A major factor in the inaugural Pegasus World Cup being so successful was the weather. Temperatures hovered right around 70 amid bright sunshine all day as ontrack fans reveled in perfect conditions.
It was a stark contrast to the following day. Rain and temperatures in the low 50s descended on south Florida on Sunday, when all six turf races on the 12-race Gulfstream card had to be transferred to a sloppy main track.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Texas Ryano did not race through a wet January in Southern California, but still made two afternoon appearances at Santa Anita.
Most of his daily activity was during morning training hours, but there were two occasions when Texas Ryano had workouts between races because of wet conditions those mornings.
The adjusted schedule allowed trainer Carla Gaines to keep Texas Ryano on course for his 2017 debut in Saturday’s $200,000 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita. Gaines said Texas Ryano retained fitness despite the alterations.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oaklawn Park hit record numbers at the claim box last season, when 492 horses were claimed for $6.9 million in transactions between stables during the 56-date meet that ran from January to mid-April.
The action has been just as fierce this season. Just nine days into the new meet, there have been 59 claims, a number that is on par with the corresponding period a year ago, according to Terri Hoffrogge, the horsemen’s bookkeeper at Oaklawn. In all, there had been $776,000 in transactions between stables through Thursday.
Stallwalkin’ Dude will leave New York on Tuesday for Southern California to run in the Grade 2, $200,000 Palos Verdes Stakes at Santa Anita next Saturday.
Stallwalkin’ Dude was beaten a neck in the Grade 3 Toboggan here on Jan. 16. Prior to that, he won the Gravesend Stakes.
“He’s better now than he’s ever been, believe it or not,” trainer David Jacobson said.
Jacobson said he still has an eye on the Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan on March 25 but said, “It’s a long time from now. One race at a time.”
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher is expected to send out a trio of runners against Jerome Stakes winner El Areeb in next Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct.
Pletcher’s horses Bonus Points and Win With Pride, who finished second and fourth in the Jerome, will try El Areeb again. They will be joined by Fillet of Sole, a colt coming off a maiden victory at Parx in November.
Slowly but steadily, Fair Grounds is emerging from the equine viral outbreak that began late last year and briefly even threatened to shut down the 2016-17 race meet. One by one, quarantined barns are coming back online, and off-site shippers began racing at Fair Grounds again this week.
But for trainer Mike Stidham, the slow still feels much stronger than the steady.
In a business sense, Stidham has been affected by the equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) event at Fair Grounds more acutely than any trainer.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Champagne Room, the 2016 champion 2-year-old filly, is set to have her 3-year-old debut in the $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 5.
Champagne Room has not raced since her upset win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies here Nov. 5. She was named champion in a ceremony at Gulfstream Park in Florida on Jan. 21.
The Grade 2 Las Virgenes is run at a mile and will be a test for Champagne Room. The field is expected to include Unique Bella, the easy winner of the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes at seven furlongs Jan. 8.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockey Drayden Van Dyke faces a lengthy period of recovery after severely breaking his arm in a two-horse spill at Santa Anita on Thursday.
Van Dyke underwent surgery shortly after arriving at Huntington Hospital in nearby Pasadena, according to his agent, Brad Pegram. Van Dyke remained hospitalized Friday morning. It was unclear how long Van Dyke would be in the hospital or how long he will be away from racing, Pegram said.
Van Dyke, 22, was cleared of any injuries to his head, neck and spine, according to Pegram.
Tepin, the two-time Eclipse Award champion for trainer Mark Casse and owner Robert Masterson, is scheduled to have another breeze Monday at Palm Meadows with Julien Leparoux aboard.
Tepin is being pointed to the Grade 3 Endeavour Stakes on the Feb. 11 Sam F. Davis card at Tampa Bay Downs. If all goes well, Tepin then could be sent overseas for the Dubai World Cup Carnival on March 25 at Meydan.
With divisional champion Classic Empire heading the prospective lineup, a field of seven or eight is forming for the first major 3-year-old event of the Gulfstream championship meet, the Grade 2, $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes next Saturday.
Classic Empire was scheduled to have his final prerace breeze this weekend at his Palm Meadows base, according to trainer Mark Casse.
“So far, everything’s going to plan,” Casse said Friday. “We’re in good shape.”
