OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Following his fourth consecutive victory – and first against open company – the New York-bred Today’s Flavor is headed for stakes company for his next start. One of his options could be the Grade 1 Carter on April 8 at Aqueduct.
“Nominations close two weeks out, if the horse is doing well, he will be nominated and we will consider it,” trainer George Weaver said Sunday.
Kerri Raven is the owner, trainer, exercise rider, and chief bottle washer for Chess Master, whose 4 3/4-length romp Saturday in the $98,750 Tampa Turf Dash scarcely could have been more dominant.
“Oh my god, he just crushed them,” Raven said. “I’m going to watch this replay a lot.”
The gate-to-wire score under Antonio Gallardo graded out to a 100 Beyer Speed Figure, matching the number he earned in winning the 2022 Tampa Turf Dash. As a Florida-bred eligible for additional bonuses, the 7-year-old gelding earned $60,000.
In the aftermath of a judge’s ruling last week denying trainer Bob Baffert’s motion to have his ban from this year’s Kentucky Derby overturned, several 3-year-olds previously trained by him will be moving to other trainers in order to become eligible to earn qualifying points in upcoming Derby prep races.
ARCADIA, Calif. -- The exciting maiden race winner Geaux Rocket Ride is on schedule for his stakes debut in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/6 miles at Santa Anita on March 4.
On Saturday at Santa Anita, Geaux Rocket Ride worked five furlongs in 1:00.40, his second-to-last major exercise before the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes.
“Everything we see is good,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “It was a handy work.”
ARCADIA, Calif. -- Frankie Dettori, who won four races at Santa Anita on Saturday, will ride Newgrange for the first time in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 4.
Dettori replaces Juan Hernandez, who is scheduled to ride the multiple stakes winner Defunded in the $500,000 Big Cap at 1 1/4 miles.
Defunded was second in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28. On the same day, Newgrange won the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita.
Pretty Mischievous was beaten more than five lengths by Hoosier Philly last November in the Golden Rod Stakes, but Saturday’s Rachel Alexandra turned out far different. Winner of the Untapable Stakes here in December, Pretty Mischievous was held out of the Silverbulletday Stakes last month to point for the Rachel Alexandra and came through with a three-quarter-length win over Florida shipper Miracle.
NEW ORLEANS – In terms of Beyer Speed Figures, the 3-year-olds were all upside-down Saturday at Fair Grounds. Angel of Empire won the Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes running 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.47 seconds, good for an 87 Beyer. Earlier on the card, Denington ran down Cagliostro in a first-level allowance race, going 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.41, which yielded a 91 Beyer. And fastest of all was first-time starter Bishops Bay, who in race 5 whistled six furlongs in 1:10.07 and got a 97 Beyer.
The Grade 3, $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile will again anchor the Lone Star Park stakes schedule that was announced Thursday.
In all, there will be 21 stakes worth a total of $2.9 million. The 44-date meet opens April 13 and runs through July 4.
Purses are projected to average $260,000 per card, according to the press release from Lone Star.
Jockey Umberto Rispoli, tied for 11th in the standings among a tough group of riders at Santa Anita, plans to change agents next month.
Rispoli said on Wednesday that he will part ways with Tony Matos on March 5. Matos has represented Rispoli since last May when the jockey returned to California after a brief stay in Kentucky.
Rispoli said he has not finalized plans for a new agent. Matos will continue to book mounts for Abel Cedillo.
“Tony is a good person, but it was the right time to part,” Rispoli said.
