The Grade 3, $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile will again anchor the Lone Star Million Day program May 27, Lone Star Park announced. The track released its 21-race, $2.8 million stakes schedule on Thursday.
The meet opens April 18 and runs through July 14.
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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.
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.
Tumbarumba, the narrow winner of the Grade 3 Fred Hooper on Jan. 27, came out of the race in good order and will point to the Grade 2, $200,000 Gulfstream Park Mile on March 2, trainer Brian Lynch said Friday.
The Fred Hooper, which Tumbarumba won by a nose over Castle Chaos, came seven weeks after he had finished second to Touchuponastar in a Louisiana-bred stakes at Fair Grounds. Touchuponastar has won 10 of 13 starts.
Arturo Mares, a Southern California-based exercise rider, died Thursday of complications from injuries sustained while exercising a horse Jan. 27 at Santa Anita, according to his son, Israel Mares.
Arturo Mares was unseated when his mount stumbled while jogging, trainer Hector Palma said last weekend.
Mares sustained severe neck and head injuries in the accident, according to his son. Mares was treated by paramedics on the track before he was transported to nearby Huntington Memorial Hospital.
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – Sibelius on Friday completed preparations for his start in next Saturday’s $100,000 Pelican Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs with a half-mile workout in 48.20 seconds at the Palm Meadows training center.
With jockey Junior Alvarado aboard, Sibelius followed another horse from the barn of trainer Jeremiah O’Dwyer catching that one at the wire.
Santa Anita-based jockeys Geovanni Franco and Mario Gutierrez have been suspended three racing days beginning on Saturday for causing interference in separate races on Jan. 26.
Gutierrez was cited for his ride on Be Punctual, who was last of five finishers in a maiden race on turf. Gutierrez was ruled to have crossed over without clearance going into the first turn.
Franco was penalized for his ride on King Apollo, who finished sixth of nine in a six-furlong race on turf. Franco was cited for failing to maintain a straight course in the stretch and causing interference.
Astronomer, second in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile and 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita last fall, recently resumed training after a brief vacation.
Trainer Simon Callaghan said on Thursday that Astronomer is currently galloping with the intent of a comeback in the spring. Astronomer finished fifth of eight in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 25 in his most recent start.
Frank Gabriel, the senior vice president of racing operations at the New York Racing Association since early 2022, has resigned, effective Feb. 18, NYRA said. He will be succeeded by Andrew Offerman, who is currently NYRA’s vice president and general manager of operations.
Salesman, unraced since an easy win in the Grade 3 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at Santa Anita in November, is a candidate for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 2, the track’s main race for older horses in the winter.
Salesman, trained by Richard Mandella for Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, worked a half-mile in a rapid 46 seconds at Santa Anita on Wednesday, the fastest of 50 works at the distance.
“He broke off behind several horses and he caught all of them but one,” Mandella said. “It was more than I expected.”
