With a measure of good fortune, California-based trainer Doug O’Neill could send three horses to the Middle East for the Dubai World Cup program on April 5, including Anarchist who has his 2025 debut in Saturday’s Grade 3 Palos Verdes Stakes for sprinters at Santa Anita.
O’Neill said on Thursday that Raging Torrent, the winner of the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, has been invited to Dubai for the Group 2 Godolphin Mile, a $1 million race.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Taxed, who finished a fast-closing third in the American Beauty on Feb. 1 at Oaklawn, is being freshened and could return to action in another filly and mare sprint stakes this meet, trainer Randy Morse said.
Taxed, who is a Grade 2 winner around two turns, was cutting back to one mile for the American Beauty. Morse said she would be considered for the $250,000 Matron, a six-furlong race for fillies and mares on March 29.
“She’s going to get a little rest for a while,” Morse said. “We might target that sprint, the Matron. Something like that.”
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Tejano Twist and Wendelssohn, who both came back to win after finishing second to Banishing in separate races this meet at Oaklawn, could see stakes action next, according to their trainer, Chris Hartman.
Hartman said Tejano Twist is on deck for next month’s Grade 3 Whitmore. He won the King Cotton one start after his runner-up finish to Banishing in a Dec. 20 allowance.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Dreaminblue, who owns one of the top Beyer Speed Figures by a 3-year-old in 2025, is being considered for a start in the Grade 2, $1.25 million Rebel at Oaklawn Park, trainer Randy Morse said Tuesday.
Dreaminblue earned a 94 Beyer when he won a maiden special weight sprint in his most recent start Jan. 25. It’s the best number put up by a 3-year-old this meet at Oaklawn and tied for fourth highest number in North America.
Sovereignty, unraced since winning the Street Sense Stakes on Oct. 27 at Churchill Downs, is on schedule to make his 3-year-old debut in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 1, though trainer Bill Mott has concerns about that 1 1/16-mile race.
Gun Song, who came within a neck of upsetting Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna in the Grade 1 Cotillion last fall at Parx, is getting closer to her 2025 debut.
On Wednesday, Gun Song breezed an easy half-mile in 48.28 seconds before galloping out five-eighths in 1:01.20. The work was the fifth for Gun Song, who trainer Mark Hennig did not nominate for this Saturday’s Grade 3 Royal Delta Stakes.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The small but very talented U.S. contingent that’s expected to race on the undercard of the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 22 arrived safely in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
The group is led by 2024 sprint champion Straight No Chaser (Riyadh Dirt Sprint) and includes the South Florida-based duo of Howard Wolowitz (Turf Sprint) and Cyclone State (Saudi Derby), a Kentucky Derby hopeful. They all figure to be among the favorites in their respective races.
Trainer Rick Dutrow has obviously been pleased with what he’s seen from Captain Cook on the racetrack, the 3-year-old having won both of his starts for him, including the Withers Stakes two weeks ago.
Dutrow is only just now starting to like what he’s seeing from Captain Cook at the barn.
Hypnus, who announced his presence with an eye-catching debut maiden route win Jan. 18 at Fair Grounds, remains a candidate for the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
The colt’s trainer, Kenny McPeek, told Daily Racing Form he was considering the Risen Star Stakes, the Rebel, and a first-level allowance for Hypnus, a son of Into Mischief and Dream Tree who made short work of eight rivals last month while earning an 85 Beyer Speed Figure.
Apprentice jockey Manny Americano has been suspended three days, from Feb. 21-23, for an infraction for excessive use of the whip in the third race at Santa Anita last Friday.
Americano, 24, was cited for excessive use of the whip for the third time in less than three months, having been penalized for similar infractions at Turf Paradise in Phoenix on Nov. 21 and at Pleasanton in Northern California on Nov. 23.
In Friday’s third race, Americano struck eventual fourth-place finisher Winds of Freedom seven times, once more than the permitted limit, according to the ruling.
