Jockey Drayden Van Dyke returns to riding after a self-imposed hiatus for the first time in three months at Santa Anita on Sunday.
Van Dyke has two mounts on the nine-race program, both for trainer Bob Baffert – Apple Fest in a maiden race on turf in the third race, and Fast and Shiny in the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes for fillies and mares on the hillside turf course in the seventh race.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The second invitation list for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 27 was released Wednesday with Dynamic One having been added to the group of 12 invitees with the defection of Subsanador, who is no longer under consideration of the race, according to trainer John Sadler.
Dynamic One’s main claim to fame is his popular victory in the Grade 2 Suburban at Belmont Park in July 2022. He has started just twice since and returned from a 15 1/2-month layoff to finish a disappointing fifth as the 3-2 favorite in a one-mile allowance event here on Dec. 22.
A group of five California-breds trained by Steve Specht were on a van from Golden Gate Fields to Santa Anita on Wednesday morning when the trip came to a standstill on Interstate-5 because of a traffic accident that closed the freeway.
“The horses are just standing there,” said Specht, who was driving in a different vehicle. “It’s cold. It’s 37 degrees.”
Specht is hoping his quintet have better journeys when they start in stakes for statebreds on Saturday’s California Cup program at Santa Anita.
Too Much Kiki’s win in the Darby’s Daughter division of the Texas Stallion Stakes on Saturday launched what could be a very productive Sam Houston meet for the Texas-bred daughter of Too Much Bling.
She is eligible for a number of restricted stakes throughout the season that runs into April.
“We’ve always liked her, been very high on her,” said trainer Bret Calhoun. “She started out at Lone Star, did well, and we ended up just giving her time off, pointing for this series of races at Sam Houston.”
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The millionaire Mr. Wireless won his maiden at a mile at Oaklawn Park in 2021 and last week his 3-year-old half-brother Goldbrick did the same, rallying from well off the pace to win by a neck and earn a Beyer Speed Figure of 82.
“Goldbrick’s family has been good to us, kind of been the gift that keeps giving,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “He looks like another good one.”
Too Much Kiki had an elite rider on her back last Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park when she won a $75,000 division of the Texas Stallion Stakes under Fernando Jara.
That’s the same Jara who won the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Classic and 2007 Dubai World Cup with Invasor and the 2006 Belmont Stakes with Jazil. The 36-year-old native of Panama is now based at Sam Houston after competing overseas. Jara won three races opening weekend and is tied for second in the standings, while leading all riders in earnings.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Brad Cox and Axel Concepcion, who are finalists for Eclipse Awards, are scheduled to team together Sunday at Oaklawn Park. Cox has named the rider on Sharp Flame in the second race. Concepcion is based at Turfway Park, which is not racing on Sunday.
“He’s willing to get in a car, get on an airplane, and ride races,” said Cox. “Some of the big-time riders back East said he looks like a talented rider, had high praise for him. I think he has a big career ahead of him.”
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Brad Cox won Oaklawn Park’s first Kentucky Derby points race earlier this month with Catching Freedom in the Smarty Jones and now has several runners under consideration for the second leg of the series, the Grade 3, $800,000 Southwest.
The 1 1/16-mile race is Jan. 27.
Oaklawn’s other points races are the Rebel on Feb. 24 and the Arkansas Derby on March 30.
Cox said plans for Catching Freedom are to be determined. He won the Smarty Jones by 2 1/2 lengths on Jan. 1. Catching Freedom is now 2 for 3 for Albaugh Family Stables.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Timberlake, one of the top prospects for this year’s Kentucky Derby, could launch his 3-year-old season in the Grade 2, $1.25 million Rebel at Oaklawn Park, according to his trainer, Brad Cox.
The 1 1/16-mile points race for the Kentucky Derby is Feb. 24.
Timberlake won last year’s Grade 1 Champagne at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet in October, one start after running second in the Hopeful at Saratoga. He wrapped up his season on Nov. 3, when he finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita.
Fair Grounds on Tuesday announced an across-the-board 10 percent purse increase at its ongoing meet. The enhanced purse structure starts with the beginning of the next condition book, with the program of Jan. 25, and the New Orleans track, which is owned by Churchill Downs Inc., also is increasing the purse of 10 stakes races from $75,000 to $100,000.
