The number of musculoskeletal fatalities in racing or training at California tracks has decreased sharply compared to a year ago, according to state equine medical director Jeff Blea.
The California Horse Racing Board had recorded 26 musculoskeletal fatalities since July 1, 2022, compared to 39 in the 2021-2022 fiscal year, and 43 in the 2020-2021 fiscal year. The current fiscal year ended on Friday.
Jockey Assael Espinoza, who led the standings at Golden Gate Fields earlier this year, has been suspended seven racing days for multiple violations of rules pertaining to excessive use of the whip, according to a ruling published on June 25 by stewards at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton.
She has not raced since November and has not won since August.
The promising 3-year-old filly Vegas Magic will be asked to overcome a lengthy layoff when she starts for the first time in 2023 in Tuesday’s Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos.
A winner of 3 of 5 starts, Vegas Magic was 10th of 13 at 54-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland last November in her most recent race.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo has been in Saratoga for a few weeks now and while he’s in regular training he has not yet returned to the work tab.
Trainer Jena Antonucci said Friday that Arcangelo could have his first work back the middle of next week. While Antonucci said nothing is set in stone, she indicated as though training up to the Travers on Aug. 26 is the initial plan.
“Obviously, we know the Dandy and Travers are sitting there, there would likely be a heavier focus to the Travers than the Dandy,” Antonucci said.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Forte and Tapit Trice, noses apart when second and third, respectively, behind Arcangelo in the Belmont Stakes on June 10, both were on the work tab Friday at Belmont Park as they prepare for the second half of their 3-year-old seasons.
Veteran jockey Deshawn Parker sustained serious injuries in a pre-race accident Tuesday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Parker’s pelvis was fractured in four places, his tailbone broken in two places when his mount in the eighth race on Tuesday, Dabney, spooked, reared, flipped, and landed on Parker. Parker’s agent, Jimmy McInerney, said the filly landed on Parker, rolled back across him, and then stepped on Parker as she got to her feet.
California owner and breeder Ellen Jackson retired from training this week and is downsizing her breeding operation in Northern California.
Jackson, 68, said on Wednesday that she has turned over her 16-horse racing stable to longtime assistant Alberto Ruvalcaba, who will have his first two runners at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif., on Saturday.
“He’s been my assistant trainer for so many years,” Jackson said. “I handed everything over to him.”
Wizard of Westwood, the winner of the Cinema Stakes at Santa Anita on June 11, has been invited to the Grade 1 Belmont Derby at Belmont Park on July 8, pending a workout this weekend, trainer Michael McCarthy said.
Owned by Andrew and Rania Warren, Wizard of Westwood won the Cinema Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles on turf for his second win in five starts and first stakes win. Wizard of Westwood was second or third in three consecutive stakes for 3-year-olds on turf at Santa Anita from early March to early May.
Tonal Impact, coming off two high-figured allowance wins, will make his next start in the Grade 2, $350,000 Suburban Stakes here July 8, trainer Linda Rice said Wednesday.
Tonal Impact was nominated to this Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 John Nerud Stakes going seven furlongs, but Rice wants to give the 5-year-old gelding a try at the 1 1/4-mile Suburban. Two starts back, Tonal Impact won a second-level allowance going 1 1/8 miles before coming back 18 days later to win a third-level allowance going a one-turn mile. He earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure for the last win.
Joey Freshwater likely won’t be favored, but he’ll be the only stakes winner in a field of six entered Wednesday for Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Dwyer Stakes for 3-year-olds scheduled for one mile.
Claimed for $50,000 on Nov. 27 by trainer Linda Rice, Joey Freshwater this year won the Grade 3 Bay Shore on April 8 at Aqueduct. After a third to Drew’s Gold in the Gold Fever, Joey Freshwater ran in the Paradise Creek on turf where he finished a well-beaten fifth.
