ELMONT, N.Y. - Javier Castellano will ride Kentucky Derby winner Orb in the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Sept. 28, trainer Shug McGaughey said Friday.
Castellano replaces Jose Lezcano who rode Orb to a third-place finish in the Travers, but who was subsequently injured and is uncertain to be back in time for the Gold Cup. Lezcano replaced Joel Rosario, who suffered a broken foot the day before the Travers and who is not expected back until the first week of October.
ELMONT, N.Y. – The 3-year-old filly Wedding Toast, an impressive 14 1/2-length allowance winner here at Belmont Park on Wednesday, could make her next start against her elders in the Grade 3, $200,000 Turnback the Alarm Stakes on Oct. 26, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said.
Ancil has never been better in his life, according to his trainer, and good for him. In a race as deep and difficult as the Kentucky Downs Turf Dash, he’s going to need every edge he can get.
Ancil, in off an Ellis Park victory that earned him a lifetime-high Beyer Speed Figure of 102 for trainer Joan Scott, is part of a full field of 12 Saturday in the six-furlong Turf Dash at Kentucky Downs.
AUBURN, Wash. – Big Bad Brown, a leading contender for claimer of the meeting honors, will shoot for his fourth consecutive victory Saturday in the featured race at Emerald Downs. First post for the eight-race card is 2 p.m. Pacific.
HALLANDALE BACH, Fla. – Seven months ago, Grande Shores was running in $8,000 claiming races at Tampa Bay Downs. On Saturday, Grande Shores will compete for a $100,000 purse at Gulfstream Park as one of the favorites in the one-mile Montbrook Stakes.
Grand Shores was always cut out to be a good horse. As a 2-year-old, he finished second behind Gourmet Dinner in Calder’s Dr. Fager Stakes. But shortly thereafter, he was stricken with a chronic case of colitis that nearly claimed his life.
MIAMI – The $85,000 Foolish Pleasure Stakes has traditionally been an attractive alternative for south Florida-based juveniles not eligible for the lucrative Stallion Stakes races, which have dominated the summer schedule at Calder since its inception more than 30 years ago.
Swift Warrior, a two-time Grade 3 stakes winner early this season who was beaten less than a length in a Grade 2 event two starts back, appears to hold a distinct class advantage in Saturday’s $250,000 Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association President’s Cup at Parx Racing.
The President’s Cup, scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on turf, goes as race 11 on a 12-race card and drew a field of 12 older males, including a coupled entry.
POMONA, Calif. – She was Hip No. 15 at the Barretts May sale of 2-year-olds in training, and she was likely to be outside trainer Bill Morey’s budget.
After all, City by the Bay previously sold for $110,000 at a yearling auction, breezed in a snappy 10.20 seconds at Barretts, and was by the popular stallion City Zip.
“I had pretty much written her off as too high,” Morey said. “She worked super, and initially we didn’t think we could get her.”
ELMONT, N.Y. – The connections of Better Lucky are hoping there’s some truth to the adage about good things coming to those who wait as their 4-year-old filly makes her first start in three months in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Noble Damsel Stakes at Belmont Park.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Stakes fields of modest size, unfortunately, were the main order of the day Thursday, with six entered in Sunday’s Woodbine Mile, seven in the Northern Dancer, and six in the Ontario Derby. But the Canadian Stakes had fared better when the entry box closed Thursday, as a field of nine fillies and mares was unveiled for the Grade 2, $300,000 turf race at 1 1/8 miles.
