Sun, 11/25/2018 - 16:30

Chicago Style targets San Marcos; Caribou Club eyes Joe Hernandez

Benoit Photo
Caribou Club returned $16.20 for his victory in Saturday's Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Glen Hill Farm and trainer Tom Proctor won Grade 2 stakes on consecutive days over the holiday weekend at Del Mar with Chicago Style in the Hollywood Turf Cup on Friday and Caribou Club in the Seabiscuit Handicap on Saturday.

Sun, 11/25/2018 - 16:16

Jockey Bourdieu has surgery on broken leg after spill

Jockey Martin Bourdieu broke his leg and several ribs and sustained two punctured lungs in a spill at Turf Paradise on Saturday.

The 44-year-old rider was piloting Starz Decoy in a 300-yard Quarter Horse allowance race. He was in traffic when his mount clipped the heels of Matts Corona, unseating Bourdieu. He was taken to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery for a broken femur. According to track officials, he may require surgery on his lungs and ribs.

The two horses involved were uninjured.

Sun, 11/25/2018 - 14:26

Lady Paname likely to get freshening

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Lady Paname returned $9.90 as the third choice in Saturday's Long Island Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Lady Paname, the half-length winner of Saturday’s Grade 2 Long Island Stakes, will likely get a freshening and be aimed at a 5-year-old campaign in 2019, trainer Chad Brown said Sunday morning.

Lady Paname, who was making just her second start of the year, rallied from midpack under Irad Ortiz Jr. to beat Tricky Escape in the Long Island. She ran 1 3/8 miles in 2:16.15 and earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure for the performance.

Sun, 11/25/2018 - 14:16

Brown works 18 over muddy training track

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Timeline enters the State Dinner Stakes off a sharp allowance win on June 3.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Chad Brown worked 18 horses, 10 of whom will be participating in graded stakes next weekend between New York and California, over a muddy training track Sunday morning at Belmont Park.

Brown sent out Patternrecognition and Timeline for solo workouts in preparation for Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.

Sat, 11/24/2018 - 19:17

Michael Wrona abruptly dismissed as Santa Anita announcer

In what seems like a shocking development, Santa Anita has decided to replace its talented and popular track announcer, Michael Wrona, Tim Ritvo of The Stronach Group said on Saturday, confirming a note on Twitter from Wrona saying he had been let go.

"It is true," Ritvo said when asked to confirm the news. "We should have a replacement named in the next couple of days. We have a replacement. We just wanted to let Michael know first."

Sat, 11/24/2018 - 15:20

Von Hemel looking forward to the future with Cosmic Burst

Coady Photography
Cosmic Burst (center) prevailed in a stretch battle to take Wednesday's $250,000 Zia Park Oaks.

Cosmic Burst is back home at Remington Park following her win in the $250,000 Zia Park Oaks and her next move is still being determined, trainer Donnie Von Hemel said Saturday.

Von Hemel said following the Nov. 21 race in New Mexico that Cosmic Burst would either be put away for the season or make one more start this year, in the $100,000 She’s All In for fillies and mares on the final card of the Remington meet Dec. 16. He said she has emerged well from the Zia Oaks. 

Sat, 11/24/2018 - 15:08

With Welder in career form, trainer Luneack eyes bigger prizes

Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park
Welder, ridden by David Cabrera, wins the Silver Goblin Stakes by 6 1/4 lengths.

There is a secret to the success Welder has had this meet at Remington Park.

And, it’s a very sweet one, according to trainer Theresa Luneack.

“Welder is fueled by peppermints,” she said. “He is the most spoiled animal on the planet. He’s everybody’s favorite and he gets his way. He’s very spoiled, and I feel like the more he’s spoiled, the better he runs.

“We keep the peppermints flowing.”

Fri, 11/23/2018 - 15:26

Stidham notches Turkey Day turf-allowance triple

It was a happy Thanksgiving indeed for the Mike Stidham barn at Fair Grounds.

Stidham won an older-horse first-level turf allowance on Thursday’s card with Zumurudee; a 2-year-old first-level turf-sprint allowance with Credit Swap; and a filly-and-mare second-level turf-route allowance with Superiority Complex.

“Yeah, we were pretty pleased with it,” Stidham said Friday.

Fri, 11/23/2018 - 15:26

Wynn Time returns at full steam after seven-month break

From a speed-figure standpoint, at least, the Illinois-bred sprinter Wynn Time was as good Thursday following a seven-month layoff as he was at his peak last spring. Wynn Time got a 100 Beyer Speed Figure for running six furlongs in 1:09.68 while winning the $75,000 Thanksgiving Handicap at Fair Grounds by one length. Wynn Time’s top figures last March and April at Oaklawn Park were 100 and 101.

Wynn Time missed a work with a fever after shipping to Fair Grounds earlier this month, but still was adequately fit to let his talent shine in his first start back from the long break.

Fri, 11/23/2018 - 14:16

Life in Shambles targets Gravesend

Susie Raisher/NYRA
Life in Shambles was up in the final strides for a three-quarter-length victory in Thursday's Fall Highweight Handicap.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Life in Shambles won a stakes for the first time in his career when he took Thursday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Fall Highweight Handicap by three-quarters of a length. Now, he may try for his second stakes in the $100,000 Gravesend here on Dec. 23.

Life in Shambles finished second in the Gravesend last year, one of several good performances for the horse over Aqueduct’s main track.