Albin Jimenez is returning to ride regularly at Turfway Park, where he has dominated the jockey standings in recent years.
Jimenez has abandoned his winter experiment at Tampa Bay Downs, where he won with just six of his 49 mounts since late November. In his absence, Abel Lezcano held a clear lead atop the Turfway jockey standings as the holiday meet neared its conclusion Saturday night.
ARCADIA, Calif. – A maiden claimer with a memorable name is certain to draw attention at Santa Anita this winter.
Princess Leia, who was fifth in her debut at Los Alamitos last month, is nearing her second start. She is trained by Rafael Becerra, who claimed her for Craig Martin for $30,000 from her debut Dec. 11. The filly was bred by George and Charles Bolton.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Miss Sugars has found a home as a turf miler in Southern California.
After encountering traffic and obstacles in two stakes losses in October and November, Miss Sugars had a trouble-free trip in Thursday’s $84,225 Blue Norther Stakes at a mile on turf for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita.
The win gives owners Red Barons Barn and Rancho Temescal and trainer Jeff Mullins clear goals for her for 2017.
“It puts an exclamation point on what we thought she’d be,” Mullins said in the winner’s circle. “We weren’t sure if she was a route horse.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Always a Suspect and Cape Lookout, both entered in Saturday’s $100,000 Marylander Stakes for 2-year-olds going seven furlongs at Laurel, also were entered for Sunday’s $100,000 Lost in the Fog Stakes for 3-year-olds going six furlongs at Aqueduct.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – In a span of three weeks at Aqueduct, trainer Bill Mott sent out a pair of good-looking 2-year-old filly maiden winners. While Mott took the ultra-impressive Elate to south Florida with him, the Hall of Fame trainer left the well-bred Lockdown in New York for the time being.
Lockdown, a full sister to the multiple Grade 1 stakes winner Close Hatches, worked a half-mile in 50.60 seconds Thursday morning over the Belmont Park training track. She is being pointed to the $100,000 Busanda Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct on Jan. 15.
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.
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.
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.
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.
