Tue, 03/15/2022 - 14:43

Arlington Million, three other graded stakes will be run at Churchill on special Aug. 13 card

Coady Photography
Two Emmys upsets the Mister D. Stakes at 27-1 in August. He will begin his 6-year-old season at a much lower price in the E.R. Bradley.

Churchill Downs in Louisville will run nine stakes races this year previously staged at Arlington Park outside of Chicago, including four on a special Aug. 13 live-racing program, the track announced on Tuesday.

The Aug. 13 program, which will take place outside of Churchill’s customary racing dates, will include four races that were previously held on Arlington’s biggest race day of the year, including the $1 million, Grade 1 Arlington Million, the $500,000, Grade 1 Beverly D., the $300,000, Grade 2 Secretariat, and the $200,000, Grade 3 Pucker Up, Churchill said.

Tue, 03/15/2022 - 13:00

Un Ojo will go in Arkansas Derby

Coady Photography
Un Ojo rallies up the rail to win the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- Un Ojo will make his next start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Arkansas Derby on April 2 at Oaklawn Park, trainer Ricky Courville said Tuesday.

The connections of last month's Rebel winner at Oaklawn had been leaning toward a start in the Blue Grass at Keeneland, but in the last week have made the decision to target the Arkansas Derby. The one-eyed horse is based in Louisiana.   

Tue, 03/15/2022 - 11:46

Saratoga stakes will include three run out of one-mile Wilson chute

Debra A. Roma
The Runhappy Travers, won last year by Essential Quality (left, above), is once again the highlight of the Saratoga meet and will be run Aug. 27 with a $1.25 million purse.

While the heart of the Saratoga stakes schedule remains the same, there are a number of changes relating to distances, dates, names, and purses to the program that will offer 77 stakes worth $22.635 million this summer.

The 40-day Saratoga meet runs from July 14 through Sept. 5.

Mon, 03/14/2022 - 14:50

Ramon Vazquez thinking of riding in Southern California

Coady Photography
Ramon Vazquez rides Miss Bigly to victory in the Bayakoa at Oaklawn in February. He is fourth in the standings there.

Jockey Ramon Vazquez, among the 20 leading riders in the nation in purse earnings, is “seriously considering” a move to Southern California this spring, according to his agent, Bill Castle.

Mon, 03/14/2022 - 14:20

Cox sending Zozos to La. Derby, Cyberknife to Ark. Derby

Coady Photography
Zozos is 2 for 2, including this 10 1/4-length romp in his first try against winners.

Zozos, an impressive Oaklawn Park allowance-race winner, will start March 26 in the $1 million Louisiana Derby. And Cyberknife, an impressive Fair Grounds allowance winner, will start April 2 in the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby.

Trainer Brad Cox hinted last week that would be his plan with these two Triple Crown hopefuls, and after both colts turned in Fair Grounds works over the weekend, Cox confirmed it Sunday.

Mon, 03/14/2022 - 14:20

Mullins sending some horses to Gulfstream

Benoit Photo
Jeff Mullins has six horses at Gulfstream and is sending six more.

Jeff Mullins, who ranks among the top 10 trainers in wins at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, is moving a dozen horses to Gulfstream Park.

Mullins said on Sunday that six horses have arrived in South Florida from California and another six were scheduled to be flown there in the middle of the week. Mullins said the move will give the horses additional race opportunities.

Mon, 03/14/2022 - 14:20

Edgeway heading to Keeneland for Madison Stakes

Benoit Photo
Edgeway wins the Las Flores by seven lengths on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Edgeway, winner of two sprint stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita this year, will face her toughest test since November in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland on April 9.

Trainer John Sadler confirmed in a text message on Monday that the $500,000 Madison for fillies and mares at seven furlongs is an early spring goal for Edgeway, who is owned by Hronis Racing.

Mon, 03/14/2022 - 14:16

Santa Anita will pay out Rainbow pick six on Saturday

Barbara D. Livingston
Santa Anita has canceled Friday's card due to rain.

The 20-cent Rainbow pick six will have a mandatory payout at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Through Sunday, the bet had a carryover of $358,858. Assuming there is not a single-ticket winner on Friday’s program, track officials are projecting a pool of $4 million in new money in the pick six on Saturday.

This is the second time in a month the track will conduct a mandatory payout. On Feb. 20, the pool of new money reached $5,044,060 in pursuit of a carryover of $664,316. The bet paid $6,033 that day.

Mon, 03/14/2022 - 14:16

Lecomte winner Call Me Midnight under radar approaching Louisiana Derby

Lou Hodges Jr./Hodges Photography
Call Me Midnight rallies to a head victory in the Jan. 22 Lecomte. Trainer Keith Desormeaux skipped the Risen Star with him but is on target for the March 26 Louisiana Derby.

Epicenter, after winning the Feb. 19 Risen Star Stakes by nearly three lengths over highly regarded Smile Happy and posting a 98 Beyer Speed Figure – among the best in his class – rose toward the top of most Kentucky Derby lists. His closing odds in Pool 4 of the Derby Future Wager, which closed March 13, were 13-1.

Mon, 03/14/2022 - 14:06

White Abarrio ‘moving in the right direction' toward Florida Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Saffie Joseph Jr. is giving Holy Bull winner White Abarrio plenty of time between races and will skip the Fountain of Youth.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Saffie Joseph Jr. sent out Holy Bull winner White Abarrio to work here Sunday. White Abarrio went a strong five furlongs in 59.50, going easily throughout, before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.42. White Abarrio will be among the favorites in what is shaping up to be an outstanding renewal of the $1 million Florida Derby on April 2.

White Abarrio is going directly from the Holy Bull to the Florida Derby.