Wed, 09/01/2021 - 10:00

D'Amato finishing Del Mar meet with a flourish

Emily Shields
Phil D'Amato is now tied for third in the Del Mar trainer standings after getting off to a 1-for-36 start for the meet.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Phil D’Amato is showing this summer at Del Mar that it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.

D’Amato, who topped the trainer standings solo during the summer meet in 2015 and tied for the title in 2016, had an uncharacteristically chilly start to this year’s meet, winning with just one of his first 36 starters. But he’s turned it around of late. D’Amato has won with 13 of his last 54 starters to vault to a tie for third in the standings with 14 wins heading into the final week of the season.

Wed, 09/01/2021 - 08:26

Ironstone romps in Simcoe after addition of Lasix

Julie Wright
Ironstone wins the $201,200 Simcoe Stakes by 8 1/2 lengths at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Ironstone gave Willy Armata his biggest win Sunday at Woodbine in the $201,200 Simcoe Stakes. The personable trainer has some big plans for the son of Mr Speaker.

After ending up second in his June 20 debut, Ironstone flattened out to finish fifth in a longer 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight sprint on July 18.

Mon, 08/30/2021 - 14:06

Breen: Firenze Fire just being himself in stretch of Forego

Barbara D. Livingston
Firenze Fire (left) tries to bite Yaupon in the final sixteenth of the Forego. But Yaupon, ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., held strong to win by a head.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Kelly Breen said there are no visits from a psychiatrist or any other changes in his plans for Firenze Fire in the wake of what transpired here Saturday in the Grade 1 Forego Stakes, when his horse reached over and savaged the pacesetting Yaupon in the closing stages of the race.

Firenze Fire, with Jose Ortiz aboard, finished second, beaten a head by the favored Yaupon, in a renewal of the Forego that racing fans will remember for years to come.

Mon, 08/30/2021 - 13:56

Gamine's path to BC Filly and Mare Sprint up in the air

Debra A. Roma
Gamine's season goal is to win the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint for a second straight year.

Gamine on Saturday won a Grade 1 race at Saratoga for the second straight summer and now will look toward winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint for the second straight year, but her path to the Nov. 6 race at Del Mar is yet to be determined, trainer Bob Baffert said Monday.

Gamine was scheduled to return to Del Mar from Saratoga on Tuesday, three days after capturing the Ballerina for the fifth Grade 1 victory of her 10-race career. Last year, Gamine won the Test at Saratoga, then ran in the postponed Kentucky Oaks before being freshened for the Breeders’ Cup.

Mon, 08/30/2021 - 13:56

Add Rockefeller to Baffert's list of proming juveniles

Benoit Photo
Rockefeller could make his stakes debut in the American Pharoah on Oct. 1 at Santa Anita.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Bob Baffert has two recent maiden race winners in Murray and Pinehurst bound for Monday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, a race he has won a record 14 times since 1996.

Baffert has another promising 2-year-old colt in Rockefeller, who won a maiden special weight in fine fashion on Saturday. Ridden by Abel Cedillo, Rockefeller dispute the early pace and pulled clear to win by 2 1/4 lengths as the 9-5 favorite. Rockefeller ran six furlongs in 1:11.18.

Mon, 08/30/2021 - 13:50

Body sore from spill, Baze off until Santa Anita

Coady Photography
Tyler Baze has not ridden since going down in a seven-horse spill Aug. 22.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Tyler Baze, who escaped serious injury in a seven-horse spill at Del Mar on Aug. 22, does not plan to resume riding until the start of the Santa Anita autumn meeting on Oct. 1.

“I want to take it easy for a couple of weeks,” Baze said on Sunday. “I’ll be back at Santa Anita. I want to take care of my body.”

Baze was briefly hospitalized after the spill and released that evening. He has not ridden since, taking off the four-day racing week that ended on Sunday. He cited body soreness for the absence.

Mon, 08/30/2021 - 13:46

Dance to the Music poised and ready for Del Mar Debutante

Benoit Photo
Dance to the Music wins a July 24 maiden race. She will start in Sunday's Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Dance to the Music has been a poised filly at Del Mar this summer, in the manner she won her debut in a maiden race on July 24 and her training over the last five weeks.

That’s the perspective of trainer Mark Glatt, who is hopeful Dance to the Music will leave Del Mar a Grade 1 stakes winner. Owned by Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal, Dance to the Music rates as a leading contender in Sunday’s $300,000 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs, the summer meeting’s top race for 2-year-old fillies.

Mon, 08/30/2021 - 12:56

Medina Spirit, Rock Your World looking at same next races

Benoit Photo
Medina Spirit earned a 100 Beyer for his victory in the Shared Belief. The Pennsylvania Derby or Awesome Again could be next up.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Medina Spirit and Rock Your World on Monday both appeared to have emerged in good order from their pitched battle Sunday in the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar, and both have the same potential options for their next starts, either the Pennsylvania Derby against fellow 3-year-olds on Sept. 25 at Parx Racing or the Awesome Again against elders Oct. 2 at Santa Anita.

Mon, 08/30/2021 - 12:46

Carmouche plans return to race-riding on Monday at Parx

Barbara D. Livingston
Kendrick Carmouche has not ridden since injuring his ankle during the final race on June 5.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jockey Kendrick Carmouche, who suffered a broken ankle in a riding mishap that occurred during the final race on Belmont Stakes Day, will return to the saddle next Monday at Parx Racing, according to his agent, Kevin Bubser.

Mon, 08/30/2021 - 11:37

Jackie's Warrior headed to Vosburgh to prep for BC Sprint

Barbara D. Livingston
Jackie's Warrior (2) returned $5.10 in winning the H. Allen Jerkens at Saratoga on Saturday.

While trainer Steve Asmussen figures out what to do next with Midnight Bourbon after the colt's game second in the Travers, he said Jackie’s Warrior is “likely” to make his next start in the Grade 2 Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park on Oct. 9 as his prep for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 6.