Sun, 04/17/2022 - 18:29

Express Train works five furlongs for Californian Stakes

Emily Shields
Jockey Victor Esoinoza was fined $1,500 for using his whip more than six times during Express Train's head victory in the Santa Anita Handicap.

ARCADIA, Calif. - There is no live racing at Santa Anita next weekend, but there were plenty of notable workouts at the track on Sunday for the next day of racing on April 30 and later this spring.

Following Sunday’s program, the track will not race this Friday through Sunday or on April 29 to give the horse population, and the turf course, a rest in advance of the final eight weeks of the meeting. The season ends on June 19.

Sat, 04/16/2022 - 11:10

Mystic Guide returns to worktab at Keeneland

Barbara D. Livingston
Mystic Guide has not raced since last July.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Mystic Guide, winner of the 2021 Dubai World Cup but unraced since last July, returned to the worktab on Saturday morning at Keeneland.

The 5-year-old Mystic Guide, a Godolphin homebred trained by Michael Stidham, went three furlongs in 36 1/5 seconds.

“He did it within himself,” Stidham said. “Really easy, comfortable work. Came back and didn’t take a deep breath, cooled out good. So we’re hopefully on our way.”

Sat, 04/16/2022 - 11:07

Count Fleet Sprint: Off track should be no concern for Jackie's Warrior

Debra A. Roma
Jackie's Warrior, who dominated the Amsterdam Stakes on Sunday, returned $3 with the victory.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Champion Jackie’s Warrior ran one of his best races on a wet track, and he could get similar conditions Saturday when he makes his 4-year-old debut in the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Park.

Rains have pummeled Hot Springs since the early morning hours, with training delayed an hour due to lightning in the area. Training was later called off for the remainder of the morning at 9:30 a.m. Central.

Fri, 04/15/2022 - 14:28

Santa Anita takes a mid-meet break from racing next week

Emily Shields
First post for Santa Anita racing is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Following Sunday’s program, there is no live racing at Santa Anita until April 30, a day with four graded stakes.

The track will not race from April 22-24 or on Friday, April 29, a gap that will allow a break for the horse population leading to the final weeks of the winter-spring meeting, which ends on June 19. The stoppage of racing allows the turf course to be rested.

Fri, 04/15/2022 - 14:17

D'Amato may send four horses for Churchill stakes, including Kentucky Oaks hopeful Desert Dawn

Emily Shields
Desert Dawn (No. 1) upset the Santa Anita Oaks at 14-1 on April 9, beating Adare Manor by a neck.

Desert Dawn, the upset winner of the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks on April 9, will be shipped to Churchill Downs on May 1 for a scheduled start in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on May 6.

Friday at Santa Anita, Desert Dawn had a routine gallop, trainer Phil D’Amato said.

“She had a nice gallop,” he said. “If all goes well, she’ll be on a plane on May 1.”

Fri, 04/15/2022 - 14:11

Mandella considering Hollywood Gold Cup or Met Mile for Royal Ship

Benoit Photo
Royal Ship won his first start since August, the John Shear Mile, by five lengths and earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure.

There is a Grade 1 race in the short-term future for Royal Ship, the winner of the John Shear Mile at Santa Anita last Sunday in his 2022 debut.

Trainer Richard Mandella said on Friday that Royal Ship will be considered for the $400,000 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita on May 30, or the $1 million Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Belmont Park on June 11.

Mandella said the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on April 30 is likely to arrive too soon.

Fri, 04/15/2022 - 12:59

Count Fleet Sprint Handicap: New running style paying off for Bob's Edge 

Coady Photography
Bob's Edge concreta su atropellada en el Whitmore S. G3

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Bob’s Edge has emerged as the leading sprinter at the Oaklawn Park meet and on Saturday will get tested by a champion when he meets Jackie’s Warrior for the first time in the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap.  

The Count Fleet continues the $5.4 million Racing Festival of the South, which is a collection of major stakes run throughout the month of April at Oaklawn.  

The forecast is for a high of 68 degrees and a chance of showers, according to AccuWeather.   

Fri, 04/15/2022 - 12:03

Letruska turns in final Apple Blossom work at Keeneland

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos
Letruska wins the Royal Delta at Gulfstream by three lengths on Feb. 26. She runs next in the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Reigning Eclipse Award champion older female Letruska turned in her final serious piece of preparation for the defense of her victory in Oaklawn Park’s Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap on Friday morning at Keeneland.

Letruska, working solo shortly after the track's second renovation break, breezed five furlongs in 1:02.40. Irad Ortiz Jr. was in the irons, subbing for his brother, Jose Ortiz, the mare's regular rider. Jose Ortiz was scheduled to fly in for the work after riding at Aqueduct yesterday, but his flight was canceled.

Fri, 04/15/2022 - 11:11

Charge It, Simplification get back to work for Kentucky Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Charge It went four furlongs in 47.77 seconds on Friday morning at Palm Beach Downs.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Charge It and Simplification, the second and third finishers respectively in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on April 2 at Gulfstream Park, each turned in the first of their three scheduled works prior to the Kentucky Derby approximately 30 minutes and 40 miles apart early Friday morning in South Florida.

Thu, 04/14/2022 - 11:38

Venti Valentine switches course, will now go in Kentucky Oaks

Barbara D. Livingston
Venti Valentine wins the March 5 Busher by seven lengths even though she may have been a short horse.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. -- Venti Valentine, second to Nostalgic in last Saturday’s Grade 3 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct, will make her next start in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 6, trainer Jorge Abreu said Thursday.

The day after the Gazelle, Abreu had mentioned the idea of skipping the Oaks and pointing to the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont Park on June 11. But after consultation with the owners -- NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds -- the decision was made to run in the Oaks.