The starting lineup for the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Sprint gained a couple of new players last weekend in Rich Tapestry and Work All Week, speedsters who couldn’t have come from more diverse backgrounds.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockey Alex Canchari remained hospitalized Sunday morning after breaking his collarbone in a one-horse spill Friday.
Canchari, 20, faces an unknown spell on the sidelines after being unseated from Scene Queen when the filly clipped heels with a rival at the quarter-pole on turf. Canchari was held at fault for the incident.
On Saturday, he received a five-day suspension from track stewards – from Friday through Oct. 16 – for careless riding.
The suspension dates are during a span in which Canchari still will be recovering from his injury.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The eight-time stakes winner from Emerald Downs in Washington finished fifth as the 2-1 favorite in Saturday’s Grade 3 L.A. Woman Stakes over six furlongs and bled through Lasix, trainer Ton Wenzel said Sunday.
Wenzel said tentative plans are for Stopshoppingdebbie to be retired at the end of the year and that she may not start again.
ARCADIA, Calif. – A win by Big Bane Theory in the Grade 2 City of Hope Stakes for turf milers at Santa Anita on Saturday may not result in an automatic appearance in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 1.
On Sunday, trainer Carla Gaines was non-committal about plans for Big Bane Theory, who won his first stakes in his 11th start. Aside from the BC Mile, another option is the $250,000 Seabiscuit Handicap over 1 1/16 miles on turf Nov. 28 at Del Mar, a race known as the Citation Handicap when run in past years at the now-closed Hollywood Park.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Untapable has kept a low profile in California so far, and the Kentucky Oaks winner maintained that profile early Sunday morning at Santa Anita.
It was still dark at 5:30 a.m. when Untapable posted her first workout since arriving. The country’s top-ranked 3-year-old filly worked a half-mile at 5:30 under exercise rider Carmen Rosas. It was an easy get-acquainted-with-the-surface breeze, timed by clockers in 51.80 seconds.
Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., is scheduled to open an expansion to its gaming center Nov. 7, said Eric Jackson, the track’s general manager. The $20 million project on the south end of the grandstand will add about 25,000 square feet of gaming space to the track’s existing racebook and gaming center, which was constructed in 2009.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – In the weeks approaching the opening of the Keeneland fall meet, weather conditions were extremely dry in the Bluegrass region.
So, what happened Friday for the first day of racing over the greatly anticipated unveiling of the new dirt surface? It rained, of course, forcing the two scheduled turf races onto the main track.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Looking to beat some expected inclement weather, trainer Christophe Clement worked four horses on the turf Friday morning, including the promising filly Annecdote, who is being pointed to the Grade 3, $200,000 Athenia Stakes on Oct. 12.
Annecdote, who showed a devastating late kick to win the Grade 3 Noble Damsel on Sept. 13, worked four furlongs in 49.24 seconds. She began the move two lengths behind Antonia Autumn and finished on even terms with her at the wire.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Jockey Chris DeCarlo will be out until at least early November with a broken foot, his agent, Winston Heslop, said.
DeCarlo was injured Sept. 24 when a horse he was scheduled to work for trainer Robert Falcone flipped on the way to the track, unseated DeCarlo, and landed on him.
Two weeks ago, DeCarlo won the $200,000 Mystic Lake Derby on Long On Value for trainer Bill Mott.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Three Alarm Fire, a good-looking first-level allowance winner at Belmont on Wednesday, will be pointed to the Grade 3, $200,000 Discovery Handicap at Aqueduct on Nov. 1, his connections said Friday.
A 3-year-old gelding by Pyro, Three Alarm Fire scored a 3 1/2-length victory in an allowance race, his second win in three career starts. Ridden by Joel Rosario, he ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.95 and earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure.