Sun, 02/15/2015 - 18:03

Morales moves up rider standings with Saturday triple

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Pablo Morales posted a riding triple on Saturday’s program to give the 26-year-old rider 17 wins on the meeting. He currently ranks seventh in the standings at Tampa this season and is starting to pick up steam after a slow start, but according to his agent, Mike Moran, the rider’s work ethic still is strong, and he has business with some solid stables such as John Terranova’s. The agent thinks Morales’ stats will improve even more as the meet progresses.

Sun, 02/15/2015 - 17:35

Pletcher pleased with 3-year-olds' works

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher put together a couple of potent teams of 3-year-olds to work Sunday morning at Palm Beach Downs, Itsaknockout with Khozan and Daredevil in company with Competitive Edge, saying afterward he was very pleased with the performances of all four horses.

Sun, 02/15/2015 - 15:58

American Pharoah works toward comeback

Shigeki Kikkawa
American Pharoah led throughout Saturday to win the 1 1/16-mile FrontRunner Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

ARCADIA, Calif. – American Pharoah, the champion 2-year-old male of 2014, worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 Sunday at Santa Anita, moving closer to an expected comeback in Arkansas next month.

Trained by Bob Baffert for Zayat Stables, American Pharoah had his longest work of the year Sunday. He had two three-furlong workouts earlier this month. American Pharoah won two Grade 1 races last September – the Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs and the FrontRunner Stakes here at 1 1/16 miles that clinched the title. He missed the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile here Nov. 1 because of injury.

Sun, 02/15/2015 - 15:53

Warren's Veneda looks strong ahead of Santa Margarita

Benoit Photo
Warren's Veneda wins the Santa Maria Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

ARCADIA, Calif. - With racing luck, Warren’s Veneda would be unbeaten in her last four starts, trainer Craig Lewis argues. Instead, Warren’s Veneda is unbeaten in two starts this year and expected to be favored in the $400,000 Santa Margarita Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles March 14.

Warren’s Veneda won the most prestigious race of her career in Saturday’s Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes, a $200,750 race at 1 1/16 miles. Ridden by Tyler Baze, Warren’s Veneda closed from seventh in a field of eight through the final three furlongs before drawing off to win by 2 3/4 lengths.

Sun, 02/15/2015 - 15:43

She's a Big Winner may try dirt in the future

Benoit Photo
She's a Big Winner tins the Sweet Life Stakes by a length Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

ARCADIA, Calif. - She’s a Big Winner won her stakes debut in the $79,800 Sweet Life Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the hillside turf course Saturday but will not be limited to that surface in coming months.

On Sunday, trainer Peter Eurton said he is considering starting She’s a Big Winner on dirt this spring. Warren’s Veneda has won 2 of 4 starts, with both wins coming on turf. She beat maidens on the hillside turf course Jan. 9.

“I think she’ll go two turns, and I think she’ll go on dirt,” he said. “She trains so well on dirt.”

Fri, 02/13/2015 - 15:41

Mr. Z working to keep straight path in Southwest

Oaklawn Park/Coady Photography
Mr. Z (blue and yellow silks) battles with American Sailor (right) before being passed by Far Right (left, yellow helmet) to finish third in the Smarty Jones Stakes on Jan. 19 at Oaklawn.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Mr. Z appeared on his way to winning last month’s $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park until he drifted out sharply in the stretch and ended up third, as Far Right rolled up the rail to claim the first local prep for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby.

Fri, 02/13/2015 - 15:30

Ancient Bells leads featured Sunday allowance

The ninth race is the lone allowance Sunday at Turfway. For non-winners of three at a mile, the race drew six runners, led by the unbeaten Ancient Bells, a winner of two starts, and The Tizzler, who finished second against comparable opposition Jan. 17.

Fri, 02/13/2015 - 15:28

Journeyman rider Davis returns to Kentucky

Dylan Davis, who enjoyed a successful apprenticeship while riding mostly in Kentucky and Indiana, is returning to Kentucky after riding this winter at Aqueduct, his new agent, Jimmy McNerney, said.

Now a journeyman, Davis will begin riding Feb. 27 at Turfway, McNerney said, and he plans to ride in Kentucky on a regular basis, with occasional trips to Indiana Grand when that meet begins later in the spring.

Fri, 02/13/2015 - 15:16

Top Ward trio vans in to train on Polytrack

Barbara D. Livingston
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Hootenanny could be headed to Royal Ascot for the Commonwealth Cup next summer, according to trainer Wesley Ward.

Although the Breeders’ Cup is more than eight months away, set for Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland, one would not have guessed it by looking at the Wednesday work tab in Kentucky.

Three top performers from the 2014 Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita – BC Juvenile Turf winner Hootenanny, Juvenile Turf runner-up Luck of the Kitten, and Juvenile Fillies runner-up Sunset Glow – breezed Wednesday morning at Turfway Park for trainer Wesley Ward. Hootenanny and Sunset Glow both went a half-mile in 49.80 seconds on Turfway’s Polytrack, and Luck of the Kitten covered the same distance in 50.60.

Fri, 02/13/2015 - 15:12

Paulassilverlining will try two turns in Busher Stakes

Joe Labozzetta
Paulassilverlining, with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, outfights Noble and a Beauty, ridden by Jose Ortiz, to win the Ruthless.

Though all of her success has come sprinting, the multiple stakes winner Paulassilverlining will try two turns for the first time in the $100,000 Busher Stakes next Saturday at Aqueduct.

Paulassilverlining, a daughter of Ghostzapper, has won three of five starts, including the Grade 2 Matron last fall at Belmont and the Ruthless Stakes last month over the inner track. Both races were at six furlongs.