Tue, 01/03/2017 - 19:04

Turf Paradise cancels after first-race spill

PHOENIX – Turf Paradise canceled live racing Tuesday after a spill and fatal breakdown in day’s first race. The track had canceled the racing cards of Jan. 1 and 2 after heavy rain hit the Phoenix area over the weekend.

Running for Annie, ridden by Jake Barton, was well back while racing wide into the lane in Tuesday’s opener, a maiden-claiming sprint, when she broke down and fell. The Paulick Report reported that Barton did not suffer any serious injury, though Running for Annie had to be euthanized.

Mon, 01/02/2017 - 15:50

Fair Grounds newcomer Walsh has good older horses

. Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges Jr.

Trainer Brendan Walsh is running a Fair Grounds string for the first time this winter, and his horses, particularly two older dirt-route horses, have been doing well.

The 5-year-old Honorable Duty won the Tenacious Stakes around two turns on dirt Dec. 17 and is set to make his next start in the Jan. 21 Louisiana Stakes. The 4-year-old Egyptian scored in a sharp first-level, two-turn dirt allowance Dec. 29 and, while not as advanced as his stablemate, also seems headed in the right direction.

Mon, 01/02/2017 - 15:40

Cox 3-year-olds have good day on turf

Lou Hodges Jr.
Believe in Bertie paid $5.00 to win in the Pago Hop Stakes.

Saturday was a good day – almost great – for the Brad Cox stable’s 3-year-old filly grass horses.

At Fair Grounds, Believe in Bertie ran off the screen in the $75,000 Pago Hop, setting a course record for one mile in an eye-popping performance. At Santa Anita, Sassy Little Lila ran an excellent race but was nipped at the wire by Decked Out in the Grade 1 American Oaks.

Mon, 01/02/2017 - 15:06

Brown, Ortiz, Dubb top categories

Photos by Barbara D. Livingston
From left: Chad Brown led all trainers in wins and earnings at NYRA tracks in 2016; Jose Ortiz led jockeys in wins; and Michael Dubb led owners in wins.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Chad Brown, Jose Ortiz, and Michael Dubb were the dominant connections on the New York Racing Association circuit in 2016.

Brown was the leading trainer at NYRA tracks with 135 winners and $15,041,606 in purse earnings. It was the second straight year that Brown was the leading trainer at NYRA tracks; he won 131 races in 2015. Rudy Rodriguez finished second in wins last year with 127 and was followed by Todd Pletcher (112), Linda Rice (91), and David Jacobson (60).

Mon, 01/02/2017 - 15:06

Send It In staying put

Joe Labozzetta/NYRA
Send It In wins the Alex M. Robb on Saturday. He will stay at Aqueduct rather than head to Gulfstream for a stakes.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Following Send It In’s victory in Saturday’s Alex M. Robb Stakes, owner Paul Pompa Jr. mentioned the possibility of shipping the horse to south Florida for either the $12 million Pegasus or the $400,000 Poseidon, both Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park.

On Monday, however, Pompa said Send It In will stay in New York for the time being.

Mon, 01/02/2017 - 15:00

Wonder Gal goes for new owner in Ladies

Barbara D. Livingston
Wonder Gal, who finished fifth in the Gallant Bloom, is a leading contender in the Empire Distaff on Saturday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Wonder Gal, a 5-year-old stakes-winning New York-bred mare, was recently sold privately. She will attempt to recoup some of her new owner’s investment in Saturday’s $100,000 Ladies Handicap at Aqueduct.

The Clearview Stable of Bernard Cleary purchased Wonder Gal over the weekend from owner Jeff Treadway. Though Wonder Gal was purchased primarily as a broodmare prospect, she was being trained for the Ladies, which closed Monday with a five-horse field.

Mon, 01/02/2017 - 14:46

Pegasus or Santa Anita Handicap next for Midnight Storm

Barbara D. Livingston
Midnight Storm, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, scores a front-running victory in the San Pasqual.

ARCADIA, Calif. – One day after Midnight Storm’s win in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita, the 6-year-old was being considered for two races. One thing is likely – Midnight Storm’s next race will be a Grade 1 on the main track.

Midnight Storm won the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf last June and was third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile here in November. His last two starts have come on dirt, and he won them both – the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 27 and the San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.

Mon, 01/02/2017 - 14:46

Gormley gets ready to smile for camera in Sham Stakes

Shigeki Kikkawa
FrontRunner winner Gormley is pointing toward the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

ARCADIA, Calif. – John Shirreffs not only trains Gormley, he’s a bit of a fan.

When Gormley walked off the track after a five-furlong workout in 1:00.60 at Santa Anita on Monday, Shirreffs took a moment to take a few photos.

“I got a new camera for Christmas,” Shirreffs said. “I love photography anyway.”

Gormley could be the subject of many photos in the coming months. Already a Grade 1 winner, having won the FrontRunner Stakes here on Oct. 1, Gormley will have his 3-year-old debut in Saturday’s $100,000 Sham Stakes at a mile.

Mon, 01/02/2017 - 13:46

Gunnevera, Three Rules work for 3-year-old debuts

Coady Photography
Gunnevera, by Dialed In, wins the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A couple of 3-year-olds eyeing the Feb. 4 Holy Bull here, Gunnevera and Three Rules, worked within minutes of one another eight miles apart on Saturday. Gunnevera, the winner of the Grade 2 Saratoga Special and the Grade 3 Delta Jackpot, went five furlongs in 59.85 seconds at Gulfstream Park West, while Three Rules drilled a bullet half-mile in 46.95 at Gulfstream Park.

Mon, 01/02/2017 - 13:30

Holy Bull the target for Classic Empire, but it's not set in stone

Emily Shields
Classic Empire and jockey Julien Leparoux hold on to beat Not This Time in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Saturday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Mark Casse still has the Grade 2 Holy Bull here on Feb. 4 circled for Classic Empire’s 3-year-old debut, although he said he’s not going to rush the colt to make the race.