Wed, 03/22/2023 - 10:15

Geaux Rocket Ride will turn on afterburners in Santa Anita Derby

Benoit photo

Practical Move worked a half-mile in 47.60 seconds last Saturday at Santa Anita.

Geaux Rocket Ride will be among the least experienced entrants in the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 8, but the two-start colt could inherit the most important role – he is the likely pacesetter.

Runner-up in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes, Geaux Rocket Ride is the only true front-runner among six known possibles for the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby. Nominations close March 30 and early possibles include Geaux Rocket Ride, Practical Move, Skinner, I Don’t Get It, Mandarin Hero, and Dazzlemesilver.

Tue, 03/21/2023 - 17:26

Santa Anita cancels Friday, will race on Monday

By Steve Andersen

Emily Shields

Friday is the eighth cancellation of the Santa Anita meet. Monday is the third makeup card.

Santa Anita has canceled racing on Friday because of significant rain on Tuesday and will race from Saturday through Monday this week in an effort to conduct three programs that include use of the turf course.

In an already rain-soaked year, Southern California was hit with a significant rainstorm Tuesday, with more forecast later on Tuesday and into early Wednesday. Track officials project Santa Anita will sustain two to three inches of rain from the storm, which would strongly jeopardize turf racing on Friday.

Tue, 03/21/2023 - 14:27

Major Dude solid favorite in 12-horse Jeff Ruby Stakes

By Nicole Russo

Barbara D. Livingston

Major Dude, shown winning the Kitten's Joy last month at Gulfstream Park, is 2-1 on the morning line for the Jeff Ruby Stakes.

Morning-line favorite Major Dude drew the rail in a field of 12 on Tuesday for Saturday's Grade 3, $700,000 Jeff Ruby Stakes at Turfway Park.

The Ruby, at 1 1/8 miles on Tapeta, awards Kentucky Derby points to its top finishers on a 100-40-30-20-10 scale.

Major Dude, trained by Todd Pletcher, is a two-time graded stakes winner on the turf. He won the Grade 3 Kitten's Joy last month at Gulfstream Park in his most recent outing.

Tue, 03/21/2023 - 13:50

Rich Strike not entered in Kentucky Cup Classic, has 'non-serious issue'

By Nicole Russo

Barbara Livingston

Owner Rick Dawson said on social media that Rich Strike is now likely to make his 2023 debut on April 22 at either Oaklawn Park or Keeneland.

Rich Strike was conspicuously absent when entries were drawn Tuesday for Saturday’s marquee card at Turfway Park. The Kentucky Derby winner is now targeting an April start to his season after what owner Rick Dawson termed a “non-serious issue.”

Dawson said Rich Strike, who had been targeting the Kentucky Cup Classic on Saturday at Turfway Park, trained Tuesday morning at trainer Eric Reed’s Mercury Equine Center base. This followed a few days off for the 4-year-old Keen Ice colt, who most recently breezed March 15 at Turfway.

Tue, 03/21/2023 - 11:10

Retired trainer Vella to work for Woodbine

By Ron Gierkink

Michael Burns

Dan Vella (right) celebrates in the winner's circle with owner Wally Leong and jockey Justin Stein after winning the 2012 Queen's Plate with Strait of Dover.

Woodbine Entertainment has announced the addition of Sovereign Award-winning trainer Dan Vella as a horsepeople liaison.

Vella joins Woodbine after retiring from a training career that spanned several decades, during which he compiled over 800 wins and $39 million in earnings.

Tue, 03/21/2023 - 10:54

Gulfstream to host a pair of Royal Ascot qualifying races for 2-year-olds

By Mike Welsch

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos

The winners of the Royal Palm Juvenile and Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies will receive automatic entry into one of six 2-year-old stakes at Royal Ascot, plus a $25,000 travel stipend.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Gulfstream Park will host the first ever United States qualifying races for Royal Ascot on May 13, the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile and $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies, both to be decided at five furlongs on the turf.

The winners of which will receive a $25,000 travel stipend and automatic entry into one of the six 2-year-old stakes offered during the 2023 Royal Ascot meet that runs from June 20-24.

Mon, 03/20/2023 - 13:45

Dubai World Cup: Crisford back in spotlight, but not with Godolphin

By Marcus Hersh

Dubai Racing Club

Algiers wins Round 2 of the Maktoum Challenge for trainer Simon Crisford.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Simon Crisford’s last Dubai World Cup came in 2013. For 20 years, Crisford had served as an adviser, spokesman, and racing manager for Godolphin. Godolphin’s architect was Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. Crisford and trainer Saeed bin Suroor for most of those two decades were the operation’s public faces. Crisford stood front and center for five Godolphin World Cup wins, starting with the great Dubai Millennium in 2000.

Mon, 03/20/2023 - 13:00

Bishops Bay, First Mission the latest Cox-trained standouts

By Marcus Hersh

Hodges Photography

Bishops Bay wins a maiden race over stablemate First Mission on Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds.

Trainer Brad Cox already has five horses ranked among the 20 3-year-olds included in the latest edition of Daily Racing Form’s Derby Watch. And the hits keep on coming.

Mon, 03/20/2023 - 12:45

Franco, Rice on verge of winter meet titles

By David Grening

Barbara Livingston

Manny Franco has won 27 races from his last 97 mounts and leads the Aqueduct winter meet jockey standings by eight.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – With 27 winners from 97 mounts over the last 15 cards, Manny Franco has taken control of the jockey standings for Aqueduct’s winter meet. Going into the final three days of the session, Franco has a 61-53 lead over Dylan Davis, who has gone 19 for 102 over the same 15-day period.

Jose Lezcano, who has won 17 races from 61 mounts over the last 15 cards, is entrenched in third with 42 wins.

Mon, 03/20/2023 - 12:45

New York-breds have been putting on a show this winter

By David Grening

Barbara Livingston

The New York-bred Grade 1 winner Americanrevolution is in training at WinStar Farm in Kentucky and will race this year at age 5.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – There’s been a lot of streaking going on at Aqueduct this winter.

Aside from the seven- and six-race win streaks put together recently by trainers Linda Rice and Rob Atras, respectively, several horses this winter have put together some impressive runs of their own.

The New York-bred stakes ranks, which have thinned out some, looks to have received an influx of talented runners this winter in the form of Today’s Flavor, Dr Ardito, Ouster, and Overstep, who have combined to win 15 of their last 16 starts.

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