Wed, 04/26/2023 - 11:00

Preakness Stakes Future Bet opens Friday

Forte trains at CD April 25 2023
Barbara Livingston
Forte is the 4-1 morning-line favorite in the Preakness Future Bet, which will close on May 6 before the Kentucky Derby is run.

The inaugural Preakness Stakes Future Bet will include a field of 28 individual horses and an “all others” entry, according to a list of horses distributed Tuesday night.

The field includes many of the top choices for the May 6 Kentucky Derby, plus a handful of horses whose trainers have indicated that they are shooting for the May 20 Preakness after the post-Derby shakeout. But the timing of the Preakness Future Bet will require players to make their selections prior to that shakeout – the pool will close on the afternoon of May 6, prior to the running of the Derby.

Tue, 04/25/2023 - 15:14

2023 Kentucky Derby Clocker Report: Confidence Game, Mage make appearances on quiet morning

Barbara D. Livingston
Confidence Game gallops over the main track on Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs.

Churchill Downs
Tuesday, April 25
Weather: Clear
Temperature: 39 degrees
Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The closest thing to a timed workout relevant to the Kentucky Derby on Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs came immediately after the track opened for training at 5:15 a.m., when the reigning Derby champion, Rich Strike, breezed an easy half-mile in preparation for his next start in the Alysheba Stakes to be decided on this year’s Derby undercard.

Tue, 04/25/2023 - 11:42

Passero to examine Laurel track surface; racing to remain suspended during review

Barbara D. Livingston
John Passero's review of the Laurel racing surface could start as soon as Wednesday.

The owner of Laurel Park and the track’s horsemen’s group have reached an agreement to retain an outside racetrack superintendent to conduct an assessment of the dirt surface at the track, which has been closed for live racing since last week.

The superintendent, John Passero, will begin work on an assessment of the track as soon as Wednesday, the officials said at a Tuesday Maryland Racing Commission meeting scheduled just days ago to discuss the condition of the track and attempt to iron out hard feelings between horsemen and track management.

Tue, 04/25/2023 - 10:36

Desormeaux suspended one day for Stilleto Boy ride

Coady photo
Proxy (foreground) won the Okalawn Handicap by a head over rail-skimming Last Samurai. It was a nose farther back to Stilleto Boy in third.

Jockey Kent Desormeaux has been suspended one day (April 29) by the Oaklawn Park board of stewards for his ride aboard Stilleto Boy in the Grade 2, $1 million Oaklawn Handicap on Saturday.

Desormeaux was cited for “careless riding” in the stretch run of the race. The stewards called an inquiry after the finish of the Oaklawn Handicap, which Proxy won by a head over Last Samurai. It was a nose back in third to Stilleto Boy.

Desormeaux was cited for impeding the rail-running Last Samurai. The incident occurred near the sixteenth pole, according to the stewards.

Mon, 04/24/2023 - 14:00

Defunded part of Baffert's strong team of older horses

Defunded wins the Californian under Rafael Hernandez on Saturday at Santa Anita.
Benoit Photo
Defunded wins the Californian under Rafael Hernandez on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Defunded, the winner of the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, is only one of several older horses who are candidates for major stakes this summer for trainer Bob Baffert.

The next major stakes on the main track for older horses is the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on May 29.

Defunded won his third stakes in his last five starts in the 1 1/8-mile Californian. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Defunded hopped in the air at the start and closed from last of six to win by a convincing three lengths.

Mon, 04/24/2023 - 13:55

Maldonado enjoys four-win Sunday

Edwin Maldonado won four races on Sunday, two for Peter Eurton and two for Doug O'Neill.
Benoit Photo
Edwin Maldonado won four races on Sunday, two for Peter Eurton and two for Doug O'Neill.

Jockey Edwin Maldonado won four of the 10 races at Santa Anita on Sunday, the third time in the last 11 years he has won four races on a card.

Maldonado, 40, won the first race on Jetovator ($4.80), the second on Virasana ($26.80), the ninth on Chicknfingerfriday ($7.20), and the 10th on Keen to Go ($11.60). Maldonado was second by a neck on Ever a Rebel in the fourth.

Jetovator and Virasana are trained by Peter Eurton, while Doug O’Neill trains Chicknfingerfriday and Keen to Go, who were both claimed.

Mon, 04/24/2023 - 13:55

San Francisco Mile a rebound spot for Balnikhov

Balnikhov goes into Saturday’s San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields off two losses.
Benoit Photo
Balnikhov goes into Saturday’s San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields off two losses.

Six months removed from his latest win, Balnikhov is scheduled to start in Saturday’s Grade 3 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields with something to prove.

Balnikhov rallied through traffic to win by a neck in the Grade 3 Bryan Station Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf at Keeneland last October. Balnikhov lost his two subsequent starts. Balnikhov was beaten a nose when second in the Grade 2 Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds on turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, and was seventh of eight in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf at Santa Anita on March 4.

Mon, 04/24/2023 - 13:25

Broken hand will keep Lezcano out of action at least another month

Jose Lezcano.11-4-22
Barbara Livingston
Jose Lezcano was injured in a spill on April 8 at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jockey Jose Lezcano, who suffered a broken hand in a spill at Aqueduct on April 8, will likely miss at least the first three weeks of the Belmont Park spring meeting.

According to his agent, Jason Beides, Lezcano will have to wear a cast on his hand for the next four weeks before having another X-ray taken on his hand to determine the healing progress.

Beides said that the injury did not require surgery.

Mon, 04/24/2023 - 13:20

Arctic Arrogance being considered for Pat Day Mile

Arctic Arrogance.2-12-23
Barbara Livingston
Arctic Arrogance is expected to run next in either the Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs or the Mike Lee Stakes at Belmont Park.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While Arctic Arrogance won’t be running in the Kentucky Derby, trainer Linda Rice hasn’t ruled out a trip to Louisville for the New York-bred 3-year-old, who is under consideration for the Grade 2, $500,000 Pat Day Mile on the Derby undercard.

If she opts to skip that trip, Rice said Arctic Arrogance would instead by pointed to the $125,000 Mike Lee Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds going seven furlongs at Belmont Park on May 29.

Mon, 04/24/2023 - 12:25

With racing at a standstill, Maryland commission calls Tuesday meeting

Barbara D. Livingston
Racing has not been held at Laurel Park since last Thursday when two horses were euthanized.

The Maryland Racing Commission has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday morning to discuss the elements of a wide-ranging disagreement between the state’s horsemen’s groups and the operator of its Thoroughbred tracks, with the potential of forcing live racing to be moved from Laurel Park to Pimlico Race Course.

Live racing has been put on hold in Maryland since Friday, when a large number of horsemen refused to enter their horses in races at Laurel after two horses were euthanized following injuries suffered during races on the Thursday card.