Mon, 10/02/2023 - 12:00

Pretty Mischievous, Wet Paint possible for BC Distaff

Barbara D. Livingston

After failing to take the Cotillion in the Parx slop, Pretty Mischievous is possible to join fellow Godolphin-owned Wet Paint in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Pretty Mischievous, the clear leader of the 3-year-old filly division who finished second in the Grade 1 Cotillion on Sept. 24 at Parx Racing, remains under consideration for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Michael Banahan, director of bloodstock for Godolphin, said Sunday.

“She came out of the race fine, obviously it wasn’t a track she enjoyed at Parx. We’ll see how she does over the next couple of weeks, but if she bounces out of it as well as she went into it we’ll certainly have a look at it for sure.”

Mon, 10/02/2023 - 12:00

Caramel Swirl likely for BC Filly and Mare Sprint

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Caramel Swirl (left) won the Gallant Bloom via double disqualification and is likely to try the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

While her victory in Sunday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Gallant Bloom Stakes came via a rare double disqualification, Caramel Swirl likely earned a start in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint with that performance.

Caramel Swirl, like Cody’s Wish a Godolphin homebred, was taken up by jockey Junior Alvarado at around the eighth pole when Sterling Silver, from the outside, and Headland, from the inside, appeared to come into Caramel Swirl’s path. Sterling Silver would cross the finish line four lengths in front of Headland who was a half-length in front of Caramel Swirl.

Mon, 10/02/2023 - 11:55

Cody's Wish, Zandon heading to Breeders' Cup after prep wins

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Cody's Wish cut back to sprinting in his Vosburgh victory and will now try to repeat in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Zandon and Cody’s Wish, winners of Grade 2 stakes Sunday at Aqueduct, are both expected to head to the Breeders’ Cup to make one more start before they are retired, their connections said after their respective races.

Zandon, who won Sunday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Woodward Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths as the even-money favorite, will run in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita. Cody’s Wish, who won Sunday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths, will seek a repeat in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on the same Nov. 4 card.

Fri, 09/29/2023 - 12:15

Rain forces NYRA to adjust racing schedule

By David Grening

R. L. Thibodeau

Saturday's stakes-filled card at Aqueduct has been moved to Sunday due to rain.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The heavy rains that hit the New York metropolitan area on Friday that forced the cancellation of that day’s racing card at Aqueduct, also will create a change in scheduling for the weekend and into next week.

The New York Racing Association announced that Saturday’s 11-race-card – which includes four graded stakes topped by the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic – will be postponed and run Sunday, as drawn. The card includes the Grade 2 Woodward, Grade 2 Vosburgh, and Grade 2 Gallant Bloom. First post will remain at 12:05 p.m.

Thu, 09/28/2023 - 16:20

Dreamfyre to test turf

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Follow two victories in her first two starts on dirt, Dreamfyre will switch to turf in the one-mile Grade 3 Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita.

The undefeated 2-year-old filly Dreamfyre is switching surfaces for her next start, the Grade 3 Surfer Girl Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 8.

Dreamfyre won two sprint stakes on dirt during the summer – the Everett Nevin Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton on July 9 in her debut, and the Grade 3 Sorrento Stakes at six furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 12.

Thu, 09/28/2023 - 16:15

Harry Hernandez to ride at Oaklawn

By Steve Andersen

Coady Photography

With the current state of Turf Paradise up in the air, jockey Harry Hernandez will ride at Oaklawn Park in the winter.

Harry Hernandez has been the runaway leader in the jockey standings at Turf Paradise the last two years.

He has no plans to try for a third straight title.

With the Phoenix track’s racing schedule unsettled, Hernandez said earlier this week that he plans to begin riding at Oaklawn Park for the first time later this year. Recent developments indicating that Turf Paradise will resume racing in early 2024 have not swayed the 26-year-old jockey.

Thu, 09/28/2023 - 15:27

New Turf Paradise buyer plans to continue racing in 2024

By Matt Hegarty

Coady Photography

A new buyer has emerged for Turf Paradise and has expressed his desire to continue racing in 2024.

The new buyer for Turf Paradise racetrack in Phoenix will complete the deal within the next two months and plans to hold a live racing meet at the track at the beginning of 2024, if not sooner, Arizona racing officials said at a Department of Racing meeting on Thursday.

Thu, 09/28/2023 - 10:16

Secretariat exhibit coming to Woodbine

By Ron Gierkink

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — An exhibit honoring the 50th anniversary of the great Secretariat’s final career start in the 1973 Canadian International has been scheduled for Oct. 5-8 during live racing on Level 3 at Woodbine.

Secretariat, the 1973 Triple Crown winner, completed his illustrious career on the grass at Woodbine with a blowout score in the 1 5/8-mile Canadian International on Oct. 28, 1973. The exhibit celebrates the accomplishments of “Big Red” and features his trophies in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes.

Wed, 09/27/2023 - 17:05

Sterling Silver tries yet again for open-company stakes win in the Gallant Bloom

By David Grening

Sterling Silver trains at KEE Nov 1 2022

Debra A. Roma

Sterling Silver is a two-time New York-bred stakes winner but is zero for eight in open-company stakes.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The two-time New York-bred stakes winning filly Sterling Silver will make her ninth attempt at winning an open-company stakes when she runs in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Gallant Bloom at Aqueduct, which will go as race 5 on an 11-race card.

Sterling Silver finished third in last year’s Gallant Bloom, which followed a narrow neck defeat in the Grade 2 Prioress Stakes at Saratoga.

Two starts back, Sterling Silver won an open-company second-level allowance before finishing sixth of seven in the Grade 1 Ballerina.

Wed, 09/27/2023 - 16:54

Cody's Wish using Vosburgh as way to get to Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

By David Grening

Debra A. Roma

Cody's Wish works at Saratoga. He comes into the seven-furlong Vosburgh off a third-place finish going 1 1/8 miles in the Whitney.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Cody’s Wish, who had his six-race winning streak snapped when he finished third in the Grade 1 Whitney, will face five rivals in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh Stakes at Aqueduct.

Cody’s Wish is a four-time Grade 1 stakes winner. His five opponents have combined to win one graded stakes, and that was by High Oak, who, like Cody’s Wish, is trained by Bill Mott. High Oak won the Grade 2 Saratoga Special at 2 in 2021. Most recently, he finished third behind Gunite and Elite Power in the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga.

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