Fri, 06/13/2025 - 14:24

Baffert impressed with Himika's debut victory

Himika cost $900,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in-training in April, the second most-expensive filly of the four-day auction.

On Thursday at Santa Anita, Himika showed why she drew a sky-high price.

Making her debut for trainer Bob Baffert, Himika won a five-furlong maiden race by six lengths in the deceptive time of 57.86 seconds.

Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Himika, a strong favorite who paid $3, stalked Stuffy Mist to early stretch before taking the lead with more than a furlong remaining. Hernandez did not urge Himika in the final furlong.

Fri, 06/13/2025 - 14:22

Thought Process has allowance as stepping-stone for Del Mar stakes

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Thought Process will make her 2025 debut Saturday in an allowance race at Santa Anita.

In the last few weeks, Thought Process, a two-time stakes winner in 2024, has been scratched from the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita and considered for stakes at Churchill Downs and Penn National later this month.

Instead of starting in those races, Thought Process will be heavily favored to win her first start of 2025 in an allowance race for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Fri, 06/13/2025 - 14:19

Shirreffs to map out a plan for Baeza's next start

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Third in the Belmont and Kentucky Derby, Baeza has options for his next start on the East and West coast.

Baeza, third in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes this spring, is under consideration for leading stakes at Del Mar, Monmouth Park, or Saratoga this summer.

On Friday, Baeza was jogged at Santa Anita, his first day of racetrack exercise since returning from Saratoga on Tuesday. In the Belmont Stakes last Saturday, Baeza finished third by 6 3/4 lengths behind Sovereignty and Journalism. In the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3, Baeza was third by 1 3/4 lengths behind those same rivals.

Fri, 06/13/2025 - 14:08

Crazy Mason may ship for Bing Crosby before heading back to Saratoga

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Crazy Mason came from the clouds to win the Graded 2 Carter Stakes in April.

Crazy Mason may have had his three-race winning streak snapped in the Grade 3 True North Stakes, but he did not lose anything in defeat to his trainer, Gregg Sacco. Crazy Mason, who won the Grade 2 Carter in April, rallied from 14 lengths back to finish third, four lengths behind Book’em Danno, in the Grade 3 True North, run over a sloppy track.

“He ran a dynamite race, proud of him,” Sacco said. “It was very hard track to close on once they sealed it. He made up a lot of ground. Came back super.”

Fri, 06/13/2025 - 14:02

Velazquez first jockey to hit $500 million earnings mark

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

John Velazquez has won 6,714 races through Thursday's racing, 11th on the all-time list.

The fantastic week that Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez had in Saratoga during the five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival helped him become the first rider in North America to surpass the $500 million mark in career earnings.

Velazquez, 53, was not as impressed as the number suggests he should. Following Thursday’s card at Aqueduct – where he won the first two races – Velazquez had amassed $500,310,277 in career earnings, according to Equibase. Javier Castellano is second in purse earnings with $408.2 million

Fri, 06/13/2025 - 13:59

With strong 2-year-old crop, Robertson rolling like usual

By Mary Rampellini

It was 30 years ago when trainer Mac Robertson first showed up at Canterbury Park and won four races from 23 starts during the summer of 1995. He’s since become the kingpin of racing in Minnesota.

Robertson is Canterbury Park’s all-time leading trainer in local wins, with 1,105 through Thursday, and stable earnings, with more than $24 million. He’s won 141 stakes at Canterbury and in 2011 was inducted into the track’s Hall of Fame.

Fri, 06/13/2025 - 08:02

Mystik Dan, Thorpedo Anna on track for next starts

By Marcus Hersh

Coady Media

After a victory in the Blame Stakes, Mystik Dan will start next in the Stephen Foster.

Thorpedo Anna won the 2024 Kentucky Oaks on a Friday, and the following evening Mystik Dan won the Kentucky Derby. The two classic winners trained by Kenny McPeek are on target to race on the same card once again at Churchill Downs.

They’re coming to these June 28 starts from very different places – and ironically.

Fri, 06/13/2025 - 07:56

After missing Royal Ascot, Ward pointing Outfielder to Prix Morny

By Marcus Hersh

Barbara D. Livingston

For the first time since 2012, trainer Wesley Ward is without a Royal Ascot starter but has Outfielder aimed at France's Prix Morny.

Wesley Ward said during the third week of May that his Royal Ascot plans hinged on a 2-year-old colt named Outfielder. If Outfielder ran to expectations in a maiden turf sprint May 23 at Churchill, he’d head whatever team Ward decided to send overseas. Outfielder did run to expectations, and he was the hinge point for Ward’s Royal Ascot participation. But Ward, for the first time since 2012, is not sending anyone to the five-day Royal Ascot meeting that begins Tuesday.

Thu, 06/12/2025 - 15:15

Carmouche fined, suspended one day for whip violation in Manhattan victory

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Jockey Kendrick Carmouche guided Deterministic to a front-running victory in the Grade 1 Manhattan at Saratoga.

Jockey Kendrick Carmouche was suspended one day and fined $5,500 for striking Deterministic seven times, one more than permissible by rule, in winning the Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan Stakes by a head over Integration Sunday at Saratoga, according to a ruling issued Thursday by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority.

Thu, 06/12/2025 - 14:28

Kopion, Sweet Azteca on course for Great Lady M. showdown

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Kopion is unbeaten in three sprint stakes since returning from an eight-month layoff in late December.

A tantalizing showdown is on schedule between the Grade 1 winners Kopion and Sweet Azteca in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos on July 5.

Kopion, the emphatic winner of the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff at seven furlongs at Churchill Downs on May 3, worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds at Santa Anita on Wednesday.

“She couldn’t be doing any better,” trainer Richard Mandella said on Thursday.

Kopion, owned by Spendthrift Farm, is unbeaten in three sprint stakes since returning from an eight-month layoff in late December.

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