Mon, 01/13/2014 - 14:50

Gulfstream Park: Long Face to make first start for Clement on Wednesday

Shigeki Kikkawa
Long Face most recently was sixth behind Egg Drop in the Grade 2 Goldikova at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Long Face will make her first start since being transferred to trainer Christophe Clement’s barn last fall when going postward as the likely favorite in Wednesday’s $54,500 allowance feature, carded at a mile on turf under high-priced optional-claiming conditions.

Mon, 01/13/2014 - 14:40

Gulfstream Park: Revolutionary targets Donn Handicap after win

Tom Keyser
Revolutionary, under Javier Castellano, wins an allowance race by a half-length Saturday in his 2014 debut.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Revolutionary likely punched his ticket to the Grade 1 Donn Handicap on Feb. 9 with his hard-fought half-length victory over Falling Sky going a mile under allowance conditions here Saturday. The outing was the first for the multiple graded stakes winner since his fifth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes. He received a 93 Beyer for his 4-year-old debut.

Mon, 01/13/2014 - 14:37

Aqueduct: Saratoga Snacks set for Evening Attire

Barbara D. Livingston
Saratoga Snacks is part of a field of eight entered for Saturday's $100,000 Evening Attire Stakes.

Saratoga Snacks, who was scratched from the Alex M. Robb Stakes on Dec. 28 due to chronic foot issues, was one of eight horses entered Monday for Saturday’s $100,000 Evening Attire Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.

Saratoga Snacks, owned by Hall of Fame football coach Bill Parcells, drew post 3 and has newly turned journeyman jockey Manuel Franco to ride.

The Evening Attire field includes Long River, Percussion, Cease, and Queens County Stakes winner Jonesy Boy.

On Monday, Saratoga Snacks worked four furlongs in 50.20 seconds over the Belmont Park training track.

Mon, 01/13/2014 - 14:37

Gulfstream Park: Constitution shows promise for Pletcher

Barbara D. Livingston
Constitution, ridden by Javier Castellano, wins his career debut by a length Saturday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher unveiled the newest member of his potential Kentucky Derby arsenal, Constitution, here Saturday. Constitution, a son of Tapit, overcame a very slow start to win his debut in game fashion, edging clear near the wire from the more experienced Juba following a furious stretch duel. Despite the tardy beginning, Constitution ran seven furlongs in 1:23.36 and was given a Beyer Speed Figure of 84.

Mon, 01/13/2014 - 14:36

Aqueduct: Sweet Reason works again

Barbara D. Livingston
Sweet Reason worked three furlongs in 37.71 seconds on Monday at Belmont Park.

Sweet Reason, last year’s Grade 1 Spinaway winner, breezed three furlongs in 37.71 seconds Monday morning over the Belmont training track. It was her second timed breeze since returning to trainer Leah Gyarmati’s barn in late December. Sweet Reason galloped out four furlongs in 52.41.

The work was done over a track rated fast but one that was gaining moisture as the morning went on due to increasing temperatures.

Mon, 01/13/2014 - 14:06

Aqueduct: Baratti eyes Withers, Gotham after impressive maiden win

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Baratti proved to be a pleasant surprise winning a maiden race here last week for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, who now may have another 3-year-old prospect for the Triple Crown trail.

After finishing fifth in his debut sprinting here in December, the well-bred Baratti recorded a front-running, six-length victory going two turns over Aqueduct’s inner track last Friday. Baratti, a Darley stable homebred son of Medaglia d’Oro, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.97 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 92.

Mon, 01/13/2014 - 13:56

Gulfstream Park: Holy Bull Stakes candidates put in works

Barbara D. Livingston
Cairo Prince, shown training Jan. 5, breezed five furlongs in 59.90 seconds Sunday at Palm Meadows.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The field for the first major Kentucky Derby prep here this winter, the Grade 2 Holy Bull on Jan. 25, is slowly beginning to take shape, with several prospective starters turning in works at Palm Meadows on Sunday.

Leading the group was trainer Kiaran McLaughlin’s top 3-year-old prospect, Cairo Prince, who breezed five furlongs in 59.90 seconds in company with stablemate Qeyaas. It was the fourth work for Cairo Prince since his hard-luck second-place finish behind Honor Code in the Grade 2 Remsen on Nov. 30.

Mon, 01/13/2014 - 13:27

Tampa Bay Downs: Sienkewicz getting acclimated

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Bill Sienkewicz, who is stabled at Tampa Bay Downs for the first time this season, just completed his most successful year after making the transition from assistant starter to trainer. And it should be no great surprise that he was able to do so since a number of individuals who began as assistant starters have gone on to have standout careers training Thoroughbreds.

Mon, 01/13/2014 - 13:11

Bond Holder pointing to Risen Star Stakes

Bond Holder, winner of the Grade 1 FrontRunner and fourth in both the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and CashCall Futurity in his last two starts, will make his 2014 debut in the Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 22, trainer Doug O’Neill said.

Bond Holder worked six furlongs in 1:14.80 on Sunday at Santa Anita.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

Mon, 01/13/2014 - 13:08

Santa Anita: Distance no issue for Bluesskiesnrainbows

Ben
Blueskiesnrainbows, with Martin Pedroza riding, wins the San Pasqual.

No matter the distance, if you put Bluesskiesnrainbows in the right spot, he’ll deliver.

Second in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon at 1 3/4 miles in November, Blueskiesnrainbows won the Grade 3 Native Diver at Hollywood Park last month going 1 1/8 miles, then shortened up to 1 1/16 miles Saturday and won the Grade 2 San Pasqual.

The win was the third in the last five starts for Blueskiesnrainbows, who has had his best success with jockey Martin Pedroza.