Thu, 12/29/2016 - 14:00

Arrogate leads small San Pasqual field

John Bambury
Arrogate put in his first serious work Thursday since winning the Breeders' Cup Classic.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Arrogate will face a small field in Sunday’s $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita, his first start since a win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 5.

The Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes is expected to also include Accelerate, Dalmore, Midnight Storm, and Prospect Park.

All candidates are stakes winners. Accelerate won the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Derby in September and was third in the BC Dirt Mile on Nov. 4. Dalmore is winless in three starts since taking the Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes here in July.

Thu, 12/29/2016 - 13:06

Semper Fortis to take slot in Pegasus World Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. – Semper Fortis, the former maiden claimer who finished third in three stakes for 3-year-olds this year, is being pointed to the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28.

Paul Reddam, who owns Semper Fortis with his wife, Zillah, said Thursday that the colt is a default selection to start after retirement and injuries hit two of the stable’s leading hopes – Nyquist, the winner of the Kentucky Derby in May, and the older horse Donworth.

Thu, 12/29/2016 - 12:56

California Chrome energetic in workout

Benoit & Associates
California Chrome wins the Los Alamitos Winter Challenge by 12 lengths.

CYPRESS, Calif. – An eager California Chrome worked a half-mile in 48.20 seconds at Los Alamitos on Thursday, an exercise that trainer Art Sherman pushed forward to avoid an expected weekend rainstorm.

The workout was the second-to-last for California Chrome at Los Alamitos before departing for Florida on Jan. 6 for the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park. California Chrome will be retired to stud in Kentucky after the Pegasus on Jan. 28.

Wed, 12/28/2016 - 16:28

Farrell will skip Silverbulletday to await Rachel Alexandra

Churchill Downs/Coady Photography
Farrell won the Golden Rod Stakes by six lengths.

Farrell, the good-looking winner of the Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs in her most recent start, worked a half-mile Wednesday morning in 48.80 seconds at Fair Grounds. Farrell hadn’t breezed in 11 days, but trainer Wayne Catalano said the gap between works came mainly because of the timing of Christmas.

“She just went easy by herself. Worked great. Went on out a bit and worked more like 4 1/2 [furlongs], really,” Catalano said.

Farrell will skip the Silverbulletday Stakes on Jan. 21 to point for the Rachel Alexandra on Feb. 25.

Wed, 12/28/2016 - 16:05

Savings Account headed to sales ring at Keeneland

Savings Account and Kathballu, who were dominant stakes winners on the Delta Downs Jackpot undercard Nov. 19, have contrasting plans over the next few months.

Savings Account won the $200,000 Treasure Chest at Delta. Craig Bernick, who co-owns the 5-year-old mare with Heider Family Stables, said she is scheduled to be sold at the January sale at Keeneland. Savings Account won six races at six different tracks for the partnership.

Wed, 12/28/2016 - 15:46

Valadorna ready for first workout since Breeders' Cup

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Valadorna (outside) could target the Rachel Alexandra in February at Fair Grounds.

Valadorna, the runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in her most recent start, has settled into Mark Casse’s barn at Fair Grounds after getting a brief rest in Florida and is nearing her first timed workout of the winter.

“She’s been there about 10 days,” Casse said Tuesday night. “We’re getting ready to breeze her in the next couple days.”

Wed, 12/28/2016 - 15:26

Candip champing at bit to run in Mr. Prospector

Coady Photography
Candip, winner of the Iowa Sprint, could go favored in the Sen. Robert Byrd Memorial.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Michael Tomlinson was not concerned when the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector was postponed Monday because of a lack of entries. But should the Grade 3 event not fill a second time when it is brought back for Sunday, then Tomlinson may find himself with bit of a problem.

Tomlinson is pointing Candip to the Mr. Prospector and said the more time between races, the better for the horse. But only up to a point.

Wed, 12/28/2016 - 15:26

Keen Ice joins cast for Pegasus World Cup

Barbara D. Livingston
Keen Ice is one of Todd Pletcher's prime contenders in the Harlan's Holiday.

Donegal Racing and the brothers Jerry and Ronnie Frankel have reached a partnership agreement to start Donegal’s Keen Ice in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in south Florida on Jan. 28, the partners said on Wednesday.

Jerry Frankel, who purchased a starting slot in the Pegasus for $1 million earlier this year with his brother, declined to provide details about the partnership agreement but said it was a “one-off” applicable only to the Pegasus. The Frankels had been searching for a horse for their Pegasus slot for several months, Jerry Frankel said.

Wed, 12/28/2016 - 15:06

King Kranz nears first start since summer

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Saturday's Amsterdam will mark King Kranz's first start since winning the Gold Fever Stakes in May.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – King Kranz became the first stakes winner on this circuit in 2016, winning the Lost in the Fog Stakes on New Year’s Day at Aqueduct. Away from the races for the last five months, King Kranz is working his way toward a return to action later this winter.

On Wednesday, King Kranz worked four furlongs in 49.71 seconds over the Belmont Park training track. He worked in company with Not Taken and got his final quarter in 24.07 seconds. It was his fourth work back since getting a break following a sixth-place finish in the Grade 2 Amsterdam at Saratoga on July 30.

Wed, 12/28/2016 - 15:06

Rodriguez fields strong ‘B' team for Alex M. Robb

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Good Luck Gus, who got up by a neck in the Haynesfield, was part of a three-win day for jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and trainer Rudy Rodriguez.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While his top New York-bred older route horse, Royal Posse, awaits the Jazil Stakes here on Jan. 14, trainer Rudy Rodriguez will still be well represented in Saturday’s $100,000 Alex M. Robb Stakes with Good Luck Gus and Becker’s Galaxy.

A field of seven was entered Wednesday for the Robb, a 1 1/16-mile race for New York-bred 3-year-olds and up, including last year’s winner, Empire Dreams.