Wed, 10/04/2017 - 16:42

Gulfstream caters to Spanish-speaking crowd

MIAMI - A live-stream Spanish broadcast of racing from both Gulfstsream Park and Gulfstream Park West began on opening day here Wednesday. The high-definition broadcast is independent of the track’s English broadcast, with separate producers, directors, cameras, on-air talent and race caller.

The broadcast is available online at gulfstreampark.com and at Gulfstream’s facilities on channel 17-1.

Wed, 10/04/2017 - 16:03

Untrapped targets Zia Park Derby

Dustin Orona Photography
Untrapped, winner of the Oklahoma Derby, will be pointed to the Zia Derby on Nov. 22.

Oklahoma Derby hero Untrapped will target the $200,000 Zia Derby on Nov. 22, said trainer Steve Asmussen on Monday. The 1 1/16-mile race is one of the final straight 3-year-old stakes on the national calendar.

The Zia Derby will be part of the Land of Enchantment card of stakes at the New Mexico track that includes the $300,000 Zia Park Oaks.

McCormick, the runner-up in the Iowa Derby who finished seventh in the Oklahoma Derby, could move back to turf for his next start, trainer Ian Wilkes said.

Wed, 10/04/2017 - 16:02

Average daily handle up at Albuquerque

The Downs at Albuquerque closed its 57-date meet for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses on Sept. 24 with an increase in average daily handle and average daily purses, according to a press release from the New Mexico track.

Albuquerque handled an average $229,453 a day on its races, up 8 percent from $211,772 a day during the corresponding 60-date meet in 2016.

Purses averaged $163,465 a day this meet, up 4 percent from $156,771 at the corresponding meet a year ago.

Wed, 10/04/2017 - 16:00

Frostmourne fresh for Hill Prince Stakes

Hoofprints, Inc.
Frostmourne powered home to win the Kent Stakes by six lengths.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Frostmourne, the impressive winner of the Kent Stakes at Delaware Park on July 15, returns to the races in Saturday’s Grade 3, $500,000 Hill Prince Stakes going 1 1/8 miles at Belmont Park.

Frostmourne drew post 4 in a field of nine 3-year-olds entered Wednesday for the Hill Prince.

Frostmourne was being pointed to the Secretariat at Arlington this summer, but trainer Christophe Clement didn’t feel he was training well enough in early August to take on that challenge.

Wed, 10/04/2017 - 16:00

Servis, Guillot each take two shots at Champagne

Barbara D. Livingston
Firenze Fire paid $27.00 in winning the Sanford Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainers Jason Servis and Eric Guillot each entered two horses in a field of 12 for Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne that lacks a clear favorite. Servis entered Firenze Fire and Full of Run, while Guillot entered Stronger and the maiden Master Manipulator.

Wed, 10/04/2017 - 15:56

Pavel can gain elite status fashionably late in Jockey Club Gold Cup

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Pavel wins the Grade 3 Smarty Jones Stakes at Parx Racing last month.

ELMONT, N.Y. – To say that Pavel has come a long way in a short period of time understates the cliché.

On July 1, Pavel won a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race at Santa Anita. Four weeks later, he was swapping punches with the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga. Now, after a visually impressive victory in the Grade 3 Smarty Jones Stakes at Parx on Labor Day, Pavel is meeting older horses in Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park.

Wed, 10/04/2017 - 15:56

Lady Aurelia stays sharp in drill

Keeneland/Coady Photography
The 3-year-old Lady Aurelia faces older females in the Giant's Causeway on Saturday.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lady Aurelia has logged thousands of frequent flyer miles already. From that standpoint, a flight to California later this month for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint will be a breeze for the Keeneland-based European champion.

For now, though, the 3-year-old filly continues to train at her home base, with Wesley Ward focusing on her mental preparations as much as physical. In company, Lady Aurelia breezed five furlongs Tuesday morning on the turf.

Wed, 10/04/2017 - 15:50

Honorable Duty pointing to Fayette Stakes

Coady Photography
Honorable Duty led at every call en route to a 4 3/4-length victory in Saturday's Grade 3 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Honorable Duty came out of his 4 3/4-length victory in the Lukas Classic last weekend at Churchill in fine shape and soon will move over to Keeneland to train for the closing-day feature, the Grade 2 Fayette on Oct. 28.

“He gave us another big effort,” said trainer Brendan Walsh. “I’m very happy with him.”

Wed, 10/04/2017 - 15:50

Bar of Gold expected for Spinster

Barbara D. Livingston
Bar of Gold paid $13 in winning the Yaddo Stakes at Saratoga on Friday.

The Grade 1 Spinster got a top contender for its 62nd running Sunday when trainer John Kimmel sent the standout New York-bred mare Bar of Gold to Keeneland early in the week along with his Alcibiades starter Pacific Gale. Most recently second in the Presque Isle Masters at 6 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta, Bar of Gold has become a model of versatility when competing effectively over a variety of surfaces at different distances.

Wed, 10/04/2017 - 15:46

FallStars Saturday card saves best for last

Coady Photography
Miss Temple City wins the Shadwell Turf Mile last year, one of her two Grade 1 wins beating males on turf in 2016.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Easily the richest program of the 17-day meet will be held Saturday at Keeneland when the fall showcase, the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile, and four other graded stakes are part of a sensational 10-race card.

Miss Temple City once again will take on male rivals when part of a capacity field of 14 in the Shadwell, one of three Grade 1 events on a program that starts at 1:05 p.m. Eastern. Miss Temple City made track history in 2016 by sweeping the Maker’s 46 Mile and Shadwell.

Here is a rundown of the FallStars Weekend events for Saturday: