Thu, 01/02/2025 - 10:54

Baffert, McCarthy well stocked for California road to Kentucky Derby

Barbara D. Livingston

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Citizen Bull is working regularly at Santa Anita for Bob Baffert.

ARCADIA, Calif. – From the first Saturday of each winter month at Santa Anita to the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs, the search is on to find a 3-year-old with the right stuff.

For those still light on seasoning, such as Barnes and Bullard, the 2025 trail begins Saturday in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes. Others are more established and on standby, including Breeders’ Cup Juvenile one-two Citizen Bull and Gaming, and Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity winner Journalism.

January is still early, and a lot will change.

Wed, 01/01/2025 - 14:50

Mystik Dan among six Grade 1 winners invited to Pegasus World Cup

By Mike Welsch

Barbara D. Livingston

Locked, winning last month’s Cigar Mile, is one of two Todd Pletcher-trained horses that were invited to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 25 at Gulfstream.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The Gulfstream Park racing office released the first group of invitations to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup on Wednesday. The list is headed by Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, along with fellow Grade 1 winners Mixto, Saudi Crown, Senor Buscador, Stronghold, and White Abarrio.

Invitations also were released for the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf and $500,000 Filly and Mare Turf, all three events to be decided here Jan. 25 on a blockbuster card featuring 10 stakes, seven graded, worth $5.55 million.

Wed, 01/01/2025 - 14:42

Pleasanton could close as training center on March 25, officials warn

By Steve Andersen

The Northern California racing community could be without a training base as soon as late March, according to a text message released by racing officials Tuesday evening.

In a three-paragraph statement sent to horsemen by Santa Anita on behalf of the Southern California stabling and vanning committee, training could cease at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton on March 25 if the number of horses based at the track is less than 500 on Feb. 25.

Wed, 01/01/2025 - 14:02

Meet opens with big card on the horizon

By Mary Rampellini

Barbara D. Livingston

Miss Code West is one of the probable starters for the Houston Ladies Classic on Jan. 25.

Sam Houston Race Park opens Friday with its most significant card of racing on the immediate horizon. The Houston Racing Festival, led by the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic and the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup, is set for Jan. 25.

Sam Houston’s season will run 42 dates through April 6. The track has set a 6:30 p.m. Central post time for Fridays and a 1 p.m. post for Saturdays and Sundays.

Wed, 01/01/2025 - 14:02

Corrina Corrina looks to make history on opening card at Sunland Park

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Media

With a win in Friday's New Mexico State Racing Commission Stakes, Corrina Corrina can become the highest-earning New Mexico-bred.

Corrina Corrina can open the Sunland Park meet on Friday by making some New Mexico-bred history when she starts in the $90,000 New Mexico State Racing Commission Stakes.

A win in the race would make her the all-time leading Thoroughbred earner among New Mexico-breds. She enters the 5 1/2-furlong stakes just $39,565 shy of Rocky Gulch’s record earnings mark of $1,151,725. A first-place finish would be worth $54,000.

Sunland is racing 55 dates through April 6. Post time is 12:25 p.m. Mountain.

Mon, 12/30/2024 - 11:04

After record-breaking year, Prat begins a new count

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Flavien Prat scored his record 56th graded stakes of 2024 on opening day at Santa Anita in the Mathis Mile with King of Gosford.

For the first time in his career, jockey Flavien Prat ranked atop the national standings, with earnings of more than $37.27 million for 2024. He finished his season Sunday with a record 82 stakes wins, including 56 graded stakes, also a record.

Starting Wednesday, with the turn of the calendar, Prat’s task is to repeat all of those accomplishments, if possible.

“It’s scary, right?” he said after winning Sunday’s first race at Santa Anita. “Everything goes back to zero.

“I’ve got to do it again. It’s challenging.”

Fri, 12/27/2024 - 14:23

Mystik Dan seems fine after Malibu misfire

By Steve Andersen

Steve Andersen

Trainer Kenny McPeek said Mystik Dan is eating fine and is sound after finishing last in the Malibu Stakes.

ARCADIA, Calif. - A last-place finish by Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in Thursday’s Grade 1 Malibu Stakes has left trainer Kenny McPeek perplexed.

McPeek said on Friday morning that Mystik Dan emerged from the Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds without incident.

“It’s a real head-scratcher,” McPeek said. “He ate up after the race and he’s sound. He came out great.”

Fri, 12/27/2024 - 14:17

Cyclone State, Georgia Magic work behind horses ahead of Jerome

By David Grening

Adam Coglianese/NYRA

Cyclone State has won his last two races in front-running fashion but may try to sit off the pace in the Jerome.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The 2-year-olds Cyclone State and Georgia Magic have had their success racing on the front end.

With an eye toward the $150,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct on Jan. 4 and potentially beyond, the connections of both horses tried teaching their charges something different Friday morning in preparation for the future.

Fri, 12/27/2024 - 12:57

All-sources handle, attendance up on opening day

By Steve Andersen

Emily Shields

The all-sources handle for Santa Anita's opening day was $21.49 million, up more than $3 million from last year.

ARCADIA, Calif. – All-sources handle exceeded $21.49 million on Thursday at Santa Anita, part of a bumper set of statistics on opening day of the winter-spring meeting.

The all-sources handle was the highest on opening day since 2022 when handle reached $26.3 million and the third-highest handle ever on opening day. The 2020 opening day had a handle of slightly more than $23 million.

The handle jumped 17.4 percent over the 2023 figure of $18.3 million. Ontrack handle on Thursday was $2,657,871, a gain of 3 percent over 2023.

Fri, 12/27/2024 - 12:54

She Feels Pretty, King of Gosford to get breaks before 2025 campaigns

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

After winning the Grade 1 American Oaks on Santa Anita's opening day, She Feels Pretty will get a break before her 2025 campaign.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The 3-year-olds She Feels Pretty and King of Gosford will have wintertime vacations after winning graded stakes on turf at Santa Anita on Thursday.

She Feels Pretty won her second consecutive Grade 1 race in the $303,000 American Oaks at 1 1/4 miles for 3-year-old fillies, taking a commanding lead in early stretch. She Feels Pretty won by 2 1/2 lengths as the favorite.

For 2025, She Feels Pretty will have a season geared toward the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

“That’s our goal,” trainer Cherie DeVaux said.

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