Tue, 02/06/2024 - 19:05

Quarantine of Belmont barn extended to Feb. 26

The quarantine of Barn 15 at Belmont Park has been extended by two days to Feb. 26 after a horse stabled in that barn was diagnosed with a fever, the New York Racing Association and New York State Gaming Commission announced Tuesday night.

Willful Desire, a 4-year-old filly trained by Gustavo Rodriguez, developed a fever Monday. Nasal swabs and blood tests taken on the horse at Cornell were negative for equine herpesvirus (EHV), the NYRA said.

Mon, 02/05/2024 - 13:52

My Boy Prince, Patches O'Houlihan head 2023 Sovereign Award finalists

Julie Wright
Cup and Saucer Stakes winner My Boy Prince is a Sovereign Awards finalist as champion 2-year-old male and champion male turf horse.

Accomplished 2-year-old My Boy Prince and crack sprinter Patches O’Houlihan are finalists in two categories in the 2023 Sovereign Award voting, The Jockey Club of Canada announced Monday.

The 49th annual Sovereign Awards ceremony takes place April 18 at the Paramount Eventspace in Woodbridge, Ontario, during which the award winners will be announced along with the 2023 Canadian Horse of the Year.

Mon, 02/05/2024 - 12:00

Goliad on a roll, targets Kilroe Mile

Benoit Photo
Coming off consecutive wins for the first time in his career, including Saturday's Grade 3 Thunder Road at Santa Anita, Goliad will target the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile.

He’s 7 and finally getting the hang of racing.

In two starts this year, Goliad has won consecutive races for the first time in his limited career, including Saturday’s Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita in a dramatic style.

The win has led to plans for his first career Grade 1 start in the $300,000 Frank Kilroe Mile on March 2, a goal that would have seemed improbable as recently as a few months ago when Goliad was mired in a five-race losing streak.

Sat, 02/03/2024 - 14:24

Los Alamitos cancels Sunday card, alters racing schedule

Barbara D. Livingston
Los Alamitos joins Santa Anita in cancelling racing on Sunday due to an expected storm.

Los Alamitos has cancelled its Sunday program because of expected widespread rain in Southern California, and has altered its racing schedule next weekend to add a day of racing.

Racing is scheduled to be held on Saturday this weekend, beginning at 6:10 p.m. Pacific, and will resume on Saturday, Feb. 10.

In late January, the track announced it would not race on the weekend of Feb. 10-11 to begin an annual maintenance program and to avoid racing opposite of the Super Bowl on Feb. 11.

Fri, 02/02/2024 - 18:12

Maycocks Bay scratched from Southwest Stakes due to illness

Barbara D. Livingston
Maycocks Bay was scratched from Saturday's Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Maycocks Bay has been scratched from the Grade 3, $800,000 Southwest Stakes on Saturday at Oaklawn Park after spiking a temperature, trainer Michael Stidham said Friday.

The defection leaves a field of 11.

Maycocks Bay had shipped to Arkansas from Fair Grounds, where he dominated an entry-level allowance route in his last start, winning by more than 10 lengths. The Beyer Speed Figure of 95 that he earned was the best last-race number in the Southwest. Maycocks Bay was the 3-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday.

Fri, 02/02/2024 - 17:35

Rain cancels Sunday card at Santa Anita

Emily Shields
Santa Anita has cancelled racing for Sunday, as more than two inches of rain is expected.

Santa Anita has cancelled Sunday’s eight-race program because of a forecast for a significant storm expected to bring more than two inches of rain to Southern California that day.

The decision was made early Friday afternoon. The track will race on Saturday this weekend before resuming live racing on Feb. 9.

The two Grade 3, $100,000 stakes scheduled for Sunday – the Las Virgenes Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile and the San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf – have been rescheduled for Feb. 10.

Fri, 02/02/2024 - 14:44

El Capi sidelined due to sore shins

Barbara D. Livingston
El Capi, a flashy debut winner on Dec. 2, has been taken out of training due to sore shins.

El Capi, who won his career debut Dec. 2 at Aqueduct by 9 1/2 lengths, earning a 99 Beyer Speed Figure, is sidelined for a few months due to shins, trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. said.

He was sent to a farm in Lexington, Ky., several weeks ago.

“He’ll probably be back to us in a month, month-and-a-half,” Dutrow said. “Nothing has to be done other than just getting him rest and getting him right.”

Meanwhile, Dutrow said he has no plans for Guanare, the 3-year-old son of Runhappy who won the three-horse Spectacular Bid Stakes on Jan. 27 at Laurel Park.

Fri, 02/02/2024 - 14:00

After recent wins, Northern Flame, Woodcourt being considered for Rebel

Woodcourt wins at CD Sept 30 2023
Coady Photography
Woodcourt is 4 for 9 in his career after winning last week in his first start off a $50,000 claim for Cipriano Contreras.

Northern Flame and Woodcourt are both under consideration for the Grade 2, $1.25 million Rebel Stakes after winning divisions of a split 3-year-old allowance last week at Oaklawn Park.

Northern Flame was a neck winner of the second division, after setting a pressured pace over a good track that was sealed. For his effort in the one-mile race he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 79.

Fri, 02/02/2024 - 13:30

Instant Coffee nearing return from long layoff

Barbara D. Livingston
Multiple graded stakes winner Instant Coffee is nearing a return for new trainer Brittany Russell.

Instant Coffee, a graded stakes winner at 2 and 3, is nearing his return from an 11-month layoff, owner Al Gold said Friday. The horse is now with trainer Brittany Russell after having previously raced for Brad Cox.

On Thursday, Instant Coffee worked a half-mile in 48.45 seconds out of the gate at Palm Meadows. It was the fastest of 22 works at the distance and it was Instant Coffee’s seventh work since early December.