Sun, 05/08/2016 - 15:24

Sherlock uncertain whether Uncle Lino will run in Preaknesss

Benoit & Associates
The results of the Kentucky Derby will help determine whether California Chrome winner Uncle Lino points to the Preakness.

ARCADIA, Calif. - A decision on whether Uncle Lino will start in the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 21 will be made in the next week, trainer Gary Sherlock said on Sunday.

Uncle Lino won the $151,035 California Chrome Stakes in track-record time at Los Alamitos on April 30 to join the list of candidates for the Preakness. At the time, Sherlock said he wanted to assess the colt’s condition and watch the Kentucky Derby before proceeding with plans.

Sherlock said he was left impressed by Nyquist’s win in the Kentucky Derby.

Sun, 05/08/2016 - 13:19

Tepin will try to conquer Royal Ascot next

Kim Pratt
Tepin earned a 102 Beyer Speed Figure for winning the Distaff Turf Mile for a second time.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Norm Casse admits he is running out of things to say about Tepin. But, he certainly doesn’t take her accomplishments for granted.

Tepin, last year’s female turf champion, won her sixth consecutive race Saturday when she easily dispatched of her six rivals in winning the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill Downs by 3 1/2 lengths.

Sun, 05/08/2016 - 10:36

Few foes beaten by Nyquist in Kentucky Derby willing to try again in Preakness

Ciara Bowen
Nyquist will likely be facing a field comprised mostly of horses who did not run in the Kentucky Derby when he goes in the May 21 Preakness at Pimlico.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Nyquist, the Kentucky Derby winner, emerged from the race in good order on Sunday morning, according to trainer Doug O’Neill, and was set to head to Baltimore on Monday to begin preparations for the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, on May 21.

Sat, 05/07/2016 - 09:12

Kentucky Derby: Nyquist gets visit from Stanley Cup

Nicole Russo
Nyquist and trainer Doug O'Neill check out the Stanley Cup ahead of Saturday's Kentucky Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Approximately 12 hours before Nyquist and trainer Doug O’Neill were to chase Thoroughbred racing’s Holy Grail – the Kentucky Derby – they posed with the most coveted trophy in sports – the Stanley Cup.

Fri, 05/06/2016 - 15:22

Rivelli's barn looks loaded again at Arlington

SV Photography
Larry Rivelli plans to ship Richies Sweetheart to Churchill Downs for the Unbridled Sidney on May 16.

When Wayne Catalano cut back on his Arlington string two years ago, releasing his grip on the Arlington trainer standings, Larry Rivelli was ready to step in. Rivelli was the leading trainer in 2014 at Arlington with 59 winners and ran away with the training title last year with 72 winners to Scott Becker’s second-best 40.

It figures to be more of the same for Rivelli this summer. He has somewhere north of 60 horses stabled at Arlington, including a handful of stakes runners and a 25-horse 2-year-old contingent that Rivelli believes is the strongest of his career.

Fri, 05/06/2016 - 14:48

Training begins for clockwise turf racing

Preparations for Woodbine’s clockwise turf racing began this week, as the dirt training track was open for a clockwise training session Tuesday.

Woodbine plans to run up to 40 races in the opposite direction on turf this season. The move will allow the track to offer more turf racing over a portion of the course that is used only for races going 1 1/4 miles and beyond. A trial race is scheduled for May 16, with the first official clockwise turf race scheduled for June 10. Woodbine has branded the series of races as the “EuroTurf series.”

Fri, 05/06/2016 - 14:38

Bear’sway targets Marine Stakes

Michael Burns
Bear'sway (right), under Eurico Da Silva, prevails by a neck over Dragon Bay in the Wando for 3-year-olds.

Bear’sway started his 3-year-old season with an impressive victory in the $100,000 Wando Stakes on April 24 at Woodbine and will be pointed to next Saturday’s Grade 3 Marine Stakes, trainer Reade Baker said.

Baker said the time between the Wando and the Marine is shorter than he would have preferred, but options are limited for American-bred 3-year-olds at this time of year at Woodbine.

“It’s tighter than I thought, but what are you going to do?” he said.

Fri, 05/06/2016 - 14:20

Streamline expected back in fall following recuperation from injury

Coady Photography
Streamline, shown winning the Pippin at Oaklawn, will be given several months off to recuperate from an undisclosed injury.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Streamline’s storybook ascent has been put on hold until autumn.

A 4-year-old Illinois-bred filly, Streamline bounded out of obscurity this winter at Oaklawn Park, where she had an excellent four-stakes campaign that began with a win in the $100,000 Pippin and culminated with a second-place finish in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom.

Fri, 05/06/2016 - 12:10

Crumlin Spirit likely to run next in Fury

Michael Burns
Crumlin Spirit is considered probable for the seven-furlong Fury on May 22.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Crumlin Spirit stamped herself as a contender for the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks here on June 12 by upsetting Caren in last Sunday’s Lady Angela Stakes, earning a career-best 87 Beyer Speed Figure.

Trainer Mike Doyle said he will target the $150,000 Fury Stakes over seven furlongs for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies on May 22 for Crumlin Spirit but added that he will keep his eye open for a race going two turns.

Fri, 05/06/2016 - 11:56

Lemonaideen earns time off

ARCADIA, Calif. – The 2-year-old filly Lemonaideen earned a brief vacation after winning her debut at Santa Anita on Thursday.

Lemonaideen, by Square Eddie, led throughout a maiden special weight race at 4 1/2 furlongs, winning by 1 1/2 lengths over Californiasummer. After the race, trainer Ed Freeman said Lemonaideen will be sent to Ocean Breeze Farm in Bonsall, Calif. – the former Vessels Stallion Farm – for a brief rest.