Wed, 07/05/2023 - 13:10

Warrior's Pride lands Zapico first win since 2020 in Umphrey Sprint

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos
Warrior’s Pride won from off the pace for the first time in Saturday’s Bob Umphrey Sprint. Jockey Silvia Zapico also scored her first win since 2020 and first stakes win.

Warrior‘s Pride showed both his durability and versatility Sunday at Gulfstream Park when rallying to a two-length victory in the Bob Umphrey Sprint. The speedster had captured the 2021 version of the race on grass before coming back to win the summer fixture, part of Gulfstream’s Summit of Speed weekend, over the Tapeta course two years later.

Wed, 07/05/2023 - 12:15

Rice lately making hay from Kentucky claims

Barbara D. Livingston
Among Linda Rice’s Kentucky claims are stakes winner Joey Freshwater and Suburban candidate Tonal Impact.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Linda Rice is on the verge of winning her first outright trainer’s title at Belmont Park.

Entering the final three days of the meet, Rice holds a 31-26 lead over Chad Brown, who has won the last seven Belmont spring meet titles. Over the final three days of the meet, Rice has runners entered in 18 of the 31 races carded while Brown has runners in eight.

It would be the fourth consecutive meet title for Rice on the New York Racing Association circuit. She won the 2022 Aqueduct fall meet, and the 2023 Aqueduct winter and spring meets.

Wed, 07/05/2023 - 11:28

'Against All Odds' statue donated to National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

Joe Wulffe
John Henry (left) surged home past The Bart to take the inaugural running of the Arlington Million in 1981. The race was memorialized with the "Against All Odds" statue that sat above the Arlington Park paddock until it closed.

One of the most prominent racing statues in the U.S. has been donated to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs.

“Against All Odds,” a life-sized bronze of John Henry and The Bart fighting to the finish in the 1981 Arlington Million, was donated to the museum by Arlington Park’s former owner, Churchill Downs Inc., the company and museum announced on Wednesday. The statue will go on display on July 12, one day prior to the opening of the Saratoga Race Course meet across the street from the museum.

Tue, 07/04/2023 - 16:31

Apprentice Torres suspended 14 days; Belmont riders question penalty length

Barbara D. Livingston
Wonder Girl, the mount of Jaime Torres, was disqualified from first to second Monday for drifting out in the stretch.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The New York stewards suspended apprentice jockey Jaime Torres 14 calendar days for his ride aboard Wonder Girl in Monday’s second race at Belmont Park.

Torres has appealed the suspension.

Wonder Girl crossed the finish line first, but Torres allowed her to drift out several paths in the stretch, carrying out the runner-up Nightsaber, who, under Irad Ortiz Jr., finished second, beaten one length.

Mon, 07/03/2023 - 16:43

The Foxes comes to Belmont Derby with top-class Euro form

Coady Photography
Mission of Joy will be among the favorites for the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks on Saturday's stakes-packed card at Belmont.

ELMONT, N.Y. -- The Foxes, a multiple Group 2 winner in Great Britain, drew the outside post in a field of 11 3-year-olds entered Monday for Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational scheduled for 1 1/4 miles over Belmont Park’s inner turf course.

Mon, 07/03/2023 - 14:33

Smith picks up mount on Geaux Rocket Ride for Haskell

Benoit Photo
Geaux Rocket Ride will be ridden by Mike Smith in the Haskell Stakes on July 22 at Monmouth Park.

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith has been booked to ride recent Santa Anita stakes winner Geaux Rocket Ride in the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes on July 22 at Monmouth Park.

On Monday at Santa Anita, Smith worked Geaux Rocket Ride for the first time, going six furlongs in 1:12.60.

“He did things his own way,” Smith said. “I’m excited to get the opportunity to ride him.

“He’s forward. He’s a little fresh right now.”

Mon, 07/03/2023 - 14:33

O’Neill making stakes plans for Del Mar

Barbara D. Livingston
Anarchist is being pointed to the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes on July 29 at Del Mar.

Trainer Doug O’Neill may have as many as two runners in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs on July 29 at Del Mar.

Anarchist, second to 2022 champion male sprinter Elite Power in the Grade 2 True North Stakes on June 10 at Belmont Park, may be joined by Kid Corleone, a recent allowance race winner at Santa Anita.

Anarchist, a winner of 2 of 10 starts, won the Grade 3 Jacques Cartier Stakes at six furlongs on May 14 at Woodbine, his first stakes win. Anarchist worked a half-mile in 48 seconds on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Mon, 07/03/2023 - 14:15

Franco, Cancel to miss final week of Belmont meet

ELMONT, N.Y. – Albeit for different reasons, jockeys Manny Franco and Eric Cancel will sit out the final three days of the Belmont Park spring/summer meet.

Franco will miss the Friday-through-Sunday programs owing to a careless riding suspension handed him by the stewards for his ride on Chasing the Crown in the second race on June 22. Chasing the Crown finished second, but interfered with third-place finisher Verbal. The stewards disqualified Chasing the Crown and placed him behind Verbal.

Franco’s 28 wins have him third in the Belmont jockey standings.

Mon, 07/03/2023 - 14:10

Goodnight Olive to stay sprinting, points to Ballerina

ELMONT, N.Y. – After giving some consideration to stretching champion female sprinter Goodnight Olive out in distance, trainer Chad Brown said the decision was made to keep her sprinting. She will be pointed to the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga on Aug. 26.

That would likely be her last start before the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Goodnight Olive won both those races last year.

“I want to make sure she’s fresh for the Breeders’ Cup,” Brown said.

Mon, 07/03/2023 - 14:10

White Abarrio works, will run next in Forego at Saratoga

ELMONT, N.Y. – White Abarrio, third in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap last out, returned to the work tab Monday morning at Belmont Park, breezing five furlongs in 59.61 seconds over the main track.