Considering what Alright Alright has been through in the last 20 months, it’s remarkable that the 4-year-old colt will return to racing in an optional claimer at Santa Anita in Sunday's ninth race.
Alright Alright was diagnosed with a knee injury after a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes at Del Mar in November 2014. While recovering, Alright Alright broke his withers in an accident at a farm, further delaying his return to racing, according to trainer Jack Carava.
The recent retirement of Gabriel Charles has left owner Michael House without a Grade 1 winner in his barn prior to the start of the Del Mar summer meeting next Friday.
House, who lives near Del Mar, has several prospects who could play leading roles in stakes in the coming weeks.
The stable recently completed the acquisition of Newsman, a 3-year-old colt from Ireland who is a prospect for the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf Aug. 6. Newsman is scheduled to arrive in California in the coming days.
Silver Mission, who has won his first two starts against open company, will be heavily favored in next Saturday’s $125,000 Rockville Centre Stakes for New York-bred juveniles at Belmont Park.
On Friday, Silver Mission worked four furlongs in 49.05 seconds under regular rider John Velazquez. Silver Mission galloped out a strong five furlongs in 1:02.76 as he pulled away from his workmate, Heavenly View.
Silver Mission, a son of Mission Impazible, won a maiden race at Aqueduct in April and then the $181,000 Tremont Stakes by 6 1/4 lengths June 10.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Cavorting worked four furlongs in 47.54 seconds over the Belmont Park training track Friday, her first work since her dominant victory in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps on the Belmont Stakes undercard.
Working immediately after the 7:45 a.m. renovation break, Cavorting drilled an opening quarter-mile in a quick 23.27 seconds and went her second quarter in 24.27.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Cavorting is pointing to the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga on Aug. 27. That would give her 11 weeks between starts.
ELMONT, N.Y. – When Songbird runs in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 24 at Saratoga, she will have at least one serious challenger in Carina Mia, the winner of the Grade 1 Acorn.
“The best way to test our horse is to run against her and find out what we’ve got,” said Bill Mott, who trains Carina Mia for the Three Chimneys Farm of Goncalo Borges Torrealba.
When Little Mike makes his long-awaited return in the seventh race Sunday at Gulfstream Park, the strength of his statistics should prove unmistakable to horseplayers. A four-time Grade 1 winner, he has racked up more than $3.5 million in earnings, more than 4 1/2 times the collective bankroll of his six rivals, and he has repeatedly run Beyer Speed Figures in the upper 90s or 100s – exceeding the top figures of his opponents.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The three-time champion Beholder is not the only stakes-winning female bound for Del Mar in trainer Richard Mandella’s stable.
Mandella has high hopes for Majestic Heat, who will start in next Saturday’s $200,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf. The promising 4-year-old Majestic Heat returned from an eight-month layoff to win an optional claimer at a mile at Santa Anita on June 17. On Friday, Majestic Heat worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.60, according to Santa Anita clockers.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The Hastings Racing Club was so successful in its inaugural year in 2015 that a second club has been formed this year. The original club had 200 members; one of its horses was Square Dancer, who was the local Horse of the Year.
The club grew to 300 this year, and with even more people clamoring to join, the second club was formed with its membership fully subscribed at 200.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Woodbine Oaks winner Neshama will seek her third consecutive victory in Sunday’s $250,000 Bison City Stakes over 1 1/16 miles for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies at Woodbine. The Bison City is the second jewel in Canada’s Triple Tiara series.
The Bison City will be Neshama’s first start since she won the Woodbine Oaks on June 12. Trainer Catherine Day Phillips said Neshama was sent to the farm for a week after the Oaks before resuming her training.
Bronc D C pops off the page Sunday in the $40,000 CTBA Futurity at Arapahoe Park. He is one of just two winners in the nine-horse sprint for 2-year-olds, and he owns the field’s best career Beyer Speed Figure. Bronc D C also is a half-brother to a pair of local stakes winners, among them E F Five.
The six-furlong CTBA Futurity is restricted to horses bred in Colorado.
Bronc D C is one of three starters in the field from trainer Kenneth Gleason, the others being the maiden winner Sherman T and the multiple-placed Earl the Pearl.
