Mon, 04/03/2023 - 13:05

Carter pits streaking Repo Rocks against sharp last-out winner White Abarrio

By David Grening
Repo Rocks wins the Stymie at AQU Feb 25 2023
Joe Labozzetta/NYRA
Repo Rocks, winner of the Stymie and Toboggan in his last two starts, will face White Abarrio in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap.

Repo Rocks, a winner of four straight races, and White Abarrio, the 2022 Florida Derby winner who won an allowance last out, head a field of at least eight runners expected for Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct.

Repo Rocks, based at Parx with trainer Jamie Ness, has successfully shipped to Aqueduct twice with dominant victories in the Grade 3 Toboggan and the listed Stymie. He completed preparations for the Carter on Monday, when he worked a half-mile in 47.05 seconds at Parx. It was his third consecutive bullet move.

Mon, 04/03/2023 - 12:55

Rice, Broman decide to run Arctic Arrogance in Wood rather than Bay Shore

By David Grening
Barbara D. Livingston
Arctic Arrogance has finished second in the Withers, Jerome, and Remsen in his most recent three starts.

After some consideration about cutting Arctic Arrogance back in distance, trainer Linda Rice and owner Chester Broman have decided to keep the New York-bred 3-year-old routing and will run him in Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial at 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct rather than the Grade 3, $200,000 Bay Shore going seven furlongs.

“We discussed it that even though the Bay Shore would be an easier spot to win, we can keep the door open to the [Kentucky] Derby and gather up some points and maybe even win the Wood,” Rice said.

Mon, 04/03/2023 - 12:20

Powerhouse stables arriving at Keeneland; Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride entire meet

By Marty McGee
Barbara D. Livingston
Tampa Bay Derby winner Tapit Trice will tune up for the Kentucky Derby in Saturday’s $1 million Blue Grass Stakes.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – All the temporary stands that dominated the Keeneland landscape last fall for the Breeders’ Cup are long gone. Trees are blooming instead of leaves falling. Clockers are getting busier by the day as the stable area starts to refill.

Sun, 04/02/2023 - 17:02

National Treasure, One in Vermillion likely to join Santa Anita Derby field

By Steve Andersen
Emily Shields
National Treasure is a possible starter for the Santa Anita Derby, says trainer Tim Yakteen.

ARCADIA, Calif. - The Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby next Saturday added two starters on Sunday with the inclusion of a well-regarded contender in National Treasure and the longshot One in Vermillion, their trainers said Sunday.

National Treasure, third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland in November, is more likely to start in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby than Saturday’s Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. Trainer Tim Yakteen allowed that there is “small chance” National Treasure could be shipped to Kentucky.

Sat, 04/01/2023 - 19:00

Forte closes as 5-2 favorite in final pool of Kentucky Derby Future Wager

By Marty McGee
Barbara D. Livingston
Forte wins the Grade 1 Florida Derby and will head to Churchill Downs as the Kentucky Derby favorite.

The sixth and final pool in the 2023 Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed Saturday evening with Forte as a 5-2 favorite – and that was before the champion colt closed with a flourish to win the Florida Derby.

In a twist on the usual format used by Churchill Downs wherein all or most Derby preps are run before a futures pool closes, wagering into Pool 6 was cut off at 6 p.m. Eastern Saturday – or about 45 minutes before the Florida Derby was run at Gulfstream Park. The Arkansas Derby also was run Saturday after Pool 6 was closed.

Fri, 03/31/2023 - 18:17

Desormeaux takes off Friday mounts

By Steve Andersen
Barbara D. Livingston
Desormeaux said via text on Friday that he was "under the weather" but that he planned to be at the track Saturday morning.

Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux was off his mounts at Santa Anita on Friday, according to track stewards.

They declined to elaborate on a reason for the absence.

Desormeaux was booked to ride three of the eight races. He is booked on one mount for Saturday and two on Sunday’s program.

Fri, 03/31/2023 - 15:18

Reddam puts 1,400-acre horse farm up for sale

By Steve Andersen
Barbara D. Livingston
I'll Have Another enjoys his paddock at Ocean Breeze Farm in 2021. Ocean Breeze Farm has been listed as for sale for $75 million.

Ocean Breeze Farm in Bonsall, Calif., a 1,400-acre property with a decades-long history in Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred racing on the West Coast, was recently listed for sale for $75 million and could be developed.

Owner Paul Reddam, the prominent California Thoroughbred owner and breeder, said on Friday that 200 acres surrounding the property have been zoned for home construction, but that the 1,200 acres that consists of the ranch has a less certain future as a home for horses.

Fri, 03/31/2023 - 15:14

Leave No Trace getting time on the farm, eyes summer return

By David Grening
Leave No Trace, who finished second last November in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, is recovering from bruised cannon bones and surgery to remove a bone chip in her ankle.
Deb Roma
Leave No Trace, who finished second last November in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, is recovering from bruised cannon bones and surgery to remove a bone chip in her ankle.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The Grade 1 winner Leave No Trace, who finished last in the Grade 2 Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park on March 4, is getting time off after bruising her cannon bones but is expected to resume training later this summer, trainer Phil Serpe said Friday.

Fri, 03/31/2023 - 08:15

After Sunland Oaks win, Flying Connection full speed ahead for Kentucky Oaks

By Mary Rampellini
Coady photo
Flying Connection wins the Sunland Park Oaks with an 85 Beyer Speed Figure.

Flying Connection has emerged from her win in the $300,000 Sunland Park Oaks in excellent condition and is being pointed for the Kentucky Oaks, trainer Todd Fincher said Thursday.  

Fincher said Flying Connection would ship to Churchill Downs in about 10 days. She is currently stabled at Sunland, which is in New Mexico, just across the border from El Paso, Texas.  

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