Tue, 09/24/2024 - 12:06

Castellano plans Oct. 3 return to riding after hand injury

Barbara D. Livingston

Javier Castellano fractured his hand in a spill at Saratoga on Aug. 30.

Jockey Javier Castellano, who suffered a fractured hand in a spill at Saratoga on Aug. 30, got clearance from his doctor on Tuesday to resume riding and is expected to begin riding races again on Oct. 3 at Aqueduct, his agent, P.J. Campo, said.

Campo said that Castellano will likely start getting on horses a few days before he rides in the afternoon. Entries for the Oct. 3 card will be taken on Friday. Among his first expected mounts back will be Donegal Momentum in the $135,000 Gio Ponti Stakes for 3-year-olds on turf on Oct. 3 at Aqueduct.

Mon, 09/23/2024 - 19:10

Seven enter California Crown, with a few on the fence

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Senor Buscador's biggest victory came in the $20 million Saudi Cup in February.

The number of runners in Saturday’s Grade 1 California Crown at Santa Anita may not necessarily equal the number of runners entered on Monday.

The field of seven is led by the older horses Senor Buscador, the winner of the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia in February, and National Treasure, who won the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park in January; and the 3-year-old Muth, the winner of his last two starts, the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby in March and Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar on Sept. 1.

Mon, 09/23/2024 - 13:53

Dettori expected to resume riding on Sunday

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Frankie Dettori suffered a separated shoulder on Sept. 19. He has been given permission from his doctor to start riding again when he feels well enough.

Jockey Frankie Dettori, who suffered a separated shoulder in a spill at Aqueduct on Sept. 19, is expected to resume riding Sunday at Aqueduct, his agent, Ron Anderson said Monday afternoon.

On Monday morning, Dettori saw orthopedic specialist Dr. Stephen O’Brien, who told him he could start back “as soon as he wants,” Anderson said.

Mon, 09/23/2024 - 13:25

Trainer Rhone retiring after Canterbury meet

By Mary Rampellini

Bernell Rhone said he will be retiring from training after the close of the Canterbury Park meet on Saturday. He has four starters on the card at the Minnesota track, where he is a member of the Canterbury Hall of Fame.

“I’m getting out, but I’m not leaving,” he said. “All my best friends are all on the racetrack. I think I’ll still own a horse or two. I don’t want to get out. I just want to have more free time to do some things. I want to go to the Calgary Stampede. I want to see Yellowstone again, and the Grand Canyon.”

Mon, 09/23/2024 - 13:10

Sunlit Song getting a break

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Media

Sunlit Song is getting some time off on his trainer's farm.

Sunlit Song, who has run in the last four editions of the Remington Green, will miss Sunday’s renewal because he is getting some time off, according to trainer Mindy Willis.

Sunlit Song has won the Remington Green twice, in 2020 and 2023. He was second in the race in both 2021 and 2022.

Sunlit Song is the reigning Texas-bred of the year and overall has won 18 races from 45 starts for earnings of $757,520. The 9-year-old gelding races for Carolyn Barnett and Becky Harding.

Mon, 09/23/2024 - 13:10

White Abarrio returns to work tab in Saratoga

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

White Abarrio will start once, in either the Cigar Mile or the Harlan's Holiday in December, before running in the Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 25 of next year.

White Abarrio, the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, breezed three furlongs in 39.22 seconds Monday morning over the Oklahoma training track in Saratoga, his first timed workout since he was returned to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. in June.

“It went well, the track was on the slower side – real slow,” Joseph said. “It was his first work back, I was very happy with it.”

Mon, 09/23/2024 - 11:40

Astronomer looking to spring upset in City of Hope Mile

By Steve Andersen

Coady Media

Goliad, who won two races during the brief Kentucky Downs meet, is bypassing the City of Hope Mile and will head straight to the Breeders' Cup Mile.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Astronomer was less than two lengths from winning two stakes in one-mile turf races at the Del Mar summer meeting. The close finishes give trainer Simon Callaghan the expectation that Astronomer could produce a surprise result in Saturday’s Grade 2 City of Hope Mile on turf at Santa Anita.

After finishing second by 1 1/4 lengths in the restricted Wickerr Stakes on July 21, Astronomer was third by a half-length in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 31.

“His last two races have been his best two races,” Callaghan said. “He’s kind of knocking on the door.”

Mon, 09/23/2024 - 11:35

German Group 1 win sends Rebel's Romance to BC Turf

By Steve Andersen

Dubai Racing Club

Rebel’s Romance, winner of the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf, is 4 for 5 this year as a 6-year-old.

Rebel’s Romance is scheduled to start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 2 at Del Mar for the second time after a win in Sunday’s Group 1 Preis Von Europa in Cologne, Germany.

Rebel’s Romance won the 2022 BC Turf at Keeneland, but did not start in the race at Santa Anita last year. Should Rebel’s Romance win the BC Turf later this fall, he would become the first two-time winner in non-consecutive years of a race first run in 1984.

Fri, 09/20/2024 - 15:12

Pat Mahony, longtime head of NYRA mutuels deparment, dies at 78

By DRF Staff

NYRA

Pat Mahony, who spent 50 years in the racing industry including several decades as the head of the NYRA mutuels department, died Thursday.

Pat Mahony, who spent 50 years in the racing industry including several decades as the head of the mutuels department of the New York Racing Association, died Thursday at his home in Florida, according to a press release from NYRA. He was 78.

As kind and professional an individual as there was at the racetrack, Mahony followed his grandfather Mort and father, Riggs, into the parimutuel business. The three worked at tracks across the country for more than a century.

Fri, 09/20/2024 - 15:00

D'Amato plans to run four in rich John Henry

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Gold Phoenix earned a berth into the Breeders' Cup Turf with his third victory in the Del Mar Handicap.

Led by the recent stakes winner Gold Phoenix, trainer Phil D’Amato intends to have as many as four runners in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita on Sept. 28.

Balnikhov, Divin Propos, and Rockemperor are D’Amato’s three other expected runners in the John Henry Turf Championship.

Gold Phoenix won the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap on Aug. 31 for a record third consecutive year, earning a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 2. Gold Phoenix was 10th in the 2022 BC Turf at Keeneland and fourth in the race at Santa Anita last year.

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