ELMONT, N.Y. – Hardest Core, the upset winner of last year’s Grade 1 Arlington Million, will make his seasonal debut in Saturday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Man o’ War Stakes at Belmont Park.
The Man o’ War will be a homecoming of sorts for Hardest Core, who began his career in the barn of New York-based trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, winning two of three starts over the Belmont turf, including a maiden score May 31, 2013.
Trainer Allen Milligan is on the move. He won the first graded race of his career last week at Lone Star Park with Texas Air. He has Haveyougoneaway on deck for an opening-weekend stakes at Ruidoso Downs. And he’s looking at sending a small division of horses to Del Mar.
Milligan, 48, took down the co-richest race of the Lone Star meet last Friday night when Texas Air closed from off the pace to win the Grade 3, $200,000 Texas Mile. The horse will be pointed for a sweep of the meet’s biggest prizes later this month in the Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap.
Trainer Ron Moquett said Kentucky Derby 15th-place finisher Far Right exited the Derby in good shape and that he and owners Harry Rosenblum and Bob LaPenta would soon discuss the next course of action. Far Right returned to training Wednesday at Churchill.
“They’ve got Derbies in Iowa, Ohio, and Indiana, right?” asked Moquett. “I’m guessing those kinds of races might be better for us. We’d love to get his confidence back and his earnings up.”
Chief steward Barbara Borden said Wednesday that the Churchill Downs stewards intend to further scrutinize replays of the Kentucky Derby in response to questions about jockey Victor Espinoza having used his whip 32 times in urging American Pharoah to victory.
Whereas some other states have rules that limit the number of times the whip can be used, “there is not a maximum number” in Kentucky, said Borden. “Obviously, overt abuse would be something that would constitute us considering action, but clearly this is a discretionary issue.”
Trainer Dallas Stewart was dismayed that Tale of Verve did not get a chance to compete as an also-eligible in the Kentucky Derby despite four horses having scratched from the race, leaving a field of 18 starters and two open gates.
Stewart was well aware of rumors surrounding the well-being of El Kabeir and International Star, both of whom were declared out of the race after the 9 a.m. Eastern deadline the morning before the Derby. Tale of Verve would have carried saddle cloth No. 22 if he had been allowed to start.
The New York Racing Association will cap the attendance at this year’s Belmont Stakes at 90,000, in part to avoid overcrowding and other logistical problems that were incurred at last year’s event.
Chris Kay, NYRA’s president and chief executive, announced the attendance cap Wednesday at the end of a conference call that also announced the Goo Goo Dolls will be the headline ontrack entertainment for Belmont Day.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – There were plenty of terrific performances to go around last weekend at Churchill Downs, led, of course, by American Pharoah in the Kentucky Derby and Lovely Maria in the Kentucky Oaks.
Beyond them, not many horses were more visually impressive than Divisidero, whose rally from far back carried him to victory in the Grade 2 American Turf on the Derby undercard Saturday.
OPELOUSAS, La. – To say that jockey Colby Hernandez has dominated the first month of the Evangeline Downs meeting might be understating things a bit. The talented, young rider has won with 43 of his 110 mounts for a remarkable success rate of almost 40 percent.
By contrast, Diego Saenz, who has won multiple riding titles at Evangeline, is second in the standings with a respectable 22 trips to the winner’s circle from two more total mounts.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Diversy Harbor, who suffered sesamoid injuries when she was pulled up in the $151,000 Santa Barbara Handicap at Santa Anita on April 18, has shown progress in her recovery, according to Aimee Dollase, assistant to trainer Tom Proctor.
Diversy Harbor underwent surgery to stabilize the injury and remains at the Alamo Pintado Equine Clinic in Los Olivos, Calif.
“They’re pleased with her progress,” Dollase said. “They say she’s a good patient and is willing. Sometimes, they take care of themselves. That’s half the battle there.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – Stellar Wind, fourth as the favorite in the $1 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs last Friday, is likely to stay in Southern California in coming months.
Tuesday, trainer John Sadler said he considers Stellar Wind a candidate for the $200,000 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on June 20. A final decision will be made when the filly returns to training. The Grade 2 Summertime Oaks is run at 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-old fillies.
“It’s in her own backyard,” he said. “I need to get her home and look at her.”
