Thu, 03/23/2017 - 14:06

Mo Town confirmed for Wood Memorial

Ronnie Bettor
Remsen winner Mo Town will make his next start in either the Florida Derby or Wood Memorial, according to trainer Tony Dutrow.

Tony Dutrow thinks a homecoming of sorts can get Mo Town to the Kentucky Derby.

Dutrow confirmed Thursday that Mo Town, the winner of the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct last November, will return to the Big A for the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 8, when he likely will need to finish in the top three to earn enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby.

Though Dutrow had considered running Mo Town in the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on April 1, he said Mo Town’s success at Aqueduct was his reason to run in the Wood.

Thu, 03/23/2017 - 13:46

West Point Thoroughbreds breaks with Albertrani

Coady Photography
Twilight Eclipse is chasing his third McKnight victory, his most recent coming in 2013.

The West Point Thoroughbreds ownership group has moved 10 horses from trainer Tom Albertrani, ending a business relationship that began in 2009, the partnership’s president confirmed Wednesday.

Among the horses moved was Twilight Eclipse, a Grade 1-winning gelding and earner of more than $2.1 million. The 8-year-old is with Graham Motion, a trainer with whom West Point has at least a dozen runners. Also receiving horses from West Point in this move were George Weaver, Tony Dutrow, and Tom Morley.

Thu, 03/23/2017 - 13:40

Blueridge Traveler makes stakes debut in Spiral

Coady Photography
Blueridge Traveler (9) makes his stakes debut Saturday after breaking his maiden last time out.

Blueridge Traveler might be one of the most aptly named horses running Saturday at Turfway Park.

It’s already been a bit of a journey for the colt, who after a series of troubled trips finally won his maiden last time out at Oaklawn Park. Now, his travels are taking him to his stakes debut. He shipped this week from Arkansas to Keeneland and will take the short van ride up the highway to Florence, Ky., on Saturday morning for the Spiral Stakes.

His connections are racking up the frequent-flier miles, too.

Thu, 03/23/2017 - 12:10

Songbird cleared to resume training

Barbara D. Livingston
Songbird had some slight inflmation in a leg, probably caused by kicking a wall in her stall.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Songbird has been given the green light to resume serious training at Santa Anita, where the two-time champion filly is stabled with Jerry Hollendorfer.

Fox Hill Farms owner Rick Porter announced this week on Facebook that Songbird resumed galloping; she galloped 1 1/2 miles Wednesday and Thursday.

Thu, 03/23/2017 - 12:06

Espinoza accepts mount on Arabian star Paddys Day

Churchill Downs/Coady Photography
Paddys Day will be the first Arabian mount for jockey Victor Espinoza.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Victor Espinoza, the jockey for Horses of the Year American Pharoah and California Chrome in the last three years, will ride Paddys Day, the 2015 Arabian Horse of the Year, in the $100,000 Sheikha Fatima Darley Awards Stakes at Santa Anita on April 1.

Scott Powell, who trains and co-owns Paddys Day, and Brian Beach, Espinoza’s agent, confirmed the assignment. This will be the first time Espinoza has ridden an Arabian racehorse in his career, which began in 1992.

Thu, 03/23/2017 - 11:56

Ann Arbor Eddie sidelined with splint-bone injury

Benoit & Associates
Ann Arbor Eddie will be sent to a farm for several weeks to recuperate from a leg injury.

ARCADIA, Calif.– The two-time stakes winner Ann Arbor Eddie has been sidelined with a splint-bone injury.

Trainer Doug O’Neill said Ann Arbor Eddie was diagnosed with the injury after a fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 11.

“I had a splint bone pop up on me,” O’Neill said. “He’ll go to the farm for a couple of weeks.”

Thu, 03/23/2017 - 11:56

O'Neill may run four in Santa Anita Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Iliad is trainer Doug O'Neill's leading candidate for the Santa Anita Derby.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Doug O’Neill could have as many as four runners in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 8.

Iliad, Milton Freewater, So Conflated, and Term of Art are under consideration for the $1 million race at 1 1/8 miles, the top California prep race for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6.

Iliad was second to Mastery in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 11. Mastery was pulled up with a leg injury immediately after the San Felipe, a circumstance that leaves Iliad a leading contender for the Santa Anita Derby.

Wed, 03/22/2017 - 15:41

Denman's Call a possibility for Count Fleet

Barbara D. Livingston
Denman's Call, winner of the Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita, could ship from California for the Count Fleet.

Denman’s Call, who won the Grade 1 Triple Bend on March 11 at Santa Anita, is being considered for the Grade 3, $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn, trainer Doug O’Neill said Tuesday. The race will be run April 15.

“He could surface there,” O’Neill said. “I’m going to be discussing that more with the owners.”

Denman’s Call races for Gilman Racing, Westside Rentals, and W.C. Racing. The horse was a one-length winner of the Triple Bend, covering the seven-furlong distance in a rapid 1:20.94 and earning a career-high 104 Beyer Speed Figure.

Wed, 03/22/2017 - 15:18

Iron Fist likely headed to New Orleans Handicap

Coady Photography
Iron Fist, winner of the Maxxam Gold Cup, will point to the April 1 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds.

Iron Fist, who won the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup last month at Sam Houston, is under consideration for the Grade 2, $400,000 New Orleans Handicap on April 1 at Fair Grounds, said trainer Steve Asmussen. The horse worked at Fair Grounds on Monday, going six furlongs in 1:12.40.

“He’ll most likely run in the New Orleans Handicap,” Asmussen said. “He’s trained well there coming off the win. It’s the right time to try him.”

Wed, 03/22/2017 - 15:06

Beasley has surgery to remove ankle chip

Barbara D. Livingston
Beasley could be back training four weeks after having ankle surgery.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Mark Hennig said that his promising 3-year-old Beasley underwent surgery Monday to remove an ankle chip diagnosed following his fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby on March 11. Beasley, a son of Shackleford, was beaten eight lengths by Tapwrit after bobbling at the break and racing wide.