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.

Sat, 09/29/2018 - 11:43

Elate, Hofburg to skip Breeders' Cup

Barbara D. Livingston
Abel Tasman (right) narrowly beats Elate in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on Saturday.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The multiple Grade 1 winner Elate will miss the Breeders’ Cup due to a splint-bone issue in her right foreleg that has been slow to heal, trainer Bill Mott said Saturday morning.

Elate, second to Abel Tasman in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga on Aug. 25, was being considered for either the Classic or the Distaff.

Also, Hofburg, fourth in the Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 22, will not be considered for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Mott said. He could be considered for the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill in late November.

Fri, 09/28/2018 - 18:20

Two-day, $141,055 pick six carryover adds to allure of Gold Cup card

ELMONT, N.Y. – Twenty-four hours before he was to send out Imperial Hint as a heavy favorite in the Grade 1 Vosburgh Stakes, trainer Luis Carvajal Jr. sent out Spectacular Plum to a 10-1 upset in an off-the-turf $40,000 claiming race at Belmont Park.

The significance of that victory was it resulted in a two-day pick six carryover of $141,055 into Saturday’s 11-race card at Belmont. Ironically, Imperial Hint will likely be a universal single in the Vosburgh, which goes as race 7 and is the second leg of the pick six..

Fri, 09/28/2018 - 17:29

Monmouth Park launches sports betting app

A Monmouth Park sports wagering app is now available for download under the name "William Hill New Jersey." The app is available to both iPhone and Android users. 

To become a Monmouth sports betting customer, new users must sign up and use the promo code MP50. This does two things. It ensures that Monmouth Park will benefit from that user's wagers going forward, and earns the user a $50 bonus after the first $50 wagered through the service.

Fri, 09/28/2018 - 15:40

Divine Miss Grey will seize opportunity in Beldame

Taylor Edjys/Equi-Photo
Divine Miss Grey paid $2.20 in winning the Dr. James Penny Memorial.

ELMONT, N.Y. – With multiple Grade 1 winner Elate sidelined due to a splint injury and Abel Tasman staying in California for Sunday’s Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes, the $400,000 Beldame Stakes at 1 1/8 miles next Saturday at Belmont Park offers some lesser-accomplished fillies a chance at Grade 1 glory.

Divine Miss Grey, a former $16,000 claimer who has won four stakes, will take that opportunity, according to trainer Danny Gargan.

“I think this race is coming up lighter than it’s been in years, that’s why I’m probably going to run,” Gargan said. “I think she can go that far.”

Fri, 09/28/2018 - 15:30

Trophy Chaser works five furlongs for Champagne Stakes

Lauren King/Coglianese Photos
Trophy Chaser (8) finishes second in a July 15 maiden race.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trophy Chaser worked five furlongs in 59.46 seconds at Gulfstream Park early Friday morning and was scheduled to leave by van early Friday evening for New York, where next Saturday he will run in the Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park.

“He had a very good work,” trainer Juan Carlos Avila said Friday. “He’s ready for the race.”

Junior Alvarado will ride Trophy Chaser in the Champagne.

Fri, 09/28/2018 - 15:26

Lady Montdore tests Grade 1 water in Flower Bowl

Debra A. Roma
Both of Lady Montdore’s victories have come at 1 3/8 miles.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Lady Montdore, who has won both of her starts in the U.S., will step into Grade 1 company for the first time when she runs in the $500,000 Flower Bowl Stakes at Belmont Park next Sunday, trainer Tom Albertrani said this week.

“She doesn’t have any points to get into the Breeders’ Cup,” Albertrani said. “She’s training well. I don’t see any reason not to run her and give her every chance.”