Mon, 02/26/2018 - 12:46

Wilkes hoping Gotta Go can step into Derby picture

Barbara D. Livingston
Gotta Go, second in the Swale last out, will get a chance to earn Kentucky Derby points in Saturday's Fountain of Youth Stakes.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Ian Wilkes knows a thing or two about being on the Kentucky Derby trail, having been in the winner’s circle twice, first as the exercise rider for Unbridled in 1990 and again as an assistant to trainer Carl Nafzger 17 years later with Street Sense.

Wilkes had a Derby starter of his own a year ago, the highly regarded McCraken, who was virtually eliminated when knocked around in traffic shortly after the start, finishing eighth as the second choice in the wagering behind race winner Always Dreaming.

Mon, 02/26/2018 - 12:26

Castellano brothers team for meaningful win

Lauren King/Coglianese Photos
Jockey Javier Castellano embraces younger brother Abel after piloting Nothins Free to victory in Sunday's third race at Gulfstream.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Jockey Javier Castellano departed here before the end of Sunday’s program to catch a flight to California where he was scheduled to work top Kentucky Derby contender Bolt d’Oro Monday morning at Santa Anita. But before he left, Castellano was more eager to talk about his victory aboard a bottom-level maiden claimer earlier in the day.

Mon, 02/26/2018 - 12:10

Miller pulls off rare 1-2-3 finish in Daytona Stakes

Benoit & Associates
Conquest Tsunami and jockey Victor Espinoza win the Daytona Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Conquest Tsunami, Stormy Liberal, and Calculator gave trainer Peter Miller his first sweep of a trifecta in a stakes in Saturday’s Grade 3 Daytona Stakes at Santa Anita.

Miller, the leading trainer at the winter-spring meeting, achieved this rare milestone despite a tumultuous period in recent months for him.

Miller’s stable lost five horses in the wildfire that struck the San Luis Rey Downs training center in early December. Along with the rest of the San Luis Rey Downs-based stables, Miller relocated his horses to Del Mar for the winter.

Mon, 02/26/2018 - 12:00

Dalmore changes hands, but still a candidate for the Santa Anita Handicap

Benoit & Associates
Dalmore was bought last week by Ron Paolucci and turned over to trainer Bob Hess Jr.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Dalmore, a Grade 3 stakes winner in 2016, was bought privately by Ron Paolucci last week and has been transferred from trainer Keith Desormeaux to Bob Hess Jr. in advance of an expected start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 10.

The deal was completed days after Dalmore won an optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles by 8 1/2 lengths on Feb. 15 at Santa Anita in his first start since last summer.

“I’ve watched him and become a fan,” Hess said. “I was blown away with his win the other day.”

Mon, 02/26/2018 - 11:56

Big names in the mix for Hillsborough Stakes

Shigeki Kikkawa
Daddys Lil Darling (right), winner of the American Oaks, is one of two Grade 1 winners possible for the Hillsborough Stakes.

A matchup of Grade 1 winners is shaping up for the March 10 Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, with Daddys Lil Darling and La Coronel both being pointed to the Grade 2 turf race.

Daddys Lil Darling, winner of the Grade 1 American Oaks to end 2017, is likely to make her 4-year-old debut in the $200,000 Hillsborough when rematched with La Coronel, who beat her a half-length when they ran one-two in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup in October.

Mon, 02/26/2018 - 11:16

Ferrer wins 2018 George Woolf Award

Tom Keyser
Jockey Jose Ferrer will be honored with the 2018 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Veteran rider Jose Ferrer, winner of 4,214 races, is the winner of the 2018 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, it was announced Monday by Santa Anita, which has presented the award annually since 1950.

Sat, 02/24/2018 - 17:31

Potential starters go through final Fountain of Youth preps

Susie Raisher
Good Magic had his first work since the Breeders' Cup on Sunday at Palm Meadows.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - A handful of potential Fountain of Youth starters, including reigning juvenile champion Good Magic and the Dale Romans trio of Free Drop Billy, Storm Runner, and Promises Fulfilled, turned in their final preps for that race Saturday.

At Palm Meadows, Good Magic breezed an easy half-mile in 48.40 before going out a full six furlongs in 1:15.20, according to Daily Racing Form’s Donald Harris. Good Magic worked solo this morning after having gone in company with no less a mate as the older, Grade 1-placed Economic Model in his previous two works.

Sat, 02/24/2018 - 15:18

Kentucky Derby hopeful McKinzie drills seven furlongs

Barbara D. Livingston
McKinzie goes through an early morning work Saturday at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Led by the unbeaten 3-year-old McKinzie, a number of top-class stakes runners worked on a cold, clear Saturday morning at Santa Anita for races here or out of town. Among those on the tab were Kentucky Derby prospects Restoring Hope and Solomini, as well as Santa Anita Handicap hopefuls Accelerate and Pavel.

Fri, 02/23/2018 - 19:34

Fan arrested after running onto training track

ARCADIA, Calif. – A fan who ran onto the training track and was apprehended by Santa Anita security forces shortly before Friday's third race is a minor who will be charged with interfering with a sporting event, a misdemeanor, and was turned over to the Arcadia Police Department for processing, Mike Pytel, an investigator with Santa Anita's security department, said Friday.

Fri, 02/23/2018 - 15:55

Trainer Pish begins 15-day suspension

Shigeki Kikkawa
Trainer Danny Pish plans to have a 15-horse string at Oaklawn Park this winter.

Trainer Danny Pish on Sunday begins serving a 15-day suspension for a medication violation in November at Retama Park, according to a ruling from the Texas Racing Commission.

The suspension extends to other jurisdictions where Pish races, including Arkansas and Louisiana. The suspension runs through March 11. Joseph Smith, who has been an assistant to Pish, was named as the trainer of record for former Pish horses entered in races Sunday at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.