Triple Crown hero American Pharoah was a once-in-a-lifetime horse. But most horse people are quick to tell you that horses are the best teachers, and American Pharoah also proved a learning experience for the team that is now on the brink of a once-in-a-lifetime accomplishment – for the second time – with unbeaten Justify.
“We learned a lot from Pharoah,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “The great horses, they’ll really teach you a lot.”
ELMONT, N.Y. – Catholic Boy and Analyze It, the 1-2 finishers in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Pennine Ridge Stakes, are expected to meet again in next month’s Grade 1, $1.2 million Belmont Derby at 1 1/4-miles.
Seemingly defeated in midstretch of the Pennine Ridge here on Saturday, Catholic Boy altered course and came back in deep stretch to edge Analyze It by a neck.
It was Catholic Boy’s first start on turf since he finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. He began his career with two wins on turf.
A mid-week stakes and an allowance race that serves as a prep for the Grade 3 Smile Sprint highlight a nine-race Wednesday program, kicking off a rare five-day race week during Gulfstream Park’s spring-summer meet.
The card also includes a Rainbow 6 carryover of nearly $297,000.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bob Baffert’s work is mostly done. The Hall of Fame trainer sent out Triple Crown hopeful Justify for the colt’s final pre-race breeze Monday morning at Churchill Downs and now will look to jockey Mike Smith and the racing gods to see what awaits Saturday in the 150th Belmont Stakes.
“If it’s meant to be, it’s going to happen,” Baffert told a media throng after Justify went five furlongs in 1:01.40. “Right now, all we can do is prepare.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – The multiple stakes winner Blackjackcat has been sent to the farm of owners Al and Sandee Kirkwood in Washington after a series of disappointing performances in turf stakes this year, trainer Mark Glatt said.
Third in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar, Blackjackcat most recently was seventh in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on May 28, finishing 2 1/2 lengths behind race winner Hunt. Blackjackcat also was fifth in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes in February and fourth in the Grade 3 American Stakes in April.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockeys Tyler Baze and Tiago Pereira are scheduled to resume riding on the eight-race program at Santa Anita on Thursday after being involved in recent spills.
Baze has not ridden since May 19 but has worked horses in the last week. He is booked on four mounts on Thursday, including Highland Lass in the seventh race, an optional claimer for 3-year-old fillies.
Baze had intended to return in late May, but postponed his return because of body soreness.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Run Away, a winner of three sprint stakes as a 2-year-old last year, will start around two turns for the first time in Sunday’s Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.
The decision to start Run Away in the $100,000 Affirmed Stakes at 1 1/16 miles comes after the colt was comprehensively beaten in his last two starts – a fifth-place finish in the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes at Del Mar last November and a sixth in the Chick Lang Stakes at Pimlico on a sloppy track May 19.
ELMONT, N.Y. – After toiling on dirt to begin her career, Mom’s On Strike has steadily developed into a top-flight mare on turf. On Friday, she will try to enter the upper echelon of the division when she meets Sistercharlie and seven others in the Grade 2, $600,000 New York Stakes at Belmont Park.
The New York, for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles, is the richest race on the 11-race card that includes four other stakes races. First post for the Belmont Stakes Eve program is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Unique Bella may be racing in a resort town near you this summer.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is targeting the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on July 29 for Unique Bella after the 4-year-old filly’s impressive win in Saturday’s Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita.
In the winner’s circle Saturday, Hollendorfer mentioned a race at Saratoga as another possibility this summer. The most prestigious race for older fillies and mares at that meeting is the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes on Aug. 25.
ELMONT, N.Y. - That Hofburg will compete in two legs of the Triple Crown is more a function of the horse than his trainer.
Having not made his 3-year-old debut until March 3, Hofburg was considered more of a summertime 3-year-old than a spring classic campaigner by his Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
