Mon, 04/06/2026 - 12:21

Baze records 3,000th career victory

Barbara D. Livingston

Jockey Tyler Baze recorded his 3,000th career victory Sunday aboard Gypsy Tears in the ninth race at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockey Tyler Baze recorded his 3,000th Thoroughbred win in the United States aboard Gypsy Tears in Sunday’s ninth race at Santa Anita.

Gypsy Tears, trained by Val Brinkerhoff, closed from seventh in a field of 10 to win a starter allowance at six furlongs. Gypsy Tears paid $36.20.

In the winner’s circle, an emotional Baze dedicated the win to his family.

“The only thing that would be better is if my kids and family were here, but they’re on vacation,” Baze said. “I can’t wait for them to get back.

Mon, 04/06/2026 - 12:19

Kreiser eyeing Westchester for Carter victor Point Dume

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Point Dume earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure for his Carter win.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Point Dume, who gave veteran trainer Tim Kreiser his first graded stakes victory in Saturday’s Grade 2 Carter Stakes at Aqueduct, could try to give Kreiser his second in the Grade 3, $175,000 Westchester here on May 9.

In looking at potential next targets for the 5-year-old gelding by super stallion Into Mischief, Kreiser said he’d prefer to go longer than seven furlongs. The Westchester is a one-turn mile and comes five weeks after the Carter.

Mon, 04/06/2026 - 11:53

After a raucous celebration, Percy's Bar focuses on Kentucky Oaks

By Nicole Russo

Coady Media

Percy’s Bar came to the Ashland off a five-month layoff.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – There wasn’t much question of where Percy’s Bar’s connections would go to celebrate her dominant victory in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes on opening day at Keeneland, a win that has propelled her to the Kentucky Oaks.

Following the traditional post-stakes champagne toast hosted by Keeneland, the crew decamped to a particular second-floor bar at Keeneland which had long been manned by the late Percy Pool, and thus had become affectionately known as “Percy’s bar” by the horsemen who frequented it.

Mon, 04/06/2026 - 11:19

The Puma's Tampa Bay Derby Beyer adjusted again to 94

By David Grening

Tom Keyser

Following Further Ado's victory in the Blue Grass, The Puma's Beyer Speed Figure for his victory in the Tampa Bay Derby has been adjusted to a 94.

The Beyer Speed Figure for the Tampa Bay Derby was changed for a second time. The Puma, who won the race, has now been assigned a 94 Beyer for his victory. The Beyer was initially a 95 but was soon changed to an 89.

After The Puma came back to run second, beaten a nose, in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28 and Further Ado, second in the Tampa Bay Derby, came back to win last Saturday’s Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes by 11 lengths with a 106 Beyer, the Tampa Bay Derby figure was re-adjusted to a 94.

Mon, 04/06/2026 - 10:59

Avila closing in on first training title in North America

By David Grening

Lauren King / Coglianese Photo

Heading into Wednesday, Juan Carlos Avila has 37 wins at the Tampa meet, eight more than Juan Arriagada.

Fabulous Candy won the first race on opening day of the Tampa Bay Downs 2025-26 meeting and it foreshadowed what was ahead for trainer Juan Carlos Avila.

With four weeks, or 16 cards, remaining in the season, Avila has 37 winners, eight more than his nearest rival, Juan Arriagada, and looks well on his way to achieving his first training title in North America.

Sun, 04/05/2026 - 18:06

At 59, Smith headed back to Kentucky Derby with So Happy

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

So Happy, with Mike Smith aboard, wins the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, earning a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

ARCADIA, Calif. – This has already been a record-breaking spring for Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith in the buildup to the Triple Crown.

Smith is bound for the Kentucky Derby on May 2 with So Happy, winner of Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. The victory made Smith, 59, the oldest rider to win the track’s marquee race for 3-year-olds. Bill Shoemaker was 55 when he won his eighth Santa Anita Derby on Temperate Sil in 1987.

“I’ll take it,” Smith said of his latest milestone.

Sun, 04/05/2026 - 13:58

Riley Mott hoping Albus will continue progression in Kentucky Derby

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Trainer Riley Mott leads Albus ahead of his victory in the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct. Albus earned an 83 Beyer Speed Figure for the win.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Fusaichi Pegasus, in 2000, won the Wood Memorial and three weeks later came back to win the Kentucky Derby. Monarchos (2001) and Funny Cide (2003) came out of runner-up finishes in the Wood to also bring home the roses in Louisville.

Since then, however, the Wood has produced 43 Kentucky Derby starters, not one able to cross the wire better than fourth, though Tacitus was elevated to third via the disqualification of Maximum Security in 2019.

Sun, 04/05/2026 - 12:43

Further Ado may be peaking at right time for Kentucky Derby

By Marcus Hersh

Coady Media

Further Ado wins the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes by 11 lengths, earning a 106 Beyer Speed Figure.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – He hit the mark in the Blue Grass Stakes, winning his first Grade 1 for owner Spendthrift Farm, which, not coincidentally, is in the business of standing stallions. He posted the widest margin of victory in any major Kentucky Derby prep, and no Derby starter will bring to the race a speed figure higher than the 106 Beyer he earned here Saturday.

All that, and, obviously, trainer Brad Cox hopes Further Ado is not done yet.

Fri, 04/03/2026 - 13:57

John Shear Stakes to be offered again during spring meet

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

After failing to draw enough entrants, the John Shear Stakes will be offered again at the spring meet.

The $100,000 John Shear Stakes for 3-year-old turf sprinters was scheduled for Sunday at Santa Anita, but failed to draw sufficient entries.

Sunday is the closing day of the track’s winter-spring meeting.

Racing secretary Jason Egan said on Thursday that the Shear Stakes will be reintroduced as a potential race for the opening day of the track’s spring meeting, on April 17. The Shear Stakes is scheduled for about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.

The spring meeting runs through June 14.

Fri, 04/03/2026 - 13:54

Vodka Vodka headed to Sunland Park Stakes

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Vodka Vodka could start next in the Sunland Park Stakes against a strong group of competitors.

Vodka Vodka, winner of the Unusual Heat Turf Classic for statebreds at Santa Anita in January, will start outside of California for the first time in Sunday’s $250,000 Sunland Park Stakes at 1 1/8 miles in New Mexico.

Vodka Vodka was second by 4 1/2 lengths to British Isles in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles on dirt in his last start on March 7. Trainer Aggie Ordonez said the Sunland Park Stakes had appeal because of the distance and the surface.

“We would have loved to stay home, but there was not an option,” Ordonez said. “I wanted to keep him on dirt.

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