ELMONT, N.Y. – Catholic Boy was held out of Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park due to some minor soreness, trainer Jonathan Thomas said Wednesday.
“His last breeze was a little subpar for him,” said Thomas, referring to a half-mile breeze Sunday timed in 51.59 seconds over the Belmont training track. “We found a little area that he’s a little bit sore on. It’s nothing to be concerned with, but it’s not ideal going into a race.”
Group 1 winner Carlos L. is being debated for a start in the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby on Sept. 29 at Remington Park, according to trainer Jorge Navarro.
It would be the first start in North America for Carlos L., who is coming off a double-digit win over older rivals in a major race in Panama.
“Were going make a final decision at the end of the week,” Navarro said Wednesday. “We’re thinking about it, talking about it.
“We’re looking for the right spot to introduce him to American racing.”
The Grade 1, $1 million Texas Classic Futurity will again highlight the Lone Star Park meet for Quarter Horses, which opens Friday night. The 16-date season will run through Nov. 9.
The Texas Classic Futurity is the state’s richest race. It will be run over 400 yards on the final card of the meet. Trials are Oct. 19. The Texas Classic Derby goes on the same Nov. 9 card, with the Grade 1, $400,000 race to be held at 440 yards.
Jockey Dakota Wood, who sustained lung and rib injuries when thrown in a Sept. 13 race at Remington Park, was scheduled to be released from an Oklahoma City hospital on Wednesday, said his agent, Bradley White.
White said Wood is recuperating from a collapsed lung, four broken ribs, and a ruptured spleen. He said a chest tube was removed Tuesday, and that provided the rider passes some medical tests, he was to come home Wednesday.
With a little more than a week remaining before the start of the Santa Anita autumn meeting on Sept. 27, it was unclear Wednesday whether Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer would be allowed to train horses at the meet.
Whether Santa Anita allows him to participate at the meet will determine race plans for Vasilika, the leading female turf runner in California who is a candidate for the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes on Sept. 28 at Santa Anita but could be sent to Keeneland for the Grade 1 First Lady Stakes on Oct. 5.
Leader of Men, who won four straight races at Louisiana Downs this meet, emerged from his sixth-place finish in the Sept. 7 Super Derby with a bone chip in his right foreleg, according to trainer Jodie Hodges.
“He didn’t have his usual kick,” Hodges said. “He chipped an ankle. A tiny, tiny chip.”
Hodges said Leader of Men had arthroscopic surgery to remove the chip at a new clinic in Ardmore, Okla., and is back recuperating at his barn in Louisiana. He looks for the horse to return to the races after the first of the year. Hodges will winter at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.
ARCADIA, Calif. – California’s top turf milers Prince Earl and Bowies Hero will go separate directions Oct. 5 in prep races for the Breeders’ Cup Mile, while their Phil D’Amato-trained stablemate Pee Wee Reese could be headed to the BC Turf Sprint.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The fatal injury to a 4-year-old horse Monday at Santa Anita was the result of a freak incident, according to trainer Dean Pederson, whose gelding Zeke was euthanized after he sustained a fractured pelvis during a workout on the infield training track.
Zeke galloped out on the backstretch after he worked a half-mile, then came to a sudden stop. Jockey Tiago Pereira told Pederson he did not hear any type of audible pop often associated with a severe injury. But Zeke was hurt and merely stopped.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Even with Seeking the Soul opting out, the Grade 3 Lukas Classic on Sept. 28, the highlight of the September meet, is shaping up a solid race under the Churchill lights. Projected starters for the 1 1/8-mile race include Quip, Silver Dust, Kukulkan, and possibly Pioneer Spirit, among others.
Seeking the Soul, winner of the Stephen Foster here in June, will have his final prep for the Nov. 2 BC Classic in the Grade 1 Awesome Again at Santa Anita earlier in the day.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Of all his many stakes horses, trainer Brad Cox gets asked most about Monomoy Girl, his first champion. But that might be changing.
“Covfefe is second most popular,” said Cox. “Actually, she might even be the most right now, with her name and all the Twitter stuff and everything.”
