Fri, 02/14/2014 - 14:56

Aqueduct: Schivarelli gets two-turn test in allowance feature

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Schivarelli will stretch out to a mile for his second career start.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Eddie Kenneally thinks he has a nice 3-year-old in Schivarelli, but what he is less sure of is how far the son of Montbrook wants to run.

After overcoming a bumping incident at the start to win his debut going six furlongs, Schivarelli will experiment around two turns when he runs in a $67,000 first-level allowance race going a mile Sunday at Aqueduct.

A field of six was entered for the featured event on a 10-race program at Aqueduct that includes two races brought back from Friday’s canceled card.

Fri, 02/14/2014 - 14:09

Fair Grounds notes: Talamo will make return visit to ride at New Orleans track

Barbara D. Livingston
Joe Talamo will return to his home state to ride at Fair Grounds on Feb. 22.

NEW ORLEANS – Having landed the mount on Ria Antonia for the Rachel Alexandra, Joe Talamo will be riding at Fair Grounds for the first time since winning the riding title as an apprentice seven years ago.

The Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra for 3-year-old fillies will be among five stakes, four of them graded, on Feb. 22. That day’s feature will be the Grade 2 Risen Star, the final local stakes prep for the Louisiana Derby.

Fri, 02/14/2014 - 13:45

Gulfstream Park notes: Black Oynx’s return delayed

Barbara D. Livingston
Black Onyx has not raced since a victory in the 2013 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park.

Black Onyx, unraced since winning the Spiral Stakes last March, has had his comeback delayed after a minor setback several weeks ago at Palm Meadows.

“It was the same ankle he hurt right before the Derby,” trainer Kelly Breen said. “We sent him up to Ocala for a little rest. I’m hoping to get him back here before the end of the month.”

Fri, 02/14/2014 - 13:42

Gulfstream Park: No set plans for Lochte

Tom Keyser
Lochte wins the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap.

Trainer Marcus Vitali said Lochte came out of his victory in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap last weekend in good shape and that he and owner Carolyn Vogel are looking for a suitable race for their new stable star.

Lochte, a stunning 2  3/4-length winner at 39-1, was purchased for $60,000 at auction last October at Saratoga by Vogel’s Crossed Sabres Farm. Lochte, 4, was still a maiden after five tries but now has won three times in five starts for Vitali, a 52-year-old Rhode Island native who had never won a graded race in 25 years of training before this one.

Fri, 02/14/2014 - 13:12

Stephanie's Kitten targets return in Hillsborough at Tampa Bay Downs

Tom Keyser
Stephanie’s Kitten is pointing to Tampa Bay Down’s Hillsborough Stakes for her 2014 debut.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Stephanie’s Kitten most likely will make her seasonal debut at Tampa Bay Downs in the Grade 3, $150,000 Hillsborough, a 1 1/8-mile turf race March 8, according to trainer Chad Brown.

“She’s been training very well, and we’re looking forward to having her back to the races,” Brown said this week from Palm Meadows.

Thu, 02/13/2014 - 16:03

Santa Anita: Miss Serendipity works for Buena Vista Stakes

Shigeki Kikkawa
Miss Serendipity had traffic problems when finishing fourth in the Paseana Stakes last month.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Miss Serendipity, a Group 1 winner in Argentina who was a troubled fourth in her American debut in the Paseana Stakes on Jan. 12, worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds on turf Thursday.

Trained by Ron McAnally, Miss Serendipity is scheduled to start in Monday’s $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes over a mile on turf.

Thu, 02/13/2014 - 15:53

Santa Anita: Papa Turf has easier task in San Vicente Stakes

Benoit & Associates
Papa Turf wins his maiden going 6 1/2 furlongs in his second start in September at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Papa Turf chased two of California’s finest young sprinters in his first two stakes appearances. His third start in a stakes, in Sunday’s $200,000 San Vicente for 3-year-olds over seven furlongs, might be easier.

Back in November, Papa Turf ran in the Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue Stakes at Hollywood Park, finishing 14 1/4 lengths behind Shared Belief. Shared Belief later won the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity and was named champion 2-year-old male of 2013.

Thu, 02/13/2014 - 15:47

Santa Anita: Susans Express shortens up, faces open company in Sweet Life Stakes

Benoit & Associates
Susans Express wins the California Cup Oaks by 1 1/4 lengths as a 65-1 longshot last month.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Susans Express can prove in Saturday’s $75,000 Sweet Life Stakes that her upset win in the $200,250 California Cup Oaks at Santa Anita on Jan. 25 wasn’t a fluke.

At 65-1, Susans Express was the longest shot in a field of 14 in the Cal Cup Oaks, a one-mile turf race she won by 1 1/4 lengths. The Sweet Life will be the first start in a turf sprint for Susans Express and her first stakes against open company.

“She’s in good shape,” trainer Jorge Periban said. “This is against open company. It will be a tough race.”

Thu, 02/13/2014 - 13:34

Belmont Park spring stakes schedule has six stakes worth at least $1 million

Barbara D. Livingston
Palace Malice, shown training at Palm Meadows this winter, won the 2013 Belmont Stakes, which has been boosted this year from $1 million to $1.5 million.

The beefed up Belmont Park spring/summer stakes schedule isn’t confined to Belmont Stakes Day.

One week after announcing that the June 7 Belmont Stakes Day card will be the second-richest program on the North American calendar, the New York Racing Association released the entire spring/summer schedule that will present 62 stakes worth $17.95 million in purses – including six races worth at least $1 million. In 2013, Belmont’s spring/summer meet offered 37 stakes worth $9.3 million with only the Belmont Stakes worth $1 million.

Thu, 02/13/2014 - 11:44

Woodbine: Lym to oversee backstretch; track searching for new racing secretary

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Woodbine Entertainment Group announced Thursday that the role of Steve Lym, Woodbine’s director of Thoroughbred racing, has been expanded to include the operational responsibilities for the backstretch.

Lym will no longer act as racing secretary, a position he has held since 2003. The search for his replacement is under way.

“My goal is to provide the horsepeople of Woodbine with the best environment for training and racing this year and beyond,” Lym said.