MIAMI – Trainer Marty Wolfson said he has decided to bypass Saturday’s Cigar Mile at Aqueduct with his once-beaten Atreides after not being able to line up a suitable rider for the race.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though it has been more than two years since Secret Circle has raced beyond six furlongs, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert doesn’t believe distance will be an issue when the 5-year-old horse runs in Saturday’s Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.
“He’s more of a miler. A mile is not going to be a problem,” Baffert said Tuesday. “I ran him short because there’s more money in the Breeders’ Cup [going short].”
Stryker Phd, the 122-pound highweight after winning three straight stakes at Emerald Downs, including the Grade 3 Longacres Mile, and then running second in a Santa Anita stakes, tops the list of eight runners confirmed for Sunday’s Berkeley Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Golden Gate Fields.
Also confirmed are G. G. Ryder (118), Mr. Bowling (120), and Pepper Crown (121), who ran 1-2-3 in an allowance here Nov. 13; Are You Kidding Me (117); Marino’s Wild Cat (116); Bellarmine (115); and Polytechnicien (115).
The Jerry Hollendorfer-trained duo of Lutine Belle and Seduire will run in Saturday’s $50,000-added Golden Gate Debutante for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs at Golden Gate Fields.
Lutine Belle nipped Can Can Babe, who is listed as possible for the Debutante, in her last start. Seduire won the Wine Country Debutante at Santa Rosa, beating Can Can Babe and Wedding Blush, who is listed as probable for Saturday’s race after running second in the Pike Place Dancer.
Cruisingtheharbor and Indian Rocket are other possibilities.
Two years ago this week, Hudson Landing capped a sensational 2012 campaign with a victory in the Grade 3 All American. This week, as the connections of 19 runners make decisions about entering Sunday’s $100,000, Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap, Hudson Landing is getting on a van to return to owner Jared Chappell’s ranch in Utah to begin his retirement.
Hudson Landing’s victory in the 2012 All American was his 12th and final win. It capped a strong year during which he also won the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields and the Mt. Rainier at Emerald Downs.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Phil Sims went about 70 miles out of his way to breeze Don’t Tell Sophia at Churchill Downs toward the Falls City Handicap, reserving judgment on whether to confirm his stable star until entries were taken Sunday for the Thanksgiving Day feature.
The half-mile breeze in 49.60 seconds Saturday is the only official workout for Don’t Tell Sophia entering the Grade 2, $200,000 Falls City since the 6-year-old mare put in her customary late run to be second to Untapable in the Oct. 31 Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
MIAMI – A total of 187 2-year-olds have been nominated for the six races to be decided on Saturday’s Juvenile Showcase program at Gulfstream Park West. Topping the lists are the undefeated Mr. Jordan, who figures to be the heavy favorite in the one-mile Smooth Air Stakes, and Richard the Great, an impressive winner of his only two starts, who is nominated to the six-furlong Buffalo Man by trainer Ralph Nicks.
The Juvenile Showcase, which will be drawn Wednesday, highlights the final weekend of the inaugural Gulfstream Park West meeting, which concludes Sunday.
MIAMI – Owner-trainer Carlo Vaccarezza said Monday that his Grade 1-placed 3-year-old filly Little Alexis apparently has suffered no permanent damage as a result of the reaction to medication that caused her to spike a fever of 104 degrees immediately following her ninth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 1.
STICKNEY, Ill. – The 2-year-old colt Dadtaughtmewell, making his first start on dirt, won a $25,000 maiden-claiming route race Thursday at Hawthorne by more than 20 lengths, and the race looked good to speed-figure makers as well as the naked eye, with Dadtaughtmewell’s romp earning an 85 Beyer.
“That horse can run,” said trainer Jim DiVito, who owns Dadtaughtmewell, purchased as a yearling for a mere $4,500. “Keep in mind he was training on Polytrack this summer. He started working better when we got him over to Hawthorne. We knew he could run a little bit on the dirt.”