Fri, 12/29/2023 - 12:30

Baltas set to return after year-long suspension

Emily Shields

Trainer Richard Baltas will send out his first runners since July 2022 Sunday at Santa Anita.

Trainer Richard Baltas, who completed a one-year suspension earlier this month for violations related to the administration of raceday supplements in the spring of 2022, will have his first starter since July 2022 at Santa Anita on Sunday.

Baltas, who is in the process of reforming his stable, runs Flavius and Hurricane Cloud in the first race, at a mile on turf for $40,000 claimers.

“It’s the first time I’ve had a few starters in a while,” Baltas said on Thursday. “It feels good to be back and it feels right.”

Fri, 12/29/2023 - 11:10

Back to Ohio will get break before stakes-laden 2024 campaign

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Photography

Back to Ohio is expected to get a break before a 2024 campaign full of stakes.

Back to Ohio will be heading back to Ohio at some point. She made a rare start outside of the Ohio-bred ranks on Dec. 16 at Oaklawn and won a two-other-than allowance for fillies and mares by more than two lengths. With the win, the 3-year-old filly by Midshipman improved her record to 9 for 10.

“How about that?” trainer Larry Rivelli said. “What a horse. She’s unbelievable. She’s just a picture of consistency.

Fri, 12/29/2023 - 11:10

Magic Grant hopes to add more Derby points in Southwest Stakes

By Mary Rampellini

Dustin Orona Photography

Magic Grant finished third in the Springboard Mile and will make his next start in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn.

Magic Grant, who won his maiden in the Clever Trevor at Remington Park before running a close third in the track’s $300,000 Springboard Mile on Dec. 15, is being pointed toward the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn, trainer Eddie Milligan Jr. said Thursday.

The Grade 3, $800,000 race is Jan. 27. It carries points for the Kentucky Derby.

Magic Grant earned three points for his effort in the Springboard Mile, a race in which he closed for third. He finished two lengths behind winner Otto the Conqueror.

Fri, 12/29/2023 - 11:10

Miss Code West to make next start in Oaks prep at Oaklawn or Sunland

By Mary Rampellini

Dustin Orona Photography

Miss Code West has won all four of her starts this year, including three consecutive stakes wins.

The undefeated Miss Code West will likely launch her 3-year-old season in a Kentucky Oaks points race at either Oaklawn Park or Sunland Park.

She’s wrapped up a 2-year-old campaign in which she won all four of her starts, capped by the Trapeze on Dec. 15 at Remington Park. It was the third consecutive stakes win for the filly – and her second at a mile. A few days later, Miss Code West was voted Remington’s horse of the meet for owners Jeff and Julie Puryear and trainer Kevin Scholl.

Thu, 12/28/2023 - 14:50

Golden Gate to have rare pick five carryover Friday

By Steve Andersen

There is a rare carryover of $59,767 in the 50-cent late pick five at Golden Gate Fields on Friday.

On Monday’s opening day of the track’s winter-spring meeting, the bet proved too tricky. There were no winning favorites in the sequence. Surprise wins by Gabby Hayes ($18.80) in the seventh race and Jaime’s Commitment ($24.20) in the ninth race were tough to isolate.

Thu, 12/28/2023 - 14:42

Daddysruby hands owner first Grade 1 victory in La Brea

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Daddysruby narrowly got her nose down to win her stakes debut in the Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita.

Regardless of the outcome of the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita on Tuesday, the presence of Daddysruby in the $302,000 race for 3-year-old fillies was a milestone for Montana-based owner and breeder Steve Reger.

“That was the first time I’ve been” in a Grade 1, Reger said.

The race produced the most thrilling stretch run of the opening day of the track’s winter-spring meeting with Daddysruby leading throughout the seven-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies to win by the slimmest of noses over Big Pond.

Thu, 12/28/2023 - 12:10

Tina Marie Bond elected as new president of NYTHA

By David Grening

Tina Marie Bond, a horse owner and the wife of trainer H. James Bond, was elected president of the New York Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association, which was announced Wednesday evening.

Bond, who previously served as the co-vice president of NYTHA, defeated trainer Chad Summers. Both were vying for the job held for six years by Joe Appelbaum, who did not run for re-election as he explores other opportunities.

Thu, 12/28/2023 - 12:10

NYRA announces 195 days of racing during 2024, all at Aqueduct, Saratoga

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Due to ongoing construction at Belmont Park, this year's Belmont Stakes will be held at Saratoga.

The New York Racing Association has scheduled 195 days of racing in 2024, a 3.4 percent decrease from the 202 days scheduled in 2023, according to the schedule released Thursday by the company.

As has been expected, all racing downstate in 2024 will be held at Aqueduct as the massive renovation project at Belmont Park continues. Ultimately, it is the expectation that all downstate racing will be conducted at Belmont Park starting in 2026 or 2027.

Thu, 12/28/2023 - 10:39

Barn under quarantine at Mahoning Valley due to equine herpesvirus

By Matt Hegarty

A barn at Mahoning Valley Race Course in Youngstown, Ohio, has been placed under quarantine after a horse tested positive for equine herpesvirus, according to state horsemen’s officials.

Wed, 12/27/2023 - 15:09

Graded stakes winner Ward ‘n Jerry retired at the age of 10

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Ward ‘n Jerry captured the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita in March of 2020.

Ward ‘n Jerry, a graded stakes winner in 2020 who gained a following in California because of his longevity, was retired on Tuesday at the age of 10.

Ward ‘n Jerry was scheduled to start in a $10,000 claimer at Golden Gate Fields in the day’s eighth race, but was withdrawn at the insistence of owners and breeders Larry and Marianne Williams.

“We got to worrying that he would get claimed and end up somewhere we wouldn’t like it,” Dan Kiser, racing manager for the Williamses, said on Wednesday. “We decided not to take the chance.”

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