Wed, 12/12/2012 - 16:23

Remington: Oaklawn now the focus for leading owner Caldwell

Dustin Orona Photography
Fifth Date, claimed for for $18,000 on Aug. 25, won the $155,000 Oklahoma Classics Cup two starts later.

Danny Caldwell was searching for an “adrenaline flow” after he left his career as a high school coach to start a business with his brother. He has found the right fit in racing. Caldwell has won four of the last five Thoroughbred owner titles Remington Park in Oklahoma City, his latest on Sunday. He operates an active claiming barn, and led all owners with 21 wins. Caldwell’s stable earned $380,080.

Wed, 12/12/2012 - 16:10

Gulfstream notes: Animal Kingdom starts cranking up

Barbara D. Livingston
Animal Kingdom, who breezed a half-mile at Palm Meadows on Tuesday, is pointing for the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap on Feb. 9.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Animal Kingdom took his first step toward his much-anticipated 2013 debut when he breezed an easy half-mile in 52 seconds around the dogs at Palm Meadows on Tuesday. Animal Kingdom returned from a long layoff to finish second behind Wise Dan in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. The 2011 Kentucky Derby winner, Animal Kingdom is being pointed to the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap on Feb. 9.

“He went easily,” trainer Graham Motion said. “The idea was to give him a nice, comfortable first breeze back. He’s had some down time since the Breeders’ Cup.”

Wed, 12/12/2012 - 15:47

Gulfstream Park: Fort Larned resting up for 2013 campaign

Tom Keyser
Fort Larned, under Brian Hernandez, holds off Mucho Macho Man in the BC Classic. He could return in the Gulfstream Park Handicap.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Fort Larned has taken up residence under trainer Ian Wilkes’s shed at the Palm Meadows training center. But don’t expect to see the Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and Eclipse Award candidate racing any time soon.

Fort Larned, a homebred owned by Janis Whitham, capped off a big year for both himself and Wilkes with a game half-length triumph over Mucho Macho Man in the Classic. The victory was the fifth in nine tries on the season for Fort Larned, who won the Grade 3 Skip Away here in late March and also captured the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga.

Wed, 12/12/2012 - 13:54

Woodbine notes: Attfield reflects on an off year

Michael Burns
Forte dei Marmi, winner of the Sky Classic, is regrouping after running last of eight in the Grade 2 W.L. McKnight at Calder.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The year 2012 was a year to remember on a personal level for Roger Attfield, as he was inducted into the horse racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., this summer and later was enshrined in the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.

On the racetrack, however, Attfield’s season could only be called disappointing.

“It’s the worst year I’ve had in about 25 years,” said Attfield, who was speaking from his Florida winter base in Payson Park.

Wed, 12/12/2012 - 13:40

Hollywood Park: Sharp sprinter Minds Eyes tries a route

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Minds Eyes has won her last two starts in sprints on the synthetic main track at Del Mar and the hillside turf course at Santa Anita. She will be asked to try something new Friday, starting in a second-level optional $62,500 claimer over a mile on turf at Betfair Hollywood Park.

This is the time to try a longer distance, according to trainer John Shirreffs.

“We think the added distance will suit her,” he said. “She’s running late. It’s something a trainer would like to try.”

Wed, 12/12/2012 - 13:39

Woodbine: Miss Tatey Cat figures to set pace in Friday allowance

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The steady Miss Tatey Cat figures to lead the way in Friday’s Woodbine feature for 2-year-old fillies. Her main obstacle in the first-level allowance might be the seven-furlong distance.

Miss Tatey Cat has made all three of her starts at five furlongs in maiden-claiming company, and ran against a track bias in her first two tries. She broke slowly before stalking the leaders on the outside en route to finishing second over an inside-favoring track in her $40,000 opener Oct. 3.

Wed, 12/12/2012 - 13:02

Golden Gate notes: Zeewat gives Baze prime California Derby mount

Vassar Photography
Zeewat captures the Gold Rush under Russell Baze. The California Derby could be next.

Russell Baze added two more candidates to his California Derby contenders list over the weekend at Golden Gate Fields.

On Saturday, Zeewat won the one-mile Gold Rush under Baze for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. On Sunday, Baze guided China Prince to his maiden victory for trainer Daniel Franko. Both could end up in the Jan. 12 California Derby.

Wed, 12/12/2012 - 12:52

Charles Town: Lucy's Bob Boy breaks track record while earning 103 Beyer

The 3-year-old Lucy’s Bob Boy earned a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure en route to breaking a 36-year-old track record at Charles Town on Tuesday night.

Taking a substantial class drop to face open company in a nonwinners-of-two allowance, Lucy’s Bob Boy cruised to a 17-length victory over three overmatched opponents. His time of 1:16.44 for 6 1/2 furlongs erased the record of 1:17 set by Jet Appeal on Jan. 6, 1976.

Wed, 12/12/2012 - 10:48

Ruffian Handicap, Gazelle get new dates on 2013 New York Racing Association stakes schedule

Barbara D. Livingston
The New York Racing Association’s Reorganization Board was expected to approve a fall and spring stakes schedule on Wednesday.

The restoration of two graded stakes for fillies and mares and the addition of a second New York Showcase Day program at Belmont Park are the significant changes to the New York Racing Association’s stakes program in 2013.

The NYRA Reorganization Board approved the stakes program only for Aqueduct’s winter/spring and Belmont Park’s spring/summer sessions at its monthly meeting Wednesday.