Thu, 09/20/2018 - 15:06

Highway Star looks to right ship with Gallant Bloom repeat

Susie Raisher/NYRA
Highway Star wins the Gallant Bloom.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The New York-bred Highway Star won the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap last year to cap a series of good efforts in graded stakes and establish herself as a significant player for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

It’s been nothing but frustration ever since then for her connections.

On Sunday, Highway Star will look to end that frustration and earn a return trip to the Filly and Mare Sprint with a repeat victory in the Gallant Bloom, one of three stakes on the 10-race card.

Thu, 09/20/2018 - 14:26

West Coast works six furlongs

Barbara D. Livingston
West Coast has had five workouts since returning to training, including this five-furlong work last week.

ARCADIA, Calif. – West Coast, the champion 3-year-old colt of 2017, worked six furlongs from the gate in 1:12.60 at Santa Anita on Thursday.

Unraced since a second-place finish in the Dubai World Cup in March, West Coast has had five workouts since he returned to training in California during the summer. Thursday’s workout was his first at six furlongs since his return.

“I have no races in mind,” trainer Bob Baffert said.

Thu, 09/20/2018 - 14:10

Anonymity to audition for BC Filly and Mare Sprint

Emily Shields
Anonymity is scheduled to start in the Grade 3 L.A. Woman Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 7.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The fast filly Anonymity is Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella’s best chance for success at the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs in early November.

Anonymity, second in the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 12, is scheduled to start in the Grade 3 L.A. Woman Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 7 in what could be a prep for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 3.

Thu, 09/20/2018 - 14:10

Stevens has key mounts in Santa Anita's opening weeks

Benoit Photo
King of Speed, owned by David and John Del Secco, could start in the BC Juvenile Turf on Nov. 2.

ARCADIA, Calif. – At 55, Gary Stevens has a list of 2-year-old mounts that could make for an interesting next few weeks at Santa Anita.

Stevens will ride Del Mar May for the first time in the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on Sept. 29. On Oct. 8, Stevens is booked to ride King of Speed in the $100,000 Zuma Beach Stakes for 2-year-olds on turf.

Those races will determine if those 2-year-olds are sent to Churchill Downs for Breeders’ Cup races on Nov. 2.

Thu, 09/20/2018 - 13:56

Gulfstream offers record $29 million in stakes during meet

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Gulfstream Park will trot out the new look Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series as the marquee event on a track-record 105-race, $29 million stakes program during the 2018-19 Championship meet, which opens on Dec. 1 and continues through March 31, 2019.

The third edition of the Pegasus World Cup comprises two events for the first time, the $9 million Pegasus World Cup at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, and the $7 million Pegasus Turf Cup at 1 3/16 miles. The Pegasus Turf Cup replaces the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf on this year’s schedule.

Wed, 09/19/2018 - 19:19

Pick six returns $67,779 to 26 winning tickets

ELMONT, N.Y. – There were 26 winning tickets, each worth $67,779, sold on Wednesday’s pick six at Belmont Park as bettors aggressively went after a three-day carryover.

Wednesday’s card began with a $326,010 carryover after the pick six was not hit for three consecutive cards. There was $2,519,765 wagered into the pool Wednesday, despite three of the six races in the sequence being moved from turf to dirt after rain hit the area Tuesday.

Wed, 09/19/2018 - 16:54

Switzerland draws rail for Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash

Joe Labozzetta
Switzerland, ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., wins the Maryland Sprint.

The 1 hole is not a neutral draw in six-furlong sprints. It hurt Switzerland in the Vanderbilt Stakes on July 28 at Saratoga, and Switzerland drew the fence again Wednesday when entries were taken for Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 De Francis Dash.

Nine were entered in the De Francis, the headliner at Laurel Park on a seven-stakes, 13-race card. The De Francis had been scheduled for Sept. 15 but was moved back a week because of the threat (which never materialized in Maryland) from Hurricane Florence.

Wed, 09/19/2018 - 15:26

Hotstepper targets Texas Classic Derby

Hotstepper is in the house for the Lone Star Park meet for Quarter Horses, which opens Friday night. The winner of the Grade 1, $1.2 million All American Derby, Hotstepper is one of the highest-profile runners on the grounds for the 16-date season, which runs through Nov. 10.

“He’s doing real good,” trainer Sleepy Gilbreath said Wednesday.

Gilbreath said Hotstepper is targeting the Oct. 19 trials for the Grade 1, $400,000 Texas Classic Derby. The finale is Nov. 10.

Wed, 09/19/2018 - 15:20

Blamed moves to New York, Mott

Emily Shields
Blamed paid $2.80 in winning the Sunland Park Oaks on Sunday.

Blamed, a winner of her last five starts including the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks, is now based in New York with trainer Bill Mott.

Blamed began her career in New Mexico with trainer Joel Marr. She’s won 5 of 6 starts. Following her 6 1/2-length win in the Sunland Park Oaks in March, she traveled to Churchill for the Kentucky Oaks. Blamed was injured in her final work for the race and was rehabbed in Kentucky. She was later transferred to Mott.

Wed, 09/19/2018 - 15:16

Oklahoma Derby, Remington Oaks getting them from all over

Barbara D. Livingston
Sea Foam (7) returned $5.60 as the favorite in Friday's Albany Stakes.

The Oklahoma Derby could draw shippers from Southern California, Kentucky, and New York when the Grade 3, $400,000 race runs Sept. 30 at Remington Park. It will anchor a card of 10 stakes that includes the Grade 3, $200,000 Remington Park Oaks.

Entries for the program will be taken Thursday, Sept. 27. First post for the special Sunday afternoon card is 3 p.m. Central.