Wed, 04/17/2019 - 13:36

World of Trouble targets Twin Spires Turf Sprint

Debra A. Roma
World of Trouble wins the Grade 1 Carter on dirt at Aqueduct on April 6.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – It was always the plan for World of Trouble to return to turf for his next start. It’s just going to happen earlier than anticipated.

World of Trouble, who won the Grade 1 Carter on dirt at Aqueduct on April 6, will make his next start in the Grade 2, $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on the undercard of the Kentucky Oaks program May 3, trainer Jason Servis said Wednesday.

Servis said owner Mike Dubb thought waiting nine weeks for the Grade 1 Jaipur at Belmont on June 8 might be more time than necessary for World of Trouble.

Wed, 04/17/2019 - 13:30

Sadler pointing Campaign to Brooklyn Invitational

Benoit Photo
John Sadler is pointing Campaign to the 1 1/2-mile Brooklyn Invitational.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Campaign won his first stakes in Sunday’s Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup at 1 1/2 miles, and will remain in distance stakes into summer.

Trainer John Sadler said Wednesday that Campaign will be pointed for the Grade 2 Brooklyn Invitational at 1 1/2 miles on dirt at Belmont Park on June 8.

Owned by Woodford Racing, Campaign started on consecutive weekends earlier this month, finishing fourth in the Santa Anita Handicap on April 6 before winning the Tokyo City Cup eight days later.

Wed, 04/17/2019 - 13:26

Baffert to run McKinzie, Marley's Freedom at Churchill

Barbara D. Livingston
Bob Baffert plans to run McKinzie in the Alysheba at Churchill and then in the Met Mile at Belmont.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Grade 1 stakes winners Marley’s Freedom and McKinzie, both finalists for Eclipse Awards in 2018, will be part of trainer Bob Baffert’s team of stakes runners at Churchill Downs on the first weekend of May.

McKinzie, second in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on April 6, will start in the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes on May 3, a $400,000 race run at 1 1/16 miles. Baffert said on Wednesday that the Alysheba Stakes is designed as a prep for the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park on June 8.

“That’s our main goal,” he said.

Wed, 04/17/2019 - 13:16

Maker has three for Elkhorn Stakes

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Mike Maker is the all-time leading trainer at both Kentucky Downs and in the Claiming Crown series.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Mike Maker has three of the 10 older horses – Soglio, Bigger Picture, and Zulu Alpha – in the Saturday feature, the Grade 2, $250,000 Elkhorn. Maker has two wins in the Elkhorn, with Dark Cove (2013) and Da Big Hoss (2016).

From the hedge, this is the field for the 1 1/2-mile turf race: Vettori Kin, Hunter O’Riley, Leitone, Soglio, Canessar, Tiz a Slam, Bigger Picture, Red Knight, Final Copy, Zulu Alpha.

Wed, 04/17/2019 - 13:16

Blue Prize rerouted from Doubledogdare to La Troienne

Barbara D. Livingston
Blue Prize is expected to make her first start of the year in the Doubledogdare on Friday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Ignacio Correas said the decision to scratch Blue Prize as the likely favorite from the Grade 3, $100,000 Doubledogdare on Friday at Keeneland in favor of the Grade 1, $500,000 La Troienne on May 3 at Churchill was made for several reasons.

“First of all, we’d like to get another Grade 1 for her,” said Correas, referring to her victory here last fall in the Spinster. “And she loves Churchill. Also, Monomoy Girl isn’t running in the La Troienne, and the Doubledogdare looks tougher than a normal Grade 3.”

Wed, 04/17/2019 - 13:00

Omaha Beach arrives in Kentucky to prepare for Derby

Coady Photography
Omaha Beach arrives at Churchill Downs on Tuesday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Omaha Beach arrived Tuesday afternoon from Arkansas in becoming the latest contender for the 145th Kentucky Derby to take up residence at Churchill Downs.

Wed, 04/17/2019 - 11:00

Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for April 17, 2019

Barbara D. Livingston
Country House gained a spot in the Kentucky Derby by finishing third in the Arkansas Derby last Saturday.

WHO’S HOT

Tue, 04/16/2019 - 21:54

CHRB files complaint against Morey; hearing scheduled

ARCADIA, Calif. – The California Horse Racing Board has filed a complaint against trainer William Morey, alleging that a member of his staff administered a substance containing an alkalizing agent to two horses in the hours before they were scheduled to start on March 29 at Santa Anita.

The stewards at Santa Anita have scheduled a hearing in the case for May 2. The hearing could lead to a fine and/or suspension against Morey, pending testimony and a decision by stewards.

Mon, 04/15/2019 - 15:24

Irad Ortiz Jr. to ride Improbable in Kentucky Derby

Justin N. Lane
Irad Ortiz Jr. won the Gulfstream Park riding title by a single win over Luis Saez.

Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Improbable in the Kentucky Derby on May 4 at Churchill Downs, according to Elliott Walden, the chief executive of co-owner WinStar Farm.

Jose Ortiz, Irad's brother, rode Improbable to a second-place finish in the Arkansas Derby on Saturday. Jose Ortiz has chosen to ride Tacitus, the Wood Memorial winner, in the Kentucky Derby.

Walden said Irad Ortiz was chosen because "he's a top rider, and we won a Belmont Stakes with him with Creator."

"It made sense," Walden said Monday. "He's an Eclipse Award-winning rider."

Mon, 04/15/2019 - 14:56

Midnight Bisou being sent to Asmussen's Churchill stable

Coady Photography
Midnight Bisou (left) beats Escape Clause by a nose in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap on Sunday.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The long-range goal for Midnight Bisou this year remains the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, but the path she will take to get there is still being determined, trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday, the day after Midnight Bisou won the Grade 1, $750,000 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park.