Mon, 07/18/2016 - 13:35

Oaklawn Park begins search for new announcer

Oaklawn Park has launched a search for a new announcer after Pete Aiello was hired as the year-round race-caller at Gulfstream Park. Aiello spent his first season in Arkansas this year and came to Oaklawn from his home base of south Florida. Gulfstream announced Aiello’s hiring on Sunday.

“Pete has resigned his position at Oaklawn, so we are searching for a new announcer,” said Jennifer Hoyt, a spokeswoman for Oaklawn.

Hoyt said the track hopes to have a new voice in place by the end of August.

Mon, 07/18/2016 - 13:29

At 75, trainer Johnson having meet to remember

There’s a new name sitting atop the trainers’ standings at Louisiana Downs, but it belongs to a very familiar face. H.B. Johnson Jr. has been a staple at the Bossier City, La., track since the 1980s and is enjoying his best local season in 30 years.

Heading into Wednesday’s card, Johnson had won 23 races from 73 starts to lead all trainers in wins. He also tops the standings in stable earnings with $255,965. The numbers are a throwback to the standout meet Johnson had at Louisiana Downs in 1986, when he went 23 for 74 and his charges earned nearly $200,000.

Mon, 07/18/2016 - 12:16

Aiello named full-time announcer

Coady Photography
Peter Aiello will call the Gulfstream races year round.

Gulfstream Park officials have announced that Pete Aiello is now the year-round announcer at the south Florida track.

Aiello, 30, replaces Larry Collmus, who resigned in late June after working the last 10 winters at Gulfstream. Collmus said his schedule as the primary race-caller for the New York Racing Association and NBC Sports precluded him from working four months a year at Gulfstream.

Mon, 07/18/2016 - 11:06

Field of eight likely for Prince of Wales Stakes

Michael Burns
Queen's Plate winner Sir Dudley Digges (left) and runner-up Amis Gizmo (right) are both nominated for the Prince of Wales Stakes.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Nominations for the 81st running of the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes closed July 12, and a field of eight looks likely for the second jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown on dirt next Tuesday at Fort Erie.

The nominations include the top three finishers from the $1 million Queen’s Plate at Woodbine on July 3: Sir Dudley Digges, Amis Gizmo, and All On Red.

Sir Dudley Digges returned to Kentucky with trainer Mike Maker following his win in the Queen’s Plate and will ship to Fort Erie for the race.

Sun, 07/17/2016 - 21:10

Lone Star sees small increase in average daily handle

Lone Star Park closed its 50-date meet Sunday with a small increase in average daily handle on its live races, according to figures provided by the Grand Prairie, Texas, track. The gain came courtesy of offtrack bettors.

Sun, 07/17/2016 - 15:54

Debut win could propel Morganite to Sorrento Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif.- Morganite, purchased for $360,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in-training in March, won her debut in Saturday’s eighth race at Del Mar, leading trainer John Sadler to make tentative plans for a start in the $200,000 Sorrento Stakes for fillies on Aug. 6.

Ridden by Victor Espinoza for owners Pete and Kosta Hronis, Morganite ($19.40) stalked pacesetter Lovely Linda to early stretch before winning the five-furlong maiden race by 1 1/2 lengths in 58.13 seconds.

“She’s very smart and wants to run on,” Sadler said.

Sun, 07/17/2016 - 15:51

Monster Bea a prospect for La Jolla, Del Mar Derby

Benoit & Associates
Oceanside winner Monster Bea could run next in the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf on Aug. 6 or wait for the $250,000 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 4.

DEL MAR, Calif.- Monster Bea, winner of the restricted Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-old on turf on Friday, will start at least one more time at the current Del Mar summer meeting and perhaps twice.

Trainer Peter Miller said he plans to gauge Monster Bea’s energy in coming weeks before deciding on whether to run in the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf on Aug. 6 or wait for the $250,000 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 4.

Sun, 07/17/2016 - 15:44

Sharp workout puts Dortmund in field for San Diego Handicap

Barbara D. Livingston
By resuming training now, Dortmund is likely to be ready to race by the end of the summer.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Dortmund, unraced since winning the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes here last November, will be part of a small field challenging Dubai World Cup winner California Chrome in the $200,000 San Diego Handicap next Saturday.

Sunday, Dortmund worked six furlongs in 1:12 in company with a stablemate.

“It’s all set,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “He was cruising.”

Sun, 07/17/2016 - 15:39

She's Not Here may return for John Mabee Stakes

Benoit & Associates
She's Not Here, based in Kentucky, could run again at Del Mar in the John Mabee Stakes on Sept. 4.

DEL MAR, Calif. - She’s Not Here, the winner of the $201,035 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar for the second consecutive year on Saturday, was scheduled to be shipped to trainer Vicki Oliver’s base in Kentucky this week.

She may not be there long before a return trip to California.

Phil Oliver, the trainer’s husband, said on Sunday that She’s Not Here may return to Del Mar for the $200,000 John Mabee Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on Sept. 4.

“We’re toying with the idea of the Mabee,” Oliver said.

Sun, 07/17/2016 - 14:14

Nyquist tunes up for Haskell

Benoit Photo
With regular rider Mario Gutierrez aboard, Kentucky Derby-winning Nyquist works five furlongs in 1:02.07 prior to the first race Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

DEL MAR, Calif.- Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist was one of four champions to work in a little more than an hour early Sunday at Del Mar in advance of races throughout the nation in the next two weeks.

Nyquist, the champion 2-year-old male of 2015, worked five furlongs in 1:02 in company with a stablemate. He will start in the $1.25 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 31.