Sun, 06/19/2022 - 15:00

Home Brew takes big step forward with solid victory in Pegasus

Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
Home Brew's victory in the Pegasus on Saturday at Monmouth returned $5.

Trainer Brad Cox already had Cyberknife, winner of the Arkansas Derby in April and the Matt Winn Stakes earlier this month at Churchill Downs, aimed at the $1 million Haskell Invitational on July 23 at Monmouth Park. Now, that race is one of a few that will come under consideration for Home Brew, whom Cox sent from Churchill to Monmouth for a sharp victory in the $150,000 Pegasus Stakes on Saturday.  

Sat, 06/18/2022 - 11:09

Bejarano becomes 15th jockey to reach 500 wins at Churchill

Coady Photography
Rafael Bejarano celebrates his 500th lifetime victory at Churchill in the winner's circle aboard Just Cindy.

Rafael Bejarano recorded his 500th victory at Churchill Downs as he piloted the 2-year-old filly Just Cindy, from the first crop of Triple Crown winner Justify, to a debut victory on Friday.

Just Cindy earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 70 for her 2 1/4-length win going 5 1/2 furlongs. The filly, a Clarkland Farm homebred trained by Eddie Kenneally, is out of stakes winner Jenda's Agenda. She became the third winner from the first crop of Justify.

Fri, 06/17/2022 - 17:51

Ce Ce tops 18 invitees to the Princess Rooney

Coady Photography
Ce Ce returned $5.40 in winning the Azeri at Oaklawn Park on Saturday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Defending champion Ce Ce tops a list of 18 filly and mares invited for the $250,000-guaranteed Princess Rooney Invitational at Gulfstream Park on July 2.

The seven-furlong fixture, whose purse also includes a $50,000 Florida bred “win only” bonus, is a Win and You’re In challenge race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and highlights a card that also includes the Grade 3, $100,000 Smile Sprint.

Fri, 06/17/2022 - 17:43

Big pick six and pick five carryovers will light up Saturday Belmont card

Joe Labozzetta/NYRA
Masen wins the May 22 Seek Again Stakes at Belmont by five lengths. He figures to be an odds-on choice in the Poker Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. -- Favorites won at a 40 percent clip through the first 28 days of the Belmont Park spring/summer meet. A correction was in order.

Well, that correction happened over the last two days as a bevy of upsets resulted in big payoffs and ultimately into big carryovers into Saturday’s 10-race card. Over the last 12 races, there has been only one winning favorite.

Thus, there will be a pick six carryover of $219,429 at Belmont Park Saturday as well as a late pick five carryover of $291,108.

Fri, 06/17/2022 - 15:12

Tizamagician targets San Diego Handicap at Del Mar

Emily Shields
Tizamagician has not raced since this second-place finish in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

Tizamagician, the winner of two Grade 3 races at 1 1/2 miles on dirt last year, will have his 2022 debut in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on July 30.

Trainer Richard Mandella said on Friday that the $300,000 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles is shorter than Tizamagician’s preferred distance, but that the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap at 1 1/2 miles at Del Mar on July 24 would be a difficult assignment for the 5-year-old’s first start since November.

Fri, 06/17/2022 - 15:03

Flightline back home and training at Santa Anita

Jim Sewastynowicz
Flightline wins the Met Mile last Saturday at Belmont Park to earn a berth in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

The undefeated superstar Flightline is back in California and training at Santa Anita following a win in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Belmont Park on June 11.

On Friday, Flightline was jogged at Santa Anita for the second consecutive day. The 4-year-old colt was flown to California on Tuesday and was given a rest day on Wednesday, trainer John Sadler said on Friday.

“He looked pretty good,” Sadler said.

Fri, 06/17/2022 - 14:56

Del Mar nearly sold out for opening day

Barbara D. Livingston
Del Mar is limiting attendance to the opening-day card on July 22.

Del Mar is close to selling out the opening-day program of its summer meeting on July 22, track president Josh Rubinstein said on Friday.

The track plans to limit ontrack attendance on July 22 to approximately 22,000, well above the 15,874 from 2021 when all customers were required to purchase seats because of pandemic-related restrictions. This year, general admission tickets were available, but have been sold. Rubinstein said some reserved seats are available, but expects those to be gone next week.

Fri, 06/17/2022 - 14:44

Dwyer-bound Charge It one of many Pletcher stakes runners to work

Barbara Livingston
Florida Derby runner-up Charge It has had a minor throat procedure since finishing 17th in the Kentucky Derby. He worked five furlong Friday.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Charge It, the seemingly forgotten 3-year-old in the barn of trainer Todd Pletcher, on Friday had his third workout since the Kentucky Derby and is pointing to the Grade 3 $250,000 Dwyer Stakes on July 2 at Belmont Park, the Hall of Fame trainer said Friday.

Charge It worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 by himself over the Belmont training track. He got his last quarter in 23.40 seconds.

“I thought it was a very good work, good finish, good gallop-out, I’d say he’s maintained his fitness well,” Pletcher said.

Fri, 06/17/2022 - 12:16

Simpification rejoins Sano's barn after brief farm vacation

Debra A. Romo
Simplification trains at Pimlico prior to the Preakness. He bled in the race and finished sixth.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Simplification has returned to trainer Antonio Sano’s barn at Gulfstream Park after spending several weeks on the farm of owner Tami Bobo in Ocala following his sixth-place finish in the Preakness.

Thu, 06/16/2022 - 16:44

NYRA Lasix vet fined for error that resuled in four scratches and a two-horse field

ELMONT, N.Y. - The New York State Gaming Commission fined New York Racing Association veterinarian Steven Lascher $4,000 for failure to follow proper Lasix procedures, which resulted in the late scratch of four horses from the seventh race at Belmont Park on June 9.