Sun, 06/25/2017 - 16:48

Collected may run on the turf in Del Mar summer meet

Barbara D. Livingston
Collected took an easy 14-length win in the Precisionist on Saturday.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Collected will be considered for turf races at Del Mar this summer despite romping to three consecutive stakes wins on dirt at Santa Anita this year, the most recent of which was a 14-length score in Saturday’s Grade 3 Precisionist Stakes.

Collected is trained by Bob Baffert, who has a deep team of main-track handicap horses. The group is led by Arrogate, the winner of the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park and the $10 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates earlier this year.

Sun, 06/25/2017 - 16:36

Arrogate works six furlongs with eye to San Diego

Barbara D. Livingston
Arrogate, with Martin Garcia up, goes through a workout Sunday at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Arrogate, the world’s top-rated racehorse, was never urged through a six-furlong workout in 1:12.40 at Santa Anita on Sunday and still had the second-fastest of 22 recorded works at the distance.

The workout was the longest since Arrogate’s return to full training in late spring. Arrogate, 4, has not raced since winning the $10 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on March 25.

Sun, 06/25/2017 - 13:05

Cloud Computing breezes half-mile in Jim Dandy prep

Debra A. Roma
Cloud Computing gave paternal grandsire Distorted Humor another classic winner for his line's resume by winning the 142nd Preakness.

Preakness winner Cloud Computing breezed a half-mile over the Belmont Park main track Sunday morning as he continues his preparations for the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga on July 29.

Cloud Computing was timed in 49.40 seconds. The work was his second since he defeated Classic Empire by a head in the Preakness on May 20. On June 17, he breezed a half-mile in 48.80.

Trainer Chad Brown is pleased with how Cloud Computing is training.

Sat, 06/24/2017 - 14:06

Classic Rock, Three Rules tune up for Carry Back Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Three Rules will stretch out from seven furlongs to 1 1/16 miles for the Fountain of Youth.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Classic Rock and Three Rules were a study in contrast when turning in their final works about 20 minutes apart for next Saturday's Grade 3 Carry Back Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Fri, 06/23/2017 - 14:56

Imperial Hint seeks ticket to BC Sprint in Smile Sprint

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
Imperial Hint may be ready to run in the Smile Sprint at Gulfstream Park on July 1.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – What began as one of the Cinderella stories of this year’s Dubai World Cup program ended a little before midnight when trainer Luis Carvajal Jr., who operates a modest eight-horse stable at Parx Racing, was forced to scratch his star, Imperial Hint, from the Dubai Golden Shaheen just days before the race due to a minor infection.

Fri, 06/23/2017 - 14:26

Class vs. speed in feature at Lone Star

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
After going without blinkers and finishing fifth in his last race, Neck 'n Neck will be wearing them again when he starts in Sunday's Flat Out Stakes.

It’s a classic clash of class and speed in Sunday’s eighth race at Lone Star, where millionaire Neck ‘n Neck takes on course record-holder Supermason in an optional $40,000 claiming race at a mile.

Neck ‘n Neck is charged with running down Supermason, a five-time stakes winner who has a chance to control the pace. Supermason set quick fractions last out and finished second by a half-length in a one-mile turf allowance that went in 1:34.20 at Lone Star.

Fri, 06/23/2017 - 14:26

Jockey Tejera getting reacquainted with Texas

Eguard Tejera was to have his first mounts in North America since October 2014 on Friday night at Lone Star Park near Dallas, but he’s actually never been away from the races. Tejera has spent the past few years riding in his native Uruguay as well as in Dubai and now plans to rejoin the circuit in Texas.

“I love Texas,” Tejera, 38, said Friday. “I feel like it’s home. I’ve ridden in a lot of states in the U.S. I like it here a lot.”

Fri, 06/23/2017 - 13:51

Finest City drills for Great Lady M. Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Finest City is being considered for the Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs or the Beholder Mile at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Finest City, the champion female sprinter of 2016, worked a half-mile in 48.20 seconds at Santa Anita on Friday for an expected start in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos on July 8.

Finest City won the Great Lady M. in April 2016 and later the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita last November to clinch the title. This year, Finest City has one win in four starts – the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita in January.

Fri, 06/23/2017 - 12:44

Team of inspecting veterinarians beefed up for Del Mar meet

ARCADIA, Calif. – The California Horse Racing Board will expand the team of veterinarians conducting prerace examinations to include a wider range of inspections during the Del Mar summer meeting that begins July 19.

At Thursday’s racing board meeting, executive director Rick Baedeker said that “up to four official” vets would be working during the meeting. The larger team will be used after a rash of racing and training fatalities at Del Mar last summer and fall. Baedeker said the primary task of the veterinarians will be to “identify horses at risk of injury.”

Fri, 06/23/2017 - 12:05

Former jockey agent Ivan Puhich dies at 89

ARCADIA, Calif. – Retired jockey agent Ivan Puhich, who represented riders throughout the West Coast in a career that spanned more than 60 years, died on Monday in San Diego, according to his nephew, Mike Puhich.

Ivan Puhich was 89 and died of age-related infirmities, Mike Puhich said.