Sun, 04/04/2021 - 14:35

Pletcher quickly finds himself with four potential Kentucky Derby starters

Barbara D. Livingston
Jockey Kendrick Carmouche celebrates Bourbonic's 72-1 upset victory in the Wood Memorial.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Less than two weeks ago, it wasn’t inconceivable to think the Kentucky Derby would be run without the presence of trainer Todd Pletcher.

In a span of eight days, Pletcher now has four potential starters for the Kentucky Derby on May 1. On Saturday, Bourbonic and Dynamic One improbably finished 1-2 in the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial to earn their trips to Louisville.

Bourbonic, at 72-1, was the highest-priced winner ($146.20) in the 95-year history of the Wood Memorial. Dynamic One was sent off at 15-1.

Sat, 04/03/2021 - 20:04

Irad Ortiz Jr. ties record with six wins on Aqueduct card

Barbara D. Livingston
Irad Ortiz Jr. wins the Grade 1 Carter Handicap with Mischevious Alex, one of six wins on Saturday's card at Aqueduct for the jockey.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. tied a New York Racing Association record by winning six races on Saturday’s 11-race Wood Memorial card at Aqueduct.

Ortiz, in his third day riding at Aqueduct following a winter at Gulfstream Park where he was the leading rider, won three of the five stakes on Saturday’s program topped by the Grade 1 Carter on Mischevious Alex. He also won the Grade 3 Bay Shore on Drain the Clock and the Grade 3 Gazelle on Search Results.

Sat, 04/03/2021 - 12:58

Mr. Buff scratched from Excelsior after signs of colic

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Mr. Buff is coming off a seven-length win in the Jazil. Kendrick Carmouche, who rode him, will be at Gulfstream on Saturday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Mr. Buff, the 4-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Excelsior Stakes at Aqueduct, was scratched from that race after showing signs of colic Saturday morning, trainer John Kimmel said.

Fri, 04/02/2021 - 14:25

Roman Centurian coming out of Santa Anita Derby

Emily Shields
Roman Centurian (outside) finishes second by a neck to Medina Spirit (inside) in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes with third-place Hot Rod Charlie between horses.

Roman Centurian, second in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 30, was scheduled to be withdrawn from Saturday’s Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby after trainer Simon Callaghan said he was unhappy with the colt’s training on Friday.

A battery of tests will be conducted before race plans are finalized, Callaghan said.

:: DRF's Santa Anita Derby Day headquarters – Previews, past performances, picks, and more

Fri, 04/02/2021 - 13:46

Lasix rule prompts Jolie Olimpica to head to Woodbine

Emily Shields
Las Cienegas winner Jolie Olimpica will make her second U.S. start in Saturday's Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes.

Jolie Olimpica, a four-time stakes winner in Brazil and California, will be moved to Woodbine Racecourse in Canada this spring where she can be treated with the anti-bleeder medication Lasix in stakes.

Trainer Richard Mandella said Jolie Olimpica bled in a recent start. Horses have not been allowed to be treated with Lasix in open stakes in California since the beginning of the year, according to a rule adopted by the California Horse Racing Board.

Fri, 04/02/2021 - 13:40

Turf course to get a rest this month

Barbara D. Livingston
With the winter-spring meet running until June 20, Santa Anita is giving its turf course several days off in April.

Santa Anita will run an abbreviated schedule in mid-April, with no racing on the Fridays of April 9 and 16, no turf racing on the weekend of April 10-11, and limited turf racing on the weekend of April 17-18.

The track has raced primarily on a three-day-a-week schedule in recent months. The revised calendar is designed to give the turf course a mid-season rest. The season began Dec. 26 and ends June 20.

Fri, 04/02/2021 - 12:28

Grunder retires from Tampa Bay Downs announcer's booth

Tampa Bay Downs
Richard Grunder called more than 37,000 races at Tampa Bay Downs.

Richard Grunder, the track announcer at Tampa Bay Downs in Florida since 1984, will retire from the announcer’s booth at the end of Tampa’s meet on May 2 but will work as a jockey agent in Minnesota, the track said on Friday.

Grunder, 68, who has called more than 37,000 races at Tampa in a career that began in 1973, said in a release from the track that he has decided to retire from announcing to spend more time with his family.

Thu, 04/01/2021 - 20:04

By My Standards on target for the Oaklawn Mile

Debra A. Roma
By My Standards is possible for the Clark and will race again next year at age 5.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - By My Standards, who has earned $1.8 million, is scheduled to launch his 5-year-old season in the $400,000 Oaklawn Mile, trainer Bret Calhoun said on Thursday. The race is one of four stakes on the Arkansas Derby Day card April 10 at Oaklawn Park.

Thu, 04/01/2021 - 10:29

Quarantine leads to scheduling changes; reduced MATCH Series to be held

Barbara D. Livingston
Maryland will provide $375 million in funds to renovate Laurel Park (above) and Pimlico Race Course.

Lockdowns at Maryland tracks due to an outbreak of equine herpesvirus among the state’s Thoroughbred population has created ripple effects throughout the region, with Charles Town Races in West Virginia canceling its Saturday card due to a shortage of entries and Laurel delaying one of its stakes-rich programs.