Thu, 06/01/2023 - 14:46

After a win in the Gamely, Macadamia might be on Breeders' Cup trail

Benoit Photo
Macadamia, under Tiago Pereira, upset Monday's Grade 1 Gamely Stakes. His owners will now ponder a supplemental bid into the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

A portion of the $240,000 Macadamia earned for winning Monday’s Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita may finance her nomination to the Breeders’ Cup program this summer.

A 5-year-old Brazilian-bred mare, Macadamia was not nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program as a foal. Her supplemental nomination fee, which would make her Breeders’ Cup-eligible for the rest of her career, is $25,000, if paid by July 15.

Though expensive, the fee may be worth the investment considering the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf will be run at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.

Thu, 06/01/2023 - 14:37

Appleby opts for New York Stakes over Just a Game for With the Moonlight

Dubai Racing Club
With the Moonlight is better suited by the 1 1/4 miles of the New York than the one-mile of the Just a Game - and she won't have to face In Italian again.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Looking to avoid another meeting with In Italian, trainer Charlie Appleby said Thursday that With the Moonlight would be pointed to the Grade 1, $600,000 New York Stakes rather than the Grade 1, $500,000 Just a Game. With the Moonlight was nominated to both races, which are scheduled for June 9 at Belmont Park.

Thu, 06/01/2023 - 14:37

Tapit Shoes confirmed for Belmont Stakes

Coady Photography
Tapit Shoes finished second in the Bath House Row Stakes on April 22 at Oaklawn Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Tapit Shoes, second to Red Route One in the Bath House Row Stakes on April 22 at Oaklawn Park, was confirmed on Thursday as a starter for the Belmont Stakes on June 10 by trainer Brad Cox.

Tapit Shoes, a son of Tapit – who has produced four Belmont Stakes winners since 2014 – has just one win from five starts. He is owned by a partnership led by Spendthrift Farm and will be ridden in the race by Jose Ortiz, who won the 2017 Belmont aboard Tapwrit.

Thu, 06/01/2023 - 11:16

Chocolate Gelato will make comeback run in Jersey Girl Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Chocolate Gelato worked five furlongs at Belmont Park on Thursday. She hasn't started since finishing 12th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Chocolate Gelato, idle since finishing a tiring 12th after pressing the pace for six furlongs in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, will make her 3-year-old debut here next Thursday in the $150,000 Jersey  Girl Stakes.

Trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed Chocolate Gelato’s status for the six-furlong Jersey Girl about an hour after she worked five furlongs in 1:02.20 seconds and galloped out six panels in 1:15.80 over the Belmont Park training track in company with Meteorite on Thursday.

Wed, 05/31/2023 - 15:43

After a win in the Steve Sexton Mile, Frosted Grace will take aim at the Cornhusker Handicap

Coady Photography
Frosted Grace, winner of Monday's Grade 3 Steve Sexton Mile, will now point toward the Grade 3 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows July 8.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Frosted Grace became a graded stakes winner Monday at Lone Star Park in the Grade 3, $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile and will go for another victory at that level in July.

Trainer Robertino Diodoro said Wednesday that Frosted Grace has returned to Churchill Downs and is now being pointed for the Grade 3, $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows. The 1 1/8 miles race is July 8.

Wed, 05/31/2023 - 15:24

With BC Mile berth secured, Exaulted will have light summer campaign

Exaulted wins Shoemaker Mile at SA May 29 2023
Benoit Photo
Exaulted is 4 for 4 since being switched to turf, with all of the wins at one mile.

Exaulted earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile in November with a half-length win in his Grade 1 debut in Monday’s $503,000 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita.

A home turf course advantage will be a much needed benefit for the 6-year-old Exaulted.

“You’ve got the Europeans and horses from the rest of the United States,” trainer Peter Eurton said on Wednesday. “It’s a few more levels up.

“Hopefully, he’ll be ready for it.”

Wed, 05/31/2023 - 14:59

Defunded gives Baffert a record win; Arabian Lion Belmont-bound

Defunded wins Hollywood Gold Cup at SA May 29 2023
Benoit Photo
Defunded gave trainer Bob Baffert his ninth win in the Hollywood Gold Cup, one more than former record-holder Charlie Whittingham.

When Defunded won the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita on Monday, Hall of Famer Bob Baffert became the all-time winningest trainer of a race first run in 1938 at Hollywood Park.

Baffert, 70, has nine Gold Cup wins, one more than the late Hall of Famer Charles Whittingham.

“I won it with a Kentucky Derby winner and Charlie won it with a Kentucky Derby winner,” Baffert reflected on Wednesday. “It’s an honor to be in that same list with Charlie Whittingham who is the all-time greatest.”

Wed, 05/31/2023 - 14:57

Hayes Strike in good order, pointing toward Iowa or Ohio Derby

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Hayes Strike emerged from his Monday win in the $300,000 Texas Derby at Lone Star Park in good order and could make his next start in either the Iowa Derby or Ohio Derby, trainer Kenny McPeek said Wednesday. 

McPeek said Hayes Strike is now settled in at Keeneland. The horse was a nose winner over Harlocap on Monday and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 90. Cristian Torres was aboard Hayes Strike.

Wed, 05/31/2023 - 14:53

Woodbine adds swinger bet to wagering menu

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Woodbine Entertainment has added the swinger/omni to its wagering menus for Woodbine and Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Known globally as the swinger, or omni, the popular international wager requires horseplayers to select two of the top three finishers in a race. A horseplayer can win with their selected horses finishing first and second, first and third, or second and third.

The minimum for the swinger/omni is $1, and the takeout is 18 percent.

Wed, 05/31/2023 - 13:55

Belmont Stakes: Castellano lands on his feet with Arcangelo

Debra A. Roma
Javier Castellano was aboard Arcangelo for his victory in the Grade 3 Peter Pan.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Javier Castellano may not be coming to the June 10 Belmont Stakes with his Kentucky Derby winner Mage, but the Hall of Fame rider is still coming to the race with a live chance to win.

Castellano will ride Arcangelo in the Belmont, the final leg of the Triple Crown. Three weeks ago, Castellano guided Arcangelo to a head victory over race favorite Bishops Bay in the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes.