Sun, 02/06/2022 - 13:50

White Abarrio likely for Florida Derby, Make It Big heads to Sam F. Davis

Barbara D. Livingston
White Abarrio was given a 97 Beyer Speed Figure for the triumph in the Holy Bull on Saturday at Gulfstream.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - It was thumbs up all around on Sunday for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s two top 3-year-old prospects White Abarrio and Make It Big. The former was in good order following his one-sided victory the previous afternoon in the Grade 3 Holy Bull, and the latter was confirmed for next Saturday’s Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs following a strong half-mile work earlier Sunday morning.

Sat, 02/05/2022 - 10:28

Cold weather prompts Laurel to cancel Saturday card

Barbara D. Livingston
Laurel Park has not raced since Nov. 28 while its dirt racing surface has been undergoing renovations.

The effects of a winter storm has prompted Laurel Park to cancel Saturday’s nine-race card.

The storm passed through the Mid-Atlantic region Thursday and Friday, leaving freezing temperatures and wind chills in its wake.

:: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures

Laurel and the rest of the Maryland Jockey Club OTB network remain open for simulcasting.

Fri, 02/04/2022 - 16:34

Aqueduct's pick-six carryover grows to $98,633 for Withers Day; wet track expected

Barbara D. Livingston
There is a pick-six carryover of more than $98,000 on Saturday's Withers card at Aqueduct after a steady stream of longshots started off Friday's sequence over a sloppy track.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - There will be a pick-six carryover of $98,633 entering Saturday’s card at Aqueduct after the wager was not hit Friday.

There was a carryover of $31,130 entering Friday’s card after that same carryover was taken out of Thursday’s pool triggered by the cancellation of Thursday’s last race. There was $118,425 in new money wagered into the pick six on Friday, approximately $72,000 less than was wagered into the pool on Thursday.

Fri, 02/04/2022 - 14:36

Sea Foam headed to Laurel for John B. Campbell

Joe Labozzetta/NYRA
Sea Foam wins the Alex M. Robb on Dec. 31 at Aqueduct. He runs next in the John B. Campbell at Laurel.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Sea Foam, a New York-bred stakes winner who has excelled in races run around two turns, will be pointed to the $100,000 John B. Campbell Stakes at Laurel Park on Feb. 19, trainer Michelle Giangiulio said Friday.

The Campbell is run at 1 1/16 miles. Sea Foam’s last four wins have come in two-turn races at 1 1/8 miles.

Fri, 02/04/2022 - 14:30

Belmont Stakes among 59 stakes to be run at spring-summer meet

Debra A. Roma
Essential Quality, winner of the Belmont Stakes, will make his next start at Saratoga.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Topped by the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes, there will be 59 stakes worth $16.95 million offered at the 2022 Belmont Park spring-summer meet, a schedule that virtually mirrors the 2021 schedule.

The 44-day Belmont meet runs from April 28 through July 10.

Fri, 02/04/2022 - 13:30

Desormeaux hearing before Santa Anita stewards postponed

Barbara D. Livingston
Kent Desormeaux has legal problems in Louisiana and also faces a hearing before the Santa Anita stewards regarding a separate matter.

Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, who was arrested on Jan. 28 on charges of domestic abuse and battery in Louisiana, received a continuance of a hearing before Santa Anita stewards on Thursday for a complaint issued by California Horse Racing Board investigators regarding alcohol use at an RV park on Del Mar property last November.

Roger Licht, an attorney representing Desormeaux, requested the continuance. A new hearing date has not been set.

Fri, 02/04/2022 - 13:26

Friar's Road's San Marcos victory earns him possible trip to Keeneland

Benoit Photo
Friar's Road finishes second by a nose in the San Gabriel Stakes in late December. He is under consideration for the Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland in April.

Last fall, Friar’s Road was pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita, but failed to draw into the field.

The same race is a goal this fall, at Keeneland in November, which looks like a very suitable race considering Friar’s Road’s 2022 debut win in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 30.

Friar’s Road won the 1 1/4-mile San Marcos Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths as the 11-10 favorite, stalking the pace before drawing clear for his first stakes win.

“He ran to his training,” trainer Michael McCarthy said Friday.

Fri, 02/04/2022 - 13:20

Soothsay works a bullet; targeting Beholder Mile in March

Emily Shields
Soothsay, who hasn't raced since July, trains on Jan. 16. She may run in the Beholder Mile in March.

Soothsay, the winner of two graded stakes for 3-year-old fillies in 2021, is in advanced training for a scheduled start in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita on March 5.

Soothsay has not raced since winning the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks at 1 1/16 miles at Indiana Grand last July. An autumn campaign was canceled after Soothsay was diagnosed with a splint bone injury while under consideration for the Grade 1 Cotillon Stakes at Parx Racing in September.

Thursday at Santa Anita, Soothsay worked five furlongs in 1:00.20, the fastest of 26 works at the distance.

Fri, 02/04/2022 - 13:16

Oviatt Class sent to farm with hock injury

Barbara D. Livingston
Oviatt Class began the season with a third-place finish in the Sham Stakes. He should be able to return to racing in the fall.

Oviatt Class, third in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 1, has been sidelined with an injury that will keep him out of the major races for 3-year-olds in coming months.

“He hurt his hock coming out of the Sham,” trainer Keith Desormeaux said Thursday. “He’ll be out for four months and that takes us out of the Triple Crown. We’ll have a nice horse for the fall.”

Fri, 02/04/2022 - 12:26

Well-rested Aloha West going on a diet

Debra A. Roma
Aloha West (left) nails Dr. Schivel on the wire in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. He was freshened after the race and recently rejoined Waye Catalano's stable.

Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Aloha West’s winter break in Kentucky has ended, and the 5-year-old horse currently is tack-walking with trainer Wayne Catalano at Fair Grounds.

“We just got a little weight on him, but we can get that off easy. He looks really good, and we’re happy to have him back in the barn,” said Catalano, who was headed to the Chicago area this weekend for the impending birth of a granddaughter.