Wed, 12/27/2023 - 15:09

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

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Ward ‘n Jerry was scheduled to start in a $10,000 claimer at Golden Gate Fields in the day’s eighth race, but was withdrawn at the insistence of owners and breeders Larry and Marianne Williams.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

Wed, 12/27/2023 - 14:55

Santa Anita sees mixed wagering results on opening day

By Steve Andersen

Susie Raisher

Santa Anita saw a record all-sources handle for an opening day on a Tuesday, at more than $18 million.

Ontrack attendance and all-sources handle declined on Tuesday’s opening day of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting compared to the corresponding day last year.

The track drew an announced crowd of 37,143 compared to 41,446 for a Monday opening day on Dec. 26, 2022. Ontrack handle on Tuesday was $2,568,874 compared to more than $3.16 million last year.

All-sources handle, which includes simulcast and account wagering options, was $18,302,550 on Tuesday compared to more than $26.3 million last year.

Wed, 12/27/2023 - 14:51

Anisette to get break after landing second Grade 1 of the year

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Anisette, with Umberto Rispoli aboard, captured her second Grade 1 victory of the year in Tuesday's American Oaks at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Anisette won her second Grade 1 of 2023 in Tuesday’s $300,000 American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita, leading to thoughts from trainer Leonard Powell of what she can accomplish against older fillies and mares in 2024.

Powell said on Wednesday that Anisette is likely to have a wintertime vacation, with the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf on May 27 as a springtime goal.

Wed, 12/27/2023 - 14:45

Easter will head back to Grade 1 company in Kilroe Mile

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

After winning Tuesday's Grade 2 San Gabriel at Santa Anita, trainer Phil D'Amato announced that Easter will likely try the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile, also at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Prestigious and lucrative races at Santa Anita or afar, and possibly very afar, are in wintertime plans for Easter and Newgrange, who won Grade 2 stakes for trainer Phil D’Amato at Santa Anita on Tuesday’s opening day of the winter-spring meeting.

Easter won his third consecutive stakes in the $200,500 San Gabriel Stakes at 1/8 miles on turf as the 7-10 favorite, closing from last of six through the final half-mile.

Wed, 12/27/2023 - 14:25

McCarthy determined to rebuild his business after a difficult year

By David Grening

Joe Labozzetta/NYRA

Trevor McCarthy started 2023 on the sidelines after breaking his collarbone and fracturing his pelvis in a spill. He recently won six races over a span of five days.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trevor McCarthy hopes the success he enjoyed in the middle of December is a harbinger for the upcoming winter.

Between Aqueduct and Parx, McCarthy won six races from Dec. 11-15 as he continues to work his way back from the injuries that seemed to derail his trajectory on the New York Racing Association circuit in 2023.

Tue, 12/26/2023 - 13:45

Two Emmys comes back strong in Diliberto Memorial

By Marcus Hersh

Trainer and principal owner Hugh Robertson means it when he says Two Emmys, on the cusp of turning 8, still is outrunning Father Time.

Two Emmys returned from a 10-month layoff at Fair Grounds on Saturday, set a strong pace, and won the $100,000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial by one length. His 93 Beyer belies a strong raw time of 1:42.03 for 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Tue, 12/26/2023 - 13:45

Alpine Princess closes out year with career-best Beyer

By Marcus Hersh

Alpine Princess wins Untapable at FG Dec 23 2023

Hodges Photography/Amanda Hodges Weir

Untapable winner Alpine Princess is likely to run next in the Rachel Alexandra on Feb. 17.

On Beyer Speed Figures, Alpine Princess vaulted to the top of the 2-year-old filly dirt-route division winning the Untapable Stakes at Fair Grounds on Saturday.

Tue, 12/26/2023 - 13:45

Track Phantom rekindles memories of Epicenter

By Marcus Hersh

Track Phantom wins Gun Runner at FG Dec 23 2023

Hodges Photography/Amanda Hodges Weir

Track Phantom raced on a quick pace in the Gun Runner but had enough left in the stretch to hold his challengers at bay.

One wouldn’t want to force the point, but similarities exist between a retired 4-year-old named Epicenter and the 2-year-old colt Track Phantom.

Epicenter made two starts around one turn before stepping forward in his third outing to sharply win a route race. Steve Asmussen trained Epicenter, and Asmussen also trains Track Phantom.

Wed, 12/20/2023 - 16:54

Woodbine finishes meet with $613.1 million in all-sources handle, second best all-time

By Ron Gierkink

Michael Burns

Woodbine handled an average of $519,597 per race during its 2023 Thoroughbred meet.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Wagering at the recently concluded 2023 Woodbine meet yielded an all-sources handle of $613,125,180, the second-highest single-season handle in the track’s history, but down $8 million from 2022.

Wed, 12/20/2023 - 12:50

McGaughey not rushing Change of Command

By David Grening

Lauren King

Change of Command, a flashy maiden winner, is likely to make his next start in an allowance race.

Trainer Shug McGaughey does not appear in a hurry to run impressive 2-year-old maiden winner Change of Command in a stakes race.

Change of Command, a 6 1/2-length winner of a seven-furlong maiden race on Sunday at Gulfstream, will likely make his next start in an allowance race, McGaughey said.

Change of Command, a son of Into Mischief who brought $1.05 million at auction, raced up close to the pace and drew clear while drifting out a tad to win handily. He ran seven furlongs in 1:25.02 and earned a 77 Beyer Speed Figure.

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