ELMONT, N.Y. – The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association said it will establish the Empire Racing Club, a non-profit organization designed to introduce fans to racehorse ownership.
The club will be limited to 200 members and it will cost $500 to join. That fee covers membership for 2019. Todd Pletcher, a seven-time Eclipse Award winning trainer, will be the trainer for the Empire Racing Club. Retired racetrack announcer Tom Durkin will serve as the club’s managing partner.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Mr. Buff, who reeled off four consecutive victories in races run at 1 1/8 miles around two turns before a ninth-place finish in the New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds on March 23, will cut back to a one-turn mile for the $200,000 Commentator Stakes here on May 27, trainer John Kimmel said Friday.
The last time Mr. Buff ran in a one-turn race, he finished third behind Pat On the Back in the Empire Classic here last fall. Pat On the Back is pointing to the Met Mile.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Coal Front, the Group 2 Godolphin Mile winner, is on course for a start in the Grade 1, $1.2 million Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park on June 8 after working a half-mile in 50.28 seconds Friday morning over the Belmont training track.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Sparky Ville, the winner of the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes here in February, is scheduled to run in the Grade 3 Lazaro Barrera Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on May 18.
Owned by David and John Del Secco and trained by Jeff Bonde, Sparky Ville was sixth in the California Derby at 1 1/16 miles at Golden Gate Fields on April 27 in his only start since the San Vicente, run at seven furlongs.
“He’s a one-turn horse,” Bonde said. “That’s what he likes.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – There are aspects of Go Big Blue Nation’s training in recent weeks that leave trainer Jeff Bonde encouraged about the 2-year-old filly’s debut in a maiden special weight race at Santa Anita on Sunday.
“She’s been dominant with a lot of horses that I’ve tried her with,” Bonde said.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Next Shares, a winner of two lucrative turf stakes in Kentucky last September and October, has been turned out for the rest of the spring, with the expectation the 6-year-old will return to racing at the end of the summer.
Next Shares was sixth in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 30 and finished 10th in the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on May 4. Trainer Richard Baltas said Next Shares is at Taylor Made Farms in Kentucky and could return to racing in September.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mother should be pleased with the 10-race card on tap Sunday at Churchill. Three allowances serve as co-features on an afternoon when thousands of families traditionally accompany mom to the races. First post is 12:45 p.m. Eastern.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Catherine Day Phillips has gotten off to a quick start at the Woodbine meet, recording three wins from her first nine starters. All three of her wins came in racing action last week, with Katie Baby, Notice Me, and Smooth Talk.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The post-Derby segment of the Churchill spring meet got off to a successful start for jockey Corey Lanerie and his new agent, Cory Prewitt, as Lanerie won two races on the first Thursday card of the meet. His six mounts on the card were the first booked for Lanerie by Prewitt.
“It feels pretty good to start that way,” said Prewitt, 30. “Corey’s not going to Baltimore next weekend, so we’re getting a lot of business lined up here. Hopefully the momentum will keep building.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Like a lot of people, Tyler Gaffalione is about over the Kentucky Derby. He just wants to take things one day at a time, a deliberate process that will put his difficult trip on War of Will – and having to rehash it over and over – ever further in the rearview mirror.
“I’m really looking forward to the Preakness,” said Gaffalione. “I think [War of Will] can compete with anybody given the opportunity.”
If you’re wanting to feel bad for Gaffalione because his mount was impeded by Maximum Security in the Derby – don’t.
