Wed, 08/14/2019 - 14:10

Jerkens works Mihos on turf as he considers a surface switch

Barbara D. Livingston
Mihos may race on turf at Belmont fall meet, according to trainer Jimmy Jerkens.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mihos, who failed to have an impact in both the Grade 3 Dwyer and Grade 2 Jim Dandy in his last two appearances, could make his next start on the grass, trainer Jimmy Jerkens said earlier this week.

Wed, 08/14/2019 - 11:40

Baze sore but not seriously injured after being thrown at Ellis Park

Coady Photography
Tyler Baze was thrown leaving the gate of the Groupie Doll Stakes at Ellis Park on Sunday.

Jockey Tyler Baze was expected back in action this week after having a few days to get over the soreness that resulted from being thrown hard to the ground by his mount, My Mertie, in the first step out of the starting gate in the Groupie Doll at Ellis Park.

Following the Groupie Doll, Baze, 36, rode two races that ended the Sunday card, but his rib cage was hurting so much that he drove himself to the emergency room at a hospital in New Albany, Ind., on his way back to Louisville “just out of precaution,” said his agent, Vic Stauffer.

Wed, 08/14/2019 - 11:36

Groupie Doll winner Go Google Yourself being pointed to Grade 3 Locust Grove

Coady Photography
Go Google Yourself wins her first stakes in the Groupie Doll at Ellis Park on Sunday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Now that Go Google Yourself has won her first stakes, the 4-year-old filly will go for graded type next – and might not have to face any of the Grade 1 winners she met in June.

Fresh from her three-length victory Sunday at Ellis Park in the $125,000 Groupie Doll, Go Google Yourself will be pointed to the Grade 3, $200,000 Locust Grove on Sept. 14 at her home track of Churchill Downs, said trainer Paul McGee.

Wed, 08/14/2019 - 10:40

Walder stoked about Fast Pass being invited to Korea Sprint

Lauren King/Coglianese Photos
Fast Pass has been invited to the $1 million Korea Sprint in Seoul on Sept. 8.

No one could have imagined three years ago when Fast Pass was running in $4,000 claiming races that someday he would be so highly regarded as to merit an invitation to a $1 million race in Korea.

But that’s what has happened, and his trainer, Peter Walder, couldn’t be more pumped.

“It’s so cool,” Walder said this week from Gulfstream Park in South Florida. “I’m honored, I’m excited. I’ve never been to that part of the world and I can’t wait to see it.”

Tue, 08/13/2019 - 20:54

Seeking the Soul favored in field of 10 for Pacific Classic

Coady Photography
Seeking the Soul, winner of the Grade 2 Stephen Foster, will start from post 5 in Saturday's Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Seeking the Soul was installed as the lukewarm 3-1 favorite after posts were drawn Tuesday night at a local restaurant for the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic, the biggest race of the meet at Del Mar.

The Pacific Classic drew a field of 10 older horses. It is a 1 1/4-mile race, the same distance as the Breeders’ Cup Classic, for which it offers a fees-paid berth to the victor via the Win and You’re In program.

Tue, 08/13/2019 - 16:16

Red-hot DePaulo has Rising Star for Breeders' Stakes

Michael Burns
Souper Success wins the Woodstock Stakes on April 27 at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – One could argue that no trainer has been hotter here this summer than Mike DePaulo, who has won 16 races since July 1. Through last Sunday, he was tied for fourth in the standings with 22 triumphs at the meet.

DePaulo supplemented Rising Star to Saturday’s $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes, the final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. DePaulo won the 1 1/2-mile turf route for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds with Pender Harbour in 2011.

Tue, 08/13/2019 - 16:10

Pacific Classic win would cap Bejarano's return to top

Benoit Photo
Rafael Bajarano's 4,000th career victory came in the third race at Santa Anita on Saturday.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Rafael Bejarano bounds through the stable area every morning as if he’s an apprentice rider just starting out, rather than an established veteran whose résumé includes five Breeders’ Cup wins, six summer riding titles here at Del Mar, and who two months ago won his 4,000th race.

He’ll work as few as three and as many as seven horses in a morning, every morning, Mondays and Tuesdays included. His drive is born of wanting to return to the perch he occupied earlier this decade, when he was winningest rider on this circuit.

Tue, 08/13/2019 - 15:18

Bolo vs. Bowies Hero in Del Mar Mile

Benoit Photo
Bowies Hero, with Flavien Prat up, wins the 1 1/8-mile, Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Bolo and Bowies Hero are expected to head the field on Sunday in the Grade 2, $200,000 Del Mar Mile, for which they were assigned co-high weight of 124 pounds for the turf race for 3-year-olds and up.

Bolo has not raced since winning the Shoemaker Mile in May. Bowies Hero won the Eddie Read here last month.

Others expected for the Del Mar Mile include Bombard, Grecian Fire, Ohio, Prince Earl, What a View, and possibly Catapult.

Tue, 08/13/2019 - 14:51

Inspiressa may be headed to Del Mar Debutante after impressive debut

DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer John Sadler said that Inspiressa, impressive winner of a 2-year-old maiden race for fillies on Sunday, will be considered for the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Debutante on Aug. 31.

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Doing so would require her coming back 20 days following her debut, but she breezed home under Victor Espinoza while receiving a Beyer Speed Figure of 82.

Tue, 08/13/2019 - 13:35

Game Winner strong in final work for Travers

Emily Shields
Game Winner is set to make his next start in the Aug. 24 Travers at Saratoga.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Game Winner is ready for the Travers. He worked a sharp six furlongs at Del Mar on Tuesday morning in 1:12 under Joe Talamo, after which his trainer, Bob Baffert, said, "He's doing the best he's done all year long."

"But he's needs to be doing his best," Baffert added. "He's gonna have to lay it down."

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