Wed, 04/13/2016 - 15:28

Kentucky Derby prospect Mo Tom breezes half-mile

Lou Hodges Jr./Hodges Photography
Trainer Tom Amoss will try to win his first Louisiana Derby with Mo Tom, part of an uncoupled entry for owner Gayle Benson.

Kentucky Derby hopeful Mo Tom had a serious breeze early Wednesday at Churchill Downs, going a half-mile in 48.40 seconds, with gallop-out times of 1:01.40, 1:14.20, and 1:27.40, according to Churchill clocker John Nichols.

Wed, 04/13/2016 - 15:26

Domain's Rap has earned shot at Oaklawn Handicap

Coady Photography
Domain’s Rap wins an optional claimer at Oaklawn on Feb. 21. He went on to finish second in the Grade 3 Razorback.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Domain’s Rap might be the best $10,000 owner Danny Caldwell has ever spent in racing. The horse punched his ticket to Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap by running a big second to Upstart in last month’s Grade 3, $350,000 Razorback Handicap.

“I have had some good claims, but horses like him don’t come around very often,” said Caldwell.

Wed, 04/13/2016 - 15:21

Several intriguing races on Friday's Maker's 46 Mile undercard

Besides the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile, a 10-race Friday card at Keeneland  includes a number of interesting preceding races.

In race 2, Union Jackson is a 4-5 morning-line favorite in a classified allowance sprint after earning Beyer Speed Figures in the 90s in four of his five career starts.

In race 7, Apologynotaccepted makes her first start for trainer Bill Mott after Happy Alter sold a partial interest in the 5-year-old mare to Gary Barber following a 16-length debut victory in which she earned a 96 Beyer on March 11 at Gulfstream Park.

Wed, 04/13/2016 - 15:06

Hard to look beyond Tepin in Jenny Wiley

Tom Keyser
Tepin pays $2.80 as the favorite in the $200,000 Grade 2 Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Tepin will be heavily favored when going for a fifth straight victory in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes, one of four straight stakes on an 11-race Saturday card at Keeneland.

Trainer Mark Casse said this week he “could not be happier” with how Tepin is coming into the $350,000 Jenny Wiley, a 1 1/16-mile turf race in which eight other fillies and mares are expected to start.

Wed, 04/13/2016 - 14:15

Uncle Lino will pass on Kentucky Derby to await Preakness Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Uncle Lino finished second to leading California 3-year-old Mor Spirit in the Robert Lewis Stakes and takes another shot at him in the San Felipe on Saturday.

CYPRESS, Calif. - Uncle Lino, who finished third in the $1,009,690 Santa Anita Derby will not start in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 7 and will be pointed for the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 21, trainer Gary Sherlock said on Wednesday.

“We won’t go to the Derby with him,” Sherlock said. “I want to go to the Preakness.”

Uncle Lino was beaten 8 1/2 lengths by Exaggerator in the Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles, racing near the front before fading from contention in the final furlong.

Wed, 04/13/2016 - 13:36

San Onofre tops cast of sprinters in Los Angeles Stakes

Benoit & Associates
San Onofre takes a distinct class drop after winning the Grade 3 Midnight Lute.

CYPRESS, Calif. – San Onofre, who won the Grade 3 Midnight Lute Stakes at Santa Anita in January, is a leading contender for Saturday’s $100,000 Los Angeles Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos.

The Grade 3 Los Angeles Stakes is one of two stakes on Saturday’s program at Los Alamitos, along with the $100,000 Bertrando Stakes for California-bred milers.

Wed, 04/13/2016 - 13:26

Abiding Star stretches win streak to four

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
Abiding Star wins the Private Terms Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths on March 12.

Abiding Star, a 3-year-old son of top sire Uncle Mo, won his fourth consecutive start Wednesday when he defeated older rivals in a third-level optional-claiming race at Parx.

Abiding Star will now be pointed to the $100,000 Parx Derby on May 7, according to Ned Allard, who trains the colt for Gil Campbell.

Abiding Star was the 3-1 third choice Tuesday, as the older runners Nasa and He’s So Fine were bet down to even-money and 7-5. Abiding Star went right to the front in the mile-and-70-yard race and then pulled away from Nasa to win by 8 3/4 lengths over a sloppy track.

Wed, 04/13/2016 - 13:16

Another herpes positive at Parx

On Tuesday, Sunshine Wild became the fifth horse to test positive for the equine herpesvirus at Parx Racing. The positive test restarts a 28-day quarantine clock at Parx that now runs through May 10.

The first four horses to test positive for the herpesvirus were all housed in Barn 30. Two were trained by Michael Aro and two by Ron Dandy. All four horses have died or been euthanized.

Wed, 04/13/2016 - 13:16

Mountaineer opens 160-day meet

Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort will begin its 160-day season Saturday with a nine-race card topped by a five-furlong, no-conditions allowance.

The Mountaineer season will continue on a Saturday-to-Wednesday schedule through Nov. 26. First post will be 7 p.m. Eastern except on West Virginia Derby Day, Aug. 6, when the races will begin at 2 p.m. The 1 1/8-mile West Virginia Derby, a Grade 2 race, will again be worth $750,000. It was won last year by Madefromlucky, who is trained by Todd Pletcher.

Wed, 04/13/2016 - 13:06

What a View likely to rest until Shoemaker Mile

Benoit & Associates
On a yielding turf course, What a View provides jockey Kent Desormeaux his third stakes victory of the day at Santa Anita Saturday.

What a View, the dominant turf miler at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, will have a quiet month in April following his third consecutive stakes win at Santa Anita last Saturday.

Trainer Kenny Black said on Wednesday that the $400,000 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on June 4 is a goal for What a View, a one-length winner of the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes on a yielding turf course last weekend.