Wed, 05/30/2018 - 14:56

American Gal leaning toward Bed o' Roses

Barbara D. Livingston
American Gal, under jockey Jose Ortiz, wins the Grade 1 Humana Distaff.

ELMONT, N.Y. – American Gal, the winner of the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day, likely will make her next start in the Grade 2, $250,000 Bed o’ Roses Invitational at Belmont Park on June 8, trainer Simon Callaghan said Wednesday from California.

American Gal is also nominated to the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps, a one-turn 1 1/16-mile race on June 9. Callaghan said he might enter American Gal in both races but is more likely to run her in the Bed o’ Roses.

American Gal has won two Grade 1 stakes at seven furlongs – the Test and the Humana Distaff.

Wed, 05/30/2018 - 14:46

Diversify possible for Suburban Stakes

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Diversify held off a late charge from Pat On the Back to win Monday's Commentator Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Following his nose victory over Pat On the Back in Monday’s $200,000 Commentator Stakes for New York-breds, Diversify is likely headed back to open company in the Grade 2, $700,000 Suburban Stakes here on July 7.

The Suburban is run at 1 1/4 miles, the distance at which Diversify won the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup last fall.

Diversify bounced back from a last-place finish in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic with his gritty victory in the Commentator, overcoming a stumble at the start and coming from off the pace to win. He typically races on the lead.

Wed, 05/30/2018 - 14:46

Joking to return from long layoff in True North

Michael Amoruso
Joking, winner of the 2016 Vosburgh Stakes, has not raced since.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The Grade 1 winner Joking, who has not raced in 20 months, is expected to return in the Grade 2, $250,000 True North Stakes on June 8, owner and trainer Charlton Baker said this week.

“I’m aiming high,” Baker said. “I might shoot a little low, but I’m aiming high.”

Wed, 05/30/2018 - 14:26

Mopotism back quick in Beholder Mile

Barbara D. Livingston
Mopotism will make a one-week turnaround for Saturday's Grade 1 Beholder Mile.

ARCADIA, Calif. – A week after she finished last of seven in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes on turf at Santa Anita, Mopotism will be back on the main track in Saturday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Beholder Mile.

The surface switch has dictated the quick turnaround, trainer Doug O’Neill said.

“She never cared for the grass at all,” O’Neill said.

Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Mopotism was as close as fourth on the turn of the Gamely Stakes at 1 1/8 miles before fading to finish 7 1/4 lengths behind race winner Sophie P.

Wed, 05/30/2018 - 14:00

Laurel summer meet opens Friday

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
Laurel Park opens a 40-day meet Friday.

Racing will switch back to Laurel Park on Friday following an almost four-week break to make room for the Preakness mini-meet at Pimlico.

With the exception of a 19-day recess when racing moves to Timonium in late August, Laurel will host nonstop racing until next year’s Pimlico stand starts in May.

The 40-day Laurel meet will race Fridays, Saturday, and Sundays to July 22. Thursdays will then be added until meet concludes on Aug. 19.

Wed, 05/30/2018 - 14:00

Imperial Hint headed to True North

Emily Shields
Plans call for Imperial Hint to make his next start June 8 in the Grade 2 True North at Belmont Park.

Imperial Hint has bounced back from his sixth-place finish in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day and turned in a sharp work at his home base of Parx on May 25. He is scheduled to work again this week and then run in the Grade 2 True North at Belmont Park next Friday.

Trainer Luis Carvajal Jr. considered both the $250,000 True North and the $75,000 Mr. Prospector at Monmouth Park as potential races for Imperial Hint, but settled on the more ambitious spot.

“His coat is all dappled out,” Carvajal said. “He’s doing really good.”

Wed, 05/30/2018 - 13:56

Callaghan sends sharp pair for Penn Mile card

Emily Shields
The Simon Callaghan-trained Encumbered is among the top contenders in Saturday's Penn Mile.

California horseman Simon Callaghan is planning a two-pronged assault on the East Coast the next two weekends.

On Wednesday, he sent the turf runners Encumbered and Treasuring east on a charter flight to compete at Penn National on Saturday.

Callaghan also has a pair of runners for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. He plans to start two-time Grade 1 winner American Gal in the seven-furlong Bed o’ Roses on June 8 and Moonshine Memories in the Grade 1 Acorn the next day on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

Wed, 05/30/2018 - 13:22

Baffert all smiles as Justify readies for Belmont Stakes

Coady Photography
Triple Crown hopeful Justify, under Martin Garcia, works a half-mile in a 46.80 seconds Tuesday at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – If trainer Bob Baffert had his way, what remains of the time between the Preakness and Belmont Stakes would quickly vanish. Justify looked so good in his first post-Preakness breeze Tuesday at Churchill Downs that Baffert started talking about running the superstar colt back as soon as possible.

“I wish the race was this week,” Baffert said with a smile, “but, you know, we’ve got another week to go. I think we’re in great shape.”

Wed, 05/30/2018 - 13:22

Rye to get a summer vacation

Benoit Photo
Rye (No. 6), pictured winning the Unusual Heat Turf Classic, will get 30 to 60 days off.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Rye, the winner of the $200,345 California Cup Turf Classic in January, will be given a summertime rest after finishing last of 11 in the Crystal Water Stakes for statebred turf milers at Santa Anita on May 20.

“We’ll give him between 30 to 60 days and regroup,” trainer William Morey said. “It probably cancels Del Mar at this point. We’ll take it month by month.”

Wed, 05/30/2018 - 13:22

Belvoir Bay could face males in Highlander Stakes

Shigeki Kikkawa
Belvoir Bay is under consideration for the Grade 1 Highlander Stakes at Woodbine.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Belvoir Bay, the winner of three consecutive turf sprint stakes at Santa Anita this spring, including Monday’s Grade 2 Monrovia Stakes, is bound for Canada for her next start.

Barry Irwin, the chief executive of the Team Valor International partnership, which owns the mare with Gary Barber, said on Wednesday that Belvoir Bay will be considered for the Grade 1 Highlander Stakes against males at six furlongs on turf at Woodbine on June 30.