Fri, 06/26/2020 - 15:26

Commission instructs Laurel officials not to write Lasix-free races

Jim Duley/Maryland Jockey Club
According to the Maryland Racing Commission, Lasix-free races are not permitted under current regulations.

The Maryland Racing Commission on Thursday informed officials with Laurel Park that the track cannot write races for 2-year-olds that would prohibit the raceday administration of furosemide without a change to existing regulations, according to officials who participated in the meeting, which was conducted via teleconference.

Fri, 06/26/2020 - 15:00

Sano sending pair of 2-year-olds to Saratoga

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos
The speed Papetu showed in his debut win surprised trainer Antonio Sano.

The 2-year-old season is in full swing at Gulfstream Park, with most local trainers having an eye squarely on the Florida Sire Series, which kicks off on Aug. 1 with the $100,000 Dr. Fager and Desert Vixen Stakes at six furlongs.

But some, like Antonio Sano, have loftier goals in mind, and are already making travel plans for Saratoga later this summer.

Sano has sent out four juveniles to break their maidens during the current session, including Papetu and Hara, who registered impressive maiden wins just 24 hours apart last week.

Fri, 06/26/2020 - 14:36

Keeper Ofthe Stars eyeing John Mabee Stakes

Benoit Photo
Keeper Ofthe Stars gave trainer Jonathan Wong his first Grade 1 win in the Gamely.

Keeper Ofthe Stars, who finished last of five in the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes on June 20 at Santa Anita after winning the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes there May 25, may start at the end of the Del Mar summer meeting.

Trainer Jonathan Wong said he is considering the Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Sept. 5.

“That’s one of the options,” Wong said. “We’ll freshen her up and run her at Del Mar.”

In the Wilshire Stakes at a mile on turf, Keeper Ofthe Stars was second early but faded from contention to finish 5 3/4 lengths behind Toinette.

Fri, 06/26/2020 - 14:36

Mandella has busy month ahead in stakes

Vassar Photography
Kanderel holds off Ajourneytofreedom to win the Alcatraz.

Tizamagician, fourth in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita in February, is a candidate for the $100,000 Runhappy Oceanside Stakes on July 10 at Del Mar.

Friday at Santa Anita, Tizamagician worked five furlongs in 1:00 in a tune-up for the Oceanside, which is run at a mile on turf for 3-year-olds.

Fri, 06/26/2020 - 14:30

Two-time champion sprinter Roy H retired

Barbara D. Livingston
Roy H was the champion male sprinter in both 2017 and 2018.

Roy H, the champion sprinter of 2017 and 2018, has been retired and will have a second career as a stable pony, trainer Peter Miller said in a statement issued Thursday.

Roy H, 8, was in training in recent weeks when the decision was made to end his racing career. A gelding best known for winning the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar in 2017 and at Churchill Downs in 2018, Roy H won 10 of 23 starts and earned $3,139,765.

Fri, 06/26/2020 - 13:40

Celtic Striker pointing for Peter Pan Stakes

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Celtic Striker wins the Easy Goer Stakes by 19 3/4 lengths.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Celtic Striker, who won a match race in Thursday’s Easy Goer Stakes by 19 3/4 lengths over Sonneman, will target the Grade 3, $100,000 Peter Pan Stakes on July 16, opening day of the Saratoga meet.

The Peter Pan has typically been run in early May for 3-year-olds to use as a prep for the Belmont Stakes on the first Saturday in June. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Belmont was run June 20 and the Peter Pan could now be used as a prep for the Grade 1 Travers on Aug. 8.

Fri, 06/26/2020 - 13:36

Suburban has a Belmont Stakes feel to it

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Sir Winston trailed early, was involved in a bumping incident in upper stretch, and then pulled away to win by 2 1/4 lengths.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Sir Winston, Tacitus, and Joevia, the top three-finishers from the 2019 Belmont Stakes, are all targeting next Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Suburban Stakes at Belmont Park.

On Friday, Sir Winston worked an easy half-mile in 50.90 seconds over the Belmont Park main track. Sir Winston is coming off a second-place finish behind Moretti in the Flat Out Stakes here on June 11.

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Fri, 06/26/2020 - 13:36

Vekoma gets green light to run in Met Mile

Barbara D. Livingston
Vekoma is 2 for 2 this year, winning the Sir Shackleton and the Grade 1 Carter.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Vekoma, the dominant winner of the Grade 1 Carter Handicap here on June 6, will run back in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap, trainer George Weaver said Friday.

Fri, 06/26/2020 - 11:01

Keeneland to allow horse owners to attend upcoming meet

Coady Photography
Keeneland will not allow spectators when its spring meet begins on April 2.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington will allow a limited number of owners and their associates to attend the races during the track’s five-day July meet, the track announced on Friday.

Fri, 06/26/2020 - 10:36

Ellis Park meet kicks off mid-summer racing in Kentucky

Coady Photography
A 29-day meet begins Sunday at 97-year-old Ellis Park, which locals refer to as 'The Pea Patch.'

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The stop-and-start summer meet at Ellis Park in western Kentucky will begin Thursday with a limited number of spectators on hand and with purses sufficiently high to retain most of the circuit’s top horsemen.

Ellis will open with a four-day week (next Thursday through Sunday), after which Keeneland will run a five-day meet (July 8-12). Action then resumes July 17 at Ellis with Friday-Sunday weeks through Aug. 30.

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