Fri, 09/14/2018 - 15:49

Gulfstream now tracking, posting horse weights

Gulfstream Park has been posting the weights of starters in each of his races this meet. The horses are weighed on a scale located in the paddock area by racing official George Berry, who then sends the numbers to the graphics department to be posted alongside the odds for the upcoming race. The practice started during the championship meet, but on a limited basis, said Chris Camac, racing secretary at Gulfstream.

“We started in January, just a few races, just a few horses,” he said. “Since April 4, we’ve been weighing every horse, every race.”

Fri, 09/14/2018 - 15:20

O'Connell enjoying fitting milestone win

It was fitting that Kathleen O’Connell picked up the 2,000th training win of her career with a 2-year-old. She long has enjoyed working with young horses and has had significant success with them on the track.

Wishful Quality lifted O’Connell to the milestone Wednesday at Delaware Park, where the filly won her debut in a photo. Wishful Quality came back along the rail for a head victory in the maiden special weight and returned $53.80.

Fri, 09/14/2018 - 15:06

Englehart has three for Joseph A. Gimma Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Party Like Grandma paid $7.90 in winning the Seeking the Ante Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Jeremiah Englehart will send out three of the seven runners entered for next Wednesday’s $150,000 Joseph A. Gimma Stakes for New York-bred juvenile fillies at seven furlongs.

Englehart on Friday entered Party Like Grandma, winner of the Seeking the Ante Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 25; Ma Meatloaf, runner-up in the Lady Finger Stakes at Finger Lakes on Sept. 8; and Cartwheelin Lulu, a debut winner at Finger Lakes on Aug. 16.

Fri, 09/14/2018 - 15:06

Battle of Midway to invade for Kelso Handicap

Debra A. Roma
Battle of Midway starts for the first time since winning last year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Battle of Midway, the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner, will make the second start of his comeback in the Grade 2, $300,000 Kelso Handicap next Saturday at Belmont Park, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Friday.

Fri, 09/14/2018 - 14:56

Diversify sharp in work for Jockey Club Gold Cup

Debra A. Roma
Diversify paid $5.20 with his victory in the Whitney at Saratoga on Saturday.

ELMONT, N.Y. – All the ingredients were in place for Diversify to have a strong workout Friday morning, and the multiple graded stakes-winning New York-bred delivered by sizzling five furlongs in 58.90 seconds over Belmont’s main track in preparation for the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on Sept. 29.

Before Friday, Diversify had just one workout since his powerhouse victory in the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 4 at Saratoga. Due to several days of wet tracks, Diversify’s last several days consisted mostly of jogging, with the exception of a gallop on Thursday.

Fri, 09/14/2018 - 14:16

Blackjackcat resumes training with Glatt

Shigeki Kikkawa
Blackjackcat has won 6 of 18 starts and earned $588,415.

CYPRESS, Calif. – Blackjackcat, third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile last November at Del Mar, recently resumed training with Mark Glatt.

A three-time stakes winner last year, Blackjackcat was rested after a seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile in June at Santa Anita.

“He’s about ready to breeze,” Glatt said.

Owned by Al and Sandee Kirkwood, the 5-year-old Blackjackcat has won 6 of 18 starts and earned $588,415. He was beaten 1 1/4 lengths by World Approval in the 2017 BC Mile.

Fri, 09/14/2018 - 14:10

Mended, who won 10 straight, retires

Lauren King/Coglianese Photos
Mended wins the Claiming Crown Glass Slipper Stakes in 2017 for her 10th consecutive win.

CYPRESS, Calif. – Mended, a $12,500 claim who won 10 consecutive races and became a stakes winner in 2017, has been retired, trainer John Martin said Friday.

Mended finished last of five in the Tranquility Lake Stakes on Aug. 24 at Del Mar. She was recently shipped to Kentucky’s Taylor Made Farm, which bought a 50 percent share in the 5-year-old mare from owners Troy and Maritza Onorato.

“It was time to give her a vacation and bring her back, or retire her,” Martin said. “We didn’t want to push her.

Fri, 09/14/2018 - 14:10

Pavel back in O'Neill's stable, targets BC Classic

Coady Photography
Pavel is training at Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup Classic in November.

CYPRESS, Calif. – Pavel, winner of the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap in June at Churchill Downs, has resumed training with Doug O’Neill at Santa Anita and is on schedule for the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November.

O’Neill said Thursday that Pavel rejoined his stable earlier this month following a weeklong break at a local farm in late August. Pavel was second to Accelerate in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on Aug. 18 at Del Mar.

Owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam, Pavel will not start before the BC Classic on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs, O’Neill said.

Fri, 09/14/2018 - 11:46

Monomoy Girl has ‘her game face on' ahead of Cotillion

Barbara D. Livingston
Grade 1 winner Monomoy Girl breezes half a mile in 49.93 seconds on Saturday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Monomoy Girl is scheduled to breeze Sunday morning at Churchill Downs with regular rider Florent Geroux aboard in the star filly’s final prerace work heading into the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion at Parx Racing in suburban Philadelphia.

“Her gallops this week have been phenomenal coming out of the nice, stiff breeze she had last Sunday,” trainer Brad Cox said early Friday. “She’s got her game face on.”

Fri, 09/14/2018 - 10:40

Handle surges once again at Kentucky Downs meet

Tim Whitaker
New York-based Jose Ortiz plans to ride all four remaining days of the Kentucky Downs meet.

All-sources handle at Kentucky Downs hit a record high for the sixth straight year when more than $36.4 million was bet during the five-day meet that ended Thursday at the turf-only track in Franklin, Ky.

That figure was up 20 percent over the previous record of $30.2 million from last year. By comparison, the track’s record handle in 2013 was $12.8 million, so wagering has nearly tripled in the intervening years.