Wed, 10/05/2016 - 10:16

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies: Four swinging from Chandelier

Shigeki Kikkawa
Noted and Quoted (right) and With Honors (left), who finished one-two in the Chandelier, could get a rematch in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

The top four finishers from the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes last Saturday at Santa Anita are under consideration for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 5.

Noted and Quoted and With Honors battled from start to finish in the Chandelier, with Noted and Quoted prevailing by a half-length. The victory signaled a return to form for Noted and Quoted, who seemed flat when finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante. She had won a Del Mar maiden race by 9 1/2 lengths prior to the Debutante.

Wed, 10/05/2016 - 10:06

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf: Spain Burg no longer a small-town girl

Spain Burg gained attention around Europe when she won three of her first four starts, all at small tracks in southwest France from April to August.

When Spain Burg won her English debut in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket on Sept. 23, a wider audience took notice – and her value soared. Last Saturday, Spain Burg was purchased by Dean Reeves of Suwanee, Ga., for approximately $1.68 million at the Arqana Arc sale in France.

Tue, 10/04/2016 - 15:50

Fair Grounds cards 60 stakes for upcoming meet

Fair Grounds Racecourse on Tuesday announced its stakes schedule for the New Orleans track’s 2016-2017 racing season, a 60-race program (including overnight stakes) worth a total of $6.79 million.

The 2015–2016 season had 53 stakes worth $6.43 million, but the changes this year are marginal, with the schedule very similar to last year’s.

Tue, 10/04/2016 - 13:34

War Story to take shot in Jockey Club Gold Cup

Barbara D. Livingston
War Story is pointing to the $1 million Haskell Invitational on Aug. 2 at Monmouth Park.

War Story, beaten a head in the Frosted Stakes at Parx on Sept. 24, will make his next start in Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park, owner Ron Paolucci said Tuesday.

Tue, 10/04/2016 - 13:11

Cigar Mile probable next start for Connect

Barbara D. Livingston
Sam Elliott, director of racing at Parx, Elliott is hoping that the quality of the field for this year’s Pennsylvania Derby, won by Connect, will earn the race a Grade 1 ranking from the American Graded Stakes Committee when it meets later this year.

Connect, winner of the Grade 2, $1.25 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Sept. 24, will likely make his next start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Nov. 26, trainer Chad Brown said.

Brown said the Breeders' Cup Classic is not a race he and owner Paul Pompa Jr. are focused on. Brown said the BC Dirt Mile is a possibility as is the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill Downs on Nov. 25, but the Cigar Mile appears to be Brown's preference.

Mon, 10/03/2016 - 15:20

Ibaka to risk streak on Oklahoma Classics Day

Dustin Orona Photography
Ibaka will put his four-race win streak on the line in the Oklahoma Classics Classic.

Ibaka, who has won his last four races, runs next on the Oklahoma Classics program Oct. 21 at Remington Park, said trainer Bret Calhoun. Ibaka won the $50,000 Red Earth on the Oklahoma Derby card in his most recent start Sept. 25.

“He’s a very honest horse,” Calhoun said. “He brings it every time.”

Ibaka, who has won stakes on dirt and turf during his streak, will be nominated to the $175,000 Oklahoma Classics Classic at 1 1/16 miles on the main track as well as the $130,000 Turf and $130,000 Sprint.

Mon, 10/03/2016 - 15:16

Sharp making Breeders' Cup plans

Ann Switalski/Hodges Photography
Majestic Gale wins the Happy Ticket Stakes at Louisiana Downs in September.

Louisiana Downs stakes winner Majestic Gale is one good month away from getting a shot at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

The winner of the Happy Ticket on Sept. 10 on the Super Derby card at Louisiana Downs, she is now being pointed for the Grade 3, $150,000 Jessamine on Oct. 12 at Keeneland, according to trainer Joe Sharp.

“She’s doing great,” Sharp said. “She’s here in Kentucky. We’re looking at the Jessamine and then, hopefully, if everything stays well, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.”

Mon, 10/03/2016 - 14:52

Pretty City Dancer to miss Alcibiades with minor injury

Barbara D. Livingston
Pretty City Dancer (left) and Sweet Loretta dead heat for the win in the Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga.

Pretty City Dancer will skip Friday’s Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland after coming out of her most recent workout at Saratoga with a minor injury, according to trainer Mark Casse.

Pretty City Dancer rallied to get up for a dead-heat win with Sweet Loretta in the Grade 1 Spinaway on Sept. 3 at Saratoga. Prior to that seven-furlong race, she had won consecutive starts at Churchill Downs. She won the six-furlong Debutante by 3 1/4 lengths and a five-furlong Churchill maiden race by 2 3/4 lengths.

Mon, 10/03/2016 - 14:06

Gulfstream Park West meet best experienced offtrack

MIAMI – The grandstand is gone, but live racing will return to the old Calder Race Course when the 40-day Gulfstream Park West meet opens Wednesday and continues through Nov. 27. Racing will be conducted Wednesdays through Sundays, with additional programs this coming Monday and on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Officials from The Stronach Group, which leases the facility from Churchill Downs Inc. for the two-month session, are stressing that amenities will be lacking and are urging local patrons to wager on the Gulfstream Park West races from their parent track at Gulfstream Park.

Mon, 10/03/2016 - 13:40

Practical Joke, Favorable Outcome to represent Brown in Champagne

Barbara D. Livingston
Practical Joke, ridden by Jose Ortiz, wins the Hopeful Stakes by a neck Monday.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Chad Brown will have two runners in the Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne on Saturday in Hopeful winner Practical Joke and Favorable Outcome.

Those two horses worked in company Sunday, going five furlongs in 1:01.71 over the Belmont Park training track. The two got their final quarter in 24.81 seconds and galloped out five furlongs in 1:15.19 over a track labeled “good.”