Tue, 04/01/2025 - 13:55

Wood Memorial: Dutrow puts finishing touches on Captain Cook in half-mile work

By David Grening
Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Captain Cook has worked seven times on the Belmont training track since winning the Withers on Feb. 1 for trainer Rick Dutrow.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Captain Cook, among the favorites for Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, worked a half-mile in 48.22 seconds Tuesday morning over the Belmont Park training track.

Under jockey Manny Franco, Captain Cook went in splits of 12.15 seconds, 23.90, and came home his final quarter in 24.32 over a track rated good. With the Wood four days away, Captain Cook was not asked to gallop out.

“Looked like he was just galloping along,” trainer Rick Dutrow said. ”[Franco] said he’s ready.”

Mon, 03/31/2025 - 14:05

Woodbine releases 2025 stakes schedule

By Ron Gierkink
Julie Wright
The $500,000 Woodbine Oaks will be held July 20.

Woodbine’s 2025 stakes schedule, released on Monday, revealed that the Grade 1 Canadian International will return from a hiatus and will be switched to the inner turf along with three Grade 1 stakes while the main course undergoes extensive renovations beginning in late summer.

Mon, 03/31/2025 - 13:52

Eight entered for Ashland as Keeneland spring meet begins

By Nicole Russo
Coady Media
La Cara is among eight fillies who will vie for Kentucky Oaks points in the Ashland.

A field of eight fillies was entered Monday for the Grade 1, $750,000 Ashland Stakes, the opening-day feature on Friday at Keeneland and one of the final major Kentucky Oaks prep races.

From the rail out, the field for the Ashland is Look Forward, La Cara, Supa Speed, Muhimma, Running Away, Take Charge Milady, Amarth, and Admit. They are chasing points toward a spot in the May 2 Kentucky Oaks on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale.

Mon, 03/31/2025 - 13:36

Field of five expected for points-reduced Santa Anita Derby

By Steve Andersen
Benoit Photo
Kentucky Derby favorite Journalism tops a field of five expected for the Santa Anita Derby.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on Saturday has an expected field of five, led by the division champion of 2024, plus the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby.

The small field will affect the number of qualifying points available for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3.

Mon, 03/31/2025 - 12:59

Tirupati may join Thomas's group for Gamely

By Steve Andersen
Benoit Photo
Off a win in the Wilshire, Tirupati may start in the Grade 1 Gamely according to trainer Jonathan Thomas.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Tirupati, the former claimer who won her first stakes in the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita last Saturday, is under consideration for the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes on May 26.

Trainer Jonathan Thomas said on Sunday that he has as many as three candidates for the $300,000 Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf, including the graded stakes winners Mrs. Astor and Rashmi. All three are owned by George Strawbridge Jr.’s Augustin Stable.

Mon, 03/31/2025 - 12:53

D'Amato backs off Shea Brennan; won't start in Echo Eddie

By Steve Andersen
Benoit Photo
According to trainer Phil D'Amato, Shea Brennan won't start in the Echo Eddie.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Shea Brennan, a stakes winner against California-breds at Los Alamitos in December, will not start in Saturday’s $125,000 Echo Eddie Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.

“I had to back off on him,” trainer Phil D’Amato said on Sunday.

Shea Brennan, who races for owner and breeder Nick Alexander, finished first in the California Cup Derby at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita in January, but was disqualified and placed second for causing interference in the stretch.

Mon, 03/31/2025 - 12:51

Friday card features big fields for $100K pick six carryover

By Steve Andersen
Barbara D. Livingston
Friday's card at Santa Anita will have a pick six carryover of just over $100,000.

ARCADIA, Calif. – For the second consecutive week, Santa Anita has a Friday program with a carryover in the $2 pick six.

The bet proved too difficult on Sunday, with a carryover of $100,818 for Friday confirmed after Divine Rascal ($33.80) won the ninth race on a 10-race program.

Friday’s pick six covers the fifth through 10th races on a 10-race program that begins at 1 p.m. Pacific. The pool of new money may surpass $700,000.

The pick six races on Friday includes three on dirt and three on turf, with fields of 11, 8, 6, 8, 12, and 9 before scratches.

Mon, 03/31/2025 - 12:48

McGaughey sticking with Marin aboard Statesman for Wood Memorial

By David Grening
Tom Keyser
Jockey Samuel Marin will retain the mount aboard Statesman in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

Jockey Samuel Marin won two races on Statesman during the winter at Tampa Bay Downs. Typically, when a horse like this – especially a 3-year-old in spring – graduates to a graded stakes event in another jurisdiction, a jockey change accompanies that move.

Not in this case.

Mon, 03/31/2025 - 12:30

Generous Lover tops list of Ohio-bred champions

By Nicole Russo
Coady Media
Generous Lover won three stakes in the Buckeye State on the season, including the Best of Ohio Distaff.

The Ohio-bred champions of 2024 were recently named, with Generous Lover emerging as horse of the year and champion female. She won three stakes in the Buckeye State on the season, including the Best of Ohio Distaff.

Who Dey, winner of the Best of Ohio Endurance, was honored as the state’s champion male runner. That was his only stakes win of the year, but he did place in three open-company stakes in Kentucky, including a runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Matt Winn.

Mon, 03/31/2025 - 12:08

Thorpedo Anna breezes five furlongs for Apple Blossom

By Mary Rampellini
Thorpedo Anna gallops between races at OP March 29 2025
Coady Media
Thorpedo Anna galloped between races Saturday in front of a large Arkansas Derby crowd.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna breezed five furlongs in 1:01 on Monday morning at Oaklawn Park as she continues preparations for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap.

The 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares is April 12 at Oaklawn.

Thorpedo Anna came out in the first set, on a crisp morning in the mid-50s. She backtracked to the sixteenth pole and worked by herself. The track was rated fast.

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