Hypersport was an outstanding maiden special weight winner Dec. 3 at Oaklawn, when the 2-year-old daughter of Blame covered six furlongs in 1:09.66. One race later, the $150,000 Advent Stakes for 2-year-olds went in 1:09.97.
Hypersport set a quick pace and went on to a four-length win in her race, and for the effort earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 88.
Kavod could get a chance at the rich 3-year-old program at Oaklawn Park.
Trainer Chris Hartman said Tuesday that the recent stakes winner is under serious consideration for a start in the $250,000 Smarty Jones on Jan. 1.
“It’s the most logical spot,” he said. “The timing is good.”
Hartman said Kavod also has been nominated to the $75,000 Sugar Bowl at Fair Grounds. The six-furlong race for 2-year-olds is Dec. 27.
“I don’t know if I’ll travel with him or not,” he said.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Nominations came up light for the first graded stakes of the meet, Saturday’s Grade 3 Mr. Prospector, with only 13 horses on the list including four from the barn of trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. One of those, the Grade 1 winner Drain the Clock, is entered under allowance conditions in Friday’s main event. Quick Tempo, another of the Mr. Prospector nominees, is entered in the same race while Miles Ahead won last Saturday’s Claiming Crown Rapid Transit and also has been ruled out for the Mr. Prospector.
You’d have to think trainer Sam David Jr.’s career apex came May 2, 1997, when he sent out Blushing K. D. to win the Kentucky Oaks. But Sunday at Fair Grounds turned out memorably, too.
David entered five horses on the eight-race Fair Grounds card. One of them was an also-eligible and was scratched. The other four came home winners.
“My brother told me I’d won three and had a second once, but I don’t think I’ve ever won four in a day,” David said.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Venti Valentine, like many of the stakes performers from last Saturday’s Aqueduct card, will head to Florida in the coming days, but her connections are already plotting the New York-bred filly’s next race to be in New York.
Venti Valentine, second to Nest in the Grade 2 Demoiselle, will be pointed to the $250,000 Busher Stakes on March 5 at Aqueduct, trainer Jorge Abreu said. The Busher, a one-turn mile, does offer its winner 50 points toward the Kentucky Oaks on May 6 at Churchill Downs.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Many New York-based jockeys typically head out of town for the winter to ride in good weather while hoping to find their next big horse, preferably a 3-year-old that can lead to the Kentucky Derby.
After spending the last five winters riding at Gulfstream Park, New York regular Jose Ortiz has opted to make Aqueduct his base for the winter and travel to Florida or wherever on an as-needed basis.
CYPRESS, Calif. – Sir London, the 10-length winner of a maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds at a mile on Saturday at Los Alamitos, is scheduled to begin his 2022 campaign in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes on Feb. 6 at Santa Anita.
“We can give him a little time and most likely point for the Bob Lewis,” trainer Simon Callaghan said Sunday.
Ridden by Flavien Prat, Sir London disputed the early pace in the maiden race and pulled clear through the stretch to win as the 3-10 favorite.
Hot Rod Charlie, one of the nation’s leading 3-year-olds and the fourth-place finisher in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Del Mar, is scheduled to start in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.
The $200,000 San Antonio Stakes could be Hot Rod Charlie’s only start in California this winter. The colt is under strong consideration for the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on March 26, with the possibility of a prep race in that country in advance, trainer Doug O’Neill said Sunday.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Saffie Joseph Jr. and Paco Lopez were the stars of Saturday’s Claiming Crown card, the former sending out three winners and narrowly missing a fourth, the latter posting a five-bagger on the day, four of those victories coming in Claiming Crown races.
CYPRESS, Calif. - Earlier this year, Eda was a disappointing fifth as the 6-5 favorite in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs, fading from contention after setting a fast pace.
Eda has not lost in three subsequent starts, and was part of a record-equaling win for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and owners Charlie and Susan Chu in Saturday’s Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Los Alamitos.
Eda was the third consecutive win in the Starlet for the Chu-Baffert team, preceded by Bast in 2019 and Varda last year.
