Wed, 05/18/2016 - 12:00

Swipe to start training for summer return

Shigeki Kikkawa
A win in the Lexington would likely give Swipe enough qualifying points for next month's Kentucky Derby.

BALTIMORE – Swipe, who finished second to Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist four times last year, will begin galloping next week and point for a summer campaign, most likely in New York, trainer Keith Desormeaux said Wednesday.

Wed, 05/18/2016 - 11:56

Lani works at Belmont for Preakness

Barbara D. Livingston
Lani, stubborn and unpredictable in his training, can become the first UAE Derby winner to hit the board in the Kentucky Derby.

BALTIMORE – Lani, the ninth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 on Wednesday over the Belmont Park main track in preparation for Saturday’s $1.5 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.

According to Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Vesce, Lani walked once around the 1 1/2-mile oval and jogged a mile to the five-eighths pole before breaking off for his work. Vesce caught Lani in fractions of 13 seconds for his first eighth, 37.20 seconds for three furlongs, and 24.20 for his final quarter. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.60.

Tue, 05/17/2016 - 08:00

Diego Sanchez, paralyzed in May 6 spill at Emerald, slated to begin rehabilitation

SEATTLE – Jockey Diego R. Sanchez, who was paralyzed in a spill at Emerald Downs on May 6, remains hospitalized Monday in stable condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Jeff Brown, Sanchez’s agent, said Sanchez suffered extensive spinal cord damage, including two fractured vertebrae, in addition to broken ribs, a broken left clavicle and a collapsed lung, after his mount, Agate Beach, appeared to clip heels and fell near the three-eighths pole in the third race May 6.

Mon, 05/16/2016 - 15:00

Gagaoveryou returns quick dividends on claim

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – One of the more impressive performances of the weekend was turned in during Sunday’s ninth race by Gagaoveryou. She ran the best race of her career in winning the optional claimer going five furlongs on turf by 4 1/2 lengths despite getting hung extremely wide throughout.

Gagaoveryou, a daughter of Zensational, had been claimed for $16,000 out of her previous start by trainer David Kassen for Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc.

Mon, 05/16/2016 - 15:00

Grand Tito quick to get over Derby Day incident

Barbara D. Livingston
Grand Tito won the 1 3/8-mile Mac Diarmida in his last start. He must go an extra furlong in the Pan American on Saturday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – One of the most bizarre and least-publicized incidents on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs took place in the paddock just prior to the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, when a sudden squall sent a sign careening into Grand Tito as the horses made their way around the walking ring.

Although uninjured, Grand Tito was scratched from the race after falling and generally being unnerved by the sudden turn of events.

Mon, 05/16/2016 - 10:23

Passion for Action targets Connaught Cup

Michael Burns
Passion for Action wins the Grade 3 Vigil Stakes on May 7.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Passion for Action has emerged as the early leader in the male sprint division after wins in the Jacques Cartier and Grade 3 Vigil stakes to begin the Woodbine season. He’ll have a chance to add to his résumé when he returns to turf in the Grade 2, $200,000 Connaught Cup Stakes over seven furlongs June 5, according to trainer Mike De Paulo.

Mon, 05/16/2016 - 10:16

Are You Kidding Me to defend title in Eclipse Stakes

Michael Burns
Are You Kidding Me wins the Eclipse Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths Sunday at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Last year’s Canadian champion older male, Are You Kidding Me, is on track for a start in the Grade 2, $200,000 Eclipse Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta on May 28, a race he won last season.

Trainer Roger Attfield said Are You Kidding Me has been training forwardly over the past few weeks at Woodbine since his last start in the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland on April 15. The 6-year-old son of Run Away and Hide recorded a bullet breeze last Saturday on the Tapeta, covering five furlongs in 1:00.20.

Mon, 05/16/2016 - 10:08

Shakhimat points to Plate Trial

Coady Photography/Keeneland
Emma-Jayne Wilson guides 6-1 Shakhimat to a front-running win in the Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes before 12,013 fans who braved cold, wet weather on opening day of the Keeneland spring meet.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – After running ninth in the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 7, Queen’s Plate winterbook favorite Shakhimat returned to Woodbine last week to begin his local preparation for the first jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown.

Trainer Roger Attfield said the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on the Tapeta on June 12 would serve as Shakhimat’s final Queen’s Plate prep. Attfield won the Plate Trial last year with Danish Dynaformer, who went on to finish third in the Queen’s Plate behind Shaman Ghost.

Mon, 05/16/2016 - 09:42

Louisville Handicap to have cast of about eight

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Da Big Hoss, with Florent Geroux up, wins the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes by a half-length over Kaigun.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A field of perhaps eight older horses was expected when entries were taken Wednesday for the Grade 3, $100,000 Louisville Handicap, the local Saturday feature on a day when most everyone will be looking forward to the Preakness simulcast from Pimlico.

Mon, 05/16/2016 - 09:34

Leparoux wins five Sunday to lead jockey standings

Barbara D. Livingston
Julien Leparoux led all riders at Del Mar with seven stakes wins.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Julien Leparoux is taking no prisoners in his quest to dethrone Corey Lanerie from a position that once was his.

Leparoux rode five winners Sunday in extending his lead atop the jockey standings to 20-15 over Lanerie, who has been the leading rider at 10 of the last 11 Churchill meets.