OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Grade 1 stakes winners Gufo and War Like Goddess both suffered a narrow loss in their most recent start. Saturday, they both get a chance to get make amends when they face each other for the first time in the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct.
The Turf Classic is one of three stakes on an 11-race card that includes the Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh for sprinters and the Grade 3, $150,000 Matron for juvenile fillies on turf.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keeneland was given a mulligan a couple of years ago after ontrack attendance and other aspects of the 2020 Breeders’ Cup were stifled by the coronavirus pandemic. The fruits of that do-over will be realized over the next 30 days as enthused racing fans here and beyond will be talking Breeders’ Cup non-stop, particularly as a 17-day fall meet opens Friday with a schedule packed with prep races toward the Nov. 4-5 championships.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockey Ash Morgan had his first mount at Santa Anita on Sunday. For the well-traveled Morgan, riding at Santa Anita was a return to where he spent time as an exercise rider several years ago.
Born in Wales, Morgan, 32, was the leading rider in the Australia state of New South Wales for the season that ended on July 31. Morgan rode 136 winners from 1,041 mounts during the season.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Connie Swingle stretched her unbeaten record on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course to three races with a win in Saturday’s $115,040 Unzip Me Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Her next start may come against fillies and mares in the $100,000 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course on Oct. 29.
:: Get ready for Santa Anita racing with DRF PPs, Clocker Reports, Picks, and more. Shop Now.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Dr. Schivel, a three-time stakes winner who was second by a nose in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar, is scheduled to undergo a battery of physical tests this week to determine whether he resumes training or continues a vacation.
Dr. Schivel has not started since he finished third in the Group 1 Golden Shaheen in Dubai in March. He was turned out in early summer.
The undefeated and untested Tyler’s Tribe emerged from his easy win in the $100,000 Iowa Cradle on Saturday night at Prairie Meadows in good order and will likely make his next start in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, trainer Tim Martin said Monday.
Tyler’s Tribe also has been under consideration for the $2 million BC Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles on the same Nov. 4 card at Keeneland. Martin on Monday did not rule out the possibility of pre-entering the horse in both spots on Oct. 24.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Howbeit and Whatmakesammyrun gave veteran California trainer Mark Glatt a career milestone afternoon at Santa Anita on Saturday, the first time he has won two graded stakes on the same day.
The two may not run again on the same day in the near future.
On Sunday, Glatt was reluctant to plan Breeders’ Cup starts at Keeneland on Nov. 5 for the pair, both surprise winners of Grade 2 stakes.
Zandon, runner-up to Taiba in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby, will be pointed to the Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Dec. 3, trainer Chad Brown said Saturday.
Brown’s initial feeling coming out of the Pennsylvania Derby was to put Zandon away and freshen him for a 4-year-old campaign. But upon further review, and in consultation with owner Jeff Drown, the decision was made to try cutting Zandon back to the one-turn mile.
