Mon, 10/01/2018 - 13:26

Listing comes back in Champagne Stakes

Benoit Photo
Listing debuted with a win in Friday's I'm Smokin Stakes at Del Mar.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Listing won his first start in the I’m Smokin Stakes for 2-year-old California-breds at Del Mar on Aug. 31, and he makes his second start in Saturday’s Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park, trainer Ben Cecil said over the weekend.

Owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam, Listing will be ridden by Mario Gutierrez.

“It’s an ambitious spot,” Cecil said.

By Square Eddie, Listing closed from fourth in a field of eight to win the I’m Smokin Stakes at six furlongs by 1 1/4 lengths at 22-1. The $500,000 Champagne Stakes is run at a mile around one turn.

Mon, 10/01/2018 - 13:20

Roy H vs. Ransom the Moon in Santa Anita Sprint Championship

Emily Shields
Ransom the Moon will make his next start in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Oct. 6.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Saturday will be the fifth meeting in the last 15 months between Roy H, the champion sprinter of 2017, and Ransom the Moon, a multiple stakes winner.

They may represent half the field in the $300,000 race at six furlongs.

As of Sunday, the only other expected starters were Edwards Going Left and Horse Greedy, who are owned by Pete and Kosta Hronis and trained by John Sadler.

Mon, 10/01/2018 - 12:56

Simon picking spots for Yorkton, other stakes runners

Michael Burns
Yorkton, pictured winning the Bold Venture, aims to get back on turf in the Oct. 13 Nearctic.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Yorkton recorded his first graded stakes victory in the Grade 3 Bold Venture Stakes on Sept. 15, and will look to carry his form over to the turf when he makes his next start in the Grade 2, $250,000 Nearctic Stakes over six furlongs, trainer Stuart Simon said.

Yorkton ran in last year’s edition of the Nearctic, finishing seventh over a turf course labeled good. Simon said the condition of the turf was a factor in the result, and noted he scratched Yorkton from the Grade 2 Play the King Stakes on Aug. 25 when the turf that day came up yielding.

Mon, 10/01/2018 - 11:16

McPeek has two favorites for opening week stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Eskimo Kisses will be the likley favorite in the Spinster at Keeneland on Sunday.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keeneland is a favored venue among locals, because of course it is. And even though he is as well traveled as almost any 50-something on the globe, Kenny McPeek concurs.

“Why not, right?” asked McPeek, who has never forgetten his Lexington roots while building a world-class stable over the last 30-plus years. “There’s nowhere like it.”

Sun, 09/30/2018 - 17:48

Big Fresno Fair begins nine-day run Thursday

Two stakes highlight the Big Fresno Fair’s nine-day run, which begins Thursday.

The $100,000 Harris Farms Stakes, Northern California’s only sprint stakes offering a six-figure purse, will be run Saturday. The six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up is part of the California-bred Golden State Series.

The $50,000 Bulldog Handicap, also for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles, tops the closing-day card on Oct. 14.

Sun, 09/30/2018 - 16:41

Fashion Business to miss Breeders' Cup Turf

Emily Shields
Fashion Business drew clear in the stretch for a 5 1/4-length win in Saturday's Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Fashion Business will miss the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3 after being diagnosed with an injury over the weekend that will keep him out of training until early 2019, trainer Phil D’Amato said.

D’Amato declined to reveal the injury, but described the setback as a “minor issue.”

“We’ll focus on having him in full form at the beginning of the year,” D’Amato said. “His chances of coming back are very good.”

Sun, 09/30/2018 - 16:30

Callaghan making familiar trip to BC Juvenile Fillies

Emily Shields
Bellafina drew off to a 6 1/2-length victory in Saturday's Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes.

ARCADIA, Calif. - For the second consecutive year, trainer Simon Callaghan is bound for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies with the expected favorite.

Last year, Moonshine Memories won consecutive Grade 1 races in the Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs and the Chandelier Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita, but was seventh in the BC Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar.

Sun, 09/30/2018 - 15:58

Channel Maker steps up in Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

Justin N. Lane
Channel Maker drew clear under Jose Ortiz to a 4 1/2-length victory in Saturday's Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Though his victory in Saturday’s Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park was just his fourth from 20 career starts, Channel Maker had for a long time shown glimpses of being capable at this level.

Last year, Channel Maker won the Breeders’ Stakes, a 1 1/2-mile turf race at Woodbine and the third leg of Canada’s Triple Crown. He was beaten one length in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby last fall and one length in the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile in March.

“He was the victim of some bad trips,” trainer Bill Mott said Sunday. “He’d been coming from way back.”

Sun, 09/30/2018 - 14:45

Accelerate, West Coast eye rematch in Breeders' Cup Classic

Emily Shields
Accelerate drew clear for a 2 1/4-length victory in Saturday's Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Accelerate and West Coast both emerged from the Awesome Again Stakes on Saturday in good condition, and they will be on similar schedules over the next month, with both expected to have three works at Santa Anita prior to shipping to Churchill Downs the week of the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Classic, their trainers said Sunday morning.

John Sadler, per usual the day after a race, had Accelerate jog for him outside his stable on Sunday morning.

Sun, 09/30/2018 - 13:47

Discreet Lover lands on vet's list after winning Jockey Club Gold Cup

Barbara D. Livingston
Discreet Lover (left) got up for a neck victory in Saturday's Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Discreet Lover, the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner, was placed on the veterinarian’s list by the New York Racing Association, meaning he must undergo further evaluation and pass certain simple protocols before he is permitted to race again.

Uriah St. Lewis, the owner and trainer of Discreet Lover, said he is not concerned by this development and does plan on running Discreet Lover in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3 provided the horse is doing well.