Mon, 12/12/2016 - 15:16

Trapeze winner Perfect Wife eyes Martha Washington Stakes

Dustin Orona Photography
Perfect Wife was a five-length winner in Sunday's Trapeze Stakes at Remington.

Perfect Wife is one of several 2-year-olds who have trainer Ken McPeek looking forward to next season. She was a five-length winner of the $100,000 Trapeze on Sunday night at Remington Park and now has her sights set on the first major stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Oaklawn.

McPeek said Monday that Perfect Wife is a candidate for the $125,000 Martha Washington at one mile Feb. 11. It’s the first stakes in Oaklawn’s route series for 3-year-old fillies that culminates with the Grade 3, $400,000 Fantasy.

Mon, 12/12/2016 - 15:06

Improving Cool Arrow targets Grade 3 Lecomte

Dustin Orona Photography
Cool Arrow wins the Remington Springboard Mile on Sunday with a career-high Beyer Speed Figure.

Cool Arrow has stepped up his game with each race and is now in line for a graded test following his win Sunday night in the $300,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park.

Cool Arrow overcame post 12 to win the Springboard Mile by 3 1/2 lengths, earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 77. It was his second stakes win, following the $75,000 Kip Deville in September, also at Remington.

Mon, 12/12/2016 - 13:00

Gaffalione shakes off slow start, wins three Sunday

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Jockey Tyler Gaffalione got off to a slow start at Gulfstream Park, going winless from 28 mounts over the first six days of the session before coming to life by winning three races Sunday, including two for trainer Ralph Nicks.

Mon, 12/12/2016 - 12:56

Neolithic auditions Wednesday for Pegasus World Cup

Barbara D. Livingston
Neolithic is favored in Wednesday's allowance feature at Gulfstream.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – With the inaugural running of the $12 million Pegasus World Cup only six weeks away, Saturday’s Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday has been well spotted on the calendar to provide both a prep and a showcase for potential starters in the uniquely designed event.

Such an option is certainly not lost on trainer Todd Pletcher, who will send out two or three runners in the Harlan’s Holiday and has a fourth Pegasus candidate in the Grade 3-placed Neolithic, the favorite in Wednesday’s $43,000 allowance feature.

Mon, 12/12/2016 - 12:20

Joking recovering from illness in California

Barbara D. Livingston
Joking came from far back to win the Vosburgh by a length with jockey Manny Franco.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Joking, the Grade 1 Vosburgh winner, had a relapse of pneumonia and remains at an equine clinic in Southern California, according to owner-trainer Charlton Baker.

Joking initially got sick after shipping from New York to California for a planned start in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 5. He was entered in the Breeders’ Cup but was scratched and sent to Chino Valley Equine Hospital in Chino Hills.

Mon, 12/12/2016 - 12:16

Alvarado having shoulder surgery

Barbara D. Livingston
Jockey Junior Alvarado

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jockey Junior Alvarado was scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery on Tuesday and is expected to be out of action for eight to 12 weeks.

Alvarado said he needs surgery to repair his left shoulder, which has sporadically popped out of its socket. Alvarado said an incident about two weeks ago exacerbated the problem, prompting doctors to suggest he have surgery soon.

“About two weeks ago, a horse stumbled and pulled my arm and damaged some tissue and ligaments around my shoulder,” Alvarado said Monday.

Mon, 12/12/2016 - 12:16

Maragh off to fast start at inner-track meet

Barbara D. Livingston
Rajiv Maragh suffered serious back injuries in a July 10 race at Belmont.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Rajiv Maragh had determined where he was going to ride this winter well before last weekend, but his four-win Saturday at Aqueduct only reinforced his decision to stay in the Northeast for the season.

Maragh won four races from seven mounts, added another win on Sunday, and finished the opening week of Aqueduct’s inner-track meet with seven wins from 22 mounts. Only Jose Ortiz, who leads the nation in wins this year with 344, had more winners (8) during opening week.

Mon, 12/12/2016 - 12:10

No Dozing targets Sam F. Davis, Divining Rod points to GP Handicap

Barbara D. Livingston
Divining Rod (right) finished second by a head to Connect in last month's Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Two colts who ran huge races at Aqueduct last month to be second in graded stakes are getting a short winter break at Tampa Bay Downs as trainer Arnaud Delacour points them to graded stakes in Florida on Feb. 11.

Mon, 12/12/2016 - 08:17

$185 winner keys big payoffs

Payoffs for the 50-cent pick five and 50-cent pick four at Los Alamitos on Sunday were the highest since the track began daytime Thoroughbred racing in 2014.

There was one winning ticket worth $265,806 in the pick five that covered the first five races, and one winning ticket worth $74,003 in the pick four that covered the second through fifth races.

Mon, 12/12/2016 - 08:10

Melatonin targets February start

Barbara D. Livingston
Melatonin, who finished fifth in the Breeders' Cup Classic, is in light training after fighting a foot problem, trainer David Hofmans said.

Melatonin, the winner of two Grade 1 races this year and fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 5, is in light training and will not start in 2017 until February at the earliest.

“He’s just jogging,” trainer David Hofmans said on Sunday. “I’ve had a foot issue with him.”