Fri, 06/01/2018 - 11:30

Wonder Gadot puts Anderson Farms back on Queen's Plate trail

Emily Shields
Wonder Gadot (left) finished second in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 4.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Breeder David Anderson had quite the year in 2017. A total of 23 horses bred by Anderson Farms started, and 18 made trips to the winner’s circle. Seven of those were stakes winners or stakes-placed, including two Grade 2 winners.

One of those Grade 2 winners was Wonder Gadot, who captured the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct last November. Most recently, Wonder Gadot ran second in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on May 4 at Churchill Downs, a race Anderson said was his biggest thrill as a breeder.

Fri, 06/01/2018 - 10:16

Justify schools at gate, gallops six furlongs

Barbara D. Livingston
Justify is expected to put in his final workout for the Belmont Stakes on Monday at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The weather and routine were a bit different Friday morning when Justify went out for exercise, but the bottom line was the same – all is well with the superstar colt as the June 9 Belmont Stakes drew another day closer.

Thu, 05/31/2018 - 15:40

Jerkens has two for marathon turf stakes

Joe Labozzetta/NYRA
Holy Helena, ridden by Manny Franco, wins the Sheepshead Bay by half a length.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Jimmy Jerkens will be sending horses far and farther in two marathon turf stakes next week at Belmont Park.

On Friday, Jerkens will send out Holy Helena in the Grade 2, $600,000 New York Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles. That same day, he will also saddle Rocketry in the Grade 2, $400,000 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational at two miles.

On Thursday, Rocketry worked a mile over the Belmont training track in 1:41.91. Rocketry went his first half-mile in 51.51 seconds and his second half-mile in 50.50 under exercise rider Kelvin Pahal.

Thu, 05/31/2018 - 15:36

Belmont Stakes winner Tapwrit returns Sunday

Barbara D. Livingston
Tapwrit is set to return from a 10-month layoff Sunday at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Tapwrit, the 2017 Belmont Stakes winner, will make his long-awaited return to the races in an allowance Sunday at Belmont Park.

The race will be the first for Tapwrit since he finished fourth in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga last August. Tapwrit had been battling a foot issue that forced his connections to stop on him late last summer. Tapwrit injured the frog, the bottom of a horse’s foot that acts like a shock absorber, and was given ample time to heal.

Thu, 05/31/2018 - 15:36

Disco Partner brings his speed back to Jaipur

Barbara D. Livingston
Disco Partner, under Irad Ortiz Jr., wins the Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational Stakes in October.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The two fastest races Disco Partner has ever run were in the Jaipur Invitational at Belmont Park.

His connections hope he has at least one more fast race in those 6-year-old legs when he makes his third appearance in the Grade 2, $400,000 Jaipur Invitational on the undercard of the June 9 Belmont Stakes.

Last year, Disco Partner set a North American record when he ran six furlongs in 1:05.67 in winning the Jaipur by a half-length over Green Mask. In 2016, Disco Partner was beaten a neck by stablemate Pure Sensation in the Jaipur, which went in 1:06.76.

Thu, 05/31/2018 - 14:16

Skye Diamonds puts in first work since Humana Distaff

Barbara D. Livingston
Skye Diamonds is a candidate for the Great Lady M Stakes at Los Alamitos on July 7.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Skye Diamonds, a three-time stakes winner in 2017, worked three furlongs on the infield training track in 39.20 seconds at Santa Anita on Thursday.

The workout was the first for Skye Diamonds since she finished sixth in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs on May 5.

Trained by Bill Spawr, Skye Diamonds is a candidate for the Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos on July 7, a race she won in 2017. Spawr said earlier this month that Skye Diamonds struggled on the wet track at Churchill Downs.

Thu, 05/31/2018 - 14:10

McKinzie tack-walking in preparation for return

Barbara D. Livingston
Two-time graded winner McKinzie, sidelined earlier this year with a hock injury, is nearing a return to racetrack training.

ARCADIA, Calif. – McKinzie, a two-time graded stakes winner, is nearing a return to racetrack training after being sidelined with a hock injury in late March.

Trainer Bob Baffert said on Thursday that McKinzie is tack-walking this week at his Santa Anita stable.

“He’ll be back,” Baffert said. “I wanted to make sure he was okay.”

Baffert said McKinzie had issues with a hock detected via a nuclear scan test conducted in late March. Nuclear scans are more precise than routine X-rays and can detect minor deficiencies.

Thu, 05/31/2018 - 14:10

Tyler Baze pushes return to June 7

Shigeki Kikkawa
Jockey Tyler Baze has not ridden since being involved in a one-horse spill on May 19.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Tyler Baze, who has not ridden since May 19 because of body soreness sustained in a one-horse spill, has postponed his return to riding to June 7 at the earliest, said Craig O’Bryan, Baze’s agent..

Baze was named to ride on Memorial Day weekend and then considered returning this weekend before eventually deciding on a comeback next Thursday. Baze has undergone physical therapy and worked with chiropractors to facilitate a return.

Wed, 05/30/2018 - 15:36

Honor the Hero rescheduled for Saturday

Coady Photography/Canterbury Park
Sirenusa wins the Northbound Pride Oaks under Adam Beschizza on Monday.

The back end of the May 26 card at Canterbury Park had to be canceled after storms in the area produced too much lightning to safely race. Among the races lost was the $50,000 Honor the Hero, a turf sprint for 3-year-olds and up that has been rescheduled for this Saturday, June 2.

Wed, 05/30/2018 - 15:30

Apprehender, 9, breaks through to win Ed Skinner Memorial

Coady Photography
Apprehender wins the Ed Skinner Memorial on Saturday at Prairie Meadows. It was his 44th career start.

Apprehender has been around the block but still knows his way to the finish line.

The 9-year-old gelding made his 44th career start Saturday in the $65,000 Ed Skinner Memorial Stakes at Prairie Meadows, and after second-place finishes in 2016 and 2017 won the race.

“He’s a pretty cool horse,” said trainer Gene Jacquot. “He’s all about business when he’s on the racetrack and he’s a nice horse in the barn. He can go on and have a nice career after racing. He’s a big, sensible horse. But he came back out of this race bouncing, so I’d say he’s not quite ready to retire.”