Wed, 09/25/2019 - 12:10

Pennsylvania Derby foes could meet again in Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

Barbara D. Livingston
Math Wizard, winner of the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby, could make his next start in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

A rematch of the Pennsylvania Derby could be on at the Breeders’ Cup.

The trainers of both winner Math Wizard and runner-up Mr. Money said the Grade 1, $1 million Dirt Mile on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita is being considered for their charges. The horses finished a neck apart last Saturday.

“I think all options are on the table at the moment, the Dirt Mile and the Classic,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said Tuesday of Breeders’ Cup choices for Math Wizard.

Bret Calhoun, who trains Mr. Money, said much the same Tuesday.

Wed, 09/25/2019 - 11:06

Connelly making a change after nearly 40 years of training

Coady Photography
Bill Connelly will run his final horse as a trainer in the next week or so.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bill Connelly will be at Keeneland and Churchill Downs this fall, but not in the same capacity under which he has operated for nearly 40 years.

Connelly, a trainer since 1980, is disbanding his stable to work as an assistant on the starting-gate crew.

“It was time for a change,” said Connelly, 63. “There are a lot of things that were involved, like some of my clients have died or left the business. I’ve had a very nice career, but yes, it was time.”

Wed, 09/25/2019 - 11:00

Quip will try to rebound in Lukas Classic

Emily Shields
Quip led early in the Pacific Classic (above) but gave way to finish ninth.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Everything was going just great for the colt named Quip. The millionaire 4-year-old was coasting on the lead into the far turn of the Aug. 17 Pacific Classic at Del Mar, seemingly validating his status as the 3-1 second choice in the Grade 1 race.

Then it all came apart. Quip had no giddy-up and beat a steady fade to the wire, finishing 29 lengths back in ninth place after jockey Florent Geroux, knowing he was badly beaten, eased the colt inside the eighth pole.

Wed, 09/25/2019 - 10:46

Bricks and Mortar on fence for Breeders' Cup Turf

Coady Photography
Bricks and Mortar was a three-quarter-length winner of Saturday's Grade 1 Arlington Million.

Bricks and Mortar, unbeaten leader of the American turf division this year, may start in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile instead of the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf, trainer Chad Brown said earlier this week. Both races are Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.

Brown added that whichever race the seven-time stakes winner runs in, he is unlikely to race before then. Bricks and Mortar won his fifth stakes of 2019 in the Arlington Million at 1 1/4 miles on Aug. 10 at Arlington Park

“If we put another race into him, it might be a little too much,” Brown said.

Tue, 09/24/2019 - 16:56

Red Giveaway targeting Frost King Stakes

Michael Burns
Red Giveaway wins the Bull Page Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths on Sunday at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Norseman Racing Stable and trainer Sid Attard got their second win in the Bull Page Stakes last Sunday with the unbeaten Red Giveaway. They won the six-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired 2-year-olds with Mean Green in 2008, but the promising Red Giveaway is definitely a cut above that modest runner.

Tue, 09/24/2019 - 14:46

Ward has four prospects for Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

Barbara D. Livingston
Wesley Ward is pointing three fillies to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, including Kimari, winner of the Bolton Landing at Saratoga.

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint promises to get an oversubscribed field for the second time in as many runnings. Inaugurated last year at Churchill Downs, the $1 million race will be held Nov. 1 at Santa Anita as one of the five 2-year-old races comprising Future Stars Friday.

To no one’s surprise, trainer Wesley Ward has prospects aplenty for the Juvenile Turf Sprint in three fillies – Kimari, Cambria, and Karak – as well as an American Pharoah colt, Four Wheel Drive.

“We are getting serious,” Ward deadpanned this week from his Keeneland base.

Tue, 09/24/2019 - 14:40

Covfefe, Come Dancing stamp themselves as Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint favorites

Coady Photography
Covfefe will have six weeks between her Dogwood win last Saturday and the Breeders' Cup.

Fresh off dominant victories in their final preps, Covfefe and Come Dancing have emerged as the likely favorites in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

Covfefe was an eye-catching winner Saturday in the Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs. The next day Come Dancing romped in the final prep in New York, the Gallant Bloom.

“The Dogwood served its purpose, and we’re very happy with the filly,” said Brad Cox, trainer of Covfefe. “Now, we’ll have six weeks between races, which is just right.”

Mon, 09/23/2019 - 14:30

Imprimis looks like old self in work

Coady Photography
Imprimis, shown winning the Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland in April, will run in the King's Stand Stakes.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Joe Orseno already had a notion to toss Imprimis’s last two starts, and he felt even more inclined to do it after watching his turf-sprint specialist breeze five furlongs in 47.55 seconds over the Gulfstream Park grass course Sunday.

With regular exercise rider Jay Glass aboard, Imprimis cruised around the wide dogs, completing his opening quarter in 25.02 before finishing full of run under light urging down the stretch and galloping out full of energy around the clubhouse turn.

Mon, 09/23/2019 - 14:00

Pat On the Back a millionaire after winning his first graded stakes

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Pat On the Back is 6 for 11 at Belmont Park following his win in the Kelso Handicap.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Jeremiah Englehart always felt Pat On the Back was a graded stakes horse and now he has the documentation to prove it.

Pat On the Back won his first graded stakes Saturday when he outfinished Prince Lucky to take the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap by a half-length. He ran a mile in 1:33.97 and earned a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure.

“To me, he’s been a graded stakes horse because I know what he puts into his races,” Englehart said. “It’s nice to get that graded stakes under his belt.”

Mon, 09/23/2019 - 13:46

Come Dancing will train at Belmont Park for the Breeders' Cup

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Come Dancing wins the Gallant Bloom by 3 1/4 lengths on Sunday. She earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Come Dancing will stay at home in New York to do all of her serious training for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 2, trainer Carlos Martin said Monday.

“She’s comfortable here, she loves this track,” Martin said, referring to the Belmont training track where Come Dancing does the majority of her training. “We’re going to leave her in her comfort zone. That makes the most sense.”