Thu, 03/01/2018 - 15:46

Quezon to end career in Correction Stakes

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
New York-bred stakes winner Quezon will be retired after a start in the Correction Stakes on March 17.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Quezon, a multiple New York-bred stakes-winning mare, will make the final start of her career in the $100,000 Correction Stakes at Aqueduct on March 17, trainer Robert Ribaudo said Thursday.

After being forced to scratch out of the Barbara Fritchie at Laurel due to an equine herpesvirus situation at Belmont Park, Quezon was being considered for the Heavenly Prize on March 10 or the Correction. Ribaudo prefers the six furlongs of the Correction to the mile of the Heavenly Prize, which is expected to draw Highway Star and Divine Miss Grey.

Thu, 03/01/2018 - 15:40

Eye-catching maiden winner Westerdale pointing to Wood Memorial

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Westerdale, a 14 3/4-length maiden winner at Aqueduct on Sunday, will be pointed to the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 7, trainer Tom Morley said Thursday.

Morley, who is part owner of Westerdale, has always been high on this son of Flat Out. He finished third in his two starts at 2, including in a race won by Mask when both debuted at Belmont last Oct. 20. Mask came back to win the Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream in January.

“He was a bit too keen in the race,” Morley said.

Thu, 03/01/2018 - 15:36

Hollendorfer to send Afleet Ascent, not Kanthaka, for Gotham

Benoit Photo
Afleet Ascent (right) was most recently second in the Baffle Stakes on turf at Santa Anita.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is changing plans with his 3-year-olds, opting to keep Kanthaka in Southern California for the Grade 2, $400,000 San Felipe at Santa Anita and deciding to ship Afleet Ascent to New York for the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct. Both races are March 10.

Thu, 03/01/2018 - 14:06

Chilean Group 1 winner Full of Life nears U.S. debut

Benoit and Associates
Heck Yeah, ridden by Mike Smith runs his record to 3 for 3 with this victory in the California Cup Derby.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Full of Life, the winner of the Group 1 El Derby and four other group stakes in Chile in 2016 and 2017, likely will make his U.S. debut this month for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

Thu, 03/01/2018 - 14:06

Miss Sunset possible for Santa Monica, Madison stakes

Shigeki Kikkawa
Miss Sunset and jockey Mike Smith win the Spring Fever Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Miss Sunset beat California-breds in the $100,000 Spring Fever Stakes for female sprinters at Santa Anita last Sunday, her seventh stakes win. Chances are Miss Sunset will race in a graded stakes in early spring.

On Thursday, trainer Jeff Bonde said he is considering two seven-furlong races for Miss Sunset – the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita on March 24 or the Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland on April 7.

In either race, Miss Sunset will face a stern test.

“You can’t hide,” he said.

Thu, 03/01/2018 - 14:06

Blackjackcat to skip Kilroe Mile

Emily Shields
Blackjackcat (right) is a possibility to run in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile March 31.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Blackjackcat, third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar last fall and fifth in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes on Feb. 10, will miss the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 10.

Trainer Mark Glatt said on Thursday that Blackjackcat has not had a workout since the Thunder Road Stakes, in which he was beaten five lengths by the winner, Om.

“We’re going to pass,” Glatt said. “Our plans are a little bit up in the air. We want to make sure he’s good and ready when we do come back.”

Wed, 02/28/2018 - 15:16

Gladyousawme pointing for Crescent City Derby

Coady Photography
Gladyousawme wins the Louisiana Premier Night Prince last month, his third win in three starts at Delta Downs.

Gladyousawme, who has won three races at the Delta Downs meet, is targeting the $75,000 Crescent City Derby on March 24 at Fair Grounds, trainer Brad Cox said. The 1 1/16-mile race for Louisiana-breds is on the same card as the Louisiana Derby.

Gladyousawme won an allowance at Delta in October. He proceeded to win the $150,000 Louisiana Legacy in November and then last month’s $130,000 Louisiana Premier Night Prince.

“He’s doing really well,” Cox said. “He’s a solid horse, always gives you what he’s got.”

Wed, 02/28/2018 - 15:16

Juvenile champ Good Magic tops 10 in Fountain of Youth

Susie Raisher
Reigning juvenile champion Good Magic will make his 2018 debut in the Fountain of Youth.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Good Magic is the reigning juvenile champion and likely odds-on favorite in Saturday’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park. He Takes Charge has won just once in five career starts and will go postward among the longest-priced members of the field.

But the two horses will have one thing in common when they square off in the important Kentucky Derby prep and final major local tune-up for the $1 million Florida Derby on March 31: both are coming off a maiden win.

Wed, 02/28/2018 - 15:16

Forest Mouse to get another chance to become a millionaire

Coady Photography
Forest Mouse could become a millionaire if he finishes between first and fourth in Sunday's Curribot.

Forest Mouse appeared poised to go over $1 million in earnings in the Curribot Handicap on Sunday at Sunland Park, but instead was scratched from the race. He needed to finish fourth or higher to hit the milestone in the Curribot.

Henry Dominguez, who trains Forest Mouse, said a foot abscess forced the scratch Sunday.

“He popped an abscess the day before the race,” Dominguez said Monday. “He’s fine. We’ll find another race for him.”

Wed, 02/28/2018 - 15:16

Reride latest in family's string of good ones

Coady Photography
Reride, ridden by Alfredo Juarez Jr., wins the Mine That Bird Derby by 2 1/2 lengths.

Reride improved his record to 4 for 5 with his win in the $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland Park last Sunday, and the success he is having on the track is no surprise given his family tree.

Trainer Steve Asmussen said the horse has ties to several notable runners for Reride’s breeder and owner, Winchell Thoroughbreds.

“I’m a huge fan of the whole family,” Asmussen said. “His mother, Remit, is a full sister to Tapiture. I’ve been fortunate to have so many from that family that have been so good.”