Mon, 09/16/2024 - 13:10

High-priced juvenile featured on Friday Churchill card

The 2-year-old set features prominently on Friday’s 10-race card, which begins at 12:45 p.m., with two divisions of a $120,000 maiden special weight for juvenile fillies.

The first of those, the day’s fourth race, marks the debut of the well-bred Ensorcell for Ron Moquett. The daughter of rising star sire Not This Time is out of the locally popular Grade 1 winner On Fire Baby.

Alyeska and Geez Eloise are both daughters of prominent freshman sire Vekoma, who leads his class by individual winners and is represented by last weekend’s Iroquois winner, Jonathan’s Way.

Mon, 09/16/2024 - 12:55

Zeitlos could still have turf in her future

By Nicole Russo

Zeitlos has won three stakes sprinting on dirt this year. She is winless in her two turf starts. But still, trainer Steve Asmussen said another try on the grass could be in the future for the filly, who notched her latest victory in the Open Mind Stakes last Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Mon, 09/16/2024 - 12:13

Average handle per race up 5.8% during Monmouth’s 2024 meet

By Matt Hegarty

Nikki Sherman/EQUI-PHOTO

Average handle per race for the 50-day meet Monmouth Park meet was $435,845.

Average handle per race at Monmouth Park in New Jersey during its recently completed meet was up 5.8 percent, according to an analysis by Daily Racing Form, though the average purse at the track dropped 10.8 percent.

Average handle per race for the 50-day meet was $435,845, according to the analysis, compared to an average of $411,897 during a 51-day meet last year. The average field size was 7.52 horses per race, down slightly from a 7.71 average field size in 2023.

Mon, 09/16/2024 - 12:05

After stylish Iroquois score, Jonathan's Way will train up to BC Juvenile

By Nicole Russo

Jonathan's Way wins Iroquois at CD Sept 14 2024

Coady Media

Jonathan’s Way earned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure for his front-running 2 3/4-length score in the one-mile Iroquois Stakes.

Jonathan’s Way won the first points race toward the 2025 Kentucky Derby on the front end by a professional 2 3/4 lengths in the Grade 3, $300,000 Iroquois Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs. The Vekoma colt is now targeting the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.

Mon, 09/16/2024 - 09:35

TOC seeks higher purse structure at upcoming Pleasanton meet

By Steve Andersen

Purse levels for the Golden State Racing meeting at Pleasanton this fall had not been finalized as of Sunday and were scheduled to be subject of discussions by racing officials early this week in advance of a key meeting of the California Horse Racing Board on Thursday.

Fri, 09/13/2024 - 18:45

Big prices trigger late pick 5, pick 6 carryovers for Saturday card

By David Grening

Adam Coglianese/NYRA

After a Friday card full of upsets, Saturday's card will feature carryovers in the late pick 5 and pick 6.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – A last-to-first victory by Misseliofwar ($61) in Friday’s 10th and final race at Aqueduct resulted in there being carryovers in the late pick 5 and the pick 6 on Saturday.

The carryover in the late pick 5 is $323,211 and the wager, with a $0.50 minimum, will be on races 7 through 11. The carryover in the pick 6, which carries a $1 minimum and begins in race 6, is $39,020.

Fri, 09/13/2024 - 14:20

New Jersey will provide $10 million annual purse subsidy to Monmouth Park through 2029

By Matt Hegarty

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo

Monmouth Park will receive a $10 million annual purse subsidy from the state through 2029.

Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., will continue to receive a $10 million annual purse subsidy through 2029 under a bill passed unanimously by both houses of the state legislature and signed by Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday.

The $10 million subsidy has been a critical lifeline for Monmouth since first authorized in 2019. The grant typically comprises about one-third of the total purse distribution at Monmouth, a seaside track that remains a popular destination in the racing world.

Fri, 09/13/2024 - 13:48

El Grande O on comeback trail

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Trainer Linda Rice is hoping to have El Grande O back on the track by the end of October.

El Grande O, a multiple New York-bred stakes winner at 2 who was briefly on the Triple Crown trail earlier this year, is working toward a fall return to the races.

El Grande O has three workouts since the end of August and trainer Linda Rice said she is hoping to make the New York Showcase Day program with him at the end of October. Depending how he trains over the next month, El Grande O would be eligible for either the $150,000 Hudson Stakes going 6 1/2 furlongs or the $250,000 Empire Classic at 1 1/8 miles.

Fri, 09/13/2024 - 13:30

Grand Mo the First back home after runner-up finish

By Mary Rampellini

Lauren King

After being on the Kentucky Derby trail, Grand Mo the First has made a successful switch to dirt.

Grand Mo the First returned to his Gulfstream base Monday following a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs.

Grand Mo the First was beaten a neck in the race run last Saturday.

“He came back very well,” trainer Victor Barboza Jr. said. “I don’t know what will be the next race. He ran very hard. It was a long trip. He needs time before the next race.”

Barboza said he will see how Grand Mo the First trains over the next few weeks before making in plans with Granpollo Stable.

Fri, 09/13/2024 - 13:25

R Morning Brew headed to Susan's Girl

By Mary Rampellini

R Morning Brew won the $100,000 Desert Vixen division of the Florida Sire Stakes last Saturday at Gulfstream to remain perfect in two career starts. She covered six furlongs in a sharp 1:10.85 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 74.

Saffie Joseph Jr., who trains the daughter of Curlin’s Honor for Averill Racing, said she emerged from the race in good order. He said plans are to advance to the $200,000 Susan’s Girl division Oct. 19 at seven furlongs.

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