Mon, 10/16/2017 - 15:46

Trout loads up on Oklahoma Classics program

Dustin Orona Photography
Shotgun Kowboy (No. 7), shown winning last year's Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby, might go in the Grade 3 Mineshaft Handicap.

Trainer C.R. Trout said he could have six to eight starters on Friday night’s Oklahoma Classics program at Remington Park. The most accomplished name will be former Oklahoma Derby winner Shotgun Kowboy, who is a candidate for the $175,000 Classic.

Trout has a farm in nearby Edmond, Okla., and breeds and owns many of the horses he will start on Classics Night. The program of stakes for Oklahoma-breds is worth more than $1 million.

There will be a $70,000-guaranteed pick four on the card Friday, according to a release from Remington.

Mon, 10/16/2017 - 15:46

Caberneigh, Asmussen's senior citizen, seeks second win of year

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen collects antiques. But we’re not talking Pennsylvania Dutch furniture or coins from foreign lands. Asmussen’s antiques are horses – such as the 12-year-old Caberneigh.

Caberneigh will be looking for his second win of the year in Wednesday night’s eighth race at Remington Park.

Mon, 10/16/2017 - 15:36

Keeneland handle declines leveling off

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Rain contributed to a big handle decline Oct. 8 at Keeneland.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Total handle on races at Keeneland Racecourse this meet is off 8.6 percent from last fall’s robust figures, but the declines have slowed over the last couple of live race dates after plummeting during the first full weekend in the face of calls to boycott the track because of its recent takeout increase.

Mon, 10/16/2017 - 15:36

Irap continues recovery after surgery

Barbara D. Livingston
Irap, injured during the Pennsylvania Derby, continues to recuperate at the New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa.

Irap continues to recuperate at the New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa., three weeks after having surgery to repair the fractured sesamoids of his left front leg.

Irap was injured during the Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 23 at Parx Racing. He finished second in the Grade 1 race but was pulled up nearing the turn on his gallop-out by jockey Mario Gutierrez and vanned back to his stall.

Mon, 10/16/2017 - 15:10

Purse uncertainty as Delta Downs opens meet

Barbara D. Livingston
Delta Downs opens an 84-date meet Wednesday with a reduced stakes schedule.

It’s been a while since a hurricane stole a jackpot from Delta Downs in Vinton, La.

Rita did it in 2005, and Harvey has done so for the 84-date meet that opens Wednesday night. The storm that made landfall in August crippled the Texas markets that have long patronized Delta’s slots casino, and in September it was announced the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot was canceled for 2017.

Mon, 10/16/2017 - 14:56

Toner turf horses will try stakes again

Barbara D. Livingston
Time and Motion is still looking for her first win of 2017.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Time and Motion and Hunter O’Riley were back on the work tab Sunday at Belmont Park for trainer Jimmy Toner, with both preparing for fall stakes.

Time and Motion, winless in four starts this year, worked five furlongs in 1:01.34 over Belmont Park’s turf course. She is being pointed to the Grade 3, $200,000 Athenia on Oct. 28 at Belmont. Time and Motion is coming out of a fourth-place finish behind Off Limits in the Grade 3 Noble Damsel.

Mon, 10/16/2017 - 14:46

Sadler's Joy works solid half-mile in BC Turf prep

Barbara D. Livingston
Sadler's Joy finishes fourth in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The retired Twilight Eclipse won’t be making a fifth consecutive appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, but his former trainer, Tom Albertrani, will be back in the $4 million race Nov. 4 at Del Mar.

Albertrani will making his fifth straight and sixth overall appearance in the Turf, this time with Sadler’s Joy, who Monday worked a half-mile in 49.72 seconds over the Belmont Park main track. It was the first work for Sadler’s Joy since his fourth-place finish as the favorite in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on Sept. 30.

Mon, 10/16/2017 - 14:06

Drefong turns on the jets late in work for Breeders' Cup Sprint

Ronnie Betor
Forego winner Drefong will train up to a title defense in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Drefong is the defending winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, and judging by the way he worked Monday, he is going to be all set for a defense of his victory on Nov. 4 at Del Mar.

Working six furlongs from the gate in company with Met Mile winner Mor Spirit, Drefong was going easily under jockey Drayden Van Dyke before pulling away late. He was timed in 1:12.20, with Mor Spirit – who is a notoriously moderate work horse – finishing up in 1:12.80 in his prep for the BC Dirt Mile. Drefong’s time was the best of 12 at the distance Monday.

Mon, 10/16/2017 - 13:50

Arrogate, Gun Runner get serious in works for Breeders' Cup Classic

Shigeki Kikkawa
Arrogate works six furlongs in 1:13.20 under Rafael Bejarano at Santa Anita on Monday.

ARCADIA, Calif. – With the Breeders’ Cup Classic less than three weeks away, the tone of workouts for Arrogate and Gun Runner was cranked up a notch Monday morning at Santa Anita, with both putting in demanding drills in company designed to have them at their best for a showdown for Horse of the Year on Nov. 4 at Del Mar.

Arrogate, who won last year’s Classic at Santa Anita, worked six furlongs in company in 1:13.20, then galloped out a full mile in 1:39.80, according to Santa Anita’s clockers. Rafael Bejarano, who has been on Arrogate in his recent drills, was aboard.

Mon, 10/16/2017 - 13:26

Wonder Gadot, Dixie Moon headed to Breeders' Cup

Michael Burns
Wonder Gadot wins the Mazarine Stakes on Oct. 7 at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Two locally based 2-year-old fillies are heading off to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup following stakes wins here two weekends ago.

Wonder Gadot, who was a six-length winner of the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes on Tapeta on Oct. 7, will run in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on dirt, while Dixie Moon, who beat males in the Cup and Saucer Stakes on turf on Oct. 8, will run in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.