Sun, 02/28/2016 - 08:29

Mohaymen, Zulu likely to clash again in Florida Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
The unbeaten Mohaymen earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure for his win in the Fountain of Youth.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Mohaymen and Zulu, the one-two finishers in the Fountain of Youth Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, both came out of the race in good condition, their trainers reported on Sunday morning, and both could meet again in the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby on April 2, a race that is also the next scheduled start for last year’s champion 2-year-old male, Nyquist.

Sat, 02/27/2016 - 12:58

Grade 1 winner Moreno retired for good

Barbara D. Livingston
Moreno will point toward the Whitney at Saratoga to defend his 2014 win.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The Grade 1 winner Moreno has been retired from racing. Again. Only this time, it’s for good.

Eric Guillot, the trainer of 2014 Whitney winner Moreno, had attempted to bring the 6-year-old gelding back this year after announcing his retirement last summer. But following four workouts at Los Alamitos, including a six-furlong move in 1:10.80 on Jan. 9, Guillot pulled the plug.

“I had him up to three-quarters, but he was too sore; I couldn’t chance him breaking down,” Guillot said Saturday at Aqueduct.

Sat, 02/27/2016 - 12:48

Laoban works for Gotham Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Somehow, the bombastic trainer Eric Guillot quietly snuck into town earlier this week.

Guillot hopes that come next Saturday, he and his 3-year-old maiden Laoban will make some noise and start down the Triple Crown trail.

Sat, 02/27/2016 - 11:02

Rally Cry targets Gotham Stakes as Pletcher shows off arsenal

Tom Keyser
Destin, ridden by John Velazquez, scores by 2 1/4 lengths in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes on Saturday.

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – With designs on upcoming Kentucky Derby preps for his 3-year-olds, plus major stakes engagements for two of his older runners, trainer Todd Pletcher on Saturday morning here at Palm Beach Downs worked 35 of his runners, including Derby prospects Rally Cry and Destin, the older horses Itsaknockout and General a Rod, and the comebacking 3-year-old filly Rachel’s Valentina.

Fri, 02/26/2016 - 15:20

Keith chasing Derby dream with American Dubai

Coady Photography
Far Right (left), who earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure for his win Thursday, could run next in the Razorback Handicap.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Giacomo’s win in the 2005 Kentucky Derby inspired Richard Keith to set a lofty goal. He decided that afternoon that he wanted to chase the 3-year-old dream at the highest level, and he is now doing that with his wife, Sharon, and his trainer, Rodney Richards.

Fri, 02/26/2016 - 14:12

Sandiva under consideration for The Very One

Leslie Martin/Coglianese Photos
Sandiva could return to turf racing for The Very One on March 5.

Sandiva, who finished second to Penwith when trying the main track last time out in the Royal Delta, is among 32 older females nominated to the Grade 3, $150,000 The Very One, a 1 3/16-mile grass race on March 5 at Gulfstream Park.

Sandiva won the Grade 3 Marshua’s River on turf here Jan. 9. She won the Grade 3 Suwannee River on this course in February 2015. She is one of seven horses trainer Todd Pletcher has nominated to The Very One.

Fri, 02/26/2016 - 14:06

Recepta will launch season in Keeneland's Jenny Wiley

Barbara D. Livingston
Recepta will make her first start at 5 in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley on April 16 at Keeneland.

Recepta, who suffered a narrow loss in the Grade 1 Matriarch at Del Mar in her final start of 2015, has remained in training at age 5 and is scheduled to return to the races in the spring at Keeneland, according to trainer Jimmy Toner.

“She got six weeks off after the Matriarch, and she’s training here now,” Toner said at Palm Meadows. “I’m hoping to have her ready for the Jenny Wiley.”

Fri, 02/26/2016 - 14:06

Taris on track for Santa Margarita

Shigeki Kikkawa
Taris will probably bypass the Feb. 13 Santa Maria in favor of the Santa Margarita on March 19.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Taris, the winner of the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes in January, worked five furlongs in 1:01.60 on Friday for a scheduled start in the $500,000 Santa Margarita Invitational at Santa Anita on March 19.

Taris worked alone. Trainer Simon Callaghan timed the 5-year-old mare in 1:01.40. He clocked her galloping out six furlongs in “1:13 and change.”

“She’s so much more relaxed in her works,” Callaghan said.

Fri, 02/26/2016 - 14:06

Pivotal race for French Getaway

Shigeki Kikkawa
French Getaway might be switched to turf if he doesn't run well on dirt Sunday.

ARCADIA, Calif. – French Getaway has made all four of his starts on dirt but has been considered a long-term prospect for turf races since he joined trainer Bob Hess Jr.’s stable last year. On Sunday at Santa Anita, French Getaway will start on dirt again in an optional claimer that will determine which surface will be the focus of upcoming starts for him.

The same race will be Malibu Sunset’s first start for trainer Bob Baffert after an eye-catching win at Fair Grounds last month in his debut.

Fri, 02/26/2016 - 13:46

Flamboyant headed to Dubai Turf

Shigeki Kikkawa
Flamboyant wins the San Marcos Stakes, his second straight Grade 2 victory of the Santa Anita meeting.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Flamboyant, the leading turf horse in Southern California this winter, will make his next start in the $6 million Dubai Turf at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on March 26, according to co-owner Chuck Winner.

Winner said the other option to the Dubai Turf, run at about 1 1/8 miles, is the $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita on March 13.

“We’re leaning toward Dubai,” Winner said on Thursday.