ELMONT, N.Y. – Last Gunfighter, the winner of the Mountainview Handicap at Penn National in his seasonal debut May 31, returned to the work tab over the weekend as he prepares for the Grade 2, $500,000 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park on July 5.
Last Gunfighter worked a half-mile in 48.32 seconds Sunday over the Belmont main track in company with the streaking New York-bred Zivo, the recent winner of the Commentator Stakes.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Even though he ran about a second slower in the Plate Trial Saturday than Lexie Lou’s good clocking of 1:49.77 in the Woodbine Oaks the same day, the Todd Pletcher-trained We Miss Artie should go favored in the Queen’s Plate. The winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland last year, We Miss Artie is 3 for 3 on Polytrack.
Can the Man grabbed a quarter when he won the Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes for 3-year-olds June 7 but was scheduled to resume racetrack training on Monday, trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday.
“I haven’t taken him to the track yet,” Baffert said. “He stumbled leaving there, and that’s when he grabbed it. With those quarters, the longer you keep them away from the track, the quicker they grow. I wanted to make sure that he was all right.”
Beholder, the Eclipse Award winner for her age group in 2012 and 2013, has shown progress from a pastern injury sustained June 7 in the $1 million Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park.
Trainer Richard Mandella said Sunday that Beholder “is getting better” and that the pastern has responded to treatment in the last week. He said the 4-year-old Beholder likely will be out of training for another month.
Mandella theorizes that Beholder was struck by the hoof of a rival in the Phipps Stakes.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Iotapa and Obviously, the winners of Grade 1 races Saturday at Santa Anita, will have only one race each through the end of the summer, their trainers said Sunday.
The 6-year-old Obviously won the $400,500 Shoemaker Mile on turf for the second consecutive year for owners Anthony Fanticola and Joe Scardino. Trainer Phil D’Amato said Sunday that Obviously will be pointed for the $250,000 Del Mar Mile on turf Aug. 24.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Texas Ryano is bound for the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes on Del Mar’s opening day July 17 after a strong win in an optional claimer for 3-year-olds over 1 1/8 miles on turf Friday.
Ridden by Joe Talamo, Texas Ryano ($12.60) closed from last in a field of six to win by three-quarters of a length over 1-2 favorite Quotient. Texas Ryano was timed in 1:46.53. Quotient, third in the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs last month, was vanned off and diagnosed as unsound in his left foreleg, according to track stewards.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Shared Belief, the champion 2-year-old male of 2013, could have his first stakes appearance of the year in the $500,000 Los Alamitos Derby on July 5, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.
Troubled by foot problems earlier this year, Shared Belief returned to racing with a win in an allowance race against older horses at Golden Gate Fields on May 26. Shared Belief had two workouts earlier this month, going a half-mile on June 3 and five furlongs on June 10 at Golden Gate Fields. Shared Belief will remain at Golden Gate Fields until later this month.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is building a strong team of early-season juvenile winners.
In recent weeks, Hollendorfer has won maiden special weight races with the fillies Seduire, a winner May 22, and Heart of Paradise, a winner June 5. On Friday, Hollendorfer was back in the winner’s circle with the California-bred Atta’ Boy Woody.
AUBURN, Wash. – Stryker Phd, a popular bridesmaid at Emerald Downs last year when he finished second in all four open stakes for older horses, will have his hands full Sunday when he returns from a long layoff to compete in the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap at one mile.
