HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Corey Lanerie, a 19-time leading rider at Churchill Downs, experienced moderate success in five winters of riding at Gulfstream, winning 184 races from the 2012-13 meet through 2016-17.
But after returning to Fair Grounds in his native Louisiana the last three winters, Lanerie had not ridden at Gulfstream since the Claiming Crown in December 2017 – until he came back Saturday with a splash.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Maxfield continues to make steady progress in seeking to join the Kentucky Derby chase, although trainer Brendan Walsh keeps wondering – like everyone else – whether he has enough time.
“These next couple of weeks are very important, and we always want to do what’s right by the horse,” Walsh said early Monday, the day after Maxfield turned in his third breeze, a bullet half-mile in 48.40 seconds at the Palm Meadows training center. “He really is doing very well, but we’re just going to have to wait and see how he does before we make any firm decisions.”
OLDSMAR, Fla. – Chance It and Sole Volante are among a multitude of Atlantic Coast shippers expected Saturday for the annual marquee race at Tampa Bay Downs, the Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby.
With entries for all Saturday races being drawn Wednesday, at least 10 3-year-olds are expected for the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby, which offers 85 qualifying points (50-20-10-5) toward the May 2 Kentucky Derby. Chance It, scratched Saturday from the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park, is expected to vie for favoritism with Sole Volante, winner of the Feb. 8 Sam F. Davis at Tampa.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Lee Searing was a fortunate kid in 1958, the first year he recalls attending the Santa Anita Handicap. The race was won by Round Table in a season he was honored as champion handicap horse, champion grass horse and Horse of the Year.
“I can remember coming here for the Santa Anita Handicap with my dad,” Searing recalled at Santa Anita on Sunday morning. “I saw all those great horses.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – Officials with the Thoroughbred Owners of California and California Thoroughbred Trainers associations are seeking a delay to the implementation of strict new rules that will greatly reduce the medications horses can be administered after entries are taken for races in California.
The new rules, which are in effect at all state racetracks, will eliminate the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, phenylbutazone, flunixin, ketoprofen, electrolyte solutions, and amino acid solutions after a horse has been entered.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. had every reason to celebrate Tonalist's Shape’s 1 1/4-length victory over the odds-on Spice is Nice in Saturday’s Grade 2 Davona Dale. But in light of events that transpired earlier in the day, this particular win elicited a little extra fist pump from Joseph, who’d spent a trying 72 hours since Wednesday’s post position draw for the Fountain of Youth.
Tom’s d’Etat, who finished off 2019 as one of hottest older dirt-route horses in North America, will start his 2020 campaign in the Ben Ali Stakes on April 11 at Keeneland.
His connections, Gayle Benson’s GMB Racing and trainer Al Stall, had considered a comeback race in the New Orleans Classic on March 21 but will head north from New Orleans before getting Tom’s d’Etat started.
A pair of Tom Amoss-trained Oaklawn Park-bound stakes runners, 4-year-old filly Serengeti Empress and 3-year-old colt No Parole, turned in major works this past weekend at Fair Grounds for their upcoming starts.
Serengeti Empress worked five furlongs in 59.60, the fastest of 40 works at the distance Saturday morning. Serengeti Empress typically is a strong work horse and this drill was no exception.
“She worked very well and came out of it in good shape, too,” Amoss said Sunday morning.
Mr. Monomoy, who won a division of the Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 15 at Fair Grounds, essentially securing a spot in the Kentucky Derby with the 50 Derby qualifying points he earned there, is out of training and off the Triple Crown trail.
Mr. Monomoy has a relatively minor ankle injury diagnosed after he came back from a routine gallop last week carrying heat in the joint, according to Liz Crow, who, through BSW-Crow Bloodstock serves as Mr. Monomoy’s racing manager for owners Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, and Doheny Racing Stable.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Ete Indien took a significant step toward the Kentucky Derby with his victory in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on Saturday, but the path forward is opaque for Dennis’ Moment, who finished last as the favorite without, as of Sunday morning, any excuse.
Those were the major plot points on Sunday morning here in South Florida, where two important Derby preps remain, the Tampa Bay Derby on Saturday, and then the Florida Derby later this month at Gulfstream Park. After that, the top 3-year-olds in these parts begin heading north.
