Wed, 02/09/2011 - 16:20

The Factor on target for San Vicente

Shigeki Kikkawa
The Factor is going back to California after winning the Rebel, but is likely to return to Oaklawn Park for the Arkansas Derby.

ARCADIA, Calif. -  The Factor, who set a track record for six furlongs of 1:06.98 on Dec. 26, had his first workout since that race at Hollywood Park on Tuesday and is scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut in the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs on Feb. 20.

Officially, The Factor worked a half-mile in 48.20 seconds, but trainer Bob Baffert said the workout was six furlongs in 1:11.80.

“He’ll have one more work on Monday,” Baffert said. “If he works well, he can make” the San Vicente.

Wed, 02/09/2011 - 15:57

Ten Devils to try main track in Robert Lewis

ARCADIA, Calif. – Ten Devils faces a potentially career-altering race in Saturday’s $250,000 Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita.

After racing on turf in his first three starts, Ten Devils makes his debut on the main track in the Grade 2 Lewis, a key prep for the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 9.

“I’ll see whether he handles it,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “He’s got plenty of races underneath him. It’s time to find out.”

Wed, 02/09/2011 - 15:54

Mucho Macho Man may ship to Fair Grounds for Risen Star

Adam Coglianese
Mucho Macho Man, after finishing fourth as the favorite in the Holy Bull, may seek easier competition in the Feb. 19 Risen Star at Fair Grounds

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Mucho Macho Man, who finished fourth as the favorite in the Grade 3 Holy Bull in his 3-year-old debut, could make his next start in the Feb. 19 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds, trainer Kathy Ritvo said on Wednesday.

Mucho Macho Man, who weakened late after forcing a fast pace in the one-mile Holy Bull, closed out his 2-year-old campaign finishing second behind To Honor and Serve in both the Nashua and Remsen.

Tue, 02/08/2011 - 16:12

Wine Police working toward 3-year-old debut at Fair Grounds

Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Steve Asmussen hopes to bring Wine Police back in a first-level allowance race.

Wine Police, who looked like one of the better 2-year-olds at Saratoga last summer, is working steadily at Fair Grounds toward his 2011 debut.

“We’ve got a couple easy five-eighths in him,” trainer Steve Asmussen said last week.

Breezing again Monday, Wine Police got a little more serious, going five furlongs in 1:01.80, two full seconds faster than his work the week before.

Asmussen said last week that Wine Police was “still probably three weeks to a month away” from racing. Asmussen said his intent was to bring Wine Police back in an entry-level allowance race.

Tue, 02/08/2011 - 14:08

Comma to the Top to start bonus hunt in El Camino Real

Benoit & Associates
Comma to the Top, Corey Nakatani up, wins the CashCall Futurity.

The field for the Grade 3, $200,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate on Saturday will include the third Grade 1 winner in the race’s history: Comma to the Top, the likely favorite, won the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity in December at Hollywood Park.

The other Grade 1 winners to have run in the race were Snow Chief, the 1986 El Camino winner, and Cara Rafaela, the first filly to run in the El Camino when she was fourth as the beaten favorite in 1996.

Mon, 02/07/2011 - 16:11

Decision to race son of Bellamy Road pays off for owner

Adam Coglianese/NYRA

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Dianne Cotter said she didn’t have seller’s remorse after watching Bellamy Road go through the auction ring in 2004 as a 2-year-old for $87,000 and return a year later for George Steinbrenner to win the Wood Memorial by 17 1/2 lengths and head to Louisville as the Kentucky Derby favorite.

Mon, 02/07/2011 - 14:21

McPeek sees benefit in Casper's Touch's loss

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - One day after watching one of his top Kentucky Derby prospects, Casper’s Touch, suffer through a horrendous trip in his 3-year-old debut at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, trainer Ken McPeek was calm and composed discussing the unfortunate circumstances that led to the colt’s second-place finish as the even-money favorite in the nine-furlong, entry-level allowance event

Mon, 02/07/2011 - 13:46

Brethren to start year with Sam Davis at Tampa Bay

TAMPA, Fla. - Brethren, a half-brother to 2010 Kentucky Deby winner Super Saver, is being pointed for Saturday’s Grade 3, $225,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes for his 2011 debut, according to trainer Todd Pletcher. The Sam Davis will be joined on the Saturday card at Tampa Bay Downs by Grade 3, $125,000 Endeavour Stakes and the $125,000 Florida Oaks.

Unbeaten in two starts, Brethren worked five furlongs Sunday at Palm Meadows in 1:01.00, the fourth-best time of 23 runners who worked that distance. Ramon Dominguez will be aboard on Saturday, Pletcher said.

Sun, 02/06/2011 - 14:11

Uncle Mo works toward 3-year-old debut at Palm Meadows

Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Todd Pletcher would prefer to run Uncle Mo in the Timeley Writer at Gulfstream, but if the stakes does not fill, Plan B may be the Tampa Bay Derby.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Uncle Mo took his first major step on the road to his 3-year-old debut when working a half-mile in 49.60 seconds at Palm Meadows on Sunday. The work was Uncle Mo’s second since arriving in south Florida earlier this winter.

“I thought the work was excellent, it was textbook,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He went out in 25, came home in 24 and 2, and galloped out well. I’m amazed at his fitness level off just one three-eighths breeze. Before this work, I might have felt like I was on a tight schedule. Now, I feel like we’re ahead of schedule.”

Sun, 02/06/2011 - 13:07

Comma to the Top, Positive Response drill for El Camino Real Derby

Shigeki Kikkawa
Comma to the Top worked five furlongs in 59.40 seconds on Sunday in preparation for Saturday's Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby.

Comma to the Top and Positive Response, the two likely favorites for Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields, each turned in five-furlong bullet works Sunday in their final preparation for the 1 1/8-mile race.

Grade 1 winner Comma to the Top had a 59.40-second drill that was the best of 28 workers at Hollywood Park.