Wed, 08/31/2016 - 09:50

Turf sprint draws salty group

Barbara D. Livingston
Pretty N Cool, who tired going 1 1/16 miles in the Starlet last time, turns back to 6 1/2 furlongs for the Santa Ynez on Saturday.

DEL MAR, Calif. – The I’m Smokin Stakes may be the richest race on the card Friday, but the best race might be race 7, a $67,000 allowance that attracted a high-class group of female sprinters going five furlongs on turf. The field includes Snow Cloud, a two-time winner on the course this meet, and the multiple stakes winner Pretty N Cool, who makes her first start on turf.

“What a tough race that is,” said trainer Jim Cassidy, whose banner Del Mar meeting has included a pair of victories by Snow Cloud. “If that’s not a stake, I don’t know what is.”

Tue, 08/30/2016 - 11:36

Pennsylvania commission reverses Parx disqualification

The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission has reversed a decision by the stewards at Parx racetrack to disqualify Rebecca’s Surprise from first to second for causing interference in the stretch of an allowance race on Nov. 30 of last year.

Mon, 08/29/2016 - 15:16

Ironicus breezes, recovered from setback

Barbara D. Livingston
Ironicus had his first breeze Monday since he finished second in the Manhattan on June 11.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Ironicus breezed three furlongs in 37.98 seconds Monday over the Oklahoma training track, his first breeze since he finished second to Flintshire in the Grade 1 Manhattan on June 11.

Trainer Shug McGaughey said that Ironicus popped a splint bone, and he had to back off in the horse’s training.

Mon, 08/29/2016 - 15:06

Saratoga adds late pick five

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association will offer a late pick-five wager over the final four days of the Saratoga meet, Friday through Monday.

The wager will be on the last five races on the card. On Friday, it’ll be on races 6 through 10; on Saturday and Sunday, races 8-12; and Monday, races 7-11.

Mon, 08/29/2016 - 15:06

Tepin asked to do a little more in work for Woodbine Mile

Barbara D. Livingston
Tepin, with Florent Geroux aboard, works five furlongs in 58.40 over the Oklahoma turf course on Monday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Tepin followed a very good work last week on turf with an even better one Monday, breezing five furlongs in 58.40 seconds over the Oklahoma turf course as she continues preparations for the $1 million Woodbine Mile on Sept. 17.

Mon, 08/29/2016 - 14:50

Theory drops out of Hopeful

Barbara D. Livingston
Bitumen, with jockey Javier Castellano aboard, wins the Sanford Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The complexion of next Monday’s Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga changed dramatically over the weekend with the news that Theory, arguably the most impressive debut-winning 2-year-old male at the meet, would not run again this year due to a physical issue.

Theory, a son of Gemologist trained by Todd Pletcher, is being sent to WinStar Farm to be examined for a potential injury to his right foreleg, according to Elliott Walden, president and chief executive of WinStar, which owns the colt with China Horse Club.

Mon, 08/29/2016 - 14:26

Nyquist to remain at San Luis Rey Downs until Pennsylvania Derby

Kim Pratt
Nyquist has developed a fever, delaying his shipping to Belmont Park.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Nyquist, the Kentucky Derby winner and champion 2-year-old male of 2015, is likely to remain at the San Luis Rey Downs training center until running in the Grade 2, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Sept. 24, according to trainer Doug O’Neill.

Nyquist went to San Luis Rey Downs three weeks ago when O’Neill said he was going through a growth spurt. Nyquist used a swimming pool to stay fit and had his first work since the Haskell last Saturday.

Mon, 08/29/2016 - 14:20

Few willing to face Chasing Aces, Straight Fire in Del Mar Futurity

Benoit & Associates
Klimt and jockey Rafael Bejarano win the Best Pal Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths.

DEL MAR, Calif. – The Del Mar Debutante on Saturday is the first of four graded stakes that will be run over the final three days of the meet, which ends Labor Day with the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Futurity for 2-year-olds at seven furlongs.

The presence of maiden winners Chasing Aces and Straight Fire – who own the fastest Beyer Speed Figures among 2-year-olds in the country – is expected to keep the Futurity field small. As of Monday, only Klimt and Midnight Pleasure were certain to face them.

Mon, 08/29/2016 - 14:16

Baffert tightens screws on Debutante trio

Benoit & Associates
American Cleopatra, full sister to American Pharoah, wins her racing debut on Sunday at Del Mar.

DEL MAR, Calif. – With last weekend’s conquest of Saratoga still fresh, trainer Bob Baffert was back on the scene at Del Mar on Monday morning, working his three Del Mar Debutante prospects in hopes of knocking off that Grade 1 race on Saturday for the eighth time.

American Cleopatra, American Gal, and Noted and Quoted – each a winner of a maiden race for 2-year-old fillies in her last start – all worked five furlongs Monday, with extensive gallop-outs designed to have them fit for what is shaping up as a very competitive race.

Mon, 08/29/2016 - 13:16

Belvoir, Gold Rush Dancer hitting their stride

Benoit & Associates
Gold Rush Dancer, a winner of three straight stakes for California-breds, will make his graded stakes debut in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 4.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Vann Belvoir went to the 2012 Barretts January mixed sale in Pomona, Calif., to fulfill a request from a breeder in Washington: Find an inexpensive broodmare.

Belvoir spent a grand total of $1,000 on Dances On Water, a 5-year-old unraced mare by In Excess, for owner and breeder John Parker. Dances On Water is no longer a cheap broodmare. She is the dam of Gold Rush Dancer, a three-time stakes winner.