ARCADIA, Calif. – A celebration of life was held at Santa Anita on Tuesday for Robert Fletcher, the former executive director of the Winner’s Foundation, which aids people in Southern California horse racing who have substance-abuse and mental health difficulties.
Fletcher, 67, died on Jan. 6. A Los Angeles native, he spent much of his adult life in racing, first on the parking staff at Southern California tracks and also as a union official for racetrack employees.
ARCADIA, Calif. – La Sardane has been part of trainer Neil Drysdale’s stable for more than 18 months. During that span, she has won three times, including two stakes at Belmont Park last year.
La Sardane has yet to win in California, but that could occur as soon as Monday’s Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A terrible start almost always results in defeat, but in the case of a promising 3-year-old colt named Country House, a huge early deficit did not prove insurmountable Thursday at Gulfstream Park.
Under leading jockey Luis Saez, Country House broke very awkwardly from post 1 in the 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight race, immediately spotting the early leaders about 10 lengths. But Saez did not panic, and Country House ultimately proved vastly superior to his five opponents, passing them all with ease and prevailing by 3 1/2 lengths.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – When trainer Jorge Duarte Jr. saddled No Fly Zone ahead of a narrow victory in the first race here Wednesday, it brought his record to a cool 4 for 8 at the championship meet. Duarte is training for Colts Neck Stable, the New Jersey farm that has used Alan Goldberg as its main trainer for nearly three decades.
But with Goldberg, 69, staying home in New Jersey this winter while easing himself into semi-retirement, Duarte is overseeing the stable at Palm Meadows.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – With McKinzie officially out of the Pegasus World Cup, Gulfstream Park officials were still in the process Friday of determining who the 12th starter will be for the $9 million extravaganza.
A track spokesman confirmed McKinzie’s defection and said several horses were under consideration for the final berth and that an also-eligibles list beyond the 12-horse limit could be used when entries are drawn Tuesday for the 1 1/8-mile race.
The Delaware Racing Commission on Wednesday approved an 85-day season at Delaware Park in 2019.
The season will be four days longer than in recent years. In 2013, the track trimmed its race dates from 94 to 81.
Under a new three-year agreement between Delaware management and the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, the track will also race 85 days in 2020 and 2021.
Kevin DeLucia, the senior vice president of racing/finance at Delaware, said the agreement will help strengthen the racing program.
Late Night Pow Wow came out of her emphatic victory in last Saturday’s What a Summer Stakes at Laurel Park in good shape, according to trainer Javier Contreras, and is on target to start in the Grade 3, $250,000 Barbara Fritchie on Feb. 16.
Contreras said he also planned to nominate Devine Mischief to the Fritchie following her second-place finish in the What a Summer. Devine Mischief was making her first start for Contreras after being transferred to him by Mike Hall and Sam Ross, who race as Breeze Easy LLC and own Late Night Pow Wow.
NEW ORLEANS – Intended Pegasus World Cup runner Tom’s d’Etat will have his final work before the race Sunday at Fair Grounds.
It’s a big day for the horse’s connections: Gayle Benson’s GMB Racing owns Tom’s d’Etat, and the Benson family also owns the New Orleans Saints, who have a National Football League playoff game Sunday afternoon.
NEW ORLEANS – The $1 million Queen’s Plate is more than five months away, on June 28 at Woodbine, but for 3-year-old filly Desert Ride’s connections it might not be too early to start thinking about that race.
Ontario-bred Desert Ride had her first trip to the post in the eighth race Thursday at Fair Grounds and, despite making some mistakes (starting with a poor break), she came away with a 1 1/4-length win. Desert Ride rallied from last under Shaun Bridgmohan and really exploded the final 1 1/2 furlongs to take a going-away victory.
NEW ORLEANS – Cornacchia got more attention in the betting but his Brad Cox-trained stablemate Owendale got the money in featured race 5 Thursday at Fair Grounds. Owendale won the mile and 70-yard allowance race for 3-year-olds by 1 1/2 lengths, probably earning a start in the Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 16, Cox said.
