Stellar Wind has progressed sufficiently from her win in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita on June 3 that trainer John Sadler considers the 5-year-old mare to be ahead of schedule for her next start in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on July 30.
Stellar Wind worked six furlongs in 1:13.40 on Sunday at Santa Anita.
“She’s well ahead of the curve,” Sadler said. “She was very relaxed this morning. I’m happy with where she’s at.”
ELMONT, N.Y. - Mind Your Biscuits solidified his position atop the nation’s sprint division with yet another electrifying performance Saturday at Belmont Park, an easy 3 1/2-length victory over Awesome Slew in the Grade 2 Belmont Sprint for which he received a 106 Beyer Speed Figure as well as an all-expenses-paid trip to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
CYPRESS, Calif. - Ambitious Brew has a six-pack of stakes wins in his career, in turf sprints and dirt races at a mile.
His ability to adapt to different surfaces and distances has given owner Pamela Ziebarth and trainer Marty Jones numerous options. Ambitious Brew was scheduled to start in the $100,000 Lennyfrommalibu Stakes for California-breds on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on July 4, but the race was cancelled by track management because of few entries.
CYPRESS, Calif. - On Breeders’ Cup weekend at Santa Anita last fall, Skye Diamonds finished second in an optional claimer at seven furlongs, two races after she had been claimed for $40,000 in August.
This year, Skye Diamonds may run in a Breeders’ Cup race.
After winning the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos on Saturday, Skye Diamonds is a realistic contender for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar at seven furlongs on Nov. 4.
“That’s a good distance for her,” trainer Bill Spawr said in the winner’s circle of the Great Lady M. Stakes.
Arrogate had an early start to beat the heat at Santa Anita on Saturday, working seven-eighths in 1:25.60.
Trainer Bob Baffert pushed up Arrogate’s workout to just before 7 a.m. on Saturday on a day in which temperatures through much of Southern California were expected to surpass 100 degrees.
Arrogate was ridden by jockey Martin Garcia, who frequently rides Baffert’s leading horses in workouts. Arrogate was timed galloping out a mile in 1:38 on a track Baffert described as “sort of deep.”
Jockey Iram Diego reached a milestone of 1,000 Thoroughbred wins in North America on Friday night, when he guided Mr. Lexis to a 1 3/4-length win in the ninth and final race on the card at Lone Star Park. He was aboard for Michael Annechino and trainer Jose Rodriguez Torres.
Services for Marshall Robinson, who bred champion sprinter Groovy, were held Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas. Robinson died Saturday at the age of 86, according to a notice posted by the Texas Thoroughbred Association.
Robinson was a past president of the Texas Thoroughbred Association. Groovy was the champion sprinter of 1987.
A collection of six turf stakes that were to be run this meet at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La., are scheduled to be moved to Louisiana Downs, according to Chris Warren, director of racing for Evangeline.
Evangeline has been unable to use its turf course at this meet and recently called off turf racing for the remainder of the season.
Jockey Sasha Risenhoover seemed headed down a different career path after two years of classes in psychology and sociology. But she ended up veering sharply toward racing and is now making her mark on the Texas circuit.
Risenhoover won the Retama Park title in a tie with veteran Ted Gondron last fall in San Antonio and has carried her momentum over to Lone Star Park near Dallas, where she ranked third in the standings through Thursday.
Next Saturday’s Grade 3, $500,000 Indiana Derby, to be drawn Wednesday, seems likely to be headed by Ohio Derby winner Irap.
Other starters expected by Indiana Grand stakes coordinator Jeff Johnston include Awesome Saturday, Brockton George, Colonelsdarktemper, Han Sense, Society Beau, Top Credentials, Untrapped, and perhaps Sorry Erik.
Unlikely for the Indiana Derby is Girvin, who was beaten a nose by Irap in the Ohio Derby. Girvin is being pointed for the Haskell, according to trainer Joe Sharp.
