Wed, 01/17/2024 - 11:50

Carbone to get first real test in Southwest Stakes

Coady Photography

After two easy victories, Carbone is expected to start in the Jan. 27 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The unbeaten and untested Carbone likely will make his next start in the Grade 3, $800,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park, trainer Steve Asmussen said Tuesday.

The 1 1/16-mile race will reward its first five finishers Kentucky Derby points on a scale of 20-10-6-4-2. The Southwest anchors a card of four stakes Jan. 27.

Carbone has won his two career starts by a combined 12 lengths. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 85 in November, when he won a maiden special weight by eight lengths over Goldbrick, who is a half-brother to millionaire Mr. Wireless.

Mon, 01/15/2024 - 12:20

Tamara to remain sidelined

By Steve Andersen

Debra A. Roma

Tamara has yet to return to training since an injury in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies as the favorite.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Tamara, the winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante in September, continues to recover from a splint bone injury detected after she finished seventh as the beaten favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita in November.

Trainer Richard Mandella said that Tamara will be transferred next week from a local farm to a lay-up facility operated by Julie Adair to begin light activity. Mandella said he does not expect Tamara to rejoin his Santa Anita stable until later in February.

“Whenever she’s back, she’s back,” Mandella said.

Mon, 01/15/2024 - 12:20

Easter to head straight to Kilroe Mile

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Easter will begin his 2024 campaign in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Easter, the impressive winner of three turf stakes in Southern California in his final three starts of 2023, will have a delayed 2024 debut in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 2.

Trainer Phil D’Amato said over the weekend that he would prefer to start Easter’s season in the $300,000 Kilroe on turf instead of the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf on Feb. 3. The long-range goal is the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 2.

Mon, 01/15/2024 - 12:20

Mici's Express to get break after Cal Cup Derby win

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Mici's Express was an upset winner of Saturday's California Cup Derby at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Mici’s Express won his 3-year-old debut in Saturday’s $188,000 California Cup Derby for statebreds at Santa Anita.

But instead of being a prep for a challenging start in a graded stakes in coming weeks or months, Mici’s Express is going to the sidelines.

“I’ll turn him out for awhile,” trainer Steve Knapp said on Sunday. “He’s run hard enough. He deserves time off.”

Sat, 01/13/2024 - 15:26

Freezing temperatures forces Oaklawn to cancel Sunday card

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Photography

Oaklawn Park has announced the cancellation of Sunday's card to do freezing temperatures.

Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., has canceled Sunday’s card due to a forecast calling for freezing temperatures, the track announced during the races Saturday. There is a winter storm watch in effect for the county, starting at 12 p.m. Central on Sunday and continuing through 6 p.m. on Monday, according to AccuWeather.

Fri, 01/12/2024 - 13:18

Kopion to try mile in Las Virgenes, eyes potential Kentucky Oaks try

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Kopion, unbeaten in two starts, last won the Grade 3, $100,000 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita.

Kopion, the unbeaten 3-year-old filly who has won two starts in sprints by more than nine lengths, will start at a mile in the Grade 3 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 4, a new distance that trainer Richard Mandella hopes will lead to seven-figure races this spring.

Kopion won a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs by 3 3/4 lengths at Del Mar in November, and her stakes debut with an easy win by 5 3/4 lengths at 1-5 in the Grade 3 Santa Ynez Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita last Sunday.

Fri, 01/12/2024 - 13:13

Van Dyke set to resume riding after self-imposed hiatus

By Steve Andersen

Emily Shields

After a three-month, self imposed break from riding, jockey Drayden Van Dyke is set to return to riding on Sunday at Santa Anita.

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.

Wed, 01/10/2024 - 14:44

Dynamic One a new invitee to Pegasus World Cup

By Mike Welsch

Debra A. Roma

Dynamic One, winner of the Grade 2 Suburban at Belmont Park in July 2022, finished fifth at Gulfstream on Dec. 22 while returning from a 15 1/2-month layoff.

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.

Wed, 01/10/2024 - 14:10

Specht ships five in for California Cup program

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Grand Slam Smile and trainer Steve Specht won the Gold State Juveniles Fillies on the Breeders' Cup undercard on Nov. 3.

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.

Wed, 01/10/2024 - 12:10

Too Much Kiki will continue to add distance in Bara Lass

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Photography

After winning 3 of 4 races, Too Much Kiki will try the Bara Lass at Sam Houston.

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.”

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