Fri, 05/29/2015 - 13:25

Lopez brings riding skills, class to Hastings

Erin Palmer/Emerald Downs
David Lopez has won 1,160 races since he arrived in North America in 2001.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – David Lopez has been a welcome addition to the jockey colony at Hastings this year. The veteran rider has won 1,160 races since he arrived in North America in 2001. His first win came at Hialeah Park.

“I think it was the last year they ran there,” Lopez said. “It was a shame because it was a beautiful track.”

Lopez is originally from Peru, where he grew up in a racing family. He was the leading apprentice in his home country before moving to the United States. He started his riding career in 1996.

Fri, 05/29/2015 - 12:41

Loiselle’s last race call marks end of an era

Michael Burns
Track announcer Dan Loiselle has called more than 55,000 races during 29 years at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – After 29 years and more than 55,000 race calls, Dan Loiselle will call his final race Sunday at Woodbine.

The $125,000 Lady Angela Stakes, race 4 on the program, will be Loiselle’s final call. Loiselle will present the trophy to the winning connections after the race and will greet fans on the second-floor grandstand during a ceremonial cake-cutting. Dawn Lupul will call the remainder of Sunday’s card, and Robert Geller, formerly the track announcer at Emerald Downs, will be the permanent replacement.

Fri, 05/29/2015 - 11:55

Wise Dan gallops six furlongs at Keeneland

Barbara D. Livingston
Wise Dan will alternate jogging and galloping for the next month as he progresses towards a possible comeback at age 8.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Much to the excitement of trainer Charlie LoPresti, two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan had his first day back to galloping Friday when going about six furlongs over the training track at Keeneland.

Sidelined since last fall due to an ankle injury that did not require surgery, Wise Dan has been back in light training for about a month.

Fri, 05/29/2015 - 09:44

American Pharoah gallops at Churchill

Barbara D. Livingston
American Pharoah gallops at Churchill Downs on Friday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – At Churchill Downs, Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner American Pharoah was out Friday morning for his first gallop since his Tuesday breeze, going through a 10-minute exercise routine that included a brief schooling session in the starting gate.

Fri, 05/29/2015 - 09:16

Tonalist works an easy five furlongs

Susie Raisher/NYRA
Tonalist works five furlongs under exercise rider Lee Vickers at Belmont Park on Friday.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Tonalist, looking to add the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap to an impressive résumé of graded stakes victories at Belmont Park, worked five furlongs in 1:00.95 on Friday morning at Belmont Park.

Breaking off at the half-mile pole under exercise rider Lee Vickers, Tonalist, working by himself, was clocked in fractions of 12.20 seconds, 24.37, and 48.15. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.59. It was his third breeze since winning the Grade 3 Westchester here May 2.

Thu, 05/28/2015 - 15:05

Pletcher’s stakes horses stretch their legs

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Rock Fall wins an allowance race on Saturday with a 109 Beyer Figure.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher sent out stakes hopefuls Rock Fall and Unitarian to breeze over the Belmont training track on Thursday. Rock Fall will compete against Clearly Now in the True North here next Friday, while Unitarian is being pointed for the Grade 2 Brooklyn here next Saturday.

Rock Fall breezed an easy half-mile in 49.15 seconds and galloped out five-eighths in 1:02.35 in company with Touch the Moon. Unitarian worked five furlongs in 1:00.81 with his maiden stablemate Blame Dixie before galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.46.

Thu, 05/28/2015 - 15:01

Power Alert now targeting Jaipur

Debra A. Roma
Power Alert has changed course from running in the Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint to the Jaipur at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Brian Lynch thought he’d found an easy spot for his turf-sprint specialist Power Alert in Saturday’s $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint. But the devastating weather that has plagued that part of the country this past week has forced Lynch to go to Plan B – next Saturday’s Grade 3 Jaipur Invitational at Belmont Park.

Thu, 05/28/2015 - 14:41

Seven to face Lady Eli in Wonder Again

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Lady Eli wins the Appalachian at Keeneland in her only start this year. She is entered Sunday in the Wonder Again.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Despite the imposing presence of the undefeated Breeders’ Cup champion Lady Eli, a field of eight 3-year-old fillies was drawn Thursday for Sunday’s $200,000 Wonder Again.

Lady Eli, perfect in four starts, launched her 3-year-old campaign with a 2 3/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Appalachian going a mile at Keeneland seven weeks ago and has continued to train impressively leading up to the nine-furlong Wonder Again.

Wed, 05/27/2015 - 15:54

Parx bans shock-wave therapy

Shock-wave therapy machines will be banned on the premises of Parx Racing in Philadelphia beginning June 1 as the result of a new house rule worked out between management and representatives of horsemen, riders, and state vets, according to racing officials at the track.

Wed, 05/27/2015 - 15:41

Juvenile races return at Arlington

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The first race on the Friday program at Arlington marks the first 2-year-old race of the season in Chicago, and no one with even half an eye on Arlington racing the last several years will be surprised to see trainer Jim DiVito with two entrants in the race, a 4 1/2-furlong Polytrack dash restricted to Illinois-breds.