Wed, 01/08/2014 - 13:48

Los Alamitos cuts three cards to complete track expansion

Scott Martinez/Los Alamitos
Construction to expand the track at Los Alamitos to a one-mile oval will be completed later this month.

CYPRESS, Calif. – Los Alamitos has canceled three days of Quarter Horse racing from Jan. 17-19 to complete the expansion of its main track for future Thoroughbred meetings, the track announced on Tuesday.

The main track is being expanded from its current circumference of five-eighths of a mile to a mile. During the week of Jan. 13, maintenance crews will join the existing track with the expanded section and blend the surface.

The expansion project began on Dec. 10 and is on schedule, track officials said last weekend. This week, the rail posts were being installed.

Tue, 01/07/2014 - 17:25

Gulfstream Park: Preferential, Close It Out put in drills

Despite unseasonably cold weather that saw wind-chill factors plummet into the 30s at Gulfstream on Tuesday morning, there was plenty of activity on the racetrack. Among the most notable works turned in were by Preferential, who has trained very smartly since arriving following her victory in Keeneland’s Dowager Stakes to close out her 2013 campaign, and Close It Out.

Tue, 01/07/2014 - 15:35

Gulfststream: Revolutionary scheduled to return Saturday

Barbara D. Livingston
If an allowance race fills, Revolutionary will run Saturday. If the race doesn't go, he will make his 2014 debut in the Hal's Hope.

Revolutionary, who has not started since finishing fifth in the Belmont Stakes, will make his 2014 debut here at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said he will enter Revolutionary in an allowance race that was written back after failing to fill for Friday. It the race doesn’t go again, he will enter the multiple graded stakes winner in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope.

Tue, 01/07/2014 - 15:17

Santa Anita: Peace and Justice impresses

Tom Keyser
Peace and Justice won a one-mile turf allowance by 5 1/4 lengths Sunday at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Peace and Justice won first time out, bolted to the outside in his second start, then ran off to a long lead and faded in his third. Last Sunday, in start No. 4, he was dazzling, running away from a first-level allowance field on turf in a manner that suggested that stakes races are in his future. But can such an inconsistent horse be trusted?

Tue, 01/07/2014 - 15:00

Gulfstream Park: Groupie Doll gears up for career finale

Tom Keyser
The Hurricane Bertie at Gulfstream and the Barbara Fritchie are Laurel are the leading possibilities for Groupie Doll's final race.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Reigning female sprint champion Groupie Doll arrived early Tuesday afternoon at trainer Buff Bradley’s barn at Gulfstream Park, where she will continue preparations for what will be the final start of her racing career later this winter.

Groupie Doll, the leading contender to win a second consecutive title when the 2013 Eclipse Awards are announced here Jan. 18, will be bred to Tapit following her retirement.

Tue, 01/07/2014 - 14:59

Santa Anita: Blingo to stick to dirt

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Blingo wins the I'm a Banker Stakes at Belmont Park in October.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Blingo began his career on turf and has raced mostly on turf and synthetic surfaces during an oft-interrupted career, but a recent win at Belmont Park, coupled with strong subsequent works, has convinced trainer John Shirreffs that dirt is his preferred surface, so he will remain on dirt for the Grade 2, $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes for older horses Saturday.

Tue, 01/07/2014 - 14:41

Santa Anita: Kristo fresh for Sham Stakes

Benoit & Associates
Kristo has not raced since winning his maiden in his third career start at Santa Anita on Oct. 31.

ARCADIA, Calif. – It took three starts, but Kristo finally showed what all the hype was about when scoring a romping win against maidens going two turns during the fall meeting here at Santa Anita. It was the third straight race in which he was sent off at 3-5, and it followed a pair of runner-up finishes in sprints against maidens, one at Del Mar and one here.

Tue, 01/07/2014 - 14:23

Fair Grounds notes: Gold Hawk targets Lecomte for stakes debut

Coady Photography
Rise Up, winner of the Delta Downs Jackpot, returned to Tom Amoss’s Fair Grounds barn on Tuesday after a one-month rest in Florida.

Gold Hawk, the 3-year-old Empire Maker colt trained by Steve Asmussen who has started his career with a pair of promising wins, will make his stakes debut in the Jan. 18 Lecomte Stakes, Asmussen said Monday.

Out of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Caressing and owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Gold Hawk won his seven-furlong career debut Nov. 30 at Churchill by 2 1/4 lengths and came back to beat first-level allowance foes around two turns by 3 1/2 lengths on Dec. 27 at Fair Grounds.

Tue, 01/07/2014 - 13:03

Golden Gate Fields: Mahorney looks for win with debuting Expensive Jet

No matter where Expensive Jet finishes in his debut in Thursday’s second race at Golden Gate Fields, trainer Cinda Mahorney will consider the day a success.

Mahorney is the daughter of jockey Bill Mahorney, one of Northern California’s top riders in the B.B. (Before Baze) era. He won more than 2,500 races before his career was cut short by injuries.

Cinda Mahorney, 42, always loved horses and wanted a career at the track, but her father always tried to dissuade her.

Mon, 01/06/2014 - 14:51

Santa Anita: Different paths for Baffert fillies

Benoit & Associates
Mike Smith guides Awesome Baby to a front-running victory in the Santa Ynez for 3-year-old fillies.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Awesome Baby, who won the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Saturday, and stablemate Crushed Velvet, third as the favorite in the 6 1/2-furlong race, will take different paths this spring, trainer Bob Baffert said.

Awesome Baby will remain in sprints, while Crushed Velvet, who was making only her second start, will get a chance to stretch out and see if she’s an Oaks-quality filly.