Sun, 04/24/2022 - 19:19

Carmouche, despite missed days, takes Aqueduct spring riding title

Barbara D. Livingston
Kendrick Carmouche has not ridden since injuring his ankle during the final race on June 5.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Despite missing three days of the 15-day meet and riding only 62 horses, jockey Kendrick Carmouche won the Aqueduct spring riding title with 19 wins, one more than Dylan Davis.

Davis, who won the winter meet title, won 18 races from 104 mounts at the spring stand. Trevor McCarthy and Manny Franco finished in a tie for third with 15 wins, while apprentice Jose Gomez was fifth with 13 wins.

Franco, who won three stakes at the meet, led all riders in purse money won with $1,192,773, about $20,000 more than Davis.

Sun, 04/24/2022 - 16:28

Kentucky Derby clocker: Asmussen goes big with Epicenter, Echo Zulu

Barbara D. Livingston
Crown Pride works four furlongs at Churchill Downs on Sunday in preparation for the Kentucky Derby.

Churchill Downs
Weather: Sunny  
Track: Fast 
Temperature: 66

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It was “big” work day for trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn Sunday morning at Churchill Downs with Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks king and queen pins Epicenter and Echo Zulu each working a serious six furlongs in company well before dawn.

Sun, 04/24/2022 - 11:12

Original Intent targets Trail's End at Oaklawn

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Original Intent is back at Oaklawn Park following a start at Aqueduct and is being pointed to the Trail’s End on the final day of the meet May 8, according to trainer Bentley Combs.  

The Trail’s End is the traditional final race of the meet, and it is run at 1 3/4 miles. Original Intent dominated the race last year, winning by more than six lengths and earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 87.  

In more recent times, Original Intent was fourth in the $75,000 Stud Muffin on March 26 at Aqueduct. The race was run over 1 3/8 miles.  

Sun, 04/24/2022 - 11:05

Presidential likely for Texas Derby, Asmussen says

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Presidential was a notable allowance winner earlier this month at Oaklawn Park and the 3-year-old could see stakes action at Lone Star Park.  

Trainer Steve Asmussen said Wednesday that Presidential is being considered for a start in the $300,000 Texas Derby at Lone Star. The horse is coming off a first-level allowance route win for which he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 81 here April 16.  

“Obviously, we were very pleased with his win the other day,” Asmussen said. “He did really well. The Texas Derby on May 30 is a strong possibility.”  

Sun, 04/24/2022 - 11:01

Jockey Kevin Roman has stellar weekend at Fonner

Jockey Kevin Roman has had an outstanding weekend at Fonner Park.  

He won six races at the Nebraska track on Friday and came back and won another five on Saturday. 

Roman won with six of his seven mounts Friday, and of those wins five came for the owner-trainer combination of GSH Stable and Isai Gonzalez.  

Sat, 04/23/2022 - 12:39

Will Early Voting run in Derby? Decision likely on Sunday

Chelsea Durand
Early Voting won the Withers at Aqueduct in February.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Early Voting, the Grade 2 Wood Memorial runner-up, worked a half-mile in 49.97 seconds Saturday morning over the Belmont Park training track, with a decision on his Kentucky Derby participation expected by the end of the weekend.

Fri, 04/22/2022 - 15:55

Jackie's Warrior considered for Churchill Downs Stakes after Count Fleet win

Coady Photography
Jackie's Warrior's victory in the Count Fleet gave jockey Joel Rosario his fourth win on the Oaklawn card.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- Champion Jackie’s Warrior emerged from his victory in the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn in “fabulous” condition and is now settled in at Churchill Downs, according to his trainer, Steve Asmussen. 

Jackie’s Warrior was making his 4-year-old debut in the Count Fleet on April 16. He dueled through quick fractions and was a three-quarter-length winner of the six-furlong race run in the slop. Jackie’s Warrior covered the distance in 1:09.09 and earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure. 

Fri, 04/22/2022 - 15:33

Zozos, Barber Road tune up for Kentucky Derby

Coady Photography
Zozos works outside of stablemate Fulsome Thursday at Churchill, his next-to-last drill for the Kentucky Derby.

LOUISVILLE — Barber Road and Zozos, both of whom turned in runner-up efforts in major Kentucky Derby preps, turned in their respective penultimate works for the May 7 classic on Friday morning at Churchill Downs. 

Arkansas Derby runner-up Barber Road, working with jockey Reylu Gutierrez aboard shortly after the mid-morning harrow break, worked six furlongs in 1:16.40 seconds, according to Churchill Downs clockers. The main track was officially rated fast at that time, despite still holding moisture from rain the day before. 

Fri, 04/22/2022 - 14:59

Coolers, alcoholic beverages restricted at Belmont spring-summer meet

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association will prohibit fans from bringing in alcoholic beverages and large-sized coolers to the backyard at the upcoming Belmont Park spring/summer meeting, which begins Thursday. Only personal-sized coolers that measure 12 inches by 6 inches will be permitted in that area.

The only area where outside alcohol and coolers will be permitted is the Top of the Stretch picnic area, NYRA announced in a press release Friday.

Fri, 04/22/2022 - 14:30

Miles D now pointing to Pimlico Special

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Miles D wins the 2021 Discovery. He has raced only twice since.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Chad Brown was pointing Miles D to Saturday’s Grade 2, $1 million Oaklawn Handicap, but had to cancel those plans after the horse developed a temperature.

Miles D, who had his first work in three weeks on April 17 at Payson Park, will now be pointed to the Grade 3, $300,000 Pimlico Special on May 20, Brown said.