Mon, 03/28/2016 - 12:10

Bennett, O'Connell loaded for Florida Cup Day

John Duca/SV Photography
Fast Flying Rumor, a candidate for the Hilton Garden Inn/Hampton Inn & Suites Sprint on April 9, earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 108 for this win in the Turf Dash in January.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Downs stakes schedule concludes April 9 with Florida Cup Day, when six stakes for Florida-breds worth $75,000 apiece will be run, and leading local trainers Gerald Bennett and Kathleen O’Connell are hoping for solid paydays, having nominated a total of 18 horses to the stakes races.

Sun, 03/27/2016 - 18:05

Lost shoe hampered Her Emmynency in Santa Ana

Shigeki Kikkawa
Favored Her Emmynency threw a shoe after the start of the Santa Ana Stakes and finished last.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Her Emmynency, last of five as the 4-5 favorite, lost a shoe shortly after the start of Saturday’s $200,000 Santa Ana Stakes at Santa Anita, trainer Kristin Mulhall said.

Mulhall said the shoe likely was dislodged when Her Emmynency ducked sharply to the inside shortly after the start, forcing jockey Joe Talamo to keep her from striking the inside rail. Her Emmynency took the lead shortly after that incident. She led to the turn before fading to finish 3 3/4 lengths behind race winner Tuttipaesi.

“I think that killed everything,” Mulhall said.

Sun, 03/27/2016 - 17:51

Van Dyke to give Keeneland a try

Shigeki Kikkawa
Jockey Drayden Van Dyke is suspended this Sunday for having four infractions of excessive use of the whip since tougher rules went into place July 1.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Drayden Van Dyke, 12th in the jockey standings at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting with 16 wins through Saturday, will be based at Keeneland for most of April, he said on Sunday.

Van Dyke said he based the decision on the preponderance of turf races run at Keeneland’s spring meeting, which runs from April 8-29, and because trainer Tom Proctor will be based there. Van Dyke has been closely allied with Proctor since he began riding in late 2013, having worked for the trainer prior to that.

Sun, 03/27/2016 - 17:37

Motion-trained Kasseopia may join Santa Anita Derby fray

Benoit & Associates
Iron Rob, with Stewart Elliott aboard, scores a 9-1 upset in the San Pedro for 3-year-old sprinters.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Kasseopia, third in the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Feb. 13, is a possible starter in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 9, trainer Graham Motion said on Sunday.

Sunday, Kasseopia worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 at Santa Anita. The colt has worked quickly in recent weeks, including six furlongs in 1:12.60 on March 20, the fastest of eight works at the distance that day.

Sun, 03/27/2016 - 11:02

Gun Runner, Mo Tom headed straight to Kentucky Derby

Lou Hodges/Fair Grounds
Gun Runner uses a quick turn of foot to win the Louisiana Derby under Florent Geroux. Meanwhile, Mo Tom (back, on left) comes around pacesetter Candy My Boy after being checked under Corey Lanerie and losing his best chance.

NEW ORLEANS – The two horses who shared the headlines in the Louisiana Derby on Saturday at Fair Grounds, the victorious Gun Runner and troubled fourth-place finisher Mo Tom, both came out of the race well, their trainers reported Sunday morning, and both will not race again until the Kentucky Derby on May 7 at Churchill Downs.

Sat, 03/26/2016 - 19:56

With Stewart, it's best to ignore tote board

Barbara D. Livingston
Dallas Stewart has had four horses run second at a big price in a Triple Crown race.

NEW ORLEANS – When trainer Dallas Stewart runs a 3-year-old in a major stakes race and the odds say the horse has little chance – bettors beware.

Stewart has a track record for getting 3-year-olds to perform at a high level when the bettors aren't on board. His latest of four against-the-odds successes, all second places, came with Tom's Ready in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on Saturday at Fair Grounds. A 30-1 shot, Tom's Ready finished second, 4 1/2 lengths behind Gun Runner, and earned a spot in the Kentucky Derby.

Tom's Ready paid $24 to place and $12.40 to show.

Fri, 03/25/2016 - 14:56

Sheer Drama works six furlongs

Barbara D. Livingston
Sheer Drama might make her 2016 debut in the Madison Stakes on April 9 at Keeneland.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Sheer Drama moved another step closer to her 2016 debut, working six furlongs in 1:15.38 around the dogs over a fast but slightly cuppy track here Friday. Sheer Drama, who has not started since finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, posted splits of 26.40 seconds and 50.60 before galloping out seven-eighths in 1:29.

Fri, 03/25/2016 - 14:56

Off the Tracks to have few rivals in Gulfstream Park Oaks

Kenny Martin/Coglianese Photos
The 3-year-old filly Off the Tracks, with Tyler Gaffalione, remains undefeated with a 4 1/4-length score in the Margate Handicap.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – While the much-anticipated encounter between division leaders Mohaymen and Nyquist in the $1 million Florida Derby highlights next Saturday’s program, the race is just one of eight stakes on the card, seven of which have graded status.

Fri, 03/25/2016 - 14:30

Full field likely for Spiral Stakes

Turfway Park/Coady Photography
Surgical Strike would enter the Spiral coming off a win in the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway.

Unlike next Saturday’s Florida Derby, in which few are eager to enter horses against Kentucky Derby favorites Mohaymen and Nyquist, Turfway Park’s Grade 3 Spiral Stakes that same day is expected to be overflowing.

With the race offering a $500,000 purse and lacking a standout 3-year-old, a full field is likely, and if overdrawn, some horses could have to run in the $100,000 Rushaway on the undercard as an alternative.

Fri, 03/25/2016 - 13:46

Curlin Rules just getting started

ARCADIA, Calif. – The calendar has not worked in favor of Curlin Rules, who starts in an optional claimer for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Sunday.

Curlin Rules won a maiden race at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 21 in his second start and his first race around two turns.

“I’m probably late for the Derby,” trainer John Sadler, referring to any hope of a trip to Kentucky on May 7.