Sun, 02/18/2024 - 16:38

Muth to bypass Rebel, remain in California

Benoit Photo

Muth will not make his next start in the Rebel, according to trainer Bob Baffert.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Muth, winner of the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 6 in his 3-year-old debut, was held out of the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park next Saturday after trainer Bob Baffert said he was unsatisfied with the colt’s workout at Santa Anita on Sunday.

Muth worked a half-mile in 47.40 seconds, but the exercise occurred at a time when morning training was disrupted after the stakes winner Big Switch was pulled up in the stretch with a fatal injury.

“He’s not going to Arkansas,” Baffert said of Muth. “He didn’t get a proper work.”

Sun, 02/18/2024 - 16:31

Halina's Forte could try longer in Ashland

By David Grening

Adam Coglianese/NYRA

After Saturday's win in the Ruthless Stakes, Halina's Forte is possible for the Ashland at Keeneland.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Halina’s Forte, winner of Saturday’s Ruthless Stakes at Aqueduct, left New York Sunday to return to Kentucky where she will most likely make her next start, trainer Phil Bauer said.

What’s less determined is at what distance Halina’s Forte will run next. Options include the Grade 1, $600,000 Ashland on April 5 at 1 1/16 miles or the Grade 2, $400,000 Beaumont at seven furlongs on April 7. Both races are at Keeneland.

Sun, 02/18/2024 - 15:48

Sierra Leone to Blue Grass, Track Phantom to Louisiana Derby after Risen Star

By Marcus Hersh

Lou Hodges Jr.

Trainer Chad Brown has confirmed that Risen Star winner Sierra Leone will start next in the Blue Grass at Keeneland.

Pacesetting Track Phantom could not hold off hard charging Sierra Leone on Saturday at Fair Grounds in the Risen Star Stakes, but next month in the Louisiana Derby he won’t have to.

While Track Phantom is a likely runner in the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby on March 23, Sierra Leone will be pointed to the $1 million Blue Grass Stakes on April 6 at Keeneland, trainer Chad Brown confirmed Sunday. Brown had said before the Risen Star that his intention was to use the Fair Grounds race and the Blue Grass as Sierra Leone’s path to the Kentucky Derby.

Sun, 02/18/2024 - 15:16

Timberlake returns, draws post 7 for Rebel

By Mary Rampellini

Debra A. Roma

Timberlake last raced in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, where he finished fourth.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Timberlake will be part of a field of 13 when he makes his first start since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in the Grade 2, $1.25 million Rebel Stakes on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

Entries for the 1 1/16-mile race were drawn Sunday. It anchors a 12-race card that will have a special first post of noon Central.

Fri, 02/16/2024 - 11:00

Ain't Life Grand, Tyler's Tribe gearing up for returns

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Photography

Ain't Life Grand could make his return to racing in an allowance race.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Ain’t Life Grand and Tyler’s Tribe are both set to return from layoffs soon after the Iowa-bred stars turned in notable works Thursday at Oaklawn.

Ain’t Life Grand worked by himself. He went five-eighths from the gate in 1:01.80 as he prepares for his first start since July, when he was a close third in the Grade 3 Cornhusker at Prairie Meadows.

“I thought he worked really good,” trainer Kelly Von Hemel said. “Now, we’ll just start looking for a race. He’s been off a while, so we just as soon have an allowance race before going into deeper water.”

Fri, 02/16/2024 - 11:00

Miss Code West eyes TTA Oaks

By Mary Rampellini

Dustin Orona Photography

Miss Code West will make her next start in the $100,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Oaks on March 23.

Miss Code West, who was the horse of the meet at Remington Park, has a stakes engagement next month at Sam Houston.

Trainer Kevin Scholl said the three-time stakes winner is targeting the $100,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Oaks on March 23. The two-turn race for 3-year-old fillies is restricted to graduates of a yearling sale conducted by the TTA.

Miss Code West last raced in January, finishing fourth in the Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds. She had won all four of her starts heading into the stakes.

Fri, 02/16/2024 - 11:00

Atras points Neat to Black Gold Stakes

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Photography

Neat, winner of the Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile, is being pointed to the $75,000 Black Gold at Fair Grounds.

Neat, who won the Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile last month at Sam Houston, is pointing to an upcoming stakes at his base of Fair Grounds.

Trainer Rob Atras said Neat is on deck for the $75,000 Black Gold for 3-year-olds at an “about” distance of 1 1/16 miles on turf March 2.

Neat was a 5 1/2-length winner of the Texas Turf Mile and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 84.

Fri, 02/16/2024 - 11:00

Tapatio Leo eyeing Whitmore Stakes

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Photography

Tapatio Leo could make his stakes debut in the Grade 3, $250,000 Whitmore on March 16.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Tapatio Leo won his fourth straight race in a Feb. 10 allowance at Oaklawn, and the California-bred likely will see stakes action at the meet, according to trainer Peter Miller.

Tapatio Leo shipped in from Southern California, where he had reeled off three straight allowance wins dating back to September at Del Mar.

“He’s a very fast and really good sprinter, and we’re thinking about possibly the sprint series over at Oaklawn,” Miller said.

Fri, 02/16/2024 - 11:00

Bolzy stepping up to stakes in Razorback Handicap

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Photography

Bolzy earned a 96 Beyer Speed Figure for an allowance win on Jan. 28 at Oaklawn Park.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Donnie Von Hemel will attempt to win the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap for the fourth time next Saturday at Oaklawn Park when he saddles the well-bred Bolzy.

The $600,000 race is one of four stakes scheduled to be run on a card led by the Grade 2, $1.25 million Rebel.

Bolzy is a son of Gun Runner and the Grade 3-winning millionaire She’s All In. He will be making his stakes debut after a Jan. 28 allowance win at the Razorback’s 1 1/16-mile distance. Bolzy popped a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 96.

Thu, 02/15/2024 - 15:02

Locked, Born Noble set for works ahead of Fountain of Youth

By Mike Welsch

Debra A. Roma

Locked hasn't started since a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher said he plans to send out two of his potential candidates for the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on March 2 at Gulfstream Park – Locked and Born Noble – for key workouts Friday at his winter headquarters at the Palm Beach Downs training center.

Subscribe to Track Notes