LEXINGTON, Ky. – What’s in a name? Neil Pessin knows, at least as it pertains to himself.
“This filly deserves more respect than what she gets,” Pessin said of his stable star Bell’s the One, “and if she was trained by somebody else, she’d probably get it.”
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Thursday denied a petition by the connections of Justify seeking to block an upcoming stewards’ hearing over whether the horse should be disqualified from the 2018 Santa Anita Derby, according to officials involved in the case.
The New York Racing Association will offer 42 stakes worth $4.57 million during a 56-day Aqueduct 2020-21 winter meet that runs Dec. 10 through March 28, and 13 stakes worth $2.7 million during an 11-day spring meet that runs from April 1 through April 18, the company announced Thursday.
Further, the purse increases that NYRA announced starting Sunday for the remainder of the Belmont Park fall meet will continue through Aqueduct’s winter and spring sessions.
Juan Gutierrez became the all-time leading rider at Emerald Downs Wednesday.
He went into Wednesday’s nine-race card with 1,418 wins at Emerald, one behind Gallyn Mitchell. He tied Mitchell when he won the second race aboard Mike Operator and made history with his win aboard Stay in Grace in the eighth race.
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Gutierrez, who has 2,031 wins in his career, was all smiles in the winner’s circle following his record-setting win.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Apprentice Charlie Marquez may not miss much time after all.
Initially told he had a fractured wrist as the result of having been unseated by Rock N Warrior in last Saturday’s nightcap, Marquez sought additional opinions, and two doctors told him he has only a sprain. Angel Cordero Jr., Marquez’s agent, said Marquez could return as early as Sunday, or if he can’t get some of his calls back, then he’ll likely return on Oct. 22.
ELMONT, N.Y. – After having to cut purses across the board to make it through the COVID-19 pandemic, the New York Racing Association announced Wednesday a purse increase for a number of conditions beginning Sunday for the remaining nine days of the Belmont Park fall meet.
Among the more significant purse increases is for open maiden special weight races, which see an increase from $63,000 to $80,000. New York-bred maiden special weight races will go from $52,000 to $70,000.
Fort Erie Racetrack completed a record 39-day meet on Tuesday while remaining COVID-19 free, according to a press release put out by the track.
Despite being closed to fans, Fort Erie posted a record handle of $40.2 million for the meet, up from $29.9 million last year with 40 days. The meet included 15 days where more than $1 million was wagered.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Richard Baltas is hoping Venetian Harbor shows she’s worthy of running in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, but first things first.
“We’re just trying to win a race,” Baltas said. “That’s the first thing.”
Off three straight runner-up finishes, Venetian Harbor has shipped from her Southern California base to Keeneland for the Grade 3, $200,000 Raven Run, a seven-furlong race in which 10 3-year-old fillies will clash Saturday.
The Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic will again highlight the annual Houston Racing Festival at Sam Houston Race Park, the track announced Tuesday.
The Houston Ladies Classic is the richest offering on a $2.4 million stakes schedule for the Sam Houston meet that opens Jan. 8. Last year, the stakes program was worth $1.8 million.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Kevin Attard said he’s unsure regarding whether or not to run Clayton in the $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes on Oct. 24, when Mighty Heart will try to sweep the Canadian Triple Crown.
Clayton was a fading third in the Sept. 12 Queen’s Plate going 1 1/4 miles on Tapeta. When switching to dirt in the 1 3/16-mile Prince of Wales on Sept. 29, he was a much-improved second after going four wide on both turns, finishing 2 1/2 lengths behind Mighty Heart.
