Fri, 02/05/2021 - 12:06

Welder to kick off final season in Highland Ice at Will Rogers

Dustin Orona Photography
This will likely be the final season of racing for Welder, a winner of 26 of 38 starts.

Welder, who won an unprecedented third consecutive title as Oklahoma-bred of the year, is scheduled to launch what will likely be his final season of racing in April, trainer Theresa Luneack said Wednesday.

She said Welder, now 8, is being pointed to the $50,000 Highland Ice, a six-furlong sprint April 13 at his home track of Will Rogers Downs. The Claremore, Okla., meet opens March 22.

Welder has won his last four races, all at Remington Park. His wins included three Oklahoma-bred stakes and an allowance over open foes in his most recent start Dec. 19.

Fri, 02/05/2021 - 12:00

Springboard Mile winner Senor Buscador seeks to stay perfect in Risen Star Stakes

Dustin Orona Photography
Senor Buscador rallied from far back to win both his starts at 2, including the Springboard Mile (above) by 5 3/4 lengths.

Senor Buscador is scheduled to launch his 3-year-old season Feb. 13 in the Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star at Fair Grounds, trainer Todd Fincher said Thursday.

The Kentucky Derby points race will be the horse’s first start since his Dec. 18 win in the $200,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park. Senor Buscador is wintering at Sam Houston and breezed a half-mile in 48.20 seconds there Thursday.

“We worked a good half with a big gallop-out,” Fincher said. “He worked good.”

Wed, 02/03/2021 - 15:30

Gallardo rides 2,000th winner

Tom Keyser
Antonio Gallardo has won five Tampa Bay Downs riding titles.

Jockey Antonio Gallardo reached the career 2,000-win milestone when Do What It Takes fought back for a narrow victory Wednesday in the fourth race at Tampa Bay Downs.

Do What It Takes, a 5-year-old New York-bred mare, appeared beaten when passed on the outside by Exceed the Goal in deep stretch of the seven-furlong race for $5,000 claimers, but she re-rallied to prevail by a nose. Do What It Takes, trained by Jose Delgado for Carole Star Stables, returned $9.40 after finishing in 1:25.51 over a fast track.

Wed, 02/03/2021 - 15:16

Walsh shipper lukewarm favorite in Tampa Friday feature

Fans arriving early in the Tampa area for weekend sports action such as the Davis card on Saturday and a football game known as the Super Bowl on Sunday can avail themselves to a nine-race Friday card, although there’s not so much as one allowance on offer.

Wed, 02/03/2021 - 15:10

La Signare heads up small field for Suwannee River at Gulfstream Park

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – La Signare is likely to go postward the heavy favorite in a small field drawn for Saturday’s Grade 3 Suwannee River Stakes. The Brendan Walsh-trained La Signare, who’ll make her first start since finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl, will face a lineup that includes the stakes-placed Great Island for trainer Chad Brown, Logic N Reason, Loving Moment, and supplemental nominees Drop a Hint and Tiltingatwindmills.

:: Click to learn about our DRF's Free Past Performance program.

Wed, 02/03/2021 - 15:10

Solid undercard supports Sam Davis at Tampa Bay Downs

Barbara D. Livingston
Sole Volante returns to turf in the Tropical Park Derby while making his first start since finishing 11th of 15 in the Kentucky Derby in September.

An outstanding renewal of the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes is part of the Saturday undercard at Tampa Bay Downs, with accomplished veterans such as Admission Office, Fancy Liquor, and Sole Volante entered in the 1 1/16-mile turf race, along with the Chad Brown pair of Greyes Creek and Delaware. Thirteen are entered, with as many as 12 allowed to start.

Wed, 02/03/2021 - 15:06

Vequist on collision course with archrival in Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park

Debbie Roma
Vequist wins the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 6 at Keeneland

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – When trainer Robert “Butch” Reid Jr. mapped out the schedule for his Eclipse Award-winning filly Vequist to open her 3-year-old campaign, he wasn’t looking for a rematch with chief nemesis Dayoutoftheoffice right off the bat. But at the moment, that appears likely to be the case with the top two finishers from the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies presently on course to kick off the 2021 season here on Feb. 27 in the Grade 2 Davona Dale.

Wed, 02/03/2021 - 15:06

Romans brings top Kentucky Derby hope to Sam Davis

Barbara D. Livingston
Smiley Sobotka will be making his 3-year-old debut in the Sam F. Davis.

Like most other trainers based on the Atlantic Coast at this time of year, Dale Romans ships the occasional runner across the Florida peninsula to Tampa Bay Downs, mostly for stakes. Predictably, the results have been a mixed bag.

“My history of going over there isn’t all that great, actually,” said Romans, “but I think we might do some good Saturday.”

Wed, 02/03/2021 - 15:06

Bob and Jackie targets elusive graded win in Thunder Road

Benoit Photo
Bob and Jackie (No. 5) will be seeking his first graded stakes win in Saturday's Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita.

In each of the last three seasons, Bob and Jackie has won at least one minor turf stakes in Southern California.

Bob and Jackie won the Eddie Logan Stakes for 2-year-olds in 2018, the restricted Let It Ride Stakes at Del Mar in November 2019, and the restricted Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar last July.

Now 5, Bob and Jackie could have a breakthrough in a graded stakes this year, potentially in Saturday’s Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

Wed, 02/03/2021 - 14:36

Dealing Justice can punch ticket to Busher Invitational in Sunday's Ruthless

Debra A. Roma
Irish Constitution, No. 3, wins a Saratoga maiden race for trainer Ray Handal last July. She is being pointed to the Maddie May Stakes on Feb. 20.

Trainer Ray Handal is in the enviable position of having multiple maiden-winning 3-year-old fillies for whom to find spots. On Sunday, Just Read It won a maiden race by 6 1/4 lengths. She had been working several times with Dealing Justice, who won her maiden Jan. 10 and is scheduled to run in Sunday’s $100,000 Ruthless Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs at Aqueduct.