Tue, 06/11/2024 - 15:03

Kazushi Kimura changes agents; Tom Patton takes over

Coady Media

Kazushi Kimura has led the Woodbine rider standings the past three years but is off to a slower start this season.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Three-time leading Woodbine rider Kazushi Kimura has hired Tom Patton as his new agent, replacing Jordan Miller.

Kimura was the Sovereign Award winner for outstanding jockey while leading the Woodbine standings from 2021-2023. The 24-year-old native of Japan is currently tied for sixth at Woodbine with 12 wins from 105 mounts, including one stakes victory.

Patton also books mounts for the promising 19-year-old apprentice Pietro Moran, who is tied for 10th in the standings with eight wins.

Mon, 06/10/2024 - 13:50

Missed the Cut works ahead of trip to Royal Ascot

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Missed the Cut sits at odds of 12-1 with British bookmakers for the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Missed the Cut, winner of two Grade 3 turf marathons at Santa Anita earlier this year, worked five furlongs on dirt in 1:00.20 on Monday in advance of a scheduled departure on Wednesday for the Royal Ascot meeting in Britain later this month.

Trained by John Sadler, Missed the Cut is rated as a 12-1 chance with British bookmakers for the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes for older horses at 1 1/2 miles at Ascot on June 22.

Sadler said on Sunday that Missed the Cut will be ridden by James Doyle, who is based in Britain.

Mon, 06/10/2024 - 13:45

Baffert has options for Parenting after Affirmed victory

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

After an impressive victory in the Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita, Bob Baffert has not yet decided the next start for Parenting.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The manner of Parenting’s first start around two turns in Sunday’s $100,000 Affirmed Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita has left Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert enthusiastic about the colt’s future.

In all likelihood, Baffert will know very soon where Parenting rates in the national division.

Parenting, a colt by Justify who races for Gandharvi LLC, is unbeaten in two starts. He won a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs by 2 3/4 lengths on April 26, and the Affirmed Stakes at 1 1/16 miles by 7 1/2 lengths as the 4-5 favorite.

Sat, 06/08/2024 - 22:12

2024 Belmont Stakes: Mindframe's inexperience proves costly in stretch

By Mike Welsch

Debra A. Roma

Mindframe, with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. up, came up half-length short of Dornoch in the Belmont Stakes.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After watching Mindframe stick his head in front of Dornoch in early stretch, one couldn’t blame trainer Todd Pletcher, owner Mike Repole, and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. for thinking they were on their way to winning Saturday’s historic, first-ever Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. Unfortunately, the two intangibles they feared the most coming into the race – his inexperience and the added distance – likely wound up proving the difference between what would have been a memorable victory and a most frustrating defeat.

Sat, 06/08/2024 - 10:30

Thorpedo Anna romped in Acorn on three shoes

By David Grening

Debra A. Roma

Thorpedo Anna walks back to the barn Friday with a missing right front shoe after her win in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Making Thorpedo Anna’s victory in Friday’s Grade 1 Acorn Stakes at Saratoga more impressive than the 5 1/2-length margin over Leslie’s Rose was the fact she did it on three shoes.

Trainer Kenny McPeek said Saturday that Thorpedo Anna lost her right front shoe in the Acorn, something he believes happened at the break.

McPeek said Thorpedo Anna’s foot was “a little tender” but otherwise she was fine. McPeek said the foot was packed in poultice Friday night.

“The blacksmith’s already addressed it,” McPeek said.

Fri, 06/07/2024 - 15:50

Fierceness' full brother nears debut

By David Grening

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The yet-to-be-named full brother to Fierceness is close to making his debut.

On Friday, at Saratoga, the 2-year-old colt by City of Light out of the mare Nonna Bella worked a sharp half-mile in 48 seconds out of the gate, according to Daily Racing Form. It was his second straight work out of the gate.

“He’s come in, trained well, very straight forward much like his brother,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “Last week’s work from the gate was good and today’s was an improvement.”

Fri, 06/07/2024 - 15:42

No immediate plans for Belmont Gold Cup winner The Grey Wizard

By David Grening

Debra A. Roma

The Grey Wizard just got up under John Velazquez to win the two-mile Belmont Gold Cup. There are very few races on the calendar that suit the marathon runner.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - While trainer Graham Motion mulls a possible trip to Australia in November for the Melbourne Cup for The Grey Wizard, he has no immediate plans for the Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup winner.

The Grey Wizard got up in the final stride to win the two-mile Belmont Gold Cup by a head over Champagne Juan. The victory earned The Grey Wizard an automatic spot in the Melbourne Cup, also run at two miles.

Fri, 06/07/2024 - 15:26

Weaver relieved to be training again after metformin suspension is lifted

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

George Weaver was facing a two-year penalty before his suspension for a metformin positive was rescinded..

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer George Weaver made the relatively short walk from his Saratoga barn to the Oklahoma training track Friday morning. While it’s one he’s made countless times before, on this morning it had a bit of a different feel.

“I want to get back to business,” Weaver said. “It was an incredible amount of stress worrying about your whole livelihood being taken away from you.”

Fri, 06/07/2024 - 12:00

Barboza making stakes plans for trio of fillies

By Mary Rampellini

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos

Beth's Dream has the Grade 3 Princess Rooney as a long-range target.

Trainer Victor Barboza Jr. has a trio of female runners who have stakes options from Gulfstream to Woodbine to Monmouth Park.

Beth’s Dream, a stakes winner coming off a victory in an overnight handicap in April at Gulfstream, has a long-range goal of the track’s Grade 3, $220,000 Princess Rooney on Sept. 21, Barboza said.

Great Venezuela is under serious consideration for the Grade 3, $135,000 Hendrie at Woodbine, according to Barboza. The 6 1/2-furlong race for fillies and mares is July 6.

Fri, 06/07/2024 - 12:00

Bentornato gearing up for return

By Mary Rampellini

Lauren King/Coglianese Photos

Bentornato won two divisions of the Florida Sire Stakes last year.

Bentornato, who won the first four starts of his career last year at Gulfstream Park, is gearing up for a return to racing after his February journey to Saudi Arabia.

He was freshened after finishing third in the Grade 3 Saudi Derby. Forever Young, winner of the Saudi Derby, returned to run third by a head in the Kentucky Derby.

“Bentornato, he’s doing very well,” trainer Jose D’Angelo said. “He ran big to me. We gave him time, he recovered good after the race, and now we’re just waiting for him.

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