Fri, 03/22/2019 - 12:30

Xpressbet hosts six military families for day at races

Barbara D. Livingston
Gulfstream's summer meet runs April 4 through Sept. 29.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Xpressbet and Gulfstream Park hosted six very special guests on Wednesday – members of the U.S. Special Operations Forces who, along with their spouses, were participating in a weeklong retreat sponsored by Operation Healing Forces, a nonprofit helping Special Ops veterans and their families transition back into civilian life.

Fri, 03/22/2019 - 11:56

Hidden Scroll, Bourbon War drill for Florida Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Hidden Scroll, shown winning his career debut by 14 lengths on Jan. 26, most recently was fourth in the Fountain of Youth after contesting a hot pace.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Hidden Scroll and Bourbon War, quite possibly the two favorites for the 68th Florida Derby, both had their final prerace breeze Friday in preparation for the long-standing Gulfstream Park showcase.

Bourbon War went a half-mile in 49.80 seconds at Gulfstream Park, and Hidden Scroll went five furlongs in 1:02.40 in company at Payson Park. They’re among a prospective lineup of at least seven 3-year-olds set to clash in the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby, the most important of seven stakes here next Saturday.

Fri, 03/22/2019 - 11:46

Something Awesome breezes for Charles Town Classic

Coady Photography
Something Awesome (left) wins the 2018 Charles Town Classic.

Something Awesome breezed a half-mile at Laurel Park last Saturday and is gearing up for the Grade 2, $1 million Charles Town Classic on April 20. The breeze was the first for Something Awesome since he finished 10th a month earlier in the Grade 3 General George.

Fri, 03/22/2019 - 11:36

Standout broodmare Waltz still producing for Manfuso, Voss

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
Cordmaker, out of the highly productive broodmare Waltz, wins the Harrison Johnson Memorial by 1 1/2 lengths last Saturday.

In 1997, Robert Manfuso bought a Pleasant Tap filly for $40,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale and turned her over to trainer Katie Voss. That purchase is still paying dividends today.

The filly, Waltz, won a maiden race and two allowance races in Maryland and closed out her 3-year-old season with close third-place finishes in the Dowery Stakes and Grade 2 Cotillion at Philadelphia Park.

“She was going to be a good filly at 4 but came down with this weird problem – a leaky tendon sheath – that we could never straighten out,” Voss said.

Fri, 03/22/2019 - 10:40

Strong entries to kick off 2019 Will Rogers Downs meet

Will Rodgers Downs
Will Rogers Downs opens a 28-day meet on Monday, March 25.

Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., opens its Thoroughbred meet on Monday with a more expansive roster of trainers than last year. The 28-date season runs through May 25.

Will Rogers racing secretary and announcer John Lies made a concerted effort to recruit a variety of barns for the new season, and the track’s stable area is filled with more than 50 outfits this meet versus 35 in 2018.

The barn area, as in years past, has a full population of more than 550 horses.

Thu, 03/21/2019 - 15:40

Revised policy on workout requests could debut this weekend at Santa Anita

Barbara D. Livingston
Perhaps as soon as this weekend, trainers at Santa Anita will be required to request permission to work horses 48 hours ahead.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Santa Anita may enact a revised policy as early as Saturday requiring trainers to submit workout requests 48 hours in advance. Trainers currently must submit workout requests 24 hours in advance, and the extra day will allow track officials and veterinarians more time to scrutinize a horse’s training and veterinary history before granting a request.

Thu, 03/21/2019 - 14:50

Next Shares staying home for Kilroe Mile

Emily Shields
Next Shares (left) is set to run next in the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile on March 30.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Next Shares, who won the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland last October, will start in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 30 rather than travel to Keeneland in April.

Trainer Richard Baltas said on Thursday he considered sending Next Shares as part of a group of horses from his stable to Keeneland’s spring meeting, but will largely keep the team in California. He said he plans to send “three or four” to Keeneland.

Wed, 03/20/2019 - 15:50

Brill back from layoff in optional-claiming sprint

Coady Photography
Brill trains March 15 at Oaklawn Park ahead of her 3-year-old debut.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Brill, a promising daughter of Medaglia d’Oro based in Southern California, has turned up in Friday’s seventh race at Oaklawn. The optional $50,000 claiming sprint for 3-year-old fillies that carries entry-level allowance conditions will serve as her first start since finishing third to Bellafina in the Grade 1 Chandelier on Sept. 29 at Santa Anita.

Wed, 03/20/2019 - 14:50

Nolo Contesto likely to go in Santa Anita Derby

Benoit Photo
Maiden winner Nolo Contesto will get a chance to earn qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby on April 6.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Nolo Contesto, who beat the recent graded stakes winner Omaha Beach in January, is likely to start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 6, pending a workout on Saturday.

Trainer John Sadler said on Wednesday that the $1 million Santa Anita Derby is under consideration along with the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland or the Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct, both on April 6.

Wed, 03/20/2019 - 14:46

Bravazo recovering quickly from minor knee surgery

Barbara D. Livingston
Bravazo likely will work twice more ahead of the Travers Stakes on Aug. 25.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Bravazo, who had been prepping at Oaklawn for the Dubai World Cup, is recovering nicely in Kentucky from arthroscopic surgery to remove “some flakes” from the upper joint of his left knee, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Tuesday.

Bravazo left Oaklawn on March 1 for the procedure, performed by Dr. Larry Bramlage of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky.

“He’s doing absolutely super,” Lukas said. “They’re actually talking about getting him back to us earlier than expected.