Crupi, third behind National Treasure and Senor Buscador in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream on Jan. 27, worked a half-mile in 50.07 seconds Friday at Palm Beach Downs, as he continues preparations for the $12 million Dubai World Cup March 30 at Meydan.
Trainer Todd Pletcher said he was happy to see the form of the Pegasus hold up well with Senor Buscador winning and National Treasure finishing fourth, after being part of the pace scenario, in the $20 million Saudi Cup.
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – On the day before he was to run Locked and Speak Easy in the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park, trainer Todd Pletcher put a plethora of 3-year-olds through workouts Friday morning at Palm Beach Downs, as he continues to plot out their potential paths to the Kentucky Derby.
Randolph Cutshaw, a retired jockey, trainer, and agent who later in his career spent time working as the "colors man” at Fair Grounds, died Feb. 18 in Williamsburg, Va., according to his wife, Melodie Cutshaw. He was 84.
Cutshaw died in a hospice house, said Melodie Cutshaw.
“He was terminally ill with three forms of cancer,” she said.
Cutshaw was born in Versailles, Ky. He made his way onto the backstretch before he was old enough to be licensed in what would become a lifelong career path.
Anisette, the winner of two Grade 1 races for 3-year-old fillies in 2023, has returned to trainer Leonard Powell’s stable after an early winter break.
First or second in all six of her starts last year, Anisette may have her 4-year-old debut in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita on May 27, Powell said.
Anisette was turned out after winning the Grade 1 American Oaks at 1 1/4 miles on turf as the 3-5 favorite on Dec. 26.
“We’ll probably have her ready in May,” Powell said.
Endlessly won his 3-year-old debut in the El Camino Real Derby on the synthetic track at Golden Gate Fields Feb. 10 and will remain on that type of surface for his next scheduled start, the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park March 23, trainer Michael McCarthy wrote in a text message Thursday.
On Thursday at Santa Anita, Endlessly worked a half-mile in 48.60 seconds on dirt, his first major exercise since the El Camino Real Derby.
The $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks is run at 1 1/8 miles, and is a key prep for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The likelihood of an inopportune rainstorm has led Santa Anita to postpone one of its signature racing programs by a day.
The Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap and three other graded stakes scheduled for Saturday instead will be run Sunday. The decision, announced Thursday, was not a surprise. Santa Anita officials spent much of the week forming contingency plans due to the pending storm.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Due to a gloomy forecast for rain Friday night through Saturday, Santa Anita officials are forming a contingency plan to postpone Saturday’s blockbuster card by a day and run the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap and three other graded stakes on Sunday instead.
Nate Newby, Santa Anita’s vice president and general manager, said midday Wednesday that a decision on whether or not to postpone would be made early Thursday.
Northern California-based jockey Silvio Amador is in the midst of a 10-day suspension for being under the influence of alcohol earlier this year, according to a ruling published Feb. 18 by Golden Gate stewards.
The suspension began Monday and covers 10 calendar days through March 6.
In the ruling, Amador has been ordered to undergo regular testing for alcohol conducted by the California Horse Racing Board and “refrain from any alcohol-related violations” through the duration of his current license which expires in September 2025.
The good news regarding the chances of Dandy Man Shines in Saturday’s Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita is that the speedy Goliad is likely to set the pace in the $300,000 turf race.
The bad news is that a closer such as Dandy Man Shines will have an accomplished rival in Easter also racing from off the pace.
“There’s always something to worry about,” owner Tim Cohen said with a laugh on Wednesday.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Castle Chaos will scratch from Saturday’s Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile and instead run in Saturday’s $150,000 Stymie Stakes at Aqueduct.
Castle Chaos is coming out of a nose defeat to Tumbarumba in the Grade 3 Fred Hooper at Gulfstream on Jan. 27. Prior to that, he finished third, behind Hoist the Gold and Senor Buscador in the Grade 2 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.
Castle Chaos had drawn the rail for the Gulfstream Park Mile.
