Wed, 10/01/2014 - 12:48

International Star seeks cleaner trip in Bourbon

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
International Star, shown winning his maiden, encountered significant trouble when he ran in the With Anticipation last time out.

International Star had a less-than-ideal trip when second in the With Anticipation Stakes, which could prove to be a key North American prep for the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 31. His trainer, Mike Maker, is hoping for smoother sailing Sunday, when International Star starts in the Grade 3, $250,000 Bourbon at Keeneland.

Wed, 10/01/2014 - 12:36

Atreides tests deeper waters in Indiana Derby

Leslie Martin/Coglianese Photos
After dominating three rapidly run one-turn races, Atreides will try two turns in the 1 1/16-mile Indiana Derby.

There is almost certainly, at this time of year, no horse in Florida who can run with the 3-year-old colt Atreides, and so, unbeaten and essentially untested, it is out into the wider world Atreides goes.

On Thursday, Atreides was scheduled to board a plane and fly north, and when he settles into a stall again, it will be on the backstretch of Indiana Grand Casino and Racing, where Atreides could find his first real challenge Saturday in the Grade 2, $500,000 Indiana Derby.

Tue, 09/30/2014 - 15:52

Plans pending for Oklahoma Derby winner Tonito M.

Dustin Orona Photography
Tonito M earned a career-high Beyer of 96 while winning the Oklahoma Derby on Sunday.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said plans for Tonito M., who won the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park, are to be determined. The horse returned to his Santa Anita base Tuesday. Tonito M. came into the Oklahoma Derby off a third-place finish in the Los Alamitos Mile.

“We’ll look for another race for him,” Hollendorfer said. “I hadn’t thought that far ahead yet.”

Hollendorfer said he liked Tonito M.’s off-the-pace score under Rafael Bejarano.

Tue, 09/30/2014 - 15:32

Shipping Shanon Nicole to Oklahoma proves worthwhile for Maker

Dustin Orona Photography
Shanon Nicole wins the Remington Park Oaks on Sunday at Remington Park.

Just three weeks after a successful stakes invasion at Louisiana Downs, Kentucky-based trainer Mike Maker returned to the region Sunday and won the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks with Shanon Nicole. And he’ll be back again later this month with a starter for a major stakes at Retama Park near San Antonio.

Tue, 09/30/2014 - 14:50

Fashion Alert heads Alcibiades entries

Barbara D. Livingston
Fashion Alert, shown winning this year's Schuylerville Stakes, will start in Friday's Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A field of 13 2-year-old fillies was entered Tuesday for the Grade 1, $400,000 Alcibiades, the highlight of Keeneland's opening-day card Friday.

Fashion Alert, the winner of the Astoria and Schuylerville stakes in her only two career starts, will be favored when starting from the rail in the 1 1/16-mile Alcibiades. Velazquez will ride for Todd Pletcher.

Tue, 09/30/2014 - 14:47

Churchill handle down at 12-day September meet

Debra A. Roma
Gross wagering at the 12-day September meet at Churchill was $38.8 million and equated to a daily average of $3,234,190.

All-sources handle at the 12-day September meet that ended Sunday at Churchill Downs was down 16 percent, according to figures released by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

Gross wagering was $38.8 million and equated to a daily average of $3,234,190. The 2014 schedule matched the same 12 dates run in 2013, the first year that Churchill held a September meet after taking over the spot on the calendar formerly occupied by Turfway Park. Average daily handle in 2013 was $3,857,160.

Tue, 09/30/2014 - 14:36

Papacoolpapacool will try dirt next

ARCADIA, Calif. – Papacoolpapacool, the winner of a maiden race for 2-year-olds on turf last Saturday, could make his next start on dirt, trainer Jeff Mullins said.

In Saturday’s race, Papacoolpapacool led throughout a one-mile race, winning by 2 3/4 lengths in his third start. Papacoolpapacool was third in the Oak Tree Juvenile Turf over a mile at Del Mar on Sept. 3.

“He works really well on dirt,” Mullins said. “For obvious reasons, we want to try it. He’ll run all day.”

Papacoolpapacool, by Temple City, is owned by Ali Nilforushan.

Tue, 09/30/2014 - 14:33

Wise Dan primed for big effort in Shadwell Turf Mile

Barbara D. Livingston
Wise Dan will make his next start in Saturday's $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Everyone is talking about the new dirt track in place at Keeneland after eight years of Polytrack, but once racing action gets under way this weekend, a major focus will be on a different surface.

That’s because Wise Dan, the reigning two-time Horse of the Year, will be racing on the Keeneland turf Saturday in the richest race in track history, the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile.

Tue, 09/30/2014 - 14:12

Jockey Couton charged with spousal abuse

Shigeki Kikkawa
Julien Couton, who has been charged with felony spousal abuse, was suspended after missing a meeting with Santa Anita stewards.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockey Julien Couton was suspended indefinitely by Santa Anita stewards on Sunday after failing to appear at a hearing that morning regarding his recent arrest on felony charges of spousal abuse in Pasadena, Calif.

The arrest took place in recent weeks, according to a California Horse Racing Board investigator.

Couton, 33, was suspended for failing to appear at the hearing, for conduct detrimental to horse racing, and for violating rules that are grounds for suspension or revocation. He is not allowed on racetrack grounds during the suspension.

Tue, 09/30/2014 - 14:07

Desormeaux sidelined with rib and lung injuries

Barbara D. Livingston
Kent Desormeaux will ride at Santa Anita on Jan. 25-26.

ARCADIA, Calif. – On Tuesday, trainer Bob Hess Jr. was seeking a rider in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship for Merit Man to replace Kent Desormeaux. Desormeaux was hospitalized Sunday after being kicked in the chest during a frightening incident in the post parade for the eighth race.

Desormeaux remained hospitalized as of Tuesday morning with a fractured rib and a bruised lung, Hess said. It was unclear Tuesday how long the 44-year-old Desormeaux would be sidelined.