Fri, 07/08/2016 - 15:49

Grade 3 winner He's Comin in Hot retired

Barbara D. Livingston
He's Comin in Hot is likely to start his year in the Bachelor on April 15.

He’s Comin in Hot, the gelding who won last year’s Grade 3 Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs, has been retired, trainer Bret Calhoun said on Thursday. The horse was sent to Valor Farm, the 400-acre showplace facility in Pilot Point, Texas.

He’s Comin in Hot won a second-level allowance at Lone Star Park in his most recent start April 30. He is a son of Early Flayer and was bred by the Valor Farm operation of the late Clarence Scharbauer Jr.

Scharbauer’s son, Doug, raced He’s Comin in Hot, who also won a division of the Texas Stallion Stakes last year at Retama Park.

Fri, 07/08/2016 - 15:41

Texas Chrome may ship to Louisiana for Prelude Stakes

Coady Photography
Texas Chrome could make his next start in the $250,000 Iowa Derby on July 1.

Texas Chrome is back home at Lone Star Park after a runner-up finish to American Freedom in the Grade 3 Iowa Derby on July 1 at Prairie Meadows. The effort came one start after Texas Chrome ran third to Gun Runner in the Grade 3 Matt Winn at Churchill Downs.

The stakes were the first graded appearances by multiple stakes winner Texas Chrome.

“We asked a lot of him to travel, to run in those races, and he ran two really nice races for us,” said J.R. Caldwell, who trains Texas Chrome for Keene Thoroughbreds. 

Fri, 07/08/2016 - 15:33

Shotgun Kowboy candidate for Downs at Albuquerque Handicap

Dustin Orona Photography
Shotgun Kowboy could ship to New Mexico for the Downs at Albuquerque Handicap on Aug. 6.

Shotgun Kowboy could be headed to New Mexico.

The horse, who has finished second in three consecutive Grade 3 races since May, is being freshened and will be considered for the $175,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap on Aug. 6.

Shotgun Kowboy last raced July 2 and was just edged in the Grade 3 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows. Following the race, he was sent to the Oklahoma farm of his breeder, owner, and trainer, C.R. Trout. 

Fri, 07/08/2016 - 15:27

Divisidero points to Arlington Million

Barbara D. Livingston
Divisidero (left), winner of the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, will make his next start in the Aug. 13 Arlington Million.

Divisidero will make his next start in the Arlington Million on Aug. 13, trainer Buff Bradley said Thursday.

The 4-year-old colt worked five furlongs in 1:03 on dirt Friday at Churchill Downs, his first drill since finishing fifth in the $1 million Manhattan Stakes on June 11 at Belmont Park.

Fri, 07/08/2016 - 15:10

Alright Alright finally healthy enough to run

Considering what Alright Alright has been through in the last 20 months, it’s remarkable that the 4-year-old colt will return to racing in an optional claimer at Santa Anita in Sunday's ninth race.

Alright Alright was diagnosed with a knee injury after a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes at Del Mar in November 2014. While recovering, Alright Alright broke his withers in an accident at a farm, further delaying his return to racing, according to trainer Jack Carava.

Fri, 07/08/2016 - 15:05

Newsman, Hunt try to fill void left by Gabriel Charles's retirement

Benoit & Associates
Hunt, owned by Michael House, will be pointed to the $75,000 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on turf Aug. 12.

The recent retirement of Gabriel Charles has left owner Michael House without a Grade 1 winner in his barn prior to the start of the Del Mar summer meeting next Friday.

House, who lives near Del Mar, has several prospects who could play leading roles in stakes in the coming weeks.

The stable recently completed the acquisition of Newsman, a 3-year-old colt from Ireland who is a prospect for the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf Aug. 6. Newsman is scheduled to arrive in California in the coming days.

Fri, 07/08/2016 - 14:10

Silver Mission tunes up for Rockville Centre Stakes

Emily Shields
Silver Mission will be heavily favored in next Saturday’s $125,000 Rockville Centre Stakes for New York-bred juveniles at Belmont Park.

Silver Mission, who has won his first two starts against open company, will be heavily favored in next Saturday’s $125,000 Rockville Centre Stakes for New York-bred juveniles at Belmont Park.

On Friday, Silver Mission worked four furlongs in 49.05 seconds under regular rider John Velazquez. Silver Mission galloped out a strong five furlongs in 1:02.76 as he pulled away from his workmate, Heavenly View.

Silver Mission, a son of Mission Impazible, won a maiden race at Aqueduct in April and then the $181,000 Tremont Stakes by 6 1/4 lengths June 10.

Fri, 07/08/2016 - 14:10

Cavorting works toward Personal Ensign

Debra A. Roma
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Cavorting is pointing to the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga on Aug. 27.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Cavorting worked four furlongs in 47.54 seconds over the Belmont Park training track Friday, her first work since her dominant victory in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

Working immediately after the 7:45 a.m. renovation break, Cavorting drilled an opening quarter-mile in a quick 23.27 seconds and went her second quarter in 24.27.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Cavorting is pointing to the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga on Aug. 27. That would give her 11 weeks between starts.

Fri, 07/08/2016 - 14:06

Carina Mia will challenge Songbird in Coaching Club American Oaks

Barbara D. Livingston
After winning the one-mile Acorn, Carina Mia will stretch out to 1 1/8 miles for the Coaching Club American Oaks on July 24.

ELMONT, N.Y. – When Songbird runs in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 24 at Saratoga, she will have at least one serious challenger in Carina Mia, the winner of the Grade 1 Acorn.

“The best way to test our horse is to run against her and find out what we’ve got,” said Bill Mott, who trains Carina Mia for the Three Chimneys Farm of Goncalo Borges Torrealba.

Fri, 07/08/2016 - 14:06

Little Mike returns with great numbers, lots of rust

Kenny Martin/Coglianese Photos
Little Mike hasn't raced since winning the Flying Pidgeon in May 2014.

When Little Mike makes his long-awaited return in the seventh race Sunday at Gulfstream Park, the strength of his statistics should prove unmistakable to horseplayers. A four-time Grade 1 winner, he has racked up more than $3.5 million in earnings, more than 4 1/2 times the collective bankroll of his six rivals, and he has repeatedly run Beyer Speed Figures in the upper 90s or 100s – exceeding the top figures of his opponents.