Creative Cause, the winner of the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 1, continued his progress toward a start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5, with a six-furlong workout at Hollywood Park on Tuesday.
Creative Cause worked alone and was timed in 1:14, the fastest of six recorded works at the distance.
“It’s just a maintenance work,” trainer Mike Harrington said. “He didn’t need a lot. I think he’s doing quite well.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – Rafael Becerra trains a small string of 13 horses. When one of his horses is claimed away, it affects the operation. Sometimes, change is good.
It was June 4 at Hollywood Park where Becerra and owner Daniel Sullivan considered claiming Donato. There was one problem. Their account balance was short of the $25,000 necessary to make the claim.
The honest 8-year-old veteran Get Funky, whose 11-for-45 career was highlighted by wins in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby and Grade 3 Morvich Handicap, has been retired from racing trainer John Sadler said Tuesday.
Sadler and owner Keith Abrahams claimed Get Funky for $62,500 from his second start in April 2006 and raced him for six years as he gradually went up the class ladder before gradually going back down. In his most recent start Oct. 15, Get Funky finished ninth in a $25,000 claiming race on the hill.
Game On Dude, the expected Breeders’ Cup Classic pacesetter, posted a solid five-furlong workout Tuesday at 9 a.m. at Santa Anita while in company with an unidentified workmate also trained by Bob Baffert.
Game On Dude broke off four lengths behind his workmate at the 4 1/2-furlong pole; they finished on even terms. Baffert timed Game on Dude in 58.80 seconds; clockers credited the 4-year-old with a half-mile work in 46.80, breezing.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The standard has been set – and it’s a high one.
Owner B.J. Wright and trainer Mike Pender need a Grade 1 win in November to keep pace with the career milestones they achieved as a team earlier this month.
On Oct. 8, Jeranimo won the Grade 2 Oak Tree Mile at Santa Anita, a prep for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5. A week later, their Ultimate Eagle pulled a 34-1 upset in the Grade 2 Oak Tree Derby. He is bound for the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Hollywood Park on Nov. 27.
Jockey Tyler Baze, who has been suspended since early September after avoiding a Breathalyzer test at Del Mar, is scheduled to appear at a hearing with Los Alamitos stewards on Saturday, regarding alleged violations of three California Horse Racing Board rules.
In a complaint filed by racing board investigators, Baze has been cited for allegedly violating rules for failing to comply with license restrictions; for disorderly conduct, specifically being under the influence of alcohol; and for conduct detrimental to horse racing.
Coming off a brief but locally successf ul 22-day summer meeting and with a new interim general manager in Joe Morris, Golden Gate Fields hopes to continue its momentum during a 36-day fall-winter meet that begins Thursday and runs to Dec. 18.
The meeting begins what is a run of nearly nine months at Golden Gate Fields, which begins its traditional winter-spring meet on Dec. 26 continuing through mid-June 2012.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Most barns are empty and whatever leaves remaining on the trees are multi-colored. However, activity at the Oklahoma training track on this crisp October Tuesday morning was almost as brisk as if the calendar had read August.
After several days of wet tracks prompted trainers to postpone workouts, a total of 90 horses breezed Tuesday morning at Saratoga, including about two dozen from trainer Nick Zito’s barn.
Plans have been finalized for millionaire Bold Chieftain to stand at stud at Ellen Jackson’s Victory Rose Farm in Vacaville, Calif. But first, he could have one or possibly two more starts.
The 8-year-old California-bred son of Chief Seattle won the $62.600 Bull Dog Stakes at the Big Fresno Fair on Sunday, reversing a nose loss to Uh Oh Bango in the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on Memorial Day.
The victory was the 18th of his career and his 14th in a stakes. His career earnings are $1,643,171.
