Tue, 02/05/2013 - 15:41

Oaklawn Park: Brad Kelley to race, breed as Calumet Farm, rather than Bluegrass Hall

Lynn Roberts/Hodges Photography
Lecomte winner Oxbow, who is on the Triple Crown trail, will race under a Calumet Farm stable name in his next start.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Owner-breeder Brad Kelley will now race as Calumet Farm, rather than Bluegrass Hall, in a change that goes into effect on Thursday when his Wine Glow starts in the seventh race at Oaklawn Park. Kelley leases and operates Calumet Farm, the historic Lexington, Ky., nursery that bred and raced Triple Crown winners Citation and Whirlaway.

“Every horse that was Bluegrass Hall now [races as] Calumet Farm,” said D. Wayne Lukas, the primary trainer for Kelley.

Tue, 02/05/2013 - 15:37

Santa Anita: San Marcos a good fit for Juniper Pass

ARCADIA, Calif. – Luck deserted Juniper Pass and jockey Julien Leparoux at the worst time in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 13.

Turning into the stretch of the race over 1 1/8 miles on turf, Leparoux had Juniper Pass sixth in the field of seven, racing behind horses. He never found adequate racing room, and they could finish only fourth, beaten 4 1/2 lengths by race winner Jeranimo.

“He could have been second with a clean run,” trainer Ray Bell said. “He didn’t have a chance.”

Tue, 02/05/2013 - 14:34

Golden Gate: Jockey Juan Hernandez returns north

Shigeki Kikkawa
Juan Hernandez, 20, finished third in the rider standings at Fairplex last fall, but hasn't been able to match that success since.

Juan Hernandez, who was one of Northern California’s top jockeys after his arrival from Mexico in 2009, is returning to Northern California after trying the Southern California circuit last summer.

The 20-year-old Hernandez went south after the Golden Gate Fields season concluded and had 10 winners at Del Mar while getting acquainted with the trainers down there. He had a strong meeting at Fairplex, finishing third in the standings with 18 victories from 73 mounts, a solid 25 percent win rate.

Tue, 02/05/2013 - 14:08

Santa Anita: Tiz Argent lands in good return spot Thursday

Benoit & Associates
Tiz Argent hasn't raced since January 2012 and his last win (above) came in a Santa Anita optional claimer in February 2011.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Tiz Argent will shake off more than a year of cobwebs Thursday at Santa Anita, where the 6-year-old runs a mile on turf in his first start since January 2012.

Despite inactivity, Tiz Argent is among the favorites in race 7, an allowance/optional claimer for California-breds with 10 in the main body. Tiz Argent and Teafatiller have won the condition and race for a $25,000 tag. The two also-eligibles, Alley Hondro and Cahill Country, also entered for the claim price.

Tue, 02/05/2013 - 13:35

Golden Gate: Butterfly Soul likely to face fillies again in California Oaks

Benoit & Associates
Butterfly Soul, here winning the Phil D. Shepherd at Fairplex in September, ran fourth against the boys in the California Derby and is likely to return with fillies in the California Oaks on Saturday.

Trainer Genaro Vallejo took a shot running the filly Butterfly Soul against males in last month’s California Derby. Although she ran well, Butterfly Soul is probably headed back to the 3-year-old filly ranks in Saturday’s $50,000 California Oaks.

Butterfly Soul, who won the Phil D. Shepherd at Fairplex in September and lost a photo on the turf in the Pike Place Dancer here in October, finished fourth behind Zeewat in the California Derby, losing by 2 1/4 lengths.

Tue, 02/05/2013 - 13:00

Gulfstream Park: Absolute Crackers puts stakes plans on hold in Thursday allowance

Bob Coglianese
Absolute Crackers wins an allowance race in her Gulfstream Park debut on Jan. 13.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Graham Motion has nominated Absolute Crackers to Saturday’s Grade 3 Suwannee River as well as the Grade 3 The Very One the following weekend. But barring a last-minute change of heart, Motion will take the more conservative route with the stakes-caliber Absolute Crackers and keep her with allowance company one more time in Thursday’s $60,500 main event, carded at a mile on the grass.

Tue, 02/05/2013 - 12:56

Aqueduct: Carryover chase also sees Contessa, Galluscio going for milestones

Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Gary Contessa enters Thursday’s program with 1,999 career victories.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainers Gary Contessa and Dominic Galluscio will be chasing milestones while pick six players will be chasing a carryover of $36,873 when racing resumes Thursday at Aqueduct.

Contessa, 55, enters Thursday’s program with 1,999 career victories. He has seven horses entered in five races as he seeks to become the 89th trainer to win 2,000 races.

Galluscio, 54, enters the day with 998 career victories. He has four horses entered in three races as he attempts to win his 1,000th race.

Tue, 02/05/2013 - 12:55

Charles Town: Charles McIntosh named new racing secretary

Charles Town Races in West Virginia has elevated Charles McIntosh to the position of racing secretary, filling a position vacated last year after the track fired its former racing secretary, Randy Wehrman.

Mon, 02/04/2013 - 18:28

Aqueduct: Dominguez begins rehabilitation program for brain injury

Barbara D. Livingston
It is uncertain how long Ramon Dominguez will have to remain at his rehabilitation facility.

Jockey Ramon Dominguez has begun a brain injury rehabilitation program at a hospital in White Plains, N.Y., as he continues to recover from a fractured skull he suffered in a spill at Aqueduct last month.

Last Wednesday, Dominguez was transferred from New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan to the Burke Rehabilitation Hospital. It is uncertain how long he will have to remain at Burke.

Mon, 02/04/2013 - 16:21

Aqueduct: Correction 1-2 going separate ways

Tom Keyser
Cluster of Stars (right) bested Nicole H by a head in the $100,000 Correction Stakes at Aqueduct.

Cluster of Stars and Nicole H, separated by a head in Saturday’s $100,000 Correction Stakes, are likely headed in different directions for their next starts.

Nicole H, who suffered her first loss in six starts on the inner track – all stakes – will make a quick turnaround and run next in the Grade 2, $250,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park on Feb. 16.