Mon, 01/11/2021 - 14:36

Four locals possible for Pegasus World Cup Turf

Benoit Photo
Anothertwistafate fácil en el San Gabriel G2

ARCADIA, Calif. – Four horses based in Southern California are candidates for the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational on Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park – Anothertwistafate, Next Shares, Say the Word, and Storm the Court.

Mon, 01/11/2021 - 14:30

Life Is Good has first work back from Sham victory

Benoit photo
Life Is Good was given a 101 Beyer Speed Figure for his victory in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The undefeated 3-year-old Life Is Good worked a half-mile in 47 seconds on Monday at Santa Anita, his first workout since a win in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at a mile on Jan. 2.

:: Enhance your handicapping with DRF’s Santa Anita Clocker Report

Trainer Bob Baffert said he timed Life Is Good in a slightly slower 47.40.

Mon, 01/11/2021 - 14:30

Baltas, weary of close-but-no-cigar luck, hopes to break out in California Cup

Benoit photo
Nasty (7) paid $15.80 in winning the Lady of Shamrock Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The frustration of watching his horses frequently run well but often finish second and third boiled over for trainer Richard Baltas in late December.

“Second and third. Second and third. That’s all I ever run,” Baltas could be heard saying in Santa Anita’s largely deserted box seat area after a recent major race.

:: Enhance your handicapping with DRF’s Santa Anita Clocker Report

Mon, 01/11/2021 - 13:46

Ride a Comet's victory in the Tropical Turf makes Casse proud

Lauren King/Coglianese Photos
Ride a Comet wins the Grade 3 Tropical Turf on Saturday at Gulfstream. The victory was his third straight since returning from a 26-month layoff.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Mark Casse calls him “one of our greatest accomplishments in the past 40 years,” a strong compliment indeed from the Hall of Fame trainer when talking about Ride a Comet, who has returned from a 26-month layoff to win three straight starts, including Saturday’s Grade 3 Tropical Turf here.

Mon, 01/11/2021 - 13:40

Pletcher, Irad Ortiz enjoy multi-win Sunday

Barbara D. Livingston
Irad Ortiz Jr. won four races on Sunday at Gulfstream, including a score in an allowance with Mischevious Alex.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Leading trainer Todd Pletcher and two-time defending jockey champion Irad Ortiz Jr. closed out the week on a high note, with Pletcher posting three victories on Sunday’s card and Ortiz doing him one better with a four-bagger that culminated with a score aboard odds-on Mischevious Alex in the $52,000 allowance feature.

Mon, 01/11/2021 - 11:36

Three stakes highlight Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend

Susie Raisher
Laobanonaprayer paid $4 in winning the Fifth Avenue Division at Aqueduct on Sunday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – This week’s racing schedule has a tweak due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. While there will be no live racing Thursday, the four-day race-week will remain intact with programs Friday through Monday.

Three stakes, each worth $100,000, are scheduled over the weekend, with the Franklin Square for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies on Saturday, the Ladies Handicap for older females on Sunday, and the Interborough for older female sprinters on Monday.

Mon, 01/11/2021 - 11:36

With earlier success interrupted, Vargas resumes winning ways

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Pete's Play Call paid $10.20 with the victory in the Gravesend at Aqueduct on Saturday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jockey Jorge Vargas Jr. felt he was just starting to get rolling in New York last winter when the pandemic hit. From Feb. 17 through March 14, Vargas won nine races, including three stakes, before racing came to a halt.

“It was a shame,” Vargas said Sunday at Aqueduct. “End of February, March I started getting into a rhythm, won some very good races. Unfortunately, COVID happened. But everything happens for a reason. We’re here now.”

Mon, 01/11/2021 - 11:30

New invitations issued for Pegasus and Pegasus Turf

Lauren King/Coglianese Photos
Tax had his major work for the Pegasus World Cup last Friday at Palm Meadows, a half-mile in 46.40 seconds.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Gulfstream Park officials issued new invitation lists late Sunday for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup and the $1 million Pegasus Turf, both to be run Jan. 23.

The original Pegasus invitees included the Bob Baffert pair of Mucho Gusto, who was retired last week, and Charlatan, who most likely will bypass the Pegasus in favor of the Feb. 20 Saudi Cup. Now in the main body of the Pegasus are King Guillermo and Math Wizard, both of whom had been also-eligibles on the original list.

Mon, 01/11/2021 - 11:26

Allowance win puts Arzak on road to Palm Beach Stakes

Arzak could make his next start in the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park after earning a 74 Beyer Speed Figure in dominating a one-mile turf allowance Saturday at Tampa.