Mon, 11/15/2021 - 14:26

Sutherland riding in career-best form

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos
Chantal Sutherland recently had a streak of six multi-win days. She is currently second in the Gulfstream jockey standings.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Chantal Sutherland began her riding career in 2000, and despite some interruptions along the way has 1,155 victories, 22 of those in graded stakes, and over $55 million in purse earnings on her résumé. But despite those impressive numbers, Sutherland said she’s never been more motivated, or ridden any better, than she is at the present time.

Mon, 11/15/2021 - 12:30

Norm Casse, Gabby Gaudet are proud parents

Barbara D. Livingston
Norm Casse ecame a father on Friday hours after winning two races at Churchill.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It would’ve been a great day anyway for Norm Casse, one of the best he has ever experienced in a lifetime on the racetrack. Two winners, both in six-figure allowances at Churchill Downs, is exceptional for most any trainer.

Except he wasn’t there. Casse was in a Louisville hospital, poised to revel in the most joyous occasion of his 38-plus years. Shortly after the Friday races at Churchill, about 6:45 p.m. Eastern, Casse was with his wife, Gabby Gaudet, when their first child, Crew Edmond Casse, was born.

Mon, 11/15/2021 - 12:10

Clement may run two in the Long Island

Michael Burns
Mutamakina, foreground, beats stablemate La Dragontea by a neck in the E.P. Taylor.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Mutamakina and La Dragontea, the one-two finishers in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor on Oct. 17 at Woodbine, are both being pointed to the Grade 3, $400,000 Long Island Stakes, on Nov. 27 at Aqueduct, trainer Christophe Clement said.

Mon, 11/15/2021 - 11:16

Baltas, Ian Kruljac sanctioned

Coady Photography
Richard Baltas must complete an anger management program within 90 days.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainers Richard Baltas and Ian Kruljac both were fined by Del Mar’s stewards and ordered to “complete a certified course in anger management” in rulings handed down Sunday stemming from incidents earlier this year at Santa Anita.

Baltas was fined $1,000 after disobeying orders from both an examining veterinarian and a security officer on March 3.

Kruljac, son of trainer Eric Kruljac, was fined $500 for discourteous language directed at an examining veterinarian on April 4.

Both were ordered to complete their courses within 90 days.

Mon, 11/15/2021 - 11:10

Baffert's Arnaz, Hope winners moving on to Starlet, Futurity

Barbara D. Livingston
Messier will stretch out from seven furlongs to 1 1/16 miles in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Bob Baffert had 40 percent of the field for the Desi Arnaz on Saturday and 75 percent of the field for the Bob Hope on Sunday and came away with 100 percent of the victories in those Del Mar stakes last weekend, both designed as preps to important graded stakes next month at Los Alamitos.

Messier, who won the Bob Hope, will be aimed to the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 11. Eda, who won the Desi Arnaz, will go to the Grade 1 Starlet on Dec. 4. Both horses will be trying two turns for the first time in those 1 1/16-mile races.

Mon, 11/15/2021 - 10:20

Hot streak puts Gaffalione in tie atop Churchill standings

Barbara D. Livingston
Tyler Gaffalione won with all six of his mounts on Friday at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Tyler Gaffalione will head home to Florida at month’s end, but he still has unfinished business in Kentucky.

Seeking a sixth straight meet title at Churchill Downs, Gaffalione spotted his fellow riders a generous early lead atop the local standings when winning with just four of his first 35 mounts at a 21-day fall meet that began Oct. 31.

Sun, 11/14/2021 - 16:17

Domestic Spending, Jack Christopher will take time off

Debra A. Roma
Domestic Spending, probably the top U.S. hope, suffered inflammation in a front leg, trainer Chad Brown said.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Domestic Spending and Jack Christopher, the two Chad Brown-trained horses who were scratched out of their respective Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar, will both get extended time off, Brown said Sunday.

Domestic Spending, who was scratched out of the Breeders’ Cup Turf with inflammation in a front leg, will be out of training for a minimum of three months.

“Unfortunately, he suffered a suspensory ligament injury while galloping at Del Mar,” Brown said.

Sun, 11/14/2021 - 16:04

Following Sea may point to Cigar Mile or Runhappy Malibu

Barbara D. Livingston
Following Sea earned a berth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint with this victory in the Vosburgh on Oct. 9 at Belmont.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Following Sea, third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 6 at Del Mar, is being considered for one of two Grade 1 stakes - the $750,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Dec. 4, or the $300,000 Runhappy Malibu at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 - trainer Todd Pletcher said over the weekend.

In the BC Sprint, Following Sea was beaten only 1 3/4 lengths by Aloha West, getting shut off trying to come up the rail inside the three-sixteenths pole before re-rallying in the three path down the lane. Most observers felt the rail was not the best place to be on Breeders’ Cup Saturday.

Sun, 11/14/2021 - 15:43

Curatolo joins Southern California jockey colony

The well-traveled Ryan Curatolo is the newest member of the Southern California jockey colony.

Curatolo, 29, has spent the past eight years abroad, most recently in Dubai. He also has ridden in Japan, Macau, Qatar, Singapore, and South Korea.

A native of France, Curatolo began his career in earnest in North America and had his best year in 2011, when he won 115 races and his mounts earned more than $4 million. He was a finalist for champion apprentice jockey, which went to Kyle Frey, who also is riding here now.

Sun, 11/14/2021 - 15:28

Native Diver, Cary Grant stakes highlight weekend cards at Del Mar

Emily Shields
Midcourt, winning the San Pasqual at Santa Anita in February, would probably be favored in the Native Diver on Saturday, but he may not run.

Two $100,000 stakes for older runners – the Native Diver at 1 1/8 miles and the Cary Grant at seven furlongs – top the upcoming weekend’s fare at Del Mar.

The Native Diver, a Grade 3 race to be run Saturday, is expected to be headed by Midcourt, who won the race in 2019 and was second last year for trainer John Shirreffs. He worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 on Sunday morning at Del Mar.