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.
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.”
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.
The trainer Doug Anderson said Sunday he has no defined plans for Prairie Meadows Cornhusker winner Remembering Rita. And that’s fine. What still feels most important is the obscure path Remembering Rita took to the Cornhusker rather than the road he’ll follow the rest of the summer.
Anderson claimed Remembering Rita for $50,000 out of a maiden race Nov. 5, 2016, at Churchill Downs. Remembering Rita got a couple standard post-race rest days in his new stable, returned to the track to train, and showed signs of injury.
Big Changes has returned to Churchill Downs after winning the $50,000 John Henry Stakes on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs. Trainer Brad Cox said he will let him recover from the race before deciding where to run him next.
“Anytime you ship to Louisiana and back north, it takes a little bit out of them,” Cox said.
Big Changes, who races for Steve Landers of Arkansas, has won both of his starts this year. He opened his 6-year-old season with an optional $50,000 claiming turf route score June 19 at Indiana Grand.
Trainer Al Stall’s outstanding win streak in Louisiana came to a close Monday when Belle Force finished second in an off-the-turf maiden special weight at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City. Going into the race, the trainer had won 13 races from his last 14 starts in Louisiana in a streak that began June 20.
Stall's streak included winners at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas. Belle Force was the barn's first loss in the state since June 25 and heading into Monday the operation had won with its last five starters at Louisiana Downs.
As expected, Conquest Sandman sped right to the lead breaking from the rail under jockey Emisael Jaramillo and then was never headed, drawing away to a 4 ¼-length victory in Sunday’s $75,000 Mecke Stakes. The Mecke was the third stakes tally for Conquest Sandman since being claimed by trainer Juan Carlos Abarrio in the interests of owner Costa Brava for a bargain $16,000 in February.
“As long as he can get on the lead and have it his way, no one is going to touch him,” said Abarrio, through an interpreter, after the race.
The controversy surrounding the disqualification of Midnight Soiree from first to second in Saturday’s $100,000 Martha Washington Stakes will continue indefinitely. According to trainer Lisa Lewis, the owners of Midnight Soiree will appeal the stewards’ decision to place their horse second behind Camila Princess for alleged interference through the stretch run of the one-mile turf event for 3-year-old fillies.
Trainer Jose Pinchin had himself a big weekend. On Friday, his promising 2-year-old Fully Loaded remained unbeaten after drawing away to a very convincing 7 1/2-length allowance victory. Forty-eight hours later, Pinchin sent out Front Loaded to a similarly impressive four-length triumph in Sunday’s $48,000 allowance co-feature at one mile. Edgard Zayas was aboard both winners.
Red Ruby earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure for her 13-length tour de force in the Grade 3, $300,000 Delaware Oaks on Saturday. The figure is by far the highest for a 3-year-old filly this year.
The second-best 3-year-old filly Beyer belongs to division leader Monomoy Girl, who earned a 98 winning the Grade 1 Acorn.
Four 3-year-old fillies have recorded a 97 Beyer this year – Monomoy Girl in the Kentucky Oaks, Athena in the Belmont Oaks on turf, Mia Mischief in the seven-furlong Eight Belles, and the late Amada Rafaela in her debut maiden victory.
