Mon, 08/05/2024 - 13:25

Turnerloose snaps 14-race losing streak in Burbank Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston

Once of the Kentucky Oaks trail, Turnerloose won the 2022 Rachel Alexandra Stakes.

The only mishap involving Turnerloose’s win in the Luther Burbank Stakes at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa last Saturday fortunately happened several minutes after the 5-year-old mare had ended a 14-race losing streak.

As owner Bing Bush gathered with his family, friends, and co-owners, the glass engraved portion of the trophy fell from its base.

“It wasn’t broken,” Bush said with a laugh Sunday. “It was so close.”

Turnerloose races for Bush’s Abbondanza Racing, Medallion Racing, and Ike and Dawn Thrash.

Mon, 08/05/2024 - 13:25

Stay Hot ends Eurton's skid with La Jolla victory

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

With a victory in the La Jolla, Stay Hot rebounded from a last-place finish in the American Turf.

DEL MAR, Calif. – The Del Mar summer meeting came alive for trainer Peter Eurton on Sunday in the seconds Stay Hot needed to close from last to first in the La Jolla Handicap on turf.

Stay Hot was Eurton’s first winner with his 20th starter of the season, which began July 20.

“Considering the way the first two weeks have gone, that was a nice day, especially with him,” Eurton said Monday.

Fri, 08/02/2024 - 16:25

Two Sharp turns heads in maiden win

By Mike Welsch

Barbara D. Livingston

Two Sharp won her second career start by 11 1/4 lengths at Saratoga on Friday. The Phil Bauer-trained daughter of Twirling Candy sped 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.81 under Junior Alvarado.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Phil Bauer always knew his 3-year-old filly Two Sharp had a world of talent. It just took him a little longer than he’d have hoped for the rest of the racing world to find out.

Fri, 08/02/2024 - 14:35

Fourstardave on Ottoman Fleet's sonar

By David Grening

Coady Media

Ottoman Fleet wins the Wise Dan at Churchill in June. He may now run next week in the Fourstardave Handicap.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Ottoman Fleet, who has won a pair of graded stakes at Churchill Downs this spring for Godolphin Racing, may join or substitute for Master of The Seas in the Grade 1 Fourstardave here on Aug. 10, trainer Charlie Appleby said Friday.

“He’s in such great form, he deserves to have a step up into Grade 1 company,” Appleby said Friday after watching eight of his charges put in workouts over the Oklahoma turf course.

Fri, 08/02/2024 - 14:31

Meeks picks up first career victory

By Steve Andersen

A win in a sleepy maiden claimer for fillies and mares at the Cal-Expo fair in Sacramento, Calif. on July 27 provided a first career victory for 18-year-old jockey Micah Meeks.

With her sixth career mount, Meeks won the race at 1 1/16 miles aboard Tizthehartofdixie by a commanding 6 1/2 lengths.

“It was so cool,” Meeks reflected a few days later. “It was amazing. If you’re going to win that’s the way to do it.”

Fri, 08/02/2024 - 14:31

Franco out until early September

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Jockey Geovanni Franco is expected to be sidelined until early September.

Jockey Geovanni Franco has been sidelined with a shoulder injury sustained in a spill at Del Mar on July 26 and will not ride again until early September, according to his agent, Jack Carava.

Franco has “a small fracture” in his shoulder and is awaiting an MRI on a knee, Carava said.

The knee “x-rayed clean,” Carava said. “He still has some residual swelling. They still want to check it out.”

Carava said Franco will be out for five weeks, a time period that includes the remainder of the Del Mar summer season, which ends on Sept. 8.

Fri, 08/02/2024 - 14:30

Top California sire Smiling Tiger dies at 17

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

During his racing career, Smiling Tiger won three Grade 1 sprint races.

Smiling Tiger, a fixture among leading stallions in California since 2018, was euthanized on Thursday because of complications of ataxia.

Through Thursday, Smiling Tiger led all stallions in California in progeny earnings, with more than $2.38 million. Smiling Tiger’s death was first reported by Bloodhorse.com. Ataxia is a muscle control disorder.

Smiling Tiger, who was 17, was fourth among the state’s stallion in progeny earnings in 2022 and rose to third last year. He ranked ninth in 2018 and was sixth for three consecutive years from 2019 through 2021.

Fri, 08/02/2024 - 14:23

Oak Tree providing cash infusion for Clement Hirsch purse

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Oak Tree Racing Association has provided $100,000 for the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Saturday at Del Mar.

The Oak Tree Racing Association, which operated the fall season at Santa Anita for decades, has made a cash infusion of $157,000 to the purses of seven races at Del Mar on Saturday, and plans a similar investment at Santa Anita on Oct. 5.

The funding comes from Oak Tree’s endowment, which also provides annual donations to racing-related charities, officials said.

Fri, 08/02/2024 - 07:45

Thorpedo Anna works half-mile in the mist

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Thorpedo Anna works a half-mile in the mist Friday morning over the Oklahoma training track.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Trainer Kenny McPeek turned 62 years old on Friday. In Thorpedo Anna, he has the gift that keeps on giving.

Friday morning, Thorpedo Anna picked up the paces in her training toward a start against the boys in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes here on Aug. 24, working a half-mile shortly after 5:30 a.m. With a heavy mist obscuring view of the poles on the Oklahoma training track, Thorpedo Anna will not be credited with an official time. Daily Racing Form caught her galloping out a quarter-mile past the wire in 26.53 seconds.

Thu, 08/01/2024 - 15:04

Express Train scheduled for another try at the Pacific Classic

By Steve Andersen

Emily Shields

Express Train finished sixth in the 2021 Pacific Classic and fourth in the 2023 running, and is once again pointed toward that race.

Express Train, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap in 2022, is scheduled to start in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 31 for the third time in his career after a third-place finish in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar last Saturday.

Express Train closed from last of five in the San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles to finish 4 3/4 lengths behind Dr. Venkman, another candidate for the $1 million Pacific Classic.

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