Fri, 09/26/2025 - 14:13

Napoleon Solo works for Champagne

Debra A. Roma

Napoleon Solo worked a half-mile in 47.47 seconds Friday morning.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Napoleon Solo, a 5 1/4-length debut winner of a six-furlong maiden race at Saratoga on Aug. 8, worked a half-mile in 47.47 seconds Friday morning over the Belmont Park training track in preparation for a start in the Grade 1 Champagne at Aqueduct on Oct. 4.

Napoleon Solo, working by himself after the second renovation break, went in splits of 11.94 and 23.15 seconds before galloping out five furlongs in 1:00.75. It was his second straight bullet work at Belmont following a bullet at Saratoga on Aug. 31.

Fri, 09/26/2025 - 14:07

Scottish Lassie still on course for Breeders' Cup Distaff

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Scottish Lassie will do all of her major preparation at Belmont Park before shipping to Southern California on Oct. 26.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Despite her fourth-place finish as the favorite in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 20, Scottish Lassie will still be pointed to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar on Nov. 1, trainer Jorge Abreu said Friday.

Scottish Lassie, who won the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks by 15 1/4 lengths on July 20 at Saratoga on the lead, was sixth of seven down the backside in the Cotillion. While Abreu didn’t necessarily want Scottish Lassie on the lead, he wasn’t expecting her to be that far back under Joel Rosario.

Thu, 09/25/2025 - 20:51

CHRB rejects Valenzuela’s request for jockey’s license

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Patrick Valenzuela has been denied a jockey's license by the California Horse Racing Board.

The California Horse Racing Board, acting on a recommendation from a hearing officer, has denied Patrick Valenzuela’s request to restore his jockey’s license in the state, a racing board official said Thursday.

The decision was reached by the racing board in a closed session at its monthly meeting Sept. 18 and was subsequently announced on the racing board’s website.

In a three-sentence statement, the racing board said, in part, that the proposed decision from the hearing officer was adopted.

Thu, 09/25/2025 - 14:40

The Padre gets a rest

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

The Grade 2 Mathis Mile on Dec. 26 is a long-range goal for The Padre.

The Padre, winner of the La Jolla Handicap and Del Mar Derby during the Del Mar summer meeting, is briefly out of training, according to trainer Phil D’Amato.

“We had to turn him out for a little bit,” D’Amato said. “He came out of the last race like he needed a little freshening.”

Thu, 09/25/2025 - 14:22

Santa Anita enacts restriction on computer-assisted wagering

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Stay Hot's win odds went from 4-1 to 9-5 as the gate opened for the Eddie Read Stakes.

Computer-assisted wagering accounts, whose significant bets can lead to massive changes in final odds, will be denied access to win pools with two minutes to post at the Santa Anita autumn meeting that begins on Friday.

The plan is a continuation of a policy enacted by Del Mar in late July after several instances in which win prices changed dramatically between the time the field was being loaded into the gate and final odds were determined.

Thu, 09/25/2025 - 14:08

White Abarrio back to work, will point to BC Dirt Mile

By Mike Welsch

Barbara D. Livingston

White Abarrio covered three furlongs in 33.60 seconds before galloping out a half-mile in 46.40 on Thursday.

White Abarrio returned to the work tab at Gulfstream for the first time since his eventful fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on Aug. 31 at Saratoga, zipping three furlongs in 33.60 seconds before galloping out a half-mile in 46.40 on Thursday.

Thu, 09/25/2025 - 11:13

Coal Battle to scratch from Oklahoma Derby

By Mary Rampellini

Barbara D. Livingston

Coal Battle will scratch from Sunday's Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby, trainer Lonnie Briley said.

Coal Battle will be scratched from the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby on Sunday at Remington Park, trainer Lonnie Briley said Thursday. Coal Battle was the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the race, which would have been his first start since a runner-up finish in the Indiana Derby on July 5.

The defection will leave a field of seven for the Oklahoma Derby.

“As much as I hate to say that, it looks like I’m going to scratch him,” Briley said. “I gave him 30 days off, and he’s just not quite ready to run and I don’t want to run him just to say I ran him.”

Wed, 09/24/2025 - 12:16

Santa Anita, Gulfstream launch Sunset Six wager

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

The Santa Anita autumn meeting consists of 16 racing days through Oct. 26.

The $1 Sunset Six, a pick six wager combining the last three races daily from both Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita, will be offered for the first time Friday, opening day of the Santa Anita autumn meeting.

The bet, which has a 15 percent takeout, will cover the seventh through ninth races at both venues Friday. The Sunset Six does not have a consolation provision. The bet will have a carryover on days in which there are no tickets with six winners.

Wed, 09/24/2025 - 11:59

Fresu suspended, will keep stakes mounts

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

At Santa Anita in the spring, Fresu led all riders with 34 wins.

Jockey Antonio Fresu, who led the standings at the Santa Anita spring meeting and was second at the Del Mar summer meeting, will be limited to graded stakes mounts this weekend at Santa Anita while serving the first three days of a four-day suspension.

Wed, 09/24/2025 - 11:57

Rastaman Vibe steps up to stakes company in John Henry Turf Championship

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Gold Phoenix will be favored on the strength of a fourth consecutive win in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap.

He is on a two-race winning streak, will be ridden by the circuit’s leading rider, and is proven in distance races on turf. If there is a time to try the claimer Rastaman Vibe in a stakes, it’s in Saturday’s Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles, according to trainer Steve Knapp.

“Why wouldn’t you give him a chance?” Knapp said. “It’s a short field. We have nothing to lose.”

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