Hall of Fame trainer LeRoy Jolley, who twice won the Kentucky Derby and played a role in one of the most famous match races in Thoroughbred history, died Monday at Albany Medical Center in Albany, N.Y., from lung cancer. He was 80.
Born in Hot Springs, Ark., Jolley was in racing virtually his entire life. He grew up mostly in Florida as the son of highly successful trainer Moody Jolley. “All I ever wanted to do was train horses,” Jolley said in an Aug. 1975 article in People magazine.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The Grade 1 Malibu Stakes will have a distinct East Coast-Midwest flavor when it is run Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, opening day of the California winter racing season.
Favorable Outcome from New York, C Z Rocket from Kentucky, and Game Over from Florida are among the leading contenders.
Favorable Outcome, a Grade 2 winner at the seven-furlong distance of the Malibu, arrived at Santa Anita this week and could start favored following a second-level allowance win at Aqueduct.
Racing history has taken note of what Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez did earlier this year when he commuted from Gulfstream to Tampa for just one mount. The special trip was to ride Always Dreaming, who won a Jan. 25 maiden race by 11 1/2 lengths en route to becoming a Kentucky Derby winner for trainer Todd Pletcher and an ownership group that included the St. Elias Stable of Vinnie Viola.
Tricks to Doo still hasn’t raced beyond six furlongs, but given the way he drew away to victory last Saturday in the Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, trainer Arnaud Delacour can’t help but be enthused about the colt’s future.
Tricks to Doo earned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure for finishing six furlongs in 1:09.58 in his third start, which followed an Oct. 27 maiden romp at Laurel Park. He won the $50,000 Inaugural by 7 1/4 lengths as a 2-5 favorite.
Collected, who will have Mike Smith replacing Martin Garcia, is not the only San Antonio probable that will have a new rider. Javier Castellano picks up the mount on Accelerate, whose regular rider Victor Espinoza is committed to Prime Attraction. Accelerate worked six furlongs in 1:14.40 on Tuesday at Santa Anita.
Paradise Woods and Unique Bella have midweek workouts scheduled at Santa Anita as they prepare to meet for the first time in the Grade 1, seven-furlong La Brea. Potential rivals in the $300,000 race for 3-year-old fillies include Princess Karen, Miss Sunset, Mopotism, Just a Little Hope, Bernina Star, and Marley’s Freedom.
Union Strike, 2016 winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante, was nominated to the La Brea, but owner-trainer Mick Ruis said she will return Jan. 15 in the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Two key elements are conspicuously absent from the list of probable starters for the Grade 1, seven-furlong Malibu Stakes – a clear favorite and a definite pacesetter.
The Malibu is one of four stakes Dec. 26, opening day at Santa Anita. Collected is likely to be favored in the Grade 2 San Antonio; Unique Bella and Paradise Woods top the Grade 1 La Brea, and Big Score is early favorite in the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile.
ARCADIA, Calif. – A solid seven-furlong workout by Collected on Tuesday morning at Santa Anita solidifies the Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up as the early favorite for the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes on Dec. 26, opening day of the Santa Anita winter meet.
Mike Smith will ride Collected for the first time in the $300,000 San Antonio. He replaces Martin Garcia, who has relocated to New York.
Cosmic Burst, who won her third straight race in the $100,000 Trapeze for 2-year-old fillies Sunday at Remington Park, will come under consideration for the 3-year-old filly series at Oaklawn, trainer Donnie Von Hemel said Monday.
Cosmic Burst made her two-turn debut in October, winning a maiden special weight at Keeneland. One start later, she won a first-level allowance at a mile at Churchill Downs. From there, she powered to a 5 1/4-length win in the Trapeze, earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 80.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Greyvitos was bright and alert at Remington Park on Monday, a day after winning the first edition of the Springboard Mile to carry eligibility points for the Kentucky Derby. He earned 10 points for his 2 1/4-length win, and later on Monday was scheduled to travel back to Southern California.
“He came out of the race in great shape,” trainer Adam Kitchingman said. “He leaves tonight.”
