Wed, 07/11/2018 - 10:56

Jessica Krupnick in prime position for MATCH Series bonuses

Hoofprints Inc.
Jessica Krupnick gets the first stakes win of her career last Saturday in the Dashing Beauty Stakes at Delaware Park.

Jessica Krupnick held on by a whisker to win a three-horse photo finish in the Dashing Beauty Stakes at Delaware Park last Saturday. The win was her first in a stakes, pushed her earnings to more than $200,000, and made her a major player in the MATCH Series.

An Uncle Mo 5-year-old, Jessica Krupnick is having her best season for Fair Hill-based horseman Tres Abbott. The stakes win was important to her owner, the Sycamore Racing V partnership, because it improved her residual value after her racing days are over.

Wed, 07/11/2018 - 09:06

McCraken among Wilkes horses headed to Saratoga

Barbara D. Livingston
McCraken might make his next start in the Whitney on Aug. 4 at Saratoga.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – McCraken could make his next start in the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 4 at Saratoga as trainer Ian Wilkes prepares to send most of his best horses to both coasts from his Churchill Downs base.

McCraken, third as the favorite last Friday night in the Cornhusker at Prairie Meadows, will be part of a 20-horse contingent going to Saratoga.

“If everything goes well in his training, we’ll think about the Whitney,” said Wilkes.

Wed, 07/11/2018 - 09:06

Finley'sluckycharm on course for Honorable Miss

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Finley’sluckycharm, winner of the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes, is pointing to a 2018 campaign and a return trip to the Breeders' Cup.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Finley’sluckycharm continued her preparations for the Grade 2 Honorable Miss on July 25 at Saratoga when she breezed a half-mile Tuesday in 49.20 seconds at Churchill.

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“Everything’s good,” said trainer Bret Calhoun. “We’re heading to Saratoga with her Friday. She’ll work there the following Wednesday, then run the Wednesday after that. I’m really happy with her.”

Wed, 07/11/2018 - 09:06

Romans considering the Amsterdam for Seven Trumpets

Coady Photography
Seven Trumpets earned an 81 Beyer Speed Figure for an off-the-turf allowance win Thursday at Churchill Downs.

Seven Trumpets, a distant second to Firenze Fire last Saturday in the one-mile Dwyer at Belmont, is being considered for a turn-back to 6 1/2 furlongs in the Grade 3 Amsterdam on July 28 at Saratoga, said trainer Dale Romans.

“I’m also thinking about the Amsterdam for Promises Fulfilled and Cove Blue,” said Romans, who will have a 20-horse string at Saratoga.

Wed, 07/11/2018 - 09:06

Allowance race tops Friday card

Coady Photography
Chief Cicatriz broke through with a 6 1/4-length win in the Grade 3 Aristides Stakes on June 2 at Churchill Downs.

With no stakes at Ellis Friday-Sunday, allowance races will serve as nominal highlights. The lone allowance on an eight-race Friday card at the western Kentucky track is the last race, while two allowances (races 5 and 7) anchor a nine-race Saturday card. First post daily is 12:50 p.m. Central.

The $50,000 Good Lord, set for July 22, is the next Ellis stakes.

Lanerie back on Kentucky circuit

Mon, 07/09/2018 - 15:26

Brown has a bunch for Diana Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
A Raving Beauty (left) got up for a three-quarter length victory in Saturday's Grade 1 Just a Game.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Chad Brown trains seven of the 15 fillies and mares nominated to the $500,000 Diana Stakes, the first Grade 1 of the Saratoga meet, scheduled for July 21.

Brown said Sunday he could run as many as four in the 1 1/8-mile turf race. A Raving Beauty, winner of the Grade 1 Just a Game, and Sistercharlie, winner of the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley, are considered definite to run. Fourstar Crook, who beat Sistercharlie in the New York Stakes, and New Money Honey, who came off a lengthy layoff to win an allowance race at Belmont, are possible.

Mon, 07/09/2018 - 15:20

Bee Jersey working on turf

Ronnie Betor
Bee Jersey wins the Metropolitan Mile last weekend at Belmont.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Bee Jersey, a winner of four consecutive dirt races including the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, worked on the Oklahoma turf course in Saratoga for the second consecutive week on Monday.

Bee Jersey went five furlongs in 1:04.51 in company with the 3-year-old Reride. On July 2, Bee Jersey went five furlongs in 1:03.21.

Mon, 07/09/2018 - 15:16

Disco Partner tries for Forbidden Apple repeat

Debra A. Roma
Disco Partner wins the Jaipur Stakes at Belmont Park on June 9.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Disco Partner has won two straight runnings of the Jaipur Invitational. On Saturday, he will attempt to win his second straight Forbidden Apple Stakes at Belmont Park.

On Sunday, Disco Partner completed preparations for the $150,000 Forbidden Apple by working a half-mile in 48.05 seconds over the Belmont Park turf course. Irad Ortiz Jr. was up for the move, the fastest of 16 breezes at the distance.

Mon, 07/09/2018 - 15:12

Pink Lloyd fine after loss

Michael Burns
Pink Lloyd paid $3.10 in winning the Jacques Cartier at Woodbine on Saturday.

Trainer Robert Tiller reported Monday that reigning Canadian Horse of the Year Pink Lloyd exited his stunning loss in Sunday’s $100,000 Shepperton Stakes in good shape. Pink Lloyd had his 11-race win streak in Woodbine stakes snapped in the 6 1/2-furlong Ontario-sired event. He was softened up in a speed duel and ended up third behind Kingsport and Jacks Escarpment.

“Pink Lloyd is fine,” Tiller said. “He jogged sound [Monday] morning. Things didn’t go right for us. That’s horse racing. I’m very proud of him. He will be back.”

Mon, 07/09/2018 - 15:08

Absolution eyes Prince of Wales

Nominations for the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes on July 24 at Fort Erie close Tuesday, and Absolution is pointing to the race, the second jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown. Absolution would be the first Canadian Triple Crown starter for trainer Tony Gattellaro.

Absolution joins the top three finishers from the Queen’s Plate – Wonder Gadot, Aheadbyacentury, and Cooler Mike – and sixth-place Ohio Derby finisher Flameaway among the Prince of Wales Stakes probables.