Sat, 02/26/2022 - 12:17

Warren's Showtime euthanized following workout injury

Benoit Photo
Warren's Showtime comes off this victory in the California Distaff Handicap on Oct. 16 at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Warren’s Showtime, the durable 5-year-old mare who won seven stakes races for trainer Craig Lewis and owner-breeders Ben and Sally Warren, broke a front leg during a workout Saturday at Santa Anita and was euthanized.

Warren’s Showtime was working by herself on the Santa Anita main track minutes after the 6:30 a.m. renovation break. At the top of the lane, she switched leads, took a bad step, and pulled up. No other horses were involved, though several had workouts interrupted as they steered around Warren’s Showtime.

Fri, 02/25/2022 - 13:26

Apprentice Ellingwood resumes riding after concussion

Apprentice jockey Emily Ellingwood is scheduled to resume riding this weekend nearly two months after she suffered a concussion in a spill on Dec. 31 at Santa Anita. Ellingwood said Friday that she needed a final doctor’s clearance later that day to be permitted to ride.

She has two mounts on Saturday and Sunday.

:: Take your handicapping to the next level and play like a pro with free Formulator, DRF's premium data product

Fri, 02/25/2022 - 13:26

Three SoCal Grade 1 winners in 2021 to miss Santa Anita Handicap

Barbara D. Livingston
Last year's Santa Anita Handicap winner Idol (left) works at Del Mar in October. He has had two recent timed workouts at the San Luis Rey training center.

Country Grammer, Idol, and Tripoli, Grade 1 winners at 1 1/4 miles in Southern California in 2021, will miss the Big Cap.

Country Grammer, trained by Bob Baffert, was entered in the Saudi Cup. Last May, Country Grammer won the Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita.

Idol won the 2021 Big Cap, catching Express Train in the stretch, but has not raced since a sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita in October. Idol recently resumed workouts for trainer Richard Baltas at the San Luis Rey Downs training center.

Fri, 02/25/2022 - 13:26

Prat to ride Warrant in Big Cap for Cox; field of eight coming together

Dustin Orona Photography
Warrant wins the Oklahoma Derby in September. The Santa Anita Handicap will be his first start beyond 1 1/8 miles.

Flavien Prat, the leading rider at the current Santa Anita meeting, will ride Warrant in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 5, the track’s leading race for older horses.

Warrant, trained by Brad Cox for Twin Creeks Racing Stable, has won 3 of 8 starts and earned $649,700. Warrant is the lone shipper expected for the $650,000 Santa Anita Handicap and is scheduled to arrive in California from Louisiana on Tuesday, Cox said in a text message Friday.

Fri, 02/25/2022 - 11:20

Irad Ortiz Jr. suspended March 2-9; can ride in Fountain of Youth Day stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Irad Ortiz Jr. was suspended for his ride in the sixth race at Gulfstream on Wednesday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will be sidelined for much of next week and beyond – with the notable exception of the Saturday stakes – after being suspended five days by the Gulfstream stewards for the disqualification of his mount, Princess Cupid, from first to third in the sixth race here Wednesday.

Fri, 02/25/2022 - 11:16

Fountain of Youth may have a full gate

Barbara D. Livingston
Emmanuel, shown training at Palm Beach Downs on Feb. 3, is 2 for 2 for Todd Pletcher and will be among the Fountain of Youth favorites.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A capacity field of 12 3-year-olds could be taking shape for the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth, a critical Kentucky Derby prep to be run at Gulfstream Park next Saturday.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, a three-time winner of the Fountain of Youth, will have at least one of the favorites for the 1 1/16-mile race in Emmanuel. Pletcher also has Mo Donegal under consideration, depending on how the colt was to work this weekend at his Palm Beach Downs winter base.

Fri, 02/25/2022 - 10:36

Hollis headed back to stakes in Whitmore

Coady Photography
Hollis wins an allowance race on Feb. 20 at Oaklawn, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 97.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Hollis, who set a track record in December at Oaklawn, won his second allowance of the meet last week and is now poised to return to stakes competition. Trainer John Ortiz said Hollis is being pointed to the Grade 3, $200,000 Whitmore on March 19 at Oaklawn.

The horse’s long-range goal remains the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap here April 16. Ortiz said Ricardo Santana Jr., who has been riding Hollis, is committed to the horse for the remainder of Oaklawn’s meet.

Fri, 02/25/2022 - 10:36

Lone Rock points to Temperence Hill

Coady Photography
Lone Rock wins the $200,000 Tinsel Stakes in December at Oaklawn Park.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Multiple Grade 2 winner Lone Rock will be moving back to a marathon distance for his next start, trainer Robertino Diodoro said Wednesday.

“We’ll wait for the Temperence Hill,” he said.

The 1 1/2-mile race is set for April 2 at Oaklawn. The purse is $150,000.

Fri, 02/25/2022 - 10:30

Happy Soul eyeing two-turn start in Ashland Stakes

Coady Photography
Happy Soul, with John Velazquez riding, wins the $150,000 Dixie Belle at Oaklawn Park.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Happy Soul’s win in the $150,000 Dixie Belle last weekend at Oaklawn Park was a special victory for the family of her jockey, John Velazquez.

Trainer Wesley Ward said shortly after the stakes he got a call from the rider’s wife, Leona.

“She said ‘The race meant so much to us,’ ’’ Ward recalled. “She said, ‘My mother just died. All of us were cheering the filly. It was an upbeat moment for a sad day, because of the name, Happy Soul.’ ”

Thu, 02/24/2022 - 14:47

Irad Ortiz Jr. wins 3,000th race; suspended five days for previous day's ride

Justin N. Lane
Three-time Eclipse Award-winning rider Irad Ortiz Jr. won his 3,000th career race on Thursday at Gulfstream Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. notched the 3,000th win of his stellar riding career in North America when guiding Order and Law to a 4 1/4-length triumph in the fourth race Thursday at Gulfstream Park.

Order and Law, a 6-year-old ridgling trained by Mike Maker, raced in mid-pack in the one-mile turf race before circling rivals and drawing clear in the final furlong. He paid $7.20. The victory came some 30 minutes after Ortiz drew within one win of the milestone by riding Pirate Life ($9) to a half-length score in the day’s third race.