Fri, 07/08/2022 - 15:57

Harkie, Gomez penalized for whip violations

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Apprentice Jose Gomez scored his fifth career victory in the first race Friday making him a seven-pound apprentice.

ELMONT, N.Y. - New York jockeys Heman Harkie and Jose Gomez were each fined $250 and suspended one racing day for whip violations under the new regulations that went into effect last weekend with the implementation of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, according to New York Racing Association spokesman Pat McKenna.

Harkie was sanctioned for hitting his horse, On the Hill, more than six times in Sunday’s sixth race at Belmont Park. Harkie finished second in the race.

Fri, 07/08/2022 - 15:25

Los Alamitos will run three stakes during fall meet

Los Alamitos has scheduled three stakes for its two-week autumn meeting, which runs Sept. 16-25. Each stakes is worth $75,000.

The E.B. Johnston Stakes for statebred milers will be run on Sept. 17, and is the lone stakes on the opening week. The Los Alamitos Special at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 24 and the Capote Stakes for 2-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs on Sept. 25 highlight the final weekend.

Fri, 07/08/2022 - 15:21

Desormeaux to meet with stewards in hopes of resuming riding career

Barbara D. Livingston
Kent Desormeaux has been suspended since March for failing to appear before Del Mar's stewards regarding an alcohol-related incident.

Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, who has been suspended since March for failing to appear at a hearing with California stewards, is scheduled to appear before Del Mar stewards on July 29 regarding a complaint issued by California Horse Racing Board investigators regarding alcohol use at an RV park on Del Mar property last November.

Desormeaux was suspended by Santa Anita stewards on March 4 for failing to appear at a hearing the preceding day regarding the racing board’s complaint.

Fri, 07/08/2022 - 15:06

Breeders' Cup not on Becca Taylor's schedule

Benoit Photo
Becca Taylor wins the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes on Monday at Los Alamitos.

Becca Taylor, a four-time stakes winner who is a nose away from being undefeated after 10 starts, is unlikely to run in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland this fall.

Becca Taylor is unbeaten in graded stakes, having won the Grade 3 Desert Stormer Stakes at six furlongs at Santa Anita on June 4 and the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos on Monday.

Fri, 07/08/2022 - 14:33

Nest doing so well Pletcher tweaks her schedule; CCA Oaks likely next

Barbara D. Livingston
Nest is by Curlin out of an A.P. Indy mare, indicating 1 1/2 miles should not be a problem.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Nest, the Grade 1-winning 3-year-old filly who finished second in the Belmont Stakes, will most likely make her next start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga on July 23, trainer Todd Pletcher said Friday.

Fri, 07/08/2022 - 14:19

Munnys Gold has bruised foot, will miss Schuylerville

Ryan Denver/ EQUI-PHOTO
Munnys Gold wins her debut by 14 1/2 lengths at Monmouth Park, earning a 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Munnys Gold, who earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure in her 14 1/2-length debut victory at Monmouth Park on June 17, has a bruise in a hind foot and will not run in Thursday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Schuylerville Stakes, the opening-day feature at Saratoga Race Course.

Munnys Gold has not worked back since the maiden victory and has been walking for a few days. She remains at Monmouth Park.

Fri, 07/08/2022 - 13:50

Delgado taking conservative route to Breeders' Cup with Smile winner Willy Boi

Adam Coglianese
Willy Boi earned a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure winning the Smile Sprint.

Reigning Filly and Mare Sprint champ Ce Ce was the star of the show last weekend at Gulfstream Park when successfully and easily defending her title in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney, a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. But Ce Ce wasn’t the only horse on the card with designs on the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 5, a date trainer Jorge Delgado has circled on his calender for Willy Boi, impressive winner of the Grade 3 Smile Sprint earlier on the card.

Thu, 07/07/2022 - 17:13

Cyberknife, Home Brew could give Cox a pair for Haskell

Coady Photography
Cyberknife wins the Matt Winn Stakes on June 12 at Churchill Downs.

Cyberknife remains on track for the $1 million Haskell Stakes on July 23 at Monmouth Park, while his Brad Cox-trained stablemate Home Brew remains a possible starter in the 1 1/8-mile fixture for 3-year-olds.

Thu, 07/07/2022 - 16:56

Hawthorne meet concluded with no racing, training fatalities

Hawthorne Racecourse concluded a 28-day spring meeting on June 25 during which, the track and the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association announced Wednesday, there were no catastrophic breakdowns during racing or training.

Wed, 07/06/2022 - 15:00

Rainbow Futurity, Derby, and Oaks trials focus of the weekend

Jake Rogers/Ruidoso Downs
Jess Savin Candy won the Ruidoso Futurity (above) by a neck on June 13. His margin of victory in last Sunday's Rainbow Futurity was a nose.

There will be no sweep of the Ruidoso Triple Crown for 2-year-olds this year.

Otts Boy, the winner of the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity on June 12, was not entered in time trials for the Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs on Friday and Saturday. Owner and breeder Luke Goebel said on Monday that Otts Boy was held out of the Rainbow Futurity trials to prepare for the third race in the series, the $3 million All American Futurity which has time trials on Aug. 19-20 and a final on Sept. 5.

Otts Boy, trained by Toby Keeton, is unbeaten in three starts.