Mon, 06/17/2019 - 15:40

New York stewards suspend Franco, Lanerie

Barbara D. Livingston
Manny Franco will serve a seven-day suspension beginning Saturday.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Jockeys Manny Franco and Corey Lanerie were each issued a suspension by the New York stewards.

Franco was suspended 10 calendar days for his ride on Deft in Saturday’s first race at Belmont Park. In the stretch, Franco took Deft from off the rail and cut in front of Highway Flyer, causing that horse to bobble and unseat Luis Saez.

Deft was disqualified from third and ordered unplaced.

Franco’s suspension was reduced to seven days for waiving his right of appeal. He will serve the days starting Saturday and be eligible to ride June 29.

Mon, 06/17/2019 - 14:50

Texas governor signs legislation to help racing and breeding industry

A bill designed to aid the Texas racing and breeding industry was signed into law Saturday by Gov. Greg Abbott, confirmed Robert Elrod, spokesman for the Texas Racing Commission. It goes into effect Sept. 1.

The bill calls for a portion of existing taxes on specific horse products and services like feed, supplements, tack, grooming supplies, bedding and boarding, to be placed in an escrow account that will be capped at $25 million a year.

Mon, 06/17/2019 - 14:46

Mocito Rojo shooting for repeat win in Evangeline Mile

Coady Photography
Mocito Rojo will try to repeat in the Evangeline Mile on Saturday night. He is shown above winning the race in 2018.

Mocito Rojo and jockey Filemon Rodriguez have been one of the most successful teams in Louisiana racing over the past three years. The horse and rider have combined for 13 wins since first being paired together in May 2017 and on Saturday night will defend their title in the $100,000 Evangeline Mile at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La.

Mon, 06/17/2019 - 14:40

Direct Dial, Supermason to meet in Wayne Hanks Memorial

Coady Photography
Direct Dial, the 2018 Texas-bred Horse of the Year, runs Sunday in the Wayne Hanks Memorial.

Direct Dial, the reigning Texas-bred Horse of the Year, will meet multiple stakes winner Supermason on Sunday at Lone Star Park in the $50,000 Wayne Hanks Memorial. The 6 1/2-furlong race for Texas-breds is one of four restricted stakes on the nine-race program. The stakes are worth a cumulative $230,000.

Direct Dial will break from post 2. Trainer Steve Asmussen has given the mount to Richard Eramia. Supermason will start from post 8. Lindey Wade has the mount for trainer Joe Sharp.

Mon, 06/17/2019 - 13:46

Gucci Factor not a big fan of Saratoga

Susie Raisher/NYRA
Gucci Factor wins a five-horse blanket finish in the Poker Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. – There’s a reason why trainer Christophe Clement runs Gucci Factor back on short rest at Belmont Park. The New York-bred gelding hates it at Saratoga.

Mon, 06/17/2019 - 13:46

Holiday Disguise targets Union Avenue Stakes

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Holiday Disguise scored her sixth career stakes victory Saturday in the Dancin Renee.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Holiday Disguise, who recorded her sixth stakes victory when she took Saturday’s Dancin Renee Stakes at Belmont Park, will be pointed to the $100,000 Union Avenue Stakes for New York-bred females going 6 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 15, trainer Linda Rice said Monday.

“She’s a rateable sprinter. She likes to close,” Rice said. “She won the Critical Eye [at a mile] but I really think she’s truly a sprinter.”

Mon, 06/17/2019 - 13:40

Clyde's Image injures tendon in deep stretch of Poker Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Clyde’s Image looked like he was going to win the Poker Stakes on Sunday as the 9-5 favorite. About 20 yards before the wire, he took a funny step and jockey Javier Castellano can be seen grabbing the horse trying to slow him down. Clyde’s Image finished fifth, beaten a neck.

He was diagnosed with a bowed tendon in his right foreleg, an injury that will definitely end his racing career. On Monday, trainer Tom Bush was guardedly optimistic the gelding could be saved.

Mon, 06/17/2019 - 13:16

Supercommittee just fine with Ginger Punch surface switch

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos
Supercommittee wins the off-the-turf Ginger Punch by five lengths Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Robert Falcone Jr. wasn’t on hand Saturday to watch his up-and-coming Florida-bred filly Supercommittee dominate the $100,000 Ginger Punch Stakes in a race switched from the turf to a sloppy main track. But the young horseman was still excited when talking about the performance by phone from his Belmont Park headquarters on Monday.

Mon, 06/17/2019 - 12:56

King Humor wins comeback race for Barboza

Lauren King/Coglianese Photos
King Humor returned from a year layoff to win an optional claimer at Gulfstream Park last Friday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – King Humor showed he was something special right off the bat, winning his debut during the height of the 2018 Gulfstream Park championship meeting by four lengths while earning an eye-catching 98 Beyer Speed Figure. But his career was put on hold for a year last June after he exited a stakes win here with an injury, and there was always the question of whether the promising youngster would be able to come back and live up to all that potential.

Mon, 06/17/2019 - 12:46

El Tormenta will run in Highlander or King Edward

Michael Burns
El Tormenta, shown winning the Connaught Cup, will race in either the Highlander or the Kind Edward on the June 29 Queen's Plate card.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – El Tormenta broke through to win his first graded stakes in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup over seven furlongs on turf June 1 and will make his next start on June 29, Queen’s Plate Day.

El Tormenta has been nominated to both the Grade 1, $300,000 Highlander Stakes over six furlongs and the Grade 2, $175,000 King Edward Stakes over one mile as part of the Queen’s Plate undercard, but trainer Gail Cox said a decision had not yet been made on which race he will enter.