Fri, 05/08/2015 - 15:36

Flying Cat awaits summer stakes action

The promising 2-year-old Flying Cat could see stakes action this summer at either Churchill Downs or Lone Star Park following a debut win at Lone Star on April 25. A half-brother to Grade 3 winner Fiftyshadesofgold and a full brother to multiple stakes winner Sword Trick, Flying Cat earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 59 for a two-length win in the 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race.

Bret Calhoun trains Flying Cat for Doug Scharbauer and said the horse is just sitting chilly until races come up for him later in the summer. The 2-year-old races have just started at Lone Star.

Fri, 05/08/2015 - 15:31

Cy Seven in career form

Cy Seven, who set a course record at Sam Houston in February, will seek his second win of the Lone Star meet in Sunday’s fourth race, an optional $40,000 claimer at a mile on turf. The nine-horse field includes Gaelico, who has been racing at Fair Grounds, and Real Deal Appeal, the fourth-place finisher in the Grade 3 Texas Mile who is entered for the main track only Sunday.

Fri, 05/08/2015 - 14:56

Belmont Derby summer goal for Takeover Target

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
This allowance victory by Takeover Target at Belmont on Thursday encouraged trainer Chad Brown to point him to the Grade 1 Belmont Derby in July.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Coming off an eye-catching allowance victory here on Thursday, the 3-year-old turf horse Takeover Target likely will be put on a path to the $1.25 million Belmont Derby in July.

Trainer Chad Brown said Takeover Target likely will make his next start in the $200,000 Pennine Ridge Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile race here May 30.

Fri, 05/08/2015 - 14:07

Tahnee pointing to Ballade Stakes next

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Tahnee made a successful return to the races after nearly two years away and now will be pointed to the $125,000 Ballade Stakes on May 18, trainer Mark Fournier said.

Fri, 05/08/2015 - 13:55

Pletcher duo work together for stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Blofeld is undefeated in three career starts, and will kick off his 3-year-old campaign in Saturday's inaugural $100,000 William Walker Stakes at Churchill Downs.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Blofeld, a multiple graded stakes-winning 2-year-old last year, worked a sharp five furlongs in 1:00.50 on Friday in company with the 4-year-old Coach Inge, who was credited with the same time. Both are trained by Todd Pletcher.

Blofeld is being pointed to the Grade 2, $500,000 Woody Stephens at seven furlongs, while Coach Inge is targeting the Grade 2, $400,000 Brooklyn Invitational at 1 1/2 miles, both on the June 6 card.

Fri, 05/08/2015 - 13:55

Effinex training like a bear for Brooklyn

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Effinex, winning the Excelsior in April, is working toward the Grade 2 Brooklyn on June 6.

ELMONT, N.Y. – A five-furlong workout timed in 1:03.97 isn’t normally anything to get excited about. But Effinex was visually impressive in his Friday morning workout, his first since his victory in the Grade 3 Excelsior on April 25.

Effinex is training toward the Grade 2, $400,000 Brooklyn Invitational at Belmont on the undercard of the June 6 Belmont Stakes.

Fri, 05/08/2015 - 13:50

Ward finds himself a Royal Ascot horse

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Back At the Ranch wins a maiden race at Belmont on Thursday. She is being pointed to the Albany Stakes at the Royal Ascot meeting.

ELMONT, N.Y. – At a farm one day to look at horses for a prospective client, Wesley Ward fell in love with a filly owned by someone he had never trained for.

When put in touch with the owner, Michael Dubb, Ward inquired about possibly training the Artie Schiller 2-year-old filly, feeling she might have what it takes to run at Royal Ascot.

Fri, 05/08/2015 - 13:10

Moreno targets Californian Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Moreno will spend the summer in California, pointing to the Californian and Gold Cup for his next two starts.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Moreno, the winner of the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic in West Virginia on April 18, will start in the $200,000 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita on May 30, trainer Eric Guillot said on Friday.

Guillot said he is planning a summer campaign in California for Moreno, who has won 4 of 26 starts and earned $2,926,940 for Southern Equine Racing Stable. The $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 27 is an early-summer goal.

“I think I’ll stay here and be a contender,” he said.

Fri, 05/08/2015 - 12:50

Maiden winner Decked Out will point to Landaluce

Benoit & Associates
Decked Out, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, won her career debut Thursday by 3 1/2 lengths.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Decked Out will have her stakes debut in the $125,000 Landaluce Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita on June 21 after an impressive win in her debut in a maiden race Thursday.

Decked Out ($7.20) closed from the back of the field along the rail to win by 3 1/2 lengths, finishing 4 1/2 furlongs in 51.59 seconds.

“That will get you dreaming,” trainer Keith Desormeaux said while leaving the winner’s circle.

Decked Out was ridden by Keith’s brother Kent, who described the winner as having an “incredible stride.”

Fri, 05/08/2015 - 12:41

Quatre Cat benefits from unique bond with Pacheco

Four-Footed Fotos
Quatre Cat won the Ross McLeod Stakes by 8 1/2 lengths.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – According to jockey Ryan Pacheco, Quatre Cat came out of her 8 1/2-length romp in the $50,000 Ross McLeod Stakes last Sunday in excellent shape.

He should know. Pacheco is not only her rider, but, unheard of in this day and age, he also is her groom.

Pacheco said the arrangement has led to a strong bond between horse and jockey. Apparently, it all came to fruition in an impressive performance in the 6 1/2-furlong McLeod, in which Quatre Cat dominated the race while posting a fast final time of 1:16.88.