Coal Battle, the four-time stakes winner, had his third workout over Churchill Downs's main track since arriving in Louisville from Arkansas, going a half-mile in 47.97 seconds Tuesday morning in preparation for the Kentucky Derby on May 3.
Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch had Coal Battle going his first quarter in 24.38 and galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.16. Exercise rider Bethany Taylor was aboard.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Friday’s nine-race program at Santa Anita will include a carryover of $68,635 in the $2 pick six.
The carryover was clinched when Recycleyourheart led throughout Sunday’s 10th race for maiden claimers, returning $23.60.
On Friday, the pick six covers the fourth through ninth races on a program that begins at 1 p.m. Pacific. The pool of new money in the pick six may exceed $500,000.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Dr. Venkman, winner of the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar last July, is on schedule for his first start since August in the Grade 3 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs on May 31, trainer Mark Glatt said Sunday afternoon.
Earlier on Sunday, Dr. Venkman worked five furlongs in 1:01, continuing a steady pattern of workouts since mid-March.
Dr. Venkman, a 5-year-old gelding by Ghostzapper, has not raced since he finished fourth by three lengths as the 11-10 favorite in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar last August.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The South American Group 1 winner Richi is thriving in the United States and part of an extensive team of older fillies and mares trained by Bob Baffert.
Richi was a game second to stablemate Cavalieri in a fast running of the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on March 8 at Santa Anita and won the most prestigious race of her American career in Saturday’s Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles at the same venue.
Richi led throughout the $200,000 Santa Maria and won by 4 1/2 lengths over stablemate Splendora.
Trainer Juan Arriagada enjoyed his seventh multiple-win day at the meet when he won two races on Saturday’s card to add to what has already been his career-best Tampa season. His 37 wins are second only to Kathleen O’Connell’s 50.
Arriagada has two runners on Wednesday’s card, topped by Sweet Nola, who seeks her third straight win at the meet in a first-level allowance/optional $16,000 claiming race that goes as the first of the day. Arriagada claimed Sweet Nola for $6,250 on Feb. 2 and promptly won a $10,000 claiming and a starter allowance in a span of 12 days.
The New York Racing Association announced Friday that it will offer financial incentives to horsemen who participate in the five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which will be held at Saratoga from June 4-8.
Owners whose horses finish fourth through last in races run during those days will be eligible to receive $1,500 in stakes races and $1,000 in overnight races. Trainers are eligible to receive a bonus of $750 for a stakes starter and $500 for starters in overnight races for horses who finish fourth through last.
Thistledown will kick off its 100-day live racing season, which includes some of the richest days on the Ohio circuit, on Monday.
Located in North Randall, Ohio, just outside Cleveland, Thistledown generally runs on a Monday through Thursday schedule at its meet, which runs through Oct. 1. There are a handful of special Saturday cards at the meet, including on days when the three Triple Crown races are held in May and June.
Undefeated Good Cheer, the early favorite for the Kentucky Oaks, turned in a serious drill toward the May 2 filly classic on Thursday morning at Churchill Downs. She went five furlongs in company in 59.40 seconds, the fastest at the distance Thursday morning.
Baeza, the Santa Anita Derby runner-up who needs several defections to make it into the Kentucky Derby field, will ship to Churchill Downs and be entered, at the very least, as an also-eligible for the race, trainer John Shirreffs said Thursday.
The Thoroughbred Daily News reported the change in plans Wednesday night.
Manny Franco has picked up the mount on East Avenue in the Kentucky Derby, while Javier Castellano will ride Owen Almighty.
Luan Machado rode East Avenue to a second-place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes, but he is committed to ride Jeff Ruby Steaks winner Final Gambit in the Derby.
East Avenue is owned by Godolphin and trained by Brendan Walsh. Franco filled in for the injured Junior Alvarado aboard the Godolphin-owned Sovereignty for the Grade 1 Florida Derby. Alvarado returned to action Wednesday and will ride Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby.
