Next Level, who cost a mere $20,000 as a yearling last September, finished third in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Sunday, a precursor to the colt’s two-turn debut in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Oct. 7.
“I know him physically and the horse is built more for distance,” trainer Keith Desormeaux said on Wednesday. “He wants distance and he’s going to get it.”
Stilleto Boy was eased in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Sept. 2, a loss trainer Ed Moger, Jr., is ready to forget in advance of the Santa Anita autumn meeting that begins later this month.
Stilleto Boy, winless in three starts since the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap in March, struck the side of his stall in the starting gate and was away awkwardly in the $1 million Pacific Classic. Stilleto Boy was at the back of the 10-horse field quickly and was not a factor before jockey Kent Desormeaux eased the 5-year-old gelding in the stretch.
Cue the theme song to the sitcom “Welcome Back, Kotter.”
Trainer Jose D’Angelo swept the first two divisions of the Florida Sire Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park with the 2-year-olds Welcome Back and Bentornato, which means welcome back in Italian.
Bentornato ran his record to 3 for 3 in the $100,000 Dr. Fager division and is being pointed to the track’s $200,000 Affirmed, D’Angelo said Tuesday.
The seven-furlong race for eligible 2-year-olds is the next offering in the Florida Sire series that closes with the $300,000 In Reality on Dec. 2.
The unbeaten Grand Mo the First will travel from his Gulfstream Park base to Santa Anita in a few weeks to audition for a potential start in the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
Trainer Victor Barboza Jr. said Tuesday that Grand Mo the First is scheduled to make his next start in the Grade 3, $200,000 Zuma Beach Stakes on Oct. 8 at Santa Anita. A good performance in the one-mile turf race for 2-year-olds could set him up for a Breeders’ Cup start on Nov. 3.
“It’s possible he could stay at Santa Anita,” Barboza said of running back in the Breeders’ Cup.
Arcangelo, the pro-tem leader of the 3-year-old division, worked a half-mile in 47.62 seconds Tuesday morning over Saratoga’s main track, his first breeze since his victory in the Grade 1 Travers on Aug. 26.
It was the first of what is expected to be five breezes Arcangelo will have leading up to the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The rock band the Eagles kicked off its farewell tour dubbed “The Long Goodbye” last week at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Aqueduct Racetrack located some 15 miles away from MSG, begins its own long goodbye run Thursday.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – A total of 16 3-year-old fillies were entered Monday for Friday’s $135,000 Winter Memories Stakes scheduled for one mile over Aqueduct’s turf.
The field drew 14 runners for turf, plus two horses who would run only if the race is run on the main track. The field will be limited to 10 starters on turf.
Trainer Chad Brown entered a quartet of runners, with three – stakes winner Liguria and stakes-placed runners Tax Implications and Lady Beth – making the body of the race. Get Your Kicks is four deep on the also-eligible list.
Churchill Downs will open its brief, 14-day September meet on Thursday, and if it’s a quiet opening, perhaps that’s because Churchill would prefer it that way.
Earlier this year, on June 2, Churchill announced that the remaining live racing days in its spring-summer meet would be held at Ellis Park, in reaction to a spate of horse deaths that had generated an intense amount of media coverage at the famous track, the home of the Kentucky Derby. Although some local horsemen complained about the move, the abrupt send-off quieted the noise.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Closing Remarks has amassed a collection of Grade 2 wins in turf stakes this year that has left the 5-year-old mare with a bevy of race options at different distances in Southern California in the next three months.
Soon, owner and breeder John Harris and trainer Carla Gaines must choose a plan. Closing Remarks won her most recent start in Saturday’s Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf for fillies and mares at Del Mar, a win that could lead to a start in the Grade 2 Rodeo Drive Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Prince of Monaco on Sunday became Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s record 17th career winner in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, joining a crowded list that began with Silver Charm in 1996.
The record will be safe for decades. No other active trainer has won the seven-furlong race for 2-year-olds more than twice.
Prince of Monaco earned another unique distinction, returning only $2.10, the lowest win price in the 76-year history of the race. The previous mark of $2.20 was set by the Baffert-trained Officer in 2001.
