Samantha Randazzo, a steward with experience at tracks in Minnesota, Florida, Illinois, and New Jersey, has been named The Jockey Club steward at Finger Lakes racetrack, the Jockey Club announced on Wednesday.
Randazzo, who received her stewards’ accreditation certificate after working in the barn of Linda Rice for 27 years, will fill the seat most recently held by Don Combs, who resigned earlier this year due to health problems. Randazzo also has a law degree.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Marine Stakes winner Shirl’s Speight wasn’t the only unbeaten 3-year-old to impress last Saturday at Woodbine.
Fresh off a six-length debut score July 12, the flashy chestnut Red Hierarchy looked like a young Pink Lloyd when he doubled up with another dominating six-length tally, in another 6 1/2-furlong event for Ontario-sired runners. After earning an 83 Beyer Speed Figure at first asking, he got an 89 Beyer, the second-highest by a male 3-year-old at Woodbine this year after Shirl’s Speight’s 91 from the Marine.
Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., has raised its takeout rates across the board for its meeting starting Tuesday, officials of the track confirmed.
Rates for win, place, and show wagers will be raked this year at 18 percent, up from 16 percent during last year’s meet. Takeout rates for all exotic bets will be 22 percent, up from 20 percent last year. In addition, a pick five with a takeout of 12 percent has been eliminated, the officials said.
Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., has pushed back its first post for its live race card on Tuesday to 6:30 p.m. due to a heat wave that continues to affect the area, according to a track official.
Jill Byrne, Colonial’s vice president of racing operations, said that the decision to delay first post by one hour was made after consulting with veterinarians and horsemen.
“It’s a consensus of everyone,” she said. “Right now, we’re showing that the temperatures will probably start dipping at 6, so fingers crossed.”
Turf Paradise announced it will delay the start of its 2020-2021 meet to Nov. 27 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Phoenix track had planned for its customary October unveiling and to run for 133 days. Instead, the meet is now scheduled to run through May 1, 2021, for 110 days of racing.
“We are hoping that by opening later the coronavirus situation will settle down in Arizona,” said track general manager Vincent Francia. “Regardless, we will have health protocols in place when the meet opens.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – To say trainer Mike Maker has been on a roll the past two weeks would be an understatement.
Maker won his sixth turf stakes and fourth graded stakes during that period here Sunday when Somelikeithotbrown led a one-two finish for the barn with runner-up Mr Dumas in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch here.
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Though he worked Sunday for the second time since his dominant victory in the Grade 2 Suburban on July 4 at Belmont Park, Tacitus will skip Saturday’s Whitney and await the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward Stakes here on Sept. 5, trainer Bill Mott said Monday.
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – South Bend, runner-up in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby, was purchased privately by a group that includes Gary Barber and Adam Wachtel and is now with trainer Bill Mott. South Bend is under consideration for either the $1 million Runhappy Travers Stakes, a 1 1/4-mile dirt race on Aug. 8, or the $500,000 Saratoga Derby, a 1 3/16-mile race on turf Aug. 15.
Apprentice jockey Keith James Asmussen won for the first time in his riding career Sunday at Lone Star Park. He took the nightcap on Inis Gluaire ($3.20), a half-brother to Woodbine Oaks winner Roan Inish who is trained by his father, Steve Asmussen.
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