DEL MAR, Calif. – Bob Baffert has sent out eight horses to wins in 2-year-old maiden races this meet, and he added two more last weekend with debut victories by the colt Tale of the Union and the filly Fighting Mad, both of whom might not be seen again until Santa Anita begins its fall meeting at the end of September.
“I’m not going to get in a hurry,” Baffert said.
DEL MAR, Calif. - West Coast, last year's champion male 3-year-old who has been away from the races since running second nearly five months ago in the Dubai World Cup, took his first significant step toward a return to action with a half-mile work Tuesday morning at Del Mar, his first drill since returning to training following an extended freshening.
Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La., closed out its meet Saturday night, with the leading trainer title going to Karl Broberg and the leading rider title to Timothy Thornton.
Broberg won 59 races from 170 starters for a 35 percent strike rate this meet at Evangeline. The stable’s starters had earnings of $761,440.
Thornton won 141 races from 555 starters for a 25 percent win rate. His mounts earned $1.9 million.
Broberg and Thornton will both head next to Delta Downs in Vinton, La.
Ruidoso Downs will introduce the $300,000 All American Oaks for Quarter Horses in 2020. The race is a division of sorts of the Grade 1, $1 million All American Derby. It gives the owners and trainers of 3-year-old fillies a new option on an old tradition – either compete in the Oaks with straight fillies or continue, as has been the norm, to run against males in the Derby.
The intent with a filly must be declared at entry time for the trials. There will be separate trials for the All American Derby and All American Oaks.
There were just two winning favorites during the first 18 races of the Remington Park meet, which launched Friday night with a parade of longshots.
Jockey Alex Birzer set the tone Friday when he won the fifth race with Marine Pilot ($77.60) and the sixth with Doc Holiday Rules ($60.20).
Later on the card, Turbo Street ($21.60) won the $100,000 Remington Green over 71-1 shot Lawless West.
Lone Sailor will be back in Louisiana on Sunday to contest the Grade 3, $300,000 Super Derby. He was one of nine horses entered in the Louisiana Downs fixture when entries were taken Monday.
Lone Sailor last raced in Louisiana in March, finishing second by a neck in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.
The Super Derby is back on dirt after a one-year experiment on turf in 2017. It will be run at 1 1/16 miles and has been carded as the 11th race on a 13-race program. First post for the card, which will feature six other stakes – all on turf – is noon Central.
The New York Racing Association, in partnership with the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, will again this winter institute a program where horses who finish fourth through last in a race at Aqueduct will earn a minimum of $300.
The per-start credit program will be in place from Dec. 7 through March 31, or what is considered the Aqueduct winter meet. The credit will be applied to any outstanding balance for the New York Jockey Injury Compensation Fund, which provides workers’ compensation insurance for jockeys and exercise riders.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mucho, whose 9 3/4-length victory Aug. 4 may rank as the top performance by a 2-year-old male at the meet, worked a half-mile in 49.08 seconds over the Oklahoma training track Monday morning in preparation for a start in the Grade 1 Hopeful next Monday.
Mucho worked in company with the maiden Southern Bridge, starting two lengths behind that one and finishing two in front while getting his last quarter in 23.46. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.60.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Del Mar’s stewards on Sunday said they have turned over to California Horse Racing Board investigators a matter involving jockey Kent Desormeaux’s ride in race 4 on Saturday aboard Take a Leap, who was caught in the last jump and finished third.
“They will talk to the trainer of the horse, the vets, and at the conclusion of their investigation decide if they should put forth a hearing,” said John Herbuveaux, one of Del Mar’s stewards.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Oscar Performance, pulled up in the stretch as the favorite for the Grade 1 Arlington Million two weeks ago, returned to the work tab Monday as he prepares for a fall campaign.
Oscar Performance worked a half-mile in 49.30 seconds over the Oklahoma turf course. He went in splits of 13.02 and 25.12, getting his last quarter in 24.18.
Trainer Brian Lynch said he was pleased with the move but resisted the temptation to supplement him to the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap here next Monday.
