Mon, 02/15/2016 - 16:12

Oaklawn: Azeri the target for Call Pat

Coady Photography
Call Pat wins the Bayakoa on Feb. 14 at Oaklawn Park.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Call Pat emerged from her last-to-first effort in the Grade 3, $100,000 Bayakoa on Sunday at Oaklawn Park in good order, Cox said Monday. She won her second stakes race, following the Grade 3 Groupie Doll last August at Ellis Park, and earned one of her best Beyer Speed Figures, an 89.

“She’s come out of the race really well,” Cox said. “The Azeri will be what we’ll point for.”

The Grade 2, $300,000 Azeri will be run March 19 at Oaklawn. Call Pat was a half-length winner of the Bayakoa under a well-timed ride by Joe Rocco Jr.

Mon, 02/15/2016 - 16:10

Oaklawn: Cosmic Evolution eyes Honeybee

Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography
Cosmic Evolution wins the 2015 Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Cosmic Evolution, who won her maiden in last year’s $100,000 Debutante at Churchill Downs, is on pace to make her two-turn debut in the Grade 3, $150,000 Honeybee on March 12 at Oaklawn Park, said trainer Lon Wiggins.

Cosmic Evolution won a first-level allowance on Feb. 6 at Oaklawn in her first out since August. She tracked the pace and went on to a 1 1/4-length win under regular rider Calvin Borel.

Mon, 02/15/2016 - 16:08

Oaklawn: Street Strategy out with injury

Coady Photography
Street Strategy (No. 6) wins the Fifth Season in January at Oaklawn Park.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Street Strategy, who won the $100,000 Fifth Season during opening weekend at Oaklawn Park in his first start since the Breeders’ Cup, will miss the balance of the meet, according to trainer Randy Morse.

Street Strategy has a foot injury and likely will return to action later this year in Kentucky,” Morse said.

Mon, 02/15/2016 - 16:00

Gun Runner has Asmussen optimistic ahead of Risen Star

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Gun Runner, shown winning an allowance at Keeneland in October, will go in the Grade 2 Risen Star on Saturday.

NEW ORLEANS – The Nov. 28 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes has aged well so far. Second-place Mor Spirit has returned to win two graded stakes and ranks among the leading California-based 3-year-olds, while third-place Mo Tom was a convincing winner of the Lecomte Stakes last month at Fair Grounds. Mo Tom is back Saturday for the Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes, and even more will be known about the Kentucky Jockey Club with the first- and fourth-place finishers, Airoforce and Gun Runner, also in the Risen Star.

Mon, 02/15/2016 - 15:40

Plenty of action at the Oaklawn claiming box

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The claiming box is getting a workout this season at Oaklawn Park. It’s just a month into the meet, and already 179 horses have changed hands through Sunday. The total claiming commerce between stables has reached $2.6 million.

Highlights include a 16-way shake for Big Sugarush in the second race last Saturday. Later on the same program, there was an 11-way shake for Bad Student. Big Sugarush was in for a claiming price of $5,000 and Bad Student for $12,500. Earlier in the meet, seven horses were claimed from the fourth race Jan. 28, each for $16,000.

Mon, 02/15/2016 - 15:10

Awesome Speed ready for Fountain of Youth

Barbara D. Livingston
Awesome Speed (above) won the Mucho Macho Man on Jan. 1. He will step it up against Mohaymen and Awesome Banner in the Fountain of Youth.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – With the undefeated pair of Mohaymen and Awesome Banner the two marquee names expected for the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on Feb. 27, there is a tendency to forget some of the other talented 3-year-olds targeting the important Kentucky Derby prep, including Awesome Speed, who will bring a three-race win streak into the race.

Mon, 02/15/2016 - 14:56

No Fred ‘Cappy' Capossela for 2016

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The Fred “Cappy” Capossela Stakes will not be run in 2016. It did not draw enough entries when originally scheduled for Feb. 6 and was pushed back to Feb. 14. A field of six was entered for that day, but Sunday’s card was canceled due to extreme cold.

Now, New York Racing Association officials fear that a further delay would put the race too close to the $125,000 Jimmy Winkfield on March 6 – like the Capossela a sprint for 3-year-olds –so the decision was made not to card the race.

Mon, 02/15/2016 - 14:50

Hot City Girl to cool her heels

Shigeki Kikkawa
Hot City Girl will get a rest with a possible comeback at Saratoga.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Hot City Girl, the younger half-sister to champion La Verdad, will get 60 to 90 days off following her sixth-place finish in Saturday’s Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Stakes at Laurel Park, trainer Linda Rice said Monday.

Mon, 02/15/2016 - 14:46

Sunny Ridge returning in Gotham

Debra A. Roma
Sunny Ridge will try to add the Gotham Stakes to this victory in the Withers.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Sunny Ridge, who made a successful 3-year-old debut in winning the Grade 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct on Jan. 30, will make his next start in the Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes here on March 5, trainer Jason Servis said Monday.

“I kind of thought it might be a little softer than the Wood,” Servis said when asked about choosing the Gotham as opposed to waiting for the Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial on April 9. “We’ll go from there.”

Mon, 02/15/2016 - 14:30

Team Valor buys 3-year-old Riker

A majority interest in Riker, who won the Grey Stakes at Woodbine last year and is expected to win the Sovereign Award as Canada’s top 2-year-old male of 2015, has been purchased by Team Valor International and owner Gary Barber, Team Valor announced on Monday.

Riker will be transferred to trainer Mark Casse. He had been trained by Nick Gonzalez.

According to Team Valor, current owners Carlo and Lou Tucci will retain a 25 percent interest in Riker.