Tue, 06/02/2015 - 11:41

Rainbow 6 gaining steam with mandatory payout looming

The Rainbow 6 carryover at Pimlico Race Course has reached $244,804, and a closing-day mandatory payout on Saturday is looking more and more possible with only three days left in the meet.

Pimlico races Thursday, Friday, and Saturday before Maryland racing takes a summer hiatus until Laurel Park reopens Aug. 1.

The 10-cent Rainbow 6 has carried over for 12 straight cards at Pimlico. It was last hit May 9.

Mon, 06/01/2015 - 16:40

Evangeline to run 3 postponed stakes on Saturday

OPELOUSAS, La. - Three of the five stakes that were lost last Saturday when heavy rains washed out the Evangeline Turf Sprint program have been rescheduled for this Saturday, according to Evangeline director of racing Chris Warren.

Entries for the $100,000 Evangeline Mile, the $70,000 Lafayette for 3-year-old Louisiana-breds, and the Acadiana for 3-year-old Louisiana-bred fillies will be taken Tuesday. All three races are scheduled for the main track.

Warren that all those who nominated are eligible to enter the stakes.

Mon, 06/01/2015 - 14:20

No tickets to be sold ontrack Belmont Stakes Day

ELMONT, N.Y. – As of noon Monday, there were still just more than 19,000 general admission tickets available for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes. But even if they are not all sold by Saturday, no tickets will be sold at the track on that day, the New York Racing Association announced over the weekend.

Tickets may still be purchased through Ticketmaster on Saturday, provided the event has not sold out.

“If you don’t have a ticket, don’t come to Belmont Park on June 6,” said NYRA spokesman John Durso Jr., who encouraged fans to buy their tickets beforehand.

Mon, 06/01/2015 - 14:15

Untapable, Shook Up cap stakes preparation

Susie Raisher/NYRA
Untapable, walking the shed at Belmont Park, had her final work on Monday for the Ogden Phipps.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Long-awaited and much-needed rain hit the New York area Sunday night, creating wet, messy racetracks that curtailed most serious training at Belmont Park Monday morning with two notable exceptions.

Untapable, last year’s Kentucky Oaks winner and champion 3-year-old filly, and Shook Up, the runner-up in this year’s Kentucky Oaks, put in easy breezes over a sealed, sloppy training track in preparation for Grade 1 stakes this Saturday.

Mon, 06/01/2015 - 14:11

Bayern earns himself spot in Met Mile

Barbara D. Livingston
This breeze by Bayern at Churchill Downs on Monday prompted trainer Bob Baffert to send him to the Met Mile on Saturday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Bob Baffert said Bayern had to “really show him something” in his work on Monday at Churchill Downs to earn a spot in Saturday’s Met Mile at Belmont Park. And, sure enough, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic champion did just that.

Working in company with stablemate Cat Burglar, Bayern breezed five furlongs from the half-mile pole in 59.38. He began a half-length in front of Cat Burglar nearest the rail and finishing well clear on the turn. He then extended his advantage, galloping out six furlongs around the bend in 1:13.03 with Martin Garcia aboard.

Mon, 06/01/2015 - 12:23

Shaman Ghost to train up to Queen's Plate

Michael Burns
Shaman Ghost wins the Marine Stakes on May 16 at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Shaman Ghost, winner of the Grade 3 Marine Stakes on May 16, will skip the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes on June 14 and instead train up to the $1 million Queen’s Plate on July 5, trainer Brian Lynch said.

With his win in the Marine, Shaman Ghost has now reeled off three straight victories, and Lynch said he is pleased with the Ghostzapper colt’s form heading into the Queen’s Plate.

“Moving forward is good for him,” he said. “It’s nice to be heading into the big races with him in form.”

Mon, 06/01/2015 - 12:19

Unbridled Juan headed to Belmont Park

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Unbridled Juan, who was considered a major contender for the $1 million Queen’s Plate, will join trainer Brian Lynch’s string at Belmont Park in the coming days.

Unbridled Juan was heavily favored in a first-level optional-claiming event over 1 1/16 miles in his first start on Polytrack here May 10, but he wound up third behind Queen’s Plate nominees Field of Courage and Breaking Lucky and earned a 73 Beyer Speed Figure.

Mon, 06/01/2015 - 12:01

Attfield's Plate Trial contenders still on target despite virus

Tom Keyser
Danish Dynaformer will most likely start in the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes on June 14.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Roger Attfield has gotten off to a strong start at the Woodbine meeting with nine wins from his first 26 starts, and he looks to have strong representation for the first big day of the 2015 season on June 14 in the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes and the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks.

Sun, 05/31/2015 - 18:02

Officials optimistic with meet set to open Tuesday

Fort Erie Race Track will open its 118th season of live racing Tuesday with a strong nine-race card that attracted 87 entries. Post time is set for 4:15 p.m.

Sun, 05/31/2015 - 16:40

Lucky J Lane set for stakes debut in Crystal Water

ARCADIA, Calif. – Lucky J Lane can keep a weekend streak of stakes wins alive for trainer Richard Baltas when the 4-year-old makes his stakes debut in next Saturday’s $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes at Santa Anita.

Over the last two weekends, Baltas has had a stakes winner, scoring in the $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap with Majestic City in Texas on May 25 and in Saturday’s $400,250, Grade 1 American Oaks with Spanish Queen.