ARCADIA, Calif. - The 2-year-old filly arrived at Santa Anita from Florida last Saturday. Within a day, she was a barn favorite for trainer John Shirreffs.
That should not be a surprise. The filly, Zilkha, is by Candy Ride out of Zenyatta, the 2010 Horse of the Year and one of the most popular racehorses of recent memory.
Zilkha had no difficulty adjusting to Santa Anita, galloping at Santa Anita on Sunday.
Assiniboia Downs is now planning to start its 2022 Thoroughbred racing season on Tuesday, May 31, a week later than originally planned.
While things are starting to thaw out in Winnipeg as they should in May, late winter storms and other weather-related issues in April have shortened the training window for horses. As the track approached its original start date, it became apparent that horse colony is simply not ready to start in full.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Kenny McPeek confirmed Tuesday that Creative Minister will be supplemented to the Preakness for a $150,000 fee but that Smile Happy will not run in the May 21 classic at Pimlico and Rattle N Roll is only a possible starter.
Creative Minister, a sharp allowance winner on the Kentucky Derby card last Saturday at Churchill Downs, will be ridden in the $1.5 million Preakness by Brian Hernandez Jr., McPeek said. Owned by Fern Circle Stable and Back Racing, the gray Creative Cause colt earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure in his Saturday triumph.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Original Intent won the final race of the Oaklawn Park meet for the second time in a row Sunday, but the result of the Trail’s End starter allowance was one of just a few similarities between the two seasons.
Oaklawn rolled out a new calendar and adjusted 3-year-old program this meet. The season had its earliest opening in its 118-year history, Dec. 3, and rolled for 66 days.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky Derby Day 2022 was a day of monumental upsets, and not just in the big one.
The inaugural Knicks Go Stakes, held nearly six hours before Rich Strike launched his 80-1 stunner in the 148th Derby, also lit up the Churchill Downs toteboard when Three Technique returned $75.60.
The winning connections went out of their minds after that one, too. Some 50 people affiliated with owner David Miller and trainer Jason Cook packed the winner’s circle in an exceedingly exuberant celebration.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Set Sail, Subconscious, and Royal Ship are scheduled to represent trainer Richard Mandella in graded stakes in coming weeks. The veteran turf runner United is far from a comeback, however.
Set Sail is scheduled to start in Saturday’s Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park.
“I think he’s pretty good,” Mandella said.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Lieutenant Dan, second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar last November and recently recognized as the 2021 California-bred horse of the year, has resumed training.
Owner and breeder Nick Alexander said Lieutenant Dan is nearing his first official workout of the year for trainer Steve Miyadi.
“He’s breezed a furlong and a few quarter-miles,” Alexander said Saturday at Santa Anita.
Older horses typically are given workout times at distances of three furlongs or more.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Adare Manor, second by a neck in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks as an odds-on favorite April 9, is under strong consideration for the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes on May 20 at Pimlico.
If she starts in the $250,000 race for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles, Adare Manor will have her third trainer in as many starts. Sean McCarthy said Sunday that he began training Adare Manor in April, shortly after the filly raced for trainer Tim Yakteen in the Santa Anita Oaks.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Quick workouts have become customary for the undefeated 4-year-old Flightline, who is approaching his 2022 debut in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Belmont Park on June 11.
On Sunday at Santa Anita, Flightline worked five furlongs in 59.20 seconds, much quicker than his clocking of 1:01.20 at the same distance on May 1.
“He’s going through his paces in good shape,” trainer John Sadler said.
Sadler timed Flightine in 59.60 seconds, with a gallop out time of six furlongs in “1:12 and change.”
ARCADIA, Calif. - Three stakes for 3-year-old fillies three time zones apart from Friday through Sunday gave trainer Phil D’Amato and his clients high hopes for the late spring and summer.
On Friday, Desert Dawn finished third at 50-1 in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, a surprise placing for the second-longest shot in a field of 14 who races for H & E Ranch.
On Saturday, Island of Love won the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes at Santa Anita as the 5-2 fourth choice in a field of six for R Unicorn Stable.
