Wed, 09/27/2023 - 13:15

Fresu granted stay for Santa Anita opening weekend

Coady Photography

Jockey Antonio Fresu was granted a stay, allowing him to ride during the opening weekend at Santa Anita.

Jockey Antonio Fresu, who was suspended 32 days for a series of whip violations at Del Mar in late summer, has been granted a stay by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority that allows him to ride the opening two weekends of the Santa Anita autumn meeting that begins on Friday until an appeal is heard.

Fresu’s agent, Tom Knust, said he requested a stay from HISA regarding two rulings against Fresu in the final two weeks of the Del Mar meeting. A hearing regarding an appeal is scheduled for Oct. 4.

Wed, 09/27/2023 - 10:55

Santa Anita fall meet opens with revised betting menu

By Brad Free

Benoit Photo

Santa Anita will offer a $3-minimum all-turf pick three wager on final three turf races each day during the fall meeting.

ARCADIA, Calif. – While the festive return of Breeders’ Cup to Santa Anita brings renewed excitement to the fall meet, horseplayers may argue the season’s biggest development is the highly anticipated comeback of two popular wagers.

Tue, 09/26/2023 - 12:24

Oklahoma Derby winner How Did He Do That will be shorter odds in his next start, the Zia Derby

By Mary Rampellini

How Did He Do That-Red Route One-Tumbaruna (from left) in Okla Derby Sept 24 2023

Dustin Orona Photography

How Did He Do That, Red Route One, and Tumbarumba (from left to right) were separated by two noses in the Oklahoma Derby. How Did He Do That paid $91.20 to win.

The How Did He Do That show is expected to move on to New Mexico.

Trainer Steve Asmussen said Sunday's winner of the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park will likely make his next start at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M.

“He’ll probably go to the Zia Park Derby,” Asmussen said. “He won there last year.”

The $300,000 Zia Park Derby is Nov. 28. Last season, it was on the undercard of that race that How Did He Do That won the Zia Park Juvenile. He was the favorite – a far cry from the 44-1 that he went off in the Oklahoma Derby.

Tue, 09/26/2023 - 11:25

Ajax Downs to run mixed breed races

By Ron Gierkink

Ajax Downs has received approval from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario to run mixed breed races involving Quarter horses and Thoroughbreds.

A Quarter horse track located east of Toronto, Ajax Downs has scheduled mixed breed races into the condition book for Oct. 4 and Oct. 18 and is hoping to run more such “Battle of the Breeds” races in 2024.

The two races are both going 870 yards around a bend. Other details have yet to be announced.

Tue, 09/26/2023 - 11:05

Honor D lady to stay on dirt following Remington Oaks triumph

By Mary Rampellini

Dustin Orona Photography

Honor D Lady is 3 for 8 in her career and a stakes winner on turf and dirt. Her other win came on Tapeta.

The versatile Honor D Lady will likely remain on dirt for at least the near future following her Sunday win in the Grade 3, $200,000 Remington Park Oaks, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said.

Honor D Lady was making just her second start on dirt and for the effort earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 86.

The Remington Oaks was the second stakes win for Honor D Lady behind the Honey Ryder on turf in May at Gulfstream Park. She’s also Grade 3-placed on Tapeta, in the Selene at Woodbine, and she won her maiden on the same type of synthetic surface last year at Gulfstream.

Mon, 09/25/2023 - 13:36

Maryquitecontrary, Caramel Swirl invited to Princess Rooney

By Mike Welsch

Debra A. Roma

Maryquitecontrary has shown an affinity for the Gulfstream dirt and will look to earn a Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint berth in the Princess Rooney.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. — Graded stakes winners Maryquitecontrary and Caramel Swirl top a list of 12 fillies and mares who have been invited to participate in the $200,000 Princess Rooney Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Oct. 7. The seven-furlong, Grade 3 Princess Rooney is a “Win and You’re In” automatic qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita on November 4.

Mon, 09/25/2023 - 13:25

Bran to opt for winter stakes instead of BC Turf Sprint

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Bran will start in Saturday’s Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes over Santa Anita hillside turf but will not start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, according to trainer John Sadler.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Not all the runners in graded stakes at Santa Anita this weekend are being aimed for Breeders’ Cup races on Nov. 3-4.

Bran, a three-time stakes winner, will start in Saturday’s Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. For some runners, the $200,000 Eddie D Stakes could lead to a start in the BC Turf Sprint at five furlongs on Nov. 4.

That is not the case with Bran, who closed from last of 12 to finish seventh by 3 1/4 lengths in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on Sept. 2.

Mon, 09/25/2023 - 13:20

Hernandez, Herrera, Vazquez tie for Los Alamitos riding title

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Jockey Juan Hernandez captured a share of the Los Alamitos riding title, with Diego Herrera and Ramon Vazquez, going 6 for 6 on his mounts during the six-day meet.

CYPRESS, Calif. – Juan Hernandez, already the leading rider in Southern California this year, had a perfect day to end the Los Alamitos September meeting on Sunday.

Hernandez won with all four of his mounts on runners trained by Bob Baffert and finished the meeting with a perfect record from six mounts.

Hernandez, who led all riders at Santa Anita and Del Mar earlier this year, rode sparingly during the two-week season which included six days of racing.

Mon, 09/25/2023 - 12:26

Jeff Metz closes stable to take stall superintendent position

By Steve Andersen

ARCADIA, Calif. - Jeff Metz, a former leading trainer at Emerald Downs in Washington State and one of the leading trainers at Turf Paradise in Phoenix in recent years, recently relinquished his stable to take a position as stall superintendent at Santa Anita.

Metz, 56, replaces Bobby Troeger, also a former trainer, who left the position earlier this month.

Metz had his final starters at Emerald Downs and Los Alamitos on Sept. 17 and his final win at Emerald on Aug. 5. Metz won 938 races in a career that began in 1991.

Fri, 09/22/2023 - 17:51

Aqueduct cancels Saturday card in advance of anticipated storm

By David Grening

R. L. Thibodeau

There will be a pick six carryover of $62,293 on the Sunday card at Aqueduct.

Due to a forecast calling for heavy rain and strong winds, Saturday’s 10-race Aqueduct card has been canceled, the New York Racing Association announced Friday afternoon.

According to the National Weather Service, there is chance for between one and two inches of rain in the New York metropolitan area throughout Saturday. Winds are forecast to be 18 to 21 miles per hour with gusts as high as 34 miles per hour.

Aqueduct will be open for simulcasting on Saturday.

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