Wed, 11/10/2021 - 15:00

Rinaldi aims higher in Artie Schiller Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Rinaldi, trained by H. James Bond, goes into the West Point off this victory in the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple at Saratoga.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Rinaldi scratched out of last Saturday’s $200,000 Mohawk Stakes against New York-breds at Belmont Park to run in Saturday’s $150,000 Artie Schiller Stakes against open company at Aqueduct.

Rinaldi, trained by James Bond, was one of 10 turf horses entered Wednesday for Saturday’s Artie Schiller. There also were two entered to run only if the race is transferred to the main track.

Bond cited several reasons for scratching out of the richer restricted stakes to run in this open-company event going a mile.

Wed, 11/10/2021 - 14:56

Americanrevolution likely to take a shot at Cigar Mile

Joe Labozzetta/NYRA
The New York-bred Americanrevolution wins the Empire Classic at Belmont on Oct. 30, earning a Beyer Figure of 108.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Americanrevolution, who earned a 108 Beyer Speed Figure for his victory in the Empire Classic on Oct. 30, is under strong consideration for the Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile on Dec. 4, trainer Todd Pletcher said Wednesday.

Americanrevolution, a 3-year-old son of Constitution, won the Empire Classic for New York-breds by 11 3/4 lengths. He ran a one-turn 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.11.

Wed, 11/10/2021 - 14:30

Apollitical Patty retired after Los Alamitos Super Derby

Apollitical Patty, who won two of the leading stakes at Los Alamitos in the last year, has been retired after being pulled up because of apparent exhaustion after Sunday’s $925,650 Los Alamitos Super Derby.

Trainer Monty Arrossa said Monday that Apollitical Patty did not sustain an injury when second to Flash Bak in the Super Derby.

“She tied up a little bit,” he said. “She looked great when we got her back to the barn.”

Wed, 11/10/2021 - 14:20

Pyfer begins life without the bug on Sunday

Emily Shields
Jockey Jessica Pyfer poses with her agent Brandon O’Bryan during the fall meeting at Santa Anita.

Jessica Pyfer’s days as an apprentice jockey end after Saturday’s program at Del Mar.

Sunday, the 23-year-old college graduate will begin racing without a five-pound allowance, hoping to prove she can make the sometimes difficult transition to a full-fledged journeyman rider.

“I’ll keep doing what I’m doing,” Pyfer said last weekend. “There is nothing you can change.”

Wed, 11/10/2021 - 14:16

Edgeway scratched from November sale, will seek Grade 1 win next year

Debra A. Roma
Edgeway (right) finishes second in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint last Saturday at Del Mar.

Edgeway, second to Ce Ce in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar last Saturday, was withdrawn from the Keeneland November breeding stock sale on Wednesday and will remain in training in 2022.

Trainer John Sadler said on Wednesday that a decision was made earlier this week not to offer Edgeway at auction, and to pursue a 2022 campaign geared toward a return to the BC Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland next November.

Wed, 11/10/2021 - 14:10

One Timer getting rest ahead of 3-year-old campaign

Barbara D. Livingston
One Timer compiled a 3-for-4 record in 2021 as a 2-year-old for trainer Larry Rivelli.

One Timer has run for the last time in 2021.

The 2-year-old gelding won an Arlington maiden race in his career debut before shipping to Woodbine to capture the Victoria Stakes on July 31. Trainer Larry Rivelli trained One Timer in Chicago before shipping to California, where One Timer won the Speakeasy Stakes on Oct. 1, running his record to 3 for 3 and earning a start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Nov. 5. There, under 54-year-old jockey E.T. Baird, One Timer disputed the early pace but faded to seventh as a 9-1 shot.

Wed, 11/10/2021 - 11:46

Dream Supreme is Round 6 for Sconsin, Bell's the One

Coady Photography
Sconsin defeated Bell's the One when they last met in the Open Mind Stakes (above) in September.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Familiar rivals Sconsin and Bell’s the One will be rematched once again Saturday in an outstanding renewal of the $300,000 Dream Supreme, the only stakes of the weekend at Churchill.

This will be the sixth meeting between two of the top filly-mare sprinters on the continent, starting with the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint last November at Keeneland. Bell’s the One has finished ahead of Sconsin in three of those five prior clashes, but Sconsin was the winner when last they met in the Open Mind on Sept. 18 at Churchill.

Wed, 11/10/2021 - 11:36

Cat Man still riding high after Breeders' Cup Sprint triumph

Emily Shields
Aloha West gave trainer Wayne Catalano his fourth Breeders' Cup win when he just got up to take last Saturday's Breeders' Cup Sprint.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It might well be impossible to find someone loving life more than Wayne Catalano these days.

Still euphoric from winning the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last weekend with Aloha West, Catalano and his wife, Renee, took their sweet time returning from California to their Airstream trailer parked in a southern Indiana campground just across the Ohio River from downtown Louisville.

“Stopped off in Chicago to enjoy all this with family,” Catalano said before he returned Tuesday evening to Louisville.

Mon, 11/08/2021 - 14:00

Pessin isn't second-guessing his Bell's the One decision

Coady Photography
Neil Pessin skipped the BC with Bell’s the One, who would have benefited from the quick pace.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Neil Pessin has no regrets. Even though he was correct in suspecting heavily favored Gamine was ripe for an upset, the trainer also believes he made the right move by not sending his stable star Bell’s the One to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

“My decision not to run was based strictly on transportation,” Pessin said early Monday.

Mon, 11/08/2021 - 11:46

With top jockeys at Breeders' Cup, Murrill makes the most of opportunities

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – While most of the top Churchill jockeys were traveling to and from the Breeders’ Cup during parts of last week, Mitch Murrill rode 11 winners to take command atop the local standings.

Murrill rode at least one winner each day from Nov. 3-7, including a three-win Saturday capped by a terrific ride on late-running Necker Island in the $300,000 Bet On Sunshine.