Tue, 04/12/2016 - 13:46

Jacks or Better horses transferred from Gold to Casse

Barbara D. Livingston
Fellowship (above) must face champion Nyquist and leading Kentucky Derby contender Mohaymen in the Florida Derby.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The long and extremely successful tenure for Stanley Gold as trainer for Fred Brei’s Jacks or Better Farm is over. Gold, in a simple statement on Tuesday, said: “I no longer train horses for Jacks or Better Farm. I wish them the best of luck in the future and I look forward to rebuilding my racing stable.”

Mon, 04/11/2016 - 16:14

Quinonez hopes for Derby shot on Suddenbreakingnews

Coady Photography
Luis Quinonez hopes he'll have his first Kentucky Derby starter in Suddenbreakingnews.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jockey Luis Quinonez has been something of a late bloomer in his line of work. He did not begin race riding until the age of 23, and he could have his first Kentucky Derby starter this year at the age of 49.

“It doesn’t matter as long as it happens,” said Quinonez. 

Mon, 04/11/2016 - 15:33

All four herpes-infected Parx horses have died

BENSALEM, Pa. – Monday was the fourth consecutive day that there hadn't been a confirmed case of the equine herpesvirus at Parx Racing. If no other horses test positive, the current quarantine will end May 5.

Since April 1, four horses have tested positive for the equine herpesvirus. They have all either died from the disease or been euthanized because of their degree of illness. Two of the horses were trained by Michael Aro and the other two by Ron Dandy, who are both stabled in Barn 30.

Dandy on Monday said the virus hit his horses hard.

Mon, 04/11/2016 - 14:16

Effinex arrives for Oaklawn Handicap

Barbara D. Livingston
Effinex will make the second start of his form cycle in the Oaklawn Handicap.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Effinex, the 121-pound highweight for the Grade 2, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap on Saturday, touched down in Little Rock, Ark., on Monday morning, according to a track official. The airport is about an hour’s van ride from Oaklawn.

The field for the Oaklawn Handicap will be drawn Wednesday, and the race is scheduled as the ninth race Saturday.

The champion Untapable on Sunday put in her final breeze for the Grade 1, $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap, to be run on Friday. Trainer Steve Asmussen said she is to be ridden by Florent Geroux.

Mon, 04/11/2016 - 14:10

Terra Promessa, Taxable may both go in Oaks

Coady Photography
Terra Promessa and stablemate Taxable will both head to the Kentucky Oaks after a close finish in the Fantasy.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Terra Promessa won her fourth straight race Saturday here in the Grade 3, $400,000 Fantasy, with her stablemate Taxable in second. Both came out of the race in “great shape,” trainer Steve Asmussen said Sunday.

Asmussen said both fillies were to ship Monday to Churchill Downs. Terra Promessa is likely to run next in the Kentucky Oaks on May 6, he said, while Taxable is possible for the Oaks, with her status to be determined by her training and discussions with owner Winchell Thoroughbreds.

Mon, 04/11/2016 - 14:06

Subtle Indian shifting base to Santa Anita

Coady Photography
Subtle Indian dominates the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap by 3 3/4 lengths under Ramon Vazquez.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Subtle Indian, who won the Grade 3, $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap on Sunday at Oaklawn, will soon be joining trainer Robertino Diodoro’s division at Santa Anita. Diodoro said Monday the horse was to fly to Southern California on Tuesday.

Subtle Indian has been based at Oaklawn, where he won his fourth straight race at the meet in the Count Fleet. He covered six furlongs in 1:08.80 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 102.

“The horse came back unbelievable this morning,” Diodoro said Monday. “He knows he won.”

Mon, 04/11/2016 - 14:00

Romans thinks Unbridled Outlaw can steal Arkansas Derby

Nikki Sherman
Trainer Dale Romans confirmed Unbridled Outlaw will run in the Arkansas Derby on Saturday.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Dale Romans threw some fighting words into the Arkansas Derby mix on Monday when he confirmed the front-running Unbridled Outlaw for the Grade 1, $1 million race Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

“Cupid’s arrow will not be able to reach him,” said Romans.

Mon, 04/11/2016 - 13:16

Lewis Bay earns shot at, gulp, Songbird

Michael Amoruso
Lewis Bay wins her second graded stakes in the Gazelle.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The good news is that Lewis Bay won Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Gazelle and came out of the race well. The bad news is that that win earns her a shot in the $1 million Kentucky Oaks, where she will have to take on the undefeated Songbird, who may just be the best 3-year-old of either gender.

“It’s a tall order, but it’s a horse race, and it’s a big purse, and it’s a prestigious race,” trainer Chad Brown said Sunday. “If Lewis Bay’s healthy, she’ll give it a try.”

Mon, 04/11/2016 - 13:06

Carter win opens up possibilities for Salutos Amigos

Barbara D. Livingston
Salutos Amigos (left) beats Calculator by a head to win the Carter Handicap.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Salutos Amigos came out of his narrow victory over Calculator in Saturday’s Grade 1 Carter Handicap a little tired but otherwise okay, trainer and part-owner David Jacobson said Sunday.

The seven-furlong Carter was the eighth stakes victory for Salutos Amigos but his first in a Grade 1 from eight tries. The 6-year-old gelding is now 12 for 32 with earnings of more than $1.5 million.

Mon, 04/11/2016 - 13:06

Options aplenty for Unified

Debra A. Roma
Unified has two wins in two starts after winning the Bay Shore at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The connections of Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes winner Unified will give their 3-year-old a chance to stretch out in distance, but where and when that will happen is not a question easily answered.

Unified galloped to a three-length victory in Saturday’s $300,000 Bay Shore, a seven-furlong race at Aqueduct, making the colt 2 for 2. On Feb. 21, Unified won a six-furlong maiden race at Gulfstream Park.