Wed, 03/13/2024 - 13:50

Leparoux wrapping up stay at Oaklawn

Barbara D. Livingston

Jockey Julien Leparoux will ride at Turfway Park and Gulfstream for their upcoming big race days, before getting ready for the Keeneland spring meet.

Jockey Julien Leparoux, an Eclipse Award-winning rider who has been wintering at Oaklawn for the first time in his career, is wrapping up his time in Arkansas. This is his final week to ride regularly at the meet, agent Jose Santos Jr. said Tuesday.

Santos said Leparoux has upcoming stakes engagements on Jeff Ruby Day on March 23 at Turfway Park and Florida Derby Day March 30 at Gulfstream Park. In between, he will be riding some at Turfway and working horses to prepare for other meets in Kentucky.

“He’ll be ready for opening day at Keeneland,” Santos said.

Wed, 03/13/2024 - 13:45

Jara to ride at Gulfstream next, eyes bigger mounts

By Mary Rampellini

Barbara D. Livingston

Jockey Fernando Jara will ride at Gulfstream Park for part of the spring, before moving to Monmouth and Delaware Park for the summer.

Jockey Fernando Jara, who is back riding in the United States after nine years in Dubai, plans to base at Gulfstream Park for the month of April, agent Jose Santos Jr. said Tuesday.

From there, Jara will spend the summer at Monmouth Park and ride Wednesdays and Thursdays at Delaware Park.

“His goal is to try to get over to the big stage again,” Santos said of Jara, who won the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Classic with Invasor and the Belmont Stakes with Jazil.

Jara, 36, hopes riding at Gulfstream and Monmouth will lead to mounts in New York.

Wed, 03/13/2024 - 13:45

Rocket Can, Taxed begin 4-year-old seasons

By Mary Rampellini

Barbara D. Livingston

Rocket Can will cutback to a mile for his first race in nearly a year Saturday at Oaklawn.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Rocket Can and Taxed both won graded stakes last year at 3 and will get their anticipated seasons started Saturday in separate allowance races at Oaklawn Park.

Rocket Can’s first out since the Kentucky Derby comes in the 10th, a second-level allowance for 4-year-olds and up at a mile. Last year, he won the Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park. For his 4-year-old campaign, Rocket Can has been working sharply at the Payson Park training center in South Florida.

Wed, 03/13/2024 - 13:28

Victory Avenue works; Florida Derby still a possibility

By Mike Welsch

Barbara D. Livingston

Victory Avenue had his first workout on Wednesday since becoming ill and being scratched from the Fountain of Youth.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Victory Avenue, who was scratched the morning of the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth after developing a minor illness, was back on the work tab here Wednesday with his connections not ruling out the possibility the lightly raced 3-year-old could make his next start in the Grade 1 Florida Derby two weeks from Saturday.

Tue, 03/12/2024 - 18:21

Nysos to miss month of training

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Nysos has won three starts, including two stakes, by a combined 26 3/4 lengths.

Nysos, the undefeated colt who was withdrawn from the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita earlier this month, is currently out of training for approximately a month, trainer Bob Baffert wrote in a text message Tuesday.

Nysos has won three starts, including two stakes, by a combined 26 3/4 lengths for Charles and Susan Chu’s Baoma Corp.

Baffert said Nysos will not be trained for 30 days. It was not immediately clear when Nysos will be able to resume racing. The development was first reported by Thoroughbred Daily News.

Tue, 03/12/2024 - 13:39

Kentucky Derby Future Wager: Sierra Leone made 5-1 morning-line favorite for Pool 5

By Matt Hegarty

Amanda Hodges Weir/Hodges Photography

Sierra Leone, winner of the Risen Star Stakes, is the 5-1 morning-line favorite for Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

Sierra Leone, the recent winner of the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds, has been made the 5-1 favorite for the fifth offering of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which will open Friday, according to odds distributed by Churchill Downs, the wager’s administrator.

The fifth edition of the Future Wager for the 2024 Kentucky Derby is the first in which the “all other 3-year-olds” entry is not expected to be the favorite. The Kentucky Derby is scheduled this year for May 4.

Mon, 03/11/2024 - 16:19

Workers abound for Louisiana Derby, Fair Grounds Oaks

By Marcus Hersh

Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges Jr.

Though not one of the 3-year-olds on the recent work tabs at Fair Grounds, Track Phantom will have one more drill before the Louisiana Derby.

Most prominent Fair Grounds-based 3-year-old colts and fillies turned in timed workouts this past Friday through Monday, many of them pointing toward the Louisiana Derby and the Fair Grounds Oaks on March 23.

Mon, 03/11/2024 - 14:19

Pandagate eyeing UAE Derby

By David Grening

Susie Raisher/NYRA

Pandagate, winner of the Gander Stakes, could make his next start in he UAE Derby at Meydan.

Pandagate, the 5 1/2-length winner of the Gander Stakes for New York-breds on Feb. 25 at Aqueduct, is under strong consideration to make his next start in the $1 million UAE Derby on March 30, trainer Christophe Clement said Monday.

“Most probably, not definite, we’ll make the decision in the next day or two,” he said.

Mon, 03/11/2024 - 13:35

Trainer Morfin suspended for methamphetamine positive

By Steve Andersen

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Sergio Morfin, who has won races at the current meetings at Santa Anita and Los Alamitos, has been given a provisional suspension by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit after one of his runners tested positive for methamphetamine after finishing second on Dec. 29 at Santa Anita.

The positive was found in a post-race test taken from Wishtheyallcouldbe.

Mon, 03/11/2024 - 13:35

Sweet Azteca likely will cut back to one turn in Derby City Distaff

By Steve Andersen

Sweet Azteca wins Beholder Mile at SA March 9 2024

Benoit Photo

Trainer Michael McCarthy believes Beholder Mile winner Sweet Azteca is at her best from “seven-eighths to a mile.”

ARCADIA, Calif. – Sweet Azteca’s win in Saturday’s Grade 1, $301,000 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita has trainer Michael McCarthy and owner and breeder Pamela Ziebarth thinking of more lucrative prizes for the upstart 4-year-old filly.

On Sunday, McCarthy said Sweet Azteca will be considered for the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs on the May 4 Kentucky Derby program. The Derby City Distaff is run at seven furlongs and is worth $1 million.

Subscribe to Track Notes