Mon, 02/12/2018 - 15:10

Sporting Chance sharp in work for Southwest

Barbara D. Livingston
Sporting Chance is set to make his first start since winning the Grade 1 Hopeful in Monday's Southwest Stakes.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Sporting Chance, the most accomplished young horse on the grounds at Oaklawn as the winner of last year’s Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga, put in a sharp final work Monday for his 3-year-old debut. He is being pointed for the Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest on Feb. 19.

Mon, 02/12/2018 - 15:06

Supreme Aura likely for Risen Star, High North undecided

Amanda Hodges Weir/Hodges Photography
Supreme Aura convincingly won his first two starts, both going six furlongs.

NEW ORLEANS – Even after entering the race, the trainers of Risen Star entrants Supreme Aura and High North left the door open to opt for the Southwest Stakes on Feb. 19 at Oaklawn Park.

Trainer Mike Stidham said Monday it was very likely Supreme Aura would start in the Risen Star, and that he’d only consider entering the Southwest on Friday if the race were to be split into divisions. Either way, Supreme Aura will be trying two turns for the first time after two eye-catching sprint wins.

Mon, 02/12/2018 - 15:06

Telekinesis sparkles in debut

NEW ORLEANS – Perhaps he can’t bend spoons with his mind, but the 3-year-old colt Telekinesis debuted last week at Fair Grounds like a horse with unusual talent.

Mon, 02/12/2018 - 15:00

Risen Star big test for Noble Indy

Lauren King/Coglianese Photos
Noble Indy could make his stakes debut in Saturday's Risen Star.

NEW ORLEANS – Noble Indy failed to meet a mere $45,000 reserve when taken to auction as a yearling. In that regard, he already has exceeded early expectations, and could continue on the Triple Crown trail with a solid showing Saturday in the Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds.

Noble Indy, who had been considered for other 3-year-old stakes, worked five furlongs in 1:01.12 Saturday at Palm Beach Downs in Florida, exited the work in good order, and has a Wednesday flight booked to New Orleans.

Mon, 02/12/2018 - 13:46

Trainers Gargan, Lalman suspended, fined

Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Danny Gargan had his best Saratoga meet this summer with 10 wins from 38 starters.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainers Danny Gargan and Dennis Lalman were both issued suspensions and fines by the New York Gaming Commission for medication violations.

Gargan was suspended 10 days and fined $1,000 for an overage of phenylbutazone in the system of the horse Playwright, who won a New York-bred maiden $40,000 claiming race at Aqueduct on Dec. 6. Bute is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory used to relieve pain.

Gargan’s suspension was reduced to seven days for waiving his right of appeal. He will begin serving the suspension Sunday.

Mon, 02/12/2018 - 13:46

My Boy Tate staying home for Hollie Hughes Stakes

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
My Boy Tate and jockey Dylan Davis win the Say Florida Sandy Stakes by three lengths.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Michelle Nevin said she thought about running My Boy Tate in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 General George Handicap at Laurel Park, but ultimately decided to keep the New York-bred gelding home and point to Monday’s $100,000 Hollie Hughes Stakes for statebreds.

My Boy Tate has strung together four consecutive victories – all in statebred company – including a three-length score in the Say Florida Sandy Stakes here last month. Last Saturday, My Boy Tate breezed five furlongs in 1:01.77 over the Belmont training track.

Mon, 02/12/2018 - 13:36

A Different Style will stick to sprinting

Joe Labozzetta/NYRA
A Different Style wins Saturday's Jimmy Winkfield.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – It was a pretty good week for trainer John Servis. On Feb. 4, his beloved Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl. Six days later, the Servis-trained 3-year-old A Different Style proved victorious in the Jimmy Winkfield at Aqueduct.

While Eagles fans might be dreaming of a dynasty, Servis is not dreaming of the Kentucky Derby with A Different Style, who will remain sprinting and who will likely point to the Grade 3, $250,000 Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct on April 7.

Mon, 02/12/2018 - 13:16

Saturday features full card of starter allowances

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The full slate of 12 starter-allowance races that Gulfstream has offered in recent years on Presidents Day (Monday) has been shifted to the Saturday of the holiday weekend for this year. The purse of every race is $50,000 or $60,000.

Page McKenney, the 8-year-old gelding with more than $1.76 million in earnings, is eligible for one of the Saturday starters, the Old Man Hickory, and was expected when entries were drawn Wednesday.

Monday, the last of six straight days of action here, will bring the Grade 2 Royal Delta, a one-mile race.

Mon, 02/12/2018 - 13:16

Casse aiming high with He Takes Charge

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Mark Casse is so high on He Takes Charge that the trainer intends to give the gray Tapit colt a shot to prove himself with the elite of the 3-year-old class. Making his fifth career start, He Takes Charge drew clear late to win a 1 1/16-mile maiden race here Saturday with Tyler Gaffalione aboard, earning a career-high 82 Beyer Speed Figure.

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays

Mon, 02/12/2018 - 13:06

Imperial Hint back on work tab, eyes Golden Shaheen

Susie Raisher
Imperial Hint (on rail) finishes second to Roy H in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Imperial Hint, the standout sprinter who was second to Roy H in the Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar in his last start at 4, returned to the work tab Saturday, breezing a half-mile in a bullet 47.40 seconds over a fast Tampa Bay Downs track.

Trainer Luis Carvajal Jr. said the 5-year-old Florida-bred horse is a possible starter in the March 31 Dubai Golden Shaheen.

“We have received an invitation and are considering it,” he said. “I’d say it’s 50-50.”