Wed, 02/10/2016 - 14:10

Toews On Ice unlikely to run in San Vicente

Benoit & Associates
Toews On Ice (right) has missed some training time because of a quarter crack, according to trainer Bob Baffert.

ARCADIA, Calif. – A quarter crack is likely to prevent the three-time stakes winner Toews On Ice from starting in Monday’s $200,000 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.

Trainer Bob Baffert said on Wednesday that Toews On Ice “missed training time” recently. The colt has had one recorded workout since a sixth-place finish as the 3-5 favorite in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Jan. 18. Toews On Ice worked six furlongs from the gate in 1:14.20 on Feb. 5.

“Right now, I would say no,” Baffert said regarding a start for Toews On Ice on Monday.

Tue, 02/09/2016 - 11:36

13 new names for Pool 2 of Kentucky Derby Future Wager

Barbara D. Livingston
Awesome Banner, ridden by Jose Caraballo, wins the Grade 2 Swale Stakes by five lengths Saturday.

A massive overhaul from Pool 1 just 11 weeks earlier has resulted in 13 new names being among the 23 separately listed wagering interests for Pool 2 of the 2016 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opens Friday at noon Eastern for a three-day run.

The new names for Pool 2 are Awesome Banner, Cherry Wine, Collected, Danzing Candy, Discreetness, Gettysburg, Mo Tom, Shagaf, Smokey Image, Tom’s Ready, Vorticity, Whitmore, and Zulu.

Mon, 02/08/2016 - 16:37

Matt King Coal eyes Gotham Stakes

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Matt King Coal won a one-mile maiden race at Belmont Park last October by 5 3/4 lengths.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Matt King Coal, an impressive maiden winner last fall at Belmont, returned to the work tab Sunday for the first time in 10 weeks, breezing a half-mile in 49.93 seconds in company over the training track. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.19 and six furlongs in 1:15.10.

If he continues to train like this, Matt King Coal could run in the Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham on March 5, trainer Linda Rice said.

Sun, 02/07/2016 - 14:03

Nyquist works five furlongs for San Vicente

Benoit & Associates
Nyquist worked five furlongs in 59.38 seconds at Santa Anita on Sunday.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Nyquist, the undefeated champion 2-year-old male of 2015, was pronounced ready for the start of his 3-year-old season in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes on Feb. 15 after a five-furlong workout in 59.38 seconds at Santa Anita on Sunday.

The Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs will be the first start for Nyquist since he clinched the division championship with a win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

Sun, 02/07/2016 - 13:55

Road to the Derby: Robert Lewis Stakes

Emily Shields
Mor Spirit, ridden by Gary Stevens, scores as the heavy favorite in the Robert Lewis Stakes.

Grade 3, $150,345 Robert Lewis Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Santa Anita, Feb. 6, 2016

(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: Mor Spirit, by Eskendereya
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Gary Stevens
Owner: Michael Lund Petersen
Beyer Speed Figure: 92

Sun, 02/07/2016 - 13:16

Songbird's owner opposed to running in Kentucky Derby

Emily Shields
Songbird is likely to make her next start in the Santa Anita Oaks on April 9.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Songbird was so far in front in the last furlong of the $300,345 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday that she was practically galloping on the lead.

The champion 2-year-old filly of 2015, Songbird extended her unbeaten record to five races with an easy win by 6 1/2 lengths in the one-mile race. The margin could easily have been measured in double-digits if jockey Mike Smith had urged Songbird in any capacity in the final furlong.

“It’s quite amazing that she can do that,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said on Sunday morning.

Sun, 02/07/2016 - 12:01

Baffert mulls multiple next-race options for Mor Spirit

Shigeki Kikkawa
Mor Spirit earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure for his win in the Robert Lewis.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Options abound for Mor Spirit, who scored his second straight stakes victory on Saturday in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita. He will have either one or two more preps before the May 7 Kentucky Derby, according to trainer Bob Baffert.

Sat, 02/06/2016 - 18:34

Stevens, Baffert team up to score with Mor Spirit in Robert Lewis

Emily Shields
Mor Spirit, ridden by Gary Stevens, scores as the heavy favorite in the Robert Lewis Stakes.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Bob Baffert and Gary Stevens won the Kentucky Derby in tandem in 1997 with Silver Charm, and those two Hall of Fame gunslingers are back on the Derby trail again this year with Mor Spirit, who made an appropriate stop along the way on Saturday at Santa Anita by capturing the Grade 3, $150,345 Robert Lewis Stakes, named for the man who owned Silver Charm.

Fri, 02/05/2016 - 15:30

Purse boost leads to increased interest in Southwest Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Collected (left) is being considered for the Southwest Stakes on Feb. 15 at Oaklawn Park.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Reservations might be needed to get into this year’s Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn.

A large contingent of locals and Collected from the barn of Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert are among those anticipated for the 1 1/16-mile race on Feb. 15. Entries will be taken Friday, Feb. 12, and the number of starters will be capped at 14.

“I do expect a large field,” said Pat Pope, racing secretary at Oaklawn. “People are targeting this race.”

Fri, 02/05/2016 - 14:16

Few appear willing to challenge Nyquist in San Vicente

Coady Photography
Exaggerator, winner of the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes, is among three confirmed challengers for 2-year-old champion Nyquist in the seven-furlong San Vicente.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Nyquist, the champion 2-year-old male of 2015, is likely to have few rivals when he makes his 3-year-old debut in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs Feb. 15.

Nyquist has not raced since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland on Oct. 31. His rivals in the Grade 2 San Vicente are likely to include Exaggerator, who won the Delta Downs Jackpot in Louisiana last November; Denman’s Call, a maiden-race winner in his debut Jan. 9; and Rockin Bayou, a game second in an optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs on Jan. 3.