Thu, 01/28/2021 - 14:26

Share the Ride removing bar shoe for Toboggan Stakes

Susie Raisher/NYRA
Share the Ride wins the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap on Nov. 29 at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Share the Ride, claimed for $16,000 last summer, seeks his third stakes win – second graded – when he tops a competitive field of five entered in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Toboggan Stakes at Aqueduct.

Thu, 01/28/2021 - 11:39

Aqueduct cancels Friday card because of cold

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Friday’s eight-race Aqueduct card has been canceled due to a forecast that calls for high winds and windchills in the single-digits, the New York Racing Association announced on Thursday.

The National Weather Service has called for wind gusts in the mid-30-mile-per-hour range with temperatures in the low 20s and wind chills in the single digits on Friday.

It is the second cancellation of the Aqueduct winter meet. The Dec. 17 card was also canceled due to snow. Racing will resume Saturday with a nine-race card that begins at 12:20 p.m.

Wed, 01/27/2021 - 16:17

Louisiana racing official Peluso dies at 56

Joe Ray Peluso, a longtime racing official in Louisiana, died Tuesday in New Orleans.

Peluso, 56, was working as an entry clerk and placing judge at Fair Grounds this winter. He’d worked as a racing official at Fair Grounds for more than 30 years and had about 25 years of experience in similar positions at Louisiana Downs.

Wed, 01/27/2021 - 15:26

Eagle Orb works toward Withers

Joe Labozzetta/NYRA
Eagle Orb is being pointed to the Grade 3 Withers Stakes on Feb. 6 at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though trainer Rudy Rodriguez would like to run Eagle Orb in Sunday’s $100,000 Winkfield Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs, owner Esteban Vargas wants to give the New York-bred son of Orb a chance to stretch out in distance. Thus, Eagle Orb will make his next start in the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes going 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 6.

“If you ask me, I don’t think he wants to go that far, but that’s what the owner wants to do,” Rodriguez said Wednesday. “He said, After this race you do want you want.”

Wed, 01/27/2021 - 15:00

Atras looks for first 2021 stakes win in Toboggan

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
American Power wins an optional $80,000 claimer on Dec. 11 at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though tied for sixth in wins as the Aqueduct winter meet nears the halfway point, trainer Rob Atras has mixed emotions about how things are going.

While the 6 wins from 41 starters are fine, the 11 seconds and 9 thirds are frustrating.

Wed, 01/27/2021 - 14:40

Geroux gets off to fast start at Oaklawn meet

Coady Photography
Caddo River, with Florent Geroux up, wins the Smarty Jones.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jockey Florent Geroux could not have gotten off to a better start at Oaklawn Park.

He has decided to winter at the track, and won the new meet’s first Kentucky Derby points race on opening day with Caddo River and also accounted for the first week’s final feature with Hidden Scroll.

The horses were among seven winners Geroux rode to close out opening weekend tied atop the standings with Oaklawn’s perennial leading rider Ricardo Santana Jr. The success also has Geroux sitting second in wins in North America in 2021.

Wed, 01/27/2021 - 14:16

Growth Engine out of San Pasqual with sore foot

Barbara D. Livingston
Growth Engine, here in his old Klaravich colors, was bought by the Hronis brothers for $150,000 at Keeneland November.

A bruised foot will postpone the California debut of Growth Engine, initially scheduled to make his first start for trainer John Sadler and owner Hronis Racing in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Growth Engine worked five furlongs on Jan. 22.

“He worked good, and the next day he had a little bit of a sore foot,” Sadler said Wednesday morning.

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Wed, 01/27/2021 - 14:10

Charlatan puts in second work in five days

Benoit Photo
Charlatan, winning the Dec. 26 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita, has the $20 million Saudi Cup in his sights.

Charlatan, winner of the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds on Dec. 26, worked six furlongs in 1:12.60 on Wednesday, his second workout within a week at Santa Anita.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Charlatan is considered the early favorite for the $20 million Saudi Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 20. Knicks Go, winner of the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park last Saturday, also is being considered for the Saudi Cup, which is run at 1 1/8 miles.

Wed, 01/27/2021 - 13:56

Sprint champion Big Drama euthanized

Barbara D. Livingston
Big Drama at Saratoga in 2010 being led by trainer David Fawkes with his wife, Celia, aboard.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. –The 2010 sprint champion Big Drama was euthanized at the age of 15 last Friday due to complications from a stomach issue, said his trainer, David Fawkes.

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Wed, 01/27/2021 - 13:50

Li'l Tootsie won't be part of Amoss's Rachel Alexandra team

Tom Amoss could enter as many as three horses in the Feb. 13 Rachel Alexandra, but breakout maiden winner Li’l Tootsie is not one of them.

Li’l Tootsie, who got an 89 Beyer Speed Figure for her second-start maiden win Jan. 16 at Fair Grounds, had been under consideration for the Rachel Alexandra but instead will be aimed toward the six-furlong Dixie Belle on Feb. 13 at Oaklawn, Amoss said.

“We’ll give her at least one more sprint,” he said.