Fri, 07/07/2023 - 16:56

Kylee Jordan rehabbing dislocated shoulder

Kylee Jordan at OP Feb 13 2022
Coady Photography
Jockey Kylee Jordan is undergoing physical therapy after dislocating her shoulder two weeks ago.

Jockey Kylee Jordan, who won the riding title last year at Prairie Meadows and ranked second in the standings through Friday, has been sidelined by a dislocated shoulder. She said Friday that a timeline for her return has not yet been determined.

“I’m not sure how long I’ll be out,” said Jordan, who has seen a specialist and is undergoing physical therapy. “I want to ride, but my agent said ‘Not yet.’ I need to get as strong as I can before riding.”  

Fri, 07/07/2023 - 16:01

Schuylerville draws 11 on Saratoga's opening-day card

Barbara D. Livingston
Closing Act, winning the Astoria, is the only stakes winner entered in the Schuylerville.

Nine maiden winners, one stakes winner, and one first-time starter comprise a field of 11 2-year-old fillies entered Friday for Thursday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Schuylerville Stakes, the opening-day feature on a 10-race Saratoga card.

The Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse hopes to kick off a big opening week in Saratoga when he sends out Sugar Treat, a half-length debut winner over Gulfstream Park’s synthetic surface on June 10.

Fri, 07/07/2023 - 14:51

Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit suspends Pineda, Saldana

Los Alamitos-based trainers Milton Pineda and Reed Saldana have been provisionally suspended by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit after five positives for a banned medication were found in their runners at Santa Anita last month, the regulatory body announced on its website Friday.

Post-race tests revealed positives for diisopropylamine, which is considered a therapeutic substance “that could have diuretic effects and assist in preventing” bleeding, according to a ruling issued by the racing authority of the United Arab Emirates in 2021.

Fri, 07/07/2023 - 13:15

Pletcher on the fence about Forte's Travers prep

Forte trains at BEL June 6 2023
Barbara D. Livingston
Forte will use either the Haskell on July July 22 or the Jim Dandy the following week as his prep for the Aug. 26 Travers.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher seems genuinely torn where next to run Forte, last year’s 2-year-old champion who ran a game second in the Belmont Stakes last month off a 10-week layoff.

While the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga would give Forte an additional week from the Belmont and a race over the track where the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers will be run on Aug. 26, the Haskell on July 22 at Monmouth Park is a Grade 1 and worth $1 million.

Fri, 07/07/2023 - 13:05

Mage works in Kentucky, leaning toward Haskell as Travers prep

Barbara D. Livingston
Mage worked six furlongs in 1:13.75 Friday at the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington.

Kentucky Derby winner Mage moved a step closer to his next start after working six furlongs in 1:13.75 Friday at the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington, Ky., according to assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. Regular exercise rider J.J. Delgado was aboard.

The work was the third and stiffest yet for Mage since being given some time off following his third-place finish as the 7-5 favorite in the Preakness on May 20.

Fri, 07/07/2023 - 12:55

After work, Cody's Wish all but confirmed for Whitney

Debra A. Roma
Cody's Wish comes off a smashing win in the Metropolitan Handicap for which he earned a 112 Beyer Speed Figure.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Bill Mott all but confirmed Metropolitan Handicap winner Cody’s Wish will make his next start in the Grade 1 Whitney here on Aug. 5 after watching the fan favorite breeze a very easy five furlongs in 1:01 over the Oklahoma training track on Friday.

Thu, 07/06/2023 - 15:27

Stilleto Boy will target Pacific Classic next

Stilleto Boy holds off the onrushing Proxy in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 4.
Benoit Photo
Santa Anita Handicap winner Stilleto Boy was "a little tired" following his sixth-place finish in the Stephen Foster at Ellis Park.

Stilleto Boy, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap in March, emerged from a sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes at Ellis Park on Saturday “a little tired,” according to trainer Ed Moger Jr.

Stilleto Boy, who was shipped to Santa Anita on Sunday, will make his next start in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Sept. 2, Moger said.

The $1 million Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles is the richest annual race for older horses in California, and a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.

Thu, 07/06/2023 - 15:08

Baffert begins to plan Eda's path to BC Filly and Mare Sprint

Eda beats Chismosa (No. 6) in Great Lady M. at Los Al July 4 2023
Benoit Photo
Eda holds off Chismosa (No. 6) to win the Great Lady M. and stretch her winning streak to six races.

Eda extended her winning streak to six races with her fifth stakes win in Tuesday’s Grade 2, $202,000 Great Lady M. Stakes for fillies and mares at Los Alamitos, and in doing so gave trainer Bob Baffert a reason to point the 4-year-old filly to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.

Eda, owned by Charles and Susan Chu, dueled with Elm Drive through a quick pace and repelled a late challenge from the outsider Chismosa to win the 6 1/2-furlong race by a neck.

Thu, 07/06/2023 - 10:01

Retama Park shut down due to "unsafe conditions"

The Texas Racing Commission has shut down Retama Park near San Antonio for “unsafe conditions” and violations of state racing regulations, the commission said late Wednesday.

The shut-down order affects the five live racing dates for Retama’s ongoing Quarter Horse meet scheduled through July 14, according to the racing commission. Retama opened its 23-day Quarter Horse meet on June 29, running through Aug. 19.

Wed, 07/05/2023 - 14:40

Arcangelo quick, strong in first post-Belmont work

Arcangelo works at SAR July 5 2023
Barbara D. Livingston
Belmont winner Arcangelo works five furlongs at Saratoga on Wednesday in 58.61 seconds. He galloped out full of energy.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Arcangelo returned to the work tab for the first time since his victory in the Belmont Stakes on June 10, breezing five furlongs in 58.61 seconds per Daily Racing Form over a fast main track Wednesday at Saratoga.