Sun, 04/05/2015 - 15:53

Luminance may target Eight Belles Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Luminance could run in the Kentucky Oaks or the $200,000 Eight Belles Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs May 1 at Churchill Downs. Luminance had her stakes debut and third career start in the Santa Anita Oaks. She won her first two races – a maiden race at Del Mar last July and an optional claimer at a mile Feb. 28.

“I thought she ran a great race and was second best,” Baffert said. “I’ll take her there and train her. I’m not convinced about the Oaks. I don’t if she has the foundation for that yet.”

Sun, 04/05/2015 - 15:49

Spirit of Xian, Sheer Pleasure set for spring campaigns

Benoit & Associates
Spirit of Xian and jockey Joe Talamo score a neck win in the Providencia Stakes.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Saturday stakes winners Sheer Pleasure and Spirit of Xian will have local campaigns later this spring.

Sheer Pleasure scored an 8-1 upset in the $201,000 Evening Jewel Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs, closing from 11th of 12 to win by three-quarters of a length.

Sun, 04/05/2015 - 15:39

Florida Cup Day proves great showcase for statebreds

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Having a day that spotlighted the strong influence of Thoroughbred racing and breeding in the Sunshine State was an ambitious and innovative idea that came to fruition some 13 years ago.

Those who worked together to make the Florida Cup a reality had to be smiling after Florida Cup 13 produced an afternoon of racing that featured a good mix of the old and the new and a healthy competition between the powerful stables from south Florida and the locally based outfits from Tampa Bay Downs and Ocala-area training centers.

Sun, 04/05/2015 - 13:27

Dortmund, One Lucky Dane likely to meet again in Kentucky Derby

Benoit & Associates
Dortmund, ridden by Martin Garcia, preserves his perfect record with a 4 1/4-length win in the Santa Anita Derby on Saturday.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Both Dortmund and One Lucky Dane, the top two finishers Saturday in the Santa Anita Derby, came out of the race well, trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday morning, and both are set to move on to the Kentucky Derby on May 2.

Sun, 04/05/2015 - 13:02

Frosted back on track for Derby after Wood Memorial victory

Barbara D. Livingston
Frosted, with Joel Rosario aboard, wins the Wood Memorial by two lengths Saturday.

Two weeks before last year’s Kentucky Derby, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin had to withdraw Cairo Prince from the race due to an injury. At the time, he called it the “toughest day in my career as a trainer.”

That memory made Frosted’s victory in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct that much more meaningful as both McLaughlin and Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum’s Godolphin Racing – which had bought into Cairo Prince early last year – appear headed back to the Kentucky Derby.

Sun, 04/05/2015 - 12:40

American Pharoah has final work before Arkansas Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. – American Pharoah turned in another brilliant work Sunday morning at Santa Anita, his final drill in preparation for the Arkansas Derby on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

He went six furlongs in 1:11.60 with jockey Martin Garcia. Track clocker John Malone had American Pharoah's final quarter-mile in 23.30 seconds. Trainer Bob Baffert had American Pharoah going out seven furlongs in 1:24.80.

American Pharoah worked alone, right after the 9 a.m. renovation break.

"I was just galloping. The horse went good," Garcia reported to Baffert via radio.

Fri, 04/03/2015 - 15:46

Apprentice Gaffalione bags three winners on Thursday

Barbara D. Livingston
Apprentice jockey Tyler Gaffalione rode three winners on Thursday at Gulfstream Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Tyler Gaffalione got off to a bit of a slow start when finding himself suddenly pitted against many of the best jockeys in the world here this winter. But the young apprentice has shown steady improvement as the meet has progressed, as evidenced by the three victories he posted Thursday at Gulfstream Park.

Fri, 04/03/2015 - 15:42

Navarro sends out winners of early daily double

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Trainer Jorge Navarro sent out the winners of both halves of the early daily double on Thursday at Gulfstream Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Jorge Navarro broke out of a mini-slump Thursday, sending out the winners of both halves of the early daily double at Gulfstream Park, the odds-on Loverbil in the opener and the front-running Wellingtons Appeal over the turf in the second race.

“We needed that,” Navarro said when accepting congratulations for the two wins later in the day.

Fri, 04/03/2015 - 15:31

Kaplan stakes pair moved to Mott barn

Lauren King/Coglianese Photos
Celestine wins the Sanibel Island Handicap on March 29 at Gulfstream Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Racing can be a tough business, full of highs and lows that can strike at any moment. Just ask trainer Bill Kaplan.

On Sunday, Kaplan sent out the steadily improving Celestine to her second straight victory, an impressive 3 1/4-length triumph over odds-on favorite Isabella Sings in the one-mile Sanibel Island Stakes. Less than 72 hours later, Kaplan learned that both Celestine and Ekati’s Phaeton, who upset the Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes this winter, were being transferred out of his barn and into the care of trainer Bill Mott.

Fri, 04/03/2015 - 15:04

Captain Serious wins allowance off layoff

Captain Serious returned from a 75-day layoff with a sharp 4 1/4-length victory in a New York-bred allowance Thursday at Aqueduct.

After dueling with Bass River Road through a hot half-mile in 44.98 seconds, Captain Serious opened up a six-length lead in upper stretch and cruised home.

Captain Serious ran seven furlongs in 1:22.71 and earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure, equaling his career best.