Thu, 09/28/2023 - 16:20

Dreamfyre to test turf

Benoit Photo
Follow two victories in her first two starts on dirt, Dreamfyre will switch to turf in the one-mile Grade 3 Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita.

The undefeated 2-year-old filly Dreamfyre is switching surfaces for her next start, the Grade 3 Surfer Girl Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 8.

Dreamfyre won two sprint stakes on dirt during the summer – the Everett Nevin Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton on July 9 in her debut, and the Grade 3 Sorrento Stakes at six furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 12.

Thu, 09/28/2023 - 16:15

Harry Hernandez to ride at Oaklawn

Coady Photography
With the current state of Turf Paradise up in the air, jockey Harry Hernandez will ride at Oaklawn Park in the winter.

Harry Hernandez has been the runaway leader in the jockey standings at Turf Paradise the last two years.

He has no plans to try for a third straight title.

With the Phoenix track’s racing schedule unsettled, Hernandez said earlier this week that he plans to begin riding at Oaklawn Park for the first time later this year. Recent developments indicating that Turf Paradise will resume racing in early 2024 have not swayed the 26-year-old jockey.

Thu, 09/28/2023 - 15:27

New Turf Paradise buyer plans to continue racing in 2024

Coady Photography
A new buyer has emerged for Turf Paradise and has expressed his desire to continue racing in 2024.

The new buyer for Turf Paradise racetrack in Phoenix will complete the deal within the next two months and plans to hold a live racing meet at the track at the beginning of 2024, if not sooner, Arizona racing officials said at a Department of Racing meeting on Thursday.

Thu, 09/28/2023 - 10:16

Secretariat exhibit coming to Woodbine

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — An exhibit honoring the 50th anniversary of the great Secretariat’s final career start in the 1973 Canadian International has been scheduled for Oct. 5-8 during live racing on Level 3 at Woodbine.

Secretariat, the 1973 Triple Crown winner, completed his illustrious career on the grass at Woodbine with a blowout score in the 1 5/8-mile Canadian International on Oct. 28, 1973. The exhibit celebrates the accomplishments of “Big Red” and features his trophies in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes.

Wed, 09/27/2023 - 17:05

Sterling Silver tries yet again for open-company stakes win in the Gallant Bloom

Sterling Silver trains at KEE Nov 1 2022
Debra A. Roma
Sterling Silver is a two-time New York-bred stakes winner but is zero for eight in open-company stakes.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The two-time New York-bred stakes winning filly Sterling Silver will make her ninth attempt at winning an open-company stakes when she runs in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Gallant Bloom at Aqueduct, which will go as race 5 on an 11-race card.

Sterling Silver finished third in last year’s Gallant Bloom, which followed a narrow neck defeat in the Grade 2 Prioress Stakes at Saratoga.

Two starts back, Sterling Silver won an open-company second-level allowance before finishing sixth of seven in the Grade 1 Ballerina.

Wed, 09/27/2023 - 16:54

Cody's Wish using Vosburgh as way to get to Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

Cody's Wish works at SAR Sept 3 2023
Debra A. Roma
Cody's Wish works at Saratoga. He comes into the seven-furlong Vosburgh off a third-place finish going 1 1/8 miles in the Whitney.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Cody’s Wish, who had his six-race winning streak snapped when he finished third in the Grade 1 Whitney, will face five rivals in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh Stakes at Aqueduct.

Cody’s Wish is a four-time Grade 1 stakes winner. His five opponents have combined to win one graded stakes, and that was by High Oak, who, like Cody’s Wish, is trained by Bill Mott. High Oak won the Grade 2 Saratoga Special at 2 in 2021. Most recently, he finished third behind Gunite and Elite Power in the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga.

Wed, 09/27/2023 - 16:43

Soldier Rising looks to break through in Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

Soldier Rising (not winner).6-10-23 at BEL
Barbara D. Livingston
In four starts this year, Soldier Rising has finished second in the Man o' War, Manhattan, and Sword Dancer.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - There are four Grade 1 marathon turf stakes for males on the New York Racing Association circuit and, this year, Solider Rising has finished second in the first three.

He’ll try to go one better in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Stakes scheduled for 1 1/2 miles at Aqueduct.

Soldier Rising finished second to Red Knight in the Man o’ War, and second to Up to the Mark in the Manhattan at Belmont Park. Last month, he was second best to Bolshoi Ballet in the Sword Dancer.

Wed, 09/27/2023 - 16:31

Law Professor returns from layoff in Woodward

Law Professor, trained by Rob Atras, wins the Excelsior at Aqueduct on April 1.
Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Law Professor wins the Excelsior going 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct in April. He will be making his first start since May on Saturday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Law Professor sidled up alongside heavily favored Life Is Good at the top of the stretch of last year’s Grade 1 Woodward Stakes and for a brief moment, it appeared a major upset could be in the offing.

But in the final furlong, Life Is Good edged away from Law Professor to win by 1 1/2 lengths, with Law Professor settling for second.

Life Is Good will likely be running around his paddock at WinStar Farm Saturday afternoon when Law Professor takes another shot at the Woodward - run this year as a Grade 2 worth $400,000 - at Aqueduct.

Wed, 09/27/2023 - 16:15

Chi Chi, My Destiny head to Keeneland after Remington stakes victories

Trainer Herman Wilensky’s first two starters at Remington Park won stakes on the Oklahoma Derby undercard Sunday and the horses – Chi Chi and My Destiny – are now bound for Keeneland.

Wilensky brought a handful of horses to Remington from Southern California, and after a few more run in overnight races in Oklahoma the group will head to Kentucky.

Chi Chi came to Remington a maiden and will leave a stakes winner by virtue of her victory in the $50,000 E.L. Gaylord Memorial. The 2-year-old filly won the 6 1/2-furlong race in 1:17.98 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 81.

Wed, 09/27/2023 - 13:15

Grade 1 winner Macadamia retired

Benoit Photo
Macadamia, who recently won the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes, has been retired at the age of 5.

Macadamia, the 5-year-old Brazilian-bred mare who won three races at Santa Anita earlier this year, including the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes on turf on May 29, has been retired, trainer Phil D’Amato said on Wednesday.

Racing in Brazil and California, Macadamia won 5 of 13 starts and earned $444,413 for R Unicorn Stable.

D’Amato said Macadamia was recently sent to Kentucky. He said it was unclear whether she will be bred in that state in 2024 or sent to Japan where R Unicorn Stable has a base.