Sat, 05/22/2021 - 13:29

Belmont Stakes 2021: Rebel's Romance works five furlongs

Coady Photography
Rebel's Romance, with William Buick riding, wins the Group 2 United Arab Emirates Derby.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Rebel’s Romance, the UAE Derby winner, had his second timed workout in four days, going five furlongs in 1:01.05 over the Belmont Park main track just after 5:30 a.m.

Belmont Park clockers had his final quarter in 24 seconds as Rebel’s Romance followed, but did not catch, his stablemate Desert Peace, who began the move two lengths in front and remained close to that margin in front at the finish, according to the clockers. Rebel’s Romance went out six furlongs in 1:14 and seven furlongs in 1:27.40.

Fri, 05/21/2021 - 15:06

Pletcher making plans for new charge Following Sea

Coady Photography
Following Sea, now trained by Todd Pletcher, won a maiden race at Oaklawn on April 10 while trained by Bob Baffert.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Following Sea, a 3-year-old by Runhappy colt recently transferred by Spendthrift Farm to Todd Pletcher from Bob Baffert, worked a half-mile in 48.78 seconds Friday morning over Belmont Park’s training track.

He proceeded to gallop out five furlongs in 1:01.53, six furlongs in 1:14.07 and seven furlongs in 1:27.49. He went in company with the 4-year-old Summer to Remember.

“He worked excellent,” Pletcher said. “Strong gallop-out, well in hand.”

Fri, 05/21/2021 - 15:00

Stage Raider might continue his education in Dwyer Stakes

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Stage Raider comes up the rail and wins an allowance race on May 14 at Belmont. A half-brother to Triple Crown winner Justify, Stage Raider might run next in the Dwyer.

ELMONT, N.Y. – While Stage Raider, a half-brother to Triple Crown winner Justify, wasn’t as dazzling winning his first-level allowance condition on May 14 at Belmont as he was in his maiden win a month earlier at Keeneland, trainer Chad Brown hopes the colt got a good education out of it.

Stage Raider came from off the pace in the allowance, rallied along the inside, and won by three lengths. His final time of 1:38.22 for the mile was slow and resulted in a 77 Beyer Speed Figure, 19 points below his maiden figure, accomplished in the mud.

Fri, 05/21/2021 - 14:56

Always Carina has Brown thinking big

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Always Carina’s 9 3/4-length allowance win on Thursday at Belmont put her in the picture for the Grade 2 Mother Goose.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Two years ago, Three Chimneys owned and Chad Brown trained Guarana, a spectacular 3-year-old filly who won the Grade 1 Acorn in just her second start and ultimately ended her career with five wins from six starts before being retired.

It would be high praise to compare any filly to Guarana, but here in 2021 Three Chimneys and Brown may have one to put in the conversation.

Fri, 05/21/2021 - 14:20

Rock Your World works five furlongs for Belmont Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Rock Your World hasn't missed a beat in his training since his tough trip in the Kentucky Derby.

In the right way, Rock Your World has been a “boring” colt the last few weeks at Santa Anita.

The winner of the Santa Anita Derby on April 3, Rock Your World finished 17th in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1, encountering early trouble in the race. Rock Your World was not considered for the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 15 but is expected to start in the Belmont Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on June 5.

Rock Your World rebounded quickly from the loss at Churchill Downs and has been in steady training this month.

Fri, 05/21/2021 - 14:16

Whisper Not shows new dimension, will step up in Shoemaker Mile

Shane Micheli/Vassar Photography
Those who follow Brad Free's horses to watch might have made a few bucks betting on Whisper Not in the San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields.

Racing on the outside of rivals, Whisper Not closed from fourth to win his first stakes in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields on April 24.

That was a change from results earlier this year when Whisper Not led or disputed the pace, often setting a quick tempo.

The more patient and successful result at Golden Gate Fields has left trainer Richard Baltas hopeful that Whisper Not can handle a tougher cast of runners in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf at Santa Anita on May 31.

“That was a big thumbs up,” Baltas said of the San Fran Mile.

Fri, 05/21/2021 - 13:36

Belmont Stakes 2021: Pletcher works Known Agenda, Bourbonic, and Overtook

Emily Shields
Known Agenda worked five furlongs on Friday in 1:02.53. Todd Pletcher liked how the Florida Derby winner galloped out a mile in 1:41.20.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Known Agenda came out of his ninth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby so well that trainer Todd Pletcher briefly flirted with the idea of wheeling him back in two weeks in the Preakness Stakes.

“In light of the way the track was playing it probably wouldn’t have been the right set up for him,” Pletcher said. “But physically he’s done very well since the Derby.”

Fri, 05/21/2021 - 11:26

Fincher juveniles top Kendrick Memorial

SunRay Park in Farmington, N.M. has three 2-year-old stakes Sunday, with the $55,000 C.O. Ken Kendrick Memorial drawing a promising pair from trainer Todd Fincher.

The 4 1/2-furlong race drew a field of six first-time starters. The race is restricted to 2-year-olds bred in New Mexico.

Fincher trainees Bye Bye Matty P and the filly Roll On Camron are by stallions who are getting 20 percent juvenile debut winners. Bye Bye Matty P’s dam was a winner at 2 and has produced a multiple stakes winner in Plea Agreement.

Fri, 05/21/2021 - 11:26

Calhoun points By My Standards to Steve Sexton Mile

Coady Photography
By My Standards (left) returned from a winter layoff to win his 5-year-old debut by a nose over Rushie in the $400,000 Oaklawn Mile.

By My Standards, who in his last start went over $2 million in earnings, is being pointed for the Grade 3, $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile at Lone Star Park on May 31. The race anchors Lone Star Million Day.

“We’ve circled that race for a while and plan on coming,” said Bret Calhoun, who trains By My Standards for Allied Racing Stable and Spendthrift Farm.

By My Standards won the $400,000 Oaklawn Park Mile in his seasonal debut April 10. He is based in Kentucky.

Fri, 05/21/2021 - 11:00

Fort Erie slated to open on June 15

Michael Burns
Fort Erie will race Mondays and Tuesdays at its rescheduled 2021 meeting.

The Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium announced Friday the rescheduled opening day for Fort Erie will be Tuesday, June 15, with first post at 4 p.m. This year’s racing season was originally scheduled to begin on June 1, but due to an extended provincial pandemic lockdown, the track’s opening day was postponed.