Mon, 05/06/2019 - 15:36

Come Dancing pointing to Phipps on Belmont Stakes Day

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Come Dancing has scored easy wins in the Grade 2 Ruffian and Grade 3 Distaff since returning from a four-month layoff.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Come Dancing, the 6 3/4-length victress in Sunday’s Grade 2 Ruffian Stakes at Belmont Park, will most likely make her next start in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps here June 8.

“You got to consider it the way she’s training, the way she’s running – $700,000, a Grade 1 in your own backyard,” said trainer Carlos Martin. “That would be a hard one to pass on if she’s doing well.”

Come Dancing earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure for the Ruffian, following a 114 figure she earned winning the Grade 3 Distaff at Aqueduct by 7 3/4 lengths April 5.

Mon, 05/06/2019 - 15:36

Peter Pan loses Bourbon War, picks up Global Campaign

Lauren King/Coglianese Photos
The Peter Pan will be Global Campaign's first start since he injured a foot in the Fountain of Youth.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Saturday’s Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park lost one potential starter with the news that Bourbon War was heading to the Preakness. It picked up another runner when Global Campaign failed to get into last Saturday’s Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Stanley Hough confirmed Monday that Global Campaign will run in the Grade 3, $300,000 Peter Pan, a one-turn 1 1/8-mile race that will be one of five stakes on Saturday’s card at Belmont Park.

Mon, 05/06/2019 - 13:26

As Derby review dragged on, time seemed to stand still

Emily Shields
Country House's handlers explode with joy after he was placed first in the Kentucky Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – They were slogging back around the clubhouse turn headed home with their muddy, untacked longshot, already thrilled with his gallant runner-up effort in the Kentucky Derby, when Churchill Downs track announcer Travis Stone’s voice came over the public address system: “Hold all tickets. There’s a rider’s objection in this race, and it concerns the top two finishers.”

And so they turned back around to wait near the finish wire. Just in case.

Mon, 05/06/2019 - 12:46

Single 6 carryover into Churchill Thursday card

Jim Leuenberger
Racing at Churchill Downs resumes Thursday after a four-day break following the Kentucky Derby card on May 4.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The post-Derby portion of the Churchill spring meet begins with an eight-race Thursday card that follows four dark days. First post is 5 p.m. Eastern.

Entries for the Thursday card were not to be drawn until Tuesday, meaning past performances will not be available in Daily Racing Form print editions because Monday is the deadline for Thursday racing. The Churchill past performances still will be available online at DRF.com.

Mon, 05/06/2019 - 12:30

Asmussen happily hoarse after winning weekend

Emily Shields
She's a Julie, shown taking the La Troienne last Friday at Churchill, was one of three Grade 1 winners over Kentucky Derby weekend for trainer Steve Asmussen.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Steve Asmussen had a raspy voice Monday at Churchill Downs, the result of all the hooting and hollering he did on Kentucky Derby weekend.

“I’ve told everybody I cracked it on Friday and broke it on Saturday,” said the 53-year-old Hall of Fame trainer.

Sun, 05/05/2019 - 20:44

Miss My Rose gets the nod in DQ prequel

Benoit Photo
Miss My Rose (No. 5) was awarded first place in the Angels Flight Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Saturday after Sneaking Out (No. 4) was disqualified from first.

ARCADIA, Calif. -- At lunchtime Saturday, a horse who finished second in a stakes was promoted to first after the winner was disqualified for causing interference. The incident gave the promoted winner a first career stakes win.

The scenario occurred in the $85,300 Angels Flight Stakes at Santa Anita when Miss My Rose was promoted from second to first after Sneaking Out was disqualified from first. The Angels Flight Stakes had a post time of 12:32 p.m.

Sun, 05/05/2019 - 20:33

Bellafina will shorten up

Barbara D. Livingston
In her lone start at Churchill Downs, Oaks favorite Bellafina finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

ARCADIA, Calif. -- Bellafina, fifth as the 9-5 favorite in Friday’s Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, will be rested this spring and is likely to start in races around one-turn in the second half of the year, trainer Simon Callaghan said on Sunday.

The Grade 1 Test Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 3 is a long-range goal.

“Most likely, we’ll give her a little bit of a break and concentrate on one-turn races,” Callaghan said. “We’ll look at the Test.”

Callaghan won the 2017 Test Stakes with American Gal, his first starter at the historic track.

Sun, 05/05/2019 - 12:46

West contemplates challenging Derby ruling in federal court

Justin N. Lane
Maximum Security was disqualified from first and placed 17th for causing interference in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Gary West, the owner of Maximum Security, said Sunday he wants to appeal the stewards’ decision to disqualify his horse from first in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, but based on Kentucky regulations, he may have to take it to federal court for it to be heard.

Sun, 05/05/2019 - 11:36

Country House, Maximum Security won't face each other in Preakness

Barbara D. Livingston
Maximum Security crosses the finish line first in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, with Country House (center) finishing second.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In the moments immediately following the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, trainer Bill Mott said his thoughts were of how well his colts Country House and Tacitus had run, and he figured they’d both be bound for the Belmont Stakes next.

Sat, 05/04/2019 - 09:19

Serengeti Empress, Liora eye Acorn Stakes after gutsy efforts in Kentucky Oaks

Debra A. Roma
Serengeti Empress, with Jose Ortiz aboard, wins the Kentucky Oaks by 1 3/4 lengths on Friday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Tom Amoss said Saturday morning that Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress came out of her front-running victory in the Churchill Downs filly classic Friday “in great shape” and that he’ll think about the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes on the June 8 Belmont Stakes card.

“We’re going to enjoy this for a couple of days,” said Amoss. “She’s tired. I’m tired. She’ll get plenty of rest the rest of this month, I know that, as hard as she worked toward the Oaks. We’ll come up with a game plan when it’s time to.”