Mon, 08/18/2014 - 15:43

Woodbine hosts apprentice jockey challenge

Michael Burns
Erika Smilovsky is one of 10 riders participating in Woodbine's two-race invitational apprentice jockey challenge on Wednesday.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Woodbine’s Wednesday night card will feature a two-race invitational apprentice jockey challenge, with 10 apprentices from across North America competing in the event. Races 4 and 5 are the designated challenge races.

Mon, 08/18/2014 - 15:39

Princess of Sylmar can avenge 2014 losses in Personal Ensign

Michael Amoruso
Princess of Sylmar (No. 6) lost by a head to Close Hatches in the Ogden Phipps, their only meeting this year.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Princess of Sylmar will have the opportunity to avenge each of her two losses this season when she meets Close Hatches and Belle Gallantey in Friday’s $500,000 Personal Ensign at Saratoga.

A field of seven was drawn Monday for the Grade 1 Personal Ensign, and the group also includes Antipathy, Majestic River, Fiftyshadesofhay, and Stanwyck. The two favorites will break next to each other on the far outside, with Close Hatches in post 6 and Princess of Sylmar in post 7.

Mon, 08/18/2014 - 15:39

Apprentice jockey Bray to sit out rest of year

Michael Burns
Apprentice jockey Jenna Bray will will sit out the rest of the season to retain her 10-pound weight allowance into next year.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – While her fellow apprentices will be preparing for the apprentice jockey challenge on Wednesday at Woodbine, Jenna Bray will not be participating. Bray, who has won four races this season, will sit out the rest of the season to retain her 10-pound weight allowance into next year. Bray’s fifth career victory would see her weight allowance drop to five pounds.

Mon, 08/18/2014 - 15:13

Ami’s Holiday passes Triple Crown test in Breeders’ Stakes

Michael Burns
Ami's Holiday wins the Breeders' Stakes on Sunday at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Having already run him in the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown, trainer Josie Carroll wasn’t sure if the $501,600 Breeders’ Stakes was the right spot for Ami’s Holiday. But Ami’s Holiday showed Carroll that he was ready in the days leading up to the race, and on Sunday, he rallied from midpack to win his first classic event.

Mon, 08/18/2014 - 14:56

Coup de Grace puts in final work for King’s Bishop

Barbara D. Livingston
Coup de Grace wins the Amsterdam Stakes on July 26 at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Larry Jones will send Coup de Grace back to Saratoga, hoping the horse can repeat his winning performance in the Grade 2 Amsterdam earlier this summer in Saturday’s Grade 1 King’s Bishop. But as was the case the last time, Jones himself will not make the trip.

“Right now, I don’t think I’m going to make it,” said Jones. “I’m pretty good getting through training hours, but I just can’t do the whole day. I can’t do the doubleheader. If I try, it would knock me out for the next three days. For now, I’m still just taking little baby steps.”

Mon, 08/18/2014 - 13:24

Kid Cruz earns shot at Travers Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Kid Cruz works four furlongs in 48.91 seconds Monday morning.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Midway down the backstretch of the Jim Dandy Stakes on July 26, Kid Cruz was last of six runners – not surprising, perhaps, given his past-performance lines. But given that Kid Cruz had broken on top under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and was with the leaders entering the first turn, his position as the trailer was disconcerting to trainer Linda Rice.

Mon, 08/18/2014 - 12:38

Edison to ship to Canterbury for Mystic Lake Derby next

Barbara D. Livingston
Recent Grade 3 Canadian Derby winner Edison is supposed to ship on Wednesday from Northlands Park to Canterbury, where he will be pointed toward the $200,000 Mystic Lake Derby on Sept. 13.

Speaking from Canterbury Park, trainer Robertino Diodoro said that Edison came out of his romp in the Grade 3, $195,720 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park last Saturday in good shape.

Diodoro plans to ship Edison on Wednesday from Northlands to Canterbury, where he will be pointed toward the $200,000 Mystic Lake Derby on Sept. 13. Plan B is the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park on Sept. 28. If Edison runs in the one-mile Mystic Lake Derby, he would be returning to turf. Last year, Diodoro won the Oklahoma Derby with Canadian Derby winner Broadway Empire.

Mon, 08/18/2014 - 10:03

Will Take Charge targeting Jockey Club Gold Cup next

Barbara D. Livingston
Will Take Charge, shown training last month, likely will make his next start in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Sept. 27.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Will Take Charge will skip the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes on Aug. 30 and point to the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Sept. 27, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Monday.

Will Take Charge, last year’s 3-year-old champion, is 1 for 6 this year, with the win coming in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap in April. Since then, Will Take Charge has lost three straight races, including a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Whitney here Aug. 2.

Sun, 08/17/2014 - 17:38

Bright Thought debuts for new stable in Del Mar Handicap

Shigeki Kikkawa
Bright Thought, winless in six stakes since taking down the San Luis Rey Stakes in 2013, will debut for a new stable Saturday in the Del Mar Handicap at Del Mar.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Bright Thought, the winner of the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita in 2013, was transferred from trainer Jorge Gutierrez to Phil D’Amato earlier this month and will start for the new stable in the $200,000 Del Mar Handicap on turf Saturday.

D’Amato, the former assistant to Mike Mitchell, is in his first year of training on his own.

Sun, 08/17/2014 - 15:25

Irish Surf may have to change tactics for Pacific Classic

Benoit & Associates
Irish Surf earned a shot at the Pacific Classic by winning the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap at 1 1/2 miles under Elvis Trujillo.

DEL MAR, Calif. - When Irish Surf took a clear lead after a quarter-mile of the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar on July 25, he essentially won the marathon race a mile from the finish. It will be almost impossible to utilize the same strategy in the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 24.

Against a tougher field, and one loaded with horses that run or near the front, Irish Surf will have company early. Trainer Dan Hendricks said on Sunday that he was unsure whether he would tell jockey Elvis Trujillo to send Irish Surf early, or take a patient approach.