Wed, 01/15/2025 - 13:51

Nanda Dea not expected to run if Krantz is rained off turf

Coady Media
The Argentine-bred Nanda Dea will likely not run in the Marie Krantz Memorial if it is rained off the turf.

The Argentine import Didia, among the best female grass horses in North America the last two years, might be retired, but the South American pipeline remains open for Argentine-born trainer Ignacio Correas.

Wed, 01/15/2025 - 11:59

New era kicks off in Maryland

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Aqueduct shipper Prancing Spirit will be among the favorites in Friday's featured race.

A new era for Maryland racing will officially begin Friday when Laurel Park kicks off its first season under the control of a state-owned nonprofit company tied closely to the state’s horsemen.

Laurel has not raced since the end of 2024, when it was still nominally owned and operated by an entity owned by 1/ST Racing and Gaming. The racing license for that company has now been transferred to a company controlled by the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority.

Tue, 01/14/2025 - 15:51

Patch Adams headed to Oaklawn for Southwest Stakes

Coady Media
Patch Adams wins his maiden at Churchill Downs, earning a 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

The twice-started exciting prospect Patch Adams will make his stakes, route, and 3-year-old debut in the Southwest Stakes on Jan. 25 at Oaklawn Park, trainer Brad Cox said Tuesday.

Patch Adams has breezed steadily at Payson Park since shipping to Florida from Kentucky in mid-December and flies from Florida to Arkansas on Monday. 

Mon, 01/13/2025 - 15:19

Pletcher pair goes hunting at Gulfstream

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos
River Thames romps to victory in his first career race on Jan. 11 at Gulfstream.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Usually the hunted in 3-year-old maiden special weight races held here this time of the season, Todd Pletcher became the hunter instead on Saturday, sending out a pair of very promising youngsters, River Thames and Grande, to capture their career debuts while defeating a couple of odds-on favorites in the process.

Mon, 01/13/2025 - 14:53

With Pegasus looming, Baffert on the fence with Imagination

Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Bob Baffert is still trying to figure out what to do with Imagination in advance of the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Invitational.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Bob Baffert admitted he is still “trying to figure out” his multiple Grade 1-placed Imagination. As of Monday, this dilemma had Baffert sorting out whether to ship Imagination to South Florida for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream on Jan. 25.

Mon, 01/13/2025 - 13:50

After a working routine Beckman will split up Her Laugh, Simply Joking

Lou Hodges Photography
Her Laugh could be pointed next to the Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Jan. 25.

As they have done for months, the 3-year-old fillies Her Laugh and Simply Joking breezed together Sunday at Fair Grounds, working a half-mile for upcoming starts, but as he said would be the case after both horses won stakes races Dec. 21 at Fair Grounds, their trainer, Whit Beckman, will continue keeping the pair apart.

Simply Joking, who clocked 49 seconds in her Sunday breeze, starts Saturday at Fair Grounds in the $150,000 Silverbulletday, stretching out to a route after making a winning career debut in the six-furlong Letellier Stakes.

Mon, 01/13/2025 - 13:07

Pyle to make U.S. riding debut

ARCADIA, Calif. – British jockey William Pyle will have his American debut Thursday at Santa Anita, a month after he arrived for a seven-week stay to ride in the mornings for trainer Dan Blacker.

Pyle, 22, will ride the Blacker-trained Victory Matters off a two-year layoff in a maiden race for California-breds at a mile on turf.

Pyle, who has won 54 races in the last four years, has been exercising Victory Matters in recent weeks.

“He gets on well with the horse,” Blacker said.

Mon, 01/13/2025 - 13:02

Rescheduled Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf picks up four runners

Vassar Photography
Mala (No. 3) was promoted to victory in the Bay Meadows Juvenile at Pleasanton. He is currently sidelined after having a bone chip removed.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The rescheduled California Cup program at Santa Anita on Saturday, consisting of five stakes for statebreds, added four runners from the original lineups on Jan. 11.

The Jan. 11 program was one of three days of racing from Friday through Sunday that were canceled last weekend because of the effects of devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County.

Three of the five California Cup races this Saturday drew the same horses entered last weekend.

Mon, 01/13/2025 - 12:59

Santa Anita opens parking lot as donation center for wildfire relief

ARCADIA, Calif. – Even without live racing, parts of Santa Anita were packed over the weekend.

Last week, with terrifying wildfires striking areas near the track, Santa Anita opened its parking lot as a staging ground for power company vehicles. Last Friday, another section of the parking lot became a massive donation center after officials from the nearby city of Pasadena asked track executives if space was available.

Santa Anita general manager Nate Newby said the reaction from track officials was swift.

“We said, ‘Absolutely,’ ” Newby said.

Mon, 01/13/2025 - 12:26

Redistricting has minor setback, won't make Pegasus World Cup Turf

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Redistricting, trained by Chad Brown, will miss the Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park.

Redistricting, runner-up in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar on Nov. 30, will not make the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf on Jan. 25, Brown said.

“He had a minor setback,” Brown said. “He’s going to be fine but now I’m considering taking my time and starting his season possibly in a race like the [Muniz Memorial Classic].”

The Grade 2, $300,000 Muniz is run at Fair Grounds on March 22.