Wed, 10/05/2022 - 16:26

Danse Macabre goes after second consecutive stakes win in Matron

Coady Photography
Danse Macabre (adentro) se sostuvo para ganar el Untapable Stakes

Danse Macabre, a nose winner of the Untapable Stakes at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 13, will try for a second straight stakes victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Matron Stakes at six furlongs on the outer turf.

Dance Macabre, trained by Kelsey Danner, has gone 2 for 3 on turf, with her lone defeat a second-place finish to Love Reigns in the Bolton Landing at Saratoga.

Wed, 10/05/2022 - 16:18

Only five enter Vosburgh despite free ticket to Breeders' Cup Sprint

Equi-Photo
Drafted has won three stakes this year, including this victory in the Mr. Prospector Stake in June at Monmouth.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though the Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh offers a berth into the Breeders’ Cup Sprint next month at Keeneland, the seven-furlong race drew a field of only five.

Jalen Journey was supplemented to the field after running third in a minor stakes at Parx on Monday.

The 8-year-old Drafted, a three-time stakes winner this year, is coming off a fifth-place finish behind winner Cody’s Wish in the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga.

Wed, 10/05/2022 - 16:07

Gufo, War Like Goddess clash in Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

Barbara D. Livingston
War Like Goddess (left) just missed against front-runner Virginia Joy in the Flower Bowl on Sept. 3 at Saratoga.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Grade 1 stakes winners Gufo and War Like Goddess both suffered a narrow loss in their most recent start. Saturday, they both get a chance to get make amends when they face each other for the first time in the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct.

The Turf Classic is one of three stakes on an 11-race card that includes the Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh for sprinters and the Grade 3, $150,000 Matron for juvenile fillies on turf.

Wed, 10/05/2022 - 10:40

Keeneland fall meet gets started as Breeders' Cup looms

Coady Photography
Keeneland will open its 17-day fall meet on Friday.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keeneland was given a mulligan a couple of years ago after ontrack attendance and other aspects of the 2020 Breeders’ Cup were stifled by the coronavirus pandemic. The fruits of that do-over will be realized over the next 30 days as enthused racing fans here and beyond will be talking Breeders’ Cup non-stop, particularly as a 17-day fall meet opens Friday with a schedule packed with prep races toward the Nov. 4-5 championships.

Mon, 10/03/2022 - 14:00

Australian jockey Ash Morgan launches local season

ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockey Ash Morgan had his first mount at Santa Anita on Sunday. For the well-traveled Morgan, riding at Santa Anita was a return to where he spent time as an exercise rider several years ago.

Born in Wales, Morgan, 32, was the leading rider in the Australia state of New South Wales for the season that ended on July 31. Morgan rode 136 winners from 1,041 mounts during the season.

Mon, 10/03/2022 - 13:56

Connie Swingle might take on older in Senator Ken Maddy Stakes

Benoit Photo
Connie Swingle has won all three of her starts on Santa Anita's hillside turf course.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Connie Swingle stretched her unbeaten record on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course to three races with a win in Saturday’s $115,040 Unzip Me Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Her next start may come against fillies and mares in the $100,000 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course on Oct. 29.

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Mon, 10/03/2022 - 13:50

Dr. Schivel's return to track depends on test results

Barbara D. Livingston
Dr. Schivel has been dealing with bone bruising since his return from Dubai in the spring.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Dr. Schivel, a three-time stakes winner who was second by a nose in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar, is scheduled to undergo a battery of physical tests this week to determine whether he resumes training or continues a vacation.

Dr. Schivel has not started since he finished third in the Group 1 Golden Shaheen in Dubai in March. He was turned out in early summer.

Mon, 10/03/2022 - 13:46

Walsh sending in Family Way for Rodeo Drive Stakes

Emily Shields
Family Way will try to get her first Grade 1 win in the Rodeo Drive on Saturday.

Kentucky-based trainer Brendan Walsh had a successful California raid in the spring when Ocean Drive won the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares on turf at Santa Anita in late May.

Mon, 10/03/2022 - 13:36

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint likely spot for Tyler's Tribe

Coady Photography
Tyler's Tribe, with Saturday's triumph in the Iowa Cradle, has now won his five starts by a combined margin of 59 3/4 lengths.

The undefeated and untested Tyler’s Tribe emerged from his easy win in the $100,000 Iowa Cradle on Saturday night at Prairie Meadows in good order and will likely make his next start in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, trainer Tim Martin said Monday.

Tyler’s Tribe also has been under consideration for the $2 million BC Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles on the same Nov. 4 card at Keeneland. Martin on Monday did not rule out the possibility of pre-entering the horse in both spots on Oct. 24.

Mon, 10/03/2022 - 12:53

Sonny Leon suspended 15 days for Lukas Classic ride

Coady Photography
Jockey Sonny Leon on Rich Strike (left) appeared to lose his balance in deep stretch of the Lukas Classic and interfered with Hot Rod Charlie and jockey Tyler Gaffalione.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Jockey Sonny Leon has been suspended 15 days by the Churchill Downs stewards for an incident in deep stretch of the Grade 2 Lukas Classic on Saturday.