ARCADIA, Calif. – The curious saga of Queen Maxima continues to stir discussion at Santa Anita following the mare’s flat third as the odds-on favorite April 4 in the Grade 3 Monrovia Stakes on the hillside turf course.
Contrary to an initial report by Daily Racing Form, stewards Grant Baker, Luis Jauregui, and Kim Sawyer were not party to the events that contributed to Queen Maxima’s disappointing finish as the shortest-priced favorite on the Santa Anita Derby card.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – A pair of equine stars lit up an overcast Tuesday morning at Oaklawn Park, as 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty rolled into the stable area about the same time Journalism was out on the track preparing for their clash in Saturday’s Grade 2, $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap.
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey on Tuesday signed a bill that will add approximately $1.5 million annually to the West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund and provide new incentives for owners to base horses in the state.
The bill was signed by Morrissey during a ceremony at Charles Town Races. Morrisey was accompanied by several lawmakers who pushed the bill through the legislative process as a boost to the state’s agriculture industry.
Lone Star Park opens Thursday night with a strong roster of jockeys and trainers signed on for the 41-date meet that is highlighted by the Lone Star Million Day card and the Summer Turf Festival.
“Those would be our two big open stakes days,” said Bart Lang, director of racing operations for Lone Star.
Trainer Jeff Mullins had an outstanding winter at Santa Anita, where he finished fourth in the trainer standings with 21 wins from 78 runners. But the Santa Anita Derby card on April 4 was frustrating for reasons beyond Intrepido’s fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby points race.
Queen Maxima finished a disappointing third as the 2-5 favorite in the Grade 3 Monrovia Stakes, a hillside turf sprint. Queen Maxima ranks among the country’s top female turf sprinters, but she was a victim of unusual circumstances when she misfired on the hill in the Monrovia.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Intrepido finally resumed training Saturday at Santa Anita, one week after a distant fourth-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby seemed to eliminate him from Kentucky Derby consideration.
But the picture changed this week. Intrepido, winner of the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita last year, is back in the Kentucky Derby hunt.
Trainer Jeff Mullins confirmed Saturday he will adhere to the wishes of the colt’s owners and aim Intrepido to the Kentucky Derby notwithstanding his 10-length loss in the Santa Anita Derby.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Journalism will launch his 4-year-old season in the Grade 2, $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap on April 18, according to an announcement made on social media by co-owner Eclipse Thoroughbreds.
Jose Ortiz has the mount in the 1 1/8-mile race for which weights were issued Friday. Horse of the Year Sovereignty, who is expected to run in the Oaklawn Handicap, is weighted at 123 pounds.
Skippylongstocking, who was assigned top weight of 124 pounds, is likely to make his next start in the Alysheba at Churchill Downs, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said Tuesday.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jockeys Ramon Vazquez and Cristian Torres continue to battle atop the local standings at Oaklawn. Through Thursday Vazquez had 55 wins to lead the standings, while Torres ranked second with 52.
Torres leads all riders in mount earnings, with his 324 mounts earning more than $5 million. Vazquez’s 302 mounts have earned a collective $2.9 million.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen is on pace to win his 15th Oaklawn Park training title, but he is taking nothing for granted as the meet continues through May 2.
Asmussen has won 52 races so far this season, which is 29 more than second-leading trainer Mark Casse.
“It’s been a very solid meet,” Asmussen said. “I’m very happy with how the horses are running, but we have another month left and we need to finish it off strong.”
There are no immediate plans for Grade 1 Champagne Stakes winner Napoleon Solo, who finished fifth, beaten 2 3/4 lengths, in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 4.
“He’s back on the track now. He came out of the race well. At this stage, we’re looking forward to the second half of the season wherever it takes us,” trainer Chad Summers said Friday. “Nothing we’re pointing to right now.”
Breaking from the rail in the Wood, Napoleon Solo set a pressured pace and was still in contention at the eighth pole before giving way in the final furlong.
