Wed, 01/08/2025 - 11:15

Fires break out in hillside towns near Santa Anita

Melissa Saldana

Fires were visible from the Santa Anita backstretch on Wednesday morning.

Santa Anita canceled training on Wednesday because of gusty winds that caused damage to the roof of at least one barn and fueled a terrifying wildfire in the adjacent cities of Altadena and Pasadena, Calif., that was visible from the track.

The fire, which was not an immediate threat to the racetrack property, officials said, had zero containment as of late Wednesday morning and had spread to more than 10,600 acres, damaging scores of homes and businesses in the Altadena and Pasadena areas, according to Los Angeles media.

Mon, 01/06/2025 - 13:26

Owen Almighty expected for 3-year-old debut in Pasco

By David Grening

Coady Media

Off a second-place finish in the Iroquois at Churchill Downs, Owen Almighty is entered to make his 3-year-old debut in Saturday's Pasco at Tampa Bay Downs.

Owen Almighty, one of the more impressive 2-year-olds of midsummer 2024, will make his 3-year-old debut in Saturday’s Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. The purse of the seven-furlong Pasco is $150,000, though only Florida-breds or progeny of Florida stallions run for the entire purse.

Mon, 01/06/2025 - 12:39

Reddam confident he has an Oaks runner in Look Forward

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

After a win in the Santa Ynez, Look Forward will likely point toward the Kentucky Oaks trail.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Paul Reddam, one of the most prominent owners in California, has two Kentucky Derby trophies courtesy of I’ll Have Another in 2012 and Nyquist four years later.

Reddam, who operates the stable with his wife, Zillah, has never won a Kentucky Oaks. Land Over Sea was second to Cathryn Sophia for the Reddams in 2016. Their most recent runner in the Oaks was the longshot Mopotism, who finished 10th in 2017.

Mon, 01/06/2025 - 12:32

Five jockeys named as finalists for Woolf Award

By Steve Andersen

Debra A. Roma

Brian Hernandez Jr., who won last year's Kentucky Oaks and Derby, is one of five finalists for the Woolf Award.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Kendrick Carmouche, James Graham, Brian Hernandez Jr., Juan Hernandez, and Alfredo Juarez Jr. are finalists for the 2025 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, Santa Anita announced on Monday.

The Woolf Award honors riders for achievements on the racetrack as well as personal character. The winner will be determined by a ballot of riders nationwide.

The five finalists represent jockeys currently riding throughout the nation.

Carmouche, 40, is based at Aqueduct. Through Sunday, the Louisiana native had 3,950 career wins, including 163 races in 2024.

Fri, 01/03/2025 - 15:15

All-sources handles on NYRA races declines 5.3 percent in 2024

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Average daily handle in 2024 at NYRA tracks – Aqueduct and Saratoga (above) – was $10,994,239, a 2.3 percent decline from 2023.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – All-sources handle at the New York Racing Association in 2024 was $2,088,905,480, a decrease of 5.3 percent from the 2023 figure of $2,204,653,635, according to figures provided Friday by the New York Racing Association.

Fri, 01/03/2025 - 14:41

No set plans for Rated by Merit's return

By Mike Welsch

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos

Rated by Merit is getting a break on an Ocala, Fla., farm before starting his 3-year-old campaign.

Rated by Merit was the undisputed local juvenile champion here in 2024 and owned the fastest Beyer Speed Figure, a 99, turned in by any 2-year-old in North America last year. But just when the undefeated and untested son of Battalion Runner will make his much-anticipated 3-year-old debut remains up in the air at this time.

Fri, 01/03/2025 - 14:10

Mi Hermano Ramon may bypass Pegasus Turf for Kilroe Mile

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Opting to stay in California, Mi Hermano Ramon will start in the Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita, instead of the Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream.

Mi Hermano Ramon, who has developed into a leading turf stakes horse in California in recent starts, is likely to stay at Santa Anita this winter rather than be sent to Gulfstream Park for the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf on Jan. 25, trainer Mark Glatt said on Friday.

Glatt said the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita, a $300,000 turf race on March 1, has greater appeal because of the timing.

Fri, 01/03/2025 - 14:10

Wright forced to enter Clovisconnection in Cal Cup Sprint

By Steve Andersen

Vassar Photography

Clovisconnection will make his first start of the year in the Cal Cup Sprint at Santa Anita.

Out of necessity, Clovisconnection will have his first start of 2025 in the $125,000 California Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Jan. 11.

Trained by Blaine Wright for owners and breeders Bill and Judy Hedrick, Clovisconnection has won 11 of 17 starts, but has raced primarily at tracks in Northern California and at Emerald Downs in Washington state.

Fri, 01/03/2025 - 14:02

Plans for Jenkin undecided after Year's End victory

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Media

Plans are yet to be determined for Jenkin, winner of the Year's End Stakes at Oaklawn.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jenkin won the featured $175,000 Year’s End Stakes on the all 2-year-old card Dec. 29 at Oaklawn for her second win at the meet. She won a maiden race at the same one-mile distance Dec. 6.

The starts were her first two races at two turns, and for the Year’s End effort Jenkin earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 77. Trainer Lindsay Schultz was pleased with the race Jenkin ran in the Year’s End.

Fri, 01/03/2025 - 13:59

American Promise has earned chance in Southwest

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Media

Off a sizzling performance in a maiden special weight race, trainer D. Wayne Lukas is likely to start American Promise in the Southwest Stakes.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – American Promise earned one of the top 10 Beyer Speed Figures put up by a 2-year-old in 2024 in his last start and could be headed for a race in the 3-year-old Kentucky Derby prep series at Oaklawn Park.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Thursday that American Promise is under serious consideration for the Grade 3, $1 million Southwest Stakes on Jan. 25, which offers points for the Kentucky Derby.

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