Mon, 11/04/2019 - 15:10

Independence Hall runs highest Beyer Speed Figure by a 2-year-old this year in Nashua

Elsa Lorieul/NYRA
Independence Hall was given a 101 Beyer Speed Figure for his 12 1/4-length romp in the Nashua.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – If not for a burst water pipe that forced Laurel Park to cancel its Oct. 24 card, we still might not know just how good a colt Independence Hall is.

Independence Hall dominated Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct by 12 1/4 lengths, earning a 101 Beyer Speed Figure that ranks as the best figure achieved by a 2-year-old of any gender in 2019. Yet, the Nashua was Plan B after a first-level allowance on Oct. 24 at Laurel was lost when that card – and subsequently three more – was canceled due to a broken water pipe along the track apron.

Mon, 11/04/2019 - 14:30

Bricks and Mortar, Mitole figure to vie for Horse of Year title

Barbara D. Livingston
Bricks and Mortar wins the Breeders' Cup Turf, completing a 6-for-6 campaign in 2019.

ARCADIA, Calif. – For the last five years, and for most of the nearly 50 years that the Eclipse Awards have existed, the Horse of the Year has been either the outstanding 3-year-old from the Triple Crown races, or the best older distance horse on dirt.

Mon, 11/04/2019 - 12:50

Mr. Jordan will try to rebound in Sunshine Millions Classic Preview

Lauren King/Coglianese Photos
Mr. Jodan won the Big Drama Stakes on May 12 at Gulfstream.

Led by Mr. Jordan in the Millions Classic Preview, 137 horses were nominated to the eight stakes races for Florida-breds that will make up the bulk of Sunshine Millions Preview Day on Saturday at Gulfstream Park West. The races each carry a $75,000 purse.

Sunshine Millions Preview Day is the highlight of the Gulfstream Park West meet. The races serve as early preps for Sunshine Millions Day on Jan. 18 at Gulfstream Park.

Mon, 11/04/2019 - 12:06

Cool Shadows improving as she points to Ontario Lassie

Michael Burns
Princess Elizabeth winner Cool Shadows is likely to race on dirt in Florida this winter.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Cool Shadows looped the field under jockey Jerome Lermyte to win the Princess Elizabeth Stakes on Oct. 26 and will likely make her final start of the season in the $125,000 Ontario Lassie Stakes on Dec. 8, trainer Stu Simon said.

“That’s what we’re looking at right now as long as the weather stays good and the track stays good,” he said.

Cool Shadows has won two of her last three starts. Simon said the connections had been high on Cool Shadows coming into this season, and the 2-year-old daughter of Munnings has improved in the last several weeks.

Mon, 11/04/2019 - 12:00

Tiller pointing Pink Lloyd, Reconfigure to Kennedy Road Stakes

Emily Shields
A Kennedy Road win would make Pink Lloyd a top contender for Canadian Horse of the Year.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Bob Tiller is pointing Canadian Horse of the Year candidate Pink Lloyd and Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes runner-up Reconfigure to the Grade 2, $175,000 Kennedy Road Stakes on Nov. 23.

Sun, 11/03/2019 - 19:48

Mixed emotions in wake of BC Classic

Barbara D. Livingston
Vino Rosso wins the Breeders' Cup Classic in his career finale, likely cinching the older male championship.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Just about every human emotion was being felt by trainers on Sunday morning in the aftermath of participating in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday at Santa Anita, ranging from the pride and satisfaction felt by Todd Pletcher for Vino Rosso’s victory to the profound sadness of Enebish Ganbat, whose Mongolian Groom suffered an injury that proved fatal.

Bob Baffert was thrilled with the runner-up performance by McKinzie, and Shug McGaughey, whose Code of Honor was seventh, was infuriated over what he thought was a difficult racing surface.

Sun, 11/03/2019 - 18:14

Mo Forza a candidate for Hollywood Derby

Susie Raisher
Mo Forza upset Saturday's Grade 2 Twilight Derby at 18-1.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Mo Forza won his stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita in an 18-1 upset. The win has left trainer Peter Miller eager to start Mo Forza in a more important race – the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar on Nov. 30.

The Hollywood Derby, run at 1 1/8 miles on turf, is one of two Grade 1 races worth $300,000 at the Del Mar autumn meeting, which begins on Friday. The Matriarch Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf will be run on Dec. 1, the closing day of the season.

Sun, 11/03/2019 - 16:04

Two-time Grade 1 winner Paradise Woods retired

Barbara D. Livingston
Paradise Woods closed out her career with five wins from 18 starts.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Paradise Woods, the winner of four graded stakes, has run her last race.

After finishing last of 11 in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita, Paradise Woods will be sent to Kentucky on Wednesday and will be bred in 2020, trainer John Shirreffs said on Sunday.

Shirreffs said stallion plans have not been determined and that the 5-year-old mare will be sent to Lane’s End Farm.

Owned by Marty and Pam Wygod and Steve Sarkowsky, Paradise Woods won five of 18 starts and earned $1,123,890 in a three-year career.

Sun, 11/03/2019 - 15:55

BC Sprint win puts Mitole solidly in Horse of the Year conversation

Emily Shields
With his win in Saturday's BC Sprint, Mitole is 6 for 7 in 2019.

ARCADIA, Calif. – After watching Mitole cap off his stellar 2019 campaign with a 1 1/4-length victory over Shancelot in Saturday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint, trainer Steve Asmussen must now digest the fact his Horse of the Year candidate’s racing career is over.

Mitole, who closed out the year with six wins in seven starts and four Grade 1 victories at distances ranging from six furlongs to one mile, will begin stud duties next season at Spendthrift Farm. He has been campaigned throughout his career by Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt. 

Sun, 11/03/2019 - 15:14

Ollie's Candy to remain in training in 2020

Barbara D. Livingston
Ollie's Candy trains at Santa Anita Park on Oct. 19 in the lead-up to the Breeders' Cup.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Ollie’s Candy, fourth-place finisher in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Saturday, will race as a 5-year-old in 2020 and begin the season as the top-ranked older filly and mare in California.

Owners Paul and Karen Eggert decided to withdraw Ollie’s Candy from the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale that begins Nov. 6 and instead will keep Ollie’s Candy in training next year with John Sadler. Paul Eggert confirmed the decision Sunday via text.