Mon, 02/03/2020 - 14:56

Mott eyeing Gazelle for Harvey's Lil Goil

Elsa Lorieul/NYRA
Busanda winner Harvey's Lil Goil will train in Florida for her next start.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – After dominating Sunday’s Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct, Harvey’s Lil Goil was set to return to trainer Bill Mott’s Florida base at Payson Park this week while he contemplates how best to get the 3-year-old filly to the Kentucky Oaks.

Mon, 02/03/2020 - 14:48

Churchill to debut new 20-stall starting gate in 2020 Kentucky Derby

Courtesy of Churchill Downs
Churchill's new starting gate will be manufactured by Australia-based Steriline Racing.

Churchill Downs has contracted with an Australian company to produce a 20-stall starting gate that will be used for this year’s Kentucky Derby, the racetrack announced on Monday.

The 20-stall starting gate will allow Churchill to eliminate a gap between the 14th and 15th starting stalls in the Derby field, which is capped at 20 horses. Since 1942, Churchill Downs has used a six-stall “auxiliary” gate for the Derby any time the field exceeded 14 horses, with the auxiliary gate positioned adjacent to the 14-stall gate, nearer the outside rail.

Mon, 02/03/2020 - 14:16

Blings Express retired to riding facility at age 11

Tom Keyser
Blings Express won 23 of 83 career starts. He will have a second career as a riding horse at M&M Stables.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Blings Express, an 11-year-old gelding who finished seventh in an $8,000 claiming race here Jan. 16, has been retired to a new career, co-owner Rich Averill reported last week.

Blings Express, a gray Florida-bred, won 23 of 83 starts and earned $518,898. Averill claimed him with CCF Racing at Tampa Bay Downs in March 2016, becoming the 10th and last ownership entity to campaign him.

Mon, 02/03/2020 - 14:16

Breen scouting stakes for As Seen On Tv

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos
As Seen On Tv (left) finishes second by a head to Chance It in the Jan. 4 Mucho Macho Man.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – While adhering to a steady work schedule at Palm Meadows, the 3-year-old colt As Seen On Tv still has no definite next start in his immediate future, trainer Kelly Breen said early Monday.

“We still don’t know where or when yet,” Breen said.

As Seen On Tv was narrowly defeated at Gulfstream Park by Chance It, one of the circuit’s most accomplished 3-year-olds, in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man on Jan. 4. The son of Lookin At Lucky has two wins and two seconds from four career starts.

Mon, 02/03/2020 - 14:12

Eric Halstrom named vice president, general manager at Indiana Grand

Courtesy of Indiana Downs
Eric Halstrom has previously held executive positions in Louisiana, Iowa, and Minnesota.

Eric Halstrom has been named the vice president and general manager of racing for Indiana Grand Racing and Casino in Shelbyville, Ind., according to the track’s parent company, Caesars Entertainment.

Halstrom, who was most recently the vice president of operations at Louisiana Downs, will fill a position that became empty when Jon Schuster, a longtime Indiana Grand executive, passed away late last year. Halstrom will officially begin his duties on Feb. 17, the track said.

Mon, 02/03/2020 - 14:10

Hidden Scroll back in training following gate scratch

Barbara D. Livingston
Hidden Scroll was scratched after acting up in the gate on Jan. 17.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Hidden Scroll, a late scratch from a Jan. 17 allowance at Gulfstream Park after becoming fractious in the starting gate, has resumed training for Bill Mott at Payson Park and could make his delayed return within the next few weeks, said Garrett O’Rourke, general manager for the colt’s owner-breeder, Juddmonte Farms.

Mon, 02/03/2020 - 14:00

Taraz to stay at Oaklawn and point to Honeybee

Coady Photography
Taraz earned 10 Kentucky Oaks points for her win Saturday in the Martha Washington Stakes.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Taraz, the undefeated filly nominated to the Triple Crown, will remain at Oaklawn Park and point to the Grade 3, $300,000 Honeybee for 3-year-old fillies on March 7, trainer Brad Cox said Monday.

The 1 1/16-mile race carries points for the Kentucky Oaks.

Taraz picked up 10 points for the Kentucky Oaks with her Saturday win in the $150,000 Martha Washington at Oaklawn. She has now won the first three races of her career by a combined margin of more than 22 lengths.

Mon, 02/03/2020 - 12:36

Calhoun planning to start three in Risen Star

Coady Photography
Mailman Money is 2 for 2 coming into the Feb. 15 Risen Star.

Mailman Money was marked down for the Feb. 15 Risen Star Stakes after he won a first-level, two-turn dirt allowance race Jan. 12 at Fair Grounds, but it turns out he’ll be just one of three horses trainer Bret Calhoun plans to enter Saturday for the Risen Star.

Digital has come out of a Jan. 18 allowance race in good enough form for Calhoun and owner Tom Durant to aim him for the Risen Star, a decision firmed up after Digital turned in a strong breeze this past weekend, and Calhoun said he’ll also enter the recent maiden winner Mr. Big News in the Risen Star.

Mon, 02/03/2020 - 12:10

Ginobili fresh and ready for San Vicente Stakes

Emily Shields
Impressive maiden winner Ginobili will have his 3-year-old debut in Sunday's San Vicente.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Ginobili won a maiden special weight race on the Pacific Classic program at Del Mar last August in the manner of a 2-year-old with immense promise.

That still holds true, despite two losses in stakes last summer and fall. After a late autumn rest, Ginobili is approaching a key test in Sunday’s Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita.

Mon, 02/03/2020 - 12:06

United earns himself a shot in Sheema Classic

Emily Shields
United won his first stakes in the Grade 2 San Marcos.

ARCADIA, Calif. – United won his first stakes in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Marcos at Santa Anita, a performance that has trainer Richard Mandella planning a trip to Dubai on March 28 for the $6 million Sheema Classic.

United has run well in recent world-class races, having finished second at 51-1 to eventual Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar in the Breeders’ Cup Turf here in November. The BC Turf is run at 1 1/2 miles, the same distance as the Sheema Classic, which annually draws runners from Europe and Asia and horses based in Dubai through the winter.