Mon, 12/23/2024 - 11:03

Glatt looks to carry momentum into opening weekend

Benoit Photo
Coming off a Del Mar training title, Mark Glatt looks to start off strong on opening weekend at Santa Anita.

Mark Glatt won his second training title in a little more than a year at the Del Mar autumn meeting that ended earlier this month.

Sustaining that success at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting that begins Thursday will be difficult, he said recently.

Glatt won 14 races from 32 starters at Del Mar, clear of runner-up Phil D’Amato with nine wins.

Glatt won the training title at the 2023 Santa Anita autumn meeting. At the 2023-24 Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, Doug O’Neill led all trainers with 31 wins, two more than Glatt. D’Amato was third with 28 wins.

Mon, 12/23/2024 - 10:59

Pincay joins fellow legendary riders with namesake stakes

Coady Media
Laffit Pincay Jr. holds the Santa Anita single-meeting record for wins, with 138 during the winter-spring meet in 1970-71.

Do not be surprised if the biggest cheer emanating from the winner’s circle at Santa Anita on Thursday is for a man and not a racehorse.

For the first time, a race has been named in honor of retired Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr.

Santa Anita made the announcement earlier this month in conjunction with the details of its stakes program for the winter-spring meeting that begins Thursday and continues through June 15.

Fri, 12/20/2024 - 14:46

Northern California riders looking for new opportunities

Frank Alvarado.Grand Slam Smile.California Distaff at SA Oct 12 2024
Benoit Photos
Frank Alvarado comes back on Grand Slam Smile after winning the California Distaff at Santa Anita in October. Although Alvarado lives near Pleasanton, he plans to ride in Southern California.

ARCADIA, Calif. - When the Golden State Racing meeting at Pleasanton, Calif., was announced for this fall, jockey Frank Alvarado could not have asked for a shorter commute.

“I live one mile away,” he said. “When they said racing would go to Pleasanton, I said, ‘Hallelujah.’ ”

Fri, 12/20/2024 - 14:34

Mystik Dan gallops for first time since Wednesday evening arrival

Mystik Dan gallops at SA Dec 20 2024
Steve Andersen
In his first day of training at Santa Anita, Mystik Dan galloped 1 1/4 miles. He is scheduled to blow out down the stretch on Sunday.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Mystik Dan, winner of the Kentucky Derby in May, had his first trip around Santa Anita on Friday morning, galloping 1 1/4 miles in advance of his West Coast debut in Thursday’s Grade 1 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds.

Earlier this week, Mystik Dan was vanned from New Orleans to Southern California, with an overnight stopover in New Mexico. Mystik Dan arrived at Santa Anita late Wednesday evening.

“We gave him the day off on Thursday,” trainer Kenny McPeek said.

Mystik Dan handled the journey without incident.

Wed, 12/18/2024 - 14:44

After memorable Remington meet, Glee possible for Martha Washington

Dustin Orona Photography
Glee, who most recently won the Toby Keith Stakes, was named Remington Park's top 2-year-old filly of the meet.

Glee capped a memorable Remington Park season with a 10 3/4-length win in the $75,000 Toby Keith Stakes on closing night Dec. 13 and is now bound for Oaklawn Park, according to trainer Steve Asmussen.

Glee made two starts at the Remington meet, both in stakes. She won the E.L. Gaylord at 6 1/2 furlongs by more than 15 lengths on the Oklahoma Derby undercard Sept. 29.

Wed, 12/18/2024 - 14:43

Gulfport moving on to King Cotton

Coady Media
Off the meet's top Beyer Speed Figure of 99, Gulfport will head to the King Cotton.

The highest Beyer Speed Figure earned at the current Oaklawn meet is a 99. Gulfport, one of three runners to have put up the number this season, shares the distinction with Happy Is a Choice and Full Screen.

Happy Is a Choice beat Gulfport by a neck in the Ring the Bell Stakes on Dec. 7 at Oaklawn. One start prior, Gulfport won the Bet On Sunshine at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Steve Asmussen said Gulfport emerged from the Ring the Bell in good order and will now target the $150,000 King Cotton on Jan. 25 at Oaklawn.

Wed, 12/18/2024 - 14:40

Off impressive win, Sandman likely for Southwest Stakes

Coady Photography
Sandman earned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure for his first-level allowance victory.

Sandman will begin preparations for the first graded race in Oaklawn Park’s series for 3-year-olds after closing out his initial season of racing with an impressive allowance win over the local surface on Dec. 13.

Sandman bounded to a 1 3/4-length victory over first-level allowance foes, earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 89.

It was a breakout performance, and his target now is the Grade 3, $1 million Southwest Stakes on Jan. 25, according to trainer Mark Casse.

Wed, 12/18/2024 - 14:38

Franco preparing for return after injury

Benoit Photo
Jockey Geovanni Franco was injured in a spill in July at Del Mar and is now nearing a return to racing.

Jockey Geovanni Franco is preparing for a return to riding at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 after a five-month absence caused by injury.

Franco has not ridden since he was unseated at Del Mar on July 26, sustaining injuries that included a fractured shoulder. He resumed exercising horses at Santa Anita earlier this month.

“I felt very good on a couple of workers,” Franco said last weekend.

Wed, 12/18/2024 - 13:33

Rivelli off to fast start in his new barn, purchased from Roussel

Julie Wright
Following a fruitless trip to Hong Kong, Nobals is scheduled to be released from quarantine in the Chicago area on Thursday.

Trainer Larry Rivelli’s second season stabled at Fair Grounds has started better than his first.

Rivelli wound up winning eight races during the 2023-24 Fair Grounds meet after moving most of his horses north well before the end of the racing season. This time, Rivelli already has six winners from just 13 runners during the meet’s first month.

“Last year, we did it on a whim. This year, we’re planting our flag,” Rivelli said.

Wed, 12/18/2024 - 13:30

Two Sharp getting a breather; Jonathan's Way eyes Risen Star

Two Sharp wins Chilukki at CD Nov 23 2024
Coady Media
Two Sharp was being pointed to the La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita but missed a workout. She instead will be freshened.

The 3-year-old colt Mystik Dan, winner of the Kentucky Derby in May, is about to set off on a long journey from New Orleans to Southern California. The 3-year-old filly Two Sharp, winner of the Chilukki Stakes in November, is not.