Mon, 02/18/2019 - 14:06

Romans sends longshot Admire in quest for Fountain of Youth repeat

Coady Photography
Admire will get his second shot at stakes competition in the Fountain of Youth on March 2.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Dale Romans caught a little lightning in a bottle when his 16-1 Promises Fulfilled upset the 2018 Fountain of Youth. He’ll defend that title here a week from Saturday with another longshot, the lightly raced Admire.

Admire has started just three times. He won his maiden at second asking going 1 1/8 miles over a sloppy track at Churchill Downs in his 2-year-old finale on Nov. 24. He opened his 3-year-old campaign by finishing fifth, beaten 5 1/2 lengths by Tax as an 18-1 outsider in the Grade 3 Withers earlier this month at Aqueduct.

Mon, 02/18/2019 - 13:50

Bravo to stick around for rest of meet

Barbara D. Livingston
Joe Bravo plans to be based at Oaklawn Park this winter for the meet that opens Jan. 25.

After riding at Fair Grounds and Oaklawn Park for most of the past three months, Joe Bravo has returned to his East Coast roots. The 47-year-old jockey guided Synchrony to victory Saturday in the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Handicap, then hopped a plane to ride five races Sunday at Gulfstream and six more Monday.

Mon, 02/18/2019 - 13:30

Sir Anthony royalty as far as trainer is concerned

Coglianese Photos
Sir Anthony, by Mineshaft, wins the Grade 3 Harlan's Holiday Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Anthony Mitchell has yet to be knighted back in his native England, but Sir Anthony the horse lives and breathes nonetheless in Barn 18 at Gulfstream Park.

“A while back the owner said, ‘I’ve got an idea for this horse,’ ” an amused Mitchell recalled early this week on his Gulfstream shed row. “He said he wanted to name the horse after me, and I said, ‘Well, it better be good, then.’ ”

Mon, 02/18/2019 - 12:36

Belvoir Bay may come right back in Buena Vista Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Belvoir Bay wins the Wishing Well Stakes on Saturday.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Belvoir Bay may not be idle for long following her comfortable win in the Wishing Well Stakes last Saturday at Santa Anita.

Trainer Peter Miller said Sunday that Belvoir Bay could start in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at a mile on turf for fillies and mares this Saturday.

“It’s not out of the question to bring her back,” he said.

Miller emphasized that he will follow Belvoir Bay’s progress this week before deciding whether the 6-year-old mare will start.

Mon, 02/18/2019 - 12:30

Risky Proposition points to San Luis Rey Stakes

Benoit Photo
Risky Proposition, winning the Let It Ride Stakes at Del Mar in November, upset an optional-claiming race at Santa Anita on Sunday.

ARCADIA, Calif. –Risky Proposition, who was claimed twice in 2018, is bound for the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes for turf marathoners on March 23 at Santa Anita after winning an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option Sunday.

Risky Proposition closed from eighth in a field of 11 to win the one-mile turf race by a half-length for his second win in his last three starts. Prior to the race, trainer Bill Spawr said he was concerned the one-mile distance was too short for Risky Proposition, who closed well under jockey Joe Talamo to record an 11-1 upset.

Mon, 02/18/2019 - 12:26

Roadster nearing return to races

Barbara D. Livingston
Roadster works six furlongs from the gate in 1:10.60 on Sunday at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Roadster, unraced since finishing third as the favorite in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity last September, is moving closer to his 3-year-old debut.

Trained by Bob Baffert for Speedway Stable, Roadster worked six furlongs in 1:10.60 from the gate Sunday at Santa Anita, the fastest of 18 works at the distance.

“I’m happy he worked well,” Baffert said. “He’s coming back.”

Mon, 02/18/2019 - 10:02

Bennett sends out four winners for a third time

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Gerald Bennett tied the Tampa record he already shared with two other trainers by sending out four winners on the Sunday card.

It was the third time Bennett has won four at Tampa. The feat also has been accomplished by Jamie Ness and Kathleen O’Connell, who have done it once each.

Bennett’s winners came with High Five Cotton, Dog Soldier, Whateverusaydear, and Soul of the Hero. A fifth starter, Classical Lady, finished fourth.

Mon, 02/18/2019 - 09:50

Imperial Hint fighting tender foot after Pelican Stakes loss

Tom Keyser
Despite coming out of the Pelican Stakes on Saturday with a sore foot, Imperial Hint is still scheduled to run in the Dubai Golden Shaheen on March 30.

Trainer Luis Carvajal Jr. said Imperial Hint was “carrying heat and was tender” in his right front foot the morning after being upset as the 1-5 favorite Saturday in the $75,000 Pelican Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Carvajal is optimistic Imperial Hint can overcome the setback in time to run in the March 30 Dubai Golden Shaheen.

Mon, 02/18/2019 - 07:57

Justin Evans wins 2,000th race of training career

Trainer Justin Evans collected the 2,000th Thoroughbred training win of his career Sunday, when Curlina Curlina won the second race at Sunland Park.

Evans is a perennial leading trainer in New Mexico.

Curlina Curlina ($2.40) rallied for a 4 1/2-length win in the $6,500 maiden claiming sprint for fillies and mares. Luis Contreras was aboard for A and A Equine and Paul Miller.

Sun, 02/17/2019 - 18:01

Risen Star rematch likely in Louisiana Derby

Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir
War of Will with jockey Tyler Gaffalione aboard wins the 47th running of the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds.

NEW ORLEANS – The rematch is on, with the first three finishers in Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes likely to return for the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby on March 23 at Fair Grounds.

But is it a fair match? War of Will wasn’t quite as dominant winning the Risen Star, which he took by 2 1/4 lengths, as he was winning the Lecomte here Jan. 19 by five lengths. But the Risen Star outcome never really looked in doubt, and there are more reasons to believe War of Will can run better next month than there are to doubt his performance Saturday.