Sun, 08/18/2019 - 12:04

Concrete Rose to miss rest of 2019 with fracture

Debra A. Roma
Concrete Rose will point toward the Jockey Club Oaks after winning Friday's Saratoga Oaks.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Concrete Rose, the leading 3-year-old turf filly in the country, will miss the remainder of the year due to a hairline fracture in her right foreleg, trainer Rusty Arnold said Sunday.

Arnold said Concrete Rose seemed to be a little off in her training, but it took three sets of X-rays before the hairline fracture was detected. Arnold said veterinarians Dr. William True Baker, of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, and Dr. Larry Bramlage, of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, both diagnosed the fracture after evaluating X-rays.

Sun, 08/18/2019 - 11:49

Amalfi Sunrise taken out of training, will miss Debutante

Benoit Photo
Amalfi Sunrise drew off to a six-length victory in Saturday's Sorrento Stakes.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Amalfi Sunrise, the unbeaten winner of the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar earlier this month, has been taken out of training and will undergo diagnostic tests in coming days, trainer Simon Callaghan said Sunday.

It was not immediately clear how long Amalfi Sunrise would be sidelined, but the setback will prevent a start in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Aug. 31.

“She’s going to need some time off,” Callaghan said. “It looks like it might be a tibia. She’s sore behind. We’ll do some diagnostic work this week.”

Sat, 08/17/2019 - 14:46

Tacitus more focused with blinkers in final work for Travers

Barbara D. Livingston
Tacitus, outside with Jose Ortiz aboard, works with Seismic Wave at Saratoga on Saturday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Bill Mott believes he has seen improvement from Tacitus since he began training him in blinkers following his second-place finish in the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga last month. Seeking a second opinion, Mott had jockey Jose Ortiz put Tacitus through his final workout Saturday morning in preparation for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers Stakes.

After guiding Tacitus through a five-furlong move in 1:00.49 over the Oklahoma training track, Ortiz was on board with the equipment change.

Sat, 08/17/2019 - 13:02

Omaha Beach to miss Shared Belief Stakes due to a virus

Emily Shields
Omaha Beach in his stall at Del Mar on Saturday. He has not raced since winning the Arkansas Derby in April.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Omaha Beach, widely rated as one of the nation’s leading 3-year-olds, will miss a scheduled start in the $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 25 after he was diagnosed with a virus on Saturday.

“I’ve got a virus going through the barn,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “He’s not going to run next weekend."

Omaha Beach won the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in April but missed the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4 when he was diagnosed with an entrapped epiglottis that required a minor procedure.

Fri, 08/16/2019 - 15:36

Robert Bruce retired, will stand stud in Chile

Coady Photography
Robert Bruce (left) wins the 2018 Arlington Million. He came out of last week's Million with an injury.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Robert Bruce, winner of the Grade 1 Arlington Million in 2018, came out of his fourth-place finish in this year’s Million with a soft-tissue injury to a pastern and has been retired from racing, trainer Chad Brown said.

“Although he has a chance to possibly come back it would take a significant amount of time to get him fully healed,” Brown said. “At his age and given his accomplishments we feel – myself and [owner Carl Lavin] – he’s done enough and has earned a well-deserved retirement and second career as a stallion.”

Fri, 08/16/2019 - 15:36

Global Campaign likely done for the year

Barbara D. Livingston
Global Campaign will be rested with possible bone bruising and may not race again until 2020.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Global Campaign, the Grade 3 Peter Pan winner who finished third in the Jim Dandy Stakes, will be sidelined potentially for the remainder of the year, trainer Stanley Hough said Friday.

Hough said Global Campaign has potential bone bruising and is undergoing further diagnostic tests.

“He’s probably going to need a little time,” Hough said.

Hough also trains Scars Are Cool, a son of Malibu Moon, who won a 1 1/8-mile maiden race here by four lengths July 21.

Fri, 08/16/2019 - 15:30

Tax works strong half-mile for Travers; Endorsed confirmed for race

Barbara D. Livingston
Tax works a bullet half-mile in 47.16 seconds at Saratoga on Friday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – To this point, trainer Danny Gargan has been able to able to avoid the pratfalls that have plagued some of his colleagues as far as preparing a horse for this year’s Travers.

Fri, 08/16/2019 - 14:46

Sharp maiden winner Leucothea could ship for Spinaway

Benoit Photo
Leucothea wins a maiden race Thursday at Del Mar by 14 1/2 lengths.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Leucothea, winner of a $62,500 claimer for 2-year-old maidens by 14 1/2 lengths on Thursday at Del Mar, may start in the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes for fillies on Sept. 1 at Saratoga.

The $350,000 Spinaway Stakes is run at seven furlongs and is the championship race for 2-year-old fillies at the Saratoga meeting.

On Thursday, Leucothea took the lead shortly after the start and rapidly pulled away, finishing 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.89. Ridden by Abel Cedillo, Leucothea earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure.

Fri, 08/16/2019 - 14:40

Loaded Del Mar maiden features Don Alberto prospects

DEL MAR, Calif. – With the seven-figure yearling Matera and the homebred Stellar Sound, Don Alberto Stable have two of the leading contenders in a maiden special weight race for fillies at six furlongs on Sunday at Del Mar.

The two fillies, both by Tapit, will have the field surrounded when the race begins. Matera drew the rail, while Stellar Sound has the outside post in a field of seven.

Fri, 08/16/2019 - 14:36

Marley's Freedom, Bellafina could meet in L.A. Woman

Barbara D. Livingston
Marley's Freedom wins the Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in 2018.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Multiple stakes winners Bellafina and Marley’s Freedom are likely to have their next races at the Santa Anita autumn meeting, and could meet for the first time in the Grade 3 L.A. Woman Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on Oct. 5.

Trainer Bob Baffert said Thursday that Marley’s Freedom will not be sent to Saratoga for the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes next Saturday, a race she won in 2018.

“I want to freshen her a bit,” Baffert said.