Imperative, the winner of the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic in West Virginia last April, will bypass the Santa Anita Handicap on March 7 in favor of the Charles Town Classic on April 18.
Imperative was sixth Feb. 7 in the San Antonio Stakes, finishing 9 1/2 lengths behind Shared Belief. Imperative is winless in seven starts since the 2014 Charles Town Classic.
CYPRESS, Calif. – With a little coaching via walkie-talkie, California Chrome worked five furlongs in 1:00 on Friday at Los Alamitos as he prepares for the $10 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on March 28.
Exercise rider Anna Wells was aboard for the workout, replacing jockey Victor Espinoza, who has ridden California Chrome for a majority of his recent workouts. Wells, a stable rider for trainer Art Sherman, was fitted with a walkie-talkie, allowing assistant trainer Alan Sherman to communicate with her during the workout.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The Gulfstream Park stewards have suspended jockey Jose Ortiz for three days, beginning next Wednesday, for his ride aboard Upstart in last Saturday’s Fountain of Youth. The stewards disqualified Upstart from first to second in a controversial decision following his apparent victory over Itsaknockout in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.
Trainer Mike Hushion has been hospitalized with “a serious health issue,” according to Barry Schwartz, one of Hushion’s primary owners and close friend.
Hushion, 66, was hospitalized in Florida on Feb. 19, according to Schwartz. Hushion on Friday was scheduled to be transferred to the University of Miami Medical Center, said Schwartz, who declined to elaborate on Hushion’s situation.
Schwartz said that Hushion’s daughter Casey is with him.
NEW ORLEANS – Veteran jockey Francisco Torres, who decided at the last minute to ride at Fair Grounds this season, is having a strong meet. Through Thursday, Torres stood in fourth place in the jockeys’ standings with 52 victories from 327 mounts.
Torres took advantage of the chance to reconnect with agent Derek Ducoing, who had been Rosie Napravnik’s agent in her run to four consecutive Fair Grounds riding titles.
NEW ORLEANS – Joe Sharp, who has been winning races at a high rate since going out on his own as a trainer six months ago, has kicked into overdrive recently at Fair Grounds.
From Feb. 12, when Whyalwaysme and Liberal Spin combined for a $250.80 Sharp exacta, through Thursday, the trainer sent out nine winners, seven runners-up, and two third-place finishers from 23 starters. The run included two other Sharp exactas and a race in which he saddled the winner and third-place finisher.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Injured jockey Trevor McCarthy was scheduled to begin exercising horses Friday at Palm Meadows for trainer Graham Motion, according to agent Scott Silver.
McCarthy, 20, suffered a broken right wrist during the gallop-out of a Dec. 20 race at his home track, Laurel Park. He rode 263 winners last year, seventh-most in North America.
“He’ll be down here two or three weeks in some better weather, then start back at Laurel,” Silver said.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Bern Identity has been retired after being injured in a training mishap, foiling the plans that trainer Kelly Breen and owners George and Lori Hall had for the 5-year-old horse.
Breen said Bern Identity was going through a routine gallop almost two weeks ago at the Palm Meadows training center when he “suddenly just fell down,” sustaining a fracture in the back of his right knee. The exercise rider was not seriously injured, and the horse will not require surgery.
Hoppertunity, who won the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs last November and was third to Shared Belief and California Chrome in the San Antonio Stakes on Feb. 7, is more likely to have his next race in the $10 million Dubai World Cup than the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 7.
Trainer Bob Baffert said on Thursday that “Dubai is the plan” for Hoppertunity. On Thursday, Hoppertunity worked five furlongs in 1:00. California Chrome is a leading candidate for the Dubai World Cup.
Masochistic, the flashy winner of three consecutive races in 2014 and the runner-up in the Los Alamitos Mile last September, will start as the favorite in a second-level, $62,500 optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs Saturday.
Trainer A.C. Avila said his goal is to have Masochistic ready for the $500,000 Churchill Downs Stakes on Kentucky Derby Day, May 2. The 5-year-old Masochistic was diagnosed with a quarter crack last fall, which has healed, Avila said.
“Now, he’s 100 percent,” Avila said. “I’d like to get him fit and go for the Churchill Downs Stakes.”
