Tue, 09/27/2022 - 17:04

Gulfstream championship meet to offer 60 stakes worth $13.6 million

Barbara Livingston
The championship meet at Gulfstream Park will be topped by the Florida Derby, Pegasus World Cup Invitational, and Pegasus World Cup Turf.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational, $1 million Florida Derby, and $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf highlight the stakes schedule for the 2022-2023 Gulfstream Park championship meet released on Tuesday.

The championship meeting opens several weeks later than usual this winter, on Dec. 26, and continues through April 2.

A total of 60 stakes, 35 of them graded events, will be decided for $13.6 million in purses. The schedule includes 31 races carded to be run over Gulfstream Park’s newly renovated turf course.

Tue, 09/27/2022 - 15:40

Apprentice Del-Cid piling up wins on Louisiana circuit

Hodges Photography
Vicente Del-Cid rides Jane Is Ready to victory in the Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies last month at Louisiana Downs.

Vicente Del-Cid has quietly emerged as a leading candidate for the Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice jockey of 2022 with a breakout year in Louisiana. Del-Cid through Monday ranked second in wins in North America, tied with Tyler Gaffalione and trailing only Irad Ortiz Jr.

Del-Cid, who is a 21-year-old native of Guatemala, has won 203 races from 957 mounts so far this year. He still has about a month left with his five-pound apprentice allowance and will be active at Delta Downs, which opens Oct. 5.

Tue, 09/27/2022 - 12:55

Nest to make next start in Beldame

Barbara Livingston
Nest wins the Aug. 20 Alabama by 4 1/4 lengths. In her first start of the Saratoga meet, she won the Coaching Club American Oaks by 12 1/4 lengths.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Nest, the leader of the 3-year-old filly division, will likely make her next start in the Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame Stakes at Aqueduct on Oct. 9, trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Nest is a three-time Grade 1-winning 3-year-old filly who recorded convincing victories in both the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama during the summer at Saratoga. The fact there is 11 weeks between the Alabama and the Breeders’ Cup Distaff made simply training up to that Nov. 4 race a less than desirable option.

Tue, 09/27/2022 - 12:39

Charge It has first work since setback; being pointed to Kelso

Barbara Livingston
Charge It, shown working at Saratoga last summer, has not raced since winning the Dwyer with a 111 Beyer in July.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Charge It on Tuesday returned to the work tab for the first time in six weeks as he ramps up preparation for a fall campaign his connections hope begins with a start in the Grade 2, $300,000 Kelso Handicap at Aqueduct on Oct. 29.

Charge It breezed a half-mile in 49.22 seconds by himself Tuesday morning over the Belmont Park training track. He went his first quarter in 25.33 seconds, his second quarter in 23.89 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.97.

Tue, 09/27/2022 - 11:39

Vance winner Flash of Mischief being considered for Breeders' Cup Sprint

Dustin Orona Photography
Flash of Mischief earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure for his 6 1/4-length victory in the David M. Vasnce.

The connections of Flash of Mischief are exploring the possibility of a start in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint following the horse’s career performance Sunday in the $150,000 David M. Vance at Remington Park.  

Flash of Mischief closed for a 6 1/4-length win in the race, while covering six furlongs in 1:08.78. He earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 104.

“We are exploring all options,” said trainer Karl Broberg.  

Tue, 09/27/2022 - 10:11

Rattle N Roll eyes Fayette Stakes

Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park
Rattle N Roll fue mucho para sus rivales en el Oklahoma Derby G3

Rattle N Roll could face older horses for the first time in his career next month following his powerful win in the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby on Sunday at Remington Park.  

Trainer Kenny McPeek said Tuesday that Rattle N Roll will be nominated to the Grade 2, $350,000 Fayette at Keeneland. The 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up is Oct. 29.  

Mon, 09/26/2022 - 13:55

Amoss closes out race week with exciting debut winner Hoosier Philly

Coady Photography
Trainer Tom Amoss has been on a tear. His five wins this month at Churchill include Sixtythreecaliber in the Seneca (on left above) and Curly Jack in the Iroquois.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A red-hot Tom Amoss closed out the latest week of racing at Churchill by winning the race-10 finale Sunday with first-time starter Hoosier Philly, a 2-year-old filly who was hammered down to even money as if she were already standing in the winner’s circle.

Hoosier Philly ($4.14) got a 75 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the 5 1/2-furlong race in 1:04.35 under Edgar Morales. The daughter of uber-sire Into Mischief waited not far off a swift early pace before surging to a 1 3/4-length triumph that seems to portend very good things for the future.

Mon, 09/26/2022 - 13:36

Gallant Bloom victory puts Kimari in conversation for Breeders' Cup Sprint

Alysse Jacobs
Kimari wins the Gallant Bloom at Aqueduct on Sunday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Kimari, easy winner of Sunday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Gallant Bloom Stakes, will be pointed to the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 5 at Keeneland. The question is whether she runs in the $2 million Sprint against males or the $1 million Filly and Mare Sprint.

Mon, 09/26/2022 - 13:30

Leave No Trace works for Frizette

Barbara D. Livingston
Leave No trace wins the Spinaway at Saratoga on Sept. 4.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Leave No Trace, the Grade 1 Spinaway winner, tuned up for her start in Sunday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette Stakes by working five furlongs in 58.69 seconds Sunday morning over Belmont Park’s training track.

“That track’s really fast, but she was going easy,” said trainer Phil Serpe, who had Leave No Trace galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.34. “She looks like she just gets better. She works fast, but we’re not big on doing that sort of thing. When you get a horse that that’s just how they work, you need to let them work that way.”

Mon, 09/26/2022 - 13:29

Art Collector will ship in from Saratoga for Lukas Classic

Debra A. Roma
The purse of the Saratoga Derby has been cut from $1 million to $600,000, The Saratoga Oaks, a $700,000 race in 2022, will be $400,000 this year.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Art Collector has been confirmed for what already was an outstanding lineup for the Grade 2, $500,000 Lukas Classic, which will help close out the September meet at Churchill Downs with its ninth running Saturday.