Wed, 08/13/2025 - 14:56

Accomplished jockey and longtime California racing official James Dreyer dies at 82

There were times in the 1960s and 1970s that jockey James Dreyer was in the winner’s circle of nearly every major race at Los Alamitos, and a few in New Mexico.

Dreyer rode such famous horses as Charger Bar, Go Josie Go, and Go Derussa Go in an 18-year career that included 535 wins, including 46 stakes at Los Alamitos.

But his success as a jockey was only part of a lifelong involvement in Quarter Horse racing at the Southern California track, and other venues. Dreyer later worked in the track’s racing office, and as a steward from 2003 until a few months ago.

Wed, 08/13/2025 - 14:13

Myra's Boy on a roll

By Mary Rampellini

Myra’s Boy has won both of his starts at the Louisiana Downs meet and the Beyer Speed Figures he has earned are the top two numbers at the current stand in Bossier City, La.

Myra’s Boy earned a meet-best 91 when taking an off-the-turf race for first-level allowance runners May 27. It was held at one mile and 70 yards. He returned to earn an 88 for a win in a one-mile turf allowance in his last start July 29. The next stop could be a stakes race.

Wed, 08/13/2025 - 14:02

Sushi Man mulls stakes options

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Media

Sushi Man won his third consecutive race last Saturday night in the $75,000 Minnesota Derby.

Sushi Man has stakes options at Hawthorne Race Course, Kentucky Downs, and his base of Canterbury Park after winning his third consecutive race last Saturday night in the $75,000 Minnesota Derby.

Wed, 08/13/2025 - 13:36

Despite slow start to meet, Cox has bullets to fire in upcoming stakes

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Brad Cox has Good Cheer (above) and Margie's Intention in Saturday's Alabama. Next week he plans to run Verifire and Patch Adams in the Allen Jerkens and Bishops Bay and Most Wanted in the Forego.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Brad Cox uses words like “confusing” and “frustrating” to describe his Saratoga meet at which, through five weeks, he’s won just four races from 28 starters.

“It’s been a little bit of a head-scratcher, but we still got time to get it turned around,” Cox said.

Wed, 08/13/2025 - 13:16

Goal Oriented, Chunk of Gold to run next in Pennsylvania Derby

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Bob Baffert believes Goal Oriented will benefit by waiting for the Pennsylvania Derby rather than running in the Travers.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Goal Oriented has a new target.

Goal Oriented, the third-place finisher behind Journalism in the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes on July 20, has been rerouted from the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on Aug. 23 at Saratoga to the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 20 at Parx Racing, trainer Bob Baffert said Wednesday.

Wed, 08/13/2025 - 11:25

Schwarzenegger is back - twice

By Mike Welsch

Barbara D. Livingston

Schwarzenegger, shown working Aug. 8, will make his debut Thursday if race 6 stays on the turf. If not, he'll run in Saturday's Skidmore Stakes.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Schwarzenegger, one of the most hyped 2-year-olds stabled at Saratoga this summer, will finally make his much anticipated debut here this week. When and against what caliber of competition is still to be decided.

Trainer Wesley Ward has entered Schwarzengger, a son of Not This Time, in a maiden special weight race on Thursday and the $150,000 Skidmore Stakes two days later. Both races are carded at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, with the weather ultimately to decide which race Ward chooses for his promising youngster.

Tue, 08/12/2025 - 12:46

2025 King's Plate: Munger high on Plate Trial winner Sedburys Ghost

By DRF Staff

Michael Burns

Ryan Munger guides Sedburys Ghost to victory in the Plate Trial last month at Woodbine.

By Anna Jeffs

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – South African native Ryan Munger likes his chances aboard Plate Trial Stakes winner Sedburys Ghost in the 166th running of the $1 million King’s Plate on Saturday at Woodbine.

Sedburys Ghost won his first stakes in the 1 1/8-mile Plate Trial over the favored Notorious Gangster while earning an 85 Beyer Speed Figure, one of the highest in the King’s Plate field.

Mon, 08/11/2025 - 14:09

Gargan, Beckman have ambitious plans for impressive youngsters

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Golden Tornado earned an 86 Beyer in winning his debut.

The colt Golden Tornado and the filly Carmel Coast were both impressive juvenile debut winners here over the weekend and are both likely heading to Grade 1 stakes at Aqueduct in the fall.

Golden Tornado, a son of McKinzie trained by Danny Gargan, won a six-furlong maiden race by 3 1/4 lengths over the highly regarded and heavily bet Oscar’s Hope. Golden Tornado ran the distance in 1:10.87 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 86.

Mon, 08/11/2025 - 13:41

Gaffalione picking up mounts before Del Mar Oaks

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Tyler Gaffalione will have mounts Thursday and Friday before getting aboard Lush Lips in Saturday's Del Mar Oaks.

DEL MAR, Calif. – A day off in the middle of this week in a Southern California beach town may be the ideal way for jockey Tyler Gaffalione to celebrate a six-win day at Ellis Park on Sunday.

For Gaffalione, a trip west this week is a working one.

After riding at Ellis Park on Monday, Gaffalione was set to travel to Del Mar on Tuesday. He is booked to ride one race at Del Mar on Thursday and three on Friday in advance of a mount on Lush Lips in Saturday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks, the primary reason for the trip to California.

Mon, 08/11/2025 - 13:35

Baffert in familiar position with talented 2-year-olds

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Desert Gate's victory in the Best Pal was trainer Bob Baffert's 12th win in the race.

DEL MAR, Calif. – A loaded cast of juveniles has run to expectations for trainer Bob Baffert through the first four weekends of the Del Mar summer meeting.

Baffert swept the two six-furlong Grade 3 stakes for 2-year-olds on Saturday and Sunday, winning Saturday’s $150,000 Best Pal Stakes with Desert Gate, who won by 8 3/4 lengths, and Sunday’s $150,500 Sorrento Stakes for fillies with Himika, who was first by only 4 1/4 lengths.

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