Fri, 06/03/2022 - 10:46

Letruska has final work for Ogden Phipps Stakes

Coady Photography
Letruska wins the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn on April 23.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Letruska was sent through her final pre-race work for the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont on June 11 when she went five furlongs Friday in 1:00.40 over a fast Churchill surface.

Letruska was scheduled to leave here no later than Sunday for New York, where she’ll be looking to stay unbeaten in three starts at 6 and seeking to repeat in the Phipps on the Belmont Stakes undercard. The Super Saver mare won the Phipps last year on her way to earning the Eclipse Award for top filly-mare dirt runner.

Fri, 06/03/2022 - 10:41

Chicago Stakes might be next for Sconsin

Coady Photography
Sconsin begins her season by winning the Winning Colors Stakes on Monday at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Greg Foley said Sconsin is a possibility to go next in the Grade 3 Chicago, to be run here June 25. Sconsin earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure as a measured winner of the Grade 3 Winning Colors on Monday in her 5-year-old debut.

Foley said he wants to “keep her fat and sassy” for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, and that he is working backward from that Nov. 5 race at Keeneland.

“We’ll map it out how to get there,” he said.

Wed, 06/01/2022 - 11:33

Cox, Asmussen put stars to work for upcoming major stakes

Coady Photography
Letruska was given a 103 Beyer Speed Figure for her Apple Blossom victory at Oaklawn on Saturday.

Quite a few top-class performers showed up on the work tab last weekend at Churchill for Brad Cox and Steve Asmussen.

For Cox, those workers included Mandaloun (five furlongs in 1:00.60), Shedaresthedevil (four furlongs in 48.80), Arklow (three furlongs in 39.40), Cyberknife (four furlongs in 47.60), and Tawny Port (four furlongs in 48.80). All breezed Sunday except Shedaresthedevil, who worked the previous morning.

Wed, 06/01/2022 - 11:21

McPeek sorting out plans for his 3-year-olds

Coady Photography
Tiz the Bomb returned $5.20 in winning the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes on Saturday at Turfway Park.

Kenny McPeek, whose lone stakes entry here Saturday is Crazy Beautiful in the Shawnee, no longer intends to send Tiz the Bomb to England for his next start, as had been considered. Instead, the colt is now being pointed to the Belmont Derby and Saratoga Derby after finishing ninth in the May 7 Kentucky Derby in his latest start.

McPeek recently assumed the training of Classic Causeway, 11th in the Derby, and intends to work him here Saturday. After observing the colt for the last week or so, “he’s doing everything right,” said McPeek. “He’s solid.”

Wed, 06/01/2022 - 11:08

Streaking Lynch readies Admission Office for Wise Dan in Arlington Stakes

Coady Photography
With two shorter races under his belt this year, Admission Office gets to go a more suitable 1 3/8 miles in the Mac Diarmida.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Brian Lynch is going so good that even Mother Nature is on his side. Wet weather led Lynch to scratch Admission Office from an off-the-turf allowance last Thursday at Churchill Downs, and now the stretch-running 7-year-old has resurfaced in a potential winning spot.

“This is our big meet,” said Lynch, who sent out four winners, all with different jockeys, over the Memorial Day weekend at Churchill. “We really focused on having some horses ready for this meet, and it’s been a great start.”

Wed, 06/01/2022 - 10:22

Suffolk Downs fire puts simulcasting on hold

Barbara D. Livingston
A fire Monday night at Suffolk Downs forced the closure of simulcast operations. The track is hoping to reopen in time for the June 11 Belmont Stakes.

Simulcasting operations at Suffolk Downs in East Boston, Mass., are on hold after a late-night fire destroyed the track’s television control room and other facilities, according to the chief executive of the company that runs the track.

Tue, 05/31/2022 - 12:05

Tom's Regret targets Fasig-Tipton Debutante Stakes

Debra A. Roma
Tom's Regret wins the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes on May 5 at Churchill Downs.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Tom’s Regret, the undefeated filly who beat males in the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes on May 5 at Churchill Downs, is likely to have her next start in the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Debutante on June 18 at Santa Anita.

Trainer Jorge Periban said in May that Tom’s Regret was under consideration for the Grade 3 Schuylerville Stakes on July 14 at Saratoga, but said over the weekend that the Fasig-Tipton Debutante at five furlongs for 2-year-old fillies is a revised goal.

Tue, 05/31/2022 - 11:56

Los Alamitos adjusts start date for Los Angeles County Fair meet

Los Alamitos has altered the racing dates for its upcoming Los Angeles County Fair season and will begin the three-week meeting on June 25, one day later than expected.

Track officials said last week that the season will cover nine days of racing – June 25-26, July 1-4, and July 8-10. In a meeting with the California Horse Racing Board in May, Los Alamitos officials indicated the season would start June 24.

Tue, 05/31/2022 - 11:51

St Anthony points to Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar

Vassar Photography
St Anthony rallies to win the $75,900 Alcatraz Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.

St Anthony will have his first appearance in a stakes in Southern California in the $100,000 Oceanside on July 22 at Del Mar after winning his stakes debut in Sunday’s $75,900 Alcatraz for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields, trainer Neil Drysdale said.

The Oceanside Stakes is run at a mile on turf for 3-year-olds and is the top race on opening day of the Del Mar summer meeting.

Tue, 05/31/2022 - 11:17

Trainer Robert Gerl suspended 20 years

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Robert Gerl of Palgrave, Ontario, has been suspended 20 years and fined $100,000 by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario for multiple medication violations.