Philip Antonacci registered the first victory of his training career Saturday, sending out Advanced Strategy to capture a one-mile allowance race on the turf. Advanced Strategy is owned by his father Frank’s Lindy Farms, which is best known in the Standardbred community for having been the owner or breeder of five Hambletonian winners.
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ARCADIA, Calif. – Soothsay, winner of the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks on April 3, is staying in California this spring and will not start in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on April 30 at Churchill Downs
Trainer Richard Mandella cautioned that Soothsay was not a definite runner for the Kentucky Oaks immediately after the Santa Anita Oaks, and said Sunday that the unbeaten filly will be pointed to the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks on May 30 at Santa Anita.
“She’s coming back to where she was,” Mandella said Sunday. “To get her completely back and ship her is too much.”
Art Collector is back in steady training in the quiet environs of the Skylight training center just east of Louisville. Owner-breeder Bruce Lunsford said the 4-year-old Bernardini colt will soon have his first breeze for trainer Tommy Drury, with a return to the races perhaps coming toward the end of the Churchill spring meet.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez has regained the mount on Malathaat, one of the likely favorites for the April 30 Kentucky Oaks, after missing the ride on the unbeaten filly in the April 3 Ashland Stakes.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Monomoy Girl emerged from her runner-up finish in the Apple Blossom Handicap in fine fashion, trainer Brad Cox said Monday. She was beaten a nose after a hoof-to-hoof battle with Letruska, giving that one six pounds while earning the same Beyer Speed Figure, a 102.
“Monomoy Girl came out of the race good,” Cox said. “She’s shipping to Churchill Downs.”
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The 2021 Woodbine meet was postponed from its scheduled April 17 opening due to a province-wide stay-at-home order declared by the Ontario government that was recently extended from May 6 to May 20. It is a potentially dire situation for the largest track in Canada, which could see its horse population shrink as horses leave for the United States due to the uncertainty regarding when the meet will begin.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Swiss Skydiver, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2020, emerged from her third-place finish in the Apple Blossom Handicap on Saturday at Oaklawn in good order, trainer Ken McPeek said Monday.
The filly finished 6 1/2 lengths behind winner Letruska and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 92. One start prior, Swiss Skydiver was a dominant winner of the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita.
“She’s fine,” McPeek said. “It’s a bit of a head-scratcher. We’re trying to wrap our heads around why she didn’t run well.”
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Things have gone so well for Luis Saez this spring in Kentucky that the star jockey seriously considered sticking around beyond the Kentucky Derby.
Upon further review, however, Saez and his agent, Kiaran McLaughlin, have decided to return to Belmont Park in New York, where the 28-year-old jockey has made his primary base since 2013.
“We did talk about riding the Churchill Downs meet after the Derby, but no, we’re going back to New York,” McLaughlin said. “We do really like the way it’s gone here this month, though.”
Harvest Moon, fourth behind two 2020 champions in her last two starts, will have an easier assignment in Saturday’s Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita.
Harvest Moon is unlikely to have many rivals at all in the $200,000 race for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles. The race drew eight nominations.
Trainer Jonathan Wong said Keeper Ofthe Stars may be held out of the Santa Margarita in favor of the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf for fillies and mares on May 31. Keeper Ofthe Stars won the 2020 Gamely.
