Wed, 03/15/2023 - 09:00

Mage back to work for next Kentucky Derby prep

Barbara D. Livingston
Mage is scheduled to return to the work tab on Friday at Gulfstream Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Mage, the fourth-place finisher in the Fountain of Youth in just his second career start, will have his first workout since that March 4 race when breezing Friday at Gulfstream Park, assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. said early this week.

Wed, 03/15/2023 - 08:45

Cox making battle plans for his army of 3-year-olds

Lou Hodges Jr.
Angel of Empire, winner of the Risen Star Stakes, will make his next start in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 1 at Oaklawn.

Brad Cox, who trains a slew of 3-year-old males at least Kentucky Derby trail-adjacent, if not already traveling the road to the Derby, is solidifying plans for this bevy of horses.

Tue, 03/14/2023 - 11:56

Assiniboia Downs offers shipping incentives for 2023 meet

Assiniboia Downs has announced a shipping incentive program for the 2023 Thoroughbred meet.

A one-time credit per horse will be automatically deposited into the owner’s account after the horse has started once at the meet.

The rewards range from $250 to $1,000 and depend on where the horse shipped from. Horses originating from Zone 4, which includes Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, New York, and Florida, qualify for the $1,000 bonus. Zone 3 horses from Illinois and Minnesota receive $500.

Mon, 03/13/2023 - 13:36

Supporters of state loan to redevelop Belmont Park rally at Capitol

Horsemen, backstretch workers, business leaders, organized labor, and about a dozen or so members of the New York state legislature attended a 30-minute rally Monday at the State Capitol in Albany to support a budget proposal to grant the New York Racing Association a $455 million loan to redevelop Belmont Park.

Mon, 03/13/2023 - 13:36

Atras enjoys 8-for-10 week, jumps to second in trainer standings

Susie Raisher
Rossa Veloce, trained by Rob Atras, wins the Correction on Saturday at Aqueduct.

Trainer Rob Atras enjoyed an incredible week at Aqueduct, winning with eight of the 10 starters he sent out from Friday through Sunday. Add in a victory with his lone starter on March 5 and Atras has gone 9 for his last 11 at the Big A.

Mon, 03/13/2023 - 12:36

C Z Rocket arrives in Dubai for Golden Shaheen

Barbara Livingston
At age 9, the Golden Shaheen will be C Z Rocket's first race outside the U.S.

The veteran sprinter C Z Rocket arrived in Dubai on Monday for a scheduled start in the Group 1 Golden Shaheen Sprint at Meydan Racecourse on March 25, the 9-year-old gelding’s first trip abroad.

A winner of 12 of 36 starts, C Z Rocket was second in an allowance race at six furlongs at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 17 in his lone start this year and first since a second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland in November. C Z Rocket was second in 2020 BC Sprint at Keeneland and seventh in the 2021 BC Sprint at Del Mar.

Mon, 03/13/2023 - 12:30

Papaprodromou has two top sprinters

Benoit Photo
Spirit of Makena earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure for his 1 1/2-length victory in the San Carlos Stakes.

California trainer George Papaprodromou will have a strong team of sprinters this spring, including a lightly raced 5-year-old who is unbeaten in two starts this year.

On Saturday at Santa Anita, Spirit of Makena won his stakes debut in the Grade 3 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs in his fourth career start. The style of the win suggests that Spirit of Makena will have a presence in the circuit’s leading sprints in 2023.

Mon, 03/13/2023 - 12:26

Rocket Can likely to run next in Arkansas Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Holy Bull winner Rocket Can (above) was beaten 4 1/2 lengths by Forte in the Fountain of Youth on Saturday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The imposing presence of reigning juvenile champion Forte in the lineup for the $1 million Florida Derby on April 1 could result in several other top 3-year-old prospects being re-routed elsewhere for their final Kentucky Derby prep. Among them is Holy Bull winner and Fountain of Youth runner-up Rocket Can, who will most likely make his next start the same day at Oaklawn Park in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.

Rocket Can has been galloping but probably won’t breeze until the end of next week, trainer Bill Mott said.

Mon, 03/13/2023 - 12:16

Faucheux vaults to top of standings with 8 for 14 week

The Fair Grounds trainer standings as of March 8: Brad Cox 32 wins, Bret Calhoun 31 wins, Ron Faucheux 25 wins.

Less than a week later, we have a new leader! Ron Faucheux, leading Fair Grounds trainer the last two meets, won with all three of his starters on the March 8 card. On March 9, Faucheux won with two of three. And when Royal Unlimited won the Sunday nightcap, it ran Faucheux’s record through the five-day race week to a mind-blowing 14-8-1-3. That gave him 33 winners at the meet and the lead in the race for leading trainer.

Mon, 03/13/2023 - 12:16

Gutierrez holds commanding lead in quest for first riding title

Coady Photography
With 10 racing days left at the Fair Grounds meet, Reylu Gutierrez leads the rider standings by 14 wins.

The jockey Reylu Gutierrez on Sunday afternoon was idling at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, trying to make his way back to New Orleans after riding Saturday at Oaklawn Park. All winter at Fair Grounds, Gutierrez has found a knack for getting home fast.

Even after missing Sunday mounts due to the flight delay, Gutierrez comes into the penultimate race week of the 2022-23 Fair Grounds meet having won 61 times. That gave him a 14-victory cushion over James Graham, close to an insurmountable lead with 10 cards left beginning with Wednesday’s.