Sat, 02/24/2018 - 17:31

Potential starters go through final Fountain of Youth preps

Susie Raisher
Good Magic had his first work since the Breeders' Cup on Sunday at Palm Meadows.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - A handful of potential Fountain of Youth starters, including reigning juvenile champion Good Magic and the Dale Romans trio of Free Drop Billy, Storm Runner, and Promises Fulfilled, turned in their final preps for that race Saturday.

At Palm Meadows, Good Magic breezed an easy half-mile in 48.40 before going out a full six furlongs in 1:15.20, according to Daily Racing Form’s Donald Harris. Good Magic worked solo this morning after having gone in company with no less a mate as the older, Grade 1-placed Economic Model in his previous two works.

Sat, 02/24/2018 - 15:18

Kentucky Derby hopeful McKinzie drills seven furlongs

Barbara D. Livingston
McKinzie goes through an early morning work Saturday at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Led by the unbeaten 3-year-old McKinzie, a number of top-class stakes runners worked on a cold, clear Saturday morning at Santa Anita for races here or out of town. Among those on the tab were Kentucky Derby prospects Restoring Hope and Solomini, as well as Santa Anita Handicap hopefuls Accelerate and Pavel.

Fri, 02/23/2018 - 19:34

Fan arrested after running onto training track

ARCADIA, Calif. – A fan who ran onto the training track and was apprehended by Santa Anita security forces shortly before Friday's third race is a minor who will be charged with interfering with a sporting event, a misdemeanor, and was turned over to the Arcadia Police Department for processing, Mike Pytel, an investigator with Santa Anita's security department, said Friday.

Fri, 02/23/2018 - 15:55

Trainer Pish begins 15-day suspension

Shigeki Kikkawa
Trainer Danny Pish plans to have a 15-horse string at Oaklawn Park this winter.

Trainer Danny Pish on Sunday begins serving a 15-day suspension for a medication violation in November at Retama Park, according to a ruling from the Texas Racing Commission.

The suspension extends to other jurisdictions where Pish races, including Arkansas and Louisiana. The suspension runs through March 11. Joseph Smith, who has been an assistant to Pish, was named as the trainer of record for former Pish horses entered in races Sunday at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

Fri, 02/23/2018 - 15:06

My Boy Jack, Sonneteer may return to Oaklawn

Coady Photography/Oaklawn
My Boy Jack finishes fast under Kent Desormeaux to win the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn on Monday.

My Boy Jack and Sonneteer, who have shipped in to win separate stakes this meet at Oaklawn, could both return for upcoming races, Southern California-based trainer Keith Desormeaux said Tuesday.

Fri, 02/23/2018 - 15:06

Forest Mouse may have last hurrah in Curribot

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

The first race at Arapahoe Park, on June 26, 2010, was won by Forest Mouse, a first-time starter who went off at 6-1 and has since gone on to become one of New Mexico’s most noted handicap horses. On Sunday, he may call it a career following a start in the $75,000 Curribot at Sunland Park.

Forest Mouse, a 10-year-old who has raced every year since his career debut in Colorado, is $2,693 from becoming a millionaire. If he hits the milestone by finishing between first through fourth Sunday, plans are to retire him to stud, trainer Henry Dominguez said Thursday.

Fri, 02/23/2018 - 14:10

Nero, Ax Man ready for next stakes starts

Shigeki Kikkawa
Ax Man earned a Beyer figure of 96 for his New Year's Day maiden win at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Nero, second in the San Vicente Stakes on Feb. 10, and Ax Man, fourth as the favorite in that race, both had easy half-mile drills Thursday as they ready for their next starts, which could come out of town, trainer Bob Baffert said.

“I’m going to nominate a bunch of horses to a bunch of races and take a look,” he said. “They’ll be nominated everywhere.”

Fri, 02/23/2018 - 14:06

Lombo drills for San Felipe Stakes

Shigeki Kikkawa
Lombo and jockey Flavien Prat win the Robert B. Lewis Stakes by two lengths Saturday.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Lombo, upset winner of the Robert B. Lewis Stakes for Kentucky Derby prospects earlier this month, worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 on Friday at Santa Anita for trainer Mike Pender as he readies for a far bigger test March 10 in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes, which is expected to attract Bolt d’Oro and either McKinzie or Solomini, among others.

The San Felipe is worth 50 points to the winner under the system used by Churchill Downs to determine the field for the May 5 Derby, essentially making it a Win and You’re In race.

Fri, 02/23/2018 - 14:06

Abel Tasman likely to have one prep before La Troienne

Barbara D. Livingston
Abel Tasman most recently was the runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Abel Tasman, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2017, is getting closer to a return to action, with her main spring goal being the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby weekend.

How she gets there is still to be determined, trainer Bob Baffert said. But based on how far she has progressed, with a five-furlong workout in 1:00.80 on Thursday at Santa Anita, Abel Tasman should have time for at least one prep before the La Troienne.

“She’s doing really well,” Baffert said Friday.

Fri, 02/23/2018 - 14:00

British jockey working horses for Clement

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – British jockey Hayley Turner has been exercising horses at Payson Park for trainer Christophe Clement in anticipation of reviving her riding career this spring in France.

“She has been here about a week and plans to spend about a month,” Clement said Friday. “She is enjoying the sunshine in Florida, getting fit, before she returns to Europe to start riding again in France.”