Sun, 03/05/2017 - 15:49

Midnight Storm works on Santa Anita Handicap strategy

Barbara D. Livingston
Midnight Storm worked five furlongs Sunday in preparation for the Santa Anita Handicap.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Midnight Storm worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 at Santa Anita on Sunday in a scenario that could resemble the race strategy for his next start in Saturday's Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap.

Midnight Storm worked alone, but two runners from another stable began workouts shortly before Midnight Storm. Through the workout, Midnight Storm raced a few lengths behind the other horses under exercise rider Jose Dominguez.

“The company was in front and he didn’t turn a hair,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “He galloped-out well.”

Sun, 03/05/2017 - 15:38

Mastery likely favorite in Saturday's San Felipe Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Mastery worked six furlongs Sunday at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Mastery, undefeated in three starts at 2 in 2016, will be favored against a growing field in his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Mastery has not raced since recording an impressive win in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 10. Owned by Cheyenne Stables, Mastery won his debut here in October and his stakes debut in the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 19.

Sun, 03/05/2017 - 15:23

Arrogate works seven furlongs in prep for Dubai World Cup

Barbara D. Livingston
Jockey Martin Garcia runs Arrogate through Sunday's workout.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Arrogate, winner of the $12 million Pegasus World Cup, worked seven furlongs in 1:24 at Santa Anita on Sunday in preparation for the $10 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on March 25.

Trainer Bob Baffert said after the workout that Arrogate will be sent to Dubai on March 13. The 4-year-old Arrogate will have an additional workout at Santa Anita next weekend before being shipped.

“One more good work and we’re off,” Baffert said.

Sun, 03/05/2017 - 15:00

J Boys Echo likely for Blue Grass as next start

Debra A. Roma
J Boys Echo, with Robby Albarado aboard, wins the Gotham Stakes by 3 1/2 lengths.

J Boys Echo, the authoritative winner of Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct, will “most likely” make his next start in the Grade 2, $1 million Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 8, trainer Dale Romans said Sunday.

Sun, 03/05/2017 - 13:07

Brown makes plans for his trio of winners

Kenny Martin/Coglianese Photos
Ticonderoga was one of three winners for Chad Brown on Saturday.

Trainer Chad Brown won three races on Saturday’s card at Gulfstream: Ticonderoga in the Palm Beach; Wake Forest in the Mac Diarmida; and first-time starter Timeline in a loaded maiden race.

He said Ticonderoga would make his next start in the Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland on opening day April 8, and that his long-term goal was the Grade 1 Belmont Derby in July.

Brown said jockey Joel Rosario “gave him a beautiful ride.”

Wake Forest is being considered for the Pan American at Gulfstream on April 1, followed by the Man O’War at Belmont on May 13, Brown said.

Sun, 03/05/2017 - 12:54

Classic Empire still targeting Blue Grass Stakes

Classic Empire finished third in the Holy Bull.

The Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 8 remains the intended target for Classic Empire, who is scheduled to go back to the track on Tuesday after having a potential workout aborted last Friday.

Classic Empire refused to work that morning, and minutes later at the barn was showing discomfort in his back, trainer Mark Casse said. An equine therapist was brought in to work on Classic Empire on Saturday afternoon, and by Sunday morning Classic Empire was frolicking in a round pen like the happiest horse in the world.

Sun, 03/05/2017 - 12:39

McCraken training, but will miss Tampa Bay Derby

Tom Keyser
McCraken is back in training following this victory in the Sam F. Davis on Feb. 11 at Tampa Bay Downs.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – The highly regarded McCraken, forced to miss this coming Saturday’s Tampa Bay Derby because of some post-workout puffiness in an ankle, returned to the track to gallop Sunday morning here at the Palm Meadows training center. He missed just a handful of days of training.

“It was just minor,” trainer Ian Wilkes said of the hiccup. “I’m happy with him. It was better to back off now. If you push, you’re screwed. We just had to wait. I did what I thought was right.”

Sat, 03/04/2017 - 16:35

Silent Bird gears up for graded-stakes debut in Triple Bend

Emily Shields
Silent Bird closed from sixth to win the Damascus Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths Friday.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Silent Bird has not lost since his debut in December 2015, reeling off five consecutive wins since the middle of January 2016.

The winning streak includes four optional claimers and the minor Damascus Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita last November, the only stakes appearance for the 5-year-old horse. Next Saturday, Silent Bird will have his long-awaited graded-stakes debut in the Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs.

Sat, 03/04/2017 - 15:30

Gormley points to San Felipe Stakes; Royal Mo to Rebel Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Royal Mo worked six furlongs in 1:14.80 on Saturday while tuning up for a probable start in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Gormley, the winner of the Grade 3 Sham Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile Jan. 7, is tentatively scheduled to start in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita next Saturday, trainer John Shirreffs said on Saturday.

Shirreffs said Royal Mo, the winner of the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes on Feb. 4, will be pointed for the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 18.

Sat, 03/04/2017 - 15:11

Cautious Giant, Hi Happy join field for Santa Anita Handicap

Barbara D. Livingston
Isotherm, the winner of the San Marcos Stakes, worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 under jockey Flavien Prat on Saturday in preparation for the Big Cap.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The list of contenders for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap next Saturday has grown to include a horse claimed for $62,500 on Thursday and a Group 1 winner from South America.

Cautious Giant, third in two graded stakes for sprinters in 2016, will start as a pacesetter for stablemate Imperative, new owner Ron Paolucci said on Saturday. Cautious Giant was claimed for $62,500 on Thursday from an optional claimer at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.