Wed, 05/09/2018 - 15:20

Diamond King considered for Peter Pan, Preakness Stakes

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
Diamond King paid $6.60 to win the Federico Tesio Stakes on Saturday at Laurel Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. – By virtue of his victory in the Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel on April 21, Diamond King secured a fees-paid berth in the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 19.

While his connections are still considering the Preakness, on Wednesday they entered Diamond King in Saturday’s Grade 3, $350,000 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park. The Peter Pan is run at 1 1/8 miles around one turn.

Chuck Zacney, whose Cash Is King Stable is a co-owner of Diamond King, said Wednesday, “We’re at the enter-and-to-be-determined stage.”

Wed, 05/09/2018 - 15:10

Gronkowski joins Brown barn, eyes Belmont Stakes

hoycubed photography
This victory at Kempton Park in England helped Gronkowski qualify for a spot in the Kentucky Derby.

ELMONT, N.Y. – While Chad Brown doesn’t plan on running Kentucky Derby runner-up Good Magic in the Belmont Stakes, he could have another horse in that race.

On Tuesday, it was announced that Gronkowski, the 3-year-old named for New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, is being moved from trainer Jeremy Noseda to Brown by owner Phoenix Thoroughbreds. On Wednesday, Brown said he expected the horse to clear quarantine Monday.

Wed, 05/09/2018 - 15:06

Cloud Computing to have surgery for ankle chip

Barbara D. Livingston
Cloud Computing has not raced since September.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Cloud Computing, who won last year’s Preakness, came out of his narrow fourth-place finish in last Saturday’s Grade 3 Westchester Stakes at Belmont Park with a chip in a front ankle and will need surgery, trainer Chad Brown said Wednesday.

Cloud Computing had a similar problem last September, when an ankle chip was diagnosed following a workout three weeks after he ran in the Travers Stakes.

Wed, 05/09/2018 - 14:16

Kanthaka, Moonshine Memories add sparkle to stakes

Shigeki Kikkawa
Two-time Grade 1 winner Moonshine Memories was supplemented to Saturday's Angels Flight Stakes at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The graded stakes winners Kanthaka and Moonshine Memories have been entered in stakes for 3-year-old sprinters at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Kanthaka will start in the Grade 3 Lazaro Barrera Stakes at seven furlongs in an attempt to rebound from a sixth-place finish in the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 7. Good Magic won the Blue Grass Stakes and was second in the Kentucky Derby last Saturday.

Wed, 05/09/2018 - 14:10

Stormy Liberal pointing for Jaipur

Mathea Kelley/Dubai Racing Club
Stormy Liberal's first start since a runner-up finish in Dubai is to come at Belmont Park.

Stormy Liberal, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar last November and second in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai in March, will resume racing in the Grade 2 Jaipur Invitational at Belmont Park on June 9.

Brian Trump, racing manager for co-owner Rockingham Ranch, made the announcement on Twitter on Tuesday. The $400,000 Jaipur Invitational is run at six furlongs on turf and is part of the undercard of the Belmont Stakes program.

Wed, 05/09/2018 - 14:00

In allowance, Longden gets chance to make his own name

Longden is known primarily as the workmate for Justify prior to the Kentucky Derby. There is more to Longden, a colt with talent and upside. His climb continues in race 7 on Friday at Santa Anita, a first-level allowance route for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.

After surgery last summer to remove an undescended testicle that caused discomfort, Longden improved each subsequent start. His most recent was his best yet, a maiden victory in his sixth attempt.

Wed, 05/09/2018 - 13:56

American Gal set for deliberate 2018 campaign

Barbara D. Livingston
The Ballerina and BC Distaff are long-term goals for Humana Distaff winner American Gal.

American Gal, who reemerged as one of the country’s top female sprinters with her decisive victory Saturday in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs, will campaign sparingly in 2018.

“We’ll pick our spots with her, the Ballerina and Breeders’ Cup are our two main goals,” trainer Simon Callaghan said.

The Grade 1 Ballerina is Aug. 25 at Saratoga; the BC Filly and Mare Sprint is Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs.

“We’ll decide what we do in between, it probably won’t be more than three races” total, Callaghan said.

Wed, 05/09/2018 - 13:50

Stakes calendar gives Finley'sluckycharm short rest

Coady Photography
Finley'sluckycharm wins the Winning Colors by 5 1/2 lengths on Saturday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Finley’sluckycharm had been perfect in six starts at Churchill Downs prior to finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff on the Kentucky Derby card last weekend. Trainer Bret Calhoun said the defeat, in hindsight, was at least partly understandable given how hard the mare ran in a nose victory in her previous start, the Grade 1 Madison on April 7 at Keeneland.

Wed, 05/09/2018 - 13:26

Dates set for Fair Grounds 2018-19 meet

The Louisiana Racing Commission has approved an 81-date Thoroughbred meet for Fair Grounds in New Orleans. The track will open Nov. 17, 2018 and race through March 31, 2019. Fair Grounds also was awarded a 10-date Quarter Horse meet for this year, from Aug. 16 through Sept. 8.

During the same commission meeting, Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La., was granted a 46-date meet for Quarter Horses, from Oct. 3 through Dec. 19.

Wed, 05/09/2018 - 13:26

Conquest Mo Money being considered for Lone Star Park Handicap

Barbara D. Livingston
The Lone Star Handicap on May 27 is among the options for Conquest Mo Money.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Conquest Mo Money, who on Sunday at Lone Star Park ran fourth in his first start since the Preakness, could return to Lone Star for the Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap on May 27.

Trainer Miguel Hernandez said options for Conquest Mo Money are being discussed with owner Judge Lanier Racing, and they also include route stakes in New Mexico, including the $200,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap on Aug. 4.