Fri, 01/15/2016 - 13:24

Frosted targets prep race in Dubai for World Cup

Barbara D. Livingston
Frosted will travel to Dubai to prepare for the World Cup.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Frosted, one of the top 3-year-olds of 2015, is set to head to Dubai on Jan. 23 to point for the $10 million Dubai World Cup, and his itinerary there could find him facing California Chrome more than once.

Fri, 01/15/2016 - 12:02

Dates changed for Spiral preps

The two preps for the Grade 3, $550,000 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park in northern Kentucky have been moved to later in the winter-spring meet, with the $50,000 WEBN Stakes now set for Feb. 20 and the $100,000 Battaglia Memorial now March 12.

The Spiral Stakes on April 2 carries 50 Kentucky Derby eligibility points to the winner.

Turfway racing secretary Tyler Picklesimer said a clerical oversight led to the 6 1/2-furlong WEBN originally being scheduled for Jan. 30 and the 1 1/16-mile Battaglia for Feb. 27.

Fri, 01/15/2016 - 11:56

Turfway pricing out Instant Racing machines

Turfway general manager Chip Bach said final pricing quotes are being aggregated by the track’s majority owner, Rock Gaming of Detroit, and that an announcement concerning the installation of some 250 Instant Racing machines at the track could be made soon.

“Hopefully we’ll know something in the next couple of weeks,” Bach said Thursday.

Fri, 01/15/2016 - 11:53

14-year-old mare Missing Sefa retired

Against her better judgment, and with considerable regret, owner-trainer Jamie Grubbs has decided to retire Missing Sefa after being subjected to unfavorable comments on social media for keeping the 14-year-old mare in training.

“A lot of people had positive things to say about her,” said Grubbs, “but with Facebook and Twitter and even people texting me … I can’t take all the negativity. I guess I’m just not thick-skinned enough.”

Thu, 01/14/2016 - 15:28

Jacobson picks up 3-year-old El Charro

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The 3-year-old El Charro, the runner-up in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 2, has been purchased privately by trainer David Jacobson and Sol Kumin’s Head of Plains Stable and will relocate to Southern California, Jacobson said Thursday.

El Charro, a son of Put It Back, had been owned by Golden Legacy Stable and was trained by Juan Rodriguez.

Thu, 01/14/2016 - 15:28

Sudden Surprise gets chance to go long

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Sudden Surprise has won 5 of 6 starts, including his most recent in the Great White Way.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Sudden Surprise, a four-time sprint-stakes winner, will be given the opportunity to stretch out around two turns in the $100,000 Gander Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds at Aqueduct on Feb. 6, trainer Todd Pletcher said Thursday.

Sudden Surprise, a son of Giant Surprise owned and bred by Mike Repole, went 5 for 6 as a 2-year-old, with this wins coming from 5 1/2 to seven furlongs. His lone loss came in the one-mile Sleepy Hollow Stakes at Belmont Park, where he finished fourth, beaten 3 1/2 lengths by Get Jets.

Thu, 01/14/2016 - 15:28

In Equality looks headed to Risen Star

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – In Equality, third in the Jerome Stakes on Jan. 2, could make his next start in the Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 20, trainer Leah Gyarmati said Thursday.

After making his first two starts on turf, In Equality won a maiden special weight race on dirt Dec. 13 and then came back to finish third, 6 3/4 lengths behind winner Flexibility, in the Grade 3, $200,000 Jerome Stakes.

Thu, 01/14/2016 - 15:28

Pletcher enters three for Ruthless

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
Lost Raven is one of three horses Todd Pletcher entered in Sunday's Ruthless Stakes.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher entered a trio of 3-year-old fillies in Sunday’s $100,000 Ruthless Stakes, but it remains to be seen how many he actually starts in the six-furlong race.

Pletcher’s trio of Clipthecouponannie, Lost Raven, and Mo d’Amour drew the three inside posts in an eight-horse field. Lost Raven and Mo d’Amour are cross-entered in Saturday’s $75,000 Marshua Stakes at Laurel Park.

Thu, 01/14/2016 - 14:02

Kobe's Back invited to Golden Shaheen in Dubai

Nikki Sherman
Kobe's Back, who was seventh in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, has been invited to the Golden Shaheen at Dubai.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Kobe’s Back, the winner of the Grade 3 Commonwealth Stakes at Keeneland last April, has been invited to the $2 million Golden Shaheen for sprinters March 26 in Dubai.

On Thursday, trainer Peter Eurton said Kobe’s Back’s participation in that race is not certain and will depend on how he performs in the $200,000 Palos Verdes Stakes on Feb. 7 and on subsequent conversations with owners Lee and Susan Searing.

Thu, 01/14/2016 - 13:50

Songbird works six furlongs toward 2016 debut

ARCADIA, Calif. – Songbird, unbeaten in four starts, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in October, is on schedule for her first start of 2016 in the $300,000 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 6.

On Thursday, Songbird moved closer to the race with a six-furlong workout in 1:14.40 at Santa Anita.

According to Santa Anita clockers, Songbird ran the first half-mile in 50.20 seconds and the final quarter-mile in 24.20. She galloped out seven furlongs in 1:27.80. Songbird worked alone.