Mon, 06/15/2015 - 12:45

Jacobson on brink of win No. 1,000

Michael Amoruso
David Jacobson leads the Aqueduct trainer standings in wins for the meet as of April 27.

ELMONT, N.Y. – On the precipice of a professional milestone, trainer David Jacobson has gone into a slump.

Jacobson, the leading trainer in terms of wins on the New York Racing Association circuit the last three years, enters Wednesday one win away from 1,000 for his career. However, he has gone winless with his last 29 starters at Belmont Park, since Room for Me won an allowance race May 24. At Monmouth Park, where he is tied for second-leading trainer, Jacobson has won with three of his last 13 starters since June 5.

Mon, 06/15/2015 - 08:50

Social obligations complete, American Pharoah gallops at Churchill

Barbara D. Livingston
American Pharoah is presented to the crowd Saturday night at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – American Pharoah resumed training Monday morning at Churchill Downs with a 1 3/8-mile gallop that reaffirmed the colt has emerged from his Triple Crown sweep in good order.

American Pharoah was given Sunday morning off by trainer Bob Baffert and his assistant Jimmy Barnes following the public celebration at Churchill on Saturday night. “It was a long night,” said Barnes.

Sun, 06/14/2015 - 15:13

Talco punches ticket to Breeders' Cup Mile

Shigeki Kikkawa
Talco could run next in the Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar.

ARCADIA, Calif. - The primary goal of Talco’s 2015 season was determined with his upset win in Saturday’s $400,000 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita.

The race was part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program, offering a fees-paid berth for the winner to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 31. The Grade 1 Shoemaker was the most significant win of Talco’s career in his 15th start, and a turnaround from his behavior after he joined trainer John Sadler’s stable last summer from France.

Sun, 06/14/2015 - 14:38

Mandella confident Beholder will run even better next time

Shigeki Kikkawa
Beholder will be pointed to the Clement Hirsch at Del Mar on Aug. 1.

ARCADIA, Calif.- Beholder will show improvement from her win in Saturday’s $100,250 Adoration Stakes at Santa Anita when she makes her third start of 2015 in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 1.

Sunday, trainer Richard Mandella expressed confidence Beholder was not in peak form when she won the Grade 3 Adoration Stakes for her 10th career stakes win.

“She was in good shape yesterday and will be better next time,” Mandella said.

Sun, 06/14/2015 - 12:35

Salutos Amigos targets Smile Sprint for return

Michael Amoruso
Salutos Amigos is being freshened and then will be pointed to the Forego at Saratoga.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Salutos Amigos, among the top sprinters on the East Coast if not in the country, will make his return to the races July 5 in the Grade 2, $250,000 Smile Sprint Handicap at Gulfstream Park, trainer David Jacobson confirmed Sunday.

Fri, 06/12/2015 - 15:36

Wildcat Red eyes Smile Sprint

Tom Keyser
Wildcat Red could start in the Smile Sprint on July 5 at Gulfstream.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Wildcat Red is wasting little time getting himself fit and ready for his much-anticipated return. Working for just the second time since going to the sidelines following his fifth-place finish in the Sunshine Millions Classic five months earlier, Wildcat Red zipped a quick five furlongs in 59.40 seconds over a fast track with Eddie Castro aboard on Friday morning.

Fri, 06/12/2015 - 15:33

Speechify on sidelines with minor suspensory injury

Natalie Fawkes/Coglianese Photos
Speechify has been sidelined due to a minor suspensory injury.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Ralph Nicks has reported that his graded-stakes-winning speedster Speechify has been sidelined due to a minor suspensory injury. The 5-year-old is used to overcoming adversity, surviving as he does on a liquid diet due to a restricted esophagus which prevents him from eating solid food.

“It’s nothing major, just a little setback,” said Nicks. “He’ll miss 60 days and then be back in training.”

Speechify’s most important victory came here early last winter in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector.

Fri, 06/12/2015 - 15:21

American Pharoah’s ties to Oaklawn a thrill for Cella

Coady Photography
American Pharoah launched his 3-year-old campaign by winning the Rebel and Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.

Oaklawn president Charles Cella has taken great care to build up the program for 3-year-olds at his Hot Springs, Ark., track, and the series reached a pinnacle last weekend when graduate American Pharaoh completed the Triple Crown.

Fri, 06/12/2015 - 15:12

Japan points to Jim Dandy

Debra A. Roma
Japan, ridden by Junior Alvarado, wins the Easy Goer Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths Saturday.

Japan, winner of the Easy Goer Stakes on the Belmont Stakes undercard, likely will make his next start Aug. 1 in the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga, trainer Bill Mott said Friday.

Mott said he prefers the Jim Dandy to the Dwyer, a $500,000 one-turn-mile race July 4 at Belmont, due to the spacing on the calendar, and it gives him the opportunity to “go a little farther.” The Jim Dandy is run at 1 1/8 miles.

“He’s just a baby,” Mott said of Japan. “He should have gotten something out of it. It was a small field, but I thought he looked good doing it.”

Fri, 06/12/2015 - 15:12

Fast Anna will head to Ritvo's Saratoga base next

Kenny Martin/Coglianese Photos
Fast Anna wins the Sawgrass Handicap on Thursday at Gulfstream Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Fast Anna may not have opened his 2015 campaign to rave reviews off Broadway, but he will be heading to the Big Apple off what really what matters most, a victory.