Wed, 05/16/2018 - 15:00

The Tabulator targets Woody Stephens Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
The Tabulator training at Del Mar ahead of the 2017 Breeders' Cup Classic.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The Tabulator took his West Coast tour last fall. Now, he is ready to check out New York.

The Tabulator aced his 3-year-old debut, winning the $50,000 Golden Circle Stakes on May 3 at Prairie Meadows by more than six lengths, and he will be given a sterner test June 9 at Belmont Park in the Woody Stephens Stakes on the Belmont Stakes card.

“The Woody Stephens seems like a good spot,” said Larry Rivelli, who trains The Tabulator for Carolyn Wilson. “Hopefully, that race, then the Indiana Derby.”

Wed, 05/16/2018 - 14:26

Preakness: Justify to face seven in mudfest

Barbara D. Livingston
Bravazo is bred on the same cross as Calumet Farm's 2013 Preakness winner Oxbow.

BALTIMORE – If you liked the weather for the Kentucky Derby, you’ll love it for the Preakness. The forecast for the rest of the week here at Pimlico, according to The Weather Channel, is for daily rain or showers, the chances ranging from a low of 90 percent on Thursday and Saturday to 100 percent on Friday. It’s a mud, mud, mud, mud world.

Wed, 05/16/2018 - 14:20

Greyvitos getting time off

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Greyvitos is scheduled to get the rest of the spring off.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Greyvitos, a two-time stakes winner who finished 13th in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs on May 5, will be rested for the remainder of the spring, trainer Adam Kitchingman said on Wednesday.

Greyvitos emerged from the Pat Day Mile with minor injury to a hind leg when he made contact with another runner, Kitchingman said.

“We’ll back off on him right now,” Kitchingman said. “We’ll give him some time. He was pretty banged up.”

Wed, 05/16/2018 - 14:16

Jockey Geovanni Franco suspended four days

Shigeki Kikkawa
Geovanni Franco, the regular rider of Grade 1 winner Fault in 2018, has been handed a four-day suspension.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Geovanni Franco, the second-leading rider at the Santa Anita spring-summer meeting, has been suspended four racing days, from Friday through May 24, for his role in a disqualification in the eighth race on May 10.

Franco, 27, was cited for his ride on South Boot Shirley who finished third but was demoted to seventh after Franco crossed to the inside without clearance going into the first turn of the one-mile turf race for California-bred maiden fillies and mares.

Wed, 05/16/2018 - 14:16

Miss Sunset to skip Fran's Valentine for Desert Stormer

Shigeki Kikkawa
Trainer Jeff Bonde is targeting a pair of graded dirt stakes for Miss Sunset.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Miss Sunset has won two stakes for California-breds this year, but she will not start Saturday in the $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes for statebred fillies and mares. Trainer Jeff Bonde said on Wednesday that Miss Sunset will be pointed for the Grade 3 Desert Stormer Stakes, a $100,000 race for fillies and mares at six furlongs on May 27.

Wed, 05/16/2018 - 14:06

Pool guarantees Friday for multirace wagers

BALTIMORE – As expected on a huge day, Pimlico will be offering a wide range of wagering options Friday on the 14-race card.

Foremost is the start of the Black-Eyed Susan-Preakness double, a two-day wager linking the biggest races here Friday and Saturday. Last year, when Actress and Cloud Computing were the respective winners, the double lured $793,718 in handle and resulted in a $368.80 payoff for $2.

Wed, 05/16/2018 - 14:06

Slow finish to Derby gives Amoss hope for Lone Sailor in Preakness

Barbara D. Livingston
Lone Sailor, shown training last month at Churchill Downs, was eighth in the Kentucky Derby.

BALTIMORE – Aside from Lone Sailor exiting the Kentucky Derby in great shape, Tom Amoss felt compelled to try the Preakness with him for another reason: the slow closing times in the Derby.

“It seems like nobody is talking about it,” said Amoss.

:: Visit DRF's one-stop shop for Black-Eyed Susan and Preakness PPs, guides, and more!

Wed, 05/16/2018 - 14:00

Pimlico confident turf stakes will stay on grass

BALTIMORE – Despite the prospect of more than five inches of rain here this week, Maryland Jockey Club officials are confident that the 13 turf races scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Pimlico will stay on grass.

Leo Hernandez, the Pimlico turf-course superintendent, said he walked the course on Wednesday after two to 2 1/2 inches of rain fell overnight and was pleased with its condition.

“It’s still firm,” Hernandez said. “I keep the grass up high. We’re looking good so far.”

Wed, 05/16/2018 - 13:26

Army Mule to miss Met Mile, get time off

Barbara D. Livingston
Army Mule, 6 1/4-length winner of the Grade 1 Carter, will target a late summer and fall campaign.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher reported Tuesday that the undefeated and untested Army Mule was going to get some time off and would miss an intended start in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park on June 9. Army Mule, owned by Vinnie Viola’s St. Elias Stable, has been training in South Florida at Palm Beach Downs since his 6 1/4-length victory in the Grade 1 Carter on April 7.

Wed, 05/16/2018 - 13:26

Longtime Florida trainer Reed Combest dies at 88

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Longtime South Florida trainer Reed Combest died at the age of 88 earlier this month.

Combest trained for nearly four decades, retiring in 2013 with 487 victories for earnings of nearly $7 million. His most notable win came in 2002 at Gulfstream with Ms. Brookski in the Grade 2 Davona Dale.