Mon, 06/06/2016 - 11:10

Blogger Wong gains fame covering Woodbine

Courtesy of Will Wong
Blogger Will Wong with A Pic by Mrwill

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Toronto celebrity blogger Will Wong has always dreamed of owning his own racehorse. While at the moment it’s not feasible for him to be involved in ownership, having a horse named after him is the next-best thing.

A Pic by Mrwill, a 2-year-old filly from the John Ross barn, debuted with a fifth-place finish in an Ontario-sired maiden special weight race last Saturday at Woodbine. Even though she didn’t win her first start, Wong has high hopes for the future.

Mon, 06/06/2016 - 08:01

Golden Pick 6 jackpot starts week at $1.25 million

Bettors have four more chances to become a millionaire as Golden Gate Fields goes into the final week of its long winter-spring meeting with $1,250,825 sitting in the Golden Pick 6 pool.

Once again, multiple tickets had all six winners Sunda,y leading to a $9,515.70 payout on the Golden Pick 6. The  Golden Pick 6 jackpot is paid only when there is a single ticket with all six winners.

If there is not a single winning ticket Thursday, Friday or Saturday, there will be a mandatory payout on Sunday, closing day.

Sun, 06/05/2016 - 19:06

Beholder's legend continues to grow

Shigeki Kikkawa
The 6-year-old mare Beholder has won 17 of 22 starts and $4,736,600.

ARCADIA, Calif.- Beholder has a prominent place in trainer Richard Mandella’s stable at Santa Anita.

Her stall is adjacent to his office, so close that if Mandella leans to his left while seated at his desk there is a chance Beholder will be staring right back at him. Sunday morning, Mandella could easily see Beholder, especially after she mowed through her hay rack at a rapid pace.

Sun, 06/05/2016 - 17:08

John Manni buys out partner to gain sole ownership of Imperative

Barbara D. Livingston
Imperative could make his next start in the Fayette on Oct. 30.

ARCADIA, Calif.- Imperative, the former $50,000 claimer who has earned nearly $2 million, has been fully acquired by John Manni’s JK Racing.

 Former owner Kenji Morinaga said on Sunday that he sold his share to Manni after Imperative finished fourth in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic in West Virginia on April 23. Morinaga claimed Imperative for $50,000 in December 2013 and raced him on his own until earlier this year when Manni became a partner.

Sun, 06/05/2016 - 17:00

Stevens switches agents

Benoit & Associates
Gary Stevens plans to ride in Kentucky from mid-April through Kentucky Derby Day, May 7.

ARCADIA, Calif.- Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens has hired Mike Ciani to book his mounts, replacing longtime agent Craig O’Bryan, Stevens said on Sunday.

The change is effectively immediately.

Stevens said that he sought a change merely for the sake of change.

“I need to shake the tree a little bit,” Stevens said. “I want to try something different. It’s not a knock against Craig O’Bryan.”

O’Bryan, who has booked mounts on and off for Stevens for more than a decade, continues to represent Tyler Baze.

Sun, 06/05/2016 - 16:55

Stellar Wind may come east for Delaware Handicap

Nikki Sherman
Stellar Wind probably will not make her first start of the season until April or May.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Stellar Wind, the champion 3-year-old female of 2015, may be bound for a race on the East Coast after finishing second to the three-time champion Beholder in Saturday’s $400,000 Vanity Mile at Santa Anita.

Trainer John Sadler said the outcome of the $1 million Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park on Saturday will influence the decision he reaches with owners Pete and Kosta Hronis.

“I want to watch the Phipps and see how everyone else runs,” Sadler said.

The $750,000 Delaware Handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Delaware Park on July 16 is a possibility.

Sun, 06/05/2016 - 16:47

Midnight Storm will have just one prep before Breeders' Cup Mile

Shigeki Kikkawa
Trainer Phil D'Amato says he wants Midnight Storm to be a fresh horse heading into the Breeders' Cup Mile.

ARCADIA, Calif.- Midnight Storm will have a light campaign in advance of the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.

Midnight Storm earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Mile with a victory in the $400,345 Shoemaker Mile on turf at Santa Anita on Saturday. The race was part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program, offering a fees-paid berth for the winner to the BC Mile.

Sat, 06/04/2016 - 16:57

Zindaya to face nine in Intercontinental Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Zindaya wins the Intercontinental Stakes last month, defeating stablemate Marbre Rose by 2 1/4 lengths.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Zindaya faced a tall order in her bid to repeat in the License Fee Stakes last month at Belmont Park, where she ran into the buzz saw known as Lady Shipman.

It was no disgrace that in her first race in 10 months, Zindaya finished second in the License Fee to Lady Shipman, who was winning her eighth career stakes.

With a race under her belt, and without having to face Lady Shipman, Zindaya will be among the choices in a contentious field of 10 entered for Thursday’s $150,000 Intercontinental Stakes at Belmont Park.

Sat, 06/04/2016 - 14:17

Flintshire to make first start for Brown in Manhattan Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Flintshire wins the Sword Dancer Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths Saturday at Saratoga.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Flintshire, a Group 1 winner in three countries, will make his 6-year-old debut and his first start for trainer Chad Brown in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan Stakes on the undercard of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park.

Sat, 06/04/2016 - 13:41

Cupid targets Easy Goer Stakes

Coady Photography
Cupid earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure for his Rebel Stakes victory.

Cupid, idle since fading as the favorite in the Arkansas Derby nearly two months ago, will return to action on the Belmont Stakes undercard in the $150,000 Easy Goer Stakes next Saturday at Belmont Park, trainer Bob Baffert said Saturday.

Florent Geroux has the mount in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds, Baffert said.

Cupid had throat surgery following the Arkansas Derby, in which he finished 10th. He had won two straight prior to that, including the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn.