LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Corey Lanerie has been the dominant jockey in recent years at Churchill Downs, but he’s got company atop the standings as the 2015 spring meet winds to a close.
Julien Leparoux has been on a tear, and with just three days to go at the 38-day meet, Lanerie is clinging to a 37-36 lead.
“Everything is going great again,” said Leparoux. “I’m riding good horses for good people. It just goes that way sometimes.”
Larry Jones is beginning to finalize plans for his strong contingent of 3-year-old fillies.
On Monday, he said I’m a Chatterbox was probable for the Grade 1, $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks, a 1 1/8-mile race at Saratoga on July 26, and that Lovely Maria was likely for the Grade 3, $300,000 Delaware Oaks at 1 1/16 miles on July 11.
Souper Colossal was the best 2-year-old at Monmouth Park last summer, running off three straight victories, including the Sapling and off-the-turf Tyro Stakes. He has made only two starts at 3, both in turf sprints, but trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. is now ready to return him to the main track and stretch him out in the $100,000 Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth on July 11.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A number of potential contenders for the Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap on July 5 got in key workouts over the last several days, including reigning division champ Work All Week, who went five furlongs in 59.40 seconds at the Churchill Downs training center on Sunday.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Owner and trainer Carlo Vaccarezza said he felt like he got “the monkey off my back” after his Grade 1-placed Little Alexis visited the winner’s circle for the first time in nearly a year when outgaming the favored Best Behavior for a well-deserved neck victory in Saturday’s Barely Even Handicap at Gulfstream Park.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – While Tower of Texas ran on to victory in Sunday’s Grade 2 King Edward Stakes at Woodbine, a notable absentee from the race was River Seven, who finished third in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup on May 30.
River Seven was on track to start in the King Edward Stakes, but trainer Nick Gonzalez opted not to enter the 5-year-old son of Johannesburg after he trained unsatisfactorily in the days leading up to the race.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Midnight Aria ran to his second consecutive runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes on June 7 and will be looking to find the winner’s circle when he returns to the same distance of his 2013 Queen’s Plate triumph in the Grade 3, $150,000 Dominion Day Handicap on July 1 at Woodbine.
“He’s doing real well,” trainer Nick Gonzalez said. “He came out of the Eclipse just right. I think a mile and a quarter hits him on the head.”
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – After running second to Sky Treasure in the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes on May 23, Deceptive Vision is on track to stretch out in the Grade 2, $200,000 Dance Smartly Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on turf on Queen’s Plate Day, July 5, trainer Malcolm Pierce said.
Pierce said Deceptive Vision came out of the Nassau well, and he was pleased with her five-furlong breeze in 1:00.20 on the turf training track Sunday.
“So far, we’re on target for the Dance Smartly,” he said. “I’m happy with her. She’s doing good. She’s training good. I was very pleased with her work.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – A one-mile workout for Texas Red on a warm Sunday afternoon at Santa Anita accomplished goals trainer Keith Desormeaux had in mind for the winner of the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Desormeaux said he wanted to replicate weather conditions Texas Red may face at Belmont Park for the $500,000 Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park on July 4. Temperatures were in the low 90s Sunday at Santa Anita.
