HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Jockey Jose Ortiz was the No. 1 star at Gulfstream Park on Sunday, winning five of the 11 races on the card, including the fourth event aboard the regally bred first-time starter Doll Baby.
On Saturday, Ortiz, who switched his tack back locally after beginning the winter in New York, guided Regal Glory to victory for trainer Chad Brown in the inaugural running of the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Invitational.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Tom Albertrani said he hopes to find a race “in a month or so” for the highly versatile Wolfie’s Dynaghost, a Woodslane Farm homebred whose victory here Saturday at a $43 mutuel in a $70,000 handicap on Tapeta now makes him a winner over dirt, turf, and synthetics from just 10 starts.
“Obviously, we’ve got plenty of options,” Albertrani said. “He ran so well on the Tapeta that I’d be interested to see about maybe trying it again.”
Emmanuel earned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure in a 4 1/2-length victory in a mile and 40-yard allowance Sunday at Tampa Bay Downs when staying unbeaten for Todd Pletcher in two career races.
Under minimal urging from jockey Pablo Morales, Emmanuel led from the start, drawing clear in 1:40.24 over a fast track and returning $2.60 as a heavy favorite in a field of six.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Tiz the Bomb had breezed alongside Smile Happy at Gulfstream Park for trainer Kenny McPeek on the first four Saturdays of January as both colts drew closer to making their first start at 3.
Tiz the Bomb worked again last Saturday but not Smile Happy. Was something amiss?
“I’m just ahead of schedule” with Smile Happy, McPeek said. “He’s going to work two more times” prior to shipping to Fair Grounds in New Orleans for the Risen Star on Feb. 19. “Nobody needs to worry – everything is great. There’s plenty of time.”
Even Godolphin takes the occasional humbling in this game.
The worldwide powerhouse stable, widely expected to be named North America’s outstanding owner and breeder when 2021 Eclipse Awards are handed out Feb. 10 in Los Angeles, was represented by a pair of maidens that cost a combined $7 million in the same race last Saturday at Tampa – and neither was able to win.
The first two graded stakes of the 2021-22 Tampa Bay Downs meet are set for Saturday with the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes and Grade 3 Endeavour, both at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.
Arnaud Delacour has a pair of contenders for the Tampa Bay in Eons and Talk Or Listen. Both 6-year-old geldings were sent through half-mile pre-race works Saturday at the Oldsmar, Fla., track.
“There are a lot of things to like about entering them in this race,” said Delacour. “We’re happy with the way they’ve been training.”
ARCADIA, Calif. - The veteran turf distance runner Ward ‘n Jerry was recently retired after a six-year career that included a victory in the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita in March 2020 and seven other races.
Ward ‘n Jerry, a 9-year-old gelding, had his final start at Del Mar last summer, finishing third in a turf race at 1 3/8 miles in which he was eligible to be claimed for $62,500. Ward ‘n Jerry had two workouts at Santa Anita in December before owners Larry and Marianne Williams and trainer Mike Puype decided on retirement.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Dr. Schivel, second by a nose in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar in November, but last of seven in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, is bound for Dubai this spring.
Trainer Mark Glatt said Sunday that Dr. Schivel will make his next start in the Group 1 Golden Shaheen at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on March 26. The $2 million Golden Shaheen is run at six furlongs.
“I think it works out good, timing-wise, and it’s two million bucks,” Glatt said.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Slow Down Andy, winner of the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity in December, will have his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 19, trainer Doug O’Neill said Sunday.
Slow Down Andy was under consideration for the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Saturday until owners and breeders Paul and Zillah Reddam and O’Neill opted for the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes at 1 1/8 miles. O’Neill said that uncertainty regarding flights to Oaklawn was one reason he and the Reddams decided to send Slow Down Andy to Fair Grounds.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Ce Ce is set to make her first start since her victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Saturday in the Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita.
The Santa Monica, like the Filly and Mare Sprint, is at seven furlongs.
Ce Ce worked a sharp half-mile in 47 seconds Sunday morning for trainer Michael McCarthy. She is a finalist for an Eclipse Award as champion female sprinter.
