Tue, 07/21/2015 - 12:10

Bayern looks to turn back the calendar

Barbara D. Livingston
Bayern, who runs Saturday in the San Diego Handicap, has finished far back in both starts this year.

DEL MAR, Calif. – The winner of the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic has yet to beat a horse in two starts this year.

Bayern, who was front and center for Eclipse Award consideration as 2014 Horse of the Year and 3-year-old champion male last winter, has become a forgotten participant in the older horse division this summer. When he makes his third start of 2015 in Saturday’s $200,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar, his owner, Kaleem Shah, and trainer, Bob Baffert, hope that Bayern can reverse a season of poor results.

Mon, 07/20/2015 - 14:56

Tiz Shea D likely to target regional derbies next

Linscott Photography
Tiz Shea D wins the Indiana Derby on Saturday at Indiana Grand.

Tiz Shea D appeared to have come out of his Saturday night Indiana Derby win in good shape, trainer Bill Mott said, and will be pointed to races on the national “derby” circuit this summer.

Tiz Shea D earned a career-best 94 Beyer Speed Figure for running 1 1/16 miles over a sloppy Indiana Grand track in 1:43.02. He was 1 1/4 lengths better than Mr. Z, who took a solid lead to the quarter pole before ducking out and briefly impeding pace-stalking Tiz Shea D. Divining Rod finished a head behind Mr. Z in third.

Mon, 07/20/2015 - 14:36

Woodbine: Justin Stein, agent split

Jockey Justin Stein and agent Neal Wilson have parted ways after a five-year partnership.

“He didn’t have the year he was having last year and there was nothing I could do that was any different,” Wilson said. “I talked to him about it and figured we would make a change for the sake of change and see what that would do.”

Stein will now be represented by Anthony Esposito, who also has the book of Alan Garcia. Wilson, who also represents Jesse Campbell, helped facilitate the transition, Esposito said.

Mon, 07/20/2015 - 14:36

Shaman Ghost leads Prince of Wales nominees

Michael Burns
Shaman Ghost will try to capture the second jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown in the Prince of Wales Stakes on July 28.

Queen’s Plate winner Shaman Ghost headlines the list of eight nominees for the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, the second jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown at Fort Erie on July 28, and it appears the field could have anywhere from five to seven runners come entry day on Friday, pending any supplements that could enter.

Trainer Brian Lynch had also nominated Unbridled Juan to the 1 3/16-mile Prince of Wales, but said he will only be taking Shaman Ghost with him to Fort Erie.

Mon, 07/20/2015 - 14:09

Rain impacts turf, dirt racing at Del Mar

Benoit & Associates
Sunday's San Clemente Handicap, won by Prize Exhibit, remained on the turf, but two other grass races were moved to the main track on Sunday at Del Mar.

DEL MAR, Calif. – The San Clemente remained on the turf at Del Mar, but two other grass races on Sunday came off the turf, the second straight day that some grass races were taken off the turf owing to heavy rain that resulted in off tracks both Saturday and Sunday. Del Mar officials said more than an inch of rain fell here, which is unusual for the summer.

Mon, 07/20/2015 - 14:03

Eswan Flores taken off mounts, to be tested by CHRB

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Eswan Flores was taken off his two mounts on Sunday by Del Mar’s stewards, a day after Flores did not show up for his scheduled mounts and then later, through his agent, informed the stewards he was ill.

Flores on Sunday morning met with stewards Scott Chaney, Kim Sawyer, and Tom Ward and was ordered to be tested by the California Horse Racing Board.

Mon, 07/20/2015 - 13:56

Gonzalez nabs four wins on Sunday card

Benoit & Associates
Santiago Gonzalez won four races on the Sunday card at Del Mar, including the featured San Clemente Handicap on Prize Exhibit.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Santiago Gonzalez might not be well known in Southern California just yet, but he’s starting to make a name for himself here, much as he did in his native Venezuela, where he won more than 2,000 races before deciding to remain in the United States after a couple of shorter visits.

Mon, 07/20/2015 - 13:06

Palace Malice returns to breezing

Barbara D. Livingston
Palace Malice trains at Saratoga as he works towards a return from a long layoff.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – One of Todd Pletcher’s older handicap stars, Palace Malice, was back on the work tab Monday, going a half-mile in 49.45 seconds over the Oklahoma training track.

Palace Malice has started just once since finishing sixth as the odds-on favorite in the 2014 Whitney. Pletcher cited “foot issues and other stuff” as the reason for Palace Malice being sidelined during the spring.

“We’re hoping to make a race at the meet with him,” said Pletcher on Monday. “He took a step towards that today with a good half-mile breeze.”

Mon, 07/20/2015 - 13:01

Noble Bird works in preparation for Whitney

Barbara D. Livingston
Noble Bird trains at Saratoga on Sunday for the Aug. 8 Whitney Handicap/

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Mark Casse is back at Saratoga this summer after a three year hiatus, and he’s brought a barn full of runners with him, led by Noble Bird, who won the Grade 1 Stephen Foster in his last start and is on target for the Grade 1 Whitney here on Aug. 8.

Noble Bird got his first real feel for the racetrack on Sunday, working five furlongs over a dull strip in 59.96 seconds before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.06.

Mon, 07/20/2015 - 07:59

Record wet weather to blame for Lone Star handle declines

Dustin Orona Photography
Majestic City, shown winning the Lone Star Park Handicap on May 25, was named Lone Star's horse of the meet.

Lone Star Park experienced a decline in handle on its live races, but an increase in attendance during its 50-date meet that closed on Sunday. The season that started in April ranked as the wettest in the history of the Grand Prairie, Texas, track. Lone Star’s inaugural meet was in 1997.