Tue, 05/06/2014 - 11:21

Preakness: Ria Antonia to take on boys

Barbara D. Livingston
Ria Antonia, shown training at Churchill Downs ahead of her sixth-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks last Friday, is being pointed to the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown.

Kentucky Oaks winner Untapable’s connections have resolutely declined to try her against males in the Preakness Stakes, but it appears that the Preakness will have a feminine touch nonetheless.

Ria Antonia, who finished sixth in the May 2 Kentucky Oaks, is being pointed to the Preakness on May 17 at Pimlico, owner Ron Paolucci said Tuesday.

Mon, 05/05/2014 - 15:48

Manhattan likely for Seek Again

Barbara D. Livingston
Seek Again (inside) duels with Wise Dan in Saturday's Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Seek Again, who came within a head of upsetting Wise Dan in last Saturday’s Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill, will likely make his next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan Invitational at Belmont Park on June 7, trainer Bill Mott said Monday.

Mott was pleased with the performance of Seek Again – who had not run since taking the Hollywood Derby last Dec. 1 – and marveled at Wise Dan’s will to win.

Mon, 05/05/2014 - 15:43

My Wandy’s Girl sharp in work

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
My Wandy's Girl will start in Sunday's Grade 2, $250,000 Ruffian Stakes at a mile at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Watching My Wandy’s Girl zip through the stretch of Belmont Park’s main track Monday morning, trainer Mike Hushion said the mare is “typically not a good work horse, but she likes this main track.”

Apparently so. My Wandy’s Girl was credited with a half-mile time of 46.89 seconds by the Belmont clockers as she prepares for a start in Sunday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Ruffian Stakes at a mile. It was her second consecutive bullet work over the main track.

Mon, 05/05/2014 - 15:40

Pletcher regroups after Derby foursome disappoints

Barbara D. Livingston
Danza, finishing third in the Kentucky Derby, is the lone member of trainer Todd Pletcher's Derby foursome who might run in the Preakness Stakes on May 17.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Win or lose last Saturday, trainer Todd Pletcher had to leave Churchill Downs quickly after the Kentucky Derby to make it back home in time for a family function Sunday.

His son Payton’s confirmation probably was a good diversion for Pletcher the day after what was a disappointing Derby Day for the six-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer.

Though Danza ran a respectable third in Saturday’s 140th Kentucky Derby, Pletcher’s other three runners – We Miss Artie, Intense Holiday, and Vinceremos – finished 10th, 12th, and 17th behind California Chrome.

Mon, 05/05/2014 - 15:40

Belmont’s Derby Day business up

ELMONT, N.Y. – With two more races and glorious weather, Belmont Park posted increases in attendance and handle on Saturday, Kentucky Derby Day, compared with 2013.

All-sources handle on Belmont’s 12-race card was $14,918,258, a 7.7 percent increase from $13,854,360 last year when Belmont had only 10 races. On-track handle of $2,314,803, was up 18.2 percent from last year’s figure of $1,958,871.

Attendance was 9,609, up 5 percent from last year’s crowd of 9,151.

NYRA’s handle on Churchill’s card was $4,046,707, up 2.3 percent from last year’s total of $3,957,352.

Mon, 05/05/2014 - 15:26

Now healthy, Tonalist will start in Saturday's Peter Pan

Barbara D. Livingston
Tonalist will start on Saturday in the Grade 2, $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Christophe Clement had to surrender any Kentucky Derby aspirations he may have had with Tonalist when that 3-year-old got sick in late March, knocking him out of the Wood Memorial and any chance of qualifying for the Run for the Roses.

Back healthy again, Clement hopes Tonalist can catch the last leg of the Triple Crown, the June 7 Belmont Stakes, but must first get a good performance out of the Tapit colt in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont.

Mon, 05/05/2014 - 14:58

Few to face California Chrome again in Preakness

Tom Keyser
Alan Sherman, assistant to his father, trainer Art Sherman, celebrates with jockey Victor Espinoza after California Chrome's win in the Kentucky Derby. Alan Sherman will stay with California Chrome while the colt is at Churchill Downs.

A total of 21 horses were entered in the Kentucky Derby, 19 ran, and of the 18 who chased home California Chrome on Saturday at Churchill Downs, it appears only a few will try him again in the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, on May 17 at Pimlico.

Mon, 05/05/2014 - 12:09

Court breaks hand in Derby Day spill

Tom Keyser
Jon Court fell off his mount, Canadian Winner, who broke down in the final race on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs. Canadian Winner had to be euthanized.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Jon Court broke his hand, while fellow jockey Jose Ortiz emerged body sore but otherwise uninjured in a two-horse spill in the 13th and last race of the Kentucky Derby program Saturday at Churchill Downs.

The incident occurred nearing the half-mile pole on the main track, where Canadian Winner, ridden by Court, broke down badly. Appealing Alex was trailing Canadian Winner and could not avoid him, throwing Ortiz.

Mon, 05/05/2014 - 11:56

Dance With Fate eyes Del Mar

Barbara D. Livingston
Dance With Fate, sixth after a traffic-filled trip in the Derby, could make his next start over the Polytrack at Del Mar.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Dance With Fate, who finished a creditable sixth in the Kentucky Derby, was to head back to California on Monday, possibly for a break before his next start.

Dance With Fate emerged from a roughly run Derby in good order, with groom Francisco Tabuyo only pointing to a small nick on one of the colt’s hind legs as evidence of the trip. Dance With Fate was shuffled around on the first turn, and then bumped later in the race.

Mon, 05/05/2014 - 09:20

California Chrome heading to Pimlico early

Barbara D. Livingston
California Chrome wins the Kentucky Derby after pulling away from the field down the stretch.

LOUSIVILLE, Ky. - Derby winner California Chrome will be flown to Maryland next Monday, May 12, after trainer Art Sherman asked to send the colt on a flight from Louisville to Maryland earlier than the traditional Wednesday before the race.

Buddy Fife, the Louisville-based booking agent for the Tex Sutton Forwarding Co., said Monday that the equine charter-flight company is firming up plans to have two flights.