OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Chad Brown was the leading trainer on the New York Racing Association circuit in 2015 in both wins (131) and purse money ($12,766,542). Todd Pletcher, the leading trainer in North American earnings each year since 2010, was second in both categories in 2015 with 123 wins and $12,086,440 in purses.
It was the first time Brown led either category for a year on this circuit.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The connections of Empire Dreams and Saratoga Snacks certainly won’t mind seeing fellow New York-bred Effinex head out of the country for a possible start in the Dubai World Cup.
The $100,000 Haynesfield on Feb. 13 would be the next logical step for either horse following their one-two finish Thursday in the $100,000 Alex M. Robb Stakes. Empire Dreams, who won the Robb by a head, is likely to get a break, according to Terry Finley, head of the West Point Thoroughbreds partnership that owns the gelding.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – After initially saying that Financial Modeling could make his next start in New York, trainer Chad Brown altered course and transferred the 5-year-old son of Street Sense to south Florida, where he will target the Grade 1, $500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream on Feb. 6.
Financial Modeling won the $100,000 Queens County Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths over Tommy Macho – also Donn-bound – at Aqueduct on Dec. 19. He earned a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure in his stakes debut.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – There is a change of plans in the works for Effinex – and a drastic change at that.
Initially slated to spend the winter in New York with an expected return to the races in the Stymie Stakes on March 13 at Aqueduct, Effinex soon will depart for south Florida to begin preparations for a possible start in the $10 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan on March 26.
“I’m giving it serious consideration,” said Russell Cohen, racing manager for his family’s Tri-Bone Stable, which owns Effinex.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Itsaknockout, idle since finishing ninth in the 2015 Kentucky Derby, made a triumphant return here Thursday, drawing off to an easy 4 3/4-length victory over the Grade 1-placed Elnaawi under high-priced optional-claiming conditions going 1 1/16 miles. Itsaknockout, who won the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth here last year following the disqualification of Upstart, was confidently guided to victory by regular rider Luis Saez. Itsaknockout received a career-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Songbird, the undefeated winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland on Oct. 31, worked a half-mile in 47.20 seconds at Santa Anita on Friday.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Songbird is on schedule to make her 2016 debut in the $300,000 Las Virgenes Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile here Feb. 6. Songbird was turned out at a Kentucky farm for a month after the BC Juvenile Fillies and rejoined Hollendorfer’s stable in early December.
ARCADIA, Calif. – California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year, galloped about 1 1/2 miles at Santa Anita on Friday while preparing for the $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes on Jan. 9.
California Chrome has not raced since finishing second in the $10 million Dubai World Cup last March and has not raced at Santa Anita since finishing second in the $590,000 San Antonio Stakes last February.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Iron Rob beat maidens at Los Alamitos in December and will race against winners for the first time in an optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on Sunday. The optional claimer could lead to a start in the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs here Feb. 15, trainer George Papaprodromou said on Friday.
“That’s our next step,” he said. “We’ll keep him short for now.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – Path of David, who won Thursday’s $79,250 Eddie Logan Stakes on turf at Santa Anita, is being pointed for the $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes on the main track here Feb. 6, trainer Kristin Mulhall said. The 1 1/16-mile Lewis for 3-year-olds is a prep race for the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 9.
“We wanted to see how he came out of it, and so far, he looks good,” Mulhall said.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Mohaymen, generally considered the top 3-year-old prospect stabled on the East Coast this winter, took his first step toward the Kentucky Derby since arriving in south Florida by working four furlongs in 49.60 seconds Thursday at Palm Meadows. Mohaymen, a son of Tapit owned by Shadwell Stable, won all three of his starts at 2, capping off his perfect season with a 1 1/2-length victory in the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct. He also won the Grade 2 Nashua over the same track 24 days earlier.
