Tue, 09/26/2023 - 11:05

Honor D lady to stay on dirt following Remington Oaks triumph

Dustin Orona Photography

Honor D Lady is 3 for 8 in her career and a stakes winner on turf and dirt. Her other win came on Tapeta.

The versatile Honor D Lady will likely remain on dirt for at least the near future following her Sunday win in the Grade 3, $200,000 Remington Park Oaks, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said.

Honor D Lady was making just her second start on dirt and for the effort earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 86.

The Remington Oaks was the second stakes win for Honor D Lady behind the Honey Ryder on turf in May at Gulfstream Park. She’s also Grade 3-placed on Tapeta, in the Selene at Woodbine, and she won her maiden on the same type of synthetic surface last year at Gulfstream.

Mon, 09/25/2023 - 13:36

Maryquitecontrary, Caramel Swirl invited to Princess Rooney

By Mike Welsch

Debra A. Roma

Maryquitecontrary has shown an affinity for the Gulfstream dirt and will look to earn a Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint berth in the Princess Rooney.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. — Graded stakes winners Maryquitecontrary and Caramel Swirl top a list of 12 fillies and mares who have been invited to participate in the $200,000 Princess Rooney Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Oct. 7. The seven-furlong, Grade 3 Princess Rooney is a “Win and You’re In” automatic qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita on November 4.

Mon, 09/25/2023 - 13:25

Bran to opt for winter stakes instead of BC Turf Sprint

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Bran will start in Saturday’s Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes over Santa Anita hillside turf but will not start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, according to trainer John Sadler.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Not all the runners in graded stakes at Santa Anita this weekend are being aimed for Breeders’ Cup races on Nov. 3-4.

Bran, a three-time stakes winner, will start in Saturday’s Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. For some runners, the $200,000 Eddie D Stakes could lead to a start in the BC Turf Sprint at five furlongs on Nov. 4.

That is not the case with Bran, who closed from last of 12 to finish seventh by 3 1/4 lengths in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on Sept. 2.

Mon, 09/25/2023 - 13:20

Hernandez, Herrera, Vazquez tie for Los Alamitos riding title

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Jockey Juan Hernandez captured a share of the Los Alamitos riding title, with Diego Herrera and Ramon Vazquez, going 6 for 6 on his mounts during the six-day meet.

CYPRESS, Calif. – Juan Hernandez, already the leading rider in Southern California this year, had a perfect day to end the Los Alamitos September meeting on Sunday.

Hernandez won with all four of his mounts on runners trained by Bob Baffert and finished the meeting with a perfect record from six mounts.

Hernandez, who led all riders at Santa Anita and Del Mar earlier this year, rode sparingly during the two-week season which included six days of racing.

Mon, 09/25/2023 - 12:26

Jeff Metz closes stable to take stall superintendent position

By Steve Andersen

ARCADIA, Calif. - Jeff Metz, a former leading trainer at Emerald Downs in Washington State and one of the leading trainers at Turf Paradise in Phoenix in recent years, recently relinquished his stable to take a position as stall superintendent at Santa Anita.

Metz, 56, replaces Bobby Troeger, also a former trainer, who left the position earlier this month.

Metz had his final starters at Emerald Downs and Los Alamitos on Sept. 17 and his final win at Emerald on Aug. 5. Metz won 938 races in a career that began in 1991.

Fri, 09/22/2023 - 17:51

Aqueduct cancels Saturday card in advance of anticipated storm

By David Grening

R. L. Thibodeau

There will be a pick six carryover of $62,293 on the Sunday card at Aqueduct.

Due to a forecast calling for heavy rain and strong winds, Saturday’s 10-race Aqueduct card has been canceled, the New York Racing Association announced Friday afternoon.

According to the National Weather Service, there is chance for between one and two inches of rain in the New York metropolitan area throughout Saturday. Winds are forecast to be 18 to 21 miles per hour with gusts as high as 34 miles per hour.

Aqueduct will be open for simulcasting on Saturday.

Fri, 09/22/2023 - 17:32

Jockey Cabrera breaks femur, undergoes surgery

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Photography

David Cabrera was second in the Remington Park rider standings at the time of his injury.

Jockey David Cabrera will likely be sidelined until early next year after breaking his femur during Thursday night’s seventh race at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.

Cabrera was injured during the stretch drive when thrown from his mount, Outlining, who continued on to the wire. Cabrera underwent surgery Friday afternoon, according to his agent, Jose Santos Jr.

“I spoke to him this morning and he’s in good spirits,” Santos said. “Of course, he’s bummed out about what happened.”

Fri, 09/22/2023 - 14:10

War Like Goddess on target to try for repeat in Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

War Like Goddess was forced to miss a start last month in the Flower Bowl due to illness.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – War Like Goddess, who was forced to miss the Grade 2 Flower Bowl earlier this month due to an illness, is on target to try for a repeat victory in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic next Saturday at Belmont Park.

On Friday, War Like Goddess worked a half-mile in 50.51 seconds over the Oklahoma dirt course.

Fri, 09/22/2023 - 14:10

Forte still pointing to Breeders' Cup Classic despite absence from work tab

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Forte has not breezed since finishing fourth in the Travers on Aug. 26.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Though he has yet to work back since his fourth-place finish in the Travers Stakes on Aug. 26, Forte, last year’s 2-year-old champion, is still being pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 4, trainer Todd Pletcher said Friday.

Forte finished fourth, beaten eight lengths by Arcangelo in the Travers, the worst finish in his 10-race career, which includes seven victories. Since a foot bruise knocked him out of the Kentucky Derby, Forte has finished second in the Belmont Stakes and won the Grade 2 Jim Dandy before his effort in the Travers.

Fri, 09/22/2023 - 08:39

Dinerman named Oaklawn track announcer

By Mary Rampellini

Vassar Photography

Matt Dinerman has been the announcer for the last six years at Golden Gate Fields.

Matt Dinerman has been named track announcer for the Oaklawn Park meet that opens Dec. 8, the Hot Springs, Ark., track announced Friday.

Dinerman, 31, comes to Oaklawn from Golden Gate Fields, where he has been the announcer for six years. He replaces Vic Stauffer, who parted ways with Oaklawn last March after more than six years in Hot Springs.

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