Mon, 11/11/2013 - 13:42

Churchill Downs: Believe You Can set to return in Falls City

Barbara D. Livingston
Believe You Can, the winner of the 2012 Kentucky Oaks, returned this year to win a pair of stakes at Fair Grounds by a combined 16 lengths.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Believe You Can, the 2012 Kentucky Oaks winner who has not raced since finishing last in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park in late May, is being pointed to a return in the Grade 2, $150,000 Falls City Handicap on Nov. 28, the traditional Thanksgiving Day feature here.

Mon, 11/11/2013 - 13:29

Woodbine notes: Gia Scala eyes South Ocean Stakes

Michael Burns
Alpha Bettor, the winner of the Grade 3 Seagram Cup last August, will try for his second stakes score in Sunday's Grade 2 Eclipse.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Gia Scala, a maiden winner at seven furlongs in her second career start for trainer Ralph Biamonte, is scheduled to make her stakes debut in the $125,000 South Ocean here Nov. 24.

Owned by the Beclawat Stable of Les Pereira, Gia Scala had finished an encouraging fourth in her six-furlong debut here Oct. 12 before stalking the pace en route to a neck victory under jockey Patrick Husbands on Oct. 27.

Mon, 11/11/2013 - 13:05

Woodbine notes: Flashy Margaritta likely to stretch out farther

Michael Burns
Flashy Margarita takes the Frost King Stakes gateto wire.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Heading into last Saturday’s $125,000 Frost King Stakes, trainer Ralph Biamonte had been concerned about his Flashy Margaritta’s ability to stay seven furlongs. But after watching the 2-year-old gelding lead throughout for a 1 1/2-length victory under Patrick Husbands, Biamonte was pleased to acknowledge that his fears had been unfounded.

Sun, 11/10/2013 - 13:48

Hollywood Park: Broadway Empire to go in Zia Park Derby

Dustin Orona Photography
Rico Walcott wins the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby aboard Broadway Empire in his first U.S. mount.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Broadway Empire, ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 1, will run in the $200,000 Zia Park Derby in New Mexico on Nov. 23, trainer Robertino Diodoro said Sunday.

Broadway Empire won three stakes at Northlands Park in Canada and Remington Park in Oklahoma before the loss in the BC Dirt Mile. On Nov. 1, Broadway Empire was second to eventual winner Goldencents for six furlongs but faded in the final furlong.

Diodoro said Broadway Empire was transferred to his stable at Turf Paradise last Friday and will be based there for another two weeks.

Sun, 11/10/2013 - 13:38

Hollywood Park: Dance With Fate to target stakes on synthetic surfaces

Shigeki Kikkawa
Dance With Fate had a troubled debut last month at Betfair Hollywood Park, but rebounded Sunday for his maiden victory.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Dance With Fate, who was second in two Grade 1 races before finishing eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 2, will have an early 2014 campaign geared toward synthetic-track races.

Sun, 11/10/2013 - 13:22

Hollywood Park: Bajan targeting Hollywood Starlet Stakes

Shigeki Kikkawa
Bajan, who won the Moccasin Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths Saturday, will point to the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet on Dec. 7.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – After winning two sprint stakes this fall, Bajan will make her debut around two turns in the $500,000 Hollywood Starlet Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park on Dec. 7.

On Saturday, Bajan won the longest race of her career in the $100,000 Moccasin Stakes for 2-year-old fillies over seven furlongs, leaving trainer Simon Callaghan with the impression that the Grade 1 Starlet over 1 1/16 miles is suitable.

Sat, 11/09/2013 - 14:27

Gulfstream Park notes: Eldaafer injured while training

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Eldaafer (right) defeats Indian Jones by a nose in the Greenwood Cup, his final career start.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Eldaafer, the winner of the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Marathon, has been retired after suffering a suspensory injury pulling up following a routine five-furlong work Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park.

Sat, 11/09/2013 - 13:01

Hollywood Park notes: Reneesgotzip will race next year

Benoit & Associates
Reneesgotzip, setting a Del Mar record for 6 1/2 furlongs in the Rancho Bernardo, could go in the BC Turf Sprint, Filly and Mare Sprint, or Sprint.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Reneesgotzip, second and third in the last two runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, will stay in training as a 5-year-old in 2014, trainer Peter Miller said on Friday.

Earlier in the week, Miller conferred with owner Debbie Lanni about plans for Reneesgotzhip, who has won 7 of 13 starts and earned $795,460.

Sat, 11/09/2013 - 12:53

Churchill Downs notes: McPeek eyeing major stakes for Golden Ticket, Rosalind

Barbara D. Livingston
Golden Ticket, runner-up to Goldencents in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, will start next in either the Cigar Mile or Clark Handicap.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Golden Ticket and Rosalind, the two Ken McPeek horses that put in solid performances at the Breeders’ Cup, are being aimed at one more start apiece before the end of the year.

Golden Ticket, second to Goldencents in the BC Dirt Mile, could travel to New York to challenge Goldencents and Groupie Doll in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile on Nov. 30 at Aqueduct, although the Grade 1 Clark Handicap the previous day at Churchill Downs will remain an option, said McPeek.

Fri, 11/08/2013 - 14:56

Mid-South notes: Show Some Magic to Zia Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Show Some Magic is one of four Henry Dominguez-trained runners in the $100,000 Riley Allison Futurity at Sunland Park.

Show Some Magic, a stakes winner who finished fifth in the $100,000 Damascus on the Breeders’ Cup Saturday undercard at Santa Anita, is being pointed for the $200,000 Zia Park Derby, said his trainer, Henry Dominguez.

The Zia Derby, to be run over 1 1/16 miles, is on Nov. 24. It is part of a program of stakes that includes the new $300,000 Zia Park Oaks.