Wed, 03/02/2016 - 13:16

Twilight Eclipse tries Mac Diarmida for fourth time

Barbara D. Livingston
Twilight Eclipse won the Mac Diarmida in 2014 and finished second last year.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The Grade 2 Mac Diarmida here on Saturday will mark the 2016 debut of the 7-year-old Twilight Eclipse, who will make his fourth appearance in the 1 3/8-mile turf event for 4-year-olds and up. Twilight Eclipse won the race in 2014 and finished second a year ago.

Last year, Twilight Eclipse won the Grade 1 Man o’ War at Belmont Park and finished third in three other Grade 1 races – the United Nations at Monmouth, the Sword Dancer at Saratoga, and the Turf Classic at Belmont.

Wed, 03/02/2016 - 12:46

Gulfstream Park Handicap turning into Pletcher party

Barbara D. Livingston
Blofeld won two stakes in 2014, but was 0 for 2 last year, including this fifth-place finish in the Dwyer.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Saturday’s main event at Gulfstream Park, the $500,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap, will not be affected by the quarantine at Payson Park because none of the 19 horses nominated to the race is stabled there. An unidentified horse tested positive for the equine herpesvirus at Payson on Monday, leaving the approximately 480 horses stabled there in quarantine for 21 days.

Wed, 03/02/2016 - 12:36

Campo: Payson quarantine ‘should not affect us too much'

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The quarantine that will prevent horses stabled at Payson Park from racing here for at least the next three weeks should have a minimal effect on entries, P.J. Campo, Gulfstream Park’s general manager and vice president of racing, said on Wednesday. An unidentified horse tested positive for the equine herpesvirus at Payson Park on Monday, leaving the approximately 480 horses stabled there in quarantine for 21 days.

Wed, 03/02/2016 - 12:26

Dickinson returns to training with lofty goals

Jim Dunleavy
Michael Dickinson explans the improvements made to Tapeta 10, the surface at his training center in Maryland.

Michael Dickinson has upped the ante as he prepares for his return to training by pumping a huge amount of money into his 250-acre Tapeta Farm, which sits hard by the upper Chesapeake Bay outside the Maryland town of North East.

Wed, 03/02/2016 - 12:06

Mandella pleased with Beholder's first breeze

Barbara D. Livingston
Beholder, shown training at Santa Anita two weeks ago, had her first workout of the season Tuesday, going three furlongs in 36.60 seconds.

[bc_video_id:378221:]ARCADIA, Calif. – The first workout of Beholder’s comeback woke her up Tuesday at Santa Anita, according to trainer Richard Mandella.

Beholder worked three furlongs in 36.60 seconds, her first breeze of the year as she prepares for a 6-year-old campaign expected to begin June 4 in the Grade 1 Vanity.

“It’s just a matter of starting to build her up a little bit,” Mandella said. The work accomplished more than that.

“It wound her up,” Mandella said. “She’s been quiet; that [work] was all she needed. It brought it all back.”

Mon, 02/29/2016 - 15:36

Oaklawn business brisk through season midpoint

Coady Photography
Oaklawn, which puts on a 57-date meet, was able to race 27 of its first 28 dates this year but just 24 of its first 28 in 2015.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oaklawn Park reached the halfway point of its meet Saturday, and an agreeable stretch of weather, record purses, and frantic claiming have been the hallmarks of the season that will continue through Arkansas Derby Day on April 16. The track also has put up strong handle and attendance numbers, while field size is averaging 9.82 runners a race.

Mon, 02/29/2016 - 14:50

Tampa Bay: Gallardo piles up the wins

Tom Keyser
Antonio Gallardo has 92 wins from 343 mounts through Sunday at Tampa Bay Downs.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Jockey Antonio Gallardo is well on his way to breaking his own record for wins at a Tampa Bay Downs meet, with 92 victories from 343 mounts (27 percent) through Sunday. Gallardo’s mounts have earned $1.25 million at the meet, well ahead of Daniel Centeno, who ranks second in both mount earnings ($815,660) and wins (51). Gallardo’s mounts have finished in the money 55 percent of the time at the meet.

Mon, 02/29/2016 - 14:40

Servis saving Sunny Ridge's speed for when it counts

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – When it comes to his 3-year-old Sunny Ridge, trainer Jason Servis doesn’t feel the need for speed.

Mon, 02/29/2016 - 14:26

Brody's Cause among 46 nominees to Tampa Bay Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Brody's Cause is one of 46 3-year-olds nominated to the Tampa Bay Derby on March 12.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Trainer Dale Romans is hoping that Grade 1 winner Brody’s Cause can follow in the footsteps of Street Sense, who used the Tampa Bay Derby and Blue Grass Stakes to propel him to a victory in the 2007 Kentucky Derby for trainer Carl Nafzger.

Mon, 02/29/2016 - 13:36

Lady Eli works for first time since recovering from laminitis

Barbara D. Livingston
Lady Eli wins the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks on July 4.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – The undefeated Lady Eli breezed Monday for the first time since being sidelined with laminitis shortly after her win in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational on July 4.

Daily Racing Form caught her working three furlongs at Palm Meadows in 39 seconds, with her first furlong in 13 seconds. She galloped out four furlongs in 52.20.

“She looked great, did it really well,” trainer Chad Brown said. “She switched leads perfectly, galloped out well, and cooled out nicely after the work.