Mon, 09/28/2020 - 16:20

Forego winner Win Win Win retired with tendon injury

Debra A. Roma
Win Win Win, shown following his last-to-first victory in the Grade 1 Forego, won stakes on both dirt and turf.

Win Win Win, who splashed his way from last to first to win the Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 29, has been retired from racing due to a tendon injury to his right foreleg, his connections announced on Monday.

Stallion plans were pending according to a press release.

Trainer Mike Trombetta said Monday that Win Win Win showed heat and inflammation in his right foreleg over the weekend and that he told owner/breeder Charlotte Weber that generally means an injured tendon. Weber races under the Live Oak Plantation banner.

Mon, 09/28/2020 - 15:06

Brown decides Breeders' Cup Mile best spot for Digital Age

Barbara D. Livingston
Digital Age se impone el el Old Forester Turf Classic

ELMONT, N.Y. – Last year, trainer Chad Brown grappled with the decision to run Bricks and Mortar in the Breeders’ Cup Turf or Mile. He eventually chose the Turf and was rewarded when Bricks and Mortar captured that race to complete a perfect season and win Horse of the Year honors.

He has a similar decision to make with Digital Age, recent winner of the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic on Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs.

Mon, 09/28/2020 - 15:06

Channel Maker leads parade of Mott runners in weekend stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Channel Maker earns a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 108 for winning the Sword Dancer on Aug. 29 at Saratoga.

ELMONT, N.Y. – After warm and dry conditions dominated the majority of the month at Belmont Park, some rain and cooler temperatures are forecast to end September and usher in October. On that front, the timing couldn’t be better for trainer Bill Mott, at least as far as his three-time Grade 1 winner Channel Maker is concerned.

When Channel Maker runs in Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, Mott would certainly like to see the Belmont turf course less firm than it has been for the first two weeks of the meet, when firm ground led to some really quick times.

Mon, 09/28/2020 - 14:06

Sisterson, Calumet gearing up for the meet

Barbara D. Livingston
Lexitonian runs in Friday's Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland. He finished third in the race last year.

Jack Sisterson was at Santa Anita on Saturday to saddle Calumet Farm’s Notable Exception for a seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes. But meanwhile, Sisterson’s operation was busy, sending out 15 Calumet horses from his private Rice Road barn to work Saturday morning at Keeneland.

Mon, 09/28/2020 - 14:06

Asmussen, Gaffalione lead the pack

Barbara D. Livingston
Steve Asmussen was fined $1,000 after his horse Shang was found to have tested positive for the blood-pressure medication Atenolol following a third-place finish in the Iowa Derby last July.

Steve Asmussen and Tyler Gaffalione secured the training and riding titles, respectively, at the Churchill Downs September meet that ended Sunday.

Asmussen led Brad Cox with 12 wins to 8 at the meet, despite a strong start for Cox, who saddled Shedaresthedevil to win the Kentucky Oaks, Monomoy Girl to win the Grade 1 La Troienne, and Beau Recall to win the Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile.

It was a record-extending 24th leading trainer title at Churchill Downs for Asmussen, who became Churchill’s all-time wins leader in June.

Mon, 09/28/2020 - 14:00

Mr. Money rebounds at right time; Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile likely next

Coady Photography
Mr. Money was given a ground-saving ride by Gabe Saez in the Ack Ack Stakes.

Mr. Money had a lucrative campaign in 2019, winning four graded stakes, but had struggled to find the win column in 2020. He finally cashed in with a victory in the Grade 3 Ack Ack Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs that likely earned him a return engagement in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

Mon, 09/28/2020 - 13:46

Preakness: Authentic served by two masters

Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Bob Baffert won his sixth Kentucky Derby with Authentic and will be seeking a record-breaking eighth Preakness victory on Saturday.

Between the two of them, trainers Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lukas have won the Preakness Stakes 13 times, and they’ve amassed 30 Triple Crown race wins. That’s a lot of success and experience to bring to hand for one horse, and this year they’ve combined forces for the final leg of the out-of-order 2020 Triple Crown, with Authentic.

Mon, 09/28/2020 - 10:24

Preakness: Authentic works half-mile at Churchill; ships to Baltimore Tuesday

Coady Photography
Authentic turns in his final Preakness work on Monday morning.

Authentic, the Kentucky Derby winner, completed his preparation for the Preakness Stakes on Saturday with a workout Monday morning at Churchill Downs that was officially credited as a half-mile in 47.60 seconds, but included a gallop out of another quarter-mile.

Authentic's half-mile time was the fastest of 37 at the distance on Monday.

Working alone, Authentic clicked off fractions of 12.20 seconds and 24. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:00, and six furlongs in 1:13.40.

Sun, 09/27/2020 - 19:37

Weston on mend after bout with colic

Benoit Photo
Weston is 2 for 2 following his victory in the Grade 2 Best Pal.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Weston, the winner of the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 8, was withdrawn from Saturday’s Grade 1 American Pharoah after a bout with colic, but showed improvement later in the weekend, trainer Ryan Hanson said.

“He needed some medication,” he said. “He was not going to run to his ability. He was feeling better this morning.”

Sun, 09/27/2020 - 19:33

Venetian Harbor possible for BC Filly and Mare Sprint

Emily Shields
Venetian Harbor may run next in the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Venetian Harbor, second in the Grade 1 Test Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga in August, may have her next start in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 7.

“She’s training lights-out at San Luis Rey Downs,” trainer Richard Baltas said over the weekend. “I’m pretty happy with her right now.”

On Sept. 22, Venetian Harbor worked five furlongs in 58.60 seconds.