Mon, 09/25/2023 - 13:25

Bran to opt for winter stakes instead of BC Turf Sprint

Barbara D. Livingston

Bran will start in Saturday’s Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes over Santa Anita hillside turf but will not start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, according to trainer John Sadler.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Not all the runners in graded stakes at Santa Anita this weekend are being aimed for Breeders’ Cup races on Nov. 3-4.

Bran, a three-time stakes winner, will start in Saturday’s Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. For some runners, the $200,000 Eddie D Stakes could lead to a start in the BC Turf Sprint at five furlongs on Nov. 4.

That is not the case with Bran, who closed from last of 12 to finish seventh by 3 1/4 lengths in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on Sept. 2.

Mon, 09/25/2023 - 13:20

Hernandez, Herrera, Vazquez tie for Los Alamitos riding title

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Jockey Juan Hernandez captured a share of the Los Alamitos riding title, with Diego Herrera and Ramon Vazquez, going 6 for 6 on his mounts during the six-day meet.

CYPRESS, Calif. – Juan Hernandez, already the leading rider in Southern California this year, had a perfect day to end the Los Alamitos September meeting on Sunday.

Hernandez won with all four of his mounts on runners trained by Bob Baffert and finished the meeting with a perfect record from six mounts.

Hernandez, who led all riders at Santa Anita and Del Mar earlier this year, rode sparingly during the two-week season which included six days of racing.

Mon, 09/25/2023 - 12:26

Jeff Metz closes stable to take stall superintendent position

By Steve Andersen

ARCADIA, Calif. - Jeff Metz, a former leading trainer at Emerald Downs in Washington State and one of the leading trainers at Turf Paradise in Phoenix in recent years, recently relinquished his stable to take a position as stall superintendent at Santa Anita.

Metz, 56, replaces Bobby Troeger, also a former trainer, who left the position earlier this month.

Metz had his final starters at Emerald Downs and Los Alamitos on Sept. 17 and his final win at Emerald on Aug. 5. Metz won 938 races in a career that began in 1991.

Fri, 09/22/2023 - 17:51

Aqueduct cancels Saturday card in advance of anticipated storm

By David Grening

R. L. Thibodeau

There will be a pick six carryover of $62,293 on the Sunday card at Aqueduct.

Due to a forecast calling for heavy rain and strong winds, Saturday’s 10-race Aqueduct card has been canceled, the New York Racing Association announced Friday afternoon.

According to the National Weather Service, there is chance for between one and two inches of rain in the New York metropolitan area throughout Saturday. Winds are forecast to be 18 to 21 miles per hour with gusts as high as 34 miles per hour.

Aqueduct will be open for simulcasting on Saturday.

Fri, 09/22/2023 - 17:32

Jockey Cabrera breaks femur, undergoes surgery

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Photography

David Cabrera was second in the Remington Park rider standings at the time of his injury.

Jockey David Cabrera will likely be sidelined until early next year after breaking his femur during Thursday night’s seventh race at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.

Cabrera was injured during the stretch drive when thrown from his mount, Outlining, who continued on to the wire. Cabrera underwent surgery Friday afternoon, according to his agent, Jose Santos Jr.

“I spoke to him this morning and he’s in good spirits,” Santos said. “Of course, he’s bummed out about what happened.”

Fri, 09/22/2023 - 14:10

War Like Goddess on target to try for repeat in Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

War Like Goddess was forced to miss a start last month in the Flower Bowl due to illness.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – War Like Goddess, who was forced to miss the Grade 2 Flower Bowl earlier this month due to an illness, is on target to try for a repeat victory in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic next Saturday at Belmont Park.

On Friday, War Like Goddess worked a half-mile in 50.51 seconds over the Oklahoma dirt course.

Fri, 09/22/2023 - 14:10

Forte still pointing to Breeders' Cup Classic despite absence from work tab

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Forte has not breezed since finishing fourth in the Travers on Aug. 26.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Though he has yet to work back since his fourth-place finish in the Travers Stakes on Aug. 26, Forte, last year’s 2-year-old champion, is still being pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 4, trainer Todd Pletcher said Friday.

Forte finished fourth, beaten eight lengths by Arcangelo in the Travers, the worst finish in his 10-race career, which includes seven victories. Since a foot bruise knocked him out of the Kentucky Derby, Forte has finished second in the Belmont Stakes and won the Grade 2 Jim Dandy before his effort in the Travers.

Fri, 09/22/2023 - 08:39

Dinerman named Oaklawn track announcer

By Mary Rampellini

Vassar Photography

Matt Dinerman has been the announcer for the last six years at Golden Gate Fields.

Matt Dinerman has been named track announcer for the Oaklawn Park meet that opens Dec. 8, the Hot Springs, Ark., track announced Friday.

Dinerman, 31, comes to Oaklawn from Golden Gate Fields, where he has been the announcer for six years. He replaces Vic Stauffer, who parted ways with Oaklawn last March after more than six years in Hot Springs.

Thu, 09/21/2023 - 15:27

Top two in Fort Erie stakes disqualified from purse for carrying incorrect weight

By Ron Gierkink

The top two finishers in the $100,000 Lake Erie Stakes at Fort Erie on Sept. 12, One Bay Hemingway and One More Brew, have been disqualified from purse money after it was determined that they carried the incorrect weight.

When the overnight for the Sept. 12 card came out, both horses were correctly listed at 120 pounds in the sprint for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds. The track program, however, had them both at 118 pounds, which is what they carried in the race, during which they dueled throughout with the favored One Bay Hemingway winning by a head.

Thu, 09/21/2023 - 14:45

Berrios, Escobedo suspended for whip violations

By Steve Andersen

Jockeys Hector Berrios and Adrian Escobedo will be suspended from full participation for Saturday’s program at Los Alamitos after being cited for excessive use of the whip in races at that track on Sept. 15.

Both riders were fined $250 for striking their mounts seven times, one more than the allowed limit.

Escobedo is not booked to ride Saturday. Berrios is scheduled to ride Yuki in the $125,000 Dark Mirage Stakes, which is designated as exempt from routine suspensions.

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