OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Backsideofthemoon was forced to leave the grounds of Belmont Park on Wednesday, owing to a rule the New York Racing Association put in place last April that forbids horses age 10 or older to stable or race at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, or Saratoga. Backsideofthemoon officially became a 10-year-old on New Year’s Day.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – When jockey Mike Luzzi guided R Doc to victory at Aqueduct in a maiden $40,000 claimer on Jan. 16, it was the 3,553rd win of his career and the 35th consecutive year in which he has ridden at least one winner.
Though the wins are fewer and farther between than they once were, the desire Luzzi has to continue to ply his trade has not waned. Even at age 52.
Two Emmys was beaten as the favorite Saturday in the Colonel E.R. Bradley Stakes, but he ran well in defeat and should be set up for strong showings next month in the Fair Grounds Stakes and in the Muniz Memorial in March.
Making his first start since a close second-place finish in the 1 1/2-mile Sycamore Stakes during Keeneland’s meet in October, Two Emmys shot to the front under James Graham and led, racing along the inside, until the final couple jumps, when Forty Under and Halo Again passed him. He wound up third, beaten a half-length, with a respectable 95 Beyer.
The day after Trafalgar finished fourth in the Jan. 22 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds, his trainer, Al Stall Jr., said Trafalgar was off the trail to the Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds.
Another day of assessment, however, had Stall and Trafalgar’s owner, the Columbine Stable, reconsidering.
“We might still try the Risen Star,” Stall said.
Mystic Guide, who had to be taken out of training during December at Fair Grounds as he began gearing up for a 2022 campaign, could resume training in Kentucky within a few weeks.
Trainer Mike Stidham said Tuesday that noted veterinarian Dr. Larry Bramlage had recently delivered favorable reports to Stidham and to Mystic Guide’s owner and breeder, Godolphin, and if Mystic Guide’s trajectory remains unchanged, he could be back on the track sometime in February.
The Mary Rose has confidence in spades coming into the Grade 3, $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic on Sunday at Sam Houston Race Park.
“She’s doing fantastic right now,” said trainer John Ortiz.
The Mary Rose stepped outside of the Arkansas-bred ranks last out at Oaklawn Park and won a two-other-than allowance for fillies and mares by more than seven lengths. She earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 95 in the 1 1/16-mile route Dec. 31.
“She came out of that race knowing that she’s top-notch right now,” Ortiz said. “She’s very confident and strong.”
Trainer Brad Cox will be represented in two of the richest races in the country on Saturday, one of which is at Oaklawn.
Vivar goes in the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest Stakes on the same day stablemate Knicks Go runs in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - As if trying to fill a starting gate that will already have Knicks Go and Life is Good in it isn’t a Herculean task in itself for Vice President of Racing Mike Lakow, Racing Secretary Mike Costanzo, and the rest of the Gulfstream Park racing office, adding a transportation issue into the mix makes things even harder when it comes to attracting entries for Saturday’s $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational and its two major supporting events.
Audrey’s Time, who won her first stakes race Dec. 27 in the Spanky Broussard Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds, worked five furlongs in 1:01 on Sunday at Fair Grounds and is headed for the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic on Jan. 30 at Sam Houston Race Park.
Audrey’s Time finished third by more than nine lengths in her only graded stakes try, the Falls City last Nov. 25, but looks like a key player in the Ladies Classic, which drew only seven entrants and likely will have Pauline’s Pearl as the race favorite. Pauline’s Pearl will have Joel Rosario riding for Steve Asmussen.
Just Might took a tough disqualification Saturday in the Duncan Kenner Stakes, but might have grander goals than $100,000 races in New Orleans.
Michelle Lovell, who trains, co-owns, and co-bred Just Might said Monday that Just Might has been nominated to the $1.5 million Al Quoz Sprint on the March 26 Dubai World Cup undercard. She expects Just Might to receive an invitation to run from the Dubai Racing Club and is seriously considering accepting it.
