Fri, 10/27/2017 - 12:40

Eurton sees good energy in Champagne Room's work

Champagne Room worked five furlongs early Friday at Santa Anita, as the filly bids for her second Breeders’ Cup upset. Champagne Room paid $69.20 winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last year, and her odds are likely to be higher than 10-1 next Friday in the Distaff.

Champagne Room was sidelined early this year with an ankle chip. She won her comeback by 3 3/4 lengths in the Remington Park Oaks on Sept. 24.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2017: Pre-entries, odds, comments, and more

Fri, 10/27/2017 - 11:01

It Tiz Well to miss Breeders' Cup Distaff

Barbara D. Livingston
It Tiz Well trains Tuesday at Santa Anita. She was ruled out of the Breeders' Cup Distaff on Friday by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

ARCADIA, Calif. – It Tiz Well, the improving Grade 1 winner, will miss the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 3 at Del Mar, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer confirmed Friday.

“She’s just a little tender on her feet out of her last work,” Hollendorfer said, referring to a five-furlong workout Wednesday at Santa Anita. “We decided not to run her in that race.”

Fri, 10/27/2017 - 07:56

Second-year owner Edwards back at Breeders' Cup with another top contender

John Bambury
Bob Edwards (second from right), teamed with jockey Javier Castellano and trainer Chad Brown to win the 2016 BC Juvenile Fillies Turf with New Money Honey.

ARCADIA, Calif. – In his first year as a racehorse owner, Bob Edwards won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita with New Money Honey in 2016.

This season, Edwards and trainer Chad Brown are back in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on Friday with leading contender Rushing Fall.

In a way, Edwards sort of expected to be there. Earlier this week, Edwards recalled that Brown took a liking to Rushing Fall last winter, while inspecting the owner’s 2-year-old prospects on a Florida farm.

Thu, 10/26/2017 - 16:22

Leading Quarter Horse trainer Judd Kearl suspended for 19 years

Coady Photography
Judd Kearl

Judd Kearl, one of the leading trainers in Quarter Horse racing, has been suspended for 19 years by the Texas Racing Commission due to multiple positives for a banned antidepressant that has not been available commercially for nearly 30 years.

Thu, 10/26/2017 - 15:56

Allowance win could send Your Love back to stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Your Love is likely to be favored in Wednesday's second-level allowance feature at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Your Love is likely headed back to stakes company after recording a solid 1 1/4-length victory in a second-level allowance race Wednesday at Belmont Park.

A 3-year-old daughter of Flatter and a full sister to Economic Model, she took advantage of a swift early pace and an inside trip to record her third win in five career starts. She ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.46 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 87.

“I thought she ran well, had a good setup and a good trip compared to Saratoga, where she was right on the pace,” trainer Chad Brown said.

Thu, 10/26/2017 - 15:50

Wise Gal faces 11 others in Chelsey Flower

ELMONT, N.Y. – Sixteen were entered Thursday for Sunday’s $100,000 Chelsey Flower Stakes, the co-feature on Belmont’s closing-day card. The field will be limited to 12 runners.

Among the entrants is Wise Gal, a daughter of Einstein trained by Dove Houghton who has won both of her starts, including the Selima Stakes at Laurel. Wise Gal drew post 8 and will be ridden by Steve Hamilton.

Madame X and Eighty Six Mets, second and third behind Wise Gal, are also in this field.

Thu, 10/26/2017 - 15:46

Impressive maiden winners meet in Awad Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – War Chest and Way Early were both visually impressive debut winners over the turf course at this meet. On Saturday, the two headline a field of 10 entered in the $100,000 Awad Stakes for 2-year-olds going a mile over Belmont’s Widener turf course.

War Chest, a son of War Front trained by Shug McGaughey, broke last in a field of 12, made a middle move to get into contention, swung widest of all turning for home, and ran down Congruity to win a maiden race by a length. He ran a mile in 1:34.74 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 77.

Thu, 10/26/2017 - 14:46

Breeders' Cup clocker: Imperative drills for Dirt Mile

Coady Photography
Imperative (outside) has not raced since winning the Charles Town Classic on April 22.

Del Mar
Track: Fast
Weather: Clear
Temp: 58

DEL MAR, Calif. – Breeders’ Cup contenders continue to trickle into Del Mar, with a handful of new faces making their first appearances over the track during training hours here Thursday.

Thu, 10/26/2017 - 13:26

Nezwaah likely for BC Filly and Mare Turf

Nezwaah, the winner of the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland in July, is likely to start in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 4, and not the BC Turf against males the same day, trainer Roger Varian said in a text message on Thursday.

Varian described the Filly and Mare Turf as “plan A” for Nezwaah, who has won 5 of 11 starts and earned $299,387.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2017: Pre-entries, odds, comments, and more

Thu, 10/26/2017 - 13:26

Kumin buys interest in Fatale Bere

Shigeki Kikkawa
Surfer Girl winner Fatale Bere (inside) is now partially owned by Sol Kumin's Head of Plains Partners.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Sol Kumin’s Head of Plains Partners has purchased a 25 percent interest in Fatale Bere, who has been pre-entered for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 3.

Kumin and trainer Leonard Powell said the transaction was finalized earlier this week. Ownership of the filly includes Mark Mathiesen, Gerald Benowitz, and Mathilde Powell, the trainer’s wife.