ARCADIA, Calif. - Following losses in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and California Cup Juvenile on the last two Saturdays, Officer will have another chance later this fall to mend his battered reputation as one of the nation's top 2-year-olds.
Trainer Bob Baffert said Monday that Officer emerged in good shape from his second-place finish in the California Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. He will be pointed for the Grade 1 Hollywood Futurity at Hollywood Park on Dec. 15.
ARCADIA, Calif. - While his next racing assignment is unclear, Tiznow has returned to training at Santa Anita and is showing better manners than he did before he successfully defended his title in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Belmont Park on Oct. 27.
Tiznow galloped on the Santa Anita training track for the third consecutive day on Monday. In each occasion, he displayed none of the ornery behavior that concerned trainer Jay Robbins in the weeks leading up to the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Golden Gate Fields opens its doors Wednesday for a 101-day meet, featuring 30 stakes races, including the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby on March 9, one of 11 stakes worth six-figures scheduled at the northern California stand,.
With a few exceptions, racing will be conducted Wednesdays through Sundays, with a 12:45 p.m. Pacific first post.
Special Monday cards are scheduled for Dec. 17, Dec. 31, Jan. 21, and Feb. 18. Earlier posts are on tap for Nov. 22, Dec. 26, Feb. 2, Feb. 3, and March 2.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The handle for Saturday's California Cup at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting set a record of $19,992,379 for the program, surpassing the 1998 mark of $17.5 million.
Nationwide handle set a California Cup day record of $7,862,706 while ontrack handle of $5.4 million and statewide handle of $6.7 million were among the highest in the 12-year history of the California Cup.
Moonmon edged clear from odds-on favorite April's Lucky Boy in deep stretch to win the $25,585 Prevue Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths Sunday at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. It was another five lengths back in third to Princeton Avenue.
Moonmon ($7.40) dueled with April's Lucky Boy throughout the Prevue, then was able to shake free from that one late. He covered seven furlongs over a fast track in 1:24.99 under Tim Doocy. Steve Asmussen trains Monmoon for Richard Englander. The Prevue's a prep for the $75,000 MEC Mile on Nov. 24.
GROVE CITY, Ohio - Crytpo's Twinjet stalked the dueling leaders early, took command on the second turn and drew off for an easy 5 1/2 length victory over Bates Choice in the $50,000 John W. Galbreath Memorial Stakes at Beulah Park.
Crypto's Twinjet ($3), trained by L. A. Palacios, covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.68 under jockey Hector Rosario Jr., defeating seven other Ohio-bred 2-year-old fillies.
Humble Danzig, second in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile in her previous start, put her substantial class edge to good use, easily winning the $25,000 Lady Razorback Futurity by 10 lengths. Fellow Kentucky invader Princess Pamela finished second, followed by Magical Miss.
Riskaverse became a stakes winner in the $86,700 Miss Grillo Stakes at Aqueduct with a 1 1/4-length score over the favorite, Lujien Lujien.
Riskaverse, the second choice in the field of 12 2-year-old fillies, was ridden by Robbie Davis, who also won Saturday's Turnback the Alarm Handicap. In all, Davis won six races over the weekend.
Riskaverse ($8), trained by Pat Kelly, came from off the pace and four-wide around the turn to capture the 1 1/8-mile Miss Grillo, run on the grass. The final time was 1:51.61 over a firm course.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Harlan's Holiday captured the 20th running of the Iroquois Stakes with surprising ease Sunday, further validating his status as half of trainer Ken McPeek's powerful package of talented 2-year-olds.
The 2 3/4-length score by Harlan's Holiday came after the colt stalked the early pace set by Showmeitall, then drew off comfortably to finish one mile in stakes-record time of 1:35.01 over a fast track.
McPeek also trains Repent, runner-up to Johannesburg in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Blue Steller split rivals in midstretch and pulled clear late to win the $100,000 Bay Meadows Derby Handicap at Bay Meadows, the colt's first stakes win.
Ridden by Alex Solis, Blue Steller rallied from last to reach contention on the final turn. Racing on the inside, Blue Steller rallied between pacesetters Irish Warrior and Sea to See in midstretch and won by 1 1/2 lengths. Blue Steller ($3.40) finished about 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:46.81.