Sun, 11/14/2021 - 15:43

Curatolo joins Southern California jockey colony

The well-traveled Ryan Curatolo is the newest member of the Southern California jockey colony.

Curatolo, 29, has spent the past eight years abroad, most recently in Dubai. He also has ridden in Japan, Macau, Qatar, Singapore, and South Korea.

A native of France, Curatolo began his career in earnest in North America and had his best year in 2011, when he won 115 races and his mounts earned more than $4 million. He was a finalist for champion apprentice jockey, which went to Kyle Frey, who also is riding here now.

Sun, 11/14/2021 - 15:28

Native Diver, Cary Grant stakes highlight weekend cards at Del Mar

Emily Shields
Midcourt, winning the San Pasqual at Santa Anita in February, would probably be favored in the Native Diver on Saturday, but he may not run.

Two $100,000 stakes for older runners – the Native Diver at 1 1/8 miles and the Cary Grant at seven furlongs – top the upcoming weekend’s fare at Del Mar.

The Native Diver, a Grade 3 race to be run Saturday, is expected to be headed by Midcourt, who won the race in 2019 and was second last year for trainer John Shirreffs. He worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 on Sunday morning at Del Mar.

Sun, 11/14/2021 - 15:13

Pegasus Turf among options for Mo Forza's owners

Barbara D. Livingston
Mo Forza works a half-mile in 49.46 seconds on Sunday morning at Del Mar.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Mo Forza suffered an injury and missed the 2020 Breeders’ Cup. He got there this year, and then his chances were eliminated in the first jump.

A week after that disastrous beginning, Mo Forza is doing well at the San Luis Rey barn of his trainer, Peter Miller. But what the future holds for Mo Forza is yet to be determined, Miller said Sunday morning at Del Mar.

Sun, 11/14/2021 - 12:38

Clayton, Lenny K point to Kennedy Road Stakes

Michael Burns
Clayton trabaja con miras al Queen's Plate

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The $175,000 Kennedy Road Stakes on Nov. 27 is shaping up as one of the best races of the Woodbine meet. The Grade 2 sprint is expected to lure champions Pink Lloyd and Avie’s Flatter, as well as divisional leader Souper Stonehenge.

Clayton and Lenny K are also headed for the six-furlong event after they both prevailed in their last races with 90 Beyer Speed Figures for trainer Kevin Attard.

Fri, 11/12/2021 - 14:16

Joe Migliore, Trevor McCarthy teaming up

Jim Duley/Maryland Jockey Club
Trevor McCarthy is expected to resume riding Thursday at Aqueduct after undergoing ankle surgery.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Joe Migliore is about to embark on the life of a double agent.

Migliore, who earlier this year left West Point Thoroughbreds to become a bloodstock agent, will add the title of jockey agent to his repertoire. Migliore will represent jockey Trevor McCarthy, who is expected to begin riding at Aqueduct next Thursday after missing the last 11 weeks due to an ankle injury.

Migliore is the son of the former jockey-turned-analyst Richard Migliore and the nephew of Michael Migliore, who is a jockey’s agent representing Dylan Davis.

Fri, 11/12/2021 - 14:06

Stidham, Mott runners could bolster older horse division

Coady Photography
Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide is expected to be sent to Fair Grounds and trainer Michael Stidham soon after having had a knee chip removed.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While Godolphin-owned runners Maxfield and Essential Quality will be retired to stud in 2022, the global racing enterprise could still have some significant firepower in the older male dirt division next year.

Fri, 11/12/2021 - 13:26

All drug tests on Breeders' Cup runners return clean

Susie Raisher
Drug tests on all 148 Breeders' Cup runners returned clean, according to the California Horse Racing Board.

DEL MAR, Calif. – All Breeders’ Cup horses who underwent drug tests passed, the California Horse Racing Board reported Thursday.

Fri, 11/12/2021 - 13:26

She's Devoted returns from injury in allowance

Benoit Photo
Grace Adler wins the Del Mar Debutante under Flavien Prat on Sunday.

DEL MAR, Calif. – The lightly raced but promising female turf sprinter She’s Devoted, whose career has been interrupted by injury, returns to action in race 7 on Sunday at Del Mar, a five-furlong turf sprint for first-level allowance runners, or those in for a $40,000 claiming price.

She’s Devoted has a history of running well fresh. She won her debut in January 2020, then was off until last November, when she won an allowance turf sprint at Del Mar. She has not raced since Jan. 16, when fourth in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.

Fri, 11/12/2021 - 13:16

Express Train back in training after paddock schooling incident

Debra A. Roma
Express Train was forced to scratch from the BC Classic after injuring a hock during a paddock schooling incident.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Several local horses who missed Breeders’ Cup races owing to ill-timed injuries are making good progress, their trainers reported Friday.

Express Train, who had to be scratched from the Classic after injuring a hock in a paddock schooling incident, has gone back to the track for training, John Shirreffs said while watching his horses train Friday morning at Del Mar.

“He’s progressing nicely,” said Shirreffs, who said he had no firm plans for a next start for Express Train, but added the horse will stay in training for 2022 at age 5.

Fri, 11/12/2021 - 11:56

Walsh has done his part, now it's up to Maxfield

Barbara D. Livingston
Maxfield was withheld from the Breeders’ Cup Classic and pointed to the Clark, which will be the final start of his career.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It’s hard to imagine a scenario wherein Maxfield would have gotten past Knicks Go to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic last weekend. In that respect, skipping the $6 million race and waiting instead for the $750,000 Clark at Churchill Downs was a sage move by trainer Brendan Walsh.

But to make it an even better decision, “we still have to go out and win the Clark,” Walsh said.