Mon, 04/23/2018 - 12:26

Significant Form pointing for Wonder Again Stakes

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Significant Form posted a 6 1/4-length victory in Sunday's Memories of Silver Stakes at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – All three of trainer Chad Brown’s wins Sunday at Aqueduct came with horses returning from a layoff, none more impressive than Significant Form, who galloped to a front-running 6 1/4-length victory in the $100,000 Memories of Silver Stakes.

Mon, 04/23/2018 - 12:26

Spring meet business helps offset winter doldrums at Aqueduct

Barbara D. Livingston
Aqueduct was able to conduct all 47 turf races it carded over the 13-day spring meet in 2018.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – After a harsh winter weather-wise and at the entry box, the New York Racing Association enjoyed a pleasant April at Aqueduct.

All-sources handle for 13 days of racing at Aqueduct from April 6 through 22 was approximately $95.7 million, up 14.7 percent compared with the corresponding 13-day period in 2017, when Aqueduct handled $83.4 million.

Mon, 04/23/2018 - 11:30

Cox, Geroux charge to finish

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Florent Geroux guides Brad Cox-trained Ravish to a maiden win Saturday at Keeneland. Geroux and Cox are chasing first Keeneland jockey and trainer titles, respectively.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keeneland’s 16-day spring meet ends Friday following a final three-day stretch during which Brad Cox and Florent Geroux appear to have an edge in securing their first Keeneland titles as top trainer and jockey, respectively.

With six wins here last week, Cox has surged ahead of two trainers also having huge meets. Following a Sunday three-bagger, Cox had 12 winners from just 23 starters, with still six more horses to run Wednesday through Friday. He is followed by Chad Brown (11 of 21, just two more to run) and Wesley Ward (10 of 34, five more).

Mon, 04/23/2018 - 10:40

Glyshaw on Bullards Alley heartbreak: Just keep going

Barbara D. Livingston
Bullards Alley was euthanized after breaking down in his left hind leg during the Elkhorn Stakes.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The sun rose Monday over Kentucky, although it was hard to tell through the rain and gloom. The emphasis was on gloom for Tim Glyshaw, who was dealing with an all-too-visceral case of heartbreak approaching 48 hours.

“This has been the toughest time,” Glyshaw said.

Mon, 04/23/2018 - 08:26

Jockey Puglisi seeks late-May comeback

Shigeki Kikkawa
Jockey Iggy Puglisi has not ridden since mid-March.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockey Iggy Puglisi has not ridden since mid-March after suffering a severely sprained ankle, and is hoping to resume physical therapy this week for a comeback in late May.

Puglisi said Sunday that he hoped to receive doctor’s clearance this week to begin exercising the ankle, which was injured in a starting gate incident at Santa Anita on March 18.

“It was bruised and swollen,” Puglisi said “Nothing was broken.”

Puglisi said he was advised by doctors to rest for a month. He said the ankle was flexible in some positions compared to others.

Mon, 04/23/2018 - 08:26

Bobby Abu Dhabi may be bound for True North Stakes

Benoit Photo
Bobby Abu Dhabi won the Kona Gold Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths on Saturday.

ARCADIA, Calif. – With several stakes-class sprinters in his stable, Peter Miller may send Bobby Abu Dhabi to Belmont Park for the Grade 2 True North Stakes on June 8.

Bobby Abu Dhabi won the Grade 2 Kona Gold Stakes here at 6 1/2 furlongs on Saturday for his first stakes win. A 5-2 chance, Bobby Abu Dhabi stalked the pace before pulling clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths over 7-5 favorite Ransom the Moon. The Kona Gold was Ransom the Moon’s first start since a fifth-place finish in the BC Sprint at Del Mar last November.

Mon, 04/23/2018 - 08:10

What a View has Shoemaker Mile or Crystal Water Stakes as possible next start

Shigeki Kikkawa
What a View (right) earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure for his American Stakes victory.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Grade 3 American Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday is scheduled as a prep race for the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on May 28. Trainer Kenny Black may take a different route with What a View, who won his fifth stakes with a minor upset in the American.

Black said Sunday the $400,000 Shoemaker is an option, as is the $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes for California-breds at a mile on turf on May 20.

“I think I’ll give my boss and partners the info and leave it up to them,” Black said in a text message. “He seems to have come out of it in good order.”

Sun, 04/22/2018 - 13:40

Spawr high on Midnight Bisou ahead of Kentucky Oaks

Benoit & Associates
Midnight Bisou pulled clear in the final sixteenth to win by 4 1/2 lengths over Steph Being Steph.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The brilliant 3-year-old filly Midnight Bisou is nearing the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 4 in a manner that leaves her 78-year-old trainer, Bill Spawr, in awe.

Spawr spoke glowingly of Midnight Bisou’s current condition on Sunday morning, a few hours after the filly worked five furlongs in 1:01.60 at Santa Anita before dawn.

“She’s getting better,” Spawr said. “She’s scary. Her bodyweight is right. She’s confident in the way she acts.”

Sun, 04/22/2018 - 12:39

Bolt d'Oro has stamina-building workout for Kentucky Derby

Shigeki Kikkawa
Justify earned a 107 Beyer Speed Figure for his win in the Santa Anita Derby on Saturday.

ARCADIA, Calif. – With slight urging in the stretch, Bolt d’Oro worked seven furlongs in 1:24.20 at Santa Anita on Sunday, his second-to-last major exercise before the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 5.

Second in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 7, Bolt d’Oro worked alone on Sunday under jockey Victor Espinoza, who will ride the colt for the first time in the Kentucky Derby.

Sun, 04/22/2018 - 11:57

Something Awesome targets Pimlico Special

Coady Photography
Something Awesome returned $20.60 to win the Charles Town Classic on Saturday.

The top three finishers and beaten favorite Diversify were all doing well Sunday morning following the previous day's $1.2 million Charles Town Classic.

Something Awesome defeated War Story by a neck under Hall of Famer rider Edgar Prado in the 1 1/8-mile Classic, with the late-running Fear the Cowboy a length farther back in third. Diversify dropped back through the field following a little more than six furlongs and finished last, with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. protecting him after it was clear he had no more to give.