Wed, 05/27/2015 - 13:30

Work All Week draws outside post in Aristides

Barbara D. Livingston
Work All Week, winner of the Breeders' Cup Sprint, will start from the outside post Saturday in the Aristides Stakes at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Work All Week will start from the outside post in a field of seven older horses Saturday when making his first start since he won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last fall. Bred and owned in Illinois by Midwest Thoroughbreds, the 6-year-old gelding will have Florent Geroux back aboard as a heavy favorite in the Grade 3, $100,000 Aristides.

From the rail, the lineup for the six-furlong Aristides is Alsvid, Viva Majorca, Googleado, Gentlemen’s Bet, Nates Mineshaft, Good Lord, and Work All Week.

Wed, 05/27/2015 - 12:55

Late scratch of half of coupled entry causes confusion

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – An incident prior to the first race May 21 at Churchill prompted a question as to what Kentucky stewards can do if part of a stable coupling is scratched at the gate, leaving fans who preferred the scratched half of the entry to be stuck with the lesser half.

The answer, according to chief steward Barbara Borden: nothing.

“We have no discretionary power in these cases,” said Borden.

Wed, 05/27/2015 - 12:51

Pletcher leaning toward Woody Stephens with Competitive Edge

Barbara D. Livingston
Competitive Edge wins the Pat Day Mile on Saturday at Churchill.

Competitive Edge, the unbeaten winner of the Pat Day Mile in his most recent start, is more likely to run in the Grade 2, $500,000 Woody Stephens Stakes for 3-year-olds on June 6 at Belmont Park rather than the Grade 1, $1.25 million Metropolitan Mile against older horses the same day, trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Wed, 05/27/2015 - 12:46

Mubtaahij stays busy

Belmont Park

Track: Fast

Weather: Hazy

Temperature: 65

Wed, 05/27/2015 - 12:20

Strict Compliance opts for Penn Oaks over American Oaks

ARCADIA, Calif. – Strict Compliance, a winner of consecutive races at Gulfstream Park and Keeneland this year, will make her stakes debut in Saturday’s $150,000 Penn Oaks at Penn National and not the $400,000 American Oaks at Santa Anita, trainer Chad Brown said on Wednesday.

“I decided not to put her on the plane,” Brown said.

Wed, 05/27/2015 - 12:16

Kristufek brings insight, enthusiasm to simulcast

Four-Footed Fotos
Joe Kristufek is the simulcast host at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – He may be new to Kentucky racing fans, but this sure isn’t the first rodeo for Joe Kristufek, whose image and voice have become daily staples this spring at Churchill Downs by way of the simulcast signal.

Kristufek, 45, has been involved in racing as a writer, handicapper, and television personality since 1992, when he began working as a press-box aide at Hawthorne in his hometown of Chicago.

Tue, 05/26/2015 - 17:54

Finger Lakes cancels Friday card

Finger Lakes has canceled its Friday card due to a lack of entries, according to track spokesman David Mattice. The first stakes of the meet, the $50,000 Susan B. Anthony, had been scheduled for Friday.

Racing is scheduled to resume at Finger Lakes on Saturday. The card will include the rescheduled Anthony, a six-furlong race for New York-bred fillies and mares. The Saturday card will be drawn Wednesday.

Finger Lakes is racing on a five-day-a-week schedule, with Wednesdays and Sundays dark.

 

Tue, 05/26/2015 - 15:53

American Pharoah puts in strong work at Churchill Downs

Barbara D. Livingston
American Pharoah breezes a half-mile in 48 seconds Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Anybody looking for a reason to side against American Pharoah in his quest to win the Triple Crown in the June 6 Belmont Stakes surely couldn’t have found one after watching his half-mile breeze Tuesday morning from Churchill Downs.

Tue, 05/26/2015 - 15:32

New York Gaming Commission posting weekly reports on website

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The New York State Gaming Commission on Tuesday began posting on its website detailed weekly reports from the New York Racing Association tracks and hopes to do the same for Finger Lakes and the state’s seven harness tracks at a later date.

The reports, which were recommended by the Fan Advisory Council, will include detailed explanations of any stewards' rulings, inquiries and claims of foul. Further, the reports will also include certain wagering data, a list of horses claimed, and equine fatalities.

Tue, 05/26/2015 - 14:50

American Oaks field dominated by shippers

Barbara D. Livingston
Feathered scores a two-length victory under Javier Castellano in the Grade 3 Edgewood for 3-year-old fillies..

ARCADIA, Calif. – Saturday’s $400,000 American Oaks is the rare Southern California race with more shippers than local runners.

Of the seven 3-year-old fillies entered in the Grade 1 American Oaks, only two – Sharla Rae and Spanish Queen – are locally trained. The other five starters are based in Kentucky or New York.

Consumer Credit, Mrs McDougal, and Strict Compliance are trained by Chad Brown in New York, while Feathered is trained there by Todd Pletcher. Dating Lady Luck is trained in Kentucky by Al Stall Jr.