FRANKLIN, Ky. – Kentucky-breds tend to dominate racing here and elsewhere in the United States, but it was horses bred in other jurisdictions that kept finding their way to the winner’s circle Saturday at Kentucky Downs, leading to a massive amount of bonus money left unclaimed.
FRANKLIN, Ky. – Mike Maker must be a great poker player. Nobody can ever tell what he’s thinking or feeling, the same blank expression betraying what’s actually going on in his mind.
It happened again Saturday at Kentucky Downs, with Maker standing stoically in the winner’s circle while joyful chaos erupted all around him. Maker had just sent out the winner in the Grade 2 Kentucky Turf Cup for a record fifth time, but who could tell? He might as well as have just watched one of his horses finish fourth in a $10,000 claiming race.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Turning into the stretch, Cave Rock and Havnameltdown had Sunday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity to themselves, the two colts well clear of seven rivals. The only suspense involving their duel was whether Havnameltdown could challenge Cave Rock. Either way, owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman and trainer Bob Baffert would win.
Havnameltdown tried to keep pace, but was no match for the brilliant Cave Rock, who drew away under leading rider Juan Hernandez to win by 5 1/4 lengths in stakes-record time of 1:20.99 for seven furlongs.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Despite her career-defining win in Saturday’s Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes at Del Mar, Avenue de France may not run in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland on Nov. 5.
Trainer Leonard Powell said on Monday that he will take a week to assess race goals in coming months for Avenue de France, but was leaning away from the BC Filly and Mare Turf.
“The Breeders’ Cup is a different ballgame with the Europeans,” Powell said.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Mackinnon, a two-time stakes winner in 2021 who has struggled in a limited campaign this year, is being transferred from trainer Doug O’Neill in California to Chad Brown in New York this week, co-owner Erik Johnson and O’Neill said over the weekend.
In a text message, Johnson cited “more turf options” on the East Coast as the “only reason behind decision.”
“Doug did a great job with him. Doug is still my trainer.”
DEL MAR, Calif. – Slammed, second in the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap on Aug. 28 at Del Mar, was recently shipped to Kentucky, where she will have her next start in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at six furlongs for fillies and mares on Oct. 8 at Keeneland.
Should Slammed win, the first-place share of approximately $180,000 will go toward financing a $200,000 supplemental fee to the Breeders’ Cup program in advance of a possible start in the Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 5 at Keeneland, trainer and co-owner Todd Fincher said.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Speed Boat Beach lowered the track record for 5 1/2 furlongs to 1:01.86 with a win in a maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds in his debut at Del Mar on Saturday.
Speed Boat Beach was given a massive Beyer Speed Figure of 104, the highest of the year for a juvenile.
Ridden by Flavien Prat, Speed Boat Beach ($6.40) led throughout and won by 1 1/4 lengths over 11-10 favorite Hejazi, who was purchased for $3.55 million at auction earlier this year. Fort Bragg finished third, giving Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert a sweep of the first three positions.
DEL MAR, Calif. - And Tell Me Nolies handled her stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs in the manner of a filly who wants more ground.
That was the perspective of trainer Peter Miller, who will test the theory when And Tell Me Nolies starts in the Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Oct. 8. The $200,000 Chandelier Stakes is a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at the same distance at Keeneland on Nov. 4.
“She wants to run,” Miller said on Sunday. “She’s very professional for a three-start runner.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Flightline had only a few days off after his electrifying win in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Sept. 3.
“By the third day, in the afternoon, he was rambunctious in his stall,” said Juan Leyva, assistant to trainer John Sadler.
Flightline’s energy led to a resumption of racetrack activity at Del Mar on Sept. 7, when the colt resumed jogging. Flightline was jogged on a daily basis through Sunday. Flightline and the rest of the Sadler stable are scheduled to be vanned to Santa Anita late Monday.
Jockey Brayan Pena, who has not ridden since Aug. 14 at Santa Rosa after testing positive for marijuana, met with stewards at Golden Gate Fields on Friday morning and submitted a urine sample in an effort to resume riding as early as next week, according to steward Richard Lewis.
Pena, 32, must test negative before he is allowed to resume riding, Lewis said. There is a possibility Pena will be named to ride on a provisional basis for the Sept. 16 program when entries are taken on Saturday, pending the results of Friday’s test.
