LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas doesn't have a candidate for this week's 3-year-old classics, but, as always, the legendary trainer is looking to the future.
In his Churchill Downs office before dawn on Saturday morning, the 87-year-old Lukas was looking forward to running last year's Kentucky Oaks winner, Secret Oath, in the Grade 1 La Troienne Stakes on Friday, and was excited to welcome this year's 2-year-olds into his barn this week.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The new-look Churchill Downs paddock shown to the world this weekend at the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks will, ultimately, be a temporary one. But Brad Cox, whose large Churchill Downs string includes four colts and three fillies whom he will lead over for this weekend's spring classics, would be just fine if it wasn't.
"I know it's just temporary, but I'd be fine if that was the permanent paddock," Cox said.
Country Grammer, who had mixed results in 10-figure stakes in the Middle East earlier this year, worked a half-mile in 47 seconds on Sunday for a possible start in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita on May 29.
Trainer Bob Baffert said on Sunday that Country Grammer’s participation in the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles depends on how the 6-year-old works in coming weeks.
Prince Abu Dhabi remained unbeaten after four starts with a half-length win in Saturday’s $101,800 California Derby on the synthetic main track at Golden Gate Fields.
The win is unlikely to lead to a road trip for Prince Abu Dhabi. Trainer Blaine Wright said on Sunday that Prince Abu Dhabi will be strongly considered for the $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes at a mile on turf on May 28.
“There is a big benefit in running out of your own stall,” Wright said.
The Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes at 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita on June 4 is less likely.
ARCADIA, Calif. - It may take a few days to finalize a short-term race goal for Balnikhov, who won the third stakes of his career in Saturday’s Grade 3 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields.
The Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on May 29 or the Grade 3 Poker Stakes at a mile on turf at Belmont Park on June 10 are possibilities for the 4-year-old Balnikhov, who is part of trainer Phil D’Amato’s deep team of turf milers.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Brad Cox, who trains one-fifth of the expected Kentucky Derby field, sent that strong hand out Saturday morning for their final breezes toward the race, now one week off, at Churchill Downs.
The most prominent of Cox’s four expected Derby entrants, Arkansas Derby winner Angel of Empire, worked in company with Louisiana Derby third-place finisher Jace’s Road during the training window reserved for Derby and Oaks hopefuls at 7:30 a.m., following the first morning renovation break.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keeneland ended its 2023 spring meet Friday with record all-sources wagering handle and purse payouts, marking the fifth straight spring meet with a new handle record.
Total handle for a 15-day meet that began April 7 was $224,348,745, an increase of 2.3 percent over the previous record of $219.3 million set last spring. Per-day purses averaged nearly $1.2 million.
“A huge thanks to our fans, the community, and our horsemen who turned out in full force this spring to support Keeneland racing,” Keeneland president Shannon Arvin said in a prepared release.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - From the time Forte left the Keeneland winner’s circle following his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last November, everything has gone according to plan for the horse who will most likely be the favorite for next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
It's kind of scary, when trainer Todd Pletcher thinks about it.
The 3-year-old colt Ultimate Gamble began April with a win in a maiden race at Santa Anita. He may end the month as a candidate the Preakness Stakes.
Ultimate Gamble runs in an allowance race against older horses on Sunday at Santa Anita. If he wins, Ultimate Gamble might run next in the Preakness on May 20 at Pimlico.
“He could come in for the Preakness,” co-owner Tim Cohen said Friday. “It’s not out of the question.”
Practical Move, the leading 3-year-old in California, and Reincarnate, third in two graded stakes in Arkansas this year, worked quickly Friday at Santa Anita for trainer Tim Yakteen in advance of scheduled starts in the Kentucky Derby on May 6 at Churchill Downs.
Practical Move, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 8, worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds under exercise rider Baltazar Contreras, while Reincarnate worked a half-mile in 46.40 under jockey Drayden Van Dyke. Reincarnate’s work was the fastest of the morning at the distance.
