Sun, 06/15/2025 - 18:19

Nysos will skip Stephen Foster, run in San Diego Handicap

Benoit
Bob Baffert's ultimate goal for Nysos is the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Nysos, a three-time Grade 3 stakes winner who is a neck away from an unbeaten record, is scheduled to have his next start in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on July 26.

Nysos, trained by Bob Baffert for Charles and Susan Chu’s Baoma Corp., was second by a neck in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes at seven furlongs on May 3 in his first start of the year. Nysos was the brilliant winner of the Grade 3 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on May 31 in his most recent appearance.

Sun, 06/15/2025 - 16:40

Dutrow running Captain Cook, McAfee in out-of-town stakes

Captain Cook at AQU April 5 2025
Barbara D. Livingston
After three 1 1/8-mile stakes, Captain Cook will shorten up to seven furlongs in the Maxfield at Churchill Downs on June 29.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The quarantine of a Belmont Park barn due to a case of strangles will not prevent trainer Rick Dutrow from running his 3-year-olds McAfee and Captain Cook in upcoming stakes out of town.

Two weeks ago, Dutrow shipped the pair of McAfee and Captain Cook to Churchill Downs where both have put in two workouts. McAfee, second in the Grade 3 Peter Pan on May 10, is entered in Saturday’s Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown. Captain Cook, third as the favorite in the Peter Pan, is pointing to the $250,000 Maxfield Stakes at Churchill on June 29.

Sun, 06/15/2025 - 14:10

Dylan Davis begins three-day suspension

Dylan Davis (left).Flavien Prat await inquiry results at SAR June 6 2025
Barbara D. Livingston
Dylan Davis (left) and Flavien Prat await the results of a stewards' inquiry on June 6 at Saratoga.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Jockey Dylan Davis on Sunday began serving a three-day suspension handed him by the New York stewards for his ride aboard Strategic Focus at Saratoga on June 6.

That day, Strategic Focus won a first-level allowance by three-quarters of a length over Malarchuk. Strategic Focus, making just his second career start, came over in front of Marlarchuk after clearing him.

Sat, 06/14/2025 - 20:07

Strangles-stricken Belmont barn placed under quarantine

Barn 28 at Belmont Park has been placed under a 14-day precautionary quarantine due to a confirmed case of strangles found in a horse who resided in that barn, according to a release issued Saturday night by the New York Racing Association and New York State Gaming Commission.

Barn 28 contains horses trained by George Weaver, Todd Pletcher, and Rudy Rodriguez.

Fri, 06/13/2025 - 18:38

Torrealba taken to hospital after falling off horse, avoids serious injury

Jockey J.G. Torrealba was taken off his remaining mounts at Laurel Park Friday and transported to a nearby hospital after falling off 4-year-old Aonbharr in the third race. According to his agent, Torrealba did not sustain any significant injuries.

Fri, 06/13/2025 - 17:53

Pick-six carryover reaches $124,619 at Aqueduct

R. L. Thibodeau
First post for Belmont at the Big A racing is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET on Saturday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – There will be a two-day pick-six carryover of $124,619 for bettors to chase Saturday at Aqueduct.

The pick six was not hit for a second straight card Friday, the biggest upset being posted in the second leg when Widdershins ($89.50) won a maiden claiming race under Junior Alvarado for trainer Amira Chichakly. The remainder of the sequence was rather logical, with the next highest-priced winner returning $10.20.

Fri, 06/13/2025 - 17:42

Baby Yoda, Rhiannon set track records on same card

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Baby Yoda, returning from a layoff, set a track record at Aqueduct for 6 1/2 furlongs.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Friday was a track-record setting day at Aqueduct. 

The 7-year-old gelding Baby Yoda, away from the races since last November, won a stakes-caliber allowance race by 4 1/4 lengths. He ran 6 1/2 furlongs over the main track in 1:13.86 which established a track record, eclipsing the mark set by Coronado’s Quest (1:14.35) when, as a 2-year-old in 1997, he won the Grade 2 Cowdin Stakes. 

Fri, 06/13/2025 - 14:24

Baffert impressed with Himika's debut victory

Himika cost $900,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in-training in April, the second most-expensive filly of the four-day auction.

On Thursday at Santa Anita, Himika showed why she drew a sky-high price.

Making her debut for trainer Bob Baffert, Himika won a five-furlong maiden race by six lengths in the deceptive time of 57.86 seconds.

Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Himika, a strong favorite who paid $3, stalked Stuffy Mist to early stretch before taking the lead with more than a furlong remaining. Hernandez did not urge Himika in the final furlong.

Fri, 06/13/2025 - 14:22

Thought Process has allowance as stepping-stone for Del Mar stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Thought Process will make her 2025 debut Saturday in an allowance race at Santa Anita.

In the last few weeks, Thought Process, a two-time stakes winner in 2024, has been scratched from the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita and considered for stakes at Churchill Downs and Penn National later this month.

Instead of starting in those races, Thought Process will be heavily favored to win her first start of 2025 in an allowance race for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Fri, 06/13/2025 - 14:19

Shirreffs to map out a plan for Baeza's next start

Barbara D. Livingston
Third in the Belmont and Kentucky Derby, Baeza has options for his next start on the East and West coast.

Baeza, third in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes this spring, is under consideration for leading stakes at Del Mar, Monmouth Park, or Saratoga this summer.

On Friday, Baeza was jogged at Santa Anita, his first day of racetrack exercise since returning from Saratoga on Tuesday. In the Belmont Stakes last Saturday, Baeza finished third by 6 3/4 lengths behind Sovereignty and Journalism. In the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3, Baeza was third by 1 3/4 lengths behind those same rivals.