OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Repo Rocks took his game to a new level Saturday, earning a 111 Beyer Speed Figure for his 8 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3, $150,000 Toboggan Stakes at Aqueduct.
The figure was the highest recorded by any horse through the first month of 2023. It surpassed the previous highest figure for Repo Rocks, a 99 recorded in an allowance win at Belmont in April 2022.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The field for Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Withers at Aqueduct is in flux after several defections from the list of possible starters.
Lord Miles (trained by Saffie Joseph Jr.), Classic Catch (Todd Pletcher), Mr Bob (Robert Falcone Jr.) and Classic Legacy (Bill Mott) – all based in South Florida – were all removed from consideration for the Withers by their trainers. Subpar workouts or difficult shipping logistics were the primary reasons given.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Bill Mott said Art Collector was happy, bright and seemed to be “feeling pretty good about himself” Sunday morning at Payson Park. And well he should have been after running 11 talented rivals off their feet on route to a super impressive 4 1/2-length victory in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Gunite remains on course for a trip to Saudi Arabia, trainer Steve Asmussen said Sunday, a day after the 4-year-old put up one of the best Beyer Speed Figures of his career in the $150,000 King Cotton at Oaklawn Park.
The horse is being pointed for the $1.5 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint. It will be run Feb. 25.
Gunite on Saturday earned a 104 Beyer for a standout performance in the six-furlong King Cotton. He tracked the pace in the slop, took command through five furlongs in 57.18 seconds, and finished up six furlongs in 1:08.89.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Arabian Knight has initially emerged from his tour-de-force run in the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest on Saturday at Oaklawn Park in fine fashion and likely will have a good amount of time between now and his next start, trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday. The horse is scheduled to return to his Santa Anita base Tuesday, the trainer said.
Total handle on the 13-race Pegasus World Cup card on Saturday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., was $43.89 million, according to charts of the races, a figure that ranks in the top tier of the U.S. racing calendar for betting on a single day of racing.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Hit Show was to scratch from Saturday’s Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park to run in next Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct, trainer Brad Cox confirmed Friday.
“Better spot,” Cox said via text.
Hit Show, a son of Candy Ride owned and bred by Gary and Mary West, has won two of three starts including a first-level allowance going a two-turn mile at Oaklawn on Dec. 17.
He drew post 8 of 9 in the Southwest and was one of three Cox had entered in that race along with Corona Bolt and Jace’s Road.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Munnys Gold won her second race about as easily as her first, earning an 88 Beyer Speed Figure in a 6 1/4-length romp here Wednesday in a first-level allowance restricted to Florida-breds. The 3-year-old Munnings filly got six furlongs in 1:10.78, returning $2.20 as a huge favorite under Irad Ortiz Jr.
Trained by Todd Pletcher for Robert and Lawana Low, Munnys Gold was making her first start in more than seven months. Her only prior race came last June at Monmouth Park, where she won a five-furlong maiden race by 14 1/2 lengths to earn a 101 Beyer.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Prep season in Florida starts heating up as Kentucky Derby prospects will undergo their first major test of the year at Gulfstream Park when the Grade 3, $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes is run next Saturday, Feb. 4.
