Thu, 05/25/2023 - 14:11

Rainbow Pick Six will be paid out on Memorial Day

The 20-cent Rainbow Pick Six will have a mandatory payout on Monday at Santa Anita, the track announced earlier this week.

Thu, 05/25/2023 - 14:06

Irideo's late run dangerous in Shoemaker Mile

Irideo, winning last year's Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar, runs in a Grade 1 stakes for the first time in Monday's Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita.
Benoit Photo
Irideo, winning last year's Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar, runs in a Grade 1 stakes for the first time in Monday's Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Nearly three months later than hoped, Irideo will start in a Grade 1 for the first time in the United States in Monday’s $500,000 Shoemaker Mile on turf at Santa Anita.

Thu, 05/25/2023 - 12:52

Mott will be new trainer of Rich Strike

Rich Strike at CD May 5 2023
Barbara D. Livingston
Rich Strike is currently turned out at Blackwood Stables in Kentucky.

Rich Strike, last year’s Kentucky Derby winner, will move to the barn of Hall of Famer Bill Mott when he resumes training this summer, owner Rick Dawson reported Thursday.

“Bill was my first choice,” Dawson wrote in a statement issued to the media and posted on his Facebook page. “Bill and I have had a number of conversations over the last couple weeks, and I feel very confident Richie will be in great care and oversight. I can't thank Bill enough for accepting the task of training Richie to his full potential.”

Wed, 05/24/2023 - 12:45

Ruidoso Downs opens with competitive trials for Ruidoso Futurity

When the stakes-winning filly Dark Nme walks into the starting gate for the 16th and final race at Ruidoso Downs on Friday, the first day of time trials for the Ruidoso Futurity will be six hours old.

The mood will be tense. Only the five fastest finishers through the day will qualify for the $1 million final at 350 yards on June 11.

Dark Nme (pronounced enemy) must finish with a rapid time under jockey Francisco Calderon. Wind, weather, and track condition can affect final times at Ruidoso Downs, situated in the southern New Mexico mountains.

Tue, 05/23/2023 - 12:26

With Joseph's status in limbo, White Abarrio transferred to Dutrow

White Abarrio at CD May 3 2023
Barbara D. Livingston
White Abarrio has been trained since October 2021 by Saffie Joseph Jr., who is currently unable to run horses at Churchill Downs or Belmont Park.

C2 Racing Stable announced in a press release on Tuesday they have transferred White Abarrio from trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. to Rick Dutrow Jr. at Belmont Park and that he will run in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile on June 10.

Joseph was banned indefinitely by Churchill Downs following the sudden deaths of two of his horses during races run the week prior to the Kentucky Derby. Subsequently, NYRA and Joseph came to an understanding that he would not ship any horses to run in New York while the matter in Kentucky was under investigation.

Mon, 05/22/2023 - 14:55

Black-Eyed Susan winner Taxed will aim high this summer

Taxed wins Black-Eyed Susan at PIM May 20 2023
Julie Wright
Taxed has returned to trainer Randy Morse's barn at Churchill Downs. His goal is to get her a Grade 1 win this year.

Taxed, winner of the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico last Friday, was back at her Churchill Downs home but is likely headed out on the road again this summer in search of Grade 1 glory, trainer Randy Morse said Monday.

“The main objective is to try and get a Grade 1 with her,” Morse said Monday by phone from Maryland where he was attending the Timonium 2-year-olds-in-training sale.

Mon, 05/22/2023 - 13:45

Strong overnight races set table for holiday weekend

Barbara D. Livingston
Grade 1-placed Commandperformance looks to bounce back for his new trainer Joe Sharp in Thursday's eighth race at Churchill Downs.

Churchill Downs opens a five-day holiday week of racing with competitive allowance-level events on both Thursday and Friday that feature several stakes performers. Churchill will then run its usual Saturday and Sunday cards, followed by a Memorial Day program on Monday. Two stakes for fillies and mares will highlight this span.

Three solid events on card

Mon, 05/22/2023 - 13:25

Two Phil's has first post-Derby workout, next race uncertain

Barbara D. Livingston
Two Phil’s (right) was a good second to Mage in the Derby and earned a career-best 105 Beyer.

STICKNEY, Ill. – Two Phil’s on Sunday at Hawthorne had work No. 1 since finishing second May 6 in the Kentucky Derby.

The drill was a mere maintenance half-mile timed in 50.80 seconds but suggested the colt had, as trainer Larry Rivelli has maintained over the last two weeks, come out of the Derby in encouraging condition.

“He came back good, he looks good, his energy is good,” Rivelli said.

And Rivelli on Monday still was good with the decision he and Two Phil’s owners made to pass Saturday’s Preakness Stakes.

Mon, 05/22/2023 - 13:05

Mandella thinks French import Salesman belongs in Shoemaker Mile

Gold Phoenix (above) and Hong Kong Harry are the expected favorites in the Shoemaker Mile.
Benoit Photo
Gold Phoenix (above) and Hong Kong Harry are the expected favorites in the Shoemaker Mile.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Salesman has never run in a graded or group stakes, or in a race worth six figures. A three-time winner in France, Salesman has not started since June or in the United States. Despite those apparent shortcomings, Salesman is among the list of probable starters in Monday’s Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf at Santa Anita.

Salesman has put in a series of rapid works at Santa Anita, leaving trainer Richard Mandella enthusiastic about the 6-year-old’s appearance in the $500,000 Shoemaker Mile.

Mon, 05/22/2023 - 12:30

Caravel to be first Royal Ascot runner for Cox

Debra A. Roma
Trainer Brad Cox is looking to make his first trip across the pond to Royal Ascot with Caravel, who is pointed towards either the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes or the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.

A number of Kentucky-based runners are continuing their preparations for next month’s Royal Ascot meeting in England, including Caravel, the reigning Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner.