Fri, 02/23/2024 - 13:55

Vazquez to move tack to New York this spring

Benoit Photo

Jockey Ramon Vazquez will move his tack from Oaklawn Park to Aqueduct this spring.

Jockey Ramon Vazquez, who is riding this winter at Oaklawn Park, is planning a move to New York this spring, according to his agent Bill Castle.

Vazquez has spent the last few years riding in Southern California where he was the leading rider at the 2022 Santa Anita fall meet. In 2023, he won his first Grade 1 stakes when he guided Practical Move to a win in the Santa Anita Derby.

Vazquez has won or shared five riding titles at Los Alamitos.

Entering Friday’s action, Vazquez was tied for sixth in the Oaklawn standings with 15 wins from 144 mounts.

Fri, 02/23/2024 - 13:50

Jody's Pride ships north for easier spot in Busher

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Jody's Pride was last seen in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, where she finished second by a neck to Just F Y I.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jody’s Pride, runner-up to Just F Y I in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last November, will make her 3-year-old debut in the $200,000 Busher Stakes in March at Aqueduct, her connections confirmed.

Jody’s Pride, trained by Jorge Abreu, was in Florida with the idea of returning in the Grade 2, $200,000 Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park on the same day as the Busher. Her connections called an audible, however, and shipped her to New York last Monday. She was scheduled to have a workout over the weekend at Belmont Park.

Fri, 02/23/2024 - 13:45

Cox trio works ahead of Gotham

By David Grening

Joe Labozzetta

Bergen is part of a Brad Cox-trained trio expected for the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.

Trainer Brad Cox could run as many as four horses in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes and three of those horses put in workouts Friday morning at Belmont.

Bergen, winner of the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes on Jan. 27, worked a half-mile by himself in 49.65 seconds.

“He was very rateable today. He wasn’t his normal rank, just wanting to blow through the breeze,” Dustin Dugas, Cox’s New York-based assistant, said. “He had a really nice gallop-out. I was happy with that.”

Thu, 02/22/2024 - 15:46

Slow Down Andy retired; may breed this year

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Slow Down Andy won four stakes and more than $1.2 million while racing for his breeders, Paul and Zillah Reddam

The four-time stakes winner Slow Down Andy has been retired after being diagnosed with a sesamoid injury, trainer Doug O’Neill said on Thursday.

Slow Down Andy, 5, is a potential candidate for stud duty this year, even though the breeding season began last week, O’Neill said.

Slow Down Andy, who was bred and raced by Paul and Zillah Reddam, won 5 of 14 starts and earned $1,276,600 in a three-year career from 2021 to 2023.

Thu, 02/22/2024 - 14:53

Prat, Rosario to represent California in Saudi Arabia

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Flavien Prat will ride National Treasure in Saturday's $20 million Saudi Cup.

California-based jockeys Flavien Prat and Joel Rosario have mounts in the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, and will not ride at Santa Anita this weekend.

Through Thursday, Prat was tied for the lead in the standings at Santa Anita with Juan Hernandez with 32 wins. Rosario was tied for eighth with 9 wins.

Thu, 02/22/2024 - 14:46

The Chosen Vron to make next start in San Carlos

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Versatile California-bred The Chosen Vron will make his next start in the Grade 2 San Carlos at Santa Anita.

The Chosen Vron, the winner of 10 stakes since September 2022, including the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar last summer, will have his graded stakes debut of 2024 in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at Santa Anita March 16.

Wed, 02/21/2024 - 14:25

McPeek's unintended career on cusp of 2,000 wins

By Mary Rampellini

Barbara D. Livingston

When Kenny McPeek couldn’t find a job in finance after college, he made the wise decision to pursue a career in horse racing.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Kenny McPeek never anticipated he would be training racehorses upon securing a double degree in business finance and accounting from the University of Kentucky back in the mid-80s.

But fast forward to Friday and the 61-year-old horseman enters the race week one win from 2,000 training victories. He also has a flourishing stable stacked with promising 3-year-olds like leading Kentucky Derby contender Mystik Dan, and training centers in Kentucky and Florida.

“It’s been an interesting journey,” said McPeek.

Wed, 02/21/2024 - 13:59

Stronghold caps big weekend for Fresu

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Last Friday at Santa Anita, jockey Antonio Fresu rode four winners on the nine-race card.

For a Southern California-based jockey, Antonio Fresu had a near-perfect weekend last Friday through Sunday.

On Friday at Santa Anita, Fresu won four races on a nine-race program, his first four-win day since he began riding in the United States last April. On Saturday, Fresu won the Baffle Stakes on turf on the promising 3-year-old Stay Hot.

On Sunday, after a brief stay at Santa Anita for morning workouts, Fresu traveled to Sunland Park in New Mexico where he won the richest race of his American career on Stronghold in the Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby.

Wed, 02/21/2024 - 13:52

Victory Avenue to make next start in Fountain of Youth

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Coming off a 97 Beyer in a second-place finish in a maiden race, Victory Avenue will make his next start in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.

Victory Avenue, second as the favorite in his career debut, will make his next start in the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park on March 2, Ramiro Restrepo, who represents part of the colt’s ownership group said Wednesday.

Restrepo, of course, was part-owner of Mage, who won last year’s Kentucky Derby. Victory Avenue, like Mage, is trained by Gustavo Delgado.

Tue, 02/20/2024 - 15:43

Sunland Derby: A little van ride doesn't faze Stronghold

By Mary Rampellini

Stronghold wins Sunland Derby Feb 18 2024

Coady Photography

Stronghold vanned more than 15 hours from Santa Anita to win the Sunland Derby. He now has 25 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.

Stronghold is prepping for the Kentucky Derby in Mine That Bird fashion.

Well, sort off.

Mine That Bird, who won the 2009 Derby off a fourth-place finish in the Sunland Park Derby, famously vanned from the New Mexico track to Churchill Downs.

Stronghold on Sunday won the Grade 3, $400,000 Sunland Derby - after vanning about 15 hours from his base at Santa Anita.

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