With limited graded stakes options for the foreseeable future, trainer Mark Casse is looking at a pair of overnight stakes at Gulfstream Park for two of his stable stars.
War of Will, last year’s Preakness winner, could return to the races in the $75,000 Sunshine Forever Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile turf race May 9.
As with most of his colleagues, Tim Padilla would love to know when he can move on to his next outpost. Without moratoriums on racing imposed by the coronavirus, Padilla would be training horses at Canterbury Park in Minnesota by now.
“We’re all in a holding pattern,” Padilla said this week from Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla. “It’s a nightmare, really.”
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – It’s already been a frustrating winter for trainer Scott Becker and his speedy Florida-bred filly Wildwood’s Beauty. The 4-year-old daughter of Kantharos has been run down in deep stretch in her last two starts, having to settle for second in both the Grade 2 Inside Information and Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie Stakes during the Gulfstream Park Championship meet.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Pirate’s Punch was a knockout winner in his Oaklawn debut earlier this month, and he could return for the track’s signature race for older horses. Trainer Grant Forster said Pirate’s Punch is a candidate for the Grade 2, $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap on May 2.
Pirate’s Punch was a five-length winner of an optional $100,000 claiming race April 3 at Oaklawn. He dueled for the lead and jetted clear, covering the 1 1/16 miles in a sharp 1:42.48. The performance was good for a Beyer Speed Figure of 97.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Mac Robertson has rolled out a number of impressive 3-year-old winners this meet, with the latest Skol Factor on the Oaklawn Stakes undercard April 11.
Skol Factor won a maiden special weight over six furlongs in 1:09.76. He led throughout for a 6 1/2-length win and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 82.
“He’s a fast horse,” Robertson said Tuesday. “He did it easy the other day.”
Robertson said if Skol Factor were to run back this meet it would be during the last couple of days. The season closes May 2.
Del Mar officials are making plans to accommodate a full stable area from early July to early September this summer, but are unsure whether its popular race meeting will be held in front of spectators.
In an interview Wednesday, chief executive officer Joe Harper said there are three leading scenarios – a race meeting from July 18-Sept. 7 with spectators, a meeting without spectators, or a canceled race meeting because of the coronavirus outbreak.
WHO’S HOT
Mr. Big News, who won the Oaklawn Stakes on Saturday, and Shooters Shoot, who captured an allowance race earlier on that card, are the two newcomers to the Derby Watch top 20. Both are 50-1 shots on the future line set by Marty McGee of Daily Racing Form for the Kentucky Derby, now scheduled for Sept. 5. Tiz the Law remains McGee’s favorite, at 3-1. McGee tweaked a couple of prices since the list was last updated. Charlatan remains his fourth choice, but he’s down to 6-1 after being 10-1 two weeks ago.
After several days of rain that forced postponement of workouts, three California-based runners with designs on the Arkansas Derby all got in significant drills Wednesday morning at Santa Anita.
Charlatan went six furlongs in 1:12.20, while five-furlong works were recorded by Nadal (59.80 seconds) and champion Storm the Court (1:00.60). All three are pointing to the Grade 1, $750,000 Arkansas Derby on May 2 at Oaklawn Park, a race that offers 170 points overall, with 100 to the winner, for the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5.
Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., will swap its Saturday dates in May for Wednesdays, according to a text issued by the racing office Wednesday.
The track is one of the few in North America conducting live racing at this time due to the coronavirus pandemic. Will Rogers is currently racing Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.
During the course of the current meet, it set a single-day record for handle in Oklahoma.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Tampa Bay Derby winner and Arkansas Derby-bound King Guillermo isn’t the only “big horse” in trainer Juan Avila’s arsenal.
King Guillermo must share some of the glory in the Avila stable with the older, graded stakes winner Trophy Chaser and the up-and-coming 3-year-old filly prospect Boerne.
