Sun, 04/20/2014 - 14:42

European filly Living the Life coming to California

Shigeki Kikkawa
The European-based Grandeur won two stakes in California last year, including the Hollywood Turf Cup.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Living the Life, the winner of Friday’s $252,000 All-Weather Championship Fillies and Mares Condition Stakes at Lingfield, England, is set to join trainer Gary Mandella’s stable at Santa Anita in the next week.

Mandella said over the weekend that Living the Life is expected to be released from quarantine by Friday and that the 4-year-old filly will be pointed for the Del Mar meeting this summer.

Living the Life races for Henry Nothhaft, who has horses with Mandella and has recently started racing in England.

Sun, 04/20/2014 - 12:01

Kentucky Derby: We Miss Artie, Intense Holiday put in final Florida works

Barbara D. Livingston
We Miss Artie, one of Todd Pletcher's four potential Kentucky Derby starters, was sent Sunday with Intense Holiday to work at Pletcher's Palm Meadows training center.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher completed his final piece of important business in south Florida for the season when sending out two of his four potential Kentucky Derby starters, We Miss Artie and Intense Holiday, to work at his winter home, the Palm Meadows training center, Sunday morning.

Sat, 04/19/2014 - 13:26

Wildcat Red has Kentucky Derby work pushed to Sunday

Tom Keyser
Wildcat Red, shown training last month, will have his sixth different jockey in as many starts when he runs in the Kentucky Derby on May 3.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - For the second consecutive morning, trainer Jose Garoffalo was forced to postpone a scheduled work at Gulfstream Park for his Kentucky Derby hopeful Wildcat Red on Saturday due to heavy rains in south Florida.

More than two inches of rain has fallen at Gulfstream over the last two days, with the second deluge striking during the early morning on Saturday. The main track was sloppy and sealed and the dogs were out throughout the four-hour training session.

Sat, 04/19/2014 - 12:35

Pletcher fillies My Miss Sophia, Got Lucky work for Oaks

Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography
My Miss Sophia (right) and Got Lucky, one-two in the Grade 2 Gazelle at Aqueduct, work Saturday at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Oaks.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Todd Pletcher-trained stablemates My Miss Sophia and Got Lucky, who swept the exacta in the Grade 2 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct earlier this month, worked a half-mile in company in 48 seconds at Churchill Downs in preparation for the Kentucky Oaks.

My Miss Sophia, who worked to the inside of her stablemate, finished a neck in front, and Churchill Downs clockers caught the pair galloping out in 1:01.60.

Sat, 04/19/2014 - 12:06

Vicar's in Trouble gets serious in Kentucky Derby breeze

Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges Jr.
Vicar's In Trouble wins the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby under Rosie Napravnik and earns a Beyer Speed Figure of 97.

Vicar’s in Trouble was out for serious work Saturday when he breezed five furlongs in 1:00.40 over a fast track at the Trackside training center in Louisville, Ky.

Working in company with a horse who has been racing in starter-allowance company, Vicar’s in Trouble was timed going out six furlongs in 1:15.60 by clocker Richard McCreery. It was the second work for the Into Mischief colt since he returned to Kentucky following his 3 1/2-length victory in the March 29 Louisiana Derby.

Sat, 04/19/2014 - 11:56

California Chrome cruises in Los Alamitos drill

Benoit & Associates
With Victor Espinoza aboard, California Chrome works four furlongs in 47.70 seconds at Los Alamitos on Saturday.

CYPRESS, Calif. – California Chrome worked a half-mile in 47.80 seconds on Saturday morning at Los Alamitos, his penultimate work before heading to Churchill Downs for the May 3 Kentucky Derby.

California Chrome's position as the Kentucky Derby favorite has solidified over the past week with injuries to top contenders Constitution and Cairo Prince. He became the favorite off four straight wins, most recently the Santa Anita Derby on April 5.

Sat, 04/19/2014 - 11:42

Candy Boy finishes local Kentucky Derby preparation

Shigeki Kikkawa
With Gary Stevens riding, Candy Boy wins the Robert B. Lewis on Saturday.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Candy Boy, third in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 5, worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds at Santa Anita on Saturday, his final local workout in advance of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3.

Candy Boy was ridden by jockey Gary Stevens, and worked in company with a stablemate. Candy Boy started a half-length behind, caught the pacesetter on the turn, and pulled away in the stretch while racing outside hsi workmate.

Sat, 04/19/2014 - 11:12

Aqueduct quarantine lifted

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - A precautionary quarantine that had been in place on a barn at Aqueduct for a week was lifted Saturday after further tests taken on a deceased horse were negative for equine herpesvirus.

“The state vet called last night and lifted the quarantine,” said Dr. Anthony Verderosa, chief examining veterinarian for the New York Racing Association. “He was confident it wasn’t herpes.”

Fri, 04/18/2014 - 14:46

Kentucky Derby: Dance With Fate confirmed as starter

Dance With Fate will run for the roses.

After being noncommittal regarding a start in the Kentucky Derby following Dance With Fate’s victory in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes over Keeneland’s Polytrack on April 12, the colt’s connections announced Friday that the horse will run in North America’s most famous race May 3 at Churchill Downs.

The decision was first announced by Britney Eurton, the daughter of trainer Peter Eurton, on TVG and later confirmed by the trainer.

Fri, 04/18/2014 - 14:21

Alert Bay will put winning streak on line in Snow Chief Stakes

Benoit & Associates
Alert Bay is on track to start in the $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes on April 26 at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Alert Bay gave trainer Blaine Wright his first Santa Anita stakes winner in the $200,000 Echo Eddie Stakes on April 5. When Alert Bay runs in the $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on turf April 26, he could be part of an even more memorable day for the 39-year-old Wright.

The trainer also plans to run multiple graded stakes winner Hudson Landing in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields the same day.