ELMONT, N.Y. – Snow was falling lightly at Belmont Park last Friday morning, but it was much better weather for training horses than what lay ahead. On Saturday, temperatures took a nosedive, and winds escalated to the point where racing eight miles away at Aqueduct was canceled for the eighth time in 24 days.
By Monday morning, more snow had arrived, this time mixed with sleet and freezing rain, creating another mess that lasted all day long.
After first considering a move to dirt for Bolo in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes this Saturday, Carla Gaines said Bolo was “unlikely to run,” with the trainer pondering whether she should leave well enough alone and keep him on turf for now.
Bolo defeated maidens at Del Mar in his second start, then last time out romped to a 4 1/2-length victory in the Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita. Bolo, a 3-year-old son of the Dynaformer stallion Temple City, had worked three times on dirt since the Dec. 26 Logan – on Jan. 13, 19, and 25 – but through Monday had not worked since Jan. 25.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Cigar Street, who emerged last year as one of the top older horses in America, was injured in a recent workout, which explains his absence from the lineup for the Donn Handicap on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
Co-owner Jake Ballis said this week that Cigar Street injured his left knee in a Jan. 12 workout at Payson Park and is expected to be out for at least several months.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Before another winter storm hit the area late that night, it was a busy Sunday morning of training at Belmont Park that included Classy Class, c breezing for Saturday’s Grade 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct.
Classy Class, a debut winner who finished fourth in the Grade 2 Remsen, worked a half-mile in 48.70 seconds. He breezed in company with the maiden Madroos, and the pair went off quickly, perhaps prompted by a pair of George Weaver-trained horses who broke off just behind them.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – A winter of discontent for most horsemen in New York has been far less so for trainer Gary Gullo, who is enjoying arguably one of the best meets of his career through the first two months of Aqueduct’s winter season.
Through Sunday, Gullo had recorded 12 wins from 36 starters since the inner track opened Dec. 3, placing him third in the standings behind David Jacobson (20 wins) and Linda Rice (16). Gullo’s .333 winning percentage is the highest among trainers with 20 or more starters.
American Pharoah, last year's champion male 2-year-old, had his first work since late October on Monday at Santa Anita, where he went three furlongs in 36.20 seconds with jockey Martin Garcia.
American Pharoah would have been a heavy favorite for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but he was withdrawn the week of the race with what was said to be a foot bruise.
If all goes well, American Pharoah should be ready for his 3-year-old debut by mid-March, around the time of the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Wesley Ward sent out a pair of 3-year-olds, Asia and City of Vengeance, to win their career debuts on turf here last weekend. But it was a performance by another 3-year-old in his barn, The Great War, on Saturday night at Turfway Park that has the former rider most excited.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – After this, their paths likely will diverge. But with the Donn Handicap being the lone viable option for a while, the 4-year-old WinStar Farm standouts Constitution and Commissioner will race against each other Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
“You normally prefer not to do it like this, and I imagine we’ll keep them separated down the road,” said WinStar president Elliott Walden. “But they’re right there, doing well, and we think it’s a good way for both to start off their years.”
