Fri, 02/28/2025 - 13:30

Tamara to remain in training; will get extended break

Barbara D. Livingston
While she will remain in training, Tamara will get an extended break before returning to the races.

Tamara, the winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante in 2023, will be given an extended break in coming months after sustaining a leg injury in a training accident earlier this year.

Trainer Richard Mandella said on Friday that Tamara’s injury will not require an operation, a reverse from plans announced earlier in February.

“I don’t think she needs anything,” he said. “We’re going to give her some time off.”

Fri, 02/28/2025 - 13:26

Ferocious taken off Derby trail with muscle tear

Barbara D. Livingston
Ferocious suffered a muscle tear after the Holy Bull.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Ferocious, currently 19th in the point standings for the 2025 Kentucky Derby, has been taken off the Derby trail, his connections reported on Friday.

Ferocious, two-time Grade 1 placed at 2 who finished fourth making his 3-year-old debut earlier this month in the Grade 2 Holy Bull, suffered a muscle tear after the race, according to Gustavo Delgado Jr., a part owner of the horse and the son of trainer Gustavo Delgado.

Fri, 02/28/2025 - 13:10

Rookie Card may try Bay Shore

Dom Napolitano/NYRA
Rookie Card won a Florida-bred allowance by three lengths going seven furlongs on Sunday at Gulfstream.

Rookie Card, a 3-year-old allowance winner in Florida, could make his next start in the $150,000 Bay Shore Stakes on April 19 at Aqueduct, trainer Danny Gargan said.

Rookie Card won a Florida-bred allowance by three lengths going seven furlongs on Sunday at Gulfstream, earning an 86 Beyer Speed Figure. That was a good bounce-back effort after he was interfered with going into the far turn of the Pasco Stakes. He crossed the wire fifth but was elevated to fourth when Owen Almighty, who caused the interference, was disqualified from first.

Fri, 02/28/2025 - 13:04

Shug going slow with Silvology

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos
At Gulfstream this winter, Silvology won a 1 3/8-mile maiden race and then a 1 1/2-mile allowance on turf.

Though Silvology won her second straight race since going a marathon distance on turf, trainer Shug McGaughey said he will be in no hurry to run her in a stakes race.

“We’ll bring her along slowly, and hopefully by the middle of summer, we’ll find a [stakes] spot for her,” McGaughey said.

Silvology, a 4-year-old daughter of Blame, lost her first two starts on dirt and then dropped her first three starts on turf, though none were farther than 1 1/8 miles. At Gulfstream this winter, Silvology won a 1 3/8-mile maiden race and then a 1 1/2-mile allowance on turf.

Fri, 02/28/2025 - 12:47

Grande, Statesman likely to hit Kentucky Derby trail

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos
Grande will be considered for the Florida Derby, Wood Memorial, or Blue Grass.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Two 3-year-old first-level allowance winners are likely headed to stakes offering Kentucky Derby points for their next starts.

Thu, 02/27/2025 - 15:14

Three-day racing weekend looms large for Papaprodromou

Benoit Photo
George Papaprodromou hopes this weekend's results nudge him closer to the top of Santa Anita's trainer standings.

The three-day racing weekend at Santa Anita from Friday through Sunday may help determine whether George Papaprodromou can remain in the top 10 of the trainer’s standings at the current winter-spring meeting. It will also dictate whether he can pull a surprise in a graded stakes.

Thu, 02/27/2025 - 11:29

Gulfstream changes two run-up distances, including that of the Fountain of Youth

Barbara D. Livingston
Horses running in Saturday's Fountain of Youth Stakes will have an extra 85-foot run-up before reaching the clubhouse turn.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Gulfstream Park management has announced that effective immediately there will be an additional run up of 85 feet added to the start of all 1 1/16-mile races and 53 feet for all future races run at 1 1/8 miles over the main track.

The change will have its first significant impact with Saturday’s running of the mile and one-sixteenth, Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.

Wed, 02/26/2025 - 15:04

O'Neill duo offers best local hope in Big Cap

Benoit Photo
Owner Jeanie Buss lost J B Strikes Back via claim at Del Mar last July and claimed him back at the first opportunity a few weeks later.

The presence of J B Strikes Back and Katonah in Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap is an accomplishment for trainer Doug O’Neill and two of his clients.

J B Strikes Back was claimed for $25,000 at Del Mar last August and has won his last three starts, including the Grade 2 Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26. Since being claimed, J B Strikes Back has earned $173,960 for the Purple Rein Stable of Jeanie Buss. The Buss family is the majority owner of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers.

Wed, 02/26/2025 - 15:00

D'amato stakes runners return after rests

Benoit Photo
Hang the Moon won a pair of Grade 2 turf stakes last summer and fall.

The 2024 stakes winners Hang the Moon, Motorious, and One Magic Philly recently rejoined trainer Phil D’Amato’s stable after wintertime rests.

Hang the Moon, a 5-year-old mare, won a pair of Grade 2 turf stakes last summer and fall – the John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar in September and the Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita in October. She was later last of 12 in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf in November, and last of six by 1 1/4 lengths as the 7-10 favorite in the Grade 3 Robert Frankel Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 27.

Wed, 02/26/2025 - 13:10

Mo Plex pointed toward Gander instead of Gotham

Barbara D. Livingston
Mo Plex will likely start next in the Gander for New York-breds, instead of Saturday's Gotham at Aqueduct.

After briefly entertaining the idea of bringing the multiple stakes winner Mo Plex back to the races in Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes, the decision was made to skip that race and instead run him in the $125,000 Gander Stakes for New York-breds on March 8.