Thu, 12/27/2012 - 13:50

Gulfstream Park: Action Andy has just one thing to prove in Mr. Prospector

Tom Cooley Photography
Action Andy won his third stakes in a row on Saturday, taking the Pelican under jockey Daniel Coa.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Action Andy can do almost anything. He’s won going short and won going long. He’s won on dirt and won on grass. He’s won on the lead and won from off the pace. About the only thing Action Andy hasn’t done yet is win at Gulfstream Park. And that’s the one element that will give his trainer, Carlos Garcia, the most concern when he sends Action Andy out as the starting highweight and likely favorite in Saturday’s $100,000 Mr. Prospector.

Thu, 12/27/2012 - 12:55

Turf Paradise: Southern Californians invade Lost in the Fog, Arizona Juvenile Fillies

Coady Photography
Red Zeus wins Saturday’s $45,799 Arizona Breeders’ Futurity at Turf Paradise.

PHOENIX – A couple Southern California raiders have come to Turf Paradise, looking to pillage the track’s two juvenile stakes Saturday. Hazardous, who competed in a Breeders‘ Cup race, leads the $35,000 Lost in the Fog for 2-year-olds, while Hyena, a two-time winner, is the one to beat in the $35,000 Arizona Juvenile Fillies.

Both races are at 6 1/2 furlongs. The Arizona Juvenile Fillies drew 11 2-year-old fillies and goes as race 6; the Lost in the Fog also matches 11 and goes as race 8.

Thu, 12/27/2012 - 12:54

Laurel Park: This Ones for Phil, Il Villano aim for better outcome in Dave's Friend Stakes

Tom Keyser
This Ones for Phil will be among the favorites in Saturday's $100,000 Dave's Friend Stakes at Laurel Park.

This Ones for Phil and Il Villano share an odd distinction. Both sprinters, one based in New York and the other in Pennsylvania, recorded triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures at Laurel Park this season. Neither one of their outstandings efforts, however, was quite good enough to win a stakes.

This Ones for Phil and Il Villano will try to reach the Laurel winner’s circle Saturday following the $100,000 Dave’s Friend Stakes at six furlongs.

The Dave’s Friend shares top billing on a card with the $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Championship.

Thu, 12/27/2012 - 12:31

Hawthorne: Seventh EHV-1 positive horse dies

STICKNEY, Ill. – A seventh horse has died after contracting the equine herpesvirus that has been circulating on the Hawthorne backstretch since mid-October.

Wed, 12/26/2012 - 20:18

Santa Anita: Gray day turns bright - especially for Mandella and Co.

Benoit & Associates
Gary Mandella and Rafael Bejarano celebrate Silentio's victory in the Grade 2 Sir Beaufort.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Christmas came a day late for the Mandellas.

Santa Anita opened on Wednesday, and it was time to unwrap the presents for Richard Mandella, son Gary, and former assistant Dan Hendricks, trainers all. Richard won the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes with Jimmy Creed, Gary sent out Silentio to victory in the Sir Beaufort Stakes, and Hendricks got a stocking stuffer with Rintoo in the seventh.

“It means a lot,” Richard Mandella said in the winner’s circle after the Malibu. “Great day. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

Wed, 12/26/2012 - 19:41

Santa Anita: Jimmy Creed gets the trip and the win in Malibu

Benoit & Associates
Jimmy Creed and Garrett Gomez edge Private Zone (right) in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Staying out of trouble – or specifically, racing in the clear – made Jimmy Creed a Grade 1 winner in the $301,000 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on Wednesday.

Closing from fourth in a field of nine, Jimmy Creed ($19.20) raced wide to catch pacesetter Private Zone in the final furlong. He won the Malibu by three-quarters of a length, running seven furlongs in a quick 1:20.36.

Wed, 12/26/2012 - 18:17

Santa Anita: Silentio scores in Sir Beaufort

Benoit & Associates
Silentio, under Rafael Bejarano, collects his first stakes victory by a half-length in the Sir Beaufort for 3-year-olds.

ARCADIA, Calif. -  A month later than expected, Silentio made his stakes debut in the $150,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes at Santa Anita on Wednesday.

The patience paid off handsomely.

Silentio had an ideal trip under red-hot jockey Rafael Bejarano to win the Grade 2 Sir Beaufort Stakes for 3-year-olds over a mile on turf. 

Silentio ($8.40) held off a stubborn run from 3-1 favorite Battle Force to win by a half-length in 1:34.27 on a good turf course.

Wed, 12/26/2012 - 17:41

Santa Anita: Book Review's La Brea win may hurt My Miss Aurelia's Eclipse chances

Benoit & Associates
Book Review, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, prevails in a three-horse photo with Reneesgotzip and favorite My Miss Aurelia in the La Brea Stakes.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Eclipse Award voters who responsibly waited until the La Brea Stakes was run on Wednesday at Santa Anita will have far more to ponder after My Miss Aurelia, seeking to enhance her chances of capturing the 3-year-old filly title, was upset in the Grade 1, $300,000 race, finishing third to the victorious Book Review after contesting a vicious, three-way battle for the lead.

Wed, 12/26/2012 - 16:50

Gulfstream Park: Fear the Kitten will skip Gulfstream Park Derby

Fear the Kitten, trainer Mike Maker’s top 3-year-old prospect this winter, worked five furlongs in 1:00.30 on Wednesday but will not be among the starters in next Tuesday’s Gulfstream Park Derby. Fear the Kitten, an Illinois-bred son of Kitten’s Joy owned by Frank Irvin, won his first two career starts, including a one mile allowance race at Churchill Downs before finishing a late-running fifth in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club in his 2-year-old finale.

Wed, 12/26/2012 - 16:48

Aqueduct notes: Long River eyes run in Jerome Stakes

Long River, a three-quarter-length maiden winner Dec. 15, could wheel back in three weeks and run in the Grade 2, $200,000 Jerome Stakes, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Wednesday.

“We decided to leave him up there for the time being and look at the Jerome,” McLaughlin, who trains Long River for Darley Stable, said by phone from south Florida. “It’s a little quick back, but he’s doing well.”