Dont Walk Peacefully was a quiet fourth in his debut in a maiden race for 2-year-olds for trainer Jose De La Torre at Los Alamitos in August.
When he won his second start, which came last Sunday in a division of the time trials for the $202,100 El Primero Del Ano Derby, a lot had changed.
De La Torre is gone, denied stalls by Los Alamitos management for a series of clenbuterol positives in recent years. Dont Walk Peacefully is now trained by Danny Montes and has been gelded since his debut.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Although War Dancer was considered to be primarily a turf horse following his victory in the Grade 2 Virginia Derby last year at 3, trainer Ken McPeek will switch the horse back to the main track here next Saturday in the Grade 3 Skip Away.
NEW ORLEANS – For trainer Bret Calhoun, the death last month of owner/breeder Clarence Scharbauer Jr. adds emotional incentive to win the Fair Grounds Oaks with Fiftyshadesofgold.
“When she had her little run through Churchill and Saratoga, it kept him going,” Calhoun said. “When she ran at Houston, he got really excited. He kind of lived through that filly.”
Scharbauer, a pillar of Texas racing, died at age 88 on Feb. 21, six days after his homebred filly Fiftyshadesofgold won the seven-furlong Two Altazano Stakes at Sam Houston in her first start as a 3-year-old.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Bond Holder, fourth in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, continues being treated for laminitis at a Florida veterinary clinic, trainer Doug O’Neill said Thursday.
“It’s so far, so good,” O’Neill said. “He had a good night.”
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
ARCADIA, Calif. - Bayern, the unbeaten 3-year-old who has yet to run in a stakes, worked a half-mile in 47.40 seconds Thursday, preparing for a possible start in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 5.
Bayern has led or disputed the pace in his two starts – a maiden race and an allowance race. He worked in company Thursday.
“He sat behind a horse, and he relaxed,” trainer Bob Baffert said.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
ARCADIA, Calif. – For now, Diamond Bachelor’s dirt races are behind him.
A stakes winner on turf at Del Mar last summer, Diamond Bachelor finished ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita last November and fourth in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes in his 3-year-old debut here Feb. 8. Those races were on the main track.
Diamond Bachelor is back on turf for Saturday’s $75,000 Pasadena Stakes over a mile for 3-year-olds, a race that drew a solid field of nine.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Grade 1 winner We Miss Artie has been installed as the early 4-1 favorite for the 155th running of the Queen’s Plate, the opening leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, on Woodbine’s Polytrack on July 6.
The 87th edition of the Queen’s Plate winter book, compiled by Ron Gierkink and Alex Campbell of Daily Racing Form and Woodbine’s Keith McCalmont, offers early hypothetical odds on all 125 3-year-olds nominated to the Canadian Triple Crown. The nominees include 88 colts, 23 geldings, 14 fillies, and one ridgling.
Fast Track proved true to his name Tuesday, as the 7-year-old gelding posted a course record at a mile on grass at Turf Paradise, getting the trip in 1:34.06.
Owned by David Bloom and trained by Molly Pearson, the son of Taste of Paradise needed to set the record to prevail, as he gamely beat Tones by a nose under Tammi Piermarini in the optional-claiming contest.
Fast Track ($10.20) beat the old mark of 1:34.12 set by Mutak Gold in 2009.
The Grade 1 winner Fashion Plate will have a new jockey when she starts in the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks on April 5.
Trainer Simon Callaghan said Mike Smith will ride Fashion Plate, who won the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes on Feb. 1 when ridden by Gary Stevens. For the Santa Anita Oaks, Stevens will ride Ria Antonia, who was placed first in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last November.
ARCADIA, Calif. - California Chrome, the easy winner of the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 8, is being prepared for the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 5.
Trainer Art Sherman said Wednesday that the Santa Anita Derby over 1 1/8 miles gives California Chrome an important prep for the Triple Crown races. After the San Felipe, Sherman said he was considering skipping the Santa Anita Derby and going straight to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3.
“I’m looking toward the Santa Anita Derby,” Sherman said. “We’ll give it a shot and we’ll see where we’re at.”
