LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Although Purely a Dream earned enough qualifying points in winning the Grade 3 Bourbonette Oaks last Saturday at Turfway Park to become a starter in the Kentucky Oaks, that’s highly unlikely to happen, trainer Ken McPeek said this week from his winter base at Oaklawn Park.
“We didn’t even bother to nominate her,” said McPeek, who watched the Bourbonette from his hotel room in Dubai on the Horse Races Now app he founded.
Unique Bella, the leading 3-year-old filly in the nation, has been taken out of training with a shin injury and will miss scheduled starts in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks on April 8 and the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 5, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said on Tuesday.
“She has a shin that’s bothering her,” Hollendorfer said. “We’ll give her a little time off.”
Hollendorfer did not say how long Unique Bella will be out of action.
Unique Bella worked six furlongs in 1:11.20 at Santa Anita on March 19. The injury was detected in recent days.
Sunland Derby winner Hence was traveling back to his Oaklawn base on Monday, his spot in the Kentucky Derby secure as he picked up 50 qualifying points for his victory. But the path he will take to the May 6 classic at Churchill Downs is to be determined, trainer Steve Asmussen said.
Asmussen said he wants to evaluate how Hence handled the race and the travel before discussing with owner Calumet Farm “the best way to proceed to the Derby.”
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Untrapped on Monday had his first breeze since running third in the Grade 2, $900,000 Rebel on March 18 at Oaklawn. He went an easy half-mile in 51.20 seconds on a track rated “good” and remains on course for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 15, trainer Steve Asmussen said.
“I am extremely happy with him,” said Asmussen, adding that he has liked Untrapped’s energy level since the Rebel.
Asmussen said he is considering an equipment change for Untrapped.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Wayne Smith has been named general manager of Oaklawn Park in a transition made official during the Arkansas Racing Commission meeting Saturday.
Smith takes over from Eric Jackson, who said at the start of the meet that the baton would be passed to Smith at some point this season. Jackson, who has been the general manager for 30 years, will now be working on special projects for Oaklawn.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – A gem from Louisiana has invaded Arkansas for the featured eighth race Thursday at Oaklawn Park.
Big World stands out in the optional $40,000 claiming route for fillies and mares as a four-time stakes winner. She will face seven others in the 1 1/16-mile race. Her rivals include Taxable, the runner-up in last year’s Grade 3 Fantasy at Oaklawn, and Untouchable U, an allowance winner who launched her career at Santa Anita.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Nobody does more commuting during the winter than trainer Kathleen O’Connell, who splits her time between Gulfstream Park West, where she has 28 horses stabled, and Tampa Bay Downs, where she keeps 36 runners and is second in the meet standings.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher has been forced to go to Plan B with Grade 3 winner Theory, who was scheduled to launch his 3-year-old campaign here last Saturday in the Spectacular Bid Stakes, which ended up being scrapped due to a lack of entries. Theory, a son of Gemologist, has not started since finishing far back in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed the race didn’t go, and a little bit surprised as well,” said Pletcher. “We’ve been pointing to that race for a little while.”
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – This past weekend was one to remember for jockey Tyler Gaffalione.
On Saturday, Gaffalione guided Fast and Accurate to a 24-1 upset victory in the Grade 3 Spiral at Turfway Park and perhaps earned his first Kentucky Derby mount. Owned by Kendall Hansen and trained by Mike Maker, Fast and Accurate now has enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby.
On Sunday, Gaffalione won three races at Gulfstream, including the 500th winner of his career, More Front for trainer Chad Brown in the fourth race.
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – Mark Casse has a plethora of 3-year-old fillies and decisions to make on who runs where.
While he entered Corporate Queen and Summer Luck in Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks, he said Monday he is likely to send only one to Louisiana. Whoever stays in Florida will join Salty as a runner in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks.
