LEXINGTON, Ky. - Jockey Martin Garcia is expected to be out about three months with a dislocated shoulder, a fractured collarbone, and other injuries suffered when his mount, I’ll Make It Coach, stumbled and dislodged him at the start of the third race last Sunday at Keeneland.
Garcia likely won’t ride until the 2021 Oaklawn Park meet starts Jan. 22, according to Darrell Haire, a longtime Jockeys’ Guild representative.
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ELMONT, N.Y. – Oleksandra, on a bit of a condensed schedule to make the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 7, worked five furlongs in 1:00.98 on Friday morning over the Belmont Park main track. It was her fifth work in 21 days.
Under jockey Joel Rosario, Oleksandra started about two lengths behind a stablemate, joined him in upper stretch and finished on even terms through a final quarter of 23.76.
“She went very well,” trainer Neil Drysdale said. “It’s a bit of a tall order, but right now she’s progressing well.”
ELMONT, N.Y. – Happy Saver, the undefeated winner of the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, will not be pointed to the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 7 and his connections instead will focus on a 2021 campaign, trainer Todd Pletcher said Friday.
Pletcher said a decision would be made next week whether to give Happy Saver a break or point to the $3 million Pegasus at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 23, with a potential prep in the $100,000 Harlan’s Holiday at Gulfstream on Dec. 12.
MIAMI – All the rain that has inundated the South Florida area this past week has done more than just totally disrupt the turf racing schedule at Gulfstream Park West. It also has thrown a curve to the connections of a couple of prospective Breeders’ Cup contenders, Imprimis and Diamond Oops.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Barclay Tagg can only hope Tiz the Law likes Keeneland better than Churchill Downs. After all, in eight career starts, the only two defeats for the standout 3-year-old colt have come at Churchill.
So when Tiz the Law had his first work over the Keeneland surface before dawn Friday, Tagg couldn’t help but believe the colt stands a good chance when the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic is run Nov. 7 at the Lexington, Ky., track.
“I think he gets over any track better than Churchill,” Tagg told Keeneland publicity.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Racegoers who’ve been denied access to Churchill Downs through the entire pandemic experience can finally get their fix of live racing.
Unlike at the 2020 spring and September meets, fans will be granted admission at Churchill throughout a 24-day fall meet that begins Sunday, provided they adhere to health and safety protocols as set forth by the state of Kentucky. They’ll be witness to what is sure to be an action-packed five weeks of racing, starting with an 11-race Stars of Tomorrow card restricted to 2-year-olds.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Art Collector, likely for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, was sent through a serious work early Thursday at Churchill when drilling a half-mile in 47 seconds under regular jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. Gallop-out times through the turn and into the backstretch were 58.80, 1:11.20, and 1:25, according to Churchill clocker John Nichols.
“Very sharp,” Hernandez said. “It seems like he’s back to himself.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Field size is strong for the Stars of Tomorrow card that opens the Churchill Downs fall meet Sunday – with spectators allowed – as 115 horses, including 11 also-eligibles, have been entered in 11 races on a program restricted exclusively to 2-year-olds.
A pair of $98,000 stakes, the Street Sense (race 8) and Rags to Riches (race 10), are the highlights of a card otherwise comprised of one allowance (race 5) and eight maiden events. Both stakes will be run at 1 1/16 miles.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – A Canadian Triple Crown will be on the line in Saturday’s $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes at Woodbine for the first time since 2003, as Mighty Heart will look to become the 13th Canadian Triple Crown winner following victories in the Queen’s Plate on Sept. 12 and the Prince of Wales Stakes on Sept. 29 at Fort Erie.
The curtain comes down Saturday on the 17-day fall meet at Keeneland, although an announcement Wednesday regarding certain turf races being transferred to the main track serves as a stark reminder that two huge days of racing are still to be held this fall at the Lexington, Ky., track. Those are the Breeders’ Cup dates, Nov. 6 and 7.
Only one of three Saturday races carded for the turf will remain, that being race 9, the $75,000 allowance feature for 3-year-old fillies. Races 4 and 7 will be run on the main track.
