Wed, 09/25/2013 - 12:36

Northlands Park: Real Dingo seeks easier spot in optional claimer

Real Dingo, who is coming off a fourth-place finish in the $100,000 Speed to Spare, will appreciate the substantially easier company when he runs in a $25,000 optional claimer that headlines an eight-race card Friday at Northlands Park. The 1 1/16-mile feature for 3-year-olds and up drew six horses and goes as the seventh race. Post time for the first race is 6 p.m. Mountain.

Tue, 09/24/2013 - 16:45

Presque Isle Downs: Primed for Passion seeks fifth straight win in HBPA Stakes

Coady Photography
Mystic City wins the $100,000 Windward Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths at Presque Isle Downs on June 30.

Primed for Passion will look for her fifth win in as many starts this year in the $100,000 HBPA Stakes for older fillies and mares Thursday evening at Presque Isle Downs. It is the final card of the 100-day Presque Isle meet, and the race will be run as the fifth of eight races.

The 3-year-old filly is trained by Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard, and all four of her wins this year have come at Presque Isle. After Sheppard took over her training, she won her maiden May 13 and then an entry-level allowance race June 23. On July 30, she won a second-level allowance.

Tue, 09/24/2013 - 16:27

Remington Park: Oklahoma Derby has seven likely to challenge Departing

Tom Keyser
Texas Bling, a probable starter for the Oklahoma Derby on Sunday, has run well at Remington in the past, winning last year's Springboard Mile.

Departing’s list of challengers for the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park on Sunday is starting to swell. Cameo Appearance is probable for the 1 1/8-mile race, trainer Wayne Catalano said Tuesday, while Carve and Texas Bling also have been confirmed by their connections to be part of a projected field of eight. Entries will be taken Thursday.

Tue, 09/24/2013 - 16:20

Belmont Park: Flat Out takes aim at rare feat in Jockey Club Gold Cup

Barbara D. Livingston
Last year, Flat Out became just the 10th horse in history to win back-to-back runnings of the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park.

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ELMONT, N.Y. – It would have come as no surprise had the connections of Flat Out announced his retirement at the end of last year.

Tue, 09/24/2013 - 15:57

Belmont Park: Antonucci has three contenders in two allowance sprints

Tom Keyser
Howaboutwe, winner of a maiden race two starts ago, seeks his second career win in Thursday's third race for New York-bred 2-year-olds.

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The “A” team will be out in force Thursday when Jena Antonucci saddles three runners in a pair of six-furlong allowance races that highlight a 10-race program at Belmont Park.

“We’re ready to roll,” said Antonucci, who sent out three winners at Saratoga and has kept up the momentum with two more at Belmont’s fall meet.

Tue, 09/24/2013 - 15:11

Belmont: DRF Plus handicapping report for September 25, 2013

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Race 1

Spot Play:

Lisvernane (#5, 6-1) ran well when fresh at Saratoga with a close third in an allowance there; similar preparation into this; value is there.  – Byron King

Tue, 09/24/2013 - 14:59

Delaware Park: McGaughey has rested Admiral Perry for With Anticipation Stakes

Nikki Sherman Photography
Admiral Perry is winless in six starts this year but was the runner-up in three of those races.

Shug McGaughey seldom ships horses to Delaware Park, and all he has to show for seven starts there since 2010 is a third-place finish in a maiden race earlier this month. The three horses McGaughey has run on Delaware’s turf course have finished sixth, seventh, and ninth.

Nevertheless, there is one potent trainer angle McGaughey has working in his favor that helps to explain why Admiral Perry is the 3-1 morning-line favorite for Thursday’s $50,000 With Anticipation Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile turf race which drew a field of 11 older horses.

Tue, 09/24/2013 - 13:54

Richard's Kid, Lady of Fifty retired from racing

Benoit & Associates
Richard's Kid, winner of the Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar in July, has been retired from racing.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Lady of Fifty and Richard’s Kid, graded stakes winners at Del Mar during the summer, have been retired, their respective trainers said Tuesday.

Lady of Fifty, winner of the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar last month, will be sold as a broodmare prospect at Keeneland in November, according to co-owner and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

Richard’s Kid, who won the Grade 3 Cougar II at Del Mar in July, has been retired after the presence of heat was found in a tendon, trainer Doug O’Neill said.

Tue, 09/24/2013 - 13:04

Keeneland: Longtime bugler Sallee retires at 84

Keeneland photo
Longtime Keeneland bugler Bucky Sallee has retired at age 84.

LEXINGTON – Bucky Sallee, the bugler at Keeneland for the past 51 years and a beloved fixture at the track, has retired and will be named the racing industry’s first bugler emeritus.

Sallee will be replaced by Steve Buttleman, who is entering his 18th year of bugling at Churchill Downs this fall. Buttleman also has bugled at Belmont Park and Oaklawn Park, Keeneland said.

Mon, 09/23/2013 - 17:31

Belmont Park: My Miss Aurelia sharp in drill

Tom Keyser
Three-time Grade 1 winner My Miss Aurelia breezed five furlongs in 1:00.78 at Belmont Park on Monday.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The champion and three-time Grade 1 winner My Miss Aurelia took another step toward a return to racing with a sharp five-furlong, in-company work Monday over the Belmont Park training track.

Working with the unstarted 2-year-old filly Flatbow, My Miss Aurelia went in 1:00.78, with her final three furlongs in 35.90 seconds. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.33. It was her first five-eighths breeze since being sent to Pletcher last month at Saratoga.