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.”

Fri, 02/23/2018 - 14:00

Enticed to Gotham; Avery Island to Louisiana Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Enticed is scheduled to make his next start in the Gotham on March 10.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Plans for Godolphin’s Enticed and Avery Island were confirmed this week as both continued their training at Palm Meadows for Kiaran McLaughlin.

Enticed, a disappointing fourth behind Audible in the Feb. 3 Holy Bull in his seasonal debut, breezed an easy half-mile in 53.80 seconds Thursday ahead of his next start in the March 10 Gotham at Aqueduct. The Medaglia d’Oro colt ended his 2-year-old season by winning the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes.

Fri, 02/23/2018 - 13:46

Good Magic heads prospective Fountain of Youth field

Susie Raisher
Good Magic won the Eclipse Award for champion 2-year-old male after winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last fall.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A field of at least seven 3-year-olds, led by reigning divisional champion Good Magic, is shaping up for next Saturday’s Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Good Magic, based at the Palm Meadows training center with Chad Brown, was on schedule to have his final pre-race breeze Saturday toward the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth. It was to be the sixth timed workout since the Curlin colt got a break following his 4 1/4-length victory in the Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.

Fri, 02/23/2018 - 12:16

Forever Unbridled building stamina for Dubai World Cup

Susie Raisher
Will Forever Unbridled race this year, or be retired and become a broodmare?

Forever Unbridled had another major workout Friday in preparation for the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 31.

Forever Unbridled, the champion older dirt female of 2017 and winner of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in her most recent start, was officially clocked in 1:26.80 for seven furlongs. Trainer Dallas Stewart said the mare galloped out one mile in 1:39. A week prior, Forever Unbridled worked six furlongs in 1:12.40 and galloped out one mile.

Fri, 02/23/2018 - 12:16

Stronger Than Ever to Honeybee Stakes

Hodges Photography/Amanda Hodges Weir
Stronger Than Ever got up for a neck victory in Saturday's Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds.

Stronger Than Ever, winner of the Jan. 13 Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds, will make her next start March 10 at Oaklawn Park in the Honeybee Stakes, trainer Ken McPeek said Friday. McPeek said he plans to send Eskimo Kisses, an impressive first-level allowance winner Thursday at Oaklawn, to the Grade 2, $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks on March 24.

Fri, 02/23/2018 - 12:10

Beschizza finding success on left side of pond

Jamie Hernandez/Hodges Photography
Adam Beschizza rides Mom’s On Strike to a victory Feb. 17 in the Albert Stall Memorial Stakes for trainer Joe Sharp.

In England, a race meeting can be as short as one day. Jockeys travel from racecourse to racecourse, and except for those at the top, it’s a struggle to get on enough winners, given the paucity of day-to-day purse money, to make a good living.

Wed, 02/21/2018 - 15:29

Sunland Derby prep drawn

Runaway Ghost and Reride could start as the top two choices Sunday in the $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland Park. The race is the final local stepping-stone to the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby.

The Mine That Bird Derby, at 1 1/16 miles, has drawn a field of nine. It shares a card with the Island Fashion, the local prep for the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks.

Wed, 02/21/2018 - 15:06

Chocolate Martini, Dark Templar possible for stakes next

Churchill Downs/Coady Photography
Dark Templar, shown winning his maiden Nov. 4, might get a shot in a Kentucky Derby prep race next.

Neither the 3-year-old filly Chocolate Martini nor the 3-year-old colt Dark Templar broke the clock, but both at least ran decently in winning first-level dirt-route allowances Sunday and Monday at Fair Grounds.

Chocolate Martini, claimed for $30,000 out of her previous start by trainer Tom Amoss and owner Double Doors Racing LLC, won by a neck Sunday and got a solid 82 Beyer Speed Figure. Chocolate Martini started under the race’s $50,000 claiming option and thus could run back at the same level, but Amoss said the filly would be considered for races like the Fair Grounds Oaks.