Fri, 12/30/2016 - 15:26

Danzatrice earns shot at Houston Ladies Classic

Amanda Hodges Weir/Hodges Photography
Ridden by Florent Geroux, Danzatrice runs away with the Tiffany Lass on Monday.

Two summers ago, Danzatrice hinted at very high-level ability, and she flashed the same talent winning the $50,000 Tiffany Lass Stakes last Monday at Fair Grounds. Danzatrice won the two-turn dirt race by more than seven lengths over Grade 1 winner Include Betty, and her strong mile and 70-yard time of 1:42.45 produced a career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure.

The eye-catching performance has earned Danzatrice a shot at one of the better older females in the country, I’m a Chatterbox, in the Grade 3, $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic, trainer Steve Asmussen said Thursday.

Fri, 12/30/2016 - 14:36

Canani seeks to reopen California stable

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Julio Canani, who was suspended for 13 months through November for financial improprieties related to the sale of horses in the late 2000s, has taken steps to reopen a stable, according to California Horse Racing Board officials.

Canani was recently refused a trainer’s license by the racing board, a decision the trainer has yet to appeal.

The denial was based on the terms of Canani’s 2015 suspension, which stated he must participate in a fitness for license hearing before possibly being reinstated.

Fri, 12/30/2016 - 12:46

Jimenez moving tack back to Turfway

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.

Fri, 12/30/2016 - 12:06

Princess Leia, the horse, works for second start

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.

Fri, 12/30/2016 - 11:56

Six Point Rack's first stakes run to come in California Cup Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. – Six Point Rack is expected to make his stakes debut in the $250,000 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita on Jan. 28 after winning a maiden race Thursday for 2-year-old statebreds.

Fri, 12/30/2016 - 11:50

Blue Norther win gives Miss Sugars clear goals for 2017

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.

Thu, 12/29/2016 - 14:50

Cape Lookout has only four rivals in Lost in the Fog

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.

Thu, 12/29/2016 - 14:46

Lockdown's first major test to come in Busanda

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.

Thu, 12/29/2016 - 14:00

Arrogate leads small San Pasqual field

John Bambury
Arrogate put in his first serious work Thursday since winning the Breeders' Cup Classic.

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.

Thu, 12/29/2016 - 13:06

Semper Fortis to take slot in Pegasus World Cup

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.