ARCADIA, Calif. - Danzing Candy may deserve an eight-week gap between races after a hard-fought victory in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs on Saturday.
Danzing Candy fought for the lead at Santa Anita throughout the race, repelling an early threat from Coastline and from Ransom the Moon in the stretch before winning by a neck.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Diamondsandpearls was bought for $1.7 million at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in training in March; she was the most expensive hip of the prestigious sale.
The reason for the big-ticket purchase became apparent Sunday at Santa Anita.
In her debut, Diamondsandpearls led throughout a five-furlong maiden race for 2-year-old fillies to score by an easy 6 1/4 lengths.
“She’s like a first-round draft choice,” trainer Bob Baffert said.
“I thought she ran like we thought she would. Now we know why everyone wanted her.”
ARCADIA, Calif. - Arrogate has been on a steady pattern of Sunday workouts at Santa Anita in recent weeks, a schedule unlikely to change in the buildup to his first start of the summer at Del Mar in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on July 22.
Arrogate worked six furlongs in 1:12.60 on Sunday. Trainer Bob Baffert said after the work that Arrogate will have his final two workouts before the San Diego at Santa Anita before being shipped to Del Mar.
“It’s all systems go,” Baffert said.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Songbird will make her next start in the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park on July 15, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said on Sunday.
A two-time champion, Songbird won her only start this year, the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park, on June 10. The $750,000 Delaware Handicap is run at 1 1/4 miles on dirt.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Sea Calisi, the winner of the Grade 1 Beverly D. in 2016 and a two-time winner of the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay, is sidelined indefinitely with an injury, trainer Chad Brown confirmed Saturday.
Brown said Sea Calisi was injured on June 25, just prior to a scheduled workout over the Belmont turf course. Brown said Sea Calisi appeared to slip while galloping on the turf course.
“She injured herself behind,” Brown said. “Still awaiting diagnostics on her to confirm the injury.”
ELMONT, N.Y. – Unlike his fellow Triple Crown race winners, Always Dreaming and Cloud Computing, Belmont Stakes winner Tapwrit did not work on Saturday. Aron Wellman, the president of Eclipse Thoroughbreds, one of the principal owners of Tapwrit, said trainer Todd Pletcher decided to wait another week before breezing the colt as the connections decide what to do next.
Wellman said that while races such as the Jim Dandy and Haskell are under consideration, Tapwrit could simply train up to the Travers at Saratoga on Aug. 26.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming returned to the work tab Saturday, breezing a half-mile in 49.96 seconds at Belmont Park as he prepares for a likely start in the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga on July 29 and an expected meeting with Preakness winner Cloud Computing.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Even without a start earlier this year, Om will be ahead of schedule when he starts in Tuesday’s Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.
Last year, Om was rested from March to August and later finished second by a nose in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita last November.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Grade 1 winner Cupid will miss the Grade 2, $750,000 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park next Saturday because of illness, trainer Bob Baffert said on Saturday.
Cupid won the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on May 27 in his only start this year and worked as recently as June 18. The illness is starting to subside, Baffert said.
“He’s getting over it,” Baffert said.
Baffert said he does not have any race goals for Cupid, who has won 5 of 10 starts and earned $1,636,803 for the Coolmore team of Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, and Michael Tabor.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Obviously, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita last November and eight other stakes in a six-year career, has been retired after being diagnosed with a bone bruise in a foreleg.
The injury was detected in recent weeks, according to trainer Phil D’Amato. A 9-year-old gelding, Obviously won 13 of 29 starts and earned $2,321,751 for owners Anthony Fanticola and Joe Scardino.
