Mon, 01/11/2016 - 12:22

Top local 3-year-olds meeting up in California Derby

Shane Micheli/Vassar Photography
Mana Strike comes from last place to win the Gold Rush Stakes.

The Golden Gate Fields spotlight centers squarely on 3-year-olds for the next month, with the $100,000 California Derby on Saturday and the Grade 3, $200,000 El Camino Real Derby, with its 17 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, on Feb. 13.

The 1 1/16-mile California Derby is expected to draw a deep field, including top local 3-year-old Mana Strike.

Mana Strike rallied from last to win the one-mile Gold Rush by 2 1/2 lengths here Dec. 5. He defeated Algenon, Marqula, and Allaboutaction, who all are expected to be back Saturday.

Mon, 01/11/2016 - 11:20

Fast Flying Rumor earns record Beyer for Turf Dash victory

John Duca/SV Photography
Fast Flying Rumor earned a 108 Beyer Speed Figure for his Turf Dash Stakes victory.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Anyone watching Fast Flying Rumor rip through sizzling fractions in the $90,000 Turf Dash last Saturday could see that the horse was really moving, but according to the numbers, it was perhaps the finest performance at Tampa Bay Downs in the past quarter of a century.

Sun, 01/10/2016 - 18:16

California Chrome lures big crowd to Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. - The presence of California Chrome in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita led to a surge in ontrack attendance, but a less significant increase in handle figures.

California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year, won the San Pasqual in his first start since last March.

Saturday’s program drew 12,528 compared with  5,462 on the corresponding day in 2015 that was plagued by showery conditions. Saturday’s ontrack handle was $1,716,601, a gain of 20 percent over the 2015 figure of $1,421,599.

Sun, 01/10/2016 - 18:13

Nyquist sharpens for San Vicente

Barbara D. Livingston
Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Nyquist works six furlongs in 1:14 on Sunday.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Nyquist, the unbeaten winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland last October, worked six furlongs in 1:14 at Santa Anita on Sunday. He is expected to have his 2016 debut in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on Feb. 15.

Nyquist was timed in 1:01 for the first five furlongs, according to track clockers.

“The bottom line is this part of the foundation we need to get his campaign going,” trainer Doug O’Neill said.

Sun, 01/10/2016 - 18:04

Kyriaki appears eager to run in La Canada

Coady Photography
Kyriaki, ridden by Mario Gutierrez, gets up by a head in the Treasure Chest.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Kyriaki may run in Saturday’s $200,000 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita out of necessity.

“She’s trying to tear the barn down,” trainer Peter Eurton said on Sunday.

Eurton made that statement after Kyriaki worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 on Sunday morning. He plans to start the 6-year-old Kyriaki this month at Santa Anita and said he is leaning toward the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares in favor of the $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs on Jan. 23.

Sun, 01/10/2016 - 15:30

California Chrome proves as popular and good as ever in San Pasqual

Barbara D. Livingston
California Chrome earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure for his win in the San Pasqual.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Before and after the $200,500 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita, California Chrome was the subject of widespread adoration on Saturday.

Fans furiously snapped away with cell phones and cameras in the paddock, and when California Chrome walked on the track for the post parade. The “Chromies” were at again, along with official photographers, when California Chrome walked into the winner’s circle of a race for the first time since November 2014.

Sun, 01/10/2016 - 12:51

Collected seems likely to ship for next start

Benoit & Associates
Collected, racing on dirt for the first time under Martin Garcia, defeats stablemate Let's Meet in Rio by 1 1/4 lengths in the Sham.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Collected and Let’s Meet in Rio, who led a one-two finish for trainer Bob Baffert in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, both came out of the race well, Baffert said Sunday morning, with their next starts to be determined.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 14:25

Beneto reappointed to California Horse Racing Board

ARCADIA, Calif. – Steve Beneto, a Northern California businessman, has been reappointed to the California Horse Racing Board for a second four-year term, according to a statement released Friday by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Beneto, 78, was appointed to the racing board in May 2012. A resident of Carmichael, Calif., outside of Sacramento, Beneto is president of Beneto Inc., which specializes in airplane sales and leasing.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 14:20

Warren's Veneda works half-mile toward La Canada

ARCADIA, Calif. – Warren’s Veneda, the 2015 Grade 1 winner, worked a half-mile in a quick 46.60 seconds Saturday at Santa Anita for a scheduled start in the $200,000 La Canada Stakes for fillies and mares Jan. 16.

Warren’s Veneda was one of 251 recorded works on the main track. Morning activity was expected to be busy this weekend following disrupted training from Tuesday through Thursday because of a series of rain storms.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 12:38

Effinex breezes, starts road to Dubai World Cup

Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography
Effinex, winner of the Clark Handicap, is being given a break from racing and will target the Stymie in March for the start of his 2016 campaign.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The road to the Dubai desert in March for Effinex began at balmy Belmont Park on Saturday.

Effinex breezed an easy three furlongs in 37.94 seconds shortly after 8 a.m., his first workout since winning the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs in November. It is also his first breeze on the road to the $10 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan on March 26.