Wed, 10/12/2011 - 11:41

Churchill dates for 2012 do not include July 4

Churchill Downs has submitted a 2012 racing dates application that does not include the 4th of July holiday, which falls next year on a Wednesday.

The dates application, along with those of other racetracks in Kentucky, was approved on Tuesday by the racing dates committee of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. The full commission is set to vote on the calendar on Oct. 24.

Wed, 10/12/2011 - 09:55

Belmont Park: Tizway ships in from Saratoga for mile workout

Barbara D. Livingston
Despite missing the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Tizway Is on target for a start in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Tizway, who missed the Jockey Club Gold Cup earlier this month after briefly spiking a temperature, continued to progress toward a start in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic by working a mile in 1:38.47 on the main track at Belmont Park on Wednesday morning.

Tue, 10/11/2011 - 18:00

Beulah Park: Woodard gets winner 1,000

Trainer Joe Woodard reached a personal milestone of 1,000 wins Tuesday when Just Call'er ($3.40) won the eighth race at Beulah Park. The 43-year-old Woodard has been training for the past 18 years.

Woodard was not aware he was close to 1,000 wins until earlier in the day.

“I am not one to brag and don't really think about individual honors but trying to win every race for my owners.”

Woodard is the private trainer for owner Billy Hays and has won 941 races for Hays and his family.

Tue, 10/11/2011 - 17:09

Acclamation won't race again in 2011 due to foot problem

Shigeki Kikkawa
Acclamation will miss this year's Breeders' Cup and is being given time off due to heat in a foot.

Pacific Classic winner Acclamation, ranked among the leading American contenders for the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Turf, is through for the season, according to his principal owner and breeder, Buddy Johnston.

Currently stabled at Santa Anita with trainer Don Warren, the 5-year-old Acclamation displayed heat in a foot that has limited his recent activity, Johnston noted.

Tue, 10/11/2011 - 17:04

Calder: Fort Loudon to face six in sweep attempt

Jim Lisa Photos
Fort Loudon, with Luis Jurado riding, wins the Affirmed division of the Florida Stallion Stakes.

MIAMI - Fort Loudon will face only six rivals, including his stablemate Argentine Tango, when he looks to complete a sweep of the open division of the 2011 Florida Stallion Stakes in Saturday’s $300,000 In Reality Stakes.

The 1 1/16-mile In Reality highlights the Festival of the Sun program that also includes the $300,000 My Dear Girl finales of the filly division of the Stallion Stakes, the Grade 3 Spend A Buck Handicap as well as the $75,000 Tropical Park Derby and its filly counterpart, the Frances Genter for 3-year-olds on the turf.

Tue, 10/11/2011 - 16:32

Belmont: Carryover chase will depend on weather

ELMONT, N.Y. – Pebbles Stakes winner Elusive Pearl was the only favorite to get the job done in Monday’s pick six at Belmont, resulting in a two-day carryover of $102,902 as racing resumes Thursday.

With a good chance for rain Wednesday, and four of the races scheduled for turf, handicappers may have to make a number of race-day adjustments depending on the weather.

The pick six begins with race 4, post time scheduled for 2:35 p.m. Eastern.

Tue, 10/11/2011 - 16:08

Santa Anita: Majestic City eyeing BC Juvenile

Benoit & Associates
Majestic City is being pointed to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Majestic City, second to Dullahan in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland last Saturday, will be pointed to the BC Juvenile on Nov. 5 and will be considered for two other races that weekend at Churchill Downs, trainer Peter Miller said Monday.

The winner of two sprint stakes at Hollywood Park in the summer, Majestic City’s primary goal is the BC Juvenile, but Miller is not ruling a start in the BC Juvenile Turf or the BC Juvenile Sprint.

Tue, 10/11/2011 - 16:04

Santa Anita: Secret Circle points to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint

Shigeki Kikkawa
Secret Circle wins the Jack Goodman Stakes by 5 1/4 lengths.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Secret Circle, the 2-year-old colt who scored an easy win in Monday’s minor Jack Goodman Stakes, left trainer Bob Baffert somewhat surprised by the result.

Ridden by Martin Garcia, Secret Circle ($3.20) stalked two pacesetters, circled those rivals and pulled away to win the six-furlong race by 5 1/4 lengths in the quick time of 1:08.27.

“I’m sort of half-shocked the way he ran,” Baffert said. “He didn’t show that in the morning. It’s amazing.”

Tue, 10/11/2011 - 15:38

Santa Anita: Bluegrass Reward a logical single in $76,835 pick-six carryover

ARCADIA, Calif. – Officials at Santa Anita estimate the pick-six pool will soar beyond $500,000 on Thursday as bettors chase a $76,835 carryover on races 3-8.

The sequence is not particularly difficult, nor is the overall program compelling. The card includes two maiden special weight turf races, one maiden-claiming sprint, two sprints for claiming winners, and a main-track allowance route with a potential pick-six single.

Tue, 10/11/2011 - 15:31

Keeneland: Return to races for Dancinginherdreams

Barbara D. Livingston
Dancinginherdreams, with Julien Leparoux riding, wins the 2010 Pocahontas.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Expectations were unlimited for Dancinginherdreams after the distinctive-looking gray filly won the first two races of her career in spectacular fashion last fall, starting with a maiden sprint at the 2010 Keeneland fall meet. Those high hopes went unmet in the months that followed, leading trainer John T. Ward Jr. to go back to the proverbial drawing board with her.