Mon, 03/23/2015 - 13:51

Female syndicate gets first win

OLDSMAR, Fla. -- Fortunately for the track photographer, just a portion of the 32-woman syndicate that is Fast Women LLC was on hand when its Minimambo won Saturday’s fifth race, otherwise the picture in the winner’s circle would have needed a Panavision lens.

Mon, 03/23/2015 - 13:40

Boyce stays warm on, off track this winter

Four-Footed Fotos
Saint Leon (right), shown winning the Arlington Sprint last July for the third straight year, is being freshened for a summer campaign at Arlington Park.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – After braving Chicago winters for most of her 20 years as a trainer, Michele Boyce decided to head south to Tampa Bay Downs this year. Her decision was a big plus for horseplayers as the Boyce stable has been one of the bright new additions to the racing scene here.

Mon, 03/23/2015 - 12:20

The Big Beast arrives for Carter Handicap

Coady Photography
The Big Beast is under consideration for the Carter at Aqueduct and the Count Fleet at Oaklawn.

The Big Beast, the winner of the Grade 1 King’s Bishop last summer at Saratoga, arrived at Aqueduct on Sunday from Oaklawn Park to train up to the Grade 1, $400,000 Carter Handicap on April 4.

Trainer Tony Dutrow said the Grade 1 status of the Carter and the seven-furlong distance made that race more attractive to him and owner Alex Lieblong than the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap, a six-furlong race at Oaklawn on April 9.

“We like the Beast more at seven than six,” said Dutrow, who was at Aqueduct on Monday to watch The Big Beast train.

Mon, 03/23/2015 - 11:25

Mr. Jordan vs. Competitive Edge in Tamarac Stakes

Natalie Fawkes/Coglianese Photos
Mr. Jordan, the winner of the Smooth Air Stakes last November, will make his 3-year-old debut Friday in the Tamarac Stakes.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Mr. Jordan and Competitive Edge were two of the fastest 2-year-olds in the country last season, both undefeated and relatively untested before being sidelined with injuries. But something will have to give when they launch their 3-year-old campaigns in Friday’s $60,000 Tamarac, an overnight stakes carded at seven furlongs.

Mon, 03/23/2015 - 11:20

Ami's Flatter works, eyes Florida Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Ami's Flatter, a debut winner at Woodbine last year, most recently was second in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Josie Carroll did not confirm Ami’s Flatter as a definite starter in Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby, but she certainly was leaning in that direction after the Tampa Bay Derby runner-up breezed a half-mile in 49 seconds at Palm Meadows on Monday.

“I was pretty happy with the work, and if he looks good [Tuesday], we’ll probably go there,” Carroll said, referring to the Grade 1 Florida Derby, which was to be drawn late Tuesday afternoon in the walking ring at Gulfstream Park.

Sun, 03/22/2015 - 17:39

Zenyatta foal Cozmic One could make debut in April

ARCADIA, Calif. – Cozmic One, the first foal out of the 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, could make his career debut in April, trainer John Shirreffs said Sunday.

The 3-year-old Cozmic One, by Bernardini, has worked steadily since December. In his most recent workout, Cozmic One worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 last Friday.

“I thought his last work was really good,” Shirreffs said. “He wanted to finish in that work.”

The ever-patient Shirreffs said Cozmic One’s mental approach has nearly caught up to his physical efforts.

Sun, 03/22/2015 - 17:35

Rutile sparks memories of Giacomo in debut maiden win

ARCADIA, Calif. – Rutile sparked decade-old memories of her older half-brother, Giacomo, when the 4-year-old filly won a maiden race in her career debut Saturday at Santa Anita.

Rutile closed from last in a field of 10 to win the six-furlong race by three-quarters of a length over Vivacious Beauty, paying $44.80. Rutile ran six furlongs in 1:10.04, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 77.

Rutile, by Medaglia d’Oro, races for breeders Jerry and Ann Moss and trainer John Shirreffs, the people behind Giacomo, the winner of the 2005 Kentucky Derby.

Sun, 03/22/2015 - 17:32

Ashleyluvssugar impresses connections with patience

Benoit & Associates
Ashleyluvssugar, ridden by Gary Stevens, wins his graded stakes debut in the 1 1/2-mile San Luis Rey.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Ashleyluvssugar won his graded stakes debut in Saturday’s $200,750 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita. The fact that the 4-year-old gelding won a Grade 2 and did so in a turf marathon is a point of amazement for trainer Peter Eurton.

Earlier in his career, Ashleyluvssugar had impatient tendencies, Eurton said. In the San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles, Ashleyluvssugar ($13.20) was third for the first mile under jockey Gary Stevens and fought off a challenge from the 3-5 favorite Finnegans Wake to win by 2 1/4 lengths.

Sun, 03/22/2015 - 16:00

Dubai Sky nominated to Triple Crown series after Spiral triumph

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Bill Mott was in New York on Sunday morning and will be on his way to Dubai on Monday. But he may now have a reason to put Kentucky on his itinerary for the first Saturday in May.

Mott is the trainer of Dubai Sky, who on Saturday won the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes over Turfway Park’s synthetic surface and earned enough points to get into the May 2 Kentucky Derby if his connections want to run.

Sun, 03/22/2015 - 13:43

El Kabeir sharpens for Wood Memorial

Tom Keyser
El Kabeir wins the Gotham Stakes on March 7 at Aqueduct.

ELMONT, N.Y. - As the New York winter struggles to evolve into spring, this circuit’s heartiest 3-year-old soul, El Kabeir, continues to thrive, working five furlongs in 59.97 seconds Sunday morning over the Belmont Park training track.