Fri, 07/10/2015 - 13:06

Kobe’s Back preps for Bing Crosby

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Kobe's Back wins the Grade 3 Commonwealth Stakes in April.

Three-time stakes winner Kobe’s Back worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 on Friday at Santa Anita and will start in the $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs July 26 at Del Mar.

Trainer Peter Eurton said the Grade 1 Crosby has appeal since it is part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program, offering a fees-paid berth in the BC Sprint at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

Earlier this year, Kobe’s Back won the Grade 3 Commonwealth Stakes at seven furlongs at Keeneland but was sixth in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Belmont Park on June 6.

Fri, 07/10/2015 - 12:31

Fewest major drug violations in four decades last year

CYPRESS, Calif. – California horse racing had its lowest number of major drug violations in the last 40 years for the fiscal year ending June 30, according to a statement released Thursday by the California Horse Racing Board.

During that time, there were four violations for medications in classes 1, 2, or 3 compared with 28 in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014. Violations for medications in those classes result in an automatic forfeiture of a purse and frequently a fine or suspension for the trainers whose horses test positive.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:26

Coffee Clique eyes Ballston Spa as career winds down

Taylor Ejdys/Equi-Photo
Coffee Clique wins the Dr. James Penney Memorial at Parx on Saturday.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Brian Lynch had a huge weekend, capped by Shaman Ghost’s victory Sunday at Woodbine in the Queen’s Plate. Last Saturday, Lynch sent out Coffee Clique to capture the Grade 3 Dr. James Penny Memorial Handicap at Parx, and Clearly Now to finish second behind the odds-on Private Zone in the Grade 3 Belmont Sprint.

The victory was the first for Coffee Clique since she won the Grade 1 Just a Game at Belmont in June 2014.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:16

Ironicus targets Fourstardave after win

Barbara D. Livingston
Ironicus trains at Belmont Park on May 22.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Shug McGaughey was all smiles Thursday while looking back on Ironicus’s impressive performance on Wednesday. Ironicus cruised to a 1 1/4-length decision in a high-priced optional-claiming race. The margin of victory was a bit deceptive, as he was being geared down at the end by jockey Javier Castellano.

The start was the first for Ironicus since his 2 3/4-length triumph in the Grade 2 Dixie at Pimlico nearly eight weeks earlier. Ironicus was scheduled to run in the Poker Stakes on June 14 but had to skip the race because of a cough.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 14:10

Waltzing Matilda running for two

Debra A. Roma
Waltzing Matilda wins the Grade 2 New York Stakes while in foal.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Waltzing Matilda officially toted 115 pounds when she upset the Grade 2 New York in her U.S. debut here June 5. But the daughter of Danehill actually carried a bit more weight than that in the New York, running the race while in foal, said her new trainer, Tom Albertrani.

Waltzing Matilda, who was bred to the sire Australia, was trained to victory in the New York by Tommy Stack. She was subsequently sold privately to St. Elias Stable and transferred to Albertrani, who is pointing her for the Grade 1 Diana at Saratoga on July 24.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 13:41

Ward undecided about Oceanside for Hootenanny, Luck of the Kitten

Barbara D. Livingston
Hootenanny wins the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita Park.

Hootenanny and Luck of the Kitten, the first two finishers of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita last November, have been nominated for the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar next Thursday, but trainer Wesley Ward said a decision on their participation might not be made until this weekend.

The July 16 program is the opening day at Del Mar. Entries for the opening program will be taken Sunday. The Los Alamitos summer meeting closes Sunday.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 12:56

Shared Belief recovering from hip injury

Barbara D. Livingston
Shared Belief is recovering from a hip injury at Pegasus Training Center in Washington.

CYPRESS, Calif. – Shared Belief, the champion 2-year-old male of 2013, is being walked on a daily basis at a training center in Washington state, part of a recovery from a hip injury that led to the 4-year-old gelding being pulled up in the $1.45 million Charles Town Classic in West Virginia in April.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 11:41

English maiden winner Mirage might make U.S. debut at Del Mar

ARCADIA, Calif. – Mirage, a maiden winner in England who sold for approximately $592,000 at auction last month, will join trainer Simon Callaghan’s stable in the next week.

Mirage is expected to have her American debut at Del Mar this summer. The filly, by Oasis Dream, won her debut at Brighton on June 2 and was sold at the Goffs London sale held at Kensington Palace on June 15 to Dr. Jim Hay. The filly will race in the name of his wife, Fitri Hay, Callaghan said.

Mirage, who was previously trained by Jamie Osborne, was the second-most-expensive horse at the one-day sale.

Wed, 07/08/2015 - 16:05

Jockeys invade Stars of Texas program

Nikki Sherman
Ricardo Santana Jr. will ride on Saturday night's Stars of Texas program at Lone Star Park.

Jockeys Richard Eramia, Deshawn Parker, Luis Quinonez, Adrian Ramos, Ricardo Santana Jr., and Jamie Theriot are all named to ride horses on the Stars of Texas program Saturday night at Lone Star Park. The card features four restricted stakes, led by a pair of divisions of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity and the $50,000 Assault Stakes, which drew defending race winner Texas Bling.

Wed, 07/08/2015 - 16:00

Ringneckdove back on dirt in Friday sprint feature

Ringneckdove will be making a couple of notable moves when she starts in the sixth race Friday at Louisiana Downs. She will be returning to dirt and shortening up in distance for the first-level allowance for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Ringneckdove set the pace to the late stages of an optional $17,500 claiming race at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf in her last start June 10 at Louisiana Downs. Earlier in the year, she won a $25,000 starter allowance at seven furlongs on dirt at Delta Downs.