Mon, 07/02/2018 - 14:46

Coaching Club Oaks possible spot for Monomoy Girl-Midnight Bisou rematch

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Midnight Bisou rebounded from a third-place effort in the Kentucky Oaks with a dominant Mother Goose victory.

ELMONT, N.Y. – If there is to be a showdown at Saratoga between top 3-year-old fillies Monomoy Girl and Midnight Bisou, it would more likely happen in the Grade 1, $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 22 than the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama on Aug. 18.

Mon, 07/02/2018 - 14:26

Gaffalione nips Jaramillo to win riding title

Barbara D. Livingston
Jockey Tyler Gaffalione captured his sixth Gulfstream riding title with the end of the spring meet Saturday.

In one of the tightest finishes to a jockey race at Gulfstream Park in recent memory, Tyler Gaffalione edged Emisael Jaramillo, 63-62, to defend his title at the spring meeting, which ended Saturday. It was the sixth Gulfstream Park riding title for Gaffalione, who won an Eclipse Award as leading apprentice in 2015.

How much time Gaffalione and his agent, Matt Muzikar, will spend at Gulfstream during the summer remains to be seen.

Mon, 07/02/2018 - 14:20

Stormy Embrace runs her way into Breeders' Cup picture

Coglianese Photos
Stormy Embrace earns a career-high 97 Beyer Speed Figure for her Princess Rooney win.

Trainer Kathleen O’Connell fully expected Stormy Embrace to run a big race in Saturday’s Grade 2 Princess Rooney at Gulfstream Park. After all, the steadily improving filly had posted a career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure two starts back winning an overnight handicap at Tampa Bay Downs before capturing the restricted Musical Romance five weeks later at Gulfstream Park despite jockey Wilmer Garcia having misjudged the finish line and easing her up 100 yards from the wire.

Mon, 07/02/2018 - 12:46

After three-year battle, Mott agrees to serve 7 days for medication violation

Barbara D. Livingston
Bill Mott is to begin serving a seven-day suspension on Thursday.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott believes he has helped New York horsemen win the war, but he will surrender his personal battle with the New York State Gaming Commission over a positive drug test regarding one of his horses dating back nearly four years.

On Thursday, Mott will begin serving a seven-day suspension for the finding of the therapeutic medication Flunixin (banamine) in the horse Saratoga Snacks, who finished last in a race at Belmont Park on Sept. 20, 2014. Mott also will pay a $1,000 fine.

Mon, 07/02/2018 - 12:06

Court injured in motorcycle accident

Jockey Jon Court is expected to be sidelined at least until late August after suffering a fractured collarbone in a motorcycle accident last week.

Court, 57, is a six-time leading rider at Ellis Park in western Kentucky. He told Ellis publicity that surgery to repair the affected area involved the insertion of a plate and seven screws.

Court, a winner of more than 4,100 races, has suffered a multitude of injuries in a career dating to 1980, including fractured ribs in a water-tubing accident that forced him to miss the 2016 Ellis meet.

Mon, 07/02/2018 - 12:00

C Z Rocket looking good for second half of year

Trainer Al Stall Jr. is thinking about the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill for C Z Rocket after the colt earned a career-high 103 Beyer Speed Figure with a four-length victory Saturday in the seven-furlong Kelly’s Landing.

The Kelly’s Landing was a return to form for C Z Rocket, who had finished sixth in the Grade 1 Malibu on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita and third in an optional claimer June 1 at Churchill.

Mon, 07/02/2018 - 11:56

McPeek aiming high with Restless Rider

Coady Photography
Despite being checked to avoid an injured rival, Restless Rider pulls away to win the Debutante under Brian Hernandez Jr. on Saturday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The remarkable victory by Restless Rider on closing day of the Churchill Downs spring meet had the filly’s trainer, Kenny McPeek, reaching for superlatives nearly 48 hours later.

“I don’t think I’ve been as excited about a young filly since Take Charge Lady,” said McPeek, referring to the only horse to win the Alcibiades, Ashland, and Spinster at Keeneland, his home track.

Mon, 07/02/2018 - 11:16

Queen's Plate top three all appear headed for Prince of Wales

Michael Burns
Wonder Gadot is expected to use the Prince of Wales Stakes as a stepping-stone to the Aug. 18 Alabama Stakes.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Wonder Gadot drew away to win the 159th running of the $1 million Queen’s Plate by 4 3/4 lengths at Woodbine on Saturday, and will likely use the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes to set up a start in the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 18, trainer Mark Casse said.

Sun, 07/01/2018 - 19:35

Hoppertunity works for Suburban; Mubtaahij drills for Cornhusker

Barbara D. Livingston
Hoppertunity works six furlongs at Santa Anita in 1:01.80 Sunday.

Trainer Bob Baffert will have stakes-winning older horses racing across the country this month.

Hoppertunity, the 7-year-old multiple stakes-winning millionaire, will start in the Grade 2 Suburban Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Belmont Park on Saturday. Hoppertunity, who won the Grade 2 Brooklyn Invitational at Belmont Park on June 9, worked six furlongs in 1:13.40 at Santa Anita on Sunday.

Sun, 07/01/2018 - 19:29

Unique Bella works ahead of Clement L. Hirsch Stakes

Benoit Photo
Unique Bella pulled clear with a quarter-mile remaining in Saturday's Grade 1 Beholder Mile.

Unique Bella, the champion female sprinter of 2017, is within a month of her next start.

The 4-year-old Unique Bella, who worked five furlongs in 1:01.60 at Santa Anita on Saturday, is expected to have her first start of the summer in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes for fillies and mares at Del Mar on July 29. Unique Bella won the Grade 1 Beholder Mile for fillies and mares at Santa Anita on June 2.

The five-furlong workout was Unique Bella’s third workout since the Beholder Mile, her eighth win in 11 starts for Don Alberto Stable.