Mon, 03/20/2023 - 12:30

Princess Bettina gets Eurton back in stakes winner's circle

Benoit Photo

Princess Bettina finishes off her wire-to-wire score in the China Doll Stakes.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Princess Bettina’s stakes win at Santa Anita on Saturday came at a good time for veteran California trainer Peter Eurton.

A 3-year-old filly who races for owner and breeder Don Dizney, Princess Bettina led throughout the China Doll Stakes to give Eurton his first stakes win since last March at Sunland Park and his first stakes win at Santa Anita since Storm the Court won the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

“The stakes have been avoiding us,” Eurton said on Sunday. “We didn’t have the right horses.”

Mon, 03/20/2023 - 12:05

Smart as Me continues to shine at Tampa Bay Downs

By Marty McGee

Barbara D. Livingston

Munnys Gold will be a likely heavy favorite in Sunday's $110,000 Sophomore Fillies at Tampa Bay Downs.

One of the standout horses at the Tampa meet has been Smart as Me, a 4-year-old colt who won again Saturday for co-owner and trainer Craig R. Smith. From six starts, Smart as Me has closed from far back to finish first four times (and was disqualified from one of those wins), with his latest victory coming in a first-level allowance going a mile on the turf.

Mon, 03/20/2023 - 10:45

Dubai World Cup: Country Grammer gives off better look than last year

By Marcus Hersh

Benoit Photo

Country Grammer will be bidding for a repeat in the $12 million Dubai World Cup.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Life Is Good was the star of Meydan morning training in the days leading to the 2022 World Cup. He finished fourth when it counted in the race itself, while the horse who had turned roughly zero heads during training hours, Country Grammer, was the star of the $12 million World Cup.

Nothing as bright as Life Is Good lit up the Dubai darkness Monday morning, when Country Grammer, probably looking better than he did a year ago, put in his final breeze before trying to win his second World Cup here Saturday.

Fri, 03/17/2023 - 17:38

Jaime Rodriguez wins aboard seven mounts on Friday at Laurel

By David Grening

Jockey Jaime Rodriguez won seven races from eight mounts Friday at Laurel Park.

Rodriguez, who vaulted to the top of the Laurel jockey standings in wins with 47, six ahead of Jeiron Barbosa, won four of those races Friday for trainer Jamie Ness.

Fri, 03/17/2023 - 17:01

Rice stretches win streak to seven, needs one more to tie record

By David Grening

Michael Amoruso

Linda Rice will have a chance Saturday to break the record of eight consecutive wins by a trainer on the NYRA circuit. She needs one win to tie and two to set a new mark.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Linda Rice will bring a seven-race winning streak at Aqueduct into Saturday’s card after going 3 for 3 on Friday.

Fri, 03/17/2023 - 16:02

Fair Grounds cancels Friday card after one race

By Marcus Hersh

Fair Grounds canceled it’s Friday program following the first of eight races.

A Tweet from the Fair Grounds account said that “After running the 1st race, the decision was made to cancel the rest of Friday’s card due to inclement weather

The first race was run in the rain with the racing surface already sloppy. The nearby New Orleans Lakefront Airport recorded more than one inch of rain between about 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday.

Fri, 03/17/2023 - 15:15

Woodbine, Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association of Ontario reach two-year deal

By Ron Gierkink

Woodbine Entertainment and the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association of Ontario have reached an agreement for a new two-year deal that commits $62 million in purses for both the 2023 and 2024 Thoroughbred racing meets.

The deal also includes a 133-day schedule this year and 129-day meet in 2024. Despite the fewer dates in 2024, Woodbine expects the number of races offered to be about the same as in 2023 thanks to more optimized race scheduling.

The 2023 meet begins April 22. The 2024 meet has a start date of April 20.

Fri, 03/17/2023 - 14:23

Ship and Win program returns for 13th season

By Steve Andersen

Emily Shields

A record 222 horses shipped to Del Mar from other circuits during the 2022 summer season.

A purse incentive program designed to lure horses from other circuits or countries to Del Mar will continue this summer with the same financial terms as in 2022, track officials announced earlier this week.

The track’s ship and win program will offer a $5,000 starter bonus and a 50 percent purse bonus in overnight races on dirt to the owners of horses who have not run in California in the preceding 12 months and are not first-time starters. For turf races, there will be a $4,000 starter bonus and a 40 percent enhancement of purses earned in overnight races.

Fri, 03/17/2023 - 14:15

And Tell Me Nolies will run in Santa Anita Oaks

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Trainer Peter Miller likes the timing of the Santa Anita Oaks as a springboard to the Kentucky Oaks.

And Tell Me Nolies, second in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at Santa Anita on March 5 in her 2023 debut, will start in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks on April 8 as a prep for an intended start in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 5.

The timing of the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles was a deciding factor as opposed to a race on another circuit, trainer Peter Miller said.

“I’m leaning toward staying home,” Miller said. “I like the extra week.”

The Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park on April 1 was previously under consideration.

Fri, 03/17/2023 - 13:57

Rice likely to give Arctic Arrogance a shot in Wood Memorial

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Arctic Arrogance was being considered for the seven-furlong Bay Shore, but trainer Linda Rice said his recent training has her leaning toward running him in the Wood Memorial.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Artic Arrogance, runner-up in three consecutive Kentucky Derby points-scoring races, will most likely make his next start in the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 8, trainer Linda Rice said Friday.

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