Sun, 10/11/2020 - 13:52

Corluna to cut back on distance for Wednesday race

Dustin Orona Photography
Corluna showed a new dimension winning the Lane’s End Danny Shifflett Stallion Scholarship Stakes (above).

Corluna, a multiple stakes winner in her native Texas, returns to the overnight ranks Wednesday night at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.

She goes in race 8, a conditioned allowance at a mile on turf that carries an optional claiming price of $40,000. The race, for fillies and mares, drew eight including main-track-only entrant Blue Moonrise.

Sun, 10/11/2020 - 13:42

Jockey Flores, recovering from spine injury, slated to return home

Jockey Rico Flores, who sustained a cervical spine injury in a Sept. 1 spill at Louisiana Downs and has since been based at a physical therapy facility in New Orleans, is scheduled to return home to Shreveport, La., later this month, according to his longtime girlfriend, Sally Warne.

Sun, 10/11/2020 - 13:37

Terra's Angel, longtime fixture in Southwest racing, retired

Coady Photography
Multiple stakes winner Terra's Angel has won 6 of 21 starts.

Terra’s Angel, a multiple stakes winner who long has been a fixture in the Southwest, has been retired, according to her co-owner and trainer, Terry Eoff.

Terra’s Angel is a 5-year-old by Drosselmeyer who won 6 of 23 starts and earned $259,562. She won stakes on both dirt and turf; among her wins were the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf and the La Senorita at Retama Park.

“She was just was an exceptional horse for us,” said Eoff, who raced Terra’s Angel with Johnny Evans. “She took us on a nice ride.”

Sun, 10/11/2020 - 13:21

Chief Cicatriz possible for Breeders' Cup Sprint

Coady Photography
Chief Cicatriz led throughout en route to a neck victory in Saturday's Ft. Bliss Stakes.

Chief Cicatriz is under consideration for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint after running one of the best races of his career late last month at Remington Park.

He won the David M. Vance with a Beyer Speed Figure of 102 on the Oklahoma Derby undercard Sept. 27. Chief Cicatriz rallied from off the pace for a two-length win, and covered six furlongs on a fast track in 1:08.52.

“He’s back to where he was a couple years ago,” trainer Shawn Davis said. “He ran big. That’s the best race he’s run since the Aristides at Churchill Downs.”

Sun, 10/11/2020 - 13:09

No pressure for Happy Saver, Mystic Guide to run in Breeders' Cup

Barbara D. Livingston
Happy Saver (right) received a 100 Beyer Speed Figure for his Jockey Club Gold Cup triumph on Saturday.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Based on how well they ran in Saturday’s Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park, the 3-year-olds Happy Saver and Mystic Guide both have a bright future. Their connections need to decide if that future is next month or next year.

Sat, 10/10/2020 - 14:26

Malathaat likely for Tempted

ELMONT, N.Y. – Malathaat, a 2-year-old daughter of Grade 1 winners Curlin and Dreaming of Julia, made a smart-looking debut Friday at Belmont Park, winning a seven-furlong race by 1 1/4 lengths over highly regarded Caramel Swirl.

After pressing a modest opening quarter, Malathaat took a short lead in the middle of the far turn. Confronted and briefly passed by Caramel Swirl, Malathaat battled back along the inside and outfinished Caramel Swirl. Malathaat covered the seven furlongs in 1:23.37 and earned a 77 Beyer Speed Figure.

Sat, 10/10/2020 - 14:20

Binkster lands in good spot

Chelsea Durand
Blindwillie McTell paid $4.20 in winning the Rego Park Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The last time New York-bred Binkster ran in an open first-level allowance race, he finished second to Yaupon, who not only beat him in that race but has gone on to win two more stakes and could go favored in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Sat, 10/10/2020 - 14:20

Tiz the Law preps for Breeders' Cup Classic with solo drill

Barbara D. Livingston
Tiz the Law, with Manny Franco up, wins the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers by 5 1/2 lengths.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Tiz the Law continued his preparations for a start in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic by working five furlongs early Saturday morning in 1:01.87 over Belmont Park’s main track.

Going out just before sunrise, Tiz the Law, working by himself, went in splits of 13.00 seconds, 25.49, 37.30, and got his last quarter in 24.57 under exercise rider Heather Smullen. Tiz the Law galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.58 and seven furlongs in 1:29.37.

Sat, 10/10/2020 - 12:26

Paul Pompa Jr., original owner of Big Brown, dies at 62

Michael Amoruso
Owner Paul Pompa Jr. died Friday at the age of 62.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Paul Pompa Jr., best known as the original owner of dual classic winner Big Brown but also known in New York racing circles as a generous and down-to-earth man, died Friday of an apparent heart attack. He was 62.

Pompa, who recently sold his Brooklyn-based trucking company, Truck-Rite Corp., started owning Thoroughbreds in 2000. In 2007, he purchased for $190,000 a 2-year-old son of Boundary who became Big Brown, a horse who in 2008 won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness before being eased in the Belmont Stakes.

Fri, 10/09/2020 - 15:16

Hill Prince and Knickerbocker rescheduled

Justin N. Lane
John Velazquez has won 2,000 races at Belmont Park, 1,820 for Todd Pletcher, and 6,238 in his career.

ELMONT, N.Y. – There will be a nine-race card Monday, Columbus Day, at Belmont Park, but the two stakes scheduled for that program have been postponed.

With rain in the forecast, management has decided to run the Grade 2, $150,000 Hill Prince Stakes next Saturday and the Grade 2, $150,000 Knickerbocker Stakes next Sunday. Both races are scheduled for turf.

Belmont will be dark Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.