Trainer George Weaver is considering his options with Falling Sky in the wake of a breakout 5 1/2-length victory by the 4-year-old colt Saturday in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While she didn’t completely rule it out, trainer Leah Gyarmati said Monday that it is unlikely Jerome Stakes winner Noble Moon will make the Grade 3, $500,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 1.
It is more likely that Noble Moon will train up to the $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 5, Gyarmati said.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Lea served notice that he’ll be a force to reckon with in the handicap division for the remainder of the season with his dazzling 1 1/2-length victory over Eclipse Award winner Will Take Charge in Sunday’s Grade 1 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park.
Lea received a career-best 114 Beyer Speed Figure after completing 1 1/8 miles in a track-record 1:46.86 over a fast track Sunday. The clocking easily eclipsed the old track record of 1:47.49 set by Quality Road four years earlier.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Groupie Doll will remain at Gulfstream Park for the next few days before being vanned to Ocala, where preparations will begin for the star mare to begin her new life as a broodmare, according to trainer Buff Bradley.
Leading jockey Russell Baze took off his final three mounts Sunday due to back spasms.
Baze had won the second race on the card with Successful Bluff ($3.80) and the third race with Curvy Cat ($3.80) to increase his meet-leading win total to 46, 16 ahead of Dennis Carr in second place.
He is expected to return to action when racing resumes Thursday.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Vagabond Shoes, the winner of the $201,500 San Marcos Stakes on turf Saturday, will start in the $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes over 1 1/2 miles on turf March 22, trainer John Sadler said.
In the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes over 1 1/4 miles, Vagabond Shoes, the 5-2 favorite, closed from seventh to win by 1 1/4 lengths over 19-1 Si Sage. The San Marcos was the first start for Vagabond Shoes since a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf over 1 1/2 miles here last November.
Sadler said he has no concern about trying Vagabond Shoes in longer turf races.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Blingo is bound for the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on March 8 after his upset win in Saturday’s $300,500 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita. As of Sunday, Blingo is likely to have ample company in the Big Cap.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Shared Belief, the champion 2-year-old male of 2013, resumed light exercise over the weekend after missing almost a month of training because of a quarter crack.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Shared Belief jogged at Santa Anita on Saturday and Sunday. A patch was placed on Shared Belief’s right front foot earlier in the week. Hollendorfer postponed Shared Belief’s return to the racetrack from Friday to Saturday because of wet conditions Friday morning from a rainstorm Thursday.