Fri, 01/21/2022 - 13:46

Recovered from knee chip, Jackie's Warrior back with Asmussen

Barbara D. Livingston
Jackie's Warrior, shown prior to the Breeders' Cup, shipped into trainer Steve Asmussen's Fair Grounds barn on Thursday.

NEW ORLEANS – Jackie’s back.

A finalist for champion sprinter of 2021, Jackie’s Warrior arrived at trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn at Fair Grounds on Thursday to begin preparing for his 4-year-old campaign of 2022.

Fri, 01/21/2022 - 13:06

Prat's domination continues in high gear into new year

Barbara D. Livingston
Eclipse Awards finalist Flavien Prat has opened a healthy lead in the Santa Anita rider standings.

Flavien Prat has had so many afternoons with three or more wins at Santa Anita this month that it is easy for observers to expect such success.

“That won’t happen,” Prat said last weekend. “But I wish.”

The winter-spring season began on Dec. 26, and through Monday Prat was the dominant rider of the meeting with 29 wins, well clear of closest pursuers John Velazquez with 18 and Juan Hernandez with 13.

Thu, 01/20/2022 - 15:08

Oaklawn cancels Friday card; pushes back Saturday first post

Barbara D. Livingston
The forecast calls for a low temperature of 19 degrees at Oaklawn on Friday morning.

Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., has canceled Friday’s card due to freezing temperatures, according to a text notice from the racing department. There also will be no training on Friday.

Oaklawn also announced through a text notice that first post for Saturday’s card will be moved a half-hour later to 1 p.m. Central. The track hopes to resume training at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Oaklawn expects both training and racing to return to normal hours on Sunday.

The track delayed training hours twice on Thursday.

Thu, 01/20/2022 - 13:06

Wood Memorial, Carter Handicap once again highlights of Aqueduct spring meet

Barbara D. Livingston
Bourbonic (left) pulls the upset over Dynamic One in last year's Wood Memorial. The winner of the Wood this year will earn 100 points toward the Kentucky Derby.

Topped by the Grade 1 Carter Handicap and Grade 2 Wood Memorial, Aqueduct will offer 13 stakes worth $2.7 million at its 15-day spring meet, which runs from March 31 through April 24. The schedule virtually mirrors that of the 2021 spring season.

Thu, 01/20/2022 - 12:48

Jose Ortiz headed to Gulfstream for rest of championship meet

Barbara D. Livingston
Jose Ortiz will be riding at Gulfstream Park, starting Wednesday.

Jose Ortiz will be moving his tack to Gulfstream Park following this weekend, his agent, Jim Riccio Jr., said Thursday.

Through the first 18 days of racing this winter at Aqueduct, Ortiz has ridden 13 winners from 73 mounts. He rode last week in Saudi Arabia, booting home two winners and was back at Aqueduct on Thursday. He will ride at Aqueduct through Sunday and begin riding at Gulfstream on Wednesday.

“No major reason,” Riccio said when asked why the change in plans. “We feel like we can ride more there.”

Wed, 01/19/2022 - 14:40

Brickyard Ride will stretch speed in next race

Emily Shields
Brickyard Ride's triumph in the California Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Saturday was worth $5.40.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Brickyard Ride came out of his front-running comeback victory in the six-furlong California Cup Sprint at Santa Anita in top shape, he went back to the track on Wednesday, and will stretch out in distance for his next start.

Trainer Craig Lewis plans to start Brickyard Ride in either the $100,000 Tiznow Stakes, a two-turn mile for Cal-breds on Feb. 21, or the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes, a seven-furlong sprint on March 5.

Wed, 01/19/2022 - 14:40

Chess Chief to make move from Louisiana Stakes to Pegasus World Cup

Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges Jr.
Chess Chief (10) returned $22.20 in winning the Tenacious Stakes at Fair Grounds on Sunday.

NEW ORLEANS – Chess Chief, winner of the 2021 New Orleans Classic, will be scratched from the Louisiana Stakes on Saturday in favor of a start in the Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 29 at Gulfstream, trainer Dallas Stewart said Wednesday.

“Just the chance to run for a purse like that,” Stewart said of the choice to go to Florida. “We can always come back for the New Orleans Classic again.”

Chess Chief, a 6-year-old son of Into Mischief, has five wins, all at Fair Grounds.

Wed, 01/19/2022 - 14:36

Big day for Stall-trained 3-year-olds

Coady Photography
Trafalgar, winning a maiden race in October at Churchill Downs, makes his stakes debut in the Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds on Saturday.

NEW ORLEANS – Trainer Al Stall has managed to come up with promising 3-year-olds for three levels of dirt-route racing here Saturday.

Trafalgar, winner of two straight, makes his stakes debut in the Lecomte, while Underhill’s Tab runs in a first-level allowance race and Peaceful Waters tries for the third time to clear the maiden ranks.

Wed, 01/19/2022 - 14:36

Silverbulletday Stakes will show if La Crete might some day compare to big sister Clariere

Coady Photography
La Crete wins going two turns on Nov. 20 at Churchill Downs in her debut.

NEW ORLEANS – One year ago at Fair Grounds, Clairiere, a debut route winner the fall before at Churchill Downs, skipped the Silverbulletday Stakes in January, then won the Rachel Alexandra Stakes in February. Clairiere, by Curlin, went on during 2021 to become a Grade 1 winner, earn about $1.2 million, and finish a tough-luck fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.