Mon, 11/27/2017 - 14:26

Ami's Mesa getting winter break in Florida

Barbara D. Livingston
Ami's Mesa (right), runner-up in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint, will get six to eight weeks off.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Ami’s Mesa, second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, is getting a break and will join trainer Josie Carroll’s string at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida in the new year.

“She’s turned out at Wavertree Farm in Ocala,” Carroll said. “She’s going to spend about six to eight weeks turned out.”

After starting from the outside in the 14-horse field in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 4, Ami’s Mesa held the lead in deep stretch, but was caught in the final strides by Bar of Gold.

Mon, 11/27/2017 - 14:20

Singing Bullet impresses in closing-day allowance score

Churchill Downs/Coady Photography
Singing Bullet earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure for his Nov. 26 allowance win at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – One of the biggest Beyer Speed Figures during the final week at Churchill was earned by Singing Bullet, when his 3 1/4-length victory in a one-mile allowance Sunday translated to a 95. It was yet another big effort for a 3-year-old who showed steady improvement throughout the year.

“We’re excited for what he can do as a 4-year-old,” said Dale Romans, who trains the Hard Spun colt for Stronach Stables. “I guess we might have to look for a stakes for him at Gulfstream off that race.”

Turfway jockeys in transit

Mon, 11/27/2017 - 14:16

Pennington out four to six weeks

Barbara D. Livingston
Frankie Pennington, 29, came into Wednesday's program at Delaware Park needing three wins for 2,000 lifetime.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Frankie Pennington, the leading rider at Parx Racing in suburban Philadelphia every year since 2014, is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks after undergoing surgery Sunday following a spill from Diamond King in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill the previous day.

Pennington suffered a groin injury in the incident and was “still pretty sore” early Monday, said Butch Reid, trainer of Diamond King.

“He was going to ride home with us today but doesn’t feel he’s ready to do that yet, so he’s going to fly home later this week,” Reid said.

Mon, 11/27/2017 - 14:16

Cox edges Asmussen in Churchill fall trainer standings

Churchill Downs/Coady Photography
Brad Cox (far right) won his second Churchill training title at the conclusion of the 2017 fall meet.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – One time might be a fluke. Two times in a row, however, is something entirely different.

After earning his first Churchill Downs training title at the 11-day September meet, Brad Cox won another one when outlasting 18-time Churchill titlist Steve Asmussen on the final program of the 21-day fall meet. Both trainers sent out one winner apiece Sunday, giving Cox a 13-12 edge after an uncoupled Asmussen entry finished second and sixth in the final race of the meet.

Mon, 11/27/2017 - 14:16

Pegasus a possibility for Seeking the Soul

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – You might say November went pretty well for Dallas Stewart.

The 58-year-old trainer not only has a prime contender for the $16 million Pegasus World Cup in Forever Unbridled, but he might well have a second in Seeking the Soul, whose breakthrough victory Friday in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs has landed the 4-year-old colt in the top echelon of prospects for the North American older-horse division for 2018.

Seeking the Soul, like Forever Unbridled, is owned by his breeder, Charles Fipke.

Mon, 11/27/2017 - 13:56

Stewards discipline three jockeys for rides

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jockeys Manny Franco and Luis Saez will start the week on suspension, and colleague Paco Lopez was fined $1,500 in three separate incidents that were termed careless riding by the stewards.

Franco, the leading rider at the meet with 17 wins, and Saez will each serve three-day suspensions and will be eligible to return for Saturday’s Cigar Mile card. For waiving their right of appeal, the suspensions were reduced from five days. Meanwhile, Lopez is appealing his fine.

Mon, 11/27/2017 - 13:50

Small Bear to spend winter in Florida

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Small Bear returned $19.80 in winning the Gio Pointi Stakes at Aqueduct on Friday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Small Bear, neck winner of Saturday’s $150,000 Gio Ponti Stakes at Aqueduct, will be among the 18 to 20 horses trainer Jeremiah Englehart will have in south Florida at the Palm Meadows training center for the upcoming winter meet.

Englehart said Small Bear would get a little down time in December before he starts cranking up for a potential start or two at Gulfstream Park. A race like the Grade 3, $150,000 Canadian Turf going a mile March 3 could be a return spot for Small Bear.

Mon, 11/27/2017 - 13:50

Comely Stakes romp puts Actress's name up in lights

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Actress finished 8 1/4 lengths best in Friday's Grade 3 Comely.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Jason Servis hopes Actress can be a leading lady in the older filly and mare division in 2018, but he is not exactly sure when and where she will perform next.

Actress dominated Friday’s Grade 3 Comely Stakes by 8 1/4 lengths, earning a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure after running 1 1/8 miles in 1:52.66 over a dull Aqueduct main track. Actress wore blinkers for the first time in the Comely, and after breaking slowly, she put jockey Jose Ortiz in an up-close stalking position and still finished strong.

Mon, 11/27/2017 - 13:20

Navarro wins three on Gulfstream Park West closing day

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Trainer Jorge Navarro has said he will apply for stalls for the Aqueduct meet that opens on Nov. 3.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Jorge Navarro wasted little time serving notice he is looking for another big Gulfstream Park championship meet, posting a hat trick on Sunday’s closing-day program at Gulfstream Park West. Navarro’s three winners included a come-from-behind victory by Fire Mission, who registered his fourth consecutive tally in defeating a solid field of starter-allowance rivals going six furlongs.

Mon, 11/27/2017 - 13:16

Gunnevera breezes for Harlan's Holiday

Barbara D. Livingston
Gunnevera will run in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup if his owner can secure a berth.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Gunnevera, who finished in a dead heat for fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, had his first work back since returning from the West Coast, breezing an easy five furlongs in 1:02.18 on Sunday morning at Gulfstream Park West with jockey Edgard Zayas aboard.

Trainer Antonio Sano said he was very pleased with the move and that Gunnevera will close his 3-year-old campaign in the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday here Dec. 16 as a stepping-stone to the $16 million Pegasus World Cup six weeks later.