Wed, 08/30/2023 - 13:45

White Abarrio will head west on Sept. 12 to prepare for BC Classic

White Abarrio wins Whitney Aug 5 2023
Barbara D. Livingston
White Abarrio earned a 110 Beyer Speed Figure for his 6 1/4-length win in the Grade 1 Whitney.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – White Abarrio, dominant winner of the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 5, will ship to Southern California on Sept. 12 to prepare for a start in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita, trainer Richard Dutrow said Wednesday at his Belmont barn.

Dutrow still plans to train White Abarrio up to the Classic without a race in between.

Dutrow said that White Abarrio has been alternating days of galloping and jogging at Belmont Park and that he’ll likely breeze a day or two preceding his travel to Santa Anita.

Wed, 08/30/2023 - 13:45

Parnac cleared to race in N.Y., entered in Flower Bowl

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Parnac, one of two horses scratched by the New York Racing Association out of an Aug. 11 allowance race, has been cleared to run in New York and was entered Wednesday by trainer Christophe Clement for Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Flower Bowl.

Wed, 08/30/2023 - 13:25

Proxy tries to punch ticket to BC Classic in Jockey Club Gold Cup

Proxy wins Monmouth Cup July 22 2023
Ryan Denver/Equi-Photo
Proxy is coming off a win in the Monmouth Cup, a race where he ended up on the lead, surprising trainer Michael Stidham.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With Cody’s Wish having proven he’s better shorter than longer, Godolphin’s primary U.S.-based candidate for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic is Proxy, who will look to solidify his credentials for that Nov. 4 race in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga.

Wed, 08/30/2023 - 13:10

Pacific Classic field of 11 may have enough pace to set up Senor Buscador

By the time the field in Saturday’s Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar reaches the first turn, Senor Buscador will be in his usual spot at the back of the field. About that time, trainer Todd Fincher will begin alternating his focus on Senor Buscador’s position and the tote board to gauge early fractions in the $1 million race at 1 1/4 miles.

Fincher is begging for a rapid pace to help Senor Buscador’s closing style, a tactic that led to the 5-year-old’s most prestigious win in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on July 29 at Del Mar.

Tue, 08/29/2023 - 14:38

HISA vets to perform post-entry exams at Saratoga

Veterinarians affiliated with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority will perform a post-entry soundness examination for horses racing at Saratoga Race Course until the end of the track’s meet on Monday, HISA announced Tuesday.

Mon, 08/28/2023 - 14:48

New Mexico governor orders stricter oversight of racing

The New Mexico State Racing Commission has been instructed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham “to take immediate action to get control over the industry you are charged with overseeing” after seven fatalities occurred during three days of time trials for major Quarter Horse stakes at Ruidoso Downs earlier this month.

Mon, 08/28/2023 - 14:30

Anisette to stay home for Rodeo Drive Stakes

Leonard Powell
Trainer Leonard Powell’s daughter Jeanne gives some attention to Anisette after her victory in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks.

Anisette, winner of two graded stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf at Del Mar this summer, is scheduled to race against older fillies and mares in a stakes for the first time in the Grade 2 Rodeo Drive Stakes on Oct. 7 at Santa Anita.

Trainer Leonard Powell said Sunday that he intends to start Anisette in the $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf instead of the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup for 3-year-old fillies on Oct. 14 at Keeneland.

Mon, 08/28/2023 - 14:30

Trainer Palma provisionally suspended for methamphetamine positive

Veteran California trainer Hector Palma has been provisionally suspended by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit after one of his starters at Del Mar in late July tested positive for methamphetamine, according to the organization’s website.

The suspension was announced late last week and resulted in the scratch of Geezer from Sunday’s sixth race.

The positive was found in a post-race test taken from Baladi, the fourth-place finisher in a $32,000 claimer on July 30. Baladi, a 4-year-old gelding, has been suspended from racing by HIWU.

Mon, 08/28/2023 - 14:15

D'Amato has multiple contenders for Saturday stakes

Benoit Photo
Hong Kong Harry won last year's Del Mar Mile and is part of a trio entered for trainer Phil D'Amato this year.

In the last decade, the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap has been an annual gathering of many of trainer Phil D’Amato’s leading turf marathoners – and a successful one.

D’Amato has won the race seven times since 2014, including five of the last six runnings. In Saturday’s $300,000 running, D’Amato again has a deep team with three expected runners in Cash Equity, Cathkin Peak, and Gold Phoenix, who won the race in 2022.

Mon, 08/28/2023 - 13:45

Bolshoi Ballet to use Joe Hirsch Turf Classic as bridge to Breeders' Cup Turf

Barbara D. Livingston
Bolshoi Ballet pulled away in the stretch to win the Grade 1 Sword Dancer on Saturday by 4 1/2 lengths at 5-1.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Ireland-based Bolshoi Ballet has recorded his last two victories in the U.S, albeit two years apart. He is expected to make another cross-Atlantic trip next month for the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, trainer Aidan O’Brien said Monday.

Bolshoi Ballet was a dominant 4 1/2-length winner of Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Sword Dancer Stakes, which earned him an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.

O’Brien said the Breeders’ Cup is the goal and the Joe Hirsch will be the way to get him there.