One only has to think back to this past Saturday to find the last California shipper to win Oaklawn’s Rebel Stakes, a race champion American Pharoah dominated in the slop. But to recall the last California invader to win the Spiral at Turfway Park requires a much longer memory or an expansive Internet search.
Not since 2000 – when President Bill Clinton was still in the White House – has a California shipper won the Spiral. That year, Globalize scored for Jerry Hollendorfer.
Approximately 50 jockeys have notified management at Parx racetrack outside Philadelphia that they will not ride beginning this weekend unless the track rescinds a demand that jockeys indemnify Parx as part of a new insurance policy, according to the Jockeys’ Guild.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – In the aftermath of champion American Pharoah starting his 3-year-old season Saturday with a 6 1/4-length win in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn, trainer Bob Baffert said he was pleased with how the race developed for the comebacking American Pharoah and how the horse emerged from the Rebel.
American Pharoah was making his first start since a Sept. 27 win in the Grade 1 FrontRunner. He set a controlled pace before pulling clear in the Rebel, covering the 1 1/16 miles on a sloppy track in 1:45.78.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Two-time Eclipse Award winner Main Sequence worked seven furlongs in 1:27 around the dogs on Monday at the Palm Meadows training center in his final major tune-up for the rich Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan on March 28.
The Washington Horse Racing Commission on Friday approved a license request for a company owned by the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe to operate Emerald Downs in Auburn, according to the Muckleshoots.
The license approval was the last step to close a deal the tribe reached in November of last year to buy the track from Northwest Racing Associates, a company controlled by owner-breeder Ron Crockett. The Muckleshoots had acquired the land under the property in 2002, six years after the track opened, and since 2004 the tribe has provided $11 million in purse subsidies to the track.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The day after champion American Pharoah got his 3-year-old season off to an authoritative start with a 6 1/4-length win in the Grade 2, $750,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn, trainer Bob Baffert said he was pleased with how the race developed for the comebacking American Pharoah and how the horse emerged from the Rebel.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Race Day, who won the Grade 3, $250,000 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn on Saturday, could make his next start in the Grade 2, $1.5 million Charles Town Classic on April 18, trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday. Pletcher said he will monitor how Race Day comes out of the Razorback and works back before making a final decision on the Charles Town Classic.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Firing Line is all set for next Sunday's Sunland Derby at Sunland Park after working five furlongs in 59.80 seconds Sunday morning at Santa Anita, a drill in which he could not have been going easier under exercise rider Paul Eddery.
"We've always liked him. He's a class horse," said Eddery, the former jockey and brother of ex-jockey Pat. "He's a very good work horse. We're very happy with him."
Trainer Steve Asmussen reported champion Untapable was "doing fine" Sunday morning at Oaklawn Park, following a runner-up effort in her season debut the day prior.
The 4-year-old filly, making her first start since winning the Breeders' Cup Distaff on Oct. 31, failed to overhaul the front-running Gold Medal Dancer in the stretch of the Grade 2 Azeri Stakes on Saturday, finishing second by a half-length while racing over a wet track for the first time.
