Jason Barkley, who oversaw a large string of horses in Kentucky for trainer Wesley Ward until midway through this year, now has his own six-horse stable at Keeneland. Barkley, 28, also is working the upcoming Keeneland September yearling sale in conjunction with Franklin Ave. Equine, putting together yearling syndicates.
“I’m planning on taking on the 2-year-old races next spring,” said Barkley. “Let’s see if I learned anything from Wesley.”
Trainer Buff Bradley said he is targeting the Grade 1 Shadwell Mile on Oct. 7 at Keeneland as the next start for Divisidero, most recently seventh in the Aug. 12 Arlington Million at 1 1/4 miles.
“We’ll change his training up, maybe breeze a little shorter and not gallop him as far, try and get a little more speed in him,” said Bradley. “We’ll take a good, fresh horse into the Shadwell.”
The folks at Kentucky Downs have led a charmed existence in recent years. Now let’s see if they can do anything about the weather.
As of Wednesday, the remnants of Hurricane Harvey were heading directly toward Kentucky Downs in south-central Kentucky, and track officials at the turf-only track were concerned that its Saturday opener of the five-day meet might have to be postponed. An announcement on the status of the card is expected to come Friday at 5 p.m. Central.
“We’re trying to stay optimistic,” said C.J. Johnsen, director of broadcasting and interstate wagering.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – This year’s Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby is shaping up as one of the best in recent memory, with a slew of contenders shipping in for the race. The winner of this year’s Emerald Downs Derby, Riser, is expected to start and could be favored in the 1 1/8-mile race on Sept. 9.
The first three finishers from last month’s controversial running of the Grade 3 Canadian Derby will try to sort things out when they meet again in the B.C. Derby, the most important race at Hastings.
The well-traveled Hoppertunity, who has not raced since finishing sixth in the Dubai World Cup on March 25, is starting back toward a return to action. He worked an easy three furlongs on Monday at Los Alamitos, his second drill on the comeback trail.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Led by $1 million baby Tatters to Riches, a trio of prospects for the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Futurity on Monday worked Tuesday morning at Del Mar.
Tatters to Riches went right after the first of three renovation breaks and drilled five furlongs in 59.40 seconds under jockey Tyler Baze. He began about six lengths behind a workmate and powered past his company in the lane, then galloped out with enthusiasm all the way to the half-mile pole.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Martin Garcia miraculously escaped serious injury Tuesday morning at Del Mar when a filly he was working broke down while galloping out a furlong past the wire, then plummeted to the ground and rolled over top of Garcia.
“I’m okay,” Garcia said after he walked off the track, his front and back covered in dirt. “She broke down. I tried to hold her up but then the other leg gave way, too. She rolled over top of me. The safety vest saved me.”
Remington Park in Oklahoma City has two high-end races and two interesting maiden special weight races on Wednesday night’s card.
An optional $25,000 claiming race over a mile on the grass goes as race 8 and drew the stakes winners Z Rockstar, Holiday Mischief, Sky Flight, and Phantom Trip. However, a pair of horses who have yet to win stakes, King Ptolemy and Macho Gabacho, could vie for favoritism off third-place finishes in optional $40,000 claiming races at Lone Star Park.
Sir Genghis, who won the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Classic at Evangeline Downs in July, will see allowance action Wednesday night at Evangeline.
Sir Genghis has raced once since the Legends Classic, finishing fourth in the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Turf Classic on Aug. 5 at Louisiana Downs. He moves back to dirt and a sprint distance for the eighth race at Evangeline, a six-furlong allowance that carries a purse of $26,500.
Karl Broberg will win the Evangeline Downs training title by a pole when the Opelousas, La., track’s meet closes on Saturday night, but he was far from celebrating on Monday. Broberg was working the phones as floodwaters were threatening his farm near Delta Downs in Vinton, La.
There has been ongoing flooding in coastal areas in Louisiana and Texas since Hurricane Harvey made landfall late Friday night in Rockport, Texas.
“We are in a bad spot right now,” Broberg said. “I’m talking with the guys at the farm, getting things ready if we do need to get mares out of there.”
