OZONE PARK, N.Y. − Trainer Ben Perkins Jr. was planning to ship his stakes-winning New Jersey-bred filly Breathoffreshheir to south Florida for the winter. However, at the beginning of December, when Perkins shipped 10 other horses to Gulfstream Park, Breathoffreshheir got sick and was forced to stay behind.
Given the lack of depth in Sunday’s $65,000 Ruthless Stakes, the timing of that illness may prove fortuitous.
ARCADIA, Calif – Jockey Joel Rosario jogged Dakota Phone in front of an empty grandstand at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, and yelled in the direction of trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who was standing about 30 yards away. Rosario wanted advice on how quickly to work the winner of the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
“How fast do you want me to work – 56, 57?” Rosario said, grinning, knowing that was far from the 6-year-old Dakota Phone’s style.
“Yeah, make it 57,” Hollendorfer said.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – For a three-week period, trainer Chris Englehart’s barns were under quarantine. For the last 2 1/2 weeks, his stable has been on fire.
Since the quarantine was lifted on his barns at Belmont Park, Finger Lakes, and his farm in upstate New York on Dec. 9, Englehart has won with 8 of 17 starters, including an eye-opening six wins from eight starts at Aqueduct. After going 3 for 3 here Thursday, Englehart won Friday’s fourth race with 2-5 favorite Iberian Gate.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. faces possible sanctions from the New York stewards after one of his horses tested positive for a banned substance following a race at Aqueduct on Nov. 20, according to the stewards.
Fastus Cactus, who won the third race at Aqueduct on Nov. 20, is the focus of “an ongoing investigation,” according to state steward Carmine Donofrio, who would not confirm the medication in question or comment further on the matter.
Song of Navarone, who won the $600,000 WinStar Derby at Sunland Park in 2007, has been retired and will stand stud at A & A Ranch in Anthony, N.M., according to Fred Alexander, who owns the facility. Song of Navarone will stand for a fee of $2,500.
Song of Navarone’s other major wins included the $200,000 Zia Park Distance Championship in track-record time in 2008. He also swept Sunland’s series for handicap horses in 2009, when he won the Winsham Lad, Curribot, and Sunland Park Handicap. He was 8 for 21 in his career with earnings of $757,858.
Tim Doocy said Friday that he has officially retired from riding and will represent jockey Eddie Razo Jr. at the Oaklawn Park meet that opens Jan. 14.
Doocy fractured his left kneecap, ankle, and tibia in a training accident a year ago, and while he suspected the injuries might end his career, he said last summer that he would wait to see how his rehabilitation progressed before making a decision.
“I’m done,” he said Friday. “I’ve only got so much bend in my knee and ankle. I can’t ride.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – The California Horse Racing Board has rejected a proposed decision from a hearing officer to reduce a suspension against trainer Jeff Mullins from 70 to 40 days for a 2006 medication violation and announced that it will issue a decision of its own.
The racing board rejected the hearing officer’s recommendation on Dec. 16, following its monthly board meeting, but has not indicated when it will decide on a penalty. In a statement on its website, the racing board said it will review documents and further arguments before making a decision.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockey Omar Berrio was hospitalized Thursday night after suffering a stroke following the races at Santa Anita.
Berrio, 42, rode Celtic Princess to a front-running victory Thursday in the seventh-race feature at Santa Anita. When he arrived home in nearby Temple City about 6 p.m., Berrio’s wife Karina suspected something was amiss.
“I saw it in his face; he said he felt weak on the left side of his body,” she said.
Karina drove Berrio to Arcadia Methodist Hospital, where he was diagnosed with having suffered a stroke.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Gulfstream Park filed an application with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation on Friday to reopen for live racing on Dec. 2 of this year, a decision that could lead to a potential dates conflict with neighboring Calder Race Course, which has already applied to run its traditional dates in 2011.
Jannas Pride won his fourth consecutive race on Thursday, when he rallied for a 1 1/2-length win over Deity in the $120,000 Red Hedeman Mile at Sunland Park. It was another neck back in third to Desert Gulch in the one-mile race for 2-year-olds bred in New Mexico.
Jannas Pride ($3.80) settled in fifth early in the race, run under snowy conditions, while Silent Sunday showed the way through six furlongs in 1:12.09. Jannas Pride moved to the lead in the stretch, and went on to cover the distance on a track rated fast in 1:40.33.
