Tue, 03/10/2015 - 12:50

Camilla Urso lures Living the Life

Barbara D. Livingston
Living the Life, a Grade 2 winner who finished 10th in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, starts here season Saturday in the Camilla Urso.

Saturday’s $50,000-added Camilla Urso sprint for older fillies and mares will have a Breeders’ Cup headliner.

Trainer Gary Mandella will use the six-furlong race for Living the Life’s 2015 debut. Living the Life, a 5-year-old Irish-bred mare, ran 10th in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint after winning her first two starts in the United States. She won her debut last Aug. 7 in a Del Mar allowance race and then captured the Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes over a synthetic Tapeta track similar to Golden Gate’s.

Tue, 03/10/2015 - 09:06

Nakatani to ride Take Charge Brandi in Rebel

Coady Photography
Take Charge Brandi is one of 154 early nominees to the 141st Kentucky Oaks on May 1.

Jockey Corey Nakatani has the mount on Take Charge Brandi on Saturday in the Grade 2, $750,000 Rebel at Oaklawn Park, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Tuesday. The champion 2-year-old filly of 2014, Take Charge Brandi will face American Pharoah, the champion 2-year-old male of 2014k.

Mon, 03/09/2015 - 18:41

The Big Beast eyes Carter, Count Fleet

Lauren King
The Big Beast won the Grade 1 King's Bishop last summer at Saratoga.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Big Beast could make his next start in either the Grade 1, $400,000 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct on April 4 or the Grade 3, $300,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn on April 9, trainer Tony Dutrow said Monday.

The Big Beast, who is stabled at Oaklawn, won his 4-year-old debut at the track March 1. Dutrow said he emerged from the allowance sprint in good order. The Big Beast, who was making his first start since capturing the Grade 1 King’s Bishop at Saratoga in August, earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97.

Mon, 03/09/2015 - 17:54

Take Charge Brandi, Far Right get works in

Coady Photography
Take Charge Brandi is one of 154 early nominees to the 141st Kentucky Oaks on May 1.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.- Take Charge Brandi, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2014, and Far Right, winner of the Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest Stakes, led a group of notable 3-year-olds who worked Monday at Oaklawn.

Take Charge Brandi had her final prep for the Grade 2, $750,000 Rebel Stakes on Saturday. She will meet American Pharoah, the champion 2-year-old colt of 2014 who is scheduled to fly from his Southern California base to Oaklawn on Wednesday, according to trainer Bob Baffert.

Mon, 03/09/2015 - 17:02

Ready for Rye helps Albertrani turn things around

Barbara D. Livingston
Ready for Rye outruns Daredevil in the Swale on Saturday, earning a 109 Beyer Figure.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Although Honor Code received a career best 108 Beyer Speed Figure for his performance in the Gulfstream Park Handicap, it was not the fastest performance on Saturday’s card. That honor went to Ready for Rye, who received a 109 for his easy victory over the odds-on Daredevil in the seven-furlong Swale.

Trainer Tom Albertrani said Monday that the seven-furlong Bay Shore at Aqueduct on April 4 is the most logical next race for Ready for Rye.

Mon, 03/09/2015 - 15:16

Dubai next stop for Salutos Amigos

Tom Keyser
Salutos Amigos and jockey Cornelio Velasquez win the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap by four lengths Saturday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - From the frozen tundra of Aqueduct to the scorching desert in Dubai.

Salutos Amigos, who has become the top sprinter on the East Coast, will make his next start in the $2 million Golden Shaheen at Meydan on the undercard of the March 28 Dubai World Cup, trainer David Jacobson confirmed Monday afternoon.

Mon, 03/09/2015 - 15:16

Honor Code, Private Zone could meet again in Met Mile

Barbara D. Livingston
Honor Code ran down Private Zone (background) after being more than 12 lengths behind to win the Gulfstream Park Handicap.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Honor Code and Private Zone put on a pretty good show in Saturday’s Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap, and if all goes well over the next several months, they could meet again at Belmont Park in the prestigious Metropolitan Handicap.

Honor Code was back at his winter quarters at Payson Park on Monday morning and doing well according to trainer Shug McGaughey following his thrilling last-to-first victory over Private Zone in the one-mile Gulfstream Park Handicap.

Mon, 03/09/2015 - 13:48

Velazquez will ride Untapable in Azeri

Debra A. Roma
Jockey Rosie Napravnik celebrates her victory in the Breeders' Cup Distaff with Untapable.

Untapable and Tapiture will begin their 4-year-old seasons with new riders Saturday at Oaklawn Park. The now-retired Rosie Napravnik was the regular rider of both horses last year.

Napravnik was aboard Untapable for 9 of her 11 career starts. Napravnik announced her retirement in the Santa Anita winner’s circle on Oct. 31 after guiding Untapable to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Mon, 03/09/2015 - 13:16

Texas Red begins belated Kentucky Derby drive

Shigeki Kikkawa
The Arkansas Derby on April 11 has become a backup plan in case Texas Red isn't ready for the April 4 Santa Anita Derby.

Texas Red, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last fall, returned to Santa Anita on Monday after recuperating on a farm from a foot injury, and will begin his Hail Mary quest to make the May 2 Kentucky Derby with a half-mile workout on Saturday, trainer Keith Desormeaux said Monday.

Mon, 03/09/2015 - 13:16

Dortmund exits Derby prep in top form

Shigeki Kikkawa
Dortmund wins the San Felipe on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The winners of all three major Kentucky Derby prep races run last Saturday all came out of their races well, and all will have their final preps for the May 2 Derby in familiar surroundings on April 4.