will make his debut with some well-deserved hype on Friday at Laurel Park. A $250,000 purchase last year, he will tackle 1 1/16 miles on turf in a $47,000 maiden special weight.
“He’s a big, good-looking 3-year-old colt, well bred, and his works in the morning have been solid,” Stidham said. “We’re ready to get him started, but we think he’s got a bright future.”
Trainer Gary Capuano will send out his first juveniles this year in a $47,000 maiden special weight on Sunday at Laurel Park. As the track winds its way toward a summer hiatus in July, Capuano and several other trainers are looking to make hay in the five-furlong sprint.
The field of eight juveniles will include six first-time starters, including a pair of colts from Capuano’s barn. Westbound Cat and Lucky Siete were both purchased at auction last year and are sure to earn respect from bettors, if only because of their connections.
Trainer Brittany Russell said she is hoping to keep Taj Mahal in action this summer after the colt came up empty in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens last Saturday at Saratoga. The Preakness favorite has faded well back in his last two starts after winning three straight to start his career at Laurel Park.
“There’s not much to say,” Russell said. “We ran him back quick and he didn’t respond. It was a really tough race. We’ll just freshen him up and find a spot this summer for him.”
The Hell We Did, runner-up in the Grade 3 Lexington who in his last start was seventh in the Preakness, is scheduled to work Friday at Lone Star Park, according to his trainer, Todd Fincher.
The Hell We Did had his first work out of the Preakness on June 4, going a half-mile in 49 seconds.
“We worked him the other day and are planning to work him on Friday, just getting back on schedule,” Fincher said. “He’s good. We’re getting him ready to go, then we’ll look [for a race].”
Creole Chrome is under consideration for the Indiana Derby after his 18-length win in the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Cheval last Saturday night at Evangeline Downs, according to his trainer, Joe Sharp.
Creole Chrome earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 96.
Sharp said Tuesday Creole Chrome emerged from the race in excellent condition and that the Indiana Derby is one of two possible options for the horse who has returned to his base of Churchill Downs. The Grade 3, $300,000 Indiana Derby at 1 1/16 miles is July 11 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Grand Slam Smile, the near-millionaire Cal-bred mare trained by Sean McCarthy, will point to a sprint stakes at Los Alamitos in an attempt to reach seven figures.
McCarthy said the Grade 2, $200,000 Great Lady M. Stakes, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint on July 4, is the target for Grand Slam Smile, a 12-time winner of $984,120 from 21 starts. Grand Slam Smile has won 10 stakes.
“She’s doing well. She’ll work this weekend,” McCarthy said early this week. “We’ll nominate her to the Great Lady M. and see where we go from there.”
Doncho’s first act as a sprinter with star potential came on dirt, but the way he ran Saturday at Churchill Downs, Doncho’s ready for a leading role on turf.
Making his second start at age 5, Doncho ran what almost certainly was the best race of his life, beating the crack turf sprinter Joe Shiesty by three-quarters of a length in the $225,000 Mighty Beau Stakes. A neck behind Joe Shiesty came Troubleshooting, winner late last summer of the age-restricted Grade 1 Franklin-Simpson.
The Maryland Jockey Club and Maryland Horsemen’s Association have announced that purses for four stakes at Laurel Park on June 27, including the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash, will be increased by $25,000. These increases will allow the track to offer the same purses it did on the Dash card last year.
