Mon, 04/01/2024 - 13:35

Tapeta training track gets good reviews after first workouts

Coady Photography

Santa Anita Derby hopeful Stronghold worked a half-mile over the new infield Tapeta track on Monday.

Through a wet weekend and into a gorgeous Monday morning, the synthetic training track at Santa Anita was used for workouts for the first time since it was installed over the winter, with a few prominent names among the active runners.

At a cost of approximately $8 million, Santa Anita replaced its infield dirt training surface with a Tapeta Footings surface. Activity was limited to joggers when the track opened for use in early March, with gallopers allowed by the middle of the month.

Saturday was the first day for full workouts.

Mon, 04/01/2024 - 13:00

Spring meet purses lowered from 2023 levels

By Steve Andersen

Susie Raisher

Paurses at the Santa Anita spring meet will be about 12 percent lower than they were a year ago.

Facing a seven-figure overpayment, Santa Anita has reduced overnight purses by approximately 12 percent for its spring meeting, compared to the corresponding period in 2023.

The spring meetings runs from April 19 to June 16.

The reduction comes at a time when the track has been unable to reverse a downward trend in handle, leading to a severe deficit in the purse pool. Officials told the California Horse Racing Board earlier this year that the purse pool was in arrears by $4 million, with concern the figure could grow before mid-June.

Mon, 04/01/2024 - 11:50

Daily double takeout lowered to 15 percent

By Nicole Russo

Goodnight Olive wins the BC F-M Sprint at SA Nove 4 2023

Debra A. Roma

Two-time Eclipse Award winner Goodnight Olive will be paraded in the Keeneland paddock at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Keeneland’s wagering menu for the spring meet includes a takeout reduction on the daily double from 22 percent to 15 percent.

Daily doubles are offered on all but the final race each day.

“This pricing is advantageous to our core horseplayers but also is a great opportunity for emerging bettors to try horse racing’s equivalent of a ‘two-game parlay,’ ” said Jim Goodman, Keeneland’s director of wagering development.

Blue Grass hits 100

Mon, 04/01/2024 - 11:20

Ashland, Blue Grass coming up strong; on-site construction under way

By Nicole Russo

Jody's Pride wins Busher at AQU March 2 2024

Barbara D. Livingston

Jody’s Pride, 3 for 4 in her career and coming off a win in the Busher, is expected to compete in Friday’s Grade 1 Ashland.

The Keeneland grounds look different this spring. Inside, however, the same quality racing reigns, with compelling editions of the Grade 1, $600,000 Ashland Stakes and Grade 1, $1 million Blue Grass taking shape for opening weekend.

Mon, 04/01/2024 - 10:30

Machado, Foster claim riding, training titles at Turfway

By Nicole Russo

Coady Photography

Jockey Luan Machado's 62 wins were easily enough to take Turfway's riding title at their recent winter-spring meet.

Jockey Luan Machado and trainer Eric Foster secured their respective titles during the Turfway Park winter-spring meeting that concluded March 30.

From January through March, Machado, who is represented by agent Cory Prewitt, won 62 races, easily outdistancing Gerardo Corrales with 37 wins. Machado swept the leading rider titles this season at Turfway, as he also secured the holiday meet title in November-December. This was his fourth leading rider title at Turfway, where the native of Brazil began riding in 2018.

Sun, 03/31/2024 - 18:53

Thorpedo Anna headed to Churchill for Kentucky Oaks

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Photography

Thorpedo Anna, with Brian Hernandez Jr. riding, wins the Grade 2 Fantasy by four lengths.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Thorpedo Anna emerged from her dominant win in Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Fantasy at Oaklawn Park in good order and is now bound for the Kentucky Oaks, trainer Kenny McPeek said Sunday.

Thorpedo Anna picked up 100 points for the Churchill Downs race for her win and is sitting third on the list for the Kentucky Oaks field with 105 total points. The Beyer Speed Figure of 91 that she earned for her Fantasy victory ranks among the top 10 numbers put up by a 3-year-old filly so far in 2024.

Sun, 03/31/2024 - 17:29

Plans undecided for Arkansas Derby winner Muth

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Photography

Muth, with Juan Hernandez riding, wins the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby by two lengths, earning a 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday that Southern California-based Muth handled a number of new variables with aplomb winning Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park – save one.

“The only thing he didn’t handle was the flowers,” Baffert said of the blanket of gardenias. “When they went to put the flowers on, he didn’t want any part of that. I told them to bring them back home. We’re going to school him in the flowers.”

Sun, 03/31/2024 - 17:06

Pletcher optimistic Fierceness has more in the tank after Florida Derby romp

By Mike Welsch

Barbara D. Livingston

Fierceness, with John Velazquez up, wins the Grade 1 Florida Derby by 13 1/2 lengths, earning a 110 Beyer Speed Figure.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday that Fierceness came out of his record-setting 13 1/2-length victory in Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby in good order while continuing to marvel at the scope of the reigning juvenile champion male’s performance, which more than made amends for his disappointing third-place finish in the Grade 3 Holy Bull eight weeks earlier.

Sun, 03/31/2024 - 16:17

Santiago Gonzalez set to return to saddle after spill

By Steve Andersen

Santiago Gonzalez is booked to ride two of the nine races Thursday at Santa Anita, less than a week after he was dramatically unseated when his mount appeared to slip in a turf race.

Gonzalez was briefly hospitalized last Friday for precautionary tests and was released hours later, according to his agent, Mike Ciani.

Gonzalez was racing just behind the leaders on the turn when his mount, She’s a Joker, lost her footing. She’s a Joker unseated Gonzalez who fell heavily. The filly was walked off the track and was unhurt, trainer Peter Miller said in a text message Sunday.

Sun, 03/31/2024 - 16:13

Godolphin Mile winner Two Rivers Over proves bargain claim

By Steve Andersen

Dubai Racing Club

Two Rivers Over wins the Group 2 Godolphin Mile at Meydan by three-quarters of a length.

Two River Over’s upset win in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile in Dubai on Saturday capped a remarkable nine-month span that began when the gelding was claimed for a mere $30,000 at Ellis Park last June.

Long before Two Rivers Over won the $1 million Godolphin Mile, the claim had turned into a profitable investment for co-owners Todd Cady and Ty Leatherman. In four starts last year after being claimed, Two Rivers Over earned $252,500, including a payday of $176,400 for a win in the $300,000 Zia Park Derby in New Mexico last November.

Subscribe to Track Notes