Fri, 11/15/2019 - 10:26

Mr. Money getting break ahead of January return

Coady Photography
Mr. Money takes the West Virginia Derby by six lengths, his fourth straight victory under jockey Gabe Saez.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mr. Money checked out fine in the aftermath of a disappointing run in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and is being freshened ahead of a 4-year-old campaign next year, trainer Bret Calhoun said this week.

A winner of four straight Grade 3 races for 3-year-olds this year when based at Churchill Downs, Mr. Money was sent to Shantera Farm in Versailles, Ky., for a 60-day respite after being thoroughly examined days after fading to seventh, beaten 10 3/4 lengths by Spun to Run, in the Nov. 2 Dirt Mile at Santa Anita.

Thu, 11/14/2019 - 14:16

Abusive Gary returns from layoff as a gelding, switches to turf

Benoit Photo
King Abner (left) is one of four horses trainer Phil D'Amato has on the Saturday card.

DEL MAR, Calif. – When Abusive Gary returns from a nine-month layoff in race 9 on Saturday at Del Mar, he will be racing on turf for the first time, going two turns for the first time, and making his first start since being gelded.

Abusive Gary, by Boisterous out of a Wolf Power mare, sprinted twice at Santa Anita in January before going to the sidelines. Race 9 on Saturday is a one-mile grass race for older California-bred maidens.

Thu, 11/14/2019 - 14:10

Locked in Eclipse battle, Got Stormy to run in Matriarch

Debra A. Roma
Got Stormy (above) defeated Uni in the Fourstardave but finished second to her in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Got Stormy, runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita earlier this month, will make another trip west, this time for the Grade 1, $300,000 Matriarch Stakes on Dec. 1, closing-day of Del Mar’s fall meeting, trainer Mark Casse informed Thursday.

Thu, 11/14/2019 - 12:46

Auerbach resigns from California Horse Racing Board

Madeline Auerbach, a prominent California horsewoman, has resigned from the California Horse Racing Board after a five-year tenure at the regulatory agency, she announced on Wednesday.

The resignation of Auerbach, who was vice chair of the board, leaves two vacancies at the top of the board. Chuck Winner, the former chairman, declined to be reappointed to the board earlier this year and stepped down. In addition, the CHRB’s executive director, Rick Baedeker, 70, has announced that he is retiring sometime next year.

Thu, 11/14/2019 - 12:36

Options abound for Trombetta-trained turf twosome

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos
Recent Florida-bred stakes winner American Giant will winter at Gulfstream Park for trainer Mike Trombetta.

MIAMI – Independence Hall might be the most noteworthy 2-year-old stakes winner in trainer Mike Trombetta’s barn at the moment, but he isn’t the most recent. That distinction goes to American Giant, who rallied to a two-length victory over stablemate Our Little Jewel in last Saturday’s Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Park West.

Wed, 11/13/2019 - 15:36

Hotshot Anna, Amy's Challenge in training at Hawthorne

Lou Hodges Jr./Hodges Photography
Hugh Robertson plans to run Wynn Time on Saturday in the Lightning Jet Stakes.

STICKNEY, Ill. – Trainer Hugh Robertson on Wednesday was back in the land of his youth, Nebraska, but there is plenty afoot in his stable at Hawthorne.

Wynn Time, the excellent Illinois-bred sprinter, is entered to race Saturday at Hawthorne in the $50,000 Lightning Jet, his first start since Jan. 19.

Wed, 11/13/2019 - 14:46

What's best for Green Gratto might not be what you think

Debra A. Roma
Green Gratto (right) wins the Carter Handicap for his first Grade 1 victory.

MIAMI – Following the recent uproar on social media regarding Grade 1 winner Green Gratto’s return to the racetrack, it has been agreed upon by all parties involved that the 9-year-old will not race at Gulfstream Park West or Gulfstream Park.

His trainer, Tamara Levy, understands the reasoning that led to the decision and will send Green Gratto back to the farm of his owner, Liz and Norman Wilson, in Ocala, Fla. And while that might satisfy social media, Levy believes sending Green Gratto back to the farm will not necessarily make the horse happy.

Wed, 11/13/2019 - 13:30

Princess Dorian recovering well following surgery

DEL MAR, Calif. – Princess Dorian, who underwent surgery on Monday following a career-ending leg fracture in a claiming race Sunday at Del Mar, was up and walking about the grounds at the San Luis Rey Equine Hospital on Wednesday morning.

“She’s doing really well,” said her trainer and co-owner, Andrew Lerner. “The vets said she’s doing well, bearing weight, has a normal heart rate, eating, passing manure, all the things you want to see.

“We’re not out of the woods yet. But the surgery went better than expected, and the vets are happy. She’s cleared a big hurdle so far.”

Wed, 11/13/2019 - 13:00

Eurton's promising stable includes mix of young and old

Barbara D. Livingston
Peter Eurton's stable includes Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Storm the Court (above) and the promising maiden winner Royal Act.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Even during the lull following Breeders’ Cup, the machinery of a major stable continues to hum.

There might be a 3-year-old campaign to design for a surprise Derby contender or a swanky maiden winner. Perhaps an autumn road trip looms for a Grade 3 winner working as if a Grade 1 victory is imminent, or a pending comeback by a millionaire 8-year-old.

Wed, 11/13/2019 - 11:06

Two allowance races top Friday card

Barbara D. Livingston
The Grade 1 winner Restless Rider is recovering from a quarter crack and won't race again until early next year.

A pair of allowances will be co-featured at Churchill on the 10-race Friday card, which starts at 1 p.m. Eastern. Both are for fillies and mares and are scheduled for the grass.

Race 6 is a $102,000 third-level mile in which Smart Shot, trained by Rusty Arnold, will be looking to improve on her 3-for-5 mark over the Churchill turf. Race 9 is a $97,000 first-level race at 1 3/8 miles, and there’s no real standout among a full field of 12.