Wed, 03/20/2019 - 14:43

Los Alamitos taking three-day racing hiatus for track maintenance

Los Alamitos Race Course
Los Alamitos has announced a three-day break from racing in order to conduct track maintenance in the afternoons.

Los Alamitos is taking the weekend off.

The track announced on Wednesday morning that there will be no racing from Friday through Sunday at the nighttime meeting for Quarter Horses and lower-level Thoroughbreds to conduct afternoon maintenance on the racetrack.

The maintenance will be conducted after the conclusion of morning training, according to a statement.

This weekend, the track will remain open for simulcasting during the day and evenings.

Wed, 03/20/2019 - 14:36

Rice-trained stakes winners Sounds Delicious, Sower retired

Joe Labozzetta/NYRA
Sounds Delicious, winless in four starts since taking last year's Correction, is targeting a repeat.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Linda Rice lost a little depth from her strong band of female sprinters as stakes winners Sounds Delicious and Sower have been retired.

Sounds Delicious, a 5-year-old daughter of Yes It’s True, will be bred to Bernardini, Rice said. Sounds Delicious compiled a record of 5-1-2 from 11 starts and earned $240,100. She won the Correction Stakes in 2018 and finished third in that race last Saturday. She was owned by Stud El Aguila.

Wed, 03/20/2019 - 14:36

Workaholic back with fillies in Cicada Stakes

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Workaholic, shown winning her maiden Oct. 12 at Keeneland, faced older males last out at Mahoning Valley on March 9, finishing third.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Owner Jim McIngvale has a constant presence at the New York Racing Association since his stallion Runhappy is a title sponsor for many big races on this circuit as well as its televised racing programs.

On Saturday, McIngvale will have another equine interest at the Big A, as he and trainer Laura Wohlers plan to run Workaholic in the $100,000 Cicada Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Wed, 03/20/2019 - 14:36

Belmont boosts purses for spring/summer meet

Debra A. Roma
Belmont Park will open its spring/summer season April 26.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Purses for open-company races during the Belmont Park spring/summer meet will increase as the New York Racing Association looks to remain competitive with Churchill Downs, which last month announced major purse increases for its upcoming spring season.

Wed, 03/20/2019 - 13:46

Market King likely for either Blue Grass or Arkansas Derby

Coady Photography
Market King wins a Feb. 9 maiden race at Oaklawn Park for trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer D. Wayne Lukas is debating what course of action to take with Market King, who finished third behind Omaha Beach and champion Game Winner in the second division of the Grade 2, $750,000 Rebel Stakes last Saturday at Oaklawn.

Wed, 03/20/2019 - 13:06

Harvey Wallbanger must continue to prove himself in Florida Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Holy Bull winner Harvey Wallbanger is expected to start as one of the longer shots in the March 30 Florida Derby.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Sure, Harvey Wallbanger was terrific in his last race, but now he’s something of a forgotten horse. Enough has happened since his 29-1 upset in the Feb. 2 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park to push him back down everyone’s Kentucky Derby lists, and now the late-running colt will have to prove himself all over again as one of the longer shots in the March 30 Florida Derby.

Wed, 03/20/2019 - 12:40

Carter next for World of Trouble

Barbara D. Livingston
The speedy World of Trouble will face Grade 1 company next in the Carter Handicap at Aqueduct.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – World of Trouble, whose recent Beyer Speed Figures have ranked among the highest of all North American runners, will make his next start in the Grade 1, $400,000 Carter Handicap on April 6 at Aqueduct, trainer Jason Servis said this week from his Palm Meadows base.

World of Trouble has earned Beyers of 118, 107, and 109 in his last three starts while building his bankroll to $671,400 for owners Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, and Bethlehem Stables. The seven-furlong Carter is part of the Wood Memorial undercard.

Wed, 03/20/2019 - 11:56

Connections pondering next steps for Alwaysmining

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
Maryland-bred standout Alwaysmining could get a chance to audition for Kentucky Derby consideration.

Going into the Private Terms Stakes at Laurel Park last Saturday, a good performance by Alwaysmining was going to land him a next-race start in the $125,000 Federico Tesio, a race that would serve as a prep for the Preakness Stakes on May 18 at Pimlico.

Wed, 03/20/2019 - 11:06

Whitney's Mischievous Bird a meaningful winner for Norm Casse

Lauren King/Coglianese Photos
Marylou Whitney, center, in the winner's circle at Gulfstream following Mischievous Bird's maiden win.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Last Saturday’s feature race at Gulfstream Park was the Grade 2 Inside Information Stakes. But the highlight of the afternoon, for many, was the sight of the 93-year-old grande dame of racing Marylou Whitney in the winner’s circle celebrating the maiden win of her promising homebred Mischievous Bird.

Wed, 03/20/2019 - 07:50

New Orleans Handicap short of big names, but not contenders

Barbara D. Livingston
Copper Bullet is the 7-2 morning-line favorite for the New Orleans Handicap on Saturday.

Yes, they’re coming from coast to coast for the New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds on Saturday. It’s just that “they” are a collection of horses you might or might not have heard of.

Mr. Buff has reeled off four straight wins in New York, but all have come at Aqueduct and we will find out if his act travels. Core Beliefs, a second- or third-tier 3-year-old, ships from California for his 4-year-old debut.