ELMONT, N.Y. – New York becomes the last major circuit to resume live racing in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic when Belmont Park opens Wednesday for the first program of an abbreviated 25-day meet.
Wednesday’s 10-race program comes 80 days after the last card of racing was held in New York, at Aqueduct, and none too soon for trainers and owners who struggled to keep their stables afloat, unable to make money.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Given their current trajectories, Steve Asmussen will soon pass Dale Romans as the all-time leading trainer in Churchill history. Romans, who overtook Bill Mott for the top spot at the 2017 fall meet, holds a 737-735 lead over Asmussen.
At this meet, Asmussen is 5 for 43 and Romans has gone winless with 15 starters. Asmussen already has won or shared the most meet titles (22) among Churchill trainers.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Javier Castellano has been suspended three days by the Churchill stewards, although when that penalty will be served has yet to be determined.
Castellano was penalized after his mount, Hidden Facts, was disqualified from second to sixth for causing interference in deep stretch in the ninth race Saturday.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A decision on whether Maxfield will run in the Belmont Stakes likely will come “in the latter half of this week,” trainer Brendan Walsh said Monday.
Maxfield, a Godolphin homebred, remained undefeated in three career starts by winning his 3-year-old debut in the May 23 Matt Winn at Churchill Downs in an effort that likely would make him one of the favorites in the June 20 Belmont. However, Walsh said he and the Godolphin team are proceeding methodically with Maxfield, who resumed training May 27 at Keeneland.
Jockey Drayden Van Dyke will start the June portion of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting Friday with three wins in the three weeks since racing resumed May 15.
“I’m definitely back in the flow,” he said Sunday morning “I’ve won three races, which is better than none. I would have liked to have started off a little better. Hopefully, I can end it really strong.”
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Catherine Day Phillips has announced that the popular Mr Havercamp has been retired after suffering an injury in a Saturday workout at Woodbine.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the retirement of multiple Canadian champion Mr Havercamp,” Day Phillips said Sunday on Twitter. “We are all so grateful for the journey that he has taken us on! Havercamp injured his pelvis breezing yesterday. Full recovery is expected.”
ELMONT, N.Y. - Performer completed preparation for his belated 4-year-old debut in next Saturday’s Grade 1 Runhappy Carter Handicap by working a sharp five furlongs in 59.60 seconds Saturday morning over the Belmont Park main track.
It was the 15th breeze this year for Performer, who has not run since winning the Grade 3 Discovery last Nov. 30. The Carter was always going to be his return race, it just happens to be two months later than scheduled.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Sistercharlie, the female turf champion of 2018, and Uni, the female turf champion of 2019, worked a half-mile in 49.60 seconds Saturday morning over the Belmont Park turf course as they prepare for their 2020 debuts later this summer.
The barn area on the Oklahoma side of Saratoga will open on Tuesday and training can begin over the training track on Thursday, the New York Racing Association announced Friday.
Typically, and by statute, the barn area opens in mid-April, but the opening was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Prior to the meet starting, the Oklahoma side is largely populated by the big outfits such as those of Chad Brown, Todd Pletcher, Bill Mott, and Christophe Clement.
