HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jack Van Berg, the horse named for the Hall of Fame trainer, cuts back to one turn for an optional $62,500 claiming sprint that carries first-level allowance conditions Sunday at Oaklawn.
Jack Van Berg’s last win came at six furlongs in November at Churchill Downs. Jon Court has the mount for trainer Tom Van Berg, the son of Jack Van Berg. The horse races for Muddy Waters Stables.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The champion Shamrock Rose and Grade 1 winners Midnight Bisou and Eskimo Kisses have been ticketed for the Azeri, but their list of rivals could grow depending on what develops at Santa Anita.
One new face under consideration for the 1 1/16-mile race is Secret Spice. She won a Santa Anita allowance at a mile by more than 11 lengths in October, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 106. She’s been prepping for the Grade 1 Beholder Mile, which is scheduled to run March 16 at Santa Anita.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Will the Rebel Stakes draw enough horses to be split into two divisions? It’s the burning question leading up to the Grade 2 Kentucky Derby prep that runs March 16 at Oaklawn Park.
Oaklawn – amid Santa Anita’s temporary halt in racing – has committed to splitting the Rebel into two $750,000 divisions if 20 or more horses are entered Wednesday. Santa Anita was to run the San Felipe, a major Kentucky Derby prep, on Saturday, and it was expected to draw the Bob Baffert-trained pair of champion Game Winner and Improbable.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Mr. Buff worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 on Friday morning over Belmont Park’s training track and is being pointed to the Grade 2, $400,000 New Orleans Handicap on March 23 at Fair Grounds.
The work, in which he shaded 36 seconds for the final three furlongs, was the fastest of 25 at the distance Friday morning. Junior Alvarado was up for the move.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – After enjoying a sensational apprenticeship, life begins anew for Reylu Gutierrez who officially becomes a journeyman jockey on Sunday at Aqueduct.
The transition to journeyman status means Gutierrez loses the five-pound weight allowance he has been riding with for the last year. It can be a difficult transition as trainers who used Gutierrez because of the weight break may now look to a different apprentice. Gutierrez is named on four horses on Sunday’s nine-race card.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The Gulfstream Park summer stakes schedule has been released and will again be highlighted by the Summit of Speed, featuring the Grade 2 Princess Rooney and Grade 3 Smile Sprint on June 29.
The tradition-rich, $1.4 million Florida Sire Stakes also return with the two finales, the $400,000 In Reality and $400,000 My Dear Girl Stakes, on Sept. 29.
Rico Walcott, the dominant jockey in Alberta, Canada, will undergo surgery on Friday, March 15, to remove a brain tumor.
“It was discovered when he went in to get checked out after he had a seizure,” said his agent Bob Fowlis.
“He’s optimistic, and the first thing he asked the doctor was how long before he could get back to riding,” said Fowlis. “We won’t know more about that until after the surgery. He won’t be ready for the opening of Century Mile [on April 28], but if all goes well he could be back in May.”
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Opening day at Hastings Racecourse has been moved from April 20 to May 4. The 51-day meet also will close a week later than originally scheduled, with the final day now set for Oct. 27. The changes are due to the track not being open for training due to extremely cold weather in February.
”Excessive February freezing temperatures in Vancouver limited our opportunities to train at Hastings,” said Darren MacDonald, regional director of British Columbia Racing.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Coronation Futurity winner Avie’s Flatter has been made the 3-1 Queen’s Plate winterbook favorite among the 84 Canadian-bred 3-year-olds nominated to this year’s Canadian Triple Crown.
Owned by Ivan Dalos, Avie’s Flatter should be named last year’s Canadian champion 2-year-old male when the Sovereign Awards are handed out April 18. He has wintered at Palm Meadows in Florida since going 3 for 4 during his impressive 2-year-old campaign.
The first condition book of the Monmouth Park meet has been released, and the Jersey Shore track seems poised for a much stronger season than a year ago.
Monmouth will receive a $10 million purse subsidy from the state this year, and the ontrack William Hill Sports Book and sports wagering mobile apps give the facility an additional revenue stream.
