Thu, 10/05/2023 - 14:55

Breeders' Cup Classic: Arcangelo has first California workout

Debra A. Roma

Arcangelo will bring a four-race winning streak that includes the Travers (above) and Belmont Stakes into the Breeders' Cup Classic.

A little more than a week after his arrival from New York, the star 3-year-old Arcangelo worked five furlongs in 1:02.20 at Santa Anita on Thursday, the start of his local preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 4.

“It was a nice first work over the surface,” trainer Jena Antonucci said. “I’m boring. I have no complaint.”

Arcangelo, unraced since a one-length win on a muddy track in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga on Aug. 26, was ridden by his regular exercise rider Robert Mallari in the workout.

Tue, 10/03/2023 - 14:41

Pyfer retires as jockey

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Jessica Pyfer was the champion apprentice jockey of 2021.

Jessica Pyfer, the champion apprentice jockey of 2021, announced her retirement last week and has accepted a position as a commentator on Santa Anita’s in-house television network.

Pyfer, 25, had her final mounts at a jockey competition in Spain in late September. She had her final mount in the United States at Del Mar in early August.

Pyfer began riding in fall 2020 and won 88 races from 819 mounts in the United States in her career. She had her best season in 2021, winning 59 races. Last year, Pyfer won 11 races. She was winless with 10 domestic mounts this year.

Tue, 10/03/2023 - 14:26

Del Mar trims stakes purses for fall meet

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Del Mar will conduct its fall meet from Nov. 10 to Dec. 3.

Del Mar has cut the purses of six graded stakes by $400,000 for its upcoming autumn meeting from Nov. 10 to Dec. 3.

The track, which announced its stakes program for the season on Tuesday, has scheduled 15 stakes worth $2.05 million, compared to 15 stakes worth $2.45 million in 2022.

The Grade 3 Red Carpet Handicap for fillies and mares at 1 3/8 miles on turf, the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles, the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf, and the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on dirt were each reduced by $50,000.

Mon, 10/02/2023 - 13:35

Prince of Monaco to skip American Pharoah for BC Juvenile

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Undefeated Prince of Monaco will skip the Grade 1 American Pharoah and instead head straight to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

The unbeaten 2-year-old Prince of Monaco is likely to skip Saturday’s Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita in favor of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at the same venue on Nov. 3, trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday.

Prince of Monaco, rated as the nation’s leading juvenile male, has won three races, including a sweep of the two graded stakes for the division at the Del Mar summer meeting – the Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths at six furlongs on Aug. 13 and a hard-fought win by three-quarters of a length in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs on Sept. 10.

Mon, 10/02/2023 - 13:30

White Abarrio back on work tab after missing drill

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

White Abarrio pulled off an impressive score in the Whitney Stakes, propelling him into contention for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Less than a week after missing a scheduled workout, White Abarrio was exercised five furlongs in 1:01.60 on Monday at Santa Anita, resuming preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at the Southern California track on Nov. 4.

The workout was the first for White Abarrio since he zipped five furlongs in 1:00.80 on Sept. 20 shortly after he was shipped to California from trainer Richard Dutrow Jr.’s New York base.

Mon, 10/02/2023 - 12:15

Algiers to race in Woodbine stakes after scratching from Woodward

By David Grening

Dubai Racing Club

Algiers was withdrawn from the Woodward after heavy rains inundated the New York area Friday and Saturday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Algiers, the Dubai World Cup runner-up, scratched from Sunday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Woodward Stakes at Aqueduct and has been re-routed to Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Durham Cup at Woodbine.

Mon, 10/02/2023 - 12:00

Pretty Mischievous, Wet Paint possible for BC Distaff

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

After failing to take the Cotillion in the Parx slop, Pretty Mischievous is possible to join fellow Godolphin-owned Wet Paint in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Pretty Mischievous, the clear leader of the 3-year-old filly division who finished second in the Grade 1 Cotillion on Sept. 24 at Parx Racing, remains under consideration for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Michael Banahan, director of bloodstock for Godolphin, said Sunday.

“She came out of the race fine, obviously it wasn’t a track she enjoyed at Parx. We’ll see how she does over the next couple of weeks, but if she bounces out of it as well as she went into it we’ll certainly have a look at it for sure.”

Mon, 10/02/2023 - 12:00

Caramel Swirl likely for BC Filly and Mare Sprint

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Caramel Swirl (left) won the Gallant Bloom via double disqualification and is likely to try the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

While her victory in Sunday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Gallant Bloom Stakes came via a rare double disqualification, Caramel Swirl likely earned a start in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint with that performance.

Caramel Swirl, like Cody’s Wish a Godolphin homebred, was taken up by jockey Junior Alvarado at around the eighth pole when Sterling Silver, from the outside, and Headland, from the inside, appeared to come into Caramel Swirl’s path. Sterling Silver would cross the finish line four lengths in front of Headland who was a half-length in front of Caramel Swirl.

Mon, 10/02/2023 - 11:55

Cody's Wish, Zandon heading to Breeders' Cup after prep wins

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Cody's Wish cut back to sprinting in his Vosburgh victory and will now try to repeat in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Zandon and Cody’s Wish, winners of Grade 2 stakes Sunday at Aqueduct, are both expected to head to the Breeders’ Cup to make one more start before they are retired, their connections said after their respective races.

Zandon, who won Sunday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Woodward Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths as the even-money favorite, will run in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita. Cody’s Wish, who won Sunday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths, will seek a repeat in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on the same Nov. 4 card.

Fri, 09/29/2023 - 12:15

Rain forces NYRA to adjust racing schedule

By David Grening

R. L. Thibodeau

Saturday's stakes-filled card at Aqueduct has been moved to Sunday due to rain.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The heavy rains that hit the New York metropolitan area on Friday that forced the cancellation of that day’s racing card at Aqueduct, also will create a change in scheduling for the weekend and into next week.

The New York Racing Association announced that Saturday’s 11-race-card – which includes four graded stakes topped by the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic – will be postponed and run Sunday, as drawn. The card includes the Grade 2 Woodward, Grade 2 Vosburgh, and Grade 2 Gallant Bloom. First post will remain at 12:05 p.m.

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