OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Securitiz, who rallied to win a third-level allowance race by a length going a one-turn mile Feb. 2 at Aqueduct, likely will make his next start in the $150,000 Stymie Stakes here March 10, trainer Jimmy Jerkens said.
The Stymie, which has been run at 1 1/2 miles, 1 1/4 miles, and 1 1/8 miles, will be run as a one-turn mile for the first time this year. Securitiz won his last two starts around one turn, including the Seattle Slew Stakes at Belmont last fall.
OLDSMAR, Fla. – Jonathan Thomas has been preparing for this moment his entire life. Practically born into the racing game in Virginia horse country, Thomas has worked diligently and purposefully for most of his 37 years to get to where he’ll be Saturday – on the road to the Kentucky Derby.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Abel Tasman turned in only her second work of the year Thursday, but went about her business as though she’s going to pick up right where she left off.
Abel Tasman, last year’s champion 3-year-old filly, worked a half-mile in 47.80 seconds under jockey Drayden Van Dyke while in company with another 4-year-old filly, the graded stakes winner Faypien, who ran the same time.
“She was about pulling Drayden’s arms out,” said Bob Baffert, who trains Abel Tasman. “She’s coming around quick.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – Bolt d’Oro is picking up the pace. The speed, distances, and frequency of his works are accelerating as he progresses toward his first scheduled start at age 3, the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 10.
On Thursday morning at Santa Anita, Bolt d’Oro had his third workout since returning to training after taking time off last month to address stiffness in his hind end. With jockey Agapito Delgadillo aboard, he went a half-mile in 47.80 seconds while closing much ground on two horses who broke off well in front of him.
Due to an anonymous donation of $180,000, a $100,000 stakes for 3-year-olds has been added to the 2018 stakes schedule at Emerald Downs. Called the Getaway Stakes, the 1 1/16-mile race will be run on closing day, Sept. 23.
The Getaway becomes the second-richest stakes at the meet behind the Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile Aug. 12. It is double in value of any other stakes at Emerald this year.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Half-siblings Flash Trading and Not Taken have combined to win three of their last five starts, and both seem headed for stakes action in their next starts, according to trainer John Terranova.
On Feb. 4, Flash Trading got up in the final stride to nail Gift Box by a nose in a second-level allowance race going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct. It was the second win from three starts for Flash Trading since Terranova and the Gatsas Stable claimed him for $32,000 last September at Saratoga.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Mark Hennig was in New York on Wednesday, getting a little taste of winter as snow fell gently outside of his Belmont Park office.
Like most trainers with a talented 3-year-old, Hennig has spring in his thoughts as he plots next steps for Strike Power, impressive winner of last Saturday’s Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – California Night was scratched from last Saturday’s Grade 3 Withers Stakes where he would have been a longshot and was re-routed to this Saturday’s $150,000 Jimmy Winkfield Stakes where he would appear to be a better fit in a field of seven entered Wednesday for the seven-furlong feature for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Friday’s co-featured fourth race, a $52,000, second-level optional claimer at a mile, drew a field of six fillies and mares led by My Country, She Takes Heart, and the enigmatic Florida Fabulous.
My Country and She Takes Heart are coming off second-place finishes under similar conditions earlier in the meet. My Country fell a neck shy of running down Miss Kentucky while going six furlongs Jan. 19, while She Takes Heart was second to runaway winner Shar Ran at seven-eighths in her 2017 finale.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Charles “Scooter” Dickey said One Go All Go first caught his eye when finishing third, beaten just a length, behind his graded stakes winner Flatlined in an overnight stakes last summer at Ellis Park. So, when One Go All Go showed up in the Keeneland November mixed sale, Dickey was on hand to put in the final bid of $62,000 for owner Rodney Paden.
