HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Zaikov picked up a legion of fans after launching his career with a sensational 14-length victory here at Gulfstream Park last winter. But nagging shin issues forced his supporters to wait before getting to see the promising 3-year-old run again.
As it turned out, the wait was more than worthwhile.
Jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. is headed to Oaklawn Park at the end of the month, forsaking Turfway Park, where he dominated last winter in a successful effort to rebuild his career.
Arroyo, a Puerto Rico native who once was a leading jockey in New York, has been riding sparingly at the current holiday meet at Turfway in northern Kentucky. He was easily the leading jockey at the 2012 holiday meet and the 2013 winter-spring meet at Turfway.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Jockey Tyler Baze, who has not ridden since June because of an alcohol-related suspension, can resume riding Jan. 1 at Santa Anita, stewards Scott Chaney, Kim Sawyer, and Tom Ward announced in a ruling Friday.
Baze attended a hearing with the stewards Dec. 7, seeking a reinstatement of his license. At the time, Baze told the stewards that he was undergoing rehabilitation for alcoholism but admitted that he had consumed alcohol as recently as Nov. 20.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Palace, winner of the Grade 3 Fall Highweight in his last start, will look to cap a sensational second half of 2013 while potentially earning honors as the champion New York-bred sprinter when he runs in next Saturday’s $100,000 Gravesend Handicap at Aqueduct.
On Friday, Palace worked four furlongs in 49.86 seconds over the Belmont Park training track, getting his last quarter in 24.53 seconds while galloping out five furlongs in 1:02.58. On a track that wasn’t yielding particularly fast times most of the morning, this was a solid move.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – There was a time, earlier this season, when trainer Mark Hennig might have worried if his consistent turf filly Baffle Me drew into a race with a speedster like Silverette. But not anymore.
The formerly one-dimensional Baffle Me has become even more effective now that she has learned to rate, a trait that should serve her well when she tops a full field of 14 fillies and mares that includes Silverette in Sunday’s $100,000 South Beach at Gulfstream Park.
NEW ORLEANS – Jockey Florent Geroux, coming off a strong meet at Arlington Park, has been holding his own early in his first Fair Grounds meet while trying to connect with a new set of trainers.
Geroux won four races in the first three weeks and had two second-place finishes in stakes – on Central Banker in the Thanksgiving Handicap and on Marine Patrol in the Woodchopper.
“Hopefully, little by little, I can build up some business,” Geroux said.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Three of Woodbine’s top jockeys won’t be in action here this weekend, which includes the closing day of the meet Sunday. Leading rider Luis Contreras is representing Mexico in a jockey challenge in Panama, and Eurico Rosa Da Silva, a clear second in the standings, has traveled to his native Brazil.
Justin Stein missed the final two weeks of the meet due to personal reasons. He ranked third heading into this week, but both Jesse Campbell and Patrick Husbands were breathing down his neck after each of them found the winner’s circle Wednesday night.
Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up Will Take Charge arrived at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., on Tuesday, according to track officials. He was part of a shipment of D. Wayne Lukas-trained horses that included Grade 1 Hopeful winner Strong Mandate and Grade 2 Dixie winner Skyring. Will Take Charge won the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill in his most recent start Nov. 29. He is owned by Willis Horton of Marshall, Ark. Lukas regularly winters at Oaklawn, which opens its meet Jan. 10.
Noble Cornerstone, a flashy debut winner at Aqueduct for trainer Wesley Ward, is among eight or nine probables for the $250,000 Springboard Mile for 2-year-olds at Remington Park on Sunday, said Don Thompson, stakes coordinator for the Oklahoma City track. Noble Cornerstone on Thursday was scheduled to fly in from his Keeneland base.
Boyd Gaming wants to develop a marquee stakes race, likely for 3-year-olds, at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La., an executive with the Las Vegas-based company said. Boyd acquired Evangeline last year as part of its purchase of Peninsula Gaming. Evangeline is currently conducting a Quarter Horse meet that runs through Dec. 19. The track’s Thoroughbred meet opens in April and runs through the end of August.
