LEXINGTON, Ky. – The final graded turf stakes of the meet anchors an outstanding 10-race Friday card with an oversubscribed lineup of 3-year-old fillies clashing in the Grade 3, $150,000 Valley View Stakes (race 9).
Eleven of the 16 entered (including two also-eligibles) already have won stakes, led by Lady Speightspeare, winner of the Grade 1 Natalma last year at 2, and graded winners Crazy Beautiful and Gam’s Mission. Top to bottom, it’s an exceptionally deep cast.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A breakthrough year can only get better for Greg Foley when the veteran trainer sends out Major Fed in the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes, the closing-day feature Saturday at Keeneland.
Foley runners already have earned more than $2.5 million this year, the highest annual total since he began training in 1981. Sconsin, Bango, and Yes It’s Ginger have combined for seven stakes wins, while Foley also had a Kentucky Derby starter for the second straight year when O Besos crossed under the wire fifth behind Medina Spirit on May 1.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – There were three handicap races run here Saturday, but the star of the day and the latest talk of the town came out of an innocuous-looking 2-year-old maiden event midway through the afternoon’s 10-race program. A modestly bred juvenile named Simplification dominated eight rivals by 16 3/4 lengths, drawing off with every stride through the stretch despite never switching off his left lead.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – With just four days left at the 17-day Keeneland fall meet, Tyler Gaffalione already has run away with another riding title at a Kentucky track. Into Wednesday, Gaffalione has a 23-11 lead over Florent Geroux, his closest pursuer atop the local rider standings.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – It’s a day Jason Barkley will never forget – even if he’s fortunate enough to train another half-century or longer.
Barkley won his first-ever graded stakes Friday when Spooky Channel benefited from a perfect ride from Julien Leparoux in winning the Grade 3 Sycamore on the Keeneland turf. The 32-year-old trainer could barely hold his emotions in check when closing out a post-race televised interview.
“It all just kind of hit me,” Barkley said early Monday from his primary base at the Trackside training center in Louisville.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Storm the Court, winless in 10 starts since a 45-1 upset in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita in 2019, recently returned to trainer Peter Eurton’s stable after a summertime rest.
Storm the Court is currently jogging for a return to racing in early 2022.
“He tack-walked for a month and he’ll jog for a month,” Eurton said. “He’ll be back at the end of January, if we do it his way.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – Electric Ride, second in the Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on Oct. 1 at Santa Anita, died earlier this month of anaphylactic shock, according to the California Horse Racing Board’s website.
Owned by Talla Racing and trained by John Sadler, Electric Ride was considered a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 5 at Del Mar.
“She had a reaction,” Sadler said Sunday.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Vann Belvoir is relocating his stable from Santa Anita to Turf Paradise in Phoenix this week.
Belvoir said Sunday that 18 horses will be sent to Phoenix.
“I’m taking what I have here and adding some there,” Belvoir said. “I think my stock will fit better there.”
Belvoir, 47, has won 609 races, including nine this year from 96 starters.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The partnership between top California jockey Flavien Prat and the multiple stakes winner United has ended, at least temporarily.
Trainer Richard Mandella said Sunday that John Velazquez will ride United in the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 6 at Del Mar. Prat has opted to ride Domestic Spending for New York-based trainer Chad Brown, according to the rider’s agent, Brad Pegram.
“The horse of Chad Brown’s must be pretty good for Prat to take off,” Mandella said.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Three older horses set to take on a strong group of 3-year-olds in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Del Mar worked Sunday morning at Santa Anita in the penultimate drill for each.
Express Train, Max Player, and Tripoli all went five furlongs over a track that seemed to have more bounce in it than it had Saturday morning.
Express Train was timed in 1:01.80, working for the second straight time with Victor Espinoza, who will take over for the Classic, according to trainer John Shirreffs, who always has enjoyed his association with Espinoza.
