Sun, 04/16/2017 - 16:14

Salient suffers heat stroke after winning Saturday turf sprint

ARCADIA, Calif. - Salient, the winner of a maiden race for turf sprinters Saturday, suffered an extended bout of heat stroke after the race, but recovered quickly, trainer Ed Freeman said Sunday.

Salient, a 4-year-old gelding, collapsed after the race and was hosed with cold water while in the winner’s circle and again while being walked to the test barn. Salient recovered sufficiently to be transported to the San Luis Rey Downs training center in San Diego County Saturday evening, Freeman said.

Sun, 04/16/2017 - 16:10

Lord Simba gives depth to Drefong's connections

Benoit & Associates
Lord Simba, with Martin Garcia aboard, wins the Los Angeles Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths Saturday.

ARCADIA, Calif. - The emergence of Lord Simba in the last month has given owners Charles and Susan Chu and trainer Bob Baffert depth in the California sprint division.

They own Drefong, the champion sprinter of 2016, who is being pointed to a return to racing at the Del Mar summer meeting. Lord Simba won his stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 3 Los Angeles Stakes at Santa Anita.

Sun, 04/16/2017 - 16:01

Battle of Midway puts in Kentucky Derby work

Shigeki Kikkawa
Gormley wins the Santa Anita Derby on April 8. Battle of Midway (inside) finishes second and Royal Mo (13) finishes third.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Battle of Midway and Royal Mo, the second- and third-place finishers in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 8, worked at Santa Anita on Sunday.

For Battle of Midway, who worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds, the exercise was his first workout in preparation for a scheduled start in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6. For Royal Mo, who went three furlongs in 40 seconds, according to trainer John Shirreffs, the next race is unclear.

Sat, 04/15/2017 - 17:06

Ever So Clever eyes Kentucky Oaks after Fantasy Stakes win

Coady Photography
Ever So Clever gives trainer Steve Asmussen his second straight victory in the Fantasy Stakes.

Ever So Clever will be considered for the Kentucky Oaks after her sweeping win in the Grade 3, $400,000 Fantasy Stakes on Friday at Oaklawn. She is scheduled to ship Monday to Churchill Downs, and plans for her will be discussed with the ownership of Clearview Stable, trainer Steve Asmussen said Saturday.  

“We’ll see what’s best for her,” said Asmussen.

Sat, 04/15/2017 - 11:38

Da Big Hoss sidelined with ankle injury until at least autumn

Four-Footed Fotos
Former claimer Da Big Hoss won four graded stakes in 2016.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Next Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Elkorn Stakes at Keeneland will be absent last year’s winner, Da Big Hoss, who came out of a work earlier this month with an ankle injury that will keep him out of action until at least this fall.

“He is going to need two months of rest,” trainer Mike Maker said Saturday from his base at the Churchill Downs Trackside facility.

Sat, 04/15/2017 - 11:31

Girvin, Fast and Accurate drill for Kentucky Derby

Coady Photography
Girvin, under retired jockey Rosie Napravnik, works a half-mile in 47.80 seconds Saturday at the Churchill Downs Trackside facility.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Girvin, the winner of the Louisiana Derby, and Fast and Accurate, the Spiral Stakes winner, breezed Saturday at the Churchill Downs Trackside facility in preparation for the May 6 Kentucky Derby.

Fast and Accurate was the first of the two Derby prospects to breeze after the track-renovation break, going five furlongs in 59.60 seconds in company with On John, a maiden. Trackside clocker Richard McCreery caught him in splits of 12 seconds, 24, 35.80, and 47.60 and timed him galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.80.

Fri, 04/14/2017 - 15:06

NYRA launches podcast

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association has launched a new podcast, “Across the Board With Andy Serling.”

The podcast will appear in regular installments throughout the year, featuring interesting personalities in racing. The debut episode features Harvey Pack, who for more than three decades hosted “Thoroughbred Action” and “Inside Racing.”

Fans can access the podcast at NYRA.com/acrosstheboard.

◗ The Saratoga backstretch was to open over the weekend, with the first day of training scheduled for Monday.

Fri, 04/14/2017 - 15:06

Classy Class shows he's still got it

Tom Keyser
The True North on June 9 at Belmont would be a logical spot for Classy Class.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Classy Class returned to the winner’s circle on Thursday for the first time in nearly two years with a two-length victory in a third-level allowance race at Aqueduct.

Classy Class, who sparred on the lead with Big Guy Ian for the first half-mile, edged clear under Rajiv Maragh. He ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.74 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 101.

“He’s had the 1 hole the last two times – I don’t like the one hole – but Rajiv had a lot of confidence,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “He ran very well, ran very fast.”

Fri, 04/14/2017 - 15:00

Rice has 1.25 million reasons to send Matt King Coal to Charles Town

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
Matt King Coal (inside) gave trainer Linda Rice her 10th win of the year at Laurel on Saturday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Linda Rice was considering several options for Matt King Coal’s next start, but the allure of a $1.25 million purse makes the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic on April 22 the most attractive one.

With that race in mind, Rice had Matt King Coal breeze a sharp five furlongs in 1:00.20 on Friday over the Belmont Park training track. It was the fastest of 22 moves at the distance.

“He worked very well,” Rice said.

Fri, 04/14/2017 - 14:20

Finest City training up a storm

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, is training better than trainer Ian Kruljac expected as he considers where to run her next.

On Friday, Finest City worked five furlongs in 59.20 seconds at Santa Anita, the fastest of 56 works at the distance.