Tue, 06/16/2015 - 12:19

McClay eager to test Amplified’s distance aptitude

Tom McClay said he was horrified when he saw his 3-year-old colt Amplified in front through early fractions of 21.69 and 44.47 seconds in last Friday’s six-furlong Danzig Stakes for Pennsylvania-breds at Penn National. McClay said he wondered what jockey Angel Rodriguez was doing by setting such a fast pace with a horse who had rated in his career debut.

McClay said he was even more stunned when Amplified kept on going without faltering and finished six lengths in front of New York shipper Instructor Kunu while completing the distance in 1:09.35.

Tue, 06/16/2015 - 08:40

Quiet morning for American Pharoah

Barbara D. Livingston
American Pharoah, here with trainer Bob Baffert, will be paraded in front of Churchill Downs fans on Saturday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Triple Crown winner American Pharoah enjoyed another quiet morning of training early Tuesday at Churchill Downs as his connections get ready to take him home to Southern California.

Exercise rider Jorge Alvarez was aboard for another routine gallop of nearly 1 1/2 miles on a warm morning. American Pharoah stepped onto a fast racetrack shortly after 6:20 a.m. and went through his familiar paces without incident, getting it all done in about eight minutes.

“He’s happy, we’re happy,” said Alvarez.

Mon, 06/15/2015 - 13:41

River Seven to King Edward Stakes next

Michael Burns
River Seven (right) will start in Sunday's Grade 2, $200,000 King Edward Stakes.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – River Seven kicked off his 2015 campaign with a game third-place finish in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup Stakes on May 30 and will be looking to build off of that effort in Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 King Edward Stakes.

With the scratches of Something Extra and Chart Topper in the Connaught Cup, River Seven wound up battling on the lead early with Excaper. Excaper took the advantage at the top of the stretch, and River Seven battled back along the rail under Jesse Campbell, but couldn’t hold off Lockout and Phil’s Dream in the end.

Mon, 06/15/2015 - 13:38

Coltimus Prime back home with Nixon

Michael Burns
Coltimus Prime returned to trainer Justin Nixon's barn at Woodbine on Saturday morning.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Prince of Wales Stakes winner Coltimus Prime returned to trainer Justin Nixon’s barn at Woodbine on Saturday morning.

Coltimus Prime had moved to trainer Christophe Clement over the winter, with an eye on a dirt campaign after he recorded a career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure on dirt in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie last July. But he failed to hit the board in two starts on dirt and another on turf on the New York circuit.

Mon, 06/15/2015 - 13:25

Clearly Now has throat surgery

Barbara D. Livingston
Clearly Now set a track record at Belmont Park last year.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Clearly Now, who finished sixth in the Grade 2 True North Stakes on Belmont Stakes Day, underwent a minor throat procedure known as a myectomy June 7 to correct a breathing problem, trainer Brian Lynch said.

“He displaced and he was having trouble correcting himself,” Lynch said.

Lynch said that Clearly Now did not lose much training time and that he could be pointed to the Grade 3, $400,000 Belmont Sprint Championship on July 4. Clearly Now won that race last year by 6 1/4 lengths, earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 113.

Mon, 06/15/2015 - 13:25

Oaks winner Academic likely to take on males in Queen's Plate

Michael Burns
Academic wins the Woodbine Oaks on Sunday.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – After setting a track record in her Woodbine Oaks victory on Sunday, Academic will be pointed toward the $1 million Queen’s Plate on July 5 for her next start, trainer Reade Baker said.

Academic was supplemented to the Oaks at a cost of $12,500 after her maiden win to start the season on May 15.

Baker said he and owner Danny Dion thought Academic’s maiden win was good enough to give her a shot in the Oaks.

The Oaks, Baker said, looked like it was “falling apart.”

Mon, 06/15/2015 - 13:20

Lady Eli’s workout switched to dirt

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Lady Eli wins the Appalachian at Keeneland in her only start this year. She is entered Sunday in the Wonder Again.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Chad Brown worked his usual arsenal of turf horses Sunday morning at Belmont Park, but Lady Eli was not among them. Believing the turf course was too firm for Lady Eli’s liking, Brown had her work a half-mile on dirt, covering the distance in 48.87 seconds in company with Strict Compliance, winner of the Penn Oaks.

Mon, 06/15/2015 - 12:45

Jacobson on brink of win No. 1,000

Michael Amoruso
David Jacobson leads the Aqueduct trainer standings in wins for the meet as of April 27.

ELMONT, N.Y. – On the precipice of a professional milestone, trainer David Jacobson has gone into a slump.

Jacobson, the leading trainer in terms of wins on the New York Racing Association circuit the last three years, enters Wednesday one win away from 1,000 for his career. However, he has gone winless with his last 29 starters at Belmont Park, since Room for Me won an allowance race May 24. At Monmouth Park, where he is tied for second-leading trainer, Jacobson has won with three of his last 13 starters since June 5.

Mon, 06/15/2015 - 08:50

Social obligations complete, American Pharoah gallops at Churchill

Barbara D. Livingston
American Pharoah is presented to the crowd Saturday night at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – American Pharoah resumed training Monday morning at Churchill Downs with a 1 3/8-mile gallop that reaffirmed the colt has emerged from his Triple Crown sweep in good order.

American Pharoah was given Sunday morning off by trainer Bob Baffert and his assistant Jimmy Barnes following the public celebration at Churchill on Saturday night. “It was a long night,” said Barnes.

Sun, 06/14/2015 - 15:13

Talco punches ticket to Breeders' Cup Mile

Shigeki Kikkawa
Talco could run next in the Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar.

ARCADIA, Calif. - The primary goal of Talco’s 2015 season was determined with his upset win in Saturday’s $400,000 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita.

The race was part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program, offering a fees-paid berth for the winner to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 31. The Grade 1 Shoemaker was the most significant win of Talco’s career in his 15th start, and a turnaround from his behavior after he joined trainer John Sadler’s stable last summer from France.