Tue, 12/27/2016 - 13:23

Gutierrez given a one-day suspension

ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockey Mario Gutierrez will serve a one-day suspension Saturday for participating in more than one designated race at Los Alamitos on Dec. 17 while under suspension.

In California, designated races are typically six-figure stakes exempt from routine suspensions. Gutierrez rode two such stakes at Los Alamitos on Dec. 17 while in the midst of a three-day suspension for causing interference in a race at Los Alamitos in September.

Tue, 12/27/2016 - 13:15

Baffert sending Arrogate to San Pasqual

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

Arrogate will start in Sunday’s $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita after impressing trainer Bob Baffert in a workout at Santa Anita on Tuesday.

Arrogate worked six furlongs in 1:12.20.

“He went really well,” Baffert said. “He was just cruising. He was just in a gallop. As long as he looks good, it looks like Sunday is a spot for him.”

Mon, 12/26/2016 - 21:42

Horse tests positive for equine herpesvirus at Fair Grounds

A horse stabled at Fair Grounds tested positive for equine herpesvirus Monday, Fair Grounds senior director of racing Jason Boulet confirmed Monday night.

Boulet said representatives from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture were scheduled to arrive at Fair Grounds early Tuesday morning to assess the situation, which is likely to lead to various quarantine protocols.

Mon, 12/26/2016 - 20:04

No winning pick six tickets opening day

ARCADIA, Calif. - Thursday’s program at Santa Anita will have two carryovers in the pick six – $115,062 in the main pool and $24,656 in the single-ticket jackpot pool.

There were no winning tickets in Monday’s pick six on the opening day of the track’s winter-spring meeting.

Mon, 12/26/2016 - 16:06

Untapped eyes Silverbulletday

Untapped, the 2-year-old full sister to champion Untapable, won her second straight race last Friday at Fair Grounds to run her career record to two wins and a third from three starts.

Mon, 12/26/2016 - 15:57

Trainer McGee seeks 1,000th win from December Seven

The veteran trainer Paul McGee has been sitting at 999 career wins for a few weeks now. A milestone – 1,000 wins – is right around the corner and could come in the featured seventh race Thursday at Fair Grounds with a very promising prospect named December Seven.

December Seven is one of eight entrants in a second-level allowance race that is also open to $40,000 claimers and carded for 1 1/16 miles on dirt. The 11-race card starts with modest offerings, but races 6 through 11 all are for open maidens or allowance horses.

Mon, 12/26/2016 - 15:46

December Seven can give McGee milestone win

The veteran trainer Paul McGee has been sitting at 999 career wins for a few weeks now. A milestone – 1,000 wins – is right around the corner and could come in the featured seventh race Thursday at Fair Grounds with a very promising prospect named December Seven.

December Seven is one of eight entrants in a second-level allowance race that is also open to $40,000 claimers and carded for 1 1/16 miles on dirt. The 11-race card starts with modest offerings, but races 6 through 11 all are for open maidens or allowance horses.

Mon, 12/26/2016 - 15:20

Empire Dreams racing, Saratoga Snacks retiring

Barbara D. Livingston
Saratoga Snacks retires with a record of 9-6-4 from 24 starts and earnings of $693,500.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – On the last day of 2015, Empire Dreams beat Saratoga Snacks by a head in the $100,000 Alex M. Robb Stakes at Aqueduct.

On the last day of 2016, Empire Dreams will go for a repeat in the 1 1/16-mile Alex Robb, while Saratoga Snacks will be enjoying retirement at a farm in East Greenbush, N.Y., owned by ReRun, an organization that places retired Thoroughbreds in new homes.

Mon, 12/26/2016 - 15:16

Bavaro probably will go long in Gander Stakes

Anette Jasko/NYRA
Bavaro and jockey Manny Franco win the Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Stakes by 3 3/4 lengths Saturday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Bavaro, the dominant winner of the Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series on Dec. 17, likely will get a chance to stretch out around two turns in the $100,000 Gander Stakes for New York-breds on Jan. 28.

Gary Sciacca, who trains Bavaro for Hall of Fame football coach Bill Parcells, also has the option of keeping Bavaro sprinting in the $125,000 Rego Park Stakes on Jan. 21 but said he wants to find out sooner rather than later if the horse will be successful stretching out.

Mon, 12/26/2016 - 15:06

Gallardo coming north for the winter

Tom Keyser
Antonio Gallardo has been riding seven days a week, splitting time between Presque Isle Downs and Monmouth Park.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Antonio Gallardo, who will finish 2016 as the second-leading rider in North America in wins, will move his tack to Aqueduct for the winter, according to his agent, Matt Muzikar.

Gallardo entered the final week of 2016 with 328 winners on the year, second only to Jose Ortiz’s 350. Gallardo was planning to ride the winter at Gulfstream Park but believes there might be better opportunities for him at Aqueduct. Gallardo rode here on the weekend of Dec. 17-18, winning two races from nine mounts, including the $125,000 Queens County Stakes aboard War Story.