Fri, 06/29/2018 - 10:40

Troy Stakes at Saratoga next for Will Call

Coady Photography
Will Call wins an allowance at Churchill on Thursday.

Owner Richard Klein said the $200,000 Troy Stakes, to be run Aug. 5 at 5 1/2 furlongs on the Saratoga turf, is the likely next start for Will Call, who was up in the final jump to win a $62,916 allowance Thursday over the Churchill turf.

Ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, Will Call nipped Angaston in his first appearance since he won the Grade 3 Twin Spires Turf Sprint on the May 4 Kentucky Oaks undercard. The 4-year-old homebred colt is trained by Brad Cox.

“That was a salty group we beat,” Klein said.

McCraken in another work

Fri, 06/29/2018 - 10:16

Kentucky Hall of Fame honors for Baffert, Ramseys

Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Bob Baffert leads Justify through the shed row at Belmont Park on Wednesday.

Less than two months after winning the Kentucky Derby for the fifth time, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has been named to the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, it was announced this week by the Louisville Sports Commission. Baffert became just the second trainer to sweep the Triple Crown twice when Justify won the Belmont Stakes on June 9.

Joining Baffert in a group of seven honorees are Ken and Sarah Ramsey, the Nicholasville, Ky., couple who are perennial leading owners and breeders in Kentucky.

Fri, 06/29/2018 - 10:10

Stability arrives at Ellis Park

Coady Photography
Ellis Park will feature 10 stakes races through its 30-day meet, which opens Sunday.

It wasn’t long ago that many Kentucky trainers, out of economic necessity, would take their stables out of state for July and August. The purse structure at Ellis Park wasn’t sufficient to make staying put feasible, so Saratoga or Delaware or Arlington became their summer homes.

Thu, 06/28/2018 - 13:36

Herbuveaux replaces Chaney as steward at Del Mar summer meeting

For the first time in three years, Del Mar will have a different board of stewards for its summer meeting, which begins on July 18.

John Herbuveaux, a steward at Golden Gate Fields in recent months, will replace Scott Chaney for the seven-week meeting, according to California Horse Racing Board executive director Rick Baedeker.

Thu, 06/28/2018 - 13:30

Justify galloping ahead of next workout; McKinzie resumes jogging

Barbara D. Livingston
Triple Crown winner Justify gallops on Thursday.

Justify has resumed galloping at Santa Anita and could have a workout as soon as next week.

The Triple Crown winner has impressed trainer Bob Baffert with his condition and exercise in recent days.

“We used to say he looks like a million dollars, but we can’t say that anymore,” Baffert said. “He looks incredible. He looks healthy, and he’s moving well.”

Wed, 06/27/2018 - 17:36

Illinois Racing Board looking into implementing historical racing machines

CHICAGO – The Illinois Racing Board during a regular monthly meeting Tuesday voted 7-0 to create a committee to help formulate rules that would govern the implementation of historical horse racing machines at Hawthorne Racecourse near Chicago and Fairmount Park near St. Louis.

Wed, 06/27/2018 - 15:36

Princess Rooney and Smile both get eight

Kenny Martin/Coglianese Photos
Curlin's Approval won the June 3 Ana T. Stakes ahead of her attempted title defense in Saturday's Grade 2 Princess Rooney.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The Grade 2 Princess Rooney is one of only three races in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series providing a fees-paid berth into the Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 3, and the only one until the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga on Aug. 25. But even with the added incentive of a $250,000 purse, the race drew a field of only eight on Wednesday, including defending winner Curlin’s Approval, as the highlight of Saturday’s Summit of Speed program at Gulfstream Park.

Wed, 06/27/2018 - 15:06

Mott mulling two spots for Yoshida

Barbara D. Livingston
Yoshida could make his next start in either the Fourstardave at Saratoga or the Arlington Million.

Bill Mott has returned the rented formalwear for his trip to Royal Ascot, which must mean it’s time to turn the page and move onto the next chapter of Yoshida’s career.

Yoshida, with Mott in attendance, finished a respectable fifth last week in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes, the first race of the Royal Ascot meeting, and Thursday was to be his first day back training with Mott’s string at Saratoga.

“He’s back and doing well,” Mott said Wednesday.

Wed, 06/27/2018 - 14:50

Mocito Rojo hitting his peak for Wilson

Coady Photography
Mocito Rojo returned $22 for his victory in Saturday's Evangeline Mile.

Mocito Rojo ran the race of his life Saturday night at Evangeline Downs, getting the jump on 2-5 favorite Dazzling Gem in the $100,000 Evangeline Mile and scoring a 1 3/4-length victory. Mocito Rojo was 10-1 and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 94.

“He ran a big one,” said trainer Shane Wilson.

Mocito Rojo won his first stakes in the Evangeline Mile. Earlier in the meet, he captured an optional $30,000 claiming race at the same distance in a sharp 1:37.53. His final time Saturday was 1:37.69.

Wed, 06/27/2018 - 14:26

Downs at Albuquerque opens meet with large fields, new pick-four wagers

Gay Harris/Ruidoso Downs
Jessies First Down is chasing his third consecutive world champion Quarter Horse title.

The Downs at Albuquerque has been riding a wave of momentum the last few years and on Friday night will open its 55-date meet with record stakes purses, large fields, and a new starter series that features New Mexico’s longest race for Thoroughbreds.

The Downs at Albuquerque, which races through Sept. 23, also is housing Jessies First Down, the two-time reigning world champion Quarter Horse.