Thu, 10/13/2016 - 14:20

Idaho an early 5-2 favorite in Canadian International

Michael Burns
Idaho drew post 3 for Sunday's Canadian International at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Aidan O’Brien-trained 3-year-old Idaho is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the 79th running of the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine on Sunday.

A Group 2 winner in England, Idaho drew post 3 and will be ridden by Ryan Moore, who has won the last three editions of the 12-furlong International. Idaho, who placed in both the Group 1 Epsom Derby and Group 1 Irish Derby in June, lost his rider in the stretch after stumbling in the Group 1 St. Leger Stakes on Sept. 10.

Thu, 10/13/2016 - 14:16

Masochistic has ‘dress rehearsal' for Breeders' Cup Sprint

Benoit & Associates
Masochistic has won both of his starts this year, most recently in the Grade 2 Pat O'Brien in August.

ARCADIA, Calif. – When Masochistic starts as one of the top contenders in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 5, it will be his first start in more than two months, so he had what trainer Ron Ellis called a “small dress rehearsal” on Thursday at Santa Anita. With Mike Smith aboard, Masochistic worked a quick half-mile from the gate in 45.20 seconds, the fastest time of 45 works at the distance.

“He was just going easy,” Ellis said. “Mike said his ears were pricked, and he was real relaxed. He came out of his last race great, and he runs well fresh.”

Thu, 10/13/2016 - 12:36

Songbird, Beholder work for Breeders' Cup Distaff

Barbara D. Livingston
Songbird's victory in the Cotillion on Saturday was her 11th in as many starts.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Two of the leading candidates for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff worked minutes apart Thursday at Santa Anita while their trainers had fun monitoring each other’s activity.

Beholder worked a half-mile in 49 seconds, breezing, for Richard Mandella. Songbird worked five furlongs in 58.60 for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

Beholder’s work was planned for immediately after the 6:30 a.m. renovation break. Upon learning that Songbird also was scheduled to work, Mandella jokingly said, “Tell [Hollendorfer] we’ll meet up at the half.”

Thu, 10/13/2016 - 12:06

Leparoux goes for big-race sweep in Canadian International

Barbara D. Livingston
Julien Leparoux, sidelined since Aug. 6 with a broken wrist, will return to riding on Sept. 8.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Three flags displaying the colors of the most recent winners of the Queen’s Plate, Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, and Grade 1 Canadian International adorn the Woodbine infield. After winning the Queen’s Plate with Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Sir Dudley Digges and the Woodbine Mile with Robert Masterson’s Tepin, jockey Julien Leparoux has a chance to sweep all three races in the same year when he rides World Approval for trainer Mark Casse in Sunday’s Canadian International.

Thu, 10/13/2016 - 11:30

Cavorting retired to breeding shed

Michael Amoruso
Cavorting has amassed more than $2 million in career earnings.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Cavorting, a three-time Grade 1-winning filly who was pointing to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff next month at Santa Anita, has developed bruising of the cannon bones in her front ankles and has been retired, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Farms said Thursday.

McLaughlin said Cavorting appeared off in the last few mornings, and further evaluation revealed the problem. Cavorting had been expected to run in the Breeders' Cup Distaff on Nov. 5 at Santa Anita.

Wed, 10/12/2016 - 15:36

Breeders' Cup Mile: Tepin among several formidable ladies

Coady Photography
Miss Temple City pays $17.40 for her win under Edgar Prado in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile.

There is nothing whatsoever sexist about the Breeders’ Cup Mile, an open race that in its 32-year history has been won nine times by a filly or mare, and this year’s edition could attract a record number of female participants.

Wed, 10/12/2016 - 15:00

Breeders' Cup Filly-Mare Turf: Final three preps this weekend

Barbara D. Livingston
Time and Motion (left) outfinishes Catch a Glimpse in the Lake Placid at Saratoga.

The last major stepping-stones toward the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf come this weekend at Keeneland, Woodbine, and Ascot in Britain.

The 3-year-old Seventh Heaven, considered one of the top European hopes for the Filly and Mare Turf, is entered in Saturday’s QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes at Ascot, though as of Wednesday, trainer Aidan O’Brien had not decided whether she will run.

Wed, 10/12/2016 - 14:50

El Joven, La Senorita highlight weekend

Retama Park runs its signature races Saturday night, the El Joven and La Senorita stakes. The one-mile turf stakes for 2-year-olds are worth $75,000 each.

The El Joven drew a field of 10, with much of the focus expected to be on Kielbasa, a maiden special weight winner at Arlington coming off a third in the Sunday Silence Stakes at Louisiana Downs. Richard Eramia has the mount for trainer Lon Wiggins.

Wed, 10/12/2016 - 14:46

DiMauro retires from training to become racing official

MIAMI – After spending nearly four decades training horses for a living, Steve DiMauro has called it quits to pursue a new career as a racing official.

Wed, 10/12/2016 - 14:40

Bling On the Music prepping in My Trusty Cat

Coady Photography
Bling On the Music, dominant winner of the Gold Rush Futurity at Arapahoe Park, will stretch out to 1 1/16 miles for the Pocahontas at Churchill Downs.

Bling On the Music, a multiple stakes winner who had come under brief consideration for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, is headed for the $100,000 My Trusty Cat at Delta Downs, said trainer J.R. Caldwell. He said the Oct. 21 race is intended as her stepping-stone to the Grade 3, $400,000 Delta Downs Princess on Nov. 19.

Bling On the Music ran third in the Grade 2 Pocahontas on Sept. 17 at Churchill Downs. Prior to that, she defeated males in the Gold Rush Futurity at Arapahoe Park and won the fillies’ division of the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity at Lone Star Park.