ARCADIA, Calif. – Fault extended her winning streak to three races in Sunday’s Grade 3 Adoration Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.
After Sunday’s race, trainer Phil D’Amato said two Grade 1 races for fillies and mares are being considered for her next start – the $400,000 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita on June 2 or the $750,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park on June 9.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Eric Kruljac has been suspended 15 days and fined $3,000 after one of his starters at Santa Anita in February tested in excess of the permitted level of total carbon dioxide, according to a ruling released on Sunday by the board of stewards.
The penalties were part of a stipulated agreement between the California Horse Racing Board and Kruljac, the ruling stated.
ARCADIA, Calif. – A low-key Thursday program at Santa Anita will be an important day for jockey Rafael Bejarano, who returns to riding after having been sidelined for about seven weeks with a wrist injury.
Bejarano, who has not ridden since March 18, said last weekend that he is ready both physically and mentally to resume riding.
Last week, Bejarano was cleared by doctors to resume exercising horses.
Earlier this spring, Bejarano spent time in his native Peru, visiting friends and family.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A mandatory payout of a Single 6 carryover pool of $385,132 will be available to horseplayers Thursday when Churchill Downs begins the post-Kentucky Derby segment of its 38-day spring meet with an eight-race twilight card.
The desire to take advantage of multiple Grade 1 opportunities on the East Coast for 3-year-old fillies the rest of the year, coupled with the Breeders’ Cup Distaff being at Churchill Downs this fall, has caused the Bloom Racing syndicate to leave Midnight Bisou at Churchill Downs and turn her over to trainer Steve Asmussen, Jeff Bloom, Bloom Racing’s managing partner, said Monday.
ARCADIA, Calif.-The 2-year-old colt Tap the Wire will be worth following in California-bred stakes at Del Mar this summer.
On Saturday at Santa Anita, Tap the Wire won his debut in a maiden race for statebreds at 4 1/2 furlongs. Owned by breeders John and Allegra Ernst, Tap the Wire was always near the front and drew away to win by 3 3/4 lengths in a 21-1 upset.
“We’ve liked him from the beginning,” trainer Dan Dunham said. “He promised us a lot in the morning.”
ARCADIA, Calif. - Not much worked for Blame the Rider in his first five starts, all on dirt. From October to early March, his best result was a third in a maiden race.
But Blame the Rider has been perfect since he was switched to turf last month. A win in a maiden race on April 14 was followed by a stakes win in Saturday’s $101,035 Singletary Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile at Santa Anita.
Kentucky Oaks runner-up Wonder Gadot will target the Queen’s Plate, the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, on June 30 at Woodbine, trainer Mark Casse said as he makes plans for his 3-year-olds.
Wonder Gadot dueled the length of the stretch with Monomoy Girl in the Kentucky Oaks before Monomoy Girl prevailed by a half-length, surviving a claim of foul. Casse said Wonder Gadot, who won the Mazarine Stakes at Woodbine and the Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct last year, emerged in good order.
“She is amazing. She’s bouncing around,” Casse said.
Trainer Keith Desormeaux was hands-on Sunday morning, walking his standout 3-year-old My Boy Jack around the shed row and then holding him for his bath. He spoke with admiration for the colt who, he said, after a busy spring campaign and a major effort in the Kentucky Derby, will not run in the Preakness Stakes.
“This horse has got a heart of gold,” Desormeaux said. “I already had plenty of respect for him, but after yesterday, man. This horse, he is to be commended.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – There were 19 horses who took on Justify in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, but by Sunday morning here at Churchill Downs, few trainers were even entertaining the thought of trying him again in two weeks in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, let alone committing to the race.
