Wed, 09/28/2022 - 15:57

Top three from Lucky Coin rematched in Belmont Turf Sprint

Barbara D. Livingston
Thin White Duke runs down Dancing Buck (right) and outfinishes Fauci (left) to win the Lucky Coin Stakes on Sept. 2 at Saratoga.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Thin White Duke, Dancing Buck and Fauci, the top three finishers from the Lucky Coin Stakes at Saratoga, meet again in the Grade 3, $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint, which drew an evenly matched field of 12.

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Wed, 09/28/2022 - 15:43

Juan Vazquez suspension appeal denied by Pennsylvania Commission

The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission on Wednesday denied an appeal by the trainer Juan Vazquez of a suspension that will run through January 2025.

Vazquez, a trainer based in Pennsylvania who put up gaudy win percentages early in his career, was suspended this summer by the commission after being accused of shipping a mare in January from Belmont Park in New York to Parx Racing outside of Philadelphia despite the mare having an acute case of laminitis. The mare, Shining Colors, was euthanized three days after the journey.

Wed, 09/28/2022 - 14:37

Hot Rod Charlie will start from stall 5 in Lukas Classic, Art Collector gets post 2

Barbara Livingston
Hot Rod Charlie trains at Saratoga in early August pior to his third-place finish to Life Is Good in the Whitney.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Hot Rod Charlie and Art Collector head a six-horse field that also includes 2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike in the Saturday feature at Churchill Downs, the Grade 2, $500,000 Lukas Classic.

Hot Rod Charlie, with Tyler Gaffalione to ride, was assigned post 5 in the Lukas Classic, a 1 1/8-mile race that shares the Saturday spotlight with the Grade 3, $300,000 Ack Ack. The one-mile Ack Ack is a Win and You’re In toward the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland.

Wed, 09/28/2022 - 13:18

Griffin named Monmouth Park race caller for next year

Chris Griffin, the race caller at Parx racetrack outside Philadelphia, will become the full-time announcer at Monmouth Park in New Jersey starting next year, Monmouth announced on Wednesday.

Griffin will take over for Frank Mirahmadi, who has been Monmouth’s race caller for eight years. Mirahmadi accepted a position as the full-time race caller beginning next year at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., whose meet runs concurrent with much of the Monmouth meet.

Tue, 09/27/2022 - 17:04

Gulfstream championship meet to offer 60 stakes worth $13.6 million

Barbara Livingston
The championship meet at Gulfstream Park will be topped by the Florida Derby, Pegasus World Cup Invitational, and Pegasus World Cup Turf.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational, $1 million Florida Derby, and $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf highlight the stakes schedule for the 2022-2023 Gulfstream Park championship meet released on Tuesday.

The championship meeting opens several weeks later than usual this winter, on Dec. 26, and continues through April 2.

A total of 60 stakes, 35 of them graded events, will be decided for $13.6 million in purses. The schedule includes 31 races carded to be run over Gulfstream Park’s newly renovated turf course.

Tue, 09/27/2022 - 15:40

Apprentice Del-Cid piling up wins on Louisiana circuit

Hodges Photography
Vicente Del-Cid rides Jane Is Ready to victory in the Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies last month at Louisiana Downs.

Vicente Del-Cid has quietly emerged as a leading candidate for the Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice jockey of 2022 with a breakout year in Louisiana. Del-Cid through Monday ranked second in wins in North America, tied with Tyler Gaffalione and trailing only Irad Ortiz Jr.

Del-Cid, who is a 21-year-old native of Guatemala, has won 203 races from 957 mounts so far this year. He still has about a month left with his five-pound apprentice allowance and will be active at Delta Downs, which opens Oct. 5.

Tue, 09/27/2022 - 12:55

Nest to make next start in Beldame

Barbara Livingston
Nest wins the Aug. 20 Alabama by 4 1/4 lengths. In her first start of the Saratoga meet, she won the Coaching Club American Oaks by 12 1/4 lengths.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Nest, the leader of the 3-year-old filly division, will likely make her next start in the Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame Stakes at Aqueduct on Oct. 9, trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Nest is a three-time Grade 1-winning 3-year-old filly who recorded convincing victories in both the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama during the summer at Saratoga. The fact there is 11 weeks between the Alabama and the Breeders’ Cup Distaff made simply training up to that Nov. 4 race a less than desirable option.

Tue, 09/27/2022 - 12:39

Charge It has first work since setback; being pointed to Kelso

Barbara Livingston
Charge It, shown working at Saratoga last summer, has not raced since winning the Dwyer with a 111 Beyer in July.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Charge It on Tuesday returned to the work tab for the first time in six weeks as he ramps up preparation for a fall campaign his connections hope begins with a start in the Grade 2, $300,000 Kelso Handicap at Aqueduct on Oct. 29.

Charge It breezed a half-mile in 49.22 seconds by himself Tuesday morning over the Belmont Park training track. He went his first quarter in 25.33 seconds, his second quarter in 23.89 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.97.

Tue, 09/27/2022 - 11:39

Vance winner Flash of Mischief being considered for Breeders' Cup Sprint

Dustin Orona Photography
Flash of Mischief earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure for his 6 1/4-length victory in the David M. Vasnce.

The connections of Flash of Mischief are exploring the possibility of a start in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint following the horse’s career performance Sunday in the $150,000 David M. Vance at Remington Park.  

Flash of Mischief closed for a 6 1/4-length win in the race, while covering six furlongs in 1:08.78. He earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 104.

“We are exploring all options,” said trainer Karl Broberg.  

Tue, 09/27/2022 - 10:11

Rattle N Roll eyes Fayette Stakes

Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park
Rattle N Roll fue mucho para sus rivales en el Oklahoma Derby G3

Rattle N Roll could face older horses for the first time in his career next month following his powerful win in the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby on Sunday at Remington Park.  

Trainer Kenny McPeek said Tuesday that Rattle N Roll will be nominated to the Grade 2, $350,000 Fayette at Keeneland. The 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up is Oct. 29.