Mon, 03/14/2022 - 13:50

Following cancellation, Colebrook weighing options with Club Car

Coady Photography
Club Car will run in the rescheduled Correction on Saturday if the race fills. The Queen Stakes at Turfway Park is another option.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Ben Colebrook thought the $100,000 Correction looked like the ideal spot to bring Club Car back off a four-month layoff only to have Mother Nature intervene. While the Correction, lost when last Saturday’s card was canceled due to weather, has been rescheduled for this Saturday, there is some concern whether the race will go.

Mon, 03/14/2022 - 13:46

Yo Cuz changes style in workout

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Yo Cuz goes wire to wire to win the Maddie May. She was asked to start behind a horse and then pass in her Monday workout.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The New York-bred 3-year-old filly Yo Cuz, who has won two stakes since losing her career debut, worked a sharp five furlongs in 59.81 seconds Monday morning over the Belmont Park training track. She is preparing for a start in the $100,000 East View Stakes on March 27.

Though Yo Cuz has won both the Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes and the Maddie May in front-running fashion, on Monday she started her work three lengths behind stablemate Curlin’s Wisdom and finished about three in front, getting her last quarter in 24.00.

Mon, 03/14/2022 - 13:40

Unbeaten Morello stretches his legs nine days after Gotham score

Barbara D. Livingston
Morello is undefeated in three starts, including a 4 1/2-length score in the Gotham (above). The Wood Memorial is up next.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Morello, the undefeated winner of the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes on March 5, returned to the work tab Monday morning at Belmont Park, cruising an easy half-mile in 52.55 seconds over the training track. Morello is preparing for a start in the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 9 at Aqueduct.

Mon, 03/14/2022 - 12:50

McPeek not wasting time with Rattle N Roll, targets Louisiana Derby

Coady Photography
Rattle N Roll concluded his 2-year-old campaign by winning the Breeders' Futurity. He was sixth in the Fountain of Youth to start this year.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A mere three weeks between races has become something of a rarity for a Kentucky Derby prospect, but trainer Kenny McPeek intends to forge ahead with his revised plan anyway.

It wasn’t long after Rattle N Roll finished sixth in his 3-year-old debut, the March 5 Fountain of Youth here at Gulfstream Park, that McPeek said the colt will wheel back in three weeks in the Louisiana Derby on March 26 at Fair Grounds.

Mon, 03/14/2022 - 12:36

Echo Zulu works, will begin season in Fair Grounds Oaks

Susie Raisher
Steve Asmussen on Monday confirmed that undefeated champion Echo Zulu will begin her 3-year-old campaign in the March 26 Fair Grounds Oaks.

Champion filly Echo Zulu will make her 3-year-old debut March 26 in the Fair Grounds Oaks after working to her connections’ satisfaction on Monday at Fair Grounds.

Echo Zulu was officially timed in 1:00.20 for a five-furlong, in-company work. Trainer Steve Asmussen said Echo Zulu galloped out six furlongs in “1:13 and change” and seven furlongs in a little over 1:26.

Mon, 03/14/2022 - 11:20

Track record $20.8 million bet on Tampa Bay Derby Day

OLDSMAR, Fla. – All-sources handle on the 12-race Festival Day card on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs was a track record $20,778,222, crushing the former the record of $15.2 million, set last year on Festival Day. Nearly $3.7 million was bet on the Tampa Derby, a one-race record. Helping the Tampa cause was the fact both Aqueduct and Laurel Park canceled racing Saturday because of poor weather.

Mon, 03/14/2022 - 11:20

Brown continues tear with wins in Hillsborough and Florida Oaks

SV Photography
Bleecker Street wins the Hillsborough on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, keeping her record perfect in five starts.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – When Chad Brown sent out the one-two finishers in both the Grade 2 Endeavour and Grade 3 Florida Oaks on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, he padded his incredible record at the 2021-22 Tampa meet.

Brown begins this week with 17 wins and 7 seconds from just 36 starters at Tampa this winter, a batting average of .470 that would be a cool .500 if he hadn’t also had the runner-up in both of those stakes. Bleecker Street (94 Beyer), now unbeaten in five career starts, won the Endeavour over Rocky Sky. Dolce Zel (76 Beyer) won the Florida Oaks over Spicer.

Mon, 03/14/2022 - 11:20

Lynch: Classic Causeway's Tampa Derby better than figure indicates

SV Photography
Classic Causeway earned only an 84 Beyer Speed Figure for this win in Saturday’s Tampa Bay Derby.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Brian Lynch was in his usual good mood Monday morning, and why wouldn’t he be? The trainer had heard all the talk about Classic Causeway not being fast enough, even after the colt’s victory on Saturday in the Tampa Bay Derby, and decided to wave it off.

“I’ve never done this,” Lynch said about having a serious Kentucky Derby prospect so late in the game, “and I’m going to keep enjoying it.”

Sun, 03/13/2022 - 17:59

Acclimate at 8 looks very much like Acclimate at 5

Benoit photo
Acclimate returned $4.20 in winning the San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday.

A stable truly has depth when a morning-line favorite is scratched and another runner from the barn assumes the role of favorite and succeeds hours later.

Say the Word was withdrawn from Saturday’s Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes after sustaining a cut in a stall incident on race morning, trainer Phil D’Amato said. That afternoon, Acclimate was sent off favored, took his usual position at the front, and held off a sustained threat from Dicey Mo Chara to win his first stakes since June.

Acclimate is an 8-year-old gelding who is not acting his age.

Sun, 03/13/2022 - 14:19

Ce Ce possible for Apple Blossom, trainer says

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

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Bo Hirsch and trainer Michael McCarthy have decisions to make with Ce Ce, the reigning champion female sprinter who won around two turns Saturday in the Grade 2, $350,000 Azeri at Oaklawn Park.  

The Azeri serves as the final local steppingstone to the Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom on April 23 at Oaklawn. Ce Ce won the race in 2020, and again will be considered for the 1 1/16-mile handicap, McCarthy said Sunday.