Thu, 10/10/2024 - 15:28

Roxanne Tanner named director of racing

Roxanne Tanner.director of racing. Louisiana Downs Oct 9 2024

Roxanne Tanner is taking over as director of racing from Matt Crawford, who is retiring.

Roxanne Tanner has been named director of racing for Louisiana Downs, the Bossier City, La., track announced Wednesday. She will oversee all aspects of racing operations, including mutuels, at the facility that also houses a casino.

Tanner takes over from Matt Crawford, a 30-year racing official in the Southwest who is retiring, according to a separate press release from Louisiana Downs. Crawford also served as racing secretary for Louisiana Downs. The track has launched a search for a new racing secretary, a position Tanner hopes will be filled by the first of the year.

Thu, 10/10/2024 - 15:13

Fresu to serve reduced suspension from 2023 violations

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Jockey Antonio Fresu will serve a suspension on Saturday and Sunday for violations in 2023 at Del Mar.

Jockey Antonio Fresu has been suspended on Saturday and Sunday and fined $500 for riding infractions at the 2023 Del Mar summer meeting that were originally 22 days of suspension and fines of $990, but later significantly reduced by a policy change enacted by the Horseracing Safety and Integrity Unit.

Thu, 10/10/2024 - 15:10

D'Amato approaching 1,000 wins

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

As of Thursday, trainer Phil D'Amato is two wins away from 1,000 career wins.

As soon as this weekend, prominent California trainer Phil D’Amato may reach 1,000 career wins.

Through Wednesday, D’Amato has 998 wins in North America. He has one starter at Keeneland on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. At Santa Anita, D’Amato has four runners on Friday and three entered on Saturday. Entries for Sunday were taken on Thursday. D’Amato said he expects to have several starters on Sunday.

D’Amato, 48, has been one of the leading trainers in recent years at Del Mar and Santa Anita.

Thu, 10/10/2024 - 15:08

Nysos has first work since February

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Nysos, one of California's top 3-year-olds before an injury, returned to the worktab for the first time since February.

Nysos, the undefeated colt who won two stakes by a combined 26 3/4 lengths last fall and winter before he was sidelined during the buildup to the Triple Crown, worked a half-mile in 47.60 seconds for trainer Bob Baffert at Santa Anita on Thursday.

The workout was the first for Nysos since late February. Nysos was the morning-line favorite for the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita on March 3, but was withdrawn the day before the race. The San Felipe is a key prep race for the Santa Anita Derby.

Thu, 10/10/2024 - 15:04

Safety repairs could threaten track's scheduled opener

By Matt Hegarty

Coady Photography

Vince Francia, the general manage of Turf Paradise, is confident the needed safety upgrades will be completed prior to opening day on Nov. 2.

The Arizona Department of Racing plans to meet in two weeks to determine whether Turf Paradise has complied with a laundry list of safety issues that have been identified by state regulators and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority.

Thu, 10/10/2024 - 14:30

D'Angelo prepares lightly raced Bentornato, Howard Wolowitz for Breeders' Cup

By Mike Welsch

Debra A. Roma

Bentornato wins the Grade 2 Gallant Bob at Parx Racing in his most recent start.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Jose D’Angelo is hoping talent will trump experience when he takes his two recent graded stakes-winning but relatively lightly raced 3-year-olds – Bentornato and Howard Wolowitz – to Del Mar for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup.

Bentornato will enter the Sprint on Nov. 2 with just eight starts on his résumé, five of them victories, including a game neck decision over Sunny Breeze last month at Parx Racing in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob.

Thu, 10/10/2024 - 14:10

Gargan has Sleepy Hollow up next for Man in Finance

By David Grening

Adam Coglianese/NYRA

Impressive maiden winner Man in Finance will make his next start in the Sleepy Hollow at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While trainer Danny Gargan contemplates whether or not to run Grade 1 Frizette runner-up Snowyte in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, he does seem set on where he will next run his impressive debut-winning New York-bred 2-year-old Man in Finance.

Man in Finance, who won his debut Sept. 21 by 7 3/4 lengths, earning an 82 Beyer Speed Figure, will make his next start in the $200,000 Sleepy Hollow Stakes for New York-breds on Oct. 27.

Thu, 10/10/2024 - 14:10

Lezcano hires Campo as new agent

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Jockey Jose Lezcano has hired P.J. Campo as his new agent.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jose Lezcano and his long-time agent Jason Beides have parted ways. Lezcano has retained the services of P.J. Campo to represent him.

Campo is the agent for Javier Castellano and Eric Cancel. In New York, agents may only represent two journeyman jockeys at one time. Campo will retain Castellano, who has been sidelined since Aug. 31 due to injury but could return to race-riding on Oct. 18. Cancel is looking for a new agent.

Thu, 10/10/2024 - 14:05

Trombetta very high on Hollywood Walk in Floral Park

By David Grening

Coady Photography

Trained by Mike Trombetta, Hollywood Walk headlines Saturday's Floral Park at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Mike Trombetta is running his best female turf sprinter, Future Is Now, in Sunday’s Grade 2 Franklin Stakes at Keeneland. But Hollywood Walk, the filly he runs in Saturday’s $135,000 Floral Park Stakes for females on turf at Aqueduct, isn’t too bad either.

“Future Is Now has been running against the best horses and doing well with them,” Trombetta said. “They’re not tremendously far off.”

Wed, 10/09/2024 - 15:05

Casse sending Natalma top three to BC Juvenile Fillies Turf

By Steve Andersen

Michael Burns

And One More Time lead a Mark Casse-trained trio in the Natalma Stakes, with all three expected to be entered in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

The first three finishers of the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine last month – And One More Time, Vixen, and Nitrogen - are intended runners in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 1, trainer Mark Casse said earlier this week.

And One More Time stalked the pace in the Natalma Stakes at a mile on turf and won by a neck over Vixen, who closed from third. Nitrogen set the pace and was beaten three-quarters of a length.

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