Two-year-old filly champion British Idiom took another step toward her 3-year-old debut Feb. 15 in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes with an in-company five-furlong workout Sunday morning at Fair Grounds.
British Idiom was timed in 1:01.80, a full second slower than her work the week before, but a more than satisfactory morning showing.
“Not as fast this week, but she worked really, really good,” trainer Brad Cox said. “She’ll do something easier next Sunday and then that’s it.”
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Laddie Liam has not had an easy time of it since being purchased by Leonard Green’s DJ Stable for $450,000 out of Fasig-Tipton’s Mid-Atlantic sale in December.
First, Laddie Liam missed the Jerome Stakes on Jan. 1 due to a foot injury. Now, Laddie Liam will be sidelined four to six months with a tendon injury after an on-track incident a few weeks ago, according to Jon Green, the racing manager for his father’s operation.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
